Studio Movie Grill

Who doesn’t love a fabulous date night with their hubby?  I know I do. Too often though,  I find that our time is limited to spend outside of the home. 

Enter Studio Movie Grill :: a restaurant and movie experience.  Dinner & a movie within the entire timeframe of a movie.

Recently, Jim and I (along with Charlie) had the opportunity to check out the newest branch of this chain of movie theaters. Located in Wheaton, it’s a perfect location for us. We even had the chance to see the new Disney Pixar flick, Brave, before it hits theaters next week! {More on that later!}

We’ve been to similar restaurant movie theaters and so I had an idea of how the set-up would be, but upon our arrival, I was pleasantly surprised at how much more I liked Studio Movie Grill compared to its competitors. You walk into a modern lobby with a u-shaped bar and seating area. The staff was friendly and eager to help in any way they could.

We had the opportunity to sample a few things from the Starters category – 

Potato Skins

Chicken Tenders

Pesto Pizza from the Entrees category

Mini Korean Tacos from the Entrees category 

Bar Peanuts

Cheeseburger Sliders

Fruit Kebabs

These bites were absolutely delicious. While we enjoyed all of these immensely, personal favorites were as follows :: Jim – Pesto Pizza, Samantha – Korean Tacos, Charlie – Chicken Tenders. You may even consider snagging a few of the starters for your actual meal!

For Dinner – 

Samantha – Coconut Chicken Tenders with French Fries

The portions are nicely sized. I received approximately 5 chicken tenders (I think there were five…it was dark! haha) and a bunch of french fries.  They were served in classic white square bowls and I found that they fit easily on the table in the theater.

Jim – Turkey Burger with Sweet Potato Fries

Jim raved about this and said, “This is SOOOOO good!” after his first bite. Despite choosing a healthier option, he definitely thought it was still tasty!

Charlie – Chicken Tenders with French Fries

He ate the french fries and liked them. Of course. We then had lunch for the next day!

Chocolate Milkshake – Standard. Classic. Yummy. 

Overall, the menu has quite a few options without being overwhelming. From pizzas to burgers to unique fare, everyone is sure to find something they will love. For dessert, I’d love to try the fresh hot cookies on our next visit!

Inside the theater, the place is GIGANTIC. Every seat gives you the perfect view of the screen and you never feel like you are off to the side of the movie. With a row of stand alone seats and and a small table or individual seating with mini desk-like tables, there is plenty to choose from. You can choose swivel chairs or traditional theater seating and enjoy the view either way. The service button & light is not intrusive and operates simply. The main movie screen is humongous and arguably, the largest screen I have ever seen a movie on. The surround sound is also impeccable, giving you the feeling that you are IN the actual movie. SMG really takes the basic movie experience to the next level. 

Perhaps it’s because they’ve only been open a week or because they genuinely are that good year-round, but I thought the service was great. Quick and friendly staff that was ready to answer any questions you have. I love the ordering system they have – utilizing cell-phone looking devices to place our order. Despite the large crowd, we were never disturbed and I never seemed to even notice that they were going back and forth.

Whether it’s date night or family movie fun, Studio Movie Grill should be on your list. The restaurant movie experience is fantastic and the food (despite being higher-priced) is worth the special treat. Out of the local restaurant movie locations, this is my absolute favorite and we will definitely be heading back in the future.

Want to try it out? Here’s a link for two free movies passes good through June 21, 2012.  Enjoy!