PJ Whelihan’s Pub + Restaurant - Wynnewood — Restaurant in Lower Merion Township

I’m disappointed to say, I had a horrible experience at this newly opened P.J. Whelihan's last night. Three guests and I sought out drinks and food from this specific establishment and were genuinely looking forward to it. For further reference, we came into the restaurant completely sober.

We were greeted kindly by the hosts and sat at a booth immediately upon arrival. A server came over to greet us and take drink orders. Each of us ordered a domestic bottle or draft beer. The server asked for ID’s which none of us had an issue providing. Everyone at the table was over 26, a majority of us leaning closer to 30.

All guests at the table had a Pennsylvania ID, except me, who had a New Mexico ID. This is a state issued ID, which I’ve used to identify myself across the country (and Pennsylvania) flawlessly since issued to me in 2021. It is also approved when scanned… always, because it’s my real ID.

The server checks all of our IDs and writes down our drink orders. A huffy manager comes over to the table exclaiming, “So, we all ordered alcohol here? I’m going to need to check everyone’s ID.” Which again, we provided with no issues. I did tell him that the server already checked them, just to be sure to defend the server in doing their job correctly.

He quickly came back over and very hastily held up the 3 PA IDs, and said, “these 3 are all good, but whoever’s this is, is not a valid ID, so we can’t serve any of you.”

Obviously, we were confused and hoping to understand the situation better. He then proceeded to ask me for a passport instead, which is a ridiculous request, and not a practical solution. At this point, he got very uncomfortable and visibly shifted into a defensive, confrontational attitude in anticipation of rejecting us.

As someone who has been a Food & Beverage / Hospitality professional for over 10 years, I whole-heartedly understand that this is just part of a manager’s job.

This particular situation however, was handled in a completely unprofessional way. I was embarrassed for the establishment to have such a problematic General Manager. My experience deserves to be heard by both P.J. Whelihan's and also potential guests who are hoping to spend money here. Until Tyler Jacob’s, the current General Manager, no longer works there I and my other guests will not be giving any business here, unfortunately.

This man claimed he scanned my ID and it would not give him a “check mark” so he couldn’t serve me or any guests at the table. I’m not sure what the issue was, but it certainly was not on my end and to be met with his clenched-a**hole attitude was completely uncalled for. I told him directly that I do not believe he scanned them, because if he had, it would have been approved, because it is in fact, a true, state issued ID.

There are certainly ways of going about situations like this with more finesse. After being denied drinks entirely, we left to go to another bar, at which I had no problems being served and had my ID scanned with no issues. This quivering-lip dweeb pulling a managerial power trip quite frankly lost this new location some great potential guests. The PA ID guests all live right around the corner and have their whole lives. They love going out and easily could have given this restaurant an additional $1000 in monthly sales. All Tyler would have had to do is be a human being about it. I’ll be happy to come back with the same ID, a passport, a birth certificate, or whatever else might be needed to confirm that this is in fact a real ID, but I won’t be returning for business until he no longer has...

My husband and I went for lunch . Seemed like the server may have been a new server , her name was Rachel . She was friendly but seemed a little overwhelmed . I ordered my drink and my husband's drink, I was waiting for my husband who was meeting me there . Once he arrived , I got boneless wings and the pjs fries , my husband ordered 20 wings and asked for no flats . The waitress bought out all the food and fries . The wings were both flats and drums , my husband said excuse me , "I did not want flats . " She said "Sorry, I will fix it ." My husband and I ate all of the fries, I ate half my meal, and about 15-20 mins later , the wings came out. (mind you there was maybe two tables seated ,and two people at the bar not busy at all ).My husband said to the waitress are you taking something off since I waited, she just said " Sorry , I can't." she did admit she put the order in wrong . I told him she seems stressed maybe we shouldn't say anything. But since they are $30.00, my husband said " No , it's not right I came to eat with you, and didn't get to , since you had to eat l, so your food would not be cold ." I almost ate almost all of my. food before my husband's wings came out . So not a good lunch date or experience . He asked for the manager who came over didn't mention his name . My husband said " Do you plan on discounting these wings ? I had to wait 15-20 mins for the right order he said ''No , you got your food ." My husband said " So "F " the customer ? " He replied "Yes, " and walked away . My husband yelled over " What's your name ? " as he was already 15 feet away " and he yelled back " "Tyler Jacob's. "

As I looked over other reviews on this page from another customer they stated about their experience " This particular situation however, was handled in a completely unprofessional way. I was embarrassed for the establishment to have such a problematic General Manager. My experience deserves to be heard by both P.J. Whelihan's and also potential guests who are hoping to spend money here. Until Tyler Jacob’s, the current General Manager, no longer works there I and my other guests will not be giving any business here, unfortunately

So I guess Tyler could claim it is the customers fault . But when others say the same thing it's apparent who the problem is .

I'm with this reviewer , I will not be back and will tell my friends and family as well . I will go back to the Edgemont location. They are very professional, and any issue I have had with service, they have always solved and apologized for . Even when we didn't ask for a discount , they would say hey we messed up we took $ 10.00 off your check , or 15% whatever it was it was generously offered .

Stay clear of wynnewood and take the...

I went to dinner at your Wynnewood, Pa location on Saturday, September 28, 2024 between 8pm and 9:30pm. Our waitress did a very good job. The kitchen was very slow and took at least 30 minutes to prepare and send our food. She was very apologetic for this. The food came out at separate times which was fine, however my fries were ice cold while the burger was hot. I brought this to her attention and she immediately apologized and put in a new order of fries. We had no other issues with our food.

Here is where things went downhill:

After eating, I went to the restroom to clean my hands. While in the restroom, one of your kitchen staff (a guy wearing a backwards PH Whelihan's and matching T-shirt) came into the bathroom and used the urinal. After handling his business, he walked right out the restroom without ever coming to the sink where I was still standing. I immediately left the bathroom hoping this was a customer, but to my disappointment he went right into the kitchen. I returned to the dining room and shared my observation with the table and immediately got the manager's attention and told him what I observed. He asked me was it one of his cooks and I said I was not sure but the man went back into the kitchen which was concerning enough. He stated to me that he had to go clean a table off and would then go address the worker. He then went to clean the table as stated but then returned to the hostess stand and talked with my waitress for a few minutes, cleaned another table off, worked the room, and then returned to the hostess stand without ever going to the kitchen to address the worker. Having already eaten my food, I was repulsed by this entire ordeal because this is probably normal practice for that worker and the manager and there is no telling if my food was tainted by his unsanitary practices. As a result of this, I am not sure will ever eat at this establishment again and will forwarn my friends associates who also frequent this location. I also reached out to corporate about 3 weeks ago and gave them time to respond which they did not, so that is the reason I am now posting...