When Caesars Entertainment's pedestrian mall, the Linq, opened last year, one of the attractions touted was Brooklyn Bowl, an entertainment venue straight from the streets of New York.
The original Brooklyn Bowl, named one of the best clubs in America by Rolling Stone, is known primarily as a music venue featuring a mix of mainstream, indie and local artists. Expectations were high when owners Charley Ryan and Peter Shapiro announced their desire to replicate the successful New York club in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip.
While the venue components — a restaurant, concert stage and bowling alley — are similar in the two cities, Las Vegas' operation is on a much larger scale, since the venue itself is three times the size of the original, and the audience mix is markedly different, as well.
While local programming is part of Brooklyn Bowl's lineup, Ryan said they couldn't rely on that to bring in crowds in Las Vegas the way it does in Brooklyn.
Additionally, the marketing campaign in Las Vegas has been more aggressive in order to compete with the city's myriad diversions.
"We're doing just about everything we can to get people's attention," he said, "and I think we're succeeding."
Blue Ribbon is a full-service, all-age restaurant just steps from the concert floor.
Just eat it
One of the best things about Brooklyn Bowl is that it offers an all-in-one evening of entertainment. Blue Ribbon is a full-service restaurant just steps from the concert floor, while those looking for a casual, laid-back atmosphere can munch on appetizers and order cocktails from the lounge.
The menu is comprehensive, with lots of vegetarian options despite the heavy emphasis on chicken.
I always browse through the selection of salads, sandwiches and French bread pizzas but usually end up ordering a variety of small plates and a basket of barbecue wings to share with friends. The fried calamari with lemon, cayenne mayonnaise and chiles is particularly good, as are the barbecue pork sliders.
For those wanting a bigger meal, there is a full entree menu, and from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, Brooklyn Bowl also offers brunch.
This is an all-age venue, even offering a kids' menu, and families are welcome to dine at Blue Ribbon as long as it isn't during an age-specific show.
Blue Ribbon’s fried chicken. The menu also includes several vegetarian options.
Listen to the music
As much as I appreciate the accessibility of the lounge located near the front of Brooklyn Bowl (not to mention several other bars throughout the venue), the restaurant broadcasts concert performances on TVs throughout the dining room, so it's a great place to catch opening bands. And diners can carry their drinks with them to the concert floor.
Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas officially opened its doors on March 14, 2014, with a concert by the Roots, and on the two days following, Elvis Costello was added to the lineup. The stakes were high, but the venue delivered with a whopping 325 shows and events in its first year, becoming a popular destination for tourists and a favorite venue for locals.
More than 2,400 guests can enjoy Brooklyn Bowl's concerts from the general admission area, adjacent bowling lanes or lounge boxes located on the upper level. The sound is well-mixed and not too heavy on the bass (something that turns me away from other Las Vegas venues), and I've taken advantage of stellar views with general admission tickets for several concerts including Toad the Wet Sprocket, Twenty One Pilots and Milky Chance.
So far, Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas has primarily hosted mainstream artists including Jane's Addiction, Lauryn Hill, Disclosure, Jack White, Smashing Pumpkins, O.A.R., Blue October and Phantogram, but Ryan said there is a push to add more local acts to the roster in years to come.
"When it comes to the music programming, we're really interested in fostering and connecting with all the local acts that are out there and give them a place to play," he said.
The concert stage. Brooklyn Bowl hosted 325 shows and events in its opening year.
Strike up the band
Each of Brooklyn Bowl's 32 lanes can host up to eight bowlers at a time, making it a worthwhile stop on any family's Las Vegas to-do list or ideal for friends getting together for a night out.
The lanes are often sold out during concerts, and for good reason: The best seats for concerts are arguably those located in an elevated bowler's lounge, which is complete with leather couches and access to food and drink served by Blue Ribbon wait staff.
There's no reason to miss the show while bowling either, as concerts are shown on massive projection screens located over the lanes.
Early into its second year, Ryan promises guests an even greater breadth of programming and entertainment.
"We don't want to give everything away, but we are coming up with more late-night programming, different kinds of DJs and different kinds of pop-up events will be happening," he said. "There will definitely be more reasons for people to check us out."