The Players Retreat

This was our first visit. It's one of the oldest restaurant bars in Raleigh. It has the feel and smell of an old time college bar, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. We stopped in to watch the Padres and Cubs game on the recommendation of some friends. There are plenty of wide screen TV's and each section of the bar had its own bathroom. On to the food. We were not impressed with the sandwiches. My wife ordered the special Mexican burger. I had the Reuben. Both were just OK. The wings we ordered were far superior to the sandwiches and my wife said the onion rings were delicious. They have a great draft beer selection and one of the largest Scotch selections I've ever seen. We'd go back for the atmosphere, but I'd stick with the wings as a main course the next time. The people sitting next to us had good looking salads, but who wants a salad at a sports bar. Park across the street in the free lot instead of using the paid parking in front of the bar.

This was our first time dining at this restaurant after hearing good things about the food and atmosphere. Overall, the experience was mixed. I ordered the 6 oz Wolf Pack Burger. It was decent, though nothing that really stood out. My wife built her own burger, and her first comment was, “We should’ve just made burgers at home.” Unfortunately, I had to agree. On the positive side, the wedge salad I ordered was fresh and flavorful, and the atmosphere of the restaurant was pleasant. However, the fries with my wife’s meal were dry and lacked much taste, which was disappointing. While there were a couple of bright spots, the food as a whole didn’t live up to expectations. For us, it’s probably not a place we’ll return to, but others may enjoy it depending on what they order.

Was my favorite place to go back when St. Mary’s was a Junior College. Loved the burgers and had my first legal beer there when I turned 18. The PR will always have a special place in my heart (and on my front porch)!!