Wanna — Restaurant in Pittsburgh

[Update from March 2025 visit - added two stars]

After speaking to a few people and having a free night, I decided to give it another run. KJ remembered me and I half-joked about the song cutting out again and we could just do Shai - If I Ever Fall In Love (Acapella) 😏

Took 2 hours to get up - Based on who went up and when, I must've been bypassed a few times so take that how you will BUT I did get up for Lose Control by Teddy Swims without issue this time. Hung out after and was talking to someone that knew the KJ and he came up & said he apologized & would try to get me up more next time. Tbh, the vibe was kinda "ohh you can sing ok lemme get you up next time," ya know?

It was less crowded this time around but still real busy. The bartenders inside Wanna are good but expect to spend $35 minimum.

Only other negative was when I heard a guy say "Hey there's like 30 people ahead of us but I could give him like $10 to move up the list for you?" to his friend so if that's still a thing, there are plenty of better priced options out there where you'll get to sing more but if you're trying to find a large crowd (and you're single,) this seems like a better option on that end so it's damned if you do damned if you don't ya know?

We'll see how round 3 goes.

[Original review from 3mos prior]

10pm - 7 people ahead of me. I can see the list. There's 8 of us.

11pm - 7 people ahead of me.

Ok cool let's change the song then since it's taking so long... (We both know I got bumped but whatever maybe he thought I was gonna be trash?)

Lose Control by Teddy Swims? "I don't have a karaoke version" This is what heartbreak feels like by jvke "I don't have that either"

11:45ish - Asked if it was still 7 since it's been 2 hours since I signed up. Staff asked my name, I was irritated and said I was gonna head out. Cooled off and was like you know what? I wanna know why. Went in and asked dude why he wanted to know.

"First, no reason to be a dick but I could get you up next." Ok one, how is that not shitty of this dude and wouldn't you be a dick right now? and two, why do I have to complain to get up there? It's been 2 hours. "What probably happened was 20 people came up and gave him money." So I gotta bribe you to sing? I would've had more than two drinks so everyone's losing money, esp the bartenders, and I won't be coming back. "Look how many people are here bro." I gotcha, so you don't need my money and don't care if I come back. "Not really but I'll get you next."

Got that pity play - and the DJ stopped the track mid song 😂

I mentioned it on a Facebook group and apparently this is pretty par for the course there (and only there,) so that's cool.

Other thing of note: Had to use the restroom and there's an attendant staring at his phone. One stall was dirty, another had piss alllll over, the third was manageable but the seat cover dispenser was kicked in and empty 🙃 and $8.50 for a vodka redbull with cheap vodka so that's cool...

Called and spoke with a manager. She was not about that life and apologized. She was very disappointed in the staff member. She also said that this situation was an issue they tried to resolve by getting a new KJ because old reviews are based on a guy they had problems with, and she's very disappointed to learn this happened. She said she will discuss with staff, manager, and KJ and hopes to...

I witnessed security treating a couple so wrong. They did not want other patrons to put all their trash on the table so they tossed it back to them and told them to take care of their own trash but security saw this as a threat and threw them out. It appeared to be a black security woman that was threatening them so I’m not sure but it seemed suspicious to me and I would steer...

This bar was awesome live music playing when you walk in. So my wait for karaoke was enjoyable. Then got back to karaoke and it was awesome great sound great people had a blast and will be...