Dallas’ newest hotspot, Bowl and Barrel, feels like a restaurant, feels like a sports bar, feels like a chic place to meet for drinks – it just doesn’t feel like a bowling alley.

“Most people think of a bowling alley as dingy and dated,” owner Kyle Noonan told me last night at the VIP opening. But he believes the concept, done right, will draw people back to the sport.

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Cushy, tufted leather couches surround 15 bowling lanes. The big game plays overhead next to your scoring screen. Lighting is low but bowling balls are brightly colored. Lush wood beams rise above exposed brick.

In the bar, big screen TVs display sports of every variety. Intimate corner tables are full, but so are big common tables, perfect for making new friends. Old barrels and classic bowling jerseys adorn the walls, and arched windows enable you to watch the bowling action.

The menu  is classic with a twist – all burgers are served with quinoa and chicken on the chicken sandwich is free-range. They serve four varieties of hot dog, and the B&B Melt is made with Rudolf’s bologna. Most impressive is the section marked Boards & Bites, a step up from typical bar food, with notables like Hot Fried Quail and Cornish Hand Pies. There’s an extensive wine and cocktail list in addition to the expected wide variety of beers. Oh, and don’t miss the Butterscotch Pie for dessert. Yum.

Bowl and Barrel is located at The Shops at Park Lane. It’s open from 5pm to Midnight Sunday through Wednesday, until 2am Thursday through Saturday. Next week, they’ll begin opening at 11am for lunch.