Jax Bar & Kitchen opened their doors four months ago and have since been serving the State College community a unique selection of elevated bar foods, cocktails and trivia nights that have won the hearts of State College residents and students.
Jax took over the location of the former Darkhorse Tavern located in Calder Way. The newly renovated space offers a comfortable, casual vibe with plenty of TVs to watch whatever game may be going on.
The menu offers “eclectic” bar food, with an upgraded twist. Truffle fries, Buffalo Chicken Nachos and wide selection of burgers and sandwiches are just a few menu items that keep customers coming back.
“We wanted to be creative with our menu, offering flavorful food while still keeping it simple and affordable for students,” Ryan Myers said, Jax Bar & Kitchen’s assistant general manager. “The kitchen is really creative when it comes to what to put on the menu; we’re responsive to any suggestions and ideas the staff may want to try.”
The drink menu also features a variety of handcrafted cocktails with names stemming from pop culture references like the “BaCardi B,” “KeKe Cooler” and the “Show Me a Good Time” shot. They’ve grown their selection this year with a variety of flavored vodka soda drinks.
“We try to appeal to the local community residents with delicious drinks made with fresh ingredients and give them names that are intriguing to students,” Myers said. “Balancing both crowds is a key part of our growing business.”
If the exceptional menu and cocktail selection wasn’t enough of a reason to check out the new bar-grill combo, the daily events and specials have drawn in crowds each night. Tuesday features Sex Trivia, a tradition carried over from the Darkhorse Tavern, and Sports Trivia on Thursdays, with prizes like Steelers tickets, jerseys and StubHub gift cards.
Jax Bar & Kitchen, located at 127 E Calder Way, is open 4 p.m. – 2 a.m. Monday – Friday and 11 a.m. – 2 a.m. on Saturdays. For more information on weekly specials and updates, visit the Jax website or Facebook page.
