Some work friends and I stumbled upon this place a few months ago, and we all instantly felt at home. We've been back every week since. There's so much to love about this place. They have classic arcade games like pinball & galaga, but they also have the newer games like buck hunter & a beer pong machine. The food is top notch, I always get their burger (made with their own special short-rib blend). They have a great selection on tap, with new beers rotated in pretty regularly. But the best part by far are the owners, Chris & Donna. They are the number one reason we keep coming back. I've never felt more welcomed in any establishment, it's like being in an episode of "Cheers" (but for millenials). read more

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Greeted by Michelle at the bar and seated at a table for 4. Beers of course, great Craft Beer selection on tap. Looked over the menu and placed our order with Michelle, who by the way provided very good service along with assistance from another guy, didn't catch his name at the bar.. Chris and Donna both stopped over to check in on us and say hello, as she remembered us from a time we previously stopped and they really appreciated that we returned. A plus to management. For the food - My spouse and I tried their BBG's hamburgers - mine with side salad vs. fries or chips with a champagne dressing that was very good. Spouse had hers with Fries and they were good along with the burger. To be honest, when you first look at the burger and bun, see picture, you think, SMALL, however they are very thick & delicious and I barely finished my burger. Someone else had their Cuban and he enjoyed his sandwich with Excellent, I must say, sweet potato fries. His spouse had their NY chicken speidi and she enjoyed her meal as well. Lots of fun games and great place for kids and parties, they even let you bring your own cake in. Not many places that allow that. As an FYI there was a small birthday party going on and the noise level wasn't bad and the staff placed lots of great looking food on a table for the participants to help themselves. This is also a great place to catch a sports game as well. All in all great food and very good & friendly service. We will return again, that roasted sausage sandwich is calling my name. read more

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Orders food. Had to wait for the owner to come back apparently. Took 30 minutes. Got the wings AFTER the burgers. And they were dry for everything wings. Also did not have Tito's. Over all not impressed. Will is very personable though. read more

Food is great and the beer is cold. Had a wide variety of beers to choose from . The staff was friendly and the service was outstanding. Great Atmosphere read more

Great place! Wonderful service, selection and fun games! Bartender Will is a GEM! Owners are top notch!

I've been here several times with the mindset that I'm going to a sports bar. It is not, and that is solely what my review is based on. I went there with a friend to watch the Game 5 of the Heat-Pacers NBA playoffs. (Also, there happened to be an NHL playoff game on as well.) Walked in and every television was showing a pre-recorded college softball game, and they were blasting your run-of-the-mill 90s music that you hear at every bar in the area. I nope nope noped it right out of there, grabbed a six pack at the supermarket, and watched the game at my friend's place. I don't get it. Why isn't there a single proper sports bar in the area? Just TVs showing sports with the game audio turned on. It's so simple. Aside from BBGs not being a sports bar, they have a good beer selection, but I find their food to be too salty. read more

This place was a lifesaver when I needed to entertain a couple kids after 7pm on a Friday night. In an area like New Hartford/Utica where everything closes super early or is adults-only, it's really unique. Kids had a blast. If some think the games are expensive - I think I would have easily spent way more at Buzy Bees, the bowling alley or the trampoline/rock gyms - if they were even open. read more

I've been coming to BBGs for a while now had my first date here Chris and Donna are awesome they know us by name now and always go above and beyond to make sure we've enjoyed ourselves! The food is amazing, my favorite is the steak arugula love the atmosphere, service and the arcade they have. Love that this place can be family friendly and date night worthy as well read more

I was severely disappointed by BBGs. Let's take it one letter at a time Beer-the only saving grace for this spot. They have a great selection including shock top (a personal favorite). Unfortunately it wasn't cold enough. Bites- the "Little Italy" was more than a "little" disappointing. The thing should just be rebranded as "gross". The fries were as thin as grass and I felt like I was stabbing myself in the mouth as I ate them. Torture. Games- for a place that puts games in their name you'd expect a bigger, better selection. Only 14 games. Two of them are PAC-Man and another two are darts. None of them made me want to get out of my seat to play. Service- we walked in and we were not greeted at the door by anything other than an odor I could only describe as "smokey bowling alley." The bartender, and apparently waitress, slowly made her way from behind the bar (although she only came out about three feet) to let us know to sit anywhere we wanted. Drinks came at an expected wait and the food wasn't terribly slow but we waited about 15 minutes for our check from the time our plates were taken. All in all, it is not likely that I will return to this establishment any time soon. read more

I came here recently for a catered wedding event. First, let me address the atmosphere. The place is kept very dark. Not a single light is on nor is a single window shade open. There are a number of arcade games which are in a state of decay. For example, the pinball machine is broken and doesn't even have a sign indicating this. The machines that do work are complete ripoffs. $1 for skiball, $1.50 to use an electronic dartboard? Even the jukebox costs $1 to play one short song. Overall kind of a sad environment. Now for the food. It looked great, pulled pork sliders, steak sliders, super thin fries. In reality the food was mediocre at best, the buns were a bit stale and the food was not really hot. This would be negligible if it didn't cost an embarrassingly high cost. Lets just say, for the price, we could have all gotten steak dinners. The waitstaff and bartenders seem very nice, though I didn't drink anything, so I can't review the "bar" experience as much as the catering. I'm told that the owners of this place hired a consultant but they refused to take his advice and he just got frustrated with them and left. Just what I heard anyway. In summary, the place isn't terrible but also nothing special. Come here if you want dive bar catering for a NYC price. read more

We try to come here at least once per month. The food is great and the games are fun. We love Mrs. Packman. Great place for happy hour.

Visited here for the first time tonight and was so excited about the food and beer selection that I had to immediately write this review. I was pleasantly surprised to see such a wide variety of choices on the menu. My dining companions and I ordered two appetizers to share: first was the cheese plate which featured fruits and cheeses, one of them a unique Italian ricotta and a very interesting goat cheese and honey dip. The second appetizer was buffalo chicken meatball which was seasoned just right. Perhaps the most delightful was the burger: with three different meats: angus, shirt rib and brisket. The taste was the most unique and delicious I have ever had. Sweet potato fries were great and the sweet dipping sauce complimented them very well. Dessert was completely unexpected deliciousness: Warm chocolate chip cookie still in the mini-skillet covered in ice cream, fried dough with a side of caramel sauce, and the most delicious bread pudding created from croissants. As if it couldn't get any more mouth-watering, I indulged in one of the many selections of brew: an apricot wheat which was the perfect compliment to the most delicious burger I've ever tasted. If you haven't checked out BBG'S, then I implore you to give it a try the next time you are looking for something different--It does not disappoint. read more

They advertise they are kid friendly and yes, kids are welcome. They enjoy the games but with several games at $1 each, your money doesn't go far. They also don't have a kids menu. :(. We ordered the chicken tenders for them figuring that was safe. For $9 you get 3 tenders that are thick fried pieces of a chicken breast. Not what the kids were expecting. My grilled cheese was good. read more

I am not sure what happened from the first time I was here. I ordered chili and when it came out it tasted a lot like canned chili. We ordered two kinds of meatballs. Both came out not as hot as I would've liked. We ordered extra sauce which came out ice cold. The artichoke dip was good but there was too little of it. The flat bread chips that came with the dip were kind of greasy. My father had a hamburger which he said was very good, and my uncle had Shepard pie which he like a lot. I really didn't like the fact that it was very cold in the restaurant. My uncle played the pin ball machine but it stopped working. So for me not so much... read more

Loved this place! We had a great conversation with Chris, the proprietor, and she gave us free drink chips. Had the buffalo meatballs, which were great. If I had known about this place in college, this would have been a staple. read more

Great beer selection that rotates often, they put a delicious spin on common food, fun environment!

Stop here for the best beer selection in the area as well as to notch pub foods. The owners are GREAT and really really care about customer service. read more

When I walked in there was only 10 people there. Had to yell my drink order three times to two people behind the bar who looked like they had no clue what they were doing.... and obviously they didn't as although all I wanted was a draft beer they gave me the wrong drink which, for a name brand beer, was pretty awful. I should have returned it and got my money back right then an there. To talk to my friend we had to yell over the music that none of the people in the bar/whatever cared about/listened too. There were huge TVs showing a game no one was watching and the loft was closed. Its a nice building - too bad they crapped it up with old arcade games that look like they rescued out of a 90's arcade. What is this place supposed to be a bar or a restaurant? Seriously candles on the tables - nearly all of which were suited only for two? The only way I could explain it was that I just felt weird. In an attempt to please everyone they pleased no one - its not a restaurant, not a bar, not a club, not anything. I couldn't wait to leave and left without leaving a tip. No wonder there was no one there on a Friday Night. My guess is that it will probably be closed by mid summer. read more

BBG's is one of my and my family's favorite places to go! We have had many events at BBG's including my son's birthday party. The owners are great and made sure every detail was taken care of and made the event a huge success. The kids all had a great time playing the games and hanging out and the food was not your usual kids' birthday party food of just pizza or chicken fingers. Instead BBG's offered some fun new party food like mac and cheese balls, sliders, skinny fries and delicious meatballs. Everything was made fresh and the kids and adults devoured it with many compliments on how good everything was from our party guests. We were even able to add some healthy choices like a couple of delicious salad options for the adult guests looking for a healthier or gluten free selection. The atmosphere was roomy and bright and the open floor plan allowed me to keep an eye on all the party guests, while I could still sit and relax. The kids were occupied the whole event, since they had a choice of many fun games to choose from and they really loved hanging out in the loft upstairs and using the gaming system. Never did we hear, we're bored or what should we do. Some of the adult guests really enjoyed playing pool and darts and thought it was great they were actually at a kids' party where they had something fun to do too! BBG's venue was large enough for us to combine our son's kid and family birthday parties and have it at one venue all on one day. The adults were able to relax with a drink and socialize in a clean, well-kept, modern environment, while the kids had a blast being kids and enjoying the fun! What a great venue and what convenience to find a place to do both parties together that offered a fun and inviting atmosphere for all. BBG's team was awesome and everyone made sure we had everything we needed and were happy with every detail from the food to the kids having enough game tokens to the adults needing more coffee or a drink. We have had several birthday parties at other venues and have paid twice as much as what we paid at BBG's for far inferior food and a far less enjoyable venue. BBG's was a great value and one of the easiest most relaxing birthday parties we have ever had. Thanks BBG's!! read more

I really wish I could give this place more stars, as it has huge potential, but as of now, it unfortunately only deserves two. I first heard about this place before it opened because of a friend helping the place out, and was very excited by the pictures and line-up of beer alone. Then after going there, I was highly disappointed by the service time and time again. Let me make this easy by listing Pros and Cons from my experiences. PROS: -Spacious, breathable atmosphere, feels fresh and is calm enough to be able to have normal volume conversations, unlike most bars. -Large selection of games, both physical (air hockey, foosball, hoops) and video (ms. pacman, racing, etc.), so it basically gives a Dave n Busters vibe without the option of tickets and prizes, and without being overwhelming. -Impressive line of draft beers, which is hard to come by in Central NY. -Decent food, expected prices. Chili Cheese Dogs highly recommended! CONS: -It's obvious that the two owners from NYC do not have experience owning such a business. Their marketing is weak, and after being opened for months, they seem to have moved nowhere positive. After being in the place the first time, I really wanted to see it prosper, but now I feel it's not going to survive. They need to market to the appropriate crowd, which in this case is NOT the typical bar-going crowd of CNY, but rather game lovers and those who prefer better quality beers, such that are not the typical Bud Light, Coors Light, etc. type. Unfortunately, most of the folks I've seen there, won't even try the good beers they hold, which caused the place to give in to ordering bottles of Bud. I know this isn't the area for the crowd the place is built for, but you guys have to at least TRY to market properly. -Another obvious is that the bartenders have no experience, and are absolutely careless with genuine customer service. The last time I went, the bartender waited a few minutes to even approach me, after giving me strange looks. Both her, and all of the other female employees I've seen there (except one) make it clear through body language that they do not want to be there. Easily the worst bartenders I've ever come across, between the 100+ bars I've been in around America. -Music. Decide on a style, and stick to it. And don't play something that doesn't fit! If you want to attract a dance floor crowd, play that music. Otherwise, DON'T! Music plays a huge part in a bar's atmosphere, and typically the choice kills the visual tone of the place. -I'm not going to complain about the sports bar aspect with the TVs playing sports, but this again contributes to the owners not knowing what they want the place to really be. Overall, the place feels like it can't decide what tone it wants to express. So my advice to the owners, who I've met a couple times, is to learn how to market properly, and hire bartenders that I'll actually feel good about tipping. If they don't need a license, at least make sure they have good customer service experience, because these girls are worse than a disgruntled teenager working at a McDonald's counter. If you two don't get serious about this business, it will fail, because your main competition of Varick Street makes you look like an experimental joke bar. read more

If you're going to serve sliders, don't serve them on TOTALLY stale bread! Did you not notice all the plates coming back with slider buns on them???? On the positive side, the staff is friendly and very attentive............. read more

Great Place! Very friendly and comfortable to go out and just chill, or play games, listen to music, watch sports on tv. The food is fantastic! The Buffalo Chicken Burger is delicious! Had the tomato and mozzarella sandwich and the avocado and seasoning was just crazy fabulous. Owners Chris and Donna are always a guarantee for a good chat. I go there quite often with hubby and daughters. We love it! read more

I just read the review left by another patron of BBG's and for the most part, I disagree with much of it. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion and the other reviewer makes some valid points but again, these reviews are merely that, personal opinions although they can also do a lot of damage to a new business. I've been to BBG's several times now and really enjoy it there. On our first visit (my wife and I) we met the owners Chris and Donna. They are the owners but they are also the operators so they are usually there working. Since that first visit, we feel like old friends whenever we're there now. My wife and I actually like the layout. You can sit at a table or the bar and carry on a conversation or join the gamer's on the opposite side of the room. Some of the games are things you usually only see locally at Sylvan Beach or a fair. We had a lot of fun with them. There is almost no place you can go where a TV monitor isn't visible. The pool table isn't regulation size but it is what most people refer to as 'bar size'. Tables that size were originally designed specifically for public places that have limited space. The decor isn't really warm but more like something you'd find in New York City. The music comes from a juke box through a state-of-the-art sound system so what's playing is at the discretion of the clientele and varies greatly. We were last there on Saturday night (1/19) and they had a good crowd that ranged in age from 21 to 61 and everyone appeared to be having a good time. I have been managing night club/bar/restaurants for many years and personally I was pleasantly surprised at what BBG's has to offer. Nothing is forever but I feel BBG's is a welcome addition to central NY. read more