The Players Retreat
American restaurant · Fairmont ·
Burgers, fried oysters, and extensive single-malt scotch selection
Burgers, fried oysters, and extensive single-malt scotch selection
"No Triangle sports bar list is complete without a mention of this long-standing watering hole near North Carolina State’s campus. For almost 75 years PR, as it’s known by locals, has been serving up its legendary freshly ground burgers, like the Bernie with bacon and provolone. But don’t let the sports bar label fool you — this may be one of the only sports bars to have gotten the nod from Wine Spectator for its wine list." - Elliott Harrell
"University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has He’s Not Here, and North Carolina State has the Player’s Retreat — the PR, as it’s known by locals, has been a Raleigh institution since 1951. The classic bar food attracts both college students and alums, as well as a fair share of Raleigh’s movers and shakers. It’s got a classic wedge salad, fried potato skins, grilled steaks, and plenty of sandwiches and burgers. It also has a late-night menu for post-cram-session cravings, as well as a limited brunch menu." - Matt Lardie
"A casual option for oysters, this Raleigh staple off Hillsborough Street serves fried oysters, on their own as an appetizer or topped on one of the PR’s signature salads. For just $6, the kitchen will top the blue cheese wedge or spinach salad with fried oysters, adding a new dimension of flavor that won’t break the bank." - Catherine Currin
"A Raleigh bar that has already implemented a proof-of-vaccination requirement for indoor dining as part of local businesses’ responses to rising COVID-19 cases." - Matt Lardie
"After announcing that indoor diners must show proof of vaccination, the owner prepared for an onslaught of one-star reviews and quickly received angry reviews, calls and emails accusing the business of discrimination — even though unvaccinated customers can still dine on the patio. Many hostile comments appeared to come from out of state, and the owner enlisted Yelp and Tripadvisor for help; Yelp promptly removed bogus reviews and provided monitoring support. Despite the online backlash, the local community has largely been supportive and the restaurant’s business is reportedly up about 9 percent." - Gaby Del Valle