There’s a new food spot downtown, folks.

Brooklyn Bodega welcomed its first customers last weekend after opening up on College Ave.

The deli and grill offers a variety of options, such as breakfast foods, sandwiches, wraps, wings, gyros, and more. A few of our staffers made the trip to try out State College’s newest offering.

Holden Mostofsky: Chopped Cheese & Fries

Going to a New York City-inspired bodega, I had to order the chopped cheese. Let me just say, I was very surprised.

The sandwich was really flavorful, and the beef really stood out. The fries also had great crunch, and it was a good portion. Prices were also very reasonable, which I appreciated as a college student. The interior was well-decorated, clean, and welcoming. I would absolutely go again.

Tia Kaschauer: Chicken Caesar Sandwich

Brooklyn Bodega was very good. It was very well-priced, and the inside was a vibe.

I wish you could add a side of fries, but I believe you can only get a full order. Other than that, it was amazing.

Hannah Guidotti: Chicken Cutlet Sandwich & Fries

I’ve been waiting for this one, folks. My hopes were high for Brooklyn Bodega because I passed the construction every day last year on my walk to class (and my grandma is from Brooklyn).

First of all, the menu is huge and also priced pretty well for broke college students. I stopped by with some friends, hungry after our weekly Onward State meeting. We were almost taken aback by how much they had to offer.

I ended up going with the chicken cutlet after lots of debate. The staff was awesome and super welcoming (they didn’t let me tip even though I would’ve). My friend’s food came out before mine, which wasn’t shocking to me because I ordered after them.

However, the staff apologized for the wait (there was basically none) and included fries and chips for free, even after I insisted I’d pay for them. The fries were awesome, and the sandwich itself was great. The cutlet was cubed instead of sliced, which was different, but I didn’t mind.

The portion sizes were pretty insane, so I had leftovers that I gave to my roommate, who might’ve liked the food even more than I did. Overall, great food, but even better service. I can see late-night wings and fries in my future.

Oscar Orellana: Philly Cheesesteak

Brooklyn Bodega honestly surprised me. I got a Philly cheesesteak on a roll (probably should have gotten it on a hero, in retrospect), but it was still delicious and very well-priced. I paid less than $10 for it, and it was tasty, filling, and everything I want from a cheesesteak.

The menu is huge, and I will definitely be back. It’s also open late at night, so that’s clutch.

My only drawback is the AI menu. Your real food looks good, Brooklyn Bodega; no need to use AI for it.

Michael Zeno: Chicken Parm Sandwich & Fries

State College doesn’t have a few things. One of them is a good chicken parm sandwich. It can be pretty hit-or-miss in a place meant to be a corner store, but with many of the other things I want to try being breakfast items (I’ll be back for the bagels), I took a shot.

Most chicken parms I eat are based around a breaded chicken cutlet, but they decided to chop up that cutlet when they put it on this sandwich, which made it an interesting experience. There’s not too much to complain about here, but it was pretty so-so. I’ve heard good things about a lot of the menu, so I probably would come back and order something else.

It was a healthy serving of fries, and they were pretty good, although I felt like they skimped on the ketchup.

As for the place itself, it does a good job of blending a restaurant with a typical bodega. There’s a big emphasis on the hot food (and there’s a huge menu), but also a smattering of snacks, candy, and drinks to sell. The big turnoff was the blatantly AI menu, but that seems to be getting normalized in new businesses everywhere.

Overall, not bad, but I’ll probably order something different next time.

Brian Kriley: Chopped Cheese & Fries

I have never had a chopped cheese before, but this was a good first experience. While there was quite a line, the food was inexpensive, and there was a variety of options. Brooklyn Bodega will almost certainly be seeing my business again.

Jamie Lynch: Chicken Cutlet, Mozzarella, Roasted Peppers Sandwich

As a New York native, I have long awaited the arrival of a New York-style deli in State College. And though it didn’t quite feel like home, my sandwich was tasty nonetheless.

While not explicitly on the menu, I decided to order my go-to: chicken cutlet, mozzarella (mutzadell), and roasted peppers on a roll. I think the gentleman working was a little confused by my request, but all the employees were very kind.

When my order was ready, the first thing I noticed was that the sandwich was smaller than what I’m used to. But when I opened it up, I was pleasantly surprised by how good it looked. The cutlets were chopped up, so it was difficult to evaluate them on their own, but they had a great crisp. 

The one thing that stood out to me was the price. I paid just nine dollars and change for my meal, for a sandwich that typically costs 16 dollars at my local deli. I guess a little less authenticity isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Overall, I enjoyed the experience and will be back soon to try a bacon, egg, and cheese.