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    Main Event Columbia

    2.4 (347 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

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    MAIN EVENT COLUMBIA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Casual
    Loud
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - Main Event Columbia

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    Reviews With Photos - Main Event Columbia

    Hammed A.

    I visited Main Event Columbia for a teen's birthday party and had a good time. I wouldn't put the experience on the level of a well-run Dave & Busters, however it is a step above other children's entertainment centers like Laugh Out Loud, Chuck E-Cheese, etc.. The birthday party was scheduled in advance, however, it took a while before our designated seating area became available. Also, there was a delay in fulfilling the food order. Some of the food came out piecemeal, even as the party was coming to an end. The staff were polite, but I chalked up the deficiencies to the venue being short staffed for the day. The games were entertaining and the prize redemption shop (Winner's Choice) was adequate for children. Overall, an OK experience. I'll give it another shot if I have the opportunity.

    Courtney R.

    We've been here twice for drinks and food. But this last time we saw a mouse run through the dining area and in between the booths, so we won't be back. Service in the bar area is usually pretty good but you're definitely not going here for the food. The games are a great time but health issues are unacceptable. I get that it's hard being connected to the mall but I can't see rodents running around while I'm eating.

    I visited Main Event to celebrate a special occasion, and unfortunately the night got off to a very rough start. An employee named Joshua told us that a coupon we presented was "false advertising" and claimed the email it came from was not actually from Main Event. I showed him that the same coupon was listed on the company's website, but he insisted it was invalid and something that needed to be discussed with management. It felt like he was trying to upsell us to a different promotion so we would spend more. I immediately asked to speak with a manager, and Phil completely turned the situation around. He confirmed that the coupon was valid and handled everything professionally, exceeding our expectations. However, shortly after we started enjoying our time, Joshua approached me again and asked, "Why did you play me?" which I found inappropriate and uncomfortable, especially as a female customer. I reported this to another employee, Madison, who was very understanding and empathetic. She promptly involved a manager again, and both of them apologized sincerely. After that, the rest of the evening improved, and we were able to enjoy ourselves and make good memories. I truly appreciate the professionalism of Phil and Madison, but the behavior of that one employee negatively impacted the experience and does not reflect well on Main Event as a whole. I am only leaving one star due to the negative experience with Joshua.

    Austin G.

    After falling in love with the Main Event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Main Event Columbia broke my love affair. My eight-year-old daughter and I went around 4pm on a Saturday in February and left with a headache. Here's why: 1) Cost: We can't knock them on the price because we willingly paid, but it is expensive. To maximize our stay, we got a lot of credit for the arcade. Many of the games are rip offs. Your money is thrown at them. 2) Arcade: More than ten games were out of order. A number of them took our credit away and then didn't activate. We had to wait in a long line to get a staff member to help us out. 3) Lines: Despite having many staff, efficiency is NOT their middle name. We literally waited one hour to check out at the prize store. There was one worker despite another cash register and many staff just standing around. Each customer took around 15-20 minutes. It was wild. I'll never go back to this location, but I will return to the on in Grand Rapids.

    Double bacon cheeseburger for the win.
    Chris S.

    (9/30/25) The experience starts from the phone call. I understand people speak negatively about customers in private. However, Terry failed to hang up properly and proceeded to make fun of my inquiry about an open lane. Upon telling the "manager" (who never shared his name) about telling Terry to be more aware of her actions. It was accepted as a minor issue, after he unnecessarily pointed out who Terry was as if I knew her personally. Bowling, this is an entertainment spot, don't take your score seriously. Yes you're rolling a ball on a floor at pins, but it's not a true bowling experience. Food was surprisingly food. I felt bad for the single serving taking care of the whole bowling lanes area alone. Her co-workers nor the manager could be bothered. This made food and drinks come SLOW. Granted it was a Tuesday evening, but it got busy. The team failed her, and I'm sure revenue suffered.

    James C.

    Seven of us arrived and ended up waiting in a long line just to purchase wristbands and cards--it took an hour and a half to get through. The place wasn't crowded, but it was clearly understaffed. We then waited another two hours for our turn to bowl. On the positive side, the facility is clean and the food is good.

    Tables
    Sam C.

    Not the best experience. So my family and I came here for my son's 16th birthday. He loves bowling and we hadn't been here before so we figured let's try something new. We were greeted by a friendly team member and given our lane. Once we got to our lane we noticed that there weren't any tables set up. We eventually got that corrected but it took about 20 minutes for our server to come take our orders. When she arrived she was super nice and attentive. The down side was 4 things we tried to order were unavailable due to the oven being down. And the 6 sprites that were ordered were just soda water. These things were not her fault, it just put a damper on our experience. The games are pretty pricey as well. So you can get a 300 credits for $60 but the fun games that you get kids want to play are between 10-19 credits. So two kids will play about 6-7 games a piece. Thats about $5 a game. Also my daughter order a burger and it looked nothing like what was pictured in the menu, she was super disappointed.

    Shari D.

    Great experience here! Took our students here for an attendance incentive and it was awesome. There are TONS of things to do here, and the packages are very affordable. We opted for the pizza for lunch and it went down without any issues. I would definitely chaperone a trip here again, the staff were very friendly and helpful when students needed support with games and the gift shop.

    10.22.22
    Carroll N.

    8.10.24 Five of the machines (i.e. skee ball and photo booth) were out of order. When I went to inform the staff to get credit back, he informed me that the equipment was five years old. He said that he could look up which machines were out of order by looking at the details on my game card. My hubby said to me afterwards, that's not our concern. That's their issue and that they should repair them. At the very least they should put signs up to let patrons know. It was very frustrating and inconvenient. It makes us not want to return given the number of equipment that are inoperable.

    Rachel S.

    Came here for a group event. We took up 2 lanes with about 5 people in each lane. Shoe rentals are a little under $5 per person. Hubby and I ordered their pretzel sticks and fried pickles, which came out to approximately $24. What's hot - Layout. Pretty easy to find your way around from the entrance to the food court, to the arcade, to the bowling lanes. Each bowling lane is equipped with its own booth. Behind the booths are high tables and chairs with enough room to eat. This also allows you a place to eat after you've finished bowling. - Cost. Pretty reasonable shoe rental cost. Less than $5 per person. Cost of a bowling lane per hour was around $50 per hour and each lane can hold up to 6 people. - Location. Conveniently located at the mall in Columbia, which is helpful, because there are so many other amenities close by. - Food. Pretty good quality. The fried pickles we ordered were not too thin and not overly battered. The pretzels come with a cheesy dipping sauce. For $24, pretty good value for money. If you order food, you can also ask them to bring it to your bowling lane, which is helpful. What's not - Noise. It's very loud in here. They play very loud music. It's a large space, including food and arcade. However, it makes having conversations with those in your group very hard. Defeats the purpose of having a group event when the whole point is to talk to others, as well. This alone makes me not want to return. - Website. It's not very helpful, because it doesn't provide the price breakdown of cost of rental for shoes, the bowling lanes, etc.... Not very good customer service. - Customer service. I had called ahead to ask for a price breakdown for booking a group event, which included food catering from Main Event. Whoever I spoke to didn't ask me questions to help guide me and give me a better idea of what factors to take into consideration, such as cost of shoe rentals, price per bowling lane, making reservations, etc.... Furthermore, when we were there and ordered food, no one brought napkins and silverware when the food arrived. Not helpful, especially since the booths by the lanes don't have napkins and/or anything conducive to eating. Recommendations - Reservations. Definitely recommend to make reservations for bowling lanes, regardless of the size of your group, even if you plan on only bowling for an hour. This guarantees you a spot, including getting lanes next to each other for your group. Final answer Would be willing to come back, but not a first choice, especially because it's extremely loud inside.

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    I should not have purchased a game card; most games were broken or out of order. I wasted my money.

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    Page 2 of 9

    Main Event Columbia Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Main Event Columbia

    Is there a coin game here such as the stark trek game at dave & busters or any game that pushed coins over the edge to win tickets? Also, is there a catch to the $20 unlimited play deal?

    Yes! They have a wizard of oz one and a superhero/marvel one!

    Does this place show pay per view boxing matches?

    No it does not

    My friends and I signed up our emails on mainevent.com and it said we would get $10 in free play per person, but none of us have received the coupon after we filled out the survey. Not in spam either. Is this promo still going on?

    My bartender told me about the survey at the bottom of the receipt that I should complete and take to the bowl desk with the code to get a $10 fun card if that's the same promotion you're talking about

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Main Event Columbia

    Brian was patient with our large group, even though we came in waves and were constantly ordering food and beverages.

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Elliott’s Craft Kitchen

    Elliott’s Craft Kitchen

    3.9
    (37 reviews)
    3.8 mi
    $$

    Great addition to the restaurant park in Columbia…read more We finally had a rare date night and decided to try this new spot. It was not crowded at 5pm so we were served very quickly. We enjoyed hot wings and bao buns as our appetizer and shared a black and blue burger for our meal. My dark and stormy was a great pick as well. Helpful attentive staff.

    Stopped into Elliott's Kitchen on a Sunday around 3 PM--prime football time with both the…read moreCommanders and Ravens playing--so I expected the bar to be buzzing. Oddly enough, it was pretty quiet, but they do have the games on for anyone looking for a low-key spot to watch. We were seated within 5 minutes, which I appreciated. Our server, Patrick, was... okay. Not terrible, but definitely felt new to serving. We didn't get the rundown of the daily specials (yet overheard them being given to the booth behind us), and a few small service details slipped through--but I'm giving him grace based on his newness. One thing I noticed from Yelp reviews is that bread is usually served automatically. We had to request it, especially after seeing tables seated after us get theirs first. Not a dealbreaker, but noticeable. We ordered several appetizers, and honestly, they were filling enough to be a full meal: * Ribs - Flavorful, tender, and genuinely falling off the bone. The portion sizes were a bit inconsistent--some pieces were cut shorter than others--but the texture was on point. I'd definitely return for these. * Brussels Sprouts - Patrick didn't mention they were shareable, which would've been helpful. I did like the flavor, but in hindsight I'm glad we pivoted to... * Crab Dip - This one missed for me. The flavor leaned more tuna-ish than crab-forward. Not my preference, but you may feel differently. * Shrimp in Spicy Butter - Definitely spicy, but somehow still flavorless. More like spicy water than a seasoned butter sauce. The one bonus? They were served piping hot--exactly how I like my food. * French Fries - Hand-cut and tasty. A solid win. Unfortunately, everything except the shrimp came out lukewarm, which took away from dishes that could've been great. Temperature matters! On the drink side, though? Hits all around. The fresh-pressed beet juice was fantastic, and the sweet tea was also on point. We skipped dessert only because we were full, but I'm already planning to come back specifically to try it--along with the ribs and fries again. Overall, I'm hoping this was just an off day. Elliott's Kitchen has potential, and I'd like to see it shine on the next visit

    Photos
    Brussels sprouts
    Brussels sprouts
    Thai chilli wings (a modification to the buffalo wings on the menu)
    Thai chilli wings (a modification to the buffalo wings on the menu)
    Crispy crunch fries...

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    Crispy crunch fries...
    Eggspectation - Columbia

    Eggspectation - Columbia

    4.1
    (76 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    What a great location! In the heart of the new apartments and down the street from Merriweather…read morePost Pavilion, this Eggspectations is in a professional building on the first floor. We had Claudia for our waitress and she was awesome! We were her only table at 2:45pm on a Tuesday and she treated us like friends. This was our first time at this location and we will definitely be back. The decor was very uptown professional meets industrial. High open ceilings with sleek black walls and marble looking tables. Very fun big bar as well. We got everything she recommended and it was so good! We got the Eggstravaganza (Brioche French Toast with two eggs, choice of meat and potatoes) and the Flatbread Sourdough Pizza with Pepperoni, grilled onions and peppers, and extra cheese. For drinks we got the seasonal Pistachio Latte and the Tropical Teaser smoothie that was a refreshing fresh fruit smoothie with mango, banana, pineapple and strawberries. When I say we enjoyed the food, I mean we couldn't stop talking about it. We are so happy we got Claudia for our waitress and will absolutely be coming back for more!

    The location is convenient placed in a busy columbua area with the perfect distance from the mall…read more The restaurant itself is spacious and well kept. The service was not as good as I'd like for a slow busy morning. We were set pretty quickly but our server was disinterested and didn't allow us to finish our individual orders without repeatedly asking if "that will be all". No. The food looked really good and was mostly delicious. My wife and I both ordered a meal with grits and though our orders were given to use 5 minutes apart both servings were cool, barley room temperature. 1 party member asked for thier beacon to be cooked a little longer after their received their meal. My meal was ordered at the same time as the other 6 meals but for whatever reason wasn't prepared. To avoid the same issue as the other guest I asked for the same doneness for my becaon. Intentionally they added his cooked bacon to my meal and didnt tell us. When we asked the server said "they out it on your plate" huh.... Ill come back to give it another shot at some point.

    Photos
    Indoor dining with expansive outdoor views.
    Indoor dining with expansive outdoor views.
    Grateful waffle
    Grateful waffle
    Salmon Benedict

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    Salmon Benedict
    Cured Table & Tap

    Cured Table & Tap

    4.1
    (341 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    Cured has become our favorite local watering hole, and for good reason. The cocktails, food, and…read moreservice are consistently outstanding, with quality ingredients and attention to detail in everything they do. The atmosphere is clean, comfortable, and welcoming, making it a great place to relax and enjoy an evening out. What really sets Cured apart is the incredible selection of spirits. With hundreds of whiskeys, bourbons, scotches, and other spirits to choose from--plus a great craft beer and wine selection--there is always something new to discover. As members of the Whiskey Explorer Club, we love coming in to try new pours and learn from the knowledgeable staff. The team is always friendly, approachable, and happy to share recommendations or have a conversation. Add in the convenient layout and easy bathroom access, and it's clear that a lot of thought has gone into creating a great guest experience. We always look forward to our next visit!

    Previously been to the bar on random weekdays, bartenders always give great service. Most recently,…read morehusband took me here on a date on a Sunday. We were pleasantly surprised to find out they had a Sunday HH going on. Waitress was fantastic. Their smoked old fashioned was on point, and sangrias good as well. Had the Philly cheesesteak rolls and a salad entree, both delish. Will deff be back! PARKING: free public garage across the street.

    Photos
    Seating area with bar
    Seating area with bar
    Cheesesteak eggrolls
    Cheesesteak eggrolls
    Pretzel Bites -- Cherry Pepper Cheese Sauce

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    Pretzel Bites -- Cherry Pepper Cheese Sauce
    Victoria Gastro Pub

    Victoria Gastro Pub

    3.9
    (1.8k reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$$

    I feel terrible for starting to eat my dinner before thinking to snap a pic as the presentation was…read morereally nice. Everything was bright fresh and inviting. But the taste is what really matters and Grilled Sesame Salmon didn't disappoint. Wow!! I thought British food was supposed to be flavorless. The Salmon was both sweet and spicy with the teriyaki bang-bang glaze. The jasmine rice cakes added the perfect amount of crunch and the vegetables were as fresh as they appeared. The pub side of the restaurant feels British with ornate wooden features and sounds of laughter from all around. The bartender are knowledgeable and engaging. Most importantly they made me a proper Makers Mark Manhattan filled to the absolute top of glass to top off an outstanding dinner.

    So this review is going to be short and sweet, but with one VERY important note. Those of you who…read moreread my reviews know I typically review either really good or really "not so good" restaurants. I'm breaking my own rules, because I feel the 3.9 rating is pretty accurate, with one 5 star + exception. This was a business lunch and a convenient location so there we were. The duck fries as an appetizer were good but needed to be seasoned with a little more salt. I had a strawberry salad with some grilled chicken that was good with the greens, but dry as the desert with the chicken and borderline inedible. Here's the twist!!! My two compadres both had the grilled cheese and lobster sandwich. They both looked at me sheepishly and said, you f ed up!!! William was kind enough to break off a substantial bite and let me try it. Angels sang, children wept, and I almost passed out! It was the kind of perfection we all agreed we would have eaten 5, maybe 6 of these unnaturally awesome sandwiches until we passed out! 3.5 Star service, 4 Star ambience, and some 10 Star bites! Cheers, JimG

    Photos
    Great people working here
    Great people working here
    1/2 baked with hot-honey sauce with waffles, and cream spinach.
    1/2 baked with hot-honey sauce with waffles, and cream spinach.
    Lavendar Bees Knees

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    Lavendar Bees Knees

    Main Event Columbia - bowling - Updated July 2026

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