Saturday night, the Charlotte fam (Nines, Corbers, ghost hunter and yours truly) went to Strike City for Nines’ 24th birthday. We originally planned on eating at Blackfinn beforehand, but faced with a 90 minute wait, we decided to just eat at the bowling alleys gourmet restaurant. Given that I ate, bowled, and was around for the DJ, I feel compelled to provide you with my honest impression. As opposed to say, other impressions.
The very first thing I noticed is that setup of Strike City is kind of dumb. Where you wait in line to get a lane and your bowling shoes is right inside the door. This makes it really crowded around the door basically all the time. Also, during dinner, I kept seeing people walk past with one bowling shoe on and one regular shoe on. Then I realized why. They make you give them one of your shoes to hold as collateral while you are wearing the rented bowling shoes. Smart plan. I would so steal disgusting used bowling shoes. It reminded me of shopping at a thrift shop with a million signs posted saying “smile, we’re watching you on our security cameras”. Definitely detracts from the upscale feeling they were going for.
You know what else detracts from the upscale feeling? Children. running. barefoot. Next to your dinner table. Just saying.
actual photo i took at strike city
And speaking of dinner, the food was not good. Except for the chipotle ranch that came with Corbers’ popcorn shrimp. That was good. But everything else kind of sucked. They had some heartier Italian entrees (chicken marsala) on the menu, but 90% of the items are your typical bowling alley fare. But no pitchers of beer? This place is confused. And also, sorry, not gourmet.
I ordered the Italian sausage sandwich. The bread was burnt and the sandwich was skimpy with the meat and peppers and onions, which also happened to be cold along with the fries. Granted, it was packed, and loud. But that’s really not an excuse. Nines and Ghost Hunter split a pizza which was NY style and they seemed to enjoy. We decided to get a couple of brownie sundays for dessert. The brownies were ROCK HARD. No joke. At least our waitress was nice enough to take them off the bill.
Then we moved onto the bowling and I reluctantly turned over one of my boots and attempted to change into my one bowling shoe in the crowded lobby (they don’t provide any benches for that). The lanes do look hip, and there is lots of sensory overload with the thousand big screens and music, and voices, and lights. There could be more seating as one of our tables was comandeered by the friends of the people bowling next to us. Bowling itself was fun, especially since I beat everyone in the second game with a personal high score of 145 (seeing that Ghost Hunter won the first game with a score of 89, this was a big deal). The lanes were very dry, but then again, this isn’t a place for serious bowlers.
The highlight of the night was the DJ who kept it super random playing Tom’s Diner, Sweet Caroline (with everyone singing along dixie’s tavern style), Hit Me Baby One More Time, The Devil Went Down to Georgia, Livin on a Prayer, and Purple Rain. The playlist was perfect for bowling.
My impression is that Strike City is trying to pretend it’s something it isn’t. I’m not even exactly sure a bowling alley can be upscale, but if it can, Strike City didn’t manage to pull it off. Same food, same crowd (although definitely more dolled up – little black dress and bowling shoes anyone?), same cheezy scoring graphics, same general grossness. Like most of the Charlottans that frequent the epicentre, it’s overdressed and underwhelming.
Epicenter can be fun but it just isnt authentic enough for me, thanks for the great review… “meck”
I don’t think the Strike City is trying to be “upscale” at all. It is just nicer and newer than most bowling alleys and has a full scale bar and decent restaurant compared to regular bowling alleys. Chill out…
An “unpaid review” with a clear agenda…there’s no dress code, the bowling prices are in line with every other alley around here, and they already have nightly drink and bowling specials listed on the website.
I know it’s cool and trendy to knock. Anyone. Who. Dares. Enjoy. The. Epicenter. But try not to shower us with BS and worn out blog-speak.
A hostess stand and shoe check by the front door? What were they thinking?!
No one is pitching the food as “gourmet” except you. It’s a freaking bowley alley, not McNinch House. Lighten up and get some perspective. I’ve had the chicken parm, sampled another pasta on soft opening night, and pizza, and they were quite good, especially the pizza.
Of course, you failed to mention the sports-bar aspect of the place, with enough huge TVs everywhere to show any game that’s on, including those at the end of the lanes, the pool tables, the multiple bars you can just hang out at (I could spend an evening here without bowling), or the separate private lanes for parties or events.
Other than that…um…good work.
Look its a bowling alley not a five star restaurant.Secondly its Charlottean not “Charlottan” go back up north Damn Yankee