3.5 stars for just the arcade - it's clean, organized, and full of enough bright lights to attract…read moreanyone passing by. Lots of "prize" games but very pricey & of course, the kids we brought wanted to win the big stuff like a brand new Nintendo Switch or PS5. Unfortunately one kid walked away with nothing (as a mom, totally expected that to happen. These games don't allow winners.) but my son spent probably 20+ dollars on a stuffed animal so I guess for him, it wasn't a total bust. The parking lot was pretty full, and I learned walking in that there was a bowling league there. Busy lanes! I can't speak to the food but did get a Bloody Mary which was decent enough. It's a sketchy area, if you aren't Portland-familiar. Don't leave valuables out in the open, blah, blah, blah. You know how the rest goes.

Perfect rainy day activity…read more What to do on a Sunday when you have nothing to do! Well, bowl it is. We were told there was a 30 minute wait for a lane that we could only have for 90 minutes since a league needed a few lanes. The wait was just enough time for us to go to the other side to order a pitcher of cerveza and some grub. We had just poured a pint when the front desk called to say the lane opened up. We ended up waiting less than we initially thought. A win. The food we ordered was brought over to our table. We were starving. Let me tell you something, the food was amazing. Let me give you a rundown because we ate ate. We got the wings. That mango habanero was wow. We got dry rub for the other option. Also very good. The garlic parmesan fries was perfectly cooked. I kilt that dipping sauce. The corndog bites reminded me of my childhood. We also got a pizza. I'm not sure if it was the combination of my high from doing so well plus the two bowls I hit on the way over, but the food slapped. We ate everything. Killed all the plates. The foods slapped so hard I forgot to snap picas. The service was great. Everyone was nice. I specifically loved that their pins were free. I'm in a bowling league in LA and the pins at the spot I go to are held by strings and I firmly believe I'd have more strikes if they were free. Also, random but I loved their setup - a huge table with seats that slide back. It was great for when you got too comfortable yapping and forget it's your turn to bowl so you spring back. There was ample space for you to turn. I dug it. We ended up playing 3 games. Now I know where to hang whenever I'm in town.

Good for casual hang outs. Nothing special but it's nice and it's not crazy expensive. I do…read morerecommend everyone try it at least once

Been coming here for years. It's definitely a staple in Gresham and it's always busy. Recently I…read morecame for a work event and very cool to have the whole place to ourselves. Relatively decent price, and they also have cosmic late night bowl- which was cool they did for the last half of our party. There is league play, and they have a concession for food and I believe some (alcoholic) drinks, too.

Secret place to get your karaoke on Saturdays at 9! They've got a decent sound system and tons of…read moremusic to choose. There's also some great voices to listen to! I was amazed since it's a little place in a bowling alley. Depending on who's pouring you can get some decent drinks for cheap as well. Nothing fancy but more old school. Old school equal reals so there's that! Nothing to fear here!

A tall, thin man, wearing work boots and a denim shirt with "Mike" embroidered across the pocket,…read moreset his lunch pail and thermos on the floor of his truck, grabbed his bowling ball bag and headed into the lanes. We sat in our parking spot long enough for Norman Goldman to serve up a little justice on the head of some, star-spangeled, economic hit-man, grabbed our balls and followed the thin man. After two hours of bowling and drinking under the black-lights, we dropped into the Lava Lounge for thirteen or fifteen more drinks. The floor was strewn with bowling bags, and ex-bowlers turned bad playing video poker. Asian girls, punk rockers and wanna-be rappers were lining up for karaoke. We decided to have sixteen or twenty drinks instead and signed up for top billing with the karaoke DJ. Sherry's went first with Diana Krall's "Peel Me a Grape". She broke a leg man - not a dry eye in the house: even the punk rockers were beside themselves. I mopped up with Frank Zappa's "Dirty Love". The girl's were screaming like back in the 60s - they mobbed me and someone took my shoe. Our cash was gone so we left while some kid was bringing down the house with a rousing rendition of Snoop Dogg's "I Don't Need No Bitch".

Grand Central Bowl 5 Stars Wow. The Christmas decorations…read morethis year are off the chart. The moment you walk in, the whole place hits you with that perfect blend of holiday magic and vintage swagger. From the bar to the black-leather booths, the hardwood tables, the chrome, the glass every inch feels intentional, polished, and full of nostalgia. What really gets me is the style. The staff dressed sharp, the lighting just right, the whole atmosphere giving off that confident sass and class vibe. If I ever had a spot of my own, I'd want it to look and feel exactly like this. And the location? Perfect. It's one of those places you can swing into for anything grab a bite, bowl a few frames, play some games, or just soak in the holiday glow. It's that rare mix of fun, comfort, and timeless cool that keeps pulling you back. If you haven't been here during the holidays, make it happen. The Christmas lights alone are worth the trip. I absolutely love this place. Five stars, easy.

Their website insists that you can only book a bowling lane by calling, which I've done several…read moretimes in the past, but they've replaced their phone system with an AI that doesn't recognize the simple request to book a lane. An incredibly frustrating process that I ended up giving up on! Safe to say that I won't be bowling at Grand Central anymore if it means I have to convince an idiotic robot to let me do so. But hey, at least y'all saved so much money not having an actual human person answer the phone! Congratulations!

Vault 31 is such a cool spot. Imagine your favorite retro arcade... but with a bar…read more The neon lights, giant game screens, and nostalgic décor make the whole place feel like stepping into a gamer's playground. We ended up staying way longer than planned because it's just that fun -- grabbing drinks, watching people battle it out on the big screens, and soaking in the atmosphere. It's not your typical bar where everyone just stands around. There's always something going on and the vibe is super welcoming and energetic and the owners are so cool! If you love retro games, colorful arcade energy, and good drinks, Vault 31 is an absolute gem.

Food, service, ambiance was awesome. They let us draft for a birthday and just good vibes all…read morearound. Would recommend and plan on returning. Everyone rocked.

Joined this league with a couple buddies, looking to meet some new people together. We ended up…read morebeing placed on a super fun team together and had a blast this summer! The last year+ has been pretty tough, obviously... but this was a really great way to get out of the house finally and gave some fun again with people! Definitely looking forward to joining again later this year!

Such a great spot for family fun day! This place has it all - a big arcade area, bowling alley, and…read morea full menu for food and drinks. I had a $5 margarita - what a deal! Service was very friendly as well. Would definitely come again!

Great spot to hang out with friends! I came here for a birthday and we only waited about 20 minutes…read morefor bowling, which wasn't bad at all. The staff was quick, friendly, and attentive. I ordered the chicken nachos and they were amazing fr everything you want in nachos. Super flavorful with a generous amount of cheese and toppings. The portion size was perfect, and I'd definitely order them again!

Man... I enjoyed the bowling but unfortunately the garbage music that buddy at the front was…read morebumping was absolutely impossible to play to. I'm not tryna listen to 2015 SoundCloud rap and picnic music while I'm bowling 200+. Come on man we need some better tunes, need something more up beat and not niche indie music. This was from 4/3/2026. Improve the playlist...

We enjoy coming here to bowl! The food is yummy and the games are tons of fun too! It's a fun…read moreenvironment

Had an awesome time at The Observatory the other weekend. Unlike a lot of places, they run their…read moreHappy Hour on the weekend, which is what drew my partner and I in. You can absolutely smell the fish and vinegar as soon as you walk through the door, which I think gives the place a very homey pub feel. I ordered a spiked peach Arnold Palmer, which I enjoyed (and it was pleasantly strong) and a glass of the house white, which was good for the price. Our server was very fast and attentive. To eat I got the tomato soup with a grilled cheese, which was absolutely fantastic. The soup was so creamy and flavorful, and I cannot imagine a better meal after spending all day walking outside in the rain. The fries were super crispy and I liked the batter. My partner and I shared some of their breadsticks, which were deliciously baked (fresh!) and came with a super refreshing basil crema and a nice tomato-y dip. Wonderful all. My partner ordered fish and chips, and was surprised to find that it is one large fillet of fish, not multiple pieces like you would typically expect. He said the fish was fine, but a little tough. Overall, a wonderful experience. I definitely hope to return. I highly recommend this place as a refuge during the cold winter months!

You know what I will admit that my ardor for The Observatory has cooled over time. I do still count…read moretheir rosemary pear martini as my favorite cocktail in town - and really their cocktail menu overall is still excellent. But the last few times I've stopped in for a meal, it feels like the food isn't quite as impressive as it used to be. Could be all in my head. Not sure. But it's always a nice spot to hang out and chat with friends, you can get seated quicker if you enter through Over & Out, which basically functions as an extension of the main Observatory, with it's own bar and pool tables.