02/24/09

Good sportsbar

by thedub4

people just need to accept the brick house for what it is, a sports bar. the food is good, not great the waitstaff overall is good not great, etc. etc. great place to watch a game, play trivia, etc. and lots of good drink specials. bartenders are always friendly and keep the drinks so coming so ok by me.

• Pros: Friendly staff, good specials, lots of tvs
• Cons: could use more hot female regulars

02/24/09

FINALLY seems to be good again!

by rdusportsnut

I used to go to this place quite a bit back in the day (4 or 5 years ago) when it was Playmakers. Things pretty steadily went down and down (TV's, menus, food, etc)... so I stopped going. I did go once over the summer and the menu had like 3 items (slight exageration) on it, about 5 people in the whole place and the waitress was painfully slow or didn't care about getting a tip.

But a week or so ago I went to what's now the "Brickhouse" because I was essentially forced to by some friends who promised me new people ran it and it was good. They had what looks to be a good menu (different that what was there before). I really, really like the Ale House and this menu reminds a lot of it... and it actually tasted that good too. But, I figured it must have been a freak occurance. So I (by choice) went back a couple nights ago after a ball game and it was good again. And when my wife also has been impressed twice, I'm pretty sure He!! has froven over.

So, this place might have some business back from me. Reading some of these reviews seems like some sort of soap opera... all I can say as someone who used to go there, to stopping... I can now say this place may (reiteratting the word, may) rank tops again for me (time will tell!).

The waitress both times was good. I wouldn't say over-the-top awesome, food could be a little quicker I guess... but honestly, it's a sports bar, not Angus Barn. I sometimes have to keep my expectations in check.

I'd at least give it shot if you're looking for a sports bar near downtown Raleigh. Decide for yourself. Maybe all these bad reviews below me are right, but I didn't see it like that at all on my recent trips.

• Pros: A menu that doesn't stink like it used to and the food actually tastes pretty darn good. And Bud Light was cheap, can't remember how cheap, but remember being pleasently surprised.
• Cons: I guess food could have been a bit quicker, but it wasn't that slow. A Golden Tee machine would be good too.

01/29/09

playmakers and brickhouse are the same owners with worse food and digusting service.It was good until the new idiots took over this past summer.

by raleighncfoodie

The menu choices are horrible and the are are to high for the low grade dog food they serve.i was a regular last year for football season but this year the food and staff were awful.the owners talked to me this past summer and told me they were making a change for the better by changing the menu and the name.i walked in the hole when they were changing out the tv's and there was a tall guy and a short fat guy and they told me of the new changes that were about to happen,so don't be fooled playmakers was good until these a-holes took over and ruined it!!! i'm sure if you stop by one of these ugly guy's who say's he's the owner will try to pick you up.It's really funny,you should stop by and if you want a good laugh.The beer selection went down hill and the staff got mighty ugly.Thanks for giving me a reason not to travel to hillsborough street.If you want a good place to watch sports try the alehouse in cary or high park in 5points or my favorite sammy's.all of the above have great food but sammy's has the best staff!!! to the new owners of the sh--house,give it up try something else,this is not working.Why did you have to ruin a good thing,My girlfriends and our guys will not return!!!!!!!!!!!

• Pros: The female manager was nice, I think her name is stephanie
• Cons: The male manager lokks lost and dirty

01/26/09

All in all a pretty good bar

by mkathrynp

Waiting 45 minutes for a basket of chicken wings when there's only 10 other people in the restaurant eating pretty much says it all. The slowness of the food combined with the terrible musician made for a less than ideal experience. Our waitress was extremely nice though.

• Pros: Wings, Friendly waitstaff, lots of TV's
• Cons: SLOW!!!!

12/26/08

We Are The Brickhouse, New Owners, New Name, New Wait Staff, New Atmosphere

by cehawkins4483

I wonder why NEAL2ZOD wrote a bad review about us, we have not served any of that food for atleast 4-5 months. Also we are not Playmakers at all, we are The Brickhouse Sports Bar, new name, new atmosphere, new owner's, and new wait staff. So before you write a review make sure you know what you are talking about.

12/17/08

Disastrous

by neal2zod

As the previous reviewer said, it's getting hard to find a "review" here that isn't written by an angry ex-employee or an angry ex-regular mad at all the changes. But I can see why - The Brickhouse (formerly Playmakers) used to be decent but is straight-up terrible now. I guess I'm an ex "semi-regular" - only went there for trivia night but just stopped going after a while. Why? a) the food is the worst kind of bar food- greasy and expensive. The menu keeps changing every week, and that's not a good thing. Some weeks they decide they want only bar food like sandwiches, wraps, wings, etc.. next week the menus suddenly push steaks and meatloaf. Doesn't matter because none of it is any good. The best item was the bbq nachos, but that's strangely gone. b) The chalkboard that shows what dishes they're "out" of always seems to be filled up. Orders are constantly changed on you - don't be surprised if 20 minutes after your order, the waitress suddenly tells you they ran out of x item you ordered. Who's in charge of stocking the kitchen? c) the "specials" used to be good with $2 or $3 beers and 1/2 price appetizers, but that's gone too. EVERYTHING is overpriced now. d) the constantly revolving wait-staff is more often than not, terrible. Sorry to offend any ex-employees reading this, but bottom line is service was awful. Waitresses would run up to you on the way out the door saying they miscounted drinks and you suddenly owed them more. I've been told a drink special/price was one thing, then told it was another come check time. I was served a meatloaf and mashed potatoes without gravy and the waitress, instead of admitting a mistake tried to explain b/c it was the nightly special you don't get gravy(!!) Oh, and e) the website is dead and nobody picks up the phone half the time you call them. The place closes down for "emergencies" (i.e. water heaters exploding and apparently from this site - staff walkouts) more than any place I know. Bottom line: stay away.

• Pros: trivia guy is nice, place changes frequently so it MIGHT be good by the time you read this
• Cons: expensive, bad food, bad service, unreliable

12/15/08

Its was ok.

by ktscott01

Dont all the reviews look like people that used to work there vs. people that now work there.

They all start I used to go or The new owners.....

I gave up on playmakers after they made the changes to wait staff. The food wasnt bad but I got used to one thing and then they changed. Its great to watch a game and watch other games. Prices arent bad.

08/10/08

Outstanding,Excellence throught 2 Alarms

by chris1999to2008

Where do i start i have been working for PLAYMAKER"S for now almost 8 or 9 years an i can finally say that we've accomplished alot from working as a team to get throught the tough times. We handled the situation put upon us earlier this week. And to our regular for coming back an showing us they care thank you, to all of the customer's who showed up for the UFC Fight Sat, and other night's we thank you for hanging in there with us through all the Alarms. I have to point out some very important people. I can say they made a difference cause without them i couldn't of done it. First to our "Regulars" thank you for hanging in there with us through the transitions, Rob i owe you won. Second to KRISTIN, NATE, PROFIO yall were awesome behind the bar. JULIE, DATHAN, TABITHA, BLAIR, and DANIELLE excellent. TO THE KITCHEN STAFF (TEAM TEAM TEAM thank you) and Finally the owner OUTSTANDING.

To tell you all the truth i couldn't of done it without you'll so thanks to the following people, for showing and taking pride in working.

TROY

PATRICK

DRE

TABITHA

MICHEAL

GREG

JULIE

BLAIR

DATHAN

EDWIN

PROFIO

KRISTEN

TREVOR

BUKARI

DANIELLE

NATE

HUDSON,STEVEN,STEVE,SAM,TOBY-Yall are alright with us !00%

Thanks for helping us out

• Pros: Everybody working as ONE

08/08/08

Going back to the old ways....

by dizzy08

I used to be a regular at Playmakers but hadn't been back since May when all the negative changes took place. Two new owners chased all the orinigal staff out and brought in their own that were rude, slow and only cared about socializing amongst themselves. Not to mention they were converting the sports bar into a dance party and could have cared less about "the regulars," those who had kept that place in business during the slow seasons. After hearing a rumor that the two owners had been let go, I decided to go back last night. There were only two girls working, one serving and one bartending, but both were very attentive despite having to handle the entire restaurant on their own. I didn't recognize the server, but I know the bartender has been there for at least a couple years, she had been my server on a lot NFL sundays. Upon talking to one of the kitchen guys, I learned that once the owners were let go within the last week, the majority of the staff staged a walk out on Tuesday night, very professional!! Only goes to show the type of people they really were....needless to say, I heard that some of the old, original staff is coming back on, the ones who could bring you your beer before you even sat down because they knew who you were and your favorite drink; it looks like this place might go back to having a positive future after all. With football season coming up, I can guarantee that there is no better place to watch the games and have a few drinks. I hope the new managers will be smart in the type of crowds they are trying to attract and maintain the sports bar atmosphere that Playmakers has always been known for. If so, I am sure I will go back to being a "regular."

• Pros: Great wings, staff changes
• Cons: Need to work on drink specials

08/06/08

WALKOUTS TO MAKING THE BEST OF A BAD SITUATION

by Jacob2008

I haven't been back in a while since atleast 2004 but, i was in town Tuesday 05, 2008 and i could not believe that the place had changed so much they now have flat screens all through the place. The now have flat screens all through the place. I did recognized one of the kitchen staff members i think., but i'm not sure if it was him. My friends ordered some wings that were delicious but the sauce was very watery like, i guess they changed the sauce. I asked one of the people at the table next to me how long they been coming. they said about 2 years now. They said it's new faces everyday you never get the feeling of being somewhere that people know you. I finished my food an started to go to the bar when i realized their was no bartender an my waitress just walked out the door. One of the Kitchen guys came an said that everybody quit. I couldn't believe it. After sitting their i had to get another beer an i asked another guy to help me he said he works in the kitchen but he would get someone. He went an got the guy that i knew from back in 2004 it was Chris i asked him what's going on an he said were having some issues but, he would get someone to help. I was thinking everyone walked out on them by the way they were acting but, they handled it. I ask one of the guys behind the bar what happened an he said we had a couple of people walkout on us., but we will have everything under control. I finished my beers an had to tell the kitchen guys hang in their Chris the tall guy came out an said come back Saturday for UFC everything will be more organized, an better. So i think i'm going back for UFC. Thanks for talking to me an making me feel wanted. Yes i will be back Saturday.

• Pros: customer service, feeling important, kitchen staff, whoever the 3 guys were behind the bar
• Cons: I can't really say just because of what happened , staff members walking out