A viral video that surfaced yesterday shows a rat scurrying beneath the beer taps at The Urban Tap's South Side location while bartenders poured drinks and customers sat just feet away. The clip ignited instant outrage online and quickly pushed the popular taphouse into damage-control mode.
Video And The Initial Response
Video provided to Pittsburgh's Action News 4 shows the rodent moving under the taps as drinks are served, according to WTAE. In a statement to WTAE, The Urban Tap acknowledged the incident, saying, "A rat was found inside our restaurant. That is unacceptable," and added that it contacted the Allegheny County Health Department and brought in professional pest-control specialists for a full inspection of the building.
The Taphouse's Response
In a social media post, the taphouse said staff had "reinforcing all possible entry points, increasing monitoring, and tightening our sanitation and nightly procedures," and pointed to nearby construction as a factor that has raised rodent activity. The post also stressed that this context "does not excuse what happened." It closed with a promise that "We will earn trust back through action — not words," as reported by WTAE.
Patrons And Neighbors Push Back Online
The video ricocheted across local message boards and social platforms, with patrons sharing the clip, recounting their own sightings and, in some cases, saying they filed complaints with the health department. A lively Reddit thread captured much of the reaction. The Urban Tap already had a health-department history on the books: a 2023 consumer alert at its Shadyside location flagged dead rodents and adulterated food, according to CBS News Pittsburgh.
Health Inspections And What To Expect
The Allegheny County Health Department posts consumer alerts and can order closures when inspections uncover high-risk violations, with notices and inspection reports available on the county's food-safety site. The Urban Tap says it completed a full inspection with ACHD and is working to seal entry points and increase monitoring. Customers who want to keep tabs on the situation can check Allegheny County and the taphouse's official channels at The Urban Tap.
For now, the South Side location remains open, and the taphouse says it welcomes questions from the public as it rolls out changes. We will update this story if Allegheny County posts new inspection results or if the taphouse releases additional details.
