A.K.A Arcade & Bar — Attraction in Pasadena

I'll write the pros first because it wasn't a horrible experience as far as the place itself and just going for a day and paying regular price is okay but I WOULD NOT recommend booking a party for soooo many reasons! Check out cidercade downtown instead, I wish I would have know about them sooner!

Pretty decent prices , almost everything is free play with a variety of games including a wall of pinball machines and even old school atari and genesis consoles next to Xbox and Playstations, Even board games! The entrance price is great for the pool tables alone. Alot of the games you have to check out the items (console controllers, pool balls, air hockey, darts etc) by giving them your ID to hold. There are a handful of broken games, wish they had signs on them.

Now for the very lengthy cons and my bad experience in detail....

I talked to BOTH owners (husband and wife) over a month in advance of my son's bday party, I was convinced by owner to have it on a sat instead of friday, i was asked about cake details as well as which food options I wanted (a slice of pizza or hotdog and fries).

Two in a half weeks before I tried calling and getting in touch with owner to go over and confirm details and send deposit, I could not get ahold of her but was texted and said she was occupied and would call soon....several times. A few days before she called and everything was changed as far as what was offered, no food package, no party package at all despite me willing to pay $200 for the package without the host and only having about half the people min. Allowed for the price. The husband and wife talked and told me they would give me a discount on admission of $10/ person. I was very clear and said several times that I would be paying for everybody, there was !!NOT!! Any mention of the price of only kids or only for birthday kid or NOTHING!!

My mother arrived before me and was charged $15 each, I got there and the host Tatiana was initially sweet and helpful , she decorated and set up two tables for us which was sweet and looked good, more than I was expecting. She became hard to find once I told her (three times) I would not be ordering any food. Even when I asked her to bring out the cake and (my) ice cream she disappeared after bringing them out. I wasn't worried about it because I was already having a horrible experience and didn't expect any more from them. Every single one of my guest was not only over charged but the girl at the door was ARGUING with me and one of my guest that he HAD to pay after agreeing that I would pay for everybody all together at end of night. He paid to stop the arguing. So I had to refund my guests not the $10/person it was SUPPOSED to be but $15 each!! I was and still am lividly pissed about that !! I am now completely flat broke barely having made it home bc no gas money or nothing.

There were alot of younger "staff" just sitting around playing games themselves or sitting AT THE BAR! not really doing much of anything, just makes me wonder who was actually a paid employee and who were the friends hanging out and drinking for free?

So instead of paying what should have been $90 entrance fees + $25 cake ($115) ended up total cost being $155 plus food ! All of my guests were uncomfortable in one way or another with the staff being rude and intimidating, us having to do everything ourselves including getting the console game area up and running despite asking for help several times.

NEITHER OF THE OWNERS EVEN SHOWED FACE to welcome us, say happy birthday, ask if everything was okay NOTHING until end of night when the "host" and the little gang of kids was trying to force me to pay EVEN MORE MONEY!! Even the man acted like he didn't know about the discount I was supposed to receive, claiming his wife said it was only for me and my son (BULLSHH!!) but didn't even know about me paying the deposit that was part of total cost....so how does that even add up.

MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH COMMUNICATION, TRUTHFULLNESS AND OVERALL PLANNING ON THEIR PART !!

The cake was really...

The first time I went to this place I had an awesome experience and really felt like I found a hidden gem. They hadn't been open long and I liked how new things were being added.

Went back today and unfortunately was disappointed to say the least. First arcade game I tried the down direction had problems on the joystick. Went to play Frogger, joystick also malfunctioning. Funhouse, one of my favorite pinball games, was missing the pinball, the machine next to it, Demolition Man, had a broken DMD display and right flipper that didn't go all the way down, and issues with the right flipper on the machine next to that one.

Wanted to try ski ball, but they had the machines disabled, and several others were either unplayable, out of order, or Arcade1up replicas.

For a price of $15 per person, I feel a better job could be done with keeping the machines maintained, and at least put an Out of Order sign on the ones not working. Test your equipment regularly and audit them to see what isn't working, etc.

Not sure if I would go back, but if I do hopefully they can get these issues ironed out because I love the idea of having a family friendly game room with old school games...

My family and I had been looking for a family friendly place to spend time together and we all actually have a good time. It took me awhile to check this place out. But all it took was 1 time and we were HOOKED! Now, we go at least once each week. The staff are incredibly friendly, helpful, and dedicated. They are always adding new things, new drinks, have various specials, events like karaoke, stand up comedians, NYE party, pics with Santa, pool, darts, and various gaming tournaments, vendors, etc. The prices are so affordable and they offer a monthly memberships! Soooooo many games! All of the old and new popular gaming consoles, pinball machines (including one from the original Gilley's), board games, VR Room, and the list goes on and on! I could write so much more but it wouldn't do this place and friendly staff justice! You must check it out for yourselves! Family owned and operated, AKA is definitely a...