Playwright Tavern & Restaurant Reviews

Selected this due to reviews and the variety of choices on the menu. Decently priced. Excellent drink options. We ate outside to watch people. Selected the kale salad. It was delicious and filling.

Always a good place to go after a show for a drink and dessert. The upstairs room is often quieter than the downstairs.

We were with a group of about 45 (35 were high school students) when we went. I was incredibly amazed at the speed with which they were able to take orders and get our food served! I had the fish and chips and it was delicious! We were really impressed.

Drinks downstairs and food upstairs. Fabulous atmosphere and great staff. Reasonable prices for New York.

Had brunch here a year ago and immediately became a fan of the place. Now we stop in every time we visit NYC.

Something must have gone wrong, our server was very apologetic but it took about 45 minutes to receive our breakfast. We were given some free drinks to make up for this. When it did come the food was very nice. Just have to point out the time delay in case it is a regular thing.

My wife and I wanted a nice small meal prior to going to a Broadway play. We picked the Playwright Tavern and Restaurant because it was near our hotel. The wait staff was polite and friendly. The ambience was very nice. But, the food was not good. I had the fish and chips. It was the worst fish and chips I have ever eaten. The breading had little to no flavor. The fish was “mushy. It also, had no taste. My wife eat the bangers and mash. Again, not much flavor. I wouldn’t return, for another meal.

We stumbled on this little place really cosy great service and lovely food we went back a second time great service again highly recommend this place

I spotted this place by chance while I was walking around a looking for somewhere nice to eat and...great! Till you go up the stairs you don’t realise how nice it is! It’s bigger of what it seems! The staff is reeeeally nice and friendly and the are really attentive to the customers’ needs and requests (they even care about what you really want and what you order instead!) The food was really really good!! Very high quality and even very Irish! Lamb shepherd’s pie, Chicken with pastry, mash potatoes....greeeeat!! The owner/man in charge of the place was “present” and very kind! Well done and I’ll be back for sure! Ps. It’s not even expensive!!!

Awful service and mis-sold! Tried to communicate with Ella who is supposedly the manager to arrange New year's eve tickets. Prior to arriving in New York, communication via email was abrupt and unhelpful. On arrival attended Playwright to purchase tickets in person and ask any unanswered questions. Ella was very rude and implied she has been ignoring my emails as I'm 'asking too many questions and wasting her time'. This is despite the ticket costs of an extortionate $700. On New year's eve the setup was very poorly managed. Suppose to be 3 hours of unlimited food and alcohol. Had 1 drink and 3 mini spring rolls. Due to the setup of food Infront of people across the bar and no space to move. Worse value for money ever experienced. Choose to sit outside on a takeaway bench instead and at 2240pm, which is only halfway through that unlimited food and drink tickrt, panic was instigated from staff and everyone was called outside to get in position for the ball drop. Despite the ticket stating this happens only 10 minutes prior to midnight.

After a long day of walking, we ended up eating here more out of desperation than anything. There was a musician playing so entertainment was good. However, the food was expensive and AWFUL!! It is frozen food warmed up and they charge way too much for poor quality. Family of four paid $115 for an appetizer and three meals of chicken fingers and chicken sandwich. Worst meal we had in NYC. And the bus boy, or water boy, was very rude.

We came in at 2200 not expecting much from either servicenor the kitchen due to the time, we were happily surprised. Our food came out relatively quickly and was very nice. We had a variety of food from a pie, to soup to stew and all of it was flavoursome. The service was great, they were happy to help with anything.

We ended up in this little tavern, its cozy and well decorated. The service was really good but it was overpriced. We asked for a Swedish Mule and a Guiness and the bill was $23.50. I guess we should have waited for their happy hour, which btw seems to have good specials.

Here’s a TIP If you’re going to ASK for a tip publicly…… Firstly, after eventually serving your customers a drink, it would be nice to be offered a second once they’d finished. Secondly, don’t give your customers food menus, then never return to take their order. Comical service.

Brilliant atmosphere, live singer outside in the street and plenty of good food and drink. Considering its proximity to Times Square didn’t feel like a tourist trap which was a welcome surprise.

We visited 2 of the Playwright restaurants whilst in New York and they were both great, lovely xmas décor , friendly staff who were efficient and really good food, steak was fabulous and cooked just right, staff brought water and filled glasses up as soon as it was needed without asking, very good all round

The food here was great, the drinks were cheap and really strong!! The staff were friendly and with all the memorabilia on the walls it was just like being in Ireland.

My wife and I had a great time having a couple of drinks and listening to Kurt Decker!! Absolutely amazing Sinatra singer!! We had the absolute best time. Thank you, Kurt!!

What can I say ,the only words I have to describe the food here is horrific.its basically cooked from frozen and landed onto a plate,pure and utter muck,.then there is a drunk lad off his head on brandy singing so loudly that you can't have a conversation..

Nice restaurant with good location. I can not remember anything special. Ravioli was nice, onion sup was not bad. In general the restaurant on the second floor was half empty. Better have a beer or two.

My husband and I went there last night for dinner before seeing a show . It took our waiter a while to take our order and after that we never saw him again. We had to ask the busboy for mustard and ketchup. No one ever refilled our drinks or asked if we needed anything. When it was time to leave we had to get the manager to get our bill. After all that that they never offered a discount or free dessert or ANYTHING except an “I’m sorry”. The food was good so I gave them 2 stars but it was the worst service we have ever received.

We happened upon this restaurant before seeing a matinee show. The staff were very engaging and attentive. We shared a croque monsieur sandwich and a watermelon and kale salad both of which were delicious. Great beer selection!

Husband and me visited 7/1 for first time for dinner before show at Radio City. A friend recommended to us. Place was crowded with a mix of tourists, show-goers and locals. We like to eat at the bar when dining in pub restaurants and lucky to find 2 seats immediately. Ordered French onion soup, Open Ruben (pastrami) and the Chicken pot pie. Wow, all were really delicious and not as overpriced as we would have expected. There’s something for everyone on the menu including a kid’s section. Place is loud and bustling, but this did not take away from our experience. That was the experience! Found it easy to strike up conversation with bar mates too. Bartender Joey was friendly and very attentive to us (and others) proving to be a great asset to the restaurant. Made me an excellent Mojito too! Our food came out pretty quickly. We assume that’s how they roll given the crowd. Need to get people out so they can make their shows. We never felt rushed though. Food came hot and the portions were generous. We’d definitely go back even if not going to a show. For us long islanders, that’s saying something!

This establishment offers the best cuisine in New York. Good honest food,well cooked and good value for money. Portions are exceptional size. The staff are superb nothing is too much bother and the landlady Majella o'shaughnessy is a very approachable and lovely lady. We cannot find a bad thing to say about this pub/restaurant truly a must on any visit to New York they also have event rooms for hire and live music in evening .

Kurt Decker is the man!!! Great atmosphere and great drink deals. Super kind staff and good food. Would definitely recommend

There is nothing good to be said about the meal. The first offering came with onion gravy instead of rosemary, as it claimed on the menu. The mashed potatoes were cold, and the asparagus was pale and wrinkled. The second offering came without gravy, and the lamb was was really dry and overdone.

The restaurant is located on the 2nd floor and the staff in the bar area below was kind enough to send us there for additional seating. We choose a table overlooking the streets below. They had a Happy Hour special that lasted until 9 pm so we had drinks and appetizers - nachos and mushrooms. Both were well good. (Wishing I had my own order of mushrooms) A waiter approached our table immediately and checked back with us regularly.

We were looking for a place for lunch and saw this pub.we ordered the chicken par sandwich and I ordered the coyttage pie.we were disappointed in the chicken and ate the sandwich without it.the cottage pie was piled high with creamed potatoes which were hot but the thin bottom of beef stew was a disappointment.service was slow and don't think it was worth the prices

A good choice of comfort and other food .. grat choice of drinks all served with a lovely Irish smilx

Great for drinks. Bartender friendly and service was great. Good looked great but we were just here for drinks.

Avoid this place like the plague. Food is bland service is rude and they add a gratuity before you've gotten your bill. They also try to take your credit card when you walk in the place. Guessing a lot of people have walked out based on their experience and haven't paid their check.

Kurt Decker was amazing!!!! His Frank Sinatra songs were awesome and of course got everyone singing. Great place to go for good food, drinks and music.

Went In for meal good atmosphere paid for the meal snd tipped the waiter met some other tourists bought them a drink went to settle the bill $200 + including the barstaff adding 5 extra cocktails and gratuities of $40 we'd had a good night so paid it went inside for a last drink with my wife then the big brave barman refused to serve me waving his hands around like a big hero ,so my wife went to get them same scenairo eventually he told us we hadn't tipped them !!!! silly old English tourist didn't realise I had to pay gratuities and tax and tips left to avoid a scene .sent an email to management still not heard back absolute disgrace .complete rip off !check your bill after every drink last visit to America for us disgusted

Great eats, quick & friendly service, fairly priced, highly recommend the mushroom ravioli & meatloaf

We stopped here for lunch and enjoyed it. The food was good and the service was terrific. I recommend it.

If you are a vegetarian do not try this place. They served Pasta Pisano with Porcini Mushrooms and when my wife complained that there was two pieces of Bacon in the meal the waiter insisted that Porcini is bacon and not a type of mushroom. Eventually admitted to lying as the Chef could not explain meat in a vegetarian dish. No apologies just a denial and the manager was gormless. Frankly a disaster! If you go there watch what you eat!

Spent New Years here and had a blast. The staff treated us great and the food was even better. Walked out 10 min before the ball dropped to watch one of the best views of Times Square New Years Thanks to staff and frank for giving us a memory of a lifetime

There are better and cheaper pubs. I did not find this to be authentic pub food. Limited menu, lots of fried food, and burgers were ordered medium and delivered well done.

We love eating here when we are in NYC.....always a great meal & great service.....highly recommended..

Friendly wait staff. Food is great! Prices are reasonable. This is a great little pub in the city. I would eat here again!

Such a great spot! The performer was great! So fun! We were all hungry and needed a place to sit that wasn’t outrageous. We all loved our food and will definitely come back on our next NY trip!

Went there with my brother for lunch the Thursday after Christmas and it was great. Great food and fast service. Very accommodating as well. Would recommend.

The service here is just amazing. You’ll feel like an old guest returning after a long hiatus even if it’s your first visit. The food is honest an great, and the atmosphere will make you reluctant to leave All in all, maybe the friendliest pub in New York!

Visited 2 of these pubs in New York. Both offered friendly service at reasonable prices and a welcome haven from the hectic pace out on the streets.

My friend and I visited New York for my birthday and we found this little gem near the theatre where we were seeing Chicago. I wanted to find a pub with a proper old feel, and long bar with stools, this was perfect. We loved it. We had a few drinks and food, it was lovely. The bar staff were friendly and we loved Frankie!..... x

Went here numerous times during my stay in New York. A very nice bar/restaurant. Great staff, in particular Joe, a real gem behind the bar, lovely guy and a mention to Johnny on the door during the day. A pleasure

The atmosphere is unlike any other. The lights under broadway something you can never get in another city. The live music is brilliant. An absolute treat!

Sit upstairs and enjoy the view. This place has great burgers and mimosas. Food and staff where very friendly.

Came here to try something close to our hotel. Though the atmosphere was vibrant and our initial impression was good, it went downhill quickly. Service was rushed and unfriendly. When our drinks arrived our server just plonked it on the table so quickly she sloshed wine all over the table. She actually didn't even stop at the table, she literally just put it down as she walked by. When the food arrived it was bland, and my chicken was dry. Drinks and food over priced for what was received. Although there was a note on the bottom of the menu stating "parties of 6 or more would have an 18% gratuity added automatically" it was also applied to our bill - for 2 of us. Having only being in the city two days we didn't realise we could dispute this. The service and food we received in no way warranted such gratuity. There are much better places in the area to dine.

Kurt is the most amazing singer ever! Must see in New York! The drinks are awesome as well and the service is awesome, but the entertainment is a must-see!!!

Great experience, really friendly staff with a great performance singer. Food was also great! Loved the seating area.

Server barely spoke english, didnt know what a virgin bloody mary was. Asked for a tomato juice then and he siad he didnt have any i just gave up after that. Food was above average everything was exra hot.

This was a multi visit venue during our stay in New York. As walk-ins we were not sure what we were getting into but venturing upstairs to the generous dining area we calmed ourselves and grabbed a table for 6 near the till. Business was brisk and New York passed by through the picture windows onto the street below making the city buzz more real. We all ordered burgers of one variety or another and we were all absolutely blown away by the quality and presentation. Fair play guys that food was excellent. Toilet accommodation is a little mean and queueing outside trying to look nonchalant was not easy with the Christmas tree and staircase down o the bar in close proximity. But would recommend all day long as a great spot for lunch for a hungry group of travellers.

Went here a couple of times on a recent trip to New York, first time was on a Sunday evening when there was live music on and I have to say I thought they were excellent. Typical New York Irish bar downstairs with a restaurant upstairs. Returned a couple of days later for dinner and the food was ok not exactly as authentically Irish as they would like to say,but in keeping with everywhere else we dined on this visit it is overpriced for what you get but as I say that was true over everywhere we dined with one lunch time exception.

Was attracted to the building and the greeter outside! Went into the tavern and it was super crowded so we went upstairs to eat and drink. I ordered a hot chocolate to warm up from the cold evening and my husband enjoyed the beer! The Christmas decor was impressive as were the friendly staff! My husband said his fish and chips were good. I can not say the same about my Rubin sandwich. It was probably the worst Rubin I have ever tried to eat. The meat was thick, hard to chew and pretty tasteless.

Diane & I stopped by on our first night in NY. It was ok but we found cheaper & better hostelries on subsequent days and didn't feel the need to return.

This is just off Times Square and so easy to get to. Love the Shepherd's Pie. Love the atmosphere of the place

We called in here for a meal before seeing a show on Broadway. I had the James Joyce burger and it was very good. My wife had bangers and mash with onion gravy which she also enjoyed. The service was good and the Blue Moon ale was excellent. After the show we popped back in the pub for a drink. The place was lively and friendly and we were soon talking to some of the locals. Two of them were Irish so they obviously enjoyed the ambience. The jukebox was very good too.

I've been here for drinks + bar food which is fine and for lunch. At lunch I like the mac and cheese - it's really tasty. Not worth coming out of your way to come here but it's good if you end up here, you're in for a good meal!

Recently visited New York on a group tour. The playwright was included in our meal plan . Our group went right in and seated when we arrived . Group food choices were great and came quickly for such a large group . Delicious. Drinks were strong and yummy.

We went there after seeing Phantom & The Tree. Great end to a fantastic, cold day. It's on W. 49th St. We were directed to go upstairs because the bar street level was packed. The second floor was packed but we did get a table. The tables are close together but it's just a fun place & you expect it. Our server Jackie was great. We ordered 2 Casey Burgers with fries @ $15.00 each, one iced tea & a draught Beer. Our bill came to $41.92, which I thought was a bargain for NYC. The bathrooms were up another flight of stairs & there was more tables up there & apparently yet another floor after that. They do private parties. I would go there again. Burgers were great. Only downside was the steps. If you have a knee replacement, that's a lot of stairs to climb...would still go back again.

Dark and gloomy interior. Friendly staff and good service. Good selection of food but a little pricey.

We climbed the stairs to find a roomy restaurant with plenty of open seats for a late lunch. The food was very good -- toasty, hefty sandwiches with salads so packed full of extra goodness that I asked the waiter to compliment the chef. The waiter was excellent. We enjoyed looking at the decor on the walls and my husband was especially delighted to notice a photographic print by Eugene Smith, one of his favorites.

Stopped in for a happy hour drink - great drink and food specials 4:00-9:00. Service was quick and friendly and atmosphere was a pleasant pub. We will return!

Just looking for a good meal, and we found it here. You need to get to the second floor to find the restaurant. The service was good, the beers cold and the food was great. I had Sheppard's Pie, and thought it was the best I had ever had. I would return for sure. All 4 of us had a nice time here.

This place was packed but the waiter found us a table upstairs. The food was excellent, the service great as were the prices...no wonder it was packed. Would definitely recommend and would eat here again.

We picked Playwright Tavern for a lunch break during our tour on the Big Bus. The décor replicates an Irish pub. Our group enjoyed a James Joyce cheeseburger, a Sean O’Casey burger, chicken fingers and fries. All were very satisfied. Our server, Lourdes, met all our need without being intrusive. We are glad we found Playwright Tavern.

My friends laughed at me when I sent them a photo of my $10 pint. Others cried. St. James's Gate shudders

We wondered into this restaurant because it was close by the starting point of the hop on hop off bus tour we were taking. It was not recommended by anyone but it was handy and looked like a good place to get a drink and avoid the heat. It is very much the decor of an English pub and we stayed on the first floor but I think there is a bigger dinning area on the second floor. We were glad to have an air conditioned place to sit and cool off after being in the heat. We did wait about 10 minutes for service and I was just about to go to the bar and order drinks thinking maybe it was like a real English pub and you had to go to the bar and place your order. Thankfully a server came just at that point. He was very nice and got our drink order right away. I ordered a grilled vegetable wrap and my sister had the chicken quesadilla. They both came with fries. They were quite tasty and a nice size portion for lunch. We did not have to wait long for our food. We sat in the bar area and the seats and tables were high so if that is a problem maybe check out the dinning room on the second floor. They have free wifi if that is something you need, just ask your server for the password. This place was a surprise as we were looking for a place for lunch and I had noticed the sign as we were coming back to the starting point of our hop off hop on tour. So we took a chance and were pleased with the result. Service was a bit slow to start, not sure why, but once they came and took our order it was quick. The server did disappear when we were wanting our bill and we had to track him down but we were not in a big hurry to get back in the heat. I would recommend this place for lunch, I don't know what it would be like for dinner.

We ran in to take shelter from the rain, how fortunate! We had a couple of drinks and soaked up the vibrant atmosphere. We returned on the 1st of June to have a meal & a few drinks whilst watching the final of the Champions League. The bar downstairs was packed but it wasn’t too bad luckily upstairs, so we managed to get a table. The place was buzzing with loads of Brits in for the footie. We had the Chicken Caesar salad & the Thai Chicken dishes, both were really good taste wise & portion size. The service was a bit hit & miss, they weren’t particularly friendly and the lady who seemed to be supervising was quite rude with a few of the customers, although not us. A smile goes a long way !

We were seated upstairs they were extremely busy, but the waitress was with us straight away, my brother had a pint of Guinness and I had a chardonnay, we both had the Shepherd s pie and it was delious a bit loud, but always a good sign when a pub is packed

We popped in for dinner with our 2 kids - the kids menu is a little overpriced, but not surprising given the neighborhood. My husband had a burger which he said was great and I had the fish and chips which were really good. They were busy, but the service was still ok, and we were in and out fairly quickly. When we came in for dinner, my husband remembered that we had been in years before (a decade or more!) for drinks and apps when visiting the city. :)

We met a number of staff over the three days of our trip to New York and special mention must go to Duff who made our visits to this lovely establishment such a pleasure. The welcome and the atmosphere are first class and we really felt welcomed and valued. If you're in or around Times Square this home from home is really worth searching out as it is first class.

when we first went to new York about 6 years ago this was one of the first irish places we went to for drinks and food and go back each time drinks food lovely staff very friendly and helpful

This pub is very well located in midtown, particularly for theatre goers. It was a last minute choice for us and while the ambience was definitely publike and authentic and the service friendly, I found the food quality lacking. I ordered fish and chips (seemed like a safe bet), but the fish was low quality and the batter excessively greasy. I don't expect to be back.

If you're looking for an Irish Pub in New York City near Times Square, this is your place. As for a window seat on the second floor. Food was quick and reasonably priced.

We only stopped off here for a quick drink and no food. We sat at the bar and were immidiately served to cocktail in the happy hour (or should I say happy 4 hours!!). The staff are friendly and so are the people. You never felt out of place.

We had the best food & drinks. Awesome friendly service.Went there on Sat. night. Great music also! We can't wait to come back! We danced until our feet hurt. Fun upstairs pub. Will return on our next trip NYC for sure!

It starts with a warm greeting by the friendly doorman standing outside in the cold. There’s the busy, buzzing Irish bar. Then upstairs to the jam-packed restaurant. We had the shepherd’s pie and the “playwright’s famous meatloaf.” Both were delicious - as was the apple crisp a la mode. Attentive staff provided great service. Highly recommended.

Awesome Irish bar near Times Square. Not far from all the broadway shows in theatre district. We got out of “Book of Mormon” and had an hour to kill before “Chicago”. Open sandwiches start at $18. There’s also salads and appetizers and soups. Irish ☘️ Lamb stew and chicken available from $23. Pasta and burgers and seafood - also a kids menu. I loved this cozy spot ! Wheelchair access and a typical Irish pub. No live music when we went but music on the radio. Two levels - top level more seating. First come first serve, credit card facilities! 18% gratuity added to tables of 6 or more. TV Screens and tons of people, always packed! Gluten free options . ATM on site

Eh' it's ok. Nothing great. Server brought wrong alcohol in drink and tried to pass it off, some have no english and just nod their heads as if they understand your request. Apps were not 6$ as sign says outside but they were good regardless at 9.00$

Hello We spent New Year’s Eve at the Playwrigth Tavern. Everything was going very well, until we came back from the count on Times Square. The bottle of champagne that was awarded to us by the package paid for the evening had disappeared as we wanted to drink it after the ball came down to toast the new year. The boss justified by saying that after midnight drinks were paid. I find it shameful that you are being deprived of something that has been paid for. To me, it is simply theft. That’s not a nice thing to do. You’re warned if you’re going to spend next New Year’s Eve with them.

Stopped in for a late lunch and enjoyed the quietness of the bar which provided some much needed respite from the hustle and bustle of Times Square. The food was tasty and not too over priced (it is Times Square so expect to pay more no matter where you go!) would definitely eat there again and they have live music late nights.

Great atmosphere and the servings of alcohol were good. Staff bubbly and staff were Irish which is a must in an Irish bar

We had dinner here one night last week while on a trip to the City. It was very busy which is to be expected. The food was very good and the service was good other than I feel the staff could have been just a bit friendlier. The area seemed clean and was decorated nicely for the Holidays!

We had been out and about in New York on what must have been the coldest day of the year . It was totally Baltic .. We called into the playwright and not only was the bar lovely and warm so was the welcome we received from the staff .. I can't remember the name of the young Irish girl who had only been working there for about a month who looked after us but she was great . We went upstairs as the bar was very busy . The food was good and the happy hour cocktails went down a treat with the girls .. Next time we are back in New York we will call in

Stopped in for food before taking in the Lion King. Great food and service. Huge portions, starters could pass as mains they are so big.

Decently priced restaurant not far from Time Square! It was super busy and we ended up on the 3rd floor but that wasn’t an issue for us. Good portion sizes of the burgers,chicken sandwiches and open face Rueben’s. Option to eat outside but we opted for inside. Super friendly staff and good food.

The lady and I came here mainly because the decorations. When we got inside, we found a spit at the bar and relaxed for a few hours over drinks. Michael and Carrie were our bartenders, and they did a superb job. Nice to talk to on top of good drinks. Definitely suggest this restaurant.

Visiting from Dallas and came in to get out of the cold for a Bailey's and stayed for over three hours. Duff is not only an incredible bartender, but also very entertaining. Loved Peter, the other bartender, too. We met several other patrons and decided right away we'll becoming back tomorrow night. Highly recommended!

We went to the Playwright years ago and liked it, so we revisited it when we were in New York recently. The service and the ambiance were adequate, but the food was quite disappointing. I had roasted chicken, which had been overcooked and was tough. My wife had chicken pot pie. The chicken in the pie was so tough she couldn't eat it. New York is too good a city for eating to waste your time at the Playwright.

The southwestern kale salad looked great - on paper. The kale was not massaged. Minimal 'southwest' attributes - that is, very little corn and very little black beans. I went in hungry and came out hungrier.

It was not crowded when we first got there, however, we were there before a show and it got crowded very quickly and there isn't a lot of space. Forget having a conversation and the service was slow, yet the wait staff was working hard. The menu is basic pub food: burgers, sandwiches, with some enticing entrees as well. I had the herb-crusted salmon with the rice pilaf, the salmon was rather tasteless and the rice dry. My wife had the grilled strip steak, which seemed better. The prices were reasonable.

THE Playwright Tavern & Restaurant is a short walk from my favorite Manhattan hotel. And having discovered their simply amazing variety of the best Burgers ever several years ago, I ALWAYS visit at least once, if not more times with EVERY visit to NYC. And if you prefer mashed potatoes or whatever to french fries, no problem. My NYC "Comfort Food No. 1 Destination" is the Playwright Tavern & Restaurant.

The Playwright Tavern is one of the many Irish pubs in New York but the location of this one on Times Square puts it ahead of the others if you want to soak up the essence of New York. The façade and interior décor reinforce the Irish theme with wood paneling up the stairs and into the main dining space. The bar is along one side with wooden tables and seating along the windows looking out to W 49th Street. The place was packed when we arrived for dinner but we were shown to a bench table that looked out onto the street – perfect for ‘people watching’. The tavern offers a wide variety of food – sandwiches, nachos, salads, soups, pasta, burgers. The menu includes Irish favourites such as corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie and chicken pot pie. Prices for a main range between $19 and $25. There is also a kids menu. With so many choices, we took the advice of our Irish waitress and ordered the Dublin style fish and chips and Irish lamb stew which she said were the most popular. The food was hearty and tasty, just what you would expect from an Irish pub. If you want a good meal at a reasonable price in Times Square, this is a great place.

My wife and I saw this place as we were walking by. It looked interesting so we decided to stop in. Then we entered the Twilight Zone. We ordered a couple of Bloody Mary’s, a bowl of French Onion soup and Nacho Fries. We’re from California, so nachos are a staple. The BMs, I’m certain were a splash of bathtub vodka and a can of “Snap e Tom.” They were bland, which should be hard for Bloody Marys. No tabasco, no Worstershire, no horseradish, no celery salt. As if that wasn’t enough, apparently it was too much trouble to actually put the olives on a toothpick. They were just dumped in the drink. When the food came, we were mixed with the table next to us. After straightening out the mistake, we started eating. The French Onion soup was undoubtedly out of a can, and not even a good one. If this was homemade, fire the “chef.” They did top it with cheese, so they got that right, but who serves soup with bread or at least croutons? Again, it was bland. The “nacho fries” were frozen French Fries topped with a little cheese and melted together. No peppers, onions of salsa of any kind. And, again, they were bland. The only thing you can say is they had Heinz ketchup available, BUT WAIT! In the middle of the meal the waitress came over and TOOK THE KETCHUP AWAY! Didn’t ask if I was done with it, just decided I didn’t need it anymore! To say this was a “unique dining experience” would be an understatement. So, if you’re in the area and see the hidden gem, I recommend you dig elsewhere. NYC is full of wonderful restaurants, but this ain’t one of them.

Come in very busy but inviting, cool a/c and friendly staff. Found a place at the bar And service was quick. Been to other playwright bars and love them. Food and drink are all good

This is a decent restaurant upstairs above the pub. Friendly service, good wholesome food, and nice Guinness..... We had toasted panini, fish and chips and shepherds pie all of which were nice, although the batter on the fish was nicer than the fish itself..... Would have preferred to have rated good, but not available on here, and they were better than average.... Mix of menu of the day and individual meals....range of choices.... Good to make a reservation as pretty busy when we were there.

Is it just me? It seems to me that any crowded New York Pub has a volume level that OSHA may worry about the dB levels? I've hit a couple places this week the sound level is beyond me - and I love LOUD rock and roll! Very nice Irish Pub near my seminar site, lovely Irish lady waiting on me. We talked about her hometown..... Great experience. Open face Reuben sandwich was a huge pile of luscious meat - more than I could eat!

All dishes ordered were very good: Bangers and Mash, Fish and Chips, Pastrami on rye. Excellent service for a before show dinner.

Lousy service. Hair in our food. Took 25 minutes for some hot water for tea and the restaurant wasn’t even crowded. The server was rude and the food,overall, was bland and unimaginative.

We loved this pub. The food is absolutely delicious! a bit pricey but worth it when you want a proper meal! And a few Baileys Coffee are definitely a must on a cold afternoon!

Needing a quick bit before heading out, we stopped in to the Playwright. Great service and decor and decent food. We had the Guiness Fish & chips, Buffalo wrap and bacon, avocado baguette. Food was good and so was the service.

The food is good Nice service is good They have a lot of beers Price is a little too much But I have payed more on other places

Food was good, neat building. Service left a little to be desired. Nothing too notable but we would eat there again.

We ate in the pub area on the floor. Very good casual pub feeling. Very good service with friendly staff. Food was average. Fish and chips while tasty had more batter than fish. Bangers and mash were good. Average rating does not mean it was bad just nothing spectacular.

My daughter and I had a great lunch at Playwrights before seeing Hamilton at the Richard Rodgers theater. It is right around the corner. Highly recommended!!

Have a New York strip. Very good done exactly as I asked. Accompanied by mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. Price was typical for New York, maybe a little less. Service was fabulous. Highly recommend. Very close to many good theaters

I love this place! Every time I visit NYC, I like to go here for a drink. The bar upstairs is super cute and the bartenders are always so nice. We loved our Irish bartender this time around. I've had lunch and dinner, here, and the food is good.

Came for Thanksgiving dinner and we went for the set menu, we could not fault it from start to finish. It was soooooo nice. The pub has a lovely cosy feel about it, very homely. The staff are very friendly and make you feel so welcome

We were looking for something fairly fast before the matinee show of Book of Mormon. We came in with the intent of getting appetizers but saw they had a weekend brunch special. The brunch meal came with either a mimosa or Bloody Mary. The environment was very relaxed and the staff was very friendly. Average prices for the city. It was right down from the theater so it was perfect right before the play.

Great lively bar, we went at midday for lunch there was a Frank Sinatra singer there Kurt Decker, he was brilliant. The food was delicious and portions sizes were big too. Staff were lovely. Oh they also have a spice bag on the menu 😆

We had dinner and drinks here and it was worth the stop. Juicy burgers & a great Mojito! Staff came around and offered to take our pic. You are able to purchase copies. It was a great souvenir.

The one across from the 911 memorial is awesome, ask to see their photo album. The owner was there at the time and was working hard with the kitchen staff to put out fire on the roof. Very amazing

Expensive, as expected near Times Square. Easily the worst service I’ve experienced in a long time. Food notworth the wait

Ordered martini and wine, both we warm. The rolls were colder than the drinks. Ordered appetizers, mediocre at BEST. left half the food. Cooled our drinks with ice and left. Don't recommend.

I came here with my girlfriend looking for a table for 2 late on in the city. At first everything seemed great the servers were really friendly which I could not fault them for, ordered our food and relaxed with a few drinks till the starters arrived. The starters were good way to start the meal, decent portions and again servers asked if everything was okay. However when we were both still eating our starters our main meals came out and the server simply put the plates down on the table and took away our starters and left. Since the starter portions were quite large, I knew I would struggle to eat the main without a break, the steak looked good until i flipped it over and looked lifeless and chewy with huge fat veins going through it. My girlfriend had the crab cakes which she usually loves, however was barely able to eat 1 of them as she described them dry and boring. This was our week away to NY city, and during our time it was our most expensive meal of the holiday and at the same time our worst meal of the holiday.

Service was rushed, food not too bad. None of the staff etc appeared Irish. Booked amy table but when we arrived they had no knowledge.

This little gem is tucked right off a side street in Times Square. The first floor is a bar area and may look packed but the restaurant is on the second floor so head on in! I got the Guinness Beef stew and my daughter ordered the fish and chips. Large portions and delicious. I've eaten beef stew in Ireland and this version didn't disappoint. Service was wonderful. Truly enjoyed our meal.

Popped into The Playwright for lunch one day while in Times Square. The Bar and staff were very welcoming and the atmosphere in the bar was cosy and warm. The food and the service was excellent.

I love the multi-level building with bars everywhere and a cozy tavern atmosphere with the open deck on top.

Singer Kurt Decker was amazing. The owner was also friendly and so helpful. The staff was also so great. Totally amazing

Awesome place! Super nice staff & amazing music. The singer out front is fabulous! Definitely recommend for some people watching or som drinks & snacks!

An irish pub run by Indians means that everything is highly spiced. I wanted irish food such as shepherds pie or lamb shanks but as I'm allergic to garlic I couldn;'t enjoy that. They cooked me a grilled chicken breast with vegetables.It was passable but not what I went in for. Service was quick and our irish waitress was friendly (and apologetic).

Dropped in during an afternoon walk and Danny greeted us and welcomed us in during happy hour. The food was great and the Happy Hour specials were the best. Danny took our picture when we left in front of the door and we told him we would be back! And we did go back. Enjoy!

great irish pub, good food, well located for theaters. One of our favorite stops in the City. Good people watching.

nice sandwiches and fries. great staff. I spotted some beautiful salads. Clean dining area with quiet atmosphere.

Irish bar. Lots of TV's with football and customers yelling a bit. $19 for a small bottle of Corona and a glass of cider. Did not eat anything. Seems to have much of the Irish/ British menu such as shepherds pie. Almost in Times Square. Cosy, warm. Next time in Times square I may look for another Irish bar but I expect prices will be similar

In the midst of tourist central you might expect a BS joint, either over priced or over hyped or over glammed; but you would be Wrong. The Playwright is the real deal...good vibe, heavy pours, decent food, fair prices ... yea, like your favorite place back home but in the heart of mid-town Manhattan. This is a list topper for the most discerning.

We ended up here when their sister location (Playwright's Celtic Pub) somehow 'lost' our reservation and we didn't want to have to wait for a table (rainy day and a Broadway show to get to). Staff was kind and attentive. Food was good. My wife had the Bangers and Mash which she said were 'excellent.' My daughter had a burger which was cooked to the correct internal temp (medium-rare), but a bit charred/over-seared on the outside. I had the Playwright chicken sandwich which was good if nothing all that special. My wife and I each had a couple pints, but we skipped on dessert this time.

Dropped by here on a Sunday night around 9 pm. Fairly busy but relaxed. We grabbed a table by the Broadway window and ordered drinks from a bartender a little too embroiled in chat with a group to serve me immediately. We sorted the drinks and food order. The food was OK. Nothing to dance in the streets about. The service continued to be friendly. We left happy. What more do you want?

We ate here twice during our stay so it must have been doing something right. Attentive staff who were friendly. Quick service. This is off the main avenue, but we tended to find the better places were on the streets rather than the avenues. A busy bar which added to the atmosphere. Tables were high with tall stools which we liked. Not sure if they had normal size tables further back in the bar. We were happy with the food and service.

We popped in for an afternoon drink on a hot day walking around Manhattan. We didn't order food (although the fish and chips looked great) and just sat at the bar. About 12 draft or bottled beer options and one or two ciders. Local and international. The staff and patrons seemed friendly and it looked like alot of the emergency services dropped by when off shift. Well worth looking up if you need to grab some air-con. Would be friendly visiting on your own I expect too.

Eating around Times Square before a show is always a problem. The decent restaurants are packed and the rest are mediocre/bad/chains. This pub usually has free tables, fast service and serves food that's good enough. The menu is standard pub fare. Best thing: The Guiness, which comes with a creamy head.

We had another very good dinner in the Playwright Tavern & Restaurant. As always, service was prompt and friendly. Food was terrific. Highly recommended.

Perfect place to have a lunch or dinner. Close to Macy's and all the shopping. Good food delicious beer and nice service

Don't order a Guiness here. The servers have no idea how to pour a Guinness. You can't claim to be an Irish bar if you serve it in a straight sided glass!! The food here was quite good, with the lamb stew and shepards pie being our choices. Unfortunately though, the service was ok at best. Overall we were quite disappointed. We looked forward to getting a little taste of home in an Irish Pub, but there is very little Irish feeling about the place.

I had a hard time choosing between the Irish stew and Shepard's Pie. The Irish stew won! And it was delicious just like I remembered the stew in Ireland. Large pieces of lamb meat, tender as possible, with veggies and stew served in a bread bowl. Delicious! And great service!

Great drinks, great live Frank Sinatra music! Good atmosphere for a tourist to have a relaxing drink at Times Square after a day of walking around

Watch out they are running a new scam to go with mediocre food. I did not mind the automatic 18% gratuity (no option) but they charged me $4.55 for credit card surcharge - not mentioned on menu etc. Apple Pay would not include it, so could not pay by Apple, had to go inside where credit card was used and they took the surcharge before I could stop them. Avoid these scam artists.

We had limited time before we had to leave the city. Our waiter was excellent! He got our food out fast and our check to us so we could go as fast as possible. And the food was delicious with great size portions! Great food and service!

We came into the city and needed someplace for lunch. We were going to go to another deli up the street but they had a long line and it was raining so we needed someplace we could get into. We had four kids ranging from newborn to 4 years old so we were more interested in getting in versus what was on the menu. Playwrite turned out to be a nice selection. We were seated immediately and after having the kids spill nearly every water glass (we finally gave up and had them take them away). We had a selection of sandwiches all of which were good. Although typical of the restaurants near Times Square overpriced the meals were large and tasted good. I could have used a little more sauerkraut on my Reuben but it was large and good. We ordered a single kids chicken strip meal to share among the three kids ranging from 1 1/2 to 4 and they all had plenty to eat (actually left some) so I guess I should not complain about the prices. Service was good especially considering we had 6 adults and four kids.

Asked for a pint of Heineken. Got a half liter of pure piss water. And paid trough the nose for it as well.

We enjoyed this so much, I’m writing a positive review while finishing brunch! Generous portions and our waitress was awesome. Well worth it.

We stopped off here a number of times on our 4nt break to whet our whistle. It also plays sports on the tv which was great for the hubby. It always had a good crowd in it, I reckon a mixture of locals and tourists. The bar food was very tasty and great for lunch or snacks in the evening. Also the Irish bar man was good craic and attentive with service.

Pub looked really festive and welcoming from outside. But unfortunately the bar man ruined the entire experience very very rude to customers and aggressive when asked why beer was SO flat. Would not return as many other nice bars where staff has respect for paying customers

We wandered into this pub on our first ever trip to Times Square, as it appeared to be something different from what the City had to offer, but familiar enough to be inviting. The menu is posted outside for preview, which is convenient, and clear instructions on how to get in (the restaurant is on the 2nd floor). I am not sure if it was the time of day, if we just got lucky, or if this is the norm, but there was plenty of open seating, so no wait. We chose a seat at the very end of the bar, which offered a fantastic view of the streets below. The menu was simple - not overwhelming but enough choice to make pretty much anyone happy. The food came quickly, was well presented and portioned, and tasted great. The service was pleasant and attentive, and and prompt. I found the restaurant to be clean - even the bathroom! I would definitely return here if ever in the area again.

Old style pub with a varied menu, excellent service and pleasant atmosphere. Arrived at an off hour and sat for quite a while without being rushed. The food was good and prices not high considering the location, and the portions were generous. Would definitely recommend a stop in before or after a show.

We had a marvelous waitress in the bar and restaurant. Kelly was outstanding and convinced us to have dinner there. We had shepherds pie,which was phenomenal, Irish chicken which was very good and Irish stew (lamb) which was good. A great experience and wonderful service. Love this place!

I frequent this restaurant before Broadway and the place never disappointments. Friendly service and clean quality food.

My wife and daughter visited this restaurant alas on the reviews however what we experienced was a nightmare. The complimentary bread rolls were like ice hockey pucks although I think the real thing might have tasted better. We skipped starters due to the rolls and went for mains which non of us ate more than 20% of the food was bland, poor quality and the fries which seem to accompany everything were cooked in something that left a very nasty aftertaste I think the actual management were more interested in getting drunk with their patrons than on the quality of the food, even when we gave our feedback their servers made no apology for what was served. Save your hard earned tourist dollars and go elsewhere plus what kind of Celtic restaurant serves authentic shepherds pie using beef...seriously. My Mum is Irish and I love he cooking she would be shocked if I ever took her to this place avoid, avoid and avoid is my best advice

You don't go to America for the food. Saying that the queasadilla I ordered was lovely. The white wine was not chilled and even when I changed it the next one wasn't chilled enough. Great musician played in the bar and the staff were very nice so I would have no problem returning.

I ate here with a group while we were in NYC. We had a preselected menu to choose from. I had the fish and chips, and it was okay - I've had better. The chocolate cake was a little dry. The atmosphere was nice and the service was good, however. Our group had reservations and we were seated promptly. Since this dinner was included with our trip, I cannot speak to the value.

Kurt sounded awesome and had a great song selection, so much that my 15 yr old niece was singing along. Highly recommend!!!

Beautiful restaurant with very friendly staff and amazing food. Accommodated our family of 6 with ease. Truly a unique NY experience :)

My girlfriend and I were on our way to the Gershwin Theatre and decided to stop for a bite to eat. This place was definitely a good find. Food was great, price was right, and staff was very friendly.

Kurt, the Sinatra vocalist brought tears to our eyes. What a class act and a great guy. Hall of fame crooner. Such a great time.

After a disastrous attempt trying to get cheese pizza from Ray’s around the corner, we had 30min to order and eat lunch before our play started. While making no guarantees (but a promise to do their best) they did an amazing job of getting my family fed and on their way. The restaurant was super busy, but they made sure we were taken care of. We ordered the easy to prepare bar food, burgers, fries etc. We have eaten here before with more time and I also highly recommend the fish and chips and their shepherds pie.

Stopped here after a busy day sightseeing. Nice atmosphere and prompt service. We had fish and chips and veggie pasta which was filling and delicious.

We had theater tickets, couldn't find a place to eat, and tried this as a last resort. The staff could not have been nicer or more attentive to our needs. They recommended dishes that could be served quickly, brought it out promptly, and got us to the church on time. The food is decent, but not much more. Five stars for the experience, three stars for the food.

We didn't stay long, just wanted to rest our tired feet and grab a beer or two. We managed to stop in at 5 different Irish pubs in our 2 days in the city. Some for meals, others for stops like this one. I'd come back and would like to stay for a meal next time.

We had the nicest waitress. Sat upstairs with live music. Couldn't ask for more. We all had different irish dishes and all were delicious.

This is our third visit to New York in recent years and after finding this pub on our first visit, we have made a point of going back each time. Must say that the service upstairs was first class. It was friendly and attentive and, if it's an Irish pub that you are looking for, then it really doesn't come much better than this. Can't remember everybody's name but the two Irish sisters were brilliant. Thank you again.

We stopped in for an early dinner on a Saturday night, and were able to get a table on the third floor. The service was great, loved the atmosphere, really loved the food. I had the mushroom ravioli with chicken, which was delicious.

Food was good. Location right off Times square. Friendly staff. Casual but with a great Irish atmosphere. The fish and chips and Shepard's pie were great!