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Acton Bowladrome & Arcade
Categories: Restaurants Active Life Bowling Restaurants, Bowling [Edit]
257 Main StActon, MA 01720
(978) 263-7638
- Hours:
Mon-Tue 9 am - 10 pm
Wed 9 am - 12 am
Thu-Sat 9 am - 11 pm
Sun 10 am - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
15 reviews for Acton Bowladrome & Arcade
15 reviews in English
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Review from Jack M.
Boston, MA
2/21/2012 1 photo
Hectic, confusing, but good place to take kids.
I had a day to handle my 5 year old nephew and 4 year old niece. We had a coupon for this place: $40, 4 people bowl 1 string each, 1 large pizza and a pitcher of soda, includes $7 card to use in the arcade. It was a good deal. My problem was with how hectic and confusing it was.
We finally got someone at the main desk and they were more than happy to hook us up with the coupon. It was a bit hectic there and we had some confusion, but eventually we got it sorted out. The lady behind the counter said she'd come get us when the pizza was ready and that it would be out on one of the tables there. But you're in a crowded bowling alley and the only tables I saw had like 2 tall stools? We have 2 kids with us, lady, where is everything else? What about all these people milling about? Are they gonna take my pizza or sneeze on it or WHAT? I didn't quite like that but let me continue: We took the kids to the little arcade and they had a blast there. The lady did come get us and there was our pizza on a tiny table. I asked if we could take it into the next room - because THAT'S the diner room - the food area. Why not keep it in there away from the maddening crowd? I took the pizza and the kids in there and it was quieter and nice. I got juice boxes for the kids at the diner as well as cups for everyone. And napkins and knives and forks. It's just a weird setup. I had to drag the kids and food to find a place to actually SIT and then locate all the other crap I needed.
Pizza was really good - the kids loved it. We then had more of a wait for our lane - we were told 1/2 hour when we showed up but it was more like 1 hour. The kids were fine sitting and watching people bowl.
We bowled a string - which is fine for little kids. You can just keep playing if you want and then pay when you leave. They did mess up before we got to our lane - some other people sat in our lane when it was clearly OUR names up on the display. We had to kick them out. Again, it was a hectic day there.
BUT - the kids did really like it: The food was good - they had juice there - they enjoyed the bowling - the arcade and different games were fun. OH - PINBALL - big + with me!!!
So - if you got kids, I recommend this place for sure. Easily kill a couple hours here. Just be ready for madness. -
Review from shauna w.
Medford, MA
1/16/2012
The facilities/renovations are great but we were stuck next to 4 8-12 year old girls who behaved like toodlers. Running up the lanes, throwing balls in our lanes, throwing balls backwards at the seats, shrieking like infants. This shouldn't be a dig against The Drome except that they allowed this animals to play with out their parents around to control them. When alerted, the staff did what they could but they really ought to have removed them and never let them bowl with out parents to begin with.
Update: After posting this review as I was leaving the man behind the front desk snarkily said "Thanks for taking the time to Yelp"
Well Bowladrome Thanks for not taking the time to fix the situation when you were clearly clearly aware.
And to follow that up I got an email reply to this review suggesting "Perhaps a wednesday night would have been more suitable for a group like yours."
So now it's our fault because we came at the wrong time? I wish I could give a review of less than 1 start after customer service like that! -
Review from Jessica M.
Waltham, MA
4/14/2012
Not too impressed, especially for the price. I wouldn't go back unless if someone else paid.
Comment from Josh and Lindsey S. of Acton Bowladrome & Arcade 5/1/2012
Thank you for taking the time to review our business! We… More » -
Review from rob c.
12/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
The leftmost TV over the bowling lanes is now the property of my company. It's easy to spot. It's the broken one. But we'll let you use it anyway.
You see, during our office holiday party, something got out of hand. That something was a bowling ball. The nicest, least degenerate, soberest one of all of us, somehow messed up while experimenting with a new technique and fired an underhand line drive into the bezel of the television, making the programming suddenly quite a bit more abstract and colorful. Sadly, we did not get this on video.
To his credit, he 'fessed up immediately; to their credit, we were not immediately thrown out.
Despite allowing shenanigans such as ours, it's a perfectly okay (candlepin, that is) bowling alley, with skee-ball machines in the back, four beers on tap (a heavy emphasis on winters and Belgian-y ones meant i was stuck with PBR), and relatively new, unstinky shoes.
So, next time you're in Acton...
...don't tell them we sent you. -
Review from TG L.
Maynard, MA
8/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very fun! Hubby, kids and I had a wonderful meal. A bit pricy but the Angus burger was awesome. Bowling and arcade was a blast. A great alternative to Chuckie. Would be great for birthday or party.
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Review from Alexander B.
Mickleton, NJ
11/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Always enjoy candlepin bowling when back up in Mass. In terms of pure bowling setup (lanes and scoring), this place is decent. Automatic scoring is relatively accurate (average of 1 error per 10-15 frames) and the lanes didn't break during our two games. Problem with this place is service and price. While we were there, 1 person was working the entire alley and getting things done (like paying for our time there) was a decent wait. Additionally, recommend you stay away from the food/drinks if you can as its ridiculously over-priced.
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Review from Joshua B.
Hudson, MA
This is a report from my visit last night This summer, they're running $1/string Wednesday nights after 7:30. At about 8:15, the lanes filled up so that was good to see.
The music from the performer taking advantage of open mic night was way too loud, so my wife and I finished our second game and paid. Throughout our time there, generally, you'd go to the counter and wait until someone noticed you and came over. I was told the bowling was $2 but I reminded the guy we bowled 4 games so I'd pay him $4.
My wife went to the restaurant and ordered a BLT which was good but she said the fries weren't.
I played Ripley's Believe It Or Not pinball. The left slingshot wasn't working and the third flipper was a little weak. Otherwise playing nice. The Star Wars Pinball 2000 machine had the same dead left slingshot issue. They're down to four pins right now. The other two are South Park and Monopoly which was down. It looked like the bank was being fixed.
Then I went to the new classic arcade room that they're putting together and talked to Josh who is very excited about it. They have a nice collection, but as of last night, only about half are playable. I have high hopes for this room. Josh also says he's moving the pinball machines into this room. I played Phoenix, Spy Hunter (upright) and Ms. Pac Man. Also working are Missile Command, Donkey Kong, and Centipede. Non-working but there are Pac-Man, Galaxian, Beer Tapper, Krull, and Defender. I think I'm missing one.
One piece of great news: The redemption prize counter is in its own room, far away from the main counter.
Candlepin bowling is fun, but a little expensive. It's awesome that the Drome offers cheap bowling Wednesday nights. My only complaint is that the open mic performance was way too loud for comfort.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/31/2010
As long as they provide pinball machines and maintain them, I'm a fan. The current lineup is: Star… Read more »
Comment from Josh and Lindsey S. of Acton Bowladrome & Arcade 8/17/2010
Thanks Josh, for your continued patronage and honest… More » -
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Review from Kerri O.
Updated - 4/9/2010
After a fairly rancorous interchange with the business owner, I've found out a few things.
Here's an update. If you come here, bowl your own lane. Apparently they don't charge by the string, it's by the player. Does this make sense? No, it doesn't. Had I known the policy, the four of us would not have shared a lane. We would have bowled separate lanes. We would have taken up 4 lanes, and been charged the same amount for as we were for one lane for a string. It still makes no sense to me; but whatever. The charge is $4/person a game.
Since I was accused of being I liar, I will state for the record that shoe rentals are two bucks.
I did make a couple of suggestions to the owner, and he did seem to take them to heart. I'll give the place another shot, and review it again.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/6/2009
Well, firstly, it expensive. Like $20 a string.
Secondly it smelled bad. Mildew bad.
Thirdly, even… Read more »
Comment from Josh and Lindsey S. of Acton Bowladrome & Arcade 4/25/2010
Kerri, Thanks for you update! We hope to see you soon. More » -
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Review from Carrie M.
Arlington, MA
6/27/2007
Skeeball.
Enough said. -
Review from Liz P.
Shirley, MA
3/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
Admittedly, I only go here to play DDR, though at some point I'll get around to playing a string or two of bowling.
It's a decent-sized bowling alley and looks to be very well-kept. The arcade leaves a little be desired. They have some good pinball machines, but other than that, it's mostly ticket games for the kids. DDR Extreme is tucked in the corner by the air hockey and pool table. They even provide a fan and keep the lights off, which makes for a nice gaming experience. The machine is also in good working order - all the arrows on the pad respond as they should (some places do not maintain their DDR machines very well). It's a good deal at a quarter a song ($0.75/3 songs).
The arcade machines do not take coins. Instead, you purchase a card that you can refill at a machine with either cash or credit. To play a game, you swipe the card on the machine, and it automatically deducts the required credits. I'm not really a huge fan of this. It's a neat idea, but I'd rather pay with quarters. Of course, that's just me.
Also, a nod to the Tomy brand capsule toy machines and the Pokemon figures you can win with tickets. -
Review from Tammi P.
Salem, NH
8/30/2010
I've been to several local bowling establishments throughout Massachusetts. The Acton Bowladrome & Arcade is truly the best there is. Along with Candlepin Bowling, they have great arcade and pinball machines to play and the prizes are great.
There are bowling leagues to join throughout the week. It's a great place to take your family, for a fun afternoon or night out. I believe the experience is so fun, because the owners, take pride in ensuring you have a good time, every time! -
Review from E B.
Belmont, MA
10/2/2011
Food was awful. My husband and I got a burger. They were both bad. I took two bites and couldn't eat anymore. My kids got pizza, which they liked. But they like all pizza. The only reason I gave it two stars was because the bowling was fun. Disco ball and strobe lights with music. Don't eat there just do bowling.
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Review from Benjamin S.
Brookline, MA
5/14/2009
Rustic and a little dank. You might care, but your kids wont. Has all the necessities of a bowling alley. A word to the wise -- don't try to cheat on the hoops game because an alarm will sound when you register too many shots too quickly. Same with Big Bertha. Only feed her balls, not your hands. Check the game out and that last line will sound less offensive.
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Review from Katie D.
Maynard, MA
10/10/2010
Bowladrome gets 5 stars in my book. It's nice and clean inside, the lanes have been updated, and the prices are very reasonable. I love that they have the restaurant (I haven't tried the food yet, but it looks pretty good), and they have good beers on tap. It's a nice place that my boyfriend and I can go for a cheap night of good fun.
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Review from Stacey C.
Marlborough, MA
8/18/2006
This place is nothing to write home about, but on the other hand it's the only bowling alley I know of in the area. I went here recently in a group that included two little boys, ages 7 and 3, and they seemed to have fun. I thought the place looked a little dated, but everything still worked, which I suppose is the most important part.
