The Shakespeare

Great place for a business lunch, or futbol game. Professional, friendly staff-

Very disappointed. I was not notified that the restaurant was closed for private party. We were put at a table next to bar and pretty much forgotten about since it was happy hour and the bar was busy. We were only offered bar menu which would have been fine but the food was not good. I ordered fish and chips. The 1 small piece of fish I received was so greasy I couldn’t eat it. I paid $25 for French fries. Salmon burger was undercooked. We did enjoy the scotch egg and hamburger.

If you are looking for some yummy apps and delicious cocktails in an English style gastropub you should definitely lunch at The Shakespeare. I had the liver mousse and foie gras parfait. I’m still thinking about it.

I am still fantasizing about the grilled scallops over mashed potatoes. Wow! Cozy, intimate and great food, one of my favorite spots in NY Midtown.

Lovely restaurant fairly close to theater district. Quiet, warm ambiance, friendly staff, nice "English Pub" feel. We were very pleased with our dinners - steak cooked perfectly and that evening's special: Shepherds Pie was a delight! Truly delicious!

A lovely, romantic setting. Food was excellent, and their house drinks are lovely. Service was a little sluggish, but completely cordial. The only reason the noise level was high was that one table was being loud. Otherwise, a perfect date spot!

Always a great time at the Shakespeare! Cozy, comfortable and best of all terrific food.

Husband is British and he approved. Definitely plan on going again.

Great service with a professional but casual feel. Enjoyed the unique drink selections before our meal - a fancier fish and chips - both were perfect for a pre-holiday meal.

The entree special of the day was Elk which I ordered and thought it was different and good. It came with a chocolate wine sauce which was complementary to the Elk. The decor was different and very pleasing.

A unique place with good food. We will add it to our list of places to eat when we visit NYC.

Very good food and service. Just a bit disappointed that the roast advertised on the website wasn’t available. However the meal we did have was delicious although the custard served with dessert was minimalistic!

We have visited here several times. It is one of our neighborhood go-to spots.
First of all, we enjoy the ambience. The dining room is small and has soft surroundings, making normal level conversation possible. It is eclectic in design, but attractively done. Quite cozy.
The menu is not large, but offers something for most people’s preferences. The prix fixe is a good deal. Overall the prices are moderate enough.
The preparations are well done. Ingredients are fresh and preparations are fairly traditional, but not stodgy, and professionally done. The chef is more than competent.
Service is very friendly, attentive, and efficient. There is never a sense of being rushed. We were offered all the time we needed to peruse the menus, linger over drinks, and then order. Everyone’s entrees arrived together, a must do in my book.
We were able to relax after eating and visit with out of town friends for a leisurely time. The check was offered when we were done but there was no rush. The dining room was emptying out so it felt as if we were visiting with friends in our living room.
We have finally find a place with a neighborhood feel, welcoming, with good cuisine, and a outgoing staff. That is why we keep coming back.

Their on line menu talk about their roast beef. When we arrived we were told that they weren't serving it any more, it is still on their on line menu.

Nice atmosphere
Good food
Nice choice for vegans

Thanksgiving meal. Beautiful boutique place with great service.

We had an excellent Thanksgiving lunch with all the fixings. The plate had a mixture of old favorites and staples with a twist. Everything was delicious.

The Shakespeare in The William Hotel on E 39th Street has 2 sections - a pub and a restaurant. They have 2 different menus, but it seems you can get something from the other menu if you know to ask for it. I had the Vegan "Shepherd's" Pie because I'm not fond of lamb, which is in their traditional Shepherd's Pie, and it was okay, but I think I would have preferred a Cottage Pie (with beef) which they don't have. However, I have had other dishes there that I loved. The Scottish Egg is very good and filling for an appetizer. And the Sticky Toffee Pudding was excellent. The only thing missing was the custard. (They served it with vanilla ice cream.) I will definitely go back to try some of their other dishes. It is a bit pricey, but a very good upscale restaurant.

Outstanding as always! A regular favorite that consistently delivers. New manager Amanda is delightful, very attentive and took great care of us. Looking forward to my next visit.

This was my second time here with a group of friends, and it did not disappoint!
I made the reservation 5 days ahead of time and there were no issues when we arrived; we were promptly seated.
Our server, Nathan, was a gem and I would easily go back just to hear him describe the specials again; his descriptions were so colorful they made our mouths water. On top of that, he was knowledgeable about every cocktail we asked about and he even had a funny story when we asked him about the Shakespeare Death Mask hanging above our table.
Two of my friends had the duck; one the lamb, and I had the steak. We shared with each other and everything was cooked to perfection. The menus rotate as the restaurant uses seasonal ingredients, so I'll be sure to visit again to sample the newest offering.
We took our time to finish dinner and have dessert; while we went a little late, no one from the staff seemed upset or tired to rush us out.
If you want to take your friends to a location that's off the beaten path, this will be well worth your trip.
Aside from the dinner, we asked Nathan to take a group photo; he recommended that we step into the neighboring room so that we could use the fireplace as a backdrop.
Just an example of the quality service you will receive.

We ate upstairs where it was quieter. The food was great. Our Irish waitress was wonderful. Great meal all around.

This is more about the attitude of the place than food or service per se, but I feel the need to write it ... a few weeks back I had my reservation for 6ppl canceled by the restaurant last minute (due to an issue in 1 room & needing to accommodate a private party - which was booked after my reservation), putting me in a bind to find a decent spot for dinner - long story short they said if I come again they’ll make it up to me (gift card was mentioned but nothing concrete) ... fast fwd to last Friday ... I called to confirm that Jeff/Geoff the manager remembered me & was told “yes - and he’ll ‘take care of you’”

Turns out we have much different ideas as to what that means ... after ordering a decent amount of food - Jeff comes over with an appetizer on the house ... we’d already doubled up on apps, but this is a good start, I thought.

That was it. Nothing else.

I might seem deluded/ungrateful cos technically they didn’t owe me anything - even tho they created a lot of hassle by canceling my original reservation, but he should’ve told me to go f myself rather than this. This was like tipping your super $5 for the year. Despite ordering plenty of food & drink, a club soda was even charged full (in most NYC bars/restaurants if you’re ordering plenty then a club soda from the soda gun isn’t charged).

The food wasn’t even as good as I’d remembered from my previous visit.

Not that Shakespeare care, but plenty of other places to dine out for better prices, better food & better attitude from the management. To be, or not to be ... NOT to be!

Great find lovely food
Nice surroundings
Very pleasant staff

Good service didn't help a lousy meal. The fish and chips were mediocre: doughy, lukewarm french fries, fish tasted musty, tartar sauce was just weird. Upstairs room is nice but don't go for a meal.

The food was ok.

Great atmosphere. Great menu and service. Love the place.

Excellent service. We arrived fir early dinner and were seated immediately. The service was very good

The ambience of the restaurant was quiet and cozy. It had great food, yummy desert! Will definitely return and recommend to my friends and family.

I’ve been to The Shakespeare several times because it is always a trusted option - the service is outstanding and the food/cocktail never disappoints. The inside dining room has a cozy, refined feel and the garden in the back is perfect for dining in the warmer months. Highly recommend.

What a great find! Cozy and comfortable, with very personal service and an interesting yet simple menu, just a few blocks from Grand Central Station. I can’t wait to go back.

Great place to catch up and eat a great meal. Happy hour was a great deal as well.

Superb little gem with amazing food. Try the sticky date pudding. (Though you might have to order another $2 scoop of ice cream as it doesn’t last the whole dessert - they sure won’t give it to you for free!). Cute little patio at the back that makes you feel like you’re on a rooftop but you’re actually just 1 floor above street level.

I remember when this space was the ground floor of the Williams Club. I love what they’ve done with the place.

We like this restaurant. The food is consistently very good. The ambiance is more than comfortable. Unfortunately, we experienced both service problems and kitchen problems on our last visit which is why the overall rating is Fair. We've come to expect more from the Shakespeare Upstairs (formerly The Peacock). I'm assuming these problems will not continue. The manager did apologize and sent us dessert on the house.

We were celebrating a very special win

My first visit though I will be back. Reasonable price fixed menu, two or three course. Indoor or outdoor seating plus several interesting “lounges” for cocktails and conversation. Warm and welcoming staff!

Terrific food and great atmosphere. We had amazing cocktails at the Raines Law room. Dinner was delicious, elegant and not at all fussy. We will definitely go back!

Love coming here, never disappoints! Food always spot on and the atmosphere is lovely.

Nicely decorated inside. Good service from the staff who was helpful and friendly.

Went for an impromptu business lunch. Food was very good and service as well