Dave and Buster’s is known for its fun arcade games geared toward adults, but is there food good? Is it worth going to dinner there? My answer is a resounding yes as they offer some elevated bar food with unique flavors. From Southern classics with a twist to giant burgers piled high to comforting bar food, they have everything you could want while playing skeeball and earning tickets! I tried eleven of Dave and Buster’s popular menu items and reviewed them, so you know which options are the best! Dave and Buster’s doesn’t shy away from spice, so if you love a bit of heat, I highly recommend you check out some of these dishes.
Bang Bang Chicken
If you’ve ever had Bang Bang shrimp, you’re going to want to try this yummy Bang Bang chicken. The dish is a plate of crispy, hand-breaded chicken drenched in a spicy Bang Bang sauce. I love a little heat, so the spice level was perfect, but it wasn’t anything insanely overpowering. The chicken comes with a warm veggie, and noodle salad tossed with sesame oil and a spicy Thai peanut sauce. The dish has a yummy Asian flavor with bold flavors and just the right amount of heat to get you excited. I love a noodle salad, but if you don’t I would not recommend this dish, as they give you a heaping pile of noodles and veggies.
Voodoo Pasta
Another spicy dish that hits the spot, the Voodoo pasta is a scrumptious dish with comforting flavors and a pop of heat. The dish features crispy chicken, sauteed cremini mushrooms, caramelized red onions, sweet gypsy peppers, and baby arugula. Everything is covered in a creamy Cajun sauce and served over Campanelle pasta with a drizzle of Sriracha hot sauce. Be warned, this dish is spicier than the Bang Bang and not for the faint of heart. But I thought it was a delicious dish with robust flavors and a unique combination of flavors. If you want a super flavorful pasta dish packed with rich vegetables, you can’t go wrong with this pasta option.
Beastmode Bacon Burger
Alright, I want to preface this with a note that I am not the biggest fan of burgers; I find them disappointing most of the time. That was not the case with this Beastmode Bacon Burger. It comes with lots of toppings, including Applewood smoked bacon, melted sharp white cheddar cheese, bacon jam, lettuce, and roasted tomato aioli on the bottom bun. If you’ve never had bacon jam, you don’t know what you’re missing. But the real star of this burger is the Blue Moon BBQ braised pork belly.Forget boring ground beef because this pork belly is incredibly tender, and you can taste the subtle orange flavor from the Blue Moon. I found it briny and delicious and did not leave a scrap of food on my plate.
Cantina Nachos
The Cantina nachos were a good appetizer to get any meal started. First, the Cantina nachos come with ancho-chile chicken, which is delicious and tender. The tortilla chips are not homemade but get the job done. However, I do love their choice of toppings. The nachos come covered in white queso, black beans, grilled poblanos, pico de gallo, jalapeños, cilantro, and an Ancho lime crema. I am a huge fan of white queso, and I think queso works better for nachos than melted cheese because it stays moist and pliable. The grilled poblanos are also a unique touch, bringing a slight amount of heat.
Strawberry Watermelon Margarita
I had to try their strawberry watermelon margarita because it sounded amazing, and the server recommended it. And how could I say no to a margarita? It had a great flavor, initially, with the perfect blend of tequila and refreshing fruit blend. What I definitely appreciated is that they use real watermelon puree, and instead of mixing it with strawberry, they use strawberry-infused ice creams. It’s a unique and exciting twist that makes the drink very popular.
Buffalo Wings
I love a good plate of buffalo wings, and Dave and Buster’s did not disappoint me. I got the original wings with a side blue cheese. A single order comes with eight wings, which is enough, but I could’ve eaten more if they’d given me them. But, very importantly, the wings were sopping with buffalo sauce, just how I like them! The chicken was tender, and they give you a decent mix of wings and drumsticks, so everyone’s happy. And the wings are meaty, unlike some places where it seems like the wing is 60% bone and fat. I wouldn’t say the buffalo sauce was very spicy, but it wasn’t completely mild either. If you’re a fan of buffalo sauce, you’ll be thoroughly satisfied with Dave and Buster’s sauce.
Smashed Bar Burgers
The Smashed Bar Burgers are adorable cheeseburger sliders with melted American cheese, pickles, caramelized onions, and tomatoes on small Hawaiian rolls. The sliders are not anything revolutionary, but they are super comforting and fun to eat. Who doesn’t love a mini-burger? As the name suggests, the beef patties are smashed to have a juicy, slightly loose texture, as opposed to tightly packed burgers that can sometimes lose flavor on the inside. The burgers have a wonderful balance of seasoning, so they aren’t bland but are still a simple burger that kids and adults will love. Plus, the Smashed Bar Burger sliders are on the Best Food Friends page of the menu, so you can order them along with BBQ pork ribs or your choice of wings!
The Super Stack
I was not prepared for the monstrosity that is the Dave and Buster’s Super Stack burger. It was like eight inches tall and was nearly impossible to fit my mouth around it to take a bite, but no complaints here! It was a classic combination of flavors and reminded me of a McDonald’s Big Mac, but way better. The Super Stack comes with yellow and white American cheese, Boston lettuce, sliced tomato, white onions, pickles, house-made garlic aioli, and D&B’s house sauce. The house sauce tastes similar to a Thousand Island dressing or a mix of ketchup and mayo. There are many reasons to order this burger, from the massive portion to the perfectly cooked beef to the zesty garlic aioli. Burgers still aren’t my go-to, but it’s hard not to like this massive burger.
Classic Goldfingers
Goodness gracious, if I could buy a gallon of the D&B original chipotle honey sauce, I would buy two. It’s a tasty combination of sweet and spicy in a creamy sauce that pairs great with almost anything. But the Classic Goldfingers plate comes with more than just the sauce. The plate has hand-breaded, crispy chicken tenders served with classic French fries. Dave and Buster’s French fries are nothing to get too excited about, but they are a beautiful golden color with a decent crispy on the outside. The chicken is tender inside and crunchy on the outside, and probably my ideal kind of chicken finger. But as stated, the sauce steals the show on this plate!
Chicken & Waffle Sliders
Once again, who doesn’t love a mini-sandwich? They’re adorable. Chicken and waffles are such an incredible and ingenious combination, and Dave and Buster’s just made this match made in heaven a handheld food! The sliders come with crispy chicken with applewood smoked bacon top, nestled between two mini Belgian waffles, served and a smoky sweet-heat sauce. The plate comes with seasoned tots and a side of warm maple syrup. In my opinion, it doesn’t get better than this. The Chicken and Waffle Sliders were one of my favorite menu items, and I only wish the dish came with ten more.
Slow-Cooked Smokehouse BBQ Ribs
If you want something comforting and filling, these slow-cooked smokehouse BBQ ribs are one of the best options on the menu. This item is a Dave and Buster’s classic and one of the most popular dishes. You can choose between a half rack of a whole rack of ribs, but I suggest you get the whole because these are incredible.The ribs are slow-cooked and made-from-scratch St. Louis-style. The ribs are first basted in honey bourbon BBQ sauce and then topped with crispy frazzled onions. The rib plate also comes with french fries and fresh apple slaw. I am head over heels for the apple slaw, so don’t neglect to give it a try!