The Barn Bowl & Bistro

First time here was back in early summer after they first opened and the kitchen was without power so we were unable to eat there — played a game and decided not to play again after waiting nearly an hour for a lane as 3 were currently down.
Second experience was the best by far, family dinner out to celebrate a birthday — loved the new menu this time around (late September). Interesting mix of bar food and higher quality items you wouldn’t expect at a bowling alley! The wings, mussels, and ribs are so yummy, as well as the salmon special!
Celebrated a cousins 30^th birthdays party here recently, and they still seem to be a bit disorganized in terms of scheduling and overbooking events (or even remembering that an event had been booked) for the price they charge to reserve a lane per hour ($ 70) you generally assume they’d be as accommodating as possible.
There was a party still at our reserved table when we arrived to set up for the {surprise} party, as we had cleared our early arrival previously with manager. One of the staff members quickly took charge of the situation and moved that party to another location! All and all the party went well, the staff was very attentive to our large group and Mike the manager checked in with us to see how it all went! Highly recommend hosting a gathering here if it’s in your budget!

This is one of the best kept secrets in Oak Bluffs! We were pleasantly surprised with the top notch service and food. This place is something you would find in a major metropolitan city. The prices were great and they have a parking lot for patrons which is something very rare for most of the restaurants in OB. I just couldn’t believe it wasn’t jam packed as it is not too far off the beaten path of Circuit Avenue. Clean as a whistle!

We had a great meal and great service. I was so surprised the place wasn’t packed. People just haven’t discovered it yet.
There are so many mediocre and overpriced places on the island. This was such a pleasant surprise.
We had a large party (9) and we were able to make reservations a couple of hours before. It was kid-​friendly (good kids menu, crayons for the kids, high chairs, changing table in the bathroom).
Everything we had was great. The arugula salad was very fresh and not overdressed. The crab cakes were also very tasty, not too bready. We also had the steak frites, the roast chicken and seafood pasta, all of which were excellent.
The drinks and beer selection were also good. We didn’t try the bowling this time but it looked like fun.
The staff was also very courteous and accommodating. We left something behind and they called us to let us know less than 10 minutes after we left.
And they are reasonably priced! We will definitely be back.

Great place for food and family fun! I had the opportunity to visit The Barn for an event and will definitely return on my next trip to the Vineyard.

I had the pleasure of going to the Barn with my husband and two children for an event and stayed later to grab a quick bite. The people could not be more hospitable. The staff was friendly and completely attentive. The bowling lanes were inviting with Martha’s Vineyard towns noted above each lane. The location was very family friendly and importantly clean. My 6 year old even noticed how clean the establishment was and accurately noted «the bathroom here is very clean, right mommy??»
The food — there was a good variety of food options and all we had (crab cakes, burgers, veggie spring rolls) were tasty. Importantly, it was surprisingly affordable.
Overall, although I would not have considered «bowling» while on vacation, the atmosphere, staff and affordability make this place a must stop location when coming to the Vineyard.

We were part of a large group and the staff managed everything so well. They were very attentive and helpful. The food was great and most importantly everyone had a ball. Great place for family fun!

Great food and an awesome place for kids. We really enjoyed our visit. This is a place we would definitely visit again.

Loved the brisket lunch special! Terrific atmosphere french fries were fresh and hot.

Just left Barn Bowel. This was our third time time. It is consistently great. The food is amazing. Fish Tacos are a must try. It’s not you average bowling alley. Family entertainment with a upscale feel. Very clean and great service. The owner (Mike) is usually on premise an very accommodating.
Don’t miss when on Island.

Other reviewer said it best — great blend of classic MV with modern times. Food in the restaurant was great and reasonably priced to boot. I had the seafood pasta and it was excellent. Seasoned and cooked perfectly, and way more scallops and shrimp to enjoy than your standard «ten bucks per scallop» place on MV. My wife ordered the most underrated menu item though — the side of roasted veggies comes with red pepper hummus and pita, it could practically be a meal in itself for $ 4! The bowling was great, the lanes with automatically deploy/​drop bumpers during the round (per person) for mixed groups of adults and kids. Service was friendly and prompt. Dogfish 90 in bottles for Imperial IPA fans. Great place, we will be back!

Great bowling alley. They were very accommodating to my whole group. First we showed up as a group of two and they got us on a lane, but then 6 more people showed up to join us (it was a wedding weekend). They handled the transition with ease, and got us all on the same lanes. Although they close at midnight, they respected our competitive spirit and let us finish our 2^nd game (which ended at 12:45 AM). Great friendly people here!

First time at the Barn was last night. The place is the perfect blend of new technology and Vineyard charm. Great atmosphere for any occasion. Birthday party, date, corporate event, or rainy day with your kids. The island needs this place desperately. I highly recommend everyone stop by and bowl a frame or two. Menu looked good too, although I didn’t get a chance to sample it.

The Barn is outright fabulous, and a great addition to the dining and entertainment scene on Martha’s Vineyard. My daughter, her friend and I truly stumbled across this place as we were weaving our way through Oak Bluffs and looking for dinner on a Friday night, trying to get away from the traffic mayhem. We decided to go in and check it out — we were quite pleasantly surprised. They have 10 gleaming new bowling alleys with large-​screen televisions at the end of each pair, a very comfortable bar and dining area, and the staff is most welcoming — from Veronica (our hostess), to Petra (our server), and Mike (the manager, who made a point of stopping by to chat and check in with us).
We didn’t bowl, but saw a number of folks enjoying themselves on the lanes. We were there squarely to eat, and we were far from disappointed. We’ve always felt that there’s a real shortage of restaurants on the island that serve good quality, reasonably priced fare in a family friendly atmosphere — The Barn completely nails it on all fronts. The food was delicious, the portions were very substantial, and the prices were on par or better than one would pay on the mainland for similar fare.
No joke, each of the following two nights when the dinner decision came around after a long hard day of working on our house, we landed back at The Barn — three straight nights in a row. We tried an array of their offerings — their personal pizzas were very tasty, the fish and chips is incredibly fresh (and large), the pasta alfredo with grilled chicken and broccoli was excellent, as was the burger, their clam chowder, and their roast chicken was absolutely divine — some of the tastiest, juiciest I’ve ever tried.
They have a separate lunch menu, as well as a «bowling menu» (which you can also get in the dining area) with a ton of apps and finger foods — we didn’t have an opportunity to sample those items, but certainly will during our next trip back, which will undoubtedly include some bowling.
Net-​net, this place is a gem — perfect for families, and just about anyone else looking for a great meal in a fun atmosphere and a friendly, attentive staff. Oh, and they have their own parking lot — a huge plus in Oak Bluffs!