Little Cub Eats: Irving's

Irving's 110 East College Ave.

Ease Of Access: 7/10

Irving's is on the intersection of South Allen Street, across the street from Hammond Building, so it takes about ten/fifteen minutes of walking.

Bank Account Happiness: 85%

Am I the only one that thinks that $4.50 for a smoothie is too much? It seems so, since every smoothie I've had in State College has cost that much, but I still think it's costly. I enjoyed it though, so I'd say it was worth it. Plus, I had this smoothie for dinner, and dinner at the commons costs $5, so technically this smoothie was cheaper than eating at the commons.

Big Group or Study Spot?

Irving's is actually a quite spacey cafe, but definitely a place most people frequent for studying. In fact, the first person I saw when I walked in was on her computer with a notebook and papers spread across the table.

The Food

I've walked passed Irving's on a number of occasions, typically on the way to Target and H&M, two stores I frequent entirely too much, but I've never actually gone in until now. Each time I walk by, the wonderful smells of a cozy cafe hit my nose and I resolutely stick to my original plans for my day out. Finally I made plans to specifically visit Irving's on a Saturday when I wanted a smoothie, but had been cooped up all day. The ten or so minute walk, then, was quite enjoyable for me-- except on the way back I had to hold a freezing cold smoothie in my bare hands.

Irving's, compared to other places that serve smoothies, has quite the exotic collection to choose from. I ordered a Laguna Peach:

What a high quality picture Kylie.

with strawberry, peach, and apple juice! Strawberry and peach are my Favorite Fruits of All Time, so I couldn't resist. This smoothie did not disappoint. Honestly speaking, it's the best smoothie I've ever had. I felt as if I had instantly been transported to a wonderful sunny day (which was most definitely not descriptive of the weather in State College), the sun warming my face and my toes dangling in the cool, refreshing water of a river. Quite the specific vision, but it immediately brought me to paradise with the sweet and fresh flavors of strawberry and peach. Thankfully the apple juice wasn't terribly noticeable, since I'm not a big fan (add it to the ever growing list).

Unfortunately, I didn't have the appetite to try anything else from the cafe, but this smoothie was so delicious it has inspired me to try every smoothie they serve (which will be quite the feat, since several are made with coconut and-- surprise, surprise-- I hate coconut). This smoothie was the perfect dinner paired with a handful of pistachios and a square of cheese and this awkwardly bird-like meal is the perfect amount for me.

My only complaint is I can not find the nutritional information on their smoothies, and I try to keep track of my calorie intake throughout the day. Alas, I'm sure a fruit smoothie and some pistachios didn't add up to much, so I'm not too concerned. 

I hope you get a chance to stop by Irving's, and if you happen to try any of their smoothies made with coconut, please tell me what you thought of it!

Little Cub Eats: Chipotle

Chipotle (you know where Chipotle is)

Flashback to the beginning of the semester when I said I already knew the typical eateries of Pennsylvania in my first RCL blog post... I lied. I, believe it or not, have never actually been to Chipotle. Where I come from (as if it's particularly far), there is a Moe's right next to my high school, and being a cheerleader and in the marching band, we never really strayed very far from school. There wasn't much interest to try Chipotle, since we would have to drive farther and just over be inconvenienced.

Jump forward to 2016 and the closest Moe's requires a bus ride and more precious money dollars. Unsurprisingly, I would rather walk to Chipotle a mere few minutes from my dorm than catch the bus to Trader Joe's Center. My cravings for a burrito bowl were real and Chipotle was on the way back from my shopping so... here we are!

Ease of Access: 10/10

Chipotle is only about a five minute walk from Pollock, so two thumbs up!

Bank Account Happiness: 80%

My chicken bowl, chips and salsa came to around $9, but I could never finish a whole bowl, so once again, you could think of it as $4.50 for dinner and lunch the next day each. A little more pricey than I would prefer, considering it's just rice and some toppings (I don't like beans and didn't even really want to get meat), but overall decent price. Also, what's with this paying for chips and salsa business? Pretty sure Chipotle makes enough money to include the chips...

Big Group or Study Spot?

Honestly, I would say neither, although it is definitely better suited for big groups. Perhaps it was just the time I went, but it was very crowded there. For sure, do not attempt to get any thoughtful work done here.

The Food

As mentioned, I ordered a chicken bowl:

Hi yes I'm eating Chipotle in bed.

I like to eat my bowls with chips instead of a fork or spoon, thus the chip wedged in the corner. Overall, I was satisfied with my meal, so please keep that in mind as I relentlessly compare this to Moe's, my baby. 

For starters, I'm not a big meat person, so I never really look forward to these kinds of places that serve a large selection of meat and not much else. And as mentioned in my last post, I absolutely hate peppers, so their veggie option was out the window as soon as I saw those little green buggers in the bucket. As a default, I chose chicken, because I've ordered a rice burrito from Moe's before (I also don't like beans) and I never want to experience the look the server gave me ever again. 

The chicken, while easy to chew, unlike most grilled chicken I come across, was decently spicy. Don't get me wrong, I love spicy food, but for a burrito/taco/bowl I prefer the fresher, lighter tastes of sour cream, cheese, and tomatoes, so this came as a slight shock. Two things I prefer in my bowls from Moe's: grilled mushrooms and queso. Chipotle does not serve either, as far as I'm aware, which led to my grudging ordering of chicken, as I would have gladly substituted the mushrooms. I'm also a cheese fiend, so I like the added flavor of queso on top of the other cheese. 

On the plus side, the lettuce was fresh, a nice mix of leafy green and crunchy, I enjoyed the salsa, and the rice had a nice flavor to it. The server also loaded my bowl with sour cream without me having to ask, which is automatic points in my book. 

The one thing I do prefer from Chipotle over Moe's is the chips. They have nice big chunks of salt and a nice hint of lime that, combined with my bowl, made for a refreshing meal. They also complimented the medium salsa I got as well. 

Once again, overall this was a satisfactory meal, and the location is convenient enough to make me open to going again. Beware, though, the line gets pretty long, so don't be in a hurry if you try it out.

Little Cub Eats: The Corner Room

The Corner Room 100 W College Ave.

Ease of Access: 7/10

The Corner Room is located directly across the street from Hammond building, which takes me about ten minutes to walk to from Pollock.

Lioncash+: Accepted

Bank Account Happiness: 90%

I mean, technically, it's 100% if you take into account that my parents paid for it. The prices at The Corner Room are actually very decent, and I did not find anything on the menu I believed to be too overpriced. My veggie wrap was $6.99, but I did not finish it, so you could think of it as $3.50 for dinner and $3.50 for lunch the next day, which is a cheaper dinner and the same price as lunch at the dining commons.

Big Group or Study spot?

This was quite the typical restaurant set up, with booths and tables and a normal amount of noise, so I wouldn't recommend studying here, but it also wouldn't be impossible if you absolutely needed to.

The Food

From the top, my mom ordered the Shepard's Pie, on the left is my Veggie Wrap, and the bottom is my dad's Greek Salad.

The Shepard's Pie, by my mom's evaluation, was a typical Shepard's Pie with beef gravy. She seemed satisfied and I had a single kernel of corn that made me want to try more, though I did not eat anymore.

The Greek salad seemed a fairly typical salad, with tomatoes, black olives, green and red peppers, an egg, and feta cheese. Though not what I would typically think of in a Greek salad, my dad seemed to enjoy it. I did not try his salad because I hate peppers.

Which brings me to my Veggie Wrap. For starters, the wrap does not come with the (seemingly randomly placed exactly four) olives pictured to the left, as my dad hates olives, so he gave his to me. The wrap also comes with zucchini, squash, onions, cheese, and red and green peppers. This is my struggle with becoming a vegetarian is that most "veggie" entrees typically include some form of Pepper, who is my Arch Nemesis. I do love some good zucchini and squash, however, so I braved being that picky person and asked for no peppers. It was very obvious that they make a big batch of these veggies at once because even without peppers in my wrap, it still tasted like peppers!!

If you are someone who likes the overwhelming taste of green peppers lingering in your food, then this wrap I imagine would be perfect for you. The wrap was not awful-- I ate the whole thing, but I have been trained throughout my life to suck it up and it your food because "this is dinner," as my mom used to say-- but by the time I had finished the other half the next day, I did not want to taste anymore peppers for the foreseeable future.

I was very happy with my small fruit cup, though, and the atmosphere in The Corner Room was enjoyable. It gives off an old timey vibe (since it appears to have been around for awhile) with all the memorabilia hanging around, so please do not be turned away with my blatant dislike for peppers.

Little Cub Eats: Primanti Brothers

Primanti Brothers 130 Hiester St.

Ease of Access: 8/10

Primanti's isn't very far from Pollock, closer than Green Bowl and Urban Outfitters, but it's on the corner of Beaver Ave. and I don't like to go passed College. Call me lazy.

Bank Account Happiness: 90%

If you're like me, you can't finish an entire sandwich, so a $7 sandwich turns into $3.50 lunch and $3.50 dinner.

Big Group or Study Spot?

Before we get things started with this review, there is an important disclaimer that needs to be said: I have not actually been to the Primanti Brothers in State College. Honestly, I was completely swamped this week, making it super difficult to plan a meal outside of campus. I also really needed to save myself some money and so I could't afford to eat out on the town. That being said, I most definitely have been to Primanti Brothers (in fact the original in Pittsburgh, which should be even more valid) many times since I moved to Pittsburgh. I want to take this chance to plug my hometown a bit.

Primanti Brothers first started in the 1930's as a food cart in the Strip District of downtown Pittsburgh (no it is not what it sounds like). The original restaurant still resides there, but there are now many locations outside of Pittsburgh (as I was very excited to learn upon moving here). Now I'm sure you're wondering, "Why in the world is this restaurant from Pittsburgh of all places so popular?"

I will now introduce to you, my friends, the Primanti's "Almost Famous" sandwich.

Picture courtesy of official Primanti Brothers website

The Food

My typical order at Primanti's is a ham sandwich because I like to keep things simple. You can add bacon, double meat, double cheese, or an egg to your sandwich for an extra price, but these sandwiches really don't need extra pizazz. Every sandwich comes with provolone cheese, french fries, and cole slaw, the thing that makes Primanti's so famous. Thick slices of Italian bread hold all the toppings together, warm and piled high. It is important to note that there are no vegetarian options for these sandwiches, so if you don't eat meat this isn't the place for you. Primanti's does serve salads, burgers, and other dishes, but why are you going to Primanti's if you aren't getting the "Almost Famous" sandwich?

That being said, please do not go to Primanti's and ask for french fries and cole slaw on the side. (Of course you can do whatever you want, just know that I'm judging you and your choices.)

Once again, I apologize for not actually going out and trying a new restaurant this week. I know many of you look forward to discovering these new restaurants with me, and I'm genuinely saddened that I could not make it out this week.

See you next time!

Little Cub Eats: Cafe Wow

Cafe Wow 243 E College Ave

Ease of Access: 9/10

Cafe Wow is below Urban Outfitters, which is only about a five minute walk. I love bubble tea, though, so I would much prefer it was right outside my dorm.

Lioncash+: Not accepted

Bank Account Happiness: 7/10

A small bubble tea is about the same price as most Starbucks drinks, so if you're one of Those People that get Starbucks everyday, this won't be a big splurge for you. If you subscribe to logic, however, there is a niggle in the back of your head telling you this drink was way to expensive. If you get cake too, be prepared to fork the bill equivalent to that of a fancy cheeseburger from Red Robin.

It's all about perspective.

Big Group or Study Spot?

Depending on time of day and which day you visit, Cafe Wow can be pretty busy, but can also remain relatively quiet. They have several tables and both Jenga and Uno out for patrons to enjoy, so it makes for a fun place to visit with friends.

The Food

So, like the intelligent person I am who knowingly orders things I know I don't like, I told the young man working at the counter to surprise me. Yes, I was that guy (sorry Cafe Wow server). Either way, he picked a Taro Crepe Cake, which is a bunch of crepes on top of each other with some sort of cream between the layers. I don't really know what else to say about it aside from that description. I think I'll try the delicious looking cheesecake that sat right beside it in the display case.

The drinks, on the other hand, keeps me coming back for more. My favorite drink from Cafe Wow is the Peach Milk Tea with Lychee Jelly, but admittedly I haven't tried much else. The lychee jelly is sweet and chewy and compliments almost all flavors of tea offered. Cafe Wow also offers tapioca pearls, grass jelly, and pudding. These toppings can be paired with a wide range of milk teas, fruit teas, and other specialty drinks. As a personal principle, I despise all things tapioca, so naturally I recommend the lychee jelly, as I think it is more flavorful and overall better texture. I also recommend any of the coffees with lychee jelly.

Another aspect of Cafe Wow I love is drinking (eating?) bubble tea on days when I'm not too hungry, but feel munchy. A small milk tea is cheaper than buying lunch from the commons, and often fills me up just enough on these kinds of days. Plus, I get to add a few thousand steps of exercise and experience the cute, cozy atmosphere the cafe provides.

Little Cub Eats: Penn Kebab

Penn Kebab 418 E College Ave

Ease Of Access: 10/10

Penn Kebab is right across the street from South Halls!

Bank Account Happiness: 75%

Yeah, it was good, but it wasn't that good. It was just beef and rice. It's also not a bad price overall, I'm just cheap.

Big Group or Study Spot?


Neither. Penn Kebab is perfect for grabbing a quick bite to eat. There are a few tables outside, but we walked our boxes back to the hub for a drink and some chairs.

The Food

There's a bit of a back story required for this time around. All three people (mom, dad, and me) from my family have been to Germany, although not the same place and not at the same time. My dad and I are suckers for a good gyro, and have both have separate experiences with the wondrous Döner Kebab that has grown in popularity since the immigration of Turks to Germany in the 60's. So, when I suggested we get kebab for dinner, we were expecting something resembling this:

Now, as with anything you form expectations for, there is always a chance for disappointment, and this is why it is important for you to be in our brains leading up to our arrival at Penn Kebab, to hopefully bring understanding to the slight saltiness I feel towards this meal.

Penn Kebab, as we have discovered, does not serve anything of this sort, the closest being their

Kebab Box with beef and white rice

Kebab wraps (which, admittedly, look pretty good). We scrapped our original ideas of what to order and chose seemingly the next best thing: the Kebab Box. This box comes with your choice between beef or chicken kebab (another disappointment as we hoped for lamb meat) and either fries or white or yellow rice. Nothing else (aside from yogurt sauce).

Putting aside our preconceptions of Döner Kebab, the Kebab Box is actually quite delicious. The beef is thin enough for someone as anti-meat as I am to enjoy and the rice tasted as if butter and lemon had been added. Along with the cucumber sauce, the box was significantly more flavorful than meets the eye.

Unfortunately, we all got the same thing, so I can't offer a review of any other items from the menu, but my mom got chicken and yellow rice and was equally satisfied as the rest of us. The drinks all seemed (since I wouldn't know) to be Turkish favorites, as we did not recognize any of the labels.

The man behind the counter was friendly, and the service was fast and right in front of our eyes. I would definitely recommend Penn Kebab as a quick meal, easy to grab between classes or on a lazy day-- the restaurant itself is nearby and the box makes it ideal to carry to wherever you are headed next.

Please do not be deterred by our initial disappointment, the food was rather delicious, and, in fact, as I'm writing this almost a week after I ate at Penn Kebab, I'm starting to crave another box.


Photo Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mahmood/4603407465

Little Cub Eats: Bill Pickle's Taproom

Bill Pickle's Taproom 106 S Allen St.

Ease of Access: 10/10

Just a simple walk down college, a quick turn and you're there!

Lioncash+: Not Accepted

Bank Account Happiness: 95%

My grilled cheese was only $5.99 and most sandwiches range between 7-9 dollars. The burgers are averaged priced. Also, my dad paid, so I technically got free lunch (thanks dad).

Big Group Friendly or Study Spot?

Pickles is a Taproom and gets pretty crowded on nights and weekends as I've seen, so it will be difficult to effectively focus on homework.

The Food

Ok, so this restaurant isn't particularly exotic or different from typical pub food, but in my defense my parents were visiting. And the food was still good!

Top- Reuben, Left- Three Cheese Panini, Right- Grilled Cheese

I know what you're thinking: Kylie, you go to a restaurant with already familiar foods and you order a grilled cheese sandwich? With nothing on it? Yes, I'm sorry, but we all need a good grilled cheese every once in awhile. 

My favorite thing about grilled cheese sandwiches: they're cheap. My favorite thing about this grilled cheese sandwich: the chef used salted butter to grill the bread, adding an addictive flavor to the already stand-out flavor of the sourdough bread. The sandwich comes with American cheese, but don't be afraid to make this sandwich your own and ask for one of the other cheeses listed throughout the menu; I got cheddar instead. And, if you're among the type to think grilled cheese is too bland on its own, ham or bacon can be added for a small up-charge. 

So that was my super exciting sandwich. What must be noted, to give you a reason to choose Pickle's over another for grilled cheese, is the chips. When the waitress asks if you'd like chips or french fries, please, for the love of flavor and your health (Kylie, chips aren't healthy either), get the chips. Pickle's homemade chips are crispy, potato-y, and dusted with Old Bay seasoning. As someone who grew up getting homemade chips from the athletic club my mom used to work at, these were met with perhaps too much fervor. Paired with my salted grilled cheese, they were a little salty when eaten after an already salty sandwich, but the spicy crunch was worth the inevitable numb tongue afterwards.

Now you say, Kylie, there's grilled cheese in the hub for four dollars. Yes, I see you, I acknowledge Grate Chee. As a self- proclaimed grilled cheese connoisseur, I encourage you to take the extra steps and dollar to Pickle's. I've eaten a Grate Chee simple grilled cheese sandwich, and found it was far too large with far too much cheese. I don't know about you, but when there is more than about a centimeter of melted cheese on anything, I get to impatient waiting for the cheese to be sufficiently chewed, and instead end up with a thick lump of cheese lodged in my throat. So. Just go to Pickle's.

On the other side of the table was my mom's Three Cheese Panini. Or as my dad affectionately named it, "Gourmet Grilled Cheese". It's basically what it sounds like, three cheeses on flatbread with a pesto sauce for dressing. There were no complaints from that end of the table. 

Lastly, and least surprising based on the past 18 years of my life, my dad ordered the Reuben. Pickle's Reuben is special, however, in that it is a triple decker sandwich. Per my dad's explanation, "while the corned beef is not particularly piled high, I appreciate the thinly sliced marble rye as opposed to the typical inch-and-a-half bricks of toasted bread." I've never had a Reuben sandwich in my life, which, in hindsight, this could have been my opportunity, but once again there were no complaints from that end of the table.