We recently visited Tailgators for a company Christmas party which we have done for the last 3 years and must say every year the service keeps getting better and better. We were setup with a very large space that had pool tables and table tennis and were given the ability to bring our own decorations to add a theme to the event. We were allowed to setup in advance and were given assistance in both the setup and takedown. The food was great, we were given a buffet style selection which consisted of items such as sandwiches, pizza, meatballs, chicken wings, samosas, and mozzarella sticks. The food all tasted great and there was more than enough for everyone to eat. They have a decent selection of drinks, the only negative that I would say is that I would like to see a greater selection of local microbrew beers but that's ok. The service was what made the event that much more enjoyable. You never needed to chase down a server to get drinks and they always made sure that the glasses and dishes were picked up promptly so the place didn't look messy. I don't think there was a single time that I waited more than 2-3 minutes for a drink. If you are looking to just go and play pool or have an event here, I would definitely recommend dropping in. read more

Great food served by attentive staff. THE place in Ottawa to play pool. Be aware that it gets VERY noisy during a major televised sports event. read more

TailGators - Classic burger - Pool Halls Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Unfortunately, we went there tonight for dinner and had planned on playing some pool or darts for our daughter's birthday. We got there at 6:15. The waitress took 40 minutes before she came to our table to even take a drink order when we realized how long things were taking, we decided to give our food order as well. It took an hour and 20 minutes before our food even came to us with us not having a visit from our waitress. We actually had to walk to the bar to try to order our own drinks and We had asked her if she can give us an ETA for our food, she said she would. She never came back when our food finally arrived an hour and 20 minutes or an hour and 30 minutes later it was cold. We said we were not happy about it and then the bartender came over to tell us how displeased he was because we were questioning the food and questioned our tone. All we did was ask when our food was gonna be ready. We were just looking for an ETA. We had told her if the food took any longer that we would rather not have the food. Our bill was $170. We paid it and of course they waited till we paid it to come and tell us that they didn't like the tone that we had we didn't have a tone we asked for an ETA. All we needed to know is how long our food was gonna be and we said to her if it was gonna be after waiting an hour and 20 minutes if it was gonna be another 15 2030 minutes that we no longer wanted the food that all we needed to be told that you know if they can't bring the food if it's busy or if there's an issue, we would just have our drinks and leave. Not a good experience. I will never go back there and I will never recommend it to anyone. The service was horrible. The food was cold and horrible and that's it. They don't need to deserve a one star. If I could give a zero star, that's what I would do. The staff were rude. read more

It was a great place to have fun with friends. There were plenty of games and the food served was great. We tried whole nine yards. It was shareable big enough for 3 people and very delicious. Definitely I will visit again. read more

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My friends and I have been regular customers of you for the last few months. The Ambience is good, but we feel the customer service is pathetic. This is, by the way, an observation from our last multiple visits. I will not recommend it to my non-Canadian friends, as recently we faced a horrible experience and felt racism to some extent. On Saturday, 4th Feb, I and my friend went around 730pm to Tailgators. We went to the counter and asked for a table. As there was some party going on, we were put on the waiting list. There were 4 more people ahead of us. We waited for 30 mins, and my friend went back to check with the reception about how much time it might take to get us a table. The girl at the counter mentioned that 3 more people were ahead of us then. That is ok and understandable. We waited again after 30 minutes, making it an hour of waiting by then. To my shock, someone else was accommodated ahead of us, and we lost our exact spot in the queue, and now 4 people were ahead of us. We asked the girl at the counter, and she mentioned it was "due to some special reason." We were very patient and waited again. We counted the people returning the pool balls and knew it should have been our turn by now. The same girl on the counter gave that to another group after the first 4 people in the queue were done. We saw this from afar, and we went back to check with her. When we asked her if this was our number, she replied, "they tipped me." There was no systematic way to track our waiting numbers, and it seems the queue is altered as per the tip or some favoritism. So, essentially, we waited for more than two hours to get a pool table and felt like the girl on the counter was being racist from whatever we saw. To be honest, this would be our last day to Tailgators, and I would recommend people not to visit there. read more

It's been 3 months since I visited TailGators and I'm still thinking about the chicken tenders. Trust me, I have yet to find a restaurant that does them better. The huge selection of pool tables and ping pong tables also make for a super fun atmosphere, but honestly it's the chicken tenders that have convinced me to return. read more

I am not one to frequent pool halls, but I have to say that I am impressed with the renovations that have taken place in here! It's more inviting than it was, and it's a great big space! We were here once or twice maybe 15 years ago; now it has a clean and modern feel to it, with pool tables of different sizes, and ping pong tables, and TVs all around. There are break-out rooms where you can have a private party and the large bar is right in the centre of the big open room. The serving staff was friendly enough and informative. read more

Its a fun social spot. They have a decent variety of drinks and classic food items. Bar guys were really nice.

Hmm I've been wondering about reviewing this one for a while. Why you ask? Well because I think tailgators is a bit different for each of its patrons. For some it is the local pub where you come to drink your sorrows away. For some it is where you come to celebrate your new found joy perhaps. For this particular reviewer who happens to be from farrhaven it is simply a local hangout with a side of pool. I frequent tailgators probably once every few months and I've been there on weekdays and weekends. The crowd here is always different and so far has been pleasant. I usually go with a group of friends and play pool for a few hours and leave before closing. The place is quite large so there is no problem in a finding a quiet table in the corner or be the center of the party. The service has been great every time I've visited and the prices are reasonable. read more

TailGators - a pool table in a dark room - Pool Halls Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Came to this place for St Patrick's day 23. the service was slow and poor even though the place wasn't very packed, the drinks were watered down to the point where everyone in my group commented on it. the music was a little loud and as it was St patricka day wasnt even remotely themed for it. If you want to come drink beer and watch a hockey game would be a good spot, but if you want to drink mixed drinks and enjoy a Friday night there's better spots in Ottawa. read more

When you arrive at this location, the first thing you notice is how unimpressive the outside location is. It's around the corner from the sport check, it has 3 flights of stairs you have to climb, and if you go at night time, it's dark and gloomy around the entrance. BUT, don't let this fool you! As soon as you step in, it's a different world - there's people everywhere (family's, groups of friends, couples) and it's a very lively atmosphere! We tried some of the sweet potato fries there - not the best ones I've had I have to admit, but they were alright. We played a couple hours of pool as well (we had to wait about half an hour since there was a waiting list!) but the time went by extremely quick. The location overall was very clean and well kept and I will definitely be coming back here for a fun Friday or Saturday night out. Overall, I would definitely recommend this location to a friend! read more

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This location begins and ends with the world's longest staircase, but the climb is worth it! I've always had wonderful service and a great time at this place. It's almost always got a huge crowd, which is totally manageable as the place is also huge. There's lots to see and do with a million TVs seemingly everywhere, tons of pool tables, ping pong, foosball, darts, and virtual golf games. There's also many ways to break up the room for private functions while still maintaining a great space for the individuals. These guys are great at that. The DJ, who I believe is the same one every time, needs a bit of work though. The songs are great, but transitions between songs and genres definitely needs a bit of work. I'd also maybe add to the number of artists in the repertoire so songs/artists aren't repeated. I don't know if that's the DJ or the location, but if they can get this under control, I'd thoroughly expect to see a dance floor break out every night! read more

Fun, spacious place to relax with friends and play a few games. Not only do they have pool, they also have electronic games, ping pong, and darts. Drinks/food is somewhat pricy, but you are paying for the venue. read more

TailGators - Pool Halls Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

I had heard some mixed things about TailGators before my first visit, so I was a little apprehensive. As a few people have mentioned, the exterior is a little daunting (Located on the side of the Merivale mall, up a steep set of stairs) However, I was pleasantly surprised once I got in! The space is larger than you expect and has a surprisingly nice atmosphere for a sports bar. I love all the games and TV's, it's a fun environment and there's definitely something to keep everyone entertained. The food is on the expensive side for what you get, but the service is great and I found the beer pretty reasonably priced. My only concern would be making it safely down all those stairs if you have a few too many drinks in your system! Update: I've become a bit of a regular here (especially through the playoffs lol) and had to edit my review so I could rave about the Veggie Crunch Wrap! It's often hard to find vegetarian food in a bar that isn't fried, and this wrap fits the bill. At $11 it's a surprisingly hearty option. Lots of veggies, seasonings, sunflower seeds and spinach dip. read more

Standing outside in the middle of January because they've hit capacity for an event they sold us tickets to...standing in the cold with 30 other people. Horrible organization, I'm extremely unimpressed. read more

We arrived around 2:00pm as we were looking for a late lunch and to shoot a game of pool. Unfortunately from our entry to the time we paid, it was very unpleasant! There was one server for the entire place. I looked for other staff, but couldn't see anyone that could help. Our server was very pleasant, but was looking a bit rushed to help us. No small talk, "how are you doing" or "Welcome to Tail Gators". Drinks (pitcher of beer) were served and we got our balls from the server at the counter (bring an ID for them to hold). We ordered our food on her second lap around, then we waited! She came back as she forgot the order. 40 mins later, our knives & forks came to us. Our server then said, "I think your order is ready", I was thinking the same thing, about 20 mins before that. Food was cold when it came, a cheese burger, swiss burger and a pizza. You should always tell your server if you are not happy, but at this point she was way too busy and the thought of having to wait again was something we did not want to do. The burgers have a pretzel bun, nothing home made, just a plain cold pretzel bun. The pizza was a long stretched dough (flat bread). No refills were offered until the end of the meal. We didn't finish it as we now had to go 1 and a half hours later. The pool games were fun lots of tables to choose from. It is not cheap for the pool games, we were there for the afternoon special and it was $15.00 an hour. Our bill was $75.00, not a cheep lunch. At the bottom of the receipt it says "LIKED US YELP US - IF YOU DIDN'T, TELL US!". I would have loved to tell someone, but there just wasn't anybody to tell. read more

This review is a painful one to write. I came to TailGators many (wine infused) moons ago and always enjoyed myself, so when the bf and I were looking for a way to pass a rainy Saturday afternoon and he suggested pool, I immediately vouched for TailGators. Now I'm pissed that I did. It was around 4 p.m. when we pulled in to the Merivale Mall parking lot, and there were quite a few cars near the TailGators end, so we thought it would be a good time. After eyeing what Danielle F called "the ominous, three-story stairway) we opted to try the bottom entrance door since he has some walking difficulties. Happy to be greeted by an elevator, we stepped in and BAM! It was like we walk into Cheech and Chong's basement. Holy marijuana Batman! We laughed it off and stepped inside. We were met with tons and tons of pool tables and what I thought was a really great atmosphere - big leather couches, flat screens, a really big bar. What we weren't greeted by? Anyone. No staff to be found. We went looking and eventually found a server who looked at us, and held up a finger to say "just a second." Ugh. When she did make her way over, we received no greeting, no question, nothing. She just looked at us. Finally we said "we like to get a table" and she asked us for an ID and passed over the balls and our table number. Upon further inspection, the place wasn't as cool as I hoped. The tables really need to be recovered - they're full of scuff marks and don't have any lines or dots on them for your triangle. After one game, we decided we really weren't feeling this place. No one asked us if we wanted drinks or food, and we couldn't find a server in our area. So we pulled up stakes and returned the balls. After being there for about 45 minutes we were charged $15. That seemed a little crazy to me, but maybe I'm just not an avid pool player. Also - surprise! They don't take debit. And of course, the ATMs cost $2 per withdrawal. We mentioned the elevator to the "server" and got a blank stare in response. I'm not counting this place out yet. I'm betting it's a great spot after 9 or 10 p.m. when service picks up. But my question is this: why even be open before then if you're going to employ disinterested staff who really could care less about the customers? I might return eventually, but right now there's too many other spots that want our business, and treat us as (shocking!) valued customers. read more

At first glance, TailGators is just a pool hall. Give the place a chance, however, and you will see it has a lot more to offer. TailGators took over what was once Le Skratch. Another pool hall, it didn't have a great reputation. TailGators is starting to change that perception. It has plenty of pool tables and plenty of space for them. you won't be running into other players, or having to suck in your gut to get around people. It's a spacious place with a nice decor. As the name suggests, TailGators is really a full service sports bar. There are plenty of TVs to watch, along with a few couches, a giant bar and tables for groups to sit at. The menu is the biggest surprise. The food is more than common sports bar food. It's a notch or two up from that. Consider it upscale pub food. For a good place to watch the game or shoot some stick, this is a great option in the West End. read more

Don't mind the ominous, three-story stairways snaking up to the entrance, TailGators is a very fun spot! The place is enormous. Essentially it's a warehouse of pool, bar, food, and sports. The crowd is really varied in ages, sexes, and pool-playing abilities so there is no need to be afraid. While it's definitely designed to be a man cave, there's room for everyone. Just go up to the towering desk at the middle, leave a piece of ID to get some balls. Pick a table, any table and get to work! You're billed for the time you spend, not per game or anything. I believe it is ten dollars an hour. On Thursdays, ladies play for free! When ordering pitchers the service was very prompt. Our server put in his two cents as we were picking beer and always knew when we were running low. At the end of the day: lots of pool, a few pitchers between several ladies it was about $75- not too bad at all! And imagine if we were there on Ladies Night... next time. read more

If you want a full night out this is the place to go. They have plenty of pool, ping pong, and foosball tables to entertain you and a date or you and a group of friends. Plenty of menu options and beers on draft (and more bottled) to please everybody in your group too. The food is great and last time I went they were doing an anniversary thing where they had their original prices for certain menu items, not sure if that is still on but even if it's not the portions are huge and the regular prices still won't break the bank. read more

Great food, great staff, amazing ambiance, and loved my time there. The bartender there was amazing and relatable. Had a great conversation about football while I waited. Plan on returning here whenever I can. read more

Came here to get some post dinner drinks and play some pool (which i've never played before). Place was getting full and fun by 930pm. More and more folks were pouring in as time went on. Decent beer selection. Tried the Jack with honey which was pretty amazing! They have foosball, table tennis, pool, some shuffle board, some hoops and lots and lots of place to sit and hang! Definitely an awesome idea for a night out with friends or a fun date. read more

We hosted a wedding party at tailgators & we cannot say enough about the service, food & venue! We hosted 85 people. We had a private location within tailgators. 5 pool tables, 2 ping pong tables & lots of space. Plenty of room for dancing too & a couple of private, quiet suites at our disposal. We decided on a finger food buffet. The food was fresh and kept plentiful for our guests. We were ble to bring in our own dessert & wedding cake. The servers were super busy but kept attending to all of our guests the whole time. Fantastic venue for a great party! We brought in some decorations to make things more personal & All our guests commented on the idea of this kind of party & really enjoyed themselves! Thanks to all of you for helping us host this great party!!!! Patricia read more

This place is pretty good. Prices are decent. Service is ok. Not bad. If you are allergic to gluten-this place is not really for you, because they cook everything in same oil. Music is early 2000s, which is what I like) read more

TailGators - Pool Halls Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Terrible service!!! Bar tenders are slow as molasses, asked for a table, got on a wait list where they said they'd call our mobile, even though there were empty tables available, we waited 30 minutes for a call and they hung up on us. We went to the desk within 30 seconds and they gave our table away! Would help to learn about customer service!!! read more

Student pass for pool is a great deal. The service, food and drinks are all good. The place has a pleasant atmosphere and I always enjoy myself when I go. read more

They told me that my fries couldn't be cold! WTF!! I tell you my fries are cold and the cook tells me no way! What a joke of a business. When your kitchen controls your business you are screwed! Took 30 people there for dinner and pool. Never going there again! Kitchen staff, get your egos out of your assholes!!! read more

Great place to come on the weekedn with some friends. Get some wings or nachos and play some pool and ping pong. Cant beat it! Its a go to spot for me and my buddies. You can even practice your golf swing too! This place honestly has it all and the staff are always very kind and helpful! I would for sure recommend this place to everyone! A+ for me! read more

I don't frequent this place often but it is nice to have something worthwhile to go to other than downtown.

I decided to check this place out because I heard it has ping pong tables. Let me tell you about TailGators. Its a sports bar that specializes in pool tables and making sure you never miss the game. There are TVs everywhere and waitresses making sure your beer is filled. It is $12 a hour for either ping pong or pool. There are only two ping pong tables so chances are it will be already taken. The beer prices are good. 6-8 bucks for a beer. Not bad. I really only come here to play ping ping and have a drink while I catch the game. read more

Came here for UFC 149. To bad there was an annoying Xmas party competing with joe rogan for the mic. I suggest you pass on this place if you actually want to hear any commentary. read more

This place is quite big! The staff was very nice, but our waiter seemed a bit down... a bit pricy for what I'm used to, but I sure will go back some day! read more

Warm beer, cold chicken fingers. Came here last Saturday for a UFC event. The service was friendly but the bar was completely understaffed. We waited nearly 1 hour for a plate of under cooked fries and cold chicken fingers. I also ordered a bottle of Modelo and it was warm. Instead of waiting another 30 minutes for a new one I decided to drink it and order a few Stellas that were thankfully properly cold. Overall, a very disappointing experience. read more

The place is big enough for a party. The food is okay, kind of expensive, but I did not have high expectation on the food anyway. We were enjoying the pooling and ping pong a lot. read more

I've been going here for years and always enjoy myself. Not much of a pool player but there are a lot of tables, fun other games and it's very spacious. The food here is great and the fact that they play UFC's ensures I continue to return. That big staircase may be tough to handle if drunk and I've found that some of the bouncers seem to be on a power trip but that seems to be all places with bouncers. Definitely worth visiting. read more

Very busy, older crowd. More of a "biker" look inside. Waitress dress very "skimpy" definitely not a place for family's. Over priced food, long waiting times. I would go to watch friends play pool although I wouldn't purchase food or drinks there. Security is great but scary slipper stairs in the winter ... read more

Great atmosphere lots of tables and even two golf screens. Good place to bring friends

On the side of merivale mall... Got in and got more than I was expecting. The ambience is casual. ID was checked at the door..I loved it . Will definitely return read more

Excellent food and service!! Loved playing pool, hadn't played in a very long time and had so much fun!! Great ambiance to the place and very spacious. read more

This is a HUGE bar with tons of entertainment. Probably the only bar that can accommodate a large group of friends with ease. Me and my friends watch every UFC here as there's no entrance fee and the atmosphere and staff are great. read more