Lucky Strike Lanes - Lombard, IL Review

My company just held our annual Holiday party at Lucky Strike Lanes in Lombard (inside of Yorktown shopping center).  Lucky Strike Lanes has an extremely funky interior, full of contemporary art and furniture.  It seems 'futuristic' in a sense. 

When we arrived we were greeted at the front door by bouncers?  Huh, I thought this was a bowling alley?!?  I would soon find out that not only was this a regular hang out spot for young hip bowlers but a nightclub as well.  You must be 21 to enter (no family bowling here).  When we walked inside I immediately felt I was in a nightclub.  The lights were low, the music was loud (really really loud!) and the crowd was filled with scantily clad 20 year olds hanging out at the bar and ordering exotic looking martinis.  Interesting I thought.

I made my way to the back of the 'alley' and found our group.  The food was mediocre.  We had salmon, roast and a few other holiday staples.  In my opinion it was comparable to pub grub.  I can be picky about how my food is prepared and I must say that many of my coworkers thought the food was very good.

Cons

Two major problems with Lucky Strike Lanes.  First and foremost the music is so loud you can't even hear yourself think.  Yes I know I sound like my mother, I even cringe when I hear myself say that, but it is the honest to God truth.  The music in that place was so loud you literally had to scream in order for anyone to hear you.  Some of the 'older' guests had to leave early it was that bad.  When we asked the staff if they could turn it down a bit, they actually looked at us and laughed.  Which brings me to con #2...the staff.  Young, aloof and borderline rude.  It took our party 25-30 minutes to receive drinks from our cocktail waitresses.  When a few people got sick of waiting they went to the bar and were told since we were with the party we HAD to order from one of the waitresses.  I was there 4 hours and had a total of 3 drinks (all non-alcoholic).  Since I was the designated driver it wasn't a big deal but a few of my coworkers were getting pretty pissed.

This place is definitely more like a nightclub then a bowling alley.  When we toured the place during the day everything seemed fine because the music wasn't blasting from every corner of the room (this place actually has a DJ).  To give you an idea of the clientele the evening we went they had a Britney Spears look-alike photo shoot.  OMG, the outfits on these girls.  I'm no prude by any means, but there is something weird about being with your boss and seeing a 21 year old girl half naked on a couch with a fake snake around her neck getting her picture taken.  Can you say akward???

Final thoughts 

If you like going to the nightclubs then this is the place for you.  If you are looking for more of a bowling experience definitely skip this place and head to your local alley.