Cowabunga! A4cade and Roxy’s Central Are Here to Fill Your Life With Joy

What happens when you mix two of the Boston area’s most popular expanding empires, sandwich master Roxy’s Grilled Cheese and pizza-and-more magician Area Four? No, you don’t get a grilled cheese pizza, but you do get a ridiculously fun new dual venue that has everything from fried chicken sandwiches and tater tot poutine to shareable cocktails served in pop culture glassware, not to mention a giant room full of arcade games, pinball, shuffleboard, foosball, and more. Roxy’s Central and A4cade both triumphantly open this weekend (Saturday, January 28, at 5 p.m.) at 292 Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge.

Below, take a peek inside the space, starting with Roxy’s in the front. Like the original brick-and-mortar location in Allston and the brand new Lynnfield location, Roxy’s Central is counter-service, quickly serving up a variety of grilled cheese sandwiches and more. (Here’s the menu.)

Grid View

• Roxy’s Central. Mural by Laura DeDonato. Rachel Leah Blumenthal for Eater
• The Roxy’s Central restroom has a Tetris mural by Sophia Richardson, who works on the Roxy’s trucks. Rachel Leah Blumenthal for Eater
• Head through these doors at the back of Roxy’s Central... Rachel Leah Blumenthal for Eater
• ...and then head right into this “walk-in fridge.” Rachel Leah Blumenthal for Eater

Like the wardrobe to Narnia, what appears to be a walk-in fridge door leads right into a magical world: A4cade. Eat, drink, and buy a handful of tokens (and perhaps a branded fanny pack in which to keep them) — it’s game time.

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• A4cade Rachel Leah Blumenthal for Eater
• A4cade ceiling...or real-life Pac-Man? Rachel Leah Blumenthal for Eater
• Skee-Ball Rachel Leah Blumenthal for Eater
• Pinball Rachel Leah Blumenthal for Eater

As bar manager Tainah Soares said previously, the A4cade cocktail program is “very much serious when it comes to creativity and taste, but [the] presentation will be as silly and fun as it gets.” As such, the glassware collection is eclectic, the magnums are adorned with mustaches (P.I.-style), and even the beer taps are decorated to keep with the theme.

Grid View

• Rachel Leah Blumenthal for Eater
• Rachel Leah Blumenthal for Eater
• Rachel Leah Blumenthal for Eater
• Rachel Leah Blumenthal for Eater
• Rachel Leah Blumenthal for Eater
• Rachel Leah Blumenthal for Eater

The doors open at 5 p.m. Get in line.