Dave & Buster's opens in Richmond

After you sidle past the security guards checking IDs, you'll be greeted by an ever-cheery hostess and a cacophony of silverware clinking, people chatting and laughing, drinks blending and arcade games chiming at the new Dave and Buster's restaurant in Richmond.

Dave and Buster's is a restaurant, bar and arcade rolled into one dining experience. It's geared toward adults, and patrons must be older than 18 to enter, unless accompanied by an adult at least 25 years old. D&B has locations in more than 50 U.S. cities, but the one that opened at 4001 Brownstone Blvd. on April 20 was the first to come to Virginia.

Assistant general manager Randall Kerney said it was D&B's welcoming attitude that made it unique. "We want you to feel like this is your house," he said. "We're not the kind of place that will rush you. Come stay. Hang out with us!"

D&B's menu includes a fairly typical selection of appetizers as well as sections for seafood, chicken, ribs, pasta, steaks, burgers, sandwiches and specialty salads. Desserts vary from the basic chocolate cake and New York cheesecake to more distinctive Belgian chocolate fondue

and hot sugared donut holes. It features two Eat and Play combo offers: the choice from seven or eight entrees paired with a $10 game card for $19.99 or $15.99.

When it comes to drinks, D&B's motto is, "You name it, we've got it." The menu offers a selection of margaritas, martinis, cocktails, tropical drinks, frozen drinks, shooters, beers and wine.

Happy hour is from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and includes half-priced Wells, $2.50 domestic pints and other beer and wine specials. At the same time as happy hour is "power hour," 60 minutes of video game play for $10. Games are also half-off on Wednesdays.

Arcade games range from classics, such as skeeball, air hockey, racing, shooting and basketball, to newer features, such as Deal or No Deal and Guitar Hero. Even the D&B Web site offers online games.

The winner's circle, where people can exchange tickets for prizes, offers a range of gifts from a mini frisbee for 10 tickets to a Playstation 3 for 98,000 tickets. There are a lot of gifts in between such as Madden 2009, Xbox, Guitar Hero, an array of clothing, stuffed animals, mugs, shot glasses and other toys.

Contact staff writer Avril Lighty at avril.lighty@richmond.edu