Shakespeare Arms

The music was so loud we couldn't hear each other talk. When my 84 year old mother asked the DJ to please turn down the music, he insulted her and did not. The manager did not talk to the DJ when we complained, and when we left he yelled something rude at my sister. The atmosphere is dark and dingy, the food was horrible and the staff clearly not enjoying working there. A very toxic environment. There are much better places to eat where the staff actually treat you like the valued customer you are.

went with my ball team for wings and beer tonight. wings were adequate until i bit into the raw one. my server (sam according to the receipt) didn't offer an apology, but did offer the insight that it was likely due to that wing being larger than the others (an observation both brilliant and useful). when the bills came, she had removed the price of one wing from my bill, but had added a charge for extra sauce which i did not order. i told her about this inaccurate charge, she questioned me about it again, i repeated myself, and she walked away saying "you don't have to be rude about it".
after serving raw chicken to a customer, removing the price of one wing from the bill seems inadequate. calling that customer rude after potentially giving them food poisoning and then adding extra charges to their bill is beyond inadequate. it's stupid and terrible service. i've been going to this pub for a long time, but certainly won't be back after this terrible experience.

First time there this weekend for breakfast. We were early and there were only two other tables that were occupied. Yet the servers, polishing cutlery at the bar and gossiping, just looked at me as though I was a bother when I stepped through the door (I think I was interrupting their conversation with my presence) and then turned back to their chat.

Eventually, I guess the manager (I'm guessing she was as she wasn't wearing black like the other girls) showed me to a table where I waited for my husband.

When he got in and saw me, came over and sat while they ignored him too, we waited at least five minutes for someone to come over and offer coffee.

I wanted to go. Hubby, thought that since we were already there...

Eventually we were able to place our orders with the most obnoxious server. When we tried to give our orders from the breakfast menu that only has five choices, she rudely interrupted my husband and told him to wait while she wrote 'over easy'. Heck, I guess her brain cell can only accommodate four syllables at a time.

When we got our meals, which she banged down so hard on the table it made my coffee slop over, she just turned and flounced off.

She did come back at some point to snap 'Coffee?' and then flounced off again.

While my husband was unimpressed but chose to focus his attention on the golf game being aired, I watched her and the other servers who only perked up when a group of young guys came in.

I don't know how long this establishment has been around, but someone did mention to me afterward that the Arms was constantly in need of help. If these servers are any indication of the type of help they're getting then they're in serious trouble.

We work too hard for our money to shell it out to people who make us feel like they're doing us a favour by waiting on us.

Would we go back? Only if they get rid of the servers (especially the blond who thinks her __ don't stink). Otherwise we'll enjoy the drive to kitchener where they've proven that they appreciate our business.

Worst. Pub. Ever.

The food is decent and the atmosphere is great....you always see people you know, having a good time. I've had a few really fun nights there. However, the owner/manager should be completely ashamed of his horrible staff. I've never witnessed such childish & rude behaviour before in my life. They are so incredibly unprofessional and disrespectful towards paying customers. I will never, ever go back.... well, maybe I would consider it if a few staff members were replaced with people who know how to do their job and actually act like adults rather than 15 year olds. Not holding my breath, though, as I fear these types of servers/bartenders are part of the "charm" of the place and keep some customers coming back time and time again, if you know what I mean. Yuck.

Best breakfast I've had in years!

I'm a very hard person to impress and most people hate going to restaurants with me because I rip everything apart. I've been working in some of the best kitchens in Ontario for 18 years so my expectations are very high and im almost always dissapointed in either the food, service or atmosphere everywhere I go so if I'm saying that I have nothing to complain about, that really means something!

I know it's only breakfast but as I said, I'm almost always dissapointed and for once I'm at a loss for complaints. The eggs, bacon and hashbrowns were all cooked perfectly and the garnish was fresh. The servers and hostesses were very happy and friendly and the bathrooms (although the locks on the stalls were both broken) were extreemely spotless.

Finally someone doing things right!!!
Koodos from someone who almost NEVER gives it!

Good on you, i'll be back

Chef Terry Foster

The food was great as was the atmosphere. It is a busy place at times which results in a bit of a wait at times but it is well worth it. You will not be dissapointed.

Terrible food! Just awful. I am a huge foodie and I can tell pre cooked food from fresh from the fryer food. The fish and wings are pre cooked for sure. The fish had a tough dry taste too it, like it was fried before same with the wings. I think that is terrible how difficult is it too deep fry food to order? Not very hard! The meatloaf tasted as if it was microwaved and the potatoes were not real, out of the bag or box for sure. Antojitos are basically two tortilla shells with a pile of cream cheese in the middle, and it costs $10.49 way over priced for something you can make at home for about $2 bucks. Also I love Sheppard’s Pie, but Shakespeare’s ruined it for me, dried out beef with fake mash potatoes...gross the best part was the real cheese on top. Terrible place to eat, awful service.

Shakespeare's is a pub, its very crowded and noisy. The food is just great however, a lot of British inspired dishes on the menu which all taste amazing. This isn't the problem, it is probably one of my favourite places - in terms of meal quality, in guelph, the problem however, comes with the service.

The service is just horrible, they are constantly understaffed, and you will be waiting a long time to get a server, then an even longer time to get anything from that server. If your entire table goes up to the bathroom, the servers have been known to move your coats and reassign your table - i saw this happen multiple times.

It is also over crowded, too many tables squeezed into such a small space. I understand its a pub, and the bar is always very very busy, but they would get on a lot better if they tried to separate these things.

Annoyingly as well, one time I went they had a magician going around table to table annoying people as they ate, which really made me want to leave.

The food is the only thing this one has going for it, and food is just amazing. Perhaps if it was your regular pub, you would enjoy the atmosphere more, but I just find it very overwhelming and very noisy, too noisy to enjoy dinner conversation.

We went to the Shakespeare Arms for dinner. It was very busy and we had a nice table in a quiet part of the restaurant. I ordered a steak and Kidney pie. It arrived as a stew instead of what a steak and kidney pie is supposed to be made like. Also the salad was brought with the meal which I can not understand how they expect for you to eat cold salad with a hot meal. When I complained they told me that is the way they serve it, However, they tried to bring me what I wanted and offered me a $5 discount for my next visit.

Probably a great place to meet you friends and drink beer but only eat there if you are really hungry.

I hear the fish and chips are good here so I will give them one more chance.

Nothing special about the place - the food is ok for a pub, it has the usual variety found in Brit Pubs and they do a good job of keeping the drinks cold.
But,
Racism in a restaurant is subtle. No one acknowledges that colored people aren't served fairly - (or more appropriately - not served at all) because of their skin color. But colored people have enough experience to sniff out when an establishment partakes in this kind of behavior and does not like to serve them, and this is one of those places unfortunately. I have been going to this place for several months now as this serves as convenient meeting place for a group of us to meet up after a hard working week. To demonstrate the behavior, I have waved my white friends over to the bar after I get there first, to get drinks and much to their amazement / disappointment, they always get served while I or my colored friends wait until we simply cannot be ignored anymore - The usual actions is for them to serve anyone but us.

I would like to point out that we always attend the premises well dressed and have never been overly intoxicated or caused any problems that would give cause to us being banned or thrown out of this place. (Just in case that might be an excuse)