Reel cuisine: Megaplex Theatres has taken dinner-and-a-movie combo to next level
Theater popcorn is pictured at the Larry H. Miller Megaplex on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 in Vineyard. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
The signature nachos are pictured Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at the Larry H. Miller Megaplex in Vineyard. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
A signature salad is pictured Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at the Larry H. Miller Megaplex in Vineyard. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Theater popcorn, kettle corn, Red Vines Junior Mints and a soft drink are pictured Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at the Larry H. Miller Megaplex in Vineyard. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Various gelato flavors are pictured Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at the Larry H. Miller Megaplex in Vineyard. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
A gourmet pizza is pictured Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at the Larry H. Miller Megaplex in Vineyard. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Dinner and a movie has been the go-to date-night pairing since the days of the double feature. (Remember those?)
As far as silver screen-related combos, dinner and a flick go together like Bogie and Bacall, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, and Beauty and the Beast.
It used to be, however, that pulling off a successful dinner-film double dip involved making reservations, accounting for extra time and potential dining delays and traveling to two separate locations.
Not any more.
The Megaplex at Geneva in Vineyard, which opened in March 2015, has you covered. Most movie theaters are stocked with the usual array of candy, drinks and popcorn, but Megaplex locations have taken theater dining to a completely different level with a full variety of hot and cold menu offerings.
According to Jeff Whipple, vice president of public relations for Megaplex Theatres, expanding the menu was a prime goal of the late Larry H. Miller when he opened the first Megaplex location at Jordan Commons in Sandy in 1999.
“Since then, we’ve built and remodeled several additional theater complexes with the idea of providing a better selection of food items than other theater chains,” Whipple said. “We’ve adjusted the menu over the years to account for the changing tastes of guests, but the idea has been the same since Larry and Gail (Miller) started the first Megaplex location.”
Whipple said that the expanded menu has been a hit with Megaplex patrons from Day 1.
“Date night has improved for couples who didn’t have time to enjoy dinner and a movie,” he said. “The combination available at Megaplex Theatres makes it easier for people to enjoy a night out watching a favorite film and enjoying a great meal that’s freshly prepared.”
My wife and I put the Megaplex dinner-and-a-movie option to the test recently for an opening-weekend showing of “Kong: Skull Island.” Our original plan revolved around getting to the theater plenty early and dining comfortably in the food court, but in typical date-night fashion at our house, we were pinched for time once we were finally able to extricate ourselves from the rest of the family at home. Not to worry. At Megaplex, we learned, you can actually get your food in special trays which you take right into the theater and fit into the cup holders of your seat.
Genius!
The Megaplex menu is typical to a normal diner, but downright expansive for a movie theater. Starting off, there are hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken fingers, corn dogs and grilled cheese sandwiches. Stepping up from there are a half-dozen freshly prepared sandwiches. These include a Philly Cheese Steak, Turkey Cheese Steak, Chicken Cordon Bleu, B.L.T., Turkey Swiss, and Hot Ham & Cheddar. Sides feature regular fries, sweet potato fries, Buffalo JR’s Tots, and a small side salad.
Pizza Hut also services Megaplex with a selection of hand-tossed signature salads and 9″ artisan style pizzas. The salads include Athenian, Asian and Chicken Caesar. The pizza options include Meat Eater, BBQ Chicken, Pepperoni and Cheese. Personal pan pepperoni and cheese pizzas are also offered.
Mexican food items Nachos Grande (in full or half sizes), meat or bean burritos, quesadillas and a taco salad.
The Coke Freestyle machine also will leave your head spinning with its myriad soft drink options and flavor add-ins.
Whipple said that Megaplex offers the same key items at all locations and that the menu is adjusted and updated based on patron preferences. He said some of the top sellers at the Vineyard location tend to be the Philly Cheese Steak, the artisan pizzas and the same Pineapple Dole Whip that is offered near the Tiki Room at Disneyland.
And don’t forget the regular candy.
“Most of our locations also offer the same group of top-selling snacks and candy,” he said. “Where possible, we even keep a few boxes of Junior Mints in the freezer, since some guests enjoy the cool mint a little extra cool. It’s worth a try!”
With the start time of our feature film bearing down upon us, my wife and I made a command decision to order our meals and eat them in the theater — then we would simply get dessert after the screening. The Megaplex experience capitalizes by providing that flexibility.
My wife ordered the chicken quesadilla and I opted for the B.L.T. Both were fresh and extremely delicious. We got them with drinks and a side of sweet potato fries. The sweet potato fries also proved to be a great decision.
I must admit to feeling slightly self-conscious as I ate my B.L.T. during the movie, sitting right next to stranger on one side in a rather full section of the theater. The bacon was crunchy and I was worried it might be a tad too loud. The crisis — even if only in my own mind — was averted once I realized I could just carefully take bites during the loud scenes. Thankfully, there were no shortage of booming, bombastic sequences in “Kong: Skull Island” to mask my hunger.
Kong growls and beats chest. Bite, chew, chew, chew, gulp. Kong smacks plane from the sky and throws to the ground. Bite, chew, chew, chew, gulp. Kong tenderly lifts fair maiden in his paw to get a closer look. Sandwich poised in front of open mouth, then gently placed back in tray. You get the idea.
(Note to self: Maybe this wouldn’t be the perfect meal choice for something like, say, “Cast Away,” that goes long stretches without dialogue.)
Following the movie, we went back to concessions to sample some dessert. My wife went with gelato — choosing three different flavor scoops in a bowl for $5.50. I couldn’t resist a cookie dough shake — and there were nine additional toppings available as well.
Further dessert options include soft-serve ice cream (be it in a cone or a cup), donut holes, cotton candy, frozen lemonade, Dibs and the aforementioned Pineapple Dole Whip.
No sooner had we sat down at an open table to enjoy our dessert choices than we were joined by a couple from our neighborhood, who were there to attend the next screening of “Kong.” They picked up some snacks and joined us for a fun 15-minute visit.
Dinner, movie, dessert and a partial double date? The uncommon denominator was Megaplex — which provided everything on this particular evening except a real-world happily ever after. That, my friends, is up to us.
MEGAPLEX THEATRES AT GENEVA
Where: 600 Mill Road, Vineyard
What: Movie theater dining at its finest. Menu includes artisan pizza, signature salads and sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, corn dogs, grilled cheese, nachos, burritos, quesadillas, shakes, gelato, ice cream, popcorn, candy and more.
Prices: $2.50-$8.50
Info: (801) 841-3270, megaplextheatres.com/geneva