As many frequent Disneyland-visitors probably already know, there are a couple of relatively new tenants in Downtown Disney. Occupying the old House of Blues venue is one of those tenants: Splitsville Luxury Lanes.

“There’s a new game in town featuring 20 luxury bowling lanes on two floors and fantastic views of the Downtown Disney® District. With 600 dining seats, two craft cocktail bars, two bustling kitchens and a prominent covered patio with a stage that will feature live music 365 days a year, Splitsville offers a one-of-a-kind dining and entertainment experience in a California-cool environment”

This week, I finally got a chance to see what the hype has been about. I mean, isn’t it just a bowling alley? How can one bowling experience be different than your average AMF lanes? After my visit, I finally understood that all bowling alleys are NOT created equal, and Splitsville surely shines above any bowling experience I had ever had.

Of course, the location and building already put you off to a great start. At night, Splitsville lights up and, if I was a tourist, I would instantly be drawn in. There are two-stories of lanes, space for private parties, an area for just dining, a gorgeous bar, and a large patio. My two girlfriends and I had a reserved lane where our server, David, met us. He was super friendly, and kept the drinks coming as we bowled. I loved how all of the colorful bowling balls had Mickey Mouse on them- too cute!In terms of drinks, Splitsville offers beer, wine, cocktails, soft drinks, and… Cocktails ON TAP! I had never seen this before, and wow! What a cool concept! There are about five different cocktails you can choose from- I selected the “Blue Flame,” and downed it pretty quickly. So good! My friends both had the “Cali Crush,” and could not stop raving about it.

After we finished bowling, we decided to wash our hands and get ready to eat. The timing was perfect; the food started coming out just as we returned from washing up! Now, I know what you are thinking… “Bowling alley food? You must be lying, because there is no way that was good.” Wrong. I think that this is, along with superior service and a beautiful facility, is really where Splitsville stands out. According to their website,

“AT SPLITSVILLE, WE HAVE TAKEN GREAT CARE TO DEVELOP A UNIQUE MENU THAT COMBINES TRADITIONAL AND UPSCALE OFFERINGS THAT EXTEND WELL BEYOND YOUR EXPECTATION OF “ALLEY FOOD.”

Still, I would not have been convinced until I tried it for myself. We ordered an intense feast, consisting of :

Loaded Fries, Macho Nachos, Grilled Avocado & Ahi Tuna, Fig & Prosciutto Pizza, Crouching Dragon Sushi Roll, & the Southern Goddess Salad (and lots of leftovers!)

I think we were most impressed with the pizza and the loaded fries. Honestly, these are two items that are very easily not done well. The pizza had a perfect balance of unique flavors (goat cheese, fig jam, etc.), and you could tell that the dough was fresh. The fries- something I am very particular about- were crinkle-cut smothered in their house-made queso, bacon, ranch, and scallions. Upon first glance, the fries are reminiscent of the frozen stuff you bake at midnight when you’re hungry. Surprisingly
, they were far superior and quite addictive. I think we killed a good majority of that massive plate.

As far as nachos go? This is a HUGE plate for the value. In fact, all of the dishes were very large; thus matching their prices well. If you’ve been drinking, the nachos are a must. Duh.

The salad was also HUGE, and very well-balanced. I loved the fried chicken in there, and the dressing was light, but had just enough flavor. The whole dish was a perfect compliment to a meal of heavy food, just like the Grilled Avocado & Ahi Tuna appetizer.

Last but not least- the sushi. I was very skeptical on ordering sushi at a bowling alley, but knew I had to try it. They have a very large sushi section on the menu, so I thought it must be popular. We selected the “Crouching Dragon” Roll because it seemed the most unique. And I have to say, I would definitely order sushi again here!

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Now, of course, I’m sure you are wondering if this meal went sauce-less. NO!! I’m happy to inform you that I tried and LOVED a variety of Splitsville sauces, including: Miso Aioli, Spicy Mayo, Tartar Sauce, Chive Dip, and BBQ. WOW- the Miso Aioli!?! I had never had anything like this before, but it was addictively delicious. I’m not even sure what it comes on, but just be sure to get a side of it for anything and everything.

The whole night was a blast, and made for a much-needed girls’ night out with two of my good buddies. I’m looking forward to returning to Splitsville soon, especially for a drink after a day at Disneyland!

 

Check out their website here!