A State College Tradition Since 1963
It all started in a small “cut pie” pizza shop located in downtown State College back in the early 60s. At age 22, Andy Zangrilli was already hard at work building his dream. Over the next 60 years Andy would go on to create dozens of unique bar and restaurant experiences from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia. All developed and operated through the company he founded and owns, Dante’s Restaurants, Inc.
Today, we continue to operate our current locations while dreaming of new concepts and improvements to come, just as Andy has always done. Although Andy remains active and a guiding force, he certainly earned a day or two off after nearly 60 years. Daughter Jennifer Zangrilli has taken the lead in day-to-day operations along with director J.P. Mills. Jennifer’s children can also be spotted working in our locations while attending Penn State University. That’s three generations of the Zangrilli family working hard to carry on the State College tradition that Andy dreamed of way back in 1963.
Fresh From Scratch.
We know where food our comes from. We make it in our kitchen fresh from scratch just as we have each and every day for the past 60 years!
Every day begins at night in our very own bakery and commissary producing breads, doughs, sauces, dressings, and desserts all made 100% in-house from scratch. Unique pizza doughs and Italian sauces, all house-made every day 100% from scratch.
Every pie hand-tossed and baked to order in a brick-lined oven topped with the freshest house-made and finest authentic imported ingredients. Every dish always prepared to order and made in-house using fresh, local, and authentic imported ingredients.
That’s how we roll!
Founder
Andy Zangrilli
Andy began his restaurant career at the young age of 13 at a pizza shop in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He knew he caught the “bug” of the restaurant industry when at 19 he became a manager. At 22, he was ready to strike out on his own when he persuaded his employer to form a partnership, opening Hi-Way Pizza in State College on Heister Street in 1963. Just a year later in 1964 at the age of 23, Andy bought out his partner and became sole proprietor and the rest, as they say, is history. Andy’s talent, vision and charisma would help pave the way over several decades to form Dante’s Restaurants, one of the most unique multi-concept restaurant and nightlife companies in Pennsylvania. Now, six decades later, Andy is still going strong and is a part of our every day operations. He continues to be a motivated visionary, just the same as that 13 year old kid in the Altoona pizza shop.
The Story of Andy Z’s HiWay Pizza
Dante’s Restaurants Location Chronology
As Jerry Garcia said, “What a long strange trip it’s been.” Things have come and gone. Locations have been renovated countless times. Concepts change in response to the times and the future holds more things to come. Here’s the road we’ve been down and we’re excited looking forward to the HiWay ahead!