Bite Of Minnesota: Dinner & Bowling

When I was younger, going to the bowling alley was commonplace. My friend's parents were in bowling leagues so we'd just tag along and hang out for a few hours.

Back then, a plate of waffle fries served as our babysitter and occasionally if we looked especially restless, we would score chicken fingers and cherry Coke, making us very happy.

Luckily for my adult self, I don't have to eat chicken fingers and waffle fries to enjoy the bowling alley; there are so many more options now. Flatbread with chicken, bacon and avocado at Pinstripes in Edina, The Nook's Juicy Lucy at Ran-Ham Bowling in St. Paul and WCCO gourmet popcorn at Memory Lanes in south Minneapolis. Elsie's in northeast Minneapolis is hard to resist too, especially when their website boldly asks, "Do you think that all bowling center food is the same? Think again."

Sure there's still the traditional bowling alley serving the food we enjoyed as kids, but it's nice to know the alternatives when looking for not only a fun game of bowling, but a great meal as well.