Name of restaurant or pub: Alamo Drafthouse

Location: Austin, Texas, 4 Locations

Web site: http://www.drafthouse.com/

Telephone number: +1 512-707-8262 (S. Lamar),  +1 512-476-1320 (Ritz), +1 512-459-7090 (Village), +1 512-219-8135 (Lake Creek)

Media link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp5_IGP1mcQ

Review:
Austin, Texas (The Live Music Capital of the World yay!) is one of the coolest cities in America. As the capital, and the only liberal hub of the iconic red state, the city is a mecca of diverse people, art, film, music, food, and nature, with myriad spots around town featuring an amalgamation of all. The city’s slogan, ‘Keep Austin Weird’, expresses Austinites’ pride in supporting local businesses, and their preference for the high quality, and unpretentious and often quirky surroundings they offer. One of my favorite places in Austin, and one that epitomizes its distinctive character, is The Alamo Drafthouse.

Alamo Drafthouse, an independently owned and operated movie theatre, is a fusion of film and food. Dinner and a show all in one! You won’t encounter the typical waft of stale, cheese whiz covered nachos of the common corporate chain variety. While viewing the new-release film of your choice,  a proper menu of delectable treats, created by award-winning chefs, is on hand. Prices range from reasonable ($10 pizza) to expensive ($4 coke). Though is it not compulsory for a film spectator to order food at the Alamo, it is a large part of the experience and a large part of the fun, and therefore it is rare that a visitor will pass up the opportunity to pencil in their order on the little white pieces of scratch paper provided, and stick them on the table clip as a flag for the server to collect! Popular choices include the ‘Bucket of Beer’ (six bottles in a pale of ice $18-£35) and the ‘Jalapeno Poppers’ ($7). Personally, I vouch for the delicious, made-from-scratch Sangria ($6/glass,$20/pitcher) and ‘The Godfather’ pizza ($10.50). And it is extremely rare that I make a trip to the Alamo without getting the ‘Three Freshly-Made Hot Chocolate Chip Cookies served with Amy’s (the best local ice-cream) Mexican Vanilla Ice Cream’ ($5). Other fare include sandwiches, wraps, pizzas, salads, pasta, burgers, fish & chips, quesadillas, desserts, coffee drinks, shakes, rootbeer floats, and of course candy. Plus a full bar offers cocktails, beer, and wine!

The Feast Series makes for an excellent date night!  Past events included: a six course Russian menu inspired by Dr. Zhivago, a five course vegan meal to accompany Super Size Me, six courses of Caribbean food for Pirates of the Caribbean, an all organic feast during Fast Food Nation, authentic Polish eats throughout the Polish Film Festival, a Moroccan spread for Casablanca,  a seven course Middle Earth-ian Hobbit feast throughout twelve hours of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy,  a five course Harry Potter meal inspired by the start of term feast enjoyed by Hogwarts students at the beginning of each book, an aphrodisiac-laden menu for the Valentine’s Day showing of Annie Hall,  and a four course feast during the screening of Sideways, complete with wine pairings that were featured in the film. ($25-$100/person)

A favorite event is the ongoing Alamo Iron Chef Competitions, in which Alamo chefs vie against each other, or against other renowned chefs in the city. Each chef prepares four to five dishes, themed to the chosen film, for each of the audience members. At the end of the show, the audience decides whose meals were tastier and more cleverly matched and timed to the movie. All proceeds for the Iron Chef events go to a local food bank. This is a thrilling evening!

I would be remiss not to mention that aside from new release films, The Signature Events at Alamo- Sing-a-longs, Terror Tuesdays, Weird Wednesdays, Rocky Horror Picture, Filmmaking Frenzy, Hey Homo!, Baby Day, Rolling Roadshow Tour, Austin Air Guitar, Celebrity Guests, Master Pancake, Open Screen Night, TV Show Series Marathons, and many more- are hugely popular and super fun!

It’s important to reserve seats ahead of time and to show up early to collect your tickets! The Alamo Drafthouse is always packed! Waiting in the lobby prior to entrance into the theatre is all part of the experience- an opportunity to peruse works by local artists, play old school arcade games, buy a cool t-shirt, socialize with friendly Austinites, or kick back with a beer and watch the ever bizarre,  invariably comical pre-film entertainment. Film ticket price is $9/person. Four locations in town.

Melanie – solis_melanie@yahoo.com