Shakespeare's Pizza - Downtown

I am completing all “100 things to do in Columbia, MO” book (by MU professor Steven Paul Sayers) and I make reels about them. We are from KC I am ashamed to admit I lived here 5 years before trying Shakespeares. We had a Friday off and completed 12 things in the book in the middle of the day. Pizza was decent. Beer was cold and booths were cozy. Thanks for having us. My only wish is for a thinner crust.

One of the best pizza places in town, and without a doubt, the most famous one yet! From the moment you step inside, the aroma of freshly baked dough and sizzling toppings sets the stage for an unforgettable meal. Their pizzas are juicy, flavorful, and prepared with fresh ingredients all day, every day. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, this spot is a must-try. The location is conveniently close to Mizzou, making it a perfect stop for students and visitors alike. If you enjoy dining outdoors, the restaurant offers a cozy and inviting outdoor seating area, ideal for soaking up the atmosphere while enjoying your slice. This place is a hard recommend for anyone new to town or looking for a reliable, delicious spot to grab quality pizza.

Iconic place to grab a slice or pizza in downtown Columbia. They definitely do not skimp on toppings! Fun atmosphere with lots of memorabilia from establishments of old Columbia. Every turn has a new view. We went on a Saturday night, all the students had left for break, so no wait. Things were running a little short (only forks, had to grab Parmesan and Red Pepper flakes from another table) in the serve yourself area. Louie salad is a must although not sure if they changed it a bit. Could have sworn it was mixed for you in the past and now a small plastic cup filled with dressing on the side. You might need two to adequately cover your salad. As with most things, change is inevitable. We will keep going back as we have enjoyed Shakespeare’s for many years and created many memories.

Working in Columbia this week, and of course, we had to stop by Shakespeare's Pizza--one of the city's most iconic spots. This was probably my fourth or fifth time visiting, so I already knew we were in for something good. We started with a 10-piece garlic bread to share, which hit the spot right away. Each of us ordered our own pizza, and I decided to try the meat lover's for the first time. It was a bit greasy (as expected with all the meats), but they definitely don't hold back on the toppings--it was loaded and absolutely delicious. The place has plenty of seating and gives off a cool, old-school restaurant vibe that adds to the experience. The staff was friendly, quick, and efficient, and the service overall was top-notch. Shakespeare's never disappoints. It's a must-visit every time I'm in Columbia, and I'll definitely be back again.

Lovely and kind staff. I used to live in Columbia as a kid and coming back to Shakespeare's Pizza is like coming home. So much history. The pizza being bomb is the bonus! Try the sausage! Some of the best I've had.

When your in Columbia, you must have the pizza. Ollies salad has my bride hooked and the pizza is amazing. Order at the counter find a seat and wait for your slice or pie to bake. So good

Great cheese pizza. Great environment. *New visit* The "Good Ol Plain Cheese Pizza" is fantastic. But the MASTERPIECE will feed your family for generations and is delicious.

Good pizza and amazing layout of the entire restaurant! Beautifully decorated thru and thru! It was intriguing to walk around, and there was seating around each corner! The pizza was good, and the daily special was a good deal! We tried to ask the cashier (big guy in the photo) what the best way was to order or do we just sit down? He said, "Well, what do you want?" In an unfriendly condescending question! I advised him our party would wait as few minutes. We watched as others ordered full pizzas from the cashier, or purchased by the slice from the chefs making the pies! We purchased single slices and bottles of drinks to simplify the process. Seating was found in the high-top booth area, with plenty of room! We had to walk a block from the free parking garage to the restaurant! It's worthy of another meal when in the area.

Always a great stop on our way back to Kansas City. Of course the pizza is a lot better when you eat it there, but the kids at home always want us to bring them a pizza from there.

There is a reason that this place is the a local staple for pizza. It's old school, as in your order at the counter, find a seat and wait for them to call your name. So don't stress the place is huge, just find a seat and then wait for the announcement. Grab a drink at the bar while you wait and take in all the history this place has to offer. We ordered a large pie between the four of us. We went traditional half cheese and half pepperoni. We also got two salads and garlic bread. This pizza took me back to the jersey shore growing up, coming off the beach and sitting sandy in a wooden booth waiting for the best pizza. It's was perfect (and we all know I'm a pizza snob). The sauce was sweet and robust, the cheese was perfectly melted and the crust was the perfect bite of crunch. Keep it up y'all

Shakespeare's was really nice! We came in yesterday after a campus tour with my step-son who just graduated and had a light lunch with a few salads and one large pizza. Loved the vibe inside and how they announce your name over the PA system when your order is ready. Our food was promised in 35 minutes and probably took less than 20. Fresh and delicious. The pizza was good - we kept it simple with cheese, pepperoni and Canadian bacon. My mother-in-law and I both got salads and they were large and delicious. We chose the smallest, regular size, and found them to be generous portions. Location is on a busy corner just a short walk from broadway and leading right onto the MU campus. Plenty of street and nearby parking.

The young woman at the pizza counter wearing her hat backwards was extremely rude about me having my hand 2" past the glass ...and there is no clearly posted sign saying you will be yelled at for doing so... She then proceeded to plate my pizza with cheese hanging well off the plate and then slid my plate over the cheese under the plate and on the counter, pulling more cheese under the plate, contaminating the pizza on their grubby counter. All around disgusting service for a pizzeria interested in cleanliness.

If you visit Columbia or live in the area, you have to try Shakes. The pizza quality is always too notch. They do have a gluten free option. Their salads are also fresh and tasty. Though parking can be a challenge, they've expanded the original location so that finding a table doesn't seem to be an issue. They still have the same kitschy decor with old signs and wood paneling, staying true to their roots. The staff is friendly and helpful, giving me details and showing me they were using a dedicated cutter for the gluten free pie. Enjoy this community staple celebrating 50 years in 2023!

Just OK. The gluten free pizza crust wasn't fabulous. I know that seems crazy that something that lacks a critical component (flour) wouldn't be amazing - but its been done... gluten free pizza crust has been profoundly perfected and you can find remarkably delicious gluten free pizza. The sauce was lacking flavor, the crust was just OK, I didn't really feel like this was the COMO MUST EAT location that the college kids raved about nostalgically... We waited a VERY long time for the pizza and in fairness it was the tail end of homecoming weekend. It was nice to try but I probably would have rather grabbed something quick on the road and then headed home to a tried-and-true pizza joint that I know is truly worth the $100 to eat there for a family of 4.

My favorite from my college days. Love that when it was rebuilt that it looks like the old restaurant but with more space! Still has the same vibe and charm. Prices have gone up some, so be prepared for a little sticker shock. Still an amazing pizza and worth the stop! I have about 20 Shakespeare's cups here with me living in NC!

I'd give this place a 4/5. The food is nothing that it's hyped up to be. The pizza is just pizza. The drinks are just drinks. However, the vibe is immaculate. The pizza tastes good because you're around friends. I always have a great time here and I give it all to the brick walls, decor, loud chatter,cool building layout, etc.... Its classic COMO combo and I have many memories here!

Our first time visiting Columbia, so we had to try it after reading recommendations. I can see why it's a tradition. HUGE place, lots of seating. Our pizza came out piping hot. Pepperoni and jalapeños toppings. Both plentiful. The pepperoni was nice and thick. Friendly service especially at the bar. The only thing I would do is create house made salad dressings. Very minor thing, really. Loved this visit!

Great local pizza place. Its more of a self service restaurant. Its great for large groups with plenty of seating. The staff is very friendly and usually give the kids pizza dough to play with. Kids really enjoy the pizza.

Fun environment and spacious! Pizza and garlic cheesy bread were really good! Good beer selection. Pizza can take a while, which was no problem to me, it's made fresh so don't expect a quick in and out!

Ok while Shakespeare's is good.... I have to admit... I think it gets a little too much hype. I know its kinda famous in Como, but there is better pizza out there. I don't want to hate on it too much because it is still good pizza!!! I'm just saying, it might be talked about a little too much. The reason I think this place is slightly over hyped is because their crust is not my favorite. It's slightly bland, although I do really like the thickness of it. They also don't have anything super unique about their pizzas or salads that I couldn't find at another pizza place. My favorite from here is their veggie pizza. As you can see from the picture its LOADED with toppings. The combo of olives, red onions, green peppers, and mushrooms is such a classic making this good if I'm just craving a basic veggie slice of pizza. This location is also GIANT. It's seriously like a maze in there, so I recommend here if you have a big group. Being in downtown Columbia, parking is a bit tough most places, but this Shakespeares does have a small lot right around the corner dedicated just to Shakespeares customers which is nice.

Delicious pizza and fast & friendly service! Tons of seating, too! Generous sizes for the prices, too!

This well known college campus spot is the place to be to grab n go slice or meet up with friends or hang with family. Classic for ages. They make one of a kind pizza infront of you. Love love love this spot.

9 years later and an update: (1) It's not busy in the summer when the students are gone which is nice. (2) Add: They don't cook the pizzas long enough and they come out mushy, sloppy messes (3) Didn't have any paper napkins when we went so we couldn't sop up the massive grease pools from our pizza. Regardless, my kids seem to like it and we end up here every time we visit the grandparents. I probably should give it an extra star for the Streetside Records (I spent so much $$ there) and the Liquor, Guns, and Ammo signs that I drove by every day on the way to school 8 million years ago.

What can I say about Shakespeare's that hasn't already been said? It's a staple in Columbia for a reason. The waitstaff is all very friendly. The pizza is absolutely delicious with a hint of St. Louis pizza cheese gooey, melty flavor but this has a normal hand tossed style crust. For me and anyone who has ever spent time in Columbia, Shakespeare's feels like home a reason - it can't be beat.

Monday night. Street parking. You have the option for a slice or full pizza. Got an individual pizza, pepperoni and mushrooms. Pizza was good. Enjoyed the fresh ingredients and would get it again. The salad was average. Order at the counter. Pizza was ready quickly. There's also a freezer with ice cream.

Food was great! Delivery was almost seamless. A little pricey, but worth it. We all enjoyed the food.

We went to the south location because there was outdoor seating. Huge place inside too. Pizza was delicious. They put large slices of veggies on it rather than dicing them. I had pepper jack cheese added but really couldn't taste it. The sauce was good. Pizza was not too greasy. Cheesy bread tasted better than I expected. Ordering was easy and food was ready sooner than expected.

I'm giving Shakespeare's Pizza 4 stars, not for the quality of the pizza, but for everything else it provides. Shakespeare's really is a Columbia staple. It has been around since 1973 and is a family-favorite. I don't think it's the best tasting pizza in town, but it does have an awesome atmosphere! Not only is this a great place to bring your family, but I enjoy getting drinks at Shakespeare's before moving to the other bars on a night out. Also, the pizza menu is pretty creative! My favorite is Panda's Pepper, which is pepper jack cheese, pepperoni, green peppers, jalapeños, and banana peppers (I usually get it without the pepperoni, though). The Masterpiece is another popular option, but you can also build your own pizza if you don't find one on the menu that you like! As always, support local :)

Columbia staple for a reason! The vegan pizza is great and they put the perfect amount of cheese on it -- the vegan cheese is also nut free. The pizza with regular cheese are also really good and there are many toppings. The salads are big and there are quite a few options. Pizzas have always come out pretty quick even when they are super busy.

Delicious pizza friendly atmosphere and an all a round good time. Came here with my son's baseball team and other parents during a tournament in Columbia. Nice establishment

I found Shakespeare Pizza a good pizza restaurant. Your servings are large, there's not much pizza sauce on the pizza, and mostly it's the cheese that really makes the pizza. It's thick, stringy, and has a rich cheese flavor. You have to order at the counter, and then they call you for your pizza. Its atmosphere is nostalgic, as the interior mostly was made of brick walls. It takes about a half hour to wait for a pizza, and you have to get your own utensils and drinks. Overall, I found the quality of the food and the atmosphere good, But there's really no service as you have to pick up the food and drinks from the counter.

Hate to drop off a star from my first review but last weekend the garlic cheese bread was not only really dry, but the buttery garlic flavor was almost non existent and severely lacking on the cheese. Hate to see this since this Garlic cheese bread (as mentioned in my first review) is kind of the reason I come here. Hopefully it was just a fluke. The pizza on the other hand was fabulous, and better than I had remembered, specifically the crust. Perfectly crispy and chewy. No shortage of bacon on my pepperoni and bacon pie so hat tip to that as well, could have also used a touch more cheese however. Bottom line, I'll be back next time I'm rolling through town. It's unique enough to want to make the trek, as well as if good enough to easily beat out any chains around if your really craving pizza.

Great pizza & fresh Plenty of options and several locations to grab quick. Definitely a favorite

Home of Columbias most legendary pizza. Boasting a lovely ambience that screams "pizza place" and also good beer! There is no doubt you will enjoy yourself, and it's a great setting for larger gatherings. The pizza is good, it's just this is a college town with a number of pizza places whose pies I enjoy more. Touch crowd? Yeah. Again, this is a college town!!

Cute College bar/restaurant. Family-friendly dining, or good for just drinks. 12.95$ for a small 6 slice pizza is a fair price, and I enjoyed the crust being crispy, soft, and seasoned. Got a soda water with lime from the bar which was free, and it came in a reusable plastic cup! Staff was constantly on the floor cleaning off tables and such, but there was a tinge of a mildew odor. (What can you expect...College right?!) staff was very friendly and cute when they announced your order. Regular size salad was a generous serving, maybe would've liked it tossed a bit more. Cute spot!

Nasty nasty nasty no way id eat this pizza anywhere anytime. I would recommend this to a person I didn't. Like

Amazing food! Friendly people. We will definitely be back again. Had leftovers and they were easily reheated and just as incredible.

We were visiting Columbia, MO and tried out this iconic location. We had a good time and the food was good. A lot of very nice college students work there and other locations in Columbia, and they are very nice and extremely curious. Go there if you are ever in Columbia.

The food was amazing, my party ordered a variety of pizzas and they were all done within 30 mins! The place is huge, spacious and everyone was so friendly! Would definitely go again!

Love their pizza and get it every time we are in Columbia. Enjoy taking the college kids too!

Love the crust on the pizza here! It was medium thin and crispy. About $20 for a medium sized pizza loaded with toppings. The $7 Ollie Salad was pretty good, too - spinach, cranberries, walnuts and red onion topped with mandarin orange slices. They have a parking lot in the back. .|\---/| | o_o | .\_^_/..2021

This location has a ton of seating which is very nice when going during a busier time. The pizza and the service is good. I think what makes this place so great is the atmosphere.

I went at a low traffic time, which I don't mind, because that usually means I'll get my order sooner. I asked where the menu was, and the guy at the register was kind enough to not make me feel silly about asking for the menu that was directly in front of me. They have lots of options but I was in the mood for something simple and personal so I ordered a slice of cheese pizza and a slice of sausage pizza. I took a stroll around the restaurant while i waited and it felt the way an Italian pizzeria should feel: authentic and homey. As for the food, the dough had a pleasantly surprising crust to it; it was crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. I was concerned that the thick crust would overpower the pizza as a whole but it never did. My only issue with the sausage pizza is that the sausage was so sparse that it looked as if it made it on the pizza by accident. Maybe they use high quality sausage so they don't toss it on by the handful. Either way, the pizza was tasty and the portion was more than I expected. I officially understand why Shakespeare's is considered one of Columbia's not so hidden gems.

I was told by a friend that this was a must try while in Columbia, MO, and it did not disappoint. When you walk in, you walk past a large window to the kitchen area and you can watch the chefs make the dough and the pizzas while you wait for your food. The menu is on the smaller side, so if you are anything like me that's a good thing because it takes away the stress from the overwhelming amount of choices. I ordered the Panda's peppers pizza and oh my goodness was it delicious. It had so many toppings and so much cheese that the slices were kinda hard to hold without a few of the toppings falling off, but it was totally worth the struggle. I'm not usually a crust eater when it comes to pizza, but the crust was so good that I ended up eating every last bite. I also really liked the sauce they use. I'm kind of picky when it comes to pizza sauces, I really hate when the are on the sweeter side, but the sauce was super yummy and flavorful without being too sweet. The only reason I knocked a star off this was due to the customer service I experienced while I was ordering (it would've been a 4.5 if half stars were an option,lol). The person taking my order was kind of rude when I asked about the popular menu items and it just wasn't a great first impression, but the guy who gave me my pizza was super nice so he evened it out. I would definitely recommend stopping by Shakespeare's if you like good pizza with a chill atmosphere and you are in the Columbia area!

Love it! The cheesy garlic bread, the perfect pizza crust, the fountain drink options- Coke and Pepsi products, ample seating, love it all! It's a must do when in Como!

First and foremost, whatever you do, order it well done. From slices to pies - thin crust is best. Nice little college town pizza joint. Can get busy during game days. The workers are always friendly and working hard to get you your pizza. Don't forget - well done!

Way overcooked and way over salted. We are in town for business and we wanted to try something local. We just couldn't eat it. We ordered it for take out because it had such rave reviews. Perhaps it was just a bad night and ours got cooked longer than most Shakespeare pizzas. Perhaps there was a freak accident with the salt shaker. Perhaps some people just like it this way and give it such high reviews because it's difficult to find pizza this salty and this well done. We just couldn't it.

Terrific pizza and garlic bread. Nice, casual atmosphere. Friendly staff. Really enjoyed it.

I gotta say for all the hype, our recent order took way too long, was very expensive, and was actually burned on the bottom. I would also go on to say that the multi topping pizza we ordered was not very tasty. Very difficult to say it was worth it. They need to focus on quality at these prices and customer service.

I've eat here and my class when I was in high school use to come help clean and they give us pizza and soda after they taught us alot about cleaning and customer service it was one of the best experience I have had and never will forget

A Columbia classic. Everyone here knows Shakespeares and the pizza. Good pizza, decent selection of salads, wine, and beer. Great for any size group or carry out.

Shakespeares is awful. Their pizza dough is way to thick. The only good thing about them is their sauce and cookies. The service is average and it's good when they throw kids the ball of dough except the fact that it's sticky and gross

I was in town for a work trip and walked past this spot on my way to a coffee shop. I decided to go here with a few coworkers for dinner. It was VERY busy but they got our order out quickly. You have to give them your name and they call you up when it's ready. It was super fresh and delicious. They also have a bar that serves beer and wine. It was a mixed group of people. Overall, cool vibes.

The best dine-in pizza experience in town. Friendly staff. Big tables for groups. Noise is amazingly well controlled. Pizza size and crust make the meal tasty.

We ordered two pizzas for pickup and weren't very impressed. The pizza was nothing special. Sauce was pretty tangy, robust and Tomato-y, but the cheese was average and the dough was pretty stale - seemed like frozen. There were a lot of pizza options in Columbia and we went with Shakespeare's because they were ranked #1 on Yelp. Some who went to school also suggested it, but I wouldn't recommend it. Can't comment on the atmosphere.

Pizza was okay, guess I expected better though based on the reviews. It took a while to make too (the restaurant wasn't very crowded either), and it was just one pizza with 3 toppings. Overall it was okay but we wouldn't hesitate to go elsewhere too.

Great pizza! Excellent service and good delivery service. Always the best for my money.

The pizza was just ok. I was probably expecting better based on other reviews. The place was big and and was pretty quiet. We didn't need service other than just placing our order. The pizza was ready fairly quick.