Tasting Journal

Our Night at STRIKE!!

Strike Bethesda
5353 Westbard Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20816
Tel: 301.652.0955
http://www.bowlatstrike.com/

Open Monday, 5:00 pm to 2:00 am;
Tuesday through Thursday, 5:00 to 2:00 am;
Saturday, 11:00 am to 2:00 am;
Sunday, 11:00 am to 11:30 pm

I have a cocktail in one hand, a pink bowling ball in the other, and a set of glowing pins standing before me. There is loud music pumping throughout the dark room which is occupied by 34 maple-wood lanes, two 30-foot bars, and a VIP room. After months of wanting to go to Strike Bethesda, the girls and I finally plan the date and make it.

Strike isn’t your typical bowling alley. Redesigned by Washington native, Tom Shannon, the upscale bowling venue was restored from the old Westwood Bowl America that was originally built in 1959. Today the building is a flashy display of the retro ‘60s, offering cosmic bowling at another level. Eight-foot wide screens are adorned at the end of the lanes, and cocktail waitresses in festive fitting outfits serve you while you’re propped up on the cushiony benches next to the lanes.

The menu offers American cuisine ranging from the casual burger and fries to the slightly exotic vegetarian spring rolls and shrimp dumplings. Other edible fares include sandwiches such as the churrasco steak sandwich, made with a marinated grilled skirt steak and served with a chimichurri sauce; and the Cuban sandwich with thinly sliced ham, pork, and Swiss cheese, along with pickles and mustard, served on grilled Cuban bread. The Southwest nachos were a delight, with tricolor tortillas, topped with black beans, diced onions, Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, and served with guacamole, pico de gallo and sour cream.

What’s cosmic bowling without a few cocktails? Strike offers an assortment of martinis including the standard cosmopolitan and chocolate martini, as well as some unique concoctions like the watermelon martini and the emerald martini. Just in case those martinis aren’t enough to keep to swaying, there is also a nice list of shooters which includes mixtures with cute names such as the Birthday Cake, Tootsie Roll, Purple Bowler, Gutter Ball, and of course, Strike Slammer.

If you haven’t been to Strike yet, let me tell you, it’s definitely worth the trip. Although it’s a little pricy, you can save money by coming on Monday nights when there’s unlimited bowling for $15 from 9:00 pm until 1:00 am. Otherwise, expect to shell out some cash. Oh, and you must be 21 to get in any evening after 8:00 pm.

Bethesda, MD, food, restaurants, bowling, drinking, going out, Tasting Journal