I love to bowl. I really do. However this place is a little much. And there are kids everywhere. I like kids, im about to have my first one, but its really is too much. And expensive.
I went here because I had a groupon, for 4 adults for 1 game of bowling, four shoe rentals, a large pepperoni pizza, and ten bucks of game time for 15 bucks. That was the only reason I went. I was given major attitude for using my coupon, and even though it said specifically on the coupon that I could bring in the email on my smartphone, they tried to tell me that I couldn't do it. When I showed them the writing, and said that they need to honor it, the employee called me a bitch!
The pizza was gross...but the alcohol is good.
We went here for a Friday night of fun to go bowling. We stuck to the bowling because the place was so huge, we would have gotten lost. The Cosmic Bowling was pretty fun. Our friend had a deal we used for two of the three games. It was great.
The one thing that really sucks is that the tables only seat four people so if you have a fifth wheel or if you have eight people in your party, you're pretty much screwed. That wasn't fun. But they do serve food and drinks to you at your table which is nice unless you get the ditzy waitress like we did.
All in all, Big Al's is a great place to spend a night out.
My husband and I stopped here during our trip to Portland. We just wanted to bowl and get a bite to eat. Big Al's had so much more than we were expecting. The bowling area is very large, and we were in a separate bowling area that was darker with TV's playing music videos. It was a fun atmosphere.
The bowling itself was a bit expensive (about $30 for 2 people to play 2 games, plus shoes for both of us). Wish we would have known about the $1 Tuesdays, we were there on a Monday. Tuesdays they have $1 games, $1 shoe rentals, and $1 beer.
We also spent $20 in the arcade between the 2 of us, and it lasted long enough for us. We had a good time and were able to play a variety of the games that they had.
The only food we had was the nachos, but they were really good. The server wasn't the greatest (should have come back to check on us, and forgot my water completely), but he was really nice and friendly.
If we lived closer to this area, we would definitely be going back to Big Al's. Super fun place that offers a lot more than just bowling!
I have been here a handful of times over the years, but have never had the food. I went Friday night to meet friends for bowling and dinner. It took about 10 min to get buzzed for a table. The menu was typical bar food and score.... All day breakfast. The selection of beers on draft is good. There is a huge tv, like a flat screen movie theatre, see you in the fall for football Big Al's.
So I order a 22 oz hef and the breakfast biscuit. My husband and friends food arrived, and 15 minutes later mine showed up. Whatever, not the end of the world, the server and the manager (who I did not ask to see) were both apologized, and removed my meal from the bill. When it arrived, it was worth the wait. It was about 6 inches across stuffed with fried eggs, cheese, bacon, sausage, potatoes and topped with gravy. I'll come back and order it again and write another review when the timing is better in the kitchen.
So at 8:30 the wait was 40-60 min to bowl, so we opted to come back another time to bowl and play arcade games instead.
It was a fun little evening.
Maybe it's the smalltown girl in me, but I left this place with stars in my eyes.
I have never seen so much stimulation in one building: food, beverage, bowling, private cosmic bowling, game room, pool room, poker room...oh my!
The hubs and I came to meet up with friends but we got there early so we sat in the massive sports bar/restaurant to grab some dinner and drinks while we waited. This bar had bar to ceiling TVs. I had never seen two story TVs before so this alone was pretty impressive. As it turns out "Handsome Dave" was our bartender and used to tend bar by our house so the hubs and I had a blast catching up. He had great food recommendations and dinner did not disappoint. HH prices were wonderful as well (drinks and food).
We liked it so much, we are going back for Monte Carlo...then perhaps to watch a game...or will pool tickle our fancy?
Kind of a cool place, but not the best deal. There is a bar, restaurant, bowling alley, and arcade all in one. It's a good place if you have a group mixed with 21+ and below, but then again, you can just go to a regular bowling alley, especially if the 21+ group is into drinking beer.
Their food is pretty good, and the food and beverages are reasonably priced, but not great either. Still, it's good if you just wanna have fun, a little bit of something for everyone. On the weekends, however, it is definitely filled with a younger crowd, and this is even more true during the summer. Best bet is to come on a weeknight, if you can. Kind of wish after a certain time on the weekends the whole building would be 21+, the vibe would be better.
I like Big Al's just fine, it's close, but I don't frequent it that often, you need to have a good group and some cash to spend to get the full experience.
I had more fun here than I want to admit when our office holiday party was held here. The food selection was decent (and the overall food selection is even better; we had just a limited catering set, but it was fine for us). The private bowling area for our group was right next to the room they had us in, very convenient.
This place is huge, and I think when my children are over they'd love it - both the bowling and the arcade. I don't think they need to find out about it yet, however. :)
Totally reminds me of buffalo wild wings. I had the vegan burger, soft pretzel side with cheese, and mac & cheese with my cousins for a light dinner. It was pretty much completely empty on monday night for the laker game (so ironic because back home, every place would be PACKED). We got to sit at the booths with the huge projector screens in front of us. The waitress, Raina was nice and the lady next to our booth fell on her face cause she was on her phone while stepping down. Haha oh well. Good, simple experience.
Review Source:When my friend told me to meet her here because that's where she was for the evening, I imagined it to be some slummy shanty of a bowling alley. I was wrong. It's freaking huge and flashy. Looking all nice like a casino out by the beach owned by Native Americans like Spirit Mountain or something. I stopped by on a friday night and it's crowded but not where it's uncomfortable like the mall on a saturday. *shudders* C'mon, when you first hear of Big Al's when not living in Portland anymore you think: Big Al's *BURP* old nearly deserted building with a couple of high schoolers and an elderly couple bowling.
There's a lot of sections you can go off to and lots of television screens to watch a game on. While I was there I didn't bowl but hung out with my friends in the restaurant side. Very applebee's like, the server was a little overbearing but otherwise it was fine. Next time I should bring my 8 yr old brother here for some arcade games. Â
Not a bad place on the west side to meet up for a few drinks and to catch a game in their sports bar.. I don't like bowling.
Why don't we have one of these in Seattle? Big Al's is SO cool. The place is HUGE and there's SO much to do!!!
Bowling? Check.
Neon lit/strobe lighting bowling? Check.
Arcade games? Check.
Gigantic TV screens to watch football on? Check.
Decent bar food? Check.
I'm definitely missing a lot of other features of the place, but there's too many to list out. Overall, I think most people would have a great time because there's a lot to do, sure, everything will cost some money, but at least there are options. The space is GINORMOUS! I seriously thought it was some kind of convention center at first and had no idea what to expect, but really it's like a huge playground for adults and kids.
The arcade section was cool too with all these games I've never seen before: larger than life digital Connect Four? AWESOME! There were plenty of coin dozer games too (which I am currently obsessed with on my iPad), but anyway, there was also this four-player air hockey game (I've never seen that before either.) I was just pleasantly surprised all around.
Definitely a superb place for a birthday or a fun weekend activity!
Fun times in Beaverton! We really only explored the bowling option here, but it was a great time! Decent beer selection, great wings. Old-skool and trendy music videos on screens. The touch-screen bowling setup thingy was easy to use and they color-code their balls so the weight you're looking for is easy to find. Woohoo!
Review Source:Right off the bat:
1 star for making me feel like a kid again
1 star for having Mac & Jack's African Amber on tap
So we've got a two star foundation. Â That's already a bonus for Big Al's, because most joints, for me, start with a zero star foundation.
We met some friends and their five year old son here a few weekends back. Â We showed up at the tail end of their dinner, after we'd eaten somewhere else nearby. Â Looking back, I think I would have preferred to try something at Big Al's. Â Anyway, yeah, everyone says it, the place is mammoth. Â Inside to the right on the ground floor is the restaurant. Â To the left is bowling. Â Straight ahead is a bar. Â Upstairs are the games. Â We went right to the restaurant and HOLY WALL OF SPORTS TELEVISION! Â I was dazzled by this. Â I'm also admittedly easily amused, but DANG this gigantic wall of basketball/hockey/football was impressive. Â Our friends and their son were pleased with whatever they were eating, so while the food gets a "TBD" from me, we'll give them the benefit of the doubt.
1 star for megawallo'sports
We bowled. Â It was fun. Â It was loud, hot and very neon. Â There are servers that will provide drinks (and more? Â didn't look) to your bowling table! Â Gotta love that. Â Whilst we were waiting for our lane, we did spend some time in the arcade upstairs too. Â I'm down with any place that has Skee Ball. Â Don't think I didn't notice the BATTLE Pac-Man either, even though I didn't play it. Â I am prepared to smoke some fools at that game next time, believe me. Â So, yeah, my thoughts are kinda disjointed here, but that's what Big Al's does to you - there are so many sights/sounds/smells/etc. assaulting you simultaneously that someone who is kinda OCD like me goes a bit on tilt. Â In a good way. Â They've got the "play the game, win tickets" racket going on, which is your usual seaside carnival scam. Â You think you've got a ginormous pile of tickets, take it to the redemption area and end up with... a box of Nerds. Â Better than ending up with nothing though, right?
1 star for everything else that I just mentioned.
No fifth star - I can't give a place that's this expensive five stars. Â Unless it's in Maui. Â Which this ain't.
We tried to get into a movie at the Cinetopia, but it was sold out so we wandered over here for a drink since we had no other plan.
This place is huge and loud. Â It looks like a great place for a party, but it was not a great place for a drink. Â The bar is in the center of everything, which is probably good if you have kids there, but if you are just wanting to talk and hang out it's not the place.
My 3 stars in based on that experience alone. I am sure if I came in with kids and started enjoying all they had to offer it would jump up to a 5 because there is a ton of stuff to do here.
Big Al's does everything "BIG"
So you say you like "big" things? (Is that what I hear?!??!)
[**you nod "YES"**]
GRUB
* Big Al's Famous Nachos (wether you get it with meat or not, ask for a side of nacho cheese even though they melt some on there!)
* Big Al's French Fries (great to share and indulge)
-- Side Note: these are probably the only things WORTH ordering on the menu --
IMBIBE
* Shots are given in regular cocktail drinks =X
* Beer (quite a large number of options than other bowling places)
* Milkshakes! They make you a glass and then some on the side for you to share!
OTHER
* Flat screen televisions (many of them in every size you can think of!)
* Second floor dedicated to games, video arcade and air hockey
* 2 Large bars equipped with alcohol of your choice
I do not have any skills when it comes to bowling, but after a couple rounds of beer and shots of vodka, my inebriated state causes me to actually bowl a decent strike if I'm lucky =X
FYI:
* Located near New Seasons, Cinetopia and a large shopping plaza
* Open late on weekends
* On Friday's: Last call for alcohol is 12:15 AM
* Ample parking lot
* Cocktails and beer run average around $8-10
*1 round of bowling is about $8-9 (includes shoe rental)
So if you're hanging out in suburbia and just want to chill and have fun with your friends, Big Al's is worth going to!
Afterall, "bigger is always better" ................
PDX 30 Day Yelp Challenge #20 of 30
Okay, truth time. I hate bowling. I suck at it. My wife has to either guilt trip me or bribe me with alchohol to get me to acquiesce to even thinking about bowling.
So Oregon, rains, a lot. So guess what, wife thinks of fun indoor activities.
So I get conned into going here with the promise that it's like Dave and Busters. Lets get something straight, Big Als, IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING LIKE, Dave and Busters.
WIth that out of the way, fairly impressive upstairs arcade. Kid and family oriented 100%. No beer islands, no alchohol servers. Hell, other then Buck Hunter, I didn't see one violent video game. SO if you have little ones, right on. Have at it.
This disappointed me though.. I'm a Gound Kontrol guy at heart.
So, bowling. They have cheap lanes, clean and nice I suppose. Then you have the VIP lounge style lanes. Matinee is $25, primetime is $37 an hour. Plus shoe rental. I am told this is extremely pricey. I have no experience otherwise to compare though.
Drinks are expensive. But it's a upscale sports bar family bowling alley. I expected this. Hef on tap, and I think Blue moon also. Ended up getting a pitcher with the wife. The VIP lanes have plush red couches and big screens playing popular edited music videos. Nothing here really impressed me honestly, but it was a 'decent'' time. My wife was absolutely in heaven. She also bowls perfect games. How I get my assed kicked by a 115 lb woman, I have no idea. I bow down to her superiority in this sport though. She gives this place 6 stars. Fortunately I'm the yelper though.
Anyway, the bowling balls had better then average patterns. I chose a flaming ball, you get an extra star just for that.
I've been here a couple of times...the facility is great. Â It is pretty cool to have so much activity in one place.
HOWEVER...I went there on a football Saturday. Â Tried to get seated in the sports bar area...there were a lot of empty tables....and was told I had to be put on a waiting list? Â Then when i asked how long it would take...they wouldn't 'quote a time' but could be anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. Â She reminded me its college football day so they don't like to quote times and it gets busy....I was obviously perplexed as there were plenty of empty tables.
I ended up going down the road to the Thirsty Lion.
The bachelor party adventure ended here as our dinner and bowling stop, where our food was catered in a private dining room located alongside the galaxy bowling. The name "Big Al's" is fairly misleading, it really should be Gigantic or Gargantuan or Overwhelmingly Large Al's from the size of everything in there. Bright lights, walls of TVs, massive tables, it was as if someone was overcompensating through their restaurant.
The cuisine was traditional Tex-Mex, with servings of chicken and steak, rice and beans, salsa and guacamole, etc. Â It was all fairly average, but filling, so it did its job after a long day of bachelor'ing. The chocolate cake dessert (not Tex-Mex) was actually pretty light and tasty, and probably my favorite part of my meal. (Shocking, since I'm normally not a dessert guy.) Full bar service was provided by our lovely server so that the engaged could be properly intoxicated.
The galaxy bowling was pretty fun, with very responsive scoring system, nice lanes, and comfortable seating. I won't comment on my score that night, but I will boast that I got over 100 (booyah!). Afterward one game, we explored the upstairs arcade and found a decent amount of non-ticket oriented games, including DDR, Big Buck Hunter, and multiplayer Pac Man. Too bad the machines started to shut down on us, as they were closing down.
Overall, it was a good venue for a variety of fun with a friendly staff, making it a great end to the festivities of the Bachelor Games. Tim (a.k.a Captain Awesome, as named by the groom/bride) did an excellent job with planning the itinerary and truly inspired the reviews for the evening. Oh, and that guy's marriage, too.
**Sports Bar & Grill review only**
The sports bar is every sports fan's dream come true. Walk in & you see a panorama screen extending from one side of the room to the other broadcasting a collage of smaller screens with live sports television. We just stood there in awe for a moment before taking a seat at the bar.
We were there to watch the Blazers game & for how crowded it was, it wasn't very loud. The bar is one of the largest, most impressive looking bars I've seen but the food was not as equally impressive. We ordered the classic cheeseburger ($10.50) & the Near Death burger ($13) because we missed their happy hour which is 3-6pm & 9pm-close M-Th, 3-6pm & 10pm-close Friday, Saturday 10pm-close & Sunday 9pm-close.
This is bar food so you can't expect greatness. I could see the caesar salad had been prepared hours before due to its soggy, wilting appearance; a lot like how Olive Garden serves theirs. The burgers arrived & they did the job by filling our empty stomachs. The "Near Death" burger is extremely spicy & also the burgers are made without onions. I don't particularly enjoy smelling or having onion breath but I do like a little onion on my burger for that crunch & extra flavor. The fries were very salty that just after one fry my hands swelled due to excess sodium intake. ;-P
We'll definitely be back for more sports but as for the food we'll hit their happy hour instead. The prices are more reasonable at that time for the quality of food given. Bring the whole family because minors are allowed in the back area of the bar. This is a great place to watch your favorite team win on the big screen.
I could pretty much copy Jesse B's review, because I totally agree with her, but I'll be a good Yelper and add my own thoughts :)
I come here with my co-workers about once a month to celebrate birthdays and the like. Â I love Big Al's because it's huge - we can roll up with 15-20 people at any time and we don't totally crash the place or overburden anybody. Â We usually start the night by grabbing a bite to eat and indulging in some adult beverages. Â I like their cocktails menu - the Starburst and the Hard Sweet Tea are my staple drinks. Â They've got a decent selection of beers on tap downstairs; they also have a small bar upstairs with their "Sky Box" room, which can be reserved for large groups, but this bar has less selection. Â Their food is good, spendy but expected for this type of environment. The portions are huge - the plate of nachos uses no less than an entire bag of chips. Â No joke. Â I usually get the mac and cheese "side dish", because it's actually meal-sized, yet cheap at $5 as it's designed to be a side dish.
Our group usually does some bowling and some video-gaming. Â They have two sections of bowling - the larger open area, and a smaller, more private room with cushy seating and a great vibe. I get the impression that this space is by reservation only. Â I go for the games - their gaming area is HUUUUGE! Â They've got it all, and I really can play for awhile on $10, and spend the rest of my money on drinks. Their bowling is expensive. $5 per game, paid in advance, plus shoes (and they have socks to purchase for $3 if you forget yours!).
The one bummer of coming with a bigger group - unless you specifically arrange for a party package (read: expensive), you can't reserve lanes. Its first-come-first serve, and on weekends, the wait can be 1-2 hours. My advice? Â Get there an hour before you want to really start your party, put your name down for bowling, and then go eat, maybe play some games. Â By the time you're done, your name will be up and you can get your bowl on.
I have to agree with Terry C. and say that this is definitely the grown up version of Chuck E Cheese. Â
Very cool bowling alley. Â There is a full menu where you can order from so you can eat while you bowl. Â Ordered nachos and a pizza as soon as we got to our lane. Â Got to the the 8th frame (4 players) when the food finally came. A little slow. Â They could have probably used some kitchen help and more servers. Â
There is an arcade upstairs. Â Played on the four player air hockey table...so cool!
Big Al's is what it is...big. It's a place where adults can drink and kids can be...kids. It's a grown up version of Chucky Cheeses.
However some of it does remind me of a casino where your allowed to do sports betting. We went into the restaurant area that has various amounts of games showing on the big screen and others on the little big screens. I felt like I could go up to the bar and ask if I could place a $100 bet on this underdog to beat the spread by 3.5. It just had that feeling of it.
The food, well it's basically a mish mash of stuff, a little Asian, burgers, wraps and chips. We started with Chips and Salsa, that suppose to come with guac and sour cream. While I don't care for the two we never did get them even though the menu did say it came with guac and sour cream.
I must say though, the portions are pretty big. Had the chicken wrap which one half is almost a meal in itself. I took my fiancee's and my other half for lunch.
The waitress never did seem happy while we were there. I'm not sure why but her attitude was a little cold. The place wasn't that busy at all. So it took a while for the milk shake to arrive and the food. But they are caterring to the bowlers too.
Would I eat at this place? Probably. It's a fun place. If you feel like playing games, bowling and drinking a few beers than this place might work out.
Took three friends with a Groupon we had. Groupon was $20 for a game, a $10 arcade card, a large pizza, and shoes for up to 4 people. Looking at prices this would have cost us at least $60 without the coupon.
This place isn't bad really. It's just not very good. The food is way overpriced. The pizza was chewy and greasy and certainly not worth the $22 they would have wanted for it without our deal. The tables are very close together so you are subjected to the hooting, hollering, cheering, screaming, and crying (if children are losing) of everyone around you. The seats are awful too. Very tiny, very hard chairs that are on these snap back hydraulics to keep them close to the table. I could see children, obese/heavyset people, or the elderly having an issue with them.
The games are overpriced and the upstairs sweltering, despite central air. There's a weird system where you buy a card to load money onto and then have to use that card only to buy tokens. I don't know why when installing this they simply didn't either pick games that required either tokens or the card. Getting to your favorite game to find you need to go find a different payment method is frustrating. There's also a lack of rules around the games. Yes, some things like Skeeball are assumed, but we played four player air hockey and it wasn't made clear if you were playing in pairs or til last one was standing nor did it state how long each swipe of your card payment was good for.
I think this could be a really great place to hang out if you have a deal or if you eat beforehand (lovely selections of restaurants across the street!) but the food being overpriced and terrible quality is a real drawback.
This place is perfect when you have family in town, including two teenage boys who do nothing but play on their phones and computers all day. Â
I have been a few times, and the food is definitly nothing to write home about. Â Big portions and big prices. Â The drinks are pretty watered down, especially yummy mixed drinks. Â But that's not all that surprising.
Bowling and arcade games seem to draw out taciturn teenagers and when you make a $10 card to the arcade the prize for bowling, they bring out their A game. Â
We brought a baby with us, even though it was a little loud for him. Â The rest of us had fun bowling and eating bad food and shouting to be heard over the music and balls rolling down alleys and knocking over pins. Â
I enjoy going, but not usually on my own or for a date night. Â Definitely good for groups and kids.
When my husband told me we had been invited ( really mandated) to attend his office's semi annual get together at a bowling alley in Beaverton on a Satursday night, I have to say I wasn't tremendously excited.
I'm not a bowler.Bowling reminds me of middle school gym class outings.
Shudders.
That said, when we arrived and heard there was 1) open bar ( and I mean WIDE open bar) for his office event and 2) that  I didn't HAVE to bowl and 3) there would be casino games, well, I felt somewhat mollified.
The strawberry Margarita as big as my head ( and it was free) helped.
It was delicious.
I think if we'd had to pay for it it would have been about $5.
This was a nice place to hold an office event. We had several bowling lanes and a big room for casino games and eating all to ourselves for about 50ish people. They served chicken, salmon, rice pilaf,smashed potatoes, asparagus, and cheesecake or chocolate torte for dessert. Oh, and lots of salad, either caeser or a mixed vegetable extravaganza. The chicken was a little dry. Eveyrthing else was yummy. The chocolate torte thing was sick. Cookie crust, mousse middle, and thick ganache like chocolate fudge on top. wow
There are huge tv's everywhere playing LOUD music videos... some of the music was a bit much but they keep it clean for children per the staff. There was alot of old eighties stuff,and old black and white Elvis footage... kinda fun.
Not a bad place to go. Hubby wanted to check out the arcade but I wouldn't let him, I made him go home so I could sleep off my margarita....s.
Came here on 3/23 for happy hour with a friend. We were originally going to meet for tea but it was one of those nights where we both could use some drinks!
We looked at the regular menu and the prices are a bit out there and from asking around/reading yelp (and previous visits) I know it's not worth it. But for happy hour, it's not a bad price! The drinks were huge, the food was happy hour sized and a good "deal". My friend ordered a margarita and the grilled cheese sliders with tomato soup. I ordered a lynchburg lemonade, chicken caesar and some fries to share. The fries--some were overcooked. Oh well, it's hh and we had large drinks. The caesar had 2 croutons on the plate, one was quite large and I jokingly told my friend it was cornbread. When I bit into it though, it was cornbread! Jalapeno and corn cornbread! That does not go with a caesar. not even a little bit. They might have even had cheese in them, I'm not sure but it was awkward and I didn't eat them with the salad. Kudos to the kitchen for being inventive but yuck!
Service was great, we had a super friendly waitress and you could tell it wasn't fake, which I appreciate.
I'd probably come back for the happy hour if I'm in the area but I wouldn't seek it out. I definitely wouldn't come for the regular food again. The place is huge and there are so many screens which can be somewhat distracting for my ADHD self--but I imagine watching games would be great (blazers had just lost to the lakers that night).
See pictures
Big Al's aims to please anyone looking for; Â family fun, kid's night out, a teen gathering, a solid bowling experience, cosmic bowling, a Wunderland-on-crack, an ordinary bar, a sports bar (with an absurdly large variety of huge screens), a clubby cosmic bowling area, karaoke- to put it lightly, it is the ULTIMATE night out. Â Oh right, they have an ice cream bar. Â
Nike has held employee events here because it's perfect-with groups you can either direct your attention to one and other, or, to one of the many corners of distractions!
It's not inexpensive to bowl or play games, but that's because it's a high end alley in a high end area. Â The drinks/food are average restaurant prices with equal taste, all in all, you get more than you expect so it's a very enjoyable! Â The fries are so good that I make it a staple to order them when I go, which breaks my typical healthy fare habits but it's worth it!
I go to Big Al's weekly for the Pints and Pins bowling league. Â The staff here is very friendly and they have a pretty decent beer selection. Â Everything about the place is just very upscale for a bowling alley and is a nice feel compared to some of the dicey bowling alleys that make you feel like you're going to get stabbed if you aren't careful.
The leagues are a slightly premium price ($14.00 and they do cash prizes for the winners) but you are paying that little bit extra for a better bowling alley than normal. Â The food has always been good here as well. Â The Crazy Al burger is my go to burger that has pretty much anything you could add to a beef patty on it.
The only real downside is that the place can get crazy busy and have a huge line. Â This is frustrating when you are trying to bowl and there is some little turd running a muck in the lane next to you or trying to throw your ball down the lane. Â This is NOT Big Al's fault but it has happened to me every time I went when it wasn't for league just because of how packed it gets. Â It does however get old sometimes to pay so much just to bowl a game too but, like I said, you're getting something for your money.
This place is basically in my back yard so no reason to not check it out. It was Super Bowl Sunday so was prepared for the place to be bananas. Not to bad actually, even though the place is sporting 6 jumbo screens. All turned on to the game of course. Not sure if this I a regular Sunday thing or a special for the Super Bowl, but for $25 we had a lane for 4 hours, four shoe rentals, and 4 $5 game cards to use at the upstairs arcade. Pretty sweet deal!
My friends bought the nachos and they were very good and about 2 feet high!
Will def check this place out again.
BIG AL's was really really BIG!
Love the fact that they are sort of like a Lucky strike meet Dave & Buster's (keep in mind I'm from LA). The service isn't great, our server was a little short with me because they were so busy... he should have kept it under control. Drinks were a little on the weak side. I just like the place and what it has to offer... I would come back here.
I'ma gonna break it down for y'all via a list of the pros and cons. No need to thank me...
Pros
- Good service. I've been a few times and haven't been let down at the bar, lanes or restaurant.
- Good snacky food like onion rings, fries and the likes. Unsure about a full meal though, haven't tried it yet.
- The chicken quesadilla appetizer is pretty much freaking amazingly delish OMG.
- A fun variety of lanes - by the hour, individual games depending on your group size
- Arcade! There's a ton of types of games to enjoy
- Clean, clean, clean
- Plenty of parkin'
Cons
- Expensive. I mean. Whoa. Massively expensive. I rarely get out of here for under $40....but usually more. Man, it's just...EXPENSIVE.
- Loud. This ain't the place to have a quiet or even moderate noise level conversation
- Kids. Or "kids who run around like it's Chucky Cheese". I know it's really more on the parents to make sure their lil' offspring aren't ricocheting off innocent people but still, it's GD annoying at 10pm when you'd think they'd be gone.
So, it's a pretty fun place to go as long as you know what you're getting into :)
Woooooo...this part of Beaverton is on the swanky side. Big Al's located across the newish Beaverton Cinetopia. I was wondering why the building of Big Al's is so huge. I walked inside and OH HELL NAW...NAW WAY...they have bowling lanes after bowling lanes with BIG screens so you can bowl and watch sports or music video clips.
We didn't bowl at the time we went there. We played their arcade games upstairs. I love winning tickets so I can get more cheesy stuff for my cheesy collections. I'm a novice in Skee Ball so I was happy to see they have about 4 skee ball machines. We played the Giant Tetris also. It was phun!
We didn't consume any food or drinks here so I can't tell you how they are. We will come back here for bowling perhaps during the matinee time. Yes, they have cheaper rates for different time of the day. Till then, I'm gonna practice my skill on my Wii.
I'm not going to knock Big Al's for being an entertainment mecca--it has pretty much anything you could ask for in terms of indoor entertainment AND it's family and adult friendly to boot.
That's all well and good.
However, I must dole out the dreaded one-star rating for this place because our service in the main sports bar area was so bad. Being that I am a sympathizer of the retail minions (as one myself), I still gave the dude a decent tip understanding that, well, sh*t happens and sometimes you are just stretched too thin.
But if bartender dude was stretched too thin, then don't have seating at the bar that he is supposed to attend to while he is presumably filling a zillion drink orders for the zillion other parts of this ginormous place. Obviously it's too hard to be a full-on server for the bar seats while also being one of the few drink pourers in the joint. In that sense, I can empathize.
So shame on you, Big Al, for not having enough bartenders on a Friday night.
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