ArcLight Cinemas: A Foodie at the Movies

I love going to the movies but I hate the lack of food options you find at the average theater. Sometimes the best movie schedule for me conflicts with dinnertime. It becomes either too late or too early. I was pleased to find out that ArcLight Bethesda is not the average movie theater. Not only do they have reserve seating and super comfy chairs, they also have a great café. Here are the highlights from my visit a few weeks ago: 

Cocktails at ArcLight Bethesda

The Drinks:  The bartenders at ArcLight Bethesda know what they are doing when it comes to drinks. Although Arc Light is a national brand, the bartenders get a poetic license at individual locations to create the cocktails. Some of the cocktails are movie inspired, like the Sex and the City Cosmo (pictured above). Aside from the classics they also play into the creative, like the Mexican chocolate martini (my recommendation), a solid selection of wines, plenty of beers on draft, and even a proper espresso machine (perfect for the late night movie). The highlight of the bar is that you get to bring the drinks into the movie. Chardonnay in hand, I was on the edge of my seat watching American Sniper. 

Ahi Tuna Poke at Arc Light Bethesda

The food: Movie theaters are known for popcorn but also get a bad reputation for nachos with cheese and sad looking hotdogs. The café menu at Arc Light was pretty creative and all the bites came in between 10-15 minutes, perfect for a quick bite before a movie.  The menu ranges from Ahi tuna to cheese and charcuterie board to lobster rolls. Some of my favorite items were the bacon wrapped-blue cheese filled dates, the Ahi Tuna, and the chicken wings. Enjoyed the mix of classics with the creative items. We concluded our tapas style dinner with a mixed berry tart. As much as I cringe at the price of food at the theater, I was pleasantly surprised that the café has a normal price range with most items between $8-$15. Those prices are up to par with many of cafes in the area.

Mixed Berry Tart at Arc Light Bethesda

The Experience: Arc Light Bethesda is located at the newly renovated Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Although I am a city person, sometimes I just love the idea of plenty of (free) parking! For those coming via public transportation, you can take the metro and there are shuttles to the mall available. Some of the highlights of the theater:  you get assigned seating (you can pick your seats online before arriving), there are no pre-movie commercials (make sure to arrive on time), and the seats are very spacious! The verdict: loving the concept of dinner and a movie all in the same space! 

Charcuterie Board at ArcLight Bethesda