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Penguin Pizza
Categories: Restaurants Pizza Restaurants Italian Pizza, Italian [Edit]
735 Huntington Ave(between Calumet St & Fenwood Rd)
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 277-9200
- Nearest Transit:
-
Huntington Ave @ Fenwood Rd (192, 35, 39, 66)
Huntington Ave @ Francis St (192, 35, 39)
Fenwood Rd - Inbound (Green Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 1 am
Sat-Sun 12 pm - 1 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
A wonderfully crafted 3-course menu for only $39! A wide & delicious selection of appetizers, entrees, and desserts from the regular menu.
224 reviews for Penguin Pizza
Review Highlights
"The beer selection is off the charts."
(in 70 reviews)
"The pizzas are thin crust and perfect."
(in 36 reviews)
"Definitely a great place to eat if you're in Brigham Circle."
(in 13 reviews)
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224 reviews in English
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Review from Melissa F.
Boston, MA
2/2/2012
I can't believe I haven't written a review for penguin yet considering I'm there basically every week. The food here is awesome. Their pizza (obviously) is excellent. Huge slices and a nice thin type crust. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. My other two favorite things to eat are their buffalo wings and french fries. It's located right by the Brigham so it's convenient for people to come after work since it's so close. Oh another thing their food is very well priced. One "slice" of pizza that is basically a quarter of a pie is only $3.
On to the beer. If you are a beer lover like me you will greatly appreciate their selection. I guarantee you will have trouble deciding what to drink. Lots of different and unique beers that you won't see at other bars. The only other place I've seen that has a larger selection is Meadhall in Cambridge. Honestly this is the best place to come after a long day of work. Grab a beer (or more) and a slice and just relax
And I almost forgot! Monday is wing night so you get 15 cent wings! The place gets pretty crowded by like 530 so get there early if you don't want to wait. -
Review from Kathy C.
South Hamilton, MA
2/1/2012
This place needs more space to accommodate the great business they've got going on.
Got a slice of Hawaiian and a side of curry fries, both of which were delicious. The bartender waiter was hard at work so I wasn't attended to right away in the beginning or when I was ready for my check.
Super crowded... Wednesday evening around 7pm. -
Review from Ron S.
Brookline, MA
1/18/2012
Great place. I'm addicted to their Mediterranean Seafood Pizza. The beer selection is amazing -- they even have a few Dutch, Belgian, and German beers on tap (among many, many others). Service was friendly and fast. Fun atmosphere. The prices are really reasonable.
Oh, and try the curry fries! They're seriously delicious. -
Review from Kelsey M.
Boston, MA
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Man, Boston is really hurting for some decent restaurants if so many people think this place is a "5." The appetizers and pizzas are average, nothing to praise a Higher Power for. The wait staff is hit and miss... usually miss. BE SURE THEY WRITE YOUR ORDER OR YOU MAY GET AN INCORRECT ORDER. The thing this place has going for it is the fairly low price and beer. It's defiantly a tight fit in here, so you may want to consider taking a large party elsewhere.
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Review from Hot Logic E.
Boston, MA
2/8/2012
Its funny, I lived around the corner from this place for over 5 years, and walked by this "penguin" place almost everyday, and yet always assumed it was just some college bar. Then I caught on to the hype.
Everything I've ordered so far has been awesome. The Margarita pizza is my favorite. Their 'classic" pizza has pepperoni, so I guess the Margarita is a great option for cheese lovers. It had a perfect crust, with perfect flavor. The Great white pizza with lobster and scallops... omg, heaven?! And who can beat a dozen wings for a better price than most places. This is like an undercover upscale restaurant with average, reasonable prices. Most individual plates, paninis/subs, salads, appetizers, even small pasta plates are under $10 per person. I doubt anyone could be really disappointed.
Its small, so choosing slower or earlier times, on any given day, is probably best. The weekend is busy, so you may or may not catch a delivery guy by phone. You may have to come in. Even if there is a wait, its worth it. Everyone should have a chance at the goodness being served out of here. -
Review from Matt H.
Allston, MA
1/15/2012
I'm not a reviewer. In fact, this is my first Yelp review ever. I won't say my only Yelp review ever but it's a possibility.
I made it my obligation to give this place 5 stars as my first review. And for good reason. I joined 2 months ago and I told myself I'd get to it. But tonight when I saw it had 4 stars it brought a tear to my eye and I had to act quickly.
This is my spot for life. This is most of my friends' spot for life. We used to live close to it so at first that is why I thought we came here all the time. It used to be a 3 minute walk. Now we live 30+ minutes away and it's still our spot so location is clearly not the reason
So many stories with this place. I'm a shy guy. But at the same time I know the staff. I swear, on the job application for Penguin it asks "are you cool?" If you're looking to work here and you answer no, look elsewhere.
I've shown up here absolutely black out drunk and the staff welcomes me with open arms. Then the next time I show up they laugh at me.
Anyways, this is all besides the point. I'm going to bullet point why this is one of the best places if not the place in Boston:
-coolest staff ever
-Penguin passport = amazing, revolutionary really. I think now it's like drink ~270 of their large variety of beers and you get a mug. Say what you want if it's worth it or not but once you hold that mug in your hand...there is no words for it. You're in a position of power right there. It's worth it all...the beer, the food, the memories, the good times, etc etc etc.
-as glazed by on the last comment, amazing selection of beer. 250+ plus. They run out on the rare ones once in awhile but that is understandable.
-the food. (that is not a sentence) Wing night is amazing. Their pizza is the highlight of the place. Not going to lie, it's not the kind of place where you hear the food is so good you have to go to. It's not amazing, but it's quite good, especially for the price. Big slices. Not a sentence again. Neither is that. I'm drunk and this is too much attempting to be grammatically correct for me. And probably you. I'm normally all about typing in all lowercase and typing dollar signs after every other word. But that's beside the point. Anyways, I'll never forget the first time I came here and ordered 4 slices. They said "you sure?" I said yeah man. I got 2 plates of 2 stacked pizzas. I finished 1 plate. 1 slice = 1 quarter of pizza pretty much. Anyways, if you get a slice get the bird. Bird is the word.
-so much for bullet points. I don't think bullet points count if you write essays on them
-go to Penguin -
Review from Shelagh M.
Derry, NH
1/19/2012
Great pizza joint at brigham circle with an insanely huge beer selection! The prices are definitely reasonable since even the medium size is huge. We got the seasonal pizza with squash, goat cheese and sage leaves. BOMB.
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Review from Miles S.
Los Angeles, CA
2/4/2012
Food is amazing (especially salmon pizza!) but service is slow and not the friendliest. Still some of the best pizza I've had!
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Review from Michael R.
Boston, MA
12/22/2011
The quintessential spot in Boston to try a beer that you've never had before (Grey Lady, just throwing it out there!). Over a hundred varieties on tap - just insane. The waiters and waitresses also do a great job with keeping track of what's on the menu for the evening, as some beers are only ordered in small quantities and run out quickly. I've almost always been told right away if my selection is available that evening or not, definitely a major convenience when placing a big group order.
The second-stage attraction at Penguin is the pizza - thin crust, crispy, and generous with toppings (yeah, I'm talkin' to you Il Mondo) is pretty damn good too. And how could you forget the 15-cent wing night!
Although we're just talking bar food, wings, pizza, and beer, Penguin does everything right with what they have to work with. Eat, DRINK, and be merry - Penguin definitely lives up to the hype. -
Review from M W.
1/14/2012
Too small, just ok service with poor pacing, mediocre pizza with the exception of the "trash can ULTIMATE"pizza with all types of toppings like potato, sausage, duck, cherry peppers, cabbage, etc. It's more interesting than a culinary achievement.
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Review from Mallory S.
Boston, MA
Updated - 11/18/2011
Great beer. Amazing pizza. I love the butternut squash, leek and goat cheese pizza. It was so good last time we ended up ordering another one.
Sitting is limited but service was good. No complaints and I will be back probably sooner than I should be.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/22/2011
I have come here twice with co-workers and had no complaints. We had the Hawaiian pizza and the BBQ… Read more »
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Review from Diane H.
1/2/2012
Their "Fig pizza" is amazing..14.99 for a large?? HELL YES. Add some 15 cents wings on a monday and a beer and you're all set! (True, the wings can either be overcooked and dry, or amazing and juicy...keep ordering) Great selection of beers, and some ciders too!! Ciders are a bit pricey, so stick with beer if you wanna save some dough. Service is good once you get their attention. Pretty packed.
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Review from Stephen T.
Windham, NH
11/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Now that I've found you I'll never let you go! The penguin pizza and beer passport saved my life!
Thank you Penguin! -
Review from Graham C.
Boston, MA
1/4/2012
Beer is great, pizza is outstanding. Cool combinations, I've never been disappointed here. I've gotten to the point I just order any pizza on the menu and know it will be awesome.
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Review from Chris T.
Woburn, MA
1/25/2012
Went here last night with a friend. We have been looking forward to going here after hearing about the huge beer selection and creative pizza menu.
When we first walked in, we weren't really greeted, we just had a guy walk up to us and ask us for our IDs. Then he told us to sit wherever we wanted. It's a pizza joint so I didn't let this bug me, but a hello first would have been nice.
Anyway, we sat down and start looking at the drink menu, which is pretty massive. Our waitress came over and asked if we wanted a drink. I told her that we still needed time, but would take some water. The thing is, I had to ask her for water as she was walking away. The whole night she seemed to ask a question, then walk away as I was trying to give an answer. I wish I could remember her name, some blond girl, but alas, no introduction so clearly she just didn't seem to be in the mood to serve us. Also, what I noticed which was weird was that there were about 4-5 people wearing penguin pizza shirts, but besides our server and the door guy, no one seemed to do anything. She was the one running to all of the tables to get orders and pouring beers for the bar and tables, while the others just hung around and talked to the people at the bar. I'll elaborate on the service later.
So after telling our server it was our first time and asking her for suggestions, we ordered the Ultimate Penguin pizza. When the pizza came out, she asked us if we needed anything else. I looked to my buddy and said do you want anything and as I did, SHE STARTED WALKING AWAY. Who the hell does that? Seriously, I'm sorry that you have to wait on the tables by yourself and pour the beers by yourself, but you could at least wait for an answer. I would make the excuse that she was miserable, but that would be a lie because when my friend and I wanted beer refills, or a box for our pizza that we hadn't touched in 20 MINUTES, or our check, she was talking to her friends at the bar. She even ran outside to go talk to some people, instead of checking on us. It was like this was her hangout and waiting on paying customers was just an afterthought. I kept trying to flag her down, but when she was facing our direction, she always walked with her head down. Even the other meat heads with the penguin shirts just walked right by us, looked at our table, and kept moving on without asking if we needed anything, which we clearly did. We sat with our arms folded for 20 minutes, no joke, until I got up and walked to the bar to ask for the check. She didn't say sorry or seem to care. She just printed out the check and handed it to me.
I don't mean to be too hard on the service, but I have been a server for almost 4 years and even when I started serving, I knew how to look at people and gauge when they may be done or if they wanted napkins for their messy pizza. I'm sorry that I focused on the service more than the food and drink, but the pizza was just meh and nothing to write home about. The HORRIBLE service really eclipsed what would have been a good time. Not gonna return -
Review from K. Brooke Z.
Boston, MA
11/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yes please!
This place has an awesome atmosphere and some decent prices too. Their real crowning acheivement is their pizza...yum!! Get the aegean greek inspired pizza! Not many places use real kalamata olives, but these have some real flavor. Way better than those canned black "olives"...
Staff was super nice and gave good suggestions. Definitely a great place to eat if you're in Brigham Circle. -
Review from Lisa O.
9/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
I moved to Mission Hill in 2004, when it was way sketchier than it is now. Slowly but surely, places like The Mission and Penguin began to appear, and my roommates and I started to order GOOD pizza on the regular.
Then we all moved away and I kinda forgot about this cozy hole-in-the-wall with a huge beer list and incredible thin crust. Until Groupon reminded me! I invited my former roomie out for pizza and a bit of nostalgia.
We met on a humid, rainy night which resulted in a bit of a warm atmosphere. We were tucked back in a corner and didn't get much airflow. The beer list more than made up for it. After reading through about half of the massive list, I gave up and asked for my seasonal fave, Shipyard Pumpkinhead. YUM. We ordered some oregano-spiked garlic bread to start and I was pleased to see it came with cheddar in addition to mozz. After much deliberation, we decided to split the medium Great White - lobster pizza! OH GOOD GOD it was yummy. The combination of alfredo, lobster, leeks, and scallions made for a rich flavor explosion. The 14" was enough to stuff us.
I'm sad I no longer live within walking distance of Penguin. It's the perfect neighborhood joint, whether you're looking for a filling dinner or just an expansive selection of beer with which to accent your night. -
Review from John Paul G.
Miami Beach, FL
A great place, not too big, but big enough, with a vibe that suggests it's a cool little local spot. It is tasty pizza, served up by a friendly staff, reasonably priced. This place also has a great bar which, I envision - I was not there at a time to really see if this bar truly gets swingin' - becomes packed. In addition, as I waited for my pizza slice, I noted, from things on the wall - announcements, flyers, adverts, etc., that these folks seem to truly support the men and women of our armed services, which, in my eyes anyway, speaks volumes as to their character. A great place to get some pizza and drinks/beer if you're in this neck of Boston.
Semper Fi. -
Review from Christine K.
Allston-Brighton, MA
10/19/2011
Hello Penguin! I can't believe I haven't written a review for this place yet. Our "posse" which can range from 5 to 12 people like to go here from time to time, usually on Mondays when it's Wing Night!
15 cent wings. Must buy a sort of beverage. Buffalo or plain. It's on Mondays after 5 pm. The wings can be a hit or miss. Sometimes fried to perfection, other times, just eh. But who can really complain with 15 cent wings?
They've got a great beer selection and friendly staff. They also have a passport where they check off all the beers you've tried out and once you finish it, you get a giant beer mug all for yourself.
It's a bit small, and there is no AC, so beware the hot summer days there. But all in all, good wings, good pizza... I like their pasta too. Except, stay away from the Shrimp Scampi. It's not that good.
They have October beers out now. I had a Coney Island. It was pretty good.
It's a great place, a kind of homey place. We've got great memories there :) -
Review from Emma S.
Somerville, MA
Updated - 11/24/2011
I'd like to follow my last two reviews with an amendment: I received a rude message from the manager following my negative review with no sense of apology, only a mere explanation of the situation and their policies. I consider this unacceptable. In the restaurant business, the customer is always right.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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11/19/2011
The pizza and beer at Pizza are fantastic. However, the last time i was there the service was… Read more »
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Review from Christia P.
Quincy, MA
10/20/2011
There were many memories made at Penguin Pizza with colleagues. Great pizza selection and the crust is on the thin-side, but durable to handle the 'Ultimate Penguin'. Staff has always been patient when we weren't ready to order. The atmosphere is great for an afterwork hang-out.
Just avoid the tables near the oven around noon time in the Summer. -
Review from Spencer S.
Boston, MA
9/26/2011
I've been going to the Penguin regularly since learning about their 15¢ wings on Monday night.
Well, after tonight I will certainly never return. I was with a party of five, two of whom were running 10 minutes late. Three of us were already seated with food on the table for everybody, including the late-comers, when I received a phone call: apparently, the doorman would not let our +2 into the establishment.
I walked out front to inform the doorman that we were waiting for two more and that they had two full plates already waiting for them inside. He shouted at me that the restaurant was at capacity.
I found this strange because I had eaten at Penguin not a week earlier and it had been at least twice as full as it was presently, yet the surly doorman insisted that the restaurant was at capacity. I told this to our waitress when I returned to the table, and she assured me that they would be the first ones let into the restaurant once they "cleared some space". I glanced around at the nearby tables with empty seats and bar with unoccupied stools and realized that I was being fed a load of sh*t.
If they want to treat their customers like a dive bar, they had better lower their prices. -
Review from Phuong P.
Boston, MA
8/9/2011
I don't get it. I've been living on the hill for 3years + now and I've never eaten here until now.
Just ordered the other night and I LOVED the fig + goat cheese pizza. I recommend this one if you want a sweet oozy pizza (the fig paste/jam) with the tang of goat cheese and end with the salty prosciutto. The pizza might be a little too sweet for some but I find it's a most interesting combination!
This place is oddly fancier than what you'd think looking on the outside in. Also just discovered that they have an outrageous beer list.
5 stars might be a bit pre-mature but based on that pizza alone, I'm ok with this decision!
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As it was pre-mature, I'm changing my rating to 4 stars since I've only really enjoyed two-three pies. The other two include the eggplant and the seasonal. I wish there was a tad more butternut sauce on the seasonal because it's fantastic :) Their BBQ (the bird) isn't very good. Il mondo has a way better BBQ so I guess I'll have switch around depending on the pie I'm feeling that day.
PS The wait staff are incredibly friendly. I appreciate it. :) -
Review from Alex B.
6/28/2011
Penguin Pizza is has captured my heart with some gourmet toppings at non-gourmet prices. I can't beleive I havn't reviewed it yet, but here are some of the things I have gotten from there. Just try to tell me these combinations don't make your mouth salivate like a little puppy under the dinner table.
The Duck Confit - White Pizza With slow cooked Duck Leg, roasted potatoes, and roasted red onions (Sm 13, Lg 16)
The Ultimate Penguin - Bacon. Ham , Meatball, Braised Duck Leg, Sausage, Roasted Potato, Hot Cherry Peppers, Cabbage, Caramelized Onion (Sm 15, Lg 17)
The Great White - Alfredo sauce, braised leeks, fresh lobster, scallions topped with butter chive oil (Sm 16, Lg 18)
Seriously one was better than the next. Easily the best pizza I have had in Boston to date. And they have 15 cent wing night on Mondays. Haven't made it for one of those yet but I heard it gets crowded. -
Review from Sarah G.
Cambridge, MA
9/18/2011
I had a groupon and went to Penguin Pizza. I ordered a large barbecue, onion, and cheese pizza...it was so yummy and huge! I also had the "super" nachos.....the portion was big enough for at least 8 people! I just went with one other person and we both left with tons of leftovers.
I also went on a Saturday around 2'ish so there wasn't much of a crowd. The place is super small though. Great service as well! And very close to public transit....a definite plus if you don't have a car:-) -
Review from Eric F.
7/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Such a great beer spot with a selection that rivals Sunset Grill & Tap! I came with fellow Yelper Norwin E. and a mutual friend and beer fan both to sample the brews and see how Penguin's pizza stacks up to the competition.
Food-wise, the King Chili Nachos were solid and I enjoyed the 50/50 split between the Margherita and Duck Confit (ooh la la ;) ). The basil on the former shone through well and the duck was very tasty, however the pizza on the whole is a couple notches below that of Picco.
I had a chance to try a handful of beers and would highly recommend the Piraat Trippel and Meantime Coffee Porter. Our waitress suggested the latter so I'm confident you'd be in safe hands if you needed a rec! As Norwin E. mentioned, having Spaten Optimator for dirt cheap and all of Dogfish Head's IPAs (even the 120 minute!) doesn't hurt either.
Excellent beer selection + good pizza + great staff + lively crowd = Win. -
Review from Sidney L.
Boston, MA
8/23/2011
I have come here a few times, and in an area that is littered with pizza joints, this has quickly become my favorite local pizza place:
The Good:
- The pizza is wonderful. The crust is light and thin, but crispy. My favorite is the Penguin pizza special, which fortunately does not have penguin meat on it.
- Monday nights, they have 15 cent wings, which you can order in sets of 10 ($1.50). The wings come in buffalo or non-buffalo (plain) varieties. The buffalo wings had too much sauce for my taste, however, but for 15 cents each, who is complaining?
- The beer selection is mind-blowing, especially for a little pizza joint. They serve beers in their proper glasses, and they also have my favorite beer, Kwak!
The Bad:
- The place is really small. Every time I have come here, I have had to wait. This is especially true during Monday wing nights - you might have to wait 90 minutes during dinner time. You'll have better luck getting seated if you come in late.
You can get your own Penguin Pizza mug engraved with your name if you try some 300 different beers and check them off your passport. Crazy but not impossible - I've seen guys carrying around the mug. -
Review from Daniel M.
Wakefield, MA
11/21/2011
I don't know if this review counts since it was about 5 years ago but I like to think that the place stayed exactly the same. My friends and I went here all the time to try and complete the beer list when we attended college. We used to get the pizza and I remember loving the hell out of that thing. Now I work 3 blocks away and I can't seem to get the time to make my way down there. :( SOON!
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Review from Norwin E.
Boston, MA
7/16/2011
I was easily amazed by this place. The atmosphere, the beer sign decor, the crowd, and most important of all, the great beer selection won me over.
My friend and I were intrigued by one of their taps with a dragon on it. They had some great rotating beers on it: Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Ale and Piraat Belgium Tripel. Both are great beers!
Then we ordered a 50/50 Ultimate Penguin and Margherita. Whoever heard of braised duck leg on a pizza?? Crazy. I kinda wish the Ultimate had a little bit more toppings on it though. Both were good but they didn't exactly blow me away. But the King Chili Nachos were a hit!
Their beer list is just amazing. Spaten Optimator for only $4? That stuff sells for more at other bars--if they even carry it. Dogfish Head IPAs? Another plus!
Wish I had discovered this place earlier. I think it's a hidden gem of Boston, especially for the beer connoisseur. We had great service and the place surprisingly doesn't get packed, even on a Friday evening. I will come back for sure! -
Review from Andrew R.
5/16/2011
I dare anyone to go for the Beer Passport. That is a daunting challenge. Something like 200+ beers in over a year. They're all fantastic beers from just about everywhere, which is so awesome. But damn if my wallet (let alone my liver) can handle that.
For the cheaper patrons among us, you can't go wrong with the Penguin Ale, a rotating draft of something random for $3.50/pint. It's good, crisp, refreshing fun.
Now on to the food! Go for the pizza (of course!). The Pimento is downright addictive - always the go-to. The Med Seafood Pizza is good too, though the shrimp could do with a touch of seasoning, but those artichokes are the bees knees. I know the Seasonal sounds adventurous and really really cool, but don't go there with high expectations. Huge pizzas for $12-$15. Shazaam!
Love the beer, the food, the atmosphere, and the trivia every Saturday. Winning team gets $50. Say what! -
Review from Britt S.
I take back my 4.5-star rating. Though I still wish it could expand, Penguin without a doubt deserves the full 5 stars. The employees bust their asses and are what makes Penguin truly outstanding. They're not just working to smile, nod, and take your loot. They actually talk to you like real people, and even break your balls a little bit (Well, Dave and Pam break 'em a lotta bit).
Either way, it doesn't take more than a few visits to feel like a regular, and to be treated like one too. I mean, there's a reason I keep coming back at least twice a week ;-)
Not much more to report in the food department - it's still amazing and affordable. Penguin's pizza is arguably the best in Boston, and I'm not just saying that because of my allegiance to this precious dive of mine. It's insanely delicious, I dare you to find me a better slice.
So, if after all I've said, you still have some sort of bone to pick with Penguin, try saying that you know Britt and your luck might change.
(Lighten up people, I'm only kidding!)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/17/2010
**4.5/5**
First and foremost, the Monday night 15¢ wings are delicious! Yes, they sadly only come in… Read more »
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Review from Angie C.
Jamaica Plain, MA
6/25/2011
Great beer selection and great pizza!
Experience:
The place gets ridiculously hot in the summer. It doesn't help to have an open kitchen with a small seating area. The place is sticky, but that's what you expect from a bar.
Food:
The beer selection is great with many options. The pizzas are huge and different. I had The Bird and loaded it with crushed red peppers-absolutely perfect!
Overall:
I always pass by this place on my way home and I'm happy I tried it. I'm definitely adding this to the list of places I frequent for good low maintenance food. -
Review from Real Man's A.
Boston, MA
10/28/2011
For what it is, this place is pretty good. The pizza for one thing; it's not bad at all, and they have excellent nachos available at a great price.
I have had special gatherings with friends here. It's nice for that on say a Sunday afternoon, when there's not many people there. The more people there are at this place, the more unbearable it becomes.
Which brings me to why I rated this place only three stars. The atmosphere is not really to my liking. For one thing, it's cramped and naturally, the more people who are there, the more cramped it becomes. That's not really my favorite atmosphere for eating.
Not to mention that Mission Hill/Brigham Circle, while a nice area to live, is not really my favorite place to hang out. Don't get me wrong, I live there and I like it; it's a nice neighborhood, etc. That said, not enough really happens around here for me to want to be hanging around when I have an opportunity to spend time in a more happening part of town.
Penguin has some great stuff, and I love penguins, but the food isn't quite good enough to keep me coming back on a regular basis. I also, as I've mentioned, find Brigham Circle pretty boring after a while. Maybe I'm just sick of it.
Three stars seems fair. -
Review from Jim M.
Wakefield, MA
6/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great spot.
Now granted, I was here on a sleepy Monday afternoon (Memorial Day) and it was still kind of busy.
So, I don't know what it's like on the weekends but I wouldn't be surprised if it's an annoying shitshow like other Yelpers have pointed out.
Anyway I tried a basic slice and was impressed (it was huge) and my lady had a salad that could have fed two people. Everything in it was fresh, and up to her standards.
The other pies they've got up on their menu look pretty great, and their wings (which I saw others destroying) looked meaty and delicious.
But let's get to the hooch.
Wow, what a beer selection!
And Woodchuck Pear Cider....ON TAP?!
Aesthetically, I liked how it was set up. They had great tunes playing (mostly alt. rock) and the staff was attentive and friendly.
I was an instant fan, and look forward to going back. -
Review from Rachel M.
San Francisco, CA
8/1/2011
My favorite pizza in Boston. The beer selection is infinite, and the pizzas are superb. I have a penguin 'passport' (to keep track of all of thier beers I've had) and am nowhere near completing it, I probably never will, but the fun of it is that I always get a different beer, often just ask them to surprise me with one i've never had.
The staff always seem friendly and helpful, as well as busy and cluttered!
Pimento pizza is my favorite, add bacon, and you're in for a treat!
Penguin's only downfall is that it's too small and too popular! Very often crowded. But once you're in it makes the atmophere to die for. I can't even deduct a star for that because I know I've waited for a very long time to eat there... it's not so bad if you wander to another bar for a beer. -
Review from zee w.
New Orleans, LA
1/12/2011
Place sucks... Full of smug hipsters. Shitty service at best. Seriously though, I dont normally harp on service unless it's downright despicable. We called in take-out and gave it more than they said (45mins). We still stood around for 25 minutes, all the while being pushed around by the dumb waitress and douchebag barback.
Pizza was awful, got 3 larges take out.
The Classic was barely cooked. The Hawaiian had decent toppings, but again was very soft and doughy... They simply need to cook them longer.
Sorry, yall... If you cant make a decent pepperoni pizza, YOU SUCK. Take off the scarves and learn how to make a damn pizza. -
Review from Rebecca L.
Brighton, MA
6/17/2011
Oh Penguin, if your staff would pay attention to customers even a little bit, I'd give you 5 stars. As it stands, I can't even give you 4.
Penguin is very near my workplace, so my first experience was during a pizza party at the end of a project. The food is amazing! The seasonal pizza is what my dreams are made of.
Since that time, I've been here fairly frequently. Happy hours with coworkers aren't uncommon with inexpensive wings and an extensive beer list. Many a happy hour turned into a Friday night full of drinking because, well, why stop?
The sandwiches are also really delicious and I highly recommend the nachos. The slices of the day are always a good bet because they're huge and delicious. I'm not normally a fan of thin crust pizza, but Penguin hits it spot-on!
Unfortunately, the service is terrible. The first time I went, I brushed it off; every establishment has crappy service every once in a while. Unfortunately, bad service is the rule, rather than the exception here. I'll definitely keep going (perhaps this is why the service isn't getting better--it doesn't need to), but I really wish the staff could be a bit more attentive. -
Review from Julie B.
Boston, MA
10/22/2011
My first trip to Penguin Pizza was on a visit to Boston to apartment hunt in July 2010. It was soccer World Cup time, and a friend told me to meet him at Penguin around 10am. My first thought was - a dive bar at 10am? Penguin partnered with the diner next door to offer breakfast, and I was hooked. I came back that afternoon for lunch and to watch another soccer match.
Since then, I've had the Margherita, Blanco, Honolulu, Seasonal, Great White, Bird, Buffalo Bleu, Fig and Prosciutto, Sausage, and Pepperoni pizzas. Great White (lobster) is my favorite, but I'd recommend any of their pizzas. The crust is fairly thin with a nice crunch, but not boring and hard like some thin-crust pizzas.
Other posters say the Penguin is packed, but I tend to go in the early afternoon or after dinner/before late night crowds, so I've never had trouble getting a seat. The bartenders are great and we're working our way through the 300+ beers on the passport list to join the mug club.
Penguin has everything I'd want in a local bar/pizza place - friendly atmosphere, delicious pizza, pretty good craft beer selection, reasonable prices, and just a 10 minute stumble home. -
Review from Heather C.
Chestnut Hill, MA
5/14/2011
I used to frequent the Penguin when I lived in the Mission Hill area a few years ago. I just got a chance to go back here the other night, and I am happy to be able to report that not much has changed!
There's not much to say about the Penguin that hasn't already been said. The beer list is extensive - the beer selection alone is worth a trip here. The food is good - not great, but certainly beyond satisfactory. I won't call it the best pizza I've had in Boston, but it is right up there on the list. Order it with the whole-wheat crust - you won't be disappointed. I highly recommend the pimento pizza. Their wings are also pretty decent, as well as their wraps and paninis (vegetarian panini=awesomeness). I have never had any problems with service here, except that it can be a bit slow when it is crowded, which I feel is to be expected anywhere.
That being said, the only real drawback I have found at the Penguin is that it is a pretty small place that they have squeezed a lot of tables into, so it can get very crowded and cramped very quickly. Sometimes it is difficult to impossible to get a table.
Otherwise, though, the Penguin is a great, laid-back place to hang out with friends and enjoy good food and unique beers. I can't wait until I am back in the area so I can stop in again! -
Review from molly b.
Brookline, MA
6/14/2011
Can't go wrong with a huge beer selection, awesome staff and tasty pizza! Honestly, this is some of the best pizza in Boston and now that I know they deliver to JP, whoo boy.
I just love their Bolognese pizza.
