Pam D.
Yelp
Okay. So. it's a BOWLING ALLEY.
I realize that we now all think we are too cool for smelly shoes, entering in our own names for the score board, and thrusting our fingers into balls where thousands of others have also placed their unwashed digits. So if you are too cool for this now-nostalgic experience, stay away at all costs.
Having just come from a way-too-crowded Main Event, my family literally balked when we drove up (without even going inside!). They commented on the seedy area and even my 14-year old brother sighed, "It's next to a PAWN SHOP. Ew.". So even though I had called ahead to see if they had a wait (no wait!), my Dad wanted to "check it out" to make sure it was OK.
Back to reality. Plano Super Bowl is a good ol' bowling alley, exactly as you remember it. It comes with fighting for the perfect ball, dealing with drunk 30-somethings alongside the awkward teenage group dates, and the silly animations when you thow a strike or get a split.
Rates are by the hour (I think $25) or by the game ($4.25/person/game) so depending on how fast your group can bowl, one may be better than the other. My group of 5 got in one game plus 4 bowls into a second one. Shoe renting I think was $5 a person, too. The costs added up quickly. Luckily, beer was cheap! I got a pint of Shiner Bock for $3.50... a nice change from the $6 or $7 prices I'd been encountering at other places.
The place is run by youngens, and things have obviously stayed the same for a long time...bathrooms could use some fixing up, and I guess things overall just seem old. But as long as you're not expecting the snazzy new experience some places are offering, I think it's OK. My family commented on the flat screens for scores, and my sister liked that it wasn't smokey like some bowling alleys can be.
For the record, I scored 142, crushing my family...next highest score was in the 90s. Booya.