Bowling, Bocce, Bistro, Birthdays, and More at Pinstripes!

Editor’s Note: This is a personal experience from 2014. Current offerings and your experience may vary.

To call Pinstripes a mere “bowling alley” seems sacrilege.  Hey, I think bowling is a great way to spend time with family and friends, but calling Pinstripes just a “bowling alley” is like calling Buckingham Palace just a “house.”

Pinstripes Bowling, Bocce & Bistro
Northbrook & South Barrington

Pinstripes is best described as a unique dining and entertainment venue. To view it through its proper lens, it helps to be a foodie with a healthy appreciation for service, style, and comfort. Their full-service bistro is open for lunch, dinner, and a spectacular Sunday Brunch (Kids 5 & under eat brunch for FREE.)

All their food is made from scratch daily, including gluten-free options. Dine in the bistro, enjoy appetizers at the bar or have snacks while enjoying bocce or bowling. No frozen chicken tenders or microwave nachos at Pinstripes.

The fare is so impressive that Pinstripes is very popular for special events. Corporate events, baby showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, bar/bat mitzvahs, and even weddings all occur here.  But what kids will most appreciate are the fantastic birthday party options!

Kids and bowling are a natural combination for a fun birthday party! At Pinstripes, you can choose from 2 hours of bowling or even bocce if they want to try something new.  Shoe rental is included, and socks, and you can choose from a kid-friendly menu with gourmet preparation.  You can add unique enhancements for your event, like make-your-own-pizza using the same quality ingredients used in the bistro.  I tried the pizza my own five and 3-year old children made, and it didn’t taste as preschool hands made it.

Speaking of kids (because kids are what we do!), Pinstripes loves ’em. On Sundays, kids 12 and under eat free after 5 p.m. from the kids’ menu, and on Mondays-Thursdays, they can take advantage of $5 bowling per game.

Perhaps the best deal they offer for children is the Tot’s Playtime* available Monday-Friday 10 a.m. -Noon.  Melissa has enjoyed bringing her kids to the Tot’s Playtime for years (read her review.) All kids bowl for $5, and parents get to bowl for FREE! If you decide to stay for lunch, kids with big appetites won’t be disappointed by the kids’ menu options, including a starter, entree, dessert, and beverage for $8. In the past, my little kids were happy to split the Mini Hamburger entree.

Editor’s Note: Tot’s Playtime is now the Pinstripes Kids Club and has changed. See website for current offerings.

So definitely come for the bowling, but don’t call it a bowling alley. Alleys are where you throw out the trash. Pinstripes is the home of #PintasticFun!

Pinstripes – South Barrington
100 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington | (847) 844-9300

Pinstripes – Northbrook
1150 Willow Road, Northbrook | (847) 480-2323

Visit Pinstripes.com for all their locations and for more information
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By Loralie
Hainesville

When Loralie isn’t out exploring with her two pint-sized adventurers you’ll often find her in front of her computer plotting to take over the world (or at least Lake County.) She appreciates good friends, good food, expensive shoes and parents who make two lanes in the drop-off/pick-up line at school. Her spirit animal is The Hobbit. She invites you to join her on her quest for unique distractions, diversions and deliciousness in this county we call home.

Disclosure:  I was invited to a free media event with my family in order to facilitate this review.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.