FlashBack RetroPub OKC — Restaurant in Oklahoma City

I’ll try to keep this review short, sweet, and to the point. We visited the Flashback Retropub on a Thursday night just hearing about it through word of mouth, and I’ve got to say, it was well worth my time! Parking- 2/5 There really was no place along the streets to get a spot, but there was a parking garage a little less than a block down the way that charged $5 for the night which was fine compared to some other lots, they accept cash and credit. Atmosphere/Environment- 5/5 If you’re a product of the 80’s, it’s almost like stepping into a time machine! From the graffiti laden walls to the neon lights underneath the bar, there’s always something to catch your eye and get your member berry juices flowing. There was rarely a time that I saw something and didn’t say “Oh yeah, you ‘member that?”. Arcade cabinets line the wall and there are some great machines to be sure! ‘Member the simpsons arcade game? TMNT? Well, they’ve got them! The good thing about going on a weekday is that I didn’t have to stand around and wait for a machine to open. I also didn’t have to try to peer through the shoulders of the big kids hoping I’d get my chance on the cabinet. Just wish they had a couple of pinball machines for good measure. Pricing- 4/5 It’s a bar in downtown Oklahoma City, so expect to pay anywhere from $5-$8 for an adult beverage of your choice, and possibly lower for non-alcoholic. They have a jug full of water for free, so that’s a nice touch instead of waiting for the bartender to get some water, you can pour your own! Also, all arcade cabinets are free play with a 2 drink minimum. Ah yes, this is a great transition into the next category of this review: Drinks- 5/5 Whether you’re there to wallow in self pity and drown your sorrows, or there with friends looking for a good time playing some games and spamming Sub Zero’s freeze move in MKII, they’ve got just the beverage you need! If you like beer, oh boy do they got you covered! Above the bar on the wall is a nice comprehensive list of what beers they have and what state they come from. I didn’t get an exact count of how many they have available, but I can tell you it’s a wide selection to quench your thirst. For a few minutes. Then you have to go to the bathroom. Then another beer. Wash, rinse, repeat. Then they have their signature drinks and shots. We tried a few for this review that just sounded great. They all have fun names and they’re full of sugar to keep your on your toes, or knock you off of them, whichever you’re there for, I’m not gonna judge. We started off by trying the Pretty in Pink and the Flux Capacitor (ah, ‘member Back to the Future?). They were nice. $8 apiece. Then we tried the Moonwalker (anyone play that weird Michael Jackson game on SEGA Genesis? He turns into a robot!) and the Ring Pop, which, believe it or not, comes with a Ring Pop! Nice touch Retrocade! The Moonwalker is more or less a White Russian. Good Stuff. And the Ring Pop, tastes just as good as the real thing! Once again $8 apiece. Then there are the shots. We tried the Nerds shot (which comes with a little box of Nerds, yum) and the Dubble Bubble shot. Both were excellent! Oh man, if you don’t like candy, the signature shots may not be for you, but really give them a (pun intended) shot! $7 apiece. And yes, we chased down our shot with the box of Nerds. Worth it. No regrets on that! Cleanliness- 5/5 The floors weren’t sticky, there wasn’t any dust on the machines, as a matter of fact, all the arcade cabinets have cup holders and there’s a strict no drinks on the machines policy. Good touch. The latrines were nice and well kept and stocked with paper towels. No complaints on cleanliness. Thank you Retrocade. Staff- 5/5 During our visit, there was only 1 person on staff, tending the bar, making sure everything was kept tidy, keeping an eye on the machines and checking on guests. She was spot on. She also knew her drinks and really gave great recommendations. I could tell she was getting a little worn out doing it all on her own, but she kept a smile on her...

I had heard about this place a while back and it sounded amazing! Free unlimited play until 12 am! I checked the traffic of the place for a Monday night and saw it’s usually dead. I sent a message to the Facebook page prior to going with just a few questions regarding costs because nothing is ever “free.” The responder assured me there’s only a cover of $5 on Thursday and Friday unless it’s a special event and the games are always free. Pretty cut and dry. I had been having a rough day and just wanted a place to chill out with my brother and a new experience. I take my brother there Expecting a few hours of laughs, maybe make a new friend or two, and relive some nostalgic moments of my younger years. Once I get there I show my ID to the bartender and she asks, “what do y’all drink?” I explained I don’t drink and was looking to play some games and relax with my brother. She proceeds to tell me there’s a two drink minimum. “Okay cool, what non-alcoholic drinks do you have?” She says “all these” and points to a couple room temp cans of soda and a bottle of cranberry juice on the counter. Okay cool, “how much?” “$3 for a can of coke, and it has to be 2 per person to play the games.” “Oh okay, anything cheaper?” “No it’s pretty much all the same price” “okay I’ll take two cokes.” And hand her my card. She then says “ohhhhhh it’s gotta be a $10 limit in order to use a card” ... at this point I just wanna go home and say whatever... I asked about the atm. “She says oh it’s right there but it’s a charge to get cash out...” so I guess nothing is EVER really free. Whether or not she was BS-ing me about the price of the cokes or the $10 limit (which it’s usually $5 for smaller businesses in order to use their card services)... $6 for unlimited play and two cokes is typically a steal but I didn’t feel welcome, I felt unimportant and I didn’t get the chance to just chill and play some good games like I was...

If you love cabinet-style old-fashioned arcade games hosted in a fun era-centric atmosphere, then you need to visit Flashback RetroPub in Oklahoma City.

First Impression:

I instantly flashbacked to playing Offroad at my local Pizza Hut! My inner 8-year-old just shouted out for joy. Wait, they have alcoholic beverages that bring you back to your childhood... WHAT?!!! Can I live here? At the time, the games are unlimited as long as you pay the cover???!!!

Menu:

When I visited I had a lot of the "Not your father's..." I was also obsessed with the Nerds shot. I am not sure if they still offer them, but if they do, they're worth it. Expect a sugar high when you visit this place because your inner child says so.

Atmosphere:

It's fun and energetic. It has all of the classic cabinet video games. When I visited, the cost of the games was included as part of the cover you paid to get in. The cocktails are fun and they had a theme night where all they played was 80's music. I won't age myself too much, but I knew all of the songs.

Customer Service:

The bartenders were great and had the right attitude for the atmosphere. They were always smiling and their energy made you buy that extra Nerd shot that you said you shouldn't have. Price: I didn't care about the price. I know my bar tab was a little high, but it was worth the experience.

Overall:

Just go to the FlashBack RetroPub as often as you can. If you're part of my generation it's like heading down to the local arcade (or in my case my local Pizza Hut) and playing as many games as you can. Make sure you have a designated driver or call an Uber. I hope you have as much fun as I did. I will say, I wanted to play a few games that were on the premises but they were only for those who rented the special event...