The Waffle Shop Downtown

Talk about nostalgia!!! I brought my family here to show them how good it was and it has not changed in quality since...well 2005 when I graduated. Kiddos loved it, we love it and the service was exceptional. Gotta love how the Happy Valley spirit never dies.

This review is tough for me. I love Waffle Shop. I came here a lot when my wife was in undergrad. However my experience here was mixed. We waited about 20 min which is normal for a Sunday on a parents weekend. Our server was amazing, staff were great, very attentive. However the food was less than extraordinary. Me and my wife had omelets. They were okay. What disappointed me was the pancakes. Just flat, hard, nothing to them. Toast was fine, but the honeys were just big chunks of potato and unseasoned. This is in stark contrast to just a few years ago where the food seemed much better. And the costs have gone up too. For the two of us, two drinks, omelets with pancakes and another side it was $32.08 pre tip. I remember it not costing nearly as much. I know things are more expensive now but this feels absurd for breakfast. But… with eggs being $6 a dozen I don’t think I can blame the restaurant.

We waited 10 minutes for seating but it was a busy morning for the restaurant. The staff kept us informed on wait times. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. The food was great, I go the meaty omelette and potatoes and it came out hot and delicious 😋

Great place for breakfast or brunch while at State College, but expect to wait in line, particularly on Sundays. I had the French Delight which was French Toast with one scrambled egg and bacon. The French Toast was sweet and tasty. The bacon was delicious also, but admittedly, I would have liked it to be a bit more crispy. The orange juice I had was freshly squeezed, which was refreshing and paired nicely with my French Toast. Service was very friendly and helpful. They were a tad understaffed, but the staff worked super hard and were very professional. Highly recommend while visiting Penn State.

The place was SUPER busy on a Sunday, 9am. Service however, was terrific: attentive and friendly. Our coffee cups were refilled upon the last sip, our requests (milk instead of half & half) easily filled, food arrived in light speed, and prices are great. I had the California Eggs Benedict, which replace the meat with avocado. The breakfast burritos, omelette, and club sandwich were also excellent!

Great food for a great price! Our visit today was quick and easy. On football weekends there is usually a wait. My daughter finished the entire Belgian waffle!

I was in for coffee with a colleague and, unfortunately, had the same kind of experience here I’ve had in the past. Though there was a hostess and three waiters for two occupied tables upon my arrival, it took 10 minutes for someone to ask me for my drink order. Two guys in the kitchen were staring at me through the window when I came in and they did that for the entire time I was there — JUST CREEPY! My coffee was weak and barely warm, and I had to ask for refills, hoping something better would be in the next pot (just as bad). The food ordered by those who came in after me looked good, though the waiters held the serving trays up to their uncovered heads as they delivered the food. I don’t care what “legacy” this Waffle Shop says it has but, for me, it is one of poor food, drink and service. I won’t be returning.

Loved it!!! Great food and service is quick! The food here is also not that expensive. I highly recommend this place if you ever want to go out for breakfast or brunch with friends or family.

I love this place. The delicious home fries and smell of coffee are reminiscent of campsite breakfasts past. I have never tried the Eggs Benedict despite the many times I've eaten here. Strange because Eggs Benedict are my favorite breakfast food. The next time I'm at a Waffle Shop, I'm definitely ordering them with, of course, home fries (and orange juice)!

this. was. the. best. breakfast. burrito. i've. ever. consumed. in. my. entire. life. i'm not a breakfast person nor was i feeling hungry even during brunch. but we were visiting our state college friend and he suggested coming here with the group. it was a really great price too for the meal. ~$11-12 i believe. even the pico de gallo was inhaled by me LOL. don't flame me but i would dip it in maple syrup and then add hot sauce to it. seriously, don't yuck my yum and don't knock it until you try it!! also, i understand why their home style potatoes/fries are famous for a reason. TOOOO GOOOD. the ambiance was lovely and cozy. they have booths and a few tables to offer :)) the staff is really friendly and patient too. i kept asking for a lot like hot sauce, coffee creamer, etc. they close at 2:00pm and we stayed until 2:15.. felt bad but that's on us for arriving late too. they let us finish our meal and pay out. i almost forgot my to-go box and one of the staff members brought it to me :') thank you, again ! if you're a visitor, freshmen of state college, or want to try something and don't really go out (or in the area/a student), really come check this out. it's a 5-10mins walk from the nearest parking. worth it.

Warning: This establishment doesn't accept credit or debit cards. So bring cash or they have an ATM in the restaurant. This is a diner. The food is ok, the service is ok, the price is ok, the portions are ok, the menu is ok. Ok? :)

Wonderful place for breakfast. Very clean great breakfast options and excellent service. The food came out quickly and our waitress was very pleasant and attentive with keeping my coffee cup full and hot which was awesome.

So... while visiting state college we had breakfast here and we loved it. The food, the service and the college atmosphere was great. It's buzzing just like a college town. The food was great! I had the Georgia pecan waffle and my friend the Apple cinnamon one. My friend poured cream on her waffle mistaking it for syrup, oh I laughed and they were kind enough to replace. The fresh squeezed orange juice was delicious. I wish I had gotten a second glass. If you are in State College make sure this is a stop. There can be a wait, trust me, it's worth the wait.

Food came out fast, service is great, it's cheap, and the atmosphere is great. I got scrambled eggs, bacon, a Belgian waffle, and white bread. The waffle was the best part of the meal. Best breakfast place on campus and in the running for best place overall on campus.

Good breakfast place. Very reasonable food was good atmosphere and good vibes. My breakfast of eggs and pancake, with a coffee cost like 10 bucks.

Delicious waffles, and a very cute shop. Also, a friendly waitstaff, which is always appreciated. Love their logo and branding. Too cute!

The establishment has been part of College Avenue for years. My friend and I stopped in breakfast, and we were not disappointed. While the interior is modern, it still has a feel like it did years ago which is not undesirable in this case. My western omelette came with rye toast and tomato slices, my friend had a breakfast burrito with hash browns. Both offerings were very good and very reasonably priced. Our server was pitch perfect in all aspects of the meal and so friendly. If you seek breakfast or lunch at a good price, stop in and enjoy it.

Great experience for eating there for the first time! There was a line but it moves fast. A lot of breakfast options. Food was fresh and was served fast. Friendly service.

My son enjoyed his apple cinnamon pancakes. I enjoyed my scrambled eggs. Want impressed with the corn pancakes. My other son said the waffles are better than the pancakes. His second visit. My 1st.

My egg white omelet was delicious. However, you can only get it with hash browns or waffles. I did not eat either but they do NOT slow substitutions. They of course up charged me to have egg whites but didn't discount for not wanting any high carbohydrate, high calorie , empty nutrition sides. This was very irritating. My husband had scrambled eggs and bacon. The bacon looked very strange, not like any bacon I've ever seen, Photo attached. Too bad they don't get their meat locally. I'm basing this on the look of the bacon. This place doesn't look open from the outside even when it is open. Theirs a lot of room for improvements. Coffee very average.

Run, don't walk! Get ready to wait in line, but it's relatively quick and the food is awesome! Don't settle for the typical "chains" for breakfast or lunch. Go where the locals go and enjoy!!

This place is such a perfect college town brunch place. My husband had visited this place over 20 years ago and still remembers this place, that's how good this place is! Price is super reasonable, their waffles were to die for and the eggs benedict was prepared to perfection. Their coffee was great as well. It is nice and spacious and the customer service was great. They do not take cash, so make sure to have cash handy!

My friends insisted that the Waffle Shop was a "must do" for my first time in State College, so of course we went for breakfast on Sunday before I left. When we arrived, I thought to myself, "There is no way I'm waiting in that line to eat breakfast food!" However, my boyfriend assured me that the line moves rather quickly, especially if you're in a group of 2. We only stood in line for about 15 minutes, bypassing some of the larger groups. There are a lot of unmovable 2 person tables in this specific location. It took our waitress a little while to come over, which is understandable because it was so busy. As I was waited, I browsed the menu. I thought the food was expensive! For 2 glasses of orange juice and two omelette meals, our bill was $31 without the tip included! I did notice, however, that during the weekdays, they have cheap specials for college students. They were much more affordable breakfast/lunch options. The fresh squeezed orange juice was amazing, but $3.25 per glass was a little steep for me. The Western omelet was a bit over cooked, leaving it slightly dry. The home fries had a great flavor, but I would recommend getting them "we'll done." Overall, it was a pretty average breakfast. Since it was pricey, I would probably try somewhere else on my next visit.

I'm only 13 and went with parents. Our food came out within minutes of us ordering my,dad barely finished a cup of coffee before it arrived hot and perfect The banana pecan waffle (without pecans) is the best I've ever had. Redonculously good. Friendly waitstaff. Ours was cheerful and humorous. She participated in our conversation without being intrusive. We absolutely enjoyed her company. Ask for Dana!! Rundown of food: Fresh squeezed orange juice: nice pulp, ice cold. A little more sweet than tangy. Coffee: fresh brewed. Nice nutty flavor. Slight bitter according to my dad. Eggs florentine: shared by all. Nice toast to muffin, creamy hollandaise. Potatoes on the side = yum Corned beef hash. I don't like onion but dad and mom said it was pretty good Mom built her own omelette and got pancakes on the side. She said her omelette was cooked perfectly and melted in her mouth. Pancakes good too! No cash? No problem. There is an ATM in the front.

Stopped by for first time. Street parking was easy peasy. This place is CASH only. The food was phenomenal we had to waffles we had the French toast and bacon was like the best I think I've ever had in my life. The service was spot on

So many options! The cinnamon apple waffle is delicious. They accept cash, check or student cash if you go to penn state. No debit/credit cards and there is an ATM machine @ the restaurant.

Food is great,but the hostess seated three couples before us even though we were first in line. It took 10 minutes for them to serve us coffee and bring over settings.

Family meet up, they wanted Waffle Shop. Two of us had hair in our food!! not to offer too much information, but we had two different color hairs, one appeared to be the waitress, who held her food tray up near her hair when she brought it to us, and I'm guessing the other one came from the kitchen. Do they not have to wear hairnets? At least the kitchen?

We really wanted breakfast- and found this place. Perfect local breakfast place. Awesome waffles, and eggs florentine. Highly recommend. Dana was our waitress and she was great.

all the food was prepared decently. i stuck with eggs toast and taters. did not get sick and ate it all. i consider that a win.

Food is five stars! This place is the place to eat breakfast! I ordered chocolate chip pancakes and literally scarfed them down in seconds! Definitely coming back! Customer service was also brilliant! I rated them four stars because to pay you have to take your receipt to the cashier up front.......which is completely fine! But the line to pay was literally going across the whole restaurant, even blocking the door! OH AND THEY DON'T ACCEPT CREDIT OR DEBIT! They only accept lioncash, cash or checks! You also can't get a table unless your whole group is there already so make sure to have everybody there because if not you'll be waiting in the cold. I am definitely coming back and would 10/10 recommend

You have to stop by the Waffle Shop during any visit to State College. The decor is so outdated, but that's part of the atmosphere. The sausage and cheese omelette is my favorite. And of course the chocolate chip pancakes (with whipped cream!)

The Waffle Shop is the absolute best breakfast in town. The lines may be long, especially on football weekends, but it is worth the wait! And the East College Avenue one now accepts credit cards! The food is consistently perfect - when you ask for crispy bacon or your eggs a certain way, they never disappoint. The main reason I'm writing this review, however, is that one of the best parts of the Waffle Shop experience is the staff. Everyone is friendly and happy -- even on the busiest early-mornings-never-get-a-break type of day there -- but one staff member in particular, Rayn, goes above and beyond. My family chooses to go to the East College Ave spot because of Rayn. Rayn treated my kids like she was their favorite Aunt and even though she looked like she had over a dozen tables going on at once, she never kept us waiting (or anyone else), anticipated every need, and provided the friendliest, warmest service we've ever experienced in a State College Restaurant - and we seriously have had wonderful experiences all over town. Hope you get to go visit the Waffle Shop - and say hi to Rayn for us!

This is a cozy breakfast spot near campus (a staple of any college town, TBH), but be sure to come early since there are LINES, long ones too. The staff has a pretty efficient system to seat by table, so if your party isn't full, you won't be seated right away. My boyfriend and I went and ordered separate dishes. He went with French toast and home fries while I went with their breakfast burrito with bacon and a side of fruit. The place was packed, but service wasn't too slow. The food was hearty, filling, as a good diner breakfast should be. My burrito was packed to the gills and came with pico de gallo for dipping. My only suggestion would be either addition of black beans, pico de gallo inside the burrito or a little guacamole. The home fries were that balanced combination of crispy and soft. The fruit tasted fresh, no frills or extra syrup. My boyfriend, on the other hand, enjoyed his French toast, sweet in all the right ways. A must-try in State College!

I love the waffle shop. I tried it first thinking the hype was over rated. I was wrong. The food is very good. I always get the chocolate chip waffle with whipped cream and a side of bacon. While enjoying a perfectly cooked waffle, and flavorful bacon (that has never come out over or under cooked) the coffee never stops. If not your waitress, someone else is popping around and constantly filling up your coffee. Keep in mind that you should get there early to avoid waiting in a line, but there is a reason for that line. It's worth it. If you do happen. To show up when there is a line I would say the wait isn't terrible. Ultimately this is one of my absolute favorite places to eat. The price is good, the food and service are great and I think anyone who likes breakfast food would adore this place.

The best pancakes!! Super quick and attentive service!! Such good prices!! I consistently get the Greek omelette with two pancakes and a fruit cup all for around $11. My favorite is the banana walnut pancakes. If you go on weekdays there are really good deals labeled with an "S." This is my go to breakfast spot in State College.

Round up to 4 stars! Omelette, Egg Benedict & Belgium Waffle ...etc are really good! Always packed & long line waiting !

Unbelievably good. A must do. The waffles are light and delicious. Not like the lead sinkers served by other fast food places. This is a must try fo anyone in the area. The only downside is that they only accept cash.

A staple in town. Have eaten here many times as a student, parent, and just visitor to state college. Was here on an "off weekend" so couldn't pass up breakfast without the normal line down the block! Group had everything from omelettes to simple eggs and toast. Friendly staff and good food at reasonable prices. Not fancy, but good solid quality!

despicable service. waited 3 hours in line with no reassurance of a table. Truly remarkable. must avoid!

Food was fair and wait staff very pleasant. Owner was rude to customers. This is a place some choose for tradition/nostalgia which is fine. If you are looking for breakfast it's not your only choice.

Lightest fluffiest waffle we had ever eaten!! Home fries a bit on the soft side but the eggs Benedict is fabulous!! Super friendly service too!

My name is such and such and I'll be your server. Gee, Mademoiselle, I didn't notice the five stars when I walked in. But that's what they do so ... I'd like a bacon, cheese, mushroom, onion omelette. A BTC, she says. No, I say, a bacon, cheese, mushroom, onion omelette. The closest we have is a bacon, tomato, cheese. You can hold the tomato. Like cooties. stupidity can be contagious so I left. Think I'll tell Jack Nicholson about this. Apparently it's time to remake Five Easy Pieces. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdIXrF34Bz0 So I go to the other Waffle Shop, give my order and no problem. Hmm. What the what?

Last weekend, my boyfriend and I came to the waffle shop because it seemed like THE place to go if you were at Penn State. Unfortunately, our waitress was very unfriendly. Our food was extremely underwhelming. I had chocolate chip pancakes and the western omelet. The eggs were dry and there was too much cheese that that's all you tasted. My boyfriend got the nest egg - which the bus boy told us was the most popular dish - and found that it wasn't great either. Maybe there is a different summer chef that isn't as good as during school? Since I substituted my pancake side for chocolate chip ones there was an upcharge which I asked. The waitress said it would be around a dollar. We went to pay and the lady closing us at informed it was over $3. TL;DR The staff was unpleasant and had poor communication. Food was underwhelming.

My favorite breakfast place @ Penn State. Only issue is sometimes a long wait. Especially on home game weekends. Food is always good. The line does move fast and service is always quick. Always enjoy my breakfast here.

I can't say I understand why anyone would ever wait in line to get in. I came on a Sunday around noon and it was mostly empty. First the food. The coffee was weak, burnt, and stale. I had high hopes for the coffee in this place but was really let down. Granted it was a slow time after the morning rush. But I had a better cup of coffee after at the Hampton Inn. The "famous" Eggs Benedict came out overcooked. I cracked the eggs immediately and they were essentially hard-boiled. After a quick chat with the manager the waitress said she'd swap them out. The only thing I'm picky about with breakfast is over-poached eggs in a benedict. You need runny eggs to ooze all over the meat and muffin. The second set of eggs were perfectly poached. Overall the dish was nice. The hollandaise was tasty and the home fries were cooked nicely. The waffle was just ok. I guess at a place called "The Waffle Shop" I was expecting something special to stand out about them. Maybe a sweeter, thicker batter or something. But it was just a thicker version of the aforementioned Hampton Inn self-serve waffle. The bacon and sausage side were perfect. The service was so-so but I get it. I've come to expect the service in all State College establishments to be staffed by half-interested college students. When we walked in there was a host and a server in the front. The host was trying to take separate cash payments from a large group of students. The server was standing their watching. After making eye contact a few times (with the "can we talk" head nod) I finally ask aloud "do we just sit anywhere?" Overall it was an ok experience with typical college town service with mediocre food. If I had only $9 cash in my pocket and needed a waffle, I would stop in if there wasn't a line. But that's about the only reason I'd go back.

Every since I had came to Penn State University - University Park, I was always told by my peers that the Waffle Shop is a must. However every time, I decided to try out the Waffle Shop, there would be a long line that I was not willing to go. One day after class, my classmate and I decided to go to the Waffle Shop. We walked in the waffles shop, expecting something like Denny's. I felt like I was transported into a whole different world. Even though the interior of the place looked a bit outdated, I felt like I was in a black and white film. Anyways, I decided to order the classic waffle and eggs benedict, which was absolutely delicious. I myself as a highly critical food lover, this place surpassed my expectations. If you are going to try out the Waffle Shop, remember to bring cash because they do not accept card at all. Also another tip is come very early morning during the weekends, because there will be a line of hungover college students waiting to get their delicious breakfast. Check the place out, I personally love it and I hope you do!

If you're going to try and eat at the Waffle Shop on a Saturday or Sunday remember two things: bring cash and patience. The line outside will probably be long, but the staff works as efficiently as possible in getting people in and out in a reasonable time period. The food is basic, I guess it's the novelty that makes this place so popular (and this is coming from someone who comes here every weekend she visits Penn State, no matter what the weather). The food always comes out so quickly and they refill your coffee before you can even wish for more. A State College Tradition that will hopefully be around for awhile.

This Waffle Shop is basically the same as their other locations in terms of offerings. That is, they all have delicious, fatty, affordable breakfast food. This location usually has a long line of (mostly sober) folks waiting for a table - watch out, this line usually snakes outside. I typically order a combination of sausages, bacon, two eggs and pancakes, then slather on Tabasco sauce, ketchup, and maple syrup. Obviously this hits the spot if you're into breakfast food. If you're not, or you're a vegetarian, this might not be your place. (I suppose waffles covered in fruit might be a possibility, but I've never tried them.) Stop in if you have a hankering for inexpensive breakfast food that's a step above IHOP, mostly because of the semi-local novelty to it.

The Waffle Shop isn't a bad place, so why am I only giving it three stars? Well, I'll get to that in a bit. First, the positives. The Waffle Shop, as you may guess, specializes in breakfasts. That's all I've ever had there, and they're pretty good. It's not outstanding, but it's definitely a solid meal. While they do serve lunch as well, I can't comment on that as I've never tried it. Now onto why they only get three stars. First off, The Waffle Shop is never open when you want it to be. Their hours are just too short. They're open for breakfast and a bit for lunch, but anytime I actually had time to go, they weren't open. That means that when they actually were open, the line to get in was pretty ridiculous. The place was always packed Saturday mornings with the line stretching way down the sidewalk outside. While I thought their food was good, I didn't find it quite good enough to justify that sort of wait. My final gripe about The Waffle Shop is that they didn't accept cards of any sort. While there was an ATM close by, I just found it frustrating that an established business which was always busy couldn't spring for a credit card machine. Oh well.

Breakfast is my favorite meal, hands down. A mix between sweet and savory foods? As Leslie Knope would say, "Why would anyone eat anything besides breakfast food?" During a visit to PennState, my friends brought me here for a late breakfast. I wasn't expecting much, maybe similar to iHop, but it was definitely better. When we first arrived there was a line out the door and a 20 minute wait...which would have been okay except for the rainy and cold weather. Inside was bustling, but the waitress got our orders and brought out our food pretty quickly. I got a belgian waffle which was fluffy which the right amount of crunch that came with a side of awesome bacon and a side of home fries. YUM. Basically everything was great and I left extremely happy and full. Definitely worth a visit when in the area.

Was looking for somewhere close to our hotel to have breakfast before our college campus tour. My daughter found this place online and we checked it out. Walking in I wasn't particularly impressed because there were quite a few tables that hadn't been cleared and there basically isn't any "decor" to speak of it is just a big storefront with booths and tables. That being said I figured that maybe they had just been slammed with a breakfast rush and hadn't had a chance to clear the tables and I was hungry and willing to give it a try. It's just basic breakfast food and I was satisfied with my meal. Nothing fancy- just breakfast.

I'm in the double digits of Waffle Shop trips and have never had anything less than 5 Star experience. Service is great, food and coffee are fantastic, and they are QUICK. The fresh squeezed orange juice is a perfect compliment to their coffee. The hollandaise sauce/eggs benedict is my favorite. Steak and eggs is a close second. The line really does move quickly for reasonably sized parties. #cashonly

ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING!! Go to the ORIGINAL waffle shop. There is a difference and thats something that most wont tell you. Waffle shop downtown should be closed and there needs to be a popeyes or a bubble tea spot. The food here is terrible, the servers are trash, and its overpriced for the horrible quality. Overall go to the ORIGINAL waffle shop on Atherton or blue course... its a better experience and the food is wayyy better.

This is my favorite breakfast place in town. The staff hustle and are super friendly, the food is fantastic, and the dining experience is always top notch. It's worth waiting in line since they turn tables at lightning speed and pro tip: go before 8:30 am for no line (especially with young kids). My favorite meal is the nest eggs, my mother in law swears by the eggs Benedict, and my husband always goes for their specials. We've never had a bad meal here and strive to go at least once a week. Highly recommend!

This is a fantastic spot for breakfast; and, according to my daughter, a MUST experience while you are at Penn State. We had breakfast on a Sunday morning, arrived by 8:30 to ensure we were not stuck waiting for a table. At that hour, on a Sunday morning [i.e. everyone should be sleeping off after partying hard on Saturday], the restaurant was already quite full, with only a handful of free tables. We were warmly greeted and seated promptly. We sat down and got to business quickly: orange juice, coffee, banana nut waffle and a waffle with strawberries and whipped cream. The beverages were brought out immediately, and the dishes arrived about 5 minutes later. My banana nut waffle was fantastic: bananas and nuts mixed into the batter, and more sliced and sprinkled on top, served, as requested, with minimum whipped cream. DELICIOUS! My daughter's strawberry version had no fruit mixed in, and it was not fresh strawberries on top, but the canned / syrupy ones. Too much whipped cream for my taste, but she enjoyed it, with left-overs going back to the dorm in a doggie bag, to be finished later in the morning. Great breakfast! Beware - no credit cards or checks accepted: strictly cash. The prices are compatible with what you'd pay for breakfast choices at any diner.

I don't get the appeal and probably never will. Coffee is very good. Poached eggs under done with residual water. Potatoes were just ok. Rye toast is not true rye toast. Corned beef hash standard. No wow to the food or the setting. I just don't get the appeal.