American Ale House

I’ve been here plenty of times, but the time last night was amazing and warranted a review. If you see the El Cubano sandwich on the menu, do not hesitate to order it. The slow cooked pork with the chimichurri sauce was exquisite as well as the arancini’s filled with Spanish and mushrooms. The piano bar was wonderful to listen to and our waitress was kind, fast and helpful. Can’t wait to come again!

I have made it a goal to eat here each time I am in State College. The vibe is great - upbeat, with outdoor, indoor and bar seating. The staff is so friendly and the food is delicious. The prices are OK, a bit on the high side, but you get quality food with a great ambiance, and with the way everything costs today, it's expected. We ordered the Lobster Roll, Burrata Appetizer and the Shrimp Cocktail this time. The lobster roll was divine - my kiddo love it. The Burrata was OK - it could have used a little more balsamic but the shrimp cocktail was too spicy for me. I only had 1 shrimp and couldn't enjoy the rest of it. I specifically told our waitress I didn't want it if it was too spicy and she assured me it wasn't, so when she saw I didn't finish it and asked my why, I told her it was due to the heat level. I did not ask her to remove it off the check, but honestly, at the prices they charge and the "high end" atmosphere they want to exude, it would have been good customer service to have removed it off the check even if I didn't ask. I still paid for it and will visit again because overall the food is delicious, but I will be more mindful to not take the server's advice when it comes to spice levels. I am Mediterranean and can handle spicy, but not when I'm traveling so it was kind of a bummer that I paid $18 for a 5 shrimps that I didn't even get to eat and enjoy. I still recommend that you visit when you get a chance. Wait times can be long depending on day but if you plan correctly, it will be a pleasant experience. We were a party of 2 and had 0 wait time on Friday evening at 6:30 pm.

Our server was a tall redhead I unfortunately forgot her name, but she was wonderful! Burgers are delicious! Fries are phenomenal! Mocktails available for the non-drinkers such as myself. I had a non-alcoholic pineapple mojito!🍍✨️ and we got a coconut cupcake to go.

I love the American Ale House. It's simultaneously so classy and so relaxed. The food is amazing, the service is fast, the prices are reasonable. It's a great place to make your fiancé smile. Would recommend!

We stopped by for lunch and had the Oyster Po’ Boy and the New England Lobster Roll, both were delicious! The oysters were crispy and flavorful, and the lobster roll was fresh and well-seasoned. The sweet potato fries were also a nice touch, crispy and just the right amount of sweetness.

I had a great experience at this restaurant! The service was absolutely amazing. The atmosphere was also lovely the restaurant itself is beautifully set up and comfortable. The food was good and nicely presented, but I found it to be a bit pricey for what you get. While I enjoyed the meal overall, I think the value could be slightly better. Still, I’d come back again for the great vibes and excellent service!

Absolutely fantastic experience. Food was exquisite and worth every penny. Totally recommended. the waitress was wonderful and took care of us despite how busy it was.

Our PSU department holiday party was here this year and everything was outstanding. Working with Chef Gus was a breeze-he brought my vision to life and delivered a classy, elegant and foodie-approved event. This will continue to be my favorite local restaurant for all types of celebrating!

The server was on it! Tommy playing the tunes on the piano made for such a fun vibe. A couple of people in my group went to sing up alongside of him. We celebrated a birthday with lots of drinks apps and foods. Started with the scallops (too fishy for me), oysters (delicious), and farmers beats (very fresh). The Colorado sandwich is always a hit! The lamb and sauce was very good. All their salads hit the spot. Everyone was happy!

Recommended this spot during graduation weekend and was my first time out at state college. Place was packed but they had the space and we were seated quickly. The menu was great and service was quick, then we ordered the burrata as an appetizer. Mentioned the nut allergy in our group and the server had said that they can't guarantee anything in the kitchen is safe to eat although some menu items didn't have nuts on them. The menu also says this, and maybe it's unfair to give this spot a four but in my experience restaurants shouldn't be mixing items in their dishes and there are pretty good safe serve/allergy friendly practices out there to follow and I've never had any issues. This is the first time I got a response at an American grill that they can't serve anything. Maybe it's just new to me and they're being extra cautious which is not wrong, and this place came highly recommended so I'm sure it's earned more stars, but would love to hear opinions on allergies and places that don't have "safe" serving spaces for nut allergies. Even the creamery had a nut free station

Loved everything about this place! Has a nostalgic feel and the ambiance is great. The food was delicious and our server couldn't have been more attentive to our needs and offered great suggestions. We will definitely be back! Oh and get the Bison burger!

Excellent service and food. Maybe a touch spendy but quality makes it worthwhile. (It's State College, afterall.) Photo of Chicken Thai Salad (spicy but yummy) and classic cheeseburger with fries. Both excellent.

We had dinner for our anniversary on 11/17/25. As an appetizer we had the hummus which was by far, the BEST I have ever tasted. I could have just eaten this and been very happy. I also had their Greek salad with chicken. It was also delicious as well. I did ask for the dressing on the side as I only like a little on my salad and they forgot, but I was okay with that. To make the evening even more special, our waitress brought us a very delicious lighted cupcake. Thank you Ale House for making our 24th Anniversary special!

Very nice restaurant! Ambiance, service and food were all good. Was a little worried about eating seafood in the middle of PA, but it was well prepared and presented! We really enjoyed our visit and look forward to returning.

Fun place and fun vibes. New to town and someone recommended this place because they had music. Everyone signing around the piano was fun and the food was good. If we go back we will definitely go again.

Service was very fast! We had a huge party and we did not wait long for food. Inside is nice and clean! I liked our food and definitely would come again!

What a great place! We stopped here for lunch while passing through State College on a longer road trip. We wanted something healthier than the fast food we'd been eating, and this place delivered with big, delicious salads and grilled veggies. Both the scallop salad and the strawberry salad were delicious. The atmosphere was also so unique: lunch was in a sunny, quaint atrium, but there was also a full piano bar and oyster bar. Wish we lived in the area so we could come back for the piano!

Terrible choice for celebrating an anniversary. I left a clear note in the reservation that it was a special occasion, and they did absolutely nothing. No acknowledgement, no effort, no sense of hospitality. If you expect even the slightest celebratory touch, don't bother coming here -- you'll leave ddisappointed. rediculous management team, they are doing nothing but ruining the business

We came to American Ale House last Saturday to celebrate my husband's birthday. As we walked in, I politely asked if they did anything for birthdays -- a complimentary dessert, a candle, anything -- as many other restaurants do. For example, when we went to Grace, they brought out a small chocolate cake with a candle and warmly wished us a happy birthday. But here? We were told bluntly, "No, we don't do that." Not a big deal, but it definitely set the tone. Then came the service. Our server, Sharon, was noticeably impatient from the start. As my husband and I each ordered one entrée, she immediately reached to take my menu. I told her I wasn't done ordering, and she questioned me -- "Are you sure?" -- not once, but multiple times. I went ahead and ordered a third dish, and again, she grabbed the menu out of my hand before I could finish. I actually had an appetizer in mind, but at that point I felt so rushed and uncomfortable that I gave up. To be fair, the food was really good -- significantly better than the last few times we've been here. So credit where it's due. But the experience was far from enjoyable. There was no birthday acknowledgment whatsoever -- no greeting, no small gesture, not even a simple "Happy Birthday." And now for the biggest issue: they overcharged us. I signed for $160.98, and as I always do, I took a picture of the signed receipt -- thankfully. When I checked my bank, I saw that $168.98 had been charged instead. An $8 difference may not sound like much, but it's the principle. I immediately called the restaurant. The man who answered first asked if I paid with a credit card, saying they add a 3% surcharge (which, frankly, is another issue worth noting -- restaurants shouldn't pass on card fees to customers). I told him I used a debit card specifically to avoid that fee. Once we confirmed it was indeed a mistake, he asked if I could come back to the restaurant to resolve it. I'm sorry, but why should I take time out of my day and spend more gas money to fix your billing error? I told him that was not acceptable and asked for the issue to be resolved immediately. He then asked me to email a copy of the signed receipt, which I did right away. It's now been over 3 days -- and I've heard absolutely nothing. No follow-up, no refund, no apology. So I've filed a dispute with my bank. While the food has improved, the service is lacking, and the way they handled this billing mistake is unacceptable. If you do choose to dine here, double-check your receipt and watch your charges carefully. I won't be returning -- and neither will my friends.

Amazing Sunday brunch! Great food and service. $12 Make your own Bloody Mary bar was interesting and fun experience! Definitely will come back!

My family and I just recently went to the American ale house for dinner and we really enjoyed it! We all loved our food and our waiter was very nice! I got the Colorado prime rib sandwich and it was delicious! I also caught a side of fries with it and those were also really good! We also got two desserts, which I cannot remember the names of but one came with some espresso and if you're not in espresso person, then I would recommend to ask for no espresso because it is very strong and for a non-coffee person like me it did not taste very good. But everything else was very enjoyable! The restaurant is decorated so well and is very unique. When you look around and see all the different colors and styles you mind saying it's kind of mismatch, but it really all goes together well. The next time my family and I come out to State College for a vacation most likely going to eat at the American Ale House again!

So came here on a whim as also dig the Yelp lol, food was great as they have a fairly decent sized menu, I could not justify a $45 16oz steak with NO SIDE. The service could use some work though, as we ran into issues with the kitchen(s) not communicating with the server correctly which caused us to wait a while for our food. Ambiance was a little dated but ok. My only complaint was the booth and table arrangements didn't make a lot of sense and it felt just meh. The food is the only thing that saved this place to me but it's not bad. I do t think I will come back but that shouldn't stop you from giving it a try.

Had my birthday dinner here! We started out with the burrata and foccacia plate . Just fabulous!! I had a chocolate and alcohol drink but I don't recall the name.. very sweet. I had the lamb rack with couscous and pork cheek. The lamb was tasty, but there were only 2 chops and they were the skinniest ones I've ever seen! The pork cheek had an odd taste...might have been a bit old?! We both had the vanilla cheesecake with fresh strawberries and strawberry ice cream. Sooo good!

I took my daughters and a friend to dinner while visiting Penn State a few weekends ago. Our server was very nice and the food was fantastic. While I understand the why, I am always disappointed by the 3% charge for using a credit card.

Greek Salad with Grilled Octopus was Perfect !!! Great service . very inviting atmosphere

Food was good, service was good, facility is showing its age. In state college, it's one of the better fine food establishments.

Sat at the bar and the bartenders were amazing; very attentive. Ordered a couple beers and the Oyster Nachos. Unique and good, but I don't understand why the cheese was on the bottom of the plate, not drenched across the nachos. Probably because it looks "fancy." Regardless, it was really good and I can't ding them for it. Amazing experience here in State College, PA.

We stopped by on a Sunday after lunch time. Nice crowd and it was packed, short wait of 10 minutes to be seat, not bad at all. We started with calamari and the wife had a Bloody Mary. Calamari was great and the Bloody was OK. It seemed heavy on the spicy side but yet a bit watery. Maybe the bloody mix was having a bad day. I had the prime rib sandwich w/fries and the sandwich was on a french baguette..hard n crusty. Perfect for dipping in the au jous. The fries had a crispy layer on the outside, i did not care for the fries. My daughter ate them up. The wife ordered a hummus plate, came with pita and veggies. She did not lime this at all. The hummus bowl was filled with oily substance and it would not mix up well with hummus/chick peas. The veggies were old and wilted and the pita was very cold and hard. She told the server, and server apologized but offered no other alternative. My daughter had the turkey sandwich, with apple slices and a special sauce. She liked it. Sorry I forgot what side she had. All in all the service was OK, we waited a long time for our entrees..the kitchen was slammed and our server seemed over whelmed but yet she was friendly. Thank You Brianna. My wife said she wont go back, I'd go back and give it one more shot if need be.

Been there twice. Food and atmosphere were just ok. Nothing special. Very dark unless you sit on the covered patio. The manager did manage to find a table for 4 without a reservation on graduation weekend so the was impressive! There was some miscommunication though. We called ahead of time and they told us it was a 15 minute wait and we did not need a reservation, but we were told the opposite when we got there. Jesus was a very attentive waiter.

Great food! Very inventive and delicious. We were seated right away even though it was graduation weekend and there were tons of families there. Our waitress was very personable and helpful and kept checking to see if we needed anything. the restaurant was crowded but it had a fun vibe. I would definitely go to this restaurant again next time I'm in State College.

I have now returned several more times and had an excellent meal each time! The seared scallop salad is delicious, and the raw bar has a great selection of oysters too!

Excellent but expensive. Food was very good and the wine by the glass was a good pour.

Had 7pm reservations. After we were seated, no waitstaff came to our table for over 15 minutes. I saw 2 tables seated after us have their orders taken. When I complained to the manager and told him I was leaving because of this he yelled "F**k you!" Terrible service. Terrible staff. Many better options in town. Don't spend your hard earned money here. They do not care about customers at all. A true s**t show.

Delicious food, friendly server. Took a bit for a server to arrive to table, management apologized. However, server was new, but very friendly. I ordered the Ritsting Gin and Tonic; beautifully appealing and delicious. Needed my son to drive me home after half a glass . I ate Lobster seafood roll with sweet potato fries; huge portion and tasteful. My son ordered the Blackened Bison burger, he said it was delicious. Will return again.

Love the ambience in this place. The service was top notch and we were very happy with our meals. The burgers were excellent!

Food was delicious. However, our server charged us an extra $30 and was uncommunicative about helping us correct the error. He walked away from our table several times without answering our questions or making eye contact. The initial transaction was voided but we had to pay again and this time our card declined. Unable to fix this with the server, who walked away from us, we went to speak with the manager. The manager was happy to let us know that the server would be paying the difference. This was unacceptable to us. We asked him to void the second transaction so we could properly pay the entire bill and tip on another card. Manager was rude and inconsiderate of his employee and lack of quality service.

Since State College airport doesn't have any food options, a colleague recommended American Ale House to me as a place to stop and grab a drink/bite before heading to the airport. I came during off hours so the place was pretty empty and I had no trouble grabbing a bar seat. They had a TON of beers on tap and I started with a really solid sour. The bar space is HUGE and the bartender was really attentive and friendly, but saw I was there with a laptop so gave me space to work/get some things done while sipping my beer. I ended up ordering the 3 cheese and asparagus sandwich which was HUGE and REALLY good - it had mozz, cheddar, and parmesan that all worked really well together and with the asparagus/red peppers and mayo. I had a glass of wine as well, the list was solid with options by the glass and the cocktail menu also looked really decent as well. Again, the bar space was HUGE and the place was really bright and open. This is definitely a place I'd return to when I'm flying out of State College for work - it was VERY close to the airport as well so made for a great stop on the way for a bar seat, solid food and drinks, and a space to get some work done.

We had come in 30 minutes before closing prepared to tip well and eat fast. Employees were rude right off the bat. The service was fast considering it was late but the server kept making rude comments to us and we had overheard her talking about us to a bus boy. I understand in the service industry you are going to talk about customers but do it in private and do not say anything to the customers. As soon as she realized we heard she switched up and became nice. I had ordered a lobster roll that was more shrimp than lobster. It was alright. We had also gotten the calamari and I didn't love the sauce but it is what it is. I felt personally attacked and will not be back. I would like to stress that we left at the same time as 2 other tables that were there prior.

Food, service, ambiance were all awesome! The menu had tons of great choices and the drinks were fantastic!

Very very very expensive hamburgers. Be prepared to take out a small loan for their hamburgers. I had the bison burger and it was good, but not worth $20. I think it would have been better with less gorgonzola. The gorgonzola was piled higher than the burger itself. It made it very dry. We sat near the piano player and it was nice. We waited a little longer for the food to come. Trying to find a parking spot is difficult sometimes. We made reservations only because we know they get crazy busy. Next time we go, I plan on getting something different than a burger.

Sadly disappointed. This place was talked up by my in-laws who are local to state college, but it came up really short in food and service areas. The restaurant opens at 11am for brunch, we arrived at 11:05am with the doors still locked, it was not really an issue, but set the tone for the entire experience. We were seated and met our really nice waitress who promptly took our drink order along with our kids orders(we were waiting on someone to arrive). Food: not good at all - I ordered the baked potato soup, which taste like it was straight out of a can then tossed in a microwave. My wife ordered a burger completely plain with only cheese, but it arrived with lettuce, tomato and onion. Someone in our group ordered the steak(medium rare) and eggs for their meal, but it came out well done. We literally had some issue with everyone's food minus the kids food. Drinks: They were ok - my wife ordered orange juice that came in a small glass full of ice, which isn't typically served that way. Also, ordered a Bloody Mary that had no pepper. They could have done a better job. Service: horrendous to say the least. We arrived shortly after 11am order our kids food immediately and it didn't arrive until almost noon then a few minutes late the majority of the food arrived except my soup that arrived after everyone had finished their meals. We arrived at 1105am but didn't leave until nearly 1pm, which was 100% due to the lack of efficient service. Covid: This place doesn't seem to have much Covid protection, I didn't see any hand sanitizer and there definitely was not any social distancing going on - the restaurant was completely packed as we were leaving. The waitstaff and cooks wore masks. Overall I really wanted to give this place a better review, but they really fell short on the most basic things in the restaurant world - food standards and customer service.

The food here was very good. I got the Cowboy Steak Sandwich and it was delicious!! My friend got the Prime Rib Sandwich and she loved it! Service was pretty quick considering we had a huge party. Set up of the restaurant is a little weird making it kinda loud but other than that I have no complaints!

A bit disappointed. Medium filet was a bit over cooked and superrrrr salty. Whipped potatoes were drowning in butter and the Brussels sprouts were small and just kinda syrupy. The meal was just okay. I'd come back, nice atmosphere and bar but I would definitely try something different.

The food was delicious and the service was great. However, the restaurant is very busy and the way it's designed it is very loud which is hard to focus and listen to your group. That's not terrible of course just not an intimate place to go with family unless your looking for that environment. The oysters were fresh and delicious which was great especially with me being from the east coast! The only thing that was alarming was we sat near the kitchen window which is nice to see them cook but watched a cook use the same spoon to try a few different pots which I worked in the food industry and know how unsanitary that is. All in all not sure we will be back due to that. Which is a shame.

We had a great meal at the American Ale House. Food was out on time, staff was very friendly & the food was delicious. On the recommendation of the server, I had the gumbo. 5-Stars.

This review is purely being made to rectify the rating. A 3.3 rating is an insult to this place. Drinks great! Arancini fantastic! Ribeye steak perfect! Burgers delicious! Fries and mashed potatoes were amazing too! The rating here should be no less than a 4. Seriously, if the service were bad (and it wasn't for us), the rating should drop by no more than a point. The waits alone tells you the rating here was bogus.

I have eaten at The American Ale House many times and have been satisfied with the service and the food. BUT. My family and some friends ate there recently on a Thursday night. I go often on Thursdays with friends as they have $1 raw oysters on Thursdays - a favorite. We ordered several platters of the $1 oysters. EVERYONE who ate those oysters got food poisoning. We were so sick - never had this happen before. What upset me - other than being sick - was that the restaurant told us than no one else complained. They were sorry. No offer to give some money back. No gift certificate to come back in the future. They basically blew off this incident. I will not be back there for quite a while. I have also told my other friends what happened.

I have been coming to American ale house for a few years now. I always make sure to state my tree nut allergy to the waiter/waitress when ordering my meal at this restaurant and any other. This time around I ordered the El Cubano sandwich which I have had many times before and had no issue, but I still made sure to tell the waitress about my allergy which she acknowledged and told me she would let the kitchen know. Unfortunately, I had an allergic reaction. When the waitress came by, I told the waitress at the time that I had an allergic reaction to the sandwich and asked if she told the kitchen about my allergy. She said yes that she made sure and kindly offered to give me Benadryl, but I had already taken some of my own. As someone that comes frequently to this restaurant and enjoys my time there, I was confused and a bit upset that I was not offered any compensation for my meal on the spot. I feel as if this is an immediate response at any restaurant when an allergy comes up and was a little surprised in the moment since customer service is usually the most important characteristic at any restaurant, especially one like American Ale House. A few days later, I called back to ask them about the sandwich curious to know why I might have had a reaction. On the phone I was told that sometimes mortadella, an ingredient in the sandwich, can contain nuts. After doing some research I learned that pistachios are a common ingredient in mortadella. I called back again to let them know that this happened to me and while this time I did not have to go to the hospital for my reaction, it could happen to someone else. While I appreciate their understanding of the gravity of the situation, I received no apology or compensation for my meal. I'm surprised at this reaction from American Ale House and wish that they gave more understanding to their customers. While I'm not going to dispute over the phone about compensating for my meal or providing me with some reassurance, I would like to communicate my situation so that others may understand that this is seemingly the behavior that American Ale House is willing to provide back to their customers. All in all, the waitress was very helpful and considerate and I completely understand that she did everything she was told to do in the situation. I wish and hope for the future that management would step up and take care of their customers. I don't feel inclined to return to this restaurant that I love so much if this is how they're going to approach these situations. I hope this is a learning experience for the establishment in their disclaimers about any allergies and how to respectfully take care of their customers.

Nice atmosphere and great food. Would definitely go back again. Service was also very good.

What happened to the Ale House? We haven't been in a while so we decided to do drinks and apps tonight at the grown up bar. I'm sad to report it was not what it used to be. We were surprised to learn there was no happy hour. The Cocktails we ordered were good, but we were charged $2 more than the menu price for house liquor. We ordered from the steamer bar and had to request bread as it was not included. Upon request, we received 2 small dinner rolls. They used to serve a part of a loaf of toasted bread. This was not the Ale House we once loved.

Worst experience I've had in a long time. Our group of 9 was treated like outcasts because we had 5 - 18+ year old "children" . We were not allowed in the "adult" section at 6:00 pm. The 19 year old manager could only say sorry sir, "it's the rules" because the "kids" could end up getting served". I would have loved to try the place and give it a review based on the service and food, but due to the "rules" of the owner, we couldn't give it a shot. On our way to a different restaurant with better "rules"

What a special place! Food was delicious and service was warm and attentive. Shared some oysters and the salad with seared scallops to start. I had Spring Pasta & son had the Crispy Striped Bass. Amazing!

Place was cute. Super busy being parents weekend. Food was delicious.. A couple minor issues with a plate but rectified in a professional manner.. We will definitely go back. Worth a try.. great atmosphere and the desserts are worth saving room for!

Went the other night with our family of 6. The place was packed at 7p on a Friday night. I haven't been in at least 7 years so was excited. My son and I ordered the soft shell crab sandwich and were sadly disappointed. The red bell peppers did not enhance but rather contradicted the flavor of the crab. The bun was dry, the sweet potato waffle fries had a very faint old bay flavor and the crab was oily. The burrata appetizer was o...k... Too small for the price. The oysters nacho were delicious. Vegan ravioli was more of an appetizer due to the quantity. Steak sandwich was o..k... Nothing stood out. Pictures look 10X better than they taste. Just average so probably won't be going back.

I've been traveling to State College regularly for years. I had no idea that American ale House existed. Found it when looking for a Sunday brunch spot, and was pleasantly surprised. Great brunch menu along with good looking lunch and dinner menu. Reasonable prices, quality food. Sunday bloody Mary bar as a bonus. Would definitely recommend and would definitely return

Best restaurant in State College! Great menu, great bartenders ! And weekends with Tommy Wareham at the piano bar are FUN !

In December on a Wednesday night it has patrons but wasn't overly crowded. There weee empty tables. Yet I had the impression they were trying to do a lot with our enough staff. Their menu is odd with once menu in the back dining room and a different menu available in the front by the bar. So our group of 4 had appetizers come with the dinners, the seafood ciappino was sadly lacking the seafood, the filet steak was meh, and the wait was long. So overall they are just doing trying to do too much with too little and it shows.