9 Family-Friendly Places to Eat in Happy Valley, Pennsylvania

Looking for casual, kid-friendly places to eat in Happy Valley that won’t break the bank and will keep everyone in the family happy?

Whether you’re visiting Penn State or just passing through the State College area with the fam, finding a spot that pleases picky eaters *and* their parents can be a real mission.

During our recent trip to Happy Valley, we were determined to make the most of our time (and our meals), and we found these 9 spots offering a variety of food (including a few ice cream spots!) that I can safely say EVERYONE in the family will love.

Thanks to Happy Valley Adventure Bureau for sponsoring this post! All opinions are, of course, my own.

The Field Burger & Tap

The Field Burger & Tap was the first spot we tried at Happy Valley and it set us up with HIGH expectations (with thankfully were met for the rest of our trip).

The Field Burger & Tap is located in State College at the Toftrees Golf Resort. It’s a casual spot that still feels a bit upscale, but not so upscale that a toddler losing it over their food would draw stares.

They are most known for their burgers and sandwiches, but also their huge orders of fries! If you order a table of fries, they literally just pour them out onto your table. And this makes it the perfect place for families: high quality food with casual vibes.

I had the The Steak Sandwich and it was SO incredibly good. The rosemary ciabatta was fresh and the steak inside was so perfectly seasoned and juicy. Like, really, I’m still drooling thinking about this sandwich.

And THEN we get to the milkshakes!

Listen. If you go to The Field Burger & Tap you HAVE to get a milkshake.

They are so incredible, with outrageous toppings that seem like enough dessert for one person in and of themselves. I ordered the Peanut Butter Cup milkshake and had to force myself NOT to finish the whole thing. And Gerrit ordered the Strawberry Shortcake milkshake which he loved and which had a literal strawberry ice cream bar on top!

Truly this restaurant was a highlight of the trip, but luckily the good food just kept on coming.

The Blonde Bistro

We had lunch at The Blonde Bistro in Bellefonte one day and it was truly fantastic! It’s another casual spot where kids will be welcome, but parents will love the high-quality food that Chef Ciara makes. Plus there is extensive beer list.

There are SO many menu options here that mostly center on Italian food. I had the Chicken Marsala Pasta and it was SO buttery and rich and delicious!

Also, this may seem like a weird thing to say but…Girls, make sure you visit the restroom. It’s a fun tribute to Marilyn Monroe!

Robin Hood Brewing

Robin Hood Brewing is a brewpub in Bellefonte that’s perfect for a casual meal. Again, this is a great spot that will make everyone happy: great food kids will still like plus beers for the parents!

They have a huge variety of beers that they brew and I loved that they had all their labels on the walls! I’m not a beer drinker, but Gerrit is and he really enjoyed his.

The food here is fantastic too. And A LOT, so come hungry! (Truly the stromboli the person at the next table got was bigger than my head.) There are pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and more.

I had the Cheesesteak Pizza and loved it. I love that there are so many places here that have twists on the Philly cheesesteak since Happy Valley is just over 3 hours away from Philadelphia.

Way Fruit Farm

Way Fruit Farm was maybe one of my favorite stops in our entire Happy Valley trip!

This farm has been in the family since 1872, and it’s grown to include a huge store with a restaurant, plus an orchard where they frequently hold events like Art in the Orchard, an Everything Pumpkin Festival, craft shows, and more.

We had breakfast at Way Fruit Farm where I had a delicious egg sandwich on a homemade bagel, an amazing cinnamon roll, and the star of the show: the apple cider donut. It was delicate and flavorful without being too appley, and wrapped in sugar. SO good! (It’s the picture at the top of this post.)

But they also serve lunch and dinner, with classic sandwiches, mac and cheese bowls, and salads. And there’s a kid’s menu. The prices are SO reasonable too! The kid’s meal is just $5!

And besides eating, you can shop in the store! They have a store stocked with local products like honey, apple butter, and jams. Plus a section with baking goods, pottery, souvenirs, and old-fashioned candy.

I loved browsing in this lovely store and wish I had had more room in my suitcase to bring home more local products.

We Are Inn

If you want something that really feels like Penn State, you’ll want to head to the We Are Inn in Philipsburg!

This spot is a restaurant and a motel. It’s owned by a huge Penn State fan, and their entire restaurant is decorated in Penn State memorabilia. It’s a full tribute to the Nittany Lions.

On the menu you’ll find Italian pasta dishes, steaks, burgers, and more. I had the Mushroom Swiss Burger and thought it was fantastic. But the best thing to get here is the Chef Pat’s Way cheesesteak sandwich. This is what was recommended to us and Gerrit had it and loved it.

There’s also a kid’s menu with chicken tenders, pasta, and grilled cheese.

While We Are Inn is located in Philipsburg, they are actually building a location in State College. I’m sure they’ll have the same great food and it will make it even more convenient if you’re spending time at Penn State!

Elk Creek Cafe

Elk Creek Cafe is such a special place. It’s located in Boalsburg on a small town street in the midst of the Amish (truly, while we were eating we saw horses and buggies going down the road). And the food and atmosphere are just fantastic.

It’s a farm to table restaurant plus they brew their own beer, and everything is so high quality!

They regularly have live music too, which you will need to buy tickets for ahead of time.

We were there to see Eric Ian Farmer and Pepe Barcellos perform while we ate and it was just the best evening. The music and the food were both great. And I loved seeing a community come out and so enthusiastically support their arts community!

It’s another one of those places that is upscale casual: high quality food and vibes, but still a family-friendly place.

On the menu here you’ll find burgers, sandwiches, and main dishes like Fish-n-Chips and Mushroom Risotto. I had Elk Creek Burger and thought it was so good. I could tell the meat was so high quality. And Gerrit had such a unique pizza with sausage and honey on it.

Gerrit also had a beer flight that he loved with Elk Creek’s beers and I had a fun mocktail shrub they made just for me when I asked for a Sprite (which they didn’t carry). Honestly though I’m glad I got a mixed non-alcoholic drink instead of a soft drink in the end!

Boal City Brewing

Boal City Brewing isn’t just a place to eat. It’s a whole experience.

This brewery is in Boalsburg and it is the ultimate family hang out spot! Because behind the building, they have an entire backyard with firepits and chairs. I loved seeing families out enjoying the evening and chatting with friends while kids ran around.

Boat City Brewing doesn’t actually have their own food, but each night they host a different local food truck that can range from pizza to BBQ to burgers. Then you can enjoy your food and drinks at the picnic tables or chairs outside.

It’s really such a great atmosphere and will keep adults happy (with the drinks!) and kids happy (with the casual food and plenty of space to run around).

Nittany Valley Creamery

Ok, I’m cheating a little bit, and the last two places on our list are actually places to get ice cream. Because what kid (or adult) doesn’t love ice cream?! And Happy Valley is known for their incredible dairy products.

First, let me tell you about Nittany Valley Creamery, which was actually my favorite ice cream I had on the trip.

It’s located in Howard, Pennsylvania, and it’s a stand run by an Amish family that makes the ice cream from the milk from their own cows. And it is INCREDIBLE. There are so many flavors like Black Raspberry, Strawberry Delight, and Cookies & Cream. I had Twisted PB Cup and loved it so much.

And besides the ice cream, kids will also love seeing the goats that live in the pen right next to the creamery and the small playground set up.

Penn State Berkey Creamery

Last but not least, we have to talk about one of the Happy Valley’s most iconic ice cream spots: the Penn State Creamery.

This spot is located in State College on Penn State’s campus. It’s in the Food Science Building, not far from the Arboretum. And there’s a parking garage right behind it for easy parking.

This place is huge and felt a little chaotic at first because you go to a different line depending on what you want to order (cone vs. milkshake, etc.). But we figured it out and got our ice cream and WOW. It’s so amazing.

Again, being a chocolate girlie, I got Death by Chocolate and it did not disappoint! And next time I have my eye on Keeney Beany Chocolate.

They also have an ice cream flavor dedicated to Grilled Stickies, a local treat of cinnamon-roll-like treat.

If you’re walking around Penn State with kids in tow, this is perfect spot for a pick-me-up treat (or, you know, a bribe to keep the walking tour going.)