Shakespeare Pub & Grille
Categories: Pubs, British [Edit]
Neighborhood: Mission Hills3701 India St
(between Andrews St & Washington St)
San Diego, CA 92103 (619) 299-0230
Sunday August 3rd from 7pm-9pm. Join host Robbie…
Announced 10 days ago
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m.
Fri 11:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m.
Sat 7:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m.
Sun 8:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street, Private Lot
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Dinner
- Music: Juke Box
- Best Nights: Thu, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: Outdoor Area/Patio Only
- Coat Check: No
92 Reviews for Shakespeare Pub & Grille
One of Shakespeare Pub & Grille's Favorite Reviews
I love this pub. It's the closest place I can get a Guinness with a proper pour. And you can't beat sitting on the patio with a book and a pint. Or with friends, of course.
I love to get their fish taco "appetizer". The fish piece is GIGANTIC and they give you two tortillas stacked, so I cut the fish in half and divvy everything up between the tortillas. 2 for 1!
This is one of my favorite spots in the summer. Love love! In fact, I should go this weekend... it's been too long.
Food is good especially the Fish and Chips.
I don't understand why some people think their Trivia night is worth going there for.
I bought the hype here at Yelp and went there for Trivia night on the last Sunday of the month. They just give you a piece of paper and read the questions. After 30+ questions, you exchange papers with another team and you check the answers.
There was no excitement in the game at all so I would definitely not be back for trivia. I wished they put more effort in.
This is one of the places I go to for my trivia fix. Every last Sunday of the month at 7pm, but you need to be there by 5ish or you're not getting a table. It's that popular.
The service here is decent, though it can run a bit slow at times, which is no surprise considering how popular this place is. Parking can be a mess sometimes, too.
The menu has some great English items like sheperd's pie, bangers & mash, and fish & chips. The fish & chips are the best in SD. I dare you to find better! I believe they've got vegetarian sheperd's pie, as well.
Needless to say, they've got Guinness, Newcastle, Harp's & Bass on tap. Their Snake Bite is a great drink to sip on their open patio as you watch the sun go down over the harbor. They've also got a few single malt whiskeys.
All in all, though, this is a good spot for a pint or some English pub grub. I'm kinda surprised I don't come here more often.
Every time I come here, I ask myself, "why don't I come around more often?"
I usually only come here for big soccer games, as it's far-and-away THE best place in all of San Diego to watch some European football. In fact, the place opens up at 6:00 a.m. almost every morning just to show the English Premier League to soccer enthusiasts living in 'Dego. I'm not that big of a soccer buff, but I definitely jump on the bandwagon for the Euro or World Cup tournaments...which makes me a poser, but whateves. However, anytime of year, I realized that I love pretty much everything about Shakespeare's Pub.
Accents-Yes! I love a good English accent, and almost all of the employees are from across the pond. They could just read the phone book to me, and I'd be completely enthralled.
Sizzzzurup-Uh huh. They have all of the great English beers and whiskeys you'd expect from a European pub living in Southern California.
Food-Yeah, for bar food, it's pretty stellar. I recommend the curry. Curry at a bar? Uh huh. The veggie curry is really good. AND...they put french fries (or, CHIPS, as they say in England) in the curry. Sounds a little gross, but you have to try it. It's pretty good!
Annnnnd, they do quiz night every last Sunday of the month. Even though my team got our asses handed to us, we had so much fun! It's a must for trivia buffs.
Did you know that Phil Collins played "Buster Edwards" in the movie "Buster?" Well, you would have....if you were at trivia night :)
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I actually used to go to this pub a lot when I started visiting SD. In fact, I went here many times before I had gone to the Princess Pub. Actually, while I love the Princess, I can say that I have liked my experiences at this place.
The food has always been pretty good (Fish N' Chips, Scotch Egg, Sausage Roll, Shep's Pie) except for the fish tacos (marginal at best). Beer and spirits are aplenty and the waitstaff have always been pleasant to me.
The big bonus is the outdoor deck for seating. I used to love have a pint or two watching the planes land and take off from Lindbergh Field. Though I probably won't be back here due to my loyalties to the Princess Pub, I certainly wouldn't discourage anyone from stopping here. I am not a big fan of quiz nights but I hear the one here is pretty good (though when I have been there for quiz night I try and sit outside as much as possible).
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My home away from home!!
I haven't lived in the UK for almost 3 years, and I miss the old english pubs, the pub grub, and other cockney accents!!!
The staff are really great, almost all english too which makes it more authentic.
The pub grub is grrreat...especially the fish and chips.....something that us Brits love!!!
If you go you have to drink Snake Bite and Black......its was my favorite drink back at Uni and won't drink anything else when I go to Shakespeares.
They play all the football games there, and obviously this is when all the Brits come together and take over the place....love it!!!!!!
Whenever I'm feeling homesick I go to Shakespeares and I instantly feel better.....and buzzed!!!
I'm always down to go there......
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When it comes to pub food, it's usually not fine dining, but that doesn't mean it can't be good. Shakespeare's Pub and Grille on India Street can be a great place to meet, have lunch or just hang out and watch some international soccer.
The corner pub has generous seating both inside and on elevated deck areas outside the building above the street. We usually prefer to sit outside, especially in May and June when the lavender-colored Jacaranda trees that surround the restaurant on the street sides are in bloom. The friendly and casual restaurant offers many traditional British-style pub dishes including the classic fish and chips. For our lunch, we opted for the fish and chips and weren't disappointed. The light tempura-battered fish was great and the "chips" or fries were fresh and good. Green peas were a nice companion too along with the traditional malt vinegar condiment for the chips and a great tartar sauce for the fish.
The pub offers a great selection of beers and ale from the UK and are always served ice cold from the indoor bar area. The pub seems to have a lot of UK expatriate regulars or fans that pop in and the pub offers televised international soccer games on a regular basis. Service is good overall but can be a bit spotty when they are really busy. Menu prices are a bit higher on the weekends, but the portions seem to be larger too. In all, the current owners have done a great job in revitalizing the restaurant and pub by hosting the international soccer games on a large television and their addition of a great little shop nearby where customers can shop for various teas, candy and many other things British. Don't miss the red telephone booth out back too.
The restaurant also offers a traditional afternoon tea which we look forward to trying one day as well as some of the other traditional items on the menu. Explore and enjoy the comfortable Shakespeare's Pub and Grille...you might even leave with a British accent!
Shakespeare's Pub and Grille
3701 India St.
San Diego, CA 92103
Tel. (619) 299-0230
Free parking in behind the pub in a small lot is best for compact British cars.
Metered parking available on street and other limited free parking on nearby streets.
Wheelchair access from parking area behind the restaurant.
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A great PUB! The sunday roast is to die for! Watch out for days when football is on (soccer)... It gets super crowded. The best shepherd's pie in town. Also the fish 'n ships are top notch. Parking is a drag, get there early or HIKE! Open seating, walk in and take a chair... Oddly enough, it's very kid friendly!
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A great vibe when you walk into the place. If you have ever spent any time in London like I have, you'll love it. It's a great place to go if you are a soccer fan, no matter what country it's in, there's a game on. It's once of the only places too where I can get a snake bite (half lager, half cider) without them looking at you like you're an idiot. I guess they do that to me anywhere I go though.
The good is pretty good too. One of the few places that serves bangers (sausages with mashed potatoes inside), and they're pretty good.
My favorite thing about the Pub is that it is an appropriate place no matter the time of day. During the day the deck is a great spot, and at night it really picks up for whether you want a meal or just a drink it's a great spot.
Check it out. Especially if you can make it out for quiz month. It happens once a month or so.
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This is a good place for a casual meeting with friends or casual date, great for watching sports because they have big screens. The beer is generally good but I don't like the food at all, they don't have very many vegetarian choices and the fries are way too greasy and gross. Still, if you're not going to eat, then it's still cool.
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Being a cockney (having geographical and linguistic associations within a certain area of the fair City Of London) me & me brother visit this place quite frequently.
Here's my take on it.
THE FOOD:
VERY British, fish & chips scotch eggs sausage rolls curry's & bangers & mash are all the dogs bollocks!
The chips are without a doubt the best I've tasted since I was at Harry Ramsden's back in England, so to the thick tart that thinks they are greasy, stick with the oven baked out of the bag.
THE BOOZE:
Great choice of premium drafts Boddington's Newcastle Brown Ale Stella Artios to mention a few, pretty good array of Scotch & top shelf liquer which seems reasonably priced.
THE SERVICE:
Spot on, most the staff are English, it's casual & polite
These girls are the real deal with real character, not your homogenised dolly dimple androids "beef or chicken thank you by by. thank you by by" If you're looking for "Hi my name is Mitsy & I'll be you waitress" try TGI Fridays or Applebees
THE PLACE:
Feels like a pub looks like a pub. Maybe it's the wood & the smell of ale & vinegar as you walk in. Whatever it is they've got it right.
I am giving it 5 stars because it is what it says it is..... nothing more & definitely nothing less.
OK...so I love Shakes for sentimental value more than anything else...although the Stella Artois (wifebeater/mandellla or what ever you want to call it) seems to taste better here than anywhere else in the city.
The place is wonderful in the sense that you can see anyone here...your eighth grade teacher, jenny rottencrotch who gave you the clap in college, pastor bill who baptized you...i mean anyone can step into this place and it should not be a surprise.
Good food, too... the last time I came here (two nights ago) I had chips and gravy (reminds me of my childhood in Toronto Can) and the Shepherds Pie. Fuckin' 'ell delicious...how often do you say that about English food (blood pudding people??).
But the reason to go to Shakes is the ambiance and the brew!
Four out of five -- with one missing star because they close kind of early, and you have to leave before two am and because these fuckers charge a cover for soccer matches that are available for free.
Blimey!
Even though they are currently the Champs of Europe...To all you Man U fans...I'd rather be dead, then Red! Forza Juve...
***UPDATE***
Yo, the monthly trivia quiz is the bombass!
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I like Shakespeare's a lot and, truth be told, it's better than the Princess Pub, just a couple miles away down the same street. But the Princess is closer to where I work, and I'm lazy, so I get drunker faster if I stop at the Princess instead of driving 5 minutes more to get to Shakespeare's.
The food is decent and the outdoor deck is great for sunny days. I even enjoyed the pickled hardboiled egg I had, although the smell of it made me gag at first.
And if you drink three snakebites, especially, on an empty stomach, you sir (or madam) are down for the count.
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Mmmmm....Yorkshire Pudding. I *heart* Shakespeares. Always a good football game on tv, good service, good food, plenty of outdoor seating. We held our election night party there for No on Prop 85 and it was perfect. They put the election results on one of the TVs for us and it was a great place for that type of thing 'cause it suited everyone -- people could bring their kids, they could eat, they could drink so everyone was happy.
Bonus points for being pretty kid-friendly. It's nice to know that once you have kids you don't have to be excluded from Happy Hour for the rest of your life. Fish & chips are pretty darn good, shepherds pie is yummy (if not authentic)...and plenty of Branston Pickle to go around.
Parking sucks.
After a VERY non-rewarding experience here on Memorial Day, I really have to rethink the management's idea of using 3rd string servers and back waiters on a holiday. Yes, it was slow, but the staff was inept as hell.
The air head blond who took our drink order, toddled off and reappeared after 10 minutes, dropped the beers and then started to walk away, even though we'd indicated that some pre-dinner munchies would be ordered. What a moron!
Next we were treated to a "virgin" back waiter who dropped the food, sans napkins or condiments, and returned to filling salt shakers. This kid had the personality of a freaking rock! It did mesh well with the blond server's mentality though.
Thankfully, a more veteran server picked up the slack left by her co-workers and "adopted" our table. From there on out, all order was restored. I felt sorry for our new server, she had her own section and also took on extra tables so the customers wouldn't suffer from lack of BASIC restaurant service.
On the up side, the food was, as usual outstanding! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, with the possible exception of their fish taco at $4.50!! Yes, ONE taco at $4.50. Best head to Rubio's for that little treat. The low, 2 star rating is completely due to the initial POOR service given when we arrived.
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As Brit bars in SD go, this one's pretty spot on. The interior is my favorite part (ironic, as it's about 75% patio). Service is friendly, even when the bar's packed. Their pub grub is consistently good as well.
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I almost don't want to tell you about Trivia Night because then it will be even harder for me to find a table. They're not kidding when they say you have to be there two hours early.
I only wish Trivia were every week instead of once a month... there is something strangely satisfying about getting your ass beat by some old Trivial Pursuit geniuses. Seriously. It's really difficult.
Excellent, authentic greasy pub grub, great beer selection (STELLLLAAAAAAAAAAA), and nice views of the city/airport parking lots if you get a table outside. Note: you can still hear the trivia from the patio tables - woohoo!
and the Corner Shop sells Digestives! Blimey!
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Brought a date here at night and was so focused on her that I really didn't notice much of the interior of the pub. We headed straight for the balcony/patio area, grabbed a table in the corner, and started talking. Even after sunset, sitting on the balcony with the heaters and various city lights on the horizon was nice.
Our waitress was great. She brought us beer and left us alone, until we needed more beer. Both of us found the half-pint glasses amusing and practical... as it is much easier to squeeze in half a pint at the end of the night than a full pint!
And in case you care, the (first) date went great and we ended up having a lot of fun (rather than trying to impress with a trendy restaurant and stifling atmosphere).
Definitely want to go back and check out the interior decor and food.
We very much enjoy the occasional trip to Shakespeare's. Perhaps once every four to six weeks. Being a Brit, it is the closest thing to the real deal.
It is the best place to watch some good old fashioned English football (although sadly England didn't qualify for Euro 2008). As well as all the various beers & ciders on tap there is a great selection of UK food.
Menu highlights include Fish n Chips (cooked in Guinness batter & by far the best in San Diego), Sunday roast, Ploughmans Lunch & other bar snacks (including everything from Scotch Eggs to Sausage Rolls).
We have yet to attend the Trivia night...but hopefully one day!
I just love a good pub. I mean, I don't think there's anything better than a good Pint and some old fashioned - stick to your ribs - fare.
Recommend the the Scotch Egg (it's a hard boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat which is then breaded and baked - some places use the deep fryer). DEEEEE----LISHHHHHH----EEEOUSSSS!!!! Sausage Rolls that speak for themselves and by god some of the best Shepherd's Pie I've ever eaten!!!
You won't be disappointed. Oh, the beer choices are wonderful - and I'm sure if I liked Scotch I'd be in heaven - but I don't - oh well, can't win them all.
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Oh please, this place is to British food what Pearl Harbor is to Japan.
Huge tastless portions, with very low quality beer. Poor.
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Yummy for yo' tummy...except, HOLD the peas...not for me.
A nice ale compliments any dish. :-)
This bar changed my life, in a good way.
Because of the Shakespeare Pub I ended up moving to Seattle, knowing no one but the person hiring me, for job with a company I knew very little about. Now the company is big and well known and I know lots of people and love my job and Seattle. I never would have thought that sipping beer on the patio of Shakespeare Pub that one fine sunny May day would have changed my life so much but it did and I'm grateful for it. So any time I get a chance I like to stop in for a pint and just say thanks for helping me be the person I am today.
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Shakespeare Pub has a great atmosphere and vibe. I had the vegetarian Shepard's pie last time I went which was delicious and this is the only place I know of that makes it. The services is usually pretty good. This place does get packed every time I go there you have to scope out people leaving so you can get their table. The parking is terrible. The lot is so tiny and once your in and no spots lefts its a nightmare to try to back out of so I don't even bother going in the lot. I drive in circle around the place looking for a spot. Once your in and get a table its all worth it!!
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It is so hard to find a good pub that serves quality cider on tap, but this place does. I love the fish and chips too!!! What is so great about this place though is the other people in the bar. My girlfriends and I go there to enjoy a night of drinks and fun without being harassed or hit on every five seconds. This is not really a place to go to meet men, but certainly and warm welcoming place to hang out with friends watch soccer and have a relaxing time.
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When I first started branching out from my college days of drinking Shakespeare's was it for me. It had my favorite beer on tap (Fuller's ESB at the time, still a classic lass), and it served good food.
While it's not my favorite hangout in SD anymore, it's still a great place to go to watch a football match (soccer game), enjoy some beer, or grab some good grub. They have a pretty good selection of English beers, a few ciders for the ladies, and some pretty decent pub food. The staff is fairly British, but I think they'll hire anyone as long as they sound like they're not from the States.
I really like their fish and chips and shepherds pie, and trivia night (both nights I went) kept the place the packed. If you want someone with a British accent, this is your place. Parking blows, so generally expect to huff it to your car. But if you want a real Brit experience (or hear the words "bloody," "wanker," or "piss" used in ways you wouldn't expect), you should definitely come in for a drink (or four).
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The Shakespeare is the closest place I've found in California to a genuine British pub. (And, as another Yelper commented, if you're a fellow Brit and know anywhere better, please let me know!) The decor is very reminiscent of home, if you ignore all the windows; it's not quite as cozy (read: dark and dingy) as real thing I'm so lovingly familiar with in England (I miss the hideous carpets and curtains), but it's on the right track. Plus, I'm not sure that sort of environment would appeal to most American patrons anyway, so perhaps it's for the best from a business standpoint. Most of the staff are Brits and that definitely adds to the atmosphere.
The aesthetics aside, they host a good selections of drinks and pub grub. The food is pretty pricey, but worth it for an occasional craving. Definitely some of the best fish & chips I've had since I moved to the States, too, and I've been searching for a decent offering for almost ten years. Thumbs up from this Brit!
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This is like the other 80 people who have reviewed this Mission Hills/Midtown pub. I love Shakespeare's, it's where I feel like me. I am part of the crazy crew that shows up at 4am on a Saturday morning just to watch Manchester United play on TV. I have not met a single employee there that isn't awesome. There is great beers on tap, two of my faves are Smithwicks and Boddingtons. If you are looking for a place with good pub food, possibly the best in town, some good beer and alcohol choices and want to catch a rugby or soccer match, this is the place to be. If you are a Liverpool fan, go somewhere else. Just kidding, we like to have people to laugh and make fun of during the matches.
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Shakespeare's Pub is a San Diego Classic!
Cute outdoor Bier Garden type atmosphere-- in the summer, this place is literally PACKED on the weekends. A lovely place to eat your fish and chips--and enjoy the CA weather!
Love the Bar area here-- very festive at certain times.
A great number of Brits hang out in here-- I love their accents-- and the waitresses here seem to be absolutely Adorable-- and offer very good service!
Here are a few things that I nabbed off their website...
Home-Cooked Fayre
All of our food is prepared from scratch by our international chef, Ruben Hernandez and his wife Evelia, who prepare such complexities from Chips & Gravy to Shepherd's Pie, gammon steak, chicken pot pie, steak and kidney pie, ploughman's plate, and of course, the famous fish and chips.
Menu
Traditional Sunday Roast A meal fit for a King. Succulent prime roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, roast and mashed potatoes, garden fresh vegetables and topped with our delicious homemade gravy.(Served Sundays only)
Fish and Chips
A generous fillet of Cod surrounded in tempura batter served with mounds of 'real' chips & peas. A true British favourite, and just like you'd get down the local Chip shop.
Shepherds's Pie
We start by using marinated lean ground beef and vegetables then top it off with a roof of mashed potatoes and bubbling grilled cheese. Served with chips and peas. Comfort food at it's finest. Also available for vegetarians, served with or without cheese.
Steak and Mushroom Pie
Cubed steak and sliced mushrooms cooked in a hearty red wine sauce, topped off with a golden puff pastry. Served with chips, peas, and gravy, "Lovely!"
Steak and Kidney Pie
Cubed USDA steak and sliced kidney simmered in a hearty red wine sauce, topped off with a golden puff pastry. Served with chips, peas, and gravy.
Ploughman's Plate
A generous portion of hand selected cheeses (including Stilton), Chicken & Port pate, two slices of Scotch egg, oven baked bread roll, pickled onions, and a traditional relish we call Branston pickle. Wash it all down with a nice pint, "Bliss".
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Very Cool Place!
I had their Fish and Chips Lunch about 2 days ago.
Ordered the Peas and Mashed Potatoes with Gravy-- rather than the French Fries.
Good Food!
Great Atmosphere!
Got to try this place!
If you are on a Budget-- Get there before 4pm for their Lunch Specials.
Looked on the menu-- and you can save roughly half of what you will spend in the evening.
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dig futbol? im talking manchester u and the english premiere league?
want a pint of guiness draght or a snake bite with probably THE largest portion of fish and chips (and hard peas) in san diego? or maybe some yorkshire pudding as you chase it with ice cold beer on the patio overlooking downtown and the san diego bay under the glorious san diego sun?
kick it here then - its the real deal.
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Mmmmm, right when you walk in, the smell of Malt Vinegar and wood fills the senses...
This is a comfort food place for me.. and you know its authentic and good when the bartenders and servers are British.
The decor is truly that of an English Pub... with ales and soccer games and trivia nights...
And like England, where Indian food is popular, Sundays they feature their curry dish which lives up to any authentic Indian restaurant.. but if spice is not your thing then go for their chicken wings or Scottish Eggs, Bangers & Mash, or Shepherd's Pie... and who could miss, the fish and chips.. chips as in.. fries served with Malt Vinegar.. true to form. They have ham steaks and for the vegetarians.. Boca burgers or house salads...
Weekend nights are so busy.. and parking is limited.. but while you're waiting for a spot you can shop at the English Shoppe located just adjacent to the restaurant.
The outdoor seating boasts views of the airport and freeway.. but with the San Diego sunsets, its a nice place to be nonetheless...
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lovely outdoor deck, serious beer, excellent pub grub and live soccer games!
what else do you really need?
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As a former Mission Hills/Bankers Hill resident, I definitely found myself at Shakespeare's quite frequently. The place definitely has charm. The outdoor patio rocks and the bar patrons are usually pretty darn chill.
My only gripe about this place is that the food is inconsistent. Yeah the fish and chips are good, but I haven't had anything else on the menu that lived up to my expectations. Sometimes this isn't too big of a deal if my main priority is beer, and I have no qualms about their beer selection.
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I love Shakespeare's. Great food, especially like the English breakfast since it has a little bit of everything. Great selection of brews. The patio seating is the best. Great place to watch your futbol games. They also have a great little shop too.
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"O God, that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains! That we should, with joy, pleasance, revel, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts!" ~William Shakespeare, Othello
...oh and how many times i have transformed myself into a beast at the Shakespeare, whether pounding beers on random weeknight for no particular reason, or pounding beers while watching one of their frequently hosted soccer matches (which is a given. These matches are not limited to the English Premiership, but pretty much any soccer match that is televised...whenever possible), or pounding beers on a weekend night as a precursor to going somewhere else, or pounding beers in the morning to rid myself of my hangover over fish and chips, or pounding beers during their relished Quiz nights, or, well, just pounding beers in general. I am Norm and the Shakespeare is most certainly my Cheers. Here are a few reasons why:
Location - Centrally located in Bankers Hill, the Shakespeare is stumbling distance to a few other bars, notably the Starlite bar and Aero Club to the Southeast, and Bar Dynamite to the Northwest. On a larger scale, it is also no more than a fifteen minute cab ride to all the prime locations of San Diego's unique nightlife. It stands opposite Lindbergh Field and is within arm's reach of the 5 freeway.
Food - Shakespeare's menu is not only restricted to British fare, although it consists mainly of it, but other random items as well. Being that British cuisine isn't the tastiest, I've only tried a number of items, like their fish and chips (obviously) which is decent. Their burgers are aight, but not suited to match the price (I typically order the cheeseburger with blue cheese, onions and mushrooms, which comes to about $9 and change). Surprisingly, their spinach salad is my favorite.
Beer - Mmmm, beer. Their catalogue consists of mainly ales, lagers, and stouts from the UK (well no shit, right?) with a few exceptions. I always go for one of my personal favorites - Boddingtons (which I lovingly call "the marshmallow of beer"). Another one of my favorites is what they call the "Poor Man's Black Velvet" - one part apple cider, one part Guinness. A pint will generally cost you anywhere between $5-$8. As for hard booze, prices also typically fall within the market range.
Ambiance - Albeit i've never been to England and hence, neither to a genuine British pub, nonetheless I could attest that the Shakespeare at least looks and feels pretty damn British. From Guinness advertisements from decades ago to English Premier League football banners, the pub boasts a number of mementoes and trinkets that make it distinctively what it is. The majority of the staff (front of the house, at least) are genuine bona fide Britons.
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What can I say? It was my local when I lived in SD until the end of 2003. I was usually in there afternoons after leaving work at North Island, and it was on the way home, kinda.
I would walk in and receive a pint of Newkie Brown without asking. I'm hearing it's impossible to find Newcastle Draft in the UK anymore, but they have it here in all it's Northern, brain atrophying glory. I would sometime indulge in a Guinness or Fuller's, but I'm a big fan of the Brown Ale. They even have Boddington's, the bloody awful brew from my home town of Manchester. It's there for thems that wants.
Food wise: best fish and chips in town and where else can you get a plate of bangers and mash like mum used to make? The biggest surprize was the excellent cheeseburger. I'd had the entire menu before I tried it, and was plainly amazed.
On the few Saturday mornings that I'd managed to drag myself down for a United match, I'd have the full English breakfast, which is an artery clogging delight of real bacon, eggs, fried bread and baked beans. Don't have this too often as I don't think they have a defibrilator.
The corner shop is a great place to buy hard to find Brit foods and gifts and I did quite a bit of Christmas shopping for the rest of my expat family in here. They even used to stock canned Dead Parrott.
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I have been a fan of Shakespeare's for quite some time. Great beers, nice location, and a chill spot. It's annoying to find parking, and quiz nights are a night mare as there is NOWHERE to sit, but hey, you gotta take the good with the bad.
I've been here for everything from after work get togethers, to deep heart to hears, to sunday morning soccer watching to just craving a fish and chips (and guinness!). A cute spot with a bit of British charm. Nice work, Shakespeare.
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LOVE LOVE LOVE the quiz (last sunday of every month.)
service is on the slow side, and a little forgetful. granted, it's always busy, so i'm more forgiving than to take it out of anyone's tip. they are always gracious, although unapologetic.
a little too expensive, and the quality of certain foods leaves something to be desired (i do not like the chicken pot-pie, and there's one other thing, but i forget what it is... something with a sausage in puff pastry that is bland and meager.) anything on the dessert menu is a plus. favorite: chips with or without curry sauce.
drinks: cider & black; it's like a big curvy glass of melted jell-o (not as bad as that sounds- it's cider + a shot of blackberry currant.) smithwicks, pronounced without the W.
overall, i will go there as much as i can for the quiz (make sure you get there early, or no table for you), but being a regular is not on my agenda.
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I guess the places that we frequent the most are the ones that we write about the least. Maybe?
I have lived in the neighborhood for about six years and have found that when I am giving directions to people I just need to tell them I live by Shakespeare's. Everyone and I mean everyone knows about this place.
I go here on a frequent basis and can say I truly love the place. I know all the servers by now, and what to order, and where to sit. It is a gem.
For those of you who might be unsure I say give it a chance. Yes, parking is a monster. Be patient, it is worth it. Yes, it can be crowded at times, but another good sign of being a great place.
You must try the fish & chips, as well as the potato leek soup. Yum, good eats. My personal favorite is the veggie burger with grilled onions and blue cheese. I know that is sounds a bit funky but one of the waitresse