The Playwright Irish Pub — Restaurant in New York

2 for dinner and drinks on Sunday night. The food was delicious. The shady gratuity charge was not.

Waiter came and took our order and then disappeared. A different person brought our food out. Our waiter didn’t come back to check on us until 30 minutes later, after we had already finished our food. He was not attentive and we had to order other drinks at the bar because he never came back. After another 30 minutes of waiting, he finally came around to give us our check.

When we were checking out on the handheld POS machine, we noticed the total was much higher than anticipated, but he was rushing through the process and quickly presented the screen where it asks for a tip. After applying a tip he quickly selected “no receipt” and then he disappeared. The total just didn’t feel right based on the food and drinks we ordered, so we went to the bartender to get a printout of our receipt. We are surprised to see that a 20% gratuity add-on charge had been added to our bill without anyone informing us.

We were never informed of an additional gratuity charge and there was no signage indicating if this was an existing restaurant policy. The waiter noticed us at the bar and came over, asking if there was a problem. We asked him about why the 20% gratuity charge was added and he started fumbling but couldn’t give us a reason. He said we would refund us the charge but then proceeded to charge us again for the entire bill, including the 20% gratuity add-on. We pointed out we still had not been refunded and he finally processed the refund for the 20% gratuity charge.

Bar tab attached below. Suggesting to stay far away from this shady...

I had a wonderful evening at Playwright. I met the owner John and was immediately struck by his warm, welcoming demeanor. As we chatted, his passion for craft beer and meeting people became evident - he's been in the industry for over two decades and knows his brews inside and out. The pub itself has this perfect balance of cozy traditional charm and modern comfort, with rich wooden furnishings and soft ambient lighting that creates an inviting atmosphere.

The beer selection is impressive, with both local craft options and carefully chosen international brews. John recommended their Brooklyn beer which turned out to be a perfect choice.

What really sets Playwright apart, though, is how John has created a space that feels like a neighborhood living room. Throughout the evening, I noticed him greeting regulars by name and taking time to help newcomers discover new favorites from their tap list. The background music was kept at just the right level for conversation, and the crowd was a friendly mix of locals and visitors.

If you're looking for a pub that combines exceptional beer with genuine hospitality, Playwright is a must-visit. John's attention to detail and commitment to quality shows in everything from the perfectly poured pints to the well-maintained draft lines. I'll definitely be...

We were in the city on Sunday, my family and I were taking in the holiday sights. After going to Macy’s we decided to grab a bite to eat before heading to the tree. We went to Playwrights Irish Pub as we heard good things. After going upstairs and being seated, a manager came up to us and said we would have to leave by 3:30 as this was a room for Dallas Cowboy Fans. It was only 2:30 and we were not planning on dining, just grabbing a bite. We all assured him we would be gone before 3:30. We all thought this was strange, especially since we are in NY. When the waiter came to take our order, my son asked if they could put on the Giants game on the TV at our table. He said, with quite an attitude, we don’t play the Giants games here, people have paid a lot of money to have this floor for Dallas fans! Several other games were being played at other tables. He said we could go downstairs and find a table. I asked him if he was serious, and he said yes! So I told my family let’s go,I have never felt so discriminated against. We went to a different Irish Pub, had a great meal, great time, watched the end of the game. I just wonder if it’s okay to discriminate against fans of...