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Pinstripes
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New)
100 W Higgins Rd(at Bartlett Rd)
South Barrington, IL 60010
(847) 844-9300
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
86 reviews for Pinstripes
Review Highlights
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"Did the bocce ball and that was totally easy." In 18 reviews -
"We had a blast doing some bowling." In 43 reviews -
"We had antipasto and cheese app and it was really good." In 2 reviews
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86 reviews in English
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Review from Erik H.
4/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
I have to review Pinstripes from the point of view of a corporate holiday party - buffet food that I didn't pay for and 2 bowling games.
The food was disappointing, to be frank. A couple salads and some spaghetti & meatballs does not a great meal make, and the only real standouts were the delicate, pillowy croutons on the Asian salad; I could eat those wonderful creations all day. The non-alcoholic drinks were free, but the alcohol was not (boo), and it was plenty expensive for a 2pm so I'm not able to write much about their selection. Moving on.
The high-end bowling alley was a generally agreed upon good time, with the comfortable chairs and leather couches a nice touch. The whole bowling area had an air of class that is definitely welcome in a setting like this. Other than that, though, there's not much more to say. Except that I bowled a 146.
I experienced my little corporate corner and had a decent time, but I can definitely see the potential of Pinstripes - bocce ball, parties, brunch buffet and also non-buffet food. In any case, it's something to do in South Barrington, and there's not a whole lot of that going around. -
Review from Rachell J.
Naperville, IL
3/15/2012
We love Pinstripes. As a family, there is something for all of us. Games for Dad and Kid and food and drinks for Mom. Woot Woot!! Good Food and Drinks to boot.
The food here is really delicious, my favor being the lobster roll. The concept for lunch is small plates and sandwiches, for dinner it's small plates, sandwiches, and full entrees. They have an AWESOME CHICKEN MARSALA for dinner, OMGosh it is soooooooo good. The risotto is so creamy and very well seasoned. They also have a good beer and wine selection. My son also approves of the kids menu.
When we go, we always start our visit in the dining room, have something delicious then book a lane for bowling. I love competing against my son, he wins sometimes, but the trash talking is the best part of it all.
Do yourself a favor and have family time at the bowling alley, it will be a blast.
Usually for 3 including, dinner, drinks, bowling, and tips, its about 115. -
Review from Keith R.
Pinstripes! A great place to eat, drink and be merry...they have a good cocktail list and offer $1 bocce and bowling from 8pm to close on Sunday-Thursday. Our favorite day to go is Tuesday, for $1 burgers while bocce-ing or bowling. Mondays are bottomless spaghetti and meatballs and chopped salad. Thursday are $3 cocktails for the ladies, but they don't discriminate, if you have a Y chromosome, they will give you the cocktails for $3 also.
My wife threw me a birthday party here, and were treated like royalty. We had a food spread in the lobby between the bar and the bowling alley with a couple of tables for guests to eat at. We had four lanes to accomodate all guests who wanted to bowl, and were given complimentary socks for those who needed a pair. Some of our guests were even allowed to play complimentary bocce. For the children who were bowling with us, they had the easy ramps and pull-up bumpers, For the adults, they have a well-stocked bar. For the price we paid, we had a great time, and enough food and drinks for 30 people.
My only gripe is this place isn't a "real" bowling alley. Just as with other bowling alleys like 10 Pin and Lucky Strike(which I don't consider real alleys), they don't keep the lanes well oiled. So if you are an avid bowler, make sure to bring your light oil balls when you come here, because the lanes are sure to be drier than average.
BTW, check in with 4square for a free piece of cheesecake, which usually runs $7. To sum it up and make the most of your $, come on a Tuesday, bring a light oil ball and your own shoes, get a burger and drink water, check in on 4square for the cheesecake, and pay $2! -
Review from jason c.
Algonquin, IL
5/24/2012
This is an overpriced bowling alley to say the least. I was there on a friday night for dinner, drinks, and some bowling with my girlfriend. you would think that a night like that would be around $75-$100 but i came out $160 in the hole and don't even really feel like we got a lot. Drinks were much higher than other places in the area and the food which i heard was good wasn't at all. I am a huge pizza fan so I tried the flatbread and was pretty disappointed, soggy and tasteless. There is much better pizza in this area that I will go for before heading back there for it. the bowling was nice but about double you will pay anywhere else. the only thing that I would go bad for is the bocce since i didn't get to try that out.
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Review from Michelle F.
Streamwood, IL
Pinstripes, you are so up and down for me. But you have changed for the worse lately, and I am totally unimpressed.
1) You cannot cut your breakfast brunch buffet in half (if not more), still charge $24 and expect people to be impressed.
2) When people who frequent here a lot (I mean, at LEAST once a week) try and make a reservation in advance for bocci ball, let them. Don't tell them to call back 2 days before, and then when they do, say you're booked.
3) When we do go there for dinner, try and have your servers at least acknowledge us within 20 minutes of us being there without making us flag someone down.
4) $18 for what looked like an ice cream scoop of Jambalaya? And this is something that used to be in the brunch that was taken off. Not cool.
I have been disappointed SO much by this place lately. I doubt I will be back for a while...Listed in: Breakfast--the most important…
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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3/23/2011
Their brunch has earned them another star from me!!!
Their Sunday brunch is HA-MA-ZING. My friends… Read more »
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Review from Peter K.
12/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
The price for lunch makes this place a GREAT value. It's $10 for an assortment of sandwiches, soups, and platters (turkey). I ordered the turkey platter and several co-workers ordered sandwiches. The turkey platter came with three slices of soft, juicy, tender turkey breasts along with a slice of pecan pie (first time I tried it and it was great!) and a vegetable medley consisting of corn, asparagus, and zucchini. The food I would rate 3.5 stars out of 5, which was above average and was a pretty good VALUE. However, the service was pretty bad.
First, they got my order wrong and as a result, brought my food out 15 minutes later than everyone else at my table. Second, they took about 5 minutes to see if I wanted a drink. Third, the fork I got had a crusty piece of gravy on the handle. I'm sure these were all abnormalities that hit me at the same time, so I'd give this place another shot.
They have a dinner piece for $12 (half rack of ribs and chicken) that seems like another great value. They have a bar area, bowling lanes, and a place for bocci ball. It's definitely an awesome place to have a party (I've been upstairs to the event center where they host wedding parties and such). Other than the bad service, it's a decent place. -
Review from Pierre D.
12/6/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I've been coming to Pinstripes for a while and have always had a pretty good time. Usually the trip involves eating, drinking, and then playing Bocce (I'm not really into bowling but from what I see it's the best bowling lanes around in terms of appearance at least!).
Pinstripes does a very good job with presentation of the food. From a chop salad to a filet Mingnon you really can see the craftsmanship put into each meal and the prices are pretty affordable, from $10 for a salad to mid 20's for a seafood or meat entree. Sandwiches are good, the lobster grilled cheese is a personal favorite of mine paired with a bowl of chili you are set!
The Bocce lanes get busy around 7PM on the weekends but after 10PM they really die down however the bar area is very pleasant and it's not a terrible way to kill some time if need be. -
Review from Lisa D.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 10/2/2011
My parents gave my youngest brother his Rehearsal dinner here. It was a brisk fall night and when we heard that our dinner was going to be outside we were all nervous. But Pinstripes had giant heaters all over the place and an enormous bonfire raging so we kept warm. They even provided blankets to cozy up with.
There was all kinds of space for the kids to run around and us adults to move about too. The buffet dinner was surprisingly good. Many of the guests commented on how good the salads were. Our drinks were served quickly and the servers were really nice. They even provided Bacci ball lessons if needed.
After dinner they set us up with two lanes in the bowling alley. I have never had so much fun at a Rehearsal dinner in my life. It was really a good time.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/10/2010
I came here with a friend for Sunday Brunch after movie night at her place. We were one of the first… Read more »
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Review from Gary P.
Carol Stream, IL
11/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went on a Friday night without any reservations. The girls at the desk were very helpful and got us on a lane for bowling even though they were busy.
Split an appetizer and a pizza with my wife. Both were very good. Bowled two games then we had a couple more drinks in the bar afterward. There is live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
Overall the place is pricey compared with a regular bowling alley but way way nicer. The staff is great. Lots of good energy in this place. -
Review from Sean N.
Chicago, IL
12/28/2011
Mediocre food, no better than Applebee's or Friday's. Service was decent, beer selection wasn't anything special.
Thought it was kind of gross that you stick your fingers in nasty bowling balls and then stop to eat with those same fingers. I am a germ freak and it didn't seem to bother anyone else in our group but I thought it was weird.
Is a good place for an office or large group outing. Other than that I see no reason to ever go back.
Also asked for one of the TV's to be put on ESPN2 to watch a game and they said they didn't get that channel. Don't see how that is possible considering the NFL network was on one tv. -
Review from Venessa H.
Palatine, IL
2/19/2012 4 Check-ins Here
Eh- don't care for this place much.
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Review from Mimi L.
Irvine, CA
7/19/2011
This review is just for the dining at Bistro. I was in the area on a business trip so had no time for bocce or bowling :| i never knew what bocce was til i stepped foot in here... looks fun!
==Venue==
Ginormous! 50,000 sq ft that can hold just about any event you want there whether it be indoor, outdoor, downstairs or upstairs! Very classy, laid back ambiance & the vibe was inviting. Plenty plenty plenty of parking~
==Food==
Service was great & the food was really good. The complimentary bread & dipping pesto sauce was yummy! My colleagues & I had the pine nut crusted halibut & the braised short beef. Both were really outstanding & savory dishes. Nicely presented too. I finished every bite on my plate including the small house salad (field greens & not iceberg!). For dessert we had warm cookies & milk - - simple but hey it definitely hit the spot! I have never been to a restaurant that served just cookies & milk... this place did!
If I ever visit this area again i'd definitly come back here & play me some bocce :D -
Review from Garrett A.
Chicago, IL
7/26/2011
I have to admit, I started out not liking this place at all. It felt a little too sterile and cavernous an environment, all marble and dark woods, like it was made to cater to business dinners and obligatory fun activities.
Slowly but surely, after the right amount of business dinners and obligatory fun activities, I started to see the light. Specifically, the light that happens whenever I take a bite of all of their flatbreads. Who am I kidding? They should be called flatoutawesome. Crispy, greasy, loaded with cheese, vegetables and meats, they bring regular pizzas to their knees in shame. They also have really good salads, and who can beat their Happy Hour and lunch specials? Since they're usually not too busy, service is super quick; I've never had an issue getting an extra refill or a new fork. -
Review from Jackie G.
8/1/2011 8 Check-ins Here
Since I've work nearby for a year, I've become tired of the place, but I definitely continue to recommend it to people who haven't been. During the week there are great lunch and dinner specials, inclusive of a soft drink - look for card on the table with list of "lunch/dinner on the fly." I like the margherita pizza with caesar salad or chicken marsala best. Most everything is very tasty but can also leave you with stinky breath, I suggest grabbing a mint on the way back to the office...
After work, this is an easy place to meet people for happy hours. There is a bar where you can order drinks individually or waitstaff will come to the tables nearby. As evident in the photos and other reviews, there's bowling and bocce ball, which I've honestly never partaken. I did go to another Chicagoland location while in college and the group deemed this place worthy of associating with what life in the suburbs is - large and overdone, but somehow charming. Or at least that's how I feel at this point in my life.
Pinstripes is suitable for all kinds of situations - lunch, dinner, or drinks with coworkers or a few girlfriends. You can't really go wrong. Except with the stuffed pepper soup. It's really not that good. -
Review from Lexie V.
8/1/2011
I've been here many times, sometimes with one other person and other times with groups of 50+. Every time I have a good experience.
Bocce ball is great. I never played before coming here but now I'm hooked!
The service is great. I usually get the same server and hes always really good.
This is a great place to bring kids to during the day or bring friends to at night for a cocktail and some bocce/bowling. -
Review from Kathy H.
9/10/2011
Haven't gotten around to reviewing this place after having visited a few times, but I happened to be back in Hoffman Estates a few weeks ago, so stopped by there again with a large group of colleagues (like 30).
The place is UBER-GINORMOUS! I forget that it is suburbia and I'm in the Midwest ... and everything is bigger here. It is just as big, but sadly the food is just not as good. Several of the appetizers, like the mushrooms, the fig flatbread, the pear bibb salad, are still scrumptious, but most, if not all of the entrees are sadly disappointing. Not sure if the chef is different, but how does risotto with a mix of tomato/bbq sauce qualify as a jambalaya risotto?! If you do happen to come here, stick to the apps, play a little bocce, sit by the outdoor firepit, and stay away from ordering any entrees. -
Review from Karen B.
Hanover Park, IL
This is everything I want in a restaurant.
There is bocce ball (which is very easy for new players to pick up) both inside and outside, and bowling, both of which provide ample entertainment. The outdoor bocce court is covered and has removable walls for inclement weather. If I remember correctly, the bowling lanes offer free socks.
There is a brunch on Sunday mornings that is to die for. Unforgettable staples are the chocolate fountain, the chicken marsala, the omelet/carving station, and the mimosa (1 is included but you must ask for it). They also have an excellent selection of hot tea bags.
There is a fantastic dinner menu with dishes that are just as delicious as they are elegant. The wine menu lead my to my favorite wine of all time, which I have subsequently bought upwards of a dozen bottles of: the Saracco Moscato di Asti, a sweet, sparkling white Italian wine. Last time I ate there, it was even on sale for half off ($15 instead of $30).
They have a Thursday night ladies' night special with $3 specialty cocktails (read: martinis). I can't think of any other place, particularly not one this nice, that serves martinis for $3 a pop, even on special.
When the weather is nice, I long to be sitting around their big bonfire located in the outdoor patio out back. It is a wonderful environment with ample seating and even heat lamps for when the night turns chilly. The restaurant serves homemade s'mores.
The only drawback is it closes a bit early in the evening, probably due to liquor serving restrictions in the town of South Barrington. Although, that's probably a good thing, because I would stay there all night given the option.
I cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough. It is my favorite place not only for dinner, but for brunch and evenings out with friends. -
Review from Danielle S.
Elk Grove Village, IL
11/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm cheap, I will admit. The food here was great - much better than what I was expecting. But we spend $40 with tip for 2 lunches. No drinks. No appetizers. No desserts. And I had a salad. What?! The service was good, and they do bring out some tasty bread with pesto...but seriously?? Then all the bowling lanes were not being used...but we couldn't bowl unless we had a reservation. Fine...so we thought about boccie ball. It was $8 a person. I'm pretty sure I could buy my own set for that much and a whole group of us could play for $8. Rip off. I have to say...their brunch looked fantastic...but it was $24 a person. Again, if money was no object this place would be fantastic...but it's just too expensive for my liking.
Listed in: I Swear I Do Stuff Besides Eat
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Review from Angie E.
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love this place. It's a fancy bowling hall with upscale dining and excellent service. I am pleased everytime I come. They have wonderful outdoor seating as well where you can sit at a fire pit and the owner gave us toasted marshmallows and blankets!!! Talk about customer service! He was great with the kids too! Food is great as well- my favorites are the chicken flatbread and I add avocado as well as the salad with apples and goat cheese (forgot the name). Their cheesecake is good here too. They also have steak sliders that are excellent and their bread with the cilantro olive oil is so yummy and unlimited. A bit pricey when it's all said and done but for a good overall experience.
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Review from Rob W.
8/22/2011
OK check my review for Northbrook for daily menu and activity thoughts. I'm going to focus more on the brunch here since that was what I had on my most recent visit (yesterday). Hat's off to Pinstripes consistency - there are not a lot of differences between the two locations.
That said, onto the buffet, which I have tried on a few occasions at this location. Unfortunately, there's nothing real special about this buffet. I was told (after I had finished) that the waffles are really good - maybe I will give them a shot next time I stop there. But aside from that, the only thing that is somewhat "special" about this brunch are one or two of their flatbread pizzas that they might put out. Much of the brunch now has been retooled into a traditional salad bar with average offerings. The prime rib offered yesterday was really fatty, even by prime rib standards. I expect a good amount of fat on the slice, but this was close to 40% - too much - didn't get it. Omelette was OK. Mini bagels that are offered should either be sliced OR a steak knife to cut them should be provided. Too hard to cut with the dinner knife provided at the table.
I should note that they do offer a bloody mary bar, but that is not included in the price of the brunch. It is somewhat unique though and deserves mention.
OK, so my thoughts above are an attempt to offer a first impression of the brunch. But I started going to Pinstripes brunches awhile ago when they first started them. And that's what is even more disappointing to me. Back in"in the day" (about 2-3 years ago or so), Pinstripes had a cornucopia of offerings on their buffet; unique prepared salads, turkey at the carving station as well as prime rib, more entree offerings, a generous selection of cheeses. One and a half times the offerings - all of this for $18! I used to be in brunch heaven at a Pinstripes buffet. Now you pay 33% more for 2/3 of the offerings. I wouldn't object to the price raises if they had just kept the quality and quantity of food as it was. What used to be something really special is now pretty mediocre. Quite a shame. Fortunately I had a Groupon to ease the pain!
To end on a positive note however, the staff at this Pinstripes is equally as upbeat and pleasant as they are in Northbrook. Jenny served me at the bar and was nice to talk with and gave me great service. Other staff stopping at the service well for their drinks often smiled, said hello and were pretty positive as well. . -
Review from Thomas T.
6/17/2011 2 Check-ins Here
So I'm cheap, and the only reason I go here is because of their deals. Dollar games of bowling after 9pm every weekday. I already have my own shoes so I'm sold on that. Then on Tuesday's, 2 dollars burger and fries, or something crazy cheap like that. And it was pretty legit too. Then drink specials on top of that, like 3 dollar Blue Moons. Delicious.
Staff is usually on top of things too. Sometimes kind of slow since they have a lot of people but I mean, everything worked out in the end so it is fine. Never played Bocce ball, I should probably try that. They also got banquet halls and like an outdoor patio and stuff. I should probably explore, hopefully those are cheap too -
Review from Kathleen T.
Lake Zurich, IL
1/17/2012
Went there last year for brunch after finding this place from company event. Loved, loved, loved the brunch. Went there a couple of Sundays ago and thought we went to the wrong place:) All of the things that I wanted to go there for were no longer on the menu. I loved their bruchetta and their specialty salads. Gone, Nada... The peel and eat shrimp also a favorite were a hit or a miss. Some were tasty others water logged.
Our server was attentive and I asked her where all of the other items were and she said they were discontinued because they did not move well. That was odd because the salads and bruchetta were wonderful. Now that I think of it I don't even remember any cheeses on the brunch either. Just crumbled cheese for your make your own salad. I make my own salads all of the time so a nice specialty salad would have been nice. Cut half of the good stuff off the buffet but keep the same price tag of $24. I did try a small slice of the prime rib and will say not being much of a meat eater it was very good. I think we all know what they did here..why offer more if you can get away making cheap and still bring in the same dollar.
The place was crowded so I guess it didn't bother others as it did me. Would think twice about going back again...too bad as it used to be awesome. -
Review from Jennifer T.
Downers Grove, IL
My first time here was on New Year's Eve and I really thought it was the perfect-go-to venue that didn't require reservations, had great foods and didn't make you feel claustrophobic.
I arrived at around 10:30pm with a group of 4 and it didn't take long for them to seat us right away. The decor and ambience was nice and stylish. Their menu offered a variety of salad, sandwiches and other entres. I wasn't feeling hungry so I ordered 2 appetizers: Spicy Red Clam Soup and Jumbo Crab Cake. Both of the appetizers did not disappoint. I don't know about you but it's hard for me to find a soup that I really eally like. Some soups are OK, but the ones that makes you go "WOW! That's really good!!" are rare. Well, their Spicy Clam Soup was one of those really good ones. I could really tasted the clams. The same was with my Crab Cake, I really tasted the crabmeat and even though the portion was small, I only ate half of it and I was full because it was quite filling and savory.
I would definitely visit this place again especially to host an event such as birthday or a date night. It's a great place to grab some good eats and then play a game of bowling or bocce with friends afterwards and treat yourself to once in a while.Listed in: Interesting Places
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Review from Jay D.
Chicago, IL
5/16/2011
The only good thing I have to say about this restaurant is that it was loud enough that I felt comfortable having my baby there. Food was way too expensive for what it was...I got a salad for $11 and it was nowhere near an entree portion.
Also, the service was terrible. Had to wait forever for silverware, the waitress never came back with salad dressing, and she charged the wrong amount to the credit card.
We just went to eat and did not play bocce ball or go bowling, so maybe it's good for that but otherwise the ambiance leaves much to be desired. -
Review from Joe L.
Addison, IL
1/7/2012
Just left pinstripes with my wife and friends. We were pleasantly surprised. The service was great and the food for the price was outstanding!! Definitely coming back!!!
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Review from Annie K.
Elgin, IL
Updated - 12/29/2010
I keep going back and hoping for better and it just doesn't happen. I think the food's ok and the fast lunch is a great thing for us locals (tomato soup should be paired with grilled cheese -- suggestion) but the servers are lacking in something. The guy after the hostess said "I may not be serving you but what do you want to drink?" Hot tea and a diet Coke. "I'm sorry what was that again?" No clue and borderline rude. Then our next server - no matter what we asked for or said he would reply "absolutely". I could have said my hair is on fire and he would have replied "absolutely".
We'll stick with frites and onion soup at Le'Eiffel Bistrot for the $10 spent.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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8/15/2010
I am meh'ing because of the Sunday Brunch only -- my other review stands. We arrived at 1pm for… Read more »
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Review from Laura N.
11/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've spent a lot of my Wednesday evenings herein the past year hanging out with a large group of friends. We started off coming here to bowl (bowling is $1 a game after 9pm) and play bocce ball, but lately we've been finding ourselves at the bar or outside near the fire pit. I LOVE the reduced-priced appetizer menu at the bar on Wednesday nights too! For $5 or $6, we can get a great plate of bruchetta (amazing) or a delicious flatbread pizza (among a myriad of other options)! Sometimes we have wristbands to get a free glass of wine or rootbeer float (!?) which is a perk. We always enjoy our time here and there is never an issue finding a spot on a Wednesday. I also love how the place seems upscale compared to regular bowling alleys, it's a nice change from the norm.
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Review from Evan S.
Chicago, IL
6/6/2011
Was this place even real? I went to a wedding reception there this past weekend I can't get my head around it. Did I really just go to a wedding and party in the world's classiest bowling alley?
Looks like I sure did!
So when we turned the corner for the reception I read the sign "Bowling, Bocci, Bistro." WHAT?!? Bistro?
So it turns out that this place is pretty awesome. ~16 bowling lanes, a big restaurant and indoor bocci. Heck, I didn't even know there was such a thing as indoor bocci.
The servers at the reception were really polite. My only gripe is that they were pretty young and didn't know all that many drink orders. My friend had a hellavu time ordering a John Daly. The food was pretty good although it wasn't always as warm as it should be.
Long story short, I'm just jealous that there isn't one closer to me. I'd go back. -
Review from Kris L.
4/22/2011
Bowling alley's have come a long way from the mullet haired wife-beater wearing crowd I recall from the past.
Its also unfair to lump Pinstripes in with regular bowling alleys although it has one. I went there with the family for a b-day and to play bocci which turned out to be a challenge for the guys in a guys v. girls game.
We ended up tying but only by luck I would say. Anyhoo Pinstripes is a good time with their outdoor bonfire and live music, good bar scene, bocci and tasty bar food.
They do a good job on the crispy thin crusts of the pizzas & flatbreads. I liked the proscuitto and fig flatbread and wanted to try the three cheese and truffle pizza which sounded delicious. Appetizers like the meatball sliders were good and sandwich's including the sliced steak with dipping juice were tasty and the burger was cooked to a proper medium rare.
As for things to skip, the stuffed mushrooms tasted swampy, the chicken, bacon avocado pizza had soggy bacon and zero direction in life and I'd skip the fish which last time we were there we could smell before and after it went by (not in a good way),
If you have a group event check out Pinstripes for the bonfire with live music, the bocci, the bar scene and their crispy flatbread pizzas but leave the bowling shirt at home Charlie Sheen. -
Review from William L.
Chicago, IL
3/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Bocce! I love me some bocce, it reminds me of the days in college when I'd blow off my Greek mythology discussion class and sit on the quad playing bocce. Ahhh, the good ole days...
Anyways, Pinstripes is a pretty cool place. Think of it as a swanky bistro, but hey, there's bowling and bocce too. The front desk and reservation employees were really nice and helpful, moreso than the waiters/bartenders. Here's one thing that really cheeses me: they don't include tax on your beer price. Say you're sitting at the bar and you order a Bell's Two Hearted. That will be $5.27 please. WTF? I don't want pennies back with my beer. Minus one whole star for that. -
Review from Ashley A.
10/13/2011 3 Check-ins Here
went on a Wednesday; wish I would have gone on a Thursday for $3 drinks. two Fat Tires were $12, I believe & two mixed drinks were $14.
played two games of bowling after 9 pm. cost $12 for two of us including shoes. I appreciated the comfy sofa we had at our lane.
they honored both vouchers I had for free small plates. our waitress was pretty good.
it wasn't really busy when we were there; a private party had just been leaving as we arrived.
very clean & nice place. more upscale than your typical bowling alley. they also have bocce ball. I plan on going back to play. -
Review from Alice Y.
Chicago, IL
3/12/2011
Fantastic lunch specials! I've been to their restaurant twice with coworkers and both times I ordered their chicken risotto. It is delicious, reasonably portioned, and comes with a drink, for only $10-$12.
Oh! and they get major extra points for giving all the ladies at the table a complimentary rose on Valentine's day...so sweet of them! Unfortunately, that gesture was balanced out by the fact that they referred to my drink as a "kiddie cocktail" when they brought it out. I got major flak for that from my boss. If someone has a more sophisticated way to say "Shirley Temple" let me know ASAP (I'm thinking: sprite with a dash of grenadine?). -
Review from David C.
Woodstock, IL
4/17/2011
We were able to get a reservation and went with two 5th graders and 6 adults at 5:00PM. Staff was helpful in getting everyone in place and were intermittently helpful and gone.
We had the bread and dipping pesto oil, and I had the PEI mussels over polenta with crostini. The mussels were good, several at our table tried them and liked them, but were not big mussel fans, so I got to finish them.
I had the Lamb Shank special. It was done nicely with some excellent grilled veggies and a wonderfully sauced risotto. Two others had the fish fry and liked it. Kids had the wood-fired single pizza; staff was very accommodating to a shellfish allergy.
They brought out a complimentary birthday cheesecake for my mother and we had coffee.
We had a great time. Wish we could have played bocce, but Saturday night rates are a bit steep. My biggest beef - the wine pours were $8 and $9 and small. I usually have two glasses and can feel them. I had three and couldn't. They must have been 4 ounces. Perhaps in downtown Chicago, but in the suburbs? Feh. Should have stuck with beer - the pints looked well filled. -
Review from Manfred K.
Stickney, IL
10/12/2011
went to the sunday brunch......$24 for an adult, $14 for a kid over 5......not a total ripoff, but real close. food is a little above average with limited selection.....omelette bar, some smoked salmon, frozen pizza, hotel sausage and a chocolate fountain they must have got on clearance from bed bath beyond. and then you get 1 mimosa....and all other drinks are ala carte. special thanks to the server that served part of my coffee in the saucer it came in. and wow, i'll have to tell my colleagues in europe they need to start serving espresso with a lemon wedge on the side. wtf was that??
it is a nice environment, very spacious, plenty of bocce courts (if you play that shit, i'd replace it with bags) and bowling...they also have an outdoor patio area. i would maybe take clients for happy hour and apps if i knew it would be expensed. -
Review from Tina M.
Silver Spring, MD
1/22/2011
I wish this place opened up before I moved away! Tons of activities - great for a group or for the family. More expensive than your average bowling alley, but well worth the extra cash - you're getting an awesome setting, waitstaff, and a full menu and bar.
The food has always been good and my favorite drink is the Italian margarita.
Good place to meet for a drink, grab lunch, or have a nice family or group meal. -
Review from Dianne S.
Good try, suburbia...good try. This venue is ginormous! Really caters to bigger groups if not formal functions of sorts.
Came with my sister & my 2 1/2 year old niece on a Tuesday morning for the Mom & kid special (bowling $5 for kid & free for mom with bowls of fresh fruit and yogurt laid out from 10am-12pm). Very kid friendly, at least during the day. They even have rolling ramps for kids to bowl with in addition to bumper lanes.
You really get a bang for your buck here with an $8 lunch specials that includes a beverage (try the meatloaf...unbelievable gravy and sinfully buttery mashed potatoes!). Check out their website for more weekly specials too! -
Review from Allison C.
Bartlett, IL
6/15/2011
I love this place! Was just there last week and sat in the outdoor seating area by the firepit. Great place to hang out with friends with a great atmosphere. you can also play bocce ball or bowling. Overall great place to hang out with friends and celebrate!
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Review from Ling L.
10/19/2008 6 photos
My friend has been trying to get me to drive all the way to Lombard for its premier bowling experience of Lucky Strike, and I resisted due to the distance.
So when Pinstripes opened in the Schaumburg area, I am glad I have a fancy bowling venue to turn to.
I was there for a birthday party and wasn't too savvy to the pricing. I think it's about $10 per person for an hour. But don't quote me on that. I know that after spending 5 hours there between bocce ball and bowling at 2 lanes, and eating countless pizza and appetizers, the price tag is not cheap.
But let's focus on the experience (if money is no object). It is definitely a more comfortable and classy bowling experience I've encountered. Seating is comfortable couch, waiter service while infrequent is attentive. The menu is extensive and reasonably priced. The facility is classy with its huge front desk and high ceilings. The bathroom is immaculate. If you are not there for bocce or bowling, you can gather at the bar and watch sports.
One big plus is we get to keep the plush Pinstripes logo emblazoned socks! That's hygiene!
Like all bowling spots, you can join leagues.
Unlike all bowling spots, Pinstripes serves Sunday brunch for $24/adult and along with its usual omelette stations, etc, you get complimentary mimosas and children 12 and under eat free.
The antipasto and cheese platter ($12) and bruschetta platter ($12) are absolutely delicious. I wasn't too thrilled with the crab cake ($12) - it was too fishy. The ($10) tender and if it weren't for something called manners, I would have owned it.
Come for the bocce or the bowling or the food, Pinstripes is going to strike it big in the burbs. -
Review from Kim M.
7/22/2010 2 Check-ins Here
My family loves Sunday Brunch. LOVES it. We typically frequent the Shaw's Sunday brunch but for Father's Day this year we wanted to try something new, and less expensive. So I saw an article, maybe in Chicago Parent? (Not sure) and we took a drive on over to Pinstripes on Father's Day to try out their brunch which was about half as expensive as Shaw's was.
We were so surprised how great it was! Not only were the selections great (with a separate kids table to boot), but outside they also had steak, ribs and other BBQ goodies. The service was great -- attentive but not smothering, and the kids were able to be kids...not to mention the dessert table had a chocolate fountain. YUM.
After we ate, we bowled with the kids for about 2 hours. The bumpers could be set up to come up on their own when it was the kids' turns, and the music was great. It was clean -- it was perfect for my husband's day.
We will absolutely be back, but probably on a weekend night without the kids to see how it is "grown up style". -
Review from Laila C.
6/25/2010
Since I work pretty close to Pinstripes, I've been to many a happy hours here after work. Lots of bowling lanes and bocce courts if you're into that. I prefer the $3 312s and the $5 pizzas or sliders. It's huge, clean and looks kinda fancy schmancy. Also their burger and truffle fries are DELICIOUS and the lunch specials are a great deal.
Come here, cuz it's not like Hoffman Estates has tons of other food gems.
