The dinner and a movie experience usually goes like this: You eat dinner, and then you watch a movie. With an extensive renovation of their Marina 6 Theatres in Marina Del Rey, AMC is inviting you to do both at the same time.

AMC Dine-In Theatre, Marina Del Rey, Opens on Monday December 3, 2012.  The venue combines a luxury movie-watching experience with in-seat dining
AMC Dine-In Theatre, Marina Del Rey, Opens on Monday December 3, 2012. The venue combines a luxury movie-watching experience with in-seat dining

Dinner and a Movie Goes VIP

While it isn’t a new concept, AMC’s Dine-In Theatre provides the dinner and movie parts of the “date night” experience without sacrificing one for the other.

Essentially, they’ve put a well groomed bar and restaurant inside a swank movie theatre. You could also say they’ve taken a plush theatre and combined it with a classy neighborhood pub. Either way it’s a win-win.

Here’s a few of the upgrades you can look for:

Pictured here in one of the larger halls at the AMC Dine-In Theatre Marina Del Rey, each assigned seat is a plush, leather recliner
Pictured here in one of the larger halls at the AMC Dine-In Theatre Marina Del Rey, each assigned seat is a plush, leather recliner

Oscar Worthy Food & Beverage

Taking for granted that the cinema experience at AMC Marina 6 will be an above average trip to the movies, let’s look at the element that has our mouths watering: the food they’ll be serving during the show.

Drinks – The AMC Marina 6 has a fully stocked bar (as any adults-only movie theatre should!) with martinis, specialty drinks, wine, and even a few beers on tap. Wine and beer prices vary by the label and serving size but most cocktails and martinis were priced at $9.49 at the time of this review.

Vodka purists will enjoy Pomegranate Martini (Citron Vodka, Cointreau, and pomegranate liqueur) while rum drinkers will be refreshed with the classic Hurricane or the colorful Caribbean Cooler.

The Pomegranate Martini and the Caribbean Cooler are among the specialty cocktails available.  AMC Dine-In Theatre, Marina Del Rey 022
The Pomegranate Martini and the Caribbean Cooler are among the specialty cocktails available.

Dessert – Starting here might seem out of order, but I could totally see this happening: go to dinner somewhere else and have dessert with the movie! The dessert menu consists of classic American restaurant fare; carrot cake, cheesecake, brownies, and an apple crumble. The best seller, though, is the Waffle Sundae: two maple-infused Belgian waffles served warm with vanilla ice cream, drizzled with caramel sauce and sprinkled with bacon ($7.49).

The Waffle Sundae is reported to be one of the best sellers at AMC Dine-In Theatre locations
The Waffle Sundae is reported to be one of the best sellers at AMC Dine-In Theatre locations

Appetizers – The menu is straightforward enough that meat-and-potato types will be comfortable right away. Two pages of appetizers include typical bar-food fare like Mozzarella Sticks ($8.49), Buffalo Wings ($9.99), and the requisite Dip & Chips. More adventurous types will be interested in the Crab Rangoon Dip ($8.99) or the Thai Bang Shrimp ($8.99).

Mozzarella sticks are a good option for movie snacking.
Mozzarella sticks are a good option for movie snacking.

Entrées – Full meals make up the most diverse selections from the menu. A full page is dedicated to burgers, chicken tenders, and fish & chips. Agelenos will be pleased with the quesadilla and taco selections. Fans of California cuisine will enjoy the selection of sandwiches, wraps, and salads.

Flat bread pizzas and pizzinis – a Panini-influenced sandwich made on pizza crust – bridge the menu from café selections to full-sized plates of pasta and rice paired with seafood, chicken, and even beef tenderloin. Entrées are priced from $10 to $16.

The Fire Burger ($10.49) is a spicy and flavorful highlight with jalapenos inside the burger, pepper jack cheese on top of the patty, and then crunchy fried jalapenos on top of that. The pepper flavor is great; there’s just enough heat to make the burger an experience without overwhelming.

The Fire Burger has more heat in its name than in its bite.  Chocked with peppers, its bigger on flavor than it is on fire
The Fire Burger has more heat in its name than in its bite. Chocked with peppers, its bigger on flavor than it is on fire.

The mix of accessible food, beverages, and first run movies in a full service environment will make the AMC Marina 6 a destination for movie watching – and dining – on the west side of Los Angeles.

* Some items mentioned in this article were provided on a complimentary basis for the purpose of this review. Prices and menu items mentioned are subject to change without notice. This story was accurate when it was published and reflects the uninfluenced opinions of the reviewers.

 

8 Responses

    1. Yeah sounds like a good idea to me! Down side is, the seats are so comfy I could totally see myself dozing off after a nice meal. LOL! 😀

  1. how do I go about buying tickets and seeing what is playing on a particular day?

  2. Are reservations necessary? If not is it normally very crowded with limited seating? Are you open on Christmas?

    Thanks

    1. Hi, Marilyn! Thanks for your comment. At South Bay Foodies, we are not official representatives of AMC; we just do the reviews! 😀 With that said, here are answers to a couple of your questions.

      Reservations aren’t necessary per se; you buy tickets just like a regular move but you reserve your seats at that time your tickets are issued. If you aren’t going to the movies but just want to get dinner, you might be able to order carry out or just eat in the lobby. They have tables and a bar set up there like a regular restaurant.

      I’m not sure about it being crowded. I would imagine that on the nights following the opening of a popular movie, that tickets would be in high demand just like any other theater. As for seating being limited, you get your seats assigned when you buy your ticket so there’s no chance you’ll be hunting for a seat at the last minute.

      I hope you enjoy your movie watching and dine-in experience!