Sometimes (most times) I want to quit my job and take up a life of leisure, eating British food non-stop until I die. A day might consist of waking up, going for a walk, eating a full English breakfast, perhaps reading the paper, going for another walk, retiring to a pub for an ale and some fish and chips, perhaps going to the cinema, and then going to another pub for yet another ale, some Welsh rarebit, some bangers and mash, and then, by golly, sticky toffee pudding and cream. Give it to me now.
This past weekend (today is Monday, so I am speaking of the Sunday, Saturday and Friday evening which immediately preceded today) I ventured to The Shakespeare, a pub and restaurant recently reviewed in a publication often referred to as "The New York Times." Let us look at some of the words which were spoken:
"Other pub standards at the Shakespeare were true to form, like the
highly credible bangers and mash and the fish and chips, with a light
sheath of custardy batter around a hunk of very fresh cod. The Scotch
eggs, molten at the yolk and wrapped in juicy, salty sausage before
being plunged into the fryer, were good enough to eat by the dozen,
although I would be round as an egg if I had tried."
I cannot speak to the bangers and mash for I did not eat them. The fish and chips were respectable, the chips particularly so, being fried three times (I find that most things fried three times are usually enjoyable). The Scotch egg was enjoyable, although "good enough to eat by the dozen" is a ridiculous thing to say and a poor attempt at humor.
Two desserts were eaten: a sticky toffee pudding, and a banana pudding. Both were good.
I've had more pleasant British experiences, but one could do worse than The Shakespeare. I personally prefer Jones Wood Foundry on the Upper East Side and would more heartily recommend it, not that I loved The Shakespeare less, but that I love Jones Wood Foundry more.
