This is one of those places, where it's a little expensive, but I personally think it's worth it. I'll never forget the first time we came here, and my hubby scoffed at their $8 popcorn. I had to laugh a little, bc I think he forgets that's what you would normally pay for a refillable bucket of popcorn at any other movie theater. The difference though, is that their popcorn actually tastes good and is also very fresh. I usually get a salt shaker from the bar area, and sprinkle to taste.
We have eaten here several times in the past, but I have to say that I've never been wowed by their food. It's never been awful, but I always feel like they miss the mark somewhat. Their entree's always sound very gourmet and enticing in their descriptions, but taste-wise, I've never felt like they've quite lived up to their depictions. I've also noticed that sometimes their flavors don't marry well together. It's almost as if they are trying too hard. As of late, we usually decide to just get some popcorn, and go out for dinner afterwards.
One of my favorite parts about Cinebistro is that I can come early, have a drink with my husband, and an enjoy another one (or two) during the movie as well. They are expensive, but they are also quite stiff. Be careful there!
My absolute favorite part about Cinebistro, is that I can choose my seating online, and be guaranteed to have a great seat no matter what time I enter the theater. Not to mention that their seats are extremely spacious, and also very cozy. Their sliding tables are great, and they allow you to eat quite comfortably, and then move them out of your way when you are done. I also love that even when you get stuck in the front row, it's nothing like the front rows at other theaters. You don't have to to crane your neck in ridiculously awkward position, or slink down in your chair, to be able to see the screen. It's still not my first choice, but it's not upsetting if you happen to be left with only those seats to choose from. To make it even nicer for you, they allow you to share an Ottoman w/your guest. This is one of those great touches, that we thought made the front row a lot more appealing, as well as comfortable.
It's also great that they don't allow anyone under the age of 21 in here. It's great that I don't have to worry about the excessive noise that teens, and children, tend to produce while I enjoy my movie. Huge, huge plus!
Have been here several times, and will continue to come. If you haven't seen a movie here, I strongly suggest you try it. Yes it can be expensive, but you can also keep things to a minimum and make it a more affordable choice.
First time I tried this type of movie setting so I don't have anything to compare it to but for a first experience it was awesome.
I suggest making reservations online and way ahead of time so that you can pick good seats.
The drinks in the lounge are awesome, I highly recommend the mango it was yummy. The price of the meals are on the higher side but good price for gourmet dinning and the theater is located in the nice side of Richmond. The portions were filling and delish.
Great way to spend date night with that significant other.
Cinebistro is expensive, but you definitely get what you pay for. Â This is an all adult theater, and the ambiance is perfection. Â They have a fabulous bar, and they also offer a wine tasting on Tuesdays. ($15/ person...wines and food samplings)
Tickets can be reserved online, and this includes choosing your seat. Â They do ask that you arrive 30 mins prior to show time to place an in theater order for food. Â I have noticed people arriving late and were still allowed to place an order.
I really like the food, and have only been disappointed a couple of times. Â The dishes I did not care for were the Steakhouse chips (they were not bad, I just didn't like the flavors), and the crab cake sandwich (sooooo much filler, yuck!). Â We ordered the crab dip for an appetizer, which was good....just wish they had something different to put it on, like a flatbread or something. Â I had the salmon entree, which I had for the 2nd time. It is sooooo tasty! Â This time there was too much lime butter sauce, and it was very loose like soup. Other than that, yum! For dessert we had the chocolate cake, which is so dense and chocolatey :) They also take pride in their food presentations and do not just throw stuff on a plate....it's pretty.
All in all, Cinebistro gets 2 thumbs up from me. Â This is the place to go if u want to steer clear of the foolishness, and have an adult beverage and good food. Oh yeah, and the popcorn is really good too!
Never have I been so comfortable at a movie theater.. The seats are so spacious! Make sure you get there much earlier than show time or else you won't be able to order anything! Service is quick and food comes out quick! A little pricey if you order stuff, but c'mon.. it's an all adult movie theater, with legit food and alcohol. I love how you can choose your own seats too! Totally worth it!
My friend and I both got watermelon mojitos to start off. Once seated we ordered an appetizer with popcorn chicken and calamari. I ordered the grilled chicken BLT.. YUM!
I recently went to CineBistro to see Hangover 3. Its best to arrive 30 minutes before the movie starts. Seats are first come, first serve. Customers can pick their seats on the computer screen at the ticket counter. The bar area is really nice and relaxing. There's a patio area to enjoy drinks as well. CineBistro has a full bar (drinks at the bar can be taken into the movie theater). An announcement will come over the intercom for you to enter the movie. Once you're seated by your waiter, you can order food. Customers must order all your food at once (appetizers, entree, drinks, and desserts).You pay right after your order is placed. Keep in mind that a gratuity is added to your total. You're responsible for your own refills after the movie starts. I ordered the CineBistro steakhouse chips, garlic & chili wings, and caramelized banana cheesecake. The CineBistro steakhouse chips were good and filling. The garlic & chili wings were flavorful with a really spicy kick. I chugged a couple glasses of sweet tea for relief from the heat. I enjoyed every bite of my caramelized banana cheesecake. The flavors blended very well. The seats are very comfortable and spacious. The seats would have been perfect if they reclined more in my opinion. I'm tall, leg room wasn't an issue. In normal theaters, it's hard for me to stretch without kicking someone in the head. Customers have plenty of space between your seat and the seat in front of you. CineBistro has a very nice atmosphere. I think CineBistro is a great date night spot. There's no kids (21 & up). If you're looking for a classy movie theater with a nice ambience, CineBistro at Stony Point Fashion Park is a great choice. I give CineBistro at Stony Point Fashion Park a 4.5 rating.
Review Source:Even though some of the ticketing staff can be a little rude, lazy, cocky, and unhelpful at times, (maybe its the way I'm dressed), This place is awesome. I'll put up the 2 minutes of crap to pick up my tickets and get my rewards so I can enjoy a movie that I paid good money for. Place is clean, food is worth the price, the Picture is clear, the audio works, the rewards program rocks, and 21 and older weeds out the annoying youngsters. The downside is that they are always pushing for the 3D movies, they don't have all the new movies out, and scoring a seat for certain times are hard. Advance purchase on Fandango is very helpful, it sucks that fandango doesn't offer any rewards.
Review Source:I visit Richmond twice a year with my family and each time we make plans to watch a movie here.  They do a great job catering to our large group of 8-15.  I love the comfy seats and tasty food plus the waiters are always very pleasant.  I'm looking forward to my next visit!  Try the salmon entrée and shrimp and grits!!!!  :)
Review Source:How can you not love this place? Â OK, how can you not love this place after paying the premium price for a ticket.
Came here early with friends to sit at the bar, and had a great time finishing a reasonably priced pitcher of beer and talking with the bartender. Â He radio'ed ahead to the people in the theater that we were on our way and that we were "a good group." Â lol reputation
Came into the theater just before last call, and eyed some really good looking food. Â My friend ordered something small, never found out how it was, and my other friend got some popcorn. Â I think it costs $9 but has unlimited refills, and it was amazing. Â I made myself sick eating so much popcorn.
The seats are huge and super spread out, so if you have to get up mid-movie you won't disturb anyone to get down the aisle.
As well as being 21+ and not having it be an annoying experience due to underage kids, it's so much better of an experience for another reason... the theater is so small that when everyone laughs, it's not so overpowering that you miss the next line of dialogue. Â That always happens to me at comedies, and I end up discovering new lines I missed when a movie comes out on DVD.
Then again, maybe it was that Hangover 3 wasn't the most laugh-out-loud movie, so I might be biased. Â Just kidding.
Those who know me, know that I absolutely love CineBistro and that it has ruined my movie going experience. Â Ruined me in that I never want to go back to a stereotypical movie theater again.
CineBistro is a well tuned machine whose formula just works. Â When a movie comes out that I want to see and it isn't playing at CineBistro... I get bummed. Â The whole experience is great from start to finish.
Ordering Tickets Online
Jump on fandango and you can reserve your tickets and yours seats online, so you know exactly where you are sitting before you even get there.
Full Bar
CineBistro recommends getting there 30 minutes early so you have time to place your food order. Â I recommend getting there an hour early so you have time to hang out at the bar. Â It's awesome. Â Very cool layout and good drink selection.
Seating
They generally start seating 30 minutes before the show. Â The seats are so comfortable. Â Tons of room to sit back and relax and just enjoy what you are watching.
Food
The food is good. Â On it's own it won't be enough to bring you back, but it's solid. Â Lots to choose from and you can even get your candy, popcorn, and soda if that's what you are accustomed to getting while watching movies.
Service
As soon as you grab your seat someone is checking in on you. Â If you've never been before they will walk you through how the whole process works.
Movie Quality
The movies look great and sound great. Â As good if not better than any of the surrounding theaters.
Price
If you are trying to see a movie for cheap then this is not the place for you. Â The movie tickets are a little bit more expensive but it's the food and drinks that can really add to the cost. Â Now you certainly don't have to order food and/or drinks but I recommend doing so as it adds to the whole experience. Â Think of it as going to a nicer restaurant that happens to be playing a movie while you eat. Â Have the mindset that you are going to spend some money because that will set you up to really take in all CineBistro has to offer and if you do, you're gonna love it!
This is the ONLY theater I go to in the RVA area.. Reason being, as another reviewer said no one under 21 years of age is allowed so it's a nice night out for adults.. The seating is spacious and the service is always, always great. There is also a nice bar/seating in the waiting area... Couldn't ask for a better night out at the movies in the RVA area.., I would never go to another theater unless it was a matinee very early to avoid the disrespectful and nosy teens or the parents that decided to bring their newborn since they couldn't find a baby sitter..
The only reason I can't give the place 5 stars is that the menu hasn't been updated since the place has been open... and the dessert selections are not very good at all..
This is my favorite movie theater in RVA. One of the main reasons is because no one under 21 is allowed. So I can see all my Harry Potter or Avengers movies without the frustration of having teenagers, kids, and adults who aren't able to control their kids sitting any where near me. I would definitely say, that is the best part about this place.
The prices are very competitive in my opinion. Movie tickets aren't more expensive than going to Regeal and the meal prices aren't more expensive than going to another restaurant in RVA. I think the only reason why people think it costs more is because you're spending all your money in one place as opposed to different places.
The food here is pretty good. I think my favorite dish I've had here is the brie and fig flat bread. it's drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette and tastes like a meal and a desert all in one. I like that they have sweet potato fries as a option for a side and they are spectacular. I've tried the veggie burger and that was delicious and very moist (I think most places over cook veggie burgers). They have a wonderful mac and cheese and for the Hunger Games movie, my boyfriend let me try the shepherds pie he ordered.
I absolutely LOVE that they have special drink and food items to match the weekend opening of movies they do. The chief's and bartenders, according to the bartender I chatted with about this, get together when a big movie comes out and collaborates on new dishes and drinks to serve the movie goers. They come up with some fun names! I can't think of any off the top of my head but it's pretty spectacular. They also do $15 wine tastings and snacks on Tuesday's. :)
The atmosphere gives off a classy feel. There's a nice patio out front and the inside bar has a old world feel to it. There's both a bar and tables where people can sit. Where the tables are you have high tops, the patio area, and a few low tables with large cushy chairs. Even if I didn't go see a movie here, I would go back for a quick drink and a bite to eat. Inside the theater all the chairs are lazyboy style chairs set up in pairs. It's actually quite perfect for a date. You have ample room to eat and relax and drink before, during, and after the movie.
The service in general is good and quick. They never mess up and are quite professional. It's the type of service I would expect from a 3 or 4 star restaurant and I get it at RVA's best movie theater! I love it! Â They do add a 17% gratuity to your check when you have the in-theater service, but I think it's well worth it. You can add more (and I usually do) but you're not required to. You definitely don't have to tip more to get better service.
One more fun fact! :) During the premiere of the Hobbit, one of the workers there made a door that looked like a Hobbit door for the entrance into the right side theaters. It was amazing. You should look at the picture I've uploaded here. It's pretty epic.
I could probably go on and on but I think this gives you a good idea of just how much I love going here.
This is my new go to spot! Â What a wonderful, wonderful place! Â I take people there and talk it up to the point people would probably think I owned it. Â This is where I take the hubby for a Fri night date! Â I've had outings with friends from work. Â The drinks are good (OK, maybe a little strong to me -- I'm a lightweight these days) and the service is good. Â Just beware that everything adds up quickly to a bill that some may consider expensive, but it is worth it to me. Â They also automatically add gratuity into the bill, but I always tip on top of that. Â Maybe it's because I'm just so giddy and happy to be out and doing something other than watching TV.
My only gripe was that when the Great and Powerful Oz came out, they didn't show it opening weekend. Â We did go when it was showing the next weekend, but then decided after seeing the movie that we understood why they didn't show it opening weekend. Â I was sadly disappointed...maybe I need to see it again....
I went here with a group of coworkers for a company outing in Richmond. Â Nice establishment! Â They have a pretty fancy Bar to hang out in before the movie starts, where we had apps too. Â When the movie was about to start we went into the Theater and enjoyed big comfy seats, with tables that swing in or out depending on if you are eating or letting yourself stretch out during the Show. Â Lots of good choices on the Menu, and Waitresses were prompt and friendly when they took our orders before the Previews started. Â The food was very good, but a couple of us really needed salt & pepper and we had to go find some because the Waitresses were gone once the food was brought out and the Previews started. Â The Popcorn was very good and came in HUGE bowls. Â I'd go back again for a good First Run Movie and dinner!
Review Source:This is the ONLY theater I will visit to watch movies now. It is worth the extra couple of $ a ticket to watch a movie free from small children and annoying teenagers (and free from annoying parents as well).
I like getting there 45 minutes before the movie starts to enjoy a cocktail at the bar. The bartenders are skilled at their craft and I enjoy the special drinks that accompany opening weekends for high-profile movies (the Prometheus cocktail was my favorite - sort of a blue motorcycle, only green, served in a scooped-out papaya to resemble an alien egg - very tasty!) The best part about cocktails is that you can take them with you into the theater when they begin seating.
If you buy your tickets in advance, the seats are always reserved, so you never have to worry about rushing to get to the theater early and jockeying for position in line to get a good seat. To be honest, all seats are good seats - comfy arm chairs with plenty wiggle room, and some even have ottomans.
You'd think with a 5 star review I'd be raving about the food, but frankly I haven't found all of the food that amazing. It's tasty, but not amazing. However, I do like that they always have specials so there is always the opportunity to try something new.
As someone who loves movies and loves dining out, this is paradise. It's a really fun, affordable experience that definitely doesn't need to be limited to special occasions. Even my food was high quality and tasty (Sweet Tea Chicken, nom nom).
ACTUAL REVIEW: 4.5! The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because the entire experience was a little foreign to me...most of the meal is consumed during the previews, and when the lights went down, I was grappling with my in-bone chicken breast in near darkness. I loved sipping my wine through the rest of the movie though, and the seats are massive and comfy. Definitely a cool, fun way to enjoy a night at the movies. =)
I've just returned from my second trip to Cinebistro and couldn't be happier. It so wonderful to watch a movie without the talking and commotion of children and teenagers. The food is good as well as the drinks. Seats are big and comfy. Wished they reclined a little more but compared to regular theater seats they are amazing. Â I would love to give them five starts but because of the overall cost will only give a four. Totally worth the extra money. Â Give it a try.
Review Source:The ambiance at CineBistro is like no other! After the CineBistro experience, other movie theaters are just disappointing! This is the perfect setting for dates since you get a dinner and a movie all in one place. The theater is classy with spacious seating. The leather seats are very comfortable compared to the horribly cramped seats at traditional movie theaters. Not to mention that this place is only for people 21 and over so there's no gawking tweens chit chatting on their phones.
Arrive 30 minutes before your movie time if you want to eat dinner here. The waiter takes your order and payment ,which includes 17% gratuity, and they will bring you your food to your seats while the previews run.
Stand outs on the menu include the ribs, ribeye cheesesteak, seared tuna salad, and sweet potato fries [as a side]. People also rave about their meatloaf here. The food may not be the most amazing that you have ever tasted, but it's definitely better than the nachos and hot dogs served elsewhere. Service stops once the movie stops though and you have to get up and go out to the bar area if you need refills.
I would also recommend spoiling yourself with their decadent dark chocolate cake for $9. The cake is topped with a thick, silky layer of chocolate mousse and wrapped with a chocolate lattice. I think that this is their best dessert because the creme brulee trio was small and not all that special. They also offer cocktails here and if you order a bottle of wine, they will bring out an ice bucket for the bottle.
I haven't really found any of the appetizers that appealing compared to the rest of the menu. I do not recommend the popcorn calamari, crab dip with pretzel, or the hummus because I felt like these items were pretty subpar.
A huge must here, even if you don't plan on eating dinner, is their POPCORN! For $7, you get unlimited  freshly popped and buttered popcorn in a modern white bowl. So delish.
Yes, the food is pricey with their entrees about $15-20, but I feel like you can easily spend that much on a bucket of popcorn, candies, and soda at other movie theaters. In my opinion, it is better to spend your money on an actual dinner. Also, you're not required to order anything so if you just want to enjoy a movie in a comfortable setting, you can do so!
Tip: Order your tickets online so that you can save a seat and arrive 30 minutes before the movie if you plan on eating. Also-- get their popcorn!!
Food: 3.5
Value: 3.5
Service: 4
Overall: 4
I was very pleased with my experience at the CinéBistro.  A vendor brought us here for dinner and a movie.  The movie selection was good as was the service.  The overall décor of the place was genuinely really nice.  I loved the bar in the waiting area.  I expected the food to be "movie theaterish" and was pleasantly surprised to find that not only was there a good selection but that the food was really good.
Over all, the entire experience was just very cool. Â I enjoyed ordering from my movie seat and being served right as the movie started. Â I'd totally come back here again. Â I liked the experience so much I contemplated what it would take to open one of these in my home town.
Ever since I wrote my first review for CineBistro, I've been back to the theater a few times to see if service had gotten better. For the most part, the last few times I've been to CineBistro, service was amazing enough to make me forget about expensive everything was. So I decided to go to CineBistro today to catch an early movie and eat my favorite Pan Seared Salmon. Â The movie started at 1:30pm, but I got there around 12:58pm so I could take advantage of the early dining service.
I was the fourth person to enter the theater but the first person to order because I knew what I wanted. I wasted little time ordering and paying for my food. With my past experiences at CineBistro, it was typical for the food and drinks to come out first come first serve. Meaning, if stragglers come in the theater 10-20 minutes after you order your food, your food should come out before theirs. Â It is also typical for drinks to come out within 5 minutes of ordering them and food should not take over 15 minutes to come out. Clearly I was mistaken today.
Ultimately, there were about 16 people that came to the theater. The bulk of them arrived about 10-15 minutes after I ordered my drink and food. As I grew impatient while waiting for my drink, I saw a server come out with a tray of about 7 drinks on them. Clearly I'm thinking that my drink has to be on it. He passes the drinks out to people who ordered and arrived after I did, yet I remained cool. About 5 minutes later he finally comes back with my drink and gives a fake apology for the wait.
The server brings a tray with about 5 dishes out about another 5 minutes later and by this time I'm thinking "Why did I rush to get here when I could have been 20 minutes late and my food would have arrived the same time." The server passes out the food to the majority of everyone before getting around to me and again apologies to me in a suspect way. By that time I thought all way well, but again I was clearly mistaken.
I grabbed my plate and it was noticeably hot, so naturally I'm thinking that the food was going to be hot. The food was lukewarm at best, the mashed potatoes and greens were dry and the sauce has all but solidified from sitting out in the back of the kitchen for an extended period of time.
So lets do a recap. I got there at 12:58pm, ordered my drink and food at 1:06pm, received my drink around 1:32pm and meal around 1:37pm. Some of the people who arrived around 1:15pm got their food the same time I did.
After sampling my lukewarm meal on a piping hot plate, I put the plate to the side near an empty chair and proceeded to watch the previews. A server came by to ask if everything was ok. I told her that I did not want the dish. She asks me if they can bring anything else out instead. Right... I'm really going to wait another 30 minutes for a dish that has probably been messed with. I told her no thanks and she took the dish away without offering to take it off my bill.
So at the end of the day, I'm $36 in the hole, including the $25 meal that had the automatic 17% gratuity. Could I have tracked the manager down and demanded that I receive a refund? Sure, but no customer at a restaurant should have to ask for a refund when they are not satisfied with a dish. It should be common sense. The mistakes made today were mistakes from Running A Restaurant 101. And If they dont want my service, they dont have to get it. I have no interest in going back to CineBistro ever again even if someone treated me to the experience. ONE STAR.
My fiance and I went here for a date night. We were given the tickets from a friend and decided to go see what it was all about. The theater is so nice. The seats are the most comfortable movie theater chairs I have ever sat in. I enjoyed that we had assigned seats, save us the back and forth where to set. I had very low expectations for the food and was pleasantly surprised. My grilled chicken sandwich was very tasty and the sweet potato fries were delicious. I am sure you could have gotten better food for the price but it's worth it to watch a movie on the big screen.
Review Source:This place has me "Spoiled"... Â I have not been to a regular movie theatre since coming here for the first time in May 2011!
This is an adult only movie experience... and the food is "awesome" Â 4 star quality.. the drinks to die for! Â We order our seats on line, this way we are guarantee to get seats that we want.. and they are so big and comfy.. almost like recliners that just dont recline.. :..bummer :(
Popcorn is endless.. and the whole experience is a great date night!
When you walk into the lobby it looks like a jazz club, low lighting .. great bar.. bricked walls...  nice! nicely appointed fixtures..  you can sign up for the Bistro club card  and get freebies now and then.. free popcorn, ticket..etc..
LOve it!!!
Love this place! Not a huge fan of the prices, especially the automatic gratuity added to your bill if you order food (although not unreasonable). Upon walking in it may not look like much, except for the small dining/lounge area with the full bar, but the theatres are roomy and the seats are REALLY comfortable. As far as ticket prices, they're not that much different from regular prices nowadays ($12.50 for an adult). They recently added some food items to their menu, which is actually pretty good, especially the Sweet Tea Chicken and Crab and Shrimp Mac and Cheese. Love the fact that it's not super full every time I've gone.
It's not the best for your wallet, but for the experience and convenience, I give this a two thumbs up :)
After months of curiosity, I finally visited Cinebistro for girl's night. We saw Magic Mike and yes, the theater was completely filled with women. Women of all ages, at that. And yes, some of the women even cheered during the movie. I must say that's a first for me. But the movie selection is neither here nor there.
Cinebistro definitely lived up to the hype in terms of comfort - my seat was practically an EZ Boy without the recliner. And with an attached tray and cupholder for ease of imbibing and dining during the film.
How does it work? Well, you have to purchase tickets in advance and choose your seats when you do so. This makes it a tad difficult when in groups, as you need to purchase altogether and potentially well in advance to snag seats next to each other. We went with a group of six and ended up doing 2 behind 2 behind 2. Since conversations don't typically occur when watching the big screen, the seating didn't really matter for the most part and sitting in pairs worked out quite well for us. We arrived at the theater a tad early, with just enough time to snag a drink at the bar before being called into the theater. Â I ordered a waltermelon mojito and boy, was it sweet! It would definitely be difficult to drink more than one of those babies.
Once we were directed to our seats in the theater, menus awaited us. As others have mentioned, the prices aren't cheap but they also aren't any more than what I would expect from a movie theater and restaurant combined. I went with a side salad and the popcorn calamari. What's popcorn calamari? Just what it sounds like - literally popcorn and calamari mixed together in a popcorn container. It may sound weird, but it was delicious. And the portion was huge! I don't think I even ate a third of the calamari....
All orders are placed prior to the start of the movie, but you can exit the theater and order additional drinks at the bar during the film if you so desire. They have a pretty solid system worked out and I was pleased with the service. They automatically add 17% gratuity to your bill, fyi, but a note on the receipt indicates that tip can be increased or decreased. I added an additional tip since I normally do more than 17%, but I appreciated how clear they were with the customers.
I really enjoyed my experience at Cinebistro and will definitely be back again! After all, who doesn't want to enjoy a cocktail and a full meal while watching a movie on the big screen?
Not a huge fan of the food here...I always stick to a salad or appetizers. But I love being able to have drinks while watching a movie in comfy chairs.
I also love the assigned seating. That way you can choose where you want to sit. The chairs are huge and pretty comfortable. Like a leather chair you would have in our den. Â And the theater is always clean.
Last night I had the pomegranate mojitos. They went down very easily. It is nice to sit at the bar or lounge area after the movie to chat and drink some more.
This is the movie experience elevated to a whole new level. The stars are for the experience, not the food.
I can see why certain folks would be drawn to this kind of movie-going experience, but unfortunately this place just ain't my scene, baby. The only reason we came to this theater was because they were showing a one-night only revival of a classic movie my partner and I both enjoy, so this was the only game in town. That being said, I don't think I'll be giving Cinebistro an encore performance.
As we walked down the corridor into the theater, my partner and I looked at each other in despair as we sniffed the air. The smell was overwhelmingly like the back of the kitchen at a Red Lobster or a Ruby Tuesday. You know the smell: microwaved cream sauces mingled with frozen seafood and the slight tinge of beer. We looked over the menu as we sat down, but our jaws hit the floor at the prices for uninspired, typical chain restaurant type food. Everyone else seemed to be chowing down, though, so what do I know?
What really got my goat was that as the introduction to the movie started, house lights were not dimmed and folks continued to eat and drink well into the first twenty minutes of the movie. Serving staff continued to shuffle in and out of the aisles, delivering crabcake sandwiches and ridiculously sized pitchers of beer as the movie began. Fellow moviegoers were flagging down staff, putting in last minute orders and requesting items while the movie was clearly rolling. Â
To make matters worse, halfway through the film, the digital feed for the movie started skipping, blurping, pixelating, all of it. They had to stop the film and fast forward to another scene, effectively skipping a good 5-10 minutes of the movie. Granted, the manager offered to refund our money if they couldn't get the film rolling again, but at this point, I just wanted the whole experience over with. If this really is "Movies with Taste" as their slogan claims, then I was left wanting a good swig of mouthwash to get the taste out of my mouth.
If you can afford it, go, go, go to this theater. Â Adults only, so you don't have to worry about children screaming and running up and down the aisles, kicking your seat, or babies crying. Â It's 21+. Â
The theater is a type of dine and view, where you come early to eat in large leather seats that are so very comfy, the only thing that could make it better is making the chairs massage. Â There are two chairs for each "group", and you can easily pull up one of the arms in the middle and make it a loveseat--very good for couples who want to share a romantic movie. Â
When you first enter the building you are brought into a very stylish bar setting where old TV shows and movies play on the wall behind the bar. Â The bar staff is polite and quick. Â Once your movie is called to open seating, you go to your assigned seats (that's right, when you purchase your tickets you pick what seats you want), so no having to rush to get the best seats in the house or the ones you want.) Â You are waited on by a handful of people who are friendly, clean, helpful, funny and knowledgeable of the food choices. Â They also go above and beyond, I've never had a bad waiter at this place, they are always willing to do or get you whatever you want. Â
I have never had a bad meal at this place either. Â Everything is always cooked to perfection. Â Your popcorn comes in a stylish ceramic bowl, champagne and wines are available if you want. Â It is a bit pricey, but it's totally worth it. Â We go on celebrations or simply on "big" movies we want to enjoy without the noise and rukus of children and babies. Â
I love this place, and it's the best idea ever.
My favorite place to see a movie in Richmond. Â I don't know what the other critics are complaining about - yes the food can be pricey but no one is forcing you to eat. Â 7 dollars for unlimited popcorn is not that much compared to the cost at other theaters and the free water alone is more than you get form regular theaters. Â Thankfully they don't come by to refill your popcorn and drinks - do you really want people constantly walking in front of you during the movie? Â Just run to the bar real quick its close and only takes a second.
I think the food here is quite good. Â I always end up getting the pita and hummus which is a great alternative to snack on during the movie. Â I also love the option to order a pitcher of beer which comes in a pitcher with ice in the middle so it stays cold during the movie. Â I think it was $12 for a pitcher of blue moon which is pretty good. Â The seats are comfortable and the best part no crying children!
Most importantly don't forget to buy your tickets online or go there early/the day before. Â This place is always buys and the movies frequently are sold out!
Quite a well-oiled, empty-your-wallet operation. The food is fine, the drinks are fine, the service (which you only get before the film starts) is polite and prompt, but it all feels like a well-orchestrated corporate restaurant.
The seats are plush and comfortable, the theater is perfectly small (cozy and great screen aspect/size ratio), but it gets expensive quick.
For my money, I'd prefer the smoky, bar-like movie-and-beer-and-barfood places.
This place is not cheap. Â My husband will never let me forget it. Â Between the two of us, food and drink only we spent 100$ for, dare I say it, glorified movie theater food. Â I mean, it was better than hotdogs and buckets of popcorn but it was obvious from the flavor/texture of the food and the speed it was brought out with that it was all frozen in a box and dumped onto the grill.
Nice grill it is though. Â The decor and atmosphere are very swanky. Â Movie Taverna this is not. Â It's definitely a date night place for grownups. Â You have to show up a half hour ahead of time so that you can order food. If you want anything during the movie you've got to go to the bar out front and order it there. Â As many commenters have mentioned, you're coming here and paying for the experience. Â It was nice and I think this might be a nice date night, special occasion place to go to every once in a while.
I love this place. I started coming here a few months ago and it wasn't until I went back to a "regular" theater that I realized how much I like coming here.
What can I say that hasn't already been said? Not much, really.
Whenever I come here (always with company) we usually get a couple apps, an entree, and a couple drinks. Dinner runs us anywhere between $40-60, depending on what we order (tip included). Pricey, sure... But I like the service, the atmosphere, and being able to dine and watch my movie simultaneously. I'm willing to splurge every so often and go to Cinebistro.
Their menu was tweaked recently and some of the names and highlights now reflect newer movies (drinks: sex and the city, three musketeers, green lantern, etc).
Seats are large, comfy, and I'm rarely bothered by anyone or anything in the theater. Sound and move quality is always great. But I advise booking your tickets online through Fandango a couple days ahead to get good seats. Row D has always been pleasant with a great view. But I have even sat in the last row before and had a fine time.
I fucking LOVE this theater.
First of all, there are loveseats available. Â LOVESEATS. Â So I can be gross and cuddly with my BF and the nearest neighbor will be a giant armrest away from us.
Secondly, and more importantly...MENU AND WAITER SERVICE. Â How fucking cool is this?! Â We felt so ashamed of the Cheese-Its and Pepsi that we smuggled in. Â Screw that!! Â We fancy-pants now! Â Pitcher of beer and a raspberry martini, please and thank you.
Picture and sound quality was terrific, yadda yadda. Â NO CHILDREN IN THE THEATER. Â I'm in love.
We approached our first visit to CineBistro with some apprehension, due to a less than favorable review appearing in one of the local papers the week before - what timing! In a sense this better prepared our expectations, but a few disappointments do keep this theater from being truly great.
First impressions were very good, the lobby is totally swank, very tall ceilings, hi-res LCD screens used to display the movies available - the bar area was equally impressive. We were there at Noon on a Saturday, and the place was unfortunately pretty dead. Luckily we were a large party so we made our own atmosphere. You may purchase drinks at the bar and enjoy them in the lounge area or take them right into the theater with you.
Once seated in the theater, the friendly staff explains the ordering process and so forth - pro tip: arrive 30 minutes prior to the movie time so you have enough time to order your food and drinks. Last call for any ordering is during the previews. This unfortunately is one of the negatives for the experience. If you want even a simple soda refill during the movie, you have to leave the theater and head to the bar. I understand they don't want to distract the movie viewing experience too much with servers milling about, but I'm not someone who even likes to use the restroom during a movie, I hate missing the action on-screen! After the movie starts, the staff vanishes into thin air, and you're unfortunately left with a bunch of dirty plates in front of you until the movie is over.
Now onto the food. Quite simply, it's good but pretty overpriced. My double-burger, while delicious and perfectly cooked to medium as ordered, was pretty standard for $13. Popcorn is $7.50 which is really steep even with free refills. Several appetizers were over 10 bucks. Desserts almost $10 each. There is also an automatic 17.5% gratuity added to the bill. My wife and I had 2 sandwiches and 2 sodas for a grand total of $41. You are really paying for the novelty of eating in a movie theater! They also pulled a switcheroo and put parsley on the panini instead of basil. Nice try - but they taste nothing alike and parsley on a sandwich isn't so good.
On the plus side, the theater itself is top-notch. The seats are large leather armchairs, and fairly comfortable. The projectors are digital in all 6 theaters, and the sound was fantastic - the A/V beats any theater in town I would say. Also, you must be 21 to be admitted due to the fact booze could be floating around inside the theater. This is a huge plus if you want to avoid the teenagers.
All in all, I'll definitely be back to CineBistro for the quality presentation of the movies - but stick to alcohol only, as they charge a fair price for beer and wine. The food just isn't good enough to justify the prices they charge.
Awful experience, but an email to the general manager got results...
We went to Cinebistro with another couple last night for snacks and a movie. Â We figured it'd be a nice way to spend New Years Eve. The service was truly awful. Â Soas not to bore you with the details, here are the highlights:
1. Staff interrupted us consistently during our movie.
2. Our order arrived at the wrong temperature and without standard condiments. Â We had to go to the bar to get it corrected.
3. Part of our order had to be re-ordered because it never arrived.
4. A manager was supposed to be waiting for us after the movie, but instead we had to go hunt her down.
5.After describing our terrible experience during the movie, the manager offered us free dessert next time we came in- suggesting that we should spend more of our hard-earned money to get shitty service from her establishment. Â We handed the dessert tickets back to her.
However, when we got home we decided to email the general manager, as what we really wanted was our money back for the service at least, if not the movie as well. Â
The GM was very nice, he promptly emailed us back saying he'd refund our movie and food service, and inviting us back for dinner and movie on his dime. Â We'll probably take him up on it, if only so we can validate whether it was a one-time thing or just truly awful service. Â Until then, they get two stars from me- I shouldnt have to email a general manager to get results.
Stay tuned...
There's always different gimmicks movie theaters have to get people to try their new thing, whether it be 3-d, moving seats or what not. This theater throws the concept of a movie and dinner in one! I think it's a pretty ingenious idea to throw both of these into one setting.
When walking into the theater, you are greeted kindly and see the bar to your right. You can either order your drink there and bring it Into the theater or order it at the theater. Either way, you can legally have drinks while watching a movie at a theater. And because of that, movie patrons have to be 21+.
You are advised to come thirty minutes before the start of the movie so you can get your meal before the movie starts. Once the movie starts, the service ends and you are free to go to the bar during the movie to order your drink. The menu prices were pretty decent, ranging from $10 - less than $20. Most of the food has already been prepared, which makes it doable to get your food ready in less than thirty minutes. The food wasn't bad, and it sure beats the crazy prices you pay for a popcorn and soda at  a regular theater.
The theater is smaller than your regular theater, but the seats were super duper comfortable. It ranks close to the comfy leather couch seat you have at home.
The ambiance is extremely fancy, but it sure doesn't show in the prices. I like to judge a place by their bathroom, and this was one of those restrooms with the fancy soft towels that you find at high end golf clubs.
Whether this new concept makes it or not, it's definitely worth it to try at least once in your lifetime. Plus there are only so many of these theaters in the country.
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