Cue the dramatic trailer voice: In a world where movie theaters can be sticky, chaotic, and somehow out of popcorn... one Bakersfield theater dared to be clean. Studio Movie Grill was a solid date-night win. From check-in to the bar to seat-side service, everyone was friendly, helpful, and on it. The seats are comfy enough that you may briefly question whether you came for the movie or a sanctioned recliner nap. We usually stop at the bar first, where I stay loyal to the Not-House Chardonnay while my husband goes full action-movie lead with the cocktails. A Tito's Bloody Mary feels like the brunch sequel nobody asked for but everyone secretly enjoys: bold, dramatic, and ready for its close-up. Then we order food, head to our seats, and let the magic happen. I also just learned SMG has a free rewards program, which honestly deserves its own plot twist. I've been using Fandango credits, but SMG rewards looks better since you can earn credit on menu items too. That's a very strong supporting character. Plus they support "special needs" humans with free movie nights...bonus for the non-profit twist. So why 4 stars and not 5? Because the plant-based menu is still waiting for its big breakout role. I think there's basically the avocado flatbread if you remove the cheese, which is fine, but I'm ready for the plant-based options to get top billing. Overall: clean theater, great service, comfy seats, drinks, food, and a fun date night that does not require awkwardly whispering, "Did we just spend $80 to sit in public?" Well... maybe, but at least it was worth it. read more

Seats are nice as always. Service was average. Nothing special. Staff were very polite and prompt but missed a couple small details. The food quality was not what I expected based on past experiences. Starting off with the Coconut Chicken that was always our go to. It's not as good as we remembered. (They also forgot the sauce, small detail missed). The fries were very average. Next was the chicken and waffles. I did not see any reviews on them so I thought I'd try them. My advice, go to Moms Place first if you are wanting some. The waffles were ok but the two you get are the size of the bottom of a Stanley tumbler. Sprinkled with powdered sugar to make them tastier I guess. The chicken (fingers) were 80% breading and 20% meat. No flavor. No seasoning. If I were in charge I'd give you 5-6 French toast sticks instead, to make them easier to dip. No silverware is given so you really don't want to smother your syrup on everything. It's more of a dipping option. I'd have taken pics but obviously it's darker during the movie. I miss when their kitchen was top notch and not $60 for two small bland meals, drink and a tip. read more

We just left the movies where we watched Backrooms (crazy movie!). Our server informed us from the moment we placed our order that they were down to two servers and our food would take around 30-40 minutes to come out but our drinks would be out shortly. We were in no rush (and where were we gonna go really?) so we thanked him for being up front about the delay. My espresso martini and the hubs voodoo ranger came out in about 10 minutes but after another 10-15 minutes we pressed the button to find out about our daughter's Sprite. The lady in front of us must have pressed her button as well and when the server came she started yelling at him about the delay. I swear I'll never understand why people yell at the ones that serve their food but ‍ oh well. Our food took around the 40 minutes he originally told us so we were cool. I've decided however that I don't like eating in the dark. Especially not salad. I ordered the chili lime chicken salad and I was disappointed. The tortilla strips were stale and the chicken was hard as a rock. I figured the servers were already dealing with enough so I let it slide and just didn't eat the salad. When the hubs went to the restroom, the server thanked him for having such a nice family. He told him that we were the only ones that did not complain about the delays and he offered us a discount. The hubs took the discount and gave it to him as a tip. Moral of the story guys is, Be patient with your servers. They try hard but some things are just out of their control. read more

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This is my main theater along with the Marketplace theater. Walking in, you'll always be greeted. You'll either be helped at the front or at any tablet available to purchase tickets. They also have a bar to order drinks before your movie, during, or after. This theater is mainly special for having a whole food menu while you're seated in the theater room. They'll come to you, and you order right then and there. My personal favorites which I believe are the best is their Nachos and their Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps!! Love this place. Never had a bad experience. read more

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We've been here a couple times before and never had any issues, I don't know what was going on tonight...Firstly (I know this isn't their fault) parking here is terrible. Be prepared to show up early for your show time because trying to find parking is a mess. Once you get inside (for some reason unknown) you'll have to print paper copies of your movie tickets which makes absolutely no sense. I was under the impression that purchasing tickets on the app was to make things more efficient (so you can avoid having to wait in line) so why in the world are you still required to print paper copies? Again, if you're coming for a show, show up early to allow time to find parking and print paper copies of your tickets smh...We located our seats no problem. Shortly after we were greeted by our server and placed an order of a large popcorn, medium popcorn, peanut m & m's, an order of cheese fries and funnel cake fries, and 2 drinks. This is where the fiasco begins. A short time later, the first server comes and brings us our popcorn...time goes by and a short time later a second server comes by and brings our peanut m & m's...More time goes by and they bring us our order of fries...Then we waited patiently as other customers were receiving their orders all around us in this logistic nightmare. For 2 drinks. Still waiting until we finally speak up and let them know that we placed an order over an hour ago and were still waiting on 2 drinks. Finally someone approaches us, not to bring our drinks of course but to inform us that staff is shorthanded and they were still working on our order. For 2 drinks. I may not have minded so much had it not been so hot in the theater but it was also uncomfortably warm. We finally speak up again and ask if we could possibly get 2 drinks sooner by just placing a new order for 2 drinks, and again we're given the same line "we're short staffed and we're working on it". When our drinks did finally show up they couldn't even offer any sincerity or apology. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that they were shorthanded but it seems completely unreasonable that it takes 4 different people to fill one order. The whole point of the movie/grill idea is to make it more convenient not less efficient. Get it together... read more

My favorite movie theater in town especially since they upgraded all the seating. Normally you wouldn't expect good food at a place like this but I love the food here. It is a bit pricey but you are getting the luxury movie experience so definitely worth it and they have daily deals you can take advantage of. Service is so easy with having the button in your seat. Best theater in town! read more

The bar area was hot. The bartender Gabriel was condescending and extremely rude. We ordered a few drinks , one with a crack glass and both warm melted margarita mix. Instead of asking if he can remake them. He said that I was " cut off" " bossman". Super confused I asked to speak to a manager. We waited about 20 minutes she was nice and graceful and quickly gave us a rebate. We take our kids to this place so we can enjoy some family time and a good movie. They need to properly train staff and check on the equipment to optimize the quality of the drinks and experience !! Unfortunately Don't think we will be going back. read more

I came here for a private event recently and I ordered their boneless buffalo wings with sweet potato fries. WOW, I've been craving these wings ever since. It was actually a huge plate of food & the wings were the best I had. Our service was amazing. The popcorn was addicting. I love, loved my latest experience here! The new seats don't recline as far as they used to but the inside of the theater looks great & clean. Lots of space now. read more

Studio Movie Grill - 10/10 - Cinema Near Me - Bakersfield, California

What a rip off. We drove all the way across town to find that the movie was cancelled due to broken AC (102 in bako that afternoon). The next movie was full and didn't want to wait over 1hr anyways. The Girl at the Theater window said we need to get a refund from Fandango, Fandango says we need to get refund from theater--we are #$%^ed. So theater got its money for no show, fandango got their money and we got to drive across town burning gas for nothing not to mention the lost $$$. 2* only because we have enjoyed sushi Ahi nearby!! Studio Movie grill never again read more

We have been going to SMG since it opened, and we always enjoyed those experiences. The food quality used to be pretty decent. We did not enjoy our last few experiences. We saw The Odyssey last night. There were four people in our group. Out of four, every one of us had issues with the food. The popcorn tasted burnt. The chicken parm sub barely had any chicken or marinara on it. The chicken nachos were mushy and tasted off. The other person's meal arrived very late, and only after he asked about it. He said his pasta dish was not good and thinks it caused gastric upset later. The servers were all very nice and helpful. We did have that delay with the meal. Things were delivered separately and there were lots of interruptions because of that. It would be nice if they could bring things together a bit more. The theater (7) was nice. I was glad to see that they are replacing the seats. They were pretty comfy. And they had speakers or some rumbly thing in the headrest. As far as volume goes...too loud!!! It was physically painful for me, and I found myself covering my ears a lot. I think we will start going to other theaters until we hear the food situation improves. After all...the draw for SMG is that you can have dinner and a movie. Without a decent dinner, it just isn't worth it for us. read more

PROS: - $6 matinee tickets! - Dinner and a movie all in one! CONS: - Overall theater cleanliness - Price of meals vs the quality The business concept of a theater that serves food is outstanding. This is the only business of its kind in Bakersfield; therefore it's a shame the actual theater rooms and seating isn't well maintained. The reclining seats have a concerning amount of wear and tear that gives me the ick when I think of sitting in them. In addition, there are a few that are in need of mechanical repairs which render them unavailable when booking tickets. The menu is classic serving American fare like salads, burgers, and appetizers. However, it's a bit difficult fully enjoying the meal in darkness. Other dine-in theaters have a a very dim light under the trays so patrons can see the food. The lobby area was clean and a great place to socialize until the theaters opened up and the service was very friendly! read more

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We went to Studio Movie Grill to see Wuthering Heights and had a great experience. The service was quick and efficient. The attendants came back to refresh our drinks almost immediately after we clicked the call button, which we really appreciated. We took advantage of the food offer of 2 entrées for $35 and selected popcorn as our starter. I had the sliders with fries which was served on pretzel buns. It was flavorful and the pretzel bread was soft. My husband ordered the avocado flatbread (no cheese). The avocado was creamy but it could have used a little more basalmic glaze. There was a tomato strategically placed on each slice of the flatbread. They accommodated his request without any issues. The food came out before the show started and was served fresh and warm. The theater itself was clean, and the seats looked clean and new, as if they had been recently updated. It made the whole experience even more comfortable. Overall, it was a very enjoyable movie night with excellent service and good food! read more

Studio Movie Grill - Cinema Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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Seats are new and that's such a plus! Service is attentive and friendly. My popcorn was bathed in pure salt and SMG kept a hold on my account that's lasted 3 days- long after the bill was settled and withdrawn. Use cash if possible, as this was a small inconvenience. read more

They remodeled!!!!! Nice, new seats. All new trays. It's new and fantastic!!! It's so nice that they remodeled - best movie spot in town AGAIN! read more

Studio Movie Grill - Cinema Near Me - Bakersfield, California

went to see The Odyssey today and while the overload of preview movies were showing the volume keep getting louder and louder. When the movie finally started it was extremely loud, the screen was vibrating and everything raddled. This is the third time I've had a headache after leaving the theater. I recommend a pair of ear plugs just in case read more

Awesome experience! It started with the friendly cashier then the helpful bartenders and then the in-theater staff. The place is comfortable, stylish, and the food is very very good. What a great way to see a great movie with all the creature comforts of home. read more

Studio Movie Grill - Cinema Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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Studio movie grill used to be so nice when it first opened but of course with time, everything gets ruined. The theater seats are very outdated and honestly very disgusting (sticky, worn out, and not clean) so be prepared to want to shower after. I remember when it just opened up and this use to be the place to be for all your movies in Bakersfield, but after coming back to visit town, definitely would recommend going to any other theater because of the worn out seating. For 15 bucks, it's a good deal still hence why I put two stars, and the workers are always great as well. They're normally the best part of the experience. Other than that, definitely not my first choice for movies in Bakersfield! Apparently, they will be revamping the seating soon so stay hopeful for that upgrade. read more

Studio Movie Grill - Cinema Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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12:30 showing 6/7 for Ballerina. Our server, Layla, was a highlight. The seats were filthy when we sat down - clearly not cleaned prior to our movie (opening weekend), hence the rating. Included photos for reference. The food was great, fries were crispy, for the first time in a long time! Our orders arrived correct! I got the bacon cheeseburger with fries without the BBQ sauce. Great flavor on the burger. The volume was perfect for the movie, another improvement. Temperature wasn't too hot or too cold. Hopefully this is a sign of better things to come! read more

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First time going. Excellent on the food service . Our seats were Clean . We will be back

This is my favorite movie theatre I've ever been to. I love coming to Bakersfield just to visit this theater. I don't even care about what movie is out I'll try to come. You have to order their southwest egg rolls, perfectly crispy! I love being able to order good food, sit in comfy chairs and have a good time. There's a bar in the lobby. You just absolutely cannot bring your own water bottle. They'll ask to keep it at the front desk. Which is fine because you can order water or drinks at your seat, just don't forget your water bottle on the way out read more

I went to see the Megadeth movie. This place is clean, and the drinks are delicious. Definitely will be back. read more

Studio Movie Grill - Bloody Mary - Cinema Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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Went to watch Michael in Theater # 9 ........ Ordered Popcorn durning the previews. Did not get it till about 20 minutes after movie started, popcorn was cold and stale. Then to top it of theater was HOT and Muggy, very uncomfortable! Movie it self was great! My shirt was totally wet and body sticking to the seat..... Very uncomfortable. Our family always goes to the movies there but this was awful......other members of our party of six also walked out with their clothing wet! NOT A Good Experience. Told the manager and acted like it was nothing...... if I were him I would check the thermostat and sit during the next showing in that theater!!!! read more

food: honestly, the food is pretty good for a movie theater. they have real food, not just snacks. as a vegetarian, i really appreciate that. my personal fave is the margherita pizza. big plus for that. environment: clean theater, nice quality screen, and it's quiet. i love that it's not packed like the bigger theaters. it feels more relaxed and low-stress, which is why it's one of my favorites. fewer people = better experience. service: service is actually really convenient. on normal, non-release dates, it's pretty quick. they come to your seat and serve you, so you're not stuck waiting in long concession lines and missing the movie. also, price-wise? not bad for two. about $30-ish for two entrées, a drink, and dessert promotion. that's a way better deal compared to other theaters. i went to maya theater once and spent $50 on popcorn, a drink, cheese, and hot cheetos... stuff that would've cost $30 at the store. so yeah, this feels worth it. seating: the chairs are ehh. not terrible, but not the most comfy either. once they upgrade the seats, i'd easily give this place 5 stars. read more

Studio Movie Grill - inside - Cinema Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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What's that smell?? I'm so disappointed in SMG Bakersfield. It used to be a really nice dinner/movie theater. Now, it's so run down & smells gross, at least I'm theater 9. The lobby is nice but even then you can see the wear & tear on the seating. In theater 9, the chairs are literally missing the leather covering & my seat c7 had a broken foot rest. The whole place just looks horrible, I guess it's good they keep the lights down. When we pushed out the foot rest there was popcorn in it & the whole theater needed vacuumed. Honestly, for the cost of the movie alone, you should have better seating. For the cost of the food it should smell like good food. Thankfully we are here on a gift card cause I'm not sure we'll be back. I would rather go to the MAYA where the seats are nice, not broken & push button controlled. Do better SMG. Uodate: We're ordered Ppotato skins plplus the 2 for $32 special. In that we ordered the 1/2 cheese fries, plus a pizza & chicken tenders, water & dr pepper. It took over 10 mins for 2 drinks. Then the entrees came before the appetizers. We had to ask them where the fries & potato's skins were. The food was good & came quickly compared to the drinks. most likely won't be back I actually had to change seats cause I couldn't put the footrest back down after I reclined it. read more

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Horrible experience time after time after time. Watched two separate guests sit after me order snd still receive food before I got mine. Ordered a basic brisket tots. 30 minutes I got the extra jalapeños for the tots. When asked where my entree was the team member looked blank and said it's coming. (Never came) after an hour and 20 minutes I buzzed and that server too said she'll check. Never came back. Finally buzzed and just canceled a sub par dish. EVERY single time something takes longer than expected. Or never comes. Robyn came and apologized and took care of the slushie. She is the SINGLE bright spot in what is a joke of an establishment. and good for her leaving for a better opportunity where she'll be appreciated. You lost a good one SMG. will NOT be back. Don't waste money for an experience that is anything but pleasant. read more

This place went downhill fast ! It's extremely dirty, the seats are falling apart and staff always look overwhelmed. read more

Studio Movie Grill - The dirty seats - Cinema Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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1st time at this theater & did not like it 66.00 for 3 pop corns & 4 drinks. refills were offered but drinks came super late by the time I asked for a refill was told movie's almost over so I wasn't allowed à refill needles to say I'll won't come back to see my next movie & will stick to the Maya theater & it's closer to my house 1/4 read more

The movie itself was great, but the theater experience was really disappointing. The auditorium was so hot that I was literally sweating the entire time, and I was only wearing shorts and a T-shirt. When I asked if the air conditioning could be turned on or adjusted, I was told it was controlled from Texas and couldn't be changed. That explanation didn't make much sense considering there was a thermostat visible in the room. Sitting through a movie in that kind of heat was uncomfortable and took away from the overall experience. Hopefully management can address this issue because guests shouldn't have to sweat through a movie. read more

Seriously it's time to redo your seats seriously ya need to update your seats terribly yea the comfort zone is nice being able to recline but not sure if when you stand up all the seat material will be on your back not to mention all the crumbs and yuk that's stuck in the creases of the arm rest read more

Studio Movie Grill - All sorts of yuk and seats are peeling Come on studio movie grill fix it up - Cinema Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Upon entering Studio Movie Grill, I was met with a clean and open self-service lobby. Staff members were ready at admissions in case assistance was necessary. I was about 15 minutes early for my movie, so I had to wait in the lobby or bar. Coming early was my choice, so I didn't mind the wait. However, the lobby was uncomfortably hot. It's summer in Bakersfield, so I was hoping to escape the heat indoors. Once I went into the theater, the temperature was much cooler! The seats are old fashioned recliners; The material on the headrests are peeling from frequent use. As expected from wear and tear, but it puts a bit of a damper on the ambiance. I did not order food or drinks tonight. In my previous experiences at SMG, the food was just okay. Can't knock it till you try it though; Their menu often has new items or specialty drinks to promote the current showings. That part is pretty cute. I choose this theater out of convenience. If you give it a chance, then please share your food recommendations. For now, I'll be sticking to popcorn or just watching the movie. read more

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The food was hot and the server was nice. This is a great place for friends and family to get together. read more

Studio Movie Grill - Boneless Wings Boneless Wings - Cinema Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Came back for an event and I was pleasantly surprised by the improvements at SMG. The food was pretty good and well seasoned. The turkey avocado burger was so juicy and flavorful. The popcorn had the right amount of butter and salt. And everything tasted freshly made. Really enjoyed the food improvement at Studio Movie Grill! read more

Studio Movie Grill - Turkey avocado burger - Cinema Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Came to see Lilo & Stitch this weekend. Looks like they removed one of my favorites: half priced bloody Mary's on Sundays. But they did have a brand new menu including some themed items to coordinate with new movies. The film and sound was great, and even with a full house of mostly kids the level of talking was kept to a minimum - everyone seemed super respectful. Service was quick and considerate. I saw a sign that they'll be installing new seats now which is far overdue. read more

General Manager Kimberley was absolutely delightful--so funny and kind! This is definitely the go-to spot for a girls' night out, especially since they have a bar. The movie though... #strangersmovie read more

This once amazing theatre has really gone downhill. The "leather" seats are in bad shape with severe flaking similar to what low to mid-tier bonded leather couches do after a few years. They should've gotten better quality seats and I'm sure they regret getting the discount ones to save money when they first opened. I can look past the seats that are wearing out. The food, however, is inexcusable. There is nothing inherently "bad" about the food regarding perfect temperature or texture. It's the flavor! The food just lacks flavor. I went crazy last time and ordered a pizza, fried cheese sticks, a milkshake, and churros. All unsatisfying. You might ask wby I continued ordering food if the pizza was bad? My answer: be quiet! I was hungry! Pizza: tasted like a 7/11 pizza that is heated in the super oven that heats the flash-frozen pizza disc into a hot meal. Just not tasty. Plus, crushed pepper packets were not easy to get. Please just send the waiter with a pepper packet with every pizza or have them nearby! I had to walk to the kitchen after 15 minutes of not getting it. Two waiters I asked didn't seem to know how to get a crushed pepper packet. I was nice about it too! Are they locked in a vault? Milkshake: watered down (I am not exaggerating, I promise!) Tasted like it was 90% fat free milk and one scoop of ice cream blended. Shameful! I don't do well with ice cream but still wanted to enjoy some despite the consequences I must endure for the sin of consuming my favorite treat. Still had my famous "milkshake diarrhea" later that day even though it was mostly milk. Probably due to everything else I ate though. Mozzarella sticks: no flavor. How is this possible? It's string cheese that's fried! Churros: they would've been the best churros I ever tasted if they had churro flavor! It was a mirage. The generous sugary coating was like nothing and the piping got inside filling was like unflavored crème. Come on! I am NOT a picky eater either. I eat ramen every day. Everything usually tastes good to me if it has even a morsel of flavor. I think Dino Nuggets are amazing. The food here sucks. Being overpriced is expected because it's a movie theater and that's how you make your money. At least make it taste better! I wish SMG the best. It's close to my house too and will be back. I just won't buy any food from now on until the theatre puts up signs saying, "Improved food recipes. The food tastes good now". Waiters are fine. They are all nice and everyone appears to work hard. There's a lot of people to serve and I know they are doing their best. I tip well and encourage everyone else to. Please don't base your tip on the taste of the food or be a jerk and stiff the waiter. It isn't the waiters fault about the food or your resentment of tipping in the United States. People who say, "their employer needs to pay them more so I won't tip" are so insufferable! Probably not the kitchens fault, either. It's the food vendor. Free tip to management: Hire a different food vendor who knows how to make tasty food. Or stop buying the cheapest food Sysco Foodservice sells! If my Great Value frozen cheese sticks taste better, there's a problem. Come on! read more

The worst. The absolute worst movie theater experience. I went to see The Life of Chuck in theater one. The AC made a LOUD high pitched whistling noise through the entire movie, so loud that it could still be heard even with the soundtrack playing. Ruined the movie. Do not sit in the far back row. Terrible. The seats are all worn and cracked. I ordered the sliders and they tasted like Indian food. The fries were undercooked and limp. The watermelon lemonade drink was pure syrup. Wasted $45 bucks on a movie i might have otherwise enjoyed. read more

Studio Movie Grill - Cracked and worn out seats. Lousy food. - Cinema Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Overpriced, disorganized and underwhelmed with the food and beverage service. See the screenshot from the Studio Movie Grill website. It says "Arrive 20 minutes before the movie". We did! We were told we could not enter the theater until 2:25pm for a 2:30pm movie. What a waste of my time! Moving on to the food and beverage service. We obviously had plenty of time during our wait in the lobby to view the menu and decide upon our choices. We sat down, pressed the button and waited, and waited and waited for someone to come take our order. The beverages took a long time to deliver and had hardly any ice at all. The girl who delivered the beverages spilled liquid all over the floor in front of us while delivering drinks and no one cleaned up her mess. The cold food took forever to arrive and the movie was nearly over. A very disappointing experience. If you are going here to enjoy a meal with your movie - just skip it and grab a meal before or after. Plenty of options in the same parking lot with better quality food, lower prices and faster service. read more

Studio Movie Grill - Instructions from Studio Movie Grill that they can't seem to follow! - Cinema Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Fix the seats it not hard I went to the same theater 6 months apart and the seat still was broken and didn't recline sat in a different one cause there was one open not professional at all love the food and experience service could be a little faster. read more

Food is hit or miss. Don't ever order a chocolate milkshake because you'll just get chocolate milk. It was absolutely disgusting and watery with a hint of chocolate flavor and they didn't even put whipped cream or a cherry. :( This picture is literally what I was served, at least fill it up all the way if you're not going to put whipped cream. read more

Studio Movie Grill - Chocolate Milkshake - Cinema Near Me - Bakersfield, California

We went and saw demon slayer the other day. The service was fast and polite. The theater was clean the screen and sound was decent the seats kinda hurt our necks and did not recline like we like. We ordered the pretzel bites and popcorn The pretzel bites were very bland would not order them again. The popcorn was good They do have a full bar if alcohol is your thing. Overall not the best theater in town. read more