Gusto

[flyinbayou]

Looks like Chef Garcia's empire is expanding. He is opening up Gusto at the newly renovated Theatres at Canal Place due to open tonight. The theater renovation looks fantastic with new seats (stadium style, leather) and sound. I am sure the food will outclass what is presently available in movie theaters but not sure how the in-seat service will work without distracting the hell out of everybody trying to watch a movie.

http://www.thetheatres.com/cafe/

[ratcheese]

Yeah, I'm like you, there could be some problems with that concept. Disruptive service, eating anything besides popcorn in the dark...wine in the dark could be good...

Great to have the theatre back! I missed them.

[Suzy Wong]

I have gone to Canal Place cinema since they opened. Speaking as the last dinosaur to roam the earth, this concept has -zero appeal to me. Restaurants are for dining and drinking. Movie theaters are for large screens and popcorn. The 2 don't mix IMO. Sitting in what may resemble (insert new $ celebrity moniker here) in home screening room with strangers is not my bag. +What chaos with ordering/serving allowed during the movie. That said, I'm sure it will do quite well w/o me. HA

[NoNoNanette]

Many moons ago, Slidell had a joint called "Carafe and Draft". They had tables with comfortable swivel chairs. Good food. Fun times. First run movies. We went there fairly often.

Give it a try. You might enjoy it! :toast:

[Gourmondo]

I dunno, think I may have to go with Suzy on this one. Just doesn't sound good to me. If I'm paying $$ to park and see the only local run of some art film, I don't want someone spilling their cabernet down my back. People are irritating enough in theaters as it is without getting them all lickered up. I have been to theaters where food and wine was served in the lobby, but not in the viewing space itself. But I will check it out anyway since the playlist there always appealed to me before.

[Shannon]

I've been to a movie theater/restaurant dinner theater. It worked better than I expected. The waiters were very inconspicuous. You placed your order before the movie started. It was delivered after the movie was under way. There was a counter-like table in front of each row of seats with small lighting (pointing down toward the counter). They had a way to signal the waiter to your seat without having to flag them down, for drink refills or to order something else.

The place I went was just diner-like food. I would love to do it at a place with better food (theirs wasn't bad, had a great thick home-style burger and fresh cut fries and fresh baked warm cookies for dessert).

It looked something like this - though after the movie started, the only lights were very small lights under the edge of the table, pointing towards your food.

http://www.esquire.com/cm/esquire/images/UH/dinner-theater-030309-lg.jpg

[Jeeves]

Remember Movie Pitchers in Mid City on Bienville Street? http://www.mikemileyonline.com/2009/07/movie-pitchers-greatest-movie-theater.html That place was fantastic.

[ratcheese]

Remember Movie Pitchers in Mid City on Bienville Street? http://www.mikemileyonline.com/2009/07/movie-pitchers-greatest-movie-theater.html That place was fantastic.

The last movie I saw there was Happy, Texas! What year would that have been? Probably 02 or so...can't remember, but I do remember the crapped-out chairs and wooden cable spool table. You had to be into it.

[Jeeves]

The last movie I saw there was Happy, Texas! What year would that have been? Probably 02 or so...can't remember, but I do remember the crapped-out chairs and wooden cable spool table. You had to be into it.
Sav-A-Center edged them out around the end of 2000.

[willifred]

Remember Movie Pitchers in Mid City on Bienville Street? http://www.mikemileyonline.com/2009/07/movie-pitchers-greatest-movie-theater.html That place was fantastic.

My next door neighbor was the projectionist.....he kept me up on what to see that I would not have been aware of...

[Jeeves]

My next door neighbor was the projectionist.....he kept me up on what to see that I would not have been aware of...

I wish someone would bring it back. It was like being in a living room with a bunch of neighborhood friends hanging out!

[bigshot]

I dunno, think I may have to go with Suzy on this one. Just doesn't sound good to me. If I'm paying $$ to park and see the only local run of some art film, I don't want someone spilling their cabernet down my back. People are irritating enough in theaters as it is without getting them all lickered up. I have been to theaters where food and wine was served in the lobby, but not in the viewing space itself. But I will check it out anyway since the playlist there always appealed to me before.

Amen and double Amen. Hope this goes down real fast before the next one tries this nut ball concept.:eek:

[Suzy Wong]

+ It's all reserved seating. So if one sits next to Chatty Kathy or Max Merlot, I guess there's no moving to another seat.

[crrush]

People are irritating enough in theaters as it is without getting them all lickered up.

This is where I have trouble with the concept -- not just the licker, but the distraction of real food. The noises, the movement/activity would probably work my nerves. As I said, I'm easily distracted (http://forums.neworleans.com/showthread.php?t=5062&page=1). I will have no problems bypassing the movie and going to Gusto for a meal or snack. I love the concept in theory, and I think the place will do very well...it's just not how I like to see a movie.

[globe9]

I've been to several movies at the Alamo Draughthouse in Austin, TX...a chain of restaurant/theaters that screen 1st run movies and I have to say, I thought it was great. I've even looked into possibly getting them to open one here.

They are all located in strip malls, shopping centers where there is ample free parking. They have a large bar located in the lobby with all kinds of beers on tap. They encourage you to get to the movie an hour or so early to order your meal. For the most part, people are finished with the main meal before the previews are over. I relished having a server refill my beer during the movie. The servers are NOT at all distracting IMO and the lighting is very minimal.

I found that the other theater goers were no more or no less distracting than the same annoying people in a regular theater. Inconsiderate people are inconsiderate people no matter what kind of theater you are in.

They also show great old movies/retrospectives/themed nights etc. Friend of mine went to a showing of The Last Unicorn a few months back and the guy who wrote it was there. While I was there during Xmas, they were showing scary movies with Santa Claus themes....they show the previews for all of these cheesy, fun movies, etc. I thought it was great!!!

Overall, I love the idea, not necessarily the upscale Canal Place concept, but a more mid-level theater with diner type offerings. If I'm going to a movie, I don't necessarily want gourmet while I'm there.

On a side note: I have friends who live in Colorado and they have a local drive in that shows 1st run movies! I would LOVE to have one of these here too. I hear they're making a comeback.

[ratcheese]

The subject of Canal Place came up during this week's Sunday lunch, and I have to say that opinions seemed to be divided into age groups, with the younger crowd being more open and even excited about the idea, and the older folks not happy about it at all.

Being in the 'older" group myself, I can say I am very disappointed that my favourite movie house will no longer be a place to watch the newest art quality films in a quiet atmosphere.

I think it was a bit of poetic justice that their trial run was Sex in the City ll. I love it. :whip:

[justagirl]

I think it was a bit of poetic justice that their trial run was Sex in the City ll. I love it. :whip:

From what I understood, that was because the Landmark theatre closed with Sex and the City, so it was their way of re-opening. Something like that, but there was a point to it beside the doucheyness of it.