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Players Sports Restaurant & Lounge
- Nearest Transit:
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34 St - Herald Sq (B, D, F, M, N, Q, R)
28 St (N, R)
34 St - Penn Station (1, 2, 3)
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 5 pm - 2 pm
Thu 5 pm - 3 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 4 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Wed, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
97 reviews for Players Sports Restaurant & Lounge
Review Highlights
"Players is one of my favorite drinking spots in K-Town."
(in 19 reviews)
"btw the lychee soju was absolutely delicious."
(in 8 reviews)
"man oh man, they have amazing happy hour deals."
(in 17 reviews)
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97 reviews in English
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Review from Carol L.
12/7/2011
Oh players, the korean "sports bar". I laugh at the attempt. There are so many different elements to this place mixed together that you're bound to like it.
If you want to watch sports, there are a few tvs laying around, though good luck hearing anything that is going on in the game.
Like to go clubbing? The area is spacious and there is electronic dance music blasting through the speakers and a live DJ spinning at all times. Once we heard afrojack's "take over control" on REPEAT. I kid you not, that song played 10x in a row and nobody else seemed to notice.
Like lounging and getting bottle service? There are korean lounge-style tables and small cushion chairs hidden away in the corner and also in the middle of the bar that reminds me a lot of table service at clubs. You can also get the whole bottle + fruit shebang that seems to be the norm at these korean establishments.
Just want to have a quick drink/chat at a bar? There is a long bar with stools and the bartenders have always been very friendly (and cute).
Hungry? There is a full menu complete with korean style fried chicken.
Hungry eyes? I may be a female, but I have to say, all the waitresses here are quite nice to look at, esp when serving your table in shiny sequined short shorts.
Now, I'm missing SOMETHING...something essential to the asian/korean nightlife. What could it be?
Wait, do they have karaoke here too?? YES! Next to the bar there is also a private karaoke lounge. I can't say I've ever gone in there, but I could not stop laughing when I discovered the hidden karaoke.
The prices here are pretty reasonable and it's usually not too packed. There is a small smoking area in the stairwell so you don't even have to go outside. I was a bit skeptical the first time my friends brought me here, but this place has really grown on me. The service is good, and the atmosphere is great for whatever mood you're in (as long as it involves alcohol). -
Review from James L.
Staten Island, NY
10/18/2011
I've only been here once and my experience was alright. The decor is modern and classy. Doesn't seem like a sports lounge? Went here with 2 of my friends at around 11:30 and the place was half full.
DRINKS: my friend's drink seemed to have no alcohol...it was that weak and he ordered a strong drink (forget the name). I had no problem with mine though. Drink prices are pretty standard for NYC, $12 cocktails. The waitress tried to get us to order a bottle but we politely declined. Who really buys a bottle at a lounge? Clubs yes.
FOOD: We were hungry, well..I was hungry so I ordered Dduk Bohk Ghi. It came with other really random foods like Mandoo (Dumplings) and this other thing which I don't know what it was. The Dduk Bohk Ghi was alright. Didn't expect much since it wasn't a restaurant.
MUSIC: Top 40, though later on in the night when we decided to come back at like 2AM they played 2NE1 "I AM THE BEST" which made me happy (Korean music)
Overall this place is alright. I'd come back if my friends wanted to. -
Review from Diana S.
10/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came to Players to watch game 5 of Yankees v. Tigers (Yankees lost after failing to get more than one run with bases loaded + one out..and this happened twice! I'm not even a legit baseball fan but that was pretty disappointing.)
Anyways, we were expecting some specials since it was playoffs, but the only thing they had was a $99 bottle special. This would be awesome if we weren't at a sports bar with only like 25 other people total. We did spot two bros who did get the special by themselves...the Grey Goose bottle was the size of a 20 oz coke bottle...but they did get a very impressive display of fruit! I settled for a Blue Moon draft ($7) and my friends got some Amstel Light ($5).
For food, we ordered a version of chicken tonkatsu which was surprisingly delicious (it better be for $18). It came with fries, onion rings, apple and cabbage salad, and a fairly large piece of chicken. We also got beef cheese dukbokki (rice cakes) with this amazing sauce, but there was only like 8 rice cakes, sadface. They gave us these noodles wrapped like spring rolls and deep fried on the house (free food is always welcomed!) which were just okay. The food was all pretty good just REALLY pricey for Korean food IMO and Korean food is pricey to begin with.
The waitresses are really attentive, a little too attentive even. There were two girls working and they both came to our table and asked us the same things, what do you want to drink, what do you want to eat, etc. It was a bit annoying as we kept on getting interrupted, but hey A for effort.
Would probably give more stars if they had some sort of drink special for playoffs and the food wasn't the price of like a legit restaurant. -
Review from Music A.
Brooklyn, NY
1/12/2012
Lot's of asians of course but cool environment. The music was great. Drink prices were to be expected for the area and it wasn't too strong. But i'd go back,
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Review from Cliff K.
7/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
I call this place the... "Oh alright" place. Where no one likes it, but no one has a better idea.
The place is spacious. There's plenty of seating, and huge tables to support large groups. But this place is supposed to be a sports bar, but what sports bar doesn't have multiple TVs? No wait, I'm sorry. They have multiple TV's, but they can only play one channel at a time. COME ON! If you're gonna be a sports bar, go all the way and shell out the extra dough for another cable box. I mean seriously. Not everyone wants to watch the Atlanta Hawks play the Orlando Magic. Can you name someone on Orlando not named Dwight Howard? I didn't think so.
They also have this really weird beaded curtain thing. I felt like Aladdin walking into an Arabian night.
Asian style chicken is good, they got some specials that go on sometimes for drinks, but usually they're expensive. It's not a great bar. But it's one of those things where you're like... "where should we go?" 15 minutes later, "forget it, let's just go to players. oh alright..." -
Review from Lucy C.
Manhattan, NY
12/1/2011
Felt just like Karaoke in Asia! The private rooms had nice seats, fancy lights, two huge flat screen tv's, and room for a lot of people. I went with a huge group and everyone had a lot of fun. There's a bar too and I hear the bartenders are wonderfully pleasant. All the waiters had excellent service and the overall feel of the place is modern and exciting.
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Review from Richard L.
Manhattan, NY
8/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's not bad - but make sure you get their HH specials. 3 beers for 10 bucks, miller light, ob or coors light. The two bottles of soju and free chicken isn't bad either - whole roast chicken. Actually not bad!
BUUUUUT anything after the HH specials are over...suddenly your wallet feels a lot lighter. Yeah - it gets expensive quickly...very very quickly... -
Review from Ryne D.
7/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here during a recent trip to NYC...as soon as we went up the tiny elevator and entered the main bar area, we bee-lined for the karaoke rooms.
Sadly, the scoring system was broken! I mean, it doesn't really mean anything, but it was quite sad to see "00" repeatedly. Other than that minor thing, everything else was a blast - I was familiar with the Korean/English karaoke control system, so that wasn't a problem. The food was great, especially the wings. Trust, the spicy wings here truly are spicy.
Soju was flowing all night, and rather than just being flavored, everything was infused with real fruit, etc. and I think the people working recognized that we appreciated a constant flow of the stuff. Lincoln Karaoke here in Chicago is a place my friends and I hit up every now and then for a night of crazy but not too wasted fun. If we lived in New York, this would be our perfect equivalent. -
Review from Mike B.
Manhattan, NY
Updated - 10/31/2011
Players no longer has their Wednesday happy hour special. What hasn't changed is that they still play terrible music and have their same drink specials. Still a good place to hang with a few friends to start an evening.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/19/2009
The recession must really be hitting K-town hard. Even a Wed. happy hour special of $20 all you… Read more »
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Review from Marika T.
6/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This used to be my "it" lounge in K-town back when I was in college. My group would get bottles of JW and then stumble into the Karaoke rooms in the back until 4 in the morning. This place is too pretty to be called a sports bar.. They play loud catchy Korean songs and decent American songs throughout the night but no dance floor...probably would be a little awkward if they had one. I remember this place been packed at night and I would bump into old friends every time I went. I came here this past weekend and everything was still the same (including the small bathroom) except that it wasn't "popping" anymore. My friends and I still had a great time and the gentleman (I believe who is the owner) gave us free fries/nachos. The drinks are a little expensive here but I also believe that we're paying for the service and space so it's doable.
Be aware of the steps!! I've tripped a couple of times... so did my drunk friends. -
Review from Brian Jin M.
Manhattan, NY
10/16/2011
Dunno what it is but Koreatown nowadays seems less packed on weekend nights than ever. Came to have a beer with gf and the place seemed very empty and boring(??) The music was techno but the TVs were showing sports. Hmm, I know it's a Sports bar but still it was showing golf lol. This place tends to have far more non-Korean patrons than Koreans as well. Last night, I saw a drunk White guy at the bar arguing with the bartender how he's not Italian nor Jewish and blah blah lol. Overall, music was on too loud, couldn't have a conversation with gf and place just seemed so out of it. Not planning on returning~
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Review from JOSEPH M.
Brooklyn, NY
10/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place was really weird, as are most of those above-ground bars in K-town. Very douchey, awful blaring music. I was trying to kill some time one evening and ducked in here but could only stand it for barely one drink then had to get the hell out.
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Review from Tiffie L.
4/26/2011
Came here around midnight on a Thursday with a group of my friends who all happened to be in town. We were celebrating my friend's (Justin) birthday. We went to Players to have some soju! Players is in Ktown and is labeled a "sports bar" but does not exactly give the sports bar vibe. There is a bar area with tvs, but there is also a rather spacious room with many couches/tables, which gives it a lounge feel.
We started off with one lycee soju and one pineapple soju. They come out quickly and have fresh fruit in the pitcher! We ended up ordering another 2 pitchers -- one yogurt and another lychee. The first two tasted more like juice, but the second two were a bit stronger.
I'm not sure how Players is on the weekend, but it was pretty empty and chill the night we went. Some of my friends also went to the karaoke section later that night after I left. They seemed to enjoy themselves. It is a nice place just to hang out and have some soju, but nothing extraordinary. -
Review from Michael S.
New York, NY
Updated - 3/12/2011 10 Check-ins Here
OK, my last review was me just trying to be a little cheeky. But I went to wednesday happy hour last week with my friend Dennis and...
Ladies and Gentlemen.... I think I have found the best Happy Hour deal in Manhattan
$20 per person...
All the bottled beer (Amstel, Miller Light, Bud Light, Coors light, Budweiser, etc.) you can drink... PLUS a free buffet of chicken wings, fries, fried dumlings, sushi.... i mean its quite ridiculous.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/22/2010
At one point in my yelp lifetime, i was the mayor of Players.... Ever since that position was taken… Read more »
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Review from Liz C.
11/28/2010
Imagine a cross between the set of an Asian porn shoot (service) and the bad guys' table at a Jackie Chan movie (patronage). It's all "More champagne, Mister Forte?" in here, except expect to hear "More soju, Meester Park?" instead.
I noticed during a recent outing that they edit the gunshot sound effect out of MIA's 'Paper Planes' - probably because it made the clientele jumpy. Pager code's more en vogue here than being blonde.
Ok, so the above is more or less hyperbole - but do expect to fork over cash money in medium-to-large amounts and witness some player haters getting fool-checked at the door.Listed in: We Roll Six Deep.
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Review from Thomas A.
4/20/2011
I've been going to this place forever...ever since it became a sports bar. Way back when, this used to be a korean club, but I'm glad that they changed the venue to a sports bar which ktown is seriously lacking.
Its spacious and there are bunch of tvs....they need some HD channels tho...and they need to add some extra lights...it can sometimes be too dim. The food is average at best, but their Wednesday all you can drink bottled beer and bar food is a great special. -
Review from Phil C.
Oakland Gardens, NY
9/30/2011
Awesome spot, nice people, and banging drink! Alway have a blast at Players!
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Review from Rc K.
Manhattan, NY
3/14/2011
I like their wings the best Korean-style or Chinese deep fried. They have the right crunchiness and the right amount of meat. The happy hour $20 deal for non-stop beers and finger food, well, uh, I don't have to tell you...
The other specials are nice too. $3 domestics and korean light beers and $3 Jameson shots.
It's also a great place to have a bunch of people so if you have like 10-15-25 people the space can accommodate it.
My kinda bar. -
Review from Angela H.
1/4/2011
Pretty empty for a Saturday night... but it may be because there are just so many other places in NY to go to! I can't really say much for the lounge because I only went there for the company. The guy at the door was very nice, though.
It is a well-decorated lounge with plush seats. The general ambience was very relaxed. I don't know how much the alcohol is (the guys already had three pitchers going when I arrived with my gf), and seats & glasses magically appeared.
Next time I'm in NY, I'll probably come back to further check this place out. -
Review from Kay M.
Union, NJ
3/25/2011
Not too sure where this review is going..
Came here with a friend one night because she was meeting her friends. Bar is upstairs from some sort of grocery store right in the middle of K-town.
Head upstairs to a fairly big space that isn't too crowded for a Thursday night. Most people are hanging around the bar. There are tables and a few people dancing.
$3 beers! My fave part about this place.
I had no idea about the $20 Happy Hour- I think it may be worth a trip back here. -
Review from April L.
CANAL STREET, NY
9/9/2011
Love the sweet pineapple flavored soju!
I'll definitely be back -
Review from Minah L.
New York, NY
8/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
bad anju means bad review..
at least they had draft beer. (well it is a sports bar, right?)
the bokbunja (black berry soju) was five bucks more here ($25 here) than at Third Floor but at least they had draft beer!! (third floor seemed to limit themselves in that area.....)
so you all know about somek, yea? soju and beer.
well i recently heard of bokmek. bokbunja and beer.
am i late on this?? hahaha anyhow!
we got a hugeeeee pitcher of corona (or was it coor's? i gunna say corona) and a bottle of bokbunja. mix it all up. and batabing, bataboom! you have black berry soda-- alcoholic style. ;))
so why the low reviews?
cuz seriously anju was.. please do better.
we got the sampler and it was nacho chips, fries, three pieces of fried wings, and onion rings with ketchup and nacho cheese on the side. all the fried items seemed re-fried. it just wasn't all too yummy. blehh.
also, music was poppin but the crowd.. not the same. i went on a wed night aroun 11pm ish-- right after third floor. definitely different vibe altogether but it was dead-er than third floor.
whatevs~~ my friend's friend was working there so we got a free shot of some tequila thing which triggered the buzz. yay. i wish i knew what it was so i could tell you yelpers! i hate shots but this went down smoothly. wish i knew!! sorry friend.. just ask for a fruity shot of some tequila or tequila's cousin. -
Review from Jane P.
12/18/2010
Players has a great interior and it's well-decorated inside, especially for the Holidays. I liked the general ambience. When we got there we decided to do Karoake, and the room was really decent.
We ordered some Grey Goose shots ($9/shot) and pitchers of beer ($19/pitcher). All hell broke loose with Since You've Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson.
Towards the end some random drunk guy came into our room and stood by the door swaying and dancing to the music. We didn't really know how to respond until our good ol' girlfriend on the feistier side kicked him out.
Overall a good time except the service was just alright. -
Review from Eugene K.
5/14/2010
Ok, 5 stars strictly for their Wednesday special: $20 all you can drink bottled beer/all you can eat bar food - served buffet style, from 5-9PM. BEST DEAL IN NYC. Prove me wrong. The only other place that comes relatively close (but still not really) is Continental's 5 shots for $10. Then again, 10 shots for $20 should do the same job as $20 all you can drink beer. You be the judge.
They also recently introduced Thursdays: $9 all you can eat chicken prepared 3-4 different ways. I've yet to try it but it sounds worth giving a shot.
The food consists of chicken wings, chicken nuggets, fruit, french fries, onion rings, ddukkboki and pajun. A very nice spread.
But honestly, I would only come during one of the happy hour nights because otherwise, the drinks are $$$$ as is the food.
And if you make it past 9PM after their happy hour, 9 times out of 10 you'll end up in a karaoke room. Not my cup of tea but who am I to judge.Listed in: Best Happy Hour, w32nd
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Review from roderick A.
Jersey City, NY
8/20/2008
Is it sad that almost a year later, I still remember what the gorgeous waitress looked like and what she was wearing the night we were there?
There was a big group of us, like maybe 12 strong, that came straight from the LES. Yes, this was the legendary "night of debauchery" that started at lunch at Jean-Georges, continued thru a shopping excursion on 5th Avenue, went thru the bowels of Verlaine, and ended up at Players.
The chicken wings we ordered were pretty good. Nice and hot and on the money. The apple soju, however, were another story. Yes, it was good. Hell, it was very good. But when we started eating the apple slices that were at the bottom of the pitchers, we went from being really drunk to really, really drunk.
I guess getting really, really drunk constitutes a good time, yeah? -
Review from Javier M.
New York, NY
7/5/2007
If there's ever a nuclear war (yes, and I do mean the latest cold war stunt being pulled by the administration) I want to live out my days in the Korean Bunker. That is, of course, if I can find it first.
Koreans know how to hide. Once again my assumptions about my knowledge of K-Town were proved wrong, once again I found myself up a dingy elevator, opening up to disclose a suave, dimly lit lounge; teeming with aesthetic details and a sprawling bar.
A gorgeous waitress led us to the karaoke room we had reserved; towering at the door, yelper Jando welcomed us; watch out Viktor "Frankenstein" L; you are not the only yelpbeast in the highlands of Yelpland.
Johnny Walker/Grey Goose Combo included 12 beers, the standard (meaning huuge) fruit platter, and we ordered some appetizers on the side which were surprisingly not greasy (for chicken wings) but light, pleasant and tasty. The company was nice, and I finally got to meet rookie of the year Tony L, plus Jenifer D (who totally rocked by singing in Korean) and a bunch of new Yelpers.
I would comment on more, but unfortunately the last thing I remember was Rocky singing "Eye of the Tiger" and then blank... I got too drunk and don't even remember how I got home; but a second visit to Player's lounge is in order.
*btw, Rocky was not really singing "Eye of the tiger", but perhaps he should!"Listed in: Twins!, Sing your body Yelpotic Too...
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Review from Joolie T.
Brooklyn, NY
8/25/2007
__(o)--
\_~_) poor little chicken!
^ ^
that's what i thought when i sinking my teeth into the fried chicken (tong-dak) along with my buddies. we had gone from bar to bar, lounge to lounge all over K-town and finally... we decided on Players. it was our 1st choice from the get-go, but we were craving "better" food from certain lounges we're familiar with. Players was the only place non-crowded that night... i guess it was perfect for us!
the decor is sexy and not too modern- but posh/versatile enough to bring your friends to watch a game, have some drinks, or private room karaoke. it's definitely one of the best places to go in K-town. especially if you like those secluded/secret location lounges! there's a Players II right across the street- i'll check it out soon! the staff are nice here- most of the servers are hot little Korean chicks- perfect eye candy for many!
we ordered a few "Anju" (snacks/bar food) and my least favorite of the meal was the CHICKEN... it was dry, no meat, and hard as a mutha! i think i cracked a filling. no joke. i was thinking to myself, "POOR CHICKEN! what have they done to you?" i mean, if you're going to eat meat... you have to eat the best- and in this case... it was NOT. i felt sorry for the other guests and the chicken-itself for the utter embarrassment it caused to our favor. hahaha.
NOTE:
soju is nice, but not strong enough for my taste. definitely do NOT eat the fruit inside the infused soju bottles. it will paralyze you from alcoholic potency. haha! -
Review from Stella Y.
4/23/2009
This place is awesome on Wednesdays if you want to stuff yourself with limitless amounts of unhealthy fried food and beer. Seriously, I'm not being sarcastic. If you're craving popcorn chicken, crispy buffalo wings, hot fries and onion rings every 15 minutes, Korean food (ddukboki, pajeon, haemul pajeon) and fruit along with unlimited Amstel Light or OB beer, why would you go ANYWHERE else? This place can give you all that, plus an attentive bar staff (albeit Japanese of all nationalities at this very Korean sports lounge) and a casual, low-key atmosphere for $20 flat. Sorry, can't be beat. Just go there knowing what you get for $20 and don't expect anything more.
On Thursdays, ladies get 50% off the entire bill. Another great deal. Players has the best dooboo kimchi (tofu with kimchi and pork stir fry) in Koreatown. Better than Third Floor (kimchi is too sour here) and Arang (too sweet). Also, be warned that the hot wings they serve off the menu on regular nights (vs. the wings from all-you-can-eat Wednesdays) is EXTREMELY spicy. And it's spicy for even the spiciest food lovers. I think they must put a gallon of pure jalapeno juice into their sauce because the spiciness is slow to ignite and the burn is very long lasting. You'll be blown away by how spicy it is. Of course this varies from wing to wing depending on how much sauce there is, but some are almost unbearably spicy (and I am hardly the person to say anything is "too spicy"--I started eating kimchi in the womb).
Also, there are always complimentary (watered down) soco lime shots for your group of friends on weekends.
Overall, a great place to bring your friends that are visiting from out of town for some expensive "pregaming" or just to hit up on Weds and Thurs for the special deals. For those who have never been, the vibe and atmosphere at Players is very different on a weeknight vs. the weekend. In terms of the crowd, usually it's very Korean, minus Wednesdays when the crowd is half Korean and half mixed/non-Koreans who have discovered the awesome $20 all-you-can-eat happy hour deal... -
Review from Aaron F.
3/10/2009
It was the last night of a two week stay in New York. My buddy and I come here for drinks to catch up on his life in NYC since he moved here. When we arrive, we sit at the end of the bar next to three Korean girls who appear to be pouring themselves shot after shot of lychee infused soju (I thought it was vodka). When I turn to my left, the two guys who are about to leave offer us the half bottle of apple-infused soju they still have.
Generosity, it seems, has not died.
As I graciously accept their gift (never leave a wounded soldier on the field of battle), I turn back to my buddy who is being poured a shot by one of the three girls. Our playful banter continues until we finish their bottle. I tell them I'm Chinese and from California. They casually admit to being three Korean girls who like Chinese guys. I say, what a coincidence, as my buddy (who is Japanese) is also Chinese!
He leers at me and turns back to them with a big smile.
After we've polished off their cheapo ($32) bottle, they ask us to buy them shots. We agree. The leader of the pack starts gabbing at the bartender in Korean. "What did she say?" we ask. "She said, five shots of Johnnie Walker Blue."
My jaw drops. My buddy casually hands the guy his credit card.
Me: "What?!? Stop. Do you know how much that is?"
Buddy: "Er, no. How much is that?"
Bartender: "$38."
Buddy: "Total?"
Bartender: "No. EACH."
There are five of us.
Basically we argue and then settle on tequila. After another couple shots, we're packing up getting ready to go with the girls to a karaoke club when the leader hands me her tab.
"$76. It's not that much."
I look at her, slightly dumbfounded. Then it hits me...she's asking me to pay her tab. I refuse. So what does she do? She turns her back on me and says "Goodbye!" She turns to my buddy and does the same thing. He does a double take and also says no. She repeats her dismissal.
So we left. And we stuck them with the bill.
Point of the story? This is no sports bar. It's a host bar. Korean girls will casually attempt to ply you with cheap alcohol, then slyly (or bluntly) ask you to buy them the good stuff.
An entertaining experience, but if this reflects every experience, no thank you! Plenty of other places where you can spend far less and guarantee yourself a better time!
(p.s. I spent $28 on two vodka tonics. My advice: buy the bottle of fruit infused soju if you don't want to go broke asap!) -
Review from Jando S.
Updated - 7/28/2008
There is so much to be said about Players that it's hard to sum it all up in one sentence. It is first and foremost a lounge and certainly one of the best in KTown, combining the aspects of trendiness with a tease of a sports theme. Aside from the TVs hovering the joint, there isn't much of a sports vibe here. Since patrons also can't hear the audio from the TV, but the spins from the DJ, its very likely they don't bring many sports fans.
They've done a lot of work since my last review here. Neon pink lighting that can change from red to blue any instant, now becomes their glamour lounge area, with new plush furniture to add to the comfy vibe. It has become one of the many KTown joints that are located in a seedy building with a "Wow Factor" waiting for all newbies.
The prices here are still great, considering that many folks just come here and get wasted. Karaoke is another draw for many folks here, though it seems many folks who have been here in the past didn't even know they had karaoke. As an FYI, they're all the way in the back, where few people can peek into the rooms and the noise level is impressively contained.
A rather helpful tidbit is that the rooms are not subject to a per-person charge ($7-8 per head doesn't jive here) but rather are held to bottle prices per the size of the group. For a minimum of 10 people, they will charge a 2 bottle combo which includes 2 premium bottles of alcohol, 10 beers, plates of fruit and appetizers for roughly $450. That's not bad, considering some clubs / lounges will charge $300-400 for a standard bottle of Grey Goose on its own. Also consider this: since there is no per person charge, one could technically bring in as many heads as one would want. I have held parties here of over 20 people stuffed in their big room (15 people is solid) and the cost was real decent given the fact we sang for about 4 hours.
The song selection is less diverse than what many might expect. Sure they have songs in Chinese, English, Vietnamese, Tagalog, and Japanese, but it pales in comparison to their extensive Korean selection. They use Ziller, which has is a prominent karaoke system in many bars in KTown. It doesn't make it any easier with my non-Korean guests having a harder time finding songs they wanted instead of having to settle for songs listed.
Still, service is impeccable in almost every regard. They are polite on the phone, accommodating for big parties, easy to work with at the end, and very prompt with many requests. Fanny is the new manager now, he is so the man for his willingness to take care of my group and to make my party that much more worthwhile.Listed in: Karaoke Kingdom (NYC), Sports Bars Galore (NYC), Krazy in KTown (NYC-Manhattan)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/15/2007
This "sports bar" definitely doesn't feel like one that you'd typically see, its not full of rowdy… Read more »
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Review from Scott R.
2/6/2007
This hard to find K-town lounge (2nd floor, need to take the stairs or elevator) looks like the kind of bar that Crockett & Tubbs would visit to get information from a Korean crime linchpin. Or that was my first impression of the dimly lit interior that felt both stylish and dated at the same time.
This is supposedly a sports bar but feels more like a lounge - they seem to be catering to another sort of 'player' than advertised.
Camilla did a good job detailing their exotic drink selection (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). I was tempted to order a "Nasty Lady" just for the entendre value (e.g., Can you get me a nasty lady?) but stuck w/ a Sam Adams that suspiciously tasted like Asahi. (Did they water it down? Half-and-half?)
I didn't have a chance to check out the back rooms and/or rock the karaoke mike but this seems as good a place as any to get a group together and challenge your collective vocal chords and eardrums.
So not a bad place to get a nightcap after a K-town meal, set up a karaoke party, or film a CSI NY scene - not a great place for much else. -
Review from audrey k.
Queens, NY
4/21/2009
This place is waayy too korean for me...and I'm korean!
As Renee M. said, this is completely a korean scene, with a couple of token foreigners sprinkled in randomly. This is the kind of place where you should probably speak some korean as soon as you walk in so you don't get too crappy service.
The drinks are watered down but they have a good soju selection with decent music with a small dancing space in the middle. Very overpriced though for crappy bar food, i.e nachos, popcorn, other crap. If you stay long enough into the night on a weekday near closing time, you will probably get a free fruit platter ("service"--this is what korean people call free food on the house, and it is pronounced "ssuh-bee-seuh" in the most fobbiest way possible). -
Review from Jen D.
7/6/2007
Players is one of my favorite drinking spots in K-Town. As Javier mentioned, you take a ride in the dingy elevator and when you arrive to the 2nd floor the doors open up to a hallway with shiny doors that say "Players". upon opening the door, your eyes are immediately attracted to the shiny beads that hang from the ceiling that act as a divider between the entrance and the main room.
There are plenty of tables and a few leather booths. A sprawling bar off to the left with a little hallway behind it leading to the karaoke rooms. These karaoke rooms are some of the nicest in K-Town. Leather seats that aren't cracked, high tables with openings underneath so you can actually stretch out your legs. Huge flat screens displaying the lyrics to the songs, a great sound and lighting system to accompany the big tv.
As for service, the waiters are very nice and attentive. There is a button next to the door that you can press when you want something. The staff reply so quickly, it's as if they were waiting outside the whole time just waiting for the buzzer to go off.
Food - GOOD
Service - GOOD
Alcohol - ALWAYS GOOD
Cleanliness - GOOD
Bathrooms - GOOD -
Review from Dave H.
Updated - 6/28/2008 13 photos
Look in the dictionary under "awesome" and you'll see bartender John's photo: He gave us stellar service an excellent package (a large bottle of Ketel One, juice, appetizers, and shots), and I could have sworn a round of mango-pineapple shots appeared out of nowhere. On top of that, our party ordered a sick amount of additional alcohol and bar food.
Their thumpin' sound system worked well with the DJ mix that was playing that night, and I'll definitely be back soon to check out their non-bar food (everything the servers walked by the bar looked delicious).Listed in: NYC Drinkeries, NYC Korean
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/6/2008
My friend took us to Players for drinks. I've been in the building before; the karaoke bar Chorus is… Read more »
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Review from Alita M.
San Francisco, CA
4/18/2008
I wasn't here very long, probably 30 minutes or so, but it the place seemed really rocking.
It looks TOTALLY shady from the outside and the elevators are terrifyingly marked with the words "Watch your Step." Never a good sign! It smelled like rats too....live ones, not dead!
Great Happy Hour on Wed that goes from 5-9, with all you can eat and drink for $20. Karaoke rooms are upstairs and sports bar area in the main segment. Good music and good atmosphere. Most people smoke outside in the stairwell..probably to avoid the sketchy elevators and get their nicotine rush. -
Review from Irene F.
11/8/2009
It's totes all about the $20 AYCE/AYCD special, and if you think otherwise, you don't know a good deal when you see it. Of course you're not going to get something amazingly delicious for this price, I don't know what makes you think that you would! But the tempura chicken (aka fried chicken bites) and the scallion veggie pancakes are definitely a nice snack to go along with any of the multitude of beers you can ingest as you hang here.
I haven't been here for anything else, so I can't say much for it, but it's a kind of hidden away typical k town place that you'll remember on random Wednesdays and be glad you did.Listed in: Midtown Mavens, Karaoke Club
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Review from Amy L.
New York, NY
5/22/2007
As sports bars in Korea-town go (and I don't believe there are that many), Players does all right.
During our last Saturday night visit, we expended considerable effort in scavenging for a non-VIP table which eventually availed itself and provided much satisfaction. A bottle of delicious yogurt-flavored soju ($25) is served with a round of shot glasses will keep you and your table occupied for about ... 10 minutes, upon which time you should probably try the lychee soju, followed by the pineapple, followed by any of the multiple fruit infusions on offer. Said bottles will eventually make the Appetizer Sampler 1 ($14) -- a plate laden with McDs-esque fries, a smattering of onion rings, nachos & cheese dip, and a sprinkling of BBQ wings seem like manna from the gods.
Music: crowd-pleasing hip-hop hits. Sports bar utility: a couple of projection TVs around the room that I seem to remember got much more focus & volume during March Madness a few years back. General impression: the bar is generally calm enough for easy conversation among friends. If you can snag an unreserved, un-VIP table, a perfectly acceptable spot for a comfortable night out. -
Review from Denis K.
Parsippany, NJ
4/27/2008
Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely despise karaoke. (ok, that was a little strong.. and mostly because I can't sing to save my life). Yet, somehow, I managed to find myself here this past Saturday.
Upon entering this dingy hallway, which smelled a lot like Korea.. which is saying something, and entering an equally dingy and cramped elevator, we were transported up to Players with a press of button number two.
The decor is a spacey silver. It looks like a spaceship including a silver wall with a curious fishbowl window - like a porthole. There is a bar / lounge area to the right. I ordered one $7 bottle of Sam Adams. I admit, I was expecting to see all Koreans here. That wasn't the case, plus there were a lot of 90's rock songs running on the karaoke machine, which was kinda cool. The lounge serves as a sort of waiting area until a karaoke room opens up. The rooms are, shall we say, cozy? The song selections are pretty good, but the machine gave everyone scores of 00. hehe
Overall, pretty chill place. Definitely pre-game though.
review 4/27/2008
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Review from Kim V.
Rego Park, NY
1/24/2008
Before my relatively new love of beer, I was a big Soju chugger. And by Soju chugger, I mean, that whole bottle of tasty yogurt soju is reserved just for me, so get your own.
Anyway, this place is pretty chill, if you can stand getting to K-Town, and can actually find the place without walking right by it. I love their different soju flavors, and for a whole bottle, the price is really moderate. I'd suggest taking it slow if you're new to it, because soju hits you after the 12th shot like a big angry bitch slap, because it's so sweet, you don't realize how strong it is. I like straight soju with a bit of sprite.
The atmosphere is pretty nice, and more on the up-scale side. The waitresses are hot. They play good music. And yes, people will stare if you try to dance. -
Review from Renee m.
3/25/2009
Completely a korean scene....Awesome service but you will see your fair share of fist fighting here...apparently this is a common occurance here...
The drinks were ok...the people there are all Korean...and not afraid to tell you that if you're not Korean and for korea you can sit in the corner...I promptly told fat boy to go F himself....
The people there ruined th experience for me...I loved the company i went with but the people there were too much for me....
