Sacco's Bowl Haven Bar / Bowling Alley / Restaurant

Cambridge / Somerville, Boston –

A hidden gem with a cult following of hip young locals, Sacco’s Bowl Haven offers a unique old-school night out at equally old-school prices.

First opened in 1939, the venue has retained its original focus on candlepin bowling, though new owners have updated the place by adding a wood-fired pizza parlor and alcohol – an element that had been sorely lacking from the premises for decades.

Situated in the middle of the space are eight refreshingly low-tech bowling lanes, where ball returns are powered by nothing but gravity and players still use a pencil and scorecard to keep track of who’s winning.

The Flatbread Company restaurant to one side of the lanes features several primitive clay ovens and a vintage décor of aqua green seating, wood paneling, and lighting fixtures painted to look like pool balls, all combined to create a slightly funky look that obviously appeals to the outgoing groups of alternative types and daters who stop in for pre-bowling dinner and a few of the craft beers on tap.

Those already assigned a lane can take quick breaks between turns to check out the cocktail specials at the new bar, built the entire length of what used to be Lane 10.

Although it can take up to an hour to get a lane on weekend evenings, the attentive staff at Sacco's makes it easy to order from both the dining area and the lanes, which means the wait is less of a hassle and more of an excuse to enjoy good food and good beer with a sociable crowd looking for a different kind of night out.