The Back Alley Bar & Restaurant

The Back Alley is the kind of place you'd walk past and miss entirely. Hidden inside is a full bowling alley, a bar, and a kitchen that turns out wings, burgers, and poutine that punch well above what you'd expect. Locals know it. Visitors stumble in and become regulars. The vibe is low-key and welcoming, with staff who actually care.

• Wings and burgers that exceed expectations for the price
• Poutine worth a return visit, even from far away
• Full bowling alley on site for group hangs
• Covered liquor bottles and attentive, friendly staff

Start with the wings. The BLT and burgers are solid, straightforward executions. The poutine is the house specialty and the reason regulars swing by repeatedly. The chicken soup has a rich broth and actual shredded chicken, slightly sweet. Onion rings come with a sweet batter that works. Don't overthink it.

Casual bowling-alley bar with decent lighting and music. It's lively on nights when people are rolling games, but not loud or chaotic. The room has that unpretentious, neighborhood-spot feel.

The kitchen keeps things simple and does it right. Chicken soup with a rich broth and real shredded chicken. Wings that have earned the skepticism-to-conviction conversion. Burgers. A BLT. Onion rings with a sweet batter. Poutine that people drive back for. The owners run a tight ship, liquor bottles have covers to keep the drinks clean, tables turn over quick, and your server remembers you.

Diners arrive skeptical and leave impressed. One guest called it "a Bangor must" and was particularly grateful for the covered liquor bottles. Regulars time their trips north to stop in, and first-timers often become repeat customers. One recent visitor praised the "friends and family atmosphere."