Select Start - Arcade Restolounge — Restaurant in Winnipeg

As an arcade enthusiast, I was thrilled to hear about this place and I can't say I was disappointed. They have a great mix of both new and old arcade games. The cover charge ($10) is very reasonable and is much better than paying per game, because you can just try out all the games and see what you like.

I also appreciated that all the games I tried were in good, working condition (including the older ones). I only saw a couple of machines that were out of commission during my visit.

The decor is absolutely stunning; a lot of work and attention to detail went into designing the place, and it really feels like you've stepped into a little separate world while you're there. It's a big place, and very disorienting to walk around in, but also really engaging. We had a large group (20 people) and had reserved our own little booth/room thing that was really cozy and great for just hanging out and chatting.

A few things I didn't like: you can't actually hear the sound from most of the games, which is disappointing if the game you're playing is dependant on sound (e.g. like most pinball machines). I was hoping they'd go for more of a retrowave/synthwave feel for the background music instead of just the over-played pop hits. The temperature was a bit uncomfortable (admittedly, this was the hottest night of the year); there is air conditioning, but it's not consistent, some spots are much cooler than others.

And there are two air hockey tables, which I loathe, because they make this horrible noise, and these ones were especially annoying. It's really unpleasant if you're trying to play a game anywhere near them.

It can get expensive if you're ordering food and drinks. I had a couple of cocktails, which were excellent. I didn't try any of the food but I would've liked to.

Overall, a great evening and I would really like to go back.

And now a couple of Easter eggs for everyone who read this far:

While all the games are set on free play, some games do require you to press a button next to the coin slot to add credits to the game before you can play it. It's a little confusing because the button is easily missed.

If you want to play Killer Queen (my favourite game) be aware that this game is multiplayer only. Gather a group of 4-6 people, and you can all learn the game at the same time. If you have less than that it doesn't...

Winnipeg’s newest gaming bar, Select Start, opened its doors on January 30th, and I decided to check it out the following day. With high hopes for a fun night of drinks, food, and gaming, my friends and I left with mixed feelings.

First Impressions & Ambience

The decor and atmosphere were definitely a highlight. Someone clearly put a lot of thought into the aesthetic, and I genuinely appreciated the cool, vibrant vibe. Unfortunately, the line-up system was messy and unorganized, with staff offering little guidance on how things worked. The coat check staff and hosts blended into the crowd rather than assisting, and at times, they seemed to be "acting busy" despite coat check already being full.

Drinks & Food

The bartenders were slammed, but I’ll give them credit—our drinks arrived quickly despite the rush. However, the execution was lacking. My Old Fashioned was overly sweet, and my friend’s guava cocktail tasted like a regular refresher. As someone who knows their drinks, I could barely taste the 2oz of liquor.

When it came to food, they were already out of Juicii IPA and chicken fingers, so I settled for bao and fries. The chicken was flavorful and had a nice spice to it, but for the price (~$16), the portion was too small. The fries were a letdown—greasy, soggy, and somehow still undercooked.

Gaming & Crowd Management

This is where things really fell apart. While Mario Kart and air hockey were as fun as ever, there was no floor supervision. Groups hoarded games for over 30 minutes at a time, making it frustrating to actually get a turn.

To top it off, while playing air hockey, a nearby group got overly aggressive, sending the puck flying multiple times. One even hit my partner in the face. While it wasn’t serious, it was still rude and completely avoidable with better crowd control.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Select Start felt chaotic, crowded, and poorly managed. While the concept and ambiance are great, the lack of organization, inconsistent drinks, and subpar food make it hard to justify a return visit anytime soon.

If you're looking for a proper gaming-bar experience with quality drinks and food, I’d honestly recommend Rec Room over this. Maybe things will improve as they settle in, but for now, it’s a pass for me.

Would I go again? Not...

I really liked the vibes of this place but I think it stops there. I understand that it was busy but the staff acted like they didn’t want to be there and it felt like it was an inconvenience to them to try and have good customer service. Inconsistent drinks and mid food.

I went on a busy night and props to the bartenders for keeping up with the rush, though I was very disappointed with the drinks. My espresso martini was extremely flat, had no foam and the beans were js floating because of their buoyancy and not the foam. My partner’s drink just tastes like lychee syrup with carbonated water. Again, it was very busy that night and these drinks might be better made during a less busy night.

The food was okay and not the best. The lemon pepper wings are the best, it was cooked very well that the meat just fell off the bone. The pan fried ramen is not worth $20… it was extremely salty. It tasted like a home cooked meal. It tasted like packet ramen with bok choy. The chicken tenders were good and moist but were very oily along with the onion rings. After 3 bites all I could taste were the oil it was cooked in. Some items in the menu were unavailable and sold out so I might have to give their food another shot but I’m not rushing to try again.

The games were fun but I think there needs to be better crowd control. The bigger groups hog most games and you almost spend your entire night walking around to find another game or waiting around. There should also be wipes available as the games get extremely oily from everyone’s hands which doesn’t feel great.

Overall, I think I would only go back to play games and drinks even though it might be a hit or miss. But for the same experience, I would go to the rec room to avoid the lines. Once the hype dies down, maybe the quality of service will be better once...