Not so great for vegetarians but my beau had a lovely pot pie with mashed potatoes on top, which I had a couple bites of. Live music and Guiness on tap are enticing. Will I be back? Not likely...it's not my sort of place but don't let that stop you from going. read more

Cozy pub environment on one side, restaurant on the other. You can get food on either side. I'd choose where to sit based on ambiance. Best part about this place: TRIVIA on Wednesday nights! I love trivia, and playing for a gift certificate to a tasty restaurant is even better ($50, $25 or $10 depending on how your team does). It starts at 8:30, but arrive early to grab a seat and take advantage of the 1/2 price apps (beginning at 8). Service was just alright, but I understand that could be due to the huge volume of people visiting on a Wednesday for trivia. Still, it was a little frustrating to have to flag down my server when I needed something. Even more irritating was being brought the wrong beer (which I drank because I didn't feel like waiting 30 minutes for another one), then being asked if I wanted another wrong one. Despite that, though, I loved the Playwright and will be back! read more

My food was just OK, the service wasn't nothing to speak highly of. The menu did not impress me. This was a one time visit.

Chose this place for a post graduation luncheon for 10 people. Very rustic ambiance inside with interesting decor. The waitress was awesome with excellent service. Menu had something for everyone and prices were amazingly low for the amount of food served. Table started out with nachos, corned beef stuffed potato skins, hot and barbecue wings. All were delicious and large servings. You never go thirsty as she kept the water, soda and beers flowing like a river. Everyone's meal came out at the same time and were exactly what was ordered which is unusual for a large party. Many times something is missed but not here. Orders were spot on! Food was piping hot when it arrived and everything was seasoned beautifully. Overall the experience here was excellent. Great food, great company and great service all at an affordable price. Who could ask for more when celebrating a graduation! Great job to this establishment!!!! read more

Solid food. Very good onion soup and potato skins. Playwright Steak was thick and solid - although a touch over done. We moved to the bar to listen to the 10 person musicians play traditional Irish folk music (Tuesdays and Sundays) read more

The Playwright Irish Pub - Came here for dinner with my Boston Irish parents. We enjoyed it immensely. A great Irish pub. Music on Tuesdays - Irish Pub Near Me - Hamden, Connecticut

The staff was friendly enough and the service quite satisfactory. My wife and I both had steak. I had the Gorgonzola/portobello Strip and she had the Playwright strip....both were excellent. The sides (potatoes and veggies) were just ok. My only real complaint was with the dessert. We chose to share a molten Lava chocolate cake. We should have sent it back but we were ready to leave and just plowed through it. The "Lava" was not in the cake but poured over the top. We ate around a part that was so dry and overcooked as to be inedible. That's probably what happened to the Lava that was supposed to be in the middle..it got cooked away. Would I go back? Maybe. Groupon got us there....and the steak was very good, but we wish we had tried the fish and chips...hard to find good fish and chips this far south of cape cod. read more

We came by for dinner on a Friday night. It was mostly full but we didn't have to wait, and it wasn't too tightly packed. I got the Playwright burger which was quite good, and I tried some of the mac & cheese which was good as well. We didn't stay for dessert but everything sounded great, definitely a solid pub. read more

First time eating here. Went to lunch, and enjoyed classic fish and chips. My wife got the bangers and mash. Both were exceptional! The portion to price ratio was great. They have a lot of extracurriculars during the week that I would love to check out in the future. I would certainly come back and invite my friends. read more

Went there for a drink, some snacks, and general shenanigans with LW on a Thursday night. This place is similar to the New Haven location in name only. Go for the food. The menu is typical bar fare, but way, way better than it has any right to be. Onion rings, until I can prove it otherwise, are the best in the greater New Haven area. Juicy, crispy, fantastic. Buffalo chicken gets equally high marks. Scotch & whiskey list is what it needs to be, and on Thursday nights a waitress with the most unbelievable Irish accent is working (although, oddly, she doesn't drink whiskey). LW enjoyed his Coke because he had to drive my drunk ass home. Shenanigans were oddly lacking this time around. Disappointing. Marks also off for the bathroom - it's multi-person, with no dividers between the urinals, which are too close together. Ambience: 14/25 stars Service: 22/25 stars Food: 22/25 stars Bathroom: 10/25 stars Probability of going back: 90% read more

I live across the street from this one, and we frequent it with Restaurant.com certificates. I would give it four stars for a combination of the food and Eddie the bartender (both pretty solid), but the prices are absolutely ridiculous for Irish bar food. I almost suspect that they mark things a little higher due to all the promotional coupons and certificates they do. The whiskey bbq burger is adequate, Sheppard's pie is good, and any of the wing options are reasonable. The standouts here are the smoked salmon appetizer and the loaded baked potato. The salad is huge, has lots of fresh salmon, and their aoli on the pumpernickel bread is tasty. All that I can say about the loaded baked potato is: you must try it. The outdoor patio is very nice on a spring or fall evening. 5/25/11 Update- This used to be a solid three star place, but last night's meal sealed the deal. You can't charge $9.50 for eight, overcooked, small hot wings. Also, the cheesecake was such a small slice that it could be eaten in four bites. I agree with the other reviewers that the service in the bar area is great, but the restaurant service is unbelievably slow. Great little bar, but I'm not willing to pay for ridiculously overpriced food at a neighborhood pub. read more

Eh. Mixed drinks were a mistake. Your standard draft beers were $5. Didn't get food, which gets good reviews (at yelp, and elsewhere) from lots of folks. But I don't think I'll go back, mostly because the interior was too brightly lit and the outside deck smelled like dishwater. read more

I came here with my family tonight and we were very disappointed in our meal. We ordered the 23$ New York strip restaurant week special. We started with potato leek soap. It lacked any taste what so ever. The steak tasted like old steak as if it was sitting in the fridge for a few weeks. The dessert came and I ordered the apple crisp. It lacked flavor and was not even hot. We also ordered the lobster ravioli. The sauce was heavy and and the pasta was overcooked. My son had the children's quesadilla and he couldn't even eat it because it was filled with grease and cheese tasted old. No manager came over and asked how Anything was. Steaks was also overcooked and we were highly disappointed. The best part of the meal was the Foxon park bottle soda the one thing they didn't make! We ordered the coke from the fountain and even the fountain coke had a moldy taste to it. There are so many others places to go during COVID times! Skip it ! Not worth it ! read more

+ The Playwright is a fun place with good food and tons of Irish warmth + The Playwright has been around for a long time. There's a good reason for that. Several, actually. Most times I have gone, there's been live music (Irish folk. What else?). The food is good with some of it being meh and some of it being amazing. The shepards pie was meh, the corned beef was good. The baby back ribs are my favorite. For any place to be a good pub, the ribs have to be good. The ones at the Playwright are like the ones from the Flintstones. They're flipping huge. And delicious. The atmosphere is split between the dining hall which is good for families/couples and the pub area. The pub atmosphere is always friendly. It's not the kind of pub where you walk in and everyone gives you the stink eye. In fact the musician(s) usually pause their playing to greet you. The staff is great, lots of personality to match the restaurant. In fact, I'd say personality is the main reason to go to the Playwright. It's the reason I keep coming back. read more

I grew up in Ct. and my husband received his Bachelor's Degree from Albertus Magnus, we always went there for great food and drinks. We moved to Dallas and go back to visit twice a year to visit family, I ALWAYS go visit my favorite Irish Restaurant in the state! The menu has so many choices, my all time favorite is the corn beef sandwich! My daughter had the lobster mac and cheese, she was fixin on licking the plate! I reccomend this restaurant highly for food selection, and traditional Irish food on the menu, great selection of beer and sprits, great service...I'll always go back!!! read more

The Playwright Irish Pub - Irish Pub Near Me - Hamden, Connecticut

I came here on a Sunday for a post wedding brunch. Parking was easy as they have their own lot in the back of the building. The banquet room was a nice closed off private space with plenty of room and even its own bar. Having been in Ireland a year prior, I really enjoyed the decor. It really has an old Irish feel. There were tons of pictures of Ireland on the walls. The staff was very friendly and helpful. They continually walked around asking if anyone needed anything. The food was amazing! I liked the buffet style set up. The beans and and sausage were my favorite. This is a perfect space for any kind of celebration! read more

Every Saturday night my roommates and I would come back from work, shower, fill out our paperwork and reports, and jump into David's Toyota Camry. Everclear blaring from the car stereos, we would make the drive down to the Playwright Irish Pub and Restaurant on the corner of Whitney Avenue and Putnam. For a moment, we would forget that we were miserable college students selling educational books door to door, that there was a very real possibility of our not making enough money to buy plane tickets back home. We would listen to the songsmiths and bands ply the crowd, gawk at the more attractive women who were undoubtedly years older than us, and shovel our Playwright Burgers, which dripped barbeque sauce all over our plates, into our mouths. Sometimes we would share a beer. Overall, a good place to pass the time. I would probably stick with the beers and forgo any mixed drinks. I would especially NOT listen to the advice of any bouncers regarding drinks--that was the worst appletini I've ever had in my life. read more

Reasonable food, cool atmosphere, but the "15-20 mins" it was said to take for my takeout ended up being 60 mins... If the timing issue happens again, I'll go elsewhere - your food needs to be brilliant to make up for such poor service/timing, and yours doesn't cut it. read more

A so-so restaurant. One doesn't expect pub food to be haute cuisine. But it should be good for what it is. And it isn't, really, at the Playwright. Fish and chips should be crispy, not mushy. A companion's salmon dish also wasn't especially good. And shepherd's pie in an Irish pub should be made with lamb (SHEPHERD's pie...). Service was attentive and friendly. Lovely Irish accent on the waitress. Onion rings were good. But this was a one-time experience. read more

Boyfriend was craving fish and chips last night, so we stumbled upon this place after a quick search. Called them for takeout, they were super nice and promptly put our order in, telling us it would be ready in 20 minutes. When we got to the pub, I fell in love with its casual and cozy vibes. It seems like your ideal neighborhood watering hole, complete with an outdoor patio for nice nights. Our food was all pretty good. Here's the rundown: Wings with buffalo sauce: comes in groups of 6, so you can cater it to your level of hunger. Honestly really good. Saucy without dripping in sauce. Fish & chips: Batter not crispy, but fish had really great flavor. Chicken pot pie: I was at first confused because the pie was made separately from the filling, and looked like a hollow piece of bread. Not sure if this is how they always serve it or just for takeout orders, to minimize sogginess. However, I crumbled the pie into my filling, and it was delicious. The right amount of creaminess without being overbearing. We both really enjoyed our food here, and are intrigued by the ambiance. Definitely want to die in or have a drink there some day! read more

The Playwright has a dual personality: Genteel restaurant by day, bar by night. I don't know when it switches personalities, but the transformation is dramatic. The genteel restaurant personality is a bit pricey for a lunch, but portions are large, and the Irish-style foods I've sampled were excellent. I especially enjoy the leek and potato soup, which is a regular item on the menu. The place seems popular, with lots of gray hair in the crowd. Food service is mostly in the front room. At night, the action moves to the bar (but food is still available), which can be crowded and noisy. It feels particularly "cozy" when there's an Irish band there -- but the draft Guinness is good and so is the music. read more

Since moving to New Haven in 2009, I have become a regular at the Playwright in Hamden. The ambience is great; the people who work there are awesome; and the selection of food and drink is perfect. The menu has a selection that is large enough to satisfy anyone while being small enough to prevent a person from being overwhelmed, and the staff are always available to answer questions about anything. I have gotten to know several of them, and as a result, they always recognize me and take a minute to come by and chat. Though they have much fancier items on the menu, my favorite is the fish and chips. It arrives in very healthy portions (part of which often goes home with me) and always leaves me content. They also have a nice selection of desserts, my favorite being the apple crisp. I have had the filet mignon several times as well, and I have never been disappointed. On cold days, their Guinness stew or shepherd's pie is always a good choice. During the winter there is often a roaring fire to warm you up, and in the spring and summer the outdoor patios in front and back of the building are a nice way to enjoy a glass of wine. Go alone for a tranquil lunch in the middle of the day when the place is quiet, or with friends in the evening when the place is often packed. Either way, you are sure to love it! read more

This a great place for celebrations. I frequent this place with friends and family. The atmosphere is quaint and can get a bit loud. The traditional Irish fare such as Bangers and Mash won't disappoint. Half of the place is the bar area and the other half is table seating. The bar has ciders on tap. That's I all ever really look for. The only real downside to this place is the price. Its quite pricey for the simple food such as chicken pot pie they serve. read more

I ate at this place after a long bike ride on a Sunday afternoon; on a day that I wasn't tired I probably would have left after seeing the menu and dealing with the waitstaff. I'm a vegetarian, so I asked the waitress if I could have something from their breakfast menu, one of the few things they have that are meat-free. The waitress was keen to note that they had run out of breakfast food (really?). I settled on their pasta with vodka sauce and the mushroom appetizer, which ended up being a huge portion. Was it worth the $18 for the pasta and $9 for the mushrooms? I think not. The atmosphere wasn't too bad, but the food was sub-par (enough cream in the pasta to have come from a herd of cows) and the wait staff was very slow. read more

Great semi-fancy pub food! Good drink selection and a tavern atmosphere. The live music has always been great each time we've been there for it. Staff is always amazing and very attentive. Also, one of the few places in the area to get a traditional Irish/English Breakfast on Sunday! read more

The friendly convivial atmosphere welcomes you. Live music , decent beer selection and solid plentiful food. The fish and chips is 2 meals in one ! read more

Accommodating, friendly, and knowledgeable staff. They pull the best Guinness and make a hell of an old fashion with Bulleit Whisky. I eat my weight in curry fries every time I go there. My friend convinced them to make curry wings and it blew his mind. Also the trivia on Wednesday is great! read more

They have a nice selection of beer and a happy hour buffet that can take the edge off.

I absolutely love this place! The service is AMAZING!!! The food is spectacular. Dishes I've tired: Lobster mac & cheese = loved it! Irish Vegi Curry = loved it! minestrone soup = tasty The drinks are good too. Every time I have been here I leave relaxed and happy. Just wonderful. The first time on a Tuesday afternoon there was a bunch of people with instruments playing while one of the waitresses sang beautifully. The second time a local band was playing = a great time. Definitely will be back it's such a treat! read more

This is always a pretty relaxed place, easy to have conversations in. Since it's in Hamden, it never gets a crazy nightlife crowd going on weekends, but that's fine. They have free happy hour food on weekdays (from 4 or 5 pm til...7?) Inside they have a large dining room section separate from the bar and also 2 large outdoor patios when it's nice out (one overlooking Putnam Ave. and the other secluded from view in the back). It's actually great for large groups and the bartenders and waitstaff are friendly and charmingly Irish. read more

Good little bar. The wait staff in the restaurant area tends to be lacking, but in the bar area they're great. You'd think you were in a different establishment. The curry dip for the fries is great. It's an Irish pub, so options for a vegetarian are really limited, and you need to do a lot of special requests for anything vegan. They are always really great about making me a portabello sandwich for dinner, which is only on their lunch menu. Make sure to get it without mayo, cheese, and butter to make it vegan. read more

I enjoy this place as it never disappoints with food, drink and good Irish music. It does empty out quickly though so if you are in the mood to jam later into the evening this would not be a the place for you. read more

Went here with a Groupon offer for dinner this weekend with my family of three. First impression was a dark-ish, but quaintly-rustic, Irish Pub atmosphere. The floors and stools in the bar area were worn but in a welcoming kind of way. Although it was after 4:00 pm, the dining room area wasn't open that seemed more spacious and at normal, comfort heights than the latter choices... We had the choice to sit at their lovely bar, a bit loud with soccer playing on the TV's, small, round high-top tables with some backed-stools, but little elbow room for three, or the almost absurdly-low-to-the-ground pub tables with booth and tiny stool seats (more appropriate for kindergarten-sized children). So we chose the crammed high-top with at least a backed-stool. Very uncomfortable, hard wood and tiny table, obviously not intended for dinner service to be laid upon. Strange. Yes...the food! Hands down THEE best beer-battered fish & chips I've ever experienced. Light and flaky, fresh fillet of sole and perfectly cooked steak fries. Tasty tartar (tasted homemade) large portion and actual edible coleslaw (which is a rarity here in CT I'm afraid). My handsome Ladd got the Corned Beef Ruben & subbed Onion Rings. Beautiful sandwich, tender corned beef with lovely, gooey melted swiss, homemade sauerkraut & Thousand Island dressing on grilled rye. Big portion with a generous pickle & the rings were delicious. Our beloved little Lassie had the mac and cheese which also tasted homemade, with more then a couple different cheeses clinging to the cavatappi pasta (corkscrew). Very good choice. Of course he had to order a Guinness...when in Rome...or Ireland...or actually...Hamden...you get it. So all-in-all, we all enjoyed the food and our bartender/waiter was on point, friendly and prompt. (Just wish he had a lovely Irish Brogue to complete the ambience...drats!) Their fare is NOT inexpensive by any means, over $60.00 for three lunchtime plates was a bit pricey, however it was very good and quality ingredients shined through enough to warrant the cost. Portions were big enough for two leftover boxes (which were promptly goobled up the next day and = scrumptious) We would return to eat here again, BUT in the dining room! Afterall, we're not gnomes or little leprechauns by any means...cheers! read more

The food here is pretty good. I ordered a shepherds pie and my friend ordered the fish and chips. Both were fresh and tasty. The server was friendly and prompt. It's not a place that I would go to frequently it's a bit rowdy for me. However if I was in the area and I wanted Irish food I would certainly not object to going back. read more

We enjoy this place for a couple o' cold ones, especially on a Sunday afternoon when there's live traditional Irish music (amazing musicians), BUT....that's about it. The food is VERY underwhelming and VERY overpriced, $11.95 for a burger? A frozen Costco-esque patty on a grocery store hard roll? $10.95 for a breaded mushroom app? Seriously, for those prices the food should be at least memorable. But I will continue to stop in and enjoy a pint of Bass now and again, but mostly because it's close to where I live. read more

Although I have been here 7 or 8 times, I had only had appetizers and drinks, so I wanted to wait til I had a full meal to really give a true rating. This place meets or exceeds my expectations over and over again. Tonight I had the Shepard's Pie, which I have been dying to try for awhile, and it was everything I dreamed it to be. I've also had the chili on multiple occasions and it never disappoints. There is also always a great selection of beer on draft, usually including seasonal brews. I wish the food was a little more reasonable, but for reliable delicious food, drink and service, it's worth it. Trivia on Wednesday nights is great fun, starts at 8:30, but best to get there early. All apps are half off during trivia. read more

This is a great bar! Typical bar/comfort food but a great rustic atmosphere. When the place is packed expect service to be slow. The food tends to be thrown together on the busy nights, like the chefs scrambling to keep up. The music is phenomenal when they have live music on Fridays. My advice would be do a Friday night to experience the music but, if you're going to make this a regular stop avoid the wknds after 5. read more

Preface: I LOVE Trivia Nights! Whenever I travel in English speaking countries, I try to find a restaurant, pub, bar or café that hosts a trivia night. I've found there are no good websites that rate trivia nights, so I've decided to write Trivia Night Reviews and post them on Yelp. If this review helps you decide whether to attend the restaurant's trivia night, click the "Useful" button below. Trivia night starts at 8:30 not 8 pm as some websites stated. So we got there too early but we had our choice of tables in the bar area. By 8:15 pm, the place filled up and was packed with teams of up to 6 people. So get here early if you want a spot for your group. The host is in the middle of the place and has speakers aimed at the restaurant area as well as the bar area, so if you came for dinner in the restaurant area, you could also play trivia. We sat in the bar area and they offered 1/2 price appetizers during the game and they had a good selection of beer. When you enter, you sign up with a team name and get your score sheets. They give extra points for going to the host's website and getting the trivia question there and answering it on your score card. (a ploy to get you to visit the trivia DJ's website.) There were 5 rounds of 10 questions each. Each question is worth 10 points. After each round, you have a few minutes to get your score sheet up to the host. The host grades them and announces the scores after the third round. The questions were hard and the teams that play here are serious! 20 teams played the night we attended, and we are happy to say with my team of 2, we finished in the top 8. Nice prizes for the top 3 teams. The winning team only got 3 questions wrong out of 50 questions. So bring your brainiacs. Had a fun time and would come again next time we're in the area. Highly recommended. I understand the pub has sponsored trivia here for the last 7 years. It's a popular place with quite a following. 5 stars for the trivia! read more

Food was flavorless, but the server was nice. Would not return because food quality compared to so many other better local options.

Decent food - quaint atmosphere - though it needs a little updating. The shepherds pie is unfortunately more than a little lacking in robust flavor. It was incredibly bland. However, the buffalo calamari was yummy. Everyone is super polite & friendly. Missing two stars for missing the mark on Irish cuisine but doing a well enough job on non-Irish fare. If I could give it a half star more I would, but it doesn't quite meet the 4 star mark one would hope for. Didn't have a bad experience, but wouldn't necessarily go back unless my search for a proper Irish restaurant/pub came up fruitless. read more

I've been here a few times and can say the food is consistently good. The atmosphere makes you think you might actually be in Ireland (if you don't pay too much attention to the multi-lane road outside!). Lots of food options to choose from, and drinks are also a good variety. Our last visit was later in the day on a Saturday afternoon and although it wasn't very busy when we arrived, by the time we left, it was filling up! read more