Fraser Street Deli

Fraser Street Deli - Dine with Famous Penn Staters at Your Next Tailgate, Reunion or Casual Lunch

By Victoria Cooper

Happy Valley is filled with unique places, downtown State College being what we like to call its Crown Jewel. Amidst the one-of-a-kind shops, coffee spots and restaurants, you'll find a real gem of a shop that has taken a love for Penn State and Happy Valley and literally put in on the menu.

Want to bring Joe Paterno home for dinner? You can. Just order him off the menu at Fraser Street Deli.  Same with Franco Harris and library namesake Charles Schlow. Fraser Street Deli doesn't just offer ordinary sandwiches and salads.  Its menu items are named after famous Penn Staters who left their indelible mark on our beloved Happy Valley.

Owners and 2002 Penn State grads Josh and Cristin Guiher researched notable people from the surrounding area and made sure their legacy would not be forgotten. Using everything from the internet to the blue historical landmark plates around town, they collected a list and set to matching the menu items from there. Under previous ownership menu items were named after Hollywood stars, but Josh and Cristin knew the REAL stars are the ones who impacted the campus and community.

Cappelletti, Penn State's only Heisman Trophy winner, boasts a Roast Beef Reuben. Monte Ward, renowned 19th century baseball player from Bellefonte, offers the classic combination of bacon, lettuce and tomato. And Fred Pattee, former professor and writer of the Penn State Alma Mater, gives the perfect touch to a NY Style Chicken Breast Sandwich.   

Sandwich lovers will appreciate that all meats and cheeses are gluten-free, high-quality Boar's Head brand, and are topped with only fresh vegetables. I can attest to the truth of this statement having enjoyed many a Panini in the past three years.  I also recommend their soups, especially on cool fall and freezing winter days. It's the perfect place to load up on tailgate grub or to fill up and warm up after a chilly game. The catering menu offers packages for groups up to 250, and includes boxed lunches, sandwich/wrap platters, meat and cheese trays, soups, snacks, desserts and drinks—everything you need for tailgates, alumni reunions, office meetings and parties, retreats, and lots of other events.

So who will YOU honor at your next meal from Fraser Street Deli? Josh said he eats anything and everything off the menu, and Cristin's favorites are the Barry Gorman (Grilled Chicken Breast Salad), Joe Crispin (Turkey Breast Club) and John Barth (Chicken Parm Panini). They agree that best-sellers are the Robbie Gould (Turkey Bacon Panini), Lydell Mitchell (Corned Beef Reuben) and Mike Guman (Buffalo Chicken Panini). But Robin Petrini, Jen McIntyre or Barnes McCormick, are running close behind.

Fraser Street Deli serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and is open daily from 8:30 AM till 8:30 PM in the fall. Eat-in, take-out, catering and delivery are available. See more on their Web site, or visit at 109 Fraser Street. Call (814) 234-1918 to order.