Midtown Bowl

02/13/2007 Posted by jaymaygm

If you haven't been bowling since a kid, still like to go out for drinks and fun, but just tired of the same old bar scene, like the rest of us, come here. Always a jovial crowd having fun, and you don't have to be a serious bowler. This place has been around for over forty years, is a "find" for us intowners. Sugar Daddy's Loung adjoins, to get your favorite cocktail, and good bar small plates. It's a strike!

02/11/2007 Posted by merebaum

When our party of 25 arrived many of the tables were occupied with league bowlers who were not moving. We also discovered that we were unable to add extra bowlers who were late. A friend had ordered a bowling pin and balloons and when he arrived he was told that there was no record of his order. When several members of the group asked to pay for their games, they were told to “pay the host.” When I inquired into the situation, I was told very rudely and dismissively, “This is policy,” and “there’s nothing I can do; you should have been told when you booked the party.” When one of the bowlers went to collect her shoe from the desk, she was given the wrong shoe. When she told the employee that the shoe was not hers, he told her that she would have to find the owner of the shoe herself. When she challenged the request, he continued to argue with her! Upon realizing that she was not leaving, he finally gave in and gave her her own shoe. We collected money and went to pay and were told that we would have to wait until the final game was bowled until we could pay in full. The final game was in the 7th frame with 5 bowlers. As we could not pay for the games and did not want to leave people behind, we sat back down at the tables where we had been bowling. 5 minutes later an announcement said, “If you are not bowling, you must vacate the tables at the lanes where you are sitting. If you do not vacate the tables, we will come around and embarrass you. Don’t make us have to embarrass you.” Nice. Two hours after leaving the bowling alley, we realized that we left a bag of presents. We returned and were told that nothing had been found. I returned again in 48 hours to inquire about the bag and was again told that nothing had been found. The lack of customer service, the rudeness of the staff and the indifference to our problems throughout the evening were very disturbing to me. I am highly disappointed in the establishment and will not return.

Cons: staff, customer service

01/26/2007 Posted by tyneshad

This bowling alley was everything my roommates and I dreamed of in the way of burning up idle time. It's open all night, they have cheap greasy food, the shoes are as ugly as ever AND there's a jukebox we can tune to jams we haven't belted out in AGES! I love it here!

Pros: 24-hour operation, fast-food, jukebox

11/10/2006 Posted by athenaofamerica

First of all, going to a bowling alley and seeing at least 8 empty lanes gives me, the customer, the impression that there are lanes available. However, that was apparently not the case at Midtown Bowl. The person at the cash register said all lanes were "reserved" yet there was nobody around waiting to claim the lanes. Finally, after being made to stand at the front for about 10 minutes, he said we could have one lane if it we were done within 2 hours. How can lanes be reserved for a certain time and sit empty for 2 hours? Then, he gives us a lane right next to two lanes that were full of people (some 10-12 people, in fact). We couldn't even sit at the table that was designated for our lane - we had to sit 2 lanes over and walk to bowl. When we asked to be moved over 2 lanes so we could have more space, we were denied. (There were no less than 6 empty lanes for him to move us to.) Another group of bowlers came and was put on the lane next to ours. They noticed the lane to people ratio and our awkward seating arrangement, and asked to move - they were allowed to move to empty lanes with nobody on either side of us. Not to play the race card, but when the "customer service representative" moves bowlers of the same race as himself to empty lanes and wouldn't move us, that can be perceived as discriminatory. Customer service apparently doesn't exist at this bowling alley!

Pros: Good food, lots of parking

Cons: Customer service

05/17/2003 Posted by jenreid7

Express lanes is my second home and I have a great respect for all the employees that work nights there. They are really great people and I'm glad that I can go there and feel welcome and taken care of. They are so helpful and kind and take great care of the lanes. I am glad I have somewhere to go at night other than clubs or bars where I can be safe and do what I love in peace...bowl.

Pros: Peaceful Atmosphere, Great Maintenance, Good Employees

05/14/2002 Posted by erinbehan_citysearch

Getting here before before midnight on a weekend ensures not having to wait too long for a lane. Don't know if it's my friends or the bowling alley, but I always enjoy bowling here (and I'm not a particularily good bowler). The management can be strict about keeping food or drinks away from the hardwood area, but they're nice enough about it. A wide variety of people and bowling skills here add to the pleasant atmosphere.