Bougier than your classic bowling alley, Bowl & Barrel was a popular spot on the weekends and was a lot of fun! It was clean and well-maintained. Service was nice and helpful at the front and for food at our table. One can choose to have the side rails or even an aiming device that looks like a little slide for the bowling ball. The technology is really cool, as there are graphics to show how to hit all the balls and replays, and classic graphics of the old days still make their appearance :P The pins are attached to strings, so resetting for each turn is faster. The food selection was better than expected but still just okay-- the pretzel was my favorite: soft, served warm, but not much taste beside straight up salt crystals (but it did come with sharp mustard on the side). The highlight is definitely the gameplay over the food, but they are nice snacks in the meantime. Really liked having hand sanitizer at the table too! Balls and tables and shared with your neighboring lane, and we definitely needed a bigger table just for a few dishes and drinks. The bowling shoes felt nice and didn't look super worn out like they usually do. Instead of those plastic hard chairs, there's an improved cushioned couch, but ours was tearing and the tear was pretty uncomfortable to sit on. Would recommend reserving in advance! Whether for a little party or date for a bit of competition, Bowl & Barrel is a solid spot for bowling. Would go elsewhere after for a real meal though! read more

Update - spoke to GM, he was receptive to feedback. My team is going to plan a future outing - I'll update afterwards ============== Called today (4/6 at 452pm) to inquire about options for a party of 8. If we need to call for event info vs booking a date on line, you should remind your staff to answer a call as if they actually want to help your potential clients, by the way they pick up, answer and by providing a name. Had to pull information out of Cesar - including his name. A 2 minute interaction made me decide to plan my upcoming event elsewhere, as well as steer my department away from you for future team events. read more

Bowl & Barrel is a fun, easy spot if you're in the mood for something a little different than the usual dinner or bar night. it's definitely on the smaller side, but that almost makes it feel more intimate and less chaotic than bigger bowling venues. one of the best things is the deal they have -- bowling before 4pm on monday and friday is actually a really good price, so it's perfect if you're trying to do something fun without spending too much. it's a great mix of casual and slightly upscale, so you can bowl, grab drinks, and just hang out without it feeling too kiddish or too serious. overall, a solid option for a laid-back daytime activity, especially if you catch that early deal. read more

Bowl & Barrel - bowling - Bowling Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Came here for a team building event midday. Instagram-friendly, good food, and comfortable shoes. What more do you need? read more

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This was a beautiful bowling alley. Well decorated and clean and modern. We were assigned a server who made sure we had everything we needed. We ordered pizza and drinks and it was a few steps above typical bowling alley pizza. The cushioned bench seating was a nice touch, the table was designed to put your shoes under, and there was plenty of table space as well as bar space read more

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The bowling alley is beautiful, and I had booked it for a private event. The service provided was exemplary, and the staff was very courteous. The food was very good, with a nice variety of options for guests. Everything was fresh, well-prepared, and served on time, which added to the overall experience. However, they do not offer dairy-free options, so keep that in mind if you have guests with dietary restrictions. For private events, you need to contact their manager and make a separate booking. A minimum of 13 people is required to reserve the space. Payments must be made in advance--at least 25% is required to secure the booking, and the remaining balance is due 48 hours before the event. There is a 3.5% convenience fee for credit card payments, though they also accept checks and ACH transfers. In terms of pricing, it is a bit on the higher side, with Saturday events being charged at a premium rate. Overall, it's a great place for hosting an event. read more

Bowl & Barrel - Bowling Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Hosted a bowling event with my alumni association; was very easy to communicate with bowl & barrel, the food was great, we had the spinach dip, pretzel and a few pizzas, our host Anastasia was very attentive and wonderful! Also the general manager David is very kind as well. Great ambiance very family friendly for a Sunday afternoon and they had all of the various football games on! Would definitely recommend for large parties, date nights or just hanging out with friends read more

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Hostess were nice, came with my boyfriend over the weekend for some bowling and drinks only for them to serve him only handed them both our ID (I'm 21) and they only served him ruined out fun so we'll go to another bowling place next time! read more

Such a boujee upscale bowling alley. We came here at noon on a Thursday and paid $21 for an hour for two people which was a pretty good deal (shoes included). We had a lot of fun. Loved the experience!! read more

Bowl & Barrel - Bowling Near Me - Houston, Texas

I came for a birthday bowling party, and it was fun! It was family friendly, although the kiddos next to us, the parents really paid them no mind and let them jump on the furniture and let them be loud and rambunctious. Other than that, we had to find a waiter to take our order and when it was time to leave we had to find the same waiter to get our tickets to check out. I got fries and an Old Fashioned. The Old Fashioned was NOICE!!!! I would have loved another one. The fries, meh, they weren't nothing to write home about, nor were they hot. But it's fine. The environment was clean, bathrooms were clean. I would definitely go back if they happen to have an adult night. read more

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Upscale bowling area they had a great summer deal so checked it out. Was not disappointed the service is good and pretty nice on the inside. You need reservation for the most part read more

Horrible experience last Friday when we came out for my sister's birthday. We had to switch lanes 3 times because the first was broken and then they overbooked another lane. I had to go into the Men's restroom because the woman's was a disaster (both my mom and myself had told staff previously). We had to walk to the bar every time to order things, even sodas and waters. I had asked if they were training trying to give them the benefit of the doubt but they said no. Everyone was just standing around. They perceive to be an upscale bowling alley but they do not treat it as such. It's way too expensive to spend the money on the service and treatment you get here. Honestly will take a lot to want to come back. read more

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The family bounced into Bowl & Barrel as part of my wife's birthday celebration weekend. I'd searched several bowling alleys and although all had mixed reviews, B&B had a strange appeal due to the different decor. We checked in our party of 5 and began placing food orders as our lane time had already started ticking away. The waiter seemed a bit "off." He barely responded to each person placing their order and only entered a few of the items into his tablet. And it showed because although we ordered a pepperoni and sausage pizza, this dude brings out a whopping veggie loaded pizza. They did fix this--maybe by removing all the veggies and popping it back into the oven so the cheese would remelt, but hey...it was fixed. We also had two orders of the burger sliders. Everyone said all the food was "bussin'!!" The guy missed one of our soda orders but I was able to get it from the bartender along with several refills of water. The bowling was pretty standard. No complaints there, but we're not frequent bowlers so maybe we just didn't notice anything. We did have to go grab the waiter a few times, as many people here complained about. Overall this was a fun outing and I would recommend B&B to all but the super serious bowlers. read more

Celebration for a 50th birthday The food options are vast and delicious the best are the empanadas and the sliders along with the stuffed mushrooms ‍. Love the lighting for bowling not so much for photos . But the lanes are well spaced for large parties. Service was good my only concern is servers should ask all celebration attendees if they would like something to drink. And food should stay covered. I highly recommend setting up an event. read more

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Great service, delicious food and fun experience. family friendly I highly recommend this place!

We had an amazing experience hosting our event at Bowl & Barrel. From start to finish, everything went smoothly, and the management and staff were incredibly accommodating, even with a few last minute adjustments on the day of our event. The entire team was professional and attentive, and a special thank you to Susi and Madison who went above and beyond to take great care of our group. Their service truly made a difference and did not go unnoticed. The food was delicious, the service was immaculate, and the overall experience was easily five stars. Our guests had a fantastic time, and we will absolutely be returning to host future events here. Highly recommend for anyone looking to plan a fun, well organized event. read more

If you're looking for an upscale bowling experience, then this is a good option. I will say it could be pricey but definitely have deals on certain days. read more

Romanuel was great. 10 out would recommend. Service was amazing. He was friendly. And even served as our photographer for the night. read more

Christmas day and most things were closed. Bowl & Barrel was open and we have wanted to go here for a while. This place has a cool bowling vibe with a bar and servers who come by for a limited menu. We were able to play 3 bowling games in 54 minutes. The team comes by to ask if you want more time, and we asked for 2 30-minute slots. This visit satisfied my curiosity. The staff wasn't overly pleasant.They seemed ready to get the next customers in. Parking: challenging Can park down the street in covered area in garage . Menu: limited only had pretzels and burgers today Customer service: fair For a 1st visit they didn't make an effort to make us wish to return Fun : definitely. Loved the way the lanes were set up and comfortable sitting . We had a good time playing . Not sure will return. read more

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While in town visiting I came across this spot for happy hour deals and they didn't disappoint. I got there around 315 and got me a Lynchburg sour and lemon drop martini for $3 as well as two burger sliders for $3. Place wasn't crowded and the bartender was helpful and attentive. The drinks were not weak either. If I bowled I probably would've gave it a 5 star but I was just enjoying happy hour. If I ever come back to Houston again this will be the first stop. read more

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Showed up at 3:10pm on a Wednesday to bowl for an hour with my husband. They told us we could only play until 4pm which I knew but would still charge us for a full hour. I said that was no problem but they tried to charge us $56. I showed the guy the advertisement and he said we had to have children with us for that offer. I told him it doesn't say anywhere on the advertisement or the website that we can't bowl for that price without children. The guy was so rude and just kept saying the advertisement was wrong and wouldn't honor the offer on the website. Terrible customer service and false advertising. Definitely won't be going back. Emailed management as mentioned below and a week later and still no reply! Really terrible customer service when they can't even follow up with a customer they have asked to reach out. read more

Bowl & Barrel - False advertisement - Bowling Near Me - Houston, Texas

Awesome place to come for a good date night. I love how it's not a regular bowling alley where it's crowded and there are a bunch of kids running around. It feels almost like a speakeasy bowling alley. The bar and the bartenders are amazing. The fact that you can order from where you play and they bring it straight to you is great. We had an amazing time and we will definitely be back. The food is amazing as well I almost forgot but the sliders were definitely a top ten. One negative thing I do have to say is that you are paying for the experience and the ambiance because the price for one bowling date here will hurt your wallet a bit. We went one year for my wife's birthday and spent almost $300. We still had a good time though. I very much recommend this bowling alley for anyone looking for a cool new spot. read more

We had a Valentine's Playdate here with the kids. The guy at the front overcharged us, to begin with after I asked why was it $132 for six ppl to bowl, $40 was refunded. Everyone makes mistakes, no big deal. No issues with the food at all, I ordered at the bar and left my card for the tab. The game ended, and while putting on our shoes the lady from the bar with the paid shirt came and told us to move to one of the sitting areas because there was a reservation and they needed the area. The picture below shows how empty the place is at the moment, she's asking us to move to finish putting our shoes on. read more

Bowl & Barrel - She asked us to move while putting our shoes back on to get the area setup for a reservation. There are plenty of lanes open - Bowling Near Me - Houston, Texas

Jose was great, and they have the best chicken Caesar salads. Very light and refreshing. thank you!

I like the theme and location of this bowling alley. It is good for a group outing just make sure to make your reservation in advance. If you arrive at the bowling alley early be sure to stop at the front to fill out your name cards so the registration agents can program your lanes accordingly (i.e. names, bumpers). We had a group of seven so they gave us two lanes side by side which switched automatically after the each group bowled a frame. Some minor grips would be while bowling I noticed the lanes appear to be shorter than regulation but if you bowl starting from the arrows nearest your seats then you can make up the difference. Bowl & Barrel might need to redo the bowling lanes because I heard some dead spots on few rolls from ours and the surrounding lanes, the lanes appeared to be waxed too slick and they need some newer bowling balls or fairly used bowling balls with less chips on the surface. On the positive side, good place to hangout with a group, the bumpers come up automatic for the bowlers who needed them and the food was delicious. If I remember correctly everyone ordered a different appetizer or small food plates and the bill was not bad considering the size of the party. Now the adult libations bill is another story, sharing is caring!!! read more

Bowl & Barrel - BOWL and ..... - Bowling Near Me - Houston, Texas

I visited there this evening and I was in from out of town. It was the worst experience ever starting at the counter next we bold and every pen seem to be held up by a street. It was like an endless battle and we were the last ones there, however we should've been treated with respect we are paying our money to be at their establishment. read more

Not much of a bowling alley, more like a restaurant that has a bowling alley in it. The pins are reset via string system which made me picture marionette puppeteers behind the walls. I am sure this is quieter and less expensive, it did make for some awkward shots since we believed the pins would act differently if there were no strings and they were allowed to be real boys. But alas, the Blue Fairy must have Sundays off. The ball selection was very easy to navigate either. There are no spare balls, only those in the lanes so you are forced to break social distancing and dig thru other ball returns hoping you don't take someone else's 14lb extra large with a blue swirl. Things feel a little cramped, maybe because of the way the building is laid out, or perhaps because you're a few feet above street level to allow space for the machinery needed for the ball return. The food was exceptional, and they had a pretty decent choice of local craft beers. However the staff wasn't knowledgeable on the choices. While the staff was mostly on their game, they felt somewhat aloof. It was almost as if they were serving you at an event where the staff was better neither seen nor heard. While this can be nice sometimes so your party isn't interrupted, it was somewhat off putting. In the future, I'll likely eat before or after going to a real bowling alley rather than return. read more

Bowl & Barrel - 1L of local brew - Bowling Near Me - Houston, Texas

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This is my favorite bowling alley. The servers are attentive, atmosphere is nice, and the food is tasty. Tonight, I have to give props to Brian at the check in counter. He went out of his way to ensure me and my family had a good time. He was very accommodating and honestly, he made our night of bowling a GOOD NIGHT! Thank you Brian. Until next time.... read more

Bowl & Barrel - Cotton candy!! - Bowling Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Bowling and eating/drinking is what's going on here. Great atmosphere with cool decor. We had a birthday party with 8 people. Food was pretty good. Drinks were very tasty. Easy in and out access, even over the peak weekend hours at City Centre. We all had a lot of fun and would go again! read more

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Great place for a hangout with friends, date night, or family night. Great vibes and music. 100% recommend calling ahead to reserve a lane, especially on weekends that way you're not sitting there waiting as there are not other activities to do, just eat and drink while you wait. There are only 14 lanes available, 6 people per lane. If you like real bowling, this is not the place for you. Pins are on a string and they were having issues where you'd hit a pin but that pin would be placed back on the lane. Manager was very accommodating, we switched lanes and continued to have the same issue and they took care of us. We ordered the spinach artichoke dip which was okay but I'd say not worth the $15. All in all, I'd be willing to go back again and hopefully have a better experience than the first. read more

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This was a cool spot. I came on Saturday night and they said there'd be a 20-30 min wait because we didn't have a reservation. It's a small bowling alley compared to the others I've been to. Parking was kinda of annoying seeing as it's located in city centre and on a weekend nonetheless. But the margarita pizza was really yummy and the drinks were good. read more

Bowl & Barrel - Bowling Near Me - Houston, Texas

TKOI at the front was so amazing! She was fast and friendly when it came to her service. We had a late addition to our party and she accommodated us with a breeze! I work in customer service and would love to have someone like TKOI on my team. Keep up the great work! read more

I truly enjoyed the atmosphere at Bowl & Barrel. We'd gathered to celebrate the 48th birthday of a close family friend and loved how family friendly the evening turned out to be. We brought our children raging from ages 6 to early teen and we all had a wonderful time. The staff were friendly and the food tasty. This location has a full bar for the grown and sexy to enjoy as well. The entire place is covered with several large televisions displaying the game's score and appropriate entertainment all through out. read more

Fine bowling spot right at city center. Clean, attentive staff and great option for finger food and appetizers. We had fun bowling here for our company holiday party. I highly recommend this place to hang o read more

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it's nice inside and more of a bar vibe. no aggressive neon lights or anything it's soft lighting. the setup is nice and staff were helpful. they were out of angry orchards. read more

So I came here to bowl on a Saturday with some family and friends. I had pre-reserved two lanes for two hours. I did it about a week in advance. The lanes cost $40 per hour, per lane and an additional $6 per pair of shoes for each person bowling. Each lane can have 8 players. They do not bring the shoes out until your bowling card is filled out with everyone's names and shoe sizes and then they bring the shoes. This is all a bit tedious, I wish I would've known before because I ended up wasting my entire 2nd lane but for 30 mins in which other players had arrived. My total for the two lanes was $203 with two shoes. So to say I wasted a lane is pricey. If we would've been able to start the game and maybe add the other players in the second hour when they arrived it would've been great. Because we weren't allowed to use the lane til the entire party arrived it was a big waste and extremely inconvenient. Like if I pay for the lane I should be allowed to play even if all the players haven't arrived. Anyways the place is nice and staff seemed fine, but all the rules behind the bowling is annoying. Not too mention a big waste of MONEY. So I will go elsewhere in the future. Tip - tell ur group to be on time or before time so y'all can gather names sizes etc .. because when ur bowl time is up, it's up whether U played or not. read more

Good for chill vibes. Good service. Bowling alley meant more for adults but kids are welcome. read more

The food was great. Our server was excellent, we had a blast. This bowling alley had an inviting ambience. read more

Bowl & Barrel - The bowling alley. - Bowling Near Me - Houston, Texas

Came on a random Wednesday night and enjoyed myself for the second time here. The first time I came during the day abs had just as much fun. The only thing that threw me off was it was about $52 fir 2 people which I thought was pretty high for a week day. Nevertheless, I enjoyed my time there but will only stick to earlier times instead of evenings there. read more

Jose did a great job hosting our party. He kept the drinks and snacks coming and was even our photographer. Great experience!