The Playwright Irish Pub Restaurant &Banquet Facility — Restaurant in Hamden

Rather disappointed after giving Playwright a chance during Hamden's restaurant week. Service was what you would expect during this time of Covid - a bit sluggish but not bad service. What was so terrible was the quality of the food. I started with the potato leek soup but the soup should have never made its way out of the kitchen. I've never tasted a soup that had no flavor. This soup tasted literally like nothing. I thought I would at least taste the flour base but honestly it was the most unique experience I've ever had with soup. Just nothing. Our server suggested to bring me a salad instead (which was appreciated) after I mentioned the soup. Salad was a tad wilty but the dressing was nice and the bowl was cold. Our server brought out a coke and told us that if it's not tasting right we should tell her. I still cannot understand why she would say this and serve this knowing full well it was all kinds of nasty. Dishwasher nasty. Not flat, the soda had plenty of bubbles. Perhaps moldy soda lines might be the cause. Skip the soda here for the beer. We said something, yet again, and were very pleased with a bottled Foxon Park soda (ironically the best tasting item of the meal!). I ordered a steak medium rare which came out half well done on one side and medium well done on the other side. I ended up switching meals with another guest as I was not interested in waiting for another steak. Even if cooked correctly, the steak was so chewey and of such inferior quality for a new york strip which clearly means it has sat in a back fridge for close to a week. When our server asked about it we decided it was just easier to switch than to make again. The raviolis I switched for were edible and the lobster was able to be tasted inside. The sauce was heavy and needed so much more flavor. The spinach was surprisingly disgusting and inedible. Too bad, I love spinach. To finish off we had the apple crisp and the tiramisu. The apple crisp was so soft and caustic and really didn't taste good at all. The cream topping of the teramisu was smooth and creamy, and tasted rather well. The bottom layers were soaked in coffee and just a little too much. I ordered local beer (counter weight) which was super delicious and crisp. Think I'll head to the...

I came here with my family tonight and we were very disappointed in our meal. I 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. My brother 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 !...

My first question is "How did we not come here sooner?!" This was an absolutely wonderful culinary adventure. My husband and I decided that we wanted an Irish Breakfast (Eggs, thick cut bacon, pork sausage, black and white pudding, baked beans, eggs, toast, grilled tomato and if you're lucky, Irish oat bread ) and searched all over the internet for a local pub that did Irish breakfast. The Playwright was a little out of our way but we were determined. Let me just say that we were not disappointed. The Irish fry up was superb and exactly what we were looking for. Not only that but our waitress was utterly delightful. I told her I had a sore throat and she went out of her way to make me up a tea cocktail to help soothe it. I cannot wait to come back here and bring all of our friends and family. Thank you so much for a lovely meal and great experience. We...