Metro Bowl — Local services in Crystal Lake

This place always keeps me coming back whenever possible. Is it the retro aesthetic? Is it the fact that you have to score your games yourself? Is it the classic rock that plays through the speakers? Is it the homely atmosphere that Jim (proprietor) has between patrons and the other staff? No matter the reason, Metro Bowl is a very charming gathering place with a well-maintained set of lanes. If you do wish to bowl, be sure to call ahead - their hours are very limited and the small size tends to prioritize leagues (at the time of this writing, there is an ongoing league running every day...

When my two daughters were little, we would go to Metro Bowl every Friday night to roll a few games, have the best root beer in the planet, and share a couple bags of sour cream and onion chips. The learned math scoring by hand and impressed all their friends with their ability to score a game. now it's twenty years later, the place is still like a comfortable favorite shirt. The Contos family is as warm and gracious as ever. This is a Crystal Lake landmark and jewel. You...

This place is great. It definitely comes from a time when every small town had a bowling alley and people went to the bowling alley to bowl (this is not a Brunswick Zone). There is no electronic scoring so brush up on how to keep score. Cash only business but the games and drinks are inexpensive. Only down side is that open bowling times are limited because of...