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Alhambra Dinner Theatre
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Performing Arts Restaurants American (Traditional) Restaurants Buffets Performing Arts, American (Traditional), Buffets [Edit]
12000 Beach BlvdJacksonville, FL 32246
(904) 641-1212
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
12 reviews for Alhambra Dinner Theatre
12 reviews in English
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Review from Vicki B.
Orange Park, FL
3/6/2012
I've had season tickets for 3 yrs and I loved every show, I really can't wait to meet the actors they get, The new chef is awesome and the food I ate there I would have never tried, so this was a new experience for me. Thank You
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Review from Karen H.
Jacksonville, FL
12/20/2011
The shows gets 4 stars, the food 0 stars! The food is absolutely the worst tasting, I've had in a long time. And, for a "Dinner Theatre" if half of the experience is horrible, then you better have an excellent second half ---- and they do. Considering the small stage, I have always been impressed with the shows.
The "old" management had problems with food; but nothing like the "new" management.
My advice, pay to see the show; but go somewhere else to eat! -
Review from Julie A.
This is a great way to introduce your family to Broadway. No, these are not Broadway productions. The plays here are on a much smaller scale, and have a local feel to them.
But it's pretty cool seeing what local talent we have in town. Plus, sometimes they have famous actors who come and perform. One of these was Barry Williams who played the oldest brother Greg Brady on the Brady Bunch show. Aside from the guest performers, the local talent is pretty impressive and you might be watching America's future celebs before they become stars.
I've seen 3 productions here now. The first one was when I was in 8th grade for a field trip and it was the Alhambra's version of The Phantom of the Opera. My friend's mom worked for the theatre so we got up close and personal, right in front of the stage! The phantom belted out a passionate note and his spit flew out into the air, then curved downward to my friend's dress. Lol. Eww.. Haha. That's what you get for sitting too close! They make good use of the props they have here. I remember the chandelier falling from the ceiling and crashing to the stage. (Don't worry. This wasn't a Spiderman on Broadway moment -- that was actually part of the script.)
The second performance I watched here was Beatlemania on a New Years Eve. Through impressive impersonators, who not only acted but played the instruments, they told the story of the Beatles. I'm not a huge fan of the Fab Four, but that night, I really grew to appreciate their music. They not only featured the actors, but played real-life reels of the actual band and intertwined those clips into the live performance.
After the Beatlemania play, they had a band come on stage and we all counted down till the new year.
The third performance was with my son. We saw the Willy Wonka play. (His ticket was free, thanks to a coupon from the Jax4Kids coupon book. )
The Alhambra has changed ownership. It looks really nice and they did not serve the buffet meal as they had before. Now your meal is plated. You choose your entree from a limited menu and you are waited on. Our food was really good and I prefer this over the buffet-style. Well, that's how it was when we attended. They said they were still experimenting with buffet-style, alternating it with plated meals.
The cute touches to the theatre added to the play's theme. There were giant pretend pieces of candy hanging from the ceiling and they featured a chocolate water fountain for grabbing chocolate milk before the play started.
The Willy Wonka play was very impressive. Similar to the Beatlemania performance, they intertwined live action with clips on TV. I thought it was creative how they used props, especially the "Wonkavator" that transported Charlie through the factory.
The actors all did a great, job, as well.
A great activity to do in Jacksonville, but a bit pricey. Great for special occasions.Listed in: Jax Flavor, Jacksonville Happenings
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Review from Jenni T.
Fernandina Beach, FL
2/21/2011
I went with a friend to Hairspray this weekend, and as usual, the show was excellent quality, with very talented performers in the lead roles. I was especially impressed by the actors playing Tracy and Seaweed.
As for the food, my favorite part, it was decent, if not inspiring. There was Caesar salad, a breaded chicken, which was very tender, and strip steak, which I did not have. The sides were mushroom pasta (ok, if a little mushy), green beans in a tarragon butter sauce (yummy), and some eggplant dish. Dessert was the ever-present chocolate mousse, which is good, and a cinnamon raisin bread pudding, which was WAY good. This coming from someone not a big fan of bread pudding. I know Matthew Medure is supposed to be in charge of their menu now, but in the times I've been, I've found the food to be perfectly servicible, if not outstanding. Plus the mushroom pasta I'm almost positive was the same pasta served during The Wedding Singer. So maybe a little more variety is in order.
It's an enjoyable evening out, my only complaint is the lack of tables for two. I know it's probably a revenue/space thing, but be aware that if you're a couple and it's a busy show, you will probably be sharing a small table with strangers. For a misanthrope like me, it's a drawback, but hey, I know other people find that appealing. To each his own. Service can also be on the slow side, in terms of coffee and drink refills, but that's to be expected with the size and configuration of the theater and dining areas. All in all, definitely worth going if you enjoy that kind of thing. -
Review from Donald W.
Jacksonville Beach, FL
2/26/2012
We went last night with several friends to see The Patsy Cline story and it was fantastic, one of the best small theater productions I've seen in along time. The food was fantastic, my hat goes off to the Chef and his crew and the wonderful service staff at the Alhambra. This place is a gem in the entertainment world of Jacksonville.
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Review from Monica S.
4/30/2010
We have been to see several productions over the years at this iconic Jacksonville hot spot. I believe we have seen, Fiddler on the Roof, Annie, Christmas Carol and Phantom of the Opera. Not once was I disappointed in a performance. Jacksonville's got some obvious talent.
The buffet is good, but doesn't have anything particularly exciting. Well, actually I did like the chocolate mousse! But what Foodie doesn't? The main course is roast beef , chicken and pork and there are a myriad of sides as well. Not bad food at all, just not a 5 star dinning experience.
Because this is a dinner theatre you are sitting in seating designed for dinning. There definitely is not the luxury of a plush movie theatre chair designed for long time butt planting. So, I always do find myself a bit fidgety toward the end of a performance as I get a bit uncomfortable due to the chairs.
I really do enjoy this kind of evening out regardless of the seating. Really, for the ticket price of $49.00 bucks per person you could have a phenomenal date night at the Alhambra for sure! -
Review from Hilary L.
Denver, CO
6/27/2010
The Alhambra Dinner Theater has been around for as long as I can remember... and even before that! It is truly a landmark of Jacksonville's creative and cultural history and, after a very near scare that we would lose this beloved establishment to the financial crisis, the city rallied around and gave the Alhambra new life.
I remember coming here as a child on field trip after field trip. What better way is there for children to become accustomed to local/national theater? We would come in hoards, unload from the buses in our finest get-ups [I wore my forest green velvet cocktail dress at the fancy age of 12], and pour into their dining room. We would cluster around the white linen clothed tables and oooh and ahhh at the stage in the center of the room. I was very concerned with appearances and so I left my much needed glasses at home, as to not interfere with my glamorous outfit. End result, I couldn't see a darn thing. My bff at the time offered to let me wear one of her contacts. How sweet.
However, I will never forget how grown-up and mature it felt to be eating chicken and veggies on nice plates while watching a musical [The Sound of Music, to be exact].
The Alhambra isn't just for children needing exposure to the wonderful world of theater. It's a great place for adults to enjoy, as well. And now that they have revitalized their dining room and their menu, it is more fun than ever!
Lots of local actors also get their start here. Angela Robinson, who starred in the touring Broadway production of "The Color Purple" got her start at the Alhambra before the director told her it was time for her to hit the big city. And how right he was! She is just one example of many.
If you live in Jacksonville, visiting the Alhambra is a must-do. They have a wonderful variety of performances, a great mix of local and non-local, professional actors [they give the locals a chance at the spotlight!], the food is tasty, and the overall experience is just a wonderful time. -
Review from Crystal L.
New York, NY
8/15/2010
I've been here several times, and I've never had a bad experience.
The plays are always very well performed, the sets are complex and involved with the audience (for instance, the vines in the Little Shop of Horrors fall into the crowd at the end), the bar is attentive and happy to serve you as many expensive drinks as your heart desires, and the price is reasonable for a theatre of such a high reputation.
Perfect for a date or family outing if your little ones are at least hip height and can appreciate the performance.
The only thing keeping this dinner theatre from having five stars is the "dinner" part of it. The dinners have been the same for years now and the dessert choices are horrible. For a hundred dollars for two people, you'd expect to have better quality and more variety. -
Review from Daisy R.
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
2/5/2009
It's been several years since I've seen a show at the Alhambra. I keep telling myself I'm going to go back every time I drive by it. Maybe one day I will.
The variety of shows they stage is impressive for it's size. They have a dinner buffet which isn't stellar, but it's better than your neighborhood Golden Corral. The dessert buffet, however, is really good.
The $$ rating includes the price for the show; I've heard you can see just the show and not pay for the dinner, but I've never done that. As a fan of the arts, I think it's important to support our local community. I know I'm going to start trying to do better on that myself. -
Review from Ryan M.
6/21/2009
We saw the production of Annie here, and it was an excellent night out. Highly recommend this experience.
The price is a bit high; we used an Entertainment Book coupon to basically get one ticket free. An alternative is that you get in free on your birthday.
All of the staff is incredibly friendly, helpful, and genuine, from the front desk to the servers to the family-run managers who ensure everyone is enjoying their evening. For our evening show the doors open at 6, buffett is open 6:30-7:45, and the show went from 8 to 10:20. You don't have to get there too early, but it's worth taking the time to enjoy the evening.
The food wasn't anything to write home about, but it was a decent buffet meal. Salad and dressing came on the table, then the buffet on the night we went included a cold tricolor pasta salad, green beans, corn on the cob (which was soggy), scallopped potatoes, macaroni and cheese, chicken tenders, seafood newburg, rolls, baked chicken, and roast beef from a carving station. The dessert buffet is then located in the theater, and included fruit cups, chocolate mousse, jello, cake, and peach cobbler. Note that water, coffee and tea are the only beverages included in the price, sodas and wine or other drinks are extra.
The atmosphere was excellent. The theater seats 388, and on the night we went it was only about a quarter full. Very intimate setting where almost every seat is a good, close view to the stage, though I'd recommend center if available, and up maybe one level to get a bit higher perspective and see more of the stage (the levels are only about a foot or two height difference).
The actual was play was excellent. All of the cast fit their roles, and the sets, music, and lighting were all done extremely well. We've been looking forward to seeing Annie for almost a year, so this performance had much to live up to, and it exceeded our expectations. Highly recommend a night out at Alhambra! -
Review from Kathy C.
Jacksonville, FL
9/29/2010
We saw the Wedding Singer this past weekend at Alhambra. My husband and I were invited by a friend who wanted to watch the Wedding Singer for her upcoming birthday. I am glad we were able to go because we were pleasantly surprised at how good the show was. The food was a lot better than expected as well. The way it works is that the door opens about 2 hours before the show starts. This is so that guests may get seated and have their dinner before the show. The dinner is buffet style with servers bringing you salad and drinks (Soft drinks and alcholic beverages not included in the ticket price. Coffee and ice tea included.) When the buffet is ready, a host/hostess goes around to each table to let the guests know when to proceed to the buffet table (so there is not a mad rush from hundreds of guests). There are three tiers to seating arrangement, and looks like they start from the middle top and work them down to the buffet tables.
I have been to Alhambra once a long time ago and was not really impressed, but upon learning that the dinner theatre has remodeled recently, I was looking forward to seeing it change for the better. And it did. The place looks wonderful and group that performed the Wedding Singer was very talented. The owner came around and had small chit chats with various tables to see how his guests were doing. Overall the atmosphere was really pleasant and we had a wonderful evening.
For the food and the show, the price was more than reasonable. There were slight technical difficulties with the sound equipment towards the end of the show, but kudos to the performers, they pressed on and worked through it. -
Review from Paul C.
Jacksonville, FL
8/23/2010
First time here, Read much about new management, history, etc. some months ago, and finally went, and caught a great show (Amorous). Buffet style food was very well presented, and overall quality was very good even for a buffet. Staff was very efficient too! Had a great time; well worth cost of ticket.
