Valley Center Bowl — Attraction in Salinas

Way too many problems. We were on lanes 18 & 17. Immediately, the ball return wasn't working. After one game, the system kept knocking pins down as if you had bowled your turn (I had only thrown once). Switched to another lane (lane 17). The bar in front of the pins wouldn't move. Then after 3 rounds it started skipping players' turns and not counting points. The lady at the counter was rude, claimed that we paid for a game were turns would be skipped. Extremely unhelpful and condescending. Only good point was the concessions. Guy was super nice and the fries were good. Save yourself a $30 game and bowl somewhere else. Edit: immediately after posting this, the system kept knocking down pins and skipping again. We decided to finish and goof around because we were getting pissed off. Afterwards, the mechanic dude said the system was having problems because we were throwing 2 balls at a time (we did do that, twice, in round 6-7, but the dude said we did it 3 times and that was why). The rounds had been janky by round 3, so that guy was being a dick. When we switch lanes, we also got a random green ball in the ball return that wasn't ours, so there's probably a bunch of balls just hanging around intl the back. The staff overall we're pretty rude and super arrogant, don't go...

Valley Center Bowl is hands down one of the best bowling alleys I’ve been to! From the moment we walked in, the staff was welcoming and friendly, making sure we had everything we needed for a great experience. The facility is well-maintained, with clean lanes, comfortable seating, and a vibrant yet family-friendly atmosphere.

The food was a highlight of the visit! I ordered the nachos, a double cheeseburger, chicken tenders, and a root beer, and every bite was delicious. The burger was juicy and cooked perfectly, the chicken tenders were crispy and flavorful, and the nachos were loaded with toppings. It’s rare to find a bowling alley with food that tastes this good!

The lanes were in great condition, making for a smooth and enjoyable game. The bowling balls and shoes were clean and well-kept, and the scoring system was easy to use. We didn’t experience any delays or technical issues, which made the night even better.

Beyond bowling, they have a nice arcade and pool tables, giving guests even more entertainment options. Whether you’re looking for a fun night out with friends, a family-friendly activity, or even a great place to grab a bite to eat, Valley Center Bowl has it all. I’ll definitely be...

Horrible management. Hopefully the owner does a little undercover and sees how poorly this guy is running the place. He is rude , unprofessional, and places blame and points fingers at customers so he doesn’t have to work causing the business to lose money and have unsatisfied customers. Don’t ruin a place that has been around for years and is an iconic building and place for fun here in Salinas. I have proof of city officials backing of how this guy ruined one kids birthday by kicking them out mid party for a lame reason as small as having a small platter of fruit brought during the week when there was no one else there ; and was not a disturbance to anyone. Why would you lose $200 over a small platter of fruit when you are already including pizza and drinks in your fee ? That is ridiculous and bad business. Also, ruining memories for childrens birthdays is something you have to live with… making little girls cry should not be something a business should be known for when they offer to...