Pin-Up Bowl

01/12/08

Started out cool, but got way too pretentious

by wonderdude at Citysearch

When this knockoff of the LA-retro bowling alley-bar-thing first opened, it was fresh and cool. A large bar with several lanes in the back. Kinda darker and intimate on the inside with posters of pinup chicks on the walls 'n stuff. Before too long, however, it became known as one of the "hip" places in town. Unfortunately, most people in St. Louis who use the term "hip," aren't. Everyone heard that Nelly had the house high score at the Pin-Up Bowl. It then got crowded with hipster-wannabes, posers and the like.

Now, even though it still gets packed on weekends, it's the place to go if you like to get mistreated by stuck-up staff. The door guy? Aloof and cooler-than-thou. Like he's doing you a favor by letting you in. Bartenders? The same, and they always serve hot chicks first, unless their buddies need refills.

The last time I went there (we hadn't been there in about a year before then), I thought it was me. There's nothing like waiting 10 minutes in line for a drink, only to stand there for another 10 minutes while the bartenders serves the people they know. Makes ya feel like an idiot. But I was with a mixed party of about 20 people -- everyone was complaining exactly the same about the service. It was a total bummer, and we haven't been back since.

It was nice to know you, Pin-Up Bowl. You were cool, but you became a victim of your own success. Expensive, staff with big heads, and packed full of phonies = you've sold out. You're over.

• Pros: full bar, used to be cool
• Cons: most expensive bowling in town, for scenesters only, good luck getting a lane on weekends

01/11/09

Pretentious "hot spot"

by sia21 at Citysearch

well, this seems like it would be the "place to go" aka there is a lot of hype surrounding it. however, the whole bar is small. there are only 8 lanes, so we waited forever to get a lane on a saturday night (which is expected i guess) but then it took for. ever. to try and check out after we were done bowling. there is a pool table that costs money to use but it is way too crowded in there for a pool table and good luck trying to play since there are too many people in the way. besides waiting for a lane, there is nothing else to do there (ie no games or other sources of entertainment). the specialty drinks are way overpriced (around $10) and i think they all come in martini glasses. i didnt see the whole menu but noticed they actually have pop tarts on the menu! i will not go out of my way to go here again.

• Pros: lots of cute boys!
• Cons: the whole place is pretentious