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Categories: Cinema, Venues & Event Spaces, Pizza [Edit]
Neighborhood: Central District
Mon-Sun. 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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Cushy seats + great grub + beverages of choice + swell films = CENTRAL CINEMA! I have come for a number of films including The Dark Crystal, Carrie, and one during the Lesbian and Gay film festival. I almost always get the curry popcorn. I have also tried the stout ice cream float. YUMERIFFIC! Pizza - check, salad - check, hummus plate - check. Decent prices, variety of films to choose from, table service; it's all so luxurious:) If you haven't gone yet, get there already!
Hilarious movie selection, delicious food, beer and wine, and comfy seats - this place can't be beat!!
I had a fantastic experience here once, when obviously my friend and I were the only ones who really wanted to see Fried Green Tomatoes at Central Cinema. We were the ONLY two people in the cinema, and because we felt bad about having to take up the owner's night with just the two of us, we offered to come back another time (after eating a delicious dinner). Well, the owner would hear nothing of it - he had us sit down, asked us if we wanted to see the previews (when does that happen ever??), and said that he got a kick out of "small crowds" and kicked the movie on for us. You really can't beat that.
I love Central Cinema, and will continue to go there and support all of their efforts - it is so refreshing to enjoy a film at a little independent theatre that does it right!
Wow, This place is cool and unique...Sure the concept of serving real food awhile watching a film have been seen in Seattle. Ive been to Cinnabar and the Big picture that are swank and great for a date...if your a Porsche driving East Sider.. If your a young hip urbanit that loves indie films,singing a long with the 80's movies and even oddity's from the bowels of the VHS video store to uncover the worst and horrifying pre-digital films that have ever been recorded...Look at the Big Hair!! Hot pink everywhere!!! Acid wash jeans and really really bad acting to go with the really bad special effects!
But I found this place cool with cool decor and cool local art that decorated the cool walls.
My First time here was at the "Revival" screening. A Fixied gear film showcasing riders from Seattle,SF and NYC in a cinematographic masterpiece. It's cool that a place will let film makers show their films and documentary. It shows a connection with it's community, even though they had to pay..a fair price to show it with a non-profit rate as well.
Awhile I was watching, I order the Cobra sandwich that was delicious!. To be honest I order it because of the name..Sadly there was no cobra in the actually sandwich but a delirious hot ham and cheese sandwich
with thyme bechamel placed between a toasty focaccia.
It's kinda expensive but the taste was worth it. They have popcorn with a choice of salts and seasoning like garlic,brewers yeast, curry powder or just your butter (actually with real butter.)
The only thing that was a downfall was the seats were a bit stiff and did not tilt back and had very little padding.
Other than that Central Cinema is a hit!
I LOVE THEIR MOVIES!!!! For the next month, I have to visit them at least five times to catch Big Trouble in Little China, The Room, Hausu, Brazil, Found Footage Fest, Madonna Mondays, etc...
I still love their little pizzas. Their hummus plate is decent. It's served with hot and crispy pita bread and tasty Greek olives (which I typically don't like). I have learned to stay away from their beers due to past disappointments, but I might try them again in the future.
Note of advice to moviegoers: lay off the patchouli. One of the people in front of us had slathered it on. It wouldn't stink all the time, but when the wind changed, we would have to smear mentholated lip balm under our noses (per the autopsy scene in Silence of the Lambs). Oof, that was rough.
Also, yelling out lines and funny comments are encouraged but please don't talk through the entire movie or try to push your jokes. Not all of them will land and it's ok.
I was really excited for CC's Crazy about Swayze run (before his passing) so I was disappointed that… Read more »
Central cinema, I've given up on you.
I tried to visit you during the presidential debates, but you were full.
I tried visiting to see a film, but you were sold out.
You're just not that into me. There's too much demand for your attention.
I just don't think we should see each other anymore, Central Cinema. I just demand more from a theater venue relationship than you're willing to give me.
(Seriously though, come early if you're trying to get in here. They fill up super fast. They are well staffed and generously accommodated. It's comfortable and so people show up early.)
-1 star for being such a player. You hurt me, Central Cinema.
Beer and movies is such a wonderful combination, I only wish that Seattle had more places like this. Unfortunately, Central Cinema tries a little to hard to be more of a upscale date-type place for me. They do have a reasonable beer selection, and oh my lord do I love the popcorn with yeast topping. However, six dollars for old (sometimes very old) movies is a bit much, and the food is not super great. I don't dislike this place, it's just nothing to be enthused about. My decisions to come here revolve almost entirely around what movie they happen to be playing.
The fact that they have intermission is a bit irritating. There are other movie theater/restaurant combinations that manage to have wait-service without needing an intermission; Cinnebare in Mountlake Terrace for example. If it weren't for the location, I would probably never come here.
I've really tried with Central Cinema. I love the concept - food, beer and movies. The prices and food and service are all fine.
But I really don't like the movies. Maybe I'm unlucky, maybe I'm a Cinema wimp, but my gal and I have come 2 times, and both times walked out because the movies are so horrid.
Best of luck to Central Cinema, but not for me. If you are into the movie, I say go.
Oh, and I think they'd do well to put electric candles on the tables so you can actually SEE YOUR FOOD. Just a suggestion.
Two times I have been to this wonderful little theater! And two times I have totally enjoyed myself and not just because a Madonna movie was playing or there was a Madonna sing along. Although Madonna did have a huge part in it. I found the set up pretty nice with seating for 2's and 4's and then single seating if you aren't eating just as you enter the theater. It was nice coming into the theater and not having my feet stick to the floor or finding gum under my seat. Looking at their calender there is something for just about everyone. The staff are very friendly which is nice. It isn't a bunch of teens running around thinking they don't need to be nice. Both shows I saw I had some yummy eats! Both times I had the four cheese pizza. This is a thin crust pizza with a slight sweet red sauce. Normally I am a regular to thick crust kind of guy but they make the thin crust work for me. I think the sauce could be a wee bit more on the spicy side but hey when your cookin for white folk well....For salads I had Caesar one night and this is for sure in the top three of my fav! I forgot to ask for no fishies in the salad but since it was dark when I was eating it if they were in there I didn't see. I guess what I don't see wont kill me? And the other was a beet salad with frizee lettuce. This salad was good but could have used more beets. Yeah bitch's I like beets! Don't judge me!!!! The one thing I would change is the attentiveness of the wait staff. If I ask for a menu and you walk by and you can tell I am no longer looking at it it would be nice to see if I am ready to order without me flagging you down. If I didn't have to do that I could easily bring this star rating up to a good solid 5. Oh one more thing that I did like about the waitstaff is that some of my friends have been going on a regular basis lately and they recognized them from previous shows which I thought was pretty cool. So maybe I'll change the star rating from a 4 to 4.5. Oh and one more thing. I am sure the mgt reads this so MORE MADONNA NIGHTS PLEASE!!!!!!!
Let me start off by saying I have only been here once and will need to return to fully decipher my true feelings. Right now I am feeling quite conflicted. The Found Footage Festival itself was amazing last night, really funny. However, being my first time, I called ahead of time and was told to get there early. Sure, no problem.
So I got there at 8:15 for a 9:00 show and ended up standing outside in the cold for over an hour. Ok, my fault for not getting there in time to get into the cafe but damn it was cold out! Then there were out of the two types of beer my friend wanted. The popcorn with garlic powder is delicious, but be warned, super duper garlicky. I could literally still taste it this morning. Also, the website said Thursday after 9:00 was happy hour prices but I got charged full price and then couldn't even find my waiter after to ask. It was already running a half hour late for the next showing that we basically got funneled right out the door. I have a feeling they aren't used to running three sold out events in one night, but I don't know.
Plus sides, online ticket ordering, parking is easy, and even regular priced food is still cheap. Love the atmosphere and definitely want to go back, perhaps for the Madonna terrible movie marathon!
This place is so fun!!! Watch a movie & eat/drink at the same time. What a blast! the food was pretty good too and the price reasonable. Parking was super easy to find and the staff were nice.
Would definitely go back & check out another movie!
Not good for big groups though, so just go with a friend or two.
3.5 stars (3 stars for the concept, .5 for the food)
We almost didn't go because of Ian S's comment from yesterday and all the other reviews saying that you have to get there really early to get tix. Despite this, we decided to go anyway, got there about 20 mins before showtime, and we were the only people in the theater. Some more people showed up later, including one of the film's directors (?).
I really like the concept of dinner and a movie, all at the same time. I wish we had something like this in either NYC (where I'm from) or Orange County (where I live now). A similar thing to this in NYC is Comix, but it's a comedy club and the food is actually good and the atmosphere is more upscale than divey.
But I digress.
I love that Cinema Central's seats were comfortable and the seats and rows were spaced well enough that you don't really have to worry about a tall(er) person sitting in front of you. (Well, maybe that's a premature guess, since we didn't have anyone in front of us.)
However, I didn't like the movie we saw (perhaps a difference of aesthetic opinion?). It was an indie flick currently on tour from Rangelife Entertainment, "Anywhere, USA." It's a really random, quirky and at times, nonsensical movie. I wish "White on Rice" was playing instead, because I wanted to see that.
As for the food, I liked the popcorn itself as it was very fresh and not too buttery (they made it light), but the garlic powder was so strong, I could've sworn they put raw garlic in it. It was actually spicy! That wasn't really the flavor I was hoping for. And there was too much salt.
Also, we got the Firenza pizza, which tasted kind of weird. It had potato, rosemary, olives over cheese and marinara. The potato was sliced and roasted, which gave the pizza a strange and unexpected flavor and texture. The olives, while good, were too salty; perhaps they should have used less. Finally, while the cheese was plentiful, it had a strange hard texture, even though it was melted and stretching from plate to mouth. Isn't that strange? A melted mozzarella that tastes hard rather than soft and gooey?
For drinks, we got a pumpkin ale (him) and a Ruby Slipper (me). The blood orange and pear tea was a little too tart for me and would've been better as an iced tea, but oh well. Next time, right?
Love this place! It's quirky, fun, and delicious.
I went here a few weeks ago with a friend and saw a documentary on the Rat City Rollergirls. The atmosphere was great with the booths, and the snacks we got were fantastic--I had a marionberry tart that was fantastic, and their jasmine tea was great. The waitresses were all dressed up too, which was albeit ridiculous since rollergirl costumes are a bit risque, I loved the idea of kitsch.
I returned two weeks later for a Sing-a-long MJ tribute, which I looked forward to with insane excitement. This time tried beer (a good IPA-pretty decent for $4.50), one of their special creme brulees (a bit lukewarm), and sampled my friends' beers, desserts, popcorns. All very tasty. Haven't had their pizzas or anything, but I've enjoyed snacking and drinking while sitting in the booths. The sing-a-long was hysterical, and the MC was great. They were missing a few key hits (come on, "We are the world," "Free Willy theme song"?) and some of the bonus footage made it run too long (and some of the girls in the audience did not need that extra time to drink more, read: obnoxiously dancing in front of the screen and obscuring our view of the subtitles).
I'd definitely go back here: some of the films they previewed weren't as much my style, but I like the vibe, the desserts are worth the splurge, and you can't beat good beer and popcorn.
This place is a definite repeat for us. We just checked out the 80's Movie Anthem Sing Along at central Cinema. It was a blast. How many movie theaters in Seatlle will bring you a pizza and a pitcher of beer!
We love the Central Cinema! They are a wonderful community partner. Our program, Reel Grrls, is located in the same building, and we regularly host screenings in the cinema. It's a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere to eat and enjoy a movie. We also eat their delicious pizza in our office quite often- we highly recommend it.
The cinema makes an effort to show both old and new favorites, presenting lots of independent film nights that would otherwise have a difficult time finding a home. This is a great small business that we're happy to have as a neighbor.
I'm sadly going to remove a star, because our last experience was not four-star. Regrettably I must say that after a second experience, I would suggest not having dinner at the Central, but just beer/snacks. The seating is fab, the beer is good and reasonably priced, the movie choice is super and I love the atmosphere, but the food is so-so at best. My boyfriend ordered an eight-dollar salad and got a small plate with a single layer of limp greens, basically. He was pretty unimpressed. Overall, I'd say the price of the food is higher than the quality/quantity of the food, noticeably.
BUT - we still had a great time, and Carrie on the big screen is a lot of fun. We just won't be dinnering there again.
My boyfriend and I came here to watch 'Say Anything' (or in his words 'the Cusack movie where he… Read more »
Love that they serve food and alcohol during the films. Love that they play 80s flicks too. But I hate that they stop the film two thirds in for an intermission so that they can make their rounds around the room - serving, cleaning, leaving checks. It's such a bummer to be really into a movie to be snapped out of the experience.
I feel like I'm such a critic.
But honesty can only go so far.
I took my lover here and the idea of a movie theater resturant excited her and I. We ordered drinks and she got a root beer float and I got a stout beer float. Both drinks were just ok, even though they had ice cream!!!
Then we ordered the pig in the blanket with the smoked chicken sausage. It was pretty good, but I felt like more should have been given. Then we ordered some popcorn with the Curry powder and garlic, and putter. The popcorn was bland and dull. Not worth buying. Then I ordered a four cheese pizza and added peperoni, very good. Not the best, but it brough up points with me. My lover ordered a diablo pizza, with spicy sausage and greens. It was just ok. While we were eating, we saw the movie Carrie, pretty scary movie. If this place had better food, it would get 4 stars, I wish they had one of these in L.A.
I guess I just have to accept that I have bad karma with this theater. It's too bad-I like the concept.
First, the good: Unlike the other times I have been here, the service was extremely prompt, they had everything we ordered, and the food was really good. I was quite pleased as my other visits here were not as pleasant.
The bad: (Disclosure: I know this is not really the theater's fault). I am a B Horror movie fan. I watched a trailer on the CC website for a movie called Poultrygeist which was described as a B-movie of the genre that I love. When we got there, it was in fact an experiment in shock value. I love gory movies but it was racist, borderline pornographic, and vile. It had no plot and was definitely NOT a horror movie. We walked out, which I think was the filmmaker's intent.
The film was a small film and unrated. The thing that troubles me is that the 7 pm showing was listed as all ages. There were thankfully no children in there but it disturbs me that there could have been. I have to assume that CC's owners didn't watch the film beforehand, but perhaps they should have.
We have given this place several chances but we won't go back there anymore.
One time we went there…
Read more »
I love this place.
The cozy atmosphere....drinking a bottle of wine during the movie...the selection of films that they run...all TOP NOTCH!
Really nice staff too....I only wish they offered Chocolate bars on the dessert menu....easier to eat in the dark than a piece of cake! ahaha!
Tickets were still $5 when Hiromi and I stumbled over here in the middle of a snowstorm a few weeks back to watch Fight Club, but even at the $6 the web site currently lists, this is a great deal for a brief escape.
Food was decent, in the sense that 1) I don't feel I'm being ripped off by paying crazy amounts of money for pennies worth of processed food, like I do at larger cinemas, and 2) It's food I wouldn't feel bad about getting in any run-of-the-mill restaurant for the same price. We had a fairly respectable pizza and a salad, and paid roughly the same amount we would at any other restaurant.
And they have beer and wine. As a university student in Germany, one of the most fascinating things I saw was people ordering beer or canned Jack & Coke in the cinema and taking it to their seats, which is generally impossible in most Washington cinemas. I had almost no interest in alcohol back in the day, but now when I feel like going out to a fourth-run movie, I can feel like I'm an older, moderately drinking version of my former exchange student self, and have decent food in the process.
Worth doing, and now that I can walk there from home, it's even better.
'Legend' on the big silver screen? Sure, why not!
Yes, that's right.. I watched Tom Cruise in what I would call, the finest performance of his career last night at Central Cinema and I enjoyed every last loin cloth lovin' minute of it!
We got there early (good thing we did!) and got a booth on the far right. Doors are at 6 and the movie is at 7- this is recommended for optimum viewing pleasure, as it fills up fast. We enjoyed some old school, hilarious informative shorts before the feature and the waitress was over promptly, from which we ordered our food and drinks.
Beers, pizza, popcorn, hummus w/ flatbread (loved this!), a whole slew of tasty 10" of pizzas, salads, sandwiches, apps, and desserts to suit almost any palette. We went the hummus/ salad/ pizza route, and ordered a 'pig in a blanket' to share. It was all very good and reasonably priced.
One very patient, hardworking waitress tends to the entire theatre, so unless you're there early, you might wait for a few minutes for her to get around to you. No worries, though, b/c she absolutely will.. and by the time the movie's over, you will be fed, billed, and very happy!
Two showings nightly. Times vary depending on the evening..
Definitely head here if you're looking to switch up 'dinner and a movie' a bit. I mean, what's better than Tim Curry in giant horns and big red crazy makeup?
...
Okay, sooo... lots of things, but you get the idea. You gotta go here. It's a damn good time indeed!
Hello, my name is Hanna and I am a movie nerd. Thankfully, Central Cinema is the answer to my addiction. There are few ways better to watch a movie than in a small theater with great food and alcohol.
I have been to other restaurant/movie theater combos and they truly suffer in comparison to Central Cinema. Usually the food is highly mediocre and overpriced. Not so with this place! They have a good assortment of gourmet pizzas which is a welcome change from the regular cheese and pepperoni. We ended up going with the Apulia. Damn, those roasted tomatoes were tasty. I could have devoured the whole thing myself it was so good. Instead, we split it and a hummus plate. Wash that down with a nice bottle of white wine and you have a great dinner and a movie for about $50.
I'll be back.
Gentlemen get your notebooks ready because I am going to dish out some useful information!!! Want to take your lady friend or mistress or female escort to some place original and unique? Then the Central Cinema is your "low-cal". Because you can do dinner and movie all at one location. Which in the man book equals a double score!!
Their movie selection is unique and if you get their early enough you can check out some very entertaining vintage information films. Plus they have a pretty decent choice of bites and of course they have BEER but sadly no cocktails.
And once the local weather gets crappier you can be guaranteed that Central Cinema will be a "score"! ;)
Central Cinema is great! Cheap good flicks, constant service of beer and food. You gotta try the potato pizza! Love this place!
This is a great way to add a twist to the traditional dinner-and-a-movie date night, or pull together a fun, laid-back gathering of family or friends. Central Cinema does not offer up your typical film fare - their specialty is a refreshing array of offbeat offerings, including cult classics, B movies you hate to love, and local films. My personal favorite flick experience here was Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. For intellectual types, there are also regular film series that include speakers and film discussions.
While you're waiting for your movie to begin, you can hang out in the front room and order up a tasty wood-fired pizza and a beer. There are enough tables and chairs for parties large and small to settle in and get down to fun-having. Food and drink can be brought with you into the theater, or ordered once you're seated inside. The theater seating includes booths down in front, and little foldable tables on the theater-style seats (a la [insert college class name here] 101). If you'd rather skip dinner and head straight for the movie-time staple food, bowls of light, fluffy popcorn are available, and come with your choice of toppings. I'm a popcorn traditionalist, so I tend to stick with butter - but if you prefer curry or brewer's yeast, you've got it!
Those under 21 are welcome at Central Cinema for showings that don't run past 11:00 p.m., and kids will be sure to enjoy the novelty of having two of their favorites - pizza and a movie - all wrapped in one friendly package!
"The first rule of Yelp is - you do not talk about Yelp. The second rule of Yelp is - you DO NOT talk about Yelp. Third rule of Yelp, someone yells Stop!, goes limp, taps out, the Yelp is over. Fourth rule, only two stars to a dump. Fifth rule, one Yelp at a time, fellas. Sixth rule, no shirt, no shoes. Seventh rule, Yelps will go on as long as they have to. And the eighth and final rule, if this is your first night at Yelp, you have to Yelp."
Ummm...obviously, I just saw Fight Club at Central Cinema (on a Friday night). This movie was announced in the Seattle Weekly and this was the first time we sat in the theater-style/stadium seats in the back.
Man, I loves the Pigs In A Blanket here!
I still do love this place (the sounds a little better, but could be better---you guys need to call… Read more »
Met here after work with some friends to watch "Sensation of Sight".
We ordered tons of food from pizza, desserts to alcohol.
I loved the fresh popcorn with real butter!
The movie was a bit slow for our crowd.
So we left during the intermission.
I would definitely come back to watch a different movie.
Birthday, Anniversary, Divorce Party coming up? For the movie lovers out there with about 100 guests to entertain this is the place for you. They help you get your favorite movie for a private screening and have great food/beer available. The night I took in Hank and Mike with Katie and Charlie they were hosting an 80's theme movie night. Awesome!
Brewers yeast on the popcorn is a must. Thanks for the recommendation to our server. One thing to note, if you chose to sit in a booth a tab will be automatically set up. Also, mind the sign to not park on the opposite side of the street. Some of the street signs are obscured by trees and the entire block on the far side is no parking anytime. Nothing ruins a night out on the town quicker than a parking ticket or even better to discover your vehicle has been towed.
I don't know why it's taken me SO long to try this place out! They're always playing films I love, and this weekend they were showing Moulin Rouge, so I decided to check it out with my movie-lovin' girlfriend.
First off: $5 for the flick? Good deal. I like it.
Second: Theme nights! Waitresses dressed as Can-Can girls? LOVE IT.
Third: You can order BOTTLES OF WINE HERE??? Oh, hell yes.
Fourth: This food is *way* above movie theater or even typical bar/pub food quality - and I'm not just sayin' that because we ordered the bottle of wine. The pita bread was bakey-crispy goodness, the hummus was super-tasty, extra kalamata olives = mmm, and the pizza was really damn good too. They also have calzones, sammiches and some salads - really everything I saw on anyone's table looked good.
I'm sold! Central Cinema, I love you. I'm kicking myself for missing out on All About Eve and a bunch of other stuff I bookmarked but never made it out to. I am definitely going to pay WAY more attention to your schedule now!!!
Love it!
Good movies.
Relaxed atmosphere.
Good service, when it's not too busy.
Delicious popcorn.
Okay food.
You can drink beer!
If you have not yet been to Central Cinema by now, you're truly robbing yourself a genuinely fantastic experience that may have the potential to change your outlook on life, especially the difficult-to-control-irritation @ the movies.
We all go watch movies, no? We all grumble about paying $10 for a movie that end up not being worth $4.25. At Central Cinema, you pay $5. Yes, that is 5 bucks. Just like the way your parents, still in grad school, took you in a stroller to their university/college for the weekend movies shown at the lecture hall. Remember with the 5 minute cartoon before the previews?
Or just like the way you used to pay 5 bucks for the Foreign Film nights every weekend in college to impress that special lady/dude, dressed up in your turtleneck, smoking a non-filter, calling it a film or even worse, throwing words like cinematography or mise en scene. Oh, how about metaphysical? [gag, gag]
Well, while all those (slightly) embarrassing memories pleasantly creep up at you, now a mature & well adjusted 30something, you gladly hand over $5, selectively (and fondly) remembering how it felt to fight through the sidewalk sloshing with wet snow to get to the small lecture hall in time, to catch that weird French movie you did want to watch, for $5, because biochemistry major offered nothing as interesting.
Anyhow, you pay up then enter the cinema space where you get to sit at one of those booths and order yourself a Manny's (or Mac & Jack) with your OWN pizza. You watch "Blood Simple" and marvel at the fact you FINALLY watched this particular Coen Brothers' movie (is it really their first? Wow!)
I would've happily gone 5 stars, except my pizza--usually freaking fantastic Aubergine--needed a little more kick. I ended up having to ask for some pepper. The folks there know friendly services (and condiments as the super friendly waitress with superb palate suggested I spice the pizza up with Hot pepper flakes!)
You'll be easily stunned that a place like this even exists! So, just bookmark their website already and check in periodically. Get out of the house, enough Youtube already!
I loved this place...it is just the type of thing that I have been looking for in my neighborhood of First Hill, and this place in the CD is close enough!
I was there on a busy night during the GLFF and the service was kinda slow, but the overall experience was good and I will go back!
i really do love this place. sincerity is difficult for me but how can you pass up a spot that feels authentic and gives you a comfortable spot to sit simultaneously?
the food is good....not terribly memorable but pretty good and they try hard to be decent, which says a lot these days. field roast pig in a blanket! popcorn almost as good as we make at home. wild salmon burger. almost cheap wine!
i wish i could see all movies here and neither have to visit a soul-sucking mall nor strain to watch a netflix on my little computer screen. oh the trials and tribulations of modern life.
popcorn!
I can't believe it took me so long to go here!
My man and I checked out a movie here on a late night Saturday, and it was just AWESOME. The price was only $6/ticket!
We had a few glasses of wine with dinner and desert, which was made with such great style. (They wrote out "oink" in the mustard on my boyfriends Vegan 'Pig in a Blanket' hot dog!)
The food menu was extensive, the seating was pretty comfy, the sound quality seemed great, it was clean and I could lean on my mans shoulder without having an uncomfortable arm-rest in my ribs.
We want to make it a regular date-night spot. Thanks Central Cinema!
Are all my dreams finally coming true?!?!?!?!?
A movie theatre where tickets are only $5. You can play board games while you wait for the show to start. Instead of chairs, you can sit on a couch. Pretty good food that they'll serve to you during the film... oh wait and did I mention there's beer and wine?!?!?
No longer do you have to smuggle a can of Rainier into the theatres to get that authentic drunk movie experience. Just go to Central Cinema. And don't complain about anything, appreciate it for what it is and enjoy the decadence!
How have I never found myself at this amazing theater before?!?
For almost the same price as a rental at Blockbuster you can watch an eclectic collection of movies in a venue that gives you couches, food, beer and wine all in one place! Best part about it is that there are waiters roaming around throughout the movie taking your order so your stomach doesn't have to wait till the end of the flick to get some food...or drink in it.
This is a great place to go with friends, or go on a date!
Why... oh why... did I never visit this place until my second to last weekend in Seattle? Aargh (kicks self)!!! This is the closest thing that Seattle has to the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin (honestly, one of the biggest influences on my moving back)... food, beer, and movies, all in one place!
Everyone's right, the service is pretty slow... seems like it just needs to be ironed out a bit more. Everyone's right, too, that the seating is pretty uncomfy... I didn't mind the sitting up straight so much, but the incredible lack of leg room SUCKED for me. I'm kind of a sloucher, I want the people behind me to be able to see.
We arrived a little early and ordered in the cafe area. When the food had barely arrived, it was time for the show (Being John Malkovich) and we migrated into the theater. I was crazy hungry, so ordered popcorn to go with my salad. Not much of a fan of the popcorn, really, would it be that expensive to invest in a damn popcorn machine instead of getting it out of a canister and putting butter on it? My salad, however, was really, really tasty. I thought about ordering a Pig in a Blanket as well, but decided I'd look like a cow. So, I got chocolate cake, instead. I think it was more of an amaretto chocolate cake... so watch out, people with coconut aversions/allergies!
The screen is pretty small, so don't try to see huge lots-of-action movies here... although I don't think they show them anyway. Props for showing smaller, independent films as well. That'll kick them up to 3 1/2 stars. Also, props for $5 tickets! Whoo hoo!
Sad that I just discovered this place, happy that I'm returning to the world of the Alamo.
I've been going here for a month, and I'm crazy about it. Movies for $5? Amazing. On top of that, it's really the only place in town that consistently shows movies I actually want to see. They show a few classics, a few independent flicks, a few small budget Hollywood shows - in other words, a wide variety of thoughtful, engaging material that isn't too full of itself to be fun.
A wonderful touch is the carefully programmed shorts before each feature. Many enjoyable films, and even some very important ones, are of the newsreel-length variety, and they don't get nearly enough exposure. Central Cinema does a wonderful job of thematically tying these together. It's worth arriving an hour early to the 7:00 show to see these.
The food is most notable for existing at all in a Seattle movie theater, but is pretty good too. I'm ecstatic that I can get a Mack & Jack's here. The pizzas are satisfying and very reasonably priced. The wine I've had was quite poor, though, and the chocolate "cake" is frozen and not high quality. Also, they keep the cost low by having only one server for the whole place, which makes it a bit slow. If that annoys you, eat in the dining room before the late show - the ticket clerk will serve you, and it's usually pretty empty so service is good.
Words cannot describe how much I LOVE Central Cinema. I've seen a plethora of movies there-Pecker, Legend, Fight Club, Dead Alive, the list keeps goinggggg-and I've never left disappointed! The food is freaking awesome-wood fired pizza, popcorn with REAL butter, veggie pigs in a blanket, creme brulee, etc. The weekday happy hour (sunday through thursday) is great-very cheap food and $10 pitchers (also great to go during this time if you aren't big on crowded theaters). Plus, tickets are only $6 a pop! My *only* complaint is that I wish the booths were a bit deeper.
I love, love, love the concept of Central Cinema. A place you can go for dinner and a movie. There's nothing else for me to add that hasn't already been said except do not order the creme brulee I thought the idea of eating a yummy creme brulee while watching a funky truly independent movie would be a glorious experience. I was wrong, the creme brulee was runny like it hadn't been cooked the whole way through and when I went to crack the sugar it shattered into a bunch of tiny little pieces I like a thick layer of sugar that only breaks where I tap it but that's just me. The popcorn smelled wonderful and I think I should have went with that instead of the creme brulle, my friend on the other hand had a salad and seemed to enjoy that.
Doh there is something I can add, the seating, they have two different seating options, sofa seating with tables in front of you to enjoy your dinner/drinks and also what I deemed lecture hall seating with little tray tables for you to use to enjoy your dinner/drinks. The sofa seating reminded me of airplane seating, the sofa's are in a row with no slant to them so if someone tall is in front of you, you might have an issue seeing. In the back are the lecture hall seats which are set up like stadium seating and the seats are staggered so you won't really have the tall person in front of you issues like the sofa seats.
Also on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday they have a happy hour at 9pm, I'm not sure what the discounts are but I'm not sure what the specials are. On a side note they will be playing ET April 4th thru 8thh I think I might have to go see it again.
Seattle, WA
Category: Cinema
Neighborhood: Belltown
Category: Cinema
Neighborhood: Belltown
Category: Cinema
Neighborhood: Queen Anne
Category: Venues & Event Spaces
Neighborhood: Central District
Category: Arts & Crafts
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