Players Lounge

Love the neighborhood vibe at Players Lounge DC! The food is always fresh and flavorful—my favorites so far are the turkey necks, fried pork chops, and fried fish. I’m definitely trying to get my hands on an oxtail platter next time. Great spot for comfort food done right!

My sister from the state of Washington is not familiar with this area, but she knows what I like and she ordered me some liver and onions, mac & cheese, cabbage, and mashed potatoes and gravy and candy yams some greens and some potato salad and when I tell you babybe this food was actually on point seasoned very well. Very delicious. Y’all have to try it and I forgot she ordered me a order of smothered pork chops all the way from the state of Washington had an Uber to me I know for myself I will be ordering from them once again in the very near future ….. it’s much better than Levi’s. A hidden gem!!! oh yeah, they also put a lot of care into their delivery. Everything was sealed completely with plastic wrap. No one could get into it they did it from the heart. I loved it.!!!

I really wanted to like this place but I’m sorry this hidden gem should stay hidden. Old lady at the bar has a foul attitude. My food wasn’t the best but I didn’t expect 5 star cuisine. Rules change often. Card some days dont other days. The drink is $10 one day $14 another. I won’t be spending another dime. 3/10 won’t recommend

Delivered really quickly by uber eats! Large portions for the price. I ordered: beans with neck bones Smothered pork chops, green beans, and rice with cornbread Half smoke with white bread Disappointed with the pork chops w/gravy… lacked seasoning but everything else was good. I’d order again

Want some wonderful “southern food?”You must go to this restaurant!! It’s a great place to call ahead and pick up your order to go. Southern food like your grandma makes. Great potato salad, corn bread, fried fish, and my favorite, fried chicken wings. You name it, they’ve got it!! Can’t find it? It’s Located across from the St. Elizabeths East Redevelopment in Ward 8.

This hole in the wall is a national treasure!!! Awesome food, always some Cheers like behaviors going on. And the DRINKS! You should really only order half a drink.

Ordered the 4piece fried chicken with candied yams and macaroni and cheese, everything was good EXCEPPPPPT the Mac and cheese, honestly, the noodles wayyyy over cooked, slimy and mashed texture. Then the roux alone for the Mac and cheese is like a god damn gravy and it lacks taste like throw the whole pan over and get a new recipe cause yea… & I was that upset and let down I had to write my first review. Cause who in your kitchen tasted this Mac and cheese and still decided to sell it, pls fire that person immediately…. I will be returning for the fried chicken, and fried chicken onlyyyyyyy, good prices

Liver and onions was meh, tasted either like leftovers or overcooked. Gravy was good though. Rice was mushy, greens were nasty and greasy and on the sweet side and cornbread dry. Cake as well. Cake icing was hard as if it's over a week old

The food is Always Great. Service is Excellent. You definitely leave out belly feeling good.

Delivered really quickly by uber eats! Large portions for the price. I ordered: beans with neck bones Smothered pork chops, green beans, and rice with cornbread Half smoke with white bread Disappointed with the pork chops w/gravy and rice, it lacked seasoning but everything else was decent . I'd order again

Food was very good. Service is great. They are friendly. Their long islands will get you right lol

The food is always top tier! We order for our business routinely, and they NEVER MISS!!! The collard greens taste like my grandmother's!!!!! BOMB!!!!

Ordered via Uber Eats and I am SO very pleased to have found this spot. I was raised on soul food despite living in NOVA and when I tell you this place is the real deal, I mean it. The beef was over cooked but the gravy kinda hid the harshness of that. What's not pictured is the potato salad which is pure deliciousness. Have at it soul food peeps, go on and get you some!

I ordered through grubhub & the food was soooo fresh & the container was wrapped in plastic which kept everything hot. I enjoyed the love that went into the fish being as tho I'm pescatarian. I would recommend this place for the fish

I preferred oxtail , Mac and cheese and greens and it was disgusting I tried giving them a second chance and they failed once again. I just really wanted oxtails and it was nothing but fat on the bone .. if I could give it a -1 I would.

I have lived in the area for over 30 years and have never visited the establishment. After seeing the news story on television about how the owners were losing business because their usual customers no longer wanted to visit the area because of the unsavory elements hanging around, I decided to give them a try. My order was placed on Uber eats. After receiving and viewing the contents, I was highly disappointed. My food looked like slop they would serve a pig Turkey wings had more skin than meat smothered in a ton of gravy. The stuffing looked like overcooked, mushy oatmeal or vomit. Yes...vomit! Sweet potatoes tasted mediciny and being in the same container, got mixed with the gravy and slimy stuffing. My cornbread was omitted and I didn't get my chocolate cake . This is my first time ordering as well as my last time! No recommendations or endorsements from me! I will stick with two of my favs, Henry's Soul Cafe and SouthPride in Eastover.

Hit or miss but the food and drinks are cheap and the menu has lots of options. This is a dive bar as well so the atmosphere is good in my opinion. Pool and other activities too. Other patrons are nice and easy going.

It's a little old fashion and may need to be updated a bit but the food is clean and delicious! l like the way that the food is delivered and it taste so good, especially the spaghetti and the potatoes or Western fries. It's a good place to get a great meal.

I just received my order, Pork Chop dinner with potato salad and cabbage. Im sooo disappointed, pork chops are burned, dry and overcooked.... Always good food from here, but I cant stomach or chew these pork chops. Sad part is, I know the cook knew they were subpar after cooking and adding them into the to go box. Potato Salad and Cabbage were good though

Drinks = Be prepared to catch a Uber home. Food = Fantastic! Friendly atmosphere, stays open late.

My 2nd time ordering here. The food is absolutely amazing. Looking for good soul food this is the spot!!!

When I tell you I live down the st and kept skipping and hopping my ass to these far expensive places because of the area the players lounge is in but honeyyyyy they had the best food-best soul food-reals puddingfor my country ass fresh chicken forest greens good mac&cheese potato salad too this my spot Better then Henry's and ohhs and ahhs or whatever

I wanted food from this restaurant forever. I finally got. It was wonderful. Before I could get my shoes on they were at my door. The food was wonderful. Lived up tp everting I had heard.

Love this place great homely service and food is always top of the line, best soulfood in the city hands down. We need to spread the word about this place because we lose good restaurants in this city all the time and we can't afford to lose this one.

Best soul food in DC. Hands down. This place is called Josephine's by day (she's the older lady that is typically cooking there daily) and is Players Lounge at night and on weekends I believe. They have every option you can imagine and if it's not on the menu, they'll figure it out for you lol. Venue itself has so much history and actually turns to a club on weekend nights, but by day it's an amazing soul food space. Must try this food, if you have any love for good soul food.

‍ Soon as I walked in my mind screamed RUN! Lmao!! But I read the reviews so I gave it a chance. It's very dark in there and the customers appeared to be old ex dope fiends! Lmaooo No judgement though It's a small whole in the wall for sure. I ordered the ribs, greens, cabbage and chitterlings (I know I know...gambling with my life!) Greens and cabbage-FLAT! Not seasoned at all. The ribs were tinder but the bbq sauce too sweet for my liking. I gave them 2 stars for the chitterlings. They were cleaned very well and tasty. I would not go back here.....

I always order through Uber Eats and this place does not disappoint. Food is awesome soul food cooked just like Big Mama used to make it. If they do forget something they will always quickly refund or try to get it to you.

I live in Oldtown Alexandria and unfortunately we don't have a lot of southern cooking options, but through DoorDash, I have been able to reclaim my southern/soul food roots in very fabulous fashion. Players Lounge has all the favorites and then some. I got the turkey wings, string beans, and stuffing. It was superb. I could almost hear my dad cooking in the kitchen. These folks know what they are doing, plus they have great personal, customer service! Give them your business and quick!!!! Thanks again!

Ok. Interior worn and dingy. Service slow and not super friendly. But I like this place...kinda grows on you. This is the place for locals ....nobody from NW is yelping for restaurants in SE.... but that's their loss. I go during the day. The crowd is older...lunch crowd....but the food is just as good. The presentation is bleh but the food is good! The jerk chicken was no such thing but it was damn good. The catfish looks and tastes suspiciously like whiting but ‍ maybe they ran out. Parking can be a challenge. Lots of folks with overactive amygdalae in the area LOL.

If you are looking for soul food...Player's is the place! Now, I have to admit that some days are better than others but that's with any restaurant...right? My favorites are wingettes, grilled shrimp, macaroni n tuna salad, pig feet (YES) and the homemade chicken soup! I swear this soup has a miracle healing power. Some days after work, I go for a margarita and YEP those are just as amazing!!!

Horrible, they charge 9$ for a withdraw lol good job cheating the customers, they should be ashamed of themselves.

This was my first time trying this restaurant. I never ordered liver from a restaurant but wanted it for some reason. 5/5 This was some of the best soul food I've had, like ever. The mac & cheese tasted like someone's loving grandmother is back there. The greens were amazing. This is my new go to spot. I hope everyone who had a hand in making my food has a good day. Y'all the real MVPs

I LOVE THIS PLACE. Ask for Gerald!!! He makes the best menu recommendations and the "Timmy Turner" house specialty is perfect for any occasion (warning: you may only need one). Sidebar: I love supporting local small businesses. They work incredibly hard and deliver top-notch service and love with every serving. You won't be disappointed with their options and quality of food. Tip: if you're in a hurry, call in your order in advance!

This food is always hot, delicious and reasonably priced. They give great portions for the value and are very consistent in quality.

Friendly place with a great variety of food. Liver and onions were some of the best I've had. Salmon cakes reminded me of my grandmother's house for Saturday dinner when I was a kid. Got greens and rice and gravy on the side, and they were excellent too. I grew up in the Deep South and have eaten a lot of soul food in my life, and this was right up there with the best. Lots of regulars, very welcoming, and a good bar to sit at for an hour or two. Will definitely be back.

First time ordering because I was visiting a friend and figured you can't go wrong with the hole in the wall......they usually always have some good food. Well, not this one. I got the seafood platter & the shrimp were popcorn size and fried til there was barely any visible part of a shrimp left. The fried fish was well seasoned and not bad but it wasn't whiting as stated in the description, and the salmon cake was mediocre. The baked salmon was the absolute most driest piece of fish I've ever experienced. I'd been more satisfied eating a Popeyes biscuit with no drink. The Mac and cheese was the same as the salmon, super stiff and dry. Greens were a tad sweeter than my liking, but not horrible tasting. The steak and cheese should be taken off the menu all together, there was NOTHING about it that even tasted edible. Yams stringy and just tasted like they just poured a bottle of cinnamon on top before wrapping it up. However, the chef salad was tasty so at least I got to satisfy my appetite with something. Needless to say, I won't be returning.

Ms. Angel, Dionne, Teresa...All are absolutely 100! This long standing gem has never disappointed. Wide variety of rich, soulful, large food portions & guess what, happy hour is everyday from 11 to 7 p.m. They even have DJ a few times per wk. Go check them out. They will always be one of my favs in the city.

They're always out of something, the bar looks messy and unsanitary, when I wanted to buy lemonade that was in front of me I was told it was old.........why didn't they toss it? I was looking at the paper menu (that was marked up with pen scribbles) only for the waitress to take it and give it to someone else. Who does that? She didn't know if I was done. The food was bland but the mac n cheese was ok.All in all they need to get their shit together because that restaurant is unsat.

I had the catered food at my complex's community day and it was amazing! The owners were beyond sweet and made sure the portions where more than enough. I will be sure to support moving forward!

I enjoyed my meal. Taste like southern home cooking. The neighborhood may be a little rough, but didn't have a problem going into restaurant or returning to car.

The Players Club by night, Georgina's by day, this may be the city's best soul food restaurant. Last time I checked, Georgina was still with us and I hope she lives for decades. I gave it four rather than five stars for the décor and neighborhood - which is better now than when I first went there in 2008. Metro is close. This is a gem,

Just ordered chitterlings tasted like rubber horrible the Mac and cheese was gross.. the only thing was decent was the potato salad waste of 26 dollars very upset and disappointed!!!!!!

It's a whole in the wall and you've got to bring your patience but I love the folks here. This place is not for everybody but some pretty swanky guess can be found dining here. Also, please tip well and be as nice as possible when placing your order. It's a greasy spoon but it's home cooking so it takes some time. Best thing to do is order a drink and sit at the bar then wait patiently on your food. Check your order before you leave and if you call in your order check it then as well. They are good hard working folks there. Be kind, eat good and drink up my friends

The rooftop bar is a ridiculous situation. There is no way it can stay in business with its current model. This place has great music, but the staff I spoke to tonight were completely and unnecessarily rude. We decided to try the rooftop bar, and were waiting on line to take the elevator. The place has a "one down, one up" rule. We had a group of three - when two people came down, and we were next in line, the elevator attendant said, "next two people." We said, we are a group of three, can we wait for one more person to come down and go up together? She said, very sarcastically, "yeah, sure." Then she turned to the rest of the line and said "next two people." Meaning we would have to wait for three more people to come down. Okay, I understand if you need to keep the exact one up, one down rule. But no need for rude sarcasm - just say no, two people have to go! That would be no problem at all. So instead, we had to go up just two of us, and wait for our friend, who was by himself downstairs, for 25 minutes. Meanwhile, the rooftop was about 1/4 full. There were four empty tables and fully open floor space. It made no sense! I have to edit this to one star - I was still at the bar at the time I wrote it. The rooftop called "last call" at 11:20. We all got one last drink. At 11:33 - this moment, as I write this - the bar staff came over and took our drinks and said "this is the end of the night, you guys understand, don't you?" We still had half our drinks, and there was no indication the bar closed at 11:30. It seemed like a college party where the cops showed up. This was the craziest bar situation I've ever seen.

As someone who was raised in the south I am pretty particular when it comes to food like this. And man did this place meet and exceed those expectations. My office recently moved 3 blocks away from The Players Lounge. So while doing research this place showed up as a suggested place to eat. So today I gave it a try for the first time. It blew both me and my coworkers minds. I got the Smothered Porkchops and for the price you cannot beat the quality and quanity in the DC area. Each meal came with 2 sides. I got Mashed Potatoes with gravy and Mac and cheese. Their mac and cheese isnt my prefered style but it is still delicious. The mashed potatoes were perfect. They were creamy and amazing. Overall my experience was great and I will be back and bring more people with me.

Ok.... It was good. I Liked it and Im picky. They ran out of mac n cheese, so they called to inquired about another side. That was considerate and provided good customer service. I plan to order again.

Don't expect anything more than a sh!t show when you go here and you will be thoroughly satisfied by the end of the night!!! Dive bar + dive food + STRONG drinks + Marion Barry = recipe for fun with a side of regret in the morning!! Just make sure you know what time the metro really closes. You'll have better luck finding a leprechaun with his pot of gold than a cab in ward 8 at midnight.

A former strip club, this is the bar you're most likely to spot former DC Mayor, Marion Barry. It is difficult to find since the awning outside says "Georgena's" (the Players Lounge awning was blown off in a storm and it's never been replaced). Anyway, the place is a dive, but it's the only full service restaurant/bar in Ward 8. It serves very solid soul food and even has daily specials such as king crab legs. The bottles behind the bar are pretty basic and there's a space for a keg, but they only use it for "special occasions". As you would expect, there are no micro-brews and Heineken is about as high end as it goes when it comes to beer. It's about a half mile walk from the Congress Heights Metro Station if you follow the alley along the side of the St. Elizabeth's fenceline.

SE hidden secret. The salads are DELICIOUS! Not cheap but well worth the $. Not being from the area (I work in the Govt Bldng down the street) I get some odd looks when I visit but they treat me like the next customer and that's cool with me. Great food (Bread Pudding is Sinfully delicious) can't mention drinks because I'm no drinker but everyone is in relax mode and the atmosphere is pleasant. What's not to be happy about? The food is #1

This is a great spot that my wife turned me onto not long ago It is two minutes away from her job and the food is always delicious fresh everyone there is always nice and friendly and my wife and never had any problems My wife has been coming here probably 10 or more years and although I always enjoyed the food today is my first time coming by myself to enjoy it on my own The drinks are what I come for and the environment is nice and relaxed

This place looks extremely suspect especially if you are an outside not from the neighborhood. Staff is really friendly, drinks are really strong and the patrons actually will chat with you at the bar. Food isn't bad either.

They have great drink for happy hr. The bone in fish is delicious! The cabbage and greens are really good too. I have also had beans and neck bones and of course the fried chicken is delicious crispy mad juicy. It's pretty chill and I'm the cut.

Amazing food that will touch your soul-- if your looking for Big mama style food this is your place!

This is an old school soul food joint. You can tell the food is made by some old ladies in the back sweatin & talking. You can also tell when they have the day off and somebody else is in their kitchen. Try a few different dishes. You'll be pleasantly surprised. If you're bougie and impressed with style over substance, this won't be the place for you.

I used the uber app to place my order and as always the food is delicious. I recently placed an order with the ubereats app and was disappointed when they called and told me they ran put of my selection. Thanks for the courtesy call. I will order them again.

And I'm being generous with the 2 stars. Former strip club, now straight dive. Patrons are very nice. Service is friendly, most of the time. Decent fried and baked chicken. That's about it. I use to work across the street, so I've experienced my fare share of bad lunches at this establishment. But they do serve alcohol...hence the 2 stars. Thank God I no longer work in that area. It's been real. P.S. I don't know WTF some of you 3, 4 and 5 star people are talking about...straight trippn'. How can you make iced tea or lemonade taste nasty?...but they do.

I ordered using Uber Eats and the food was good. Tha mac and cheese is not really cheesy but has an ok flavor..but I can tell its mostly butter. The green beans were really good and so were the fried chicken wings. I also ordered a side of tuna salad. The tuna salad is really sweet and I can understand why people would think its really good, but the amount of sugar in the tuna salad takes over all of the other flavors. I would order from there again but order different items from the menu.