Elk Creek Cafe Aleworks - Millheim

I haven 't been here in quite some time, but I wanted to share some insights on ownership and management from when I knew them.Firstly Tim Yarrington, the head of brewing operations, is truly an awful human being. There aren 't words in English that are both effective in communicating his nature and also polite enough to share on Google. To approach a description of him he is rude, cruel, arrogant, narcissistic, and spiteful; all this while making mediocre beer without any creativity or enthusiasm for the industry. I cannot overstate my distaste for him.Tim Bowser the proprietor is a daft drunk and a poor businessman. Profits are slim due to his poor management.Amy, the operations manager, is a glorified hostess who somehow earns more than any of the regular employees who do twice the work. She is useless.The kitchen has gone through several chefs, each one leaving once they learned that despite their efforts, due to mismanagement, Elk Creek will never be a quality establishment.They do not pay living wages to their full time staff.A just world would have ended the tenure of this establishment years ago. Please, stop going there.

Our server Cecelia was amazing. But the manager/owner had to come explain to us that’s how they made a medium well steak to my friend who sent back what was clearly a well-done steak, one she had trouble cutting through with her knife. Mistakes happen, just own it and remake the food, owner’s confrontation was very unnecessary

Disappointed by Managerial Conduct:My recent dinner outing at Elk Creek Cafe with four friends left me deeply disheartened by the manager 's behavior and overall disappointed with the experience.Upon ordering a ribeye steak cooked to medium well, I was dismayed to find it arrived at the table completely well done, lacking any hint of pink and notably tough to cut. I promptly notified our waitress, Cecelia G, who kindly agreed to take it back to the kitchen for a replacement.However, what followed was a jarring encounter with the manager that overshadowed any hopes of a smooth resolution. Instead of acknowledging the mistake and offering a sincere apology, the manager approached our table with an inexplicable defensiveness and passive-aggressiveness. They insisted that the steak was prepared according to their restaurant 's standards, almost implying that my expectation of a medium-well steak was somehow unreasonable. Their offer to bring out the steak again to show us the pink felt more like a challenge than an attempt to rectify the situation. Eventually, they begrudgingly agreed to prepare a new steak to medium, but the interaction left a palpable sense of discomfort lingering in the air.In stark contrast to the manager 's demeanor, our waitress, Cecelia G, provided exemplary service throughout the meal. Her friendly demeanor, attentiveness, and efficiency were commendable and stood in stark contrast to the manager 's behavior.For prospective diners at Elk Creek Cafe, it 's important to be prepared for potential encounters with such passive-aggressive management and deviations from the national standard in steak doneness. Additionally, while some menu items like the chicken sandwich and burger proved decent, others, like the poke bowl, were utterly disappointing, to the extent that one of our friends had to seek an alternative dinner option afterward.In summary, while the food at Elk Creek Cafe may have its hits and misses, it 's the manager 's unprofessional conduct that truly tarnishes the dining experience. Based on my encounter, I cannot in good conscience recommend this establishment to anyone in central PA.

The food was delicious. The service was impeccable. The beer was awesome. 5 s!

Food service and atmosphere are excellent. The beer is the best I’ve had at a brew pub. My only complaint (and it’s a mild one) if that the hours are a little irregular.