This new Sacramento-area restaurant boasts over 100 arcade games. Here’s a sneak peek

Inside Look is a Sacramento Bee series where we take readers behind the scenes at restaurants, new businesses, local landmarks and news stories.

The wait is almost over.

Dave & Buster’s will unlock the doors to its first location in Folsom on Monday, April 1, at the Palladio at Broadstone with a new menu, exclusive virtual reality arcade games and massive screens.

The restaurant and entertainment chain started scoping out the 22,856-square-foot space at 430 Palladio Parkway, Suite 1817, over the summer, according to previous reporting in The Sacramento Bee.

Now, the business is preparing to unveil its third Sacramento-area location.

Customers who visit Dave & Buster’s in Folsom can expect games unique to the location and a 60-foot Wow Wall screen that can stream up to 10 games simultaneously, according to Angel Contreras, area operations manager for the entertainment chain.

“Anticipation is high but we’re all really excited,” Contreras told The Sacramento Bee on Tuesday morning surrounded by flashing arcade games.

“Folsom is growing rapidly and something like Dave & Buster’s ... is going to be really good for the city,” he added.

The Texas-based entertainment chain operates over 200 sites in North America, including locations at 1174 Roseville Parkway near Roseville Galleria and 1420 Travis Blvd. in Fairfield.

“We are so excited to open a new Dave & Buster’s location in Folsom,” General Manager John Aguilar said.

”We look forward to hosting the community for major sporting event watch parties on the biggest and best screens,” he wrote in a news release.

The first 100 customers in line from 6-9 p.m. April 5 will be gifted “Power Cards” and unlimited access to certain games. The offer is valid for that evening.

Military personnel and first responders get 15% off food and non-alcoholic drinks with a valid I.D., the news release stated.

The Folsom site features over 100 arcade games, including four virtual reality games for roller coaster and zombie lovers.

Also available are games that jerk you in your seat and simulate windy conditions.

Inside the Win Circle, guests can swap their arcade tickets for virtual reality headsets, Nintendo Switches, PlayStations, AirPods, meal vouchers and more.

Adjacent to the arcade section is a space designed for eating and watching sports. Customers can sit in the sports lounge under one of the 17 massive high-definition television screens.

Seats are also available at the bar, at one of the several cocktail tables and booths, and in the standing-only overflow section.

‘It’s going to be a whole new experience’

The kitchen at Dave & Buster’s in Folsom is like a scene from Hulu’s comedy-drama series “The Bear.”

The terms “behind,” “echo chef,” and “heard” are commonly used inside the space.

The hot and fast-paced environment features stainless steel appliances, including fryers, a pizza oven, a flat-top grill, a saute station, and a walk-in freezer and cooler, said Executive Kitchen Manager Byron Generalao with the entertainment chain.

“If someone has gone to Dave & Buster’s before, I challenge them to come back ... it’s going to be a whole new experience,” he told The Bee Tuesday morning from the kitchen.

Generalao, who has worked with Dave & Buster’s for 24 years, said being part of a kitchen is one of the hardest but most rewarding careers. This will be his 37th opening.

“If you’re coming in just to hang out, if you’re coming in to celebrate something, if you’re coming in for that first date — we have it all,” he added.

The kitchen staff includes roughly 40 employees, from the best chefs in the franchise to the maintenance crew.

What’s on the menu?

The Dave & Buster’s location in Folsom will be the first site to feature the chain’s new menu.

Customers will soon be able to order the new $14.99 plate of loaded barbacoa fries with queso blanco, shredded beef, pico de gallo, sliced jalapeños, cotija cheese and guacamole.

The new $30.99 Game Day Grub platter includes pretzel dogs, burger sliders, chicken wings, celery sticks and dipping sauces.

Also new to the menu are the $11.99 smashed burger sliders slathered with secret sauce, the $9.99 s’mores cheesecake with toasted jumbo marshmallows and the $12.49 dangerous waters island punch with Malibu coconut rum.

Nachos, salads, flatbread pizzas, sandwiches and pasta are also on the menu.

Regular happy hour is from 4-7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and late night happy hour is from 9 p.m. to closing, Sunday through Thursday.

The menu includes select $5 glasses of wine, cocktails and beer.

When will Dave & Buster’s in Folsom be open?

Dave and Buster’s will open on April 1 at 430 Palladio Parkway, Suite 1817, in Folsom.

Business hours are from 11 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays; 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to midnight on Sundays.

Dave & Buster’s in Folsom is hiring

Dave & Busters in Folsom is looking to fill a variety of part-time positions, with hourly wages ranging from $16 to $20.

“We are always hiring,” Generalao said, adding that his ideal candidate is eager to learn and has a great personality.

Open positions include cooks, game technicians, hosts, servers and bartenders.

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