I love this place. Love. Love love LOVE!!!! The booths are super comfy (get there early to grab one), I honestly crave their pizza, and the movies? Come on. Casablanca, Beetlejuice, and Please Don't Eat The Daisies? Where else can you see such gems of film? (Hint: not at the mall). One of our go to date nights. Seriously? Go here. Tip: order your tickets before the day of the show; they are cheaper. :) read more

Awesome "hecklevision". Go and try it out, its sooooo good. Food was good bar food, pizza and sandwiches. Seats were good, comfortable, not alot of leg room if you cram everyone into a booth. read more

Great team! I like the price, selection of movies, the variety of food and drinks. I lost an item and called after I walked home to discover this. They answered the phone after hours and had everyone look to see if it was left there (it wasn't, but did turn up) but that was really great and I appreciate the dedication to your work. This was a great experience. A neighborhood gem!! read more

I was pretty excited to see an old movie here. The last time I had been to a movie where you could order food and drink was The Arlington Cinema Draft House in Arlington, VA. That place is awesome. I went in with little expectations but high hopes for at least good atmosphere. It would be a lot cooler if the seating were arranged differently. You can't sit more then 2 or 3 together and it's all theater style seating. I was hoping they would have some round tables set up like the other theater I've been to has. I understand there's a lot of people who want food and drink but the service was pretty terrible. All I really wanted was a glass of water and the waitress kept telling me she would refill the water jug below (self-service) but never did. It finally got replaced but I waited and waited. The menu is not accurate at all. I ordered a HAMBURGER and I got a sausage burger. It was disgusting. I could barely eat it and I was SUPER disappointed. Something as simple as a burger shouldn't be a mystery when you get it. The sides were surprisingly good. (red chard salad is what I got) The food is definitely overpriced ($10 for that burger) and nothing much looked appetizing. They did not have ice cream though and claimed they haven't had it for a while even though it's on the menu. Major let down. Not sure if I'd bother to venture out here again. It was cool to see an old movie on the screen and eat but it wasn't a very comfortable environment and everything took so long it was hard to enjoy. read more

The food is not the greatest.... and the service really needs to be better. But I have to give Central Cinema the FIVE STARS because of the concept. Years ago, growing up in Minneapolis, there was a similar place called "Cinema and Draft House". I remember seeing Disney's Aladdin there and enjoying a plate of mini-corndogs.... Pure comfort food and pure heaven! I felt the same way at Central Cinema with my beer and pizza.... Central Cinema is something that I think really needs to happen if theaters want to survive.... combine movies with bar/restaurant service. This makes for a great night. read more

This review of Central Cinema is for the food NOT the theater! I love the concept of going to the movies and being able to order a meal and a glass of wine (can't drink beer because I'm gluten free). However, the few times that I've ordered food at Central Cinema I've been *really* disappointed. Most recently I attended a comedy night for a local social justice organization and ordered a burger, sans the bun. In an attempt to get my veggies I opted for a side salad. When my food arrived I was incredibly disappointed. The burger was dry (I wasn't asked how I wanted it prepared) and it tasted like it was a patty. Additionally the "side salad" seemed like bagged greens and was drenched in salad dressing so by the time I got it the greens were wilted. Also, I think the "salad" was about half a cup. The person next to me ordered the sweet potato fries drenched in grease. Anyway, next time I go to CC I'll bring my own snacks and order a glass of wine (which was good BTW). read more

Cute little theater! We went on a Thursday night for the comedy show and had a great time! Having drinks served to your seat is a bonus! We had a lot of fun and will definitely be back! read more

I Love Central Cinema! I almost hate to write a review of the place for fear that it will become too popular and I won't be able to sneak in at the last minute anymore and still find a great seat. But, it's one of my favorite spots in Seattle, so I have to share the love. The food is good, (pizzas, salads, sandwiches, calzones) with some interesting choices, although I wish the menu were a little more expansive. There are vegetarian and vegan options available, and they have a nice beer and wine selection (again though, its somewhat limited). The owner and staff are friendly and helpful, and the movies are GREAT! They usually show unique and independent films that you can't find anywhere else, or they will show classics and cult faves that are fun to enjoy on the big screen. Another reviewer pointed out that the leg-room in the booths is not so great, but there are a few regular chairs available in the back row (though I think they are intended primarily for parties that need wheelchair accessibility), and there are a few rows of regular movie theater seats behind that. I will also say that while I have experienced a few evenings in the past where the service was a little slow, it seems to have improved significantly in the past few months. I wish there were more places like this in Seattle. Go and enjoy some food and flicks and support this great local business. read more

Oh Central Cinema, it's places like you that make me fear I will never ever venture out of the CD to explore other parts of the city. Central Cinema is delightfully low-key and neighborly. I can't speak to Mitzie H's creme brulee experience, but can report that they whip up totally yummy, vegetarian-lovey pizza and salad. Yum. If there is room, I recommend moving from the bench seats to the back once you've eaten and closed out your tab, because the bench seats are a bit hard on a sister's back-side after a bit. read more

This is a great find and I'm amazed that I haven't discovered it before! We went and saw The Room (an audience participation flick) and had an awesome time. The crowd was enthusiastic, the staff was friendly, the sound was good and the picture quality was spot on. It's in the CD so I was concerned about parking but we didn't have any challenges finding on-street spots. On the downside, the garlic knots lacked garlic and were overcooked and the chocolate brûlée was burned. My wife liked the kale salad but wasn't a fan of the croutons. I'm going back again for the entertainment but I'll probably pass on the cuisine. read more

I've only managed to make it over there a few times, but what a neat place to have in my own 'hood. I managed to miss Fargo, and Ghost Busters, but you shouldn't. Sometimes the food service interferes, but the combination can't be beat! read more

I've been hearing a lot of talk about Central Cinema, but only just went yesterday to see a french action film called District B-13 (Banlieue 13). The movie rocked but I'll save that for another review. For now Central Cinema! It's a little "hole in the wall" local theater that plays old favorites, independents, and awesome ooold-school clips while you wait for your show to begin. I walked in the joint, which was on a quiet, residential street in the CD. The lady behind the "ticket counter" was attending to the phone and two children and was speaking to the customer on the phone like an old family friend. Tickets were $5.00 (eff having to go to early movies to get a ticket for $7.50, this ticket price is for any show!) - and even a joint this small knew better than to do a "cash only" gig. Cards are accepted! Instead of a ticket, you get a menu and proceed to the theater. The theater is comprised of about 12-16 "booths" that will seat two a piece with a narrow table planted in front of the booth for food and drink. I plop down in the "front row because there is more legroom (being 5'1", this should tell you be prepared to sit up straight if you aren't in the front row). It's totally intimate and cozy. Loved it! Sat down and whipped open the menu. There is REAL food, not just crap bar food. Beer (by the glass or pitcher (the pitcher ran me about $13)), Wine (by the glass or bottle!), salads, the best 10" pizza I've had on capitol hill with a savory crisp crust and juicy toppings, and gourmet popcorn popped in sunflower oil and topped with real toppings (butter or brewer's yeast and a couple of others that I can't remember at the moment) for $3.00. YUM. I even ordered a pizza to go and the waiter timed it perfectly to be ready right when the movie ended and he traded pizza in box for the tab. The screen is your average indie-house screen size. Perfect for the intimate atmosphere and the sound is equally perfect. Not overbearing like most new theaters I go to. People are far enough away from you that you aren't bothered by their flashing cell phones or banter. Overall, you can't beat it. Good eats, good flicks, nice people, and alcohol that you don't have to smuggle in a water bottle! The best part is they have a 9:00PM happy hour! So everything is cheaper when you want it to be! :) read more

This was an interesting find - and not real far from a friends' house. They play quite the variety of old-er movies and we went and watched 'Hairspray'. I can't recommend the food - I know this is how they pay to keep the lights on, but it is terrible. I tried 3 or 4 bites of different dishes, and they all taste like microwave food. The popcorn is good, but expensive and served in small portions. read more

The good: the atmosphere is great here. Nice wide benches if you get a seat up front, lecture-hall style seats in back with fold-away tables if you don't arrive so early. The food was excellent - had the kale salad and a brisket calzone - though I must confess that I don't understand pairing marinara sauce with brisket? Its a barbecue dish, folks. The bad: Technically, it's not a cinema. They don't play films. They play blu-rays on a big screen (at least the night I was there, and I didn't see a film booth). Still the picture was great, and the sound was pretty good, though lacking in bass definition. They need some subwoofers. The ugly: the service was terrible. We arrived ten minutes before the posted start time and took our seats. During the 15-minute introduction, we were passed by a waitress no fewer than four times and she did not even acknowledge us despite us holding up menus to show we were waiting. After thirty minutes, she then said "I'll send *some guy's name* over to you". Why? We've waited 30 minutes. Would it kill you to take an order? I got up, followed her out, and bumped into a food runner who I complained to. She got us served but made excuses: "its a full house tonight". And..? That means we don't get service for over 30 minutes? Staff accordingly, serve first those who were seated first, and don't make patrons wait. The slow service was inexcusable, but the waiter was nice when he finally arrived. I still don't get why the other waitress ignored us while serving everyone around us. My recommendation is eat dinner before you go, and maybe have a snack while there. Which is sad, because the food was really good. read more

I feel like I'm such a critic. But honesty can only go so far. I took my lover here and the idea of a movie theater resturant excited her and I. We ordered drinks and she got a root beer float and I got a stout beer float. Both drinks were just ok, even though they had ice cream!!! Then we ordered the pig in the blanket with the smoked chicken sausage. It was pretty good, but I felt like more should have been given. Then we ordered some popcorn with the Curry powder and garlic, and putter. The popcorn was bland and dull. Not worth buying. Then I ordered a four cheese pizza and added peperoni, very good. Not the best, but it brough up points with me. My lover ordered a diablo pizza, with spicy sausage and greens. It was just ok. While we were eating, we saw the movie Carrie, pretty scary movie. If this place had better food, it would get 4 stars, I wish they had one of these in L.A. read more

Thanks to many helpful Yelp reviews, I've made a couple of successful trips to Central Cinema this summer. The trick is to get there no later than 45 minutes before the show starts. Earlier if at all possible. I love, love, love that they are friendly to the vegans and vegetarians out there, and that I can get a lemon Italian Soda full of lemony goodness. Seriously though, it's important to get there as early as possible before the show if you can, if you want to get your order in and get a good seat. read more

Ok ok ok it has been a long time since I wrote my first review and I must update it. I have been back to Central Cinema several times over the past year and it has been amazing. Cute night, Found Footage Festival, They Live, and the best New Year's Party I have ever been too. It is cheap, fun, great atmosphere and a great date place. I've had the pizza and it was good and consistently enjoy butter popcorn and beer. I have had good service and loooooooved the host of the New Year's Footloose bash. So much fun! Cheap, free and easy parking, great fun and interactive shows. Just get there a little early to get a booth and you're set! read more

Awesome fun! Good movies, tasty food, nice atmosphere. A great place for a night out with a friend or your partner. The movie tickets are fairly cheap, the food is reasonable. If you get there a bit early you can grab a booth seat towards the front. read more

I went there this weekend to see the sold out documentary about late snowboard guru Craig Kelly, "Let it Ride". Though the sound quality left much to be desired, it was a great little venue to catch a film. The atmosphere was cozy and intimate. I love that I can enjoy decent wine and beer while kicking back and enjoying a show. Don't come hungry though. We waited about an hour after ordering to get our drinks and the food followed shortly after. My food, a personal pizza (not the one I ordered, by the way) was far from piping hot from the oven. The cesear salad came about 15 min after I got my pizza and was kind of gross and soggy. Yuck! The serving staff seemed stressed and disorganized. I am pretty sure that I paid for a wine that I never got and the pitcher of beer that the really nice people behind us had. Cheers! If you are planning on coming for dinner, get there when the doors open so that you can get a little table/booth up front. The college auditorium style tables, smaller than airplane tables, that are left for late comers are less than adequate for drinks and a meal. Bottom line-Great venue for flicks, crappy restaurant. read more

It's not a bad place. Fun movies, good atmosphere, and it's a bit cozy. But in regards to food: You have one chance to order food and drink. If you blew it, then well good luck flagging down the one waitress in charge of waiting for the whole theater, that is also wanting a beer as much as you do. read more

I'd give this place five stars for charm and character. However, the food is really bad! I had the chicken alfredo pizza, which wouldn't have been too bad had the chicken not come from a can. It was gross! My partner's meatball sandwich was stale and the meatballs were really funky. The popcorn with real butter was actually pretty stellar. However, get ready for gut rot because they put a ton of butter on it. The next time we go we'll steer clear of the food and just have beer or wine. read more

It's hard to find fault with Central Cinema because they have such a great thing going. They are uniquebut there are a few things I wasn't crazy about. 1. The food. The meatball sandwich was cafeteria quality at best. The fries - they are soggy and really put a damper on the meal! I'm sure there are other things on the menu better but what I ordered just didn't do it for me. Disappointing. 2. Sound! We watched "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and loved it except that many parts of the movie we couldn't understand very well. I believe the sound gets lost in the space. They have these big speakers on either side of the theater but I don't think were in use. At any rate we'll return - but won't order food - because it makes for a fun evening! read more

How could you possibly have a bad thing to say about a place that shows old movies, hosts sing a longs, has amazing food, and does trivia? Well.. you can't. My first experience here was with a friend to watch and throw spoons at a screening of The Room. Quite possibly the worst movie ever made, turned into the finest piece of film in history when you have people shouting at the screen and throwing things at it. For real. It was the best time I think I've ever had in a movie theater. The food was pretty great to. I had the Brisket Sandwich (only complaint - no fries?! What's up with that?), and my friend had one of the pizzas which was also really good. We came back again for Movie Cat Trivia. Thankfully there were some smarty pants on our team because I think I knew 5 of the questions out of the entire thing. But it was a great time, and the two hosts were really personable and funny. This is certainly a place to come back to for more fun movie nights and great trivia. read more

Love this place for the themed musical sing a longs they do every month or two - they sell out quick so be sure to get tickets as soon as they release them. It will be worth the experience if you like singing with a ton of random people watching old music videos! Who doesn't love a theater that serves you food and drink while you watch films or are belting out songs?! Definitely worth a visit. read more

I usually HATE going to movies. The chairs are uncomfortable. I can't see well enough to do something else (I like to knit while I watch movies.) The popcorn is covered with artificial crap. Bleah. So, going to the Central Cinema was SUCH a treat for me! Their popcorn has REAL butter on it! And brewers yeast, if you want! YUM! You can have a pitcher with your popcorn, too! Beer + Movies = Good. The movies are older movies or odd selections, which is perfect for me. (I am such a weirdo. I hate seeing new movies.) We went to see Everything is Terrible (we usually watch their clips online or rent similar stuff from Scarecrow) and it was awesome! And, they showed COMMANDO there? Oh wow. I am in love. Now my husband knows where to take me for a movie date. read more

I love this little theater. They serve beer, wine, and food. They have THE best popcorn at any movie theater I've ever been to (butter and brewer's yeast is the winning combo), they have great older movies and great service throughout the movie. The only reason they get a 4 instead of a 5 is that the seating is not that comfortable. It's totally bearable, just not that comfy. read more

What a great place to watch a movie! Comfy seating, yummy snacks and drinks and a great selection of both. You can get a personal pizza with vegan cheese. I had the Fiore Bianco. Yum. Vegan pizza and a movie! Plus wine. Delightful. I visited Central Cinema for the first time at a Northwest Animal Rights Network fundraiser for Pigs Peace Sanctuary in Stanwood. They treated us to a special vegan only menu, but you can get vegan choices anytime. So nice. I'll be back. read more

This place was a blast! I went for a Zoolander quote along the other night and can hardly remember the last time I had that much fun. Right before the gasoline explosion scene they passed out those string pulled poppers. So when his friends went up in flames, everyone got to join in on the bang. Tickets are cheap, but they do stick you a little bit on the booze. I can't say much about the food because I didn't have any. The environment was a blast though. Everyone inside the theater was laughing and shouting lines towards the end. I ended up drinking a pitcher to myself because my date didn't feel like drinking. So by the end of it I was putting hand movements and gestures into my Zoolander quotes. Needless to say, it'll take a while to live down. read more

Food is pretty medicore. Really not good at all. The main problem though is that one of the guys who work there has really bad B.O. We've been several times and each time he's been there and just stinks up the entire place. I mean, we're ordering food and drinks here, so having to smell someone who obviously hasn't showered in days is kind of off-putting. I don't want to be rude. But if you work there and think this might refer to you - please just take a shower each day and wear deodorant. It's really not that hard. read more

I had a fun time here. It's a great place to watch a classic or cult movie on a good size screen, the projector could do with an upgrade or maybe they just get the bad prints. The seats are comfortable booths.the staff is nice. The food isn't as a good as it reads or as plentiful as it should be for the price. read more

Tickets were still $5 when Hiromi and I stumbled over here in the middle of a snowstorm a few weeks back to watch Fight Club, but even at the $6 the web site currently lists, this is a great deal for a brief escape. Food was decent, in the sense that 1) I don't feel I'm being ripped off by paying crazy amounts of money for pennies worth of processed food, like I do at larger cinemas, and 2) It's food I wouldn't feel bad about getting in any run-of-the-mill restaurant for the same price. We had a fairly respectable pizza and a salad, and paid roughly the same amount we would at any other restaurant. And they have beer and wine. As a university student in Germany, one of the most fascinating things I saw was people ordering beer or canned Jack & Coke in the cinema and taking it to their seats, which is generally impossible in most Washington cinemas. I had almost no interest in alcohol back in the day, but now when I feel like going out to a fourth-run movie, I can feel like I'm an older, moderately drinking version of my former exchange student self, and have decent food in the process. Worth doing, and now that I can walk there from home, it's even better. read more

I love that you can see old and independent movies here, while eating pizza and getting an alcoholic drink. Their Hecklevision shows are the best! Arrive early to get a good seat, because some of the tables are booths, others are bar tables, while the ones in back are more like school desks. read more

I recently went with a friend to their Oscar party and it was a blast! I've never been a huge Oscar fan, but it is so fun to find a place like this that can make events fun again. You can cheer, clap, boo, whatever you like. Plus, the MC (or whatever he was) was really great and made the commercial time very fun. Im super excited to go back for one of the movie showings that they have. I noticed a 9 to 5 showing coming up......that would be awesome!! My only complaint is about the service and food, definitely nothing to be excited about. If I was reviewing this purely as a restaurant, it would be more like a 2 star. :( Don't go expecting any 5 star service, but the rest of the experience makes up for it! read more

They don't deserve 5, because 5 is perfection and nothing could and should be improved upon, but because there aren't many like them (maybe one per metro city?), they're getting 5 out of 5, homie! Go here to watch films you'd NEVER see anywhere else (I've seen "The Birds" and "Obama goes to Africa" there)....second, go there for good grub (fancy pizzas and such) and popcorn that can be spiced to your liking (brewers yeast, curry powder, a couple more I can't remember, anyone?) Finally, who DOESN'T like a movie theater where you can get your drink on-tell me, who doesn't? read more

I am half temped to write up a ho-hum review in hopes that this little gem won't become over populated but the fact is the guy who runs it is so nice and does so much for the community that supports him its hard not to give him the credit he deserves. This place is awesome! Where also can you attend a michael jackson sing along one night and the big lebowski the next... all while drinking delicious beer and munching on gourmet popcorn? Make the popcorn park of your meal because youre going to want to save room for their delectible desserts! read more

I had never heard of Central Cinema until a few weeks ago. It was amazing! You have to love a place that serves good food, beer, and plays TV shows and movies. Some friends and I came to watch the season finale of Glee, and they music videos prior that you could sing-a-long to... so. much. fun! I'll definitely make it a point to come back here soon. Love! read more

3.5 stars (3 stars for the concept, .5 for the food) We almost didn't go because of Ian S's comment from yesterday and all the other reviews saying that you have to get there really early to get tix. Despite this, we decided to go anyway, got there about 20 mins before showtime, and we were the only people in the theater. Some more people showed up later, including one of the film's directors (?). I really like the concept of dinner and a movie, all at the same time. I wish we had something like this in either NYC (where I'm from) or Orange County (where I live now). A similar thing to this in NYC is Comix, but it's a comedy club and the food is actually good and the atmosphere is more upscale than divey. But I digress. I love that Cinema Central's seats were comfortable and the seats and rows were spaced well enough that you don't really have to worry about a tall(er) person sitting in front of you. (Well, maybe that's a premature guess, since we didn't have anyone in front of us.) However, I didn't like the movie we saw (perhaps a difference of aesthetic opinion?). It was an indie flick currently on tour from Rangelife Entertainment, "Anywhere, USA." It's a really random, quirky and at times, nonsensical movie. I wish "White on Rice" was playing instead, because I wanted to see that. As for the food, I liked the popcorn itself as it was very fresh and not too buttery (they made it light), but the garlic powder was so strong, I could've sworn they put raw garlic in it. It was actually spicy! That wasn't really the flavor I was hoping for. And there was too much salt. Also, we got the Firenza pizza, which tasted kind of weird. It had potato, rosemary, olives over cheese and marinara. The potato was sliced and roasted, which gave the pizza a strange and unexpected flavor and texture. The olives, while good, were too salty; perhaps they should have used less. Finally, while the cheese was plentiful, it had a strange hard texture, even though it was melted and stretching from plate to mouth. Isn't that strange? A melted mozzarella that tastes hard rather than soft and gooey? For drinks, we got a pumpkin ale (him) and a Ruby Slipper (me). The blood orange and pear tea was a little too tart for me and would've been better as an iced tea, but oh well. Next time, right? read more

I LOVE THEIR MOVIES!!!! For the next month, I have to visit them at least five times to catch Big Trouble in Little China, The Room, Hausu, Brazil, Found Footage Fest, Madonna Mondays, etc... I still love their little pizzas. Their hummus plate is decent. It's served with hot and crispy pita bread and tasty Greek olives (which I typically don't like). I have learned to stay away from their beers due to past disappointments, but I might try them again in the future. Note of advice to moviegoers: lay off the patchouli. One of the people in front of us had slathered it on. It wouldn't stink all the time, but when the wind changed, we would have to smear mentholated lip balm under our noses (per the autopsy scene in Silence of the Lambs). Oof, that was rough. Also, yelling out lines and funny comments are encouraged but please don't talk through the entire movie or try to push your jokes. Not all of them will land and it's ok. read more

I love Central Cinema. In the past 2 months I have gone at least 6 times. It's a cheap way to spend an evening out and it's super fun. Tickets are only $6 if you buy them ahead of time and the food is reasonably priced. Their actual entree items are a better deal than their small plate choices, but it's all pretty predictable there. I have gotten their pizzas and sandwiches as well. Their pumpkin burger is wonderful! It's nice to see a *creative* vegetarian option on the menu here. The size of the theatre is great as well, super homey feeling. A little more legroom/comfortable benches would be nice but it's satisfactory. read more

This place rocks! I only recently found out about this place from a friend who got me to go see Flash Gordon with her - it's easily the most fun I've had watching a movie in a very, very long time! They opened the movie with actual props from local collectors, as well as a Queen music video sing-along. Also audience participation and commentary is encouraged and I found myself laughing almost as much at other people's input as at the awesome absurdity going on on the screen. Service was quick and food was reasonably priced, though nothing spectacular. Water is free though, jugs set up in the back to help yourself to. Besides, you're coming for the movies more then the food anyway so it's totally worth coming and checking out! read more