This is a true gem of a place that we are lucky to have in our city. I can't tell you how great it is to snuggle up and watch a good film while enjoying great food and a bottle of wine within easy reach. The good: Great (if somewhat limited) menu of pub style fare. Killer stone fired pizza. OK selection of wine, good selection of beer. Cozy bench style seating. Unobtrusive waiter/waitress service during the film. Good movie crowd (people actually react to the film!) Very eclectic selection of films. The bad: Not enough leg room for me in the bench seats, but it's still more comfortable than your average theatre. The food/drink service was slower than I would have liked. Perhaps TOO eclectic of a selection of films - it took me a few weeks to find something on their calendar I really wanted to see. All things considered, I'm really impressed with the place. The food is great and the movie experience is the best around. They also seem to be really involved with the local and regional community, hosting benefits, special events, etc. I'm definitely keeping my eye on their schedule. read more

I've been going here for a month, and I'm crazy about it. Movies for $5? Amazing. On top of that, it's really the only place in town that consistently shows movies I actually want to see. They show a few classics, a few independent flicks, a few small budget Hollywood shows - in other words, a wide variety of thoughtful, engaging material that isn't too full of itself to be fun. A wonderful touch is the carefully programmed shorts before each feature. Many enjoyable films, and even some very important ones, are of the newsreel-length variety, and they don't get nearly enough exposure. Central Cinema does a wonderful job of thematically tying these together. It's worth arriving an hour early to the 7:00 show to see these. The food is most notable for existing at all in a Seattle movie theater, but is pretty good too. I'm ecstatic that I can get a Mack & Jack's here. The pizzas are satisfying and very reasonably priced. The wine I've had was quite poor, though, and the chocolate "cake" is frozen and not high quality. Also, they keep the cost low by having only one server for the whole place, which makes it a bit slow. If that annoys you, eat in the dining room before the late show - the ticket clerk will serve you, and it's usually pretty empty so service is good. read more

Good wine and beer. The pizza is really good too. You can now order food and drink from the speedmenu site, which means you don't have to wait the the waiter or waitress. Sweet! I love the movies they show. I just saw Friday the 13th the final chapter the other day. read more

This place is a real gem. Comfortable bench seating (like Denny's booths but better) an actual table in front of you, to set your beer and pizza, and not a bad seat in the house. The pizzas are delicious. I've had a standing "friends night" here monthly since 2006 and doesn't disappoint. read more

"Guuuuuuurl!" I'm the type of person that when I find a business I like, I try to visit as often as possible. Central Cinema is a place I went OUT OF MY WAY to visit, and as much as three times a month. Some of the staff recognized my face. Or maybe knew me as "the overly-apologetic girl who's not Canadian". My favorite special events were Pajama Parties and oh god, I have never laughed so hard as on Hecklevision nights. Particular standouts were the clip from 'Cool as Ice' and The Wraith. Kudos to whoever puts together the pre-show entertainment. The food is really good, and the service is friendly. Can't say enough good things about Central Cinema. Word to the wise though, don't sit in the middle of the balcony. People there are usually dicks. read more

I can't believe it took me so long to go here! My man and I checked out a movie here on a late night Saturday, and it was just AWESOME. The price was only $6/ticket! We had a few glasses of wine with dinner and desert, which was made with such great style. (They wrote out "oink" in the mustard on my boyfriends Vegan 'Pig in a Blanket' hot dog!) The food menu was extensive, the seating was pretty comfy, the sound quality seemed great, it was clean and I could lean on my mans shoulder without having an uncomfortable arm-rest in my ribs. We want to make it a regular date-night spot. Thanks Central Cinema! read more

Love this place! It's quirky, fun, and delicious. I went here a few weeks ago with a friend and saw a documentary on the Rat City Rollergirls. The atmosphere was great with the booths, and the snacks we got were fantastic--I had a marionberry tart that was fantastic, and their jasmine tea was great. The waitresses were all dressed up too, which was albeit ridiculous since rollergirl costumes are a bit risque, I loved the idea of kitsch. I returned two weeks later for a Sing-a-long MJ tribute, which I looked forward to with insane excitement. This time tried beer (a good IPA-pretty decent for $4.50), one of their special creme brulees (a bit lukewarm), and sampled my friends' beers, desserts, popcorns. All very tasty. Haven't had their pizzas or anything, but I've enjoyed snacking and drinking while sitting in the booths. The sing-a-long was hysterical, and the MC was great. They were missing a few key hits (come on, "We are the world," "Free Willy theme song"?) and some of the bonus footage made it run too long (and some of the girls in the audience did not need that extra time to drink more, read: obnoxiously dancing in front of the screen and obscuring our view of the subtitles). I'd definitely go back here: some of the films they previewed weren't as much my style, but I like the vibe, the desserts are worth the splurge, and you can't beat good beer and popcorn. read more

Hilarious movie selection, delicious food, beer and wine, and comfy seats - this place can't be beat!! I had a fantastic experience here once, when obviously my friend and I were the only ones who really wanted to see Fried Green Tomatoes at Central Cinema. We were the ONLY two people in the cinema, and because we felt bad about having to take up the owner's night with just the two of us, we offered to come back another time (after eating a delicious dinner). Well, the owner would hear nothing of it - he had us sit down, asked us if we wanted to see the previews (when does that happen ever??), and said that he got a kick out of "small crowds" and kicked the movie on for us. You really can't beat that. I love Central Cinema, and will continue to go there and support all of their efforts - it is so refreshing to enjoy a film at a little independent theatre that does it right! read more

Central Cinema rocks. I have been here three times. The first was to meet someone in the cafe part, and we had great curry popcorn and hummus. The second was for a film festival screening, and I loved that I could order wine in the theater! The third was for the Christmas sing-along, where the alcohol was ESSENTIAL because they showed a bunch of bad Christmas music videos (Like "Last Christmas" by George Michael") and we all sat in the back row getting drunk and singing along which was encouraged by the staff. Sometimes the service is a little slow, but who cares when your watching Muppets xmas carols and drinking champagne. read more

Central Cinema was fantastic! It is as close as you can get to watching beloved (or love to be ridiculed) movies with a bunch of strangers, and feel like you are at home with friends. Well at home with friends and a waiter who brings you delicious food and beer whenever you're looking parched. The pizza was flavorful and well cooked, and the bowl of popcorn covered in real butter reminds you of quality time spent on your couch before the invention of the microwave popcorn bag. The prices are fair, and honestly cheaper than going to see a movie in a big chain and buying a soda and some snacks. I'd recommend this place to anyone that likes good food, adult beverages and regrets never seeing some of their favorite movies on a big screen. read more

Go for the movie- pass on the food. This was my first time at Central Cinema and I have to say we had a really good time. My partner had never seen The Neverending Story and it was a magical venue to see it in. A family friendly place, we got to hear the kids reactions as well as sit among groups of adults who stayed after happy hour and couples enjoying date night. I loved the laid-back atmosphere and the concept is really great too. However, what other reviews have said about the food is true. The popcorn was fine, but I ordered "white cheddar cheese puffs" that were basically inedible. My partner agreed. They were chewy, greasy and tasted like lard stuffed butter pastry- almost no flavor and all fattiness. I also had a glass of wine which was okay. In short, I'd say come for the experience. The movie tickets were a reasonable price and the selection seems to be pretty epic. It's nice being able to sit on a couch instead of smashed into a little movie theater seat, sequestered away from your mate. Just stick with the movie and popcorn. read more

Love the atmosphere, movies, staff, and food/beverage options. Every time my family and I see movies there, it is always a consistently pleasant experience. Can't wait until the next time we go! read more

I really want to give 5 stars. I love this idea. The theater is lovely, the seating is fine. The wait staff attentive and cute. The movies are always my favorite. The prices are right. The execution is ALMOST there...the problem is the food. The menu looks awesome, but fails to deliver. Over the holidays, my office party was held there. Everything was great save for the food. The bread was awful. I had a burger, my partner had the pork. The pork was ok, kind of bland. The description was very colorful for a pretty boring plate. My burger had potential, but the bread was so stale, I could hardly savor it. The bread tasted freezer burnt. With all the wonderful bakeries in Seattle, why would a restaurant serve once-frozen bread? I would return, but I probably will stick to the popcorn and beer. read more

This is one of my favorite spots in Seattle. I love the great range of movies shown - mostly independent and cult movies, but they also do big tv events like series finalies and presidential debates. I also very enjoy their food, and consider them to be the best pizza in Seattle. Their menu rotates seasonally, and they strive to source local, fresh ingredients whenever possible. They have a few local beers on tap, and I love that I can get real butter on my popcorn. read more

This may be my favorite place in Seattle. Upon entering, the exposed brick walls and simple black tables make it clear that this small cinema isn't out to impress. It's neither the newest nor the largest theater. The movie quality isn't the best and the food is good rather than great. If you can get past its unassuming character though, you'll realize that the theater's charm lies in its exceptional programming and relaxed atmosphere. The films here are enchanting. And it's not just that you may never get a chance to see these films in theater again. The movie calendar is a medley of classics, special events, and movies that have been all but forgotten. In the past few months, Central Cinema has shown everything from "Breakfast at Tiffany's," to "The Room," to Christmas cartoons, but somehow every show I've seen has been worth it. Whether you go for the booze, or the nostalgia, or even the spoon-throwing, I hope to see you there. read more

We love the Central Cinema! They are a wonderful community partner. Our program, Reel Grrls, is located in the same building, and we regularly host screenings in the cinema. It's a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere to eat and enjoy a movie. We also eat their delicious pizza in our office quite often- we highly recommend it. The cinema makes an effort to show both old and new favorites, presenting lots of independent film nights that would otherwise have a difficult time finding a home. This is a great small business that we're happy to have as a neighbor. read more

Central Cinema is everything you want in a neighborhood theater. Great film schedule- from campy classics to independent documentaries to the"TV Dinner" nights we love! (Your $5 tix is credited toward food/drink for these shows!) They do a fantastic job scheduling for a mix of audiences- families, the date night crowd, girls night out... Check the schedule, there's usually a wide rage of showings each week. Buy your ticket a day in advance and save $2 and come early for the best seats! The dinner menu is great- but don't discount the popcorn! Curry - yum! And just to be clear- Central Cinema isn't far, but is NOT on capitol hill. It's a proud resident of the central district. read more

Recently attended their 'Hecklevision' night and it was hilarious. I was literally laughing throughout the whole movie! The crowd was great too. I've been to a couple other cinemas that serve food & beer. Reading the other reviews, it seems that their food isn't that great... I didn't order any food but we did get a pitcher of beer and a bowl of their popcorn. (popcorn was really good). A couple of cons: - I do agree that the seats are uncomfortable. At first glance they looked comfy but there's no leg room. I'm really short (at only 5' tall) and I even found it uncomfortable. It felt like sitting on a plane... - The service. I suppose it was normal service...but the waitress came off a bit unfriendly. Especially when I asked for a glass of water, she told me to get it from the back of the room. She said it like I was 'supposed to know' that already... And would it hurt to smile? That's about it...other than that it's a cute theater, clean and I love the quirky movie events they have. Would love to attend one of their trivia nights and 'quote along' nights. read more

The entrance, with the restaurant or bistro or whatever, was awkward to walk through. The two spaces don't really blend. There was a stinky feet/cheese smell in the air right from the entrance. so, that made me uncomfortable right away. Our server took a long time to get to us, and when she finally did (after waiving her down), it was one minute till happy hour was over and she made it seem like an inconvenience to give us happy hour prices, even though we arrived there with plenty of happy hour left. Finally, the food SUCKED! I had a calzone, which was pathetic and blah(only had cheese, dirty potato chunks, and tomato sauce in it... and there were rocks! Not grit, proper stones. Lucky I didn't break a tooth. Good thing it was small. Beer was good though and film was fun. I know it's not counter culture... but I'll go back to cinebar and pay a premium for quality food and atmosphere. read more

Food: ugh. Service: fine. Drinks: meh. But hey... Alcohol works. Movies: awesome. So I heart this place. Always a go to for me. In a land adrift in apathy (despite the passionate appearance of Seattlites...) There's a legitimacy here and I love the mix of old and new. Date night. Or alone night. Worth your time and $. Check out their website for deals and events. Nice but unobtrusive newsletter. Sign up. read more

Participated in the Die Hard Hecklevision and laughed my butt off. Great drinks and relaxed service with nice seating arrangements. Reasonably priced for ticket and food/drink. Wish we would have gone more than once while visiting. Next time we'll definitely plan our trip around it. I want to do that Friends trivia--I'd rock at that. Definitely check it out, you won't be disappointed. read more

Beer and movies is such a wonderful combination, I only wish that Seattle had more places like this. Unfortunately, Central Cinema tries a little to hard to be more of a upscale date-type place for me. They do have a reasonable beer selection, and oh my lord do I love the popcorn with yeast topping. However, six dollars for old (sometimes very old) movies is a bit much, and the food is not super great. I don't dislike this place, it's just nothing to be enthused about. My decisions to come here revolve almost entirely around what movie they happen to be playing. The fact that they have intermission is a bit irritating. There are other movie theater/restaurant combinations that manage to have wait-service without needing an intermission; Cinnebare in Mountlake Terrace for example. If it weren't for the location, I would probably never come here. read more

Who wouldn't love a theater that plays an awesome selection of films, serves food while you eat, aaaaaand serves booze?!

Hello, my name is Hanna and I am a movie nerd. Thankfully, Central Cinema is the answer to my addiction. There are few ways better to watch a movie than in a small theater with great food and alcohol. I have been to other restaurant/movie theater combos and they truly suffer in comparison to Central Cinema. Usually the food is highly mediocre and overpriced. Not so with this place! They have a good assortment of gourmet pizzas which is a welcome change from the regular cheese and pepperoni. We ended up going with the Apulia. Damn, those roasted tomatoes were tasty. I could have devoured the whole thing myself it was so good. Instead, we split it and a hummus plate. Wash that down with a nice bottle of white wine and you have a great dinner and a movie for about $50. I'll be back. read more

Took my fiance here on a date. Im not really a fan of "chick-flicks", but we went to see Dirty Dancing. The atmosphere is so laid back, the waiters and waitresses are great, and the food and drinks were amazing. Regardless of my movie preferences my fiance and I had such a great time. So much fun read more

Thank you Central Cinema for giving me the opportunity to see an Alfred Hitchcock film on the big screen! If you're going to get my butt to move from Ballard all the way over to the Central District, you better be offering me something good and Central Cinema has got the goods. Old school movies (North by Northwest, Ghostbusters, etc.) and film festivals (Found Footage, anyone?), booth seating, food (from popcorn to pizza) and beer. Dinner and a movie has never been so easy! read more

Kudos to the Central Cinema folks for catering to the neighborhood --- we CD residents need fun places to go! I love the grassroots feel of the spot, the astounding array of eclectic features (American Beauty, Harold and Maude, Priscilla Queen of the Desert) and the fact that the cinema supports local nonprofit organizations and independent filmmakers. The food is okay, the popcorn (with real butter) is just plain great and the price of admission is right---usually $5. It's a dirty pleasure to sip an ice cold beer in a movie theater, and the sinful experience will only be enhanced by the presence of something cheap on tap. Please? My kingdom for some PBR...... read more

Five stars if the screen was bigger. The movie selection is unique and ranges from classics 2 really fun movies from the 80s. This wonderful venue has full food menus and drink. I personally don't think they're amazing but you can always get food at a food truck nearby and plenty of people seem to like the food. What's best is the unique movie theater experience that you get here. Home with the kids 4 the holidays? Come to a matinee here. If you buy your tickets online you get a discount. Also they have great trivia nights featuring screen footage. Arrested Development anyone? read more

I love this place. Great food, great movies, fantastic date spot. I went recently to see drop dead gorgeous and got a calzone and a beer and all three were *kisses fingers* and the movie was only $2!!!!!! It was such a nice surprise. read more

My boy and I went here on Friday to check out 'Sixteen candles' and have beer + pizza. So Happy! The movie was good, the seats were decently comfortable, and the pizza was great. Not to mention they had a great selection of beers. I will go back here every chance I get! read more

love the venue! it's cozy, comfortable, and fun! go early for booth seating. though the food is nothing to write home about it's nice to be able to munch on things other than popcorn while watching a flick. of course, they have popcorn, too, with choice of topping (real butter, brewer's yeast, curry powder, cinnamon sugar) i'm excited to return! read more

These people just need to get it together, plain and simple. The bad service, the disorganization, the owners who are too smoked out to function. The idea for low prices for flicks is cool, but that's about as far as a player can go on this subject........ read more

Fun cinema with food (!!). We had just come from dinner so only sampled the Real Butter popcorn (eschewed the Brewer's Yeast, Curry Powder, Garlic Powder, and Cinnamon Sugar toppings) and a glass of Chianti. I never thought I would combine Everything is Terrible with popcorn and wine, but you only live once, right? read more

mmm. mmm. mmmm.....cry baby?!? legend?!? blue velvet?!? sixteen candles and say anything?!? old school betty boop cartoons to tide you over while you're waiting for your pitcher of beer to arrive?!? man. good thing they serve beer. it keeps all of us from being self-conscious sober folks when we've got the urge to belt out the showtunes (king cry baby, anyone?). The food is pretty tasty. I love the tapas platter... the kitchen's always switching up the spreads and the roasted veggies. they just added an apply sage field roast vegan hot dog to their pigs-in-a-blanket list... and that thing is shockingly delicious... (i typically DESPISE field roast... don't ask how i got the courage to test it out... maybe it was the influence of alcohol). The cafe is also a really adorable place to hangout with the crew after the flick. Exposed brick and interesting glass milk-bottle lighting really gives the place a cozy feel. oh. They have scrabble... enough said. read more

Central Cinema is an awesome gem. The food is pretty upscale considering it is a $6 movie. I love all the old school movie previews. But be sure to buy you're tickets ahead of time for the more popular shows read more

Central Cinema is cool! My friend rented the theater last night for her birthday. No food or drinks were available, but that wasn't a problem. The theater guy was nice and he made us popcorn. I'll be back soon for a regular show to get the full-on dinner-and-a-movie experience. read more

I love places that aren't embarrassed to embrace the quirky. Where else can you go for dinner and a sing -along!? This place has really cultivated a fun environment. People who come to the shows here are always ready to have a good time and the vibe is infectious. read more

I have never been to a dinner cinema and have cursing myself for never finding it. Movie going to this type of Cinema is a pretty refreshing experience. i am gonna explore it more. read more

Central Cinema is a dinner-movie theater... they have waiters who come around and take your order for meals, liquor or snacks. The food is quite tasty and it's all reasonably priced. The movies they show vary from classics to weird cult movies to musicals to kids' movies and beyond. I'm in favor of any theater that will feed me ;) read more

If you want to: have sh*tty service, put $5 towards crap food that you have to wait about an hour for, then try to track down the "server" for another 10-15 minutes, only to get the wrong drink, then another 20 minutes or so to have her (and I use that term loosely) to confirm that you got the wrong drink and stand there like an idiot, then wait another 10-15 minutes to get the correct drink... AAAAND then get the bill (which was wrong) and you guessed it, wait to try and get her attention AGAIN (all the while having her bark "yeah, I see you") and groom your fully grown beard while waiting to get the corrected bill (or so we hope)... then by all means go waste your youth (and money) here. Sadly, the girl behind me with the plague, hacking up her lungs without covering her mouth, was the highlight of the evening. See you on the other side. read more