Hamden Restaurant Week 7—The Playwright Irish Pub

I used to play for a dart team in the space that now houses The Playwright Irish Pub, Restaurant & Banquet Facility in Hamden, and frankly, it was kind of a dive. Not that I didn’t spend many boisterous hours there. But over recent years, I have watched investing restaurateurs gradually beautify our town, and the Playwright stands as one of the nicest upgrades.

The interior is also greatly improved with details like this handsome wood and stonework.

Visitors are apt to be greeted by a comely hostess.

Count on finding some regulars at the handsome bar,

and a pretty busy dining room as well.

When The Playwright’s really busy, as it was during Hamden Restaurant Week,

the diners may even spill into this private function room,

and in warm weather, this porch may see plenty of activity as well.

Physical improvements are wonderful, but people are what really make a restaurant. The Playwright’s owner Eamon Ryan

not only knows how to run a quality restaurant but how to handle his customers.

I spotted Sarah, a nice gal whom I knew from her days at now closed Café Espresso in New Haven.

Equally Irish, our waitress Chris hailed from Tipperary (it’s a long, long way).

My dining companion was my older daughter’s boyfriend, Jeff Cretella, a special education teacher, assistant football coach and all-around great guy.

(Rebecca was on a work trip to Finland). Jeff and I got started with pints of Smithwicks.

Good housemade Irish breads soon followed.

There were four appetizer choices: the soup du jour (a New England clam chowder), a potato and leek soup, a Playwright salad, or a Caesar salad. Jeff chose the Playwright salad,

while I opted for the housemade potato and leek soup.

There were fourteen entrée choices, including an Irish Whiskey BBQ chicken and rib combo, penne alla vodka, chicken with broccoli, capellini alla Francesca, chicken pot pie, chicken française, chicken Marsala, broiled tilapia, grilled salmon, stuffed sole, pork loin, shepherd’s pie, Guinness stew, and corned beef and cabbage. Jeff picked the Guinness stew,

while I selected the Irish Whiskey BBQ chicken and rib combo, which came with nice baked beans and coleslaw.

The desserts on offer that day for Restaurant Week diners included Mississippi mud pie, carrot cake, rice pudding and Bailey’s cake. Jeff couldn’t resist the Bailey’s cake,

while I was in the mood for carrot cake.

All in all, it was another great Hamden Restaurant Week meal, further proof that Hamden is becoming a dining destination.

The Playwright Pub, Restaurant & Banquet Facility, 1232 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, 203-287-2401
playwrightirishpub.com