Best nachos if town. Best tap list in town. Cozy dive bar vibes. Lots of great sours.

What a cool place! I'm unsure what it has to do with Shakespeare (I thought there would be some sort of theme, but didn't seem apparent). The service was great! We were seated right away and our server was very attentive. We started with the cheese curds and some beers. The selection of beers was huge! Beers are reasonably priced and the curds were delicious. Wasn't a huge fan of the ranch, but the marinara was very flavorful. I got the small southwest nachos. It was still big enough for 2 meals. These were amazing! The queso is made from scratch and really elevates the dish. All other ingredients were fresh and delicious. My friend had the dill club sandwich and said it was great as well! Overall a fantastic experience. Would definitely return. read more

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Went to watch some March Madness basketball at Shakespeare's while in town a couple of months ago. We were able to grab a seat wherever we wanted in the upstairs bar area (the lower level is a music venue). Our server brought over some free popcorn and we ordered drinks. They had some deals going on ($1.50 off New Belgium beers). There were plenty of TVs to watch and the vibe was pleasant. As it got busier, our server disappeared more, but we weren't in a hurry. We got the small order of southwest nachos for a snack to share - these were really good. I was kind of surprised at how small the order was honestly, but it was fine to split between the two of us. The chips were crispy, the toppings were plentiful, and I loved the cheesiness. Overall we had a good experience and I'd stop in again to catch a game. read more

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We kind of stumbled into this place and was pleased the atmosphere was good the food was great

Really cool place, great food, huge portions. Huge beer selection. Fun atmosphere. AHmazing popcorn

Really big bar/restaurant! They have a ton of space here, so I can't imagine not being able to get a table coming here. There is plenty of easy parking close by, too. They had a great draft menu, and good looking good menu (we didn't order food), and give out complimentary popcorn that was DELICIOUS! The service that we got sitting at the bar was fantastic, and we had a great view of the tvs. I gotta say, though... The women's bathroom was DIS-GUS-TING!! read more

Shakespeare's Pub - a glass of beer on a bar - American Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

Food was not good my wings were slimy and no flavor. The fries were cold. They had karaoke so that was good. On a bad note they have no patron or Hennessy. Service was good. Atmosphere was good as well. Just the food sucked and was cold. read more

Shakespeare's Pub - Buffalo wings and waffle fries - American Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

I've been a patron here for a dozen+ years and love it. This is my "Cheers." I'm not part of the evening college crowd, I'm more the occasional afternoon workforce crowd. I love the staff who balance getting to know you and leaving you alone, the owners who really care about the people they serve. I like trying new brews (and getting my good old stand by), the delicious bar food that just makes me smile. And I just can't leave that free popcorn alone (as long as it's fresh enough ). Love this place! read more

Owner Scott simply could have apologized for a mistake made and the time it took to get our food; instead he made us feel very unwelcome. I've live and dined at Shakespeares for the past 10 years. The once amazing shakes... simply ruined by lack of customer service and an owner owning up to mistakes and time frames. Unfortunately on the worst day of service it shouldnt take more than 1 hour and 45 mins for a quesadilla and nachos. Tonight I didn't even have a drink. A simple diet and a nacho was desired and never achieved. The disappointment was unreal. Since covid they can't keep up! Try to dine on a slow day. Otherwise avoid. read more

This business is above and beyond in all aspects. We had never been there before and we will definitely be back. We strongly recommend. We are telling all our friends. What caught us off guard was the fact that the higher ups were sweeping floors. Everyone there took care of you. read more

We hadn't stopped into Shakes since 2016 (last review) and were craving their nachos and beer. From the location we were at, it was about a half hour away -but our tastebuds were set we wanted beer and Shake's nachos! We went in and ordered our beer and as our waiter returned to the table we told him we didn't need menus, we came for one thing, nachos. Aaaaaand they were out. What a raving disappointment. I mean, I'm happy the Miller Light wasn't tapped out this time (see previous review), but it was definitely a buzz kill to then pay for beer we no longer wanted bc our nacho plans were dashed. Ah, well. We paid for the beer and left. I will say, our waiter was incredibly friendly. The service there is always awesome. Side note: the price of nachos has gone up almost 30%! Bummerrrrrrrrr. (2016) Stopped in today with a friend for a little college reminiscing. I was really looking forward to the nachos -but they've really gone downhill :/. These nachos were the star of Shake's -but today's were the worst I've ever had there. The portions just seemed off. The chips were slightly overcooked there was not much cheese and queso between the layers, and there was something else I'm having trouble pinpointing. My husband even remarked he didn't think they were good and he's also a huge fan of them. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was clean. My only other complaint is they were out of ML on tap -which is odd because it's a common domestic. We will try again -this is the only order of nachos out of many that was bad. Fingers crossed it was an off day! read more

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One of the best bars in town by far! The first thing to your table is the awesome housemade popcorn! If your like me, that gets you hooked right away! The beer menu is impressive! But not as impressive as their anniversary tap list, where they only tap beers that have never been tapped in Kalamazoo before! The food I highly suggest is the Sausage Pizza, the Pickle Pizza, and the nachos! The Pickle Pizza that I had here was the first one I had ever and it was so flavorful! The nachos are some of the biggest servings of nachos I have had as well! Get in here on a nice summer day to enjoy a cold beer and amazing food! read more

Shakespeare's Pub - Green Beer - American Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

Haven't been here since college graduation (which was more years ago than I'd like to admit) and nothing has changed. Bar staff weren't super friendly but we did get a server who was very nice and efficient. Nachos were about what I remember but their cheese sauce has a weird aftertaste. read more

I don't know who review-bombed this place so badly that it only averages three stars, but this is easily one of the best places in town. For 20 years now, this place has had excellent food, a tap list that's curated by someone passionate about craft beer who's probably the best outside of being an official cicerone, and great service even on the busiest of days. Any visit to Kalamazoo should include a trip to Shakespeare's if you're looking for a good bar to drink, eat, and be merry. Sure it's not the fanciest, but it doesn't need to be! read more

Great place specially because it is big and there's enough distance between tables. The food was great. The margaritas even better. read more

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Great service and food tasted great but we took the rest of our pizza home and when my roommate bit into one of the pieces it ended up having a tiny nail in it. Of course this happened after we paid and took the rest of the pizza home. read more

Shakespeare's Pub - Pizza with nail in it - American Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

Sat at a table and got a server. Decided to get shots after the server walked away so we went to the bar and she got rude with us and closed us out because we went behind her back to get shots.. we were drinking fast and she was taking care of other customers understandably so we figured we would just go get the 2 shots.. she was kind up until that point but it blows my mind how she acted over this.. decided to go elsewhere to spend our money, lost out on good customers and $. read more

We went for Friday night karoake and were having a great time. Ordered a drink and went to go sing, came back and the server had set the shot so close to the edge that it got knocked off. after buying drink and food all night, the staff and manager refused to replace the spilled/fallen shot stating that it is policy and there's nothing they could do but charge for another shot. The manager was a lb asshole and no help at resolving the issue. I guess we won't be visiting Shakes again. If we were a group of white women, we would've been oblige but all they could say was you gotta but another shot. Not to mention they didnt have any top shelf tequil. read more

Good food and service. A big variety of drafts beer and ciders. Love the pickle pizza and nachos!

I love shakes. Karaoke night, game night, Friday night. Shakes is always a good time with solid bar food.

I am really surprised at how much I liked it here. I had a good Reuben at a decent price, my wife got a burger and we were very satisfied. We stayed and played a few rounds of darts and sampled a few beers from their 44 taps. They had a bunch of sours which we love. I haven't been here in ten years and I am ready to come back. I like how laid back everyone is, they aren't trying to turn your table over to another customer. Our waitress was totally fine with us staying a few hours. read more

Shakespeare's Pub - Reuben - American Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

Only place for incredible nachos. If you like good nachos and a GREAT beer selection, this is the place for your gluttony. I look forward to stopping here each visit to Kzoo. There's lots of room and bar area but be warned if it's a Friday or Saturday night it'll be busy. Oh and don't forget the bottomless fills of FREE popcorn. This place is great and highly recommended by me! read more

Shakespeare's Pub - American Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

All I wanted was a potato wedge, and they just wouldn't give it to me. Just one potato wedge.

I keep giving you a shot Shake's, and like a bad boyfriend you keep letting me down. The last two times we have been in it hasn't been busy, the wait staff (and manager) congregated by the bus station talking without any sign to us that we would be helped. In both cases we were forced to order our own beers from the bar. Not the end of the world but the second time it happened this past weekend was beyond okay. As I walked up to the bar there was a younger lady next to me simply asking one of the two bartenders if they had her ID and the bartender said "No" in a snotty tone and as the patron walked away the bartender looked back at her and said loudly "thats one way of speaking to me" in an even snottier tone. In the midst of that she ignored me and walked away. I flagged a second bartender down and put my order in, she seemed irritated to serve as well but managed to muster my two beers. I asked her to move my tab to our table and asked her to send a waitress over with menus. This is where your biggest failure was Shake's. The bartender denied my request and asked for my credit card. I advised we were eating and needed menus and the only reason I came up to the bar was because a server never came to our table to greet us. She denied me again, so I asked her to put the beers on our their table tab a last time (our table is literally across from the bar) and walked back to the table. Wait - you even did worse after that Shake's - the bartender followed me back to our table and again advised she needed my card. I asked for a waitress and the bartender would not do anything except ask for a card. So here is where we parted ways. She got our card and we asked to run it ... so we could go to eat at an establishment that actually was interested in our business. Just to be clear, it wasn't just the delay, it wasn't just the ask for our card, it was all that and the sheer attitude from your bar staff as well as the inability to flex in a situation where she was aware that a customer was already frustrated. If she had been pleasant, joked, not been utterly cold, this story may have ended differently. But, alas, she was not and you have lost a customer. The fact that this wasn't the first time where there was a lack of wait staff engagement was the nail in the proverbial coffin. We are no longer and item Shake's, it's over between us. read more

Went there for a burger and beer. They weren't super busy but food came out cold and the burger looked like a kids meal. Waffle fries were ice cold and tasted greasy. Went to The bathroom before we left and it was disgusting. So dirty!! Not in a hurry to go back!!!!! read more

The salad portion was huge. But I gave them four stars because they didn't offer grilled chicken only breaded or seasoned. The chicken I choose was the seasoned chicken but it tastes like a regular shredded chicken option. I was empresses by the salad options and all the ingredients included. Olives, onions, cheese, i added the mandarines for a kick of citrus flavor. They also had various dressings and even included a FAT FREE cherry vinaigrette! I will be returning for more. read more

Shakespeare's Pub - Greek salad - American Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

Extremely bad experience - we have been here multiple times and the food is mediocre but service is terrible. Most recent time the waiter harassed our friend and the manager defended the employee. Extremely disrespectful staff. Do NOT come here read more

Does it tend to have that crowded college-y feel to it Thurs-Sat? Yes. Does the floor stick to your shoes? In most spots. Do I still give this place credit? Yes! Shake's has a great beer selection with decent food. Most importantly, it has a little something for everyone. A good local watering hole with something going on most nights of the week. This review is weighed more heavily on the spirits and atmosphere... I come here more often to play pool and enjoy a beverage or two with friends. read more

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I love the nachos and the pizza. The nachos have a layer of delicious queso under the cheese and the perfect balance of toppings. The pizza is perfection with a soft crust and tasty sauce. The beer selection is outstanding. Grab free popcorn from the popcorn machine! If I was just reviewing the menu, I would have given Shakespeare's more stars. The service here is lacking. I was in with a group on a Saturday evening. At 5 pm, the place was pretty empty. So why did it take so long to get our drinks and over 40 minutes to get our food. The waitresses were standing around the bar talking. Once someone from our table walked over and asked about the food it arrived pretty quickly. It makes me wonder how long it was ready and just sitting there. Also, be warned that this is mostly a college bar. It is very packed on nights and weekends. It is difficult to find a table and service is even slower. I do like visiting in the summer and sitting outside. Shakespeare's is across the street from the festival site in downtown Kalamazoo. During the summer you can grab a drink and hear the music coming from across the street. read more

I always stop in to Shakespeare's pub when in Kalamazoo. Fun, Friendly staff - good bar food - nice atmosphere.

It was a great experience! I loved the music, there was a live band on saturday but the line was huge to get in. We waited around 20 minutes but I say it was worth it. The place is divided into a bar and a restaurant. The burger was really good and the fries were irresistable. Recommended :) read more

Shakespeare's Pub - American Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

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The free popcorn and a huuuge number of beers on tap might be the best thing about this place. There is also this cool light beer challenge for like $3 where u have to guess between miller, bud, pbr, and labatt. They charge $1.50 to sample a beer. Maybe because college students would run em dry? Idk. We simply asked for one try and we were already purchasing beers so it's not like we weren't already giving them money. Service was pretty bad, it's like they didn't know it was Homecoming weekend and sent in the rookies to handle tables. There were 2 times when we asked to order another round but instead she brought us the tab to pay off. read more

First time here and came from out of town for a show. The bourbon on the rocks I ordered was decent. But the item I will dream about until the day I die... loaded chicken nachos. read more

Would give 0 stars if I could. This is place is so grimy and multiple people including myself have gotten food poisoning. The food is below average and the service is terrible. Save your time and money. Go to some of the other local bars such as Tin Can, Green Top, or Hopcat. read more

Pretty popular bar in Kalamazoo, I've been there twice now. They have a really good selection of craft beer, especially Michigan beers. I've never had the same beer there twice (at least I think) and they have a pretty good food menu, I got the shrimp tacos, and then tried several of the apps-the wings, nachos, potato skins and fried pickles. All were good. It can get pretty packed at peak times so just be aware of that. It was also graduation weekend so a lot of extra families were there. Plus free popcorn is always a plus! read more

"Oh, how I missed you" I have not had Shake's nachos in over 8 months (trying to eat healthier??)...after having them again I am wondering why it took me so long to order them...Ted (co-owner.. convinced me to try them again) They came out hot, smelling wonderful. I added olives and they were stacked high, layers of cheesy goodness, queso, tomato, purple onion and a side of salsa and sour cream. If you want some extra kick ask for a side of their spicy buffalo or add jalapenos. I would not have been able to eat them all...well probably could have..but would not NEED to..my sister helped me finish them off and we proceeded to finish our game of cards. Saturday evening happy hour went from 6-9, we were able to get a good table, watch the games, enjoy the food and good company. Nachos Golden tortilla with diced tomatoes, onions, lettuce, queso dip and shredded cheddar cheese.Served with a side of salsa and sour cream small order $6.99 full order $8.99 read more

Shakespeare's Pub - Small Veggie Nacho's...add black olives mmmmm good - American Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

Shakespeare's is most of the best and worst things about any college bar. The best: affordable pricing and great specials on bar food. More comprehensive bar menu than some other places (I'm assuming to try to soak up all the different delicious pints of booze customers consume). Long list of Michigan beers on tap, and a few good ciders, also. Their playlist (Motown and classic rock) was just right for an afternoon bite. AND I can't forget to mention that pints of root beer are available, perfect for those underage, DDs, pregnant ladies, or when you just want some cool, sweet goodness. The worst: loud. Slow-ish service (the place was almost empty when I was there in the middle of the afternoon on a weekday). And worst of the worst: everything (floor, tables, and so forth) were mysteriously sticky. Again, in the middle of the afternoon on a weekday, when the place was almost empty and they had room and time to clean. I just don't understand how it could be soooo sticky. The bathroom also smelled kind of weird. Solid 3 stars, A-okay, but not really anything special. read more

Ah, Shakespeare's. I will tell you all this is my favorite place to be. I call Shakes my "Cheer's" bar. Everyone here is wonderful. The owners are incredibly friendly, understanding, and kind. They have a bar with 44 different beers on tap. A great place to go to discover new craft beers around Kalamazoo. What I'm saying is, if you go, don't order a Miller Lite. The food? I mean, it's bad food. However, the nachos are a MUST try. My mother is a nacho enthusiast and she will always say these are the BEST nachos is Kalamazoo. I WILL SAY, I hate coming here on the weekends. I hate going anywhere on the weekends. However, that aspect is entirely based on the clientele. Shakes has been everyone's last stop around the Kalamazoo loop for years. People get sloppy drunk and blame it on the establishment. I hate it. Yes, they will cut you off at 2am. Yes, last call is at 1:45. No, the employees do not want to stay 4 extra hours late so you can finish your beer. Don't go to a bar at 1:30am. It's pretty simple. Any bar, regardless of rules, will hate you for this. Overall, 10/10 would recommend my home away from home. Make sure to drop in on Wednesday or Sunday for karaoke. Say hi to Jason and Hot Carl for me! read more

Shake's is the place to go for a reasonably priced drink, as long as you can deal with noise & slow service. The service, food, environment, cleanliness, etc. are mostly sub-par, but it is a fun place to get together with a group. read more

Very, very poor customer service. I was in kzoo with a friend on vacation from DC so we decided to check this bar out. Unfortunately I was immediately harassed by a bouncer at the door because I had an out of state ID. Then at 1:50 am they announced last call. So we purchased one last beer and about 1 min after the bartender handed us our Oberons, two bouncers came up to us and told us we had to "finish our beers" now or they would take them away. Even though we just bought them. I asked the bouncers if they could give us a couple of minutes...they rudely responded "no" and moved in closer to us and began to reach over toward the beers in our hands. At this point it's about 1:53 am, not 2 am! So we were literally forced to slam our beers instead of enjoying a great Michigan beer on a Friday night. This type of harassment was completely unprofessional and intimidating. I will never come back to this bar! They need to teach their bouncers how to respect their customers before they can earn my future business. read more