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The Waffle Shop
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- None
19 reviews for The Waffle Shop
Delicious breakfast/brunch food. Truly the best hangover food in the area. I highly recommend this to anyone looking to get some really good food after a night of partying or just a lazy Sunday.
I would definitely pick this place over Denny's, IHOP, or analogs of them.
Let's mention the elephant in the room before we start: there are no good breakfast places in State College. They simply don't exist. Sadly, the Waffle Shop does little to change that opinion. Nestled next to a boutique and a failing jewelry store, the Waffle Shop displays what most food goers like to see, a small restaurant with a line out the door.
The problem with the line is that it's merely a consequence of eating breakfast out. After waiting for nearly 25 minutes, my date and I managed to get a hastily cleaned table with small bits of coffee and syrup still stuck on it. We had a simple order of the corned beef and hash, pancakes with eggs, and greek omelet. For such a simple order, a wait time of over 30 minutes is plain unacceptable. On the other hand the food itself is fair, only edging out the dining commons on-campus by a hair. After eating, I was treated to another line while I waited for to pay, again taking 15 minutes in which I was shoved through several times by other guests and employees. For twenty bucks and change, here's an idea: Flag down a student, give them 7 bucks, and tell them to swipe you in as a guest for the on-campus dining commons. You'll save yourself a lot of hassle.
I have now learned after travelling a bit in the south and on the east coast, what a popular establishment "waffle shops" or "waffle houses" are in America. And now after trying one of them, I see why people keep going back to these common staples...
CHEAP FOOD is the reason
And BREAKFAST ALL DAY is the other
I love breakfast food and I could eat it all day, every day and for prices that the waffle shop has, I could do it pretty cheaply! They have daily combo specials, and special combo options all for around $5 or less each!! Of course they have all of the classic French toast, pancakes, omelets, oatmeal, waffles....and they even have pigs in a blanket made with pancakes and sausages!!
I got one of the combos though because it seemed like too good of a deal to pass up! For around $4 I got two eggs, bacon, homefries, and an English muffin! That English muffin for some reason really made me want to start buying English muffins again for myself. It just tasted that good!! My eggs could have been a little better, and they say you should judge a place on their eggs, but they were fine, just needed some salt really. And their homefries were good but in my opinion needed some more onions, since I love those ha.
But so cheap, and packed during the lunch hour, so come earlier than that, or come ready to wait for a little bit!!
A restaurant place that does the job well for an omelette or pancake craving, the Waffle Shop North has kind servers and quick (for the early riser--beware the lines!) seating and service. The breakfast food won't break any culinary barriers, but it's made well and has many options for egg/pancake accompaniments. Well-priced, too. I'd happily call this a four-star breakfast standard if they took credit cards; as a decently large chain with three? four? outposts and a steadily large customer base, I see no reason for their cash-only stance. I dislike being forced to pay the $3 premium at restaurant ATMs, and on our first visit here last year, as we didn't know the policy, we had to pony up for it. Otherwise, a consistent and traditional breakfast place, and one of the few in the area that's not a Denny's or an Eat-n-Park.
Out of all the restaurants in State College, I have the biggest gripe with Waffle House. Partially because my friends love this place and I always get dragged here. The only reason this establishment is so busy is because it's pretty much the only breakfast place in town (Denny's does not count). This place always has a long line outside and the food is sub par at best. I have had both savory and sweet here and I don't see anything special. Prices are decent though.
Exactly what the doctor ordered for brunch. Mushroom and cheese omelette plus 2 sides (I went for home fries and fruit cup) was a great decision, which I applaud myself for wholeheartedly. And it's cheap. Beware, some of the waitresses will treat you like a five year old, even though they can't be more than 16 themselves. I didn't care too much.
Cash only!
I spent many a college weekend here for breakfast and was happy that the standards were still the same when I returned last weekend. Yes, depending on when you come the lines can literally extend into the parking lot, but it's a quick turnaround. I have never eaten anything on the lunch portion of the menu, but the breakfast is fantastic. Everyone I've brought here has always enjoyed their meal, whether waffles, french toast, pancakes, or omelettes. You can't go wrong with their Belgian waffle and a side of thick cut bacon or pork sausages. The coffee is always good and the fresh squeezed orange juice can't be beat. I spent $10 on brunch and portions weren't skimpy. My only problem is that they do not take credit cards; once they do I will give it 5 stars. (I never use an ATM in a restaurant.)
The Waffle Shop is my absolute favorite east-coast breakfast place. (Hobee's on the west coast is competing for overall favorite breakfast.) I have never tried their lunch food.. I am sure it is good, but their breakfast foods are so delicious I can't bring myself to try lunch. Every time I go I've been torn between eggs or something sweet! Usually I end up making a deal with a friend where we split one of each. For eggs, the Villager Omelet or the Nest Egg are my favorites. The blueberry waffle or banana-nut waffle (or pancake versions) win for sweet food. Also try the fresh squeezed orange juice.
This place is highly popular with older locals, high school kids, and large groups. It may look a bit like a Denny's, but the food is faaaar better. There may be a line, especially if you come on the weekend, but you won't find comparable breakfast elsewhere in State College!
Opens early. Very early.
Hands down my favorite place for breakfast in State College. On football weekends make it there early to beat the crowds of weary football fans, students, and visiting alumni. I love the omelettes and waffles. The West College Avenue location is right across from the entrance to the Penn State Golf Courses. Together they make for a perfect morning.
Remember to bring cash. No credit cards.
I've been to two of the Waffle Shops near Penn State and they're virtually identical, in terms of offerings. Delicious, fatty, continental breakfast food, and at a fair price, at that. Always packed to capacity (at least during the special event weekends when I visit), we usually wait in line to be seated. At the College Ave. location, it may take a half hour at least to get seated.
I typically order a combination of sausages, bacon, two eggs and pancakes, then slather on Tabasco, ketchup, and syrup. I typically emerge from the Waffle Shop, defeated, full, and satisfied. Worth a stop if you have a hankering for IHOP-style breakfast food.
Waffle Shop is running a pretty good business-- when we got there this morning, the line was out the door, but it only took us around 10 minutes to get in. Our waitress was attentive despite the chaos, prompt with coffee refills. My banana nut waffle was delicious, and there was never any pressure to eat faster/turn over the table. I'll definitely be going back!
Good place for breakfast: try the pecan waffles and omelets. Place reminds me of a Denny's or IHOP. Alums seem to come back here for nostalgia, so expect long lines on football weekends.
gray breakfast, great prices, great service. It just doesn't have any charcter. Give me a diner with their grease and memoriabelia on the walls any day. we tried to go to the Diner but they were way backed up. Nice to have this a a fallback plan.
Any time anyone is visiting State College, I always tell them to hit the Waffle Shop. I have had food this good in other places (NYC, DC, Tokyo), and food this cheap before (small town diners) but NEVER have I had such unbelievable breakfast food for so cheap. I miss going there every weekend (and yeah, a lot of weekdays). ^_^
Everything is great -- the omelettes, the waffles, the pancakes, the lunch food. I personally love the Mini Platter if you want a complete breakfast (it's got pancakes, eggs, and bacon or sausage) or the waffles of ANY type, or the western omelette (the one with home fries in it). But really, just close your eyes and randomly point at anything on the menu, and you will love it. The reason that there's a line a mile long on football weekends is because it's the best place to get breakfast, brunch, or lunch in SC (but don't worry, the line moves FAST).
One thing to note -- this location and the other one on Atherton are owned by a different owner than the one on College (in my opinion, the one on College has slipped since it was bought by someone else), so for the true Waffle Shop, go to the Atherton locations. Another thing to note -- they close at 3, so don't sleep in too long!
Finally, they don't accept credit cards, so bring cash (you won't need much) or a check from a local bank.
Best place for breakfast in Penn State that I know of. Fresh food. Much better than IHOP.
Best breakfast food I've ever had anywhere. We used to wait in line in our sweatpants and hoodies after a long night of drinking. They have the best fresh-squeezed OJ I have ever tasted. What I wouldn't give to have a glass of their OJ right now.
Really good omelettes (I had bacon cheddar and tomato)...their potatoes were incredible! Of course, the waffles were great too...we had banana pecan waffles. Fantastic!!!
Hands down the best place to eat breakfast in State College. I LOVE their chocolate chip pancakes (yum!). Service is fast, prices are cheap, and the food is tasty (even their lunch food is good!). The only downside is that they are usually really busy on weekends, so be prepared to wait in line (though the line does move pretty fast since the service is fast). But don't even try on football weekends - you'll be waiting forever.
Try and try again, we cannot find another Waffle Shop comparison throughout many of the east coast cities. We've been to classic diners, off the highway eateries, recommended breakfast nooks... all to no avail. This is our most highly missed restaurant of PSU days. The quality of food is always fresh, the price can't be beat, and the service is fast. Going on a game day? Prepare to wait in line. Otherwise, there's usually not much if any wait. The place is clean, get a seat next to a window for sunshine. And order your bacon extra crispy- they actually know what that means here! My husband was a waiter here for a short time, and knows all the little things that you can interchange on the menu if you don't want an english muffin, or would rather have a pancake, etc... So don't be afraid to ask, the old timer's that frequent this place do, and substitutions are part of the true bliss of this wonderful breakfast eatery.
