Jack’s 6 Pack Bottle Shop

They sold the BBQ. New owner who selld BBQ but I have not tried it.

A decent selection of beers awaits you behind strange glass doors. Probably the only beer store I’ve been to that ALSO includes a pig smoker out front. That’s right, a permanent addition to the site. Stop in for a 12 pack of PBR and pigs feet.

My sweetie and I were out on the east coast for a funeral — we live in California. Driving through State College we needed to stop for a bite, and we happened to notice the bbq/​smoker in front of a small shop across from McDonalds. Cool! Inside we went, and wound up meeting the most wonderful man — namely Jack himself! After a wonderful early supper of delicious pulled pork and coleslaw; we ended up chatting with Jack, and he comped us a sixpack of our choice of beer for our travels — such a grand time! This was one of the highlights of our trip — wish it was closer.

It’s very fitting that my 100^th review (Yay! for me) is about a local State College joint.
I often hear my fellow graduate student friends complain that there are no good local joints in this area, yet they stick to the downtown restaurants. Well, these same friends have most likely have driven past this little gem a gazillion number of times going to Walmart or McDonalds on North Atherton, and should know better!
Fat-​Jack is very unique. It’s a combo of a small bottleshop, barbeque and cathering. They smoke the meat on the spot, and you can notice the equipement, perpetually hot, right in front of the entrance! (see picture).
Their menu is simple: pulled pork, brisket and ribs. Ribs are generally a little too fatty for my taste, but it’s compensated by some of the best smoking in the area. The homemade barbecue sauce has a very smokey flavor, and you’ll find yourself also dipping the delicious onion rings in it.
For lunch (or for small appetites or wallets), try their $ 5.50 ¹⁄₃ rack ribs + side combo. It’s not that small (see picture #2). You can grab a soda for $ 1.30 in their bottleshop, and pay when you leave. That’s cheaper than a big mac meal, and oh sooooo much better!
Tip: They have a nice little patio outside.

This is why I love Unilocal.I lived down the street from this place and never knew that it existed. Thanks to Sandy M’s review, we decided to check it out. It’s definitely a dive place — it’s attached to a bottle shop and it just looks kind of shady. You are greeted by the giant smoker when you pull up though, so you know you have the right place.
I had a delicious ½ rack of St. Louis ribs, with what I assume to be some really tasty Memphis-​style barbecue sauce — lots of tang, but not too sweet (which made my girlfriend a bit sad). The ribs were smoked to perfection with a nice smoke ring, and it was easy to bite the meat off the bone, but it didn’t fall off — the trademark of a perfectly smoked rack. The rub was great, and the flavors were delicious. I also got a side of baked beans, which were smothered in the barbecue sauce. They were good enough to please my girlfriend, who vehemently dislikes baked beans.
I ended the meal by walking across the room and picking up some Sam Adams Cherry Wheat beer. Yum.
[recent edit: I had to change the score because I went back yesterday and the foot was 3 stars at best. Apparently it’s hit-​or-​miss like most things in State College.]

The only place to go for authentic smoked barbecue in State College. The smoker sitting out front of the shop is chained to the building, and looks ready to be towed away to a professional KCBS-​sanctioned competition (
) at a moment’s notice. The brisket, ribs, and pork are smoked to near perfection, with flavorful dry rubs, and a few sauces to choose from. Chunky baked beans or cole slaw are two of the best sides you can choose from. Combo with a sandwich or a few ribs, or simply buy the meat on its own. The wood they use for the smoker is stacked inside and you can smell and taste its flavor in the meat. Fat Jack’s is connected to their 6-​pack shop which houses a decent selection of domestic and imported beers, some of which you can drink on the premises if you (and everyone you’re with) are 21.
Two other barbecue-​joint choices in State College exist, but only Fat Jack’s will appeal to those who’ve tasted meat smoked out of a big black homemade-​looking smoker on the side of the road in some southern locale… this is the real deal. :)