Fun time! A bit expensive for bowling but good flatbread choices! Our waiter was really attentive even at the lane.

I wasn't expecting much for a "bowling alley" pizza. But hands down, probably the best pizza I've had in a long time. Just the basic cheese pie, OMG it was good. And you get to throw little balls at miniature bowling pins to boot! read more

Bowling was good and food was good. Service was very frustrating and often time non-existent. We had two lanes. We couldn't get one lane to work. It took 15 minutes to find someone to help. She spent another 5 minutes to look for someone to help her and came back to tell us that she mistakenly assigned us a lane that did not work. The place was NOT busy when we were there but many employees just minded their business, busy texting on their phone rather than helping customers. Our server was often no where to be found. I had to look for her everywhere and twice found her texting in a corner. Like I said, food was good and bowling was fun but I have to convince myself to go back because of the service or the lack of. read more

This was my first time candlepin bowling and Sacco's did not disappoint. The place is fairly small so if you come during prime time expect to wait for a lane, but we got there a little early and were able to play right away. They have food/drink service at the lanes so you can snack and bowl which was much appreciated. There's also a side bar and restaurant if you want to hang out and wait for a lane. The scoring was a little confusing, but they provided rules and examples so it's pretty easy to get the hang of. They charge by the hour so you can play as much or as little as you want - the flexibility was great. The only part of the experience I wasn't prepared for was how close together the lanes are. When actually bowling you don't notice, but while waiting your turn on the bench if you're next to a big party (we were) it can get a little cramped...especially once food and drink come into the mix. If you come expecting to make some new acquaintances then you'll be fine! But overall I honestly have no complaints and I would gladly come back again! read more

Such a great experience for an out-of-towner! We stopped by sacco's to have an experience with candlepin bowling and what an experience it was! We went on a Monday afternoon hoping it wouldn't be busy... There were 3 other people there that were not employees. The employees were very helpful and enthusiastic about the pastime. They taught us how to score and the rules of the game. You can eat and/or drink at your lane. I loathe cubbies under the benches, a great addition so shoes and personal items are out of the way. We loved their drinks and the pizza was fantastic. We had already eaten, but decided to order pizza because of other reviews. It was quite yummy. Now, the bowling was a little pricey.. $5 per game per person plus $3 for shoes. These prices were for before 4 pm. After that, it was $30/hour. Luckily, it was my bday and they were very generous to give us a discount. We would highly recommend visitors or locals to give their business to sacco's. They were friendly, offered a great service, and had great food/drinks. In addition, based on their wall, it looks like they do a lot to support their local community, which is always a plus in my mind! read more

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I had an awesome time at Sacco's Bowl Haven. I suck at regular bowling and, as I discovered today, I am extra terrible at candlepin bowling, but that didn't make it any less fun. (Seriously, does anyone have any tips that would help me suck even a little bit less? It's honestly pretty tragic.) The reason for the meh-score is solely because of the staff. I'm trying to avoid being needlessly unkind, but they were just not helpful at all. When we first came in and were trying to decide whether we should bowl immediately or eat first, we asked the guy in charge of the lanes how busy he expected things to get. He basically just shrugged and laughed. It was both a rude gesture and a useless one. Not my favorite. At the end of the afternoon, when we were done bowling and tried to settle the bill, the same guy ignored us as we stood at the till. We stood there, completely unacknowledged, for a solid five minutes. We were finally helped by someone else, but the whole thing just left a really bad taste in my mouth. I'll be back again to bowl for sure; I just hope my customer service experience is better next time. read more

Sacco's Bowl Haven - Bowling Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Holy Sh!T I just stepped into a time warp and found myself back in the 50's! Only major changes is that their jukebox holds CD's, and they have move to modern TV's around. It doesn't seem they have changed a thing since they opened. Including the cobwebs! The bathroom is still that ugly aquamarine color that was oh so popular back in the day, along with that hand dryer with the double nozzle they got, which I'm not sure if it works 'cause I didn't try. But c'mon guys - bar soap? In a public restroom? I wouldn't touch that with a 10 foot pole! I dunno who's hands have been on that - can ya get me a bottle of liquid soap from CVS down the street please?! I loved their old fashioned style benches and the retro look. But somehow I felt like I should have been wearing a poodle skirt and had my hair up in a pony tail and maryjanes. The balls sometimes do take awhile to get back to ya. So be patient. The place seems to be overcrowded by what seems to be either townies or Tuft students. They are dry and have a Pepsi machine (oh yeh that's new too!). Depending on what kinda bowling place you're looking for this, may or may not be for you. They also offer pool for $7.50/hr for up to 4 people. If you're into that. But... for me... my heart lies with Lanes & Games. I like my big balls, but I also know the staff there. I like not having to keep score. And I love my Naked Speedo's and Jean. Oh, yes, and I also don't like seeing cobwebs all over everything. read more

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Good spot with a lot of options to choose on their beer and flatbread menus. The candlepin bowling is a very popular spot in Davis square and is usually packed with people Thursday and Friday after work. The weekends are also very busy. Unfortunately they don't take reservations for the bowling lanes and it is first come first serve. Also there isn't a time limit so you may have to wait awhile. Bowling is a little pricey at $30 an hour per lane. read more

Came here for a team event and had a good time. First time playing bowling in this kind. Love to visit places which has a lot of history towards it. About the food, 2 brick Owens and they fire them up with wood. An amazing view and the Owen does heat up the place which is good during the winter time. Pizzas were really good. Hand made pizza and freshly made right in front you. We had a variety of veg and meat pizzas and the veg pizzas were amazing. Would definitely recommend this place. read more

Sacco's Bowl Haven - Bowling Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I went with a big group to Sacco's to do some candlepin bowling and it was so fun!! The staff here are awesome, especially the host Stevie and our server Mara. The pizza is fantastic and we has a great time. Can't wait to come back! read more

A very neat casual hangout place in Davis Square. Candlepin bowling at its most old-school. And you need to be able to keep your own score! Never mind that I didn't know how to deal with the scoring on spares and strikes .... oh oops, I didn't hit ANY spares or strikes! (For that matter I never hit a 10 even with three balls!). Servers ask for and bring you drinks at your lane. It's best to make a reservation or call in ahead of time to get on the order list if you're going early evening. It definitely gets packed and it's a popular destination. The flatbread pizza portion of the establishment I never visited, though I hear it's good. All fun! read more

Overpriced for what it is (this goes for both pizza and bowling) but the entertainment outweighed the cost! Shoes are clean, lanes are well kept and the staff are extremely kind and helpful. I like duck pin bowling better than its larger cousin so that was another plus. The pizza itself is ok on the drier side (especially the chicken) but the ingredients are good quality--so not the worst. Overall, a great change of pace and centrally located in Sommerville. Check it out! read more

Really interesting place to go bowling! They have traditional candlestick bowling which is something I've never tried before. They also have a cool flatbread restaurant nearby so you can order food as you bowl. We had a blast and the staff is pretty lenient on timing and pricing as long as it isn't too crowded. Otherwise, it can be a little tough to get a spot if you arrive and there is a waiting list. An experience you should definitely try! read more

Sacco's Bowl Haven - Candlestick bowling! - Bowling Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Good beer, delicious pizza, relaxed environment. Highly recommend to come with friends, family, or a date! read more

Sacco's Bowl Haven - Bowling lanes - Bowling Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Reserved two lanes for a birthday and have a great time with not only the bowling but also the food and drinks. The pizza is delicious and they have a wide variety of beers. Would highly recommend for all ages! read more

Bowling is fun. Style is classic. Staff are chill and helpful. Beer is quality. Food is made of delicious ingredients. Pizza options are fantastic. Vegan options for those who wish. Fun spot for a birthday or gathering. Great for families. Enjoy! read more

Rude manager. Disrespectful to customers. Burnt food. Name of current manager is Andrew Eggers

First time trying candle pin bowling and I loved it. I think I find this sort of bowling more easy than normal bowling because you don't have to worry about fingers being too small or too big to fit into the holes of the ball. I came here in a weekend with 5 other people and we all shared a lane. It's $30 an hour. We stayed for two hours which was adequate time to wear us out lol. I highly recommend their pizza too. It was divine !! So fresh and thin. I'm from New York so I know good pizza. Lol. The place wasn't too crowded and the staff are very friendly. read more

Sacco's is a great place for a fun afternoon or night out! The bowling alley is pretty small and very popular, so it definitely can be hard to get a lane. Reservations are accepted for larger groups, but you have to make them pretty far in advance to get in. In addition to candlepin bowling, the food and drinks are both excellent. I've really enjoyed all of the pizzas that I've tried here, and on my most recent visit I tried the bourbon punch, which was delicious. Parking is extremely difficult, so taking the T if possible is recommended, but I'd highly recommend Sacco's! read more

I never knew this place existed... for my previous candlepin experiences, I've only been to Boston Bowl, where they have those neat rails that you can pull up to avoid gutter balls. I know that they're for the kiddies, but I personally wouldn't mind them myself! For $1.50 for shoes and up to $3 per game, it was a fun night. This place seemed pretty popular for a Wednesday evening, but we were fortunately able to get several lanes together. Scores are kept by paper and pencil, balls sometimes fell off their path, no gutter rails were available so I got a couple of goose eggs, but we all had fun. If you go on their website, a coupon for a free shoe rental might still be online. And bring cash because they don't accept credit cards. If you forget to bring your own, they have socks available for $1.50. If it were a bit more convenient to get to and park at, I'd have given Sacco's 4 stars... read more

My first time candlestick bowling and it was pretty damn fun. We were there for like 3 hours and only spent $9 a person! Crazy! The place is totally old school but really relaxed. There are pool tables, a strange phonebooth that doesn't work, and a bunch of hot sauces lining the wall. There were some definite pros working the place, but then there was also me, chucking the bowling ball with both hands from a shoulder-wide stance. I'm totally awesome. The only drawback was that service is a little unfriendly but hey, you're gonna go with friends anyway right? read more

Flatbreads saved an old candlepin bowling center from the dustbin of history, and they made some renovations. There are now ten lanes, with old-school pencil-and-paper scoring. It brought me back to the old days of bowling at the Hanson A.A. and filling out my scores and my average card every week and tracking how I was bowling. Apparently, they have either replaced or renovated all of the pinsetters. This is a sign that they're serious about staying here for a while. For the most part, they seemed to work well. Though, at one point in my third game, the machine stopped and had to be manually re-started by an employee. If they are new machines, they'll probably have to track what goes wrong with them and, over time, work out fixes to keep them running. They have not replaced the old ball returns, and they don't always work right - sometimes balls don't make it all the way back up to the rack, requiring one to walk out on the lane to pick them up or roll them to their destination. Additionally, there aren't enough house bowling balls, and some of the ones that they have are chipped and seriously worn. The pins looked either brand-new or freshly cleaned and re-striped, which is certainly a plus in my book. Pin action? My gosh, this house is hard to score in! I was all over the headpin in my third game, and I didn't break 100. Several times I threw a decent pocket shot, only to be left with a 4-5-7-9 with little to no wood to help. I counted at least two instances where I chopped only the 2 or 3 pin. I made some good spares by picking pins, but the closest I came to a strike was a pure pocket shot that left the 8-pin barely standing. It's a fun house to bowl in, and it's hard to throw a strike in candlepin bowling, but it's especially hard to do it here. There are a couple of things that keep this from being a four- or five-star rating. First, they should put in some kind of bumpers for the kids. I was bowling next to a family with a young child, and she was getting very frustrated with gutterballs. I think that the kids (and the adults) will have more fun if they can knock down pins until they can keep the ball on the lane without the bumpers. Second, this is not an ICBA-sanctioned house, so you can't bowl in the state tournament if you bowl in leagues here and nowhere else, and you can't roll a world record score here. (Though, this won't matter to 99.999 percent of the people who bowl here.) And third, the approaches are very short. But, for just $3 a game as of this review, it's a great value to bowl here. I'm glad to see that a T-accessible candlepin bowling center has survived and had some work put into it. I hope that Sacco's is here for a good long time, and that more people continue to enjoy a unique New England pastime for years to come. read more

Sacco's Bowl Haven - Sacco's bar is an old bowling lane! - Bowling Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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If you can get here early enough to grab a lane it's a great time! I would suggest to get there pretty early - at least at 5:00 and put your name in and then sit down for dinner or at the bar. If they call you during dinner, you can cash out with your waitress and bring your pizza to the lanes. Who doesn't love candlepin!? Great service! read more

Sacco's Bowl Haven - Bowling Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

OG bowling with a hipster flare. Combining old and new by having turn of the century bowling alley combine with a gourmet brick oven pizza restaurant and bar. It's a STRIKE for sure. This place is packed on the weekends. Even some people who have never bowled candle pin before which as a New Englander seems shameful. Little ball bowling is the ONLY bowling to me. read more

Sacco's Bowl Haven - Bowling Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

So much fun! VERY busy on the weekends, usually you'll need to reserve a lane several hours in advance. Also pretty loud regardless of whether you're bowling or in the bar section. But this is the cutest little spot for food and entertainment. The decor and menu (lots of local beer options) give this place a very nice indie feel. Cool vibes all around. read more

Sacco's Bowl Haven - Bowling Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Been searching for a candlepin Bowling alley for years and finally found one while visiting Somerville! Definitely more of a challenge then your average game of 10-pin bowling because the ball is smaller and the pins are harder to hit and spaced further apart. The lanes also don't have any oil which makes the ball roll very quickly down the 60 foot wooden boards. It's truly amazing how this is so well maintained and operating for such a long time, even the ball return is above ground which is super cool, just be careful to not be reaching for a ball while one is coming up the ramp or else your hand will get hit! This made a snowy Saturday evening so entertaining because we managed to get a lane here. Pricing goes by the hour here as well.. I believe it was $30 per hour and beers were all craft brewery's which made the price higher. Overall a great place to visit and try out read more

Ok, let's talk about bowling. I think people try too hard. There is no need to flail your arms wildly. Please just gently toss the ball. Anyway, my experience at Sacco's certainly was a positive one. Pizza was great, and I found within myself an exceptional bowler who can toss a five pound ball like a civilized human being, without all the showmanship and excessive movement of balding father obsessed with technique. This is a game folks. Let's all stay calm. I also like the way the balls clink. read more

I tried bowling twice in recent times, but my hands get so black every time I bowl a frame plus the balls are in horrible condition. They have so many chips in them some of which are decent chunks missing. A lot of times the alley I was in or ones next to us wouldn't have enough balls. I think they have the location going for them plus the nostalgia and old school aspects. But, the balls and the lanes are in bad shape. I think this place may be good for certain people who aren't bothered but that and don't bowl much, but for an avid bowler it's not worth the money. read more

Had a great time here. First time trying candlepin bowling. Super gracious manager who went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. Great food and friendly service. Will definitely be coming back next time I'm in town. read more

I am beyond flabbergasted as to why there are so many positive reviews for this place. Do these people love being treated terribly? Do they love 5 hour waits? Do they love the fact you need 8 people to make reservations? I certainly don't. This place has a seriously flawed system when it comes to reservations and treating people properly. Why have 4 lanes open to the public and keep 6 open because they are for reservations of 8 or more? Overall I've had terrible experiences and don't recommend this place to anyone. There is better bowling in this city with customer service that doesn't resemble 1942 Germany. read more

You know the carpety, dusty, lacquered smell of an old bowling alley? That sharp, pungent, nostalgic flavor of luddite entertainment? This place has that smell and taste. Probably because it's an old bowling alley. And one that's tech challenged. Absurd! I'm from Florida where candlepin is non-existant. I like. It's bocce, only more violent. With friends. The pool room is nice - relatively cheap but still pretty lofty. You've got the penny whistles, now how about a nickel rack? Sacco's is a refreshing change from the tired pub scene. Go and feel wholesome. Listen to the people who seem like they haven't left lane 12 for the last thirty years. They tell great stories. read more

Saccos, who would have thought that a game even harder but still related to regular bowling would be just as fun if not more fun?? I mean come on, using a ball the size of a softball to knock down a bunch of skinny little pins sounds like way more effort than it is worth, but boy do you know how to make it fun!! This old school bowling alley represents one of the old, almost forgotten forms of bowling invented right here in MA!!! And the best part is that it is about $3 a game!! Especially if you print out one of their coupons for free shoe rental online before you come!! It is almost like free entertainment?? The only catch is that the pins don't reset themselves each roll, but you do get to roll three times...you would think that would make it easier, but no....this game is hard!! But combine this fun with the fun of trying to figure out how to score yourselves using old fashioned paper and pencil on scorepads (yup, this place does not have those automatic score machines or anything of that sort--it is literally the classic style heh, complete with old somerville newspaper articles and such posted everywhere!) The only thing they don't have, which I have heard is rumored to hopefully be not true soon is that they do not have a bar here. They have billiards, games, bowling....but no bar and no food. There is a snack vending machine, but you can't get any messy nachos that you scarf down usually between frames and no cold beer to down to convince yourself that you are actually better at bowling than you really are....BUT Saccos will provide a pretty good time for anyone, and especially anyone looking for something cheap to do!! read more

So, when I got back from Boston, everyone wanted to know what I did up there. "Did you go to Cheers? Did you see Bunker Hill? What about Old Ironsides?" "Uh, no...no... and no." "Well, what did you do?" "I went Candlepin Bowling at Sacco's" Oh yes, Sacco's is not to be missed. Deep in the heart of Somerville, away from all the tourists is a "haven" for a unique sport only to be found in New England. It's bowling but better. Ten skinny pins and softball sized spheres to throw at them. No more sticking your fingers into ill fitting and less than sanitary crevices. No more emasculating searches for the little pink ball because that 16lb boulder is made for someone with more muscles than sense. No more waddling up to the line and pushing the ball off with both hands grandma style. In candlepin, the ball 3lbs and fits right in your hand, so everybody can throw it easily without winding up on the floor with a herniated disk. This place has a very vintage feel to it. It reminds me a lot of the old Rock and Bowl in New Orleans before they moved down the street and modernized everything. This place was opened before most of us were born. The lanes have a lot of wear and tear. The seats and décor are all straight out of the 1950's. Even the ball return is an old school wood ramp. No hidden conveyor belts, no TV screens to keep your score and no carpet anywhere. After a few throws, a beautiful waitress sidled up to our lane and asked "Can I get you a drink?" I don't think I need to tell you what my response was. I've heard of table service, but lane service? Yes please. They had over 20 beers on tap, (all local and they even had one that was gluten free) along with some specialty cocktails. Now, I drink A LOT of micro brews from all over the place, but there was only 1 at Sacco's that I have actually tried before. Next to the lane on the end, there was a slick bar that's had an entire used bowing lane for a bar top. You can sit there along the length of the alley; overlook all the action and chill while waiting for a lane or for a table. Oh, did I mention there's food too? Right behind the bar stools, they cook up amazing flatbreads (aka rustic pizza) using organic ingredients. Two huge stone hearths are out on the dining room floor and the prep line and cook tops are set up galley style right out in the open so you can see everything that goes into each flatbread. Pizza places have a window where you can see them toss the dough. Well, Sacco's lets you see it all right down to the 30gal wood fired jambalaya pot that they cook the sauce in. These things are my new favorite Italian concoction. Candlepin was a blast and the beer and flatbreads really make this place special. My next visit to Boston will include a trip to Sacco's. read more

First dates are best done over drinks or coffee: "Getting to know you" chit chat and accidental arm touches. Second dates should be more active and unique. Sacco's is the best second date in Boston. The bar menu is extensive, the bowling (Candlepin!) is incredibly fun, and the pizza is out of this f@&%#$g world. Consume all three in large, irresponsible quantities. If you want to get a lane, even on a weeknight, you'll have to show up early. The wait time is very variable (I've waited 30 minutes to 3 hours for the same 8PM weeknight lane), so be sure to check in as soon as you can. The host will typically take your phone number so you can roam Davis Square if (for some reason) you don't like pizza and beer. There is a full bar in the back that is worth a trip on its own. Often full of young professionals, the bar has a rotating menu of craft beers and a great bourbon selection. If you are looking for a good happy hour spot, look no further. The pizzas are large - be warned - and addictive. You get to choose your cheese, topping, sauce, and dough. Naturally, this yields many combinations, and the menu highlights some of the best. Always go for the house sauce - it is a little more expensive but worth it. Prices are fair. People are great. Atmosphere is the best in Somerville. Easier to get a lane weeknights than weekends, but this place is worth a trip any day of the week. read more

There's so much group bowling going on here, Robert Putnam would be ecstatic (that's some Poli Sci humor for the Political Scientists in the house). So you want to bowl. That's nice. And you're also up in Davis Square. Double-nice. Let's say you don't have a car and don't want to take the T anywhere. Where do you bowl? Sacco's. This place is quite unique. I had no idea that there was a bowling alley in Davis Square (It's relatively near the monolithic CVS). They've got candlepin bowling going on, complete with its little balls and funny-looking pins (none of that big-ball stuff ESPN shows on Sunday afternoons when they need something to compete with the NFL or NASCAR). The bowling itself is good: $1.50 for shoe rental, then $3 per game per person, so it's a relatively cheap date option for those people looking to save $ in this economy. Furthermore, there isn't a terrible wait, and the lanes are well-kept with a nice 1950s-ish feel. Billiards are also available if one wants to do that instead. Food is lacking. This isn't the worst thing considering the options in the area, but if you're hungry, eat beforehand and then come over. They do have snack machines and a soda machine. Overall a nice place for what it is: a decent candlepin bowling alley deep within Davis Square. read more

Dear Sacco's Bowl Haven, You are a fun place for a date, a family party, a field trip, you name it. But you make it hard for me and my loved ones to access all of your fun by having an exceedingly vexing reservation system. Why can I only call to put my name on the bowling list on the day of? I am a plan ahead kind of gal. Why do I need a party of ten to reserve a lane? If it costs 25 bucks to reserve a lane for a party of 10, just charge me 25 bucks for me and my three friends to bowl. We don't care, we just want to candlepin. Why can't I coordinate my reservations for dinner and bowling together so I don't lose my bowling lane while trying to consume that last yummy bits of my flatbread? You are in the same building, perhaps you could talk to each other, like good neighbors do. Regina is watching, and is probably waiting for her lane, wishing she has 9 friends instead of only 2. Thanks, Regina read more

This is one of my most favorite candlepin bowling joints around! There's something about the old newspaper clippings, the friendliness/attitude from the staff, the vintage benches and ball returns that just can't be beat. Plus it's fun to manually score the pins and not be distracted by huge TV screens & neon lights. Every time I visit Boston I make a trip to Sacco's. I hope it never closes! read more

I've been on the prowl for the best gluten-free pizza in the Boston area, and I think I've found it here. It passes the "my non-celiac friends love this pizza" test- just melt in your mouth delicious. Even without the bowling, I'd come here just for the pizza, but the chance to throw some strikes (or try to anyway, lol) while eating up is an excellent bonus! The staff was incredibly friendly and attentive. Highly recommend this place for anybody, but an extra urge to come here if you can't eat gluten and miss your delicious carbs. read more

I waited for months to get the chance to travel to Boston to experience candle-pin bowling once again and Sacco's did not disappoint. We had so much fun here- it will be one of the first places I go next time I'm in town. Added to the fact that bowling was a lot of fun is that the beer selection of local Massachusetts beers is one of the best craft beer lists I've seen in the Boston area. So many local beers I had never seen before- I had more than a few.. I also must mention that the flat-bread pizza was delicious- even if it was a bit thin and difficult to eat at times. Highly recommended! I had a great time & I will be back! read more

Trying to book online reservation thru yelp- but it bring you through a loop. I hear great things--- want to book a group in but no way to reach anyone. read more