It’d be hard to find someone on campus who doesn’t know the Corner Room. However. a new menu might have even the most knowledgeable alumni needing a refresher.

Following a series of renovations and refurbishments, the Corner Room debuted a smaller, more focused menu than it featured in years past. Intrigued, some of our hungry staffers trudged their way through the rain to see what the offerings have in store.

Bryse Wade: Fish Tacos

I normally don’t even like fish that much, but if some type of taco is on a menu, I have to try it. This flavorful plate has three street-style tacos loaded with grilled mahi-mahi, pineapple salsa, and lime crema. The pineapple salsa is what really rounds it out, giving it a very fresh and sweet taste. Overall, this would be a good light meal for when you aren’t super hungry and don’t want to leave the restaurant feeling 10 pounds heavier.

The only downside would be that the shells were so stuffed it made it a little hard to eat without it falling apart, but even without the tortilla, it tasted fantastic. It also came with a side of potato chips too, as all the plates do, and those were as good as a bag of potato chips can be.

Mikey DeAngelis: Pulled Corned Beef Reuben & Roasted Tomato Soup

The Corner Room is a State College staple. My grandmother says that she has been to Happy Valley only twice but made sure to stop at the Corner Room on both trips.

I was really excited to go and try out the new menu, and luckily, I was not disappointed. While the tomato soup wasn’t anything to rave about, it was pretty decent. I don’t see it as a strong enough contender for a main course, but it worked superbly as a complement to my entrée. Speaking of that, I got the Reuben, and it was very good. The pan-toasted rye bread tasted super fresh, giving the sandwich a buttery crunch with every bite. The corned beef was cooked really well and complemented the Swiss cheese and Russian dressing.

Overall, it’s refreshing to see that even with a new menu, the Corner Room continues serving good food in a welcoming atmosphere right in the heart of State College.

Otis Lyons: Blackend Burger

I got the “blackened burger,” and I was definitely impressed. It is a pretty expensive meal, but the quality matches the price tag. I like burgers well done, and they didn’t disappoint in that department!
My one complaint would be the fact that burgers come with a side of chips instead of fries. If you want fries with your (already pretty expensive) burger, you have to pay an extra $3. Otherwise, the meal was fantastic!

Adam Babetski: The Corner Cheesesteak

Penn State is well stocked with people from “just outside of Philly” who are very particular about their cheesesteaks. Clearly, the Corner Room is aware of this, as it’s risen to the challenge with one of the best steaks I’ve had in town. 

My sandwich came out just hot enough to eat, and the mixture of American and provolone cheese melted nicely on top. The meat-to-cheese ratio was perfect, and while there weren’t any peppers on the steak, the beer-battered onions provided more than enough flavor on their own. The meal also came with a bag of chips and a pickle. The only knock was that it didn’t come on an iconic Amoroso’s roll, but that’s a minor thing when you’re out in central Pennsylvania.

I’m no Philadelphian, but I do trust my taste buds, and I strongly recommend this steak.

Charles Reinert: Chicken Sandwich

I wasn’t feeling very adventurous this time around, so I went with the fried chicken sandwich. I can honestly say I was happy with my overall experience! This was my first time coming to the Corner Room to grab a bite to eat, and I would gladly come back with some friends to grab some lunch after class. The sandwich came with a hot honey sauce, which I as a fan of. The fries I ordered were also pretty good.

This was just an all-around good experience with a great atmosphere most folks are pretty familiar with. While the meal was a little bit more expensive than some of the other options around town, it was an experience I’d recommend to a friend. I can see myself coming here in the future when my folks are in town.