368143 Tue Feb 06 08:08:20 -0800 2007 7 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 2264361 I watched the SuperBowl here because I wanted to check it out. I've always had the intention to try the Parkway but the drive across town disuaded me. The El Cerrito location turned out to be great. The food is at least two levels above other theaters in quality and one level lower in price, making it a very chowish place. http://www.cerritospeakeasy.com/index.php?view=menu.html I had the "Zombie Cow" sandwich, tasty grilled beef (flank or flapmeat) served warm to my seat although the promised pickle did not show with the sandwich. I also had the nachos, enormous with all the additions promised on the menu, not just the strange yellow stuff of other theater venues, a couple of Trumers and a decent slice of chocolate cake and everything was served in real dishes, not paper. (Even popcorn comes in a bowl.) You must order at the counter or the connected cafe and the made to order stuff is delivered to your seat in the theater. Thumbs up to anyone who wants to see a movie and eat at the same time. Tue Feb 06 08:08:20 -0800 2007 65193 EdwardAdams 1 2264476 ... and you can buy bottled and draft beer like Trumer Pils & wine like Ile la Forge Viognier I hope someone tries the pizza with roasted tomato sauce so the Speakeasy can be formally entered into the pizza wars ... heh ... ask if there's a wood-fired oven. And it has vegetarian & vegan food as well. The bottom of the menu says they will try to accomodate special diets. Thanks so much for reporting. I've been waiting for a movie I wanted to see before going ... maybe I'll go watch the oscars there. The Contra Costa Times did a recent review. It liked it a lot better than the Oakland Speakeasy. http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/entertainment/16541898.htm The CC Times says the owners " the Fischers have themed nights such as Baby Brigade (first two shows every Tuesday) and something called Thrillville" Hope others will report back about the food when they visit. BTW, you can eat there at the 'It Club" withiout going to the movie. Woo-hoo ... an non dive/chain place in El Cerrito to get a glass of wine with more selection than FatApple's. http://www.cerritospeakeasy.com/index.php?view=cerrito_it_club.html Monday-Friday: 4-10PM, Saturday and Sunday: 2:30-10PM Where else ya gonna get a Sid Caesar Salad? Tue Feb 06 08:39:25 -0800 2007 2264361 10264 rworange 2 2264605 Oscar tickets sell out in like 5 minutes. You'll need to get in line early. Tue Feb 06 09:10:28 -0800 2007 2264476 10793 Morton the Mousse 1 2264563 I like the original Parkway. The food's edible, better than the typical garbage you get at chain theaters, but not very good. That CC Times review (by their club reviewer, not the restaurant critic) makes it clear it wasn't the food that impressed her: "The chicken on the nachos was dry, cold and difficult to eat because the strips were too long. And the wrap didn't have the roasted red peppers the menu noted -- so it, too, was dry." Tue Feb 06 09:03:33 -0800 2007 2264361 11369 Robert Lauriston 2 2264614 Ah, but a hound liked the nachos ... they just opened, so maybe they are working things out. Looking forward to your pizza rating. Thanks for the Oscar show tip, Morton Tue Feb 06 09:13:03 -0800 2007 2264563 10264 rworange 3 2264631 The original Parkway's pizza is vaguely similar to Fat Slice. Doughy and cheesy. Tue Feb 06 09:16:18 -0800 2007 2264614 11369 Robert Lauriston 2 2264674 I avoided the problem with the nachos by not ordering the chicken. Saved a buck too. The real advantage of the Parkway is that they have Sudwerk Pils on tap instead of the Trumer. Trumer is okay but Sudwerk makes the orignal Urquell taste pale. Tue Feb 06 09:26:03 -0800 2007 2264563 65193 EdwardAdams 1 2264568 RW, Your enthusiasm is infectious. A few more thoughts. Since you order and pay at the counter, it is hard to figure out how to tip the server. Since the service was good, I finally figured it out. Furthermore, to accomodate the seat service the house lights are up higher than in other theaters but I did not find it a distraction. Events like the SuperBowl or Oscars would be perfect for this place since it is a convivial place where a bit of audience interaction is not a problem. A comedy movie would work as well. That Viognier caught my eye too. Tue Feb 06 09:04:06 -0800 2007 2264361 65193 EdwardAdams