My daughters and I went there for a meal during arts fest. It's a gem of a location - right downtown and two outdoor patios. Unfortunately, the food was HORRIBLE! I ordered an eggplant dish which came out uncooked and partially frozen! It was a special and so hard to believe that they don't cook with fresh foods but frozen. My daughters' meals were not good either. Â The table next to us complained about their food also. Â They definitely take advantage of their location and know that people will go there because of that and not because of the food. Â We go to PSU football games. We will never go there to eat again and would highly suggest that others avoid it too.
Review Source:The deli has a huge menu! The food is typically good but service is barely passable. I would suggest not going at the begining of any semester while the staff is getting retrained. Go a few weeks into the season when the staff is on their game. Lots of seating and some is outdoors when the weather is nice. They have a huge bar with a good selection of pretty much everything.
Review Source:AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME beer bar! Â So nice to see a bar like this in what is a sea of college bars. Â You're not going to find Natural Light tall boys and Pabst Blue Ribbon pounders on special here. Â Great beer and a welcoming atmosphere!
They had 30 or so beers on tap. Â Hit happy hour by accident and enjoyed two fantastic brews. Â The adage, "You get what you pay for", holds true and prices are comparatively higher than other bars so be forewarned. Â The prices are not unfair or inflated, they're simply what you'd expect to pay for good beer anywhere else. Â Bartenders were very knowledgeable about their beer and were able to make suggestions to several other customers who weren't beer connoisseurs. Â Lighting and decor were spot on for what the Z Bar is marketed as. Â I will definitely make this my first stop next time I visit PSU.
I find myself coming to Z-bar (Deli) more and more, as time goes on. It's great place to start a night on the town, because of their conveniently timed happy hour and a menu that is varied and pretty tasty.
In case you aren't aware, 9-11 PM is Happy Hour at the Z-bar. Every day, including weekends, but excluding events. The special is half-price liquor drinks and $2 off draft beer. For those looking to get drunk, they have drinks like the Z-bar Zen that will get the job done. For beer snobs, their draft list is pretty impressive, and seems to have something for everyone. For cocktails snobs (like myself), you can get something good as long as you know what you want, though you may find the selection wanting. For scotch drinkers, let me point out that "Half-Price Liquor" includes pours of single malt whiskey and Johnnie Walker Blue (just hope that you get a bartender willing to give you a decent pour, since not all of them do).
As far as food, the Deli has one of the better menus in town. While they don't have any real standout entrees, the sheer variety of menus means they'll have something for everyone. I was impressed that they had a leg of lamb sandwich, and their Reuben isn't bad for State College. They also have specials on regular occasion, so it's worth checking in from time to time to see what's new.
The decor is nicely thought out. It has a sort of quiet sophistication, with just a touch of "Man Cave" brought in by the TVs over the bar and other decorations. You have your choice of the front room (the bar), or the back room. The full menu is available in both locations, so the choice lies mainly if whether you want a quiet dining experience or something a little more casual. Personally, I tend to sit in the front room when I'm meeting friends to go out.
Overall, I'd give Z-bar a fair endorsement: They have a little something for everyone.
My wife and I spent the weekend in State College. We ended up at the Z Bar after after finding an overwhelming crowd at Bar Bleu. Being a fan of good beer, I was more than pleased with their draft  craft brewery choices. The Z Bar was less crowded than Bar Bleu. We ordered their soup sampler, calamari and sandwiches. Their food is very good and made with fresh ingredients. We had the soup sampler and all of our selections were great. The Z Bar Deli Restaurant is a great option if your looking for a place to have soup and a sandwich or too enjoy good beer while watching your favorite team.
Review Source:The Z Bar has an amazing beer selection. Â They also offer a Meet the Brewer series which no other bar in State College can compete with. Â I've always had excellent customer service every time I've been to this bar. Â I would highly recommend visiting this bar if you're looking for an amazing draft selection, well (beer) educated staff, and amazing customer service. Â Any time I have friends/clients visiting the area I always take them to this bar.
Review Source:I must say now that I've been to Z Bar a couple of times, I'm a huge fan. Their draft list is impressive, it's usually a quiet spot compared to the rest of the night life but still lively, and the food is delicious. The sweet potato fries are amazing, especially if you pair them with the creamy garlic sauce. I also love the fact that they have dishes like "The Ultimate Jewish Penicillin" and the "Deli Meshugna". I haven't had their latkes yet but definitely want to give them a try some time soon.
I went to this bar on two very different occasion. One was a group event where the comfy booths in the back created a nice atmosphere. The second time I went was on a game day. This place is great on a game day, big TV's a friendly crowd (depending on how the team is doing), and relatively quick service.
If you're looking for an extensive list of quality draft beers, this is the place to go. Â If you're looking for a delicious meal, I would look elsewhere.
While I love the beer selection here, the food always seems to be off the mark. Â The menu is very large and while the variety is nice, I think it prevents this place from putting out the kind of food that actually makes people want to come back. Â I came here with 2 friends and everything about our dinner was just...."meh". Â I ordered a Ranchero chicken wrap because it sounded very appealing on the menu..."Fried chicken tenders, hot cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, bbq sauce, lettuce, tomato on a spinach wrap". Â I think if the wrap/ingredients were fresher, it would have been very tasty. Â However, it just tasted dull and after eating the first half I wasn't much looking forward to the 2nd half of the wrap. Â It was supposed to be served with sweet potato fries but for some reason IT ended up coming with just a handful of soggy potato chips...No reason for the substitution was given and I didn't bother to ask why they couldn't follow their own menu. Â My friend ordered buffalo wings and for the price ($9) they were pretty skimpy looking, and he only received a portion of 10. Â The menu did not bother to specify how many you receive in an order, which is a pretty annoying/cheap thing for a restaurant to pull. Â The last member of our party ordered a pulled pork sandwich. Â The sandwich was huge but again, nothing really special about it. Â I sampled some of the pork and there wasnt much flavor, and it tasted like it had just been nuked in a microwave prior to being served.
On the plus side, the atmosphere of this place is really nice, and the bartenders/servers are very friendly and helpful.
Ate here last weekend with 3 of my friend for one of their graduation.
We ordered the Fried Calamari for appetizer and was kind of surprised how small the portion was.
My one friend and I shared the Sizzling Chicken Fajitas and was not too happy with it. The plate was too sizzley and burnt more of the veggies/chicken that was touching the plate.
I didn't get comments on the other two's food.
Don't know if I would come back. Not that I would have to unless someone else is graduating from Penn State!
Oh and the couple next to us was making out and I think did not get anything to eat, only drinks.
The weeknight specials ($2 off all drafts, 1/2 off all liquor 9pm - 1pm) are awesome, because they have a great and changing variety of drafts available. Â It's great to go on a weeknight and taste some great beers for a ridiculously low price.
The food is seriously terrible though, so stick to the beer.
Ask any Penn Stater for a "chill spot" on a typically rowdy night and they'll lead you to Z-Bar. Listen to them. There's an absurdly large list of taps and bottles, and thus something for everyone from the craft-beer newbie to the seasoned beer geek. The atmosphere is rather unique for a college as well, plenty of outdoor and indoor seating as well as a decidedly relaxed aura about the place. Conversations among strangers are typical and easygoing, and there's none of the widescale debauchery and belligerence typically associated with other popular watering holes.
As for food at the Deli, the meals contain fresh ingredients. I always order the crab dip, which has big chunks of crab meat, fresh leaves of sauteed spinach, and hearty artichoke hearts. It's not leaden like at most places and is a good appetizer. Most of the sandwiches are rather good, whoever made the menu knew how to pair veggies, meats, and breads. The Italian Market Foccacia, complete with pesto aioli, cappicola, and a fried egg for good measure, is one of my favorite sandwiches anywhere. Burgers are large, properly cooked, and satisfying. Fries are decent, though can be a bit soggy.
Every time I come to State College I make it a point to grab food and drink at Z-Bar/Deli, and you should too.
Busy Saturday game day. Â Spent the evening looking for somewhere with under an hour wait to go for dinner. Â Finally gave up and said..."whatever their list is...that is where we are going" as we headed for Z Bar.
Nice surprise to see a 45 minute wait...which actually turned into a 20 minute wait.
GREAT beer list. Â Had a porter from Troag's if I recall correctly. Â Wife had a stout.
Server Kate was fantastic. Â Smiling, fast, friendly. Â Nothing beats that.
Got some Crab and Spinach dip to start. Â Chips kind of sucked, but dip was really good.
Moved on to a Black n Blue burger for me, and a Hoagie for wife. Â Burger was delicious. Â Really hit the spot. Â Her turkey bacon balsamic hoagie was absolutely fantastic. Â Whoever came up with that should be crowned Hoagie King.
Skipped dessert and went to get more beers. Â Great place, good value, excellent food and service (except for the chips with dip...those were hot July garbage).
I want to go back right now!
This place puzzles me. Â The beer selection is top-notch, always something new to try and plenty of old favorites. Â The food is better than average, great Reuben, and my wife loved her Cobb Salad. Â Our waiter on Friday evening, September 2, in the Z Bar, Daniel, was excellent. Â Despite it being crowded with football fans at peak service hours, he was just attentive enough and we were very impressed with his professional approach.
However, why does the management allow a young man who appeared to be a busboy (or maybe server?) sprawl out on the furniture in the waiting area by the hostess stand while he sloppily eats a sandwich in a tank top, oblivious to everything but his ipod? Â Gross.
Huge! selection of drafts (around 40 on a rotating basis) and between 9 and 11 it's $2 of drafts. Â This means I can get some delicious Ommegang, like the Hennepin, for around $3. It's not like going to Otto's where there's a solid 80% chance they won't have the beer you want... so when I want a good draft, I head to the Z-Bar.
** Z-Bar is the bar section of the Deli, as Alex said. Reviews for the restaurant/food should probably go under the Deli's page **
I cannot give more than 3-stars to Z-Bar because most of the food is tremendously overpriced, and/or disgusting. Don't get me wrong, their burgers are good, but not better than Five-Guys' and a solid 5$ more expensive.
You go to Z-Bar for the beer. An excellent combination of local brews (highlight the Bavarian Barbarian, and an excellent holiday ale which name escapes me at the moment), and international favorites (Trippel, Maredsous, and you can never really go wrong with Guiness).
The food, as mentioned above, mainly tastes good after happy hour is over.
Hm, my first review for a State College restaurant. Im pretty sure that the Deli restaurant is the same as the Z bar, but the food's here good.
I've had their sandwiches, and other entree dishes which never disappointed. Â However, with all continental restaurants which try to serve everything, they fail on some points. Â For example, their Reuben was unforgettable, in a bad way, and they had a Thai Salmon Salad, whatever that means, which was basically a salmon salad drizzled with sesame oil- the creativity is amazing.
So, it's an OK place. Â But remember your most likely not the typical PSU student if your on yelp so you know not to expect an epicurean adventure in this town.
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