Press Start — Restaurant in Rapid City

This is my kinda place! I went out of my way to come check out the pinball collection while we were hitting all the national parks in the area.

We were told 20 minute wait for a table, so we put our name in and went downstairs to play pinball.

The pinball collection has been SERIOUSLY NEGLECTED. About half of the pinball machines had been switched off because they were unplayable.

I was really excited to see they had Lord of the Rings, but it was a huge let down. I counted at least 4 switches (including Balrog!) that weren't working, both VUKs took multiple attempts to get the ball up, and same issue for the coil trying to load a ball into the shooter lane. The flippers were so weak the ring shot was nearly impossible.

Medieval madness would take your money, but not recognize that you had put a coin in, so it was unplayable... I switched it off.

Bride of pinbot was in fair shape. However the right flipper would stick in the up position and the display was displaying gibberish rather than anything meaningful.

The Hobbit was the only machine I played that seemed fully operational. My wife said the Wizard of Oz played pretty well.

50 minutes later I went back to the host stand to see if maybe I had a faulty pager, but was told they were simply running late, but could seat us now.

Once seated we ordered an appetizer and drinks right away. I mentioned to the waitress about the poor condition of the pinball machines and she said she would have an owner stop by our table so I could tell them more about it. No owners or managers ever talk to us.

Our drinks came quickly, but 30 minutes later we were asking where our appetizer was. The waitress told us some of the owners had come in for dinner and ordered a lot of food and it caused a big delay in the kitchen. Classy.

The appetizer finally arrived and it was tasty. Not too long after we finished it our dinner arrived also, except for my daughter's dinner. She finally got hers about 15 minutes later, when the rest of us were done eating.

I was impressed with the quality of the food. It was the only thing that really went right with our visit there.

Actually, the price for pinball was good also. 50 cents per play. In my experience that's not a realistic amount to make money operating a pinball machine. $1 per play is more realistic. I hope they choose to raise the price to play pinball and put the money they make towards keeping the machines in...

Press Start Bar is a popular spot for entertainment in the city, and it's not hard to see why. The moment you step in it feels like you’re stepping into a modern arcade that got converted into a bar up top, buts keeps its classic roots on the lower floor. The bright and cute atmosphere is welcoming and cozy, perfect for a night of nostalgia. The classic arcade machines downstairs add to the charm if you like grungier 80s, create the perfect ambiance for a fun evening out regardless of your preference on what an arcade should be.

One of the best things about Press Start Bar is the themed drinks. They're creative and fun, and the bartenders are always happy to help you choose the perfect drink. The bartenders themselves are friendly and accommodating when you’re able to get their attention (which can be difficult later in the night).

However, there are some downsides to Press Start Bar. It can get incredibly busy after 10:00 PM, making it difficult to find a spot, hear, or do a lot of things. Even moving around can be a challenge, and the noise level can become quite high later in the night, making it difficult to hear conversations. The top floor becomes a dance floor once they swap over to being a full bar, and it’s not for the faint of heart to be there.

Despite these downsides, Press Start Bar is still a great spot to visit for a fun evening out. The atmosphere is well worth the visit, and the drinks are sure to please. If you're a fan of arcade games, you won't want to miss Press Start Bar. Just make sure to plan accordingly and go early if you want to avoid the crowds.

In conclusion, Press Start Bar is a must-visit destination for arcade game lovers. The bright and cute atmosphere, classic arcade machines, and themed drinks make for a memorable night out if you get there earlier. The bartenders are friendly and accommodating when they have time, and the only downside is the crowd after 10:00 PM. So, if you're looking for some nostalgic fun and a good drink, Press Start Bar is the...

EDIT: So, I'm amending my review for two reasons. One, I had had a few drinks and was a little upset when I wrote it and two, the good people at Press Start reached out to me to talk about the issue and share changes being made to avoid the issue in the future. I want to leave my old review below for the time being (until I visit again) but I also want to detail some more of the cool things about Press Start.

The downstairs arcade is super cool and there is something for everyone. The drinks were fun and inventive - For a first time experience, I recommend Zelda's potion (plenty of Ooh and Aaah factor). Yoshi's long island is a fantastic boozy sugar-bomb and the Retro Old Fashioned is a delight.

And I can now say this, too: it was very kind of the good people at Press Start to reach out and engage after an error. I respect that a lot and while we always intended to give it another try, now we will definitely be back sooner than we would have otherwise.

(Original review below)

Cool concept with lots of great drinks and a wonderful arcade. The food is bound to be good because it's by the same people as Kol was, but we wouldn't actually know firsthand because WE COULDNT GET ANYONE TO SERVE US.

We went here for our first date in over a year and a half (COVID+Toddler= never leaving the house ever). From the second we walked in, we had trouble getting anyone's attention. Three bartenders were busy playing a game and were not interested in serving us.

After spending $40 on drinks and $20 on gauntlet legends, my husband and I wanted to order dinner. We were told to pick a table and seat ourselves. After that, we sat there for more than 20 minutes with no contact while the servers fiddled with all the empty tables around us. At the ten minute mark, my husband asked a bartender if there was something we needed to do and he said just sit and we'll be served.

So we did.

No dice. No service. This was at 7pm.

We ended up leaving and finishing our...