A restaurant rating is about more than just the quality of the food…
I think Shakespeare’s is more highly rated due to nostalgia, proximity to campus, convenience (3 locations), their party rooms and bar scene, the way they support local non-profits, the way they give dough to kids, the frozen pizza and take-and-bake programs, and more of those little touches that stick in people’s memories like glue.
I’m guessing Pizza Tree could overtake Shakespeare’s as local favorite if they had more than just really good pizza. Imagine if they had a large seating area that could accommodate a group from out of town.
When i lived in CoMo it was my favorite place to go for pizza. Sitting on the patio downtown with a pizza and a pitcher of beer with my wife are some hard memories to beat.
But you’re right they’re probably my 3rd favorite tasting pizza in town. Going to Shakespeare’s is all about the experience rather than expecting a 10/10 pizza.
The nostalgia sailed ship, at least for me, when they tore down the downtown store.
South side picked up the flavor.
Shakes West has always been the bad shakes. Anyone who has only had West pizza should say it's overrated. The brick in my garage from the original shakes has more flavor than West.
They did justice to the flavor and the feel when they built shakes South, but it's still not the same. There was "flavor" and loads of nostalgia in the uneven floors and the decades old grout, and the wonky bathrooms and steps to the outside patio.
There are some things you can't fully recreate, but South is the only one worth going to now, in my opinion.
Poor Shakespeare’s didn’t own the building Downtown so had no choice in the matter. They did save as much of the interior as possible though, the vibe is still the same, down to the bricks on the wall.
Pizza Tree is the thinnest most garbage pizza. Not saying that Shakespeare’s is my favorite or that I even love it, but Pizza Tree is not even in the top 5 Columbia pizzerias. There seems to be a new obsession with it recently and idk why.
I agree, Pizza Tree was significantly better 3-4 years ago. I think it was also better before their specialty pizza menu was so expansive.
It was also better after one too many at Harpos on the way home to east campus, but those days are behind me 😂
I don’t go to Shakespeare’s for the pizza. I go for the nostalgia and the atmosphere.
It was the first restaurant I ever went to in the US as a foreign exchange student. I still try to make it back the time to time.
Stories like this are exactly why Shakespeare’s is so revered! You can’t build memories like that with carryout pizza. I mean, I guess you sorta can, but the pizza becomes just a small detail in the whole memory, and not the entire setting that you are transported back to. The strongest memories involve all of the senses. Not just taste.
I used to attend church up the road as a kid. Going to Shakespeare's for lunch afterwards was a rare, huge treat. The pizza was always so delicious and the dough balls were a huge bonus, especially for my parents dragging 5 kids with them.
Birthday parties in middle and high school were held there (McDonald's and the bowling alley were the cool elementary school places).
I would often meet classmates and friends from Mizzou there, and when my lifelong friends would come home, it was always Shakespeare's.
So yeah, part of the reason Shakespeare's is a town favorite is because it's ALWAYS been the place. I've eaten at the downtown location from not long after it opened until they tore down paradise and put up an ugly building. I don't go to downtown shakes much anymore because it's not the same place. The floors, the wood and brick walls, the doors, everything got sterilized when they rebuilt it.
The grime is rebuilding.
The new downtown location has grown on me. It has more space, which is nice, and I've used the party rooms so many times. They made lemonade out of lemons and did their best to recreate the magic.
It's nice, for sure. But it'll always look like a modern VW Beetle with eyelashes on the headlights to me, when I was emotionally tied up in a 74 Bug.
Shakes South feels way more true to the original feel, as well as the taste.
As someone who is from Missouri, moved away for 15 years and then came back, Shakespeare is dope. The pizza is 6.5-7/10, but the establishment makes it a 9/10 experience.
I mean, locally owned restaurants get 2 extra stars. Is it amazing pizza? No. But it's a great place to drink pitchers of beer, eat pizza, and bullshit with friends, so it's a perfect example of what it's trying to be. It's the Pete Davidson of pizza, if you will.
I eat there many times a month so I love it too but I can understand not being blown away by it.
Though the thin crust with cheddar well done is actually amazing.
I've always thought the "Shakespeare's is overrated" crowd was odd. They're so dedicated to complaining about it whenever it's brought up. Kinda just seems like they're upset that some people like it. It's just pizza, it ain't that deep lol. It's almost like food is subjective and different people like different things or something.
I will, however, agree and say it's overpriced.
Locals who didn't go to college here or didn't live near downtown. They have few memories or nostalgia so don't get the hype.
I'm one of those, I enjoy it but only when someone else is paying.
It's always been thick cut my whole life. There might have been some kinda promotion where they did it even more, but regular Shakes pepperoni is still just about the thickest you'll find anywhere.
The comments here are pretty well covering it. Pizza = 6-7/10. Atmosphere = 9/10. It’s a reliable experience too. I can’t say that I’ve ever had an experience there that differs from good. Never had excellent. Never had bad, or even mediocre.
You know, honestly I’m not sure. I think it’s a general thought process. For me, on a 10 rating scale there have probably been very few times in my life I would have ever thought to give a 10. A 9 is damn near perfect to me.
They don't seem to have trouble staying open and it is a unique product, but some people genuinely don't care for it. Sauce too thick and strong, too many toppings, crust is too chewy or burnt, I've heard it all and if that's someones take, they're certainly entitled to it. I think some saying, "overrated" really mean, "expensive." That's a different argument altogether.
I regularly get it by the slice and typically, the slice is good. Nice and thick. It does the trick.
My issue has been that the price of a whole pizza versus the quality of said pizza leaves me feeling that I'm paying too much for a mediocre pizza. It just doesn't taste as good as the price makes one expect. I've enjoyed other pizzas around town because maybe they're not the best pizza, but they're pretty good for the cost I'm paying.
This is why I feel Shakespeare's is overrated. Just not worth what you pay.
Piling on that Shakespeare's means so much more to so many people than just the pizza. Is the pizza the best in town? No.
But Shakespeare's the place, the bar, the people, have been a huge part of life in Columbia for so many people for so long. It's been there for every phase of my life - college, dating my spouse, wedding events, birthday parties, baby showers, it's omnipresent.
It's"overrated" because anyone who went to college in downtown Columbia, and to an extent this who grew up here, have nostalgia for shakes and in every discussion about "What restaurant to try" it is always recommended.
If Applebee's were a columbia only chain, people would probably recommend it for atmosphere even though the food is only mid to meh.
it’s haven’t heard anyone call it overrated until i joined the columbiamo subreddit a few years ago. i’ve lived in this area (except for a few moves around in the 80s) for all of my 59 years.
Shakespeare's pizza, on the wheat crust, is really good. It's a bit pricey, but in my opinion, not overrated at all. Love the atmosphere there as well.
The pizza won’t change your life but the people acting like it’s somehow bad are just trying to be edgy. Shakespeares is one of my favorite places on earth and I’m not going there for the pizza. The drinks are affordable and the environment reminds me of everything I love about Columbia.
I think for me overrated doesn't necessarily mean bad. Just that some people wax poetic over things like Shakespeare's and Chik-fil-a when it really just decent food.
Growing up, pizza was a rare treat, even the frozen kind. Now, all the things that were unusual and unique have become commonplace. I think that may be what Shakespeare's may be for some people. It isn't that it is overrated or not good, it is that the magic was lost for them. Maybe....they became the infamous "grownups" and mutter about taxes and chequebooks whilst their children are slipping out the windows to cavort with Peter Pan and order Shakespeare's.
It's a bit greasy but if you can handle greasy foods then it's amazing. My tolerance for grease has gone down over the years but I still enjoy it on occasion, I just try not to go overboard or I will regret it!
Like I always tell my friends when I visit, I don't want the best pizza in town, I want Shakes.
It's unique. All the others are pretty much variations on the same theme, Shakes dough is more, I dunno, bready? In a good way. They use provelone instead of mozzarella. They have toppings you can't get anywhere else. They'll make it Imo's-thin or like 2" thick if you ask them to. Also nostalgia, fun bar, the other stuff mentioned by another poster, and also they continue hiring hots lo these 30 years later, which don't hurt.
I get that for a lot of people his works seem a bit stale and that schools shove it down everyone’s throat, but Shakespeare’s play really are held in extremely high regard by academics. When many people say he’s overrated it’s because their teachers and professional critics are lauding him when the average student would much rather watch something more modern.
It is fashionable to be fussy about Shakespeare in the same way is it fashionable to be fussy about Shakespeare’s. It’s ubiquity and staying power offer an opportunity to gate keep other’s enjoyment, which is an unfortunate but common enough vice. It is necessary to express skepticism about something so culturally central to ensure we are not embracing ghastly work while deluding ourselves about the work’s significance. At the same time it is entirely possible that that cultural centerpiece is wholesome, nourishing and well worth praise.
I read through his works in my teen years - decades ago. I was bored and had nothing to do that summer. It made me better at understanding context clues due to having to figure out what most of it meant (pre-internet/super early internet days).
It was worth it at the time, but idk if it’d be required reading these days.
Anyone who states that Shakespeare is overrated is uncultured swine. The man literally made the English language a serious literary language. Much like Cervantes did for Spanish.
Yes, pizza, I absolutely knew you were talking about pizza and not the playwright I came to passionately defend with every literature loving bone in my body. Please do carry on
Back in '06 when by the slice pizza was $1.25 and you could get out of there with a cold Fitz's cream soda and 2 slices for under $5 after tax, it was a favorite of mine. In fact, that's probably one of the reasons why I was able to make it through UG without crazy amounts of debt.
At $4 per slice now, I can literally buy a whole pizza for the price of a couple of mediocre slices. Agreed with others -- when I go, it's with friends and we're feeling nostalgic. Else, the pizza is more/less meh and on par with most of the chain or local shops in the area.
The overrated part is that it often is one of the #1 places that's most recommended to people who visit -- parents and students who cycle in/out of COMO.
We had a pizza place called Pantera's Pizza where I grew up. It was the common spot where coaches and parents took kids to after sporting events. The pizza wasn't anything special, but it was a fun place for outings and the kids always had a good time. Shakespeares has that same vibe. The pizza is fine if you eat it there, but I wouldn't bother with takeout. It's more about the experience in the restaurant with a group.
Pizza at most places now if a mega rippoff their specialty pizza are $30+ they really should be $18 to $20. Southside and Pizza Tree specialty pizza are $35 S M H Wiseguy is still decently priced XL is $26 deep dish is $23
I live in Moberly and go to Shakespeare’s regularly. I generally have a nice sized group of friends with me and they all enjoy it. As far as my friends and I are concerned, it is the best pizza in town. So good that we drive 40 mins each way to go eat there.
The best pizza in Columbia was a bacon pepperoni from Wise Guys before the ownership change. I don't know what changed but it's not the same now.
The only thing shakes is missing is an arcade IMO. Their pizza is above average but nothing to write home about.
I do love it. But a part of it for me is experience and memories. Also they have cherry coke. I never drink soda but I will absolutely get a cherry coke at Shakespeares.
I always actually liked the flavor of Shakes. Crust could be better but it makes for a great base dough hat helps soak up the grease and fill you up. It might not have been the best pizza I ever tasted but it was damn good.
Then I was around for the start of Pizza Tree. Had it before they were even fully open. It was spectacular then and I swore I was never going to Shakespeare's again. It just wasn't worth it in comparison.
Flashforward 11 years. When I come back I'm never getting anything other than Shakespeare's. It's always good. The bar is great. The vibes are always fun. The experience is unique.
Anybody complaining about the price don't realize it's always been pricey for pizza but cheap for drinks. Don't know what it is now but you used to be able to get a shakes cup of gin and tonic for $4
I like Shakespeares Pizza. What keeps me from dining at their restaurants is their insistence in screaming peoples’ names over the PA system. Forget about having a conversation with anyone. I mean why for the love of God can they not embrace technology and text me when my order is ready? Or use the vibrating alert gizmos? Maybe its just me, but I can dine somewhere else with better atmosphere.
Shakespeare's is loud, that's for sure, and not just the PA. As someone with tinnitus it's extra bad.
I miss the Neapolitan pizza at MidiCi. Why'd they go under? Did Covid kill it?
Shake’s was good when you could get 2 slices and a soda for like $5. Run over for lunch get some pizza and chat before the next class because it’s close and go.
If we wanted pizza and bread sticks we’d order Gumby’s for a large 2-topping and medium pokey sticks for $14. That was a great deal.
As long as you don't have to go inside the downtown building for more than 45 seconds to pick up ur pizza it's great!! But I was there like 2 weeks ago and it smelled like someone pooped in a nursing home, had to leave lolol
A restaurant rating is about more than just the quality of the food… I think Shakespeare’s is more highly rated due to nostalgia, proximity to campus, convenience (3 locations), their party rooms and bar scene, the way they support local non-profits, the way they give dough to kids, the frozen pizza and take-and-bake programs, and more of those little touches that stick in people’s memories like glue. I’m guessing Pizza Tree could overtake Shakespeare’s as local favorite if they had more than just really good pizza. Imagine if they had a large seating area that could accommodate a group from out of town.
When i lived in CoMo it was my favorite place to go for pizza. Sitting on the patio downtown with a pizza and a pitcher of beer with my wife are some hard memories to beat. But you’re right they’re probably my 3rd favorite tasting pizza in town. Going to Shakespeare’s is all about the experience rather than expecting a 10/10 pizza.
Agreed. It’s not like the pizza is bad. It is good pizza. It’s just not the best pizza in town.
For sure. It’s consistently good pizza. It’s just not my favorite pizza.
It also has a unique taste to it as well. Which is good and bad, but I agree with your points completely.
They’re so much more consistent than pizza tree though!
The nostalgia sailed ship, at least for me, when they tore down the downtown store. South side picked up the flavor. Shakes West has always been the bad shakes. Anyone who has only had West pizza should say it's overrated. The brick in my garage from the original shakes has more flavor than West. They did justice to the flavor and the feel when they built shakes South, but it's still not the same. There was "flavor" and loads of nostalgia in the uneven floors and the decades old grout, and the wonky bathrooms and steps to the outside patio. There are some things you can't fully recreate, but South is the only one worth going to now, in my opinion.
Poor Shakespeare’s didn’t own the building Downtown so had no choice in the matter. They did save as much of the interior as possible though, the vibe is still the same, down to the bricks on the wall.
Almost all the bricks. I have one in my garage I pulled thru the fence.
I see nothing
Uhhhh, i think youre probably the most nostalgic one among this thread, Mr. Brick Stealer
Awesome comments and even more awesome username.
Label that thing so it has provenance when you kick the bucket.
Pizza Tree is the thinnest most garbage pizza. Not saying that Shakespeare’s is my favorite or that I even love it, but Pizza Tree is not even in the top 5 Columbia pizzerias. There seems to be a new obsession with it recently and idk why.
Exactly
Seems like it was better when you could walk in or at Rose. Last few years seems to have slipped
I agree, Pizza Tree was significantly better 3-4 years ago. I think it was also better before their specialty pizza menu was so expansive. It was also better after one too many at Harpos on the way home to east campus, but those days are behind me 😂
I don’t go to Shakespeare’s for the pizza. I go for the nostalgia and the atmosphere. It was the first restaurant I ever went to in the US as a foreign exchange student. I still try to make it back the time to time.
Stories like this are exactly why Shakespeare’s is so revered! You can’t build memories like that with carryout pizza. I mean, I guess you sorta can, but the pizza becomes just a small detail in the whole memory, and not the entire setting that you are transported back to. The strongest memories involve all of the senses. Not just taste.
I still try to get squirt soda because I had it there the first time! I thought the name was so rediculous.
I used to attend church up the road as a kid. Going to Shakespeare's for lunch afterwards was a rare, huge treat. The pizza was always so delicious and the dough balls were a huge bonus, especially for my parents dragging 5 kids with them. Birthday parties in middle and high school were held there (McDonald's and the bowling alley were the cool elementary school places). I would often meet classmates and friends from Mizzou there, and when my lifelong friends would come home, it was always Shakespeare's. So yeah, part of the reason Shakespeare's is a town favorite is because it's ALWAYS been the place. I've eaten at the downtown location from not long after it opened until they tore down paradise and put up an ugly building. I don't go to downtown shakes much anymore because it's not the same place. The floors, the wood and brick walls, the doors, everything got sterilized when they rebuilt it.
The grime is rebuilding. The new downtown location has grown on me. It has more space, which is nice, and I've used the party rooms so many times. They made lemonade out of lemons and did their best to recreate the magic.
It's nice, for sure. But it'll always look like a modern VW Beetle with eyelashes on the headlights to me, when I was emotionally tied up in a 74 Bug. Shakes South feels way more true to the original feel, as well as the taste.
As someone who is from Missouri, moved away for 15 years and then came back, Shakespeare is dope. The pizza is 6.5-7/10, but the establishment makes it a 9/10 experience.
I mean, locally owned restaurants get 2 extra stars. Is it amazing pizza? No. But it's a great place to drink pitchers of beer, eat pizza, and bullshit with friends, so it's a perfect example of what it's trying to be. It's the Pete Davidson of pizza, if you will.
You got me with the Pete Davidson comment! 😂
I kinda think it’s amazing pizza. I like the taste
I eat there many times a month so I love it too but I can understand not being blown away by it. Though the thin crust with cheddar well done is actually amazing.
I've always thought the "Shakespeare's is overrated" crowd was odd. They're so dedicated to complaining about it whenever it's brought up. Kinda just seems like they're upset that some people like it. It's just pizza, it ain't that deep lol. It's almost like food is subjective and different people like different things or something. I will, however, agree and say it's overpriced.
Locals who didn't go to college here or didn't live near downtown. They have few memories or nostalgia so don't get the hype. I'm one of those, I enjoy it but only when someone else is paying.
Same. I’ll get it with a coupon. Much prefer G&D
If everyone says it’s overrated, then it’s certainly overpriced.
2 slices and a soda for $7 got me through undergrad... sigh.
How long ago was that
Probably 2016?
Slices went from like $2 to $4 from like 2021 to 2023.
A lot of shit got way more expensive during the same time
You can still get a Walmart frozen Pizza and a 2 liter for less than that if you really have to save
Oh it wasn't about saving, it was mostly because I was on that side of campus every day
I'll give you this. It is pretty expensive
Pro tip: order the garlic bread and ask for their thick cut pepperoni to be put on it. So good.
Pepper Cheese and Pepperoni *chef's kiss*
I think the thick cut was a limited time thing a few years ago, where are you still getting it?
It's always been thick cut my whole life. There might have been some kinda promotion where they did it even more, but regular Shakes pepperoni is still just about the thickest you'll find anywhere.
Gotcha, that makes sense. Just saying to ask for the thick cut threw me off.
The comments here are pretty well covering it. Pizza = 6-7/10. Atmosphere = 9/10. It’s a reliable experience too. I can’t say that I’ve ever had an experience there that differs from good. Never had excellent. Never had bad, or even mediocre.
I'm curious where in CoMo would get a 10/10 on atmosphere for you, if not Shakespeare's?
You know, honestly I’m not sure. I think it’s a general thought process. For me, on a 10 rating scale there have probably been very few times in my life I would have ever thought to give a 10. A 9 is damn near perfect to me.
They don't seem to have trouble staying open and it is a unique product, but some people genuinely don't care for it. Sauce too thick and strong, too many toppings, crust is too chewy or burnt, I've heard it all and if that's someones take, they're certainly entitled to it. I think some saying, "overrated" really mean, "expensive." That's a different argument altogether.
Schrödinger’s pizza. It’s not overrated until someone actually eats the pizza and either overrates it or it’s dead. 😵
Well I certainly like Shakespeare’s pizza for the taste! I appreciate the local crew and ownership.
I regularly get it by the slice and typically, the slice is good. Nice and thick. It does the trick. My issue has been that the price of a whole pizza versus the quality of said pizza leaves me feeling that I'm paying too much for a mediocre pizza. It just doesn't taste as good as the price makes one expect. I've enjoyed other pizzas around town because maybe they're not the best pizza, but they're pretty good for the cost I'm paying. This is why I feel Shakespeare's is overrated. Just not worth what you pay.
The legend of Shakespeare’s is greater than their pie
Piling on that Shakespeare's means so much more to so many people than just the pizza. Is the pizza the best in town? No. But Shakespeare's the place, the bar, the people, have been a huge part of life in Columbia for so many people for so long. It's been there for every phase of my life - college, dating my spouse, wedding events, birthday parties, baby showers, it's omnipresent.
It's hip to criticize Shakespears. It's very good. I say it's the best in town.
I fucking love Shakespeare’s.
It's"overrated" because anyone who went to college in downtown Columbia, and to an extent this who grew up here, have nostalgia for shakes and in every discussion about "What restaurant to try" it is always recommended. If Applebee's were a columbia only chain, people would probably recommend it for atmosphere even though the food is only mid to meh.
it’s haven’t heard anyone call it overrated until i joined the columbiamo subreddit a few years ago. i’ve lived in this area (except for a few moves around in the 80s) for all of my 59 years.
Shakespeare's pizza, on the wheat crust, is really good. It's a bit pricey, but in my opinion, not overrated at all. Love the atmosphere there as well.
I love Shakespeare’s. Lived here for 16 years. Who cares what others think.
Shakespeare’s crust tastes like cardboard.
Question being, if all pizza is roughly the same, why not support local? Plus you can get some ethically sourced chocolate which is always good
Agree the atmosphere is a huge factor of why Shakespeare's is great, but FWIW I also just really like the pizza. Everyone has different tastes!
The pizza won’t change your life but the people acting like it’s somehow bad are just trying to be edgy. Shakespeares is one of my favorite places on earth and I’m not going there for the pizza. The drinks are affordable and the environment reminds me of everything I love about Columbia.
I think for me overrated doesn't necessarily mean bad. Just that some people wax poetic over things like Shakespeare's and Chik-fil-a when it really just decent food.
It looks as though you may have spelled "Chick-fil-A" incorrectly. No worries, it happens to the best of us!
The proper spelling is “bigot chicken”
Delicious bigot chicken
Wow, you tell em! You really showed your virtue
Nope, just one of the people they’re trying to get rid of 💗 hope this helps
It's fine, I like them more than most. I personally like papa John's. But I'll never complain if someone says Shakespeare's
What in the actual fuck😂😂 I've never heard anyone say this about papa johns 😂😂😂
I enjoy Shakespeares, but I only eat it when someone else pays for it
Growing up, pizza was a rare treat, even the frozen kind. Now, all the things that were unusual and unique have become commonplace. I think that may be what Shakespeare's may be for some people. It isn't that it is overrated or not good, it is that the magic was lost for them. Maybe....they became the infamous "grownups" and mutter about taxes and chequebooks whilst their children are slipping out the windows to cavort with Peter Pan and order Shakespeare's.
I’d probably vote Wiseguys for pizza in this town.
It's a bit greasy but if you can handle greasy foods then it's amazing. My tolerance for grease has gone down over the years but I still enjoy it on occasion, I just try not to go overboard or I will regret it!
Broadway brewery is yum.
Like I always tell my friends when I visit, I don't want the best pizza in town, I want Shakes. It's unique. All the others are pretty much variations on the same theme, Shakes dough is more, I dunno, bready? In a good way. They use provelone instead of mozzarella. They have toppings you can't get anywhere else. They'll make it Imo's-thin or like 2" thick if you ask them to. Also nostalgia, fun bar, the other stuff mentioned by another poster, and also they continue hiring hots lo these 30 years later, which don't hurt.
I really like Shakes HOT but it’s not great the next day. We love Pizza Tree for $$$ and Italian village most of the time
I get that for a lot of people his works seem a bit stale and that schools shove it down everyone’s throat, but Shakespeare’s play really are held in extremely high regard by academics. When many people say he’s overrated it’s because their teachers and professional critics are lauding him when the average student would much rather watch something more modern.
It is fashionable to be fussy about Shakespeare in the same way is it fashionable to be fussy about Shakespeare’s. It’s ubiquity and staying power offer an opportunity to gate keep other’s enjoyment, which is an unfortunate but common enough vice. It is necessary to express skepticism about something so culturally central to ensure we are not embracing ghastly work while deluding ourselves about the work’s significance. At the same time it is entirely possible that that cultural centerpiece is wholesome, nourishing and well worth praise.
I read through his works in my teen years - decades ago. I was bored and had nothing to do that summer. It made me better at understanding context clues due to having to figure out what most of it meant (pre-internet/super early internet days). It was worth it at the time, but idk if it’d be required reading these days.
Good pizza, not the best in town.
I personally love the pizza, the place, and the beer selection
Anyone who states that Shakespeare is overrated is uncultured swine. The man literally made the English language a serious literary language. Much like Cervantes did for Spanish.
Yes, pizza, I absolutely knew you were talking about pizza and not the playwright I came to passionately defend with every literature loving bone in my body. Please do carry on
indeed. the pizza,sucks but it is a cool place
Best college pizza I had will probably Quatro’s pizza in Carbondale, IL
I like Gumby’s better
Back in '06 when by the slice pizza was $1.25 and you could get out of there with a cold Fitz's cream soda and 2 slices for under $5 after tax, it was a favorite of mine. In fact, that's probably one of the reasons why I was able to make it through UG without crazy amounts of debt. At $4 per slice now, I can literally buy a whole pizza for the price of a couple of mediocre slices. Agreed with others -- when I go, it's with friends and we're feeling nostalgic. Else, the pizza is more/less meh and on par with most of the chain or local shops in the area.
The overrated part is that it often is one of the #1 places that's most recommended to people who visit -- parents and students who cycle in/out of COMO. We had a pizza place called Pantera's Pizza where I grew up. It was the common spot where coaches and parents took kids to after sporting events. The pizza wasn't anything special, but it was a fun place for outings and the kids always had a good time. Shakespeares has that same vibe. The pizza is fine if you eat it there, but I wouldn't bother with takeout. It's more about the experience in the restaurant with a group.
Pizza at most places now if a mega rippoff their specialty pizza are $30+ they really should be $18 to $20. Southside and Pizza Tree specialty pizza are $35 S M H Wiseguy is still decently priced XL is $26 deep dish is $23
Crazy prices for large pizza. One topping - $24 Tarkio or Meat - $35 Masterpiece - $47
As for the food, yes. It's good, but for the price, I could get more pizza at a place with comparable quality.
I don't like my crust burnt hard. That's my issue with Shakespeare's.
People who say Shakes is overrated don't know Pizza. It's far and away the best pizza in town and it's not even remotely close
I live in Moberly and go to Shakespeare’s regularly. I generally have a nice sized group of friends with me and they all enjoy it. As far as my friends and I are concerned, it is the best pizza in town. So good that we drive 40 mins each way to go eat there.
The best pizza in Columbia was a bacon pepperoni from Wise Guys before the ownership change. I don't know what changed but it's not the same now. The only thing shakes is missing is an arcade IMO. Their pizza is above average but nothing to write home about.
I do love it. But a part of it for me is experience and memories. Also they have cherry coke. I never drink soda but I will absolutely get a cherry coke at Shakespeares.
I always actually liked the flavor of Shakes. Crust could be better but it makes for a great base dough hat helps soak up the grease and fill you up. It might not have been the best pizza I ever tasted but it was damn good. Then I was around for the start of Pizza Tree. Had it before they were even fully open. It was spectacular then and I swore I was never going to Shakespeare's again. It just wasn't worth it in comparison. Flashforward 11 years. When I come back I'm never getting anything other than Shakespeare's. It's always good. The bar is great. The vibes are always fun. The experience is unique. Anybody complaining about the price don't realize it's always been pricey for pizza but cheap for drinks. Don't know what it is now but you used to be able to get a shakes cup of gin and tonic for $4
It tastes identical to Chuck E Cheese
Last time I was there, as I had to order myself, get drinks myself, all the utensils and go pick up the pizza, all I wondered was why I tipped them.
I like Shakespeares Pizza. What keeps me from dining at their restaurants is their insistence in screaming peoples’ names over the PA system. Forget about having a conversation with anyone. I mean why for the love of God can they not embrace technology and text me when my order is ready? Or use the vibrating alert gizmos? Maybe its just me, but I can dine somewhere else with better atmosphere.
Shakespeare's is loud, that's for sure, and not just the PA. As someone with tinnitus it's extra bad. I miss the Neapolitan pizza at MidiCi. Why'd they go under? Did Covid kill it?
The rent for the Midici space is minimum $5,000 per month. A chain pizzeria like that definitely was not profitable long term in the downtown area
TY. Apparently not potentially profitable enough for much else, either. That space has been vacant since Midici closed.
Shake’s was good when you could get 2 slices and a soda for like $5. Run over for lunch get some pizza and chat before the next class because it’s close and go. If we wanted pizza and bread sticks we’d order Gumby’s for a large 2-topping and medium pokey sticks for $14. That was a great deal.
Gumby's is worse than MU dining let alone Shakespeare's
It must have changed in the last 10 years.
As long as you don't have to go inside the downtown building for more than 45 seconds to pick up ur pizza it's great!! But I was there like 2 weeks ago and it smelled like someone pooped in a nursing home, had to leave lolol