AMC Dine in Theater

So the new Dine in Theater by AMC has finally come to an area near the Phantom. I had the chance to try it out thanks to the prize for winning a bet with a friend of mine.

The idea is simple enough. The standard date night has always been dinner and a movie. AMC has combined the two together to make it more literal. Possibly a better way to describe it now would be dinner WITH a movie. No more rushing through your meal and trying to pay your check in order to make the movie you want to see before the previews are over (or if you're like me, before the previews start.)

There are two different style theaters, the Fork & Screen and the Cinema Suites. Since I was not paying, I of course went to the Cinema Suites. This is for 21 and over only, for the obvious reason of they sell alcoholic beverages there and you don't want to be bothered checking ID's in the middle of a movie. But I'm getting ahead of myself. You start off like any decent restaurant...by making reservations. This is not only to pick the time and movie you want, but also the seat. Or should I say seats? You see, the Cinema Suites are two seat suites, so you are picking two seats at once. The seats are numbered, so there is no standing at the doorway looking over the seats and turning to your date saying "where do you want to sit?"

Once you get to your seat...you know what...scratch that. These are not seats. These are wide, comfortable chairs that rival your favorite chair in the living room. They are also automatic recliners which can be adjusted by a press of the button on the inside of your armrest. Each seat has a swivel table that makes it easy to get in and out of the table. However, they cannot be adjusted for height or pulled back farther if you are completely reclined, which puts you almost in a laying down position. But who would eat like that anyway? Still, it's not that much of an inconvenience. On either side of each suite is an end table-like armrest that separates one suite from another. This has your condiment station as well as the call button for your waiter. Menus, real silverware and cloth napkins are all set on each table when you arrive. Everything comes in actual glasses and plates, including a real bowl if you opt to go with the standard movie food of popcorn.

Each asile is extra wide in order for your waiter to pass by even if you are in the reclined position. They are also staggered in height so that waiters in rows in front of you do not block your view of the screen at any time either. All this extra space does come at a price, but I'm not talking monetary which I will get to later. What I mean is in making your reservations, make sure to get them well enough in advance because there are a lot less seats per theater and shows will sell out a lot quicker, especially for more popular movies.

Now on to the food. The menu is pretty extensive for a movie theater as you may imagine. They have appetizers from wings to crab Rangoon dip. Burgers, hot sandwiches, entrees and desserts are all there as well as all your classic movie snacks. The food is not bad. I would rate it about the same level as an Applebee's, Chili's or TGIF's. I did make the mistake of ordering like I was in a restaurant. When our waiter came back with our drinks I ordered an appetizer and an entree just before the previews started. On the menu it says quite clearly that food is made when you order, so they both came out at about the same time. Together. But even then, I had enough room for both on my swivel table, if not enough room for both in my stomach.

There is a light that has your seat number next to the call button for the waiter that allows your server to see which table they are delivering to and for you to read the menu items as you go. I found this to be mildly annoying while watching the movie, but tolerable.

Now for the bill. Also on the menu, it says that your bill will be presented before the movie is over. Ours was presented quite a bit before the movie ended and the server came back a few times to see if we were ready to pay it. I found this to be a bit of a disturbance as well because as most of you movie goers know, the last 20 minutes of a movie is usually the most important, action packed or suspenseful. I would much rather have been left with the check right before the end and paid during the credits. Speaking of paying, how much money is all these added additions to your movie going experience? Not as much as I thought. The price of the ticket itself was only slightly more than a regular ticket, however the prices changed throughout the day. The later in the day, the higher the price gets. The food prices were not that bad and again, just a bit higher than if you got the same items at a similar restaurant that I mentioned before. However, the regular movie snacks of popcorn, candy and sodas were the same VERY over expensive prices found at regular movie theaters.

On our way out we were met with an usher with a tray of mints for us to take. A nice touch  to end with. There is a bar  in the lobby as well as comfortable chairs and flat screen TVs in case you want to hang out and talk about the movie after or if you get there early enough, enjoy your time before the movie starts.

I did not go into the Fork and Screen, which is more like a regular theater seats with tables that swing out. It is 18 and over with under 18 obviously being accompanied by an adult.

So what's the verdict? Well, I quite enjoyed the seats and the food and the drinks, and since I had won this experience and didn't have to pay, I enjoyed that too. But truth be told, if I had to do it again and actually pay for it, I might not have enjoyed it as much. But I will be going back. Who wants to come with me?

-I would like point out that the movie I saw at the AMC Dine in theater was "Hunger Games". Which I think is the definition of the word "irony".