Tucked away in Hazelwood, The Woods House is more than a charming pub — it’s a piece of living history.
The Woods House
While Pittsburgh boasts many neighborhood pubs with decades of history, only one claims to be in one of the city’s oldest existing buildings.
The Woods House occupies a structure built in 1792 by Col. George Woods, a surveyor who laid out Downtown Pittsburgh in 1784. The building served as a residence for generations of the Woods family, including his son John Woods, a lawyer and politician who also played a significant role in Pittsburgh’s development. The house has weathered more than two centuries of change and now stands as a convivial gathering spot that blends history with hospitality.
“I was fascinated by its history,” says the restaurant’s developer and owner, Krish Pandya.
Saving and Restoring the Building
After sitting abandoned for years, the building was saved from demolition through community efforts as well as the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority. In 2015 Pandya had the vision to transform the house into a Scottish-style pub.
Settled by Scottish immigrants, Hazelwood was known as Scotch Bottom. “It made sense to create a traditional Scottish pub atmosphere here — a place where locals and people from around Pittsburgh can come to hang out, eat, and have fun,” says Pandya, an engineer with an MBA who lives in Point Breeze.
With the support of local officials and residents, the property was purchased in December 2018. Pandya worked with a local Pittsburgh renvation company on the meticulous transformation of John Woods’ house into a public venue. They preserved the integrity of its original stone walls and timber beams while updating the interior to welcome patrons of today.
Opening and First Impressions
The Woods House opened its doors in December 2020, amid pandemic restrictions, and has thrived, attracting both history buffs and those looking for a hearty meal.
“It was the history that drew us to go,” says Pamela Stepanian of Fox Chapel. “The atmosphere is historic and mindful of the period.” Indeed, stepping inside feels like stepping back in time, with cozy nooks, stone walls, and centuries-old fireplace mantels into which beer taps are now discreetly embedded.
Layout and Atmosphere
“It was important to keep the character of the three-level Federalist-style house,” says Pandya. “We knew we wanted to create a cozy pub feel on the bottom level, with all its original stone,” referring to the first-floor bar. There are a few tables in addition to bar seating and a large-screen TV. “It’s livelier, perfect for watching a game, having a beer and a meal. Upstairs is warmer and a bit classier.”
If the second-floor layout feels a bit constrained, that’s because the developers had to maintain the space’s original dimensions to respect the historic design. “The upstairs is meant to reflect a more refined ambiance, what the home of a prominent founding Pittsburgh family would feel like,” he adds. John Woods was a member of the Pennsylvania Senate and served in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The distinct atmosphere of each level offers diners options. “We’ve been for drinks at the bar downstairs and for dinner with friends upstairs,” says Kelly Morgano of Squirrel Hill. “Both have a friendly vibe, but we enjoyed the bar area the most.”
Overall, the restaurant seats about 40 inside, plus 20 more in a beer garden. The space periodically hosts community events that might feature local music, readings, or history talks.
Food and Menu Inspiration
The lore of the building complements the restaurant’s menu. From Scotch eggs to shepherd’s pie, the food reflects the old-world charm of the building itself, but with an elevated touch.
“Chef Travis Torsell has created a small menu that brings the flavor of Scotland, but keeps American tastes in mind,” Pandya says. Torsell, who has been with the restaurant since it opened, was the chef trainer at Community Kitchen Pittsburgh, a Hazelwood nonprofit focused on workforce development for the food service industry.
The Woods House “feels like a true celebration of Scottish culture,” says diner Kelly O’Donnell. “The mac and cheese was amazing.” She’s also a fan of the Scotch eggs, a traditional dish of hard-boiled eggs wrapped in sausage and flash fried. Theirs are served with a cream brown mustard aioli. Other popular starters include fresh salads, substantial soups, goat cheese toast, and Parmesan fries.
The Guinness pot roast mac is the chef’s signature dish, made with a slow-roasted, fall-apart chuck roast in a rich, Guinness demi-glaze with white cheddar cavatappi pasta. Other favorites include the mussels served in creamy shallot broth, as well as the seafood shepherd’s pie topped with mashed potatoes.
Newer additions to the menu include a fried green tomato sandwich with Indian spices and chicken tikka masala, a nod to the prevalence of Indian fare in the United Kingdom. Diners can end the meal with desserts like a traditional bread pudding, crème brûlée, or an Irish coffee.
Drinks and Local Breweries
When it comes to drinks, one might expect to find British lagers and Scotch ales, but The Woods House chooses to promote local craft brewers. “We do have Guinness on tap, but it’s important to support our neighboring breweries,” Pandya says. The taps feature beers from Hazel Grove Brewing (literally a block away), New France in the nearby Hazelwood Brew House, and Brew Gentlemen in Braddock, among others.
The rest of the bar menu is modest but curated, including scotch, bourbon, and classic cocktails like Old Fashioneds and Sidecars, along with a selection of wines that don’t break the bank. “Don’t come expecting a $100 bottle of wine,” Pandya says. “We aren’t that kind of place.”
The Woods House is the kind of place that symbolizes Pittsburgh’s resilience and reinvention. In that vein, it complements the neighboring Hazelwood Green, the former steel mill turned tech hub that is adding housing and sports facilities.
Pandya rebuts the sense that Hazelwood is hard to get to. “We are very accessible — only 10 minutes from Downtown, the East End, and the South Side. People often ask me, ‘Why did you choose Hazelwood?’ and I always respond, ‘Don’t ask me, ask John Woods.’ ”
4604 Monongahela Street, Hazelwood
Story by Sarah Tuthill