Whether your game of choice is pinball, bowling, curling, or pickleball, here are six Southern venues that are hopping on the eatertainment trend, allowing you to eat, drink, AND play — all in one spot.
One of the hottest new trends in the restaurant industry is the concept of “eatertainment” — companies that work in the space as “a guest experience that involves food and beverage dining before, after, or during other activities.” The old normal was dinner and a show or maybe even dinner
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Think bowling alleys with food and drink options that rise far above a dimly-lit snack bar and adult arcades that offer upscale food and proper cocktails — luxuries that likely aren’t part of your first ‘Space Invaders’ memories. Other venues concentrate on more modern trends like online gaming, lawn games like cornhole, or the latest trend, pickleball. Whatever your game of choice, the unifying factor is that the experience must be elevated and novel.
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This list is merely a drop in the bucket, but it’s a fun overview of great spots popping up around the South where you can eat, drink,
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m
Curling in Nashville? We thought it was crazy when we first heard, too. After all, isn’t that the shuffleboard on ice that people go crazy about every four years during the Winter Olympics? (And then forget about until the next winter Olympics?) That’s the one. At least, it
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Until Tee Line came to town. Owned by former NFL quarterback Marc Bulger, Tee Line offers a chance for him to feed his competitive drive while introducing Music City to the fun of curling.
The modern facility in the burgeoning Nations neighborhood of West Nashville offers three full sheets of ice so that six teams can compete simultaneously. First-timers can sign up for group or private curling lessons from trained instructors, and most guests can get the hang of the game in a single lesson. If you’re just not into sliding on the ice or want to try something else between games, Tee Line also offers four bowling alleys, a large bar and dining area, and 26 televisions scattered around the establishment, usually tuned to sporting events. (Especially if Bulger’s former team, the Rams, is playing!)
A long list of affordable cocktails is available, along with a dozen beers on tap, many of them local craft brews. The food at Tee Line is definitely hearty — appropriate for the Canadian appetites that have dominated the sport at most Olympics. Bowls of chili, chowder, and gumbo will warm you up after a stint on the ice, and a dozen wings while watching an NFL game is downright mandatory.
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For lighter fare, there are some delightful salads, including a sweet and spicy Bang Bang shrimp option, as well as pizzas available with cauliflower crusts to avoid gluten. The kitchen has a love of spice, as fiery ghost peppers show up in a creamy sauce on one of the pizzas and in the pepper jam and cheese that top the Ghost Burger. That’s one way to stay warm after an ice session.
Hours: Monday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Tuesday, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Wednesday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Thursday, 5 p.m. to midnight; Friday, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Saturday, 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Since the earliest days of British pub culture, businesses have sought to become “your third place.” Basically, your first place is your home, and your second place is where you work, so a place like Your 3rd Spot is your home away from home — that place where you can meet friends, play games, converse, and enjoy excellent food and drink.
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That’s the idea behind this extravagant experiential venue in Upper Westside Atlanta, named “The Eatertainment Concept of the Future” by FSR Magazine (which covers the full-service restaurant industry). Your 3rd Spot combines classic arcade games, boutique bowling, pool tables, shuffleboard, table tennis, darts, foosball, and other games under one massive roof with a main floor and a quieter mezzanine level. Step outdoors to a massive patio with dozens of yard games.
Guests purchase Experience Passes that are good for three hours of gaming plus discounted bowling, so play to your heart’s content for the duration of your pass. If you’re not a gamer, there are plenty of spaces to chill in a “vibier” atmosphere, including VIP spaces on the mezzanine, semi-private bowling suites, or at the 50-foot bar.
The chef-driven menu rises far above what you’d expect at a bowling alley, and groups can reserve dining packages in advance — for parties ranging from two to 2, 000! Alternatively, you can order from the menu of small plates designed to be shared and paired with drinks and conversation. Guests can find old favorites like smoked pork ribs, flatbreads, meatballs, and tacos, but there is a more elevated side of the menu aimed at foodies, too. From oysters, spicy tuna on crispy rice, and wagyu truffle toast to brisket agnolotti pasta and a rich roasted bone marrow dish with sourdough toast for smearing and sharing, this is not your grandpa’s bowling alley food.
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The cocktail program at Your 3rd Spot is also robust, with some poured from a draft system for speed and consistency and others made to order. You can even order the “Cocktail Tr33, ” a shareable sampler of four signature drinks arranged in a vine-covered metal framework. Between the food and fun, three hours at Your 3rd Spot will fly by!
Hours: Monday through Wednesday, 4 p.m. to midnight; Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to midnight
The stereotype of online video gamers is that they never leave the couch, much less the house. But Farm + Feed hopes to change that for residents of Plano and the Greater Dallas area with a highly comfortable and inspiring space for gamers of all ilks to come together to play.
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Guests can reserve single PCs, Duo setups, or booths for three people or more to log on and play their favorite PC games on giant monitors while enjoying food and drink from a menu of delicious options with a global bent. Some of the gaming spaces feel like a cozy library, while others offer a more high-tech casino vibe. There are even outdoor options in case your mother tells you to go outside and play.
Racing enthusiasts can find consoles designed for virtual carting, and old-school board game enthusiasts can pick from a library of favorites and play at the bar for as long as they want for $5. Pull out a nostalgic standby or try a new mystery game without having to buy it first. The possibilities are endless. Of course, if you’re playing at the bar, you might want to have a drink or two while you figure out your next move. Fortunately, Farm + Feed has you covered with cocktails, wine, and beer, plus a few tasty mocktails if you need to stay sharp.
The food at Farm + Feed is a surprise compared to traditional arcade food. Start with an order of Filipino-inspired mini longanisa corn dogs with banana ketchup or a healthy tray of hummus and seasonal vegetables if you want to go the international route. Or, you can lean into the gamer stereotype with an order of Flamin’ Cheetos corn cheese balls. (Just wash your hands before you pick up your cards!)
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Heartier options include a selection of handheld tacos, grilled pork lettuce cups, and fried bao bun sandwiches, or larger entrées like smashburgers or chicken sandwiches. Satiate your craving for sweets with cannolis or a spiced apple hand pie. Farm + Feed offers ample reason to get out of the house.
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday, 5 p.m. to midnight; Saturday, 4 p.m. to midnight; Closed Sunday and Monday
Hours: Wednesday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Thursday and Sunday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m. to midnight; Closed Monday and Tuesday
Heard Of 'eatertainment'? These 6 Southern Venues Do It Right
Rock n’ Bowl might be the original eatertainment venue. In 1989, Mid City Lanes added live music to the mix after almost fifty years of just being a bowling alley, and Rock n’ Bowl became a New Orleans institution. Of course, live music is liable to break out anytime in the Big Easy, but at Rock n’ Bowl, you can rock out while you knock down the pins.
Bands set up on a large stage right next to the alleys, so you don’t have to interrupt your game while listening to a regular schedule of some of NOLA’s favorite rock, blues, and soul performers. A newer Rock n’ Bowl in Lafayette also offers live music, but seeing as it’s right in the heart of Cajun country, the acts skew a little more toward zydeco. Not that that’s at all a bad thing!
At the New Orleans Rock n’ Bowl, beer, wine, and cocktails flow from
