Playwright Celtic Pub Reviews

4.0

615 of 13,358 Restaurants in New York City


Reviews

Dinner in the City

By Patty S |

Great evening meal, generous portions, wonderful flavors. My spouse had the Pre-fix meal, that included salad, maincourse, and dessert. He had grilled scallops over Basmati rice and sauted green beans. I had the Flank steak, over mashed potatoes and sauted green beans. The flank steak was excellent lightly marinated in Dijon mustard. Generous portion of mashed potatoes and the sauted and grilled green beans were amazing. The bread was good and the Creme Brulee for dessert was delicious. I definitely recommend the food.

Worth a visit.

By AttySwFl |

Food and service were excellent. Corned beef sandwich with crisp fries and chicken pot pie were both very good. Cold Guinness beer followed up by delicious cheesecake.

Excellent Before or After a Play

By M943CSwilliamh |

We were staying at a nearby hotel and in the city for plays. We found this restaurant very convenient and with a wide variety of dishes. All that we tried were prepared well.

Great place to visit

By GinaLancashire |

Visited twice last week, once for food. Great atmosphere and friendly staff. Food was excellent, massive portions. I wasn't sure if I would like the soup, so they brought me a sample (it was delicious) and they were happy for to take our time before we ordered dessert. Would definitely recommend.

Very poor ripoff bar

By Ralph C |

Nice bar 4 of us went in for a drinks, didn’t want food, a staff member made a big fuss and said they had no tables, As we were about to leave the manager arrived and got us a table, the manager was very nice indeed, I then went to the Bar to get my drinks. I got a cocktail that cost 18 dollars which was fine and 3 bottles of light beer and a hot Whiskey total cost was 66 dollars, plus I gave the bartender a 5 dollar tip so in all 77 dollars all in. We then ordered another drink 5 bottles of light beer and that cost 66 dollars also. I found the bartender to be rude, we will never drink there again. We were ripped off for sure I have informed my friends and family about this place. They live in Manhattan and won’t be going there any time soon. Regards From the Dubs the Bartender was a Mayo man

Cool roof terrace

By BienZh |

A large, high (3 floors) pub with a small roof terrace. This attracted us and invited us to stay. A good selection of beers with typical food. It suited us.

a quick pint on a open air rooftop bar, 3 or 4 floors high

By dgraham76 |

came here on the way home and managed to get a street view table, watching the world go by and there seemed a few bars/restaurants in the vicinity had a reasonable price pint of blue moon on the other side Whilst facing the street on the right hand side,there was a lovely lit building at night yeah it was nice and open and no roof so good whilst the weathers warm and dry, not sure what it be like otherwise

Best Celtic Pub in the World!

By Emma D |

Went in here one cold night and the staff were beyond awesome! Went back on Christmas and again before we left NYC!! Shout out to Giorgi, Doorman Richard and Joe from Queens!!!!

Location and Guinness only reason to go

By Fronda J |

With Restaurant Row a block away - and all of New York an Uber ride away, the only reason to go is if you want a quick Guinness before Hamilton.(The Richard Rodgers theater is around the corner) A Celtic pub should be able to ace Irish stew. They left out a key ingredient- taste. Skip the food. Grab a Guinness. The staff is efficient and friendly. Expect to climb a flight of marble stairs pre- or post- theater or in bad weather when the small first floor bar and a few tables are jammed.

Perfect Steak & Yummy Cocktails

By Katherine Z |

My husband and I stopped in here for lunch and I was happily AMAZED at the steak. Seriously - that the is reason for the rating. It was perfectly cooked (rare, as requested) and could be cut with a fork and a butter knife (which is what I was given to eat it with). My husband said his fish and chips were tasty, the french fries were perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, the cocktail menu is fairly long, and the service was super-friendly. (The restroom was clean, too.)

Lipstick Smudge a Specialty

By GazF211118 |

Bought a beer and a glass of wine here $18. The wine came in a glass plastered in lipstick and my wife asked the guy to change the glass and he had to actually look for a clean glass! She brought her fresh glass of wine back to the table and guess what? Another lipstick smudge on it! Due to this we didn’t eat here, also very pricey.

The top of the irish

By Road664087 |

Good location Friendly staff Good selection food and drink Clean great standards Football available Great atmosphere

Bartender Araceli is a beauty. Met the chef and he was happy about our comments about his food. Excellent!

By Carlo |

Fantastic food, Chicken Pot pie and Shepherds pie was delicious, perfect location if you’re in the Broadway district..

Nice roof top early dinner

By Victoria L |

Sat in the roof top bar area. Food was good. Service was good. Drinks were good. Had drink special for $10. Food came quickly. Had a nice time on the roof top bar.

Good to catch a breather

By adamia140 |

This bar is at the centre of everything great service excellent food just get a stool at the bar and people watch while enjoying your drink and great bar food. Enjoy

Loudres the waitress

By civ9t2 |

Before taking in a show, we passed by the Celtic Pub and asked the owner if this place remains open late. He said kitchen closes at midnight and pub at 4am So after our show, we made our way back and were offered a table inside but we asked if we could sit outside with other customers and we were shown a lovely table for 2 by the manager. Shortly after we were seated at 10:50pm, Loudres came to take the order and made it a point to tell us that the kitchen would be shortly closing so we ordered the food and drinks. The drinks came and before we could even take the first sip, Loudres told us that we have to move inside because she was going to close the outside dining area to which we refused. She insisted that she needs to start stacking the furniture after a 14 hour shift. Our response was to cancel our order. Lourdes said it was too late to cancel the order and that we would have to pay now before the food arrives. We refused and insisted that she gets the manager. Loudres then said that if we stayed outside we would have to eat the food very fast. At this point we flagged down Liam, her manager and explained what had just happened. He apologized several times for the poor behaviour of Loudres and allowed us to stay and enjoy our meal at our pace outside. Whilst still eating the patio lights were switched off and we finished our food in the dark. Pity the bill already included a Tip but Liam took it upon himself to get us a free round of drinks. Cheers to the Irish and a big thumbs down to Loudres.

Good food

By LancashireBarbie |

Lovely place to eat. Friendly staff. The food was excellent. We both had the beef stew with mashed potato. The stew was very good, lots of lean tender vegetables. The price was very good value, but beware they added 17.5% gratuity without consulting and only noticed when we had paid the bill

This is a proper bar.

By R S S |

Stayed in NY before a cruise for 4 nights. Visited this bar 6 times which tells you something and its not were alcoholics. Great atmosphere,pleasant staff and Rob the owner is an all round great guy always concerned his customers are happy. Had food twice and it was very good. Next time we are over from England we will be there.

Great to stop in

By ramblinggirl67 |

My mom and I stopped in here to pass some time before our flight out of NYC. We each had a drink and a snack. We really enjoyed our time! The pub has a cool vibe and was nicely decorated for the holidays. We were seated with a view of 8th Avenue which was fun. The service was great and we never felt rushed. We only wished we had chosen to eat a full meal here. We’d come back if we were in the area.

Great find!

By HCButcher |

Stopped here to get out of the rain and it was wonderful. Had Smithwicks (only a real Irish pub has it!) and the food was great. Definitely a pub atmosphere: football on tvs and volume on the loud side but we didn’t mind. The bread pudding was a 10!

Great staff, good food.

By Matt |

Stopped in with family. While busy the service at the restaurant was top notch. Staff was present without being overbearing or rushing us. Food was fresh and hot. Shepherds pie was great. Prices are competitive for the neighborhood. Will be back soon!

Friendly Pub with Good Atmosphere

By Nigel G |

Stopped by this bar yesterday for a snack. Great choice as an admirer of all things Irish. Nice Guinness on draft and had the Irish style curried French fries which were excellent. Bar man talkative and attentive. Bar gets extremely busy about 5.30 and seats and tables are at a premium. Difficult to get out with so many people there, but it was an enjoyable visit.

Bad tourist trap

By Lou0104 |

Disgusting. Wouldn’t let us see in because we had had a drink. But would allow plenty inside to have a drink and get plenty pissed. Ok pal.

Nice bar on 8th Ave

By StephenCross |

The Playwright Celtic Pub is close to the broadway area on 8th Avenue. Good music and friendly service. Music is good. Recommended.

Felt unwelcome

By StevenWigan |

Just visited this pub as we have previously done so. It has changed. And not for the better. We arrived intent on spending 4 or 5 hours here after a cruise from NYC. We obviously had large suitcases. We sat down at an empty table and were told to move to a tiny wait area by the door that has 2 tiny tables. It became very clear that that was our final destination as they wouldn't let us move. I bought a 10 dollar draft beer and we left to go to a much more welcoming place The Mean Fiddler which is a couple of blocks away. The Mean Fiddler can have our 100 dollars instead. We won't be back!

Nice bar…..lovely food

By A8115XMJulie |

Went once for pre show drinks and once for food both times staff were friendly, polite and helpful. You need to show Id and vaccination status Would recommend downloading NYC COVID SAFE App which is free and so much safer and easier than carrying Id and vaccination passport

ROOFTOP BAR - SO MUCH FUN!!!

By DIANE PATTERSON |

Just left the Imperial Theater. Saw "Ain't Too Proud"(right around the corner). Omigosh!!! There's nothing like Broadway. SUCH talent. Now, we're here in the Playwright Celtic Bar, at their rooftop bar, eating THE best wings on this planet. Having SO much fun in NYC!!!

Great pub atmosphere

By belinda m |

Quick friendly service by Kaitlin our server for drinks and food. Sat upstairs on the rooftop deck which was nice. The food was excellent and I highly recommend the mini meatball soup to start which was so delicious. All the main meals were great and the bar had a good atmosphere with music and TV's.

SHAME ON THEM!

By RS10028 |

SHAME, SHAME, SHAME! Claims to be handicap accessible and it is NOT. Even made a reservation the day before and said I needed a table to accommodate a wheelchair and they said okay. When I arrived I saw that the tables were all high tops. High tops are not wheelchair accessible. Duh. This was a pre-theatre dinner and left us with no alternative other than to order to go & eat on the street. The entire experience was heartbreaking. It's not easy to maneuver around Broadway in a wheelchair. I spent a long time looking for a restaurant that would be convenient to the theatre. I was taking my father out for his birthday; I had promised I would make it easy for him. I hope this review will warn anyone else looking for a wheelchair accessible restaurant for pre-theatre ..... DO NOT GO HERE! (I will report them)

Nice food

By jonnyboy1973 |

We popped in here for food on a recent New York visit. Staff were friendly and helpful. However it was difficult to get clear allergen information from them on the menu. The food came quickly and was good. Burgers were cooked as ordered and portion sizes were as expected. Prices were reasonable for NYC.

Tourist not welcome

By exacta123 |

We stopped in here for a few drinks. There were only a few people inside. We sat at a table away from others (socially distanced). The manager came and said there wasn't anyplace we could sit in there.

So so

By Ferguson009 |

Good location on 8th, expensive and disappointing turkey BLT and fries. The turkey looked like and tasted like it came out of a packet. Good size portion -would be enough for 2 people. Bar staff not that friendly.

Pre-show meal; they got us in-and-out quickly

By AZJOHN1 |

The main thing you want in a theater district is a restaurant that can get you out on time for the show. The staff hustled us in and I think we had food down in front of us in less than 10 minutes. So great job! The cole slaw had shredded cheese... I liked that. The quiche had obviously been microwaved. Its crust was very soggy. Nothing really special about the flavors in the food. Nothing bad, either.

Quick drink !

By bumpy74 |

Went in for a drink , the most miserable bar staff ever , noticed she rolled her eyes to the guy at the front when I ordered a wine and a beer without any fuss - let it go - some older ladies came in and wanted to try the white wines - then they eye rolling really got going ! All the time we were in there which wasn’t long thankfully there was a dirty cloth by the drinks which she couldn’t be bothered to move !

CALLED IN FOR A LATE DRINK, GREAT NIGHT!!

By SINGITLOUDSO |

Was in NYC a few weeks ago. Not ready for bed, me and my brother in law called in for a ladt drink. Met Peter from Kerry and Johnny from Donegal and ended up staying a couple of hours and had a great night!! The bar is in a great location and the atmosphere was excellent. Beers on tap were great and the selection was first class. Peter was a great host. Thank you for a great evening and we will definitely be back in the next time we are in the city! GRMA!!

Good find

By Doug A |

Had a nearby steak place in mind for lunch but since it was still morning, it hadn't open. Walked to the first open restaurant we could find which was this Irish pub. We were seated immediately and served fairly quickly given how crowded it was at 11:00 AM (good sign). The food was excellent. I had chicken pot pie, my wife had a chicken sandwich. Our friend had nachos. We all agreed the food was excellent. Good portions and reasonable prices given that we were in New York city. The wait staff and the matre de were very friendly as well. I think we were fortunate to have found this place.

Good food

By Viviane Natacha... L |

This place doesn’t really serve Vegan food but with a bit of guidance they served us very good pasta.The food is good and it’s a cozy atmosphere.I would come back.Thank you

Best pub / restaurant in New York

By Paul Jones |

Best pub in New York. The best food and drinks the whole week we were in town. Staff nice food out of this world. Great prices as well.

Cool rooftop bar

By Lu C |

Met my cousins here before going to dinner in Times Square. Met up at the rooftop. It was cozy and the night was perfect to enjoy drinks up there.

Delicious Dinner

By Irina |

The Playwright Celtic Pub is located in the center of Theatre District in Manhattan, on the 8th Ave, close to Times Square. The building was originally built in the 1870s; since 2000 it is a lively pub and a popular sports bar. I stopped for dinner at the pub, that was recommended to me, and it turned out to be an excellent place for a nice dinner before going to see another Broadway show in a nearby theatre. I was amiably greeted by the hostess and seated at a cozy table on the 2nd floor of the pub. The main course of Beer Battered Fish & Chips I ordered, was served timely, and this meal was just as delicious as the properly cooked and presented fish & chips can be in a Celtic pub. The size of the meal was very generous, and Stella Artois was cool and marvelous, as always. The dining room of the pub is very warmly decorated with wood paneling, portraits of famous Irish playwrights, and Broadway memorabilia. The arched windows are beautiful, and they provide a view of the buzzy 8th Avenue. The whole ambiance in the pub was very friendly and welcoming, the service was attentive and courteous. I am glad, that not only The Playwright Celtic Pub was recommended to me, but I also carefully listened to the concierge of the hotel where I was staying, who said, "Their Fish & Chips are just excellent!". Yes, they are indeed. Thanks for such a great dinner, Playwright Celtic Pub, see you another time!

Nice rooftop bar and good brunch menu!

By Andy O |

Stopped around noon on a Saturday. We both had brunch items and some drinks on the rooftop seating area. It is quite a few steps to the top so be prepared for that if stairs are a challenge. The food was very good. I had a very tasty croissant egg sandwich. My wife had the omelette of the day. Beer list is nothing special. Service was very good.

Very good food and atmosphere, a little pricey

By Wayne B |

Went here after visiting the Rockafella Christmas Tree, which is a classic Irish pub, I had a chicken sandwich which was very good, and I also had 2 Heineken draft beers, The beer was very fresh and the food was excellent. When I received the check I found out each draft beer was $10, I thought that was pretty expensive. This is my second time visiting this place, I like this place and the service was 5 stars. My Bartender was Keith, he was awesome!

Rooftop in Covid times

By Skibumdude |

Visiting NYC when restaurants are permitted outdoor dining only leaves most evening drink options to be sitting under an umbrella next to a noisy avenue or street. The Playwrite offers the delightful option of a rooftop bar overlooking 8th Ave. we had drinks and chicken quesadillas in a delightful setting and beautiful view of surrounding skyscrapers!

Very Customer Friendly!!!

By Mike G |

Sunday afternoon and the clock was ticking; the NFL games had begun at 1:00 pm. and we were away from home and couldnt find the broadcast we needed. We had arranged with a local eatery to view our favorite team BUt when the time came, they said they couldnt find it. So, we began to walk from bar to bar. None really cared about our problem because both NY teams were playing that weeknd. Then we entered this place and the owner (I think) heard our request and said he would find the game for us, which he did. Special seats at the end of the bar. Nice burger and wings. Very friendly (and funny) barmaid. Saved the day.

Big Irish pub

By Ted B |

I can't believe I've never been here before. have eaten here a couple of times and pleasantly surprised as I normally try to avoid places like this in touristy areas. The place itself is very large. Three stories with a rooftop bar as well. have like the food a lot but wish they had a larger beer on tap menu. Have no complaints about the staff or clientele. We most recently ate here to watch the GGG-Canelo fight which they did show with no cover chage, so that's great. Really enjoyed the Celtic salad, flatbread pizza and fish and chips.

Lunch

By HopeS |

I’ve been here many times, mostly before theater. The food and drinks have been consistently good. Wait staff is very aware that the patrons are trying to get to a show.

Great atmosphere - quite pricey.

By NLK |

The outside of this place looked very appealing, so we called in en route back to our hotel. Th atmosphere was great, sport on the TV, some decent 90s/00s music playing and not too busy! The staff were friendly, however we found the drinks to be quite overpriced. My partner opted for a Guinness and it wasn't even a pint!

super food

By verm0nsters |

got the burgers and a few beers...really good will go back for sure the next time we head over to the city!!!

Watch out for the prices!

By Maurizio C |

Aside from the usual off-account fees, they charged me $2.85 for paying by card. But the thing that bothered me the most was the “Gratuity 1” item, equal to $11.88. I asked for explanations and in an arrogant tone I was told that it is a mandatory tip. Tipping is NEVER mandatory, by definition it is optional. Also pay attention to how much the products on the menu cost and how much they actually charge you…

Loved this place ! so much we stopped here twice

By TripTake1 |

They had great seating outside in front of place we sat at a hightop. We were served by a super friendly woman from Ireland. All the staff very nice. We got buckets of beer great value and the food was excellent. We got wings and chicken tenders and the portions were huge. Highly recommend. (and fast service!)

Good food and company

By Noel |

Excellent pub located close to Times Square, going food, good beer and most of all good company. Staff are fantastic, and very welcoming. Good served today and is a mix of traditional Irish dishes and US dishes. Highly recommended.

great food and friendly staff

By Emily R |

Popped in for a quick dinner as we were on our way to the theatre. The staff were very friendly and got our meal out quickly. food was hot and very tasty we all really enjoyed it. would have liked to stay longer but will do next time we are in new york

Tasty, fresh food

By Eilidh S |

Really delicious fresh salad . Different options, not just the standard lettuce, cucumber etc Would be better if it came with bread on the side as many other places offer this. Middle level in need of a bit of repair. Food on other’s tables around us also looked delicious

Disappointed

By Melty Critic |

We wanted to try an Irish/Celtic pub while staying in NY and after a recommendation we decided to visit the Playwright. First things first, you have to go up some stairs to access it and it's quite cute. The inside was interesting, though not as cosy as some photos make it out. The staff were not exactly the most friendly, with sullen faces and a generally bored attitude. That didn't bode well. We were also approached randomly by a woman with a camera wanting to take photos of us, which we found a little odd. What were they for? I couldn't tell you, we got no details as to why she wanted to take them. We were seated in the corner to the right. Just outside was the shamrock sign. Sadly, I was seated with a dangling wire right over my head, which was irritating a d somewhat hazardous all things considered. Our water was only topped up once, the drinks tasted very watered down and we felt left at our table with no real staff presence for a long while. I decided to order the shepherds pie. After all, it's an Irish/Celtic pub, what could be more simple? Apparently, it wasn't simple. When it arrived, it looked tasty, with a generous amount of potato piped on top which wasn't sloppy and toasted nicely under a grill. (Broiler) I was very impressed by how it looked, but in this case the old addage of 'looks can be deceiving' rang true. Under the beautiful potato was a mess of thrown together ingredients which have no place in a shepherd's pie! First of all, it's in the name. Shepherd's pie. As in sheep. Lamb. Not beef, which it turned out to be! (That's cottage pie!) Then, mixed in with the erroneous meat were things that boggled my mind. Sweetcorn, celery... Why? Peas, fine. Those are a traditional addition. But sweetcorn!? And the gravy was so watery it looked similar to muddy water. (Yes, it was also beef.) I was only able to eat the potato on top, which was the only edible thing, paid and promptly left. If you claim to be a Celtic pub, at least get the classics right. Especially at $24 a pop! It reminded me of that Kitchen Nightmares episode at the Grasshopper with the beef 'shepherds pie'. I would probably only recommend this place for alcoholic drinks, certainly not the food.

Mediocre

By Mdd |

Meal was just okay. Portions not great. We ordered two burgers. Location great as it’s in time square. Service was excellent. Served by waiter Joe from Bundoran. Excellent customer service. He is an asset to the place.

Just Popped In......

By TonyKirsty12 |

This little pub is an absolute Gem, never have we felt so welcome, we went in for a drink only but ended up eating there.... I had the Bangers and Mash with onion gravy, with every mouthful I was taken back home. Seriously this was the best I have ever tasted... move over Mum lol.. The wife had Stake sandwiche and fries again good food. We had several beers and left full, content and the owner or manager was cheerful as was all the staff. We also will be back on New Years Eve to toast 2020 in.

A pleasant watering hole

By David B |

This is a pleasant bar, much less noisy than others we have visited. It is just like New York bars I have seen on TV. I have no idea why they call it an Irish Pub. It sells Guinness but it also sells Carlsberg and Heineken.

SEEM TO MAKE THE PRICES UP

By karenCFC |

Visited here recently for drinks only. Ordered 2 pints not sure what the price was. Overheard man sitting next to us arguing with barmaid about his bill . It appears the price of drinks is different in the day than it is at night. Also bartender had added a tip to the guys bill . Had one drink and left. Paid $20 plus a small tip

Great Irish Pub great location

By Voyage29936495559 |

The Playwright Celtic Pub is a great find! The Shepherd’s Pie was unbelievably good and was a major hit! The burgers were also very well done and high quality. It was a relaxed atmosphere and no one hassled you to order or leave! Highly recommended!

Great theatre bar

By Jeff K |

Super spot In the middle of the theater district ;good comfortable bar for before or after a show. Didn’t sample the food here but the beverage seating on three floors is great including an awesome rooftop seating area.

A great watering hole

By Mark |

Stopped by after catching a really cool off Broadway play...drinks are creative and reasonably priced..

Horrible and Rude service

By Rebecca_Ru |

The male and female bartenders were both charging us different prices for the same drink. When we inquired about the price difference to the old female bartender she rudely replied those are the prices and flipped her middle finger at us. They both refused to explain why the prices were different everytime we made a purchase. We were hesitant to visit the pub but only entered because the guy at the front door were really funny and made us laugh while walking by so we decided to enter. He kept checking on us for entire night to ensure we were having a good time but thanks to the idiot bartenders we left. We didn't even bother to inform the nice guy what we experienced, we just walked out in total shock. Would never revisit and would not recommend. Those two bartenders needs training in customer service.

Avoid and find other eating establishments

By Anthony P |

Dined here last night, and found the serving staff extremely miserable and not very freindly. The prices was a little high, but not a problem if the food quality matched the prices paid. The starter came which was mozzarella sticks, which was $15 for 5, they was served on a very small amount of what i assume was supposed to be salad, although looked liked the left overs of someones else plate. They was extremely bland and tasteless, and looked and tasted very cheap. The servers whipped our plates away, mumbled a question not very clearly and disappaeared. The main courses arrived with 2 minutes. Main courses arrived, my wife had the Irish Chicken which was supposed to be flambeed chicken in Irish mist, and cream sauce and i had a chedar and bacon burger. The Irish Chicken was extremely tasteless, both chicken and sauce, and it has been no where near flambeed, as looked like steam chicken, came with mash potato and brussel sprouts again extremly tasteless. Now the burger, well as USA is supposed to be the home of the burger, i was extremely disappointed. The meat was completley tasteless with no seasoning or flavour whatsoever, the supposed chedar had no cheese taste at all. Both meals was not finished and the servers kept walking past our table and left our plates until they finally after around 30 mins the server asked if we was still working on the meal. We said we was done, and despite half of each plate being left no question as to whether everything alright. The bill came and that was around $103 for the food and a bottle of wine which was $39. Plus tax of around $9, then they added the 18% tip around $19 plus a card fee of circa 3% if paying by card. We paid in cash and left $120 which covered the food, tax and a extremely small tip. I would not recommend this place, and do not think the service or food was worth the calories so to speak let alone the money spent.

Food ok, service awesome

By Chris C |

Nice atmosphere but the food was just ok. The service was amazing though. Nelson and Jonathan were top notch!

Formerly Club 45

By Joe Sheldon |

Playwright Pub was the bar used in Midnight Cowboy where Ratso met Joe Buck. It was called Club 45 back in the late sixties.

The real Irish pub

By N4047JHirenes |

Unpretentious we entered this pub to escape the heat of the city Nachos were very decent and so were gyozas Value for money correct

Night Cap.

By Kelly M |

We went here for a night cap and the ambiance was lovely, especially with the Christmas spirit glowing. Thank you to the staff and the owners for a lovely time.

Nice Place, Poor Service

By Bridstow |

We called in the Playwright Celtic Pub for a drink having seen they had a roof terrace. There was an staircase that’s gradient resembled a sky slope. All the seats outside were taken so we sat at one of the high tables inside. The bar itself looked nice as did the restaurant and rooms on the other floors on the way up. Sadly the staff were no match for this. Service was slow, it took a ridiculous amount of time to get the check (for two drinks) and they had to come and ask us to confirm what we’d ordered.

Not crowded, good location

By milsteinrachel |

Went here for a bite after seeing a Broadway show and got seated right away! We sat outside and service was great- the waitress took care of us very promptly. Chicken Cesar salad was great and my sister had a Bavarian pretzel. My only complaint was that when my sister went in to use the bathroom, the man at the door tried to stop her since it was only for customers. Obviously he wasn’t paying attention to the outside seating, right in front of the restaurant! Otherwise, it was a non crowded option close to the hustle and bustle of Times Square.

Amazing Service, Great spot for the game

By Jenny0124 |

Great spot w Great Food!! Our waitress Masha made our night. Hubby was a little cranky and she pulled his chain perfect! Her food recommendations were spot on. I had the lobster ravioli special, delicious!

Irish pub

By westie23 |

We called in to the ground floor bar (there is a restaurant on the first floor). The bar is popular with locals and fairly basic with a good selection of beers. We shared a jerk chicken slider with french fries and it was very good. Great value eatery.

Great atmosphere

By matus v |

Great atmosphere made by amazing singer Kurt Decker with good food (recommend chicken wings) and drinks. We enjoyed a lot.

Great appetizer ribs

By Ramadama |

Stopped by after seeing a play to wait for the traffic to die down. We ordered the spare ribs appetizer that was available for Happy Hour for $12 and they were delicious. The Cosmo happy hour drink for $7 was not very good...so avoid it. The place was busy. I felt the decor was a little tired and it needed an uplift.

Great bar food, nice staff, good setting

By Georgie H |

Came on holiday and was hoping to find somewhere to watch the football - didn’t find the football on unfortunately but we found a warm welcome and some good food and wine instead. Buffalo wings and sliders were top notch and their fries were real nice - as was the red wine I had (pretty sure it was the Pinot Noir) Staff there were warm, attentive and friendly - made sure we had everything we needed and even gave us the address of somewhere they thought we might be able to catch the game, a lovely experience

Mediocrity

By Lina L |

Expensive pub/restaurant in Time Square, they take your card and add on tips. NOT OK!! The food okay but no more, the service was also like that.

Great bar!

By LH |

Head upstairs and have a drink from Matthew or Kevin. We loved this place so much we went 4 different times. There was live music on certain days at certain times. They have a great Holiday Drink Menu too. We even met the owner! Thanks for a great NYC experience at Playwright, Frankie! We’ll definitely be back!

About as close to Times Square as we like to go

By Dale W |

Sought this place out as we had previously been here 10 years ago, managed to get out the rain and headed upstairs to the 2nd floor for dinner, in the window with a great view of the bustle going on outside. The lady front of house was a bit standoffish when we first came in as we asked if we would be ok with our 10 year old daughter, she said we had to go to the 3rd floor which was bit bizarre as 2nd floor was empty and on checking the menu they have a kids menu so kids perfectly fine here. Our server on the 2nd floor was great - we had drinks, main courses and desserts all for around $170 which i though was very reasonable considering the food was very good. This was about as close to times square as we like to go and an easy walk from the 39th street ferry. Im sure we will return, the menu was excellent and they do a fixed price which although we didnt have was amazing value (not hungry enough for the huge pork chop!) was $35 3 course

Great service and fun

By Lisa Bowden |

Joey is the BEST bartender ever! It was St. Patrick's Day weekend and the place was so much fun. The service and atmosphere was great. We will definitely return when in NYC.

Certainly recommend - if in NY Times Square - you need to go here.

By Karen A |

Staff are so friendly, welcoming and helpful. Food is absolutely amazing. Service was perfect. We had our 1st meal here on 21/02/24 and was served by Debbie - whole evening was perfect, went back for a meal again on 23/02/24 - service from Debbie again - such a lovely lady - before flying back to UK.

Good for after theater cocktails

By divefan |

If you go up to the bar on the third floor (you have to walk up a lot of stairs), you'll get to the somewhat quieter upstairs bar. The Sound Print check was a loud 77 on two separate nights, but considering how loud NYC bars are, that's about as good as it gets, and we were able to have a conversation without shouting. The drinks were good. Expensive by hometown standards, but it's NYC. The guacamole was good, even to a Texan.

Always our last Stop

By phelpsi |

We always stop here before getting on the Hunt Valley/Gunther bus to return to Baltimore. Always have a nice glass of wine and the nachos were great today. Always enjoy our drink and snack before our 3 hour ride home on the bus.

Good? Kinda?

By Jimjim |

My girlfriend and I spent a week in NYC and went to way too many pubs. We did the Playwright on our last night and I hate to say, but it was pretty lacklustre. The bartender was not attentive and seemed more interested in not doing dishes than selling pints. Every time we had an empty glass, we would set it down so he could see it but he never asked if we wanted another. I always want another. So we had to ask every time which is clearly not the end of the world, but kind of annoying. My favourite time was when he walked by and I ordered another but I still had a bit of beer in my glass, he asked me to finish what I had so he didn’t have to use another glass. I told him I will bring my own next time. He was actually a pretty cool guy, just bothers me when people seem inconvenienced while doing there chosen profession. I ordered a turkey club and I was disappointed to see it had turkey lunch meat on it, not actual shaved turkey. Other than that, it was actually pretty good. My girlfriend had the steak sandwich and the meat was really tough. She does like it cooked medium well but the actual meat was tough and chewy. Wouldn’t recommend that one. Bar is kinda cool overall but we only sat on the main floor. Looks like there are other floors with other places to sit and we did not check them out. Main floor bathroom was a little sketch. I hate to give a negative review, but there are definitely better places in the area. I would not recommend avoiding this place, but again, there are better ones close by. Mean fiddler is a way better choice.

Great rooftop bar!

By Kathy K |

We stopped here for a drink on the way to the theater- it’s well situated very close to lots of theaters! Loved the view from the rooftop bar, and the wait staff was courteous and prompt and pleasant!

Good bar bites

By Mark W |

Good place for a bite away from the insanity of TS. Friendly service and good food. Chicken sandwich with roasted peppers and pesto made for a nice lunch. The person next to me had the entree fish and chips and looked great!!

Overpriced and not worth I

By Lesley M |

Popped in for a couple of drinks before going on a bus tour. The whole experience left a bad taste in our mouth. The server was very rude and she didn't engage at all. We weren't provided with a bill or receipt and were charged 64 USD for 4 spirits plus mixers. I accept that the premises is just off Times Square and maybe it was our fault for not checking the prices first but this was robbery. On querying the bill the server just rolled her eyes. I work in a bar back home and would be dismissed if l interacted with customers the way she did.

Cosy, relaxed bar.

By Kerry M |

Visited the Playwright twice with my husband. Firstly on a Saturday evening for a few drinks. Felt relaxed and welcoming, compared to another Irish bar around the corner that we had planned on visiting. Very please we ended up here instead. Bar staff very friendly. Came again for lunch on our final day in New York. Wish me had discovered it sooner. Reasonably priced, good, honest food. Would highly recommend.

Good spot for a drink or snacks before a show

By Thomas K |

We stopped for a drink and snacks before a matinee. Cool place and huge. We sat at the upstairs bar. Friendly bar tender and good food.

Noisy

By CarineH |

Super mega loud. Impossible to have a discussion between the music and the people who scream rather than chat (our table neighbors who gave the impression of being drunk were particularly noisy). So, very complicated to understand the (moderately friendly) bartender at the bar when English is not our mother tongue. The dishes (sandwiches and salad) were good and plentiful.

A Gem in the Theater District

By RoadTripper5 |

We had some time to kill before our show, so we went here. The place is huge with 3 floors. We walked up very steep stairs to the top floor and found a seat at the bar. Drinks and food are delicious. It's a popular place!

December 2024

By Annick |

The atmosphere was good , the service also overall . On the food side, since it is an Irish pub I went there with a sure value for fish and chips but in the end I was disappointed it was not up to my expectations , the person who accompanied me took the burger and he enjoyed it.

Go Rooftop

By Mike M |

The stairway is a bit intimidating but I highly recommend climbing those stairs and sitting outside. Nice selection of appetizers and drinks. We were killing time prior to a show. Friendly and attentive service. Reasonable prices.

Tasty and quick food

By Gemma |

We popped in here for a bite to eat after exploring the area & were pleasantly surprised with what we got. We all had sandwiches which were all tasty & fresh- large portion sizes as well. Staff were attentive and food was quick. Was a bit pricy for what we got but so is everything in New York. Very handy for being so close to Times Square.

Gave me a place to eat three nights in a row.

By Peter B |

My wife and I were in New York for three nights. I am a very fussy eater and despite a look at a large number of locations for food we ended up in this establishment three nights on the row. The food was excellent, the service was good and the prices for the food were modest by NY standards.

Beautiful and yummy

By Korrin J |

They have multiple rooms with different atmospheres on 4 levels. We climbed up to the roof, and were rewarded with this fabulous view.

Great rooftop option for drink near Times Sq/Hell's Kitchen!

By CoachK2525 |

Rooftop is very cool on nice night....Takes some effort to get there (lol)...Staff is top notch and will return asap!

Avarage

By feddyaroundtheglobe |

Perfect spot to grab food before or after a show. The pastrami was tasty but i wish the service had been as good as the pastrami.

Great place for a quick bite.

By Roxinorange |

This was the 2nd time Inhave been here. The burger was fantastic. The place a bit pricey, ecpected for location. Place is a great atmosphere. I would go again. Just be careful, they add the gratuity on the bill along with a credit card subcharge. Service was great at the beginning. Our drinks and food came quickly, but once that was complete, we were forgotten. Now I see why, they get there tip no matter what. This was my reason for 3 stars.

Expensive, poor customer service

By Pat M |

THE WORST! ARRIVED AT 4:30 7/20/24. Ordered appetizers, appetizers horrible. Chili so burning hot no one could eat it, dinners were tasteless ie Chicken Pot Pie, Shepherds pie, beef stew had 3 pieces of beef swimming in gravy, no bread served had to ask. They rushed us out by bringing the dinners with the appetizers, total 370.00 for horrible service, horrible tasteless food and sit staff that didn’t care , ENJOY, this is NOT THE “CELTIC HOUSE WERE ACCUSTOMED T. What the hell, and we live here, not tourists

Good food, good service

By Kimrayoil |

Group of 8 on this trip, climbed up 2 levels to eat on the 3rd floor of this classic pub. Waiter was friendly, joking and very attentative to our groups needs and wants. Brought us extra ice, us southerns like ice in our water and drinks. The food was good, the price was reasonalbe. The hamburger was cooked perfectly and so big I finally gave up trying to eat the whole thing, Liked the atmosphere.

Yuck!

By Annemariepinkpink |

If you are looking for an authentic Irish pub this is not it!! Everything is fried & in breadcrumbs ... it all tasted like frozen food from Iceland! I would not recommend. If you want an Irish bar head to anywhere else.

Overpriced

By Food_Bird_101 |

Wow, so so so overpriced. No pricing on menu and prices are BIG. Drink somewhere else unless you have real deep pockets!!!

Great bar in the heart of the city

By Raymond Abeltun |

I ended up here by chance to get some beers and some food. Selection of beers was good and the food was also good. Atmosphere was great imo and you get the feeling of being at a genuine pub despite being in a big city. Really enjoyed myself and would go back if i stayed in the area again.

They had a bad night im sure.

By Jstinger |

Got a water had a lemon seed in it, ugh then it went down from there, seating was on the second floor, prices were NY so that's not an issue but I was mad by the time I left, and that's not a thing I do.

Great place for pub food

By mark o |

We are always happy to visit Playwright as we wait for our bus out of the city. Great food and very friendly people. Happy hour is super, but suggest adding wine at a discount; why not?? we enjoyed the pastrami reuben and celtic burger this trip. thanks!

Incredibly rude staff in empty overpriced bar - avoid!

By Markydee |

Popped in here for a drink whilst staying in mid town. Staff really rude and unwelcoming. Waited at the bar to be served and was completely ignored for a good 5 minutes by 3 bar men despite them not being busy at all. When I eventually was acknowledged I flattened to order a pitchers and was told I couldn’t have one?! Despite the fact they are on the menu?! The barman then just walked off and started breaking down boxes at the other end of the bar?! No explanation as to why or what I could order so my wife an I just walked out. Incredibly rude and the bar was almost empty despite in being a Saturday night… I can see why if that’s how they treat paying customers. They clearly have something against English people. Avoid like the plague - plenty people of other better bars in the area that don’t treat customers like dirt!

Best Chicken Pot Pie!

By Theresa L |

My husband and I finally returned to NYC for the first time since the pandemic in 2020. We decided to return to the Playwright Celtic Pub and try something different for a late lunch. My husband had the chicken pot pie and I had the shepherd's pie. Both were served hot and they were delicious. My husband said it was full of chicken and the best pot pie he has had ever had. His only complaint was the pastry was a little thick and difficult to cut but he would still get it again. We will definitely return as we like to stay in the theatre district.

Poor price, quality and no atmosphere

By Gavin J |

Very quiet and honestly all we could hear was a female staff member complaining constantly about what seemed any subject. Food was below average hence it was quiet and I could not advise anyone to eat here when for less price there are far better places to eat in the area....avoid is my advice

Nice Irish Pub

By Mark |

Nice little Irish pub and friendly bartenders. I enjoyed stopping in for a pint of Guiness and a cider. Food looked decent but I did not try it. I would not come here for a familly meal. Not really and environment for families or children. But a good spot for couples or solo folks looking for a drinks or a casual meal in an Irish pub. I only wish they had more Irish beers like Smithwicks or Murphys, etc.

Parker says "Authentic vibe and menu"

By Parker Sturbridge |

Nice, casual, multi-level pub atmosphere on 8th Avenue. Great place for lunch, with a varied (and authentic) menu. Chicken sandwich and burgers were very good, as were the salads. Nice portions, good service and convenient to hotels and restaurants.

Good eatery ! good prices

By malcolm anderson |

Very good eating house, good quality food, good prices, good attentive friendly service, clean toilets

Family Gathering

By L2theC |

They accommodated our large family party well for a gathering. Had a set aside place for us to gather. Our server was excellent, super fun, accommodating, and funny! He added to the group laughs. One employee (the hostess?) gave us a hard time in moving some tables around that was a little off putting but the rest of the evening was lovely. With a group of 17 we were able to order from the menu. Extensive menu choices.

Don't think so

By gillianmcf |

Not very pleasant #19 dollars for 2 beers and the pint of bud light was as flat as a pancake, asked for a replacement and barmaid said they will all come out like that choose something different.....was here 6yrs ago and it was fab ok I will choose a different bar as well !!

Overpriced Cocktails with mandatory food purchase!

By Tom H |

Stopped for drinks, then was told we had to purchase food( (One item per person). All drinks were $13 each including a 2 ounce shot of Jager Meister. We spent $100 for four drinks and two appetizers. The food was not good at all.

Pre-show Meal

By reise3 |

Three levels & a rooftop area. Typical pub food, friendly service, & close to theaters. We had dinner here before a show. The hostess couldn’t find our reservation, but it wasn’t an issue. We were seated right away.

I wanted a steak

By Richarddelawn |

I wanted a steak So we walked down 8th Avenue We found the Playwright Celtic Set menu $30:00 I had soup steak My wife had the fish with rice Mine was fine My wife's rice was lumpy the fish wasn't nice When the bill came My steak was $33:00 plus $5:00 for the sauce Even though at the top it stated fixed menue $30:00 Then the killer was 15% gratitude The bill came to $99:10 I am still awaiting my 90 cents All is not what it seems Be aware Dickie :-(

Ideal for a quick pint

By Nick Creal |

Perfect place for a quick beer after long flight to NYC. Ideally located just across from our hotel, I made sure to grab a beer before going to bed on our first night in NYC. Wide variety of beer and a good atmosphere

Definitely a must visit and eat!!!

By Laurie Delk-Radecki |

Food was simply amazing! Service was great! Appeased is coming in w a baby n stroller lol clean and nice. Definitely would go again if we were staying!

Ok but quieter upstairs

By David A |

We went a couple of times after the theatre. The first time we were down stairs. There was a table of 4 diners behind us. They might have had hearing problems as they managed to shout through the whole of their meal. On the second visit we went to the upstairs bar that was much quieter. It was typical of this type of bar being ok but nothing special.

Underwhelming lunch, disappointing portions

By Brian J |

First, I visit NYC often and used to work in the city. I’ve walked past this restaurant many times, but never eaten there. So we gave it a try. I ordered a hot pastrami sandwich that was to have sauerkraut and their special mustard for lunch. It was very tasty, but there was barely enough meat to fill the inside of the sandwich. As for sauerkraut, there must be supply chain problems and shortages. I think I got about a dozen strands of kraut. Sandwich came with a very small portion of tasty fries, and one slice of tomato and lettuce, enough for half of the sandwich. My dining partner ordered the fish and chips, and was very pleased. There was 3 pieces of fish and a larger portion of fries. However, we won’t be coming back. There are better values around the Theatre District for dining.

Authentic

By BBBBTravel |

Felt like I was in London, Dublin, Edinburgh! Great service and food. But loved the atmosphere. Super to grab a bit before/after show.

nice roof top bar away from the hustle and bustle of NYC

By Sarsprdoc |

Popped in here for a bit of late lunch, a drink and to use the bathroom; made the climb to the 4th floor roof top bar up their steep stairs which was well worth it. Quick service; nice bar menu and drink selection-has both indoor and outdoor seating upstairs in case of rain or seating on lower floors but enjoyed the fresh air up top

Poor Service and Dangerous

By klingon911 |

Stopped by late evening for a nightcap. The bar was bust with lots of patrons enjoying the sports on TV. Found a space at the bar and was quickly approached by the possibly the most surly disinterested bartender in Manhattan. Attitude from the off. Ordered two bud lights and soon noticed how dirty and sticky the bar was; I don’t think it’s been wiped since 1979. As I finished my drink to my horror there was a large piece of glass that came with the last sip that I almost swallowed. It was thick but with razor sharp edges that were also very thin and crumbling in my hand. my glass was intact so it had come from a different glass. I prayed I hadn’t swallowed any glass and told the aforementioned grump who really couldn’t care less. He sarcastically asked if I was ok and I replied I was but I didn’t know how I would feel later. He again asked if I was feeling okay to which I repeated myself. He rolled his eyes and walked away. We walked away too and will absolutely never return. Dirty bar, rude arrogant staff who have no care or concern whatsoever for the safety of their patrons. Didn’t even acknowledge the tip.

Dinner venue

By sneezer2017 |

Dropped in for dinner. Reasonable prices and good sized meals. Staff friendly and plenty of sport to watch. Not so sure about the music choice for a Celtic bar but not the end of the world. Yep could come again.

Perfect start to my trip

By Mary B |

The rooftop was awesome, the food was quick and hot, service was efficient, and my cocktail was the cherry on top! I got the Cajun chicken wrap and the strawbellini. Would definitely come back!

Wouldn’t go back

By Sarah W |

I asked the waiter if there was anything vegan on the menu and he told me the veggie burger was. Turned out it had cheese in the patty itself - which, by the way, had no taste and was definitely not made in house. So don’t eat here if you have allergies or special diets because the staff clearly don’t know what’s in the food. My husband’s hamburger was ok.

Have the Messy burger!

By Tracey W |

Service was great - nachos, burger and turkey club were good … and the beer was cold! Great place after the theatre! Portion was sizeable - we’ll need to walk a bit! I’d come back!!

Good Location, Average Burger

By SuzyQu15 |

This restaurant is in the heart of the theatre district, which makes it an easy stop before or after a show. The cheeseburger and fries were good, but not spectacular. My friend had the Irish sausage, (bangers), and she seemed to like them, but I thought they were way too salty. Service was good and prices average for that area. The main dining room is up a long flight of stairs, and the rooftop bar up yet another. Atmosphere is pleasant, pub style.

Good service and quality food

By Chris C |

Visited for some dinner on our recent trip to New York and pleasantly surprised by the cosy atmosphere and good quality food on offer. Service was excellent and everyone gave a warm welcome!

Dinner at Celtic Pub Playwright New York

By Marco A |

Characteristic and central restaurant. A dip in Ireland directly from New York. Good food, good beers, good service. We loved it and came back twice.

Nice atmosphere, shame about the food

By stuart w |

We ate here as a group of 5, lively place with live music and a decent atmosphere. Food was confused and mildly disappointing. I chose shepherds pie, a dish made with lamb as in the description- shepherds pie. Here it is made with beef mince and sweetcorn so nothing about it is a shepherds pie. I would come back for the entertainment and atmosphere but give food a miss

Worst Guinness ever

By Tom Geraghty |

Dirty glass, awful Guinness. I can’t stress enough how bad it was. The pint was actually warm. It reminded me of the novelty beer soap you get at Christmas. If you like good Guinness avoid this place at all costs.

Hectic

By Anthony H |

We arrived here without a booking on a Saturday night after another restaurant refused to honour our booking. So we were glad to get a table because it was crazy outside. My wife had the steak, she said it was lovely. I had Beef Tacos (lukewarm) but tasty, I was too hungry to complain. Our companions had the Nachos, they were devoured, and the chicken tacos, they were too cold to eat, she didn't complain, but I have no doubt they would have fixed it if she did. The service was excellent.. But, the whole experience: it's not very Irish, we were in a room upstairs with bright lights and no music, it was a bit like a drafty school hall. Also, everyone was on top of each other, in Ireland you'd be shut down, but in the US the restrictions don't appear to be the same.

Yummy Drinks & Appetizers

By lamesan2014 |

We went here for drinks and appetizers before our play. Very cozy atmosphere and view from second story. We ordered the coconut margaritas, they were delicious. Also ordered chips and guacamole, very tasty. The potato skins were hearty. Would definitely recommend dining here.

Pub galore

By Becky |

Really cosy Irish pub with good background music and a great selection of drinks. Didn't feel overly touristy. Would recommend.

Rude server

By Debbie M |

Sorry to say myself and my husband came into this bar for food and drinks we were not told at the door there was a waiting list for food. We bought drinks after being ignored for 10 mins then went to find a table upstairs. We found an empty table just going to sit down and the rudest man came over shouted at us in a full seating area to get out that there’s a big waiting list and we couldn’t sit down. He kept repeating it shouting and when I asked him not to speak like that he just shouted louder . We went down stairs told a member of staff to be told he wasn’t the manager. That man needs to learn what customer service is. He has no manners and if his wages rely on tips I am surprised if he makes any money. I recommend you do not visit this bar unless you want to be met by the rudest waiter ever.

Crab cakes and salad was delish

By Lee D |

We stopped in after attending the Come from Away show nearby. I ordered the crab cakes and salad. Delicious.

Rooftop is the tops!!

By n y |

Went to the playwright after seeing a broadway play, it was literally a block away. We ate on the rooftop, had a really nice waitress who recommended the most amazing burger I ever had, they call it the MESSY BURGER!! It was amazing, quality meat with great toppings. Enjoy!!!

What a delightful surprise to find in Times Square

By Companion788044 |

My friend and I were killing time last Saturday between a matinee performance of "Moulin Rouge" and an evening performance of "Aint too Proud." We saw a sidewalk sign advertising an Irish rooftop bar on 8th Avenue between 45th and 46th Streets. The weather was beautiful, we were thirsty and we wanted a bite to eat So we climbed the three flights to the Rooftop Bar .... and we found everything we wanted. The service was great, the food was great, the ambience was great. It was communal seating, so we shared two hours with the most interesting, eclectic group of folks imaginable -- including two young men from New Zealand who had just been to Yankee Stadium and had no idea what they had just watched (a walk-off home run for the Yankees). I have a new go-to place in the Theatre District!!

Large Group Handled Well!

By Alibri67 |

They handled a large group ( 20 ish) very well. They curated a pared down menu specifically for us - steak, chicken or salmon with a choice of soup or salad and a dessert. This ensured all meals came out together. We had an open bar and drinks flowed! It made our time together very fun!

Boring and basic

By Aimee Kelly |

Very ‘meh’ thoughts about this place. Convenient location near theatres however I’ve never been in an Irish bar which had such a dead atmosphere! Menu is trying to be Irish / British by changing the names of American food. Waiters and service were quick however basic and nothing special. Chicken pot pie portion was small, so good job my husband ordered chips on the side. The Garlic and Parmesan chips were probably the best thing we ate here to be fair. I had the Chicken Parm, which the portion was huge for but the pasta was half cold. Was fine but wouldn’t go back.

Stopped For A Drink

By Kayla G |

I did not spend much time here for I only stopped in to get a drink and relax my feet from a long day of walking. I had a mixed drink and it tastes quite good. It was a little expensive but I expected that from a pub so close to Times Square.

Near Wicked, Quick, Food So-So

By Janet M |

We ate at the Playwright before seeing Wicked. The food was just so-so. The chicken pot pie is topped with puff pastry, which was burnt to the point of being inedible. The filling was just okay. The Shepard’s Pie was the best dished tried and it was good, but nothing special. I had the soup of the day which was a mushroom bisque which was very salty. Our server was polite not again nothing special. Had a hard time keeping water glasses full. Our bill for 4 was $100 with only one drink and a soup, salad, and two entrees. Nothing really bad to say, but nothing great either.

Great drinks and ambience

By Natalie1204 |

We had a couple of drinks and they were all great. The bartender was fantastic And really knew his way around alcohol. Great ambience too.

A perfect after theatre stop.

By Christine R |

The upstairs pub is very charming with incredibly hospitable staff and great prices. The wine was so reasonable and their appies were very tasty and great value.

If you are fussy about beer avoid this place!

By Jo P |

The food is pretty good but both the beers I ordered tasted off. Not sure if there were suds left in the glass or the pipes are dirty but they are just bad. Even the lagunitas which I KNOW how it's supposed to taste is terrible. I like my beer and I have high standards. If you don't then you'll probably be happy enough.

Good Midtown Irish Pub

By arubaphil |

My wife and I wanted to get lunch before our matinee Broadway play this past Wednesday. We chose the Playwright Celtic Pub on 8th ave. We arrived at 1pm and informed the server that we had 2pm theatre tickets. She took our drink and food order. She came back immediately with our drinks and 10 minutes later with our food order. We chose a steak sandwich and a pastrami reuben. This was not just a quick meal. The steak was juicy, tender and cooked perfectly and the pastrami was lean, juicy and plentiful. Both came with fries. The Playwright has a full bar, many beers on tap, wine and cocktails. The atmosphere is cozy and warm and the staff friendly and professional. The Playwright is a great choice in the theatre district.

Lack of service

By James S |

Ate up on the roof top before a show. You need to climb three flights of steep stairs to get up to the top. Table was dirty and sticky, nobody wiped it off, even though I asked twice. Waitress were nonexistent. There was broken glass on the floor around my table. The crab cakes were just so-so. Service was horrible!

Minging

By Barra Ó |

Being irish, myself and my wife visited looking for a traditional irish bar, the decor is irish but that about it, staff were nice but food was awful, if your looking for a bit of back home, try somewhere else, also what looks like a million stairs to climb so stay sober or you might be off to A&E!

Irish Pub in Mid Manhattan

By Frank F |

During our annual visit to NYC we found this Irish Pub this year. It is cute and the food was good. Plus they have an upstairs patio for outside dining which was very nice. We liked this place so much we ate there twice during our trip.

Great food and close to theatre district, particularly Come from Away

By Mary Ann M |

very friendly, great food and close to our play, Come from Away and other Broadway shows. We had reservations at 5 pm but came early- we were lucky they could take us at 4 pm. Prices were typical for this area, .15 burgers and enters $20-25. They also had a ptix fixe menu for $30 that included a starter, entree and dessert. Our party enjoyed a a variety of entrees- Sheppard.s Pie, Red Snapper, chicken pot pie, fish and chips and other entrees. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meal. Mine came out piping hot with lots of meat. We had 9 people and they were able to put us all together ( probably helped we came at 4 pm. The pub had 3 levels, bar on 1 st floor, dining area on 2 nd and the 3 rd floor was a rooftop beer garden. We didn’t go up there but saw a lot of young people go up to the next level. The noise level was low so we could have good conversations. I would recommend reservations, they were full when we left at 5:30. I’d come back again. Do note that dining will probably be on the 2 Nd level.

Super!

By gandalf65 |

I was in New York for the first time in my life and I went to dinner 5 times. I tried Shepperd Pie, Buffalo Wings, Irish Stew, Messi Burger (2 times!!!!) and a lot of beers... All superlative! Staff attentive and courteous. When I return to the Big Apple I will definitely come back to visit them!!!

Accommodated Us Very Late

By flyspain |

We arrived at 10:50PM and we were informed that the kitchen closes in 10 mins. We apologized profusely and they ensured that it was okay as long as we got an order in. We ordered two burgers and a steak sandwich. The burgers were very good but the steak sandwich was as tough as leather. Prices are what you’d expect in NYC, close to Times Square. Entrees are $20-$40. An okay beer list. 4 stars for serving us 10 mins before kitchen closed. Thank you!

Nice atmosphere

By Kelsey Higgins |

This place had a nice atmosphere. It was quite busy, but we got a table upstairs. I had a grilled cheese, but I can't remember what it came with. (it might be fries) My dad and brother had bangers and mash. My mother had the chicken escalope. All were good.

Stay away, totally rude staff.

By Glen F |

I can understand the AI generated review for this pub. I can only assume the good reviews come from those that live here. As a visitor from UK it was frankly the worst customer service ever. Me and my wife ordered a drink each our first of the evening. It wasn’t busy. We were on the roof terrace. When we asked for another drink the waiter snatched the empty glasses from the table stormed back to the bar then came back and said no you have to pay and go. Absolutely no idea what was going on as his English was not the best. Went to the till and they had the cheek to add 20% tip for the 2 drinks. Still no full explanation of what was going on. So we just paid the 34 dollars for the larger and the espresso martini and left. Thankfully there are many nicer bars in New York with staff that understand what quality customer service is. My advice is if you are visiting from the UK give this place a miss. Spend your money elsewhere or put on an American accent and maybe you will be treated with respect. Still can’t believe I had to tip them.

Worth the chance

By Nancy M |

Wandering NY waiting for our show time, we discovered this gem of a stop. The food and presentation of food was divine. My husband had corned beef and cabbage. It was piled high on high, slices upon slices of lean corned beef. I had stuffed sole. It too was a delicious meal. It had scallops in the stuffing, a nice treat. They made me a yummy Sangria too. This is on the second floor, and then stairs a bit difficult, but well worth the trip!

Nice food and good atmosphere ☘️

By jomca |

We ate a lovely meal here and watched the half time Super Bowl party here. Yes it’s expensive but everywhere in New York is. We also had some drinks. Staff were very friendly and attentive, even when it got busy. No Irish staff tho which is strange I always love to visit an Irish bar in New York with Irish staff it makes it more authentic. ☘️ But all in all I would visit here again. Probably the best meal we ate while in New York! The messy burger was to die for! Thanks

Great food

By Wallasey_Chic |

Absolutely delicious food. Went as a family of 4. Each had different meals and all were so good. Staff were so friendly from the minute we walked in the door. Highly recommended. Great music and atmosphere 🎶

Delicious

By Wanderlustedgal |

We stopped here to eat while walking around Times Square and was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant is at least 4 stories high with rooftop dining (which we chose) only downfall was we had to walk stairs to the rooftop. The service was good. I ordered the Irish Stew and it was delicious. For family of 4 our bill was $82 so not too expensive but definitely more than we were used to. The building is old and offers an antique feel for sure. We love supporting local businesses. Would recommend.

Lots of stairs

By Deanne D |

We came for a few drinks before going out to a Broadway show. There was no seating at the bar on the ground floor so hD to climb multiple stairs to the third floor bar area. The bar staff were friendly. The drinks were served quickly. We also got cheesy fries to eat with the drinks. They came quickly as well.

Pre theatre perfect

By disgustorama |

Pre theatre dinner at this busy pub: four floors of which the top one hosts a rooftop dining area and a space for private parties on the third one. The staff is welcoming and friendly, the service is good and the food is good. We enjoyed the Celt salad with shrimp and Nachos with grilled chicken. There is a bar and many TVs for sports watching. Very nice!

Good food. A bit noisy

By Joe H |

Food was very good. Try the Guinness stew, you’ll enjoy every bite. Or the chicken pot pie, shareable if you’re not too hungry. Service is a little slow. Prices are fair given quality of the food.

Lovely bar, great service!

By James |

Came here for a drink or two before going to watch a show and enjoyed it so much, we ended up going back a few nights later. Really nice vibe, good price for drinks and really friendly bar staff. Thanks for having us!

Fifty steps

By whatcountryareyouin |

On a beautiful afternoon how nice to be able to have drinks and dinner on a rooftop bar right in the theatre district. By the time you climb to the top of the stairs, you'll be ready for a libation but not to worry. They have a Happy hour till 8pm with choice of two beers and cosmos. I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner, salad, red snapper with perfectly cooked baked potato and vegetables. The pistachio ice cream was delicious. Music was in the background. Friendly...attentive staff. Oh yes., be careful heading down the stairs. Especially if you have had more than a couple.

Friendly service

By Paul M |

Friendly bar Popped in out of the rain service was good my Guinness was cold and tasty, there's a rooftop garden. The restaurant was busy. Price's are on par with a London pub, in other words it's not cheap. Overall a good experience.

Very friendly service

By Helen711 |

My husband and I stopped in one afternoon because he wanted a beer and we needed to kill some time. I decided to try one of their $10, which was delicious! Our waitress was very friendly and we enjoyed our time there. There was room at the bar, but we opted to sit at a table.