Level Up Kitchen & Barcadium

Faux hipster dude that works in the kitchen left the bathroom without washing his hands.
Video games are cool, though.

An awkward experience… it was a Thursday evening around 6:13 p.m. It was triangle restaurant week and this bar/​restaurant happened to be on the list. We were the first customers to arrive to an empty bar (other than the guy fixing the game machines). There was a note on the table that said «order at the bar because table service will not be provided». We walked over to the bar and asked for menus. The bartender gave us the menus and that’s where things got awkward. We were confused because the bartender didn’t mention anything about restaurant week until we asked. He then said «oh…» (dug through the shelf) and handed us the menu for restaurant week. How can you be a part of triangle restaurant week and not say anything? Is it some sort of secret menu?!
Fast forward… we received our appetizers. The cheese potato balls were amazing! The Korean wings was tasteless almost like boiled chicken covered in hot sauce. The burgers were good and quality made. It cost an additional $ 2 for the fries. The dessert was awkward as well… an ice cream sandwich consisted of a thing later of ice cream slapped between two chocolate chip cookies.
The whole experience consisted of 1 hour and 30 minutes. Not sure if I will return. AWKWARD

I booked a corporate event at Level Up and was very pleased! Very friendly and thorough event staff, the chef worked with our corporate chef and was very flexible on menu offerings, the space was perfect for about 80 – 100 people and was a really cool alternative to just renting out a restaurant/​bar.
Definitely recommend for a birthday, work outing, etc… the price was super reasonable too!

Had an ok experience here. Wandered in on a Saturday afternoon for some food, drinks and fun. We ordered a round of drinks before we decided to order food. While we sat there talking at the bar a group came in and ordered drinks. They were given a cup of tokens. This didn’t sit well with either of of us. We weren’t given any tokens.
A few of the arcade games weren’t working so we had to keep going to the bar and asking for our tokens back. Bartender gladly gave us ones we lost in machines but it happened at least 3 times.
They had a good selection of bottled and canned beer. No draft beer was available.
We chose two different appetizers while there. We had the Korean wings and the fries with duck, gravy and cheese. Both were very good.
While finishing off our tokens we left our beers at the bar where we had been sitting. Upon returning our drinks were gone. When I asked about them the bartender said, «well there wasn’t much left in them». It wasn’t like the place was busy or that the bar was crowded. He didn’t even apologize.
We actually liked this better than Boxcar at first because we could get food, we could talk and it wasn’t as busy. However Boxcar has a lot more games, you get tokens with every round you buy and the service was better there.
Honestly not sure we will go back.

Warning: Anywhere that has good service, great ambiance and at least a dozen classic arcade games is on my «good list».
I’m thrilled with the service. I haven’t run out of beer once! And the appetizers aren’t bad for bar food. I haven’t tried the main courses, but I have pumped a bunch of quarters in 80s classics. In particular these guys have an Asteroids Deluxe machine in great shape, as well as others like Joust, millipede, ms Pacman, etc. a couple 90s favorites like Area 51 Site 4 too.
Great place. Love it!
Not quite the selection of Boxcar and as others have said it a lot more intimate. I’d say better overall service too, but perhaps ¹⁄₃ the size of Boxcar. I recommend both.
My only gripes-​cash only for coins makes it tough to keep playing when you run out of dough and want to put it on a card, and the poor bartender was stuck managing stuck coin mechanisms on the games too (not her fault)

Level Up is the sort of place you would want to go if your group is on the smaller side and if the size and noise level of Boxcar are a bit too much for you. Similar in concept to Boxcar, Level Up offers booze, cheap old-​school arcade games, and food (there’s no food served at Boxcar).
While I cannot speak to the quality of the food here, I did try one of the video game themed cocktails that was similar to a Moscow Mule, packing a pretty decent punch and not being more than expected, price-​wise, Level Up does about average.
As for the overall experience and ambience, there isn’t anything particularly great or terrible about the place. Would be a very mellow night out if you’re looking for something to do that’s low key. The game selection is more than adequate, and the homage to some classics is always appreciated.
I do hope this place continues to expand and find their charm beyond being a basic bar. I see lots of potential for this space and would love to see it flourish in the future.

I personally prefer Boxcar when choosing a barcade around the Raleigh area but this one does serve food. On this most recent visit I had the Holy F@%$ing Cheeseburger which was okay, my only complaint is that the cheese was excessive. Plus, I honestly prefer a draft beer and since they serve only cans/​bottles this makes me less of a fan.

Level Up can be hit or miss with a huge crowd, I definitely do not like it when it is packed since it is smaller. But, on this most recent visit I needed to use a Groupon that I purchased before it expired ($ 20 worth of food plus $ 5 in tokens).
Boyfriend and I started off our visit with beers and food, they do not have draft only bottles and cans. I noticed that they have changed up their menu a bit too.
Boyfriend ordered the Holy F@%$ing Cheeseburger with chips — this burger had an excessive amount of cheese melted onto the dish, it was a waste because it was just peeled off and put on the side (I guess they did this for presentation). Plus, the burger tasted a bit dry which was disappointing.
I ordered the Koopa Troopa with chips — this burger was delicious! And, I loved the chips. I ordered a side of ranch to dip the chips in which tasted great.
After we ate our meals, we went to play a few arcade games. Pac Man, shooting games, pinball and more.
The best thing about Level Up is the ECU flag that they always have up, Go Pirates!

Great food, good ambiance, OK game selection, poor service. I had the pastrami sandwich with fries. My wife had the Rocky with chips. I got my food 15 minutes before my wife got hers. The waitress asked if we need any condiments. I asked for ketchup but never saw it. I would understand if it was busy as there was only one waitress but there was maybe 4 other tables. I had to go to the bar to get more beer.
The games have definitely been around for awhile. We had troubles with some games but we’re given some free play to compensate which was great.
The saving grace was the food. The food maybe the only reason we would go back.

More intimate than Boxcar, and a quality selection of games. Really healthy selection of 80s games. NBA Jam with the big heads and Track and Field really took me back. Ms. Pac Man at the speed it’s supposed to be set at.
Good food. Korean wings were very meaty. Pickle chips a little too thin. House made chips nice but a little overcooked. Pastrami was a brisket, wow. Excellent meatball sub. Nice collection of beers.
Service was a little uneven, she seemed new and forgot a few things, but friendly.

Had a Wonderful time! Free play on Sunday’s and $ 5 Jameson, hello happy Sunday! I had the pork popper (pork shoulder with panko) and an apple butter, was sooo tasty! The entire bar was curious as to what I was eating and a few people just had to have it. My husband had the Mario Meatball sub and it was super tasty as well. Daily drink specials and great arcade choices, my personal fave being Ms. Pacman

Another fun, cool, gamey bar in Raleigh! Why don’t places like this exist in DC?! Full of arcade games. Great indie and classic rock. Fun, laid-​back bartenders. And Purple Haze bottles! Most arcade games are just 50 cents. They have an ATM and quarters machine available to really getcha. When you walk in, you go up a steep set of stairs and head in a small, casual bar. This was our last stop of the night and really capped off our evening of fun and debauchery. Everyone was friendly and cool and I really enjoyed this bar the most on our trip down to Raleigh.

My friend and I grabbed some late night eats from this place and first I want to give a shout out to Johnny the bartender. He was AMAZING! I LOVED THIS PLACE! I had no idea this place existed and it is close to all of the Fayetteville street bars. It’s a short walk, located on Salisbury street and they have some pretty good things on the menu.
I love the arcade vibe! It reminds me of this hipster place in chicago that has a similar theme with all of the old school arcade games. We didn’t play any games but we chowed down on the egg bacon sliders and tater tots. Let’s just say there were nothing but crumbs left. It was so delicious we inhaled the food in record time.
I loved how you could carry on a conversation here and the music wasn’t blasting. The best part was they were playing some 80’s tunes which I am obsessed with. The playlist was full of all of my favorite songs from Toto to Ready for the World. Whoever created this playlist gets 10 stars for that!
I will definitely go back, most likely this weekend :-)

While not as big as the other barcades, Level Up holds its own with good food, drinks, and plenty of games — about 20 cabinets and 6 pins. The 1^st floor expansion should be happening soon, which will push those numbers up a bit.
On the lunch/​dinner menu, you’ve got a selection of bar food: tacos, sliders, burgers, tots, wings, and more. I don’t think I’d ever come to Level Up just for the food, but I have a hard time visiting hungry without getting their tacos.
The games seem pretty well-​maintained. The staff seems genuinely concerned when one is misbehaving. On a random Monday night visit, I noticed a slow left flipper on the Lord of the Rings game. Everything else seemed fine!
All of the games are coin-​op and they’ll occasionally put some on free play. There’s a change machine by the stairs (to the right when you walk up).
Décor-​wise, this is the classiest and most interesting of the barcades. Boxcar and The Baxter (Chapel Hill) are both dives, but definitely both preferable if you’re in it just for the games. The Baxter is, by far, the best barcade around because it has the best assortment of games. Boxcar is a party bar, intended to appeal to a wide audience — not just the nerds (like me) looking to enjoy a round on an original DK cabinet. Level Up has a different feel to it, and I dig it.

Level Up is creeping up my list of go to places when I’m in Raleigh and it starts with one man. Johnny Berry. Who? I stopped in here a while back with some friends and we ended up ordering some shots. After round two I was like, ummm this guy behind the bar can mix some tasty drinks. Turns out he won Best Bartender in the Triangle a few years back and it shows. Throw in some video games from my childhood, an uncrowded bar, and some yummy treats and you have one happy lady. I highly recommend some group outings here where the girls can sit at the bar and talk about clothes and make-​up and the men can get lost in video games and everyone leaves happy.

Level Up is a unique place. part bar.restaurant.arcade.and it all works! The atmosphere will transport you back to the 80’s but the food/​drinks will take you back to the future! Located downtown Raleigh, this place is a fun place to hang, play your favorite arcade games, watch sports on one of the many flat screens or see one of the classic 80’s movies. Now that we ‘ve established that one can be entertained. let’s talk about the food and drink.
I met the mixologist Johnny who was very polite and passionate about his craft cocktails. There are some beer cocktails as well as other creative cocktails on the bar menu, all for a reasonable price. I enjoyed the Code Blue and Skywalker. Because it was my first time, I polled the staff on what we’re some of the menu faves. Hands down. the Yoshi eggs came highly recommended and did not disappoint. These are not your basic deviled eggs. definitely a level above the rest. Not your ordinary bar food at all. fresh ingredients, wonderful flavors and tasty. I ordered a variety of other things and definitely will be returning with friends !

When I first saw level up on the list for restaurant week, I have never heard of it before but fell in love with the idea of game inspired foods. Seeing that there is not really much of a review for the dining I figured I should make one!
My friend and I collectively got the bbq wings, mexican cola ribs, and the gauntlet (they were out of dessert but gave us a coupon). All of which were flavorful and delicious. With the wings you get 4 pieces and a side of a radish and carrot salad and with the ribs you get 2 pieces and a side of Brussel sprout slaw. The gauntlet burger was definitely the highlight of our meal, the interesting ingredients and even the buns, which were soft and crispy, took the traditional burger to the next level :)
I didn’t get to try the Yoshi eggs but heard great things! I will definitely be back to redeem my coupon and check out the barcade which is actually a good size!

BOOMSHAKALAKA!
While walking through downtown Raleigh, we happened upon Level Up by accident. I was immediately drawn in by the promise of arcade machines. Their beer selection was great and the service was friendly.
It was a lazy Sunday and all the arcade machines were free, except for pinball. I don’t know if that was a Sunday special or not. [EDIT: IT IS A SUNDAY SPECIAL. Play usually set for 25 cents, which is a better deal than it was when these games were new in the arcades #inflation END EDIT]
NBA Jam! NFL Blitz! Street Fighter vs. X-​men! Millipede! There are some shoot em up games, too. Just awesome and fun. A few of the machines had a wonky joystick or a sticky button, but overall it was awesome. We planned on just walking through to see it and ended up staying for a few beers. So much fun!!!
We didn’t try any food, so I can’t speak to that. Also, having the place basically to ourselves on a Sunday was a real benefit. I am already looking forward to another visit!

In the battle of barcades, you’ve got a new entry: Level Up on Salisbury Street! I’ve stopped in a couple of times and enjoyed both my visits. Big difference at Level Up is that they’ve got more of a mixed use feel to the space. It feels more like lounge/​restaurant than the Baxter or Boxcar. And that just works depending on your mood.
The games are all originals but a limited selection right now (20+ cabinets) And the owner Jon, has a special interest in pinball games so while the place is still growing, what they do have for pinball is pretty durn good (Addams Family, Playboy tables). There’s also the usuals like Donkey Kong Jr, NBA Jam, Millipede and more. A decent selection of local beers will keep you lubricated as you game on.
So give em some time because they’re still expanding into the ground floor and it’s a work in progress. But right now they’re getting four stars for me from a bar and arcade perspective, eventually I’ll give their food a try…

Recently I got to experience Level Up at a friend’s recent birthday get together there. This newest barcade in DTR has potential, there’s a lot going on in a limited space.
Very cool façade on Salisbury St, a la old classic Space Invaders. Then a long steep flight of stair up takes you to the bar (bad knees here, I hate steps and they hate me). Be aware the entrance will empty you right on top of the bar itself, there could be traffic probs on a busy night… possibly the line going down the steps, that wouldn’t be good. Once inside, I like the look. Great arcade art along with exposed brick, combined with cool modern light fixtures and wood tables… it sounds a bit eclectic but it works and comes together well. It looks nice but it’s a bit tight quarters. OK in some places, very tight quarters. The tables are all in rows/​lines next to a wall of arcade games. It really doesn’t flow very well but it is nice to have the tables available since there is food. The food itself did not impress me any more than usual bar food fare. There are tacos, sliders, salads, and apps for the most part. Some of the people I was with liked the Yoshi Eggs (sort of a fried deviled egg sort of app) but I’m not a deviled egg fan though. The guac I had was ok, it did the job but not over the top. I’d probably go with the sliders if anything next time, there are some good choices (bacon ‘n egg, pulled pork, grilled steak, BBQ chicken). The selection of beers is not bad to choose from though, it works in their favor (most are bottled). As far as the games, there are about 15 – 20 good arcade selections. Although there is not the huge selection of games that may be at other places, there are some fun games nonetheless. I hear they will be opening up the lower level and if that is true, hopefully Level Up can reach their full potential and diminish those items noted above.
Bottom line: I might could give Level Up 3.5 stars. They have some great arcade games to play and a cool look/​feel. However, the space (or lack of space) does not flow well at all. Usual bar type food fare. I’d hang out here, but hoping that once all floors are open that things will be looking up for Level Up. For now, these guys get the A-​OK 3 stars.