Westside Bowl on Mahoning ave in Youngstown is a great spot for the pizza, the appetizers, the…read moredraft beers and the interior of the joint itself. It's a full unreserved recommend highly and take Mom and Pop for lunch too! Seriously, Westside Bowl DOES have great pizza. They got a LOT of off street safe free parking. The people who work there are friendly AND fun to look at. (not being mean, I just like green hair and a smile ) There are regularly scheduled bands. Some of which do cost $20+ to see, but it's a good concert space downstairs with a good vibe. It's not like you're stuffed into "JJ's Cave" or something. Remember Nyanhinghi? Nitabinghi? That bar that had music up on Steel street? Same good vibe. And that's really the point I'm trying to make. The Westside Bowl is an exemplar (ha!) of what could happen when good, ON SITE management means to a venue. Hit this place up for some cool and mellow times, and enjoy your afternoon. Your night. Your health. This place will make you younger, I #### you not

Alright, folks, gather 'round, because I've got a tale of a place that serves vegan pizza so good…read morethat even your carnivorous friends will want a slice, gluten-free hot dogs that will make you question your life choices, and wings so crispy, they might just be the eighth wonder of the world. Welcome to Westside Bowl--a glorious mix of dive bar, bowling alley, and quirky restaurant that feels like it was designed by a mad scientist who specializes in both food and fun. Let's talk food first because, let me tell you, this place has vegan and gluten-free options that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about food. Vegan pizza? Yes. And not just any vegan pizza--this stuff is top-tier. The crust is perfect, the toppings are loaded, and it's so satisfying that you'll forget it's vegan. The pickle pizza? I know what you're thinking: "Pickles on pizza? Are we sure about this?" And to that, I say, "Yes. Yes, we are." It's one of the best pickle pizzas I've ever had--salty, tangy, and surprisingly perfect with the cheesy goodness. Now, the vegan hot dogs--they have these magical little things that taste like they've been kissed by the gods of grill. Honestly, if you didn't know they were vegan, you'd just think they were straight-up delicious hot dogs. Mind-blowing. And their wings? Let's just say you'll be licking your fingers and possibly questioning your entire eating philosophy in the best way possible. But enough about the food--let's talk about the atmosphere, which is where Westside Bowl really shines. It's like a quirky, retro dream with an eclectic staff who are... well, let's say "memorable." The owners? Incredible. They run this place with a vision and passion that's contagious. And then there's the staff--oh boy, the staff. They are the kind of characters you'll either love or love to hate. But let's be real: they're the kind of eclectic personalities that make the place fun. Now, here's the thing. One fateful evening, I had a run-in with a security guard/bouncer that I'm not proud of. To put it lightly, I got embarrassed to the point where I haven't exactly rushed back in. This bouncer? Let's just say he took "security" to a whole new level--like he was personally invested in my awkwardness. He created a level of second-hand embarrassment for me that I will carry to my grave, calling me out for coming in with "various friends," insinuating to a full bar I was of unsavory character but wasn't dating any of them. But honestly? The food, the drinks, and the overall vibe are so incredible that I'm willing to forgive the odd awkward encounter and keep coming back for more. And let's be clear: the drinks here are almost as amazing as the food and atmosphere. They've got cocktails and beers that fit the energy of the place--fun, eccentric, and definitely a conversation starter. If you haven't tried the signature drinks, you're missing out. So, if you're looking for a place that's alternatively quirky, fun, and delicious, Westside Bowl is where you want to be. Just maybe check the security situation before you get too comfortable. The food alone is worth the occasional "oops" moment. And besides, if you're looking for a great time and amazing food, the occasional embarrassment just adds to the charm. Trust me. Go for the wings, stay for the pickle pizza, and let the vibes do the rest. Just avoid making eye contact with the bouncer or coming in with friends as he may accuse you of being a harlot for no reason.

Tom Terrific here with another honest business review…read more My brother heard about this place and was aching to go there. He has his own Jumbo pinball machine in his home and he's really into it. So am I, so we stopped in a few days after Christmas. Admission on that Sunday was $20 per person. I was stunned by how many people were there. Male and a surprising number of females. Whole families with little kids were having a blast. It's a huge place with many hundreds of machines, most of which are pinball. They have gun shooting machines, the pac man type machines and my favorite the baseball games where this flapper rises up and a pinball shoots out and you whack it with the bat using your flipper control. My favorite pinball was the Twilight Zone. It gave me lots of time to bang that ball around and it had all the bells, whistles and lights I love. Many times in the 2 and a half hours we were there I'd just go from one machine to the next one all down the line. What fun! The men's restroom was medium size, easy to find in the rear and clean. I was surprised to find that they have a great concession court. It had lots of tables, chairs and napkins. There was a TV showing football. The biggest surprise was the quality of the food. My $3.50 hot dog was all beef on a fresh bun and there were all the condiments, even relish in packets. The food staff wore latex gloves and all of them were neat, clean and wholesome looking. I refuse to eat at any place that hires people with what we in Tampa call snot rings that go into their septum and hang down to their lips. UGH. Get the hell out of here. Not for me. Very unsanitary. I complimented the staff on their food and they thanked me. I noticed that they had quantity control. The french fries were made to order and they came out of a small sandwich bag that I assume was weighed for a consistent number of fries. You don't see that everywhere. I checked the counters and the floor of the kitchen and the entire place - it was clean and the floors appeared freshly mopped. A+ Past Times also had decorations and photos on the walls and my brother knew who the old men were that were depicted there. The walls honored the pioneers of pinball, a very appropriate thing to do. The entire staff and management was very kind as we asked questions and I got my picture taken with the white board stating I was Tom Terrific from Tampa, Florida. My brother said there may be only one pinball arcade that was larger and it resides in Los Angeles. I loved Past Times and it seems like so did all the other people. I highly recommend it for a date, a great family night out or even as a solo venture. Open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Past Times - 5 Stars !

HO. LEE. SHE. IT…read more It took me a while to get here, but I've just been to the best arcade in Ohio. Past Times Arcade is absolutely fantastic. Maybe, just maybe, it's the best arcade that I've been to in the last 40 years! PTA has the largest "open to the public" selection of pinball machines that I've ever seen...this includes the Pinball Hall of Fame in Vegas and both of the big venues in Pittsburgh. There might be occasional pinball expos, and private collections, where more games are on display...but these are usually not open year round. Rare and cool AF games are everywhere! There are tables from 5, maybe 6, continents! Tables from "every" era in pinball history are represented, IN LARGE NUMBERS, at PTA! And critically, almost all of the games are playable AND are in GREAT CONDITION! I'm not sure how the owner and his team keep this many tables in such good condition, but somehow, it is the case. How about video games? You bet! PTA has over 200 of these. Selection? Lots of rare games and almost all the blockbusters as well. Are they in good condition? Yep. Less than 5 were not operational. Not a single game (that I played) had an issue with the controls or the screen. Amazing. Also cool: There is a fair number (50ish?) of pre-transistor electromechanical games. Many of these were operational, but many, (such a Sega's Periscope) were, unfortunately, not up and running. Still though, it was nostalgic and (maybe even a little) heart warming to see them again. The games are set on "Free Play;" you pay 20 bucks to play all day. You get a wrist band and you can come and go as you please. If you're a kid, it's cheaper. If you're a veteran or a first responder, it's cheaper. Food? Yes. I admit that I didn't eat anything, but the kitchen and diner area sure smelled good! It was also amazing how clean PTA was, even the crapper was spotless. Booze? Yes. I didn't drink but the selection of canned adult beverages looked pretty extensive. Bottom line: I've been to some of the biggest and best arcades (and coin op museums) in the country. Past Times Arcade just might be the best. No shit. 5 Stars.

Service at the bar was excellent. Mikaela was great. Relaxing inside and comfortable seating. BBQ…read moreis normally a win but was a let down tonight. The Hawaiian Chicken Thighs was overcooked and dry. The Mac n'cheese was great as were the fries. The meat inside the Birria Tacos were tender or tough every other bite. Cole slaw was surprisingly good.

Food was great! Had the buffalo chicken wrap and some wings. Everything was fresh and the beer…read moremenu was pretty good as well.

When they have events section 219-220 is complete infuriating, the don't allow you to go up the…read morestairs to access the walk way instead they are rude and tell you you have to another way ! So you go back down and have to cut through seats so anyone sitting in that row has to move to allow you to get to the stairs! The one walk way at the bottom the put chairs and block it off! Every year the OAC events are here we hope we get seats away from this section! It makes the experience for the kids miserable! Do better all parties

Tonight was the Youngstown Phantoms vs. Chicago Steel, US Hockey league. A nice venue for hockey…read moreand concerts. A midsized arena, good amenities. Any hockey night is a good night.

The Stambaugh auditorium staff seemed like they didn't really care to be nice, curtious or…read moreefficient! Would never use this place for anything! Terrible experience!!

Beautiful location but they overbook the place. We were on the third floor and were forced to send…read moreall of our 200 strong wedding guests down ONE elevator as opposed the stairs to keep from disturbing another wedding taking place on the floor below. It took forever to get all the guests out and left you feeling like the "help" that had to take the service elevator to stay out of the way of the fancy party taking place around you.

Went there with a friend based on both Yelp reviews and the recommendation of the front desk clerk…read moreat the hotel. Service was great (ask for Sonny) at the bar. My friend had a burger and I ordered the cheese steak. Both were much better than your average bar food. Coleslaw was just right being a bit sweet but not too sweet. Also tried the fries which are reminiscent of fries you would get on the Ocean CIty boardwalk. Beer selection was good with some local/regional selections plus the usual suspects. Plenty of televisions. Not loud but most of the customers were outside on the patio/deck listening to the live band. Definitely recommend.

Fish wasn't fully cooked, forgot our fries, and Cole slaw wasn't edible.. was given a full refund…read more Will not return.

The reviews were good so instead of another place we came here. It's 1:40pm on a Sunday. We were…read moregiven a brunch menu (very limited) thought about leaving so we could get a burger but decided since we have 8.5 hours left to drive we would just get something. Not 5 minutes after we place an order the table behind us gets a full menu, with burgers and sandwiches on it. Am I a bit PO'd.... YEP Also the waitress doesn't smile. She looks miserable, geez, at least make an effort! So I ordered chicken and waffles and my husband ordered a few wings. As for the food..... The chicken tenders are AAMazing! Waffle is good and the hubs like the ginger lime wings although a small side of sauce and a few celery and carrots would make a better presentation. But for the diamond in the rough. I can only assume it was the manager/owner that delivered our food. I asked why we had a limited menu as I read here on Yelp I should have the prime grilled cheese. This man offed it to me on the house now that is some great customer service. I had to decline bc we have such a long drive ahead of us but he hands down was so kind. So I'm going with 4 stars. To sum this up I would happily come back just bc of his kind service! As we were finishing up Doug the owner came by again and he is a great reason to visit this place. He definitely has a heart for customer service!! Thanks Doug

Don't judge a book by its cover, or in this case, a restaurant by its exterior. I almost made that…read moremistake when I walked into this place. What looks like a nondescript bar with a modern twist is actually a goldmine of appetizers. My family of five descended upon the place today and we ordered a slew of appetizers. Let me tell you, it was a feast for the ages. The place was immaculate, the staff was warm and welcoming, and the service was impeccable. I had a hard time choosing a favorite, but if I had to pick, it would be the Brussels sprouts and crab Rangoon dip, closely followed by the lime wings. We're all from different parts of town, but we'll definitely be back. It's a hidden gem worth discovering.

We spent a Saturday night at Frieda's while in town visiting family. Great music, great service and…read morefriendly patrons. Highly recommended

10/10 HIGHLY recommend! My husband and I enjoy locally owned places to enjoy each other's time and…read moreFrieda's was just that. We had a ball. Can't wait to return! The music was great, the bartenders were attentive, and the service was great. From my understanding they don't serve food but nonetheless, a great time was had!

always great food. my to go place, Always fast service and friendly staff. The wings and fries are…read morethe best

I'm going five star, because I like bars that serve ribs that taste this great on a Saturday when…read moreI'm zipping out Youngstown on Oak st. and just remembered I really want a rack of ribs. It was 3pm when I walked in, and 30 minutes later after two beers walked out with a full rack, extra sauce. Best thing about the ribs? They have that light char taste that goes right through the meat down to the bone. The girl tending bar was great, took good care of my order, and that order was ready just as the beer went empty, so great service. The Oaks has been right here for many many years, pretty eclectic crowd, but mainly just a joint to enjoy the food, have a drink or a beer, and talk to folks. The inside is a nice mish mash of old photos, art that is more thoughtful than you'd expect, and a long wall length bar, that hits the far wall and becomes a row of booths coming back up the other wall. Plenty of good parking, and through the warm months they got outdoor bands, so, something for everyone. Oh, and it's a good place to just be. If you're alone, or killing time, perfect spot. Seriously. The pic is what I do once I get the ribs all the way back to New Castle, toss in a casserole put in the oven wrapped in foil at @240 degrees for 30-40 minutes, gets them right at perfect.