Could this be the best pizza place in Centre County? With top-notch wings and beer, maybe
Maybe it’s the crisp crust with the chewy texture. Or the gooey mix of melted provolone and mozzarella. Or the plethora of tangy pepperoni in every bite.
I’m not sure what my favorite part is when it comes to the pizza at Bellefonte’s Hofbrau. I’m just glad, unlike some places in Centre County, I don’t have to blow at least a .08 BAC to enjoy it. Hofbrau is a pizza oasis in a county heavy on pizza quantity but light on pizza quality.
What’s not to love? Everything at the inaptly-named Hofbrau is vibrant and fresh. (No, my dear neighborhood newbies, it’s not a German restaurant. But none of the owners had the heart to change the iconic name of a place that first opened more than 65 years ago, without pizza on the menu.)
Employees arrive at the business on 106 Bishop St. up to four hours before it opens. They shred and blend blocks of cheese every day — no emulsifiers to keep the cheese separated and to stretch the shelf life — in addition to hand-tossing the dough, creating the olive oil-kissed tomato sauce and even slicing the pepperoni same-day. A Hofbrau pizza is as simple and fresh as it is delicious, made by experienced hands and overseen by an owner (Ruth Sampsel) who clearly takes pride in the product. After all, most ingredients are sourced from the artisanal Pennsylvania Macaroni Co. in Pittsburgh.
Some people swear by the sandwiches here, but I have a confession: I’ve never had one. I can’t bring myself to change my order on what’s become a Friday night staple (split two ways): A large 16-inch pepperoni pizza ($16.74), a half-dozen wings ($7.99) and four ice-cold OttoBraus ($3 each/Friday special). If there’s a better/more delicious deal in Bellefonte — this costs less than $40, plus tip — I haven’t found it yet.
The wings are double-fried, avoiding the cardinal wing sin of being gummy. I do change up my wing flavors — there are seven, such as Butter Rum BBQ and Southwest Peppercorn — but I find myself usually going back to “Tim’s,” a housemade specialty that’s sweet upfront and spicy in the back. I then chase it down with a beer made by Otto’s Pub & Brewery — and available only at Hofbrau — in the OttoBrau, a crisp light lager that allows you to see the bottom of the glass.
Hofbrau is an unpretentious bar/restaurant that somehow manages to appeal to the foodie, the budget conscious and the community. I’ve lived in this county, on and off, since 2004 and I’ve eaten at my fair share of places — let’s call my headshot below Exhibit A — but I haven’t come across another place quite like Hofbrau.
Maybe one of these days I’ll finally get a sandwich. But, if you’ve tried their pizza before, you know why it’s so difficult to pass up.
Hofbrau is open seven days a week. It opens at 4 p.m. every day and closes 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 8 p.m. Sunday. For more information, follow Hofbrau on Facebook and/or Instagram.
