Bowling alleys are the only safe place for people to simultaneously sate their hunger for ball-on-pin violence and knock down meaty beer cravings. For $10, today's Groupon gets you $20 toward any combination of bowling, eating, and quaffing at The Park Tavern Bowling & Entertainment Center in St. Louis Park, City Pages' pick for 2010's Best Bowling Alley.

Serving the Minneapolis area for over 50 years with tasty bites, fresh brews, and pin-slamming pastimes, The Park Tavern offers more smashing fun than a sledgehammer in a bubble-wrap factory. Lustrous lanes waxed smoother than a buttered bathtub play host to fun family outings, where sibling rivalries can be settled with the soothing sound of scattered pins. Shoe rentals for bowler-sporting bowlers are always $3, and per-game rates vary from $3 to $4; check the website for more details.

The Park Tavern's two bars and kitchen stand ready to keep rollers fueled for picking up that final spare. Pre-game with a full pound of the spicy new Irish Fire chicken wings ($8.95) or a blackened-catfish taco ($9.95), and draw on circular inspiration with a pizza, such as the Hawaiian (Canadian bacon, pineapple, olives, and mozzarella; $11.25 small, $15.95 medium, $19.95 large). Specialty burgers, including the Amsterdam (smoked gouda, jalapeños, and bacon bits, $8.50), and the half-pound barbecue-rib basket ($8.25) provide slabs of meat on which to hang a fang. The Park Tavern also grills on the outdoor patio Tuesday through Thursday, so sop up some sunshine while enjoying the summery Dirty Banana cocktail ($6.25).

Besides strengthening arm muscles, thighs, glutes, calves, and Jeff Bridges impressions, 10-pin bowling at The Park Tavern strengthens socio-familial bonds by giving friends and families a casual, nonviolent arena to challenge each other over chitchat and fermented ales. This all-inclusive atmosphere makes The Park Tavern the perfect venue for introducing friends from different social circles. Bring your poetry friends to play your fantasy-football buddies, or build camaraderie with coworkers after a long day coworking with today's Groupon.

It's recommended to call ahead to find out if lanes are available: (952) 929-6810. This Groupon can be used in conjunction with the Groupon Summer Pass.

Reviews

Park Tavern was named Best Bowling Alley 2010 by the Minneapolis City Pages. Yelpers give it a four-star average, and Citysearchers give it an average of 3.5 stars.

• Add two bars for all your drinking needs (because honestly, who can bowl without drinking?) and great happy hour specials, and you've got everything you need for a bowling experience that dreams are made of. – City Pages
• Good bowling, beer, and food makes it one of the best bowling alleys in the cities. – Jason K., Yelp
• Fun bowling, cheap drinks, great and cheap bar food. I could go on and on. – brianknows, Citysearch