Cafe Laura, Penn State’s on-campus student-run eatery, officially announced its themes for its fall 2026 dinners.

Each semester, students in HM 430 collaborate and gain real-world hospitality experience by hosting and running a series of themed dinners. The course is a senior-level capstone class required for all hospitality management majors.

The fall semester’s eight dinner themes range from Formula One to “Mamma Mia” and Dollywood. Each themed dinner will take place twice throughout the fall semester.

Folks who want a taste of southern charm can enjoy “Dollywood – Where Southern Charm Meets the Table” on October 8 and November 5. Dishes include anything from fried pickle spirals to slow-braised beef short ribs.

Folks who want tastes from around the world have a variety of options. Folks can attend “An Evening in Tuscany: A Night Under The Tuscan Lights” on October 15 and November 12, “Attending the Monza F1 Race: Cuisine from the Italian Grand Prix” on October 20 and November 17, and “Tropical Nights & Venezuelan Bites” on October 27 and December 1.

Food ranges from Florentine-style strip steak at “An Evening in Tuscany” to Milanese fried meatballs and sweet fried dough bites at “Attending the Monza F1 Race”.

If you want to taste the magic of theater and music, folks can check out “A Night on Broadway: Taste the Magic of the Stage” on October 29 and December 3, where they’ll find plates such as “He Had it Comin’ Italian Beef Sliders” or “Elphaba’s Herb-Crusted Chicken”.

Cafe Laura is also set to present “Jazz After Dark – An evening to Sip, Savor and Sway” on October 6 and November 3, or “Mama Mia Sailing Through Santorini: You can Dance, You can Dine!” on October 13 and November 10, with cookery like “Smoky Sax Salmon” and “Super Trooper Spanakopita.”

If none of those interest you, folks who want to taste the fall season can attend “Into the Harvest – Where the Season Meets the Plate” on October 22 and November 19. Foods available include Harvest Stuffed Peppers, Crispy Maple Salmon, and Pumpkin Creme Brulee.

No matter what theme you choose, there’s food for everyone. Alcohol is not served, but Cafe Laura is BYOB. Patrons may bring two 12-ounce beers per person or one 750-milliliter bottle of wine per two people. Age verification is required for all group members bringing alcoholic beverages into the facility.

The maximum party size is six people, and you cannot split checks for parties over four people. Cafe Laura also offers private dining in the Statler Executive Dining Room, which can accommodate up to 14 people and features a large TV with internet connectivity and USB capabilities. It is a cashless facility.

For more information on menu items and pricing, folks can visit here. You can also reserve your preferred dinner night here.