Pins Mechanical Co. — Restaurant in Columbus

I’ve come to this Pins location quite a few times over the past five years and love it. They have duckpin bowling and pinball machines, as well as tons of other small games scattered everywhere.

I never buy any drinks and I’m not sure if what they have is any good.

On my recent visit this past Saturday, my wife and I popped in for a quick game of duckpin bowling. We got in pretty fast and had a great time. The only issue is that part way into the game, the lane (#8) malfunctioned. My wife hit a strike yet it didn’t register the back left outside pin. Thinking it was a fluke, we didn’t bother the staff.

Well, it happened again. Rather than let it spoil a perfectly good time, we decided to finish the game and report the issue. BIG MISTAKE!

The person in charge off setting up the lanes was neck deep in helping customers with no one behind the counter to assist her. Thinking I could pop over real quick and tell her about the issue, I approached her. She immediately cut me off and told me to go to the back of the rather long line. The only problem was I wanted to stop her from selling another game on a malfunctioning lane. Nope, she kept cutting me off and didn’t want to hear what I said.

There needs to be a better system for reporting breakdowns because I don’t like being shut down so rudely when I’m clearly just trying to help.

But, that bad experience isn’t enough for me to beat them up. Every business or employee has a bad day, so I’m willing to let that go. However, I’m hard pressed to pay for duckpin bowling now that I know they don’t have a clear system for addressing breakdowns without forcing the paying customer to stand in line to explain it.

Four stars because of the bad experience, otherwise, I’d give them a flawless review. Please take care of your workers, Pins. It’s clear they don’t feel valued if they’re passing they stress off to customers without realizing the customers are...

Here's a brutally honest and scathing review based on your experience:

Absolutely the Worst Bowling Alley—Avoid at All Costs!

If I could give this place zero stars, I would. This was, without a doubt, the most miserable bowling experience I’ve ever had. We were told the wait would be 30 minutes, but guess what? We stood around for over TWO HOURS while the employees barely lifted a finger to help. No apologies, no updates—just a bunch of people standing around waiting while the staff acted like they couldn’t care less.

And when we finally got a lane? Half of them were broken! Balls getting stuck, pins not resetting, and the screens glitching constantly. Every five minutes, we had to track down one of the useless employees to fix something, and of course, they did it with an attitude, like we were the problem for expecting a functional bowling alley.

Speaking of the staff—wow. The rudest, laziest, most unhelpful group of people I’ve ever encountered. They acted like answering a simple question was ruining their day, and they definitely weren’t in any rush to assist anyone. Customer service does not exist here.

The bathrooms were disgusting, the shoes smelled like they hadn’t been sanitized in years, and the entire place felt like it was falling apart. By the time we finally got out of there, I wished we had just gone literally anywhere else.

Do yourself a favor and STAY FAR AWAY from this dump. You’d have a better time bowling in your own backyard with soda bottles and a...

I recently visited this spot for a professional meetup, and it turned out to be a solid choice for a casual gathering. From the moment I walked in, the space felt spacious, clean, and inviting, definitely a warm atmosphere that makes you feel comfortable right away. There's plenty of seating spread throughout the place, so it didn’t feel cramped even during peak hours.

The vibe is relaxed and social. It's easy to picture this place being a go-to for after-work hangouts or informal group meetups. The game area in the back is a nice bonus, offering a fun way to break the ice or unwind after a conversation-heavy meetup.

I was honestly surprised by how busy it was between 5:30 and 7:30 PM. It’s clearly a local favorite during the early evening hours, so if you're planning to meet up during that window, be prepared for a lively crowd.

The food is what you'd expect from a bar-style menu, standard bar fare that gets the job done. It’s not gourmet, but it’s satisfying if you're just looking to grab a bite while socializing.

Parking is limited to paid options, either on the street or in a nearby lot. It’s manageable, but just something to keep in mind if you're driving in.

This place is a great pick for casual get-togethers, team outings, or meeting new people in a laid-back environment. The friendly vibe and ample space make it easy to settle in and enjoy your time. Come for the good company and...