Penguin Pizza, or affectionately “The Penguin,” is a go-to for students no matter the dining occasion. Whether they’re grabbing shareables, pregaming a night out, enjoying a late-night bite or attending themed trivia events, Penguin Pizza has something for everyone. Located on Huntington Avenue, the cozy and casual joint has brought community to Mission Hill for over 20 years.

The shop is known for its gourmet thin-crust pizza and full bar but features other pub-style appetizers and entrées. Popular specials include 50-cent wing nights on Mondays, $2 tacos on Tuesdays, trivia nights on Wednesdays and $5 lunch specials throughout the week. 

Gabriel Bernardes-Louis, a fourth-year computer science student at Wentworth Institute of Technology, considers him and his friends regulars at Penguin Pizza. 

“[The] environment is really nice here. And, you know, their events — they host the weekly trivia and stuff like that. It’s great,” he said.

“My brother went [to Penguin Pizza] before I came to school. So I’ve been coming here since long before I came to college,” said Kaleigh West, a fourth-year computer engineering student at Wentworth. 

Pamela Carthy, the owner of Penguin Pizza, emphasized the restaurant’s deals. 

“Where else are you going to get wings for 50 cents each? In Boston, it’s unheard of,” she said. 

Carthy moved to the United States from Ireland in 2002 and started working at the restaurant in 2004 as a server. She worked her way from serving to becoming the owner in 2020. She’s spent  most of her time in the U.S. working at Penguin Pizza, which she calls her home away from home. 

“It [has] a very welcoming feel, which is what I wanted to have to begin with,” Carthy said. “I came to this country when I knew nobody, and I found this place. I feel like I need to pass it on.”

Whether it is food, drinks or events, Carthy has observed a community within it all. Because of the themed events and specials, each night draws in a different crowd. Sororities, fraternities and clubs often host hangouts and happenings in both the indoor and outdoor spaces at Penguin Pizza.

“This is kind of like [students’] meeting point. It’s like, ‘Let’s go to the Penguin,’” Carthy said.

Much of the staff, like many of the customers, are students themselves, but there’s a few long-term residents in the mix, too. 

“[I have staff] who were students at Northeastern, graduated and they still work here. That kind of tells a story by itself that they love it here,” Carthy said. 

With several medical centers like the Boston Children’s Hospital and Brigham Women’s Hospital nearby, many customers also tend to be healthcare workers coming off shifts. 

“You have a person at the end of the bar about to pull life support from his father or his mother,” Carthy said. “And then, in the middle, you have a doctor and neurosurgeon who’s coming off a 36-hour shift. And then right beside him, you have a college kid with ten dollars saying, ‘What can I get?’” 

Carthy emphasized that she wants to continue to cater to all customers by providing a welcoming environment she has always aimed to foster. 

“Come on in,” Carthy said.“I’m not going anywhere.”