Unearth The Voyage
Award-winning chicken wings, championship smash burgers, loaded mac and cheese, game-day crowds, and classic neighborhood tavern atmosphere have made this Mount Washington favorite one of Pittsburgh’s most popular places to eat. Visitors come for more than 30 wing flavors, creative pub food, weekend brunch, lively sports nights, and a welcoming atmosphere that has kept locals coming back for generations. It’s the kind of place where ordering one round of wings often turns into staying for another meal.
The experience extends far beyond the menu. National television appearances, decades of neighborhood tradition, weekly trivia and music bingo, championship burgers, and one of Pittsburgh’s most celebrated wing menus have made this tavern a destination for both locals and visitors. Every visit delivers the kind of friendly, laid-back experience that defines Pittsburgh’s neighborhood dining scene.
Here’s why Bigham Tavern has become one of Pittsburgh’s favorite neighborhood taverns and one of the city’s top destinations for wings and burgers.
A Corner That Has Been Feeding Pittsburgh Since 1910
More than a century of hungry Pittsburghers have walked through the same front door at 321 Bigham Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15211, and that kind of history is hard to fake. Bigham Tavern first opened in 1910 as a neighborhood gathering spot where factory workers would stop in after long shifts for a hot meal and good company.
The tavern changed names and owners over the decades, but its role as a community anchor never wavered. When the current ownership group, two couples named Jessica Lazor and Joe Rewis, and Amelia Barber and Bradley Yoder, along with contractor friend Terry Malsch, took over in 2010, they found the original name etched right into the building itself.
That discovery felt like a sign, and they brought the Bigham Tavern name back to life. Sitting in the Mount Washington neighborhood, the tavern carries the kind of lived-in character that no designer can manufacture from scratch.
What the Inside of This Tavern Actually Feels Like
Old-school does not mean outdated here. The interior of Bigham Tavern balances that classic tavern warmth with modern comforts in a way that feels completely natural rather than forced or themed.
Flat-screen televisions line the walls throughout the space, making it a natural gathering point for Pittsburgh sports fans tracking the Steelers, Penguins, or Pirates. Beyond the main dining room, a back area offers pool and darts, and a jukebox keeps the soundtrack rolling. There is also a patio for outdoor dining when Pittsburgh weather cooperates.
Families are genuinely welcome here, with a kids menu, high chairs, and booster seats available. The overall vibe has been described as a low-key Mount Washington feel that is a world away from the louder energy of downtown bars. It is the kind of place where you settle in, lose track of time, and realize two hours have passed before you even notice.
The Wings That Put This Tavern on the Map
Ask anyone who has been to Bigham Tavern what they ordered, and nine times out of ten the answer starts with wings. These are not an afterthought on the menu; they are the centerpiece, and the accolades back that up completely.
Pittsburgh City Paper named them Best Wings multiple times between 2012 and 2023, and Pittsburgh Magazine awarded the tavern Best Wing Night from 2012 to 2018. The selection spans more than 30 different flavors, ranging from classic buffalo styles to creative house originals like the Black and Gold, the Hyena, and the Tequila Lime.
Every Wednesday, Wing Night brings the price down to 75 cents per wing or $10 a dozen, drawing crowds early and keeping the kitchen busy well into the evening. One important detail worth knowing: Wednesday Wing Night wings are dine-in only, so plan accordingly and come hungry. The wings arrive saucy, meaty, and genuinely hard to stop eating.
The Burger That Won a National Competition and a TV Spot
Some burgers are just burgers. The Hangover Helper Smash Burger is a whole different category of sandwich, and it has the hardware to prove it.
This double-patty creation, seasoned with Coyote Dry Rub, is layered with bacon, capicola, a fried egg, crispy coyote onion straws, sweet chili sauce, American cheese, tomato, sriracha mayo, and tater tots. It took first place and the People’s Choice award at the PittsBurgher Gourmet Burger Competition in 2015, and it later appeared on the Travel Channel’s Food Paradise, giving Bigham Tavern a national spotlight it fully earned.
The rest of the burger menu holds its own too, with options like the French Onion Pretzel Burger, the All American Burger, a classic Smash Burger, and a Beyond Burger for plant-based guests. Each one is built with the same attention to flavor that made the Hangover Helper famous. And yes, the tater tots on that burger are exactly as good as they sound.
Beyond Wings and Burgers: The Full Pub Menu
The wings and burgers get most of the attention, but the broader menu at Bigham Tavern is deep enough to keep any table happy for a long time. Appetizers include crispy fried cheese bites, the Tickled Pickles, and the BT OG Dip, which is a homemade buffalo chicken dip that disappears fast.
Main dishes cover the classics with a little extra flair: nachos, fresh-cut fries, soft pretzels, Southern-style chicken strips, and a rotating list of hoagies. The mac and cheese section deserves its own mention, with options like Buff Chick Mac, Loaded Mac, and Smokehouse Mac, each one richer than the last.
For a true Pittsburgh touch, the Pittsburgh Salad arrives topped with french fries, which is exactly the kind of regional quirk that makes local food culture worth exploring. Daily dinner specials add even more variety, with dishes like stuffed peppers or General Tso’s chicken rotating through the week. There is genuinely something for everyone on this menu.
Weekend Brunch and the Morning Side of the Menu
Saturday and Sunday mornings bring a different energy to Bigham Tavern, and the brunch menu is a legitimate reason to show up before noon. The kitchen serves brunch from opening until 1 PM on weekends, and the offerings lean into comfort food with a creative edge.
The Wake and Bacon sandwich, built with cornbread, a fried egg, and peppered bacon, has earned genuine fans. Avocado toast also makes an appearance for those who want something lighter. The brunch selection blends breakfast and lunch elements in a way that works well for groups with mixed appetites.
One practical note: if you arrive during brunch hours and are set on a classic burger or a full lunch order, it is worth knowing the kitchen sticks to the brunch menu until 1 PM. Planning around that window makes the visit smoother. The weekend brunch crowd tends to be relaxed and unhurried, which sets a nice tone for the rest of the day ahead.
A Legitimate Sports Bar With Real Pittsburgh Energy
Few things bring Pittsburgh together like a Steelers game, and Bigham Tavern has built a reputation as one of the best places in Mount Washington to watch one. The multiple flat-screen televisions throughout the space mean there is no bad seat in the house when game day arrives.
The tavern consistently shows Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates games, and game day specials give regulars even more reason to claim their favorite spot early. The atmosphere on big game nights is loud, energetic, and deeply local in the best possible way.
Pittsburgh Magazine has voted Bigham Tavern Best Sports Bar in the Burgh year after year, a title that reflects both the setup and the crowd it draws. Beyond football season, the TVs stay busy with hockey and baseball, keeping the sports calendar full. If you have never watched a Steelers game surrounded by true Pittsburgh fans, this tavern offers exactly that kind of experience, and it is hard to top.
Trivia, Music Bingo, and the Weekly Event Lineup
There is always something happening at Bigham Tavern beyond the regular dinner service, and the weekly event schedule is one of the reasons locals keep coming back mid-week. Trivia runs on Thursdays, drawing teams of regulars who take their pub knowledge seriously but keep the mood light and competitive.
Tuesdays bring music bingo, which is exactly as fun as it sounds and tends to fill the room quickly. Occasional live music nights round out the calendar and give the space a different energy from the standard sports bar vibe.
For groups looking to book a private event, the tavern offers dedicated event spaces at the Mount Washington location, suitable for birthday parties, rehearsal dinners, team outings, baby showers, and fundraisers. Off-site catering is also available for those who want to bring the Bigham experience to a different venue entirely. The combination of weekly events and private booking options makes this tavern a genuinely versatile spot in the neighborhood.
National TV Fame and the Recognition Behind the Name
Not many neighborhood taverns end up on national television, but Bigham Tavern has managed it more than once. The Travel Channel’s Food Paradise featured the Hangover Helper Smash Burger, introducing the tavern to a viewership far beyond Pittsburgh city limits.
Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives also gave the spot a spotlight, which is about as close to a national stamp of approval as a neighborhood pub can get. These features did not change the tavern’s character; the place stayed exactly as it was, which is probably why the recognition felt so well-deserved.
On the local awards circuit, the wins stack up impressively. Best Wings from Pittsburgh City Paper, Best Wing Night from Pittsburgh Magazine, Best Sports Bar in the Burgh, and the top prize at the PittsBurgher Gourmet Burger Competition all sit in the tavern’s record. That combination of local love and national attention is rare, and Bigham Tavern has earned every bit of it through consistent, quality food.
How the Tavern Serves Guests With Dietary Needs
Dietary restrictions do not have to mean a limited experience at Bigham Tavern. The kitchen works to accommodate guests with various needs, and the staff tends to be knowledgeable about what the menu can and cannot offer on a given night.
Gluten-free buns, pizza crusts, and chicken tenders are available for guests avoiding gluten, and many menu items can be modified to suit vegetarian or vegan preferences. The kitchen is not a fully gluten-free environment, but the team takes celiac disease seriously and prioritizes safety for guests who flag it.
The kids menu makes the tavern a practical choice for families with young children, and the high chairs and booster seats available on request confirm that families are genuinely welcome rather than just tolerated. For a neighborhood pub, the range of accommodations is broader than most people expect. It is the kind of thoughtfulness that turns a first visit into a regular habit, especially for guests who often struggle to find flexible options.
Practical Tips for Planning Your Visit
Bigham Tavern sits on a residential corner in Mount Washington, which means it takes a little intention to find if you are not already familiar with the neighborhood. The address is 321 Bigham Street, a few blocks off the more tourist-traveled stretches of Grandview and Shiloh streets.
A small parking lot sits directly across from the entrance, with additional street parking available nearby. On busy game days and Wednesday Wing Nights, spots fill up quickly, so carpooling or using a rideshare is a smart call. The tavern opens at 11 AM on weekdays and 10 AM on weekends, with kitchen and bar hours running late into the evening.
Reservations can be made online or by phone at 412-431-9313, though Wing Night after 6 PM operates on a first-come, first-served basis. The tavern is also conveniently close to the Duquesne Incline, making it an easy add-on for anyone already visiting that Mount Washington landmark. Plan ahead, and the visit tends to go smoothly.
Why Locals Keep Coming Back to This Corner Tavern
There is a loyalty program at Bigham Tavern that lets regulars earn points and redeem rewards, including a free appetizer during their birthday month. It is a small detail, but it reflects something bigger about how this place treats the people who walk through its door.
The tavern functions as a true community hub, the kind of spot where neighbors run into each other, families celebrate milestones, and newcomers to the neighborhood quickly feel like they belong. That atmosphere does not happen by accident; it is built over years of consistent hospitality and food that delivers on its reputation every time.
The Google rating sits at 4.5 stars across more than 2,000 reviews, which is a meaningful number for a neighborhood pub. Regulars describe it as a welcoming extension of home, and first-time visitors often leave already planning their return trip. For anyone curious about what makes Pittsburgh’s neighborhood food culture so distinctive, Bigham Tavern on Bigham Street is as good a starting point as any.
