Family Fun at UCP Game Zone
By Becky Billingsley
Ultimate California Pizza Game Zone in Myrtle Beach is a pizza parlor with dozens of modern games for play, a much better than average menu offering pizza and burgers for the kids, and more sophisticated fare plus a full bar for adults.
UCP Game Zone is within a 30,000 square-feet building where more than 60 electronic games are luring people of all ages. There's Skeeball (only here it's called Ice Ball) for old-schoolers, and Galaga and Centipede for Baby Boomers. Sports lovers go for the basketball and air hockey, plus a bowling game with real wood alleys and weighted balls that are smaller than a bowling ball and bigger than a Skeeball.
Teens and 20-somethings are loving the Dance, Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero games, a unique game is called Lazer Frenzy. The object is to go in a dark room and avoid laser beams. An electronic scoreboard above the entrance tracks players and show observers how everyone is doing.
Lots of casino-type games pay out in tickets that are redeemable for prizes. About 75 percent of the games are redemption-based, and playing them costs anywhere from 25 cents to $2.50 for the bowling and Lazer Frenzy.
A friendly hostess at the front desk will help you book a birthday party or give directions for getting a game card that you can load with cash and use like a debit card to swipe and play. To the left of the hostess is the private party room, which is much prettier than your normal kids' party room with an upscale blue and silver decor. Adults often book their birthday or office parties here, and on weekends the party room is often completely booked.
Photo Gallery
General Manager Dennis Onken says the restaurant has party packages that include food and game cards and start at $11 per person. He's also happy to customize group packages for up to 350 people complete with buffet service.
UCP Game Zone is the sixth UCP, and this one has the same menu as all the others with salads, subs, wraps, pasta, sandwiches, wings and their legendary appetizers such as Hummus Dip and Jack Bread, which is garlic bread topped with jack cheese, Roma tomatoes and basil.
A few of my favorites include Sonoma Valley Spinach Salad with Roma tomatoes, red onions, two cheeses and more; the San Francisco Filet Mignon Pizza; the Smashed Potato Pizza complete with gravy; and the Roast Beef and Cheddar Sub loaded with fresh vegetables.
Those upscale casual foods play well in the Game Zone dining room, which is separated from the games by a door that closes so dining isn't too noisy. The dining area flows into the bar and lounge, and children are not allowed in the lounge/sports bar.
Over on the adult side, there's football on DirectTV, and all the major sports action of the day on 30 flat screens. They have special drink prices during football games, including $2 domestic bottles and $1.50 draft beer specials. They’ll be hosting a giant Super Bowl party with food and drink specials all day.
Ultimate California Pizza Game Zone is at 959 Lake Arrowhead Rd., and the number is (843) 449-1160. It's open from 11 a.m. to midnight weekdays and until 1 a.m. on the weekends.
There are no comments posted. Add yours below.