Arsenal Bowl — Local services in Pittsburgh

Arsenal Bowl, located at 212 44th Street, Pittsburgh, PA, offers a retro and lively atmosphere for a fun bowling night, but there are areas for improvement.

Parking near Arsenal Bowl is a significant challenge. The venue is situated on a one-way street heading up towards Children's Hospital. After circling the block twice, we eventually found a spot on the 4300 block of Butler Street. Be prepared for a bit of a walk. The accessibility could also be a concern—reaching the entrance requires climbing a long flight of stairs, raising questions about how those with mobility impairments could access the venue.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by the clerk, Ashley E. While the initial interaction was a bit rocky, she was firm but professional in explaining the house rules (specifically, that street shoes aren't allowed on the lanes). Once we understood the policies, the transaction for shoe rentals and lane time went smoothly. Another staff member deserves a special mention for stepping in to assist when I struggled to find a suitable bowling ball. Her effort to bring out another ball made the experience much more comfortable and enjoyable.

The environment was fantastic, with a live DJ playing classic 60s and 70s tunes that kept the mood upbeat and fun. The crowd was diverse and friendly, with plenty of people chatting, dancing, and, of course, bowling. The nostalgic vibe of the establishment really adds to the charm.

We tried the nachos, but they were average at best. The menu posted near the entrance shows a variety of snacks and sandwiches, which seem fairly priced for a bowling alley. However, the nachos could use improvement in terms of flavor and presentation.

The images provided reflect Arsenal Bowl’s operations well. The receipt confirms transparent pricing with a total of $34.51 for shoe rentals and lane time for two people. The promotional poster highlights fun theme nights like "DJ Night" and "80s/90s Night," which are great for repeat visits. However, the venue's accessibility issues (lack of an elevator or ramp) and the somewhat dated bowling balls could be drawbacks for some visitors.

Despite some logistical and accessibility challenges, Arsenal Bowl offers a welcoming and energetic experience for casual bowlers. The live music, attentive staff, and overall vibe made it a memorable outing. I would recommend it to others looking for a fun, retro-themed bowling venue in Pittsburgh, but be prepared for parking...

Grew up going to Arsenal Lanes as a kid, so when the opportunity arose to visit again as an adult for late night bowling on a Saturday for a birthday celebration presented itself, I was absolutely all in. When we arrived, the decor was pretty much as I remembered it, but the experience was meh unfortunately. For the Saturday bowling it is adults only, however the gentleman that was distributing shoes and such made it seem as if the crowd was full of children. While we had a good time in our group and enjoyed actually bowling, this employee made the whole night uncomfortable. We had just arrived and were directed to our lane, he commented all the lanes are reserved so you all have to stay on your side of the double lane setup, perfectly normal request, we arrived and the folks in the next lane had not, the lanes have incredibly limited space to get your bowling shoes on, yet the lanes allot for up to 6 players, a few of our group sat on the other side of the bench simply to get our shoes changed and he ran over yelling that we had to stay on our side of the bench because the other lane was reserved. For the price per bowler I would've expected more updated tech as far as the scoring and such, this took me right back to the 90's. From there it just continued on all night with this employee, he would pop up like a ninja giving orders. At one point he called over a member of our group and made an accusation about vaping, the mass majority of our group are non-smokers, including the individual he summoned over to the front desk by pointing at her and making the motion with his finger to come over here, seriously once again guy we aren't children. Also to mention we were literally 7 feet if that from the front desk, so make it make sense how if anyone were vaping he wouldn't have seen smoke...just said he smelled it...I will also point out that in the front room there were only two groups that had non-Caucasian individuals within their groups and those were the only people that I observed this employee engage with in a negative manner. While we made the best of an incredibly awkward and uncomfortable situation for the night, we won't be visiting this establishment again...

Location: Good spot in Lawrenceville. Street parking is tight and troublesome. Narrow road on Butler Street and usually a good amount of traffic. Park off a side street somewhere and walk over. It's above Kickback Pinball Arcade which is a great time below.

Venue: Clean and retro. Old terminals and has the classic feel of a bowling alley. It doesn't try too hard and is made for those who enjoy the game without all the fluff. They have a pool table in the back/bar lounge that has a slight lean on it, most of the sticks aren't straight and they have limited 21oz sticks.

Staff/Service: Unfortunately this is where this place needs to improve. The doormen act too forceful for the situation. They are pushy for id and have the hotdog-neck cross-arm attitude which is completely off-putting upon entry. There isn't a welcoming smile hospitality from the crew, and don't expect to get floored by either the service desk or the bartender.

Food/Drink/Bowling: The food is a little pricey. The bartending doesn't require any skill. The beer selection and liquor is limited. They have a $10 cc minimum which makes for a situation if you only want a beer or two. Think very plain menu with drink options. The bowling is fair priced but at the end of the day its a bowling alley. This is a tough place for bringing kids due to ball sizes and the age issues at specific times. They also have certain restricted hours at night and college nights that not only force a flat fee but also have 21+ requirement.

Conclusion: If you want an fun bar and bowling/arcade experience go to Zone 28 in Harmorville (20min drive from Arsenal.) If your in the neighborhood, it's something to do before your show time at the Row House. However, don't make this your destination for a fun night or you may be...