Lanes & Games

Wonderful place to go to have a chill night with either friends or family! We had a family event there and the employees were great! We also got some good specifically pizza and it was impressive! Obviously not amazing 5 star pizza but for a place to go bowling and play pool they have good pizza. Staff is incredibly nice and the place is pretty big! I’d def go here again!

This bar has been significantly updated. Surprisingly good beer selection including KBS on draft? What did they have to do to get that beer on draft? The bartenders knew it was expensive and rare…
Oh yeah its also a bowling alley where you can go bowling (I don’t see the need in going further in depth on that).

If I could give this place zero stars I would — actually if I could report this place for every license violation they have I would, because they have no right to own or even be in an establishment.
I went there AT LEAST once a week, to drink, eat, and bowl. Also, I always played keno which is nothing but a win win from the owner and a lose lose for customer. We never had an issue and actually were very good friends with one of the owners however his two brothers who own it with him are scum of the earth, nobody disagrees with that and business significantly slows when the other two brothers work.
They have no cell phone service, they do not give out wifi password, they chose to serve friends over customers even customers with young children, and the staff are constantly in toxic armed and under the influence of
Multiple drugs.
We are working on a lawsuit for recent events that occurred (involving the older male owners and a young girl) but until then we wanted to warn the general public to stay away from this place. — don’t bring your kids there, don’t ring your friends there, and most definitely do not spend any money at this place.

Not sure what all the negative reviews on the staff were about, I went here on Saturday and they were super nice and informative. One even gave us a brief history on candlepin bowling because we have never done that before! I went with my husband and another couple and we did a few games of both candlepin and regular bowling. We got drinks from the bar and had a blast. I was happy not to have a wait like at other places.

Rude, incompetent staff that will literally steal from you when you walk through the door.
I came for a birthday party with a large group of 35 – 60 year old adults for candlepin, which was mostly empty. The guy at the counter claimed the credit card reader wasn’t working, wouldn’t tell us know much the total would be for the group so we could get cash, and threatened to kick us out if anyone switched lanes while we were playing. What would he care who was rolling where? It’s all electronic, so we pay the same price for 30 rolls no matter what. That price is ridiculously high, $ 15.50 for two strings per person. Other friends came and he refused to even give them a lane, even with empty ones all around.
A member of the group came in with a craft beer selection as a gift. They told him alcohol wasn’t allowed, and instead of sending him back to the car to give it afterwards, they took it away and didn’t return it when we left. Nobody was going to open it or drink it there; it was a gift. I don’t care what you say your «policy» is, you can’t take someone else’s property. It’s not like you can put up a sign that says «no wallets allowed» and steal people’s wallets when they walk through the door. Then the steroid freak bouncers threatened to call the cops, which I would have 100% welcomed. They’re wrong ethically and legally.
I’ve been there dozens of times and nobody in the group ever will again. Stay far, far away from these total scumbags.

When you hire staff that cant think past level 5 elementary your asking for trouble. Not only does the manager (woman with long black hair) seem to be completely incompetent, but she hires these people that can’t add 5+5. We went with a group of 6 adults and 8 kids and I paid the whole amount on my credit card. My friend didn’t know I had done this and paid another $ 90, and another friend paid another $ 50. When we realized what had happened 5 minutes later they were incapable of figuring out a solution– they could refund us or understand anything. We even made it as simple «Dont give us the money back, just give us more games» but apparently the system there is so old they couldn’t do that either.
The bar staff upstairs are «ok» but the people attracted to this spot are unique to say the least. Not really a place to attract normality.
Advice to those that own this place: if you hire morons you attract morons. Anyone with any sense will steer clear– which is what we will all do from now on.

I have never been treated more rudely than this bowling ally. The employees treated my friends and I like trash. Never going back here again

EASY to find. Right on RT2.
Comfortable atmosphere. Lots of candle pin & 10 pin bowling lanes. Bar upstairs with nice pool tables. Arcade on first level with about 8 pinball machines.
It was not like I expected at all — I thought it would be small. It was huge — two floors. Lots of people there but not crowded. GREAT hours — open until 2am. Thank god!

$ 9.25 per game with shoe rental; $ 10credit card minimum.

Came here on a weeknight for a quick couple games of bowling. Went upstairs for the 10-​pin bowl (downstairs is candlepin). There were only a few lanes that were being used so there was plenty of space to spread out and I was able to bowl in peace. Few pool tables and a full bar upstairs. First time coming here and I’m sure I’ll be back soon.

Don’t go. White trash. They are very racist. They kicked us out and didn’t get our money back

Had a great time on a snowy afternoon with nothing else on the agenda. Clean, as bowling alleys go, and fantastic beer selection. Never seen such a good list at the type of place you associate with flat light beer.
A nice blend of traditional bowling alley and fancy «lucky strike» type fancy joints. We didn’t eat but the food smelled fine and almost enticed us into an order of fries.
Very reasonable prices for both the lane and the beers. We don’t bowl often but had a great afternoon and will be back again sometimes when the weather doesn’t call for outdoor activities.

Sunday morning. Wow, tremendously rude service at front desk. Bloodshot eyes, grumpy attitude. If you’re that hungover, perhaps call in sick? Or maybe let your co-​workers wait in us?

This review is for the 10-​pin bowling only. Went today with some cousins and siblings on New Year’s Day. It was busy but we were quickly assigned two consecutive lanes, so we went at the right and lucky time. The counter staff were friendly and the atmosphere is very inviting. This place has an old-​school vibe, look and feel, which is nice and nostalgic. You can see everyone is having a fun time and enjoying their company (and drinks). We did not buy any drinks or food but the beer glasses looked large (not sure about the price, so can’t comment on the price-​value). I saw someone with a slice of pizza, and the food area smelled greasy like a diner. So I’m guessing they have fries and burgers too. We played two games which lasted about 1.5 hours. I think the price is very reasonable. $ 5.25 per game per person and $ 3.25 to rent bowling shoes. Bring you own socks though, as that is not provided, and not sure if they have any for purchase. Had a great time, and would recommend for family-​friendly fun.

According to the International Candlepin Bowling Association, only 31 Candlepin alleys remain in the state of Massachusetts, birthplace of the sport. I grew up candlepin bowling (or just plain «bowling» as far as childhood me was concerned), and am a devoted fan.
That said, Lanes and Games strikes a balance between the two major variations of the sport: Candlepin downstairs, Big Ball up. Pick your poison.
Speaking of poison, they also offer a refreshingly large variety of beers, even some hard-​to-​find craft offerings. If, like me, you find a macro-​brew more fitting for this sort of environment, then that’s on offer too.
Shoes are priced at $ 3.75/bowler and lanes go for a little over $ 5 per person per game. All in, a good time for as little as $ 10. How can you beat it this close to Boston?

This place was cool. Friendly, chill atmosphere. Cocktails were in large glasses so the drinks tended to be on the weak side. Food was very mediocre though I enjoyed my grilled cheese on rye. The bowling was fun as were the billards. I also liked the music. I’d def come back here for a chill night out.

I was here for a birthday party on a Friday night that had reserved 6 lanes for around 30 people. When we arrived there were barely any people there, and for some reason we were rushed by the owner to start bowling right away. Instead, we decided to wait a bit and have some drinks and wait for the rest of our group to arrive. We were then told again that if we didn’t start bowling our lanes (that we reserved well ahead of time) would be given away. Keep in mind that these lanes and others were just sitting there empty, and we weren’t holding up anyone from playing.
The experience here just seemed really old when compared to places like Kings and Jillians. I actually felt like I was back in high school, which is certainly not a compliment to Lanes and Games. If you want a great birthday experience, choose another bowling alley.

Plenty of lanes! If you’re going to bowl here a lot, bring your own shoes, because the money adds up. Also, drinks are expensive upstairs and the service is pretty shitty… like bringing my friends meal out 20 minutes after mine came out. The keno person just sits there while the waiting staff seems non-​existent.

This place is awesome. Candlepin bowling downstairs, «big ball» upstairs, plus a modern bar with endless HDTVs and a good number of beers on tap. The staff is helpful and responsive in case something goes wrong with the bowling lane or whatever else. This place should get 5 stars except that the displays downstairs are old and the TVs are sometimes funky looking or distractingly messed up. It adds to the charm and mystique though, so I don’t worry too much about that.

I dig this place and would recommend you check it out. My experience is that I had a get together for about 20 friends the night before my wedding, so thought, why not go bowling. In order to reserve lanes you need to put down a deposit ($ 50 for Saturday night), and that gets credited towards your cost when you show up. The price to bowl per game and for shoes is very reasonable, and the overall atmosphere and music was perfect for a Saturday night out.
Bowling was straightforward as expected, there was a pool table open, so we got to play some pool, and we were able to get some food and drinks. The whole place was crowded enough that it had a good energy, but not so crowded as to feel cramped or overwhelming.
Now with the food and drinks, you had to go to the bar and order (no waitstaff, or if there was they didn’t come around). That makes sense to do it that way on a busy Saturday, but it was still a little bit inconvenient.
In terms of getting there, it is walking distance to the redline, and also you can drive and there is plenty of free parking. We didn’t make use of the arcade or the candlepin downstairs, but it looked fun.
All in all, a really fun night and would definitely go back.

I had my daughter’s 3^rd birthday party here and was not disappointed. I wanted to do something interactive and read about this venue as a good place for kid birthday parties in the Boston Parents magazine. It’s listed as a top pick. And, then I realized it’s less than a 10 minute drive from my home. Score! I did do a trial run to check the place out with my daughter a few months beforehand. Can a two-​year old really bowl? Answer: YES! — candle pin bowling, using smaller sized bowling balls. They also have bumpers which line both sides of the lane so that the ball bounces back toward the center of the lane. There are also these metal guides that younger children can use to release their balls.
The guys who work here are very laid back but do a great job. They weren’t that strict with us on the time since it was not too busy there on this Sunday before Labor Day 2015. While our party was supposed to be from 1PM to 3PM, we were allowed to linger and hang out until almost 4PM. They accommodated me with the pizza order and was good about keeping my three (yes, three — it’s a very long story) ice cream cakes frozen. There was a hold up with my soda, but when I inquired about them, the guy at the front got right on it. While we were enjoying our pizza, which was very good (It was better than some pizza joints that I’ve been to, and I’ve been to many places since pizza is one of my favorite foods. While I was pregnant, I consumed about one whole large pie per week.) and ice cream, the times on the lanes were paused. So, you only pay for actual play time. They charge by hour per lane for parties.
Afterwards, some of my guests returned to bowling while the majority ventured into the game room. My husband and I handed out tokens to our guests, who spent probably another 30 minutes playing arcade games.
In total, including me, there 11 children and 14 adults. It was a very enjoyable time. I would definitely recommend this place for kid parties. Parents who are reading this — feel free to message me if you’ve got any questions.

A bowling alley with just enough going on to keep you constantly entertained… and it isn’t the 1990s any more? What more can you ask for? Sure their food is slow and mediocre, but who goes to a bowling alley for food? If you’re raising your hand, stop. Put it down and reevaluate your life.
The drinks are strong, and a nice tip gets them stronger. The technology appears to have not been updated since the 90’s, which may come off as annoying to some, but it gives an out of time sort of appeal to the whole place.
The management can be a bit stiff, but with all the intoxicated rapscallions (myself among them), it’s easy to understand why.

Candlepin bowling is really… odd.
Kind of expensive and out of the way.
Arcade was cool.

Pros: 1 part bowling alley, 1 part arcade, 1 part full sports bar!
Actually, 2 parts bowling alley. Big ball upstairs, candlepin downstairs.
Went on a Saturday night and they were bumping top 40 and dance.
The arcade, I must mention, has that old school slot-​hockey USA vs. Canada game! Only seen one of these once elsewhere. So much fun.
Cons: Don’t think they have a restaurant /​have a serious restaurant?

Super fun spot with very cheap drinks. Very busy on Saturday night!
Bring you back to the 80’s for sure which is very nostalgic.

Lanes and Games is pretty much everything you want in a bowling alley. If you want something different, throwing greasy balls in unisex rented shoes probably isn’t your idea of a good time anyway.
L&G is mostly untouched since it opened, complete with orange-​ish carpet lining the walls and scoring systems that only make sense about 5 seconds before smashing the computer with a 14 pounder. The 10 pin costs a bit more than candlepin downstairs, but bowling a couple games is quite reasonable. Pool, arcade games, and Keno are also available if that’s your thing.
The only part of the place that’s been updated is the newly renovated bar area, opening up what was a dark, closed off section and adding more tables and tons of TVs. The draft list is remarkably impressive for what amounts to a townie bar, including mainstream craft faves such as Green Flash West Coast IPA and Boulevard Tank 7 — served in proper glasses! The food is passable, with the pizza tasting exactly like bowling alley pizza in the best way possible.
Although maybe not the best spot for a first date, you should probably take your mate to Lanes & Games before you make a commitment — just to see what type of person they really are.

In my heart of hearts, I am a townie.
And Lanes & Games is a townie’s paradise.
Start off your evening with a beer in the recently renovated bar and grill on the second floor. If, like me, you’re a gentrified townie, fear not: The taps include a number of craft beers and microbrews for your discriminating palate. If you’re more of a basic beer guy or gal, Lanes & Games has got you covered, too. Even for the more high-​end beers, prices are on the low end for Cambridge/​Boston.
Bowl a couple of games on the second floor, where they use the big balls. Some people have alleged this is «real bowling,» but those of us native to the Boston area know better. Nonetheless, indulge these foolish souls by tossing a heavy ball with them for a while.
At some point, order some pizza to devour between frames. It will be bowling alley pizza, in the best way: Hot, basic, delicious.
Once your friends are sufficiently satisfied with their bowling experience, bring them downstairs to the candlepin lanes (pro tip: These lanes are less likely to have a wait, which you can use as leverage to convince your friends to try God’s own version of bowling). You may think candlepin is easy; after all, you get more tries per frame, and the balls are so petite. Think again. You’ve encountered a true challenge, and come that much closer to being a real New Englander.
It’s best to drive if you’re visiting Lanes & Games (correction: best to find a designated driver with whom you ride, since you’re enjoying beers). However, if you do take the T, you can walk from Alewife on a relatively safe albeit dark sidewalk. I’d recommend not doing that alone.

I mean sure, you could go to Sacco’s in Somerville and stuff yourself on organic salads and flatbreads made with nitrate-​free maple-​fennel homemade sausage and imported parm while waiting for a lane to be open circa 11pm on a weekend night… or you could go to L&G and feel like you’re in the bowling alleys of yesteryear, minus the T-​pain remix in the background — waltz right in, bowl a few games, never break a score above 75, and round off the night in their arcade with a little pinball or air hockey. It is the best.
Crowd is… Bostony…if you’re looking to get dolled up and run game while hurling a 10lb ball down a greased floor, this is not the place — though it was lots of 20-​somethings, it’s the type of manchild who thinks their shirt with the phrase «spiritual gangster» is both witty and charming, families (who have all managed to breed bowling prodigies judging by the scores I saw on the lanes next to ours), and the 50+ers.
If for some reason you have to wait for a lane, bar has a solid selection of beer on tap, as well as terrifying sounding cocktails w/​names like «sex with an alien»…and stardard bar food — we went with curly spicy fries you’ll remember from elementary school, cheese pizza w «cheese» that was clearly a dairy/​plastic hybrid, and onion rings — I wouldn’t take your HM GF here on a date night if you were planning to impress her w the cuisine, but it’s a great place to bowl and pretend it’s 1997 again. B/​c it should be.
Two games + shoes = $ 15 for lanes, $ 3.25 for shoes.

This place has been updated recently and it’s great. They have a good beer selection, large area to drink, and the usual lanes. Prices are reasonable and now there is a place to hang out while you wait for a lane.
Hopefully they’ll update the rest of the place over time (like the bathrooms) but overall, it’s much more modern than the last time I came (5 years ago).
I’ll be back!