Bowlerama Lanes — Local services in Des Moines

My wife and I went here to bowl as part of a competition among businesses in the city. I would recommend this alley, in short.

On the outside, this bowling alley doesn't look great; the exterior of the building appears to be in pretty bad condition. This is unfortunate, because the inside is actually quite nice. The lanes are well maintained, the technology at least decently up to date, and the atmosphere is good. The only real complaint I have about the bowling portion of the alley is that the chairs are, mostly, these weird attached-to-the-table things that aren't the easiest to get in and out of.

The food here was okay, though not the greatest bowling alley food I've had. The burger I got was a little dry, and the fries a bit overcooked and not very crisp. The mozzarella sticks were good as well. They do charge for water, which is something I dislike, though it is only 25 cents, so at least they're not charging the same price as other drinks.

The people working the pro shop here are also nice, and were helpful in answering some questions I had about coaching services for our kids.

Overall, the alley is good, and I'd suggest hitting this place up if you're looking for a good place to bowl...

Went on Friday night to do the "after dark" (which I thought was the black light bowling it wasn't) 10pm-midnight well got there at 930 because they wouldn't let me set up the lanes over the phone at 1pm. So get there early have to wait that's fine. Lady at the desk was nice but you could tell she was overwhelmed doing it all didn't even get started till 10:15 because she was doing it all and people were Crowding the desk. Then they Announce around 11:30pm that the bowling was over Exactly at midnight & lanes were shutting off! Okay that sucks! We didn't get our two hours because we started late because of them! Then the 15 min warning pops up okay we are almost done with our 2nd game then maybe 5 mins after that the lane breaks! Push reset nothing happens no pins come back down. Push the help button on the lane thing no one comes, try reset again NOTHING. Go up to desk no one there wait 5 mins no comes still! see one teenage kid cleaning up kitchen he doesnt see me apparently now the 5 min warning is on the screen pops up. whatever packed up our stuff and left waste of almost $80 bucks for an hour & a half of bowling for 6 people very disappointed won't...

I have been coming here for over 30 years, not frequently but at least a few times a year - but this was our first time back post-covid. We went here to bowl in the early afternoon last Monday. The staff - 2 women (I believe one is the owner) - were very rude and seemed to be inconvenienced by simple requests. When I walked in and up to the counter, I asked for 2 lanes... considering we had a group of 10 and 7 bowlers, I didn't want to crowd any other bowlers. They both stood there and looked at each other for an awkward 30 seconds trying to see if they could facilitate that... there were at least 18 open lanes and the daycare they used for an excuse for everything, was a small group. When asking for a menu for lunch, I was told, "just so you know, it'll be a half hour or longer for food because of the daycare food". I have never felt more uncomfortable in such a familiar place. Unfortunately, the treatment was bad enough that we will be going elsewhere moving...