Shakespeare's Steak and Seafood in Hamilton

Food as always was amazing, steak melted in my mouth, Peter was incredible, provided great service

The best restaurant I have ever eaten at in addition to impeccable service!!! Thank you

Vegetarian options: Non that I recall Food

This is a very classic steakhouse and Hamilton s best. Service is pro level.

Wow! Best meal that I have had in a long time!

Great food. Great service.

Great service, better steaks, the little candy bowl at the end of the night is nice

Excellent. Great food. Classic steak house with daily specials. Best staff in ontario.

Hamilton Landmark....great food...great people...great service.

Had bd at Shakespeares tonight. Food was excellent, service and our after Cory were awesome.

Amazing place. Worth every penny.

Beautiful restaurant. Great for business meetings. The food was pricey but fantastic!

Been here once and will never come back! The waiters here were very racist. When we walked in the restaurant, one waiter at the front door said oh two Chinese guests , and they make the onion soup very salty too, I could barely swallow it. I don t think they make the soup taste like that to other customers cause it was way too salty. Btw, we are not even from China, like educate yourself before saying that. Never recommend anyone!!!

An excellent dining experience. Great customer service coupled with a varied and excellent menu.

we came in for a celebration of life and ate in the private room. I found our server to be a bit rude and rushy, he had an arrogance about him that felt condescending. There was another server assisting him and he was excellent, personable and very friendly. He even had a good laugh with us all. Unfortunately the other server just killed the vibe, we had just come from the cemetery and it just wasn t the reception I had hoped for. The food was very expensive, which I wouldn t have minded if it was worth the price. I ordered the fish special, the fish was perfectly cooked and had a lovely butter sauce with it. The sides is where I was lost, overly steamed mushy vegetables with no flavour and what seemed like packaged rice on the side, it wasn t fluffy, had a bit too much bite to it, it was really a let down. I was especially let down when I got my bill and saw the dish was $75 - it should ve been memorable and flawless for the price. My French onion soup starter was excellent. My dad loved his starter salad and my brother enjoyed his rack of lamb. My mom had the Caesar salad and said it was swimming in dressing and she had made better herself. Others felt the same about the quality for the price. I miss the table side salads and desserts which make this place what it is, old fashioned and neat experience, however without that it just isn t worth the cost. Won t return.

Perfect place for family or an intimate dinner for two.

My first time going there and so impressed! Very professional but friendly service (thank you Leo!), the food was superb, and the best martini I have had in some time. Love that it is a family run business too. Great experience!

Food A+ Atmosphere is Classy Food

Server Ben was fantastic. Fun to be around and hus customer service was great. His helper was very friendly and knew his way. Would highly recommend this establishment Dietary restrictions: Accommodated all requests.

Im sure it was excellent at some point, but not now

Shakespeares in my opinion offers not only the best dinner in Hamilto, but its service is exceptional. This has to be my favourite restaurant. Had cannellonii and the sauce was perfect. Wife had the bison and it too was excellent. Their chocolate cake is rich and moist. Whether its a special occasion or you just enjoy fine dining...Shakespeares will not dissapoint. Kudos to the owner, Franco and his staff. Franco is such a gracious man and an excellent chef and host. Looking forward to our next visit on my birthday!

A wonderful place to celebrate Lydia s birthday, along with singing staff and a dessert with a sparkler. The food was superb and the service excellent with a good unhurried pace to the meal, server by a very knowledgeable waiter. I would recommend this fine dining to anyone and know where I am going to have my birthday dinner. Thank you to Franco and the staff who made this a memorable event.

Hands down the BEST fine dinning in Hamilton! This was the first time coming and will not be our last. We came for our anniversary we were greeted right away and was wished a Happy Anniversary. We were seated in a very romantic quiet spot. Ben our server was amazing he s very knowledgeable, attentive, personable and truly amazing. What a small world Warner who use to be the manager at Lo Presti s knew my father very well. We had the bake bri appetizer and wow 10 out 10 my husband ordered the bison and I ordered the Rib steak. If I could give 20 stars I would. Overall hands down the best steak I have ever had! This was truly an amazing night

Fantastic authentic hand prepared Italian food! My wife and I love it there! We drive up from Kitchener Food : 5/5

Wow, What an experience! The staff are so attentive and are really what makes the night so memorable. The food is out of this world. Perfect date night Food

We had a really great dinner here. The service is incredible and the food really great. Beautiful setting too.

Simply amazing, every time. The service is impeccable; Ive never dined anywhere that even remotely compares to the service I receive at Shakespeares. The only thing that could possibly outshine the extraordinary service is the food. Every single dish is always the best version Ive ever tasted by miles. This evening I started with the Caesar salad, as I always do, and it was delicious, as it always is. Every aspect of the salad is delectable, from the obviously homemade dressing right down to how the lettuce is chopped. My 9 oz. Striploin was cooked flawlessly and was melt in your mouth tender while the flavour can only be described as perfection! I did not order dessert tonight but I do know from past visits that every dessert item is pure bliss. Cost is comparable to The Keg but the service, atmosphere, food, and overall experience surpasses The Keg a million times over. The pickles, olives, and cheese and the beginning of your meal and candy dish at the end of your meal is such a lovely bonus to dining here, but my favourite addition to the meal is the scrumptious, buttery garlic bread that keeps on coming to your table. I simply cant recommend Shakespeares Steak and Seafood enough.

Love this place food, service everything amazing. Worth the price

Very good

The exterior commenses the excitement for the time travel dining experience! Met in the foyer with a lovely woman dressed in her best to take your coat. Everything about this place makes you feel ritzy and important. Loved all the service and classy atmosphere. We did bring our eight year-old who was prepared for a fancy night without colouring. (They do offer chicken nuggets if desired.) Pickle plate and bread while you wait. The beet and arugula salad was the best weve ever had! Most main meats come with a side option, PICK THE HOME FRIES! They are not at all what you think of home fries. They are potatoes roasted in a homemade tomato sauce that are so amazingly delicious! After a lovely meal, there is one final old fashioned surprise placed on the table with the bill. This restaurant is so unique and has stood the test of time for good reasons. We will definitely be back and highly recommend for mature people of all ages who are looking for something special.

I thought the vedgetables were bland, otherwise 5 stars

If you are thinking should I go to The Keg or should I go to Shakespeares, 100% go Keg. Half the price, twice the experience

My $66 filet mignon had toothpicks left in it (wasn t charged for it) and my crème burlee was lumpy, not chilled properly and tasted funny. The atmosphere and service was good, however, due to these two issues 3/5 at best. Won t return.

I hadn t been to Shakespeare s since 1976. I was so happy that it looked almost exactly the same as I remembered. Our server Ben made the evening relaxed and enjoyable. He was great! I love that they still bring warm garlic bread, feta cheese and olives to the table before you order. The food is pricey but absolutely fantastic. Overall it was a wonderful experience.

Traditional Style/Old School type Steak House Family owned and operated. Excellent food and Service!!! Highly recommend !!! Food : 5/5 |

Ive been to shakespears a couple times enjoyed my experience in person. HOWEVER I ordered take out this evening and was VERY DISAPPOINTED. Ordered two 12oz Ribeye steak dinners.... 1. Garlic bread is a burnt hot dog bun? 2. My 12oz steak is 9.13oz... 3. The potatoes are old and hard as a rock 4. Vegetable meadly? What non-name freezer bag did you pull this out of? So glad this was my birthday dinner choice... Incredibly disappointed.

Today we have are wedding here at Shakespeare s. The food was amazing and the service was impeccable. Are server was funny and on the ball. Gave us great service and we had an amazing night. Also would like to thank Peter for setting up the room to perfection and being very inattentive to detail..

I enjoyed everything food atmosphere and service I treated myself it was worth it

Great food and Very Friendly service,

Very good restaurant. There was a power outage when I went there, so I unfortunately didnt get to eat the steak. The free garlic bread, escargots and Manhattan chowder were all very tasty, as was the lobster tail. The staff was very welcoming and tried their best to make our meal in a more comfortable environment even though there was no light that day. Its a restaurant worth visiting again. Great restaurant. I was there when the power went out, so its a pity I didnt get steak. The free garlic bread, snails and Manhattan chowder were excellent, and the lobster tails were also good. The staff were very welcoming and even though there were no lights on that day they did everything they could to make it a more comfortable place for us to have a meal. Its a restaurant worth coming back to.

Very very disappointed, have always wanted to try and so we did, 350. 00 later 1 cocktail 2 glasses of wine, surf and turf was really bad a dry small Cuban lobster tail at 79.$ just for the tail, steaks are extremely overpriced and not that great peppercorn steak was tough.1 salad, 1 soup. So much for tryin to experience the old world steak house, they will never be what they once were. Oh and since I hadn t seen a Singapore Sling on any cocktail list in about 40 years, I ordered one, I don t even think they knew how to make one. Sorry but a big thumbs down all around. That s a hearty price for a dried up dinner. And broccoli and chopped carrots are pretty boring. Really disappointed with the whole experience. The only thing that was remotely reminiscent was a 4 ft pepper grinder.2 can dine for $350.00

Best salad, steak and fish yummy! Always enjoy a meal at Shakespeare Food

My family and I had a delightful experience at Shakespeare s. This was my first visit, and my parent s third visit. I got the 12oz NY striploin for an entree, with a side of baked potatoes and steamed vegetables. Escargots for an appetizer and cheesecake for dessert. All were cooked/baked to perfection. Service was where an excellent meal was elevated to the next level. What a terrific gentleman that looked after us, but did not pester or pressure us to purchase anything. Water was continually refilled. There is also a coat check at the front door. It would seem that tipping the coat check is encouraged and the norm, so bring $5.

Ate here for first time, what a treat! Great friendly service, quality food and nice atmosphere.

The service and atmosphere are awesome. Unfortunately this place fall short of great in the food category. And lets be honest here, its the most important category. The steak cuts that they purchase are likely local and subpar. They are not good steaks and you can get better meats just about anywhere else. Compare it to getting a steak at a Montanas and youll probably be content with this. Its clear that they get a lot of return customers - a sort of sunk cost fallacy. I would not recommend until they get their meats in order. Oh and the pastas are atrocious.

Fantastic food and service. I attended a work function education dinner. Highly recommended

Was very fortunate to celebrate my 30 th wedding anniversary at shakespears.this hamiltons best little gem.from the staff to the dinner everything was top notch.special thanks to Leo and his family.this is the reason they have been open for 55yrs.highly recommend going dont bother with the keg.

What a place!!! Been in Hamilton for 20 years and finally went here. I let myself down and am full of regret. This is the best restaurant in the city. Great atmosphere, incredible food and perfect service. I had the French onion soup and NY Peppercorn steak. Delicious Don t be like me and wait 20 years. Go tomorrow and I ll se you there

Our experience at Shakespeares Restaurant in Hamilton was extremely disappointing. From the moment we arrived, it was evident that this was not going to be a pleasant dining experience. Despite the restaurant not being particularly busy, it took an entire hour for the staff to take our food order, and we ended up spending a total of two hours before we could finally leave. Throughout our time there, we had to repeatedly ask for water, a basic expectation at any dining establishment. Even worse, despite ordering an Old Fashioned cocktail, it never made its way to our table, yet we found it listed on the bill later. The quality of the food was subpar. The smoked salmon had a strong fishy taste, indicating it was likely not fresh, and we couldnt even finish it. Additionally, my steak, which I ordered medium rare and paid $60.00 for, arrived raw. It was a major disappointment considering the price and expectations of a quality dining experience. To add insult to injury, we were seated right beside the kitchen door in a cramped corner with no view of the restaurant, just a blank wall and the sounds of clanking dishes and cleaning from the kitchen. It was a far cry from the ambiance one would expect during a special evening out. Moreover, the surrounding environment was off-putting, with a noticeable presence of homeless individuals outside the restaurant. This contrasted sharply with the upscale dining experience we were hoping for and made us feel uncomfortable. In conclusion, our visit to Shakespeares Restaurant was a complete letdown. We left feeling undervalued and disheartened, vowing never to return. There are plenty of other dining options in Hamilton that offer superior service, atmosphere, and food quality. We would recommend looking elsewhere, such as Edgewater Manor or Spencers on the waterfront, for a more enjoyable dining experience. Even established chains like The Keg would likely provide a better choice than Shakespeares. Save yourself the disappointment and avoid this establishment altogether.

Perfect in every way! Food, sevice!

Amazing first experience here! Cozy atmosphere. Professional and friendly service. Delicious food. Can t wait to go back! Food

Great service, food was incredible

Absolutely loved this place! Went there for my partners birthday. The food and service was top-notch. Highly recommend.

Excellent as usual great service and a experience you will enjoy

Absolutely THE BEST !

Been going to Shakespeares for special occasions for over 30 years. They never disappoint. Top notch staff, and food

Pass by this place so often, its been around forever. Finally wanted to try it out, and it was great. Food is top notch, service is great, very classy place but not stuffy. I highly recommend going if you enjoy a nice steak. Atmosphere is great too, you can see the history of the place. Its not a cheap place but great for special occasions.

This place used to be my go to fancy dinner option. It s become a club for the regulars, and nothing more. Food was Keg quality if that, small servings, undercooked vegetables etc. Service was okay, but you can tell that they cater to their regulars, and everyone else is secondary. I never mind spending on a good meal, but sadly, this place is no longer worth it. I have such fond memories of going there with family over the years, too bad it s come to this. Won t be back.

Service and food were absolutely wonderful. A bit pricy, though, but then again, it was New Years Eve and that is to be expected. Worth every cent!

Rude waiter! Pushed us out after spending 500.00 bc it was 10 pm and he wanted to go home. We didnt even sit down till 9ish They shouldnt have served us at all if they were going to rush us out!!

Best steakhouse in Hamilton. Exceptional food, service, and ambience. This restaurant is perfectly suited for a variety of different occasions, but the charming servers will be sure to make your date blush with their Italian repartee (old gaffer almost swooped my girl). Overall, incredible value proposition, especially if you frequent higher end steakhouses in HCOL cities.

Amazing food and service. First time going there and will definitely go back soon. I had arugula salad ( special that night) and ostrich. So glad I took recommendations of our server, Ben. Fantastic!

It was one of the best restaurant experiences we have ever had. Every aspect of the meal was met was such expertise and professionalism it was exciting. The food was amazing, and the service was above and beyond. It was truly a fabulous experience. Thanks

Had a great time. Waiters were entertaining and super friendly. I ordered a buffalo steak, and it was beautifully cooked. very pleased.

Well priced for the quality. Say $$ for $$$ quality. Place is old, and paid for. But food and service was $$$$! I swear Abe are here when it was new! Check out the tree outside. Has to be 160 years old! I am coming back!

The steak and seafood place to go to in the area. Ive been going for years.

Beautiful restaurant and such lovely staff. Everyone is so nice! The food was fantastic. I had the bison tenderloin special and highly recommend!!

We went for Valentines dinner, first time there after living in the city my whole life, soooo good!!! Our waiter was great, as was the younger guy helping out. The pickles and home made feta you get to start with was amazingly good. Our steaks were so yummy!! Their garlic mashed potatoes are the best Ive ever had. It is expensive BUT its all about the experience and food quality. Great place for special occasions

Great to be back and have a great relaxing meal with Franco and family at Shakespeares. Parking: Cheap meter next door. Get passport app.

Ive never had a better night out than I did at Shakespeares - the atmosphere, service and food were more than I ever expected. Ben was an absolutely incredible waiter and we will definitely request him next time - he was attentive, funny and very friendly. The filet mignon was the best Ive ever had and I cant imagine going elsewhere for steak again. It was significantly better quality and more reasonably priced than you would think compared to any other steakhouse weve been to. The staff were all VERY friendly, the restaurant and bathrooms were very clean and it was overall the best night out weve ever had - we cant wait to go back (and ask for Ben!) we had too good of a time to even think about taking photos, sorry!

Had elk for the first time when I ate here just a few months ago. I was just thinking about how wonderful the experience was. Good enough to come on here and leave a review several months later!

The food was excellent, overall experience was just perfect

Delicious food and dessert. Great service.

Great ambience and amazing service. Food, Ribeye was great. Steak sandwich was gokd. Sea bass was meh, bit bland. Overall good.

Everything was perfect...the food,the service, the campy decor, and the lovely lady behind coat check. We had a great night and will absolutely go again.

$$$ but very good food

My 1st time at this place was different from my last visit! The service wasnt great! The older man at the 1st time was awesome, but last time was the younger (Caucasian) guy serving us, he was kinda rude. I didnt like food either! I had fish special, wasnt good. For that much money?! Disappointed! Prices $$$$$$$$ Holy smokes!!!

Excellent experience from start to finish, we were a group of 10. The service was 2nd to none. The food was amazing, the chef came out to see us, the owner shook our hands upon departure. Very comfortable atmosphere. Fine dining all the way around. Thank you Parking: Beside the restaurant Easy walk

We had not been here in a number of years. Initially we felt rushed to place our order because the server brought pickles and bread to the table immediately, almost before we sat down. The restaurant was full and it was quite noisy. Once we placed our order things slowed down a bit. The salad was delicious and ample for two to share. We had med rare steak and it was prepared very well. We had vanilla creme brule for dessert. It was hard to taste the vanilla and the creme custard was not smooth and creamy but was watery. The brule tasted a bit burned. The dessert was a real disappointment. The cappuccino and biscotti was very nice!

We went to Shakespeare s for our 50th wedding anniversary and it was a perfect choice. The food was amazing and our server was great. He has been there for forty years! We will definitely be returning.

Great experience from the warm welcome to the waitstaff. We celebrated our anniversary and they made it special. It was well worth the trip. The food was fantastic. We did ordered the daily specials and found them fantastic. Recommend this place for any major celebration.

One of the hidden gems of Hamilton, Ontario where time is frozen.

Wonderful dining experience

Classic Steakhouse with lots of wood decor and great service. The scallops were excellent.

i like the food and the service but they need to consider delivery

The food was not great - Our appetizer scallops came out hard and dry. The oysters were small. Oysters should be creamy and meaty and have a smooth clean finish; these were the opposite. Our mains were sub-par. It cannot be based on atmosphere and service alone to be regarded as fine dining.

We finally got to try Shakespeare s and we were not disappointed. The food was absolutely amazing with one of the highlights being their wedge salad. Service is a perfect ten as everyone is extremely attentive to ensure everyone s experience is amazing. Highly recommend!

Good bison, great service.

We have been going to Shakespeares for 30+ years, and it is our go-to restaurant for all family events, anniversaries, birthdays and those nights when we simply want to get out for a great dinner. The service is next level, the food is cooked to perfection and the atmosphere is unique, warm that leaves on with a feeling like youre part of the family. The staff are an awesome group of characters that make you feel like youve been part of their family for years. Simply a delight at all touch points. Congrats to Leo, Franko and the gang - WE LOVE SHAKESPEARES!!

Our frequent high end comfortable dining spot

Outstanding service and food as usual. If I could I would give them 6 stars!

Im speechless!! You can taste why this place has been so popular for so long. Just delicious

We were 17 ppl last night for a 65th bday. The food was hot the drinks were great and the service was excellent. I forget his name but he had grey curly hair and my husband and him had some good jokes going back and forth. It was a fantastic night. Bravo .

Fantastic

My first time at Shakespeares and I loved it. From the little chunks of feta, to the halibut with rice pilaf, and finishing with a lovely cappucino, it was wonderful. Our server, who I ashamed I didnt ask his name took very good care of us. I will definitely visit Shakespeares again.

Superb service. Very professional and elegant. Definitely would go again food phenomenal

We loved our dining experience and our exceptionally kind and attentive waiter. We ll be back.

Frist time there it was very good

We are not particularly fussy people. We dine out often and tip well, even when service or food is subpar. We dont mind spending money as long as the food is good, even if everything isnt. But Shakespeares has got to be one of my top 3 worst dining experiences ever. It was so bad, its still memorable a year later. Struck me to write a review now since Im still frustrated with the experience. We only went based on others reviews and we were given a gift card towards our dinner as a gift from family. We went for our wedding anniversary and had reserved a table during a weeknight. We parked on the main street by the venue. We waited for a bit and had a table in the middle of a fairly empty restaurant during our allotted time. We have been told by others what a great experience it is and were greatly disappointed. The decor is fine. Dark, very dimly lit, cozy, outdated - but probably part of the charm as a historical long-standing restaurant. Our first server was fine. Friendly enough. We had salads (I had a Caesar - about $15-20 and my husband had a salad similar to a Waldorf, or something along those lines with pear, cheese, nuts, it was a seasonal salad - $20ish). They were both fine, they were wilted and pre-dressed (when others had raved that they made the Caesar at your table). We had some preserved olives and such while we waited for our entrees, which was slightly strange as it was not accompanied by any bread or carb to compliment it with. I had the king crab legs and my husband had the steak of the day. The crab tasted like it was poorly thawed from frozen (was still cold in some parts) and came with the plastic little tubs of butter you get at a diner. If you go to any other establishment, you get warm melted butter to dip the crab legs in. That crab was over $200.00. For frozen crab legs with plastic butter. I understand market price and dont mind paying for that, when its prepared properly and tastes good. My husbands steak I think was over $125.00. It wasnt great, it was tough and dry when he has his med-rare. We had our server swap three times (possibly a shift change?) and were never asked how the meal was and didnt seem too attentive to us. Didnt even care that it was our anniversary. I get it, its fine dining... but for many people, this was a special treat. It took over 45 mins after we were clearly finished with our meal to get the bill. We couldnt get out of there fast enough. For three alcoholic drinks (I think my husband had a glass of wine and we bought a martini and a cocktail for family friends that were also out that night at a separate table), crab legs, two salads, and a steak our bill after tax and tip (I think we gave 15-18%), even with a $150.00 gift certificate was still about $500.00. Would recommend so many other well deserving fine dining, but not here. Go to the Keg, even though its a chain, Ive never had a bad experience at the upper James location (and if anything is subpar, they rectify it right away). We went last week and had amazing service and given a free dessert of our choice simply since our server noticed Im expecting.

Great staff and great food!

Our steaks were fantastic, and our waiter was exceptional. With that being said, we were disappointed with the fried calamari, and the caprese salad had one little ball of bocconcini, which was a sad representation of the level of restaurant Shakespeares aspires to be. We should have just stuck to the fantastic feta, olives, pickles, and garlic bread, which all came out at no charge. Overall, we had a great dinner and will definitely be back.

First off, service was amazing. We had the young waiters come and serve us the pre-appetizers and they were very friendly and funny! Then we had Ginos as our waiter, he was the best waiter weve ever had. Pleasant, knowledgeable and down to earth. The food was top notch and the atmosphere was very cozy. We had the little booth in the back corner for our anniversary. We also got a complimentary dessert for our anniversary. We will definitely be back. Thank you Gino for making our first time an amazing one!

Shakespeares is a Hamilton institution for a reason. It never disappoints! 10/10, would recommend.

Such a disappointing meal! Poorly prepared. Burnt( only third of an inch) filet minion, no sauce, hard inedible vegetables, undercooked but burnt on top sea bass, soggy cheesecake, olives tasted off. Best thing was the garlic bread in this $125. pp restaurant. No assistance or front door greeting. Butter came in plastic. Classy! Waiter didn t ask how our meal was.

Nice Place

Seafood was overcooked. Not worth price of menu. Place is out dated.

great place, the food and service were impeccable, however, the steak could have been thicker for the price.

The best steak ever!!!

My wife brought me here tonight for my birthday it was amazing the food was top notch the service was outstanding and our gentleman server Gino really made the evening an excellent experience thank you very much

This is our special occasion restaurant. The food is delicious and the staff are top notch. Its a little pricey but completely worth it.

40 year old review. I know this is really strange however. I was talking to a friend about Shakespeares and my experience 40 years ago. They told me it had not changed. Since, at that time there were no Google reviews. Here s a 40 year old one. That stands the test of time.... My steak, until I was 23 or so (61 now). I was a well done only guy. Any red, was a no go and pink was for the most part the same. Hence, well done. Then I went to Shakespeares in Hamilton. At that time, late 70s early 80s. It was the best and most expensive steakhouse in the Hamilton area. Those who know, know. Well, I saved my pennies and took my then fiancé. We were waited on hand and foot our every wish food and drink wise was available. Then we ordered. I ordered Beverleys dinner, Seaford???? Really, Seaford at the best Steakhouse. Anyway I ordered my steak...well done...I think you could have heard a pin drop. Did someone just die??? I was looking around....all the staff had stopped and were looking at me? Anyway, besides blasphemy and 1000 other sins I just committed. Seems Shakespeares doesnt cook anything past medium....but thats not what they recommend. Medium rare would be perfect. I asked why....Yeah, in the 20 minutes or so that the chef came out and explained it to me. (COLES note; seems they liked me and wanted to give us the best experience ever). You see we really didnt belong in that reastaunt. At that time it most definitely catered to a class of folks that we were just not in. They knew it was a one time deal for us. But the staff did like us, and treated us like we absolutely did belong. Who in the world knows why....Well as they say, when in Rome.... So, Bev had her Seaford, yum!!! I I cut into the red, pink and a seared steak. They all stood over me. It was really weird actually . However, the bless by the Gods themselves steak melted, yes I said melted in my mouth as if it was butter!!! Think Im kidding? First, the staff all left from around me except for our server before I said a word. I guess my facial expression told the story...Before I had swallowed the first piece, the second was in my mouth. When did steak ever taste like this? I walked straight to the chef. I immediately started looking for a magic wand....He laughed and said to me its a lot more simple than that. You simply start with an excellent cut of meat. Only ever turn it once. Wait until its perfect and your done, simple. So I watched him. Wow!!! No really Wow. Each time, same result. We spent 3 hours there. Got to meet some of the most amazing people and one of the best Chefs I have ever met in my life. The truly unfortunate part. It was a one time deal. While others have come close. Never again, has it been that good. So the best steak I have ever tasted was at Shakespeares in Hamilton. And it was medium rare. BTW, the dinner cost me (with drinks of course, must have wine with the best steak in town) $200 40 years ago. But honestly, best steak I have ever eaten and worth every penny!!! Its been too long. And I crave the best steak once again. I will be back soon. Thank you kindly for the memory.

The best steak in the city and beyond. Well worth choosing for that special occasion. Never disappoints with great attention paid to the finer details. Food

Best service, great food, nice to see after all these years, I just went a week ago, last time was in the 70s

Their steaks are amazing but it will put a dent in your wallet.

Love, love love! This is a fabulous restaurant with quality steaks and seafood. Personal favourites are the NY, Branzino, Wild Boar, Bison and any app! Thank you to the Shakespeares team that always make our visits special! Food

Amazing dinner and service!!

First time for visit, excellent service well cooked meals we had a variety Lamb ,seafood, steak and fish ,onion soup and chowder,beginets, for Desert. Reminded of how Restaurants were in the Past,would definitely go again it we visit Hamilton again

Everything about this place is amazing! Food was amazing, service was top notch an so welcoming! Will definitely be coming back here again an will recommend Shakespeares to others!

We love this restaurant! Food, service and atmosphere are great! Just sit back and relax - the staff are very friendly and you can tell they enjoy working here.

From the second the door opened it was top notch hospitality! Ben was welcoming friendly snd very informative about the history and menu..We were greeted and welcomed like it was home. Comfy relaxed atmosphere.. theres no words for the food..highest quality youll find.. the garlic bread reviews are true its some of the best around,seriously its amazing! Owner interacts with the guests and is super friendly. He has cooked every steak in house since 1969..take that in...and it shows. All in all dont wait or hesitate to visit Shakespeares...you eont regret it

The food was by far the best food Ive ever had, from the entrees of steak and shrimp to even just the bread and pickles served when we were seated. The servers were all great. My friends and I were spending the dinner telling stories and jokes and any time the servers came by they always joined in on the fun which was an unexpected but a good surprise for us. We werent too sure at first when we saw the exterior but once we were inside, seated and eating we knew wed come back in a heartbeat.

I was taken here as a surprise for my birthday last night (as well, we were celebrating our engagement!) and I had the most amazing time. It was my first time here. The ambiance was intimate and very cozy. It was romantic! Our waiter, Danny, was incredible. He was attentive without being overbearing. When we told him the occasion, he vowed to make it a special evening and that it was. He explained the features with such passion, he made our decision of what to order so easy. We had the best steak in the house aka the 24oz bone-in rib eye. It was PERFECTION. Cooked medium to a tee. The accompaniments were divine. Everything was delicious but the service was second to none. Every last one of the staff in there were professional and on the ball. They even got a group to come and sing to me! I cant wait to go back and try their fish & seafood. 5++ stars and highly recommend. Ask for Danny if you want top tier service!

Last night I took my Fiancee to Shakespeares (I proposed the night before) The Staff at Shakespeares put the cherry AND icing on the cake. The food was INCREDIBLE, And the service matched. We had Danny, he went above and beyond! Absolute professional, he was one of the most genuine, generous people Ive encountered in this life.. I cant speak highly enough about ALL of the staff there that came together to solidify a weekend we will never forget, God Bless you All, and Thank You.

Great dinner, escargot and Filet Mignon was one of the best I ve had in Hamilton. Drinks were delicious and our server Ben was exceptional. Definitely dine here again and highly recommend trying this place out.

The Best seafood restaurant in town love this place

Charged me $18 for a starter soup. What the hell? Steak honestly wasn t that good, not basted in butter. Side of rapini was swimming in water. Pan fried potatoes suggested by the waiter were just mush. I really wanted to like this place, but honestly, it s just not good. Went because Martin Short suggested it in one of his interviews.

Awesome food, waiters were attentive and quick, a must stop every time were in town!!

First time we will go back

Service was amazing from the moment my family and I walked in. Our server, Ben, showed exceptional hospitality and humor throughout the evening. The food was delicious! Shrimp cocktail is a must, the steak and peppercorn sauce as well as the special Chilean seabass was perfection. The desserts were subpar compared to the rest of the meal, but the whole experience was lovely and I would definitely return.

Incredible food, atmosphere and staff. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly, will definately be coming back soon!

I visited this establishment for the first time last night, took my husband and kids out for dinner. I cannot tell you how amazing everyone and everything was!! The waiter even showed my son how to fold the napkins the way they did!! They used the largest Peppermill in the place as the kids asked about it, and the food was phenomenal!!! My husband and I ordered steaks, and the kids got Chicken parm and a burger. Everything was incredible. The atmosphere was fantastic too. I first worried it would be too fancy, but the staff made us feel so comfortable and welcome!! Amazing experience. Thank you everyone at Shakespeares!

Timeless classic! Our favourite steakhouse!!

Amazing service and even better steak!

Its a beautiful quant place with great service and traditional Italian food. This was our third time and then food was wonderful all three visits. Love the garlic bread! Will visit again and again.

Nothing to rave about

So tender steak, Delicious garlic bread

Excellent service, food was awesome. It is the first time eating here, I will definitely come back again and also recommend it to friends

Excellent service

Came here with my boyfriend for my birthday and absolutely loved it. The service is top notch and food absolutely delish. I loved the rib eye steak.

Tried it again with a customer once again very disappointed had the surf and turf when did the lobster tail become rock lobster instead of Atlantic

Great food and service, Dany our server was friendly and professional. The building was beautiful and very Shakespearean themed.

This was our first time here. We celebrated our 20th wedding Anniversary. Leo the waiter and the other staff were fantastic. The food was exceptional! Thx for making this a memorable night. Cheers

My hubby and I were there last night. Unbelievable service!! Everyone was so nice, professional. I felt like a queen! Food was exceptional! Was my first time there and definitely going back. Fine dining at its best! Never rushed us out. Made sure we had everything we needed. Thank you all so much! To every single one of you. You all made our everything! and my surf and turf was out of this world! My husbands ribeye was to die for. Also so clean. Bathrooms were spic and span. We are still talking about it! Thank you Jackie & Norm

Top notch service, best filet mignon Ive ever had. The original owner is still the chef since 69. Thank you for a great experience.

Definitely overrated resturant. Been to around 20+ fancy steak house in Canada. And this one is one of the bottom tier since the price is extremely high but the quality isnt worth it. Meat is very dry no dry age. Other food is over price 24dollar for 6 Oster is not acveapel

The steak and potato were absolutely delicious and the service was great. The veggies however were not good at all.

Great staff and food

Top quality everything! Too bad no Prime Rib available

My wife and I retired after working in Health Care all through Covid. We decided to have dinner at Shakespeares to reward ourselves. We were not disappointed! From the Maître d to our waiter, Gino, and the young guy bussing tables the experience was just as we remembered it over the years. The meal was prepared expertly and was a symphony in our mouths when paired with a Shiraz from their wine list. We both had Rib Eyes, mine rare, hers medium. Both were as ordered. Our sides were excellent and dessert was phenomenal! Service was quick but not hovering, very attentive and personable! Kudos to this Hamilton icon for never wavering from the formula that has worked for them for 50+ years! And we ll done, weathering the Covid storm, I m certain it was difficult with no inside dining.

We found a new favorite steak restaurant. The appetizers were excellent but the star was our steaks. They were both cooked perfectly and the quality was far better then most specialty restaurants. Service was also very impressive. Definitely go back.

Great place! We went for our anniversary and had a fantastic evening. The staff was great, the food was amazing. We even learned from our waiter that it was a family owned and run place which was really cool.

Found this place by chance while visiting Hamilton for the night. Food was amazing, service was amazing... will definitely come back when Im in the area again!

Excellent selection of steaks and seafood, Shakespeare never disappoints. Succulent steaks cooked to perfection and fine dining service from staff make this place a must try steakhouse. They always offer a variety of specials, and the complimentary bread and pickles at the start of your meal is always a welcome treat. Speaking of treats, ending your meal with their convenient assortment of take home candies is especially sweet.

I ve gone here a few times over the last year for special occasions. It never disappoints. Amazing service, great cocktails, perfectly cooked salmon and potatoes. Truly one of my favourite restaurants.

Delicious food, service is excellent and a nice ambiance! Great place to have dinner or birthday celebration!

This place is a hidden gem!! Service and food both top notch

My husband and I went out to dinner here last night and had an absolutely amazing experience. From the service to the food we wouldnt have changed a thing. Highly recommend for any kind of celebration.

Went here tonight for our anniversary. The atmosphere was great. The food was absolutely amazing. Garlic bread was so good and plenty of it too. Both my wife and I had a fillet, and it was absolutely perfect. Made a passing mention when we sat down that it was our anniversary, and at the end of our meal, our waiter brought us out two complementary desserts that were out of this world. Our waiter Gino, was absolutely fantastic! I highly recommend this restaurant.

It doesnt look like much from the outside, but on the inside... service from Danny was amazing, food & drinks were absolutely delicious! We will be back.

Weve lived in Hamilton for a year and heard about this place the first week we lived here. I cant remember the last time I went out to a steak and seafood restaurant where they made you feel like you were the only ones in the place! The food was second to none...steak done to perfection just the way we ordered it. Leo went above and beyond and treated us like VIP. We had a fireplace next to our table :-) Hamiltons best kept secret! We will be back. Thank you Leo and ALL of your staff who waited on us and made us feel like a Shakesperean King and Queen! Parking: There is street parking nearby but also a paid paring lot directly next to the restaurant.

Everything was good

My favourite Hamilton steak & seafood restaurant! Not only is this restaurant iconic and been in Hamilton for many many years, the service is TOP NOTCH! The food is incredible, the endless amount of delicious garlic bread they bring to the table is highly addictive. Espresso martinis done right everything here is delicious. Expect to spend some $$$ and treat yourself!

We went there last Thursday before a show in town, our restaurant of choice was closed, the three of us ordered 2 French opinion soup, 3 salads, one with grilled chicken, and 1 coffee, the bill came to $150. With tip. Seriously overpriced, not great service, we waited for ever to get served, we had somewhere to go, not ever going back

Worth every penny. Id go back in a heartbeat.

Amazing Steak, Amazing service, Amazing atmosphere. Me and Miss enjoyed.

Love love love! Our waiter Ben was awesome!! The food was awesome!! Highly recommended!! We will be back!

Great service / delicious cuisine / beautiful old school atmosphere - I love this place. Cheers @JayTSandals

Been coming here for years, fantastic food and service, thank you so much!

Service and food was top notch ! Definitely recommend if you are in the area

Too many steakhouses such as Hys over value not only their steaks but their service. This place is out of the 70 s in a good way. You will pay a little(very little) more than The Keg but get way better food. Our waiter tonight was Ben and he was the perfect blend of service (without being annoying) and friendliness. I would never have considered writing a review for a steakhouse but this one was worth the effort.

This fine establishment is one of my staples. Been coming here for years. I brought customers out for a Christmas lunch and as usual we were not disappointed! The food was mouthwatering and hard to stop eating. Very refreshing to not have any complaints. Our server/gentleman, Waren you are very good at what you do sir! You showed your years of experience and class throughout the entire afternoon. All of my customers thought you did an exceptional job and were so thankful for the excellent service you provided for us. The stories you shared with us about your life and what led you to us were unforgettable. We very much appreciated the time you spent with us. If you remember I said to you that I could listen to you talk and tell stories forever was only me showing my level of respect I have for a real man like yourself! This generation has a lot to learn from someone like you! Thank you for the excellent service and experience you provided for my customers and I. I wish you and your wife live a long and happy life and I m honoured to have met you! Take care sir!

Food was delicious, our server was wonderful

Ive never known this restaurant to be anything but fabulous for 40 years!! The best steak and seafood selections anywhere. I always look forward to my next visit.

Amazing atmosphere, food & Service