Not my favorite place to go see a movie. Especially when the sound bleeds through the walls. If you've been to other movie/restaurants such as Roosevelt Collection (trendy, highest price), (Muvico (mid to higher price in the area), or Hollywood Blvd (best deal), then you've been to better. Food is decent - their popcorn, believe it or not, is the best I've tasted in a movie theater. Skip this one unless you're getting a Groupon deal - there are better out there for your money. read more

I bought a Groupon recently for this new theater and since it was close to expiring decided to finally give the place a try. My husband and I were both apprehensive about it after reading so many negative reviews here so we picked a movie we weren't that thrilled about (The Campaign) so it couldn't be "ruined" by the experience. I'm happy to report that I thought the ambiance of the entire establishment was great (and the movie itself was much funnier than anticipated) and the waiters taking orders during the movie really weren't distracting at all (something I had been concerned about). Overall, I enjoyed it. We arrived at the theater about 40 minutes before the movie so we were able to pick our seats where we always sit regardless of the theater (last row in the center), although I miscalculated slightly and we were about two seats further to the right than I would have preferred. There's ample leg room to allow the waiters to get by which also means that even when someone is seated directly in front of you their head barely obscures the screen. We ate beforehand so as not to spend a fortune on food since the reviews here made most of it sound horrible, but we did share the chicken nachos which we both thought were good and the serving was quite large. I was able to get tap water for no charge instead of paying $3 for bottle water, and my hubby had Pepsi which came free with the Groupon (and refills on the pop are always free in case you were wondering). Service was pretty quick and all the employees we encountered (approximately five different people) were very cordial. My only complaint is that they brought the bills out a bit late so the movie ended a few minutes before they brought back everyone's credit card, but that wasn't enough to turn me off to coming back. While their prices are higher than what I'm willing to pay on a regular basis, I would come back here once in awhile for something different. read more

Studio Movie Grill - Bar area, as seen from the lobby. - American Near Me - Wheaton, Illinois

When SMG first opened, I was so excited. Growing up in the area, it had been a movie theater long ago. Excitement has dimmed in the past couple of years. Food (apparently all pre-frozen food thrown in a fryer) and bar (watered down drinks) are dismal, they hiked the KIDS meals to $10 and that doesn't include a drink whereas I can order my son an adult burger for $1 more, and it feels shabby. Do better! Love the location but have started driving to other theaters that are more updated and comfortable and less expensive show tickets. Also, crazy that the matinee ends at noon. Who needs food delivered to your seat when it's not good food, and it's over priced. read more

I give this movie theater 3 star's because it has an awesome surround sound. Clean and food not bad . I want to advise don't order your food ahead of time (on line ). You won't get your food until the movie starts . When everyone who gets there 10-15 min early get their food ASAP .. The gentleman said because we ordered on line we had to wait even though we checked in got our tickets 30 minutes before movie started . Another issues drinks are to damn expensive and not worth to buy. I been coming here for 4 yrs recommend people to go . For $15 a margarita on the rocks with patron I did not taste anything but margarita mix . I have order this drink everywhere else I can taste the tequila. The Long Island is pre-mix with the cheapest liquor they can put in it , taste horrible . Food menu has changed no Mac n cheese . End cost $100 for 2 people tickets , food which was pizza and cheeseburger, nachos x2 drinks . read more

My husband and I have been to this theater many times, and have had minor issues in the past but have always suggested this location due to the food and movie experience. The service is a bit slow but that wasn't really the biggest deal breaker although annoying at times. I was recently there on Thursday night and was extremely disappointed by the way management handled an obnoxious group that were talking throughout the movie, having loud verbal arguments and one of the people in the group was smoking a weed vapor pen. The server asked them to keep it quiet because other guests are complaining, then the manager came in and asked them to keep the volume down again or they would be removed. At that point they not only did NOT keep their voices down but they actually got louder and mocked the manager. Another couple again told the server about the noise and nothing happened. People pay to enjoy the movie they wanted to see, not to deal with annoying and obnoxious people. I was very disappointed in how an establishment can allow such behavior. Coming from the service industry myself, I would never allow a room full of paying customer to be distracted and their evening ruined by a group of 10 people that don't know how to act like civilized humans. Extremely disappointed and will not be visiting the location ever again. read more

We went there to see Jumanji and hoping they improved the seats. Sadly, they didn't. I know a lot of people like to have servers bring them drinks and food but it was a little distracting having it happen all through the movie. I recommend Ogden 6 if you want a better price, way better seats and and not all the distracting servers. I really like the location for SMG and hope they make some improvements. read more

We had an event there on 9/23 and it couldn't have been cleaner or nicer. The food was hot, fresh and on time. The drinks were great ( we had several!) The staff was very accommodating and friendly. Please do not hesitate to come back to this theater. It's the only one that serves food that's clean and the food is fresh. (Better than some restaurants). Yes the prices might have gone up a bit but really hasn't everything? They practice the correct protocol's. The staff there is always great. Please do not let this theater go by the wayside. read more

I love SMG and maybe it was an off day but I have noticed the food quality has begun to slide. We were there Tuesday which was a slow day. The margherita flat bread was barely warm and the diet soda had barely any carbonation. I want this place to survive but the food and drink has to be much better. That's why we go to SMG as opposed to a regular theater. The servers were terriffic. read more

Five Dollar Tuesdays!!!!!!!! Really, it's a great value! Drinks here are awesome! Generous on sizes when it comes to cocktails. The bartenders here do an excellent job. Kudos to them! The food here is just super inconsistent. The coconut shrimp, the cheese fries, the chicken wings and the salads are done very well every time for me. But take the Feature Four item as an example - The wings are good. But the rest of the plate is like grocery store freezer aisle quality. Definitely avoid the pizza here! Get pizza elsewhere before or after if you're craving it. Go here for nice chairs, good service, and excellent drinks! read more

They need to put up a big sign that says Groupon is not welcome here !!!! It's a good thing that I got here 45 minutes earlier then the show started . Did not want to scan my two vouchers Said I had to do this online. I spent 15 minutes online trying to get this taken care of. I surrendered and paid the full price at the counter. I asked two employees if Groupon was not welcome because they made it so hard to redeem. They gave me that smile that answered my question without saying yes. I am sure that one of them was the manager. Only two other people in the show. I wonder why!!!!!! read more

Nice venue to watch a movie. Buy tix online and pick your seat in advance. Scan your barcode at the kiosk upon arrival to print your tix. Comfortable leather chairs. Nice personnel, especially our server Riley. Very good food and cocktails. They have a 2 for $25 deal...shared appetizer and two entrees. Good deal. We started with the soft pretzel bites with a queso dip. Yum! I had the mac n' cheese which was cavatappi pasta in a three cheese sauce with bacon and green onions. The sauce was light making the dish less rich which I liked. It came with grilled bread. My husband had the BBQ chicken pizza which was full of flavor with cilantro, red onions, BBQ sauce, chicken and monterey jack cheese. We also enjoyed our cocktails (not included in the deal). I had a frozen blackberry margarita and my husband had a double ginger mule. I don't understand why only a 3-star rating. The food alone blows Hollywood Palms, Hollywood Boulevard and Yorktown theaters away. The only con is no recliners. read more

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I really enjoy coming here. The drinks are great, margarita special is the day to go. Couple that with the Groupon for $5, dinner and a movie in one. The food and service is better than AMC dine in theaters. The $25 special for two people is filling and you get the choice of appetizer and two entrees. The only downside I would say is the seating. If they had reclining chairs like AMC. Then there would be no reason to even bother with AMC. read more

If their seats were more comfortable I would have gone with 2-stars but since their seating is essentially nice office-style/desk chairs they get 1-star. While I would enjoy to sit in that seat at work it was too firm and doesn't recline so it was not very comfortable to try and relax and sit through a movie in. At this theater you order your beverages, snacks and/or meal directly from your seat (each seat has a service call button and a tray table). This means that the servers are constantly walking back and forth through all the aisles of the theater. While they work fast and most try to duck down it is pretty much a constant distraction throughout the theater during the movie and gets annoying real fast since every single person who wants a soda or popcorn or anything else is having it brought to their seat during the entire movie. I wish they were more like iPic theaters where some seats have the option of ordering from the seat (nicer seats towards the back) and then for the regular seating you can just bring your food in after ordering and receiving it in the dining/bar area. The service wasn't all that great, either, though at least the server was friendly. We wanted to order the fried chicken sliders & the server told us they were out...adding that, "Yeah, those are really popular so we run out of them all the time." Um, how about whoever is ordering your restaurant food supply take the hint and perhaps stock more of those? I understand if something happens to be popular one day and they run out but to add in they are out of it regularly is just poor planning. We selected different sliders & added on fries for $3 more. The sliders arrived 20 minutes later just as the movie was starting which is what we expected but the fries were missing. We pressed the call button and waited 10 minutes for our server to check in and he apologized for the missing fries & put the order in. And then we waited, and waited, and waited. 20 minutes later the fries were delivered to our seats. While they were tasty with some good seasoning on them there should have been a way for our server to indicate to the kitchen that these fries need to come out ASAP & not wait in line behind all the other orders being filled but that apparently is not the case. We originally planned on ordering popcorn as well since we shared the 1 order of sliders and fries but so much time had passed we decided to just skip the popcorn...it probably would have arrived just in time for the end credits anyway. Oh, and once the end credits are done they turn up ALL the house lights at the brightest level. Like, BOOM, the show's over, get the hell outta here! We like to stay through the credits and there were still many people in the theater so it was rather jarring. At other theaters, even just regular ones, they typically just bring the lights up part way - not full-on stadium lighting brightness while there are still patrons in there. read more

When my sisters and I decide on seeing a movie in theaters, we ALWAYS choose studio movie grill. We love the ease of purchasing tickets online and the ability to choose our seats. The chairs are comfortable and the staff has always been very friendly and accommodating. Usually, we see movies later at night. That being said, we often only order desserts. The frozen hot chocolate is our all time favorite! The brownie dessert is large and also quite delicious. As for food, I did order a cheese pizza one time and it wasn't that bad. The only time I did order popcorn, it was overly buttery and cold. Parking is hectic but that's really only an issue when it's super cold outside. Overall, really great location! read more

I've been going since they opened years ago, but my experience today has taught me that you can't watch certain movies there. The food is very good, but they only care about the food and the money it brings in. I attempted to watch "IT: Chapter 2" today, but found it difficult. The ambient light was so bright, you couldn't see the dark scenes. Of course, this is a horror movie and is loaded with them. I asked for them to turn down the lights and they said people want to see their food. Really? How much do you need when you have a giant screen? Speaking of the screen, you can see the wear on the screen when the image is bright. It's clear to me that they care more about their food and drink revenue than caring about Movie quality. As a paying club member, this is a shame to say. I was their biggest advocate, until now. After the movie, my wife stated that the bathroom was stinky and discussing actually being warned by another women not to look into a stall. Others didn't have any tp. read more

I'll start with the negatives: You really need to watch your receipt. They tell you that you can ''prepay'' so that you don't have to fuss with the bill at the end but that's sort of just a bogus way of getting you to pay for things for which you're unaware you're being charged. The two problems with that are that they bring you the bill ANYWAY at the end so you can leave a tip, then you fumble in the dark with it, trying to read everything and miss the ending of the movie. Last night I ordered nachos which I was told would come with sour cream (On the menu it says "Crema") and piled high with hot chicken and cheese. The chicken was on the cold side which I can tolerate, but there was no sour cream and very, very little cheese. I asked the waitress for extra cheese and sour cream and explained to her why. 2 hours later I realized that I had been charged .50 cents for the sour cream and a whopping $2 bucks for a thimble of hot cheese! These are the little things that bug me because you're out trying to have a nice evening and the theater is nickeling and diming you with superfluous charges on the food and online ticket orders. A night for four last night set us back over $150 dollars and in our group of four we ordered ONE beer, no alcoholic drinks. The other thing that's a bit annoying is that the seating isn't stacked well enough so inevitably servers are constantly obstructing your view. Positives: Seats are comfy, personal little tray tables are kinda nice and there are handy drink holders on the side which allow you free movement of your arms without knocking over a soda on your neighbor. The screens are enormous and the sound system is pretty incredible... incredible enough to drown out the noise of orders being taken and people crunching loudly. In the future I'll probably skip the food and enjoy the movie with just a drink or two. read more

Had a great time with my kids definitely going back Love that you can eat food and have a beer and watch the movie at the same damn time lol

So very confusing that I came to a theater that serves food and to be so uncomfortable. Servers were nice but that is it. My butt was sore from the chairs and I could feel the bar under the seat. Food was nothing great. Options were ok. We had poke bowl, avocado toast which lacked and a pizza. Hollywood palms is significantly better in all departments. I am not sure if all there theater have only one entrance -but it is annoying. Servers and guests walking back and forth through the whole movie. We also made the mistake and sat in the row that was next to handicap section. Don't do it! Servers use that row for everything. Back to chair and table. Chairs make a ton of noice due to being office swivel. Again -uncomfortable and noise. Classic cinemas are $5 a movie and so worth going for comfort of there new chairs plus free refills on soda and popcorn! You guys need to step it up! Another Thing- way to bright in theater and service fee for online booking through them is ridiculously. read more

Nice theatre and seats are comfortable but o much prefer the recliners that you get at most new theaters. The food is fine but doesn't seem as good as it did when it first opened. Maybe I'm just used to it and the menu needs a refresher or maybe it's really not as good. This used to be our go-to but not so much any more. It's fine. We go sometimes. For the price, however, I'd rather sit down somewhere for dinner then see a film in a nice recliner. read more

In the spot where once stood the old Rice Lake movie theatre in Wheaton the cinema lives again. The lot which was then converted into a Linens and Things, is now a movie theatre again. Studio Movie Grill is an attempt at a premium theatre, similar to Hollywood Blvd in Woodridge and Hollywood Palms in Naperville. The first thing to notice is the decor. It feels like an airport or hotel bar/lounge on the inside there's a bar right in the entry area with leather seats and what not. It's an interesting take to say the least, and isn't exactly my preference. The inside of the cinema itself is nice, the seats used are comfortable, but use an airline like TV tray for serving your food and beverages. The big issue here is that unlike Hollywood blvd or Hollywood Palms where you have leather chairs and eat on an unattached surface you can't move around to avoid the waves and waves of waiters and waitresses who come to serve. This isn't a service issue, it's a poor design of the way they do business and winds up becoming a distraction during the film more so than other premium theatres. A final topper is that a light hanging in the left wall actually projected a line on the screen throughout the whole movie. The food was decent quality and the service was polite, unfortunately they don't have this experience nearly as perfected as the other premium cinemas referenced. Overall this is a fine place to see a movie, but with lights interfering and more intrusive waiter and waitress service I'd recommend one of the Hollywood theatres if you're looking to go to a premium movie theatre in the Western suburbs. read more

My most FAVORITE place to be!! Fantastic pizza and salads!! Seats could be updated, however I'm always happy when I go to Studio Movie Grill!! read more

Tickets are expensive. It cost me $21 for my husband and I to see Edge of Tomorrow. The food and drinks are even more expensive. Regular soda fountain drinks are $3.50...don't even get me started on the mixed drinks. Luckily for us, they had a deal going on where you get 1 appetizer and 2 entrees for 25 dollars, and you can add a dessert for $5 if you'd like. We got the chicken nachos as an appetizer. No chicken, hardly any cheese, no salsa. Mostly tomatoes and chips. I ordered the mushroom swiss burger. The burger itself was good and it had some kind of aioli sauce, but the bun was old. I could tell because when I bit into it, it was chewy and hard to pull apart. Awful. The fries were decent, but they have no salt, so you have to ask for salt from the servers and that takes about 10 to 15 minutes. My husband ordered the margherita pizza. The cheese was cold, probably had been sitting out awhile, and they covered it with fresh diced tomatoes, but they were also cold. He hated it. I had to press my service button a few times just to get a refill. I had told three different people I needed a water. It wasn't until 30 minutes later that they brought me a water out. Another five minutes goes by, and the other server came out with another water. I said, "someone already brought one, thanks", but she set it right down in front of me anyways! If you've ever been there, you know there's hardly any room on that small little desk table. Definitely not enough room for two large drinks. Another thing that pisses me off about the tables is that they are tilted. So when they set your food down, it starts to slide off. You have to put it on a napkin or stick something in front of it to keep it from sliding. This is probably the third or fourth time I've been here and I do not know why I keep coming back. I've ordered many different things on the menu and I've always been disappointed. Except by the garlic potato skins. Those are legit. The customer service is hit or miss. Last night, it sucked. A few weeks ago, they were on point. A couple months back, the servers forgot to put in our appetizer and drink orders. I will give it two stars instead of one because the seats are comfortable and Tom Cruise looked damn good on the big screen. read more

I don't know why all theaters aren't like this. The concept of having dinner while you're watching a movie is genius! Mind. Blown. Came out to visit my friend in the 'burbs and this was one of the places we had to hit up before doing anything else. The interior of the theater is really nice compared to other places I've been to. We came before 6pm so the tickets were just $6 and what's great is that you can reserve your seats for the movie. The seats were really comfy, but I wish they reclined a bit, lol. Each seat has a table to swivels out with a service button to call the servers when you need something. Not long after we took our seats, we were given menus which had a surprisingly large variety of items ranging from salads to pizza to burgers and even cocktails. We ended up ordering chicken nachos and chicken tenders, which were pretty good considering that we were at a movie theater. ...and the portions were surprisingly generous. If I had to comment on anything negative, it would be that the servers forgot things that we requested. Overall, I had a great experience and can't wait to come back. read more

Okay so I've been to this place several times and I hate to say it but this very well may be the last time I go. I had such high expectations too. First off I ordered a Star Wars speciality drink that tasted like cough syrup, OMG it was horrible. I hate to be the A-hole that sends things back but I couldn't choke that grenadine and Robitussin down any longer... Then I ordered a Texas something that had dr. Pepper in it and it was very good. So that was nice lol Then my bf ordered a burger that he said was basically raw, he had about half and it looked like they switched fries from what they normally get which was disappointing, I really liked the other fries they had. And I got the pretzel bites, they were ok but it was a really small portion. Then they were out of three major beers anti hero and an IPA were the ones we wanted, and out of Belvedere and absolute, come on!! 75% of the reason I come to these theaters is for the booze, otherwise I'd sneak a flask in my purse like a normal American! I'm a drinker, and when ur out of the best, I get distressed! Ok ok so then it took them easily 20 mins to bring us our drinks and when they did they were watered down from the melted ice.... Come the F*** on! Not to mention when I ran to the restroom they were all gathered around the server station chatting and on their phones! Come on! Side note, its a freaking Tuesday. I normally think this place is better than most movie and dinner/drink places but today I was highly disappointed. It was just a miss all around and spending over a hundred just to see a movie, give me proper service and decent drinks. That's your business, figure it out. read more

Studio Movie Grill - Star Wars time! - American Near Me - Wheaton, Illinois

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I feel bad for this place because it seems to have been dog-piled by negative reviews from people who found themselves surprised that opening weekend went a little rough. If I hadn't checked the dates of the tsunami of bad reviews, I probably would've skipped the Studio Movie Grill... Which would've been terrible! We went to see Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter here last weekend, and of the movie theater restaurant type affairs I've been to, this is the best. My main basis for comparison is theaters which all typically seem to be arranged like Hollywood Palms in Naperville in that they're usually filled with uncomfortable seats, awkward tables, and mediocre food. Studio Movie Grill bucks this trend by having actual theater style seating (with silly amounts of forward leg room) and the table you eat on is like a school desk style table that swings in front of you. There's even a button you can mash when you want service. Pricing seemed pretty decent, or at least, no more expensive than your typical restaurant and the food was good. The best thing about Studio Movie Grill though is that the projection quality is actually good. It seems like most theaters like this are rehabbed theaters with a fresh coat of paint and all the projection equipment from when they first opened in 1975. Not the case here! Don't let the onslaught of bad reviews sway you away from this place. I've heard they often sell out during popular show times when new movies are released, so look into buying tickets early. read more

I'm baffled by all of the 1, 2, and even 3 star reviews of this place. Studio Movie Grill provides the best movie-going experience I've ever had, hands down. You just have to keep your expectations realistic. This is a movie theater that serves booze and food. Not a bar or restaurant that shows movies. If you keep this in mind, you'll enjoy your experience. Ticket prices here are cheaper than other movie theaters I frequent, and they're almost always on Groupon. When reserving your seats, be sure to choose the VIP seating (the most common) and not the table/counter seating. The VIP seats are comfortable, proper theater seats, while the table/counter seats are literally office chairs. The convenience of sharing a table with your date isn't worth the downgrade in comfort. Don't go to Studio Movie Grill to eat dinner while watching a movie. Go there to drink beer while watching a movie, especially on Thursdays when draught beer is half price. It's a movie theater, not a restaurant. Most likely there's some teenager preparing your food, not a chef. If you're hungry, eat before you go. This is just common sense. Unless you arrive too early, there really is no reason to hang out at the bar. The bartenders are amateurs, but then again this isn't a bar, it's a movie theater. While this might not sound like a glowing review, I gave this place 5 stars because with the Groupon and half-price draught beers on Thursdays, you can reserve your seat at the movies and have a waiter/waitress bring you a pitcher of beer for about $15 including tip. You can't beat that. read more

I still come here pretty often, but I am updating because the menu has changed significantly and not for the better. I was delighted with lots of vegetarian options when the place first opened, as you can see from my previous review. But now, the only entrees that are vegetarian are pizza (which is just ok) and the black bean burger. Even most of the salads have meat in them, and none of the pasta dishes are meat free. I know there are a lot of other vegetarian movie goers out there, and while I guess I can't expect every place to cater to my whims, this place used to and now does not at all. The appetizers have also shifted toward much more meat-focused and fewer healthy options. The hummus, chips & dip, popcorn, and edamame are the only veggie appetizers--even the cheese fries have bacon on them. I think the service has fallen off a bit since it opened also. I know that the servers are busy and they are always friendly; but sometimes we have to wait a really long time for food despite arriving and ordering before previews even start. Last time, my husband didn't get his pizza til over an hour into the movie. We didn't want to make a fuss but there was no offer to comp it or even give us a free drink or something. In the middle of a movie, you don't want to be asking for a manager so we just let it go. We come here a lot because they are constantly running Groupons, but I would come here more and actually get a meal if they had more to offer in that department. I have no idea why the company decided to ditch their awesome menu and go for something more pedestrian and carnivorous, but it's a bummer to me. read more

I was very leery about viewing a movie at SMG. I have done the dine-in movie experience at another location and it left me so disappointed and annoyed I vowed to never visit any of these kind of places again. Well, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the movie experience here. The lobby was very clean, the bar set up was pretty sleek and the counter folks were really nice. The seats are nice and roomy, more like movie seats than like the office chairs they have at another theater that shall remain nameless. Each seat gets a movable tray (unless you're seated at a table below the stadium seating). The servers only enter from the side, unlike the theater-that-must-not-be-named, where the servers enter right down the middle aisle. You can also choose your seat online when you purchase your tix, but it does incur a service fee. But we just got there early (thanks for the tip Yelpers!) and were able to choose good seats away from the service entrance. We ordered chicken Nachos and popcorn along with our sodas. I felt the nachos were pretty poor--I do have a soft spot for regular movie nachos with the bright yellow cheese though. The chicken was mushy and it was a pretty small serving. The popcorn was good though--freshly popped. Service was good for the most part except no one every brought out the refill I asked for. I did appreciate that the servers tried very hard not to get in the way of movie goer's views and tried to be as quiet as they could during the movie. When we turned the light on our tray to call a server, they came pretty quickly. I still prefer the old dinner and a movie date night vs a dine in movie, but SMG is nice enough that I'd totally come back for a movie. Seems like this place is always offering Groupons (that's what we used) But also check the website often as they have monthly deals. Like for now, ladies night on Tuesdays. Ladies only pay $5. Hey ladies! read more

I hate the movies. I hate that tickets cost so much, I hate spending an exorbitant amount on half-filled candy boxes, stale popcorn, cold nacho cheese, and overly carbonated pop. I hate the people, the previews, and the movies I see. I HATE THE MOVIES. That said, my husband loves them. So, I still have to go to the movies sometimes. MARRIAGE IS THE BEST!! Overall, Studio Movie Grill wasn't bad. I mean, I get a table, some service, ALCOHOL (nothing great, but alcohol nonetheless), and am not sitting on top of someone like at most other theaters. Those are all pluses. The place isn't bad looking either...it's clean, it has a nice lobby, the chairs and tables in the theater aren't too small or uncomfortable, and the movie screen and the sound were good too. The problem with places like these is, no matter what you do, the service part is always a huge distraction. No matter how hard the servers try, they are distracting. And all the people constantly asking for stuff and talking like they are at a restaurant that just happens to have a movie on is distracting too. Maybe I just have ADHD. I don't know. There's also going to be a problem with the seats or the tables or both. And because they have to serve and clean up after you, there's always going to be a wait to get in. At least SMG doesn't herd you like cattle when it IS time to get in and there is assigned seating (if you go online and pay the extra $3 service charge), unlike other premium movie theaters (I'm looking at you, Hollywood Blvd.!). You can also call the servers over when you want them by pressing a button. Nice touch. I mean, if I have to go to the movies, I'd pick here. At least I can drink, pick my own seats, and possibly pay only $5 a ticket (with non-alcoholic drink!) if there is a Groupon. Done and done. read more

To start with: don't come here if you don't plan to eat or drink. It's somewhat like a restaurant that also shows a movie, if you come at a busy time. Servers are up and down the rows, taking orders (not always quietly), and delivering meals. However, if you're lucky enough to come at an off-peak movie time (daytime, matinee or week night), you might find a quieter experience. I can tell the servers really do try to be as unnoticeable as possible, but it can't always be easy, and other movie-goers cannot always be depended upon to receive their food and eat quietly, either. The facility is nice enough, as are the restrooms. We've noticed some wear on the steps of the theaters, especially the rubber molding, which we've seen flapping off in a way that could be a tripping hazard. Despite some grievances, this is one of our go-to movie theaters. You can't beat the groupon price, and most of the food isn't bad either (try the cheese fries!) read more

I chose to do another review on Studio Movie Grill based on a great experience we had two visits in a row with a server named Jessica. They hire well and for a bunch of young (well trained) employees, they go the extra mile if there is a problem. Jessica, on our last two visits, was exceptional! I'm not easily impressed by people in the service industry but by the end of our evening, I had to ask the young women what her name was in order for me to give her a pat on the back for a job well done via YELP. Her name is Jessica if your fortunate enough to get her. Keep in mind, these people do their job "IN THE DARK"! We attend that theater at least 2-3 times per month. Sometimes we may not be that interested in a certain movie choice, however, we enjoy the quality of the food and the customer service. It disappoints us when we read these negative reviews because even though we've experienced a mistake or two, it wasn't bad enough to sway our judgement about the Studio Movie Grill experience. We look forward to date nights or afternoon matinees if the weather bad. Regardless of whether or not their chairs recline, the food, the service and the overall experience has kept us coming back. We found that even though a theater may have reclining chairs, the food and the service is substandard. Do yourself a favor and give them a try! read more

Oh! How I love to be treated like a queen!! This is exactly the service I've gotten everytime I go here. Love love love their drinks- you gotta try their Long Island. The best I've had so far (and I don't even like long island's!). What's better than being a little buzzed and watching an action-packed movie? The characters are now alive! ;) Their food is to die for.. It's a little pricey, but worth it. The cajun fries, the veggie quesadilla, the red pepper roasted hummus.. I'm getting fat just thinking about their food. Studio Movie Grill- I'll be back! (just no Schwarzenegger movies please!) read more

I have to compare this to Hollywood Palms in Naperville... ATMOSPHERE: Much less cheesy, but really feels like a lounge or nightclub. Just really kinda far up its own rear end. But still...really nice. The win goes to SMG. TICKETS: SMG is more expensive by over a dollar. The win goes to HP. SEATS: The servers REALLY get in your way here. Much more comfy than Hollywood palms, and there is a service button! The win goes to SMG. FOOD: Now THIS is why I gave it 3 stars. The best part of the menu is that it clearly gives you several healthy options. But that's it. The only real options came in the form of pizza. Everything else was extremely plain and did not excite me. I ordered a burger, but I couldn't even order it a certain way. So I had to take it well done. That annoyed me. At least at HP, you get several options for burgers, chicken sandwiches, pizza, and appetizers. SMG was underwhelming, in my opinion. And totally more expensive than HP. The win by far goes to HP on food. So I guess its technically a tie...but I love Hollywood Palms. The food and prices really make that place the better choice, in my opinion. And the decor is great. I guess if you want something fancypants, go to SMG. It LOOKS more impressive...but that's in, in my opinion. read more

Man there's so much hate for this place. I'm not sure why. I went here last night and it wasn't that bad. Maybe I was just preparing for the worst after reading all these reviews, but it def doesn't serserve less than 3 stars unless you're comparing it to some other similar theaters. I guess those are legit reviews. But yeah, this was my first time at a theater like this and it was a pretty good experience. I had a groupon like many others, and you pick your seat when you check in/buy a ticket. Small complaint was on the mini screen, it looked like the screen was off center, so I asked and she said it was centered, and I went in and it wasn't centered (though i picked a seat that was luckily). Food is a little pricey but it's comparative to a large popcorn and drink combo at a regular theater so can't really complain much. I got the buffalo chicken, it was alright. It was smothered in a little too much sauce and didn't come with enough ranch. My gf got the pesto chicken pizza and that was a average. Wasn't anything special, was only warm when came out so feel like it was made and then just sat under a hot lamp for a while or something like that. If you want the best movie experience for a new released movie, then obviously don't come here. I just wanted dinner, and to see an older movie that people talked about that wasn't at picture show yet. The lights dim but don't turn completely off and yes, the servers do walk in front of you, but at least they do try and bend over. Are people expecting them to crawl or something? Bill comes with like 45 min left in the movie and you can pay right away or at the end. They do clear your table if you finish, but i had extra fries that I just kept with me the whole time. Oh yea, and the place is new so it's like crazy nice and has a bar outside. read more

Right off the bat I will say you're MUCH better off at Hollywood Palms. Now that I've gotten that out of the way..we went last night for a screening of Home Alone. Tickets were $1 so I can't complain about that. However, each ticket had an added $1.50 fee and I ordered 11 tickets so it added up. Once it looked like the weather was going to be bad, I had a few people drop out and I emailed the manager to see about a refund. He would not give me one, but once I got to the theater I tried again with the cashier and she DID give me one so I was glad about that. Theater: really did like the seats, not a fan of the table tray..a counter would be better. They were roomy and I was comfortable, though. Servers: Did not take away dirty dishes unless asked, but then did take them nicely. They weren't a distraction because I frequent theaters like this and am used to it. Food: EXPENSIVE! Even some appetizers were upwards of $11. Hollywood Palms is a much better value and the food there is better. SMG cannot accommodate any special requests, which makes me think the food is not fresh. Light sauce on the pizza? Couldn't do it. A dessert without cherries? Nope. If you're a picky eater, this place is NOT for you. Overall, if someone else wanted to go back I would go but I probably wouldn't order any food. It will never be MY first choice. read more

We've been coming here since they opened, and prefer it over the Hollywood franchise. We love that you can choose your seats in advance, and it's a fun spot for a weekday dinner and a movie date after work. Good: seats are wide (you don't feel like you're on top of your neighbor), service is good, $5 ticket Tuesdays, $5 groupon tickets (though now they're restricted to certain days/times). Meh: menu is different almost every time we come and isn't always for the better (they always seem to remove items I enjoy), movie and sound quality are not always the greatest (this place is best for the overall dinner and a movie experience). Bad: food is hit-or-miss (my husband orders the coconut chicken tenders every time and they're not consistent with the quality), wear and tear on the theater doesn't seem to be addressed (broken/missing service buttons, wonky chairs). read more

I will start by saying that all staff I encountered were friendly and helpful, but as for the theater...I've had better. The seats were the most uncomfortable I have sat in at a movie theater. To make it worse, a cheap plastic tray table sits over your lap, making you feel as if you are a baby propped up in a high chair. If I were a child, great, but I'm not. And to top it off, throughout the entire movie, waitstaff goes back and forth, directly in front of you to take orders. Can I just watch the movie, please? I may be less distracted if you would try all black uniforms, instead of bright red shirts. We had free tickets to see our movie, but given them again, I would not go back. If you want dinner and a movie, opt for iPic or Muvico. read more

One visit was all our room to convince us to steer clear. Number one reason: UNCOMFORTABLE SEATING AND REDICULOUS LITTLE TRAYS TO EAT ON. The trays were actually at enough of an incline to keep the drinks sliding off...yes...OFF, causing a spill. The button for attention would be nice if they were responsive. Stick with Hollywood Palms! read more

Why add a menu and then take away 95% of it, and still advertise it? A lot of the food isn't made to order anymore. I ordered some wings and the girl turned around and pulled some out of a heater, yet they still have a ton a kitchen space, which we can still see. Also the bar took a huge hit as well, they might as well just hand out bottles of beer at that point. read more

We really enjoyed this place. We have been to other theaters with a similar platform of having the full kitchen. The food was great and the margaritas were even better. I recommend the coconut chicken tenders. The only thing I didn't like was I thought it was a bit overpriced. We went with four of us and for tickets, 4 entrees, two appetizers, two drinks and dessert it was a $170 trip to the movies. My advice is don't worry about appetizers because they come out the same time the food does and we had no where to put all the food. You can also buy tickets online and preselect your seats but we were charged $1.50 per ticket extra for a connivence charge. Over all we would go again but will be more conscious of how much we order. read more