Remove ads with our VIP Service
- AMC Dine-in Buckhead 6
Buckhead, GA - AMC Studio 28 with Dine-in Theatres
Olathe, KS - AMC Dine-in Theatres Bridgewater 7
Bridgewater, NJ - AMC Dine-In Menlo Park 12
Edison, NJ - AMC Dine-in Theatres Essex Green 9
West Orange, NJ - AMC Dine-In Grapevine Mills 30
Grapevine, TX
Odds & Ends Articles
- How to Watch the Academy Award Winners in Theaters and at Home [Mar 11]
- West Allis, WI: OnMilwaukee Tours the Former Paradise Theatre [Feb 29]
- Berkeley, CA: Group Hopes to Save Closed Regal UA Berkeley From Demolition [Feb 8]
- Movie Music Winners at the GRAMMY Awards [Feb 6]
- Let's Celebrate 'Groundhog Day' with Photos of the Classic Cinemas Woodstock Theatre in Woodstock, Illinois [Feb 2]
- Read more »
The movie and food critics from New Jersey's The Star Ledger weigh in on their experiences with AMC's new "Fork & Screen" in-theater dining service. Their reviews, which were published on December 17, 2010, share their opinions of the concept from the perspective of a movie critic and from that of a food critic, which is completely fair, considering AMC's offering is combining watching a movie with having more to eat than just your standard popcorn or Junior Mints.
AMC recently debuted "Fork & Screen" offerings at three theaters in New Jersey. The AMC Essex Green Cinema in West Orange and AMC Bridgewater Commons in Bridgewater became available in mid-November, and the AMC Loews Menlo Park 12 is a completely new location in Edison that opened in mid-December. AMC's web site presents "Fork & Screen" as follows:
Enjoy your favorite foods and cocktails paired with great movies in an immersive big-screen theatre. Fork & Screen® features casual dining and seat-side service, with reserved seating available at some locations.
The menu includes a variety of delicious and affordable starters, entrees, desserts, beer, wine and cocktails as well as traditional theatre concessions like popcorn and candy.
Guests must be 18 or older unless accompanied by a parent or guardian 21 or older. There is an "experience charge" of $10-15 for all "Fork & Screen" presentations, which is applied to your food and beverage purchase.
Movie critic Stephen Whitty appreciated the upgrades that were done to the AMC Essex Green Cinema, but he didn't care for the distractions caused by the wait staff (even though he mentioned they were very courteous) and the patrons, who seemed to talk more and louder than usual. He also lamented the loss of being able to discuss the movie later over drinks or dinner:
In fact, the concept seems about as connected to motion pictures as dinner-theater is to drama. What’s wrong, after all, with giving a movie our full attention, and then going out afterward, to talk about it over coffee or a burger at the diner? Isn’t that part of the "experience" too?
To read his full review, read AMC Fork & Screen review: A film critic's take on nj.com
Food critic Teresa Politano checked out the food options available and while she liked the idea of getting some alternative food choices, like cupcakes, handmade potato chips, and caramel corn, the "fine dining" menu choices were not to her liking:
Plus there’s the fact that a real dinner should not be eaten in the dark, and that you can’t really call it an upscale experience if you’re eating on a swivel tray. And another point: A true upscale restaurant would know that white zinfandel and zinfandel are not the same.
You can read her comments about sampling the Crab Rangoon Dip, and others in her full review, AMC Fork & Screen review: A food critic's take, on nj.com
Both of them commented about how close the experience felt to the scenes from WALL-E, where overweight people of the future move around and eat and drink without ever leaving their reclining lounge chair. The photos included at the top of both reviews featuring guests with their feet up in puffy leather recliners and swivel trays in front of them full of food certainly evoke unpleasant reactions.
AMC's "Fork & Screen" in-theater dining is now available at six locations around the country:
- AMC Fork & Screen Buckhead - Buckhead, Georgia (Atlanta)
- AMC Grapevine Mills 30 - Grapevine, Texas (Dallas)
- AMC Studio 30 - Olathe, Kansas (Kansas City)
- AMC Essex Green Cinema - West Orange, New Jersey
- AMC Bridgewater Commons - Bridgewater, New Jersey
- AMC Loews Menlo Park 12 - Edison, New Jersey
What's Your Take on In-Theater Dining Options?
What do you think? Do you like the idea of getting a full meal while watching a movie, or is this just crossing the line and inviting people to behave like they're kicking back in their Barco-lounger at home with the TV tray filled with goodies from the fridge?
Share your thoughts by leaving your comments below!
Remove ads with our VIP Service
- AMC Dine-in Buckhead 6
Buckhead, GA - AMC Studio 28 with Dine-in Theatres
Olathe, KS - AMC Dine-in Theatres Bridgewater 7
Bridgewater, NJ - AMC Dine-In Menlo Park 12
Edison, NJ - AMC Dine-in Theatres Essex Green 9
West Orange, NJ - AMC Dine-In Grapevine Mills 30
Grapevine, TX
Odds & Ends Articles
- How to Watch the Academy Award Winners in Theaters and at Home [Mar 11]
- West Allis, WI: OnMilwaukee Tours the Former Paradise Theatre [Feb 29]
- Berkeley, CA: Group Hopes to Save Closed Regal UA Berkeley From Demolition [Feb 8]
- Movie Music Winners at the GRAMMY Awards [Feb 6]
- Let's Celebrate 'Groundhog Day' with Photos of the Classic Cinemas Woodstock Theatre in Woodstock, Illinois [Feb 2]
- Read more »
Add Your Comments
Reader Comments
Please Note: These comments are submitted by the readers of The BigScreen Cinema Guide and represent their own personal opinions, and do not represent the views of The BigScreen Cinema Guide, or any of its associated entities.
I've gone to a theater where there was in-theater dining, and the trickiest part is seeing your food decently. If you have a pulled-pork sandwich, you're going to end up wearing some of it because you didn't realize that it was coming out the other side of the bun! :)
None of the theaters I've visited have the hospital-style trays like are shown in the photos in that article. They have been small side trays that didn't extend over your lap so you didn't feel like you were bellying up to the trough, like that photo appears to show.
Add Your Comments
Please login or register a new account before continuing.
Already Registered?
Not Registered? Create a New Account!
Our registered members enjoy more features, including:
- Save Your Location -- the site remembers your location, no having to re-enter it each time you visit
- Favorite Theaters List -- keep a handy list of the theaters you attend
- Favorite Movies List - movies you want to see, all in one place
- Write Movie Reviews -- share your opinions of the movies you see
- Block Ads with VIP Service -- view this site ad free (subscription req'd)
Basic accounts are free -- sign up today!
Concerned About Privacy?
So are we! We won't sell, trade, or share your personal information with anyone unless required by law. For more information, please read our Privacy Policy.
News Headlines - Theaters - Movies - Reader Reviews - Movie Links
Your Account - VIP Service
The BigScreen Cinema Guide is a service of SVJ Designs LLC. All graphics, layout, and structure of this service (unless otherwise specified) are Copyright © 1995-2024, SVJ Designs. The BigScreen Cinema Guide is a trademark of SVJ Designs. All rights reserved. 'ACADEMY AWARDS®' and 'OSCAR®' are the registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. |