The Hideaway Electric Speakeasy — Restaurant in State College

I was very excited to visit The Hideaway at State College on its opening night with my boyfriend and four close friends, expecting a high-quality experience. Unfortunately, our night ended in a series of unprofessional, uncomfortable, and ultimately unacceptable encounters with the staff.

The issues began immediately at the door, where my ID was inspected and bent for 5 minutes as if it were fake—despite the fact that I am 22 years old. While security should certainly verify identification, the way this was handled felt excessive and unwelcoming

Inside, the atmosphere initially seemed promising, and we spent over 3 hours at the bar supporting the establishment. Our tab exceeded $400, reflecting our commitment to enjoying and experiencing what Hideaway had to offer. However, things took a turn when later in the night a bouncer rudely inserted himself into our private conversation without reason. His behavior made us uncomfortable, and we politely brought the matter to the owner, whom we had been engaging with throughout the night.

What happened next was beyond unacceptable. Despite handling the situation calmly, our fully paid-for drinks were suddenly taken away, and our boyfriends were aggressively thrown out of the establishment. They were wrongfully put in handcuffs and held on the ground all because they understandably expressed frustration at being ejected without cause.

This was not just an instance of poor customer service; it was an outrageous mishandling of patrons who had done nothing to warrant such treatment. The staff’s behavior was unprofessional, slow, and ultimately aggressive.

Opening night should be an opportunity to impress and retain customers, not alienate them through mistreatment and hostility.

After this experience, we will NEVER be returning, nor can we recommend The Hideaway to others. It’s unfortunate, as we had high hopes, but the lack of professionalism and respect for paying customers makes it clear that this is not an establishment that values...

Disappointing Experience at This College Town Lounge

I recently visited this lounge, expecting a lively college town atmosphere, as it’s well-known for attracting a lot of students. However, my experience was far from enjoyable.

As someone a bit older, I couldn’t help but notice that the staff didn’t seem very friendly or welcoming. The service was slow, and the overall vibe felt a bit off. The food quality was disappointing—nothing special at all, and definitely not worth the price. As for the drinks, they were lacking in flavor and quality. Definitely not what I’d expect from a place that’s supposed to be a popular hangout.

The space itself looks okay, but it’s clear the staff could use some better training in both customer service and hospitality. With a little more effort on the service and quality of food and drinks, this could be a great spot, but as it stands, I won’t...

Oh.My.God. Okay, I have got to give this bar its props. I don’t even know where to start. I mean the atmosphere of this bar is so FUN! I used to love going out but bars just kind of fell off and are all the same in that boring way. But this bar - it literally resets everything for me. I love going here and I don’t usually leave reviews but I had to this time. The food is amazing, the atmosphere is perfect, the menu is engaging!! You’ll know what I mean when you go wink. I love how affordable the food is and I swear it tastes better than your typical bar food. But, let’s talk about the drinks! The bartenders know what they’re doing, that’s for sure! The drinks looked gorgeous and tasted as phenomenal as they looked. I cannot cannot cannot sing high enough praises for this bar, its atmosphere, the food, the drinks, and the staff. This bar has made me love...