Wood Dale Bowl Guide and Review
Located in the broader Chicago area, Wood Dale Bowl presents itself as a classic, family-owned bowling alley that offers a step back in time. While the primary type listed for this establishment might be "casino," user reviews overwhelmingly confirm it is a dedicated bowling alley. It's a place where affordability meets a decidedly old-school charm, though customer experiences vary significantly, particularly concerning service and lane maintenance.
The Vibe & Affordability ✨
- Classic, Dated Charm: Many visitors appreciate the retro feel of Wood Dale Bowl. Described as "a step back to a few decades ago" with "old screens and all," it truly offers a "classic" bowling experience. If you're looking for modern bells and whistles, this might not be your spot, but for those who enjoy nostalgia, it hits the mark.
- Affordable Fun: A major highlight for many is the pricing. Bowling rates are noted as "very affordable," and even drinks at the bar are reasonably priced. The "all you can bowl" deal at $13 is highlighted as a "great deal."
- No Cosmic Bowling: For some, the absence of cosmic bowling is a positive, appealing to those who prefer traditional bowling.
Lane Conditions & Food 🎳🍕
The condition of the lanes receives conflicting feedback:
- Positive Lane Feedback: Some users report "great lanes" and "pretty nice" conditions, with one mentioning "high friction" lanes that provided an interesting challenge.
- Negative Lane Feedback: Conversely, other reviews lament significant issues, including "holes in them" and "chipped" lanes. There are also reports of "not giving out accurate scoring" on screens, which can be frustrating.
Food options are quite limited, consisting primarily of "Tombstone pizza, pretzels, and nachos." Visitors wishing for an "expanded menu" or a full kitchen might be disappointed.
Customer Service: A Point of Contention 😠🤝
This is where Wood Dale Bowl's reviews diverge most sharply:
- Friendly Staff Experience: Some customers describe the staff as "really friendly" and praise the family-owned atmosphere.
- Unprofessional & Rude Encounters: However, several reviews cite serious issues with management and employees.
- One recurring complaint involves the owner (described as an "older guy with the beard") allegedly being "very unprofessional," kicking out groups of paying customers "because he wanted to leave" before stated closing hours, and failing to update online hours.
- Another incident details an employee who was a "total ass" after being informed of a faulty scoring screen, allegedly stating he "already knew" and that it was either the broken lane or no lane, despite it being full. This lack of transparency and poor attitude was heavily criticized.
Overall Recommendation
Wood Dale Bowl offers a genuinely nostalgic and affordable bowling experience, making it appealing to those who appreciate a classic, no-frills environment. Its family-owned charm and budget-friendly prices are definite draws. However, potential visitors should be aware of the reported inconsistencies in lane quality and, more critically, the concerning accounts of unprofessional customer service and management. Your experience here may largely depend on the specific staff you encounter and the condition of your assigned lane.
This is a great bowling alley. The prices are very affordable, even the drinks at the bar. Opening the door and walking inside is like taking a step back to a few decades ago. Old screens and all. Truly a classic. My only wish is that they had a kitchen with an expanded menu. Currently they have Tombstone pizza, pretzels, and nachos.
We have been here a handful of times and quite frankly the only reason we have come back is because they don’t have cosmic bowling. The owner (older guy with the beard whose daughter works the bar/counter) has been very unprofessional. He’s told us in the past that even though they are supposed to close at 1-2 am they kick groups out because he wanted to leave. He has told us that he has shut off the lane on a group of paying customers because he wanted to leave before their closing hours and never bothered to update their hours online. The lanes have holes in them as well and we wish they prioritized keeping their paying customers so they can upkeep their bowling alley.
Cute little family-owned bowling alley. A little dated but the lanes are pretty nice. Staff is really friendly. Fairly easy to get lanes even on league nights.
Great lanes. The staff referred to the lanes as high friction, so we had to play inside 2nd arrow. All you can bowl is a great deal at $13. We'll definitely be back.
Place was promising but the employee was a total ass when I went up to him to inform him my screen was not giving out accurate scoring he told me he already knew I asked him why give me a lane that isn’t working he told me it was either the lane that wasn’t working or no lane because they were full I would have rather known this information beforehand so then I could have gone to another bowling alley greedy greedy greedy also the lanes are chipped