I ended up going to the Flix two nights, one for a soft opening, and the second for the official opening for the showing of It: Chapter 2. Off the bat, they already beat out the Alamo Drafthouse in my book and if they show limited movies like the Drafthouse I don't think I would ever return to the Drafthouse. Although even though their officially open, they actually haven't completed the entire construction of the place, so there are still some surprises to come. For example, you can see that they're currently working on their outdoor area.
First thing I have to point out because this is something people in El Paso will not like is the automatic 18% gratuity. I don't mind it but I can definitely see this being a deal-breaker for some.
Off the bat walking in the Flix Brewhouse has a beautiful bar with an amazing selection of brewed beers and cocktails. I immediately felt that the bartenders here were better than the bartenders at the Alamo Drafthouse when it came to their mixed drinks. Upon my visit with family and friends, we tried a number of things the Flix Golden Ale, Nebulas Hazy IPA, and a few of their signature cocktails and just a standard margarita. I forgot to take a picture of the cocktail list so I don't remember our favorites but we loved them all. We had all of our drinks at one of the tables near the bar and decided we would order our food in the theater.
Upon entering the theater I already loved the look of the tables and seats, although if you get stuck in the first row, it's very close to the screen compared to the drafthouse and Cinemark. I wouldn't recommend it unless you love sitting up that close.
The Flix has reclining seats and is way more comfortable than the Alamo Drafthouse. Those seats, unfortunately, do not go well with my back. These seats, however, are pretty comfy, although Cinemark West still beats them because I love how far back they recline compared to all the theatres in El Paso. What's amazing about the Flix though is the design of their tables, you can move them towards you or away from you for your comfort.
Combining both visits we ordered the Hawaiian Tuna Poke, Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Jalapenos, Beyond Burger, Philly Cheesesteak Pizza, Cuban Medianoche Sandwich, Blueberry Cobbler Cheesecake, and warm cookies.
Let me tell you we enjoyed everything especially the Hawaiian Tuna Poke, Philly Cheesesteak Pizza, Cuban Medianoche Sandwich, and the Blueberry Cobbler Cheesecake. My friend and I were torn about the Beyond Burger. I loved it, but at first bite, I really didn't enjoy it but as I ate more it became really tasty. It is not the end-all replacement of meat, but I was surprised how much I liked it. My friend who is currently trying to eat healthily, and avoiding meat, she really didn't like it. The cheesecake was amazing and just melted in your mouth. I was shocked about the cookies because they were some of the best cookies I have ever smelled, but in the end, my brother and I found them pretty disappointing. I think they would have been good but were cooked for too long.
Final summary, I love the Flix Brewhouse and can definitely see myself going here when I want to have a delicious brew with my movie or some pretty excellent food. However, Cinemark West is still going to be my go-to theatre, but if the Flix Brewhouse brings in Anime and Limited Internation movies, and cult classics like the Alamo Drafthouse does, instantly that is the end of the Alamo Drafthouse for me.
I forgot to share that the staff is excellent, explained how everything was going to work and answered all the questions I had. Basically the same as the Alamo Drafthouse but I love how quick they are to responding and love that they have a call button you can press. It can be hard to see a little slip of paper at times, so the call button is a game-changer. I had no problem with it but my friend did say it was a little bright and might disturb other tables experiences. read more