Bryant-Lake Bowl
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The Bryant-Lake Bowl, known locally as the BLB, is a nationally known restaurant, bar, bowling alley and theater located in South Minneapolis' Uptown, Minnesota neighborhood.
The Bryant-Lake Bowl is known for an extensive and high-quality beer and wine list, including high quality beers both domestic (from breweries like Bells, Victory, Rogue, and Surly) and imported (including for example Belgian beers such as Lindeman's Frambois, Orval, Delirium Tremens, and Wittekerke). The eclectic menu is notable for its almost exclusive use of local, organic, grass-fed meat, and numerous vegan and vegetarian items. The Bryant-Lake Bowl also houses a very active cabaret theater. The atmosphere has been called 'retro,' featuring a large, bowling-themed art-deco style mural behind the bar, and wooden tables and walls (many of the larger tables are made from wood taken from the bowling lanes).
The theater presents an eclectic array of comedy, drama, film, dance, music, and events. The BLB theater's production arrangements are frequently artist-friendly, allowing for a wide range of emerging artists to present shows. The BLB is a popular neighborhood destination and is known for welcoming a diverse clientele.
The BLB's owner, Kim Bartmann, was a public supporter of Minneapolis' indoor smoking ban ordinance. The ordinance was signed at the bowling alley itself in March of 2004.
The Bryant-Lake Bowl opened its doors on October 31, 1993. In its previous incarnations, the building housing the BLB has been home to a 3.2 bar/bowling alley with a game room, and a Ford garage. The BLB is the last bowling alley on Minneapolis' Lake Street; during the height of bowling's popularity, there were several alleys along the Lake Street corridor.
The Bryant-Lake Bowl's sister restaurant is Barbette, also located in Uptown.