Strikes Bowling Lounge

Heard this place has closed down permanently.

Strikes has been around a little bit longer than the other downtown Philly bowling parlors, and I like to think of them as a bit ahead of the curve. It’s a college bar, and it serves its purpose well. It’s kind of in a league of its own, and it caters to the general public. They have a few real specials and leagues and decent lane availability, as opposed to the laser party all the time atmosphere of other lanes. Their section designated for billiards is good. The beer is kept in a loft with the pins to keep everything at proper humidity and temperature. It would be cool if the reviewers put pictures of the actual alley instead of some random google image of a lefty bowler in some other state.

WHAT I LIKED:
— $ 10 cover on Monday nights for unlimited bowling with included bowling shoes is a great deal.
— Two drink tickets, when combined with a friend, equals two pitchers of Lager.
— The variety of bowling, air hockey, pool, arcade games, bar area, and spacious layout.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
— It was a slow night. So they announced last call at 11:50 PM when free bowling is advertised until 2 AM, and they then turned off the lanes.
— The mechanics of the lane’s pin replacement machinery kept constantly screwing up, effectively returning less than 10 pins or no pins at all (i.e. the only thing you had to do to get a strike was to throw the ball down the lane). Staff reset the lane multiple times, but it kept screwing up. Avoid lane 8, if you can.
— Greasy ass bowling balls!
— The tables to put your beer, food, etc. were faulty and broken — almost dumping the beer.
That being said, I’ll definitely come back. It’s a fun time.

I came here a few weeks ago, it was a Monday. We paid $ 10 each to get in, and got these tickets. It was free bowling night, so we didnt have to pay per lane. The tickets were good for a drink or app, I believe. They had black light bowling which was pretty cool. We got there early and was able to play two games, then we had to wait awhile for a lane once it got busy. They have air hockey, that punching game macho men like, pool table and other games, I thought it was neat, and cheap.

As a college student graduating in May, I aspire to someday be employed at Strikes as the lane announcer… «Mike, your lane is now ready» was ringing in my ear by the time I left.
I was very excited to go bowling with 4 of my friends this past weekend, Strikes was the destination. So it’s $ 3 for shoes and $ 5 a game, OR a lane can be reserved by the hour for $ 45 (including shoes for all). We decided that it would be cheaper if we were planning on playing 2 games anyway to go for the hour rental. The pins took SO LONG to be set up that we only got through one game. Between bowls it took maybe a good 3 minutes for the pins to be set up again, it seemed like they put us on the slow lane for a reason.

Another neat bowling place in Philadelphia. I have not been here in awhile but last time I went they had a special 2 special long islands (variations on the old classic, i.e. raspberry) for the price of 1. The bowling and atmosphere is fun too. A lot of college kids being as it is right in the UPENN area.

I went here for the first time for Lisa M’s bday party. I was surprised at how big the place is. The parking lot was full but I got lucky enough to find street parking. This place includes the bowling alley, arcades upstairs, pool tables, and a bar. We hung out at the bar the entire night. Lisa M created a playlist and the DJ played all the songs on her list. It was a good place to hang out. There isn’t alot of variety at the bar and the food lacked some salt and pepper but overall we had fun. The staff was very nice.
I would definitely like to go back.

I started going to strikes probably about a year ago and i usually go there every wednesday nights! They have $ 3 Long Island Teas and they R cRaZZy! They have the original Long Island and they have a Tokayo Long island (ill fill in the details later on that one) But i never bowl there i am usually there to mingle with my peeps and drink and eat :) There a couple of bowling lanes in the front and theres a couple in the back. They also have 2 pool tables and more arcade games in the back. I know when you go on sundays they have a great deal with bowling and food. We all usually sit around the bar and theres plently of tables around for eveyrone to sit. I usually mingle and sit from one table to the next. Oh and if you want you can request what playlist you want the DJ to play and this way u and ur friends can jam and have fun! As far as parking is concern i usually park around the corner and by the time i get there parking is free (which is the best part !)

This is the strangest bowling alley I have ever been to. It seems like it used to be a Gold’s gym or something and then was converted into a bowling alley.
There are only a few lanes. I think 12 in the back and 8 or 9 in front. Their drink specials are really cheap and the bowling is only $ 5 a game (in the afternoon). I have no idea if this is cheaper than Lucky Strike in Philly, but I’m pretty sure it is.
Overall I was a fan based on how unusual the place is.

Every bowling alley I’ve ever been to has had a bar. However, Strikes is more like a bar that also has bowling alleys.
Let me explain: There are eight lanes of bowling in the front and I think about eight more in the back. These are your typical, standard, regulation lanes (bowling shoes required, rentals available). However, in between the bowling areas you’ll find the bar, with a large seating area, as well as pool tables, ping pong, and air hockey. I say it’s more like a bar because they play music and turn down the lights even in the bowling areas.
When I went, there was free bowling, food, and drinks provided by GAPSA, so I can’t say anything about the price. However the food was pretty standard for bar food (think buffalo wings) the bar had an average selection.
All in all, Strikes seems like a pretty fun place to hang out and I recommend checking it out if you haven’t been there. However, if you are a serious bowler or looking for a league or something like that, you may have to look elsewhere.

Beer plus two bowling alleys? Fantastic! It is also close to the Penn campus, and near my place too.
I checked this place out with the grad student social event, so fortunately for me this place was free for me… I will have to do a more serious Unilocal review on it when I actually have to play.
Regardless, I like how they had the bowling alleys spaced out, and that they had a ping ping table, pool tables and a few arcade games.

I’m going to start with the bad first, because although there’s only one bad thing, I’m never going back here again. We had to pay $ 45 to rent a lane for an hour. It was my best friend’s birthday, so my currently-​unemployed [and suitably drunk at the time] ass ponied up the cash — but let me tell you, that is FAR too much for me to pay to continually throw a ball down a gutter unless I’m getting prizes for it.
Now, the good. This place is set up really cool. There’s some lanes in the very back, then the bar in the pool tables, some video games, then the shoe/​lane rental desk, and another set of lanes in the very front near the windows. After ordering a few [expensive] drinks from the bar and switching into our fun, nerdy bowling shoes, we set up in a lane near the front windows. The fact that we didn’t have to be around a TON of people who were also bowling was great. The place was also pretty uncrowded for a Friday night, but I assume that has something to do with the aforementioned high price.
Also, if you’re a really bad bowler in the first place and/​or pretty damn drunk, the lanes will save you. There’s something electronically built into them that they realize which players suck and which don’t. When the player with the problems steps up, tiny little bumpers jump out of the ground to save you from yet another gutter ball. (I’m not going to tell you how I know this. It totally didn’t happen to me.)
Also, if you’re a true jackass or just a kid at heart still, you’ll be happy to know that the scoreboard will accept any variety of idiotic names, including «Ballz» or «Pussywillow.»

Let me open this by saying I don’t think I have it in me to 5-​star a bowling alley; at least not until they start knocking the pins down for me. I came here for a «staff fun night», and while I’m usually pretty resistant to forced fun, I loved it! Keeping in mind that all of my fun was prepaid by somebody else, the 8 private lanes, neverending pizza, and ritzy shoes and bar action were a real turkey! This was a great spot for a potentially awkward group party; classy without being unwelcoming. I’d definitely come back to see if it’s as desirable when I’m buying.

Strikes isn’t your typical bowling alley. It’s actually cool. It takes a break from the boring, old-​school alleys and divvies up the lanes for a more modern feel.
With a cool set up, billiards and pool, a bar and food inside how can you go wrong? That’s not even counting the bowling part! I last went to Strikes on a date with my boyfriend (aww how cute! I know I Know) and it was a great time, even though they kept on playing Usher songs. I do think that the lanes were rigged… he beat me one game. :-/​
The food was good as well, and they actually deliver it to your lane. Try the nachos. I’d ask for the sour cream on the side because they tend to put an absurd amount of sour cream all over the top.
Next time you decide to go out for a bowl, go to Strikes because, odds are, you won’t be bowling next to your parent’s friends

Strikes is close to U Penn’s campus, and probably full of college kids. This bowling alley is decently priced and the drinks are pretty cheap. You can also rent out lanes for a private party. Bring your school ID for discounts on the wknds. ps, they have some pretty cute bowling shoes. I might snag a pair for my hipster wardrobe!