Dave & Buster's Memphis
4.0(3,570)4.0 out of 5 stars, 3570 reviews Memphis, TN
About Dave & Buster's Memphis
Dave & Buster's Memphis primarily offers an extensive arcade gaming experience that can be highly enjoyable, particularly on Wednesdays with a significant half-price play deal. While individual staff members can provide excellent service, and some food items are rated well, the venue is plagued by critical operational inconsistencies and environmental concerns.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Budget-conscious gamers on Wednesdays seeking extended playtime.Teenage birthday celebrations or social gatherings (16+ age range).Casual adult outings or 'date nights' primarily focused on arcade gaming and drinks.Families whose main goal is arcade gaming and are willing to overlook potential issues with dining service, cleanliness, or parking lot environment.Primarily suitable for teens (16+) and young adults, indicated by use for a 16th birthday celebration and a 'date night recommendation'.
Why families love it
- Engaging arcade gaming experience, described as 'incredible' and 'fun' by some visitors, even making adults 'feel like a kid again'.
- Half-price gaming on Wednesdays offers exceptional value, effectively doubling play credit (e.g., $55 card provides ~$110 in play value for games, enabling 2.5 hours of play and yielding 4200 tickets).
- Specific staff members, like Jessica, are highlighted for 'amazing', 'fun', and 'friendly' customer service.
- Some drinks are rated as 'fantastic'.
- Specific food items like chicken tenders, burgers, and fries are described as 'good' and 'cooked well' when properly prepared.
- Food customization is possible, with the option to ask for dishes to be prepared without spice.
Insider tips
- Visit on Wednesdays to maximize gaming value, as games are half-price, effectively doubling your play credit.
- If ordering food, specify 'no spice' if you prefer milder flavors, as some dishes are noted to be spicy.
- Be prepared for potentially very long waits (up to two hours) for food and seating, even during non-peak dining hours.
- Carefully check all food and drink orders upon delivery for accuracy and quality, especially sauces and specific ingredients.
- Inspect restroom stalls before use, as many may be broken or lack locks.
- If safety or crowds are a concern, consider avoiding Friday nights due to reported intimidating parking lot conditions.
Good to know before you go
- Dining at any time if on a tight schedule, due to consistently reported extreme service delays.
- Families with very young children if parking lot safety concerns or general cleanliness are high priorities.
- Visiting on Friday nights if sensitive to large, potentially intimidating crowds and general safety concerns in the parking area.
- If functional, clean, and private restrooms are a non-negotiable requirement.
- If you expect consistently high-quality customer service from all staff members, particularly management and hostesses.
- Crowds
- The restaurant area was 'NOT busy at all' around 3:30 PM on one occasion, yet service was still extremely slow.
- Value
- Entertainment is described as 'very high' in price, leading to a perception that 'the overall value wasn't here' by one family, suggesting the combined food and game experience is expensive. However, the 'half-price play day' on Wednesdays significantly boosts gaming value, where a $55 card provides approximately $110 in play value for games, allowing for about 2.5 hours of play and yielding 4200 tickets. Food costs are not detailed but contribute to the overall high expense perception.
- Food
- An on-site restaurant offers a variety of food including burgers, fries, chicken tenders, fish & chips, and sodas.
- Accessibility
- Reported significant challenges for guests with neurological disorders and handicaps in securing appropriate seating, as staff were unhelpful and dismissive.
- Safety
- Significant safety concerns were explicitly raised regarding the parking lot environment on Friday nights, including an intimidating crowd, concerns about drug use, and a parent's worry about 'getting my family inside before the shooting begins'.
What parents say
"I visited during my vacation in Memphis and have to highlight Jessica’s amazing service she was so fun and friendly! The place is incredible; I can’t even describe how much fun I had playing it made me feel like a kid again. The drinks are fantastic, and while the food is a bit spicy, you can ask them to leave the spice out if that’s not your thing. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience!"
3 months ago
"If there was an option for zero stars, this rating would have been more accurate. Our family arrived around 3:30. The restaurant part was NOT busy at all. TWO hours later, we were finally “served”. Our food was cold, fries beyond soggy, the fish & chips came with garlic aioli because they were out of tartar sauce (which was NOT communicated prior to serving), and one in our party had a strawberry drink with no strawberry?! To top this, the bathroom stalls had doors literally hanging off the hinges, or without locks. At least six broken doors on the Ladies’ side alone. This location is SO f"
3 weeks ago
"Well, on friday night, the parking lot crowd can be a little intimidating. Weed fills the air, as everyone has to be completely stoned to enter Dave & busters. I think they should add off duty cops for parking lot duty. Trying to get my family inside before the shooting begins. Let start with the price, wow your very high for entertainment. We ate chicken tenders fries and sodas. Food was good. The overall value wasn't here. I think Main Event would be a better option. While both are similar, I feel safer at Main Event."
a week ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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