Burrell Inn — Restaurant in Lower Burrell

The Burrell Inn has a long history and a loyal following, but it’s clear that this once-iconic establishment is struggling to maintain its identity. For over 50 years, the bar and restaurant were renowned for their chicken wings, salads, and hot pepper cheese balls, creating a cult-like fanbase. Unfortunately, the current iteration of the Burrell Inn seems to have lost its way.

To start, the recent shift to a smoke-free policy is a welcome update and long overdue. The previous allowance of smoking drove away countless customers, and it’s good to see them finally address this. However, even with the removal of smoke, the bar’s atmosphere remains uninviting. The lighting is so harsh and bright it feels like sitting under a tanning booth, far from the warm, welcoming ambiance you’d expect from a neighborhood establishment.

The most disappointing change, however, is the chicken wings. These are not the wings that made the Burrell Inn famous. They’ve abandoned the original 50+ year-old recipe, which featured a generous coating of paprika that left diners with “paprika hands” and a taste that was second to none. Now, the wings lack flavor, character, and the iconic seasoning that made them legendary. They’ve lost their magic and are a far cry from the wings that once drew in devoted patrons. Note that I found a very old photo of the original Burrell Inn wings. Note the seasoning. You’ll see a lot of photos in other reviews of barely seasoned wings. That is not what they used to be like.

It’s clear the Burrell Inn is at a crossroads. While the move to eliminate smoking is a step in the right direction, the lack of attention to its core identity—especially its once-beloved wings—is a major misstep. If they hope to recapture their former glory, they need to embrace what made them great in the first place. As it stands, the wings aren’t worth it, and the overall experience feels confused and uninspired.

For those craving the original Burrell Inn chicken wings, I’d suggest heading to Woodpeckers in Upper Burrell, where the recipe lives on. As for the Burrell Inn, the legacy remains, but the magic is...

This place isn’t the same. Wings used to always be excellent. Absolutely covered in seasoning and your hands would be all messy from it. Wings used to be the best wings I ever had. It was what Burrrellinn was known for. Not anymore. Wings last time had very little almost no seasoning. I was told they don’t put seasoning on like they used to. It’s a shame. Why change something that was so universally liked that your restaurant became known for that item and end up ruining it? For how expensive the wings are it’s not worth it. Go to buffalo bills instead! I ordered wedding soup here at Burrell in as well and it was terrible I couldn’t eat it. Overall very disappointed I will be willing to give them one more chance only because I’ve been going here since I was a kid and that was the first bad experience I had. The one waitress was really annoying too. Even when she’s not our waitress she always comes over and bothers us and that gets really old...

We visit here regularly; this is your typical western pennsylvania neighborhood bar. service is A+ (I sometimes think the bartenders are Octopuses with how quickly they refill drinks for so many people at one time. you can smoke in this bar, but they also have a non smoking dining room, and 2 outdoor patios, one for smoking, and the other for non smoking. Parking is sometimes a little tight, especially when people park here to go to the Villa. Food is good, basic pub food, mainly fried and sandwiches. The baked cod is really good. Friendly crowd, sometimes they burst out into song (recently all singing the theme to "Laverne...