Chester’s Billards Bar & Grill

This place seems like it can be great. We went for a comedy show that was pretty good. The service was slow and it seemed like no one was properly trained and overwhelmed.
Drinks: It took about 3 people and 15 minutes (maybe it was only 10 minutes but felt like an hour) to get 3 drinks — 2 grey goose with soda and 1 grey goose with 7up. Each drink was $ 14 and not worth the wait or the headache.
Food: We ordered hummus and chicken tenders. After the food wasn’t brought out to us, we went to bar to check on the order and a waitress claimed that she dropped off the order then said she gave the tenders to someone else… AND that they no longer had chicken tenders! Really?! The hummus was pretty good, but we didn’t get enough chips to finish the hummus and weren’t about to ask anyone for anything else.

Food was good but limited. Staff was very nice and accommodating. Time will tell if this place will last. Unfortunately nothing in this place has changed since it was Champions or Lucy’s, it is still the dingy and seedy establishment that attracted the dregs of society before, even all the APA plaques from those times are still hanging on the wall untouched. The whole place needs a major face-​lift. The bathrooms are something out of horror movie; blinking dim lit neon lights with water on the floor and it stinks like stale urine. If I were the owner and serious about making this place last, I’d go check out revolutions/​fast eddies in Springfield and copy that business model. Gut the place, get some better lighting and a real menu and then it’ll be the kid friendly place that owner wants it to be. I’d love to be able to bring our APA league there but as it stands now it would be a major downgrade for us. Shirlington really needs a great billiards bar, I hope this place can get there.

Had a gig here last night. It was an interesting spot. The garage is under the establishment and the elevator was out of service. No biggie! Up the stairs I go. Once entering I notice how nicely they had the place decorated for NYE. Party hats, noise makers for everyone! Nice touch. I didn’t order food but my band mates did and they said it was decent bar food. Fried fish, wings ect… Had a pleasant conversation with Kayla, one of the waitresses. She gave me the skinny. New owners two and a half months ago. Several renovations in the works which include fixing the elevator and upgrading the roof top. The staff on a whole were very courteous and though I live in Bowie I definitely see myself returning even when I don’t have to perform. My fiancé also gave Chesters two thumbs up! One star deducted until I can sample the food myself.

I really want to like this place. Good to have a pool hall since bungalows closed in Shirlington. Some of the pool tables are uneven and not cleaned on top. Potato wedges (fries) are served with cocktail sauce… and lack a seasoning. Gimmie ketchup. Service can be slow to extreme slow at times. Checks are done by hand not computer. Cleaner bathrooms would be great. And don’t run out of pool balls when not even half of your pool tables are not being used. That is embarrassing. I had other food items which are OK like BBQ sandwich and tenders which are good. I do love a dive bar but sometimes people are waaayyyy over served here which sometimes makes people having a good time start not having a good time. Gotta be more careful there. Bartender ladies are very nice. Very spacious place and have a jute box. I really want to give u guys more stars.

My boyfriend moved nearby into one of the newly built town homes by Chester’s so we walked into Chester’s BBQ and decided to check it out. The place was empty as it was a Sunday night and they have not had their grand opening yet.
The owner, Dave, sat us down at the bar and assured us that if we try some of his chili, we would not leave. He was right. We ended up ordering crab cookies (mini crab cakes), potato wedges, and of course, the chili & chips. The chili gives Ben’s Chili Bowl a run for its money. Yeah I said it.
Dave also allowed us to play a game of pool on the house and I can definitely see this being a locals spot for people who want to hang out, watch some football, have a beer, and/​or play some pool with friends. Especially with The Bungalow in Shirlington closing down, I can see this place becoming a growing favorite. I will definitely be back for that chili!