Players Sports Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Madison

Been here quite a few times but last night was different than any other night I’ve ever been there, food took about 45 minutes ordered chicken strips and fries after about 30 minutes my buddy who had ordered a patty melt and fries got tired of waiting and left to go sit in car, after 15 more minutes I asked the bartender for a refund, she said the two orders had just been put in. So I asked what’s taking so long she said there slammed right now and working as fast as possible because I was bored I counted the people you had at your business you had 11 people at the bar 9 were drinking two had orders and there was a party of 4 that had burgers on the patio. Straight up chicken and fries doesn’t take 45 minutes. I’ve been in there on multiple nights where you have a full bar, no room on the patio, and the pool table side has no seats chaotic like barely any standing room. Yesterday was just pathetic -June 30 2024, we ran out of patience over again, three chicken strips and a couple of fries. Like yesterday me and my buddy were outside in the sun for over 12 hours at fleamarket selling stuff. I stood in a line of 20 people that ordered burgers fries, chocolate shakes, cheese, curds, and things out of a food truck. They served 20 people in less than five minutes. Your kitchen is massive compared to there’s. I’d like to believe frozen chicken strips and frozen fries are easier than making a Chicago dog or a fat Elvis peanut butter burger. Cool you’re slammed the size of your grill is big enough for about 20 burgers. Plus, I’m a fat dude I own a deep fryer at home. So don’t tell me your double fryer was full for 4 orders. Just lame and pathetic...

Great bartenders, great patrons. My wife and I showed up, intending to sit at the bar for dinner. But it was really crowded. We could've gone and sat at an open table in the ping pong room. But I really wanted to sit at the bar.

One of the bartenders asked what she could get us. And I said we were trying to decide whether or not to stay even though there was no room at the bar.

Just then two young gentlemen said, "oh, stay! You can sit here..."

And they gave us their spots at the bar. And it wasn't like they were leaving and just alerting us to snag a couple spots. They actually stuck around, and just moved to the ping pong room. They sacrificed their spots at the bar so we could stay and enjoy ourselves.

One of the guys heard it was my birthday and bought me a beer. Isaac. You're too wonderful!

Then the bartender heard it was my birthday. And sweetheart that she is, she gave me a free shot of my choice.

Now that was a birthday dinner to remember. Thanks...

Best bar burger, best cheese curds, friendliest staff. I'm not even a sports fan and I still go here on the regular for amazing food/drinks. UPDATE, 8/4/25: I went in here with a friend and got some curds... they were awful. I don't know why they changed who supplies them but these were not real curds. They were bland and tasted artificial. Also, there is a relatively new bartender who REFUSES to acknowledge or serve me. I had brought 5 people who waited outside while I checked to see how busy it was. It was not busy, but this bartender never even came down to my end of the bar and was doing pointless busy work while I stood there for almost 10 minutes. We ended up leaving and going someplace else. I love Players, but bring back the good cheese curds and for God's sake get a better bartender than that lady with the dyed hair. She is rude, slow and selectively ignores people she doesn't...