The Gardens Restaurant

Eeee... if you expect this restaurant to be an upscale place to celebrate anniversaries or parties, it is not.

We made a reservation to celebrate our anniversary as we traditionally go to the Carnegie restaurant (it is being remodeled ), and I was disappointed from the moment I entered the room.

It is a restaurant-cafeteria type, with all simple tables for four, agglutinated among them in front of a buffet that it’s closed.

The waitress was sassy and kind of making faces... I was even wondering why does she bother to come and ask if we are enjoying the food? She was rolling her eyes and stuff.

Now, the good thing about the Gardens is definitely the food. Their baked brie is out of the ordinary and the meat had good flavor. I wish the Cesar salad is served with aged parmesan rather than kraft powdery parmesan.

A little pricey but a nice experience

Was really impressed with the Sunday Brunch! Was there for a football weekend and they told me this is every Sunday. Besides an expected omelette station, there was a carving table and roast lamb, chicken and veggies. The seafood table with smoked salmon, poached salmon, and a black cavier plate was impressive. The dessert table was topped off with Penn State creamery ice cream! If I'm in town on a Sunday I plan on coming back here for Sunday Brunch, even if I'm not staying at the Penn Stater Hotel! Staff was friendly and had a positive attitude even though the beloved Nittany Lions had dropped a heartbreaker late the previous evening.