| rev:text
| - Like many other theaters that are now offering full service dinner, the concept of SMG is great but it's the execution of this concept that is truly lacking. Let me begin by saying the hubby and I had a 50/50 kind of night when we went to watch Safe House this evening at SMG. Once we were seated and received our food, we truly did enjoy the movie and the perk of getting to eat real food while watching. The servers themselves were nice, fairly quick and considerate during the movie. Throw in the fact that the movie itself was good...we were quite happy when the credits rolled and we walked out at the end of the night.
Unfortunately, we were far from happy the first half of the evening. We arrived at the theater at 6:30pm only to be told that the 7:20pm show was pretty much full and we'd be stuck in the front. Having been turned away a couple weeks before for the same reason we were prepared for this and ready to wait for the 8:40pm show. So we waited. And this is where SMG's execution could use some work.
This place is busy. Granted, it's a Saturday but the problem is that there is no where for all the people who are waiting for movies to well, wait! There's a small bar and some cushions scattered around the lobby which is stifling hot I might add. It feels like you're at an airport terminal or at an amusement park waiting for an attraction.
After all the waiting you get called into your respective lines (according to when you purchased your tickets or if you bought reserved seating) which is a mad dash amidst a grumpy, impatient and liquored up crowd. Once you've scrambled to your line you wait some more until they let you in to the theater which is then another mad dash to snag prime seating (unless you have reserved seats).
As I mentioned earlier, hubs and I were lucky to be in Group 1 and let into the theater first after reserved seating so we were able to sit in the more comfy leather chairs with the swinging dining tray attached. If you're not so lucky you end up in ordinary office chairs lined up in front of a small counter-like tabletop. Talk about uncomfortable.
This is the point where our night turned around and we were no longer grumpy or irritated and actually was able to enjoy our movie. Food was decent, as expected for a quick serve kitchen, and prices weren't cheap but that's to be expected.
Bottom line: know what you're getting into when you go here.
1. Get there early if you haven't purchased reserved seats online beforehand. If you think you can arrive with 20 minutes til your movie....you will not get in.
2. Be prepared to wait around and fight the crowds for a decent spot in line...or you're doomed to a dinky office chair for the entire movie.
If SMG were able to execute the front end of the moviegoer experience then I'd be pleased. As it is, it's not very relaxing or appealing to feel crowded, impatiently stand around and compete for comfy seating. Not my idea of a fun night out so the hubby and I are probably not going back to this particular dinner/movie theater. It's just simply not worth the trouble and discomfort which is disappointing because the actual concept, once you get there, is pretty darn cool.
Good luck to all you fellow Groupon users...be prepared and hope you can have a better overall experience than we did.
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