The Movie Grille: Dinner and A Flick

The Movie Grille puts a different twist on the “dinner and a movie” date night.

My husband, Kim, and I decided to check out this Ogden theater that serves actual meals during the movie. When I say “meals,” I’m not talking Cheez Whiz-drenched nachos or mega tub of popcorn; I’m talking pizza, salads, burgers, and sandwiches that are a cut above concession stand fare.

There are recliner seats, as comfortable as your living room La-Z-Boy, fitted with trays and cup-holders so  you don’t have to balance food in your lap.  A server comes to your seat to take your order, bring your food and take your payment.  You just get to kick back and enjoy the show.

So often when we try to go out to dinner and then to a movie, we end up pressed for time. The wait at the restaurant takes longer than we planned, so we’re rushing through dinner in order to get to the movie in time to find decent seats. Or we end up eating at a mall food court, or forgoing dinner until after the movie. We wanted to see if the Movie Grille is a better alternative.

It’s located in downtown Ogden on 2263 Grant Avenue. I remember seeing movies in that theater back in the days of the Ogden City Mall. The mall is long gone, of course.

I booked our seats online at www.moviegrille.com, and made the pleasant discovery that Tuesday is two-for-one ticket night.  So for the two of us, we paid just $6 admission.  The movies are second-run, meaning they’ve already been at the big theaters and are now in the dollar theaters.  We had already seen “Monuments Men,” but wanted to see it again.

Not knowing quite what to expect, we came a half hour early. We were able to order our meal and have it served by the time the movie started. I would advise doing that, if you prefer to see and focus on your food instead of eating in the dark.

I thought the food was well-executed, although portions weren’t overly generous. I paid $9 for an appetizer with three little cups of flavored hummus and pita triangles. But then, at a regular theater, you can pay that much just for popcorn and a small drink. Each cup (measuring about 1/4 cup each) had a different flavor: one was a basil-y pesto, another was garlicky, and another had a tangy flavor of feta.  All very different, but all very flavorful and interesting. Trying to scoop the thick dip with limp pita triangles was a bit awkard; I asked for a fork or spoon so I could scoop and spread it on the pita instead. I think a crisper flatbread would work better. (These photos don’t  really do the food justice; remember, I was taking them in a dark movie theater just before the movie started!)

My hubby’s savory and satisfying Philly cheesesteak sandwich, served with fries was also $9. We found out that this one of the Movie Grille’s signature dishes.

You can choose “standard” seats, or recliners with the foot rests.  We chose the comfy recliners. Our server came back during the movie and discreetly asked if we wanted anything else. She also came back mid-movie and presented us with the bill, and I swiped my credit card right at my seat. That was one thing I didn’t care for.  Although my credit card transaction went quickly,  it happened during a pivotal point of the movie when one of the characters was being shot at. If I hadn’t already seen the movie, it would have been pretty annoying to miss. But I don’t know if there’s a better way to do the payment. After the movie, people are usually in a rush to leave, and it would be a hassle waiting in line if there’s a full house that night.

There were only about 10 others in the audience, as Tuesday is usually a slow night.  I don’t know if I would enjoy the movie as much on a busy weekend, as I might find it distracting with the wait staff scurrying back and forth to get everyone served during the movie.  But I guess it’s no different than going to a dinner show where waiters are circulating among the tables with drinks.  The staff tries to be discreet, and the aisles are roomy so you don’t have to lift up your feet every time someone walks past.  Still, I would want to choose seats away from the natural traffic flow. It’s nice that you can go online to pick your seats ahead of time, and see how crowded the movie will be that night.

The movie might lure you to go the first time, but the food will bring you back!