Bigham Tavern — Restaurant in Pittsburgh

I have heard good things about BT, but not eaten here before today. I ordered a dozen wings with seasoned salt and french fries with gravy, to go.

The wings were large and juicy, the french fries crisp, and the gravy that smothered them smooth as silk. My meal looked perfect. It smelled heavenly. My first bite left me in awe. This was without a doubt the saltiest food I have ever been served.

My surprise gave way to curiosity. Maybe the dry fry I chose to eat first received more than its fair share of seasoning. As a second fry completely drowned in voluptuous gravy passed my lips, my hopes were immediately dashed. It was worse. I took a few more cautious bites and thought of all the things I've tasted that were not as salty as these fries: ocean water, soy sauce, boullion cubes... I gave up on trying to eat them. "Okay," I told myself, "the fries weren't that expensive. At least I have wings to eat."

The wings with seasoned salt were marginally LESS salty than the french fries. They were cooked to perfection, but they were still the second saltiest thing I've ever eaten. Because of how hungry I was and how well the wings were cooked, I slowly ate them all between gulps of water and beer. I tried brushing the salt off, but it was one with the skin, which was impressive. One hour, 64 ounces of fluids, and a half a cup of ranch dressing later, I sat down to write this review with parched lips, a stomach full of knots, and a head filled with regrets.

Sure, bars often serve salty food so customers get thirsty and buy more beer, but the food I received was borderline inedible. At this point I'm wondering what went wrong. Does the cook have COVID and can't taste that the food is liable to preserve whomever eats it? Did the lid fall off the shaker? Did four different people separately see that I ordered seasoned salt and then take it upon themselves to make sure I got enough? The whole meal was so impossibly far beyond ordinary oversalting that I really just want...

I hate having to leave a review, but sometimes it is necessary. I’d like to start by saying I have went here 3 weeks in a row for music bingo, and if it wasn’t for the host, I would never go back. The service is no joke, god awful. So to start things off we got sat, waited 10-15 minutes to be greeted by our server, after being greeted we wait about another 10 minutes to get a simple tequila soda. I really try to be optimistic because I’ve been a server for 5 years, but after I finished my drink I waited about 15 mins to get checked on—it’s whatever the music bingo is keeping me entertained. But when it becomes a habit to not check on us and walk past us I begin to get annoyed and notice the little things like our server sitting in the back and not doing anything. I think the cherry on top to my entire experience tonight would be my lovely server marshae taking a shot at the bar while I sit in my booth with an empty drink for over 20 minutes. Honestly any other time I saw a server sneaking a drink I would be like you know what good for you, but the fact that getting a shot was more important than serving your table is pathetic. I really was hungry and craving some of the delicious tacos, but around 8:50 we were told “just so you know the kitchen closes at 10 so id order now.” Again I have served for 5 years, I have had tables walk in 5 mins to close and I have served them happily. Being told the time the kitchen closes over an hour before it happens is ridiculous and inconsiderate. I read the reviews before I wrote this, it seems everyone else enjoys the atmosphere but can all agree the service is bottom of the barrel. Music bingo is amazing, but honestly the service...

Dinner at Bigham Tavern was a solid 4 stars all around. It was good, not great. It was our first time there and we tried a variety if items. The draft beers were nice. Cold, correct pours, clean glasses. My son ordered a kid's grilled cheese. He was disappointed. The bread was not grilled and the cheese wasn't melted. When a place treats kids dining like an afterthought it's upsetting cause it shows that they have no interest in a family friendly atmosphere and they don't see the value of it. The gravy fries appetizer was good. The fries were a little over fried but still tasty and edible. Bigham's chicken wings won "best of in Pittsburgh" ten years in a row. So we tried an order of six with chupacabra sauce. The sauce was great but the wings were lacking. They were not hot and they were dry. Seemed like they were cooked and sitting under a heat lamp, not fresh. Believe me I've had much better in Pittsburgh. We also tried two sandwhiches. The USS Bigham - their take on a Italian sub. It wasn't as big as the name suggested. It was good. A bit average, but they captured some nice nuances of flavor with a pepper relish and a dressing. Lastly, I ordered the Bigham Ham BBQ -touted as their namesake sandwhich and their take on a Pittsburgh comfort food classic. The only thing about it that was different from me making Ham BBQ at home was the pretzel bun. To be considered "Bigham's Namesake" I expected some finesse or something special to dress it up a bit. Service and atmosphere were just okay. Considering the location and difficult parking, I will...