Dave & Buster's Columbia

Reviews

• PN

  Preston Nelson

  Jun 26, 2026
  1.0
  As a Level 9 Legend member who has spent well over 20,000 game chips at Dave & Buster’s locations across the East Coast, I don’t write this review lightly. In fact, if this Columbia location had been my first Dave & Buster’s experience, I never would have visited another. This was, without question, the worst Dave & Buster’s experience I’ve ever had. The biggest issue was the game room. Throughout the evening, approximately 8 out of every 10 games we attempted to play had some type of problem. Machines were visibly broken, required recalibration only to remain unplayable, accepted credits without registering inputs, or didn’t even have functioning card scanners. Spending more time searching for working games than actually playing completely defeats the purpose of coming here. The food was also noticeably below the standard I’ve experienced at other Dave & Buster’s locations. While it wasn’t the primary reason for the low rating, it certainly didn’t help the overall experience. The one bright spot was the staff. Every employee we interacted with was polite, professional, and genuinely tried to help despite what appeared to be a severely understaffed game floor. Management also provided a $35 game card after we reported the issues, which I appreciated because it prevented me from spending additional credits on broken machines. Unfortunately, the gesture wasn’t enough to overcome the overall experience. Between three people, we spent well over $400 on game credits, food, drinks, and tips. That price should deliver a premium entertainment experience. Instead, it felt more like a rundown Chuck E. Cheese than the Dave & Buster’s brand I’ve come to enjoy. The atmosphere only added to the disappointment, with large groups of teenagers lingering around games without playing and blocking access. At one point, two individuals were filming social media videos in the restroom, fanning cash and obstructing the walkway to the urinals. I don’t enjoy leaving one-star reviews, especially for a company I’ve supported for years. However, this rating reflects the overall experience. The employees did their best under difficult circumstances, but the condition of the game room, the poor execution, and the overall lack of management oversight made this the most poorly operated Dave & Buster’s I’ve ever visited. I cannot recommend this location, and I will not be returning.
• LS

  Lindsay Snyder

  Jun 26, 2026
  1.0
  We went 6/24/26 a party of 12 for my daughter's 14 birthday. We arrived at 6:30pm and no one greeted us when we walked in. My husband had to walk over to the bar to get anyone and they were NOT busy. Our waiter was Sede! He was the absolute SLOWEST waiter ever. He cut me off anytime I would ask for a drink or anything. It took 25 min for me to get my drink order. We asked multiple times for him to bring our receipts we wanted to hurry to play games as it was my daughter's birthday. He was cleaning a table and ignored me 2x. My husband finally went and said something to him. To which he comes to the table and prints our everyones receipts separately. Handing me 6 separate receipts for a party of 4. RIDICULIOUS!!!!! We were all very disappointed and will NOT be back! Especially not to eat.
• AB

  Atreyu B

  Jun 25, 2026
  5.0
  Ayanna made me and my boys visit to Dave & Buster’s an outstanding experience! From the moment we arrived, she greeted us with a genuine smile, a positive attitude, and exceptional customer service. She was attentive, professional, and made sure we had everything we needed without us ever having to ask. What really stood out was how she treated us like valued guests rather than just another table. Her energy, patience, and attention to detail turned a good visit into a great one. Dave & Buster’s is fortunate to have someone who represents the brand so well. If you’re visiting D & B, I hope you have the chance to be served by Ayanna you won’t be disappointed. She deserves recognition for going above and beyond!!
• SW

  Stephanie Weaver

  Jun 17, 2026
  1.0
  Place has gone down hill. Went today and purchased the unlimited day pass. Felt robbed as MANY games did not work or work correctly. (Only 2 out of 4 Alien shooter games worked so we couldnt play together, ski ball didnt have balls, only one of the VR games worked others missing headset, both of the other shooter games didnt work, deal or no deal didnt work, some of the fishing games didnt work, ping pong in the cup game didnt work, I could go on) Ended up leaving bc kids got bored and upset about it. Went to do the tickets... had a decent amount, picked what added up and went to "check out" only to find out things are prices wrong. Picked out a little planter, only sticker on shelf was 950, rings up 1250. Pick candy from the glass on the counter, says "70" (there is only one kind in each glass box) guys says oh thats marked wrong too, thats really 130.. like really??? Don't waste your money here like I feel like I wasted mine.
• JH

  Jamie Haltiwanger

  Jun 11, 2026
  1.0
  My family and several friends visited the Columbiana location on June 10, 2026, to celebrate my birthday. We arrived at 6:00 PM with a party of 13 (including six children) on what appeared to be a very slow evening, with only a handful of tables occupied throughout our visit. Unfortunately, our experience was disappointing from the start. Our server, Terrence, seemed irritated before our meal even began. When we mentioned that two additional guests might stop by briefly, he immediately responded with frustration and would not accommodate adding a small table to the end of ours. Throughout the evening, his attitude made us feel like an inconvenience rather than welcomed guests. Service was consistently slow despite the restaurant not being busy. It took nearly an hour for our food order to be taken, drink refills were rarely offered, and several requests were met with visible annoyance. We were told a guest could only have two lemons for his water, stale chips were served with our appetizer, and simple questions about substitutions seemed to frustrate our server. Food timing was also an issue. Most of the table had nearly finished eating before my father’s pasta arrived, and my daughter’s macaroni and cheese never came until we specifically asked about it. When it finally appeared, it came out almost immediately, suggesting it had simply been forgotten. When I politely requested to speak with a manager, I explained that my salmon was dry, my daughter’s meal had been significantly delayed, and that the overall service had been poor. The manager was professional, kind, and handled the conversation appropriately. She removed my meal and my daughter’s meal from the bill, which I appreciated, but that was never what I was seeking. I worked in the service industry for eight years, so I understand that mistakes happen. Restaurants get busy, kitchens get backed up, and no one is perfect. This did not feel like one of those situations. The restaurant was quiet, our group was patient, and we simply wanted to enjoy a birthday dinner with friends and family. What made the evening so disappointing was not the food delays or mistakes—it was feeling unwelcome the entire time. Eight years ago, I hosted my husband’s surprise 30th birthday party at this same location and had an amazing experience. Sadly, after this visit, I do not plan to return. Customer service can make or break a dining experience, and unfortunately, this experience left us feeling like an inconvenience rather than valued guests.