Let's make something very clear here. It's SUPPOSED to be a dive. That's the charm, people.
This is, by far, the most fun activity I've done in Milwaukee. I left wanting to immediately return. I've already told all of my friends that we're going back there. I hate bowling. I'm terrible at it and it's awkward for me. But mini bowling? Amazing. As other Yelpers have said before me, call ahead for a reservation. We went on a Tuesday and the lanes filled up fast. Also, tip the pin boys. Also also, call me because I will totally come with.
Forget the weenies saying this area is sketchy! Lighten up Yelpers. Yep. I said that. I poured in here after a few drinks at local cocktail joint Bryant's for some real Milwaukee fun. We found a fun crowd who were willing to make space at the bar and tease my friends from Chicago about various teams. We were in after 10 and had the full opportunity to play the mini bowl lane. No shoes needed. Little hand held balls are the name of the game here and the pins are set by a couple of kids who work for tips (SO YOU BETTER TIP A LOT!)
Fun. Bowling. Pitchers of PBR for $8 or something like that.
Went back the next afternoon and some bridal party had booked all the lanes, so we shot pool and watched the Brewers game and the Stanley Cup. This place is now second generation Koz owned and it is about as real as you get for a Milwaukee original that is not a copy of the latest thing in Chicago, NYC, or LA.
Yep. I also loved the old checks on the A/C unit. If you bounced a check (remember when people paid with checks?) Koz would paste your bounced check on the wall! Now, that is pretty funny - unless your grampus was bouncing checks in 1981. The shame. If your gram pa owes Koz's $60 then you should pay up.
A few Lakefront or MKE beers on tap would make this place 5 stars in my book.