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Categories: Restaurants, Bowling, Bars [Edit]
Neighborhood: Near North SideState/Lake (Orange, Brown, Purple Express, Green, Pink)
Clark/Lake (Pink, Brown, Green, Blue, Purple Express, Orange)
Grand (Red)
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When we walked into 10pin and looked around I was ever so slightly concerned that we had just walked into the most ghetto fabulous bowling alley I had ever laid eyes on. The crowd was interesting to say the least and it was definitely packed. There was a 45-60 minute wait for a lane on Saturday night which we expected, so we sidled up to the bar and had a few drinks while we waited. They've actually got some great martinis on the menu. Try the spare pear, the skittle, and my favorite of the evening... the pamatini.
As we lounged at the bar I got a chance to really get a good look at 10pin and it's not as bad as I first thought. Aside from the "over it" attitude from the girls at the desk when you walk in the bartenders were friendly and our server at the lanes was great. And as far as bowling alleys go it's actually a really clean place so I wasn't too freaked out as I slipped rented shoes on but I did wear some pretty heavy duty socks anyway. They really need to invest in some better bowling balls, but it seemed the lanes were nice and well taken care of. Huge tvs lined the back of the bowling alley which didn't excite me until later in the evening when they turned off whatever game was on and put on music some music videos. That definitely perked the place up. Our evening got better as the crowd thinned out because when it's packed you don't have much room at the lanes at all so we were all relieved to be able to move around a bit more.
Overall 10pin lent itself to a very fun night out. One caveat; bowling is not as cheap as it used to be! Although I suppose all the pamatinis had something to do with that.
10pin was a decent place for a team outing. Apparently we are not the only ones with that idea, because another corporate event was going on at the same time, and later on 10pin kicked us out because another group had reserved the entire bowling alley. The place was surprisingly busy on a Wednesday afternoon.
I can't say anything about game or shoe rental prices, but we did order some appetizers around $7 each. The spinach and artichoke dip is decent but a little bland, and the tortilla chips were stale. We also got the buffalo wings. The wings themselves were good (just the slightest bit of spice, and also nice and warm), but it came with a side of ranch when the menu said bleu cheese. So, we were a little disappointed. The best appetizer we tried were the pretzels. The pretzels came out hot and soft, with just enough salt, and came with a side of cheese and mustard.
We were supposed to have a server assigned to our lanes, but we ended up going to the bar for drinks more often than not. She seemed to come around only when our glasses and bottles were full.
This place would have gotten another star if they had let us reserve a group of 12 without having to order a food package. But they didnt.
We refused to order a food package. We just wanted to do some bowling! So we basically had to show up (without reservations) on one of their least busier days to play on two lanes. The food was overpriced and service was only ok. I ordered the spinach dip and it was bland. I expected something better, especially from a place with huge tvs and a rockin sound system.
Definitely a fun atmosphere and a great location downtown. Prices for the bowling were high but reasonable for being downtown.
10pin is awesome. I love the concept of an upscale bowling facility with a lounge-y feel. It's a sexy, swanky place--perfect for a date, birthday party, corporate outing, or bowling night with friends. I also love that you can request music videos on the juke box to "see" and hear your favorite songs. Their food is pretty good too. Delicious sliders and other tasty bar food options. It's pretty expensive given the above average bowling experience, but a nice splurge if you feel like adding some spice to your spin. Two thumbs up. :)
Nice vibe here. Went for a rehearsal dinner, stayed for the bowling. The food was OK but the bartender did not scrimp on the booze in the drinks. Rare to find these days.
Was treated to 80's videos on the big screens while watching everyone attempt to bowl. (Was going great 'til my son caught a bowling ball upside the head...long story.) Would definitely head back with a more casual crowd.
If you're going for some quality bowling and drinks with friends (or on a date) listen to the tunes and rock out with the videos - than 10 Pin is A-Ok. I had my birthday party here a few years ago and to date it was still one of the best I've had.
Drinks and appetizers here are another story. Service is lacking and they seemed to be short staffed. Calamari was tasty and the potato skins were ok, but nothing spectacular. The mini burgers are 3 to a serving but I was surprised to be taking a bite and notice that the paper was still stuck to my cheese. Yuck. Waitress took the burgers off the bill at least.
Bowling? Yes. Drinks while bowling? Yes. Coming to 10 Pin strictly for drinks & appetizers? Head downstairs to Bin 36 instead for tastier bites.
In a bid for style points, I accidentally lobbed the ball into the neighbouring gutter, where it bounced onto the light strip and back into my own gutter (so at least I didn't have to go grovelling for my ball back...).... we didn't get thrown out. later in the evening, my 'friends' screamed at me to put me off, at which point I let go of the ball at a somewhat backward angle.... we STILL didn't get thrown out.
This tells you 3 things:
1. on a monday, both beer and bowling is super cheap, which is dangerous
2. i'm really bad at bowling
3. 10Pin is pretty forgiving as bowling alleys go (in my experience)
Additional points of note:
The mens' bowling shoes are, apparently, 'fly' (I have less than no idea what this means).
The TV played two baseball games and the basketball game. Lots of sports.
Tater tots: yum! Cheese sauce that comes with tater tots: scarily similar to the 7 eleven mac n cheese i have previously described. It might have been alive.
$2 a game, $1 shoes and $3 beers = monday nights sorted for me (come on, I need the practice).
only 4 stars because I have an aversion to UV light, it reminds me of being 15 and in really bad clubs, and a gin and tonic should never glow. sorry 10pin.
went here for a corporate event today, about 18 of us. overpriced and over hyped. lanes needed wax, badly, it looks like they are not properly maintained. drinks are way overpriced, $6 for an import bottle sounds like this is a bar disguised as a bowling alley, rather than the other way around. the inedible cardboard crap they tried to pass off as pizza was $8 for a 9" personal pizza. It looks like it was frozen and microwaved....tasted worse. Trust me, you personally, and your company, can find much better places and ways to drop a boat load of cash.
Bored on a Sunday? Need something to do that's fun and most certainly amusing? Then bring your friends and come here. It's bowling with a twist. A martini twist, that is.
This isn't your average bowling alley, that's for sure. It's a bar and it's flashy too, with all it's neon lights and music videos. The best part is that the wait staff brings your libations to you, while you bowl. Excellent concept really. Oh and their Sunday special is 3 hours of unlimited bowling including shoes all for the low price of $15 per person.
So what if you're terrible at bowling, that's no excuse not to come here. Anyways, you couldn't be any worse or more comical than I was rolling one gutter ball after another in hopes of breaking 50, but I still managed to put down a few martini's and have a few laughs at my own expense, and that's what made it fun for me and my crew!
I hosted a birthday party here last night for my boyfriend and about 14 friends. We were able to get a great rate and the staff was very accommodating with all of our requests. They even put the candles on the cake, lit them, and brought it out on cue.
Everyone really liked that the music/videos that play on the huge screens are all selected by the patrons. It's like a video jukebox... pretty cool!
The ladies who attended really appreciated being able to bowl and sip a signature martini at the same time. The guys enjoyed the hard stuff and Fat Tire bottles. It was really nice having a waitress serve our 2 lanes. This meant that we didn't have to wait for someone to return from the bar to resume the bowling action.
*If you valet in Marina City, get your stub validated at the shoe counter for $14 parking. MUCH better than driving around for an hour trying to find a street spot in River North.
Great place to gather with friends & family. Though a little pricey, the video juke box was a hit & the service/staff were great.
This review is solely for the Monday night deal -- a ridiculous $2 per game and $1 shoe rental. They also have beers for a couple bucks, don't remember exactly. That just about sums it up, can't beat that with a stick. I ain't good enough at bowling to pay any more than that. The place is sweet but the service kind of sucks, lot of times we'd have to hunt people down for our next round of drinks.
Bright lights, red felt, flashy bowling.
I would never venture into downtown tourist sites without a company party, birthday or fundraiser on the line. While playing on well-kept pool tables and having disco neon lights bowling is pretty cool, I don't think the juice is worth the squeeze. In a period of economic turmoil my money is better deployed in Wrigleyville or Lincoln Park. Being a northwest sider it is a hassle to go all the way down here, deal with tourists and the like and then cough up like $100.
Okay... so I SUCK at bowling, but I had a great time at 10 Pin! Generally speaking, I hate bowling as an option for fun, but you cannot beat the Monday night deal! $2 per person per game, $1 shoe rental, and $3 Miller Lite. Not bad. And my favorite part was the 80's music videos playing on the screens behind the pins. Great retro fun! If you are bored on a Monday night, this is your sure bet! My friend and I loved it and we will definitely be back!!
I love you, 10PIN. Or maybe it's just that ...I love bowling and drinking
I've only been here twice, but I always have a great time. It's close to a lot of stuff and it's just such a great space! They have music videos playing at each end of an alley. Their bathrooms are nice too, cuz we all know that is important, too!
If this is what the state of bowling has turned into, i am disappointed. The lanes stink and have no arrows on them...even non-bowlers sometimes use arrows to guide their ball. The ball selection was limited and thus not so good. The food was average, run-of-the mill bar food, and waaaay too many boy band music videos.
I understand that the concept is more bar than alley, so I see how it can attract multitaskers looking for a side project while drinking. Just not my style, i'll stick with Brunswick Zones.
A bowling themed bar, not a bowling alley. Which sucks if you want to bowl.
They wouldn't let me wear my own bowling shoes to bowl in here because the chick (concierge? hostess? ball bouncer?) said they looked too "old". Uh that's vintage.... And that's what happens when you wear them. You know, to bowl? Okay, I also wore them all the time to look cute, too, but strike her gutter ass, cause all of their bowling shit is only there to look cute, too. So spare me.
Their seizure inducing strobe lights, two hour waits and multiple, huge big screens showing N'Sync videos didn't hold a lot of drawing power - for me, but if you're wanting to wear rented shoes, listen to loud bad music and get sloppy drunk at a she she concept bar, you might have a good time. They do some cool charity events and also make some pretty decent food, so it's a two-er, but I'm probably not going back.
I will admit to being a bit spoiled on my first few trips 10 pin, as i was only there for the Kerry Wood event every year, so everyone and everything was at its best. so checking it out on a regular nite gave me a little more insight on things.
it's basically a club with a bowling theme.the lights are cool, the drinks are...well, come on, you're bowling across from Housed of Blues in downtown Chicago, what do you expect? i never know how to dress at 10 pin...better to look good than show up in pajama pants and a hoodie is my best suggestion. with all that said its a great place to take a date or hang out with friends for a night, as the place looks and sounds amazing. your best bet is to go on Mondays..its cheaper and there's a much cooler crowd of people who come out. plus the tv's are huge! and they do play some good tunes if that's your thing. its a great looking bowling club, basically.
Taking a cue from my very good friend An Unstoppable P, I was thrown out of this place once.
My co-workers had a crazy day at work and decided to get wasted and go bowling. We went to a local 7-Eleven and bought drinks on the way over to 10 Pins. Most of us had finished our drinks before we got there, but there were a couple that did not! The two people who will remain nameless pulled out a can of beer and a cup of vodka respectively. The server (had the biggest female calves I have ever seen) came over twice and then had the manager come over and tell us to get the hell out of there! That totally killed my buzz. I guess I can't blame the guy
Aside from being thrown out that one time, I like this place. I have been there numerous times and always enjoy myself with a group of friends. Good food and good drinks while bowling. They have the big screens at the end of each lane that plays music videos from your favorite artists. The staff can be a little flimsy at times, but hey, who cares as long as I can eat ,drink and bowl!
"Vodka and bowling".That's all he had to say and I was there.I love the martinis and the cool videos in the backround.The music really gets me going and thinking that I will actually win a bowling game.The last time I went they actually played a song from Rocky 4...Surprised me and made me a happy drunk with a bowling ball.
Went here tonight, but I don't think I'd come on a night that's not Monday.
Monday: $1 Shoes, $2 games...cheap drinks.
Buffalo Chicken sandwich dish? delicious.
A fun night including 2 games, drinks and food under $20? awesome.
I am not a clubber. I didn't expect to like 10-Pin, especially because of the reviews here that talk about how much nobody at 10-Pin cares about bowling. That said, this place has got three good things going for it:
1. The martinis are amazing, and they rotate them out just about monthly.
2. Industry night - $2 bowling with $1 shoes on Monday nights.
3. The largest screen televisions I've ever seen in a bowling alley, playing all your favorite music requests all night long.
The food is good and surprisingly not too pricey, even though the drinks are outrageously marked up.
I never know how to dress when I'm going to 10-Pin... It's fancy, but it's still a bowling alley.
The no-5-star deal breaker: Sometimes waitresses there disappear for half-hour increments. I needs my drinks to keep my bowling game up to par... or... whatever par would be in bowling terms.
Edit: I went back for my 23rd birthday. I was charged for 13 drinks when I ordered about 5. I was there with a group of 10, and there were 3 tabs running in our group. The waitress got snotty about the tabs. Gratuity got added, but you can bet I wouldn't have given her a good tip, especially on the 7 drinks I DIDN'T order.
Also, they have a $20 minimum for credit card purchases. This is against Mastercard regulations. If they do this to you, complain on Mastercard's web site: http://www.mastercard....
The waitress also charged my card without asking me. I had cash to give her for the drinks, and the card was just to secure a tab. We finished bowling, started packing up, and were given already-charged slips.
Dropping my review down to 2 stars because the service broke the deal this time. It's really hit-or-miss... Lately, only miss, though.
I've been to 10pin a few times, but always on Monday nights. You can't beat $1 shoe rentals and $2 games. Get there early on a Monday but know that you will still have to wait for a free lane. Just grab a drink at the bar and relax while you wait for a lane to open up.
When I went last Monday, they were giving away free shots. I don't recall that happening the other times I went to 10pin, but it was a pleasant surprise.
This is a great place to go with a big group of co-workers or a relaxing date. What's nice is that there are multiple seating areas so if you get tired of bowling you can just sit and chat in one of the lounge areas.
If you haven't bowled in a while then pick an excuse and check it out already! If you need ideas, just let me know.
I went to 10pin on a date and must admit that while neither of us were great, uh good, bowlers, we had a blast. Cocktails, music, throwing balls down the lane was more fun than I expected.
The music was great and big screens above the alleys added an eclectic element.....to a bowling alley!!!!
I deducted a star because they really need to get better balls. They are generic and have the smallest thumbholes ever!!
if you want to bowl, this is a great place!! i didn't find it outrageously pricey and it's a fun atmosphere.
if you want to eat, ummmm, this is not a good place for people used to good food!
I've been here both on a saturday night for a birthday party and to bowl with the boyfriend on a sunday afternoon. both times were a blast.
the drinks can get pricey, and ive never had the food..
but they're always always playing good music while you bowl!
definitely a place to check out!
OVERRATED!!!!!!!!!
This is just an overpriced bowling alley with a fancier bar. I was here for a work Christmas event...and had a good time, but lets be serious. $90 to rent a lane is just a little ridiculous. Not to mention, if you are not just being a drunk throwing a ball down the lane, and want to play a little more serious, you cant bc their balls are all dented and cracked!!
I will admit the drinks were a plenty, the bartenders were very good at what they did, and the rental shoes were cuter than the average rental shoe...but that's all this place had going for it. Id rather pay $4 in the burbs for a game and a better ball, and spend the big bux at a real bar.
I think this is an awesome place for both tourists and locals alike. You go in and there are the standard sized bowling lanes, but they've got tables and waitresses who genuinely enjoy their jobs. Then there's the video projection system which plays music videos off of a jukebox which is a pretty awesome sight.
The bowling is typical, the drinks on tap are solid and the atmosphere is great. The prices are pretty reasonable considering you're next to the Westin Hotel and House of Blues. Definitely a place to go if you're out to do something in a laid back and relaxed environment.
Why do I love bowling so much when I'm so friggin' terrible at it? Maybe it's my love for The Big Lebowski or just something about a throw back to a simpler time... but once you get me started I can roll that ball all night...
Unfortunately, 10Pin took an already difficult game for me and made it even harder. As previously mentioned, they've drilled the holes to their "ladies balls" impossibly small... I heard several girls near me commiserating about the same thing. The heavy balls with roomy holes were impossible to throw and the teensy weensy holes were just too hard to try and grip. I saw balls flying all over the place!!!!
The decor is nice... nontraditional bowling scene, done hipster 'Swingers' style. The clientele was a mix but I'm guessing they're catering to the adjacent House of Blues crowd. Leopard print, red leather, black light... yada yada. I didn't sample the food, but the menu looked good and the pizza delivered to the rollers next to me smelled of garlicky goodness.
If you're just looking to play around 10Pin can be cheesy, bowling fun, but if you're serious about balls...bring your own!!
Only 3 stars for 10pin.
They are too expensive any other day of the week. Sunday - Thursday BEFORE 5 pm it's $40/hour/lane. Ouch. Sunday - Thursday AFTER 5 pm it's $55/hour/lane. Double ouch! And where do you park! Good luck finding a meter or park your car with the lovely and tragically slow Marina City Valet service. It's pricey.
SO!
I'll tell you when you can come to this bowling alley and actually afford it: Sunday. On Sunday's.
Between 11 am til Close - you can go at $15 per person for 3 hours of bowling.
1- 6 people per lane with shoe rental included.
* The catch: They don't take reservations on Sundays. It can get a little overwhelming with all the children and noise.
Who can go bowling for three hours you say? Well I can, so if you need a partner... Ask me.
I really like this place! It is only 21 and over at night, so there are no teens running around. They play pretty good music, though it sometimes goes astray when certain people utilize the video jukebox. They have a fun drink list with lots of interesting martinis, as well as the standard beer, liquor, etc that you would expect of a bowling alley. The food is much better than typical bowling alleys, and this place lacks the greasy bowling alley smell most places have. For being a more upscale bowling alley, it is not too expensive. I always have a fun time place.
I am deducting a star, because I got into a screaming match with the manager here once when he refused to give me back the $5 I spent in the jukebox when none of my songs were played. I'm sure the manager was probably just having a bad night (it was Valentine's Day), and I was drunk and also am fortunate enough to not have to work at a bowling alley. Also there can be a long wait on a Friday or Saturday night.
There are a couple places downtown where you can bowl, but trust me when I say this is the best bet.
The place is stylish, but completely unpretentious, and the staff is friendly. The bartender deserves special recognition. Not only did he guess my drink before I asked, but for the whole night he remembered the drink of choice for each of our party of 6 (each with a different drink). Where else can you get service like that?
The bowling is... well... bowling. But the fact that you're doing it in a bar makes it extra enjoyable. The music is solid if a bit predictable.
If you want something different than the club scene... but not TOO different, give this place a shot.
I went to a work function here, so this review might be different than say if I had actually paid for anything..
the bowling alley is *cool*, but from someone who was in a bowling league, I cannot call this bowling alley a legit place to bowl competitively. The lanes are colored, and there are no arrows. The balls suck, honestly. The fingers aren't drilled right, etc, etc.
BUT, you aren't actually coming here to bowl are you? It's a fun place to hang out, and I enjoyed all the fun music they play. Just don't take any bowling here seriously.. it's about the drinking and having fun.
Food: The mac and cheese is awesome! I hate mac and cheese, but this one with smoked cheddar was quite good. All the food they served us was rather like being in a cafeteria again in elementary school - hot dogs, burgers, mac and cheese, etc.
Drinks: The 10 pin signature martini was good, but I fear it's alcohol content might not be that high. The sangria martini was disgusting. They earned major points, however, when the watiress came by to check on me and saw the still-full sangria martini in front of me and said "let me get you another one for free, people tend to not like that one". You might not be that lucky though.. so stay away from that martini just in case. Sangria does not belong in a martini!
OK, I'm normally very generous with my ratings because I am easy to please--REALLY easy to please. But while I did have fun with my party while I was here, we were treated pretty horribly by the staff. No one really knew what was going on, couldn't answer any questions and we were kicked out of a "reserved" area that wasn't marked reserved in an empty (at the time) lounge.
We went Monday night where they have $4 a game per person and $1 shoe rentals, so that was kind of the only good thing about it. The food was "alright" and my drinks were never made right. I got a screwdriver that came back as vodka and uhm... limeade maybe?? It tasted a lot kind of like a gin and tonic... And I ordered an amaretto sour with extra cherries as garnish and I think they put cherry juice in it... Not the brightest staff--period... The company you bring will definitely be the only good you have at 10-pin...
How's $140 for 2 hours of bowling for 3 people sound ? Yeah, that's what I thought. It sucks. No way. One of the more stupid things I've done was going ahead and paying that ridiculous price for just such a 2-star rating. Why ? I don't know. I suppose I must have thought there would be something really fan-fucking-tabulous to go with the bowling...like decent drinks, or some food that tasted like something better than a Wendy's drive-thru, or, hmmmm, maybe even an interesting crowd of bowlers ? Well, I got nothin'. Nothin' for my $140 bucks but a sucker-punch hole in my wallet. You could have more fun using a metal detector on North Avenue beach on a cold October rainy day.
What a blast. A fantastic video jukebox blasts multiple screens behind the very nice lanes. Day-glo bowling balls and automated scoring, really good bar muchies and drinks make for a fun place to party.
It gets crowded the later you go and if you have a big group you can call ahead to reserve lanes. I would go back anytime, especially since I found some cool obscure tunes on that jukebox. And the bowling was awesome! If you are looking for a fun downtown active thing to do, its right next to Marina City, The House o Blues and the Hard Rock Hotel so it is a great location to take out of towners.
What, no bumper lanes? Only kidding, people. Apart from this glitch, the concept of the multitasking bowling alley (drinks and bowling, plus cheesy videos- a win win) seemed appealing at first. Little did I know the pricing structure of $100 for a measly set of games, plus the overpriced drinks, would hold my party and me captive for the duration of our Friday after-work game. Overall, the experience was a diversion at the end of the work week, and I am glad to say I can check this off my list of Chicago experiences. For myself, a wine bar or lounge with decent music would be preferable to this (repeated) violation of my wallet. But then again, I am not a bowler of Homer Simpson proportions, so those that are more serious than me about getting their game on can take this review with a grain of salt...
I am terrible at bowling but this place was tons of fun. They have great drinks, bar food, and a great vibe. The skittle martini was excellent but the sangria one left a little to be desired. The sliders and toasted ravioli were good as well. The bud light beer even comes in bowling pin shaped bottles!
This is a great place to go with friends or business. We went on a Wednesday night and paid per game and got a lane right away.
It has been a long time that I've been on Yelp and I cannot believe I didn't comment on 10pin. I go here with my friends a lot and I believe that this place is great for serious bowlers and others who just want to have a fun game.
A couple years ago, I did not like the fact that I was 15 or 16 and I had to leave after 7pm, which is exactly the time when they shut off the lights and start up the cosmic bowling. That is still the most extremely dumb idea I have ever witnessed. I understand that they are also a bar, but the bar is open before 7pm, so I do not get it.
I still go there, but it is extremely crowded in the evenings. I've been going in the daytime recently to beat the crowds, but it is still not as good as evening bowling. They have these mini cheeseburgers that are 3 for $7 and they are good. I love those little burgers and I dream about them sometimes at night.
There is a good and the bad of this bowling lounge......
Let's start with the good.....I had a blast with the eats and drinks with my colleagues and clients at this bowling lounge. The pizza, sliders, nachos, salads, and desserts were awesome.....five stars!
The bad was the atrocious conditions of each of the alleys and lane. The ball in each alley would not react to any spin nor was the lane slick enough for my bowling shoes to slip appropriately. Maybe I am getting old, but my knee was a little bit sore after each bowl due to the stress of no slippage of each lane. Two stars for the bowling conditions.
The good time makes my rating stronger than it should be.....four stars.
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