Stopped in for a bite to eat before heading to Beaver Stadium for a concert. Online reservations said "come on it, there is currently no wait". Got there and there was an hour wait. Ended up waiting 20 minutes then sitting in the bar area, 40 minutes later they called saying my table was ready! I ordered the Cherry Apple Cider, which was good (and cheap - only $4). Hubs and I both ordered the Barrel Burger (ribeye cheeseburger with brown sugar balsamic onions, and bacon). I honestly don't remember the bacon being on my burger but I'm sure it was there. The burger was super dry and lacked flavor. I also got a side of truffle fries for $1 upgrade - they were good and worth the extra $1 The food was dropped off by what seemed to be a manager, who was nice - hubs was suppose to get French fries and they brought a salad by mistake and he offered to get fries for him (the salad looked good, so he kept the salad and said the dressing was delicious). Our server NEVER returned to our table except to bring our bill but he was super nice when he was taking our order......so I'm not sure how to tip. Bathrooms were super clean and the place was decorated nicely.
Nicholas Evanish
Excellent atmosphere, good appetizers (the chili lime french fries were quite spicy); however, it does not take much for me to reach my spice Limit. The Barrell Burger was awesome. First ever ribeye blend burger I had, and the bacon was top of the line and nice n crispy on the edges. My boss had the Delmonico Steak and loved it.
Drinks here are amazing. We were there for Sunday brunch and the food was delicious.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Sunday Brunch
Jeffrey S.
Barrel 21 Distillery is a gem nestled in the heart of Happy Valley (State College). From the moment you step inside, you're greeted with the rich aroma of carefully crafted spirits and the warmth of genuine hospitality. Sidney was our waitress and she was simply amazing. We had something in common as we are both from the Pittsburgh region. She attends Law school at Penn State, which is terrific. She was outstanding and super knowledgeable of the whiskey and if she didn't know the answer, she'd get us an answer. The Rye grain is a danko grain sourced from only the best supplier in the state of Pennsylvania by Robert McDonald from Dancing Star Farms. First and foremost, the quality of their spirits is unparalleled. Each sip tells a story of craftsmanship and dedication to the art of distillation. Whether you're indulging in their smooth bourbon, their crisp gin, or their flavorful vodka, you can taste the passion and expertise that goes into every bottle. The distillery Rye was my favorite for certain and sets Barrel 21 apart. Overall, Barrel 21 Distillery is a must-visit destination for spirits enthusiasts and casual drinkers alike. With its exceptional spirits, inviting atmosphere, and commitment to quality, it's no wonder that Barrel 21 has quickly become a beloved fixture in the community. Raise a glass to Barrel 21 - here's to many more years of excellence! This was an incredible stop. Happy we made it to the area and would like to stop again. Next time, I need to have more spirits to sample.
Darryl Reed
Always a great dinner. Inventive cocktails and the service is always good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Darryl Reed
Great cocktails and the food is always terrific.
Benjamin Estell
Great experience overall, but the lights above our section kept turning off and on every few minutes. They eventually got it to stop, but it was quite annoying/distracting while it was happening.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hope Rice
Service was horrible. Once seated we sat for 15 mins without anyone greeting us and offering drinks. Staff continue to walk past and no one made eye contact or offered to help. After 15 mins in disbelief, we walked out.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Sunday Brunch
Brandon A
We really enjoy this place and have never had a bad experience. Only a couple minor things kept it from being 5 stars. Things like not having an updated menu on the website. If I could give it 4.5 I would. Will definitely go again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Barrel Burger
Lincoln Reagan
The area was hit with 6 inches of snow. I walked over to Barrel 21 and was the only customer crazy enough to go there while it was snowing still. (More diners came in once the snow abated.) Friendly server/bartender. I tried the Keywaydin Hard Cider, which was good and went great with the Barrel Burger (Ribeye burger which is ground in house, brown sugar, & balsamic caramelized onions, bacon, muenster, roasted garlic aioli on a potato roll) and the truffle fries (Fries topped with parmesan cheese and served with a parmesan truffle aioli.). The burger really had a steak flavor to the meat, and the bacon had a nice smoke to it, not the cheap stuff the fast food places serve that looks like it was sitting around for a while. I was visiting the area from a few hours away, otherwise, I would definitely be back again, probably to get the burger again since it was so good!Parking: Plenty of parking for Barrel 21 and their sister restaurant, Otto's Pub next door.
I went here for brunch on a Sunday. The selection was mediocre at best and highly overpriced for what they offer. There's also very little to choose from for vegetarians. Their French toast offering did not look appetizing so I had pastries, broccoli and cheese soup, and yogurt. Not worth the money for me.
JD T.
So this place is more of an upscale if you will type of destination. Not my style at all but it was very nice, clean and professional. It was next to the hotel so it was convenient and thought we'd give it a try. The service was also very nice and professional as well. The entire plate of food that I order all paired very well with one other and it was really enjoyable. Some of the menu items are on the expensive side but 2 of us had the Tuesday special and was able to eat for under $50. I would go back but it wouldn't be my pick. Once again, really nice place. It's just not somewhere that I personally feel the most comfortable in. I'm simple and easy to please.
Sarah Pasculli
Great place to stop by before or after a big game. The food was very good and the cocktails were well made!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Bill Kehler
Always an amazing experience when you choose to visit Barrel21. Chef Justin Always presents amazing food presentations and the drink choices are spectacular.
Newest edition of date night chronicles: Barrel 21 Distillery Great place! The Orchard Mule was tasty and my Pinot Grigio was light and refreshing. Our plans kept shifting on another busy State College Friday, we just wanted to sit, have a drink, and get some dinner. We got that, plus great service, although it was hard to keep track of who was serving us, and great food, highly recommended the Poutine.Wheelchair accessibility: Modern accessible access
Stopped in for a bite to eat before heading to Beaver Stadium for a concert. Online reservations said "come on it, there is currently no wait". Got there and there was an hour wait. Ended up waiting 20 minutes then sitting in the bar area, 40 minutes later they called saying my table was ready! I ordered the Cherry Apple Cider, which was good (and cheap - only $4). Hubs and I both ordered the Barrel Burger (ribeye cheeseburger with brown sugar balsamic onions, and bacon). I honestly don't remember the bacon being on my burger but I'm sure it was there. The burger was super dry and lacked flavor. I also got a side of truffle fries for $1 upgrade - they were good and worth the extra $1 The food was dropped off by what seemed to be a manager, who was nice - hubs was suppose to get French fries and they brought a salad by mistake and he offered to get fries for him (the salad looked good, so he kept the salad and said the dressing was delicious). Our server NEVER returned to our table except to bring our bill but he was super nice when he was taking our order......so I'm not sure how to tip. Bathrooms were super clean and the place was decorated nicely.
Excellent atmosphere, good appetizers (the chili lime french fries were quite spicy); however, it does not take much for me to reach my spice Limit. The Barrell Burger was awesome. First ever ribeye blend burger I had, and the bacon was top of the line and nice n crispy on the edges. My boss had the Delmonico Steak and loved it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chislic Poutine, Delmonico Steak, Barrel Burger, Truffle Fries
Drinks here are amazing. We were there for Sunday brunch and the food was delicious.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Sunday Brunch
Barrel 21 Distillery is a gem nestled in the heart of Happy Valley (State College). From the moment you step inside, you're greeted with the rich aroma of carefully crafted spirits and the warmth of genuine hospitality. Sidney was our waitress and she was simply amazing. We had something in common as we are both from the Pittsburgh region. She attends Law school at Penn State, which is terrific. She was outstanding and super knowledgeable of the whiskey and if she didn't know the answer, she'd get us an answer. The Rye grain is a danko grain sourced from only the best supplier in the state of Pennsylvania by Robert McDonald from Dancing Star Farms. First and foremost, the quality of their spirits is unparalleled. Each sip tells a story of craftsmanship and dedication to the art of distillation. Whether you're indulging in their smooth bourbon, their crisp gin, or their flavorful vodka, you can taste the passion and expertise that goes into every bottle. The distillery Rye was my favorite for certain and sets Barrel 21 apart. Overall, Barrel 21 Distillery is a must-visit destination for spirits enthusiasts and casual drinkers alike. With its exceptional spirits, inviting atmosphere, and commitment to quality, it's no wonder that Barrel 21 has quickly become a beloved fixture in the community. Raise a glass to Barrel 21 - here's to many more years of excellence! This was an incredible stop. Happy we made it to the area and would like to stop again. Next time, I need to have more spirits to sample.
Always a great dinner. Inventive cocktails and the service is always good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great cocktails and the food is always terrific.
Great experience overall, but the lights above our section kept turning off and on every few minutes. They eventually got it to stop, but it was quite annoying/distracting while it was happening.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Service was horrible. Once seated we sat for 15 mins without anyone greeting us and offering drinks. Staff continue to walk past and no one made eye contact or offered to help. After 15 mins in disbelief, we walked out.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Sunday Brunch
We really enjoy this place and have never had a bad experience. Only a couple minor things kept it from being 5 stars. Things like not having an updated menu on the website. If I could give it 4.5 I would. Will definitely go again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Barrel Burger
The area was hit with 6 inches of snow. I walked over to Barrel 21 and was the only customer crazy enough to go there while it was snowing still. (More diners came in once the snow abated.) Friendly server/bartender. I tried the Keywaydin Hard Cider, which was good and went great with the Barrel Burger (Ribeye burger which is ground in house, brown sugar, & balsamic caramelized onions, bacon, muenster, roasted garlic aioli on a potato roll) and the truffle fries (Fries topped with parmesan cheese and served with a parmesan truffle aioli.). The burger really had a steak flavor to the meat, and the bacon had a nice smoke to it, not the cheap stuff the fast food places serve that looks like it was sitting around for a while. I was visiting the area from a few hours away, otherwise, I would definitely be back again, probably to get the burger again since it was so good!Parking: Plenty of parking for Barrel 21 and their sister restaurant, Otto's Pub next door.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
I went here for brunch on a Sunday. The selection was mediocre at best and highly overpriced for what they offer. There's also very little to choose from for vegetarians. Their French toast offering did not look appetizing so I had pastries, broccoli and cheese soup, and yogurt. Not worth the money for me.
So this place is more of an upscale if you will type of destination. Not my style at all but it was very nice, clean and professional. It was next to the hotel so it was convenient and thought we'd give it a try. The service was also very nice and professional as well. The entire plate of food that I order all paired very well with one other and it was really enjoyable. Some of the menu items are on the expensive side but 2 of us had the Tuesday special and was able to eat for under $50. I would go back but it wouldn't be my pick. Once again, really nice place. It's just not somewhere that I personally feel the most comfortable in. I'm simple and easy to please.
Great place to stop by before or after a big game. The food was very good and the cocktails were well made!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Always an amazing experience when you choose to visit Barrel21. Chef Justin Always presents amazing food presentations and the drink choices are spectacular.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sunday Brunch, Delmonico Steak
Newest edition of date night chronicles: Barrel 21 Distillery Great place! The Orchard Mule was tasty and my Pinot Grigio was light and refreshing. Our plans kept shifting on another busy State College Friday, we just wanted to sit, have a drink, and get some dinner. We got that, plus great service, although it was hard to keep track of who was serving us, and great food, highly recommended the Poutine.Wheelchair accessibility: Modern accessible access
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5