Happy Valley has lots of great food in restaurants and places with a story to tell. There are restaurants that feature fine dining and innovative dishes. There are the classic places that feature your favorite dishes. Restaurants with themes and history. Happy Valley also has over 1,000 active farms producing lots of food and products to eat and enjoy. I visited five great places in Happy Valley to enjoy a meal or a snack.

Pine Grove Hall is a restaurant, concert venue and event space in a former Odd Fellows Hall in the town of Pine Grove. I was there on small plates night so I was able to try multiple items. We ordered the cucumber salad, fried quail, charred snap peas and quail egg toast. The flavors were so well balanced in each dish with something stronger like a spice or herb and then something more mellow like a local honey or house made ranch. For dessert, a very rich dark chocolate torte. I also got a cocktail, Hot Lips, which was a spicy mezcal drink. Their cocktail menu has a selection of exciting concoctions. They source 90% of their ingredients from local farms in order to create innovative dishes. The farms are listed on the menu descriptions for each item. Pine Grove Hall provides a space to musicians and artists in a much more intimate space with performances happening regularly.

The Tavern Restaurant is a well-known Happy Valley staple and a restaurant I’ve eaten at many times over the years. This is a common dining spot for visitors because of their quality, consistency and Penn State tradition. They recently completed an interior renovation giving the establishment a more modern feel while retaining the historical exterior. The building has gone through many changes in its 100+ years in existence. Their menu is designed to have a little something for anyone featuring some classics and some seasonal menu items giving lots of variety. We shared the charcuterie board and I ordered the Pan Seared Halibut with black rice and citrus for my main course and an extra side of roasted brussels sprouts. The restaurant is excited to try new dishes on the menu to create dishes where ingredients don’t overpower each other to provide a unique experience.

The Original Waffle Shop is another Happy Valley favorite that I have visited for breakfast many times. You’ll find many in Happy Valley there for a family breakfast or conducting business over a meal. I regularly visited the location in State College on West College Ave, but there are many throughout Happy Valley. They specialize in classic diner style breakfasts and little extra touches that make it special like fresh squeezed orange juice and fantastic service. Even though they are known for their waffles, I love their pancakes and any of their omelets filled with cheese and other ingredients. On weekends, there can be lines out the door, but it usually moves pretty fast and it is worth the wait.

Bonfatto’s Italian Market & Corner Café has become a go-to sandwich location for me in Happy Valley. This little market and café located in Bellefonte offers deli sandwiches and products, coffee, pastries, and local and imported specialty goods. Started one of my mornings there with a tasty pancetta, egg and cheese on a croissant with a latte. I also stopped by during a crowded lunch and went with their special of the day, a Chicken Pesto Panini. Both sandwiches were filling and delicious. This makes a great stop while exploring Downtown Bellefonte for its growing arts and antiques scene.

Just outside downtown Bellefonte is Axemann Brewery. They are one of the many craft breweries in Happy Valley. This unique brewery is located in an old metal factory on Axemann Road. They have revitalized the building turning it into a great place to hang out, have a meal and drink one of their many craft beers. They have managed to retain a lot of the old history of the building, incorporating it into the décor. On my visit, I got the Meatball Parmigiana square sheet pan style pizza and one of their signature beers the Hazy Daisy IPA. The pizza used fresh mozzarella and basil and lots of meatballs. The beer is a flavorful IPA that’s not too hoppy in taste.

The We Are Inn in Philipsburg is a fun restaurant for any Penn State Football fan visiting Happy Valley. This restaurant has a large menu of entrees, sandwiches and appetizers. I got a great cheesesteak made with a hoagie roll from Philly. The highlight of this restaurant is all of their Penn State Football memorabilia. They have signed photos and posters lining the walls. There are items from games and promotions in display cases. It’s a cool little tribute to the beloved team that calls Happy Valley its home.

Wasson Farm is one of the over 1,000 active farms in the Happy Valley. I made a stop there after a day of hiking on the many beautiful trails in the Happy Valley for a treat. Wasson Farm is producing and selling homemade ice cream using milk from the cows on their farm. I got a cone with cookies n cream and peanut butter fluff. However, I saw someone walk away with a banana split sundae and wish I had two stomachs for more ice cream. There are many farms in the Happy Valley producing their own goods available at farm stands, markets and on your plates are restaurants all over the region.

Alex Goodstein aka @alexeatstoomuch on Instagram is a Pittsburgh based food blogger sharing his love of food on the internet.