With the wide range of games and activities that they offer, along with their tasty dishes, Dave and Busters is the go-to place for fund dates or nights out with friends.
But is it a place where keto dieters can find low-carb and sugar-free meals?
It can be IF you know what to order.
If not, it can be a BIG disaster for you and your fitness goals.
Don’t worry, though. We’re here to make sure that you’ll have the time of your life and stay keto at Dave and Buster’s at the same time!
If you wish to know which food items to order in your next Dave and Busters run, this is the article you should read!
Understanding the Keto Diet
The ketogenic (keto) diet is a low-carb, high-fat eating plan that encourages the body to enter a state of ketosis. In this state, the body burns fat for energy instead of carbohydrates, leading to weight loss and various health benefits. But can you maintain ketosis while indulging in Dave and Buster’s offerings?
Quick Fact About Dave and Busters
The concept of combining an arcade and a snack bar is no longer a novel idea. However, Dave and Busters took it up to the next level by combining an arcade with a full-service restaurant! How cool is it to enjoy a really good full meal while playing fun games with your friends, right?
Well, that’s not the only fun fact about Dave and Busters. How they came up with the idea is pretty interesting too.
In 1997, co-owner Buster Corley was operating his bar and restaurant in Little Rock, Arkansas. Just a few stores away from his bar lies an arcade own by Dave Corriveau.
The two noticed that their customers are going back and forth from their establishments, and they had a lightbulb moment!
Why not combine the two? And so they did!
Did you know how they came up with their name? They did a coin toss, and Dave won, so his name went first
Since then, they have been revolutionizing both the entertainment and food industry. Today, you can enjoy a wide range of arcade and interactive games and plenty of delicious dishes in over 100 Dave & Busters locations in the US!
Keto-Friendly Food Options at Dave and Buster’s
But does Dave and Busters have something in store for people on the keto diet? The good news is they have! Below are some of the keto-friendly items you can enjoy at Dave and Buster’s while playing your favorite arcade game!
Appetizer:
There’s only one keto-friendly appetizer on the D&B menu, and it’s:
Roasted Cauliflower
Cauliflower is one of the best vegetables you can eat on keto. (*) In fact, this is widely used as a keto rice alternative.
At Dave & Buster’s, you can enjoy it as an appetizer. Its preparation is quite simple—roasted florets drizzled with chimichurri sauce and lemon mint yogurt sauce.
Pro Tip: Since the dish contains only a small amount of sauces, you can order it as is. If you’re on strict keto, you can ask the server to hold off the sauces.
Salads:
With just a few tweaks, you can enjoy a wide range of salads at Dave and Buster’s on keto. Here are some of the options (and the tweaks) that you need to know about:
Southern Cobb Salad
Enjoy the taste of the South with their Southern Cobb Salad which features romaine, red onions, cucumbers, pico de gallo, roasted corn, mozzarella, cheddar, buttermilk ranch, and crispy tenders.
Pro Tip: Crispy tenders are not recommended for keto, so try to ask the server if they can grill the chicken instead. If not, skip the chicken. Hold off the corn too!
Nutrition Facts: 940 calories, 63g fat, 38g protein, and 56g net carbs
Chimichurri Bowl
This bowl is filled with lots of keto-friendly and nutritious food items— grilled asparagus, seasoned avocado, roasted cauliflower, sweet peppers, tomatoes, and red cabbage over chimichurri rice. Everything is drizzled with lemon-mint yogurt sauce.
Pro Tip: You already know this—rice is a no-no on a keto diet. The good news is you can make this rice meal keto-friendly simply by ordering this sans the rice.
Nutrition Facts: 1280 calories, 92g fat, 39g protein, and 79g net carbs
Grilled Steak Salad
Want to satisfy your protein and fiber needs? Their Grilled Steak Salad is what we’d recommend! Satisfy your palate, too, with its big and bold flavors coming from the combination of steak strips, spring mix, Danish Bleu cheese crumbles, grape tomatoes, croutons, candied pecans, and white balsamic Bleu cheese vinaigrette.
Pro Tip: Get this without the croutons. If you’re on strict keto, ditch the vinaigrette and candied pecans too.
Nutrition Facts: 600 calories, 37g fat, 34g protein, and 29g net carbs
Kale Caesar Salad
Kale is another vegetable you can consume on keto. In addition to having many health benefits, this one is low in carbohydrates to be a great source of fiber. (*)
The salad comprises arugula, baby kale, shredded parmesan, grape tomato, Caesar dressing, parmesan crisp, and croutons.
Pro Tip: Skip the croutons. Add chicken to boost your fat intake.
Nutrition Facts: 800 calories, 57g fat, 64g protein, and 7g net carbs
Burgers and Handhelds:
Their burgers and sandwiches are their bestselling items. The good news is you don’t have to miss out just because you’re on keto!
All American Cheeseburger
Sometimes, you don’t need too many ingredients in your cheeseburger. The basics will do, and Dave and Buster’s totally get that. For this burger, they just used the usual fillings—beef patty, pickles, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, and American cheese.
Pro Tip: Hold the bun and French Fries.
Nutrition Facts: 1160 calories, 58g fat, 53g protein, 12g sugar, and 107g net carbs
Chicken Avocado Club
Giving you the healthy fats that you need, this sub comes with three excellent fat sources—bacon, grilled chicken, and avocado slices. It also has mozzarella, cheddar, tomato, and lettuce—all perfect for keto!
Pro Tip: No matter how tempting it is, order this sub without the toasted ciabatta and French fries.
Nutrition Facts: 1340 calories, 64g fat, 52g protein, 20g sugar, and 127g net carbs
Philly French Dip
If you’re craving something flavorful, satisfying, and extremely filling, their Philly French Dip is worth a try! But, of course, this is perfect for meat lovers too!
It comes with slow-cooked pork, sliced grilled steak, mushrooms, sautéed onions, baby arugula, garlic aioli, creamy horseradish, and seared mozzarella.
Pro Tip: Skip the toasted ciabatta and French fries. If your fitness goal is to lose weight, consume only half of the sandwich as it’s high caloric.
Nutrition Facts: 1307 calories, 62g fat, 70g protein, 22g sugar, and 114g net carbs.
Mushroom Stout Burger
If you want an all-veggie burger, Dave and Buster’s won’t disappoint too! They have the Mushroom Stout Burger, comprised of onions, sautéed cremini mushrooms, seared mozzarella, truffle zest, mayo, bacon jam, roasted tomatoes, and baby arugula.
Pro Tip: In addition to skipping the bread and French fries, order this without the bacon jam.
Add ons:
There are times, though, when a burger patty is not enough to satiate your hunger. You need to add a few more things to your burger to make it worth your while. That’s why we enumerated some of the most keto-friendly burger add-ons that you can find at Dave and Busters below:
Bacon
Nutrition Facts: 7g fat, 5g protein, and 0g net carbs
Avocado slices
Nutrition Facts: 7g fat, 1g protein, and 1g net carbs
Entrees
If you’re looking for a full heavy meal, you can also find a few keto-friendly options at Dave and Buster’s. Here they are:
Fire-grilled Steak
Of course, who can resist a delicious, tender, and succulent steak? The best news is steak is one of the best meats that you can consume on keto, so you can satisfy your cravings and fulfill your keto fat requirements at the same time! (*)
For this dish, they used their world-famous House- marinated 5 oz Sirloin steak. This is served with garlic mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus on the side.
Pro Tip: Get this without the garlic mashed potatoes
Nutrition Facts: 716 calories, 43g protein, 8g sugar, and 46g net carbs
Fire-grilled Atlantic Salmon
Take a break from meaty dishes with this excellent fish option from Dave and Buster’s. This fire-grilled salmon meal uses a center-cut Atlantic Salmon rubbed with Louisiana spices, so you’re pretty sure that it’s fresh and tasty!
It’s placed over a bed of jasmine rice with seasonal vegetables and topped with Cajun butter for a delicious treat.
Pro Tip. You already know the drill—ditch the rice.
Nutrition Facts: 890 calories, 49g fat, 59g protein, 3g sugar, and 47g net carbs
Sides:
Complete your keto meal with these low carb side dishes:
Sautéed Green Beans
Green beans may not be the best keto vegetable, but you can consume this in small amounts if you’re on keto.
Grilled Asparagus
If you’re keen on getting enough fiber on keto, grilled asparagus is an easy addition to your meals. This vegetable is packed with fiber to promote better digestion and make you feel full for longer—perfect for people who are trying to lose weight!
Freshly Made Guacamole
Avocadoes are an excellent keto staple because of their high-fat content—healthy fats, that is! In addition to having low net carbs, these also contain high amounts of fiber and other nutrients, including folate, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin K. (*)
Dave and Buster’s took this nutritious fruit and turned it into a delicious dip that’s perfect for your steamed vegetables!
Steak Add-ons:
You can also add more fats to your Dave and Busters Plates without going beyond your carbohydrate limit with these low carb add-ons:
Grilled Shrimp
Nutrition Facts: 1g fat, 14g protein, and 1g net carbs
Bacon-wrapped Shrimp
Nutrition Facts: 10g fat, 12g protein, and 1g net carbs
Dressings:
You must pay extra attention to dressings when on the keto diet, as these food items often contain hidden carbs. For example, you should avoid the honey mustard, balsamic herb vinaigrette, and Thai ginger peanut dressing among all their dressings as these contain too much sugar.
If you want to spice up your meal, here are the best dressings for the keto diet:
Roasted Garlic Caesar
Nutrition Facts: 30g fat, 2g protein, and 0g net carbs
Ancho Chile Caesar
Nutrition Facts: 27g fat, 3g protein, and 3g net carbs
Buttermilk ranch
Nutrition Facts: 22g fat, 0g protein, and 2g net carbs
Avocado Jalapeno Ranch
Nutrition Facts: 22g fat, 2g protein, and 2g net carbs
Bleu Cheese
Nutrition Facts: 30g fat, 2g protein, and 2g net carbs
What Shouldn’t You Eat at Dave and Busters on Ketogenic Diet?
As an all-American arcade and restaurant, Dave & Buster’s also have some food items on their menu that aren’t and will not be compatible with the keto diet. So if you wish to stay in ketosis, here are some of the Dave and Busters restaurant food items that you should avoid as much as possible:
- – Double Pepperoni Flatbread
- – Creole Shrimp Dip
- – Cantina Nachos
- – Garlic Parmesan Truffle Fries
- – Pretzel Dog
- – Fresh Burrata Mozzarella Bruschetta
- – Shrimp Scampi Flatbread
- – Wings & Tenders
- – Beastmode Bacon Burger (patty is marinated in barbecue sauce)
- – Crispy Hawaiian Chicken Sandwich
- – IPA Fish and Chips
- – Smokehouse BBQ Ribs
- – Parmesan Chicken
- – Voodoo Pasta
- – French Fries
- – Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- – All Desserts
- – Everything in the Kids Menu
Final Words
Who says keto should be boring? You can still eat out at exciting places like Dave and Busters and still stay on the keto diet!
The secret lies in knowing the nutritional content of the food they offer and determining which tweaks you need to make certain dishes keto compatible.
As long as you put in the work, do your research, and be disciplined with your portions, you can enjoy eating out without the fear of getting kicked out of ketosis.
FAQs
Q1: Can I find keto options at Dave and Buster’s for different dietary preferences?
Absolutely! Dave and Buster’s strives to accommodate various dietary needs, including keto. The menu features a range of dishes designed to cater to low-carb enthusiasts.
Q2: How can I ensure that my meal is truly keto-friendly?
When ordering, don’t hesitate to ask questions or make special requests. Opt for lean proteins, healthy fats, and non-starchy vegetables to stay aligned with your keto goals.
Q3: Are there any hidden ingredients I should be cautious of?
While Dave and Buster’s provides nutritional information, it’s wise to be vigilant about hidden sources of sugars and carbohydrates, particularly in sauces and dressings.
Q4: What are some recommended games and activities at Dave and Buster’s for a fun outing?
From classic arcade games to immersive VR experiences, Dave and Buster’s offers an array of entertainment options. Try a mix of games to create a memorable evening.
Q5: Can I trust the nutritional information provided by the restaurant?
The nutritional information provided by Dave and Buster’s serves as a reliable guide. However, factors such as portion size and preparation methods can influence the final nutritional content.
Learn more: Is Zero Coke allowed on keto?
