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Dinner & A Movie - Gold Class Cinemas
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Dinner & A Movie is a series looking at the various movie theaters in the Seattle area that offer more than just popcorn and soda on the side. Pizza or pasta, wine or beer, these are the local cinemas where an entire date can happen in one spot.
Just a few miles off 405, amidst the Redmond Town Center, sits Village Roadshow’s Gold Class Cinemas. Gold Class specializes in high class movie going. A relaxed lounge setting meets you at the entrance. Venture further inside to take in the latest pictures with state of the art sound and screens, in small theaters with limited seating, far from the vast stadium size set ups of many modern multiplexes. A wide variety of wines can be orders with the mere push of a button next to your stylish seats. However, the experience comes with a price. But is the price too steep?
Undeniably, on presentation alone, Gold Class Cinemas is special. Comfy, lush orange recliner chairs are a delight to sit back in, with plenty of leg room to spare. The service is friendly and unassuming. Getting extra snacks or beverages is easy and the staff clearly tries to be as quiet as possible, succeeding without question. The lobby matches the atmosphere of the finest hotels and, unlike a lot of the best theaters in Seattle, parking is free. Add to that the small crowds and large alcohol menu and things are looking up.
That is until you dig a little deeper. The cozy atmosphere Gold Class presents can easily be spoiled by one patron. At a recent endeavor, I saw a movie in an audience of only eight. However, in front of me was a small crowd, rowdy for a good time and pumped full of booze. The close proximity can not be helped; at most, one can only be about 15 feet from another audience member. The goofy group mentality is standard for a midnight movie but hopefully avoided for the price you have to pay at Gold Class. With such a small arrangement, one bad apple spoils things in a hurry. Equally, though it’s wonderful to sit in a massive chair, the noise they make when reclining gets obnoxious fast.
At roughly $100 for a two person visit, an evening out will run you a mighty sum. This might be acceptable if the food were finer. The menu looks decent, with more than burgers and ice cream, but is sadly the opposite. The options are limited, with only around 10 entrees/appetizers to select from. They are not helped by their taste. My trip, which had began deliciously with an appetizer of blue cheese potato chips, was followed by a bland, burnt pizza. My fellow film goer wasn’t any happier with her sushi selection, giving it the frank critique of “It was really bad.” The sad meal is made worse by a miniscule table to eat them from. With drinks, appetizers and entrees struggling for space, a reworking of plates and glasses must be done mid-movie.
Finally, Gold Class’s other major downfall is its movie selection. One can find some of today’s hottest movies, just not all of them. Clear blank spots in their lineups are a common occurrence. Currently, big summer movie fare like Up and Terminator Salvation are not playing. Perhaps it would be better if the theater were to cater to a more art house crowd, adding an international flair to its resume. Then, filmgoers who might seek to avoid the vast, noisy crowds, might venture there for something let popcorn and more substance. A shame that the entire concept Gold Class is running with fails. The idea is solid, the execution is poor and costly.
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