“There’s a need for family entertainment, and bowling is a lot of fun,” Larkin said. “I knew if I cleaned it up and put in a restaurant with good food, people would come.”
Describing it as dirty and dark before, Larkin has opened up the restaurant area with a wall of windows that lead out to a smoking patio, and he and General Manager Leanna Doughty are running a full-service restaurant — Alley’s on the River — that specializes in flatbread pizza, giant quesadillas and Big Ed fries.
“My dad eats out a lot and he loves fries,” Larkin said. “We tried 20 different kinds of fries, and these are the ones he liked.”
The menu also features 10 appetizers, five salads, sandwiches, and entrees such as a flatiron steak, pan-seared tilapia and assorted pasta dishes.
“Some people come in just to eat and drink, others just come in to bowl and what we’re hoping is that people will do both,” Larkin said.
Located at 954 Pyramid Hill Blvd., Columbia Lanes features 32 lanes, eight of which are equipped for bumper bowling, a kid-friendly game that eliminates the possibility of gutter balls.
There also are three party rooms capable of seating 20, 30 and 50 people. The restaurant has a capacity of 60.
Larkin is keeping the bowling rate the same as the previous owners at $2.50 per game, and anyone who comes in on their birthday bowls for free.
“My goal is just to keep the bills paid and make it a fun place for people to come,” Larkin said.
The hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Kitchen hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2193 or jmorrison@coxohio.com.
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