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Dave & Buster's New York City - Times Square
4.2(9,519)4.2 out of 5 stars, 9519 reviews New York, NY
About Dave & Buster's New York City - Times Square
Dave & Buster's Times Square offers an engaging family entertainment experience, particularly for extended visits, combining surprisingly good food with a wide array of arcade games. Its unique value lies in exceptional staff service and potentially high-value passes, despite operating in a bustling Times Square environment with some venue-specific comfort issues.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Extended family outings or day trips (can easily spend 6-7 hours).Families seeking a combination of arcade gaming and casual dining.A fun activity during cold winter months, especially with specific seasonal passes.Parents looking for a venue with highly attentive and friendly customer service.Visitors who appreciate a well-maintained environment with active staff.
Why families love it
- Consistently friendly, professional, and attentive staff members (e.g., Kim, Anthony, Harrison, Annie at prize counter, John, Jhon, security guard).
- Manager Travis provides exceptional, personalized customer service, including game and menu recommendations.
- Staff are actively observed cleaning, wiping, testing, and fixing game machines throughout the day, contributing to a well-maintained environment.
- Specific promotional passes (e.g., 'unlimited winter pass') offer significant value, including weekly ticket earnings (2k tickets/week), access to many new games, and food discounts (30% off).
- Food quality is often surprisingly delicious for specific dishes (e.g., cheese stack, buffalo chicken flatbread, creamy chicken pasta, Caesar salad, elote cauliflower, strawberry cheesecake).
- Ability to watch sports games and request specific broadcasts (e.g., basketball) enhances the dining experience.
Insider tips
- Bring a small portable fan to counter the heat, especially during visits when you might wear a jacket.
- Bring a reusable bag to store jackets if visiting in colder months, as the venue can be very warm inside.
- If planning to go shopping, visit Dave & Buster's first or ensure someone can watch your bags to avoid hassle.
- Consider purchasing special game/food passes (e.g., 'unlimited winter pass') for better value, including game access and food discounts.
- Engage with staff, particularly managers, for game recommendations and menu suggestions, as they are noted for their helpfulness and knowledge.
- If planning to watch sports, inquire if specific games can be put on, as this is a known amenity.
Good to know before you go
- If you are highly sensitive to warm or hot indoor temperatures, as this is a consistent concern.
- If you expect a very large arcade with every traditional game, as the game room is noted as 'not very big' and some games might be missing.
- If carrying numerous shopping bags and not prepared for bag management issues.
- If a perpetually out-of-order favorite game would significantly impact your experience.
- The arcade area can be uncomfortably warm or hot, even during winter months.
- Crowds
- Can be busy, especially on Saturday evenings, but one reviewer noted it was 'not as overwhelming as I had feared'.
- Value
- Offers good value with special game card deals and passes. The 'unlimited winter pass' specifically includes 2k tickets per week, access to new games, and a 30% discount on food, making it an attractive option for extended play. Food is comparable in price to BWW and Chili's, with some dishes noted as surprisingly delicious, potentially justifying the cost.
- Food
- Offers full lunch and dinner services with a diverse menu.
- Accessibility
- No specific accommodations for special needs or accessibility features are mentioned in the reviews.
- Safety
- Visible and friendly security guard on site.
What parents say
"I visited this Dave & Buster’s on a Saturday evening, knowing it’s one of the busier locations. While I expected a chaotic experience, it wasn’t as overwhelming as I had feared. Pros: • Fun Experience: Despite some minor issues, we had a great time, and the child especially enjoyed it, which made the visit worthwhile. • Friendly Staff: The employees were professional and polite, contributing to a positive atmosphere. • Winning Moment: I managed to hit the jackpot on one of the games, which definitely helped lift my mood. Cons: • Uncomfortable Heat: The arcade was extremely warm, so if you’re"
in the last week
"We had a great time at the Times Square Dave & Busters Times. Whoever runs this operation deserves a gold star because we wound up staying all day (6-7hrs). Which I had not planned. Had lunch and dinner there. Great food server’s Kim, Anthony, Harrison and even the security guard was friendly. As someone dropped their lotion and the security guy thought it was mine and tried to return it to me but it wasn’t. The servers did a great job clearing the table, bringing over a glass of water, checking in every so often. The person at the prize counter (whose name I think is Annie?) was very friendl"
4 weeks ago
"I recently had the pleasure of visiting Dave & Buster's, and I cannot emphasize enough how wonderful our experience was, largely thanks to the exceptional service provided by the manager, Travis. From the moment we walked in, Travis greeted us with a warm smile and made us feel right at home. He was not only welcoming but also incredibly attentive, taking the time to ensure we were comfortable and had everything we needed. His enthusiasm for providing excellent customer service truly stood out, and it made our visit all the more enjoyable. Travis went above and beyond to recommend some of the "
a month ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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