Hamilton Hangout — Local services in Hot Springs

So me and my lady friend finally checked the place out last night. First impression when walking in, this place is nice. And smells clean. That impression didn't last, though.

We do a quick walk around tour and get to the bowling shoes section and get our lane paid for, which is a pretty steep price to bowl on. $8.00 per person per game plus $3.50 per pair of shoes. Whatever happened to the old fashioned style of renting lanes by the hour? And the employee had to tell me the same thing 4 times because I couldn't hear him because the music was SOOO LOUD to the point where you are having to holler as loud as you can for the other person to hear you. And the employee did say that it was like that every night. Which the employee himself was really nice and helpful and respectful. Anyways, as we're heading towards our lane, we're greeted with a heavily intoxicated individual part of a group who most, not all, but most are pretty drunk. Dude asks me the same question 3 times in a 5 minute span. So it becomes apparent that the definition of over serving customers is a term not known in this place. One of the dudes in this group fell! Fortunately, the group left out on their own within a few minutes. As we're playing, I'm observing and looking around and noticing that every lane that is now empty still had trash all over the tables and old beer cups and empty shot glasses still laying around the table and booth. And every trash can full to the brim and almost over flowing. And not a single employee walked thru to check the cleanliness in the whole hour and a half we were there. And every empty lane still had every bowling ball from previous patrons there on the lane. What are the employees paid to even do?? There were maybe 20 folks in the whole building the whole time we were in there. And only bout 4 sitting at the bar itself. So you can't pull the busy card. So after our first game, we decide to go get us a couple drinks, cause we couldn't do so during the game, cause if we were to wait without making our bowl within a certain time frame, our turn would be skipped. While waiting for our drinks to be handed to us, what looks to be a manager or the owner starts talking to the 2 female server/bartenders and I wait almost 5 minutes to be handed my 2 drinks, which are sodas, as the 2 females are doing the that wasn't me, that was them, yadda yadda. Which is something that should be done when there are no people waiting for their drinks. So get back to our lane, and start our next game, which was another hefty $8.00 for each of us. Still noticing nothing is being cleaned up, so I cleaned the lane we were on myself just to not have to look at the trash. Then the next thing that became an annoyance, was whoever was DJ'ing, started changing songs when whatever was playing was halfway thru already. Which other guests were audibly getting annoyed with themselves as well. So after we play 3 games, we decide it's time to go. As we are outside waiting for our cab, other patrons are leaving as well and one of them was sooo heavily intoxicated to the point you couldn't understand what she was saying and her friends were having to hold her up. Again, over serving is a thing. And can be something that could get an establishment in serious trouble if something were to happen to the patron once they leave. So all in all, not pleased with our visit. The place does have potential to be a good spot to go, but don't respond with "still working out the kinks," cause y'all have been open long enough that those should be worked out already. The lanes were nice, so that's why y'all didn't get a 1 star. And another thing that bugged me, why have bowling balls that look like Billiard balls but not have a single Billiard table? Bar Box tables are fairly...

We went for my son's birthday and thought bowling and an arcade would be good for a 3 year old.

Bowling was fine and they had balls that our toddlers could pick up. The bar staff was courteous and prompt with our drinks.

After a game of bowling we went to the arcade side for a little more fun for the kids. We loaded up $50 on the game play and the games were reasonably priced with most costing 1 credit to play. Our kids enjoyed playing several games and my daughter lucked out with tickets winning 200 on three games.

The reason for one star. When we went to redeem the tickets we were told that they could combine multiple playing cards tickets into one sum and in total had 391. I knew that wasn't right as the last credit played I did the NERF game and won 500. I asked the employee if there were issues with the computer systems and ticket totals and his response was "I don't know why two grown adults are throwing a fit." My son wanted a little blue car that was 60 and my daughter got a doughnut keyring at 125 with 91 remaining. I questioned the total and he said he didn't know it just subtracts as he scans. I did help him with the math and he "gave us 100 free tickets." Shorted again and trying to understand if the prizes are mislabeled on the amounts I questioned the total again his only reply was the 100 "free tickets." I did go back and forth a couple times with him because I can do basic math rather quickly from my profession but I knew it wasn't going anywhere. We got candy for the remainder of the tickets and left.

The real issue was the lack of any sort of true remedy, he said that he doesn't know anything about the games and tickets with no attempt to try. Computer systems fail but data does remain and I would be willing to bet that there's a way to figure out where the issue is. I wouldn't keep that employee around if this is a reoccurring customer service problem. I've been in and am currently in customer service and understand things happen but with no attempt or empathy towards a solution both parties can agree upon I believe I would put him in the back of the house.

If there isn't a way to find out when people win tickets and correct the total amount I would say the arcade is a massive scam, even more so than they already are. You get the entertainment of playing and hopefully win a little prize at the end for participation in hopes people spend more trying to win said prizes. I know the cost of all the prizes behind the counter total a grand total of $250 but to kids they feel accomplished. I just wanted them each to have a couple knicknacks not the 2500 ticket items on the wall.

I would never recommend here and suggest they go down the road for cheaper bowling and a better experience.

Also if you don't...

I love supporting local businesses and a spot like this has been long overdue so I was quite disappointed in my first experience.

Our intention having heard they have a decent menu was to eat and then make use of the games.

We ordered 3 meals and fountain drinks plus an appetizer. After requesting drinks and an appetizer our server waited for meal ordering and I didn't understand why until later. While they may serve a nice comprehensive menu of sandwiches, pizzas, wings, and fried delights, they charge it like a concession stand and then ignore you while you eat right there at the bar. The fountain sodas are 20 oz styrofoam and cost $2.50, and despite spending the $70 on a quick fried dinner my drink refill still cost an additional dollar. The cups were full of ice so we're talking 10 - 12 oz per fill here. So it's a lesson learned. Don't let the nice bar and menu fool you, you are not paying for a dining experience you are paying premium for concessions off of a nice menu. Despite this, didn't stop the sale system from requesting 15% or more on the tip pre-select buttons. There are not tables for dining but a very large and quite nice bar.

Game prices vary. We spent $40 for my one daughter to game for roughly 40 min. Some were a standard and decent value, for instance the air hockey table is $1. They have a racing game though that is beefed up only by that the entire seat moves to enhance the experience. The race is the same as normal arcade style single race but cost $3 per rider. They didn't use the space well for the arcade. The ratio of playable games and large "spin for tickets" games is too narrow for the space.

I have no bowling experience and can not speak on that.

Positives for the evening are that the place was very clean, somewhat expected being so new but it was notably clean. Staff were friendly and courteous. The building was cool, comfortable, and dry despite the heat and rather high humidity outside.

Very disappointed because I had high hopes. Likely will not...