William Penn Tavern

Went here for lunch with the mom. Wow wait was 20 minutes for food at lunch time, worth every darn moment. We got the pulled pork and slaw plus the buffalo chicken wrap and fries. The food was astounding. The cook placed a little bit of his soul in that food. I have been so used to lack of caring of what comes out of most kitchens this gentleman was proud. He delivered it hot to our table and our server was that you would expect from any bar (feel free to get up and go track them down for whatever you need, saves on yours and there head aching). Over all it was 10 dollars a meal, not bad in downtown terms. I also saw the salads a table of men had each was fresh green leaves with a mound of meat on top it. Cannot wait to try one next time around.

My favorite college bar with delicious bar food. The kitchen sink wings are a must — if you don’t like wings you can get the kitchen sink chicken tender wrap which is amazing. I love their mac n’ cheese bites. My go to drink was a john daly’s which they make wonderfully. The bartender’s are nice — but be prepared for crazyness on the weekends! This is probably one of the most popular bars in Shadyside and gets nuts after 11pm.

So a few things really stand out for me at this bar. Been there a few times now, it’s definitely a favorite local hangout. I happen to be in the family of fans of the kitchen sink flavor of their wings. Like others who have commented, the crave will creep up at random times. Most places I’m used to have A wing night, they have 4 wing NIGHTS. That’s crazy to me.
Flavors tried:
1– honey cajun– has real honey, ¹⁄₅ heat
2– voodoo– an amped up bbq/​hot/​kitchen sink type of sauce in that it’s got an unspecified number of ingredients, ⁵⁄₅ heat (caution fiery hot!)
3– thai chili– alright, not much thai or chili flavor in my opinion but passable, ¹⁄₅ heat
4– spicy ranch– good flavor, ²⁄₅ heat
Try mixing them up! voodoo with honey combo is gooood…
Look forward to trying the other flavors. Yes it’s packed, but we always manage to find a table.
Service is good, the waitresses are very friendly and attentive. The juke or the bar’J plays good to exceptional ol’school hip hop, alternative, rock, 80s. you name it. Have heard very obsolete tunes by Biggie, Tupac that most have never heard, that’s some music nerdiness I dig. I see a mixed crowd everytime, not just millenials. There is an outdoor space in back, where smokers can do their thing.
Overall, great place to catch the game, eat some wings, have some beers, listen to good tunes, and chill ;)
Now what is in that kitchen sink sauce?! I’ve got it narrowed down to garlic, parmesan, soy, some tomato product… so much more, I will figure you out!

Great local bar. Phenomenal wings and beer specials. Great staff and a must visit for local tourist.

This is my go-​to spot on nights when the wings are only 50 cents. You really can’t beat Will Penn when it comes to wings and a great sports environment. It’s a bit grungy since it’s also a bar that’s frequented by tons of college kids, but it’s a place where you can still feel comfortable and have a good time with a group of friends. Would definitely recommend giving it a try.

We love this place … dependable food, generous pours but most of all, the nicest staff in the city … bar none! Try the wings for sure … always a great choice. But look at the specials board for inventive alternatives to the regular fare. A neighborhood classic!

Gotta love this Shadyside staple.
This versatile bar has served me for many a purpose, between school events, escape from overfilled Wednesday wine nights that happen down the street, a quick cheap bite or dinner, a staple miller lite under the outdoor tent, or even, to do homework while watching Sunday pro football.
Great people, quick service, hospitable people and a small, yet satisfying menu. Versatile and savory you will stay here long enough to get hungry again from lunch and repeat what my friend Matt did yesterday: Order the best thing he’s ever eaten on the menu [the pulled chicken sliders] to his dire end of the night mistake [the Voodoo wings]. Delicious, but I quote: «there isn’t enough blue cheese to eat a dozen of these bad boys» and people trying to help lighten the load, will suffer the consequences.
Make sure to say hi to the awesome bouncers on your way in, try not to get into a fight to spill a perfectly good full glass of Vodka Redbull and almost take out my chair and you should be good to go. Keep it up!

A lynchpin of William Penn’s progressive legacy is liberty, which would at first glance seem to be consistent with the existence of a tavern. But he was still a Quaker, and he specifically promoted laws that forbade swearing and drunkenness. So I’m not sure how much he’d approve of this bar.
Me? I suppose I’m just underwhelmed. Not a lot of character, but cheap prices. Loud to begin with and louder still with music at an irritating decibel level. The patio is a small sticky slab of concrete. I made the mistake of coming on a Saturday evening, and the whole time I drank my beer (12 taps — all crap) I couldn’t wait to leave. A fine bar for young people who don’t care what they are consuming and don’t mind screaming at each other.

Wings are perfect. Medium sized and crispy. Sauces are pretty good: Ranch: typical restaurant ranch, Medium: thicker n somewhat vinegary, Voodoo: thick bbq with Italian seasoning. Cajun rub is a little much but very tasty.

Came to this place on a suggestion from a random stranger in downtown Pittsburgh. If we lived near here this would be my weekly hangout. Sammy and our waitress treated us like we were family. The wings and sauces were the best we’ve had ever!!! Best place ever. William Penn would be proud. This place has honored his name. Fantastic place. A must try for anyone in the Pittsburgh Area.

Our favorite place in Shadyside! The staff is friendly and quick. Must order the kitchen sink wings and fried mac and cheese bites — heaven.

Came to William Penn Tavern after an incredibly long day of work and met friends to watch the women’s World Cup on the back patio. It was raining pretty
hard and the satellite feeds to the game and ninja warrior on the TV next to it were in and out at times.
The bartender was very nice, and although she didn’t ask us about ordering food, we eventually discovered that it was $ 1.25 taco night because she was eating some at the bar while watching TV with us. The tacos were good for the price. Small flower tortillas, ground beef, lettuce, and tomato. Salsa and sour cream in the side.
The atmosphere was very relaxed and welcoming, and although on a busier night I’m sure John Taffer might have gone ballistic, there was not much to fuss about as it was basically just my small group of friends and a few others watching soccer on a rainy night.
While I would certainly like to explore more of the menu and drinks offered in the main bar, I’d certainly give William Penn Tavern an A-​OK thumbs up.

I agree with others who have mentioned the kitchen sink wings. They are really good and I would keep coming back for them alone. They have a nice tv set up and always have the games on. Beer selection could be better, although they have about 8 taps with 2 – 3 craft options. Apart from the wings I have tried the cheese steak which was pretty good. One of the drawbacks of William Penn is that seating can be hard to come by, and there isn’t really a great place to stand unless you want to go outside to the patio. Service has always been good and the prices are great.

Great spot for a casual night out with good friends (you know the kind) — cheap drinks and food with a laid back atmosphere. Can’t go wrong!
Highly recommend their wings — completely addictive. Special house sauce all the way! No doubt about it. Relax and enjoy.

BEST mac and cheese bites ever! These mac and cheese bites are not the traditional ball shape; they are little triangles of heaven served with ranch; they are crispy on the outside and cheesey on the inside. $ 6.95 is enough for two hungry people or a small snack among 4. Wings (10 for $ 9.50) are also delicious, would recommend the Honey BBQ. The Kitchen Sink sauce is a little weird, but can imagine some people really liking it. The tots ($ 3.95) are also great munchies. There are lots of nights with discounts such as half off wings, so def check those out.
Gets crowded with some college students and some older folks as well — might be difficult to get a table. However, service was great and our server checked up on us several times despite the crowds.

Beer and wing specials almost daily and THE BEST wings I’ve ever put in my mouth – get the the kitchen sink wings and spicy ranch wings. If you try and hate either of them then you probably don’t deserve to live a happy fulfilled life.
Legitimately salivate every time I think about these wings. Now I’ve developed a craving. Thanks, Unilocal,for making me write this review and causing intense hunger pains.
Oh and it’s also the go-​to bar for CMU students so if you’re into that…

Those stars are for the wings! If your not ordering wings don’t come. I haven’t tried everything on the menu buttttttt the nachos are skimpy and salty and those Mac and cheese bites are nothing but Kraft boxed Mac and cheese, no thank you. Oh and extra ranch is 75 cent and comes in a little cup smh… But wings are delicious and great price…

Typical sports bar with great wings! Kitchen Sink Wings were $.50 each the night we went. The fried zucchini was great as well (more breading then zucchini, but it doesn’t matter after a few beers). We also tried the nachos and tater tots, which were fine. Service was great! They also have daily beer specials.

Ok, I’m joining the band wagon too… I love the kitchen sink wings! To be honest, I never even heard of such a thing. I was expecting it to be a platter of wings with random food on top of it. I would have ate that too. The kitchen sink wings were absolutely delicious. The wings were piping hot, amazing flavor. You got your spicy, little sweet, and Parmesan cheese all mixed up in there. Lots of flavor! I devoured them.
I came here during lunch, only a few folks at the bar. I liked the atmosphere, definitely a sports place. The prices are very reasonable. Great amazing service, good beer and the most delicious wings I have ever consumed in my life. I’m dead serious.
Even if you’re just visiting the area, stop by. I’m sure glad I did.

Great place to drink cheap beer, but it gets way too crowded. This place is a college bar that people of all ages go to. The beer is cheap and the food is cheap also, but surprisingly good for cheap bar food.
My only complaint is how crowded it can get… To the point where you can’t move but I guess that means it’s a popular place. They have an outdoor patio in the back