Snacks N'At: Woodpeckers Pub & Grub, Upper Burrell
Woodpeckers Pub & Grub in Upper Burrell is a direct descendent of the Tall Oaks Restaurant and Bar, next to Penn State New Kensington.
Since its opening in 1946, it has hosted many meals and get-togethers for students and staff from the branch campus, as well as local residents.
Currently owned by Upper Burrell natives Mike and Darla Williams, who bought the business in 2006, Woodpeckers has expanded in size and menu.
“We totally remodeled the interior and added on a patio deck, which we can enclose in the colder months,” Darla Williams says. “We wanted to add to the community, as we know the people, and create a relaxing place for entertainment.”
Her sister, bar manager Maris Trzeciak, says, “We are not a restaurant. We strive to be a bar with really great and fun-type bar food.”
The interior features beer signs on the ceiling and walls and a metal heating duct, wrapped in red LED lights, which really draws the eye. Industrial corrugated metal accents the walls, and 11 TVs around the bar (with 43 stools) and dining room keep diners up-to-date on sports.
The deck seats 70 patrons, while the main dining room seats 44.
When asked, the chef recommended the wings. And was he ever right. The whole, fresh, meaty Jumbo Wings ($18 per dozen) were amazing. We got the breaded and seasoned variety, and were wondering why we ordered other food after our first taste. Even knowing other food was coming, we couldn't stop until the wings were gone. The bar serves almost 1,000 pounds of wings per week.
The Jumbo Beer Battered Haddock fish sandwich ($10) was another winner. The lightly breaded and deep-fried fish was flaky and fried to a nongreasy, tasty golden brown. Served on a fresh, 9-inch chewy roll, this huge offering is certain to be shared and throughly enjoyed.
The Hawaiian Chicken Salad ($9.50) was a pleasant change from the norm. Tender grilled chicken, atop a bed of iceburg lettuce, mandarin oranges, pineapple chunks and piping-hot sweet potato fries blended with the raspberry vinaigrette dressing for a wonderful taste. The entree is large in taste and size.
The Woodpecker Panini ($7.50) came piled with moist, tender corned beef, a mix of lettuce and cabbage, melted Swiss, and topped with a large pile of fresh-cut fries.
The cheeseburger ($7) is a half-pound grilled beef patty served on a square ciabatta roll. It is comfort food at its finest.
Pizza ($12 for a plain large, extra for toppings) was a tale of two visits. The first pizza with green peppers, sausage and onions was undercooked, so we sent it back. On our second visit, our pepperoni pizza, served on a Tomanetti crust from Oakmont, arrived as we hoped, with the small pepperoni curling and charred on the edges, creating the perfect tang with the plentiful cheese.
The Philly Steak & Cheese ($8.50) was on a 9-inch toasted bun that barely held the plentiful tender steak, peppers, onions and melted provolone cheese.
Woodpeckers has special nights: Tuesdays are wing nights (80 cents per wing), Wednesdays are mini-cheeseburgers (99 cents per burger), Thursdays are taco night, and Sundays are frog legs.
A word of warning: Woodpeckers is an 18-and-older-only, all-smoking establishment.
Woodpeckers Pub & Grub, 3500 Seventh St., Upper Burrell, is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and until 11 p.m. Tuesdays. Details: 724-339-9287 or on Facebook
Eric Felack is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-226-4695 or efelack@tribweb.com.
