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Categories: Bowling, Restaurants, Music Venues [Edit]
810 W Lake St
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I love the Cheap Date Night special on Mondays - $25 for two entrees, a bottle of wine and two games of bowling. The bf and I have done CDN a number of times with friends, and it's consistently a blast. Picking bowling team names is usually the best part (Team Dink N Flicka, what up). Despite the reviews, I've always thought the food was just fine, and my dining companions appreciate that there is always a veggie option. BLB has been busy every time we've come in, but the wait is usually short. My main gripe with this place is that there is really no waiting area if you can't get a seat at the bar. You just have to stand there, uncomfortably close to people eating.
Oooh, almost forgot: I caught the Neutrino make-a-movie-in-an-hour show in the theater once, and it was awesome. Do this if you get the chance, it's improv on speed.
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It's a bowling alley? Yep! It's a theater? Yep, that too! And it's even a restaurant? YES!
I've never been so excited to be in a restaurant before. After eating a bag of pumpkin candy corns for lunch (i blame the pregnant Sarah P for this one) I was in dire need of real food. And Bryant Lake Bowl had plenty of real food for me to choose from....
We started with the cheese and bean quesadillas and then I got the ahi tuna burger as my main entree. The ahi tuna burger wasn't great, but I filled up plenty on the delish quesadillas. The service was also decent and the price was right.
And I never want to see another pumpkin candy corn again...
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Besides the first ever MSP Yelp Elite event, I've only had the chance to come to BLB once before. A friend had a birthday here and I remember us having to wait quite a while for a lane. That is the reason I haven't really come here before, or really attempt to go here. But I do enjoy the place from the two occasions that I have spent there. It is very throwback and comfortable.
First, I have to thank them for letting us have our event at their establishment. They went above and beyond to make our gathering a night to remember. The appetizers were great, I loved the two free drinks, and the bowling was awesome (even with old school score cards). Major props to waitress Erica for practically single-handedly taking and delivering all of our orders.
The music they played was pretty decent. Usually you get all the top 40s rock and hip hop, but whatever device they are using seemed to be churning out something more similar to Radio K or The Current. A lot of people had a good time with the 80s music they had going on here and there.
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The BLB has come a long way since I first moved to Minneapolis in the early 90s. Back then the bowling alley was completely disused, there were pool tables crammed in along the edges, a lot of shady characters and PBR in bottles/potato chips were the only offerings. It's amazing that the place survived (front for the mafia?) given that it doesn't have electronic scoring, balls that were manufactured after my birth or any of the fancy gimmicks that most modern bowling alleys have (Rave bowling or whatever it is they call it.) So the intrepid folks who bought the BLB saved this dying breed and did little to fix it up other than to start serving decent food and beer. They kept it pristine from it's art deco streamline fittings to it's paper and pencil scoring. And you know what, it IS a pleasure to bowl there. Not that I'm any great bowler or anything, but it's nice to do it old school with math and all. (It ensures you can't get too drunk, I think.) The neighborhood started to change in the mid 90s and the BLB was on the front edge of that wave. Now it's surrounded by fancy places to eat and drink. I am certainly open to the idea that maybe it does need to work a bit harder, especially in comparison to its competition. Could it be that people have been giving them a free pass for years because they took a complete dive and made it into one of the coolest places to for a night out in the Cities? Are they like a hot chick who rolls out of bed, throws on holy jeans and birkenstocks and everyone gives them credit for their unstudied casual chic, when really they are just bone lazy? I don't know. I haven't eaten there for at least three years, but it used to be its offerings were all very good. (Note to self: make lunch voyage to BLB soon).
We were there last night (Five stars for the sweatshirts, by the way!) for the Yelp event and we had beers and appetizers and it was just fine. I'm sure their will be tons of new reviews today since it was a Yelp party. The place was packed on a Wednesday, but the service was keeping up with it. I think the best thing about the BLBis the unpretentious attitude--you might call it unstudied casual chic. Yeah, they have wine list now but they still have PBR and chips if that's your speed.
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The food gets the only stars from me on this place and only for the taste not the prices. For the most part my run ins with the employees have been spiced with Uptown elitist douchery.
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I stand by my review that BLB food is not up to par. I can see that the owner "anon. a" is really upset by what I said, but it seems obvious you are more worried about BLB employees' jobs (HELLO you are giving yourself away!) than about customer satisfaction. I see that your TWO reviews are 5-stars for Barbette and BLB, both of which are owned by the same person. Is that you Kim Bartmann?
Maybe your vegetarian options are numerous but frankly I dont LIKE most of what you have to offer. The dishes I have tried have been severely mediocre, which leads to my severe lack of adventurous attitude for trying the rest of them. I expect more of the same. In cases like this, it's up to you (the owner/employee/cook) to either try to impress me or to let me continue to see your food as mediocre.
If lots of dishes can be served in special vegetarian ways maybe you should get your servers to mention this and offer suggestions. If you think they already do this, perhaps you should do a training review. I have never been advised.
I am doing what all your customers are doing--looking at what the menu offers--not trying to come up with new creations that are available for me to eat. That's YOUR JOB.
And about the chili, I just said it tastes like Amy's. I'm sure it is made in-house but my comment was more about the lack of innovation or uniqueness, not an accusation that you actually serve Amy's. I'm just saying the flavor is nothing I cant buy at the grocery store for $5 less.
Regardless, I usually have a fun time at BLB but I certainly dont go there to eat.
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04/23/2008
Honestly, I always expect more from BLB. The place LOOKS cooler than it really is. What you can… Read more »
Any place that has so many beers (and local ones!) on tap and people around who can talk about them... that gets my vote! It's perfect and quirky and the grilled cheese w/ tomato and garlic is SO GOOD.
I recommend happy hour!
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I had the best turkey sandwich here of my life and that includes thanksgiving leftovers. I think I blocked out the details so I could concentrate, but there was definitely turkey, definitely cranberry something, probably garlicky something. Check it out if something on the menu smacks of my vague description.
Drink specials several nights a week. Sunday is neighborhood night and a good night to go if you want to bowl. Monday night is aptly date night, because BLB is a great place to take a first date ($2x for a bottle of wine, two entrees, a game of bowling). Inexpensive, good beer selection, and something to do - maybe the competition will ease your nerves or even put you in the mood.
Keep in mind, BLB is tiny. The eating space is tiny, the bowling space is adorably tiny, so don't come in with a group unless you call ahead. And be prepared to wait. You might see a celebrity or you might be able to take your drink outside to wait, but chances are good if you come in the evening, you won't get seated right away.
Minus one star? I got charged $7 for a Jameson on the rocks on Halloween. I don't know if that's what they charge (because it's out of line!) or if the waitress was taking advantage of our Halloween state, but I've been kind of miffed ever since. Stick to beer.
Oh, and check out the dance, comedy, and theater performances in their adjancent (tiny) performance space. Some of the best amateur works in the city if you hit it on a good night.
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Great place to bowl and a great place to eat AND drink. I love their food, the pad thai is just OK but I have had some really decent apps here. They also have great beers on tap which are sometimes on special. I also really like the bowling and generally chill atmosphere. Big ups to British Steel, our usual server who is super duper friendly.
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Minnie-sota, I will be back. Just to visit this nifty little place again. After the meat-riffic-ness of Christmas I did a veggie detox there the day after and loved all that I ate. And all that I nibbled off of other plates. My black bean burger with cheese (and sauteed mushrooms and onions) was so tasty. If only I was able to finish it. But alas, after the appetizer and bowl of tomato basil soup, I could not. And I am sure that the pints of beer sure helped to fill me up. But oh how tasty they were. If you are from out of town, this is one helluva place to drink local.
Sadly, the closest likeness I can think of to it in Chicago is so yuppie it is nauseating. And the food is no where near as tasty either. Guess I will just have to wait until I head north again. Til then, stay kewl Bryant-Lake. Next til I will be sure to roll some 10 pin with you, baby.
The famous Lyn-Lake area's Bryant-Lake Bowl hosts the usual off-crowd odd theater productions, eclectic selection of booze, counterculture-friendly food selections, and all the theater-crowd unfiltered cig type people you can handle.
Definitely worth a stop but make sure to underdress before you go.
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When I lived 2 blocks from BLB this was my hangout. When I moved about 10 blocks away I didn't even second-guess the extra walk for breakfast. Now that I'm 1000+ miles away I jump at every opportunity to go back to BLB. Decent selection of tap beers, great breakfast, lunch & dinner menu options.
BLB has always been more of a breakfast place than a lunch or dinner place to me. The scrambled egg options include broccoli, cream cheese, feta, spinach, jalapeno peppers and many others. Try the Eggsadilla and the french toast! Check their website for the menu.
In retrospective I can see why this place gets less than 4 stars from people these days. It's gotten quite popular and very busy & annoying during the rush hours. I highly recommend checking out BLB on an off hour. Once you get hooked you might be able to overlook the wait.
The theater and the bowling, which I admittedly never took advantage of, are a nice addition to a great restaurant.
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This place is pretty cool. The food, as you will read from other reviews, is excellent. Beer selection is great. As a Chicagoan, I miss my Bell's. Good times with some coworkers. Go in, put your name down for a lane or two, get food, drink, and then bowl and drink some more. It is a real fun time.
A mix of theatre, restaurant, and bowling alley in the heart of Uptown, happening to serve both beer and coffee. I love this place and wish I had discovered it earlier.
When I went home for Spring Break last year, I took my 16 year old cousin and 20 yr old friend and both liked it. On the other hand, my mom's office went for a work party, and she complained about smoke for a few hours after she got back. If that gives you any idea about the atmosphere...
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Truely enjoyable experince-bowling, theater, drinks or dinner have all been fun here. I do think it gets a bit insane when its croweded, and isn't the place to go if you need space. The food is very earthy and tastes great. I often choose the basics though. Good grilled cheese. Has a great deal on monday nights...bowling, dinner, and wine for 2 for something like 25 dollers. That makes me smile just thinking about it.
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If you're looking for a solid breakfast spot and the Uptown Diner is too far away, Bryant Lake Bowl is a good alternative. The BLB is something of a legend in Lyn-Lake and has everything from great breakfasts, to awesome sandwiches to a really great beer selection. Ever have a Duval Weiss? It's awesome and i have only found it at Bryant Lake Bowl. Oh, and you can bowl there too. I highly recommend this place.
Insiders note - for lunch try the Tuna Melt - whole grain bread, cheddar cheese and a tuna salad made with wasabi.
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Good food in a funky tiny very old bowling alley! Unusual place makes this a must try for someone looking for something different. Mostly a bar feel. Don't fret over the bowling alley part, this place is NOT a typical bowling alley.
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Featured in the movie Beautiful Girls, BLB is a Minneapolis institution. The bowling here is way fun and thankfully they do serve beer to make it even more so. They also have great and quick lunches and their Bacon, Turkey and Avacado sandwich is great!
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Go here for cheap date night on Monday's. $25 get's you and your other dinner, a bottle of wine, and a round of bowling. Good beer, good food, good atmosphere.
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One thing that I haven't seen mentioned yet is that they try to have as much local products on the menu as possible. Also, they try to keep it interesting with thing such as buffalo and some really excellent local cheeses. It can get quite crowded, but the servers are not only great but good people.
Beer selection galore, pub food worth eating, bowling, oh and over there in the corner; that's a theatre for plays or music. I've never seen a more diverse use of space.
Plus, I love that they filmed a scene from Beautiful Girls there.
Whoaaaa. Try thier granola pancake if it's the only thing you do. Like eating a sort of healthy cookie for breakfast. Their breakfast kicks ass, isn't too expensive, and has a lot of veggie options. Like they have tofu substitute for eggs. And they have booze. All day. And their Reds and Veggies are really good with those special potatoes they make. Yum yum yum. A tried and true breakfast place. But get there early as there will be a lot of hipsters trying to impress you by pretending to read the whole New York Times and staring at everyone who walks in the door so they see people seeing them being so intellectual. Oh yeah and movie stars go here and there is sexy bowling and waitresses and a waiter with a 3-D tattoo I think and a little theater to see shows. And their table tops are made of bowling lanes. Ok that's it. I really love this place. Oh one more thing. Outside when it's nice there are benches with tables built in like desks in school so you can eat your organic and sometimes locally grown food on Lake Street. Yummmm..
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Yawn
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best. french. toast.
excellent bacon and egg dishes, coffee by the pot (you choose the size) and great espresso in a fun, funky spot. lunch and dinner are strong, too, but it's blb's breakfast that makes me miss minneapolis on a saturday morning!
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