Movie and Dinner on The Blvd
Today, my bf's parents came to town. We decided to go grab a matinee movie followed by dinner. Since our town is infested with chain restaurants, we headed to Lancaster Blvd to grab some dinner at a locally owned family restaurant. But before I get ahead of myself, I thought I would review the theater and movie.
One of my favorite theaters in the area is Blvd Cinemas. Generally you find some great indie films, with the occasional mainstream flick. Greeted by a lovely staff, Blvd cinemas offers your traditional movie snacks, as well as a variety of nachos, flat bread pizzas, and pita chips with hummus. I chose the pits and hummus. You also have your choice of microbrewery beer selections and Barefoot wine! I mean really? Wine and a movie? Pretty much perfection. The seats are "pleather" recliners that are comfortable and cozy. Every now and then you find a malfunctioning recliner, but overall they offer great value. How much is this relaxing movie experience? $8 for a matinee and $11 for the evening! So grab a cozy pair of socks, your favorite sweater, a bestie, and check them out!
We saw Kill the Messenger starring Jeremy Renner, Based on true story, the film centered around a reporter for the San Jose Mercury News, Gary. Gary is handed a story that will change the way you view "The War on Drugs". As Gary chases the story, he finds that our own government is at the epicenter, putting his career and family are risk. The movie was well written, directed, and acted. Jeremy tenner delivers a passionate performance, that in my opinion may be the best of his career. The supporting actors are not to be overlooked, creating a well developed story that draws you in and opens your eyes to the "crack epidemic". I would definitely recommend you all get out there and see it! I have a feeling it may earn an oscar nomination!
After our movie, we headed across the street to dinner at Pour 'd Vino. Now this was not my first time at the family owned and operated establishment, however it was my first time for dinner. The atmosphere is lovely, with an outdoor patio (an additional outdoor space is located on the rooftop featuring a fireplace: Great for a gathering!) and live music. In my previous meanderings, I had experienced excellent service and staff. However this time I was fairly disappointed. We seated ourselves outside, only to find that our table was only equipped with two menus. Seeing as how there were 4 of us, this posed a problem. I had assumed we would have been given menus when our waitress arrived, but it seems we were forced to share. STRIKE 1! I myself had a white wine that was delicious, and my bf's father had a glass of red. We started with the Fruit and Cheeseboard. After waiting about 15 min, we were required to follow up with our waitress. STRIKE 2! Apparently our chessboard was sent to the wrong table. however, it was promptly corrected and we were informed it would be out shortly. Once it finally arrived, we were greeted with a variety of fruit such as honeydew, cantaloupe, grapes, and peaches. The cheese selection was that of blue, brie, and another one that I couldn't place. Overall I was satisfied with the appetizer we chose. Since our chessboard was late, we asked that our meal be delayed so could enjoy our current feast. We met a little resistance, but once again, it was promptly resolved. STRIKE 3! Our main dishes arrived with excellent presentation. I ordered a steak salad accented by blue cheese and topped with some fried onion strings. My steak was a bit tough, but overall it was a nice salad. It did not blow me away, but it was definitely tasty. Next up was the seared ahi salad which I am told was fairly delicious, but again I didn't hear any raving reviews! A gourmet grilled cheese arrived and was delicious. I have ordered this before and was thoroughly impressed! A variety of cheeses including brie paired with bacon (cheese AND bacon? Sign me up!!), with a side salad and some fruit, it truly is the best grilled cheese I have ever had. And I have had A LOT! Finally, my boyfriend had his Chicken Alfresco. A basic pasta dish with chicken and an alfredo type sauce. Definitely a safe "go to" dish if you are looking to really indulge. The sauce was creamy and seasoned just right. Overall, our dining experience was rocky at first, but finished strong. The food is a prepared and presented well, bringing comforting traditional flavors in a vibe fit for date night. It is not by any means the best meal I have ever had, but for the moderately priced diner looking for great ambiance and wine, this is your place! Happy hour offers drinks specials and appetizers on Sundays and Tuesdays. PS...I apologize for the pictures, I left my phone and I was not the photographer!
