4th Street Bowl
Categories: Diners, American (Traditional), Bowling [Edit]
1441 N 4th StSan Jose, CA 95112 (408) 453-5555
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
95 reviews
San Jose, CA
"I love this place! I'll keep it short and sweet. The Filet Mignon was cooked to perfection. I received stellar service from the greeter to…" read more »
29 Reviews for 4th Street Bowl
Bowled here last night, and just wanted to give this place props for keeping their lanes so well waxed. You can literally slide your ball all the way down the lane if you want to, which means all you have to do is have is good aim.
Great bowling alley. Inexpensive, nice lanes, full bar and coffee shop attached. Nothing fancy. Just an old time bowling alley. I've tried Strike in Cupertino, and 4th street was a way better bowling experience. Strike was like a dance club/hang out that happened to have a bowling alley in it.
There were a lot of regulars hanging out in the bar, sharing stories, singing karaoke and having a great time. I thought that was cool....
The only issue we had was that the lanes were really oily. Ended up with oily balls.. hehe.
We'll be back ;)
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The recent Yelp Elite event at Strike has inspired me to start bowling again! I forgot how much fun it is! My bros bowled here a lot years ago because it was super cheap and not too busy. I haven't been back in a few years, but I plan to return soon because of all the positive reviews about the renovation! Can't wait!
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One of the last great Diners in the area. I stop in for breakfast once a week and haven't yet tried everything on the menu. The Loco Moco is much Ono......tasty gravy over rice with a couple of eggs cooked to order. Never an empty cup of coffee. Local favorite.
This is the cheapest bowling in town. Threfore, it doesn't have many bells and whistles. They are remodeling and it's looking better and better.
The bar area could use a facelift, but the drinks are cheap and they also have kareoke nights!! The waitresses are sweethearts.
The diner is GREAT! The food is really cheap, and very generous portions. It's not gourmet or even close to it, but they have great standard American food. The bacon and egg breakfast is about $5-6. They have a good club too. Very friendly waitstaff.
League night is Tuesday for sure, they may have others.
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4th Street Bowl is the melting pot of family entertainment. Not only can you boogie to great music, bowl, eat, drink, play arcade & sing karaoke on stage, you can also freakin rent out their back room which is pretty big and host a party and bring your own darn food to serve! The remodelling is lookin' pretty good, updating this hidden downtown San Jose gem.
I was pretty excited to try this place out. Breakfast is probably my favorite type of food out there. I should have tried their biscuits and gravy, but I missed them on the menu! Instead, I went for less southern and more all around traditional fair: scrambled eggs, homefries, buttered wheat toast (why is diner toast so awesome? please discuss) and John and I split an order of pancakes.
The volume and how fast the food churns out is absurdly amazing. We were thoroughly impressed, as we sat at the counter watching the kitchen action.
The food was above par, service decent. I'd definitely come here more often! It's the closest to the diner experience in downtown, even if it is a bit out there.
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This is a coworker kick it spot where teachers can talk shit to each other while drinking a brewsky and getting some decent food. Well- at least that is what we do to relax. Sometimes it gets tricky with the leagues and all...but I like this spot....
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The ghetto-est bowling alley I've ever been to. But they have a dance floor with a DJ, a bar, pool tables, and karaoke, which sorta makes up for it.
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What can I say? 4th Street Bowl is an ecclectic spot offering a little of everything -- night club (bar, DJ, dance floor and karaoke) and family amusement (arcade, bowling alley). My hubby and I love this place because it's so cheesy. How can you NOT have fun?? The beers are cheap and the game of bowling is always a treat. Hey, you can always go to one of the newer bowling alleys, but why when you have this San Jose landmark.
Decent bowling alley, sort of ghetto, but there's a lot of lanes, and it's usually not much of a wait. Recently remodeled, so I expect it's looking quite nice inside now.
The bf & I went on a Saturday night at around 8 p.m. and we got a lane right away! I'm so glad it wasn't crowded. The guy at the front was nice too.
There are 32 lanes there and they are very greased up! So much that you could even see the grease on the bowling balls. Each game is $5 and you pay afterwards which I really like. Usually when places require you to pay upfront, it gets stressful because I don't know how many games I want to play!
Each lane has their own LCD TV in addition to a bigger LCD TV in between the 2 lanes that's playing something on television (sitcom, sports game, etc.). Very nice. So far, we had a good experience at this place... the people there were polite. Downsides: lack of 10 lb balls (unless someone just took them all) and very very greasy bowling balls.
I've come here for the breakfast too many times! It's an old school diner and very blue collar, it's great to escape the suits.
The price tag is cheap and it's a great little place to eat. I'll tell you one thing though, it's no McCormick and Schmick's don't expect any great scenery it's in a bowling alley for god sakes. Come here to relax and get some chow. Enjoy!
This is on my "San Jose Classics" list. It's an old school kinda joint. There are old San Jose regulars that come to this diner every week. It's a funky little place with cheap bowling and a pretty good little diner.
Love the coffee shop! A real truck stop coffee shop!Great lunch and dinner specials. Too many specials to remember, although I know my favorite days here are Tuesdays (sirloin tips over noodles) and Wednesdays (greek specials). Thurs. is corned beef and cabbage. There are several specials each day. Consistently good food and good service. Full bar. And they are remodelling the whole place now. Five stars for a San Jose institution!
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This reminds me of a bowling alley I used to go to in Los Angeles but unfotunately it closed down (Hollywood Bowl).
4th street bowl has all the characteristics of a national landmark. It has the old feel of a truck stop as mentioned from a yelper earlier, and it has the "I just want to get messed up and destroy a classic song with my bad singing abilities" feel. I love it.
A friend introduced me to this place and I love bowling, but what brings me to this place is the huge Karaoke Room/Bar. When I am drunk, I sing like a bird with no worries. And everyone else is so messed up they really do not criticize me.
The beers are pretty cheap and it is loads of fun. Although you may not have a singing voice, who really cares after 12am. Everyone is drunk.
I love this place! Karaoke and bowling are two of my biggest loves. It's not really that ghetto - it has character, which all bowling allies should. That's all I have to say. :)
Yes... another 4 -star review for yet another variance of a reason....
so this is where I first bowled in a league... Great league... friendly people... a good time out.
Synthetic lanes... oiled..... never the same so that makes it interesting???
the scoring system is weird.... it's like static or touch sensitive and probably a good 50% of the time, you can't get it to do what you want.
The staff is friendly and helpful, and all the people in our league were really really nice...
Go join a league here!!!
UPDATE 3/08 - Finally dragged my rear-end out of bed early enough to go to the diner for breakfast, and GLAD I DID. If you are like me and love simple poached eggs over toast but are too damn lazy to do it yourself, then this place is for you! Prices are low and the food is solid (sometimes literally). Lots of locals with family here and a pretty quick turnover. There's a reason it's called a diner folks - lumpy seats and worn out "decor", but a fine place to drag your buns if you've got a hangover and bedhead...
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(3.5 stars) This is true old-fashioned bowling alley (OK, as old fashioned as bowling without grease pencils can get). They have the best prices for bowling in the area and you really should try the fries while you're there. If you want the lightest bowling ball they've got, try asking at the front desk. As for the diner: if you pass by the bowling alley early in the morning, you will see a bunch of 18-wheelers and police cars parked in front. You know that clientele shows up for good, basic food at a good price. I've heard they serve loco moco for breakfast but haven't tried it myself... Don't try and order a fancy salad or vegetables at this place - but if you're jonesing a burger and fries, they've gotcha.
Karaoke nights have a much "hipper" crowd than Creekside Inn. Although the wait time to sing takes a mighty long time.
Overall, cool place to bring "new" friends too.
:-)
Dive Bar + Karaoke + Bowling Alley + WTT = Good times for all involved.
One time I went there, there was a minivan parked in the front with SPINNERS on the wheels. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, SPINNERS. This is a fine, fine, quality institution that people should go to and enjoy.
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Ok it was cheap. And they sell socks here which is a plus. But they didn't have any balls lighter than a 9. That totally sucks. Normally I use a 6 or 8 and with my super strong arm I chuck the ball down the lane and it glides on one side of the ball, this time it rolled because i was using a 9-11 ball. I hate when that happens. It ruins my game.
The pluses were that the guy at the desk is a multitasking genius and super nice and efficient. Our lane got stuck once and he fixed it right away. We by mistake added an extra player and he came over ASAP to fix it. Plus it wasn't crowded.
The minus was that as soon as I stepped into the girls bathroom, it reeked of weed. Or maybe a free whiff is a plus for some people, but personally I don't like the organic herb smell while I'm trying to get my bathroom duties on.
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Cheap? YES! Bowling with friends and chillin? YES
KAREOKE???? HEEECCKKK YEAAAHHH!
ok.. I love me some bowling, BUT I go to 4th St. Bowl for the kareoke! I've been there tons of time for bowling, but when I found out that they had cheap drinks AND some cool kareoke.. I was hooked!!!! The guys are cool that do the kareoke.. the bartender is an awesome chic who, though me and sweety hadn't been there in 3 months, she STILL knew what we always ordered. Yes, I go there.. look thru the the tons of songs they have...and I always end up singing the same ones..but I don't care... I have me some fun there! We get to dance, sing some songs, drink some cheapy drinks, snack on popcorn, and laugh at some people up there singing!!!!
Now doesn't that sound like fun? if it does, I will see u there Thursday!
;o)
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We found this place quite by accident recently & are hooked on the coffee shop. I highly recommend the nightly specials, so far we've tried: fried chicken, chicken fettuccine alfredo & corned beef. All are generous portions & come w/ soup or salad (iceberg lettuce of course, it's a coffee shop!) & desert (ice cream, tapioca & jello of course!)
What else is good? The chili burger, club sandwich & veggie sandwich.
(I agree w/ Dar D. on the fries & onion rings!)
Friendly service? Indeed!
Most amazing thing? A family of 4 ate for UNDER $40!
One of these days we are going to actually bowl there too but it'll be BEFORE we eat so we won't be weighted down.
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We visited this place because we found your reviews on Yelp. We did not visit the coffee shop but as far as bowling goes it was just what we were looking for. It's the cheapest bowling we could find. Nothing fancy but we were in a lane quick. $3.00 for shoe rental and $3.50 per game per person. You can't beat that anywhere in San Jose or around.
If you are just looking to have a good time and not worried about all the fancy stuff this is a great place to go. The only problem I had was finding a lite ball. You can find them if you search but you really have to look.
We burned a Sunday afternoon for cheap and had a great time!
This old haunt has character and still rocks. This is REAL world bowling. Nothing fancy, no special lights or music, not even a pro shop in the place...but the cafe is solid cheap diner fare (the french fries & onion rings are KILLER....and HUGE burgers). The "Lounge" has a cool old style long ass bar to sit and gab at, good cheap drinks, Karaoke. Definately a place that people could "know your name" real quick if you were inclined to make friends. The alley itself has a bunch of pool tables and lots of lanes to bowl on. I hear this place my be a thing of the past soon....so get there while you can. CHEAP FOOD, CHEAP DRINKS, CHEAP BOWLING, CHEAP POOL.....solid and friendly place.....what more could ya ask for?
I would totally go back here--- I don't find it to be that ghetto at all but maybe that just shows my standards... way cheaper than most places!
A nice bowling alley, clean, up to date, full service bar and good customer service. The only problem I had was that some of the balls were way past their prime (chipped and I saw one that had 4 holes in it) and they did not have very many light weight ones for the girls.
best "ghetto" bowling in the south bay!! great for people that live around central/north san jose, or after work bowling.
good cheap bowling alley, with bar, and open until late.
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