Players Grill

Ate here with the family 1−2x month for 20 years. Service was never great, but really liked the ribs. A month after my wife died brought the kids there late on a weekday night, about 8:50. Wanted to share one of our favorite meals. We were the only customers there and asked the owner if we were too late to order ribs and he said no. No one took our order or even put a glass of water on our table for 15 minutes, even though staff were around. Owner had his nose in his reading. We decided to leave. As we passed him he virtually barked, «hey, where ya goin’, she’ll be out in a minute!» Have never gone back in the six years since and never will.

We made a reservation for 8 on what seemed to be a very busy Friday night. When seated, we were greeted kindly and the rest of the night was wonderful. Drinks and appetizers came out almost immediately and were HOT! I ordered the ribs which were to die for. Had just the right amount of char and were cooked to perfection. It was a slight pricier than we expected but you pay for quality. Brittany was an amazing waitress!

If I could give Players a zero I would. After ordering take out many times and it always showing up wrong, I tried one more time. The order was wrong AGAIN. I called Players and the owner came on the phone. When I explained that the wrong soups was in the order and the sandwich came without fries he became aggressive and said «get mad over missing fries’. Not the point-​the order was wrong. I said we would never come back because he was so rude and he said good luck finding a restaurant with food as good as his. Bad news for him is there are many better options restaurants which are much cleaner and have better service and good. Try Backyard Grill in highland park-​half the price of Players and fresher and better food. Patronize a restaurant where the owner isn’t a jerk.

Food is good from here but the delivery driver grosses me out. When he delivers the food, he is sweating and sweat is dripping from his face. Just kind of gross when you are dealing with delivering someone’s food.

Seated relatively quickly. Took about 10 minutes for us to get a menu and another 10 for a waitress to stop by and say hi. Waitstaff seemed overwhelmed and were constantly hustling food out of the kitchen and didn’t seem to have a lot of time to tend to tables otherwise.
The kitchen saved this place when we went as the food that came out was very good.
Other issues– multiple dirty dishes and glasses on table that we had to get replaced.
Overall– I will think about take out in the future.

Players is the great neighborhood go to place. You go to eat lean BBQ Ribs, cooked to perfection. You go to order fresh fish, served six ways. You can only go here to have VEAL skirt steak.
I haven’t ordered the buffalo burger or the tuna steak sandwich, I might sometime.
My cousin only eats salads. She was happy.
This is not a huge place. I was glad to catch a chicken dinner last time baked with a dozen herbs and spices. Chato’s style.
I’ve had two parties here. Each was about 24 people but only on a slower weekday night. These are not fall off the bone ribs, which is the only way I like them.
Jerry has great daily specials and they are priced right. PS the best coleslaw too

I vote 3.5−4 stars. I had ribs which I thought to be very tasty but just a bit on the expensive side and my spouse had a chicken special which was delicious! The bagel chips I could do without (greasy and stale) but yes I would come here again for the daily specials. Jerry was very charismatic and our service was good. A must try for locals!

This place used to be great but will someone please tell the owner that his chicken breast tastes like rubber. I swear it had a Michelin stamp on it. The regular chicken is decent but the breast is terrible. I know Harrison’s in Glenview delivers chicken breasts to other restaurants… quality over quantity buddy.

Incredible neighborhood gem. Best ribs around. Date had perfectly cooked salmon. Servers know how to take care of their guests.

The food was ok, the menu was good. Service was awkward.
We came in at 9:20 pm (40 minutes til close) sat at a table.
We were not attended to so we got up and asked if the kitchen was still open. The owner, we assumed, says, «yeah if you order quick». He tells the waitress she must serve us, she bickered with him a little, then gets the menus and she did not look pleased.
So the waitress leaves the menus, and as soon as she comes back we order. Two burgers, fries side salad and a Cesar salad. «Oh and a beer please, and we’d like cheese on those burgers thanks»
This waitress was obviously not stoked to see us, but we were being very polite and easygoing. I did not fuss about the foamy ¾ pint of beer or bad vibes we were getting for coming in so late. The food came and we never asked for another thing. She did check on us once or twice that was kind of nice, but still a little uncomfortable.
We eat, it’s nice food, simple. We finish our food at 9:55, and ask for the check.
So we mull over the checka bit. I’d like to leave the cash and split but We only have twenties. The total was $ 43.46, so ok I’ll get change.
Now I think I am a fair tipper, why in December I try to tip double for holiday cheer and all. That being said, it’s January 2^nd and the service was uncomfortable at best and 16.54 to too much tip. I slap in three twenties and she heads over, as my buddy says, «Thanks, could we get some change please», she blurts, «ALRIGHT, Thanks, good night, happy new year»! Takes the money and goes.
Now that was weird, did she did hear you and just talk louder than you, and is trying to guilt us into a 38% tip? No she will bring the change that’s a lot. No, she is not bringing the change we better go ask.
Well this is awkward. He goes to the bar, «Ah, could we have our change»? She, «ugh I was brining it to you» we had to wait til they cash out the register. We all have our coats, I am waiting at the table. She hand me the change and I give her a different ten dollar bill and run away.
TLDR Most awkward and undeserved over tip ever

Love, love, love Chato’s wings. They are the best wings I’ve found around. They have a dry rub on them and they are quite yummy. The wait staff was very attentive and made sure I was always taken care of. Great restaurant!

Just had the Thursday night hamburger special — it is the best deal on the north shore — also a very good burger with all the trimmings — how does jerry so it?

Fried chicken was cooked about 20 minutes to long and all of the food was just not good.

We order from Players all the time at work. Everything is fantastic! My favorite things to get are the BBQ chicken salad or the patty melt. Their soups are always great too. Deb is wonderful and remembers our preferences if we eat in – we love this place!

Been eating here all my life. The food is good and the family in charge are some of the best people I know. Sometimes there’s a wait, but would you expect anything less from a place people enjoy visiting?

I’ve been eating here for about 18 years. I love their ribs & chicken! Best salmon in the neighborhood. Just ate a Greek seals today and I have a new favorite! Soups are home made. Full bar too!

The food at this place is EXCELLENT. So, I deservedly give Players Grill five stars based solely on what they serve on the plate! This is also an easy place to talk, without the competition of noisy table neighbors or a blaring television in the bar. However, the atmosphere overall is a bit disappointing.
While Players is NOT hip… there WERE a lot of ARTIFICIAL hips in the restaurant. It’s definitely not a «young trendy» destination spot. But it does have warm waiter/​waitress service and a family feel that goes a long way.
I had the Lake Superior White Fish which was outstanding. The portion was large, fresh, and seasoned to perfection. I asked the kitchen to hold off on the garlic, and my fish was still delicious with peppercorn and other seasonings. My parents each had the salmon, which was the «special of the day» at $ 14.95. The salmon portions were huge and also excellently seasoned.
Bottom line… GREAT FOOD. Okay atmosphere unless you’re dining with amazing company like my very special parents!

I like this place. They are right around the corner from me and I generally get take-​out for ballgames and such. I’ve dined in just once.
The pros:
A nice menu and the food is decent. I haven’t found anything I disliked, but there are only a few things that really jump out to me as special (Lamb Burger). I haven’t had many of their entrees, I usually get a sandwich. The owner is friendly and seems funny.
The cons:
Restaurants that offer take out should automatically give you the burger veggies on the side to prevent wilting. This place didn’t. As long as you request it they will. Dining in, the service is OK but nothing to write home about. Patrons that dine in seem like regulars, and you get the feeling that if you frequented this place, they would get to know you and take care of you.

I’ve noticed this place in the mornings when I picked up some drinks at the nearby Starbucks, but never thought to come here for lunch or even figure out what it was until last week. I was really surprised when I walked inside and found that it was a bar with a decent-​sized dining area. Definitely wasn’t expecting that. Cool.
So, the food. I really enjoyed the fried calamari. That was about it. The house salad was just a house salad. The french fries were just [good] french fries. And the Cajun Tilapia that I was so excited about? Absolutely flavorless. I was so disappointed with it, especially since it was blackened and looked like it had the spices. Maybe they over-​burned it. Who knows. Taylor M. (one of the fine ladies I dined with) had the same opinion about her Cajun Tilapia. Boo.
I’m glad I had the chance to eat here, but won’t be recommending it.

I had a hard time believing that I went to the same restaurant that all these people gave great ratings to on Unilocal.The service was pretty spotty and the food was sub par. I cannot warrant giving Players anymore than three stars.
I went here with two girlfriends for lunch after work on a Friday. I thought the lunch menu was a bit pricey. I ordered the Cajun Tilapia with loaded potato skins (50 cents extra, but totally worth it). I also had the creamy tomato soup. We ordered an appetizer of fried calamari for the table.
The fried calamari was good and pretty cheap for the portion you get, but it is definitely not fresh calamari. The flavor of the dipping sauce made up for that though! I also enjoyed the creamy tomato soup.
What I was disappointed in was the Cajun Tilapia. It was an okay sized portion, but it had no flavor. Looking at it, darkened by Cajun Spices, I was expecting a kick, but it was just blah. I had to ask for tartar sauce to go with it. It took a while to get the attention from someone to bring me tartar sauce.
Players is definitely nothing to write home about.