We’re heading on an old school Backyard Road Trip on the South Shore of Massachusetts to two wonderful outposts of a simpler time: Hanson Bowladrome for candlepin bowling and the Venus Cafe in Whitman for a no-frills restaurant with some of the best bar pizza around. It’s a bit of nostalgia on the South Shore.
Hanson Bowladrome
First of all, you have to love the name “Bowladrome.” It brings to mind nostalgic images of roller derby or Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome. In Massachusetts, at true bowling alleys, forget those big bowling balls and the ten pin because it’s all about the candlepin. Sure for us heavy ball bowlers the thought of throwing something the size of a softball seems like a piece of cake. In reality, it’s not, it’s hard to knock them all down, even with three chances!
The Hanson Bowladrome is located in a residential neighborhood on Reed Street, off Route 27. It is operated by the Hanson Atheltic Association whose hall is right next door to the bowling alley. The Bowladrome only has twelve lanes so don’t expect a huge place. Refreshingly, there is a lack of arcade games and other distractions from the actual game.
Let’s Go Bowling
This was a perfect activity for my kids. Bumpers go up automatically and given the light weight of the ball, it is easy to throw. With only a few lanes of bowling, the Bowladrome was relatively quiet which means the kids also couldn’t annoy too many other people.
We bowled one game but with three of us bowling (including Tommy who is four) it took a while. The score sheet is on paper and super-competitive Danny was pretty upset when his little brother beat him by a pin (only a mini meltdown). The vibe is retro but not in an intentional way. It is legitimate. Although a throwback, there is nothing grimy about it, it’s clean and a perfect activity for a family-friendly afternoon without the bells and whistles of the more modern bowling alleys.
Venus Cafe
I’m on a never-ending quest for the region’s best bar pizza. Often the authentic South Shore bar pizza places also have that old-school vibe. Often cash only, often dimly lit, often a bit of a dive but with fantastic pizza. For those that don’t know, the South Shore bar pizza is a specialty of the region. It is personal sized and topped with cheddar cheese instead of the typical mozzarella. Ask for it extra crispy.
The Venus Cafe checks all of those boxes. From the street, it looks like a townie dive bar or private club. Inside well, it’s about the same feel. What makes it stand out though is certainly the pizza. (The beer selection looked good too highlighting Widowmaker and some other local breweries.) We ordered two pizzas: one cheese and one mushroom, both extra crispy. We also got an appetizer of chicken fingers. The nine lightly breaded tenders were some of the best I’ve had, and this was an order for the kids! The pizza was the perfect mix of the cheddar from the bar pizza with the crispy crust. Both were superb. Additionally, the bartender/waiter was super nice and made the whole crew feel welcome.
I’ll definitely be back to both stops on our South Shore nostalgia tour: Hanson Bowladrome and the Venus Cafe.
