If you live in or near Atlanta or plan to visit sometime soon, then you absolutely have to see a show at The New American Shakespeare Tavern. This is, of course, assuming that you are the sort of person who likes the theater. If you aren’t, I won’t hold it against you if you hit the back button now. But if you are a theater-lover, then read on!

A little more than a month ago, I had the opportunity to see a play at the Shakespeare Tavern as part of a birthday celebration for one of my best friends. The Tavern’s current showing was “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which only made me more excited. It’s one of my favorite Shakespeare plays and one that I performed as a high school junior. I was eager to see what a company of professional actors could do with this phenomenal text. While I went in expecting to be amazed, I did not expect to be this amazed.

Unfortunately, this is a very belated review. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” has finished its run, and the Tavern is now showing “Double Falsehood.” However, my experience last April is still pertinent because the Shakespeare Tavern uses the same company of actors for all of its performances, and those actors are extremely talented and well-trained. Their delivery is excellent. I can count on one hand the number of phrases I didn’t quite catch in the performance that I watched. For Shakespeare, that’s pretty amazing. It isn’t just their diction, either. Their body language and facial expressions both helped to convey the meaning of the text, even if the words they were speaking weren’t part of the American vernacular.

Aside from the quality of its company of actors, the Shakespeare Tavern also benefits from the intimate setting of its playhouse. There is not a seat in the house from which you cannot see and hear everything that happens on stage. For those of us with limited monthly entertainment budgets, this is a huge plus. I bought a ticket for the cheapest section in the house, and I didn’t miss a thing during the performance.

Last, but certainly not least, the Shakespeare Tavern is actually a dinner theater. You can technically eat before you arrive, but why bother when you could be enjoying the show while munching on delicious, reasonably-priced, authentic pub fare? I particularly recommend the Rainy Day Tomato Soup, which comes with a side of scrumptious, moist zucchini bread.

So, just to sum things up: impeccable performances, intimate atmosphere, tasty food. Yep. The New American Shakespeare Tavern is a “must-see” for Atlanta visitors and residents.