The food was decent. I had an issue with the step in front on the waitress station that had no warning that it was there. I fell flat on my face without any alcohol consumed. I told the waitress that it should be marked with at least some yellow caution tape She said she would tell the mgr. I tried calling but the mailbox is full. Gotta admit I’m an older woman and I got pretty beat up. I watched 3 other people trip up it while I was eating
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Patrick Brett
This place has really improved lately! Apparently they got rid of their incompetent manager and got some fox named Kyla to run it and she is killing it! It's so much cleaner, the bartenders are so much faster, and the atmosphere is starting to get fun and happy again! Thank goodness for Kyla!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
James Piersol
I loved the Phyrst in 1988 and I still love it now!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
John Mattiola
HORRIBLE. I came here once during a bar crawl and really enjoyed a band that was playing ( Derrick and the hi fi’s). And it took me 3 months to convince my friends to go with me to see the band again and within 30 minutes of being there 2 of my friends got dragged out for dancing to the music. I swear none of them were too drunk to be there, they just got dragged out because the security there was so strict. I promise any other bar in state college is better than this place
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 1
Dave F.
Having been a cherished spot since my college days in the early 80s, this dive bar holds a special place in my heart. It's a quintessential Irish pub, primarily offering a classic selection of beers and shots, complemented by live entertainment each night and a variety of table games to engage with. The staff here are not just efficient but incredibly welcoming, always ensuring a lively and enjoyable atmosphere. Whenever I return to State College, this pub is my go-to destination to relive those nostalgic moments and dive into the local nightlife.
Harry Taylor
The fresh cut French fries with cheese were tasty. There were plenty of attentive bartenders available for drinks orders, although we thought the drinks were overpriced. We went there on a Saturday night to see the live band 'Lowjack'. Plenty of fun was had by all.Parking: Parking garage located just a short walk around the corner.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fresh Cut Fries
Tyler Evock
Sticky surfaces and
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Meredith C.
This bar is fine having not changed much in 25 years. They tried to make it a bit more upscale than when it was the Phyrst Family Singalong. The bathrooms, though have not changed and we wouldn't recommend using them. We ordered shots of whiskey and asked for a cherry garnish, but we had to settle for an orange slice. There was a band playing and the setup seems to work. Not sure if we will return to drink whiskey out of plastic cups.
Eduardo Salas
I was banned. Wasn't explained why. Lady bartender threw the clipboard at me on my last tab. She wasn't even assisting me. Props to my tender in the hoodie she provided great service. Bouncer/person in front Didn't want to provide a name or reason. Didn't let me finish the last drink I was charged so I tore my last signed ticket and he even said ( don't do that) replied I'm not paying for something I didn't consume. They made the Refund, I checked next morning. Justified that I was drunk but definitely asked the right questions to get to his boiling point to be banned. Afterwards he asked for my name I guess for the to be placed on the list; he didn't want to provide his earlier so I asked to trade names. Andrew;horrible service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
JJ G.
Apparently, it's the oldest bar in the state of the country or something like that. It's in a basement. It's very grungy. The drinks are extremely reasonable. Nothing fancy service from bartenders is average. Very big college bar.
We where dancing with my fiancé and enjoying the evening until security guys decided that we are drunk. My fiancé just leaned me on his hand “tango” style and security came to us and said we are drunk. I was not drinking, my fiancé had only half cocktail before they kicked us out. Not recommend to go to this place if you like to dance.
Hajin MM
The fries were awesome. If we could finish them!We were minding our own business eating fries at the table. A manager then came up to us and RUDELY said “Move or I’m going to get you kicked out. This is my table”Very unprofessional…
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 1
Юлія Вадзюк
We where dancing with my fiancé and enjoying the evening until security guys decided that we are drunk. My fiancé just leaned me on his hand “tango” style and security came to us and said we are drunk. I was not drinking, my fiancé had only half cocktail before they kicked us out. Not recommend to go to this place if you like to dance.
GRASSFIRE !
Food is great, but the manager has a superiority complex. Would not recommend sitting at “his table” or he’ll kick you out.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Fresh Cut Fries
Sara B.
This bar is very unsanitary. The ceiling constantly leaks and even leaks out of the lights which is a extreme fire hazard. The floors behind bar are rarely cleaned, the straws are never replaced or covered so there is always dust on them. Also, multiple areas behind bar are never wiped down so there is tears of grime covering them. Over the summer, the men's toilet flooded and the bar stayed open until there was literal poop water flooding the floor. The bartenders were then forced to go back downstairs to close the bar in the filth. Also, for about a week there was a rat behind bar and all that was done was a trap was set out. Food was still served and bartenders were forced to be back there with the rodent. The manager tries to flirt with all of the bartenders and even will throw ice at them during shifts in front of customers to try and be "funny". The service takes forever and half of the bartenders you can tell have no idea what they are doing. I once ordered a tequila sunrise and it had pineapple juice in it. During the back to school bar crawl, I waited 30 minutes for a drink and eventually left because it wasn't worth waiting. It's a shock that this place hasn't been shut down by health services yet and wild that people still go to this bar.
The food was decent. I had an issue with the step in front on the waitress station that had no warning that it was there. I fell flat on my face without any alcohol consumed. I told the waitress that it should be marked with at least some yellow caution tape She said she would tell the mgr. I tried calling but the mailbox is full. Gotta admit I’m an older woman and I got pretty beat up. I watched 3 other people trip up it while I was eating
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
This place has really improved lately! Apparently they got rid of their incompetent manager and got some fox named Kyla to run it and she is killing it! It's so much cleaner, the bartenders are so much faster, and the atmosphere is starting to get fun and happy again! Thank goodness for Kyla!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I loved the Phyrst in 1988 and I still love it now!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
HORRIBLE. I came here once during a bar crawl and really enjoyed a band that was playing ( Derrick and the hi fi’s). And it took me 3 months to convince my friends to go with me to see the band again and within 30 minutes of being there 2 of my friends got dragged out for dancing to the music. I swear none of them were too drunk to be there, they just got dragged out because the security there was so strict. I promise any other bar in state college is better than this place
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 1
Having been a cherished spot since my college days in the early 80s, this dive bar holds a special place in my heart. It's a quintessential Irish pub, primarily offering a classic selection of beers and shots, complemented by live entertainment each night and a variety of table games to engage with. The staff here are not just efficient but incredibly welcoming, always ensuring a lively and enjoyable atmosphere. Whenever I return to State College, this pub is my go-to destination to relive those nostalgic moments and dive into the local nightlife.
The fresh cut French fries with cheese were tasty. There were plenty of attentive bartenders available for drinks orders, although we thought the drinks were overpriced. We went there on a Saturday night to see the live band 'Lowjack'. Plenty of fun was had by all.Parking: Parking garage located just a short walk around the corner.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fresh Cut Fries
Sticky surfaces and
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
This bar is fine having not changed much in 25 years. They tried to make it a bit more upscale than when it was the Phyrst Family Singalong. The bathrooms, though have not changed and we wouldn't recommend using them. We ordered shots of whiskey and asked for a cherry garnish, but we had to settle for an orange slice. There was a band playing and the setup seems to work. Not sure if we will return to drink whiskey out of plastic cups.
I was banned. Wasn't explained why. Lady bartender threw the clipboard at me on my last tab. She wasn't even assisting me. Props to my tender in the hoodie she provided great service. Bouncer/person in front Didn't want to provide a name or reason. Didn't let me finish the last drink I was charged so I tore my last signed ticket and he even said ( don't do that) replied I'm not paying for something I didn't consume. They made the Refund, I checked next morning. Justified that I was drunk but definitely asked the right questions to get to his boiling point to be banned. Afterwards he asked for my name I guess for the to be placed on the list; he didn't want to provide his earlier so I asked to trade names. Andrew;horrible service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
Apparently, it's the oldest bar in the state of the country or something like that. It's in a basement. It's very grungy. The drinks are extremely reasonable. Nothing fancy service from bartenders is average. Very big college bar.
Restaurantji Recommends
We where dancing with my fiancé and enjoying the evening until security guys decided that we are drunk. My fiancé just leaned me on his hand “tango” style and security came to us and said we are drunk. I was not drinking, my fiancé had only half cocktail before they kicked us out. Not recommend to go to this place if you like to dance.
The fries were awesome. If we could finish them!We were minding our own business eating fries at the table. A manager then came up to us and RUDELY said “Move or I’m going to get you kicked out. This is my table”Very unprofessional…
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 1
We where dancing with my fiancé and enjoying the evening until security guys decided that we are drunk. My fiancé just leaned me on his hand “tango” style and security came to us and said we are drunk. I was not drinking, my fiancé had only half cocktail before they kicked us out. Not recommend to go to this place if you like to dance.
Food is great, but the manager has a superiority complex. Would not recommend sitting at “his table” or he’ll kick you out.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Fresh Cut Fries
This bar is very unsanitary. The ceiling constantly leaks and even leaks out of the lights which is a extreme fire hazard. The floors behind bar are rarely cleaned, the straws are never replaced or covered so there is always dust on them. Also, multiple areas behind bar are never wiped down so there is tears of grime covering them. Over the summer, the men's toilet flooded and the bar stayed open until there was literal poop water flooding the floor. The bartenders were then forced to go back downstairs to close the bar in the filth. Also, for about a week there was a rat behind bar and all that was done was a trap was set out. Food was still served and bartenders were forced to be back there with the rodent. The manager tries to flirt with all of the bartenders and even will throw ice at them during shifts in front of customers to try and be "funny". The service takes forever and half of the bartenders you can tell have no idea what they are doing. I once ordered a tequila sunrise and it had pineapple juice in it. During the back to school bar crawl, I waited 30 minutes for a drink and eventually left because it wasn't worth waiting. It's a shock that this place hasn't been shut down by health services yet and wild that people still go to this bar.