Shakespeare Pub

I went there for a lunch meeting with some colleagues, and we were all excited to sit out on the patio. It’s a great way to get away from the office. Two of us had fish and chips, one of us had a chicken salad, and I had the Cobb salad. We all enjoyed our meal. The atmosphere was nice and the freeway traffic was not too loud. The other people on the patio weren’t too loud either. The service was friendly and timely. It’s been many years since I’ve been here and I’m glad that I came back for lunch.

Very authentic British Pub, owned and operated by British Ex-Pats! Has the warm, welcoming, lively ambience of a local British pub! A classic, public house, gathering place! I have come back many times, and each time was a wonderful experience! Very delicious, classic British food and drink! All of the menu items are made from scratch. The authentic Fish and Chips has won numerous awards, including Best Fish & Chips in the U.S. in 2017, and San Diego’s Best Fish & Chips. Delicious desserts, such as Sticky Toffee Pudding, Traditional Apple Crumble, and Chef’s Cheesecake! Extensive selection of Irish and British draught beers, ciders, and cocktails! The Shakespeare Draught Samples offer flights of beer for a variety of tastes. Weeknight, Lunch, Sunday, and Happy Hour Specials! Very attentive, very friendly, helpful staff! Many of the staff are British Ex-Pats. Very well run restaurant, with smooth, efficient service! Indoor pub dining, and outdoor patio dining with a view of the downtown San Diego skyline. Great for watching sports, especially soccer. The decor inside is English Tudor style wood. Their website has parking tips; 10-minute drive to the Airport. Their slogan is well-chosen: “Welcome, Enter As Strangers Leave As Friends.” Shakespeare’s Corner Shoppe, adjoining the restaurant, provides “Everything from Britain without the weather.” The Shoppe features British and Irish groceries, English Bakery, English Café patio, souvenirs, clothing, china, and English bone china rental. The Shoppe also features delightfully British, traditional Afternoon Tea at The Britannia Tearooms.

Shakespeare Pub was alright. The service was good, our server was friendly and attentive. The food was okay, nothing to write home about. But what really impressed me was how fast it all came out! Would consider going back if I'm in a rush.

This spot is serving straight heat when it comes to fish and chips. Crispy, golden batter with fish that’s fresh and flaky—not greasy, not soggy—just perfect. The fries? Fire. Seasoned right, crispy, and they actually hold up. They’ve got that chill coastal vibe that makes you feel like you’re on vacation, even if you’re just grabbing a quick bite. And the service? Super friendly and on point—feels like they actually care. If you’re in San Diego and craving next-level fish and chips, this is the move. Hidden gem status, but it won’t stay that way for long.

The fish and chips are highly recommended just be prepared to wait a while for them to be served. It should be noted, it is worth the wait! Excellent location to have a pint and watch a football match!

Came for the cask ale and sticky toffee pudding, two of my favorite British things. Both were delicious with the porter from local Barley & Sword pairing well with the dessert. Feels like a proper pub and the menu is impressive. Always a fun spot!

Had the English breakfast and it was great. Loved the Irish bacon, had a ton of food. The steak and kidney pie was great too (flakey tasty crust and everything). One minor complaint is finding the place, which is up the stairs and to the right, not the left.

Came thru to check out old town SD and happen to stumble upon this great establishment. This spot is great to get some beer 🍺 and to watch some sports. The food here is fire 🔥. The shepherd pie is bomb 💣!!! I’ve had quite a few in my lifetime but this one here takes it all. The light layer of baked cheese on top did it for me. The flavor was on point and the right level of moistness.

Fabulous pub in San Diego with delicious British style food . I loved all the English touches throughout the pub and all the paraphernalia. Not sure if it's British owned but if it is it shows and if it isnt then they did a great job pretending. Old feel like traditional pubs in UK when you walk in. They also have seating outside too. The menu is a mix of American food and all the British faves. All the British bevvies on the list brews and cocktails. Loved the extensive list and that they had hot coffee drinks with different Irish whiskey flavors. We had guiness for the whole crew and the terrys orange coffer for me which had grand marnier and kahlua . This was a great hot coffee spiked. Yum. The amazing food ! I had the bangers and mash which was amazing and came out piping hot. Great grilled onions and gravy over the mashed potatoes and sausages. I liked the thin sausages. Ate as much as I could but it was a big serving. The rest of my crew tried the fish and chips , again huge portions and fresh. One huge piece of cod and plenty of fat chips ! They ate every bite . The vegetarian Shepards pie was also served with chips as well as the mashed potatoes on the pie! The steak and kidney pie comes with chips and a huge pie at that. The puff pastry on top was killer. The pasty of the day was lamb and mint and we had that too with mashed potatoes and chips. This food isn't for the low carb crew. Every dish was served with peas . Awesome grub as we say back in the UK . Wish I had one of these pubs back home. Rounded off with the sticky toffee pudding with hot custard. OMG . I will leave it at that. Great service and great food made for a fab lunch out. They also have a British store where you can buy other British goodies across from the restaurant. Definitely check that out. They have some great food to go. This is a must eat at place! Loved every bite.

Honestly l, thought this would be better. My soda was flat. Waitress was kind enough to take it back. Ordered fish and chips-- very fishy yet flavorless fish and soggy chips. Overall I didn't enjoy my meal.

Been hunting for English sausage since trying Greggs in the UK. The pastry here isn't as flaky--Greggs has that perfected--but the sausage is quite similar. The sausage could use a bit more salt and slightly more meat to better balance with the pastry. Tastes great with ketchup. Fish and chips are good; batter could be crispier. I prefer haddock over cod, but it's still enjoyable. Wish their Heinz ketchup is from UK instead of US. Service is excellent! Will definitely go back to try more.

Great service Lots of seating Love the decoration The cocktail and beers were amazing. If unsure, they offer beer samples. Fish and chips - 5/5 were very fresh. Fish is crispy and tender. Fries are also fresh and great flavor. Ceaser Chicken wrap - 3/5 lacked a little bit of flavor. Not much sauce. But decent wrap. Overall, I'd come back.

My daughter and I come here every year to kick off our San Diego Comic Con adventure. The experience is always a good one and this year is not much different. Now we have food allergies. Her to soy and me to most things. Nicolette was so helpful in guiding us through the menu. The atmosphere is casual and Nicolette was friendly. You should definitely give this pub a try.

Went here during a recent visit from Arizona. Always try to stop by for lunch. My husband and I started with a shandy each. Started with appetizer order of Yorkshire pudding with gravy. Husband had the fish and chips which he said was very good. I had a vegetarian shepherds pie with a side of chips. Also delicious with plenty to take away for later. Server was friendly and prompt. She is from the UK so adds to the ambience lol. Sat outside on the patio in perfect weather.

Shakespeare Pub & Grille is... fine. The fish and chips are solid. The fish is the standout: crispy, fresh, and well-seasoned. The chips, though, are kind of just there. Not bad, but not memorable either. The overall vibe is what you'd expect from a classic British pub --dark wood, dark inside, big menu, and lots of hearty dishes. But if you're not already a fan of traditional British fare, you might walk away feeling like everything was just okay. It's not that they're doing anything wrong, it's more that the food is exactly what it says it is -- simple and heavy. That said, I do love the British shop attached. It's a fun bonus with a great selection of snacks, candy, and imported goods you don't find often. Totally worth a stop even if you don't eat in the pub. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to come here again, but if someone suggested it or I was craving fried fish, I wouldn't say no.

Great English pub in San Diego. I hadn't been here in over twenty years and nothing has changed. I didn't eat but I glanced at the menu. Everything offered look good and wonderful smells were coming from the kitchen. I had a Stella and Tullamore Dew (Neat).....Birthday The bartender was a sweet young lady. I moved from the bar and sat out on the spacious patio facing the I5 freeway. I sipped on my drink, people watched and saw the planes taking off from Lindbergh Field. There's plenty of metered street parking as well as lots. Great place!!!!!

My friend has been wanting to try this place out for awhile and we were finally able to visit on a Saturday for lunch! Their breakfast menu is from 8-11am. We started off with a flight of beer and I tried an alcoholic ginger beer which was great. For food, we got the fish & chips and shepherd pie. The portion size is pretty big, we both shared and I still had leftovers to bring home. Both the dishes was great! I enjoyed both dishes and would order them again!! It was my first time going to a British pub. They had sports game on the tv and a full bar area. Lots of variety on the menu, I'm definitely coming back to try some other dishes! Service was great, our service was very kind and attentive. Ambiance is definitely fun to come with friends and grab some drinks!

I've been here twice now to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, and I have to say the food is great. This place really comes alive on St. Patrick's Day. Service, on the other hand, has been 50/50 in my experience. During my last visit back in 2023, we celebrated the day of, so the establishment was understandably PACKED, with the wait time being around an hour or so. At that time, their was a staff member redirecting traffic from the front of the restaurant to the back where a hostess was actively adding peoples' names to a waitlist and inviting us to hang out in the beer garden outback while we waited for a table to open up. The atmosphere was great, and the service throughout our meal was also attentive. This year, 2025, we visited the Sunday before St. Patrick's, and the place was nowhere near as packed, with many tables still vacant. It was then that we were told that we could sit anywhere. Although the service this time around was lacking despite the fact that there were considerably less people, and the energy was nowhere near what we remembered from our first time here, granted we did visit the day before the actual holiday. Our server wasn't particularly friendly, and took awhile to come back after taking our drink order. Towards the end of our meal, a different server started helping us out. Both times, we ordered the "Beer Battered Pickles," which were extremely tasty as they seemed like they were fried-to-order! Paired with the chipotle mayo, they were delicious. The jalapeno aioli was good as well, with a hint of sweetness, but I much preferred the chipotle mayo. Pickles were well-seasoned with a nice crisp exterior without being dry on the inside. The "Fresh Cut 'Proper' Chips" paired with curry sauce was simple but tasty! However, after opting for the gravy this time around, I noticed that it was very watery and lacked flavor because of it. Of the two sauces, I'd recommend the curry. The "Chicken Tikka Masala" is a solid dish, with a generous portion. The chicken was tender and coated in a flavorful curry. The first time I ordered this, I opted to get half naan and chips, and everything was delicious. This time around, I tried their "Shepherd's Pie," which was delicious and was served in a hearty-sized platter. The potatoes were nice and fluffy, and the ground beef was well-seasoned. However, the chips that came with the entree were not properly salted and tasted very bland. As for drinks, I wasn't a fan of their "Harry Potter's Butter Beer," but I'll reason that it might be an accustomed taste. I also thought their "Triple Expresso Martini" was just ok. Parking is difficult, as the metered spots out front are usually taken, leaving you with no other option but to park on one of the many hills in the area.

This place went over and beyond my expectation. I came specifically for the sticky toffee because I believe this is the only place in San Diego that sells it, and it absolutely did not disappoint. I wanted to get the fish and chips but instead opted for the fish taco for a smaller portion and even that was very decently sized and tasted great. Their fish is battered very well and turned out very crispy and not dry at all. The ambiance is great as well, it has a very large indoor and outdoor seating area with a good view and in a great location too. The servers were very sweet and did not miss a beat. There's not much more that can be said about this place except that it is a must try.

Shakespeare: To Be or Not To Be... Shakespeare Pub and Grille is located on India St., in what is known as the restaurant row for the area of midtown. Limited parking spaces available in their lot with easier access without flights of steps. Some street parking also. There's indoor and covered outdoor seating and is pet friendly. Decor of English fare throughout with the British flag, Shakespeare's portraits, and do not miss your selfie/photo opp next to the red phone booth just outside. Inside, the pub aspect with a full service bar with lots of beer, wine and libation choices. I'm usually the designated driver, so a mocktail, non alcoholic version of anything is good. but the Butter Beer with whipped cream topping is fun and yummy, cheers to Harry Potter! My friend has had various beers and whiskey drinkers and all were great. The food selections on the menu has some British and other dishes popular with the masses. I've been here more often than I care to admit and have tried various foods. Unfortunately, the food here is NOT the draw, most dishes I've tried were just bloody not good: fish and chips were generously served and looked appealing but had zero taste; the cod lacked seasoning on the fish and on the batter. The chicken tikka masala tasted too acidic; probably not fresh or needed more ghee and cardamom. Again, presentation was nice but that's it. Their famous 'Full Monty' British breakfast looked hearty with lots of meats mostly pork: ham, bacon, white and black sausages All of it would be a feast for some but a pass for me, a non pork eater. My Viking friend liked it just ok. Service was good, helpful and efficient by the staff. There are about six TV monitors inside that mostly show Premier League soccer football and there were lots of people here at the crack of dawn to watch. The crowd of people were mostly fans of soccer football. Last Sunday, the American football teams: Jets v Vikings played in London and sadly the usual Vikings spot at the Garage was not open at 06:00 but Shakespeare was open and had one of the TV monitors showing that game and we were happy the Vikings won and glad that Shakespeare was open to accommodate. Perhaps the foods I had were not up to my standards, but for great drinks and a place to watch American football or soccer football in Euro time zones you can count on a place to be open super early, this is the bloody place go to and just be cheer on your team and chose 'To Be' ... at Shakespeare! Recommend

Not much to say. I wish I'd picked another spot. The bathroom cartoons were the highlight.

WIN 357! This is my first food challenge win in the state of California, which marks my 49th state with a food challenge. For a Father's Day gift, my wife gifted me with a weekend flight to San Diego, CA. I was able to take on a bucket list food challenge, which was the Shakespeare Pub Great White Whale Challenge. This challenge consists of a 2 pound filet of battered cod, 2 pounds of chips, & a side of peas. Contestants have 45 minutes to finish the challenge. For winning, contestants receive the $50 meal for free, along with a shirt. For this challenge, I was finally able to meet & eat with one of the pioneers of competitive eating, Naader "FreakEating" Reda. Back in 2010, Naader was one of the first eaters that I started following. It was a lot of fun getting to take on one of California's most iconic food challenges with him.

This was my first time coming here the place was really clean and very cold I like that I got seated right away and ordered my food I had the fish and chips which they had a special today which is fish Friday's they had the fish and chips for $9.95 super cheap portion was good for me also the food was fresh and hot definitely loved overall ambience was your average pub I liked it preciate all the staff for making my experience overall great thank you!

Saw this place on Beard Meats Food for the fish and chips challenge and had to stop in. What can I say...authentic British pub in San Diego slinging some seriously good stuff to eat and drink. Sat down fast, drank in the ambiance, and had some great food. I will say that I'm not the biggest fan of British style "chips" as they not crispy and kinda plain to eat...but the fish was freaking awesome. Other half had Bangers and Mash which was stellar as well. Service was a bit on the slow side but staff was super friendly and kept us hydrated. Brits eat here, so I'm inclined to get my Isles fix here as well. Will be back for the challenge!

This was my first experience with an English breakfast. I was not brave to try the full version but the mini Monty hit the spot. I didn't know where to begun but i first buttered my toasted bread. ( was tasty ) I can see how futbol fans can gather here and root for their team. I felt like i was sitting in a true London pub. Dark and boarded , i was ready to devour my breakfast I tried every combination i could stuff my mouth with cause i was hungry! I have been yearing for this for quite sometime and i could not fathom the reality of enjoying what my mind predicted. The fat back bacon i believe was the star and i tried to ration every combo i could. I loved the beans along with the hashbrowns. The bubble and squeak was quite tasty and i wish i had another. Will be coming back to try the full Monty

Years ago while flying back to England i met the manager of this establishment. Told me it had the best fish and chips in San Diego. I would go as far as saying the best fish and chips in California. We went yesterday for lunch with all the family and once again the food was excellent. The standout was the Steak and kidney pie. Service was great and the food came out promptly. Never been disappointed here. Food is always piping hot and the chips are without doubt the best in CA. Just need to get the original Lucozade on tap and we will all be happy

I visited on St. Patty's Day weekend for dinner. I tried the Fish N Chips and got a nice piece of cod. I requested curry to have for dipping my fries and the curry tasted more like Ameican gravy sauce. In London, Fish N Chips come with a side of curry which is a nice touch. I saw some ladies get booted after sitting down at a table that opened up. It was first come first serve seating so that shocked me. The table was given to guys who wanted to watch the TV. I was asked 6 times to give up seats at my table and had to explain I had more guests arriving. The waitress tried moving us to another table after we had our dinner too. That made me uncomfortable. More of my friends arrived and even when they got up for the bathroom, the waitress tried to take their seats away to give to another table. They dragged two of our chairs off already. I totally understand it was a busy night. Our table happened to be prime seating. Maybe if we moved to the back of the restaurant we would have been left alone to have dinner and enjoy the atmosphere.

I went to this place for the first time and it was for their Oktoberfest Pairing event! This is such a fun and cute place! They had an amazing 4 course preset meal with beer tasters for each course. They were very accommodating when I told them I was vegetarian. They had great substitutions for all of the meat course. Their vegetarian Shepard pie was so delicious! I highly recommend going to try it. The wait staff was so amazing that night. They were all so friendly and helpful! Specifically, shout out to Payton who was so attentive in making sure I got the right vegetarian dish for each course. Plus the whole waitstaff looked amazing in their Oktoberfest attire! I will definitely be back to try their normal menu and maybe even a trivia night!

We went there only because their menu said their fish and chips are voted the best in this country. Their fish and chips was very mediocre at best. The batter was super thick and felt like a deep-fried pita-bread-wrapped piece of fish. See the picture. Staff were friendly and beer was cold.

Stopped here for lunch. Nice ambience and friendly staff. We ordered grilled cod sandwich and chicken salad wrap with sweet potato fries. Our food was delicious!

The mugs hanging from the ceiling with huge engraved penises on them were fun to look at... once. If you don't live in "Hillcrest".... The staff knows it and won't take care of you. If they do decide to serve you, they will give you attitude the entire time. Soccer/futbol fans stay away. Just go to "The Field Irish Pub" in Gaslamp

Super authentic English pub experience five stars! If you have British friends, you could even bring them and they would find it to be very fun and authentic! Be sure to try the fish and chips and a pint of Guinness! The service is really nice and the ambience is absolutely perfect. Just ready to eat expect from a British pump.

So here's the thing... overall it was good but my husband and I agreed more seasoning -like salt and pepper at a minimum -were required, as everything tasted a bit bland. Everything was well cooked though. Also we both got upset stomachs shortly after dinning. I'm thinking it was the fried food- so maybe that's my fault. We got the cod bollocks, grilled fish sandwich and chicken pot pie. The staff were friendly, atmosphere is what you expect and a bit dark, didn't get alcohol but assuming selection is great. All in all, would prob not reign due to the reasons above but by no means was the food "bad".

My best friends and I celebrate an annual Christmas tradition where we get together to exchange gifts that are under $5. There are a total of 10 of us, so we each purchase 9 of the same gift and we take turns revealing our gifts. We've been doing this Christmas gift exchange since 1990. This year we celebrated our gift exchange by enjoying dinner at Shakespeare Pub & Grille. I had a satisfying meal splitting their Fish & Chips and their Traditional Sunday Roast with one of my buddies. Shakespeare is an English pub that serves British entrees as well as non-British fare. The restaurant can be reached by taking the 5 freeway, exiting off of Washington St., and heading east towards India St. If you're familiar with where El Indio Mexican Food is located, Shakespeare is just across the street from there. It shares the same building as Rubicon Deli, it's on the second floor across from Burger Deck, and it's just down the road from Lucha Libre. Parking is street parking, but there is a small parking lot towards the back of the restaurant. We ascended the stairs to enter Shakespeare and followed the signs to the pub. There is indoor table/chair seating and covered patio seating with heaters to keep you warm. It is dimly lit and gives off a vibe of dining at a British pub with decorations throughout the restaurant that hearkens to England. There are televisions around the restaurant and while we were there on a Sunday, they had a music trivia game going on. Our waitress Amy provided outstanding customer service and checked on us at a good pace. Just outside the main entrance to the pub, look to the roof where you'll see the British flag and a mannequin climbing. One of my other buddies recommended that we hold our gift exchange at Shakespeare and since he had dined here before, he had prepped us before our visit that they served English fare like fish and chips and he highly recommended their Sunday roast. Before visiting the restaurant, I had planned to order their fish and chips, but I was intrigued by the Sunday roast based on my buddy's positive reviews. After perusing their menu, I had made up my mind to order the Fish & Chips because it boldly stated that it was "Voted Best Fish and Chips in the USA." Luckily one of my other buddies wanted to try their fish and chips and since he was ordering the Traditional Sunday Roast, we agreed to split our dishes, so we can sample both entrees. The fish and chips come with a generous fillet of Pacific Cod, battered, and served with fries, cole slaw, and tartar sauce. The fish was substantial, fresh, flaky, and crunchy, but it needed seasoning. I really enjoyed the fresh cut fries, which were hearty and tasty. The cole slaw was creamy and was a delicious side. My share of the Sunday roast, which was lamb, was tender and had some tasty gravy. It also came with carrots, string beans, and potatoes. Although the gravy went well with the roast, I thought the lamb needed seasoning just like the fish needed it too. I'm blessed to have participated in this Christmas tradition with my longtime buddies for 34+ years. For this iteration, we got to enjoy some British food at Shakespeare Pub & Grille and my only issue was lack of seasoning.

A fine step into a foreign land with wonderful decor, super friendly staff and a good ambiance. I'd been meaning to try their breakfast for some time. Got here right after opening and it was nice and quiet with easy parking. The staff were all super friendly and welcoming. The place is warm and has great decor. The menu has some great classic pub fare and some real unique beers as well as cocktails you might not find most places here in the US. The food was good and it was nice to get to try something different you can't really find most places here. Even had some good English tea which was a nice touch. If you want to try something new and refreshing, come to breakfast and try for yourself.

This place is such a fun vibe, with soccer on all screens and an indoor pub and outdoor deck as seating options. Staff is always friendly here and their traditional dishes do not disappoint. I normally get the kidney pie when I'm here around dinner time but tried their full English breakfast today. Hubby had fish and chips. All delicious and Christmas decor on the deck is cute. Yum!!!!

This is always a good time! The ambiance is great and really down to earth. The service is fantastic. Everyone that helped us was friendly and offered great recommendations! The food, as usual, was great! I highly recommend taking your vegetarian friends here. The shepherds pie is my go to and my friend got the Sunday roast and he said it was amazing!

So I have to be honest it was a neat place to go but the fish and chips were not the best I've ever had I don't think they're the best in the United States they were really kind of bland none of the food there was good I can't give it four stars I can't give it five stars I gave it three because the service was good but the food did not impress me.

Came here for the first time to celebrate my sister's early birthday. Had a wonderful time and the food was amazingly delicious!

Very authentic British Pub, owned and operated by British Ex-Pats! Has the warm, welcoming, lively ambience of a local British pub! A classic, public house, gathering place! I have come back many times, and each time was a wonderful experience! Very delicious, classic British food and drink! All of the menu items are made from scratch. The authentic Fish and Chips has won numerous awards, including Best Fish & Chips in the U.S. in 2017, and San Diego's Best Fish & Chips. Delicious desserts, such as Sticky Toffee Pudding, Traditional Apple Crumble, and Chef's Cheesecake! Extensive selection of Irish and British draught beers, ciders, and cocktails! The Shakespeare Draught Samples offer flights of beer for a variety of tastes. Weeknight, Lunch, Sunday, and Happy Hour Specials! Very attentive, very friendly, helpful staff! Many of the staff are British Ex-Pats. Very well run restaurant, with smooth, efficient service! Indoor pub dining, and outdoor patio dining with a view of the downtown San Diego skyline. Great for watching sports, especially soccer. The decor inside is English Tudor style wood. Their website has parking tips; 10-minute drive to the Airport. Their slogan is well-chosen: "Welcome, Enter As Strangers Leave As Friends." Shakespeare's Corner Shoppe, adjoining the restaurant, provides "Everything from Britain without the weather." The Shoppe features British and Irish groceries, English Bakery, English Café patio, souvenirs, clothing, china, and English bone china rental. The Shoppe also features delightfully British, traditional Afternoon Tea at The Britannia Tearooms.

I have come here a couple of times. The food, appetizers and drinks are good. It is a English British pub. I really like the fried green beans. Sounds a bit strange but it is so delicious crispy and amazing taste. Can be crazy packed during any of the games. I love the outdoor siting. The sitting outside has a great view of the city/airport. It is nice, calm and cool inside. The bar inside is darker, more noisy but can watch the game. They have cool half and half beers which are like Guinness and a cider in one. Awesome spot to chill. My coworkers enjoy coming here. Everything I have tried here is delicious. I like the sausage rolls so delicious light and crispy. Great service. Ok parking. If you can find a metered spot is amazing- they have a few parking spots inside but looks a but tight.

The food is always good. Service is fine as well. They were just so service was slower than usual. A nice time had by all the Pimms Cup is a great drink and the Shepards Pie is Devine.

Disappointed beyond belief. Our order was fish and chips, which was quite greasy and tasted bland. Drinks the same; they tasted like juice, so I'm not sure if they added alcohol. I felt like I had wasted my money when I left. $150 for 3 people. Not to add the awful stench in the restrooms. I wouldn't recommend this place. I won't return.

We had not been here in quite awhile. Years ago we used to come for the Fish & Chips, a Snakebite, and a Strongbow. Neither of us drink alcohol now. We looked over the menu and saw their Fish Friday Special: $9.95 Fish & Chips. Today was Monday though (1/20/25), and the special was Burger Me Monday! A couple of $7 burgers, a side of thick fries to share, and a couple of cans of NA Ginger Beers... sounded like it would hit the spot. It wasn't very crowded in the restaurant, so the wait for food was not long. In spite of our burgers being overcooked (we ordered medium rare... the meat was definitely not pink in the middle), and the cheese was not the one that we asked for (our waitress did repeat our choice back to us, so we did order correctly)... the burgers were still very good. We don't like to send food back, as we have had a couple of unpleasant experiences in the past at other restaurants. We also shared a Spotted Dick w/custard for dessert. It was excellent. Figure close to $60 (for two people) with a decent tip. The waitress was attentive and did offer to make things right. We would get the burger special again, and we did get a bit of compensation for our burgers not being how we ordered them. We still want to come back and try the Fish Friday Special. Update: Fri 1/31/25: We came back today to try the Fish & Chips (FFS: Fish Friday Special). Normally it is $22.95 for the dinner size Fish & Chips, and $14.95 for the lunch version (as advertised on the little hanging menu at the table). The FFS is the lunch version. Our server this time was a very sweet young woman (Logan). We did order the NA Ginger Beers again, and she asked if we would like tall glasses w/ice also (and a slice of lime). Yes! And she offered to pour them too (it's nice to be pampered sometimes). Instead of just dropping off the cans of Ginger Beer at our table, her extra effort elevated our experience. Logan is an excellent server. The fish was perfectly fried and had a good flavor... the crust was crispy; not soggy nor burnt. Comes with a slice of lemon, tarter sauce, a small bowl of peas, and fries. I like that we didn't have to ask for malt vinegar... Logan sat it on the table when the food was served. Some places you pretty much have to beg for it, and then it's brought to you with a half inch of vinegar at the bottom of the bottle. Our bottle was full (and clean!). Again we had the Spotted Dick w/warm custard. We sat in the covered porch area to take in the warmth of the sun. Our bill was slightly less than last time (we didn't have to purchase fries separately). There a a few other things on the menu we would like to try. And yes, Burger Monday again. I adore Mushroom burgers.

Went for a lunchtime Premier League match. I was hugely impressed. A large selection of UK beers. I had the chicken curry lunch special with half chips and half rice and it was great. Friendly bar staff and a chilled crowd

I visited Shakespeare's Pub the other night and sat at the bar with a friend. The service was rather slow because the bartender was chatting with regulars. However, when I interrupted, he was very attentive and kind, though I felt a bit bad doing so. He recommended a new menu item called the Lancashire hot pot, which was outstanding. The meat was incredibly tender, and the gravy was flavorful and delicious. I definitely recommend trying this dish. Normally when I come here, I always get the shepherds pie, which is also fantastic and that's why I never stray from it. My friend got the fish and chips and she said that the fish was crispy and delicious, but the portion was too big. I also had a chocolate stout from a bottle, which was very, very good. I'll definitely be back to Shakespeare's again.

I was very disappointed that we received our food before our drinks. We ordered the drinks and food at the same time and the food got there within five minutes, while the drinks took at least 10-12 minutes. I don't know about you, but when I go somewhere for a meal, I usually like to start out with drinks first. The fish and chips were good, the fish crispy. The server was very nice and tried her best to accommodate us. There was a mix-up with food allergies. The drink I tried, Guinness Royale, was delicious, probably my new favorite way to drink a Guinness!

This is a veritable Wee Britain. Just watch out for the Poppins doll that appears twice daily!

Food was tasty and delightfully ʻBritishʻ! Iʻve never had a Scotch egg before and it was one of my favorite things about our meal. Fried pickles were average. We should have picked something else - so many places offer fried pickles. My Steak and Ale pie was delicious, but all meat, gravy and mushrooms. If I stop by again, Iʻd try a different pie. Maybe thereʻs something with more vegetables. Bangers and mash? Of course! Potatoes and gravy were terrific. Bangers (sausages) didnʻt have any ʻsnapʻ, like grilled sausages do, but still tasted nice. It might be a different method of preparation for this dish. I had a salad instead of fries, with a classic Balsamic vinaigrette and that was a smart decision: pastry, meat, and potatoes made for a very full stomach. Service was friendly and quick. Atmosphere was lively but not loud. I noticed the late night crowd (we arrived at 9pm) was older, like 30-50, and all seemed to having fun conversations with an eclectic mix of background music: classic Sinatra standards to modern, mellow rock pop. Iʻd definitely come again, when in the mood for a taste of the British Isles!

There is no better place for fish n chips in San Diego than right here! It just so happens to be the place for proper football. Just took my daughter for her first Guinness. The bartender ensured she had a great time and educated her on her fine beverage. The staff here are great and I'm always impressed with Logan and the others who make each visit special. Don't forget the authentic English Shoppe also!

If you like Fish & Chips & Soccer... look no further. This neighborhood spot has been voted best fish & chips in San Diego & I get why. They have do fish & chips very well. Tucked away in San Diego's International Restaurant row, Shakespeare appears to always be busy but I've never had to wait. They have excellent service and easy going staff. The food always comes quickly & is delicious. A standard British pub with an extensive menu & excellent beer menu, Try It!

TV was on SO loud for a shitty Celtic game that I paid for my pint and left. I even asked them to turn it by down and they didn't know how. Surly and bloody unfriendly staff. Get on top of the electronics and hire some better bar staff you bunch of wankers.

Cannot recommend this place at all. I was doing research on good fish & chips in San Diego and surprisingly many people referred me to Shakespeare. Yet what I had here was the blandest fish and chips I've ever had. The seating was also sticky and hot outside, and the service wasn't great. At the end of the visit I was left with a big bill and a unsatisfied appetite.

This is the best British pub in SD (maybe the US). My brother-in-law who is from the UK wanted to watch an obscure rugby match and I suggested we go here. They had the game on and better yet it hit all of his requirements for a British pub with the correct English Bacon, beer selection, and games. The fish n chips is the best I've had and is massive. They had Harry Potter trivia this Thursday which was fun and whenever there is a futbol match it is POPPING! I have been coming here since I was a kid and it still is the best. Waitresses are superb and nice too! You can grab dinner here and then go to the National Comedy Theater next store to catch a hilarious show. Highly recommend!

It's an authentic British pub. It's wasn't overly busy on a Saturday night that we were easily able to a table. They have a wide selection of beers and mixed drinks. The menu primarily focuses on British food which isn't my favorite. However the fried green beans were delicious! The fries with curry were just okay. Our server seemed to be in a bad mood but she at least came by pretty frequently.

Great pub for watching F1 or soccer. The fish and chips were excellent and appetizers of green beans and fried pickles were good. Beer selection was really fun and true to a British pub. Staff was friendly and service very quick. Parking can be a challenge at busy hours, but there is plenty of street parking up the hill.

Paid by card. I went here on a Sunday morning and it was pretty busy. Shakespeare is located upstairs and offers some street parking. It was a little difficult to find parking so I had to drive around for about 5 minutes. Looks like a lot of people were here to watch the games. I ordered a salad and people in my party tried to do the food challenge. Salad was a little wilted but I don't think people come here much for salad. The people in my party who did the food challenge liked the fish and chips but they were unable to finish in 45 minutes. Overall the experience was ok. The location is difficult to find parking and the stairs to the seating area were narrow. The service was a little slow here.