Good food and fun at Chess n Checkers : The Morning Call Online

Our last visit to Chess and Checkers on Airport Road was the most disappointing, disgusting, annoying dining out experience we have ever had. We waited for 1 hour for cheesburgers and fries, we had to beg for drinks, and then after that amount of time we waited, not only was our food wrong, cold, disgusting, we had no silverware, or napkins (we had to ask a waiter waling by), and we sat at the upstairs so called elegant bar area. When we asked why our food was wrong, cold and disgusting we were offered the manager, who dressed as a circus clown came out of her cave, and asked US what the problem was, and wanted to know why we did not ask for silverware and napkins, and wanted to know why we did not explair our frustrations to anyone. Duh......that was what we were doing to her....She told us that "if we did not like it, we should leave". Needless to say, we already waited 1 hour for our disgusting food, and we were hungry from the wait, and decided to pick at the cold fries, the burnt cheese on our burgers, the day or two old rolls, fatty disgusting wings, which asked for "extra crispy". We also asked for raw onion and grilled onions on our cheeseburgers, and we were call liars by the bartender, who really had a difficult time writing our order down, and doing his job....He indeed did not write down any of our requests for onlons, extra crispy wings, and when we received a plate cheese and bacon fries, they were partially raw, cold, and stuck together like glue. The bottom line is that they actually charged us for this disgusting display of restaurnt service. The most pitiful of all was the manager who make it quite clear that she does not need any business from any customers. Perhaps she can thrive on her personnel to keep her in business. She truly was a disgusting display of management, and would be wiser to go into a profession such Women's Wrestling. She was really a sad example of management for any of our distinguished Lehigh Valley Restuarants.

I have sent guests there much to my disapointment only to betold how terrible it is with regards to service. Yes the crab cakes are good and the building is wonderful after the remodeling and addition. Past appitizers though nothing is made with any consistency. The sad thing is i could get past that except for the fact of terrible service. I guess i hold a grudge due to the fact that it holds so much more potential than it is functioining at now. A slightly better cook staff and a more professional apperance, and i feel this could be and exceptional restaraunt. Past drinks and an appetizer i really wont dine there.

Regarding Chess and Checkers the following are not true at all about this place.

Cleanliness: Unkept
Cuisine: Cold food and never what you order.
Eat at Bar: Not a good idea, all the bartenders do is stand around or count their tips.
Food: Horrible experience with their food
Meals Served: Takes an hour or two for just light fare
Noise Rating: Institutional (it's like everybody is dead)
Service: The worst service I ever witnessed....simply outrageous...cannot even believe they are still in business.
Smoking: Disgusting
Status: The pits....awful....disgusting... .horrible.....atrocious....etc .

I haven't been there in about 2 years but I'm glad I read these comments. I was going to recommend going there one night w/ friends. When I was there, only once, it was decent. I know how quickly things can change for the worse at dining places, and it seems that's the trend lately. Places I've gone into many times w/ great food & great service have been pathetic lately. What's going on?

** crossing this place of my list **

Shocked wrote:

Regarding Chess and Checkers the following are not true at all about this place.
Cleanliness: Unkept
Cuisine: Cold food and never what you order.
Eat at Bar: Not a good idea, all the bartenders do is stand around or count their tips.
Food: Horrible experience with their food
Meals Served: Takes an hour or two for just light fare
Noise Rating: Institutional (it's like everybody is dead)
Service: The worst service I ever witnessed....simply outrageous...cannot even believe they are still in business.
Smoking: Disgusting
Status: The pits....awful....disgusting... .horrible.....atrocious....etc .

ok i am way behind in checking my posts and i came across this. What the hell are you trying to say? Is this elementry school and was it opposite day for you? Unless i am reading this wrong you like the place. Dont get me wrong that is all well and fine but just say it. I never read reviews of a restraunt that start of this is not true about this place. The point of a review is for people to express their personal feelings about a place. This helps others who might want to dine there get a perspective. So be straight forward please.

This was the worst restaurant that I have ever been in. The service was poor, we waited for ever to get our food and when the food came, the potatoes were completely dried out and cold on all 3 plates. We ordered 3 filet and we would have received better steaks from Ponderosa. Bread was supposed to come with our meal and when we asked where the bread was, we were told that we had to ask because if not they waste to much bread. The table behind us, also had the worst service and requested to talk with the manager. When the manager came out, she was so disrespectful to the customers. She told them that she didn't need their business and if they weren't happy with their food that they should go elsewhere. When one of the women that had sat there for 2 hours and had still not received the PLAIN hamburger that she order told the manager "your not going to charge me for this meal" the manager replied very loudly "your not going to tell me what I'm going to do and we don't give away free food". This was the worst experience that I have ever had at any restaurant and I am 40 years old.

The service was horrible and rude.
The food was even worse, could not eat it.
I ordered filet and crab cake called steak and cake. The baked potatoe was cold, the steak had no flavor.
It took over one hour to get the food and the restaurant was not that busy.
I had ask to speak to a manager. When she come to the table she was rude, she told me to go else where and she was not in the business not to give out free food. I didn't ask for free food, just food I could eat, especially for the price.

i love the part where she talks about the "view" i dont know about you but i find airport road and bj's are breathtaking at twilight.

ok no restraunt is perfect, but give some credit to the good servers at chess and checkers. there are a few and dont be afraid to say their names. obviously it cant be that bad if they are still in business, and still going strong. and as far as bread, its upon request. if u ask you will get it.

Hillbilly hangout ... don't go here.

Their wings are yummy! The service isn't great!

I have been to Chess & Checkers a few times and it is always inconsistent. I agree the service is not the best. The food is cold, well at least half the time I was there and I the bar...forget it!...too bad they don't have someone running it that has a clue!

Have to agree here with everyone. This place is just awful. It was better when it was Tom's Den. Such a shame.

I wish I had read this before I went there two weeks ago. I hadn't been there in years either.

1. Brought wrong beer for my husband.
2. White wine was warm.
3. Crab cake over cooked, burnt & full of filler. Took me 4 pats of butter to make it tasty enough to eat.
4. Overpriced.

Thanks to all of you for telling the truth about an awful place. How they stay in business is beyond me. Just goes to show you that you can't believe what you read in the MC.
I'll believe all of you posters who have been there and had such an awful experience over the opinion of 1 Mc staff person. Thanks again for throwing up the red flags, I will never go there!

You are welcome Thanks
I will tell you what
I went to Bennigan's one night
and I was very pleased
Yummy huge burger and nice service
Have a friend that swears by "BLUE"
if you like to spend some dough!:)

Facts wrote:

Have to agree here with everyone. This place is just awful. It was better when it was Tom's Den. Such a shame.

Yes it was! Too bad it's gone!

Facts wrote:

You are welcome Thanks
I will tell you what
I went to Bennigan's one night
and I was very pleased
Yummy huge burger and nice service
Have a friend that swears by "BLUE"
if you like to spend some dough!:)

Blue is way way way overpriced. Went there & had the swordfish, it was $90 just for the swordfish & it wasn't that good. Went to a hotel and they had swordfish on special, it was $12.00 and the swordfish was twice the size as Blue's, much much tastier, come w/ 4 shrimp, salad, baked potatoe, really good veggie medley and bread.

A martini at Blue was $25, for that price, just put the bottle of vodka in front of me.

I know right! I loved Tom's Den. Hung out there alot in my younger years. Was good friends with Tom, Bill, alot of the pilots from the airport. Some of the best times ever there. Loved the food. The one bartender was the sis of a friend of mine from school. Damn can't think of her name. Wow, I am mad I can't think of the other bartender's name but this was in the late 80's -early 90's I hung there.