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Categories: Restaurants, Bowling, Music Venues [Edit]
810 W Lake StMon-Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
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Bryant Lake Bowl, you are so old-school. Because your lanes are not automated, I am forced to score by hand. Not knowing how to score a game of bowling and finding the instructions insufficient, I score the game incorrectly or in my eyes, the new and improved scoring method v2.0.
Your drinks are bountiful and varied, your menu offerings gourmet. Whilst your happy hour nachos beckoned to me like a siren perched on the rocks, they were dry and slightly burnt, despite the toppings heaped on. But they made the experience more "authentic."
So why do I love thee Bryant Lake Bowl? Perhaps because I am the last Minnesotan who hadn't been. Perhaps because it feels like it belongs to a city bigger than Minneapolis. Or perhaps because of the totally abundant and inconvenient parking, when I walk in your doors, it feels like I have been to this place before and that's what makes it right.
For brunch: good. Also they had some decent vegetarian options for my friends. Even though we had to wait a bit for brunch, it was not too long, and service was friendly and good in an unobtrusive way.
Send some one ahead to stake a spot on the wait list for brunch.
I love this place. The only reason it's not a four star location is the restaurant in front needs a service overhaul. I couldn't get any attention when I wanted it, and the response time was chaotic and slow.
That said, the mix of food, booze, and entertainment (not to forget bowling!) is blended well...
We went to see Splendid Things (improvisational rockstars) throw down, and while my buddy Eric might say the show was not their best, I couldn't stop laughing. To that point, since I have been coming here in high school, BLB has been bringing the talent in gateway fashion.
Roll the dice on any show or hit up Splendid Things on Mondays nights. You will be charmed at the very least.
Came here for breakfast on Sunday before leaving town. It was great. I had the Greek Omlette. We sat at the bar and the bartender was quite attentive. Everything was pretty decently priced too...except it was $4 for a glass of OJ. Seems a bit steep, but overall had a good time here!
This place is tragic. I went there with my father who was visiting from out of town with the lure of 'cheap date night'. The meal for the special isn't a restricted selection from the menu but something entirely different that amounts to a 'special of the day'. We opted out of the cheap date because you would have had to eat tortellini with a cream sauce ( I had to have the server clarify what exactly the menu item was) .
The food was fine, an app.(7) and two entree's (8.25 ea. ) . At this point the food was reasonably priced and good for the 24$ but much to our surprise our bill was 51$ by adding on two beers each. 7.50$ for a pint of beer is TOO MUCH!!! Besides the expensive nature of the beer I ordered a Bells seasonal ( a local company which should = a bit cheaper, right? right?) and DIDN'T EVEN GET A FULL PINT!. Upon asking our server why this was she gave me some line about it having a higher alchol content. Look, it's not a Delerium Tremens or anything, it's just another way for them to stick it to you. Very upsetting, I know better and have worked as a professional in the industry for over 15 years.
The food was decent, the ethics behind the business assured I will never go back and steer any who ask me well away.
While in Minneapolis, Sarah P showed me the local music listings site and asked if I wanted to go see any of the shows. I saw that Kaiser Cartel was playing here and immediately jumped on board.
The people in the bowling area part of Bryant Lake were less than ecstatic to see us or help us, but once we found the box office and got into the theater it was smooth sailing. Our server was fantastic at getting us food and drinks without disrupting everyone else's view of the stage.
And the venue is awesomely intimate - a handful of tables upfront and then theater-style rows in the back. It was small enough that for the last song Kaiser Cartel sang acapella while walking around the seats and we could hear just fine. These are the kind of places I love seeing shows at. My only complaint is there really isn't any standing room to see a show so if you like standing or happened to see a danceable band this wouldn't be the best venue for you.
I have only been here twice.
Both of which, coincidentally, were while on dates.
Date #1:
I was with a cool guy and it was our fifth date.
I had decided to pick up the tab early on in the evening
because I wanted to show a nice gesture and that I was into him.
So, we bowled a couple games, ordered an appetizer
and enjoyed quite a few beers.
We had the spinach and artichoke dip for the app,
it was super delicious and I totally loved it.
I ordered a few Ace Pear Cider beers, which is a favorite of mine
that I don't normally see on most bar beer menus,
so I was really happy to see it offered here.
The bowling area is nice and dimly lit,
kind of secluded, which is awesome because I suck at bowling.
Our tab ended up being $75. . . .
2 games, 1 app, 6 beers.
It was a little more than I was expecting at the time,
but when I lay it out like that it doesn't seem too bad.
Date #2:
Stuck to the bar area this time.
It was a little crowded by the bar.
But we were able to grab a table and have a little space to ourselves.
I ordered a few Ace Pear Ciders again,
Yummy!!!
I had a good time,
but this could be because my date picked up the tab :)
I love the big long bench that is out in front of this place.
I have been wanting to make it out here around 5-6pm
so I could just sit on the bench and drink some beers
which watching the rush hour traffic pass me on Lake.
Good location for people watching.
I found the clientele to be alright.
The servers weren't too shabby or stuck up.
I don't feel like this is a place I would frequent too much
because it has potential for being a little 'too cool' for me.
I like a place that I can hoot and holler and not get dirty looks.
I feel like this place might not be able to handle me at full throttle.
Went to cheap date night last night with a friend. The wine was good - not some cheap crap like I have had at other places. The dish was a ravioli with tomato cream sauce - excellent - and they added shrimp for no extra charge - grilled to perfection.
Will definitely be hitting this up again!
We didn't bowl, but they gave us tokens for a free game for when we wanted to come back!
I haven't been terribly impressed by Bryant Lake Bowl's food and service, though I do think the place is fairly cool and has an unusual concept that keeps the neighborhood edgy and smart (unlike, say, Tiger Sushi around the corner).
First, on the few occasions I've been to BLB, I've noticed the service is slow and not overly warm.
Second, I'm not impressed with the food. There are only two or three vegan options on the whole menu and none of them were particularly good, in my opinion. The tofu scramble was slight and bland. The mock duck spring rolls were decent, but only worth getting for the happy hour price of $4.50 (normally they cost a whopping $8). I've also had a black bean burger, which is only vegan if they serve it to you on a baguette, instead of a bun. Well, baguettes and burgers are not meant to go-together, so that was a mistake on my part; also, the burger itself is clearly just a Gardenburger patty you could get at a grocery store.
BLB, you got a nice concept, but you need some new dishes (how about a seitan burger? or a faux chicken burrito?) to get my business.
Went here for breakfast. I found this place from the feature on the Food Network. It did not disappoint. I had the BLB Scramble which was eggs scrambled with onion, red pepper, tomato, broccoli. Food was fantastic!
The coffee was the best I have had in a very long time. I must have had 6 cups.
Rarely does a bowling alley/restaurant/bar do all parts well, but Bryant-Lake certainly does. The food was above average, I had a grilled cheese with tomato and smoked trout -- a great idea. The beer selection was also above average, two different Summits on tap along with some Unibroue and others. And of course, the bowling was a blast. A well-cared-for vintage set-up and self-scoring make for a good time without all the fuss. And you can drink at your seat with full service.
But the best part was how seamless they made the whole experience. As we were wrapping up our dinner, they asked if we were planing to bowl. While we finished our meal, they got us set up on a lane and gave us the run-down. No "pay your tab here first" or "go talk to so-and-so." They passed us off in person and took care of everything. One bill, one waitress, and a great time.
Next time, I think I'll have a beer out front first. The bench and cafe tables facing the street look fun. I also saw they have a theater and music.
Highly recommended.
BLB can be one of the liveliest places to throw down a few and have some laughs or whatever in Minneapolis. Last time I was there the staff accommodated us with wine glasses to drink PBR out of! I doubt this is a common thing but it's just an example of the atmosphere of the place; you may even see some 'local famous' people enjoying themselves. You get to see who the real people are. It's easy to feel relaxed at such an energetic place. At least that's my experience.
Highly recommend getting a group together and reserving a lane, it's somehow a rather unique place to bowl, what with a hoppin' bar right behind you and all.
In July, I spent the weekend in Minneapolis. On my travels I like to stay away from downtown and chain restaurants and check out the neighborhood local flavor. This bowling alley/restaurant/bar/theater is a cool place. I actually went there for dinner first, did not care for what I saw, so I went back in the morning. I highly recommend the breakfast. The coffee kept coming, the burrito was excellent, the BLB fries/chips were homemade, and I really appreciated all the vegetarian and vegan options. I also liked the music playing overhead and the fact that there was a bowling alley in my peripheral vision.
So, Bryant Lake Bowl has a number of attractions
*Food
*Booze
*Bowling
*Theater
Personally, I can recommend the booze and the theater venue. The theater space is intimate so it is perfect for the plethora of small arts groups and artists that inhabit the Twin Cities. I recommend arriving early so that you can choose a seat that isn't directly behind a pole AND they usually have servers to get your the beverage or food of your choice, right there in the theater!
The bowling is old school (no automatic scoring) so be prepared to use little pencils and pad to keep track of your own score. But, it is super retro and cool. I prefer automatic scoring since I haven't had much experience scoring, but more power to you if you are rockin the score card.
Have been told that there is an amazing date night special...bowling for 2, a bottle of wine, and 2 entrees all for $28. The food is supposed to be really good, but again I have not been to date night myself. I was there last night with about 15 friends and we had a good time. It was neighborhood night, they had drink specials and dollar bowling (shoes are separate).
Old school bowling (keep your score manually), good food, bar area, and a theater to the side of the bowling lanes.
We were a scattered group of 15 so Im not going to complain about the service not being the best. Im sure it would have been way different if we were a "normal" group.
Come here for breakfast, happy hour, dinner, or late night. Great for dates.
Always popp'n and consistently good.
I love BLB. Many of the criticisms are accurate - service can be hit or miss, it gets too crowded at times, food makes an occasional misstep. But I don't care. I was giving a housing tour with a friend this weekend and when we drove past BLB she tried to tell people how awesome it was but, really, this place defies quick drive-by descriptions.
Dinner theater? Well, yes, you can see a play and order anything off their menu while there. And usually I've enjoyed whatever play it was. Plus it sometimes spills over to the dining room. Like the time they were doing 'point break live' and dudes in wetsuits came running out and ran out the door into the snowy Minneapolis night.
Hipster hangout? sure. They have the vibe and attitude, plus they can back it up with a great beer list and generally tasty food. especially brunch.
Bowling alley? Yup, but not your average scene and is actually a cool place to go. Remember when they tried to make bowing cool with black lights and 'cosmic bowling?' It's thankfully not that. I have no problem with the hand scoring - it clues me in that it's time to go home when I'm too drunk to add anymore. One thing that would help though - pitchers!
All in one great night out? Cheap Date Night on Mondays! Food! Wine! Bowling! How can you beat booze, chow, and entertainment for only $25 (for two).
Three words: Cheap Date Night.
For $25, you can get dinner for two, a bottle of wine and bowling for two. It's super packed, but within reason. I've been there twice for CDN and it's always a good time. Service can be hit or miss with the crowd, plus there's no wonderful place to wait for your table. But seriously, what a deal! Plus the food is pretty darn tasty and wine is always welcome.
Knocking off a star for the lackluster service and food last night. When my group of four sat down, the restaurant was definitely busy, but not full. Even so, we were prepared for a wait just because it was a Saturday night.
No one was feeling super-ravenous, so we opted for nachos, a salad, a side of potatoes and a bowl of chili. Nothing too complicated. The food took about 45 minutes to come out. By the time it was dropped off, the crowd had thinned pretty significantly, and we were left wondering what the hell could have taken so long.
The food itself was no help. The nachos kinda sucked - only a few got hit with cheese and beans, and the tomatoes and peppers overwhelmed. The potatoes were apparently cold, and the chili was too spicy to be edible. I think the salad was OK, but it's hard to eff up a Caesar.
Our server was fine, and she did stop by to tell us out food would be out soon, but didn't acknowledge the long wait or seem to care. Whatever, no biggie. Another server came by a few times to fill water glasses, and she radiated bad mood; like, no attempt to hide that she was not having a good night. Again, whatever, but it added to the overall bad vibe. Luckily, I was in good company, and we had a great time nonetheless.
Also, charging for soda refills??? Who does this anymore?
I love the Cheap Date Night special on Mondays - $25 for two entrees, a bottle of wine and two games… Read more »
Bryant Lake Bowl is the not-gay gay-bar: it's a chill atmosphere that attracts a good group of both straight and gay people. For the queers, the crowd's usually a lot better (and more attractive) than the shreiky suburbanites who drive down to the 90s on the weekends, and the prices a lot cheaper. They serve some pretty good food all day, although I wouldn't normally go before dinner.
The bowling alley in back can be a lot of fun if you don't look like a idiot when you bowl. I've learned from my mistake... you can find me at the bar.
I stand by my review that BLB food is not up to par. I can see that the owner "anon. a" is really upset by what I said, but it seems obvious you are more worried about BLB employees' jobs (HELLO you are giving yourself away!) than about customer satisfaction. I see that your TWO reviews are 5-stars for Barbette and BLB, both of which are owned by the same person. Is that you Kim Bartmann?
Maybe your vegetarian options are numerous but frankly I dont LIKE most of what you have to offer. The dishes I have tried have been severely mediocre, which leads to my severe lack of adventurous attitude for trying the rest of them. I expect more of the same. In cases like this, it's up to you (the owner/employee/cook) to either try to impress me or to let me continue to see your food as mediocre.
If lots of dishes can be served in special vegetarian ways maybe you should get your servers to mention this and offer suggestions. If you think they already do this, perhaps you should do a training review. I have never been advised.
I am doing what all your customers are doing--looking at what the menu offers--not trying to come up with new creations that are available for me to eat. That's YOUR JOB.
And about the chili, I just said it tastes like Amy's. I'm sure it is made in-house but my comment was more about the lack of innovation or uniqueness, not an accusation that you actually serve Amy's. I'm just saying the flavor is nothing I cant buy at the grocery store for $5 less.
Regardless, I usually have a fun time at BLB but I certainly dont go there to eat.
Honestly, I always expect more from BLB. The place LOOKS cooler than it really is. What you can… Read more »
I really love this joint. They have a great selections of beers, both on tap and in the bottle. The service is always friendly, and I really appreciate that they know what is/isn't vegan and have an ample selection of veggie/vegan food. My faves are the mock duck rolls, black bean burger, veggie chilli, and tofu scramble. They also make a mean mimosa. I like the option of bowling after a meal, and I have seen a few productions in their little theater. BLB pretty much rocks all around..
I've been here to bowl, to drink, to eat, and to be merry. My first visit here was under odd circumstances, but I had long been curious about this place to I gave it a shot. Within the next couple weeks were my next several visits. The atmosphere is superb. The location is great. The beer selection is top notch. Whenever I go to Mpls, this is one of my first visits. I've been fond of this place for years.
Any place that has so many beers (and local ones!) on tap and people around who can talk about them... that gets my vote! It's perfect and quirky and the grilled cheese w/ tomato and garlic is SO GOOD.
I recommend happy hour!
i need the and name number of the carpenter that made the genius bench/table pieces on the sidewalk. enjoy a great local brew (or cigarette) while watching bohemians bike/blade by or step inside for simple and on-point food from a small, but hard-working kitchen. the mushroom/bleu cheese burger was amazing as was the grilled cheese (add tomato) I sampled.
the bowling was cheap and more do-it-yourself than any other alley i've been too. and i mean that in a good way. make sure you have a mathematician or some addition flash cards in your group because you'll definitely be keeping your own score on paper.
BLB is a non-negotiable, must-go.
Great food made fresh. Great veg options. The carrot cake was exceptionally delicious.
Not only is the Cheap date night all that you want a cheap date night to be, but it's more. The food is great, I mean c'mon it was on the food network for "Diners, Drive ins, & Dives". But, go early, it gets busy all of the sudden. The menu has both Veggie, and non-veggie for the night, the wine is alright considering the price, and the atmosphere is sooo uptown, without being snobbish. Service was great, food great, wine good. All for a low low price that includes bowling.
I had the best turkey sandwich here of my life and that includes thanksgiving leftovers. I think I blocked out the details so I could concentrate, but there was definitely turkey, definitely cranberry something, probably garlicky something. Check it out if something on the menu smacks of my vague description.
Drink specials several nights a week. Sunday is neighborhood night and a good night to go if you want to bowl. Monday night is aptly date night, because BLB is a great place to take a first date ($2x for a bottle of wine, two entrees, a game of bowling). Inexpensive, good beer selection, and something to do - maybe the competition will ease your nerves or even put you in the mood.
Keep in mind, BLB is tiny. The eating space is tiny, the bowling space is adorably tiny, so don't come in with a group unless you call ahead. And be prepared to wait. You might see a celebrity or you might be able to take your drink outside to wait, but chances are good if you come in the evening, you won't get seated right away.
Minus one star? I got charged $7 for a Jameson on the rocks on Halloween. I don't know if that's what they charge (because it's out of line!) or if the waitress was taking advantage of our Halloween state, but I've been kind of miffed ever since. Stick to beer.
Oh, and check out the dance, comedy, and theater performances in their adjancent (tiny) performance space. Some of the best amateur works in the city if you hit it on a good night.
When I lived 2 blocks from BLB this was my hangout. When I moved about 10 blocks away I didn't even second-guess the extra walk for breakfast. Now that I'm 1000+ miles away I jump at every opportunity to go back to BLB. Decent selection of tap beers, great breakfast, lunch & dinner menu options.
BLB has always been more of a breakfast place than a lunch or dinner place to me. The scrambled egg options include broccoli, cream cheese, feta, spinach, jalapeno peppers and many others. Try the Eggsadilla and the french toast! Check their website for the menu.
In retrospective I can see why this place gets less than 4 stars from people these days. It's gotten quite popular and very busy & annoying during the rush hours. I highly recommend checking out BLB on an off hour. Once you get hooked you might be able to overlook the wait.
The theater and the bowling, which I admittedly never took advantage of, are a nice addition to a great restaurant.
The food gets the only stars from me on this place and only for the taste not the prices. For the most part my run ins with the employees have been spiced with Uptown elitist douchery.
I've never eaten here so I can't comment on the food. I've just had drinks while bowling and all I have to say is I seriously cannot stand their staff. They have this 'punker than thou' attitude where you feel like you have to roll your sleeves and show them your tattoos so they'll think you're cool enough to bring a drink or make slight eye contact acknowledging your presence. It's SOOOO fecking irritating! Yeah, I get it, they live in Uptown and have dreads with tattoos and they work at a bowling ally... They're so cool and would probably win a prize for it out in the crappy little suburb they grew up in. I mean, it's such an accomplishment to go from IHOP in Eden Prairie to Bryant Lake and Bowl in Uptown. You know the area code you work in defines who you are as a person and especially if it's 612. For the love of Pete... I moved here from Hollywood and the Upitude in 55408 blows me away- It's the equivalent to 90210 only difference is it wreaks of patchouli and for God sakes I wish someone would tell them to stop wearing that crap!
Minnie-sota, I will be back. Just to visit this nifty little place again. After the meat-riffic-ness of Christmas I did a veggie detox there the day after and loved all that I ate. And all that I nibbled off of other plates. My black bean burger with cheese (and sauteed mushrooms and onions) was so tasty. If only I was able to finish it. But alas, after the appetizer and bowl of tomato basil soup, I could not. And I am sure that the pints of beer sure helped to fill me up. But oh how tasty they were. If you are from out of town, this is one helluva place to drink local.
Sadly, the closest likeness I can think of to it in Chicago is so yuppie it is nauseating. And the food is no where near as tasty either. Guess I will just have to wait until I head north again. Til then, stay kewl Bryant-Lake. Next til I will be sure to roll some 10 pin with you, baby.
A mix of theatre, restaurant, and bowling alley in the heart of Uptown, happening to serve both beer and coffee. I love this place and wish I had discovered it earlier.
When I went home for Spring Break last year, I took my 16 year old cousin and 20 yr old friend and both liked it. On the other hand, my mom's office went for a work party, and she complained about smoke for a few hours after she got back. If that gives you any idea about the atmosphere...
Bowling, entertainment, great brunch, and/or a good place to just get a beer with friends. Not to mention its centrally-located location. (Which in the frigid months in Minneapolis is key for socializing!)
The famous Lyn-Lake area's Bryant-Lake Bowl hosts the usual off-crowd odd theater productions, eclectic selection of booze, counterculture-friendly food selections, and all the theater-crowd unfiltered cig type people you can handle.
Definitely worth a stop but make sure to underdress before you go.
If you're looking for a solid breakfast spot and the Uptown Diner is too far away, Bryant Lake Bowl is a good alternative. The BLB is something of a legend in Lyn-Lake and has everything from great breakfasts, to awesome sandwiches to a really great beer selection. Ever have a Duval Weiss? It's awesome and i have only found it at Bryant Lake Bowl. Oh, and you can bowl there too. I highly recommend this place.
Insiders note - for lunch try the Tuna Melt - whole grain bread, cheddar cheese and a tuna salad made with wasabi.
I would give it a 3.5 if there was an option. I think if I were going there to bowl and what not, I would also give it more stars. We were there to check it out before going to Wicked on a sunday night. Service was o.k., about what you would expect for 3 stars. The food was maybe a 4 star. I had the pad thai, and my wife had the Mahi Mahi special. Mine had more taste, hers was o.k.. Ambiance is definitely very cool. I would go back just for that. Food probably won't bring me back, Service wouldn't either, but just the coolness (yeah that's a word) would. They do have Surly beer on tap, so that may get me back!
Beer selection galore, pub food worth eating, bowling, oh and over there in the corner; that's a theatre for plays or music. I've never seen a more diverse use of space.
Plus, I love that they filmed a scene from Beautiful Girls there.
Yawn
best. french. toast.
excellent bacon and egg dishes, coffee by the pot (you choose the size) and great espresso in a fun, funky spot. lunch and dinner are strong, too, but it's blb's breakfast that makes me miss minneapolis on a saturday morning!
Happy Hour Specials
Minneapolis, MN
new items
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis, MN
Category: Bars
Minneapolis, MN
Category: Dive Bars
Minneapolis, MN
Category: Dive Bars
Minneapolis, MN
Category: Dive Bars
Minneapolis, MN
Category: Bowling
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