I've been living in North Brooklyn for 4 years now and I have to say it certainly sweet to get a bowling alley. And with the the current trend of the city's more accessible lanes (300, Bowl Mor, etc.) to turn into modern lounges, it's nice that the Gutter has kept it real (somewhat). The Old Milwaukee-style decor of the bar are is pretty snazz. It's little dirtball touches like this that hopefully keep the Striped-shirt, date-rape crowds at bay. Fingers crossed. My only beef with the bar is their insistance on craft beer. I'm all for a Pumpkin Ale from Delaware but sometimes a man just needs a High Life or a can a of Banquet Beer while he's throwin' rocks. This is a bowling alley right?\r
The alley itself is rad mostly for the faux-dinge decor. From the ""Dan's Tropical Fish and Pets"" signs on the Lane sweeper to the bowling computers straight out of Wargames. It's a fun place to be, bowl and have a pitcher. That said, the retro equipment, as cool as it looks, isn't really reliable. My ladyfriend and I had to push the reset button at least 10 times a game. Eventually we gave up on keeping score properly. The lanes aren't in the best condish either. They seem to shudder a bit when you put the rock to them. They're kept pretty dry too. \r
Service was nice, we had some good shots of Rye afterward and we got a free shot when my ladyfriend started crying (woman stuff). The reviewer whose drunk friends broke a bunch of stuff had it coming and I don't think this place deserves a one star review. You don't bust people's vintage beer signs and expect them to not get miffed. Duh. Stay in midtown. Have your boyfriend's next birthday at the Martian restaurant in Times Square. They take reservations.\r
Ah but I digress. The gutter a fun place to have a drink and throw a few frames. It's not a place to bowl seriously. It should give you your beer and bowling fix. Especially if you don't want to leave the nabe.
Pros: Bowling in north Brooklyn, Str8 outta Milwaukee decor, decent tunes, rye whiskey
Cons: No Miller High Life, Unreliable equipment, cash only for bowling, only 8 lanes, not cheap
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