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  • 0

    Would have given it 5 stars but they need a better food menu. The beer they have is awesome and it's a cool idea to put arcade games from the 80's that everyone loves in a place and serve beer and food.

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  • 0

    Good beer list with tons of quality $5 and $6 Pennsylvania micro-brews on tap.  I love 80s arcade games (and at 80s arcade prices!) and enjoyed the selection but was sad that there was no Pole Position and no Ladybug, which are two of my favorites from the day.  Usually ample parking is available since it is basically near nothing.

    A little dirty and dark, but a fun joint.

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  • 0

    Hipsterville, PA.  Play your 1980's video games (I LOVED the fact that I could play TRON), drink some PBR's and overpriced liquor.

    It's pretty awesome if you can handle that much flannel.

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  • 0

    This was my second go around here.  I believe the first was opening weekend so it was packed.  The second time was much more relaxed.  We came for my cousin's birthday on a friday.  We were able to park ourselves along the 2nd bar, plenty of stools available.  Everyone seemed to have ordered the hummus platter.  Looks like it was good.  Too bad they mentioned that the pitas were previously frozen.  I had the lemon abita beer and it was light and not too flavorful.  Some played arcade games; most of us just hung around the bar.

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  • 0

    With its exposed brick, open layout, eclectic music selection, and craft beer selection, this place transported me back to that one weekend I bar-hopped in Brooklyn.  I swear I forgot I was in Philly.

    Overall, my experience was split half and half.  The half of me that liked this place enjoyed it for the awesome beer selection ($6 for Golden Monkey ain't bad) and the cheap ass 25 cent games (that usually get you more than just one round).  Plus, the outdoor area was cute and chill and I felt like I was simply sitting in a college friend's backyard.  The food smelled and looked delicious, though I didn't have any so I can't comment on that.  No cover also, which is great.

    The half of me that didn't like it was because of the damn temperature.  I hate to sound high maintenance but seriously, on a humid 80-some degree night, all I ask for is a little AC and when we walked into this place, it was hotter indoors than outdoors, most likely because of the amount of people crammed into a tiny space.  The ceiling fans they had going did nothing to combat the heat.  Sitting outside helped a tiny bit, but the mosquitoes made it unpleasant.

    In addition to this, it's not really group-friendly considering the arcade games are kind of a one person experience and though you can crowd around and watch your friends play, it gets to be a bit much standing there and jostling elbows with everyone.  The seating in the center helps a little.

    I might come back here in the winter when you want it to be warm and toasty inside.

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  • 0

    I'm down with the Barcade. It's a really decent spot with 25c games, a great taplist (though it could stand to be updated more frequently/offer descriptions/pour size sometimes), and solid food offerings if you happen to stop by for a meal. Like the other establishments popping up within a stone's throw of Frankford and Girard, its location has automatically garnered a lot of teeny-boppish attention and thus rendered it deafening and sweltering at peak times. (Recently overheard at a tap takeover event: "OMG, there are, like, no IPAs? What the hell. I only drink IPAs. How am I supposed to know what these other frickin beers when they don't say IPA next to them, man? I'm not going to drink it unless I know it's specifically an IPA.")

    ...But Barcade can't be faulted for that. This place would survive even in a less hip area, because we don't have anything else like it. It's not my go-to destination for regular drinking, but it's a novelty spot to play a few games and then tip over into into a trolley track on the bike ride home. The outdoor area is also really pleasant for warm weather boozing. Basically: 3 stars +1 for the fact that we don't really have anywhere else to play pac-man 'round these parts.

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  • 0

    After hearing so much about the Barcade, I was so excited to visit for a friend's birthday. We got there early and ordered some menu items and beers. I ordered the meat and cheese platter, which was just ok - nothing earth shattering. Since we were there early, we had free reign of all the games, which was a good time. There is a change machine on site, and beware - you will definitely go through money here! All games are only $0.25, but it's addicting and you'll surely keep feeding the machines just to get a few more lives!

    Once it gets crowded though, the games become too few. Many minutes can be spent waiting around for the ones you want since there is only one of each, and not that many overall. There is a nice little yard/garden area off to the side with several tables, as well as long tables in the middle of the game area.

    Overall I thought it was a pretty fun concept and a nice place to go for something different than your traditional bar. The bartenders definitely knew their beers, and helped me pick one I loved. I would definitely return, and early in the night, to get the most bang for my buck.

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  • 0

    What do you get if you a neighborhood video arcade, add a bar, a kitchen and friendly/accomodating staff?  

    Barcade!

    The games are awesome, operating on quarters, just like I remember them.

    They have a great selection of high quality craft beers on-tap.  Their food is very good (at least the Korean Steak Sandwhich was).

    Note on food though:  A little skimpy portion wise, the sandwhich could be a little bigger.  But it was so yummy, it sort of made up for it smallness.

    Put it all together and you have one fun place!

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  • 0

    Barcade is a great place to hang out with friends. It has a good selection of beers, friendly service, easy atmosphere, and a lot of space. I have not had their food though.
    The old school video games are awesome. Still 25 cents. Still amazing to play or watch people play.

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  • 0

    80'stastic! Better when not so crowded on off nights because service and choice of games is better.

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  • 0

    If you like the old arcade games, do yourself a favor and go to this place, get some good beer and peanuts!!!

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  • 0

    When Barcade first came to Philly, I wanted to love it so much. However, that hasn't happened.

    Pros- games are a quarter. There is an awesome beer list. It's in a good area if you plan to go bar hopping (Barbary, JB's, Murph's, Frankford Hall, the Piazza are all close). You can always find nearby street parking.

    Con- The bartenders. One night I stood there, money in hand, for ten minutes while they chatted with each other, kept going in the back, leaned against the back of the bar looking at their phones, etc. I even asked one of the girls who kept coming from the back if she could send a bartender my way. She said she would, but alas- I kept getting ignored. Finally I was like "fuck it" and left. I don't have the patience for that. It was not the first time it happened to me, either.

    All in all, cool enough place to go if you're looking for a bit of nostalgia. Bring a pocket full of quarters and some patience for the slooooow bartenders.

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  • 0

    I've been frequenting the Barcade in Williamsburg for years now, so I'm glad I finally got to check out one of the sister locations!

    This was basically a cleaner, friendlier (everyone! bouncers, bartenders, patrons...) version of the original, with a cool outdoor space that had lots of seating.

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  • 0

    If you love arcade games and dark beers, this is the spot for you.

    I do appreciate that all the arcade games here are still only 25 cents just they like were back in the day. They could have been jerks about it and raised the prices just cause, but I'm glad they didn't. I'm a little bummed that my favorite game (ahem, Paperboy) has been out of order, but they have a good selection of games to play. Plenty of space to move around in here too. Even when they're busy, it never feels jammed packed like some bars.

    Huge beer list too. If you're a lover of the darker brews, they have so many stouts and porters to choose from. And if you're the DD for the evening, they have their own lemonade as a non-alcoholic alternative. Food here isn't too bad either.

    Although: $1 Tacos on Mondays and Sliders on Tuesday?! Should be the opposite way around!

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  • 0

    Fun place to visit. I like the  taplist, but in Philly it is a dime-a-dozen (Kraftwork, Memphis Taproom have better selections). But I really like how the space has been reused.  The games are great too. Perfect for a birthday party or a big get together. They also have a TV screen if you want to watch some sports, too. Haven't tried the food yet.

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  • 0

    If I could, I would better define the rating to say "the food sucked" but the beer and classic arcade games (for 25 cents each play) gives this place a 4 star rating.  Come thirsty but not hungry.  I think my Cuban sandwich came off of the kitchen floor.

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  • 0

    This place is really neat! You walk into the side entrance, and you enter a large warehouse type space with vintage lighting and decorations, but everything is done with such a light brush that it isn't campy or old fashioned.
    The bar is a long wood piece that runs most of the left side of the bar and wraps around towards the bathrooms. There is a large craft beer list written on a chalk board above. Really good prices! These same beers would be several dollars more in my neightborhood!
    In the back linned against the wall are classic coin operated video games. There was a ton of space behind where there were a few chairs and long bar tables, but you had a lot of room to watch your friends play!
    The bartender seemed really didn't nice, but I didn't catch her name.
    The food is why I'm giving this a 4 star and not 5. Someone bit into a pork slider and shouted, "WHAT KIND OF MEAT IS THIS?!?" Grimaced, and then passed it around the table for everyone to try. Tasted like cheap, overly refrozen food.
    So this place is great for groups, especially if your friends are cool and into video games.
    You should also read the book Ready, Player One by Ernest Cline. ITS AWESOME.

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  • 0

    The games are fun, albeit sometimes overcrowded. Fantastic selection of beer, but the best part

    25 cent games!

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  • 0

    Like some of my fellow beer and video game enthusiasts above, I feel compelled to write a review defending this place from the overly snooty individuals who have given it average/poor reviews.
    Simply put: This. Place. Is. Awesome!!!!!
    It's got about 30 draft beers, a lot local, some not, most very high quality craft beers. Good food, about what youd expect, but a lot better than an average bar food.
    By the way, tuesdays are taco night, how can you go wrong there? Answer: You can not. Respect the taco. Street style tacos, good pork or beef and a sirracha sauce. Score.
    That all said, the real gem of this place is the games. If you're older (30+) or appreciate the older games (1980-1990's) these games are awesome. They have old titles like Crystal Palace, Donkey Kong, Frogger, Joust, Asteroids Deluxe (with a hologram screen!!!)  and so so many more. My wife has a new nemesis in the game Burger Time...Way harder than you'd think it'd be...Anyway, I digress. Did I mention the games are only 25 cents??? Yep. Everything is a quarter to play, just like the old days. Good times, there.

    Atmoshere: Kind of dark, a little grubby, but feels like what a bar/arcade ought to be. Noisy, cheerful and relaxed.

    Service: Good the first time we were there.

    Food: Good, the real thing to come here for is the beer.

    Overall: I'd go back. In fact, we're going back in just a few minutes. We have family in town and are taking them for a few brews and a few games of Ninja Turtles. Don't judge us....

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  • 0

    This place is really cool. I'm all about video games.. and I used to play half these games on old school 1984 NES system. Omg I'm getting chills thinking about it...
    25 cent games in the year 2013? yes fucking please!
    I played the SHIT out of Joust, Donkey Kong, .. some awesome game that is JUST like streets of rage on sega, and the original super mario brothers. I almost cried.
    I woulda played more, they had TRON too. But I was getting motion sickness... not bc they're systems are bad. Probably because I'm getting old.. :(

    But I'm in love with this concept. Good beer on draft + friendly personel + 25 CENT VIDEO GAMES = I am happy
    I will be back for sureee

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  • 0

    What a fun place to get a drink!  Their selection of arcade games is varied and all are only a quarter to play which means $5 will take you and 2 buddies pretty far.  The service was good and their craft beer selection was on point.  I was especially excited to see Divided Sky Rye IPA from 4 Hands and of course they had all the local favorites from Yards, PBC, and more.  I'd suggest going on slower nights to avoid having to wait for the games.  If you can't jump on a game then this place quickly becomes just like every other craft beer bar in Philadelphia so be mindful!

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  • 0

    Barcade is definitely a fun place to be on a Saturday night! The prices of the drinks are great and the quality is even better! I ordered the Jack's Hard Cider and it was wonderful! We got there around 9:30 so it wasn't too busy yet which gave us plenty of time to play some of the games! I was excited to see some of the old school games that I used to play in the 90s and for $0.25 a game I couldn't step away! Barcade is definitely a spot to check out if you're interested in trying out something new!

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  • 0

    Barcade, you get another 4th star. Congrats!

    Everyone here is friendly. You all love video games. You all love reasonably priced craft beer. How can you go wrong?

    I got a little bougie in my previous reviews about the lack of certain titles that are particular to my taste, but I can't deny that the games you DO have are all worth a quarter per play. Even so, I usually end up spending a pocketful.

    And nothing says "throw down" like competitive Frogger.

    Barcade, you rank up there in my list of favorite places to drink and play too much. This review's for you!

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  • 0

    25 cent games as far as the eye can see....so long as you don't have good vision.  In total, the beer selection is good and priced on par with the rest of philly.  the games are a serious draw.  The only downside was that it was super hot, but i'll put up with a little bit of warmth to save Princess Peach.

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  • 0

    I love this concept.... a bar attached to an arcade with classic 80s videogames... what more could a girl want? I love Ms. Pac Man, even in its sped up mode. You're going to have to make it harder because I'm the one who got 134,000 on it. I love Tempest, Tron, Robotron, Frogger... yes, yes, I'm a geek, so what? I went on Sunday for their $10 lunch special. My Mac n Cheese Pulled Pork sandwich was okay (it was bar food quality). The pork was a little too smokey flavored. I thought the combination of mac n cheese and pulled pork was a great idea, though. You also get a bag of chips and a beer with your lunch special. I got a Doc's Cider beer. Good stuff. The bartender was nice to us. We liked him. Would I come here again? Yes, but mostly because of the games. That way I can relive the glory days... God, I'm so old!

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  • 0

    Been here twice, on a busy Saturday night, loved it both times.  I love the huge draft list, always rotating taps, probably 20-25 different craft beers on tap.   I haven't tried the food yet, but the specials on the menu looked pretty good.

    The first time I went, the crowd was a melting pot of all types of people in Philly, from hipsters, to trendy, to gays, to people who looked like they were in halloween costumes.  The second time I went (both busy saturday nights), the crowd seemed normal and casual.  So, hit or miss I guess!

    Pros:
    20-30 craft beers on tap
    Even when the bar is packed, you can still play your favorite video games with hardly any wait.
    Awesome music, usually odd rock songs i have no idea who the artists are.
    Change machines so you don't have to bring your own quarters.
    Large outside courtyard area.
    Bartenders are pretty quick, even during packed busy nights

    Cons:
    Unisex bathrooms, so a long line can happen quickly.  
    The back of the bar where all the arcade games are can get really HOT.
    Music is so loud its hard to talk to your friends.

    Overall, def a "must-do" on your list if you haven't tried it here yet.  Makes you feel like a little kid again, getting to play Mario, Tetris, Donkey Kong, Frogger, Ninja Turtles, and Paperboy all in the same night!  And games are only a quarter, so you don't get ripped off!

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  • 0

    I come to praise Barcade, not to bury it. After reading some of the lukewarm reviews on Barcade, I felt it my duty to come to Barcade's defense with a scathing polemic (or an eloquently worded and polite Yelp review). Please see the following argument for why Barcade is a local treasure:

    1) It may literally be the last real arcade in Philadelphia--Dave & Buster's does not count; it is not an arcade. Barcade has many of the first-generation games (Ms. Pacman) and some from the later '80s and early '90s, like Rampage (my personal favorite), TMNT: The Arcade Game, Punch-Out, etc. They are all .25 to play, and there is a change machine. There is something nostalgically tactile about putting the quarters in the machines that really makes the aesthetic here. I will also point out that at .25, these games have--much like the Wendy's Jr. Cheeseburger Deluxe--defied inflation.  

    2) the beer -- I argue that Barcade has one of the best beer selections around. They have about 25 beers on tap, including some very unique and thoughtful selections. Most of the time when you come in here, you will be able to find a beer that you haven't had before.

    3) the music -- between selections from GnR's Appetite for Destruction and maybe a little bit of the Crue, you will feel like you stepped into Terminator 2. Yes, that is a good thing.

    4) the little things -- you will notice that there is always a little platform between the games in exactly the spot you wish you could put down your beer. It's in the most natural, convenient spot possible, and so you'll find it easy to drink and play.

    There must be a downside, you say. OK, there are a couple (but barely worth noting):

    1) it can get a little crowded--but, hey, that's the point of an arcade. If you want to play games with plenty of shoulder room, get an Xbox.

    2) It would be nice if they got a couple of games from the succeeding generation of games--perhaps the Simpsons or X-Men.

    So that is my take on Barcade. As you can see, they've targeted my demographic of 30-year-old nerd absolutely perfectly. I always stop in here when I'm in the area, and you should too. If we work together, we can bring arcade culture back to the city of (Mario) Brotherly Love!

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  • 0

    It's a bar with a top notch beer list. It's an arcade with games the best games you remember from childhood. Combine them and you have Barcade.

    When it comes to beer this place has a craft beer that fits everyones tastes. The prices are reasonable, and the bar service is quick.

    When it comes to games listen to some of these titles and see if your heart doesn't start racing with nostalgia and excitement: NBA JAM; Spyhunter; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Gantlet,; Joust; Golden Axe; Asteroids; the list goes on and on.

    Come here and relive your childhood. The booze adds to the nostalgic feeling. See if you don't go home afterward and hook up some of your old gaming systems.

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  • 0

    Imagine a place where you have food, beer, friends, and video games.  Sounds pretty great, right?  Now imagine that same place, except you cannot hear, or move.  You are drowning, not in drink, which you cannot receive, but in people that you cannot even talk to.  You are in a kind of hell.  

    That little bit of hyperbole should explain why what should be a great place is instead something to be avoided.  Barcade is neat!  The food and drink is worthwhile, and the games are good.  But it's hard to enjoy any of that when the music is pumped so loud you can' hear the person next to you, and you need earplugs to stave a headache.  And it does get insanely crowded.  Shoulder-to-shoulder congestion is not an exaggeration.  

    It's very popular for a reason, and Barcade cannot be to blame for getting crowded.  Avoid peak times, and that is no problem!  But if they would stop trying to pump out concert-volume music, the atmosphere would quickly go from "avoid" to "invite your friends".

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  • 0

    Sweet Tap dancing Jesus of Nazareth! It's as if my childhood wishes were granted by my over hyped and underwhelming sense of beer snobbery. The only thing that truly goes with craft beer is late 80's and early 90's arcade games.

    Barcade was one of the coolest bars I have ever seen. I was enamored with the Ghouls and Goblins, mike Tyson's punch out, Tempest, Joust, and golden axe! Craft beer, and games of our youth. Back up grandpa, your looking at the new 'greatest generation'!

    If you haven't read the book 'Ready Player One' by Ernest Cline yet, chances are outright just meet him at this bar. He'll probably be able to breakdown the plot for you in between the loading screens on gauntlet.

    I had the earths cookie apron, its toffee and roast coffee notes helped me fully enjoy the low humming glow of Operation Wolf. The beer however, lasted much longer than I did when I dropped my quarters into the old slots of my youth.

    When I come back to Phili, and come back I shall, I will be coming to Barcade again.

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  • 0

    So I've been here a million times to play games and drink, but I never ate anything, so I've held off for reviewing.  That all changed this weekend:

    We went to barcade for St. Paddys day/ our friends birthday.  It wasn't that busy which is the greatest!  I got to play Ms. Pac Man a million times.  Being St. Paddy's day I decided to focus on Stouts, which they had plenty of.  All of them were thick and dark and festive.  

    Then I got hungry!  I ordered the nacho's without the pork.  The bartender put them in wrong and they came out with pork, but she was really apologetic and quick to right the issue.  I'm a vegetarian so there wasn't much I could do with the pork.  I just felt bad wasting it.  The 2nd go round was much better.  They aren't your standard issue cheesy monstrosity, but they are quite large, and they do have a lot of cheese, and beans, and veggies.  It's just a different execution.  I can't explain it... but i enjoyed it!

    After a few more stouts, and a devistating loss at Paper Boy, I went for the deviled eggs.  They were pretty solid as well... but my biggest beef is $4 for 1 1/2 eggs = ?!?!?.  I understand it takes some work to make them, but when it said 3 eggs, i was thinking 6 1/2s.  This was a pretty lame serving size.  After my boyfriend ate one, i was left wanting more, but 8 dollars in eggs made me feel uncomfortable.

    A lot of my friends ordered sandwiches.  They came with pretzels which i always appreciate when coupled with beers.  They said their sandwiches were ok... fair... decent... nobody was raving, nor were they complaining.  It did the trick.

    All in all, i love this place for their awesome beers and their amazing array of video games.  If you need a bite while you're there, they got you!  but I wouldn't head over just for the food.  Johnny Brenda's and Frankfrod Hall are just too close.

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  • 0

    Ok...I was so excited to finally spend a night at Barcade with a handful of friends for a birthday party and was pretty disappointed. We picked out this place specifically to come to after a day at Frankford hall (da best obvi) because of the amazing beer list and full intention to get rowdy with some throw back video games. When we got there around 9pm the place was so full it was hard to even move around. Any dream of playing a video game was shattered by the lines in front of each  machine. Instead we settled at a table after a bit of a wait until the music got turned up. For some reason the music got even louder than it already was with some sort of tortured rock that really hurt my ears. Needless to say we made a hasty retreat back to the center city area.

    With all this negativity....I am not completely turned off by this joint. I think timing is key and I need to come back at a less rowdy time to really enjoy what this place is...a place where you can be goofy and enjoy old games over a pint or two rather than get lost in a loud, claustrophobia-inducing crowd.

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  • 0

    I came to Barcade on a date, about 6+ mos. ago.  The bartender was great, he was friendly and attentive.  This place is an awful date place, based on my experience....
    The music was droning and depressing.  I knew the songs.  The food was inedible, and took forever.  There were about ten people maximum in this rather large room with old school games surrounding part of the perimeter(love this-the games), but the acoustics are awful!  It was so loud!  I didn't understand why a group up six sounded like a loud group of forty.  
    Maybe, the people were just obnoxiously loud, so was my date. I really expected to have an awesome time, and had been wanting to come in for a long time.  It was cool, because we got to play a lot of games, he was a sore loser....ugh.  It would be fun to play some drinking games.

    Just, some rehab on the ambiance, and food.  I'm always hungry.  I really feel like I could have lots of fun here.

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  • 0

    I was tricked into coming here by my husband with promises of Whack A Mole and Skeet Ball...Turns out this Bar/arcade only has old school video games. NO WHACK-A-MOLE. Oh well, I had to drown my sorrows in some pretty good beer options on tap.

    This place is chock full of hipsters. I may have been the only person there without glasses and skinny jeans. What do you expect with the location of this place though.

    Bartenders were pretty nice and quick to get you a drink. I thought their system of keeping BOTH my license and credit card to keep the tab open was really strange and made me a little nervous. It's one thing if I happen to forget my card, or it gets lost (hey things happen in bar.) It's a whole 'nother story if something were to happen to my license. (It would involve a trip back to my home state of CT and a whole day wasted at the DMV). It made me just a little nervous. I may be paranoid but whatevs. I will def. bring cash if I ever come back here.

    My husband's main reason for wanting to come here was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He played a few nostalgic rounds and then remembered he was 30.

    It was a fun concept, it's just one I will never feel inclined to experience again.

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  • 0

    If you're a fan of old school arcade games and a fan of great draft beers, this is the place to be

    25cents for a play on the machines are throwbacks that are greatly appreciated

    It does get crowded on the weekends and you may have to wait a bit

    but hey you can't complain, people who enjoy this niche will come and enjoy.

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  • 0

    I first discovered Barcade when going to The Barbary's weekly Tigerbeats parties.  At first, our routine was drinking the free PBR until it was gone and then going to Barcade to drink good beer.  

    This place has amazing beer.  They have an excellent tap list at all times and it's always got great variety.  There are tap lists but you can also read them on the giant chalkboard.  Sometimes you have to be a bit patient, especially if you're on the ends of the bar because there's usually only one bartender.  Make sure you know what you want when they come over!

    On the whole, the food here is really amazing!  The menu rotates and it's usually simple stuff like hummus or sandwiches that come with pretzels.  They also have homemade pickles that are the bomb.  Be wary of the specials, though!  The last time I was there I got a $1 meatball sandwich and it was obviously a culinary-experiment-turned-monster...they were probably the biggest 2 meatballs on a $1 sandwich that I ever had....but were also the most disgusting.  I ended up just eating the bread and cutting my losses.

    This has been the perspective of Barcade from someone that doesn't play video games.

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  • 0

    I haven't seen so many Brooklyn shirts in one place. Oh, hipsters! Not surprisingly, the bar caters to that specific crowd. I was expecting a gang of gamers such as myself, but I was sorely mistaken.

    Besides being duped by the atmosphere, the drinks were not that special; $5 drafts aren't the biggest deals in the world. The games were subpar at best. If you are into old school gaming, this seems ok. The cabinets were rickety and poorly fastened. The buttons are hard to press, as if it was purposefully done to make you lose.

    The lack of games like Q-Bert, Mario Bros. and Street Fighter 1 are "redonkulous." Sinistar? Wizards of Wor? No?

    It seems like the bar were full of non-gaming, uptight rich twenty-year-olds. So many people (girls) that couldn't even pass the road portion of Frogger. Anyone can at least maneuver the road in Frogger! I know it's knitpicking, but I was really disturbed by that.

    Gaming Nirvana my ass. This is just a typical Northern Liberties bar, with crappy cabinets you can find at local laundromats.

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  • 0

    Finally made it to this great little spot. There's a lot to love about Barcade, and only a few small issues. But none of those issues should keep you from checking this joint out, especially if you are into classic arcades and a great beer list.

    Let's start with the main attraction...The games. The game choices here are top notch. They have some truly great classics that many other arcades simply wouldn't carry (Crystal Castles for instance). The games are spaced out enough to not be over crowded, and there's space to set down your beer between the games themselves. there's a change machine on site and the games are all a quarter. Can't ask for much more there.

    The beer selection here was fantastic. Fans of local brewed and craft beers are in for a real treat. The bartender working knew the beers well and was able to recommend different brews with ease. On top of that, the food here was a major surprise, and would have been worth the trip out. The pulled pork and mac n cheese sandwich was a real treat. Plus the food came out quickly and was nice and hot.

    There are a few small downers though. The location in the city isn't particularly great. It's an area undergoing a bit of a renaissance, but it's still a bit sketchy at times, though the crowd here is surprisingly friendly. The only other problem was there were more than a few of the games that had issues or were not working at all. A bit of a bummer, considering some of the higher profile games were the ones out of commission at the time of visiting.

    In the end, though, this is a place I'll be hitting up quite a bit. There are just too few places like this anymore, and Barcade is a great example of how to do it right.

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  • 0

    I have been to Barcade a number of times because I am a nerd . I like the space which is basically an old warehouse with games and a bar. My issue is the game selection. Rampage , nba jam  and ninja turtles ( when it is not out of order ) are always being used as many of the others go untouched .Though I personally appreciate games like crystal castles there isn't much of a clientele for that sort of game . Barcade needs to add a few pinball machines ( universal monsters would be nice or twilight zone), a fighting game ( apart from punch out ) and rampage international .
    Beer selection is good. Staff is friendly . Prices aren't bad . They also host brewery nights which I like.

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  • 0

    Barcade has the original Punch-Out!

    Great craft beer selection and fairly quick bar service considering the crowd this place gets. I'm a fan of the bar arcade concept and that it's still only a quarter to play. It's also really nice to see so many private bathrooms for an establishment this size.

    I think the arcade games generate a lot of heat, so I hope they can install a better ventilation system soon. Everyone with glasses be warned that they will fog up as soon as you get past the ID check. My friends and I were rolling up our sleeves and heading outside to escape the heat well before there were even many people here. That said, the "family dinner table" outdoor setup is great for sharing a few laughs while taking a break from the noise and heat.

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