Baseball is America’s pastime. References to early incarnations of the game go back to the 1700s and amateur teams in the United States began organizing in the 1830s and 1840s. In the years since, the great game has provided us with heroes like Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Nolan Ryan, Ken Griffey Jr. and Shohei Ohtani. Here in DFW, we’re just a couple of years removed from our beloved Texas Rangers finally capturing their first championship in franchise history, making this area a hotbed for up-and-coming baseball talent. 

Up in Addison, there is a new attraction that combines the game of baseball with modern technology, great food and beverages, making it a one-of-a-kind experience. Batbox sits just off the Dallas North Tollway and features 10 cutting-edge baseball simulators, a full-service bar and a dynamic chef-inspired menu. 

The décor is classic Americana with black-and-white baseball photos in abundance, some accented by red neon signs that read “Baseball Bar” and “The Art of Moneyball”. As mentioned, Batbox has 10 simulators, but Box 10, their “MVP Box” is their most private experience with a bar that faces the suite, and a more intimate atmosphere should you be hosting a party or corporate team-building event. Batbox’s Upper Deck area is another great spot to host a birthday or private shindig. In addition to the upgraded suites, there is plenty of bar and tabletop seating, as well as booths that sit in front of several of the simulator cages.These offer maximum comfort when it’s not your spot in the order or if you are sipping on your cocktail before your turn in the home run challenge. 

At Batbox, you are never far from a great view of a TV, making this a great place to chill and watch a game, even if you don’t plan to take any hacks on one of the simulators. If you are a baseball (or sports fan in general), you should pop in just to have a beer and watch your favorite team play. 

Let’s “lead off” with the food before we get into the gameplay. You might think that a place that is centered around the game of baseball would offer standard ballpark-adjacent fare. Not the case here, as Batbox provides a smorgasbord of delicious entrées including burgers, sandwiches, tacos and wings. Under their sharables portion of the menu, you and your lineup will find options like fried pickles, their “fastball” nachos, buffalo wings or chips and queso. 

But if you really want to open your evening with a hit, try the “knuckleballs”. These are jalapeños stuffed with brisket burnt ends and cream cheese, then wrapped in bacon. The crispy bacon gives way to the succulent brisket and gooey cream cheese with just a hint of spice from the pepper on the back end. Having eaten plenty of craft barbecue over the years, I would put these Texas twinkies right up there with any of the local heavy hitters when it comes to flavor and preparation technique. They would pair nicely with the Ryan Express Ranch Water, which is a refreshing combination of blanco tequila, lime juice, spiced apple syrup and Calvados (French apple brandy). This fall-inspired cocktail definitely doesn’t strike out like the 5,714 major leaguers that did against Nolan Ryan, for whom this drink was named. If you aren’t a cocktail person, you can grab a simple Miller Lite draft or a canned Four Corners Local Buzz. 

 

Another unique appetizer is the Queso Tot Waffle Sandwich. Tater tots are loaded into a waffle maker, making them crunchy and flat, then loaded with cheese sauce and a robust chili dip. You won’t find anything like them at any ballpark in the country. Pair it with a Shiner Bock or the Billy’s Punch, which is a popcorn infused bourbon, falernum and coconut milk.  

The heart of the order for this menu is the tacos, burgers, sandwiches and dogs. Tacos are served by the pair, and those on your squad can choose between pork belly, fried salmon, chicken tinga, vegan carnitas or crispy beef. The chicken tinga are a major player, offering braised chicken thighs served with a chipotle tinga sauce and some simple cilantro and onion. Don’t sleep on the vegan carnitas either, as, although it sounds strange, the “carnitas” are made from mushroom, keeping them vegan, while still offering all the flavors you have come to love from the traditional pork version.

 

Burgers, sandwiches and of course the hot dog are also on the menu. The Smash Burger is a delicious option for those carnivores who enjoy a double patty, melted cheese, caramelized onions covered with a tangy burger sauce. The fried chicken sandwich comes topped with spicy mayo and topped with some crispy-cool lettuce. Pro tip: ask for a side of buffalo sauce for dipping to add a little more pizazz to this handheld. If you fancy a dog, there is a classic, which comes complete with ketchup, mustard relish and onion, or the “Baller” dog, which adds smoked brisket over a jalapeño sausage then tops it with onion, pickle, BBQ sauce and dusted with maple-bourbon seasoning. All handhelds come with your choice of side, which includes fries, tots, mac n’ cheese, side salad, sweet potato waffle fries … or even popcorn. 

If you are looking for something a little more friendly on the waistline, there are several salads available, including a Caesar, chicken tender or a crisp, cool wedge. There is also a smoked miso salmon served with some crispy Brussels sprouts if you are looking to pack on the protein without all the calories. 

For dessert, don’t leave without trying the banana pudding shooters, which come layered with wafer cookies, bananas, chocolate and caramel sauces. It’s as good as your grandmother’s. 

Now that we’ve taken a spin through the Batbox menu, let’s discuss the gameplay and what you will experience as you dig into this full baseball-immersive experience. For starters, let’s discuss equipment. You don’t need to bring anything along (although I did bring batting gloves to keep from blistering my hands), as Batbox has a wide selection of bats and helmets (required for kids only). Now, these aren’t your standard heavy metal batting-cage bats we used when we were kids. These bats are state-of-the-art name brands like Easton, in multiple lengths and drops to make sure the bat isn’t swinging you. They even have a prototype shorter, large-barrel bat for kids, so the young participants can have fun and make some consistent contact. The balls being thrown are real (although a little softer), and the screen display is bright and vibrant. I think the most interesting part of the simulation is watching the virtual pitcher release the ball. A small door opens in the screen, a countdown begins and then the pitcher goes into his windup. From there as his arm comes forward, the ball comes from behind the screen and actually looks like it was thrown from the virtual hurler. 

Before even stepping in the simulator, you have some decisions to make, as Batbox allows players to choose the game they would like to play. The kiosk in front of every simulator offers customizable options for gameplay, and even allows each player to build an avatar, so your likeness digs in on every at-bat. Players can also select their skill level, which can be customized so when each player steps in the simulator, they are using their own chosen settings. 

Gameplay modes can also be customized to offer players of all ages and skill levels the best chance at hitting a few dingers. There is a batting challenge, where players are pitted against one another to see who can “hit it where they ain’t.” The main objective here is consistency. The more hits you get, the more points you amass. It’s a great way to get used to the system and get your timing down before you move on to something more challenging. 

The next game that can be played is the home run challenge. Yes, it is exactly what it sounds like. You are swinging for the fences. The more homers you clobber, the more points you get. Distance also counts, so when you hammer a tape-measure tank, you are handsomely rewarded. You can even choose the number of pitches you see, so you don’t wear yourself out if you aren’t used to swinging a bat. 

There is also a pitching challenge, which flips the script. Now the player is the pitcher and fires the ball into the screen at a virtual batter. You will also see the velocity of the pitch, which is a good way to challenge your friends to see who is the velo king. The simulated batters will swing at each offering, giving you another unique gameplay mode. 

The final option is a legitimate simulated game. You can choose nine full innings, or a lightning-fast three-inning option if you don’t have as many players. This option is best suited for larger parties, as you can build a lineup based on how many players you have in your group. This game comes complete with scoring and dynamic field responses. After a couple at bats, the kiosk screen even displays a heat map of a particular player’s hit dispersion so teams can adjust the defense accordingly. When your turn in the lineup comes, just step in and wait for your pitch. This casual game option is the best way to involve everyone in your group. It should be noted that a casual game is best suited for parties of four or more. If you have fewer than four, you can still choose this game, but the more people involved, the more entertaining it is!

 Baseball at Batbox is fun and engaging. Even at 44-years-old, I enjoyed it. Is it the same as actually digging in against live pitching? No, of course not. There isn’t a great way to recreate that experience. But what I can say is Batbox is fun. Especially as someone who likely won’t ever be lacing up the spikes again, it scratched the itch from my old baseball days and let me get in and take some cuts for the first time in quite a while. My wife and I even managed to hit a few dingers. Food is solid and the cocktail menu is unique and refreshing. 

Having gone to their soft open, we weren’t exactly sure about pricing on the sim rentals … but after checking pricing, I can confidently say you will be pleasantly surprised at how affordable it is to take an hour of cuts. I’ll put it this way … given the fun and unique nature of the experience, I was expecting it to be close to double what they are actually charging. 

The food and drinks at Batbox are great, but what you will really enjoy is just how unique and different the technology and experience are. It’s unlike anything else in the country, and Dallas has it. If you are a baseball fan, I highly recommend it for your next date night, corporate outing, evening with friends or birthday party. Batter up!