Was in State College over the weekend for a wedding and Spats Cafe is one of her favorite places so we had a big group of people that invaded Spats. The wedding was an early one around 10am the reception at 11am, love having brunch at a wedding. We went Saturday night and had reservations for 15 people. We get there and of course more then 15 people showed up and they had no room for any extra people, the entire place was booked. Some people unfortunately had to leave which I must say was handled very well by hostess at the front door. Spats is a small place, cramped but it's not too bad. We had a pretty big table to ourselves so I wasn't sitting right next to someone at another table that I didn't know which has happened numerous times at other small restaurants. When you walk in you will notice something in the air, it's the spices. If your sensitive to this kind of stuff then you should probably pass, my father-in-law had to leave, his eyes kept watering. It was time to order and I love spicy food, the spicier the better. Being a Maryland guy I had to have something with crab so I saw they have something called the Crab Hot Pepper Penne Pasta and when I ordered it the waitress said good choice which is always nice to hear. My dinner arrived and I must say that this is probably one of the best pasta dishes I ever had. It was spicy but not to spicy to take away from the dish. When you take a bite the spice would hit you then slowly fade away not even needing a drink to calm it down. That is how spicy should be, I've had plenty of dishes at other resturants where I'm downing the water or tea or whatever I was drinking to calm the flames. The pasta was cooked to perfection and the crab was very tender. As being the only person in our group to get this I was telling everyone that I would drive the 4 hours just to eat here again and get the Crab Hot Pepper Penne Pasta. Completely happy with everything, the hostess handling the problem we had, the wait staff being very friendly and prompt. Spats Cafe I will be back!! Jason
(4)
Eileen S.
This place has the makings of a really great date, special occasion and/or splurge restaurant but sadly it is not quite there yet... Our most recent visit was for dinner. In general, the food we ordered was pretty good. Crab and corn chowder is always a good choice, tasty. Tried the grits on this visit and it was delicious (and I usually don't eat grits). However, $70 (before tip) for dinner for two with LOTS of gnats flying around made for a disappointing dinner.
(3)
Robert P.
Great meal. Great vibe. The bourbon pecan pie with ice cream is ridiculous. Decent service.
(4)
Jim D.
On a last minute whim, my companion and I decided to check out the ever bustling Spats for a Saturday night dinner - without a reservation. To our surprise, we were seated in less than 3 minutes. Booyah. It might have been my cologne. Spats is one of the more pricier establishments in State College so be warned all you college students. I enjoyed their lengthy tapas menu, particularly the voodoo shrimp and crab & avocado quesadilla rolls. However, my shrimp & crawfish etouffee was a bit lackluster that left me wanting more spice...a lot more. As good as the dinner menu looked, if I ever come back it would be for the tapas menu. There were just too many enticing choices to choose from. Though the highlight of the evening for me were those tasty $5 sangrias. Mon dieu, I could have drank a pitcher all by myself. Sans blague!
(3)
Dave H.
I visited Spat's with a friend during the summer. It was around 1pm when we arrived and there were only a few other tables occupied, making it easy to see how spacious it was. We were seated quickly. Service was excellent. The Cajun dishes we had were delicious. Had a Jambalaya style dishes with duck that was outrageously tasty and herby to boot. I took photos of what we ate but I can't remember exactly what the dishes were... The prices are reasonable for lunch (for non-college students anyway). Not sure about dinner prices. I'd return to try other dishes - I heartily recommend Spat's for lunch!
(4)
Kedar D.
I like the decor and atmosphere of this restaurant. It's trendy and antiquated all at once. The service is prompt and friendly. The menu always has at least a few vegan-friendly options and, if you're in doubt, your waiter will be more than willing to check in the kitchen. Portion sizes are good here and the Cajun food is nicely spiced and unusual. The prices are high, though, especially for dinner, when they increase prices 50%, but give you the same amount of food as at lunch.
(3)
Alex V.
Spats is one of the better downtown State College dining options. I use to eat here a lot when I worked in State College. I was happy to see that the food is still good. My shrimp Po boy was excellent and the service was attentive too. Spats would probably be a 3-star establishment in Philly, but in State College its four stars because there isn't a whole lot of good food available.
(4)
Mark C.
I've always been a fan of this place. I actually would probably give it 5 stars for reasons of nostalgia, but I'm trying to be honest. I used to eat here often when I was in school 10 years ago, and I still come here whenever I'm back in town and it hasn't changed at all. I've always enjoyed the cozy dining experience there and their menu has some very different things on it that you won't find elsewhere in State College. I used to always get the almond crusted chicken which is probably one of my favorite "crusted" chicken dishes of all time. I was there recently and had the Muffulettas (good pick) and the Crab Hot Pepper Pasta (delicious but very rich). I could see this place going either way for some people, but you really need to know what to order.
(4)
Stacy S.
This restaurant has the best food and service that I've experienced in State College. The almond crusted chicken was amazing. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone.
(5)
Brian B.
Spats exemplifies itself as probably one of the best yet scariest places to go to downtown. If you asked me when I first came to State College if I'd ever go here, I'd reply with a resounding no. Nowadays, I feel a bit different. Granted, this isn't exactly a place for the frugal individual. This is more "i'm taking my date someplace extravagant and unique and I got my tax return a week ago" compared to "YO TOOTS LET'S DRANK OUTSIDE THE TWO-TENNNNNNNN I JUST GOT PAID". Originally I had attempted to get reservations for Valentine's dinner, but that went splat so we did it about a week later. Went in with my lady, got a nice table in the back with an extremely enthusiatic gentleman who gave us our menus. We ordered an appetizer of soups: chicken andouille gumbo versus the crab and corn chowder. Both excellent, but the gumbo was a bit too salty. We got another chowder to split after, it was that good. Entree was a bit different. We ended up getting a funky blue-plate special thing they offered: a little of everything. As we ate, the plate got split up depending on what we liked: I ended up with the gator (a bit tough and stringy but okay) and the nice spicy blackened catfish. On the other hand, she took the jambalaya, collared greens and the few shrimp bouncing around the plate. Dessert was iffy. Our waiter explained that the pastry chef had quit a few months beforehand which is why the menu is much more limited nowadays. Ended up with a banana crepe with ice cream and a sweet drizzle. It was... meh. All and all with only a little booze it came to about $85ish. For a guy that usually eats on the cheap, it scared me a little. I come back and do lunches from now on, about half the dinner price on everything and they still have the awesome corn and crab soup. Shrimp Po Boy is also excellent lunch fare. Sure, Spats is scary to the average student who doesn't have a ton of cash, but if you can push past that facade and do the cheap lunchtime fare for $10 or less, you'll love it.
(4)
Megan K.
An upscale creole restaurant that my husband and friend frequent. I love this place. It is tiny and I recommend reservations. Their menu is varied and is updated regularly. The staff is knowledgeable. They have a great drink menu. Their food is excellent and come hungry- get an appetizer, meal, and dessert, you will not be disappointed. It is a little pricey but completely worth it.
(4)
Paige D.
This is the best meal I've had out since I moved to State College. I had the barbeque shrimp and scallops, and my companion had the spicy crab penne. My food was delicious; I'm a bit picky with seafood, and the scallops were just melt in your mouth. The one point of improvement I would have on mine is that it would have been nice if they had seared the scallops, just for a little color and texture. The potatoes and broccolini were great.. The crab penne was just spicy enough, and the lumps of crab were delicious. For soup, I got the gumbo and Will got the crab and corn chowder. He definitely made the better choice, but the gumbo was still great with the chunks of sausage and okra. Yeah, it's a little expensive, but to me it's way higher quality than Alto with more food, for commensurate prices. We had wine, and that with the food put the bill at $70 before tip, and we were both full-- and that is quite a feat, moreso for Will than I. Overall, I think it's a great place, and you should check out for special occasions!
(5)
Trish A.
Lord have mercy on the souls of any staffers who have to deal with 30+ hungry Plone Symposium attendees, staggering in in search of good food and moar drinks. This isn't the largest establishment, and I believe we caught them at the start of their off-season, seriously under-staffed for the size of our group. All the same, they did an outstanding job of accommodating all our separate order and bill splitting shenanigans. Not to mention I think someone dropped their silverware every seven minutes we were there, possibly just to get another necklace of beads that came wrapped around each new set. Unfortunately I forget our waitress's name, but she was very friendly and timely, she had short blonde hair and a lip piercing though. As for the food, I'd say all of what I had was mostly excellent: the steamed mussels with prosciutto were delicious, although the broth was a little bland; I forget exactly what the soup was, something with crab, and while it was very tasty and came with a large amount of crab, there were a few bits of crab bone that were less than pleasant; for the entree though, the short ribs were super good! I wish it came with more, although I was plenty stuffed at this point. The meat was tender and soft but very flavorful. One of the ribs was pretty fatty, but I kind of see this as a plus, being a fatty myself... :) My friend got the roasted duck though: at least the portion I tried was not cooked very well, and was extra rubbery. He wasn't too happy with it, either. Overall though, great place! Cute decor, friendly staff, and a great amount of variety on the menu. Ah yes, one last thing: the dirty girl martinis were DELICIOUS! Bleu cheese stuffed olives in a vodka martini -- very strong but also tasty. The cajun bloody mary looked intriguing also, will have to try that one next time.
(5)
Sharon B.
Ok, this review might get me boycotted from every restaurant in town, but I have to say it: as an outsider coming into State College, I have been pretty disappointed with the lackluster flavors that are offered. Specifically, "spicy" is never spicy, in any sense of the word (hot or flavorful). Spats is a key example. Hubby, inlaws and I came here for Hubby's birthday about a month ago. We were very excited because we love spicy food, especially jambalaya (Hubs makes a mean jambalaya at home). MIL and I started with Hurricanes and the men tried some beers. I expected that if I'm ordering a hurricane at a cajun restaurant, I'm going to see some stars afterwards. Nope. Believe me, my tolerance level is pretty low (yes, I'm Asian) and this didn't even give me a buzz. We chose gumbo for our appetizers, which usually isn't super-spicy to begin with, so when it came and was pretty bland, I gave them the benefit of the doubt. Then, entrees. I ordered the BBQ Shrimp, the men ordered the chicken/sausage Jambalaya, and MIL ordered the crab cakes. Such a disappointment. The jambalaya had NO spice and tasted like it was made from cheap canned tomatoes. Hubby had to add about a tablespoon of hot sauce in order to give it flavor, and by that point, the meal was pretty much wasted. My BBQ Shrimp was also very bland, and the worst part was that my cheese grits were made with RICOTTA CHEESE. Seriously? You even made my cheese grits blander than they usually are? Then, MIL's crab cakes were cold on the inside, so we had to send those back too. I actually think it's pretty egregious how much they charge for the low quality of the food (entrees were $20-40, plus drinks). Way to ruin our birthday dinner. Will never come back here again.
(1)
Josh G.
Dead alligator. They sell dead alligator. Eat alligator.
(4)
Trish A.
Lord have mercy on the souls of any staffers who have to deal with 30+ hungry Plone Symposium attendees, staggering in in search of good food and moar drinks. This isn't the largest establishment, and I believe we caught them at the start of their off-season, seriously under-staffed for the size of our group. All the same, they did an outstanding job of accommodating all our separate order and bill splitting shenanigans. Not to mention I think someone dropped their silverware every seven minutes we were there, possibly just to get another necklace of beads that came wrapped around each new set. Unfortunately I forget our waitress's name, but she was very friendly and timely, she had short blonde hair and a lip piercing though. As for the food, I'd say all of what I had was mostly excellent: the steamed mussels with prosciutto were delicious, although the broth was a little bland; I forget exactly what the soup was, something with crab, and while it was very tasty and came with a large amount of crab, there were a few bits of crab bone that were less than pleasant; for the entree though, the short ribs were super good! I wish it came with more, although I was plenty stuffed at this point. The meat was tender and soft but very flavorful. One of the ribs was pretty fatty, but I kind of see this as a plus, being a fatty myself... :) My friend got the roasted duck though: at least the portion I tried was not cooked very well, and was extra rubbery. He wasn't too happy with it, either. Overall though, great place! Cute decor, friendly staff, and a great amount of variety on the menu. Ah yes, one last thing: the dirty girl martinis were DELICIOUS! Bleu cheese stuffed olives in a vodka martini -- very strong but also tasty. The cajun bloody mary looked intriguing also, will have to try that one next time.
(5)
Jason M.
Was in State College over the weekend for a wedding and Spats Cafe is one of her favorite places so we had a big group of people that invaded Spats. The wedding was an early one around 10am the reception at 11am, love having brunch at a wedding. We went Saturday night and had reservations for 15 people. We get there and of course more then 15 people showed up and they had no room for any extra people, the entire place was booked. Some people unfortunately had to leave which I must say was handled very well by hostess at the front door. Spats is a small place, cramped but it's not too bad. We had a pretty big table to ourselves so I wasn't sitting right next to someone at another table that I didn't know which has happened numerous times at other small restaurants. When you walk in you will notice something in the air, it's the spices. If your sensitive to this kind of stuff then you should probably pass, my father-in-law had to leave, his eyes kept watering. It was time to order and I love spicy food, the spicier the better. Being a Maryland guy I had to have something with crab so I saw they have something called the Crab Hot Pepper Penne Pasta and when I ordered it the waitress said good choice which is always nice to hear. My dinner arrived and I must say that this is probably one of the best pasta dishes I ever had. It was spicy but not to spicy to take away from the dish. When you take a bite the spice would hit you then slowly fade away not even needing a drink to calm it down. That is how spicy should be, I've had plenty of dishes at other resturants where I'm downing the water or tea or whatever I was drinking to calm the flames. The pasta was cooked to perfection and the crab was very tender. As being the only person in our group to get this I was telling everyone that I would drive the 4 hours just to eat here again and get the Crab Hot Pepper Penne Pasta. Completely happy with everything, the hostess handling the problem we had, the wait staff being very friendly and prompt. Spats Cafe I will be back!! Jason
(4)
Ryoko M.
We went for a nice anniversary lunch, and for the most part, it did not disappoint. My husband got the calamari and crawfish tacos, and they were piled high with seafood goodness! Crawfish pieces were a bit small and not as many as the calamari pieces, but the tacos themselves were amazing with a great slaw. Would order again. I got the oyster poboy. This again, was piled high with an arugula salad, which went very well with the sandwich. The olive tapanade in the sandwich gave it great flavor. The only thing was that the oysters were very small. The bread they offer is great, service was attentive but not suffocating. Portions are massive! Both lunch dishes were $12- a great deal. Would come back again!
(4)
Alexios T.
Steak was a little over cooked. So if you want medium rare, ask for rare i guess. The sides where amazing. Truly delicious.
(4)
Chris D.
One of the best date spots in State College. Best Cajun/Creole in town. It's great to have a place where you can eat a kick-ass cheese plate right before some spicy jambalaya. I'll be back, many times in the future.
(5)
Wendy K.
Wow... In State College for the game this weekend and found this wonderful gem on yelp. Food was amazing! Came in around 7 and sat at the bar. Found out it was happy hour until 8. We split the scallops with grits and steamed clams with sausage tapas, which were 25% off. Enjoyed mixed drinks at 25% off. Then shared into the yummolicious dirty jambalaya to top off the meal! The only issue was they do not take Amex...
(5)
Kelli B.
Service and food are just great. I used to come here once a week when I was in college. I absolutely love love love spats cafe. Definitely try the crispy asparagus
(5)
Kristen M.
I never came here as a student because it was too expensive, but Spats is now my favorite restaurant in State College! I came here as part of a Bachelorette Party on Blue and White Weekend. We had a reservation on Saturday evening for 10 around 7:30. After a full day of tailgating the thought of eating more was a bit overwhelming, but the food was too good to pass up. We all shared bites of appetizers such as the crispy calamari and the Three Dips and Crisp Vegetables (for 10 people we ordered two of each dish). As an entree, I had the Chicken with Shrimp, Andouille and Creamy Corn. It was so flavorful, I can't wait to eat it again. The atmosphere is dark and cozy and they do New Orleans justice at Spats. I highly recommend it for a nice grown up meal or if Mom and Dad are coming to town and are paying the bill.
(4)
David G.
A surprise in State College, something tasty. Prices are a bit high & the space can be loud, but our meals were delicious, particularly the chicken, shrimp, andouille on corn bread. Nice service.
(5)
Robert B.
This is the good stuff! From the nice decor... to the spot on service... to the very clever and eclectic menu... to the most important thing, the food. Spats gets it ALL right. The fried oysters were a highlight. The cheesy grits are to die for! There were nothing but raves about the food at our table for 6! They know how to cook salmon right and warn you ahead of time that it is going to be medium rare unless you want it overcooked! Did I mention the service. Sadly good service is starting to really stand out because it is rare... well it does stand out here... not one miscue! Did I say they get it ALL right? I lied. I have one complaint and that is the bar. While they nailed my Martini... it was all down hill from there. The pour on their win is anemic! My dessert Sambuca came up way short as well. Then let's talk Sangria... ugh!! Sickly sweet grape juice!! So stick to the nice bottled beer selection and everything will be PERFECT!!
(4)
Andy H.
We had a great meal last night. My wife took me out with my best friend, and we had a great time. I had the blackened catfish with cheese grits and collard greens (yum). My buddy had the voodoo shrimp and scallops, which was shared and enjoyed by all, as was my wife's catfish dish, which none of us know how to spell. Nice crowd, efficient waitstaff that know what they're doing, and interesting drink options. Try the alligator bites were tasty. Give them a try!
(4)
Korissa D.
I have been here a couple of times and every time I fall more in love with this place. I honestly believe the food here is the best quality in State College, better than Zola's. My mother came up to visit last semester and we came here for my birthday and she even bought a few bottles of their hot sauce to take home and now she always asks me to pick her up some because our whole family is obsessed with it!
(5)
Penny N.
Three meals here in three days. I absolutely can't have gluten, and this restaurant has the most extensive gluten free menu I've ever seen. The food is amazing- very richly flavored, cooked perfectly. Service is also excellent.. Nicely attentive.
(5)
Shushu L.
Best restaurant in state college. You might want to make a reservation since this place is always popular. I had blackened duck breast, it was just amazing.
(5)
Matt G.
Get the three dips, you won't regret it. (Ours is slowly disappearing)
(5)
bill c.
Very nice place with a fun New Orleans themed tapas and regular (entree) menu. Decent wine & beer selection. Service was worth 10 stars, outstanding.
(4)
Jake S.
Went to Spat's for a special occasion. Had a great seat and excellent server. Wasn't expecting the crab dip to be cold, but it was very good. Entrees were cooked to perfection and very filling. The bananas foster crepes were to die for. Left there with a full stomach, but a little pricy for other fine dining Cajun restaurants I've been to. Highly recommended!
(4)
Jonathan P.
I wish I couldn't get full. There is so much amazingly looking food on the menu. I was in the mood for the dirty jambalaya, and it would be tough to find something this good in NOLA. Great drinks and wonderful bartender, but come for the food; complement it with the alcohol.
(5)
Bob D.
Great atmosphere ... Great food ... Great service ... Great Gluten Free options and recommendations .... Look forward to coming back ... SOON.
(5)
Daniel M.
After reading thru the reviews I took my family out to dinner. Had the seafood jambalaya , my wife had the crusted catfish and both of my boys had the steak n cake. Everything was good but not great. The waitress was outstanding and very attentive frequently asking if we needed anything. Wine list was ok and the best wine on the list was Stags Leap Artemis.
(3)
Rebecca T.
This was our first experience at a New Orleans restaurant and we loved it. We were in from out of town visiting my husband's alma mater Penn State. He got the Catfish Ponchartrain and I got the Veggie Jambalya. The catfish was SO good. The veggie jambalya was also great, not a veggie was undercooked or overcooked, and for a vegetarian dish it was very flavorful. We also got soups ahead of time. Everything was fantastic. We eat at a lot of trendy, expensive DC restaurants and thought this was much better than most!
(5)
Rebecca M.
We just stopped in by chance and had an amazing meal. The corn crab soup is decadent , great chopped salad and crab cakes. We will come back if we ever come back this way.
I'm a little biased, but last night I tried to find a different restaurant in State College with the diversity that Spats offers. Nothing even comes close. If you're tired of wings, sliders, and other appetizers that have been done to death, give Spats a try. Nom nom nom. Going back there tonight. One suggestion, get some rye behind the bar. It's trending now.
(5)
Ann W.
I love the Voodoo BBQ Shrimp and Scallops! Also, the hot sauce is great.
(4)
Krissy K.
Food here was amazing, I can't believe there is even one bad review about the food. It is pricey but it is probably one of the only actual fine dining restaurants in downtown State College. Especially since most other restaurants downtown serve pretty much the same menu, Spats is a more exciting place with the Cajun/Creole theme. But reading the bad reviews for Spats would make me suggest that you try one of those other boring places if you're from out of town and don't want any surprises from how your food tastes. If you're living in State College you have to go here at least once!
(4)
Hailey D.
Great service, fun atmosphere. We got the meat and cheese plate, and shrimp and grits and a few drinks. It was a nice way to spend the evening.
(4)
Mark D.
Wayyyy over priced. Had the Mac 'n Cheese special which I did not know was $30. They could have made it for $10 if they used 30 or so less pounds of cheese. Not good.
(2)
Samantha B.
I went there for lunch today. I ordered the special catfish, grits and collard greens. The grits were creamy the catfish was bland. The service was average. Nothing to write home about
(2)
bob t.
this is really a meh. I don't like to eat at most 3 star yelp restaurants. There is nothing you can really complain about, but I'll try. Eaten there maybe 15 times over time. Long enough to see some cycles. * the intermezzo, is a little shot glass of niceness. this keeps it 3 not a 2. that is a nice touch. chopped salad and grits and jambalaya are all go-to foods. * a drinks menu without prices. what are they free? do I have to cause a scene to ask how much it is? did they give me a ladies menu by mistake? Do they still have ladies' menus? Or, if I have to ask, I can't afford it? meh * only bottle beer. sigh. they are over one of the most modest bars, but even it has draft, I think. meh. * the prices have gone up, which is good, because it keeps the undergraduates out. But, now even post-docs won't want to come and who will come? on our night, there were not many people there. meh. * food is generally ok to "A-OK". chopped salad varies a bit, but is good to very good. makes we want to make chopped salad! blackened is usually pretty good. catfish is usually not as bad as catfish often it (mealy). * but because the prices are now nearly at Zola's prices (price=meh), we might as well go there (and sit outside Zola's where listening to the busses is quieter than the inside) * some bonus for getting to watch people try to get their cutlery out of the beads so, I'm surprised I've not reviewed this before, it reviews well by others, but it needs more polish before it can run with restaurants outside of SC and at the recent price jump. ps. if you are paying, I'm happy to go.
(3)
A J.
Absolutely amazing restaurant. Went for dinner on a weeknight and it wasn't too full. Walked in the door and was met with a wonderfully aromatic haze hanging in the air from the kitchen. Ordered the dirty Jambalaya. It was cooked perfectly. I would order it again any day. Didn't taste like the crap that you can get at chain restaurants or the crap that comes in a box at the grocery store. This was real Cajun food. It made my Alabama dad homesick. The dinner might have been a little overpriced, but the food was definitely worth it. I've heard lunch is cheaper and just as much food though. My only complaint would be that it was pretty loud, but it's no big deal. Would recommend this restaurant to anyone in State College.
(5)
Vicki G.
Solo lunch. Blue plate special with blackened mahi, grits, collards, red beans and cornbread. Generous portions of well-prepared food. Welcoming atmosphere and delightful server. Very good value. Highly recommend,
(5)
Art A.
Blackened duck breast cooked medium was perfectly tender, and served over the best cheesy grits I've ever had. Great service to boot! The sorbet intermezzo between salad/soup course and the main dish was a nice touch, though I wish their espresso machine was working, as that would've made a perfect ending to dinner. Overall, the food is most definitely on the better end of what you can get in State College, though you'll pay for it correspondingly. The prices are more than what you'd pay in the surrounding restaurants that cater to undergraduate students, but they're very reasonable compared to what you'd pay in larger cities.
(4)
Tim O.
Went here with a party of 10 to celebrate my daughter's birthday. The staff made us feel that they were doing us a favor serving us. When our food came out the server obviously forgot to put in my daughter's order although she blamed the kitchen for the mistake. so she watched the rest of us eat and then finally got her food after everyone else was finished. No apologies or discount just said there kitchen messed up, my mother in law ordered a cheeseburger that came out without cheese, so our server took it back and brought it right back with a cold slice of cheese thrown on top. Just seemed like nobody cared. The one good thing was the Gator pork burger was very tasty. Other than that... No thanks
(1)
Tamara K.
So this place came highly recommended from the hotel, ehhh it was ok and I feel overpriced for what you got
(2)
Yaima R.
Cajun/creole food in State College which is very tasty. The restaurant has a good, fun atmosphere, nice and cozy for dinner. I tried gator for the first time here, even though I'm from FL and it was surprisingly good.
(4)
Teresa J.
We had a lovely dinner . The atmosphere is always hopping and our waitress was very pleasant. I always have the chopped salad and will be sad if they ever take it off the menu. For my main entree I enjoyed the Catfish Ponchatrain. It is served with yummy cheesy grits and the best greens I have had since I have immigrated north.
(4)
Lauren W.
Manchego and huntsmans cheeses served over balsamic with a petite, earthy salad and rice crisps, lamp lollipop with mango chutney, and chicken, andouille, shrimp with creamy corn and collards. Plus my beer was presented with a nice pour. Nice service, lovely decor. Am surprised I haven't tried it before.
(4)
Kali B.
I take newbies here whenever I can--it 'a expensive but worth it if you get, say , the duck. If you want the pasta or jumbalaya, get it downstairs at the Rathskeller for less.
(4)
Meghan C.
Choosing a place for dinner with my parents downtown during Arts Fest, and the requirements were that it wasn't super crowded and had alcohol. We ended up at Spats because my dad has been boycotting Zola, our usual pick, for the past six months due to a bad service experience. Surprisingly, I hadn't been here before. The food was actually very good. We got salads, mussels, a shrimp skewer, fried oysters, and artichokes stuffed with brie. The artichokes and oysters were my favorite, and something we ordered (I think it was the shrimp) came with fresh figs, which was awesome. The portions of the tapas are pretty small, even for tapas...and the prices are pretty large. Though I enjoyed my meal, I felt like it was worth about half what we paid for it. I'm just sick of spending a ton on food in State College that is just "good" when you can get outstanding food in any major city for much cheaper. Can we start a revolution?? That being said, Spats is one of the better restaurants in the area and worth a try. A reluctant 4-stars (more like 3.5 but I'll round up on this one).
(4)
Catherine N.
This New Orleans themed restaurant on a primo corner is a nice change from the usual State College burger and bar food. The fried oyster appetizer was a big hit..very rich and filling. Our mains were steak and crab cake ... and crusted catfish. Both were very good but overloaded with sauce. Servers were always available and attentive. Make a reservation, especially on a big Penn State weekend.
(4)
Jessica F.
I grew up in the South eating wonderful Cajun/Creole dishes, like jambalaya, etouffee, gumbo, blackened chicken, Po Boys, red beans and rice, etc. I was excited when I moved here and saw they had a Cajun restaurant. I've been to New Orleans and had some mind-blowing food in the French Quarter, and I guess after that, it's hard for anything to come close. The food isn't bad, but I always have to add lots of Tabasco. I like my food HOT. I'd consider the jambalaya bland compared to what I'm used to, but it's not bad. The prices are pretty high, but the service is alright, the portions are big, and the restaurant is clean. This is a great restaurant for those who aren't familiar with Cajun cuisine. But if you've had the authentic stuff, be prepared to be a little disappointed. And don't get anything with crawdads...
(3)
Minna R.
Let me start this off by saying that I have never had cajun/creole food before, so I can't really judge how authentic this is (although I went with a friend who has been to New Orleans a few times and she said it was legit) but I can tell you that the food is good. Very good. I think my actual rating is more around 4.5 stars. I ordered the crab and spinach portobello with red pepper sauce. Yum! It was a great flavor combination and the sauce was a perfect complement. They gave me a lot of crab, which I appreciated (I hate when you order crab or lobster and only get a tiny bit). Bonus points for the fact that Spats has a lot of vegetarian options that did not sound bland at all. I had a hard time choosing! I also got to sample the ahi tuna, which my mom ordered well done. I usually don't order tuna well done because it's too dry... but somehow they were able to cook it all the way through while maintaining the moisture. Seasoning was also great. Additional points of interest: Spats serves you sorbet between your salad and main dish as a palette cleanser (feels like you're on a food network show, what can I say, it's fun). I liked how you could order a full or demi portion depending on your appetite. Also you can order alligator here! The only downside here is that it's expensive for students on a budget, so I won't get to try anything else on the menu for a while. Though I do plan on returning next time I have something to celebrate!
(4)
Heather A.
I was in State College for a work trip and went to Spats based on the fact that they have a gluten free menu. I hate to write a bad review but I feel I have a duty to warn others who must avoid gluten. I ordered the grilled veg appetizer off of the GF menu and it arrived with 6 slices of bread on it. My server was definitely aware of my gluten issue. I just think if you're going to claim you can do GF and even bother to print a menu, you should understand what that entails. My coworkers liked their food, but fellow celiacs and GF people, you've been warned.
(1)
Carl V.
Average food, but not for the price. Terrible service. My wife and I went there last year on new years eve for a nine o'clock reservation and didn't get to leave until well after 11. The whole experience was awful really. There is no waiting area, so we were waiting in the entryway until about 10 minutes after our 9 o'clock reservation. After we were seated it took almost a half hour for the waitress to take our order. During that time we had no drink or anything. We still didn't have any food at 10 o'clock and she came back to ask us what we had ordered again.. I wouldn't have been so bad but the restaurant was mostly cleared out at this point and we were really hungry. We considered canceling our order but we didn't know where else we would be able to get food, as most of the bars were pretty busy by that time. Anyway my wife ordered the filet with foie gras. What she got was a new york strip steak cut in half... with a single bite size piece of foie gras on top, that hadn't even been cooked. Obviously what happened was they were out of filets and they didn't want to tell us that an hour after we ordered when she actually put in our order so they made do with a half a strip steak. I don't know why the foie gras was such a small piece, maybe they were out or maybe they serve it that way. We asked the waitress and she blamed everything on the kitchen. She waited to take our order cause the kitchen was behind, then they lost the ticket, and of course she can't answer about the quality of the food even though she did admit that that was not a filet. When we got the check at the end it said 'fire' right on it which is what waitresses type to let the kitchen know to hurry because they never rang in the order. Anyway we ate our food in the empty restaurant while the servers were cleaning all around us, feeling really rushed by our waitress who was paying attention to us for the first time, left, and then decided to call it a night. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. My meal was okay, but again, not for the price.
(2)
Keely B.
Took the bro and sis-in law out for a first post-baby adult dinner, and had a fantastic time! We ordered a ridiculous amount of food, and loved everything. Chicken fire sticks? Awesome. Almond crusted chicken with cheese grits and broccolini? Unbelievable. Great wine, great atmosphere, super-helpful and sweet server Emily. She even pretended not to hear when I said "She's really nice!" thinking she was gone...but wasn't. Oh, well. At least it wasn't something bad.
(5)
Lynn J.
Somewhere in the middle...the first time I went to Spat's I think I got food poisoning or something cuz I spent the rest of the night in the bathroom puking up most of what I ate...I think maybe it could've just been the fact it was my first time eating gator meat, and I wasn't a big fan. And thinking about what I was eating in combination with the weird chewiness of fried gator...I dunno, but I was sick all night long. I did for some reason decide to give it a second chance...and wow, I'm so glad that I did...if it's still on the menu, you MUST GET THE LAUGHING CRAB. I love soft-shell crab and in combination with the cajun spices...mmmm, so freaking delicious.
(3)
Jessica D.
Mmmm, yummy...that's all I have to say!
(5)
Ryoko M.
We went for a nice anniversary lunch, and for the most part, it did not disappoint. My husband got the calamari and crawfish tacos, and they were piled high with seafood goodness! Crawfish pieces were a bit small and not as many as the calamari pieces, but the tacos themselves were amazing with a great slaw. Would order again. I got the oyster poboy. This again, was piled high with an arugula salad, which went very well with the sandwich. The olive tapanade in the sandwich gave it great flavor. The only thing was that the oysters were very small. The bread they offer is great, service was attentive but not suffocating. Portions are massive! Both lunch dishes were $12- a great deal. Would come back again!
(4)
Alexios T.
Steak was a little over cooked. So if you want medium rare, ask for rare i guess. The sides where amazing. Truly delicious.
(4)
Chris D.
One of the best date spots in State College. Best Cajun/Creole in town. It's great to have a place where you can eat a kick-ass cheese plate right before some spicy jambalaya. I'll be back, many times in the future.
(5)
Wendy K.
Wow... In State College for the game this weekend and found this wonderful gem on yelp. Food was amazing! Came in around 7 and sat at the bar. Found out it was happy hour until 8. We split the scallops with grits and steamed clams with sausage tapas, which were 25% off. Enjoyed mixed drinks at 25% off. Then shared into the yummolicious dirty jambalaya to top off the meal! The only issue was they do not take Amex...
(5)
Kelli B.
Service and food are just great. I used to come here once a week when I was in college. I absolutely love love love spats cafe. Definitely try the crispy asparagus
(5)
Shushu L.
Best restaurant in state college. You might want to make a reservation since this place is always popular. I had blackened duck breast, it was just amazing.
(5)
bill c.
Very nice place with a fun New Orleans themed tapas and regular (entree) menu. Decent wine & beer selection. Service was worth 10 stars, outstanding.
(4)
Kristen M.
I never came here as a student because it was too expensive, but Spats is now my favorite restaurant in State College! I came here as part of a Bachelorette Party on Blue and White Weekend. We had a reservation on Saturday evening for 10 around 7:30. After a full day of tailgating the thought of eating more was a bit overwhelming, but the food was too good to pass up. We all shared bites of appetizers such as the crispy calamari and the Three Dips and Crisp Vegetables (for 10 people we ordered two of each dish). As an entree, I had the Chicken with Shrimp, Andouille and Creamy Corn. It was so flavorful, I can't wait to eat it again. The atmosphere is dark and cozy and they do New Orleans justice at Spats. I highly recommend it for a nice grown up meal or if Mom and Dad are coming to town and are paying the bill.
(4)
David G.
A surprise in State College, something tasty. Prices are a bit high & the space can be loud, but our meals were delicious, particularly the chicken, shrimp, andouille on corn bread. Nice service.
(5)
Robert B.
This is the good stuff! From the nice decor... to the spot on service... to the very clever and eclectic menu... to the most important thing, the food. Spats gets it ALL right. The fried oysters were a highlight. The cheesy grits are to die for! There were nothing but raves about the food at our table for 6! They know how to cook salmon right and warn you ahead of time that it is going to be medium rare unless you want it overcooked! Did I mention the service. Sadly good service is starting to really stand out because it is rare... well it does stand out here... not one miscue! Did I say they get it ALL right? I lied. I have one complaint and that is the bar. While they nailed my Martini... it was all down hill from there. The pour on their win is anemic! My dessert Sambuca came up way short as well. Then let's talk Sangria... ugh!! Sickly sweet grape juice!! So stick to the nice bottled beer selection and everything will be PERFECT!!
(4)
Jake S.
Went to Spat's for a special occasion. Had a great seat and excellent server. Wasn't expecting the crab dip to be cold, but it was very good. Entrees were cooked to perfection and very filling. The bananas foster crepes were to die for. Left there with a full stomach, but a little pricy for other fine dining Cajun restaurants I've been to. Highly recommended!
(4)
Jonathan P.
I wish I couldn't get full. There is so much amazingly looking food on the menu. I was in the mood for the dirty jambalaya, and it would be tough to find something this good in NOLA. Great drinks and wonderful bartender, but come for the food; complement it with the alcohol.
(5)
Bob D.
Great atmosphere ... Great food ... Great service ... Great Gluten Free options and recommendations .... Look forward to coming back ... SOON.
(5)
Daniel M.
After reading thru the reviews I took my family out to dinner. Had the seafood jambalaya , my wife had the crusted catfish and both of my boys had the steak n cake. Everything was good but not great. The waitress was outstanding and very attentive frequently asking if we needed anything. Wine list was ok and the best wine on the list was Stags Leap Artemis.
(3)
Rebecca T.
This was our first experience at a New Orleans restaurant and we loved it. We were in from out of town visiting my husband's alma mater Penn State. He got the Catfish Ponchartrain and I got the Veggie Jambalya. The catfish was SO good. The veggie jambalya was also great, not a veggie was undercooked or overcooked, and for a vegetarian dish it was very flavorful. We also got soups ahead of time. Everything was fantastic. We eat at a lot of trendy, expensive DC restaurants and thought this was much better than most!
(5)
Rebecca M.
We just stopped in by chance and had an amazing meal. The corn crab soup is decadent , great chopped salad and crab cakes. We will come back if we ever come back this way.
Manchego and huntsmans cheeses served over balsamic with a petite, earthy salad and rice crisps, lamp lollipop with mango chutney, and chicken, andouille, shrimp with creamy corn and collards. Plus my beer was presented with a nice pour. Nice service, lovely decor. Am surprised I haven't tried it before.
(4)
Kali B.
I take newbies here whenever I can--it 'a expensive but worth it if you get, say , the duck. If you want the pasta or jumbalaya, get it downstairs at the Rathskeller for less.
(4)
Meghan C.
Choosing a place for dinner with my parents downtown during Arts Fest, and the requirements were that it wasn't super crowded and had alcohol. We ended up at Spats because my dad has been boycotting Zola, our usual pick, for the past six months due to a bad service experience. Surprisingly, I hadn't been here before. The food was actually very good. We got salads, mussels, a shrimp skewer, fried oysters, and artichokes stuffed with brie. The artichokes and oysters were my favorite, and something we ordered (I think it was the shrimp) came with fresh figs, which was awesome. The portions of the tapas are pretty small, even for tapas...and the prices are pretty large. Though I enjoyed my meal, I felt like it was worth about half what we paid for it. I'm just sick of spending a ton on food in State College that is just "good" when you can get outstanding food in any major city for much cheaper. Can we start a revolution?? That being said, Spats is one of the better restaurants in the area and worth a try. A reluctant 4-stars (more like 3.5 but I'll round up on this one).
(4)
Catherine N.
This New Orleans themed restaurant on a primo corner is a nice change from the usual State College burger and bar food. The fried oyster appetizer was a big hit..very rich and filling. Our mains were steak and crab cake ... and crusted catfish. Both were very good but overloaded with sauce. Servers were always available and attentive. Make a reservation, especially on a big Penn State weekend.
(4)
Leslie K.
Love, love, love this place. The ambience alone is worth the visit, but the food is also outstanding. Although the portion sizes alone don't justify the price, I believe the price is fair when you consider the entire dining experience.
(4)
Katherine B.
The food was excellent but the cost was really quite high for the portions received. The service was exceptionally slow and variable (those drinking alcohol always had glasses refilled quickly, notsomuch for those of us drinking iced tea).
(3)
Sean O.
Very nice place. The place is really well decorated, the service is good. The food, well the food is amazing. I had gator for the first time here and it was phenomenal. It's on the expensive side for lunch, but for New Orleans style Cajun food, there is no other place to go but here.
(5)
Joe M.
Great crab cakes and boneless ribs. Nice menu selection and great New Orleans style food.
(4)
Carolyn M.
Great food, fantastic atmosphere, and good service. It can get a little cramped during Penn State events or holidays, but this place is still one of my first choices for a nice night out. Always make a reservation, even on seemingly ordinary nights it can be full and it never hurts. They specialize in Cajun and Creole food, so if this is not your thing, Spats may not be the best choice. For me, I am always happy to go get a Crab Cake or some spicy Cajun dish. They have one of the best Crab Cakes within a 60 mile radius. They also have more reasonably-priced specials at lunch.
(4)
Joshua A.
Spat's is wonderful. A partner at a law firm took me and some of my friends here, so luckily we didn't have to pay; it can get a bit pricey. To start, we ordered a bunch of Tapas. In particular, I remember the brushetta and calamari being delicious. For the main course, I had the almond crusted chicken, which was probably the best chicken I've ever eaten. The chefs managed to hit that sought-after balance of sweet and savory. We had a 8-person party, and everyone loved their meals. The servers were also attentive and friendly (and able to manage an 8-person party without a problem). I'm looking forward to going back.
(5)
mary a.
Hard to believe that we have been coming here for over ten years now! Although we still love it, I will say that the menu a decade ago was somehow more appealing to me than today's. The tapas menu is great, salmon is always done perfectly (especially good when they serve it with a mango salsa), and the spinach salad with mango vinaigrette is a tasty start to any meal there. Love that the red beans and rice is still only $5 for lunch on Mondays!
(3)
Hope J.
One of my favorite restaurants in town. Love the crab and corn chowder & chopp salad Make reservations!
(5)
Beth G.
This fall I went to this restaurant after a busy day at work in State College and needed some adult only time. This is not a place for kids. It's darker and has fancy table clothes and napkins. It was perfect for those times where you want a quieter atmosphere with good cajun creole food. I had a great wine, good food and an outstanding Creme brule. The only thing that turned me off a bit was how they turned away a table of boys in blue (aka. Police men) who wanted to sit together. They had approached me and asked if they could share my table so they could be seated and served together. I agreeded as my husband works with Law Enforcement Officers and thought it'd be a good way to help out. But the wait staff refused to accomodate the seven officers from various locations even after I agreed. If a customer agrees and the other party agrees, I don't see the issue. My waiter, different than the one that protested the officers sitting with me, also forgot to bring me my appetizer. Luckily he didn't put that on my bill. I give the wait staff 3 stars, but the food was five all the way.
(4)
Josh M.
I've eaten at Spat's more times than I can count, I've had just about everything on the menu, and I've rarely been disappointed. They have the best collard greens I've ever had. Very reasonably priced for lunch. If you haven't been, definitely check it out.
(5)
diane b.
I'm a little biased, but last night I tried to find a different restaurant in State College with the diversity that Spats offers. Nothing even comes close. If you're tired of wings, sliders, and other appetizers that have been done to death, give Spats a try. Nom nom nom. Going back there tonight. One suggestion, get some rye behind the bar. It's trending now.
(5)
Ann W.
I love the Voodoo BBQ Shrimp and Scallops! Also, the hot sauce is great.
(4)
Korissa D.
I have been here a couple of times and every time I fall more in love with this place. I honestly believe the food here is the best quality in State College, better than Zola's. My mother came up to visit last semester and we came here for my birthday and she even bought a few bottles of their hot sauce to take home and now she always asks me to pick her up some because our whole family is obsessed with it!
(5)
Penny N.
Three meals here in three days. I absolutely can't have gluten, and this restaurant has the most extensive gluten free menu I've ever seen. The food is amazing- very richly flavored, cooked perfectly. Service is also excellent.. Nicely attentive.
(5)
Andy H.
We had a great meal last night. My wife took me out with my best friend, and we had a great time. I had the blackened catfish with cheese grits and collard greens (yum). My buddy had the voodoo shrimp and scallops, which was shared and enjoyed by all, as was my wife's catfish dish, which none of us know how to spell. Nice crowd, efficient waitstaff that know what they're doing, and interesting drink options. Try the alligator bites were tasty. Give them a try!
(4)
Krissy K.
Food here was amazing, I can't believe there is even one bad review about the food. It is pricey but it is probably one of the only actual fine dining restaurants in downtown State College. Especially since most other restaurants downtown serve pretty much the same menu, Spats is a more exciting place with the Cajun/Creole theme. But reading the bad reviews for Spats would make me suggest that you try one of those other boring places if you're from out of town and don't want any surprises from how your food tastes. If you're living in State College you have to go here at least once!
(4)
Hailey D.
Great service, fun atmosphere. We got the meat and cheese plate, and shrimp and grits and a few drinks. It was a nice way to spend the evening.
(4)
Mark D.
Wayyyy over priced. Had the Mac 'n Cheese special which I did not know was $30. They could have made it for $10 if they used 30 or so less pounds of cheese. Not good.
(2)
Samantha B.
I went there for lunch today. I ordered the special catfish, grits and collard greens. The grits were creamy the catfish was bland. The service was average. Nothing to write home about
(2)
bob t.
this is really a meh. I don't like to eat at most 3 star yelp restaurants. There is nothing you can really complain about, but I'll try. Eaten there maybe 15 times over time. Long enough to see some cycles. * the intermezzo, is a little shot glass of niceness. this keeps it 3 not a 2. that is a nice touch. chopped salad and grits and jambalaya are all go-to foods. * a drinks menu without prices. what are they free? do I have to cause a scene to ask how much it is? did they give me a ladies menu by mistake? Do they still have ladies' menus? Or, if I have to ask, I can't afford it? meh * only bottle beer. sigh. they are over one of the most modest bars, but even it has draft, I think. meh. * the prices have gone up, which is good, because it keeps the undergraduates out. But, now even post-docs won't want to come and who will come? on our night, there were not many people there. meh. * food is generally ok to "A-OK". chopped salad varies a bit, but is good to very good. makes we want to make chopped salad! blackened is usually pretty good. catfish is usually not as bad as catfish often it (mealy). * but because the prices are now nearly at Zola's prices (price=meh), we might as well go there (and sit outside Zola's where listening to the busses is quieter than the inside) * some bonus for getting to watch people try to get their cutlery out of the beads so, I'm surprised I've not reviewed this before, it reviews well by others, but it needs more polish before it can run with restaurants outside of SC and at the recent price jump. ps. if you are paying, I'm happy to go.
(3)
A J.
Absolutely amazing restaurant. Went for dinner on a weeknight and it wasn't too full. Walked in the door and was met with a wonderfully aromatic haze hanging in the air from the kitchen. Ordered the dirty Jambalaya. It was cooked perfectly. I would order it again any day. Didn't taste like the crap that you can get at chain restaurants or the crap that comes in a box at the grocery store. This was real Cajun food. It made my Alabama dad homesick. The dinner might have been a little overpriced, but the food was definitely worth it. I've heard lunch is cheaper and just as much food though. My only complaint would be that it was pretty loud, but it's no big deal. Would recommend this restaurant to anyone in State College.
(5)
Vicki G.
Solo lunch. Blue plate special with blackened mahi, grits, collards, red beans and cornbread. Generous portions of well-prepared food. Welcoming atmosphere and delightful server. Very good value. Highly recommend,
(5)
Art A.
Blackened duck breast cooked medium was perfectly tender, and served over the best cheesy grits I've ever had. Great service to boot! The sorbet intermezzo between salad/soup course and the main dish was a nice touch, though I wish their espresso machine was working, as that would've made a perfect ending to dinner. Overall, the food is most definitely on the better end of what you can get in State College, though you'll pay for it correspondingly. The prices are more than what you'd pay in the surrounding restaurants that cater to undergraduate students, but they're very reasonable compared to what you'd pay in larger cities.
(4)
Tim O.
Went here with a party of 10 to celebrate my daughter's birthday. The staff made us feel that they were doing us a favor serving us. When our food came out the server obviously forgot to put in my daughter's order although she blamed the kitchen for the mistake. so she watched the rest of us eat and then finally got her food after everyone else was finished. No apologies or discount just said there kitchen messed up, my mother in law ordered a cheeseburger that came out without cheese, so our server took it back and brought it right back with a cold slice of cheese thrown on top. Just seemed like nobody cared. The one good thing was the Gator pork burger was very tasty. Other than that... No thanks
(1)
Tamara K.
So this place came highly recommended from the hotel, ehhh it was ok and I feel overpriced for what you got
(2)
Yaima R.
Cajun/creole food in State College which is very tasty. The restaurant has a good, fun atmosphere, nice and cozy for dinner. I tried gator for the first time here, even though I'm from FL and it was surprisingly good.
(4)
Teresa J.
We had a lovely dinner . The atmosphere is always hopping and our waitress was very pleasant. I always have the chopped salad and will be sad if they ever take it off the menu. For my main entree I enjoyed the Catfish Ponchatrain. It is served with yummy cheesy grits and the best greens I have had since I have immigrated north.
(4)
Jimmy O.
It's fancy cajun/creole cuisine, and the food is fantastic. There's limited seating and it gets busy, so reservations are probably a must. The menu is pricey, but you get what you pay for. From the steaks to the gumbo, everything I've tried has been worth the price of admission. The sorbet before your entree is a nice touch, and bonus points for the patron if you actually eat the little mud bug (crawfish) that may decorate your plate.
(4)
John E.
Summary: very pricey. average food. ok atmosphere. We went here for dinner during a college visit. Two older adults and a 20 year old. I had Jambalaya and I thought it was very bland. My daughter and I had the gumbo with our meal and it was also very bland. My wife liked her blackened duck entree and my daughter liked her chicken and shrimp on cornbread stuffing. The three entrees and drinks were well over $100 with tip. I was underwhelmed but the rest of the family would probably give it 4 stars. Kind of a date place atmosphere. Lots of semi dressy couples clinking wine glasses. Ironic that the old timer Penn State beer bar is in the back of the same building but Spats doesn' t even serve draft beer. They're into the wine. Very limited bottled beer selection.
(3)
Rachel K.
I'm still deciding how I feel about Spats. Its definitely a unique restaurant that offers dishes uncommon in PA. Wonderful service, fun and relaxed environment, and probably a great place for just sitting and chatting in the evening. Sadly, the food was disappointing. I got the jambalaya and my husband got a plate of ribs, alligator, and catfish. I won't pretend to be an expert in Cajun/Creole food. I found my disappointment in the disparity between the price of each plate and the tastiness/quality of the food. Maybe I need a second visit to win me over.
(3)
Gary B.
I grew Up in the restaurant business & have a very critical eye. I see things the average patron misses when eating in a restaurant. Overall I thought our server did a nice job of taking care of our needs. However, I felt the entree prices were too high for the size of the portions & quality of the food. You get the feeling Spats is trying to project themselves as a much higher level restaurant than they really are. The difference is, they can't pull it off. My granddaughter ordered a broiled piece of fish, when her meal was delivered it was fried. By be time the rest if us finished our meals, they finally brought her broiled fish. This took too long!! We were not offered a comp on her dinner for the tardiness, nor did a manager stop at our table to offer an apology. If Spats lowered their prices by 33 percent then maybe it would work for me. They do not have a very large wine list for those looking for an extensive selection in a restaurant that projects themselves at a higher level. The restaurant was also very smokey from the t I've we arrived until the t I've we finally left. C
(2)
Yonatan R.
So far very good place. Good lunch and very good dinner. I keep this place in my best 5 in state college.
(4)
JoJo R.
One of the best in State College! Great food and service. The menu is hip but not pretentious. I have been there many times and have never been disappointed. My two favorites are the Fried Oysters on Potato Rounds and the Sweet Potato-crusted Catfish. Both are amazing! The prices are ok, not too expensive. Definitely worth it.
(4)
Luan H.
Writing review as I am waiting for the check. Food is mediocre - Ordered Jambalaya and chopped salad. Service was ok. My water was not refilled. The worst part is when I saw some gnats (tiny flies) attacking my food inside the restaurant. Lost my appetite. 1 star for sanitation. Do not recommend until it's fixed.
(1)
A. T.
This place was disappointing. The food wasn't terrible, but it wasn't very good, either. I love cajun food, and I could make something better at home for a lot cheaper. I got the jambalaya which was overpriced for the small portion and bland. If I spend this much I expect the food to be a higher quality. Will be avoiding this restaurant.
(1)
Paige D.
This is the best meal I've had out since I moved to State College. I had the barbeque shrimp and scallops, and my companion had the spicy crab penne. My food was delicious; I'm a bit picky with seafood, and the scallops were just melt in your mouth. The one point of improvement I would have on mine is that it would have been nice if they had seared the scallops, just for a little color and texture. The potatoes and broccolini were great.. The crab penne was just spicy enough, and the lumps of crab were delicious. For soup, I got the gumbo and Will got the crab and corn chowder. He definitely made the better choice, but the gumbo was still great with the chunks of sausage and okra. Yeah, it's a little expensive, but to me it's way higher quality than Alto with more food, for commensurate prices. We had wine, and that with the food put the bill at $70 before tip, and we were both full-- and that is quite a feat, moreso for Will than I. Overall, I think it's a great place, and you should check out for special occasions!
(5)
Heather A.
I was in State College for a work trip and went to Spats based on the fact that they have a gluten free menu. I hate to write a bad review but I feel I have a duty to warn others who must avoid gluten. I ordered the grilled veg appetizer off of the GF menu and it arrived with 6 slices of bread on it. My server was definitely aware of my gluten issue. I just think if you're going to claim you can do GF and even bother to print a menu, you should understand what that entails. My coworkers liked their food, but fellow celiacs and GF people, you've been warned.
(1)
Sean O.
Very nice place. The place is really well decorated, the service is good. The food, well the food is amazing. I had gator for the first time here and it was phenomenal. It's on the expensive side for lunch, but for New Orleans style Cajun food, there is no other place to go but here.
(5)
Joe M.
Great crab cakes and boneless ribs. Nice menu selection and great New Orleans style food.
(4)
Eileen S.
This place has the makings of a really great date, special occasion and/or splurge restaurant but sadly it is not quite there yet... Our most recent visit was for dinner. In general, the food we ordered was pretty good. Crab and corn chowder is always a good choice, tasty. Tried the grits on this visit and it was delicious (and I usually don't eat grits). However, $70 (before tip) for dinner for two with LOTS of gnats flying around made for a disappointing dinner.
(3)
Robert P.
Great meal. Great vibe. The bourbon pecan pie with ice cream is ridiculous. Decent service.
(4)
Jim D.
On a last minute whim, my companion and I decided to check out the ever bustling Spats for a Saturday night dinner - without a reservation. To our surprise, we were seated in less than 3 minutes. Booyah. It might have been my cologne. Spats is one of the more pricier establishments in State College so be warned all you college students. I enjoyed their lengthy tapas menu, particularly the voodoo shrimp and crab & avocado quesadilla rolls. However, my shrimp & crawfish etouffee was a bit lackluster that left me wanting more spice...a lot more. As good as the dinner menu looked, if I ever come back it would be for the tapas menu. There were just too many enticing choices to choose from. Though the highlight of the evening for me were those tasty $5 sangrias. Mon dieu, I could have drank a pitcher all by myself. Sans blague!
(3)
Matt G.
Get the three dips, you won't regret it. (Ours is slowly disappearing)
(5)
Leslie K.
Love, love, love this place. The ambience alone is worth the visit, but the food is also outstanding. Although the portion sizes alone don't justify the price, I believe the price is fair when you consider the entire dining experience.
(4)
Sharon B.
Ok, this review might get me boycotted from every restaurant in town, but I have to say it: as an outsider coming into State College, I have been pretty disappointed with the lackluster flavors that are offered. Specifically, "spicy" is never spicy, in any sense of the word (hot or flavorful). Spats is a key example. Hubby, inlaws and I came here for Hubby's birthday about a month ago. We were very excited because we love spicy food, especially jambalaya (Hubs makes a mean jambalaya at home). MIL and I started with Hurricanes and the men tried some beers. I expected that if I'm ordering a hurricane at a cajun restaurant, I'm going to see some stars afterwards. Nope. Believe me, my tolerance level is pretty low (yes, I'm Asian) and this didn't even give me a buzz. We chose gumbo for our appetizers, which usually isn't super-spicy to begin with, so when it came and was pretty bland, I gave them the benefit of the doubt. Then, entrees. I ordered the BBQ Shrimp, the men ordered the chicken/sausage Jambalaya, and MIL ordered the crab cakes. Such a disappointment. The jambalaya had NO spice and tasted like it was made from cheap canned tomatoes. Hubby had to add about a tablespoon of hot sauce in order to give it flavor, and by that point, the meal was pretty much wasted. My BBQ Shrimp was also very bland, and the worst part was that my cheese grits were made with RICOTTA CHEESE. Seriously? You even made my cheese grits blander than they usually are? Then, MIL's crab cakes were cold on the inside, so we had to send those back too. I actually think it's pretty egregious how much they charge for the low quality of the food (entrees were $20-40, plus drinks). Way to ruin our birthday dinner. Will never come back here again.
(1)
Katherine B.
The food was excellent but the cost was really quite high for the portions received. The service was exceptionally slow and variable (those drinking alcohol always had glasses refilled quickly, notsomuch for those of us drinking iced tea).
(3)
Minna R.
Let me start this off by saying that I have never had cajun/creole food before, so I can't really judge how authentic this is (although I went with a friend who has been to New Orleans a few times and she said it was legit) but I can tell you that the food is good. Very good. I think my actual rating is more around 4.5 stars. I ordered the crab and spinach portobello with red pepper sauce. Yum! It was a great flavor combination and the sauce was a perfect complement. They gave me a lot of crab, which I appreciated (I hate when you order crab or lobster and only get a tiny bit). Bonus points for the fact that Spats has a lot of vegetarian options that did not sound bland at all. I had a hard time choosing! I also got to sample the ahi tuna, which my mom ordered well done. I usually don't order tuna well done because it's too dry... but somehow they were able to cook it all the way through while maintaining the moisture. Seasoning was also great. Additional points of interest: Spats serves you sorbet between your salad and main dish as a palette cleanser (feels like you're on a food network show, what can I say, it's fun). I liked how you could order a full or demi portion depending on your appetite. Also you can order alligator here! The only downside here is that it's expensive for students on a budget, so I won't get to try anything else on the menu for a while. Though I do plan on returning next time I have something to celebrate!
(4)
Dave H.
I visited Spat's with a friend during the summer. It was around 1pm when we arrived and there were only a few other tables occupied, making it easy to see how spacious it was. We were seated quickly. Service was excellent. The Cajun dishes we had were delicious. Had a Jambalaya style dishes with duck that was outrageously tasty and herby to boot. I took photos of what we ate but I can't remember exactly what the dishes were... The prices are reasonable for lunch (for non-college students anyway). Not sure about dinner prices. I'd return to try other dishes - I heartily recommend Spat's for lunch!
(4)
Kedar D.
I like the decor and atmosphere of this restaurant. It's trendy and antiquated all at once. The service is prompt and friendly. The menu always has at least a few vegan-friendly options and, if you're in doubt, your waiter will be more than willing to check in the kitchen. Portion sizes are good here and the Cajun food is nicely spiced and unusual. The prices are high, though, especially for dinner, when they increase prices 50%, but give you the same amount of food as at lunch.
(3)
Alex V.
Spats is one of the better downtown State College dining options. I use to eat here a lot when I worked in State College. I was happy to see that the food is still good. My shrimp Po boy was excellent and the service was attentive too. Spats would probably be a 3-star establishment in Philly, but in State College its four stars because there isn't a whole lot of good food available.
(4)
Mark C.
I've always been a fan of this place. I actually would probably give it 5 stars for reasons of nostalgia, but I'm trying to be honest. I used to eat here often when I was in school 10 years ago, and I still come here whenever I'm back in town and it hasn't changed at all. I've always enjoyed the cozy dining experience there and their menu has some very different things on it that you won't find elsewhere in State College. I used to always get the almond crusted chicken which is probably one of my favorite "crusted" chicken dishes of all time. I was there recently and had the Muffulettas (good pick) and the Crab Hot Pepper Pasta (delicious but very rich). I could see this place going either way for some people, but you really need to know what to order.
(4)
Stacy S.
This restaurant has the best food and service that I've experienced in State College. The almond crusted chicken was amazing. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone.
(5)
Brian B.
Spats exemplifies itself as probably one of the best yet scariest places to go to downtown. If you asked me when I first came to State College if I'd ever go here, I'd reply with a resounding no. Nowadays, I feel a bit different. Granted, this isn't exactly a place for the frugal individual. This is more "i'm taking my date someplace extravagant and unique and I got my tax return a week ago" compared to "YO TOOTS LET'S DRANK OUTSIDE THE TWO-TENNNNNNNN I JUST GOT PAID". Originally I had attempted to get reservations for Valentine's dinner, but that went splat so we did it about a week later. Went in with my lady, got a nice table in the back with an extremely enthusiatic gentleman who gave us our menus. We ordered an appetizer of soups: chicken andouille gumbo versus the crab and corn chowder. Both excellent, but the gumbo was a bit too salty. We got another chowder to split after, it was that good. Entree was a bit different. We ended up getting a funky blue-plate special thing they offered: a little of everything. As we ate, the plate got split up depending on what we liked: I ended up with the gator (a bit tough and stringy but okay) and the nice spicy blackened catfish. On the other hand, she took the jambalaya, collared greens and the few shrimp bouncing around the plate. Dessert was iffy. Our waiter explained that the pastry chef had quit a few months beforehand which is why the menu is much more limited nowadays. Ended up with a banana crepe with ice cream and a sweet drizzle. It was... meh. All and all with only a little booze it came to about $85ish. For a guy that usually eats on the cheap, it scared me a little. I come back and do lunches from now on, about half the dinner price on everything and they still have the awesome corn and crab soup. Shrimp Po Boy is also excellent lunch fare. Sure, Spats is scary to the average student who doesn't have a ton of cash, but if you can push past that facade and do the cheap lunchtime fare for $10 or less, you'll love it.
(4)
Megan K.
An upscale creole restaurant that my husband and friend frequent. I love this place. It is tiny and I recommend reservations. Their menu is varied and is updated regularly. The staff is knowledgeable. They have a great drink menu. Their food is excellent and come hungry- get an appetizer, meal, and dessert, you will not be disappointed. It is a little pricey but completely worth it.
(4)
Lynn J.
Somewhere in the middle...the first time I went to Spat's I think I got food poisoning or something cuz I spent the rest of the night in the bathroom puking up most of what I ate...I think maybe it could've just been the fact it was my first time eating gator meat, and I wasn't a big fan. And thinking about what I was eating in combination with the weird chewiness of fried gator...I dunno, but I was sick all night long. I did for some reason decide to give it a second chance...and wow, I'm so glad that I did...if it's still on the menu, you MUST GET THE LAUGHING CRAB. I love soft-shell crab and in combination with the cajun spices...mmmm, so freaking delicious.
(3)
Jessica D.
Mmmm, yummy...that's all I have to say!
(5)
Josh M.
I've eaten at Spat's more times than I can count, I've had just about everything on the menu, and I've rarely been disappointed. They have the best collard greens I've ever had. Very reasonably priced for lunch. If you haven't been, definitely check it out.
(5)
Carl V.
Average food, but not for the price. Terrible service. My wife and I went there last year on new years eve for a nine o'clock reservation and didn't get to leave until well after 11. The whole experience was awful really. There is no waiting area, so we were waiting in the entryway until about 10 minutes after our 9 o'clock reservation. After we were seated it took almost a half hour for the waitress to take our order. During that time we had no drink or anything. We still didn't have any food at 10 o'clock and she came back to ask us what we had ordered again.. I wouldn't have been so bad but the restaurant was mostly cleared out at this point and we were really hungry. We considered canceling our order but we didn't know where else we would be able to get food, as most of the bars were pretty busy by that time. Anyway my wife ordered the filet with foie gras. What she got was a new york strip steak cut in half... with a single bite size piece of foie gras on top, that hadn't even been cooked. Obviously what happened was they were out of filets and they didn't want to tell us that an hour after we ordered when she actually put in our order so they made do with a half a strip steak. I don't know why the foie gras was such a small piece, maybe they were out or maybe they serve it that way. We asked the waitress and she blamed everything on the kitchen. She waited to take our order cause the kitchen was behind, then they lost the ticket, and of course she can't answer about the quality of the food even though she did admit that that was not a filet. When we got the check at the end it said 'fire' right on it which is what waitresses type to let the kitchen know to hurry because they never rang in the order. Anyway we ate our food in the empty restaurant while the servers were cleaning all around us, feeling really rushed by our waitress who was paying attention to us for the first time, left, and then decided to call it a night. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. My meal was okay, but again, not for the price.
(2)
Keely B.
Took the bro and sis-in law out for a first post-baby adult dinner, and had a fantastic time! We ordered a ridiculous amount of food, and loved everything. Chicken fire sticks? Awesome. Almond crusted chicken with cheese grits and broccolini? Unbelievable. Great wine, great atmosphere, super-helpful and sweet server Emily. She even pretended not to hear when I said "She's really nice!" thinking she was gone...but wasn't. Oh, well. At least it wasn't something bad.
(5)
Josh G.
Dead alligator. They sell dead alligator. Eat alligator.
(4)
Carolyn M.
Great food, fantastic atmosphere, and good service. It can get a little cramped during Penn State events or holidays, but this place is still one of my first choices for a nice night out. Always make a reservation, even on seemingly ordinary nights it can be full and it never hurts. They specialize in Cajun and Creole food, so if this is not your thing, Spats may not be the best choice. For me, I am always happy to go get a Crab Cake or some spicy Cajun dish. They have one of the best Crab Cakes within a 60 mile radius. They also have more reasonably-priced specials at lunch.
(4)
Jessica F.
I grew up in the South eating wonderful Cajun/Creole dishes, like jambalaya, etouffee, gumbo, blackened chicken, Po Boys, red beans and rice, etc. I was excited when I moved here and saw they had a Cajun restaurant. I've been to New Orleans and had some mind-blowing food in the French Quarter, and I guess after that, it's hard for anything to come close. The food isn't bad, but I always have to add lots of Tabasco. I like my food HOT. I'd consider the jambalaya bland compared to what I'm used to, but it's not bad. The prices are pretty high, but the service is alright, the portions are big, and the restaurant is clean. This is a great restaurant for those who aren't familiar with Cajun cuisine. But if you've had the authentic stuff, be prepared to be a little disappointed. And don't get anything with crawdads...
(3)
Joshua A.
Spat's is wonderful. A partner at a law firm took me and some of my friends here, so luckily we didn't have to pay; it can get a bit pricey. To start, we ordered a bunch of Tapas. In particular, I remember the brushetta and calamari being delicious. For the main course, I had the almond crusted chicken, which was probably the best chicken I've ever eaten. The chefs managed to hit that sought-after balance of sweet and savory. We had a 8-person party, and everyone loved their meals. The servers were also attentive and friendly (and able to manage an 8-person party without a problem). I'm looking forward to going back.
(5)
mary a.
Hard to believe that we have been coming here for over ten years now! Although we still love it, I will say that the menu a decade ago was somehow more appealing to me than today's. The tapas menu is great, salmon is always done perfectly (especially good when they serve it with a mango salsa), and the spinach salad with mango vinaigrette is a tasty start to any meal there. Love that the red beans and rice is still only $5 for lunch on Mondays!
(3)
Hope J.
One of my favorite restaurants in town. Love the crab and corn chowder & chopp salad Make reservations!
(5)
Beth G.
This fall I went to this restaurant after a busy day at work in State College and needed some adult only time. This is not a place for kids. It's darker and has fancy table clothes and napkins. It was perfect for those times where you want a quieter atmosphere with good cajun creole food. I had a great wine, good food and an outstanding Creme brule. The only thing that turned me off a bit was how they turned away a table of boys in blue (aka. Police men) who wanted to sit together. They had approached me and asked if they could share my table so they could be seated and served together. I agreeded as my husband works with Law Enforcement Officers and thought it'd be a good way to help out. But the wait staff refused to accomodate the seven officers from various locations even after I agreed. If a customer agrees and the other party agrees, I don't see the issue. My waiter, different than the one that protested the officers sitting with me, also forgot to bring me my appetizer. Luckily he didn't put that on my bill. I give the wait staff 3 stars, but the food was five all the way.
(4)
John E.
Summary: very pricey. average food. ok atmosphere. We went here for dinner during a college visit. Two older adults and a 20 year old. I had Jambalaya and I thought it was very bland. My daughter and I had the gumbo with our meal and it was also very bland. My wife liked her blackened duck entree and my daughter liked her chicken and shrimp on cornbread stuffing. The three entrees and drinks were well over $100 with tip. I was underwhelmed but the rest of the family would probably give it 4 stars. Kind of a date place atmosphere. Lots of semi dressy couples clinking wine glasses. Ironic that the old timer Penn State beer bar is in the back of the same building but Spats doesn' t even serve draft beer. They're into the wine. Very limited bottled beer selection.
(3)
Rachel K.
I'm still deciding how I feel about Spats. Its definitely a unique restaurant that offers dishes uncommon in PA. Wonderful service, fun and relaxed environment, and probably a great place for just sitting and chatting in the evening. Sadly, the food was disappointing. I got the jambalaya and my husband got a plate of ribs, alligator, and catfish. I won't pretend to be an expert in Cajun/Creole food. I found my disappointment in the disparity between the price of each plate and the tastiness/quality of the food. Maybe I need a second visit to win me over.
(3)
Gary B.
I grew Up in the restaurant business & have a very critical eye. I see things the average patron misses when eating in a restaurant. Overall I thought our server did a nice job of taking care of our needs. However, I felt the entree prices were too high for the size of the portions & quality of the food. You get the feeling Spats is trying to project themselves as a much higher level restaurant than they really are. The difference is, they can't pull it off. My granddaughter ordered a broiled piece of fish, when her meal was delivered it was fried. By be time the rest if us finished our meals, they finally brought her broiled fish. This took too long!! We were not offered a comp on her dinner for the tardiness, nor did a manager stop at our table to offer an apology. If Spats lowered their prices by 33 percent then maybe it would work for me. They do not have a very large wine list for those looking for an extensive selection in a restaurant that projects themselves at a higher level. The restaurant was also very smokey from the t I've we arrived until the t I've we finally left. C
(2)
Yonatan R.
So far very good place. Good lunch and very good dinner. I keep this place in my best 5 in state college.
(4)
A. T.
This place was disappointing. The food wasn't terrible, but it wasn't very good, either. I love cajun food, and I could make something better at home for a lot cheaper. I got the jambalaya which was overpriced for the small portion and bland. If I spend this much I expect the food to be a higher quality. Will be avoiding this restaurant.
(1)
Jimmy O.
It's fancy cajun/creole cuisine, and the food is fantastic. There's limited seating and it gets busy, so reservations are probably a must. The menu is pricey, but you get what you pay for. From the steaks to the gumbo, everything I've tried has been worth the price of admission. The sorbet before your entree is a nice touch, and bonus points for the patron if you actually eat the little mud bug (crawfish) that may decorate your plate.
(4)
JoJo R.
One of the best in State College! Great food and service. The menu is hip but not pretentious. I have been there many times and have never been disappointed. My two favorites are the Fried Oysters on Potato Rounds and the Sweet Potato-crusted Catfish. Both are amazing! The prices are ok, not too expensive. Definitely worth it.
(4)
Luan H.
Writing review as I am waiting for the check. Food is mediocre - Ordered Jambalaya and chopped salad. Service was ok. My water was not refilled. The worst part is when I saw some gnats (tiny flies) attacking my food inside the restaurant. Lost my appetite. 1 star for sanitation. Do not recommend until it's fixed.
(1)
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Address :142 E College Ave
State College, PA, 16801
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Jason M.
Was in State College over the weekend for a wedding and Spats Cafe is one of her favorite places so we had a big group of people that invaded Spats. The wedding was an early one around 10am the reception at 11am, love having brunch at a wedding. We went Saturday night and had reservations for 15 people. We get there and of course more then 15 people showed up and they had no room for any extra people, the entire place was booked. Some people unfortunately had to leave which I must say was handled very well by hostess at the front door. Spats is a small place, cramped but it's not too bad. We had a pretty big table to ourselves so I wasn't sitting right next to someone at another table that I didn't know which has happened numerous times at other small restaurants. When you walk in you will notice something in the air, it's the spices. If your sensitive to this kind of stuff then you should probably pass, my father-in-law had to leave, his eyes kept watering. It was time to order and I love spicy food, the spicier the better. Being a Maryland guy I had to have something with crab so I saw they have something called the Crab Hot Pepper Penne Pasta and when I ordered it the waitress said good choice which is always nice to hear. My dinner arrived and I must say that this is probably one of the best pasta dishes I ever had. It was spicy but not to spicy to take away from the dish. When you take a bite the spice would hit you then slowly fade away not even needing a drink to calm it down. That is how spicy should be, I've had plenty of dishes at other resturants where I'm downing the water or tea or whatever I was drinking to calm the flames. The pasta was cooked to perfection and the crab was very tender. As being the only person in our group to get this I was telling everyone that I would drive the 4 hours just to eat here again and get the Crab Hot Pepper Penne Pasta. Completely happy with everything, the hostess handling the problem we had, the wait staff being very friendly and prompt. Spats Cafe I will be back!! Jason
(4)Eileen S.
This place has the makings of a really great date, special occasion and/or splurge restaurant but sadly it is not quite there yet... Our most recent visit was for dinner. In general, the food we ordered was pretty good. Crab and corn chowder is always a good choice, tasty. Tried the grits on this visit and it was delicious (and I usually don't eat grits). However, $70 (before tip) for dinner for two with LOTS of gnats flying around made for a disappointing dinner.
(3)Robert P.
Great meal. Great vibe. The bourbon pecan pie with ice cream is ridiculous. Decent service.
(4)Jim D.
On a last minute whim, my companion and I decided to check out the ever bustling Spats for a Saturday night dinner - without a reservation. To our surprise, we were seated in less than 3 minutes. Booyah. It might have been my cologne. Spats is one of the more pricier establishments in State College so be warned all you college students. I enjoyed their lengthy tapas menu, particularly the voodoo shrimp and crab & avocado quesadilla rolls. However, my shrimp & crawfish etouffee was a bit lackluster that left me wanting more spice...a lot more. As good as the dinner menu looked, if I ever come back it would be for the tapas menu. There were just too many enticing choices to choose from. Though the highlight of the evening for me were those tasty $5 sangrias. Mon dieu, I could have drank a pitcher all by myself. Sans blague!
(3)Dave H.
I visited Spat's with a friend during the summer. It was around 1pm when we arrived and there were only a few other tables occupied, making it easy to see how spacious it was. We were seated quickly. Service was excellent. The Cajun dishes we had were delicious. Had a Jambalaya style dishes with duck that was outrageously tasty and herby to boot. I took photos of what we ate but I can't remember exactly what the dishes were... The prices are reasonable for lunch (for non-college students anyway). Not sure about dinner prices. I'd return to try other dishes - I heartily recommend Spat's for lunch!
(4)Kedar D.
I like the decor and atmosphere of this restaurant. It's trendy and antiquated all at once. The service is prompt and friendly. The menu always has at least a few vegan-friendly options and, if you're in doubt, your waiter will be more than willing to check in the kitchen. Portion sizes are good here and the Cajun food is nicely spiced and unusual. The prices are high, though, especially for dinner, when they increase prices 50%, but give you the same amount of food as at lunch.
(3)Alex V.
Spats is one of the better downtown State College dining options. I use to eat here a lot when I worked in State College. I was happy to see that the food is still good. My shrimp Po boy was excellent and the service was attentive too. Spats would probably be a 3-star establishment in Philly, but in State College its four stars because there isn't a whole lot of good food available.
(4)Mark C.
I've always been a fan of this place. I actually would probably give it 5 stars for reasons of nostalgia, but I'm trying to be honest. I used to eat here often when I was in school 10 years ago, and I still come here whenever I'm back in town and it hasn't changed at all. I've always enjoyed the cozy dining experience there and their menu has some very different things on it that you won't find elsewhere in State College. I used to always get the almond crusted chicken which is probably one of my favorite "crusted" chicken dishes of all time. I was there recently and had the Muffulettas (good pick) and the Crab Hot Pepper Pasta (delicious but very rich). I could see this place going either way for some people, but you really need to know what to order.
(4)Stacy S.
This restaurant has the best food and service that I've experienced in State College. The almond crusted chicken was amazing. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone.
(5)Brian B.
Spats exemplifies itself as probably one of the best yet scariest places to go to downtown. If you asked me when I first came to State College if I'd ever go here, I'd reply with a resounding no. Nowadays, I feel a bit different. Granted, this isn't exactly a place for the frugal individual. This is more "i'm taking my date someplace extravagant and unique and I got my tax return a week ago" compared to "YO TOOTS LET'S DRANK OUTSIDE THE TWO-TENNNNNNNN I JUST GOT PAID". Originally I had attempted to get reservations for Valentine's dinner, but that went splat so we did it about a week later. Went in with my lady, got a nice table in the back with an extremely enthusiatic gentleman who gave us our menus. We ordered an appetizer of soups: chicken andouille gumbo versus the crab and corn chowder. Both excellent, but the gumbo was a bit too salty. We got another chowder to split after, it was that good. Entree was a bit different. We ended up getting a funky blue-plate special thing they offered: a little of everything. As we ate, the plate got split up depending on what we liked: I ended up with the gator (a bit tough and stringy but okay) and the nice spicy blackened catfish. On the other hand, she took the jambalaya, collared greens and the few shrimp bouncing around the plate. Dessert was iffy. Our waiter explained that the pastry chef had quit a few months beforehand which is why the menu is much more limited nowadays. Ended up with a banana crepe with ice cream and a sweet drizzle. It was... meh. All and all with only a little booze it came to about $85ish. For a guy that usually eats on the cheap, it scared me a little. I come back and do lunches from now on, about half the dinner price on everything and they still have the awesome corn and crab soup. Shrimp Po Boy is also excellent lunch fare. Sure, Spats is scary to the average student who doesn't have a ton of cash, but if you can push past that facade and do the cheap lunchtime fare for $10 or less, you'll love it.
(4)Megan K.
An upscale creole restaurant that my husband and friend frequent. I love this place. It is tiny and I recommend reservations. Their menu is varied and is updated regularly. The staff is knowledgeable. They have a great drink menu. Their food is excellent and come hungry- get an appetizer, meal, and dessert, you will not be disappointed. It is a little pricey but completely worth it.
(4)Paige D.
This is the best meal I've had out since I moved to State College. I had the barbeque shrimp and scallops, and my companion had the spicy crab penne. My food was delicious; I'm a bit picky with seafood, and the scallops were just melt in your mouth. The one point of improvement I would have on mine is that it would have been nice if they had seared the scallops, just for a little color and texture. The potatoes and broccolini were great.. The crab penne was just spicy enough, and the lumps of crab were delicious. For soup, I got the gumbo and Will got the crab and corn chowder. He definitely made the better choice, but the gumbo was still great with the chunks of sausage and okra. Yeah, it's a little expensive, but to me it's way higher quality than Alto with more food, for commensurate prices. We had wine, and that with the food put the bill at $70 before tip, and we were both full-- and that is quite a feat, moreso for Will than I. Overall, I think it's a great place, and you should check out for special occasions!
(5)Trish A.
Lord have mercy on the souls of any staffers who have to deal with 30+ hungry Plone Symposium attendees, staggering in in search of good food and moar drinks. This isn't the largest establishment, and I believe we caught them at the start of their off-season, seriously under-staffed for the size of our group. All the same, they did an outstanding job of accommodating all our separate order and bill splitting shenanigans. Not to mention I think someone dropped their silverware every seven minutes we were there, possibly just to get another necklace of beads that came wrapped around each new set. Unfortunately I forget our waitress's name, but she was very friendly and timely, she had short blonde hair and a lip piercing though. As for the food, I'd say all of what I had was mostly excellent: the steamed mussels with prosciutto were delicious, although the broth was a little bland; I forget exactly what the soup was, something with crab, and while it was very tasty and came with a large amount of crab, there were a few bits of crab bone that were less than pleasant; for the entree though, the short ribs were super good! I wish it came with more, although I was plenty stuffed at this point. The meat was tender and soft but very flavorful. One of the ribs was pretty fatty, but I kind of see this as a plus, being a fatty myself... :) My friend got the roasted duck though: at least the portion I tried was not cooked very well, and was extra rubbery. He wasn't too happy with it, either. Overall though, great place! Cute decor, friendly staff, and a great amount of variety on the menu. Ah yes, one last thing: the dirty girl martinis were DELICIOUS! Bleu cheese stuffed olives in a vodka martini -- very strong but also tasty. The cajun bloody mary looked intriguing also, will have to try that one next time.
(5)Sharon B.
Ok, this review might get me boycotted from every restaurant in town, but I have to say it: as an outsider coming into State College, I have been pretty disappointed with the lackluster flavors that are offered. Specifically, "spicy" is never spicy, in any sense of the word (hot or flavorful). Spats is a key example. Hubby, inlaws and I came here for Hubby's birthday about a month ago. We were very excited because we love spicy food, especially jambalaya (Hubs makes a mean jambalaya at home). MIL and I started with Hurricanes and the men tried some beers. I expected that if I'm ordering a hurricane at a cajun restaurant, I'm going to see some stars afterwards. Nope. Believe me, my tolerance level is pretty low (yes, I'm Asian) and this didn't even give me a buzz. We chose gumbo for our appetizers, which usually isn't super-spicy to begin with, so when it came and was pretty bland, I gave them the benefit of the doubt. Then, entrees. I ordered the BBQ Shrimp, the men ordered the chicken/sausage Jambalaya, and MIL ordered the crab cakes. Such a disappointment. The jambalaya had NO spice and tasted like it was made from cheap canned tomatoes. Hubby had to add about a tablespoon of hot sauce in order to give it flavor, and by that point, the meal was pretty much wasted. My BBQ Shrimp was also very bland, and the worst part was that my cheese grits were made with RICOTTA CHEESE. Seriously? You even made my cheese grits blander than they usually are? Then, MIL's crab cakes were cold on the inside, so we had to send those back too. I actually think it's pretty egregious how much they charge for the low quality of the food (entrees were $20-40, plus drinks). Way to ruin our birthday dinner. Will never come back here again.
(1)Josh G.
Dead alligator. They sell dead alligator. Eat alligator.
(4)Trish A.
Lord have mercy on the souls of any staffers who have to deal with 30+ hungry Plone Symposium attendees, staggering in in search of good food and moar drinks. This isn't the largest establishment, and I believe we caught them at the start of their off-season, seriously under-staffed for the size of our group. All the same, they did an outstanding job of accommodating all our separate order and bill splitting shenanigans. Not to mention I think someone dropped their silverware every seven minutes we were there, possibly just to get another necklace of beads that came wrapped around each new set. Unfortunately I forget our waitress's name, but she was very friendly and timely, she had short blonde hair and a lip piercing though. As for the food, I'd say all of what I had was mostly excellent: the steamed mussels with prosciutto were delicious, although the broth was a little bland; I forget exactly what the soup was, something with crab, and while it was very tasty and came with a large amount of crab, there were a few bits of crab bone that were less than pleasant; for the entree though, the short ribs were super good! I wish it came with more, although I was plenty stuffed at this point. The meat was tender and soft but very flavorful. One of the ribs was pretty fatty, but I kind of see this as a plus, being a fatty myself... :) My friend got the roasted duck though: at least the portion I tried was not cooked very well, and was extra rubbery. He wasn't too happy with it, either. Overall though, great place! Cute decor, friendly staff, and a great amount of variety on the menu. Ah yes, one last thing: the dirty girl martinis were DELICIOUS! Bleu cheese stuffed olives in a vodka martini -- very strong but also tasty. The cajun bloody mary looked intriguing also, will have to try that one next time.
(5)Jason M.
Was in State College over the weekend for a wedding and Spats Cafe is one of her favorite places so we had a big group of people that invaded Spats. The wedding was an early one around 10am the reception at 11am, love having brunch at a wedding. We went Saturday night and had reservations for 15 people. We get there and of course more then 15 people showed up and they had no room for any extra people, the entire place was booked. Some people unfortunately had to leave which I must say was handled very well by hostess at the front door. Spats is a small place, cramped but it's not too bad. We had a pretty big table to ourselves so I wasn't sitting right next to someone at another table that I didn't know which has happened numerous times at other small restaurants. When you walk in you will notice something in the air, it's the spices. If your sensitive to this kind of stuff then you should probably pass, my father-in-law had to leave, his eyes kept watering. It was time to order and I love spicy food, the spicier the better. Being a Maryland guy I had to have something with crab so I saw they have something called the Crab Hot Pepper Penne Pasta and when I ordered it the waitress said good choice which is always nice to hear. My dinner arrived and I must say that this is probably one of the best pasta dishes I ever had. It was spicy but not to spicy to take away from the dish. When you take a bite the spice would hit you then slowly fade away not even needing a drink to calm it down. That is how spicy should be, I've had plenty of dishes at other resturants where I'm downing the water or tea or whatever I was drinking to calm the flames. The pasta was cooked to perfection and the crab was very tender. As being the only person in our group to get this I was telling everyone that I would drive the 4 hours just to eat here again and get the Crab Hot Pepper Penne Pasta. Completely happy with everything, the hostess handling the problem we had, the wait staff being very friendly and prompt. Spats Cafe I will be back!! Jason
(4)Ryoko M.
We went for a nice anniversary lunch, and for the most part, it did not disappoint. My husband got the calamari and crawfish tacos, and they were piled high with seafood goodness! Crawfish pieces were a bit small and not as many as the calamari pieces, but the tacos themselves were amazing with a great slaw. Would order again. I got the oyster poboy. This again, was piled high with an arugula salad, which went very well with the sandwich. The olive tapanade in the sandwich gave it great flavor. The only thing was that the oysters were very small. The bread they offer is great, service was attentive but not suffocating. Portions are massive! Both lunch dishes were $12- a great deal. Would come back again!
(4)Alexios T.
Steak was a little over cooked. So if you want medium rare, ask for rare i guess. The sides where amazing. Truly delicious.
(4)Chris D.
One of the best date spots in State College. Best Cajun/Creole in town. It's great to have a place where you can eat a kick-ass cheese plate right before some spicy jambalaya. I'll be back, many times in the future.
(5)Wendy K.
Wow... In State College for the game this weekend and found this wonderful gem on yelp. Food was amazing! Came in around 7 and sat at the bar. Found out it was happy hour until 8. We split the scallops with grits and steamed clams with sausage tapas, which were 25% off. Enjoyed mixed drinks at 25% off. Then shared into the yummolicious dirty jambalaya to top off the meal! The only issue was they do not take Amex...
(5)Kelli B.
Service and food are just great. I used to come here once a week when I was in college. I absolutely love love love spats cafe. Definitely try the crispy asparagus
(5)Kristen M.
I never came here as a student because it was too expensive, but Spats is now my favorite restaurant in State College! I came here as part of a Bachelorette Party on Blue and White Weekend. We had a reservation on Saturday evening for 10 around 7:30. After a full day of tailgating the thought of eating more was a bit overwhelming, but the food was too good to pass up. We all shared bites of appetizers such as the crispy calamari and the Three Dips and Crisp Vegetables (for 10 people we ordered two of each dish). As an entree, I had the Chicken with Shrimp, Andouille and Creamy Corn. It was so flavorful, I can't wait to eat it again. The atmosphere is dark and cozy and they do New Orleans justice at Spats. I highly recommend it for a nice grown up meal or if Mom and Dad are coming to town and are paying the bill.
(4)David G.
A surprise in State College, something tasty. Prices are a bit high & the space can be loud, but our meals were delicious, particularly the chicken, shrimp, andouille on corn bread. Nice service.
(5)Robert B.
This is the good stuff! From the nice decor... to the spot on service... to the very clever and eclectic menu... to the most important thing, the food. Spats gets it ALL right. The fried oysters were a highlight. The cheesy grits are to die for! There were nothing but raves about the food at our table for 6! They know how to cook salmon right and warn you ahead of time that it is going to be medium rare unless you want it overcooked! Did I mention the service. Sadly good service is starting to really stand out because it is rare... well it does stand out here... not one miscue! Did I say they get it ALL right? I lied. I have one complaint and that is the bar. While they nailed my Martini... it was all down hill from there. The pour on their win is anemic! My dessert Sambuca came up way short as well. Then let's talk Sangria... ugh!! Sickly sweet grape juice!! So stick to the nice bottled beer selection and everything will be PERFECT!!
(4)Andy H.
We had a great meal last night. My wife took me out with my best friend, and we had a great time. I had the blackened catfish with cheese grits and collard greens (yum). My buddy had the voodoo shrimp and scallops, which was shared and enjoyed by all, as was my wife's catfish dish, which none of us know how to spell. Nice crowd, efficient waitstaff that know what they're doing, and interesting drink options. Try the alligator bites were tasty. Give them a try!
(4)Korissa D.
I have been here a couple of times and every time I fall more in love with this place. I honestly believe the food here is the best quality in State College, better than Zola's. My mother came up to visit last semester and we came here for my birthday and she even bought a few bottles of their hot sauce to take home and now she always asks me to pick her up some because our whole family is obsessed with it!
(5)Penny N.
Three meals here in three days. I absolutely can't have gluten, and this restaurant has the most extensive gluten free menu I've ever seen. The food is amazing- very richly flavored, cooked perfectly. Service is also excellent.. Nicely attentive.
(5)Shushu L.
Best restaurant in state college. You might want to make a reservation since this place is always popular. I had blackened duck breast, it was just amazing.
(5)Matt G.
Get the three dips, you won't regret it. (Ours is slowly disappearing)
(5)bill c.
Very nice place with a fun New Orleans themed tapas and regular (entree) menu. Decent wine & beer selection. Service was worth 10 stars, outstanding.
(4)Jake S.
Went to Spat's for a special occasion. Had a great seat and excellent server. Wasn't expecting the crab dip to be cold, but it was very good. Entrees were cooked to perfection and very filling. The bananas foster crepes were to die for. Left there with a full stomach, but a little pricy for other fine dining Cajun restaurants I've been to. Highly recommended!
(4)Jonathan P.
I wish I couldn't get full. There is so much amazingly looking food on the menu. I was in the mood for the dirty jambalaya, and it would be tough to find something this good in NOLA. Great drinks and wonderful bartender, but come for the food; complement it with the alcohol.
(5)Bob D.
Great atmosphere ... Great food ... Great service ... Great Gluten Free options and recommendations .... Look forward to coming back ... SOON.
(5)Daniel M.
After reading thru the reviews I took my family out to dinner. Had the seafood jambalaya , my wife had the crusted catfish and both of my boys had the steak n cake. Everything was good but not great. The waitress was outstanding and very attentive frequently asking if we needed anything. Wine list was ok and the best wine on the list was Stags Leap Artemis.
(3)Rebecca T.
This was our first experience at a New Orleans restaurant and we loved it. We were in from out of town visiting my husband's alma mater Penn State. He got the Catfish Ponchartrain and I got the Veggie Jambalya. The catfish was SO good. The veggie jambalya was also great, not a veggie was undercooked or overcooked, and for a vegetarian dish it was very flavorful. We also got soups ahead of time. Everything was fantastic. We eat at a lot of trendy, expensive DC restaurants and thought this was much better than most!
(5)Rebecca M.
We just stopped in by chance and had an amazing meal. The corn crab soup is decadent , great chopped salad and crab cakes. We will come back if we ever come back this way.
(4)Ramona F.
After much debate and reading through reviews of several restaurants in State College on Yelp, I decided on Spats. The menu on their website is outdated and they do not offer a few of the dishes any longer. I started with the fried oysters which I've never tried before - I'm a raw oyster / oyster shooter kinda girl. Six oysters came out, on a bed of sautéed spinach with Huntsmen cheese (melted). The combination of flavored was nice, but the amount of oil on the plate was too much. I ordered a small chopped salad, and the small plate of the Crab Hot Pepper Penne. The salad was fair. The pasta dish was spicy but just slightly which was good for me. The flavor was good, but the penne was a little overcooked for my taste. The small size was perfect for my appetite. No room for dessert... :-(
(3)diane b.
I'm a little biased, but last night I tried to find a different restaurant in State College with the diversity that Spats offers. Nothing even comes close. If you're tired of wings, sliders, and other appetizers that have been done to death, give Spats a try. Nom nom nom. Going back there tonight. One suggestion, get some rye behind the bar. It's trending now.
(5)Ann W.
I love the Voodoo BBQ Shrimp and Scallops! Also, the hot sauce is great.
(4)Krissy K.
Food here was amazing, I can't believe there is even one bad review about the food. It is pricey but it is probably one of the only actual fine dining restaurants in downtown State College. Especially since most other restaurants downtown serve pretty much the same menu, Spats is a more exciting place with the Cajun/Creole theme. But reading the bad reviews for Spats would make me suggest that you try one of those other boring places if you're from out of town and don't want any surprises from how your food tastes. If you're living in State College you have to go here at least once!
(4)Hailey D.
Great service, fun atmosphere. We got the meat and cheese plate, and shrimp and grits and a few drinks. It was a nice way to spend the evening.
(4)Mark D.
Wayyyy over priced. Had the Mac 'n Cheese special which I did not know was $30. They could have made it for $10 if they used 30 or so less pounds of cheese. Not good.
(2)Samantha B.
I went there for lunch today. I ordered the special catfish, grits and collard greens. The grits were creamy the catfish was bland. The service was average. Nothing to write home about
(2)bob t.
this is really a meh. I don't like to eat at most 3 star yelp restaurants. There is nothing you can really complain about, but I'll try. Eaten there maybe 15 times over time. Long enough to see some cycles. * the intermezzo, is a little shot glass of niceness. this keeps it 3 not a 2. that is a nice touch. chopped salad and grits and jambalaya are all go-to foods. * a drinks menu without prices. what are they free? do I have to cause a scene to ask how much it is? did they give me a ladies menu by mistake? Do they still have ladies' menus? Or, if I have to ask, I can't afford it? meh * only bottle beer. sigh. they are over one of the most modest bars, but even it has draft, I think. meh. * the prices have gone up, which is good, because it keeps the undergraduates out. But, now even post-docs won't want to come and who will come? on our night, there were not many people there. meh. * food is generally ok to "A-OK". chopped salad varies a bit, but is good to very good. makes we want to make chopped salad! blackened is usually pretty good. catfish is usually not as bad as catfish often it (mealy). * but because the prices are now nearly at Zola's prices (price=meh), we might as well go there (and sit outside Zola's where listening to the busses is quieter than the inside) * some bonus for getting to watch people try to get their cutlery out of the beads so, I'm surprised I've not reviewed this before, it reviews well by others, but it needs more polish before it can run with restaurants outside of SC and at the recent price jump. ps. if you are paying, I'm happy to go.
(3)A J.
Absolutely amazing restaurant. Went for dinner on a weeknight and it wasn't too full. Walked in the door and was met with a wonderfully aromatic haze hanging in the air from the kitchen. Ordered the dirty Jambalaya. It was cooked perfectly. I would order it again any day. Didn't taste like the crap that you can get at chain restaurants or the crap that comes in a box at the grocery store. This was real Cajun food. It made my Alabama dad homesick. The dinner might have been a little overpriced, but the food was definitely worth it. I've heard lunch is cheaper and just as much food though. My only complaint would be that it was pretty loud, but it's no big deal. Would recommend this restaurant to anyone in State College.
(5)Vicki G.
Solo lunch. Blue plate special with blackened mahi, grits, collards, red beans and cornbread. Generous portions of well-prepared food. Welcoming atmosphere and delightful server. Very good value. Highly recommend,
(5)Art A.
Blackened duck breast cooked medium was perfectly tender, and served over the best cheesy grits I've ever had. Great service to boot! The sorbet intermezzo between salad/soup course and the main dish was a nice touch, though I wish their espresso machine was working, as that would've made a perfect ending to dinner. Overall, the food is most definitely on the better end of what you can get in State College, though you'll pay for it correspondingly. The prices are more than what you'd pay in the surrounding restaurants that cater to undergraduate students, but they're very reasonable compared to what you'd pay in larger cities.
(4)Tim O.
Went here with a party of 10 to celebrate my daughter's birthday. The staff made us feel that they were doing us a favor serving us. When our food came out the server obviously forgot to put in my daughter's order although she blamed the kitchen for the mistake. so she watched the rest of us eat and then finally got her food after everyone else was finished. No apologies or discount just said there kitchen messed up, my mother in law ordered a cheeseburger that came out without cheese, so our server took it back and brought it right back with a cold slice of cheese thrown on top. Just seemed like nobody cared. The one good thing was the Gator pork burger was very tasty. Other than that... No thanks
(1)Tamara K.
So this place came highly recommended from the hotel, ehhh it was ok and I feel overpriced for what you got
(2)Yaima R.
Cajun/creole food in State College which is very tasty. The restaurant has a good, fun atmosphere, nice and cozy for dinner. I tried gator for the first time here, even though I'm from FL and it was surprisingly good.
(4)Teresa J.
We had a lovely dinner . The atmosphere is always hopping and our waitress was very pleasant. I always have the chopped salad and will be sad if they ever take it off the menu. For my main entree I enjoyed the Catfish Ponchatrain. It is served with yummy cheesy grits and the best greens I have had since I have immigrated north.
(4)Lauren W.
Manchego and huntsmans cheeses served over balsamic with a petite, earthy salad and rice crisps, lamp lollipop with mango chutney, and chicken, andouille, shrimp with creamy corn and collards. Plus my beer was presented with a nice pour. Nice service, lovely decor. Am surprised I haven't tried it before.
(4)Kali B.
I take newbies here whenever I can--it 'a expensive but worth it if you get, say , the duck. If you want the pasta or jumbalaya, get it downstairs at the Rathskeller for less.
(4)Meghan C.
Choosing a place for dinner with my parents downtown during Arts Fest, and the requirements were that it wasn't super crowded and had alcohol. We ended up at Spats because my dad has been boycotting Zola, our usual pick, for the past six months due to a bad service experience. Surprisingly, I hadn't been here before. The food was actually very good. We got salads, mussels, a shrimp skewer, fried oysters, and artichokes stuffed with brie. The artichokes and oysters were my favorite, and something we ordered (I think it was the shrimp) came with fresh figs, which was awesome. The portions of the tapas are pretty small, even for tapas...and the prices are pretty large. Though I enjoyed my meal, I felt like it was worth about half what we paid for it. I'm just sick of spending a ton on food in State College that is just "good" when you can get outstanding food in any major city for much cheaper. Can we start a revolution?? That being said, Spats is one of the better restaurants in the area and worth a try. A reluctant 4-stars (more like 3.5 but I'll round up on this one).
(4)Catherine N.
This New Orleans themed restaurant on a primo corner is a nice change from the usual State College burger and bar food. The fried oyster appetizer was a big hit..very rich and filling. Our mains were steak and crab cake ... and crusted catfish. Both were very good but overloaded with sauce. Servers were always available and attentive. Make a reservation, especially on a big Penn State weekend.
(4)Jessica F.
I grew up in the South eating wonderful Cajun/Creole dishes, like jambalaya, etouffee, gumbo, blackened chicken, Po Boys, red beans and rice, etc. I was excited when I moved here and saw they had a Cajun restaurant. I've been to New Orleans and had some mind-blowing food in the French Quarter, and I guess after that, it's hard for anything to come close. The food isn't bad, but I always have to add lots of Tabasco. I like my food HOT. I'd consider the jambalaya bland compared to what I'm used to, but it's not bad. The prices are pretty high, but the service is alright, the portions are big, and the restaurant is clean. This is a great restaurant for those who aren't familiar with Cajun cuisine. But if you've had the authentic stuff, be prepared to be a little disappointed. And don't get anything with crawdads...
(3)Minna R.
Let me start this off by saying that I have never had cajun/creole food before, so I can't really judge how authentic this is (although I went with a friend who has been to New Orleans a few times and she said it was legit) but I can tell you that the food is good. Very good. I think my actual rating is more around 4.5 stars. I ordered the crab and spinach portobello with red pepper sauce. Yum! It was a great flavor combination and the sauce was a perfect complement. They gave me a lot of crab, which I appreciated (I hate when you order crab or lobster and only get a tiny bit). Bonus points for the fact that Spats has a lot of vegetarian options that did not sound bland at all. I had a hard time choosing! I also got to sample the ahi tuna, which my mom ordered well done. I usually don't order tuna well done because it's too dry... but somehow they were able to cook it all the way through while maintaining the moisture. Seasoning was also great. Additional points of interest: Spats serves you sorbet between your salad and main dish as a palette cleanser (feels like you're on a food network show, what can I say, it's fun). I liked how you could order a full or demi portion depending on your appetite. Also you can order alligator here! The only downside here is that it's expensive for students on a budget, so I won't get to try anything else on the menu for a while. Though I do plan on returning next time I have something to celebrate!
(4)Heather A.
I was in State College for a work trip and went to Spats based on the fact that they have a gluten free menu. I hate to write a bad review but I feel I have a duty to warn others who must avoid gluten. I ordered the grilled veg appetizer off of the GF menu and it arrived with 6 slices of bread on it. My server was definitely aware of my gluten issue. I just think if you're going to claim you can do GF and even bother to print a menu, you should understand what that entails. My coworkers liked their food, but fellow celiacs and GF people, you've been warned.
(1)Carl V.
Average food, but not for the price. Terrible service. My wife and I went there last year on new years eve for a nine o'clock reservation and didn't get to leave until well after 11. The whole experience was awful really. There is no waiting area, so we were waiting in the entryway until about 10 minutes after our 9 o'clock reservation. After we were seated it took almost a half hour for the waitress to take our order. During that time we had no drink or anything. We still didn't have any food at 10 o'clock and she came back to ask us what we had ordered again.. I wouldn't have been so bad but the restaurant was mostly cleared out at this point and we were really hungry. We considered canceling our order but we didn't know where else we would be able to get food, as most of the bars were pretty busy by that time. Anyway my wife ordered the filet with foie gras. What she got was a new york strip steak cut in half... with a single bite size piece of foie gras on top, that hadn't even been cooked. Obviously what happened was they were out of filets and they didn't want to tell us that an hour after we ordered when she actually put in our order so they made do with a half a strip steak. I don't know why the foie gras was such a small piece, maybe they were out or maybe they serve it that way. We asked the waitress and she blamed everything on the kitchen. She waited to take our order cause the kitchen was behind, then they lost the ticket, and of course she can't answer about the quality of the food even though she did admit that that was not a filet. When we got the check at the end it said 'fire' right on it which is what waitresses type to let the kitchen know to hurry because they never rang in the order. Anyway we ate our food in the empty restaurant while the servers were cleaning all around us, feeling really rushed by our waitress who was paying attention to us for the first time, left, and then decided to call it a night. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. My meal was okay, but again, not for the price.
(2)Keely B.
Took the bro and sis-in law out for a first post-baby adult dinner, and had a fantastic time! We ordered a ridiculous amount of food, and loved everything. Chicken fire sticks? Awesome. Almond crusted chicken with cheese grits and broccolini? Unbelievable. Great wine, great atmosphere, super-helpful and sweet server Emily. She even pretended not to hear when I said "She's really nice!" thinking she was gone...but wasn't. Oh, well. At least it wasn't something bad.
(5)Lynn J.
Somewhere in the middle...the first time I went to Spat's I think I got food poisoning or something cuz I spent the rest of the night in the bathroom puking up most of what I ate...I think maybe it could've just been the fact it was my first time eating gator meat, and I wasn't a big fan. And thinking about what I was eating in combination with the weird chewiness of fried gator...I dunno, but I was sick all night long. I did for some reason decide to give it a second chance...and wow, I'm so glad that I did...if it's still on the menu, you MUST GET THE LAUGHING CRAB. I love soft-shell crab and in combination with the cajun spices...mmmm, so freaking delicious.
(3)Jessica D.
Mmmm, yummy...that's all I have to say!
(5)Ryoko M.
We went for a nice anniversary lunch, and for the most part, it did not disappoint. My husband got the calamari and crawfish tacos, and they were piled high with seafood goodness! Crawfish pieces were a bit small and not as many as the calamari pieces, but the tacos themselves were amazing with a great slaw. Would order again. I got the oyster poboy. This again, was piled high with an arugula salad, which went very well with the sandwich. The olive tapanade in the sandwich gave it great flavor. The only thing was that the oysters were very small. The bread they offer is great, service was attentive but not suffocating. Portions are massive! Both lunch dishes were $12- a great deal. Would come back again!
(4)Alexios T.
Steak was a little over cooked. So if you want medium rare, ask for rare i guess. The sides where amazing. Truly delicious.
(4)Chris D.
One of the best date spots in State College. Best Cajun/Creole in town. It's great to have a place where you can eat a kick-ass cheese plate right before some spicy jambalaya. I'll be back, many times in the future.
(5)Wendy K.
Wow... In State College for the game this weekend and found this wonderful gem on yelp. Food was amazing! Came in around 7 and sat at the bar. Found out it was happy hour until 8. We split the scallops with grits and steamed clams with sausage tapas, which were 25% off. Enjoyed mixed drinks at 25% off. Then shared into the yummolicious dirty jambalaya to top off the meal! The only issue was they do not take Amex...
(5)Kelli B.
Service and food are just great. I used to come here once a week when I was in college. I absolutely love love love spats cafe. Definitely try the crispy asparagus
(5)Shushu L.
Best restaurant in state college. You might want to make a reservation since this place is always popular. I had blackened duck breast, it was just amazing.
(5)bill c.
Very nice place with a fun New Orleans themed tapas and regular (entree) menu. Decent wine & beer selection. Service was worth 10 stars, outstanding.
(4)Kristen M.
I never came here as a student because it was too expensive, but Spats is now my favorite restaurant in State College! I came here as part of a Bachelorette Party on Blue and White Weekend. We had a reservation on Saturday evening for 10 around 7:30. After a full day of tailgating the thought of eating more was a bit overwhelming, but the food was too good to pass up. We all shared bites of appetizers such as the crispy calamari and the Three Dips and Crisp Vegetables (for 10 people we ordered two of each dish). As an entree, I had the Chicken with Shrimp, Andouille and Creamy Corn. It was so flavorful, I can't wait to eat it again. The atmosphere is dark and cozy and they do New Orleans justice at Spats. I highly recommend it for a nice grown up meal or if Mom and Dad are coming to town and are paying the bill.
(4)David G.
A surprise in State College, something tasty. Prices are a bit high & the space can be loud, but our meals were delicious, particularly the chicken, shrimp, andouille on corn bread. Nice service.
(5)Robert B.
This is the good stuff! From the nice decor... to the spot on service... to the very clever and eclectic menu... to the most important thing, the food. Spats gets it ALL right. The fried oysters were a highlight. The cheesy grits are to die for! There were nothing but raves about the food at our table for 6! They know how to cook salmon right and warn you ahead of time that it is going to be medium rare unless you want it overcooked! Did I mention the service. Sadly good service is starting to really stand out because it is rare... well it does stand out here... not one miscue! Did I say they get it ALL right? I lied. I have one complaint and that is the bar. While they nailed my Martini... it was all down hill from there. The pour on their win is anemic! My dessert Sambuca came up way short as well. Then let's talk Sangria... ugh!! Sickly sweet grape juice!! So stick to the nice bottled beer selection and everything will be PERFECT!!
(4)Jake S.
Went to Spat's for a special occasion. Had a great seat and excellent server. Wasn't expecting the crab dip to be cold, but it was very good. Entrees were cooked to perfection and very filling. The bananas foster crepes were to die for. Left there with a full stomach, but a little pricy for other fine dining Cajun restaurants I've been to. Highly recommended!
(4)Jonathan P.
I wish I couldn't get full. There is so much amazingly looking food on the menu. I was in the mood for the dirty jambalaya, and it would be tough to find something this good in NOLA. Great drinks and wonderful bartender, but come for the food; complement it with the alcohol.
(5)Bob D.
Great atmosphere ... Great food ... Great service ... Great Gluten Free options and recommendations .... Look forward to coming back ... SOON.
(5)Daniel M.
After reading thru the reviews I took my family out to dinner. Had the seafood jambalaya , my wife had the crusted catfish and both of my boys had the steak n cake. Everything was good but not great. The waitress was outstanding and very attentive frequently asking if we needed anything. Wine list was ok and the best wine on the list was Stags Leap Artemis.
(3)Rebecca T.
This was our first experience at a New Orleans restaurant and we loved it. We were in from out of town visiting my husband's alma mater Penn State. He got the Catfish Ponchartrain and I got the Veggie Jambalya. The catfish was SO good. The veggie jambalya was also great, not a veggie was undercooked or overcooked, and for a vegetarian dish it was very flavorful. We also got soups ahead of time. Everything was fantastic. We eat at a lot of trendy, expensive DC restaurants and thought this was much better than most!
(5)Rebecca M.
We just stopped in by chance and had an amazing meal. The corn crab soup is decadent , great chopped salad and crab cakes. We will come back if we ever come back this way.
(4)Ramona F.
After much debate and reading through reviews of several restaurants in State College on Yelp, I decided on Spats. The menu on their website is outdated and they do not offer a few of the dishes any longer. I started with the fried oysters which I've never tried before - I'm a raw oyster / oyster shooter kinda girl. Six oysters came out, on a bed of sautéed spinach with Huntsmen cheese (melted). The combination of flavored was nice, but the amount of oil on the plate was too much. I ordered a small chopped salad, and the small plate of the Crab Hot Pepper Penne. The salad was fair. The pasta dish was spicy but just slightly which was good for me. The flavor was good, but the penne was a little overcooked for my taste. The small size was perfect for my appetite. No room for dessert... :-(
(3)Lauren W.
Manchego and huntsmans cheeses served over balsamic with a petite, earthy salad and rice crisps, lamp lollipop with mango chutney, and chicken, andouille, shrimp with creamy corn and collards. Plus my beer was presented with a nice pour. Nice service, lovely decor. Am surprised I haven't tried it before.
(4)Kali B.
I take newbies here whenever I can--it 'a expensive but worth it if you get, say , the duck. If you want the pasta or jumbalaya, get it downstairs at the Rathskeller for less.
(4)Meghan C.
Choosing a place for dinner with my parents downtown during Arts Fest, and the requirements were that it wasn't super crowded and had alcohol. We ended up at Spats because my dad has been boycotting Zola, our usual pick, for the past six months due to a bad service experience. Surprisingly, I hadn't been here before. The food was actually very good. We got salads, mussels, a shrimp skewer, fried oysters, and artichokes stuffed with brie. The artichokes and oysters were my favorite, and something we ordered (I think it was the shrimp) came with fresh figs, which was awesome. The portions of the tapas are pretty small, even for tapas...and the prices are pretty large. Though I enjoyed my meal, I felt like it was worth about half what we paid for it. I'm just sick of spending a ton on food in State College that is just "good" when you can get outstanding food in any major city for much cheaper. Can we start a revolution?? That being said, Spats is one of the better restaurants in the area and worth a try. A reluctant 4-stars (more like 3.5 but I'll round up on this one).
(4)Catherine N.
This New Orleans themed restaurant on a primo corner is a nice change from the usual State College burger and bar food. The fried oyster appetizer was a big hit..very rich and filling. Our mains were steak and crab cake ... and crusted catfish. Both were very good but overloaded with sauce. Servers were always available and attentive. Make a reservation, especially on a big Penn State weekend.
(4)Leslie K.
Love, love, love this place. The ambience alone is worth the visit, but the food is also outstanding. Although the portion sizes alone don't justify the price, I believe the price is fair when you consider the entire dining experience.
(4)Katherine B.
The food was excellent but the cost was really quite high for the portions received. The service was exceptionally slow and variable (those drinking alcohol always had glasses refilled quickly, notsomuch for those of us drinking iced tea).
(3)Sean O.
Very nice place. The place is really well decorated, the service is good. The food, well the food is amazing. I had gator for the first time here and it was phenomenal. It's on the expensive side for lunch, but for New Orleans style Cajun food, there is no other place to go but here.
(5)Joe M.
Great crab cakes and boneless ribs. Nice menu selection and great New Orleans style food.
(4)Carolyn M.
Great food, fantastic atmosphere, and good service. It can get a little cramped during Penn State events or holidays, but this place is still one of my first choices for a nice night out. Always make a reservation, even on seemingly ordinary nights it can be full and it never hurts. They specialize in Cajun and Creole food, so if this is not your thing, Spats may not be the best choice. For me, I am always happy to go get a Crab Cake or some spicy Cajun dish. They have one of the best Crab Cakes within a 60 mile radius. They also have more reasonably-priced specials at lunch.
(4)Joshua A.
Spat's is wonderful. A partner at a law firm took me and some of my friends here, so luckily we didn't have to pay; it can get a bit pricey. To start, we ordered a bunch of Tapas. In particular, I remember the brushetta and calamari being delicious. For the main course, I had the almond crusted chicken, which was probably the best chicken I've ever eaten. The chefs managed to hit that sought-after balance of sweet and savory. We had a 8-person party, and everyone loved their meals. The servers were also attentive and friendly (and able to manage an 8-person party without a problem). I'm looking forward to going back.
(5)mary a.
Hard to believe that we have been coming here for over ten years now! Although we still love it, I will say that the menu a decade ago was somehow more appealing to me than today's. The tapas menu is great, salmon is always done perfectly (especially good when they serve it with a mango salsa), and the spinach salad with mango vinaigrette is a tasty start to any meal there. Love that the red beans and rice is still only $5 for lunch on Mondays!
(3)Hope J.
One of my favorite restaurants in town. Love the crab and corn chowder & chopp salad Make reservations!
(5)Beth G.
This fall I went to this restaurant after a busy day at work in State College and needed some adult only time. This is not a place for kids. It's darker and has fancy table clothes and napkins. It was perfect for those times where you want a quieter atmosphere with good cajun creole food. I had a great wine, good food and an outstanding Creme brule. The only thing that turned me off a bit was how they turned away a table of boys in blue (aka. Police men) who wanted to sit together. They had approached me and asked if they could share my table so they could be seated and served together. I agreeded as my husband works with Law Enforcement Officers and thought it'd be a good way to help out. But the wait staff refused to accomodate the seven officers from various locations even after I agreed. If a customer agrees and the other party agrees, I don't see the issue. My waiter, different than the one that protested the officers sitting with me, also forgot to bring me my appetizer. Luckily he didn't put that on my bill. I give the wait staff 3 stars, but the food was five all the way.
(4)Josh M.
I've eaten at Spat's more times than I can count, I've had just about everything on the menu, and I've rarely been disappointed. They have the best collard greens I've ever had. Very reasonably priced for lunch. If you haven't been, definitely check it out.
(5)diane b.
I'm a little biased, but last night I tried to find a different restaurant in State College with the diversity that Spats offers. Nothing even comes close. If you're tired of wings, sliders, and other appetizers that have been done to death, give Spats a try. Nom nom nom. Going back there tonight. One suggestion, get some rye behind the bar. It's trending now.
(5)Ann W.
I love the Voodoo BBQ Shrimp and Scallops! Also, the hot sauce is great.
(4)Korissa D.
I have been here a couple of times and every time I fall more in love with this place. I honestly believe the food here is the best quality in State College, better than Zola's. My mother came up to visit last semester and we came here for my birthday and she even bought a few bottles of their hot sauce to take home and now she always asks me to pick her up some because our whole family is obsessed with it!
(5)Penny N.
Three meals here in three days. I absolutely can't have gluten, and this restaurant has the most extensive gluten free menu I've ever seen. The food is amazing- very richly flavored, cooked perfectly. Service is also excellent.. Nicely attentive.
(5)Andy H.
We had a great meal last night. My wife took me out with my best friend, and we had a great time. I had the blackened catfish with cheese grits and collard greens (yum). My buddy had the voodoo shrimp and scallops, which was shared and enjoyed by all, as was my wife's catfish dish, which none of us know how to spell. Nice crowd, efficient waitstaff that know what they're doing, and interesting drink options. Try the alligator bites were tasty. Give them a try!
(4)Krissy K.
Food here was amazing, I can't believe there is even one bad review about the food. It is pricey but it is probably one of the only actual fine dining restaurants in downtown State College. Especially since most other restaurants downtown serve pretty much the same menu, Spats is a more exciting place with the Cajun/Creole theme. But reading the bad reviews for Spats would make me suggest that you try one of those other boring places if you're from out of town and don't want any surprises from how your food tastes. If you're living in State College you have to go here at least once!
(4)Hailey D.
Great service, fun atmosphere. We got the meat and cheese plate, and shrimp and grits and a few drinks. It was a nice way to spend the evening.
(4)Mark D.
Wayyyy over priced. Had the Mac 'n Cheese special which I did not know was $30. They could have made it for $10 if they used 30 or so less pounds of cheese. Not good.
(2)Samantha B.
I went there for lunch today. I ordered the special catfish, grits and collard greens. The grits were creamy the catfish was bland. The service was average. Nothing to write home about
(2)bob t.
this is really a meh. I don't like to eat at most 3 star yelp restaurants. There is nothing you can really complain about, but I'll try. Eaten there maybe 15 times over time. Long enough to see some cycles. * the intermezzo, is a little shot glass of niceness. this keeps it 3 not a 2. that is a nice touch. chopped salad and grits and jambalaya are all go-to foods. * a drinks menu without prices. what are they free? do I have to cause a scene to ask how much it is? did they give me a ladies menu by mistake? Do they still have ladies' menus? Or, if I have to ask, I can't afford it? meh * only bottle beer. sigh. they are over one of the most modest bars, but even it has draft, I think. meh. * the prices have gone up, which is good, because it keeps the undergraduates out. But, now even post-docs won't want to come and who will come? on our night, there were not many people there. meh. * food is generally ok to "A-OK". chopped salad varies a bit, but is good to very good. makes we want to make chopped salad! blackened is usually pretty good. catfish is usually not as bad as catfish often it (mealy). * but because the prices are now nearly at Zola's prices (price=meh), we might as well go there (and sit outside Zola's where listening to the busses is quieter than the inside) * some bonus for getting to watch people try to get their cutlery out of the beads so, I'm surprised I've not reviewed this before, it reviews well by others, but it needs more polish before it can run with restaurants outside of SC and at the recent price jump. ps. if you are paying, I'm happy to go.
(3)A J.
Absolutely amazing restaurant. Went for dinner on a weeknight and it wasn't too full. Walked in the door and was met with a wonderfully aromatic haze hanging in the air from the kitchen. Ordered the dirty Jambalaya. It was cooked perfectly. I would order it again any day. Didn't taste like the crap that you can get at chain restaurants or the crap that comes in a box at the grocery store. This was real Cajun food. It made my Alabama dad homesick. The dinner might have been a little overpriced, but the food was definitely worth it. I've heard lunch is cheaper and just as much food though. My only complaint would be that it was pretty loud, but it's no big deal. Would recommend this restaurant to anyone in State College.
(5)Vicki G.
Solo lunch. Blue plate special with blackened mahi, grits, collards, red beans and cornbread. Generous portions of well-prepared food. Welcoming atmosphere and delightful server. Very good value. Highly recommend,
(5)Art A.
Blackened duck breast cooked medium was perfectly tender, and served over the best cheesy grits I've ever had. Great service to boot! The sorbet intermezzo between salad/soup course and the main dish was a nice touch, though I wish their espresso machine was working, as that would've made a perfect ending to dinner. Overall, the food is most definitely on the better end of what you can get in State College, though you'll pay for it correspondingly. The prices are more than what you'd pay in the surrounding restaurants that cater to undergraduate students, but they're very reasonable compared to what you'd pay in larger cities.
(4)Tim O.
Went here with a party of 10 to celebrate my daughter's birthday. The staff made us feel that they were doing us a favor serving us. When our food came out the server obviously forgot to put in my daughter's order although she blamed the kitchen for the mistake. so she watched the rest of us eat and then finally got her food after everyone else was finished. No apologies or discount just said there kitchen messed up, my mother in law ordered a cheeseburger that came out without cheese, so our server took it back and brought it right back with a cold slice of cheese thrown on top. Just seemed like nobody cared. The one good thing was the Gator pork burger was very tasty. Other than that... No thanks
(1)Tamara K.
So this place came highly recommended from the hotel, ehhh it was ok and I feel overpriced for what you got
(2)Yaima R.
Cajun/creole food in State College which is very tasty. The restaurant has a good, fun atmosphere, nice and cozy for dinner. I tried gator for the first time here, even though I'm from FL and it was surprisingly good.
(4)Teresa J.
We had a lovely dinner . The atmosphere is always hopping and our waitress was very pleasant. I always have the chopped salad and will be sad if they ever take it off the menu. For my main entree I enjoyed the Catfish Ponchatrain. It is served with yummy cheesy grits and the best greens I have had since I have immigrated north.
(4)Jimmy O.
It's fancy cajun/creole cuisine, and the food is fantastic. There's limited seating and it gets busy, so reservations are probably a must. The menu is pricey, but you get what you pay for. From the steaks to the gumbo, everything I've tried has been worth the price of admission. The sorbet before your entree is a nice touch, and bonus points for the patron if you actually eat the little mud bug (crawfish) that may decorate your plate.
(4)John E.
Summary: very pricey. average food. ok atmosphere. We went here for dinner during a college visit. Two older adults and a 20 year old. I had Jambalaya and I thought it was very bland. My daughter and I had the gumbo with our meal and it was also very bland. My wife liked her blackened duck entree and my daughter liked her chicken and shrimp on cornbread stuffing. The three entrees and drinks were well over $100 with tip. I was underwhelmed but the rest of the family would probably give it 4 stars. Kind of a date place atmosphere. Lots of semi dressy couples clinking wine glasses. Ironic that the old timer Penn State beer bar is in the back of the same building but Spats doesn' t even serve draft beer. They're into the wine. Very limited bottled beer selection.
(3)Rachel K.
I'm still deciding how I feel about Spats. Its definitely a unique restaurant that offers dishes uncommon in PA. Wonderful service, fun and relaxed environment, and probably a great place for just sitting and chatting in the evening. Sadly, the food was disappointing. I got the jambalaya and my husband got a plate of ribs, alligator, and catfish. I won't pretend to be an expert in Cajun/Creole food. I found my disappointment in the disparity between the price of each plate and the tastiness/quality of the food. Maybe I need a second visit to win me over.
(3)Gary B.
I grew Up in the restaurant business & have a very critical eye. I see things the average patron misses when eating in a restaurant. Overall I thought our server did a nice job of taking care of our needs. However, I felt the entree prices were too high for the size of the portions & quality of the food. You get the feeling Spats is trying to project themselves as a much higher level restaurant than they really are. The difference is, they can't pull it off. My granddaughter ordered a broiled piece of fish, when her meal was delivered it was fried. By be time the rest if us finished our meals, they finally brought her broiled fish. This took too long!! We were not offered a comp on her dinner for the tardiness, nor did a manager stop at our table to offer an apology. If Spats lowered their prices by 33 percent then maybe it would work for me. They do not have a very large wine list for those looking for an extensive selection in a restaurant that projects themselves at a higher level. The restaurant was also very smokey from the t I've we arrived until the t I've we finally left. C
(2)Yonatan R.
So far very good place. Good lunch and very good dinner. I keep this place in my best 5 in state college.
(4)JoJo R.
One of the best in State College! Great food and service. The menu is hip but not pretentious. I have been there many times and have never been disappointed. My two favorites are the Fried Oysters on Potato Rounds and the Sweet Potato-crusted Catfish. Both are amazing! The prices are ok, not too expensive. Definitely worth it.
(4)Luan H.
Writing review as I am waiting for the check. Food is mediocre - Ordered Jambalaya and chopped salad. Service was ok. My water was not refilled. The worst part is when I saw some gnats (tiny flies) attacking my food inside the restaurant. Lost my appetite. 1 star for sanitation. Do not recommend until it's fixed.
(1)A. T.
This place was disappointing. The food wasn't terrible, but it wasn't very good, either. I love cajun food, and I could make something better at home for a lot cheaper. I got the jambalaya which was overpriced for the small portion and bland. If I spend this much I expect the food to be a higher quality. Will be avoiding this restaurant.
(1)Paige D.
This is the best meal I've had out since I moved to State College. I had the barbeque shrimp and scallops, and my companion had the spicy crab penne. My food was delicious; I'm a bit picky with seafood, and the scallops were just melt in your mouth. The one point of improvement I would have on mine is that it would have been nice if they had seared the scallops, just for a little color and texture. The potatoes and broccolini were great.. The crab penne was just spicy enough, and the lumps of crab were delicious. For soup, I got the gumbo and Will got the crab and corn chowder. He definitely made the better choice, but the gumbo was still great with the chunks of sausage and okra. Yeah, it's a little expensive, but to me it's way higher quality than Alto with more food, for commensurate prices. We had wine, and that with the food put the bill at $70 before tip, and we were both full-- and that is quite a feat, moreso for Will than I. Overall, I think it's a great place, and you should check out for special occasions!
(5)Heather A.
I was in State College for a work trip and went to Spats based on the fact that they have a gluten free menu. I hate to write a bad review but I feel I have a duty to warn others who must avoid gluten. I ordered the grilled veg appetizer off of the GF menu and it arrived with 6 slices of bread on it. My server was definitely aware of my gluten issue. I just think if you're going to claim you can do GF and even bother to print a menu, you should understand what that entails. My coworkers liked their food, but fellow celiacs and GF people, you've been warned.
(1)Sean O.
Very nice place. The place is really well decorated, the service is good. The food, well the food is amazing. I had gator for the first time here and it was phenomenal. It's on the expensive side for lunch, but for New Orleans style Cajun food, there is no other place to go but here.
(5)Joe M.
Great crab cakes and boneless ribs. Nice menu selection and great New Orleans style food.
(4)Eileen S.
This place has the makings of a really great date, special occasion and/or splurge restaurant but sadly it is not quite there yet... Our most recent visit was for dinner. In general, the food we ordered was pretty good. Crab and corn chowder is always a good choice, tasty. Tried the grits on this visit and it was delicious (and I usually don't eat grits). However, $70 (before tip) for dinner for two with LOTS of gnats flying around made for a disappointing dinner.
(3)Robert P.
Great meal. Great vibe. The bourbon pecan pie with ice cream is ridiculous. Decent service.
(4)Jim D.
On a last minute whim, my companion and I decided to check out the ever bustling Spats for a Saturday night dinner - without a reservation. To our surprise, we were seated in less than 3 minutes. Booyah. It might have been my cologne. Spats is one of the more pricier establishments in State College so be warned all you college students. I enjoyed their lengthy tapas menu, particularly the voodoo shrimp and crab & avocado quesadilla rolls. However, my shrimp & crawfish etouffee was a bit lackluster that left me wanting more spice...a lot more. As good as the dinner menu looked, if I ever come back it would be for the tapas menu. There were just too many enticing choices to choose from. Though the highlight of the evening for me were those tasty $5 sangrias. Mon dieu, I could have drank a pitcher all by myself. Sans blague!
(3)Matt G.
Get the three dips, you won't regret it. (Ours is slowly disappearing)
(5)Leslie K.
Love, love, love this place. The ambience alone is worth the visit, but the food is also outstanding. Although the portion sizes alone don't justify the price, I believe the price is fair when you consider the entire dining experience.
(4)Sharon B.
Ok, this review might get me boycotted from every restaurant in town, but I have to say it: as an outsider coming into State College, I have been pretty disappointed with the lackluster flavors that are offered. Specifically, "spicy" is never spicy, in any sense of the word (hot or flavorful). Spats is a key example. Hubby, inlaws and I came here for Hubby's birthday about a month ago. We were very excited because we love spicy food, especially jambalaya (Hubs makes a mean jambalaya at home). MIL and I started with Hurricanes and the men tried some beers. I expected that if I'm ordering a hurricane at a cajun restaurant, I'm going to see some stars afterwards. Nope. Believe me, my tolerance level is pretty low (yes, I'm Asian) and this didn't even give me a buzz. We chose gumbo for our appetizers, which usually isn't super-spicy to begin with, so when it came and was pretty bland, I gave them the benefit of the doubt. Then, entrees. I ordered the BBQ Shrimp, the men ordered the chicken/sausage Jambalaya, and MIL ordered the crab cakes. Such a disappointment. The jambalaya had NO spice and tasted like it was made from cheap canned tomatoes. Hubby had to add about a tablespoon of hot sauce in order to give it flavor, and by that point, the meal was pretty much wasted. My BBQ Shrimp was also very bland, and the worst part was that my cheese grits were made with RICOTTA CHEESE. Seriously? You even made my cheese grits blander than they usually are? Then, MIL's crab cakes were cold on the inside, so we had to send those back too. I actually think it's pretty egregious how much they charge for the low quality of the food (entrees were $20-40, plus drinks). Way to ruin our birthday dinner. Will never come back here again.
(1)Katherine B.
The food was excellent but the cost was really quite high for the portions received. The service was exceptionally slow and variable (those drinking alcohol always had glasses refilled quickly, notsomuch for those of us drinking iced tea).
(3)Minna R.
Let me start this off by saying that I have never had cajun/creole food before, so I can't really judge how authentic this is (although I went with a friend who has been to New Orleans a few times and she said it was legit) but I can tell you that the food is good. Very good. I think my actual rating is more around 4.5 stars. I ordered the crab and spinach portobello with red pepper sauce. Yum! It was a great flavor combination and the sauce was a perfect complement. They gave me a lot of crab, which I appreciated (I hate when you order crab or lobster and only get a tiny bit). Bonus points for the fact that Spats has a lot of vegetarian options that did not sound bland at all. I had a hard time choosing! I also got to sample the ahi tuna, which my mom ordered well done. I usually don't order tuna well done because it's too dry... but somehow they were able to cook it all the way through while maintaining the moisture. Seasoning was also great. Additional points of interest: Spats serves you sorbet between your salad and main dish as a palette cleanser (feels like you're on a food network show, what can I say, it's fun). I liked how you could order a full or demi portion depending on your appetite. Also you can order alligator here! The only downside here is that it's expensive for students on a budget, so I won't get to try anything else on the menu for a while. Though I do plan on returning next time I have something to celebrate!
(4)Dave H.
I visited Spat's with a friend during the summer. It was around 1pm when we arrived and there were only a few other tables occupied, making it easy to see how spacious it was. We were seated quickly. Service was excellent. The Cajun dishes we had were delicious. Had a Jambalaya style dishes with duck that was outrageously tasty and herby to boot. I took photos of what we ate but I can't remember exactly what the dishes were... The prices are reasonable for lunch (for non-college students anyway). Not sure about dinner prices. I'd return to try other dishes - I heartily recommend Spat's for lunch!
(4)Kedar D.
I like the decor and atmosphere of this restaurant. It's trendy and antiquated all at once. The service is prompt and friendly. The menu always has at least a few vegan-friendly options and, if you're in doubt, your waiter will be more than willing to check in the kitchen. Portion sizes are good here and the Cajun food is nicely spiced and unusual. The prices are high, though, especially for dinner, when they increase prices 50%, but give you the same amount of food as at lunch.
(3)Alex V.
Spats is one of the better downtown State College dining options. I use to eat here a lot when I worked in State College. I was happy to see that the food is still good. My shrimp Po boy was excellent and the service was attentive too. Spats would probably be a 3-star establishment in Philly, but in State College its four stars because there isn't a whole lot of good food available.
(4)Mark C.
I've always been a fan of this place. I actually would probably give it 5 stars for reasons of nostalgia, but I'm trying to be honest. I used to eat here often when I was in school 10 years ago, and I still come here whenever I'm back in town and it hasn't changed at all. I've always enjoyed the cozy dining experience there and their menu has some very different things on it that you won't find elsewhere in State College. I used to always get the almond crusted chicken which is probably one of my favorite "crusted" chicken dishes of all time. I was there recently and had the Muffulettas (good pick) and the Crab Hot Pepper Pasta (delicious but very rich). I could see this place going either way for some people, but you really need to know what to order.
(4)Stacy S.
This restaurant has the best food and service that I've experienced in State College. The almond crusted chicken was amazing. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone.
(5)Brian B.
Spats exemplifies itself as probably one of the best yet scariest places to go to downtown. If you asked me when I first came to State College if I'd ever go here, I'd reply with a resounding no. Nowadays, I feel a bit different. Granted, this isn't exactly a place for the frugal individual. This is more "i'm taking my date someplace extravagant and unique and I got my tax return a week ago" compared to "YO TOOTS LET'S DRANK OUTSIDE THE TWO-TENNNNNNNN I JUST GOT PAID". Originally I had attempted to get reservations for Valentine's dinner, but that went splat so we did it about a week later. Went in with my lady, got a nice table in the back with an extremely enthusiatic gentleman who gave us our menus. We ordered an appetizer of soups: chicken andouille gumbo versus the crab and corn chowder. Both excellent, but the gumbo was a bit too salty. We got another chowder to split after, it was that good. Entree was a bit different. We ended up getting a funky blue-plate special thing they offered: a little of everything. As we ate, the plate got split up depending on what we liked: I ended up with the gator (a bit tough and stringy but okay) and the nice spicy blackened catfish. On the other hand, she took the jambalaya, collared greens and the few shrimp bouncing around the plate. Dessert was iffy. Our waiter explained that the pastry chef had quit a few months beforehand which is why the menu is much more limited nowadays. Ended up with a banana crepe with ice cream and a sweet drizzle. It was... meh. All and all with only a little booze it came to about $85ish. For a guy that usually eats on the cheap, it scared me a little. I come back and do lunches from now on, about half the dinner price on everything and they still have the awesome corn and crab soup. Shrimp Po Boy is also excellent lunch fare. Sure, Spats is scary to the average student who doesn't have a ton of cash, but if you can push past that facade and do the cheap lunchtime fare for $10 or less, you'll love it.
(4)Megan K.
An upscale creole restaurant that my husband and friend frequent. I love this place. It is tiny and I recommend reservations. Their menu is varied and is updated regularly. The staff is knowledgeable. They have a great drink menu. Their food is excellent and come hungry- get an appetizer, meal, and dessert, you will not be disappointed. It is a little pricey but completely worth it.
(4)Lynn J.
Somewhere in the middle...the first time I went to Spat's I think I got food poisoning or something cuz I spent the rest of the night in the bathroom puking up most of what I ate...I think maybe it could've just been the fact it was my first time eating gator meat, and I wasn't a big fan. And thinking about what I was eating in combination with the weird chewiness of fried gator...I dunno, but I was sick all night long. I did for some reason decide to give it a second chance...and wow, I'm so glad that I did...if it's still on the menu, you MUST GET THE LAUGHING CRAB. I love soft-shell crab and in combination with the cajun spices...mmmm, so freaking delicious.
(3)Jessica D.
Mmmm, yummy...that's all I have to say!
(5)Josh M.
I've eaten at Spat's more times than I can count, I've had just about everything on the menu, and I've rarely been disappointed. They have the best collard greens I've ever had. Very reasonably priced for lunch. If you haven't been, definitely check it out.
(5)Carl V.
Average food, but not for the price. Terrible service. My wife and I went there last year on new years eve for a nine o'clock reservation and didn't get to leave until well after 11. The whole experience was awful really. There is no waiting area, so we were waiting in the entryway until about 10 minutes after our 9 o'clock reservation. After we were seated it took almost a half hour for the waitress to take our order. During that time we had no drink or anything. We still didn't have any food at 10 o'clock and she came back to ask us what we had ordered again.. I wouldn't have been so bad but the restaurant was mostly cleared out at this point and we were really hungry. We considered canceling our order but we didn't know where else we would be able to get food, as most of the bars were pretty busy by that time. Anyway my wife ordered the filet with foie gras. What she got was a new york strip steak cut in half... with a single bite size piece of foie gras on top, that hadn't even been cooked. Obviously what happened was they were out of filets and they didn't want to tell us that an hour after we ordered when she actually put in our order so they made do with a half a strip steak. I don't know why the foie gras was such a small piece, maybe they were out or maybe they serve it that way. We asked the waitress and she blamed everything on the kitchen. She waited to take our order cause the kitchen was behind, then they lost the ticket, and of course she can't answer about the quality of the food even though she did admit that that was not a filet. When we got the check at the end it said 'fire' right on it which is what waitresses type to let the kitchen know to hurry because they never rang in the order. Anyway we ate our food in the empty restaurant while the servers were cleaning all around us, feeling really rushed by our waitress who was paying attention to us for the first time, left, and then decided to call it a night. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. My meal was okay, but again, not for the price.
(2)Keely B.
Took the bro and sis-in law out for a first post-baby adult dinner, and had a fantastic time! We ordered a ridiculous amount of food, and loved everything. Chicken fire sticks? Awesome. Almond crusted chicken with cheese grits and broccolini? Unbelievable. Great wine, great atmosphere, super-helpful and sweet server Emily. She even pretended not to hear when I said "She's really nice!" thinking she was gone...but wasn't. Oh, well. At least it wasn't something bad.
(5)Josh G.
Dead alligator. They sell dead alligator. Eat alligator.
(4)Carolyn M.
Great food, fantastic atmosphere, and good service. It can get a little cramped during Penn State events or holidays, but this place is still one of my first choices for a nice night out. Always make a reservation, even on seemingly ordinary nights it can be full and it never hurts. They specialize in Cajun and Creole food, so if this is not your thing, Spats may not be the best choice. For me, I am always happy to go get a Crab Cake or some spicy Cajun dish. They have one of the best Crab Cakes within a 60 mile radius. They also have more reasonably-priced specials at lunch.
(4)Jessica F.
I grew up in the South eating wonderful Cajun/Creole dishes, like jambalaya, etouffee, gumbo, blackened chicken, Po Boys, red beans and rice, etc. I was excited when I moved here and saw they had a Cajun restaurant. I've been to New Orleans and had some mind-blowing food in the French Quarter, and I guess after that, it's hard for anything to come close. The food isn't bad, but I always have to add lots of Tabasco. I like my food HOT. I'd consider the jambalaya bland compared to what I'm used to, but it's not bad. The prices are pretty high, but the service is alright, the portions are big, and the restaurant is clean. This is a great restaurant for those who aren't familiar with Cajun cuisine. But if you've had the authentic stuff, be prepared to be a little disappointed. And don't get anything with crawdads...
(3)Joshua A.
Spat's is wonderful. A partner at a law firm took me and some of my friends here, so luckily we didn't have to pay; it can get a bit pricey. To start, we ordered a bunch of Tapas. In particular, I remember the brushetta and calamari being delicious. For the main course, I had the almond crusted chicken, which was probably the best chicken I've ever eaten. The chefs managed to hit that sought-after balance of sweet and savory. We had a 8-person party, and everyone loved their meals. The servers were also attentive and friendly (and able to manage an 8-person party without a problem). I'm looking forward to going back.
(5)mary a.
Hard to believe that we have been coming here for over ten years now! Although we still love it, I will say that the menu a decade ago was somehow more appealing to me than today's. The tapas menu is great, salmon is always done perfectly (especially good when they serve it with a mango salsa), and the spinach salad with mango vinaigrette is a tasty start to any meal there. Love that the red beans and rice is still only $5 for lunch on Mondays!
(3)Hope J.
One of my favorite restaurants in town. Love the crab and corn chowder & chopp salad Make reservations!
(5)Beth G.
This fall I went to this restaurant after a busy day at work in State College and needed some adult only time. This is not a place for kids. It's darker and has fancy table clothes and napkins. It was perfect for those times where you want a quieter atmosphere with good cajun creole food. I had a great wine, good food and an outstanding Creme brule. The only thing that turned me off a bit was how they turned away a table of boys in blue (aka. Police men) who wanted to sit together. They had approached me and asked if they could share my table so they could be seated and served together. I agreeded as my husband works with Law Enforcement Officers and thought it'd be a good way to help out. But the wait staff refused to accomodate the seven officers from various locations even after I agreed. If a customer agrees and the other party agrees, I don't see the issue. My waiter, different than the one that protested the officers sitting with me, also forgot to bring me my appetizer. Luckily he didn't put that on my bill. I give the wait staff 3 stars, but the food was five all the way.
(4)John E.
Summary: very pricey. average food. ok atmosphere. We went here for dinner during a college visit. Two older adults and a 20 year old. I had Jambalaya and I thought it was very bland. My daughter and I had the gumbo with our meal and it was also very bland. My wife liked her blackened duck entree and my daughter liked her chicken and shrimp on cornbread stuffing. The three entrees and drinks were well over $100 with tip. I was underwhelmed but the rest of the family would probably give it 4 stars. Kind of a date place atmosphere. Lots of semi dressy couples clinking wine glasses. Ironic that the old timer Penn State beer bar is in the back of the same building but Spats doesn' t even serve draft beer. They're into the wine. Very limited bottled beer selection.
(3)Rachel K.
I'm still deciding how I feel about Spats. Its definitely a unique restaurant that offers dishes uncommon in PA. Wonderful service, fun and relaxed environment, and probably a great place for just sitting and chatting in the evening. Sadly, the food was disappointing. I got the jambalaya and my husband got a plate of ribs, alligator, and catfish. I won't pretend to be an expert in Cajun/Creole food. I found my disappointment in the disparity between the price of each plate and the tastiness/quality of the food. Maybe I need a second visit to win me over.
(3)Gary B.
I grew Up in the restaurant business & have a very critical eye. I see things the average patron misses when eating in a restaurant. Overall I thought our server did a nice job of taking care of our needs. However, I felt the entree prices were too high for the size of the portions & quality of the food. You get the feeling Spats is trying to project themselves as a much higher level restaurant than they really are. The difference is, they can't pull it off. My granddaughter ordered a broiled piece of fish, when her meal was delivered it was fried. By be time the rest if us finished our meals, they finally brought her broiled fish. This took too long!! We were not offered a comp on her dinner for the tardiness, nor did a manager stop at our table to offer an apology. If Spats lowered their prices by 33 percent then maybe it would work for me. They do not have a very large wine list for those looking for an extensive selection in a restaurant that projects themselves at a higher level. The restaurant was also very smokey from the t I've we arrived until the t I've we finally left. C
(2)Yonatan R.
So far very good place. Good lunch and very good dinner. I keep this place in my best 5 in state college.
(4)A. T.
This place was disappointing. The food wasn't terrible, but it wasn't very good, either. I love cajun food, and I could make something better at home for a lot cheaper. I got the jambalaya which was overpriced for the small portion and bland. If I spend this much I expect the food to be a higher quality. Will be avoiding this restaurant.
(1)Jimmy O.
It's fancy cajun/creole cuisine, and the food is fantastic. There's limited seating and it gets busy, so reservations are probably a must. The menu is pricey, but you get what you pay for. From the steaks to the gumbo, everything I've tried has been worth the price of admission. The sorbet before your entree is a nice touch, and bonus points for the patron if you actually eat the little mud bug (crawfish) that may decorate your plate.
(4)JoJo R.
One of the best in State College! Great food and service. The menu is hip but not pretentious. I have been there many times and have never been disappointed. My two favorites are the Fried Oysters on Potato Rounds and the Sweet Potato-crusted Catfish. Both are amazing! The prices are ok, not too expensive. Definitely worth it.
(4)Luan H.
Writing review as I am waiting for the check. Food is mediocre - Ordered Jambalaya and chopped salad. Service was ok. My water was not refilled. The worst part is when I saw some gnats (tiny flies) attacking my food inside the restaurant. Lost my appetite. 1 star for sanitation. Do not recommend until it's fixed.
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