New Jersey's Dine-In Movie Theaters

2/20/14 - By Jennifer Battista

If you’re looking for a fun outing with the kids, a dine-in movie theater can be a great way to combine seeing a movie with enjoying a meal. These theaters show the latest kid-friendly movies on the big screen and offer delicious food that’s delivered right to your seat. Super fun for the kids and no cooking or clean up for the parents! (FYI, two of the locations also host adults-only screenings if you want to ditch the kids and head out for date night.)

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AMC Dine-In Theatres

There are four AMC theaters with the dine-in option: Menlo Park 12 in Edison, Bridgewater 7 at Bridgewater Commons, Essex Green 9 in West Orange, and Riverside 9 in Hackensack. Advance reservations are suggested as movies can sell out fast. Purchase your tickets online—you’ll get to choose your seat location to avoid being split up.

Once you’re at the theater, find your seat and a server will come around to take your order. The seats are larger and cushier than average movie theater seats, which is a nice upgrade. Menu choices vary by location but kid’s meals include popular items such as quesadillas, chicken tenders and grilled cheese. (Probably not the place to go if you’re hoping for a healthy meal.) There’s an extensive dinner menu for adults, as well as fancy cocktails and yummy desserts. Traditional theater treats like popcorn and candy are available if you don’t want to order a full meal.

Average ticket prices are $16-18 for adults and $13-15 for children. Matinee tickets are generally a few dollars cheaper if you want to save some money. Kid’s meals are around $6-$8 with adult options ranging from $10 for burgers up to $15 for fancier entrées.

Dunellen Cinema Café

This family-owned theater has been around since 1920. The current owners purchased it in 1989, with plans to turn it into a wonderful destination for family-friendly food and entertainment. The theater has a laid-back, old-school vibe and shows mostly family-oriented and children’s movies. No worries about keeping the kids quiet or making a mess here! The large menu includes appetizers, burgers and pizza, along with kid’s items such as chicken fingers, hot dogs and pasta.

Ticket prices are $8 for adults and $6 for children. Kid’s meals are $5.50 each, including drinks, while adult prices generally range from $5 to $7.

The Cinema Café is a great option for birthday parties too. Packages are reasonably priced and the birthday kid’s name goes up on the marquee!

iPic Hudson Lights – Fort Lee
This luxury theater has been called the "crown jewel" of movie theaters, and features plush leather seats, artisanal cocktails, and a chef-driven menu.  
 

Places featured in this article:


AMC Dine-in Theatres Menlo Park 12

AMC Dine-in Theatres Bridgewater 7

AMC Dine-in Theatres Essex Green 9

AMC Dine-In Theatres Riverside 9

About the Author

Alison Reiser

Jennifer Battista is proud to be a Jersey Girl. She was born and raised in Monmouth County and spent her summers sunning at the Jersey Shore. After ten years living in New York City, she’s happy to be back in the Garden State where she lives with her hubby, two sons and kitty. When not busy writing for Mommy Poppins, Jennifer works as a freelance editor for several publishing companies, volunteers with local community organizations and is a semi-professional class mom. She is obsessive about pop culture and is an unabashed disco fan. She loves to plan activities and is excited to share her Jersey knowledge with Mommy Poppins’ readers as the Events Editor for the NJ site.
 

You can also follow Jennifer on Google+.