Do these Unconventional Restaurants Live Up to Their Hype?

Written by Amanda Healy | Designed by Chelsea Kuo | Photographed by Maya Geiger

Over the past couple of years, the traditional dining experience has been elevated to out-of-the-ordinary concepts to lure in new customers. When reminiscing on my childhood, the most unique restaurant I can think of is eating while bowling. Besides that, every restaurant I would go to was set up traditionally with a server and regular seating. However, times have changed, and with platforms like UberEats and GrubHub eating out has become easier, and places have come up with new ideas to create a one-of-a-kind experience. Boston is a lively city with an endless amount of possibilities when it comes to food and entertainment. Two restaurants: SPIN Boston and Flight Club Boston, provide a fun and interactive component to the traditional meal. Additionally, Topgolf, a franchise that is spread out all over the nation, provides the same attractive qualities. I went to all three establishments to see if these places are just popular because of the atmosphere or if they have good food, too!

Topgolf

Topgolf has taken the world by storm, with over eighty locations worldwide, and is still growing. Following the traditional bowling experience, Topgolf has been at the forefront of the unconventional dining experience. Reservations are not required but are recommended, especially if you are going at a busy time of day. The bays are set up with either high-top tables or couches surrounding a normal table, and you are allowed to eat and drink while playing golf. However, it isn’t just regular golf; there are large targets ranging in distances from 30 yards away up to 200 yards away. You can play a standard game and compete to score the most points, or you can play one of the various games they offer, like Angry Birds or Jewel Jam. No matter your level of experience, you are welcome at Topgolf. Even though there may be some good players around you, it is still fun, no matter the level you play at. They will provide clubs if you do not want to bring your own, and it does not matter if you golf left-handed or right-handed.

The best part of the experience is sitting around eating, hanging out with friends, and laughing about your ability (or lack thereof) at golfing. Their menu is more extensive than some of the other unconventional restaurants I tried. Having been to Topgolf multiple times, I have tried a plethora of options, and I have never been disappointed. Their chicken fingers and warm pretzel bites are good and perfect sharable items, but nothing extraordinary. The cheesy macaroni bites are delicious, very warm, and gooey with the perfect amount of crunch. Lastly, my personal favorite is chicken and waffles. Served as mini sandwiches, this dish is delicious, and you will definitely want to get them again. If you are of age, there is a variety of alcoholic beverages and a specialty cocktail served in a glass shaped like a golf bag.

Out of the variety of new unconventional restaurants, Topgolf is a great option to spend time at, no matter the time of day. Their menu expands from breakfast, lunch, and dinner and has options for kids. Even though there is no location in Boston, they do live events at Fenway Park, but make sure to act fast; they do sell out!

SPIN Boston

Last year SPIN Boston opened in the Seaport District. This unique experience combines two things: ping pong and food. When you first walk into the industrial space, you can automatically sense the lively atmosphere. The music projected throughout the venue was a mix of hits from the 2010s all the way to today. It was loud enough to have fun and sing along, but you could still hear the people you were with and have conversations. The walls were a mixture of brick and cement, with decals of iconic cartoon characters, like the pink panther, displayed on the walls. Throughout the night, different lighting was projected on the floors and walls, with pops of color and neon signs. All of these intricate details created a vibrant environment.

Now the most important part, what was the food like? It was a Wednesday night, and multiple corporate events were taking up most of the space, so I sat and ate at the bar. Having tried their wings, chicken sandwich, and fries, it is easy to say this unconventional restaurant is just as delicious as it is fun, even if options were a bit limited. The menu description for the wings was “beer brined, sriracha honey, with ginger buttermilk.” This unique take on classic bar food did not disappoint. Their chicken sandwich, grilled or fried, is equally as appetizing, but one of the best parts of this dish is their fries and sriracha ketchup. This side and dip were unlike any other, and I will definitely order them again next time.

Sitting at the bar was a great decision. The staff was incredibly friendly and attentive, and they brought games over to play before our food arrived. Two of the games we played were a ring toss game, and a massive connect four. These activities added to the unique experience. Watching other groups play ping pong, laugh, and have fun creates a welcoming ambiance and makes you want to be part of the action.

SPIN can be found in the Seaport, one of Boston’s most popular up-and-coming areas, and the location is perfect for the restaurant concept. Next time you want to try something fun, you need to come here. It is the perfect place for a night out with friends, with good food and some friendly competition.

Flight Club

The last unconventional restaurant that I explored was Flight Club in Boston’s Seaport. After taking an elevator to the second floor, you step into a vintage fair-themed restaurant where you can eat and play darts at the same time. The decor for this establishment was spectacular, with incredible attention to detail. Following a carnival-inspired atmosphere, there are carousel horses strategically placed around all the rooms. Vintage light bulbs line the ceiling in intricate directions, and frames of people in outfits from decades ago are placed along the walls. All of these small details added to the electric atmosphere—friends and families competing against each other while eating yummy food.

If you are not able to get a booth to play darts, and you are twenty-one or older, you have the option of sitting and eating at the bar. However, if you are under twenty-one, you can take a seat at one of the high-top tables that are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Even if you are at a regular table, you feel the energy of the groups playing darts around you. This is a friendly warning that it will get loud with all the competitive screaming!

The best part of the entertainment portion of this restaurant is the high-tech quality of the darts. Instead of having to tally up points while you play, the board does it for you, and you are allowed to take photos and have profile pictures on your screen. These details elevate the experience, and the fun characters that appear as transitions continue to amplify the fun vintage carnival vibe of the entire restaurant.

Are you wondering about the food yet? The menu is not as extensive as Topgolf, but it still has a decent variety. Most of the plates are shareable, and I tried the black and white hummus, truffle fries, tandoori chicken skewers, and the Flight Club prime sliders. The black and white hummus was just okay. Our first serving came with some pita bread slices, cucumbers, and carrots, but there was not enough compared to the serving of hummus, so we had to ask for extras. It was good enough to eat, but I wouldn’t order it again. Next, I had the truffle fries, and these were my favorite food of the night. They had the perfect amount of seasoning, and had been fried perfectly. I would definitely recommend getting them if you go to Flight Club. Next, I tried both the tandoori chicken skewers and the Flight Club prime sliders. Both of these dishes were very delicious and were the perfect size to split between three people. I went with two friends, and it was great to try multiple dishes!

Topgolf, SPIN Boston, and Flight Club are all excellent establishments that serve good food with a twist, and if you get hooked on entertainment with your meals, there are so many more around the city and across the country. Each of these restaurants is perfect for a night out with friends or family to get your competitive spirits flowing and enjoy each other’s company. I know for a fact that I will be back at each of these restaurants!