DALLAS The six-unit Movie Tavern chain, which offers cinema and cuisine, has introduced a new menu for the summer film season and plans to open two new theaters this month.
Chris Gainey, the chain's director of culinary programs, has created such new menu items as Southwest queso chicken, a chopped Southwest chicken salad and a pesto-chicken sandwich for the units in Kentucky, Ohio and Texas.
In addition to a new menu, Movie Tavern is in the process of installing a proprietary "call button" at each seat that will allow patrons to page servers. This system, which is similar to how air passengers summon flight attendants, has been in development for more than a year.
Movie Tavern debuted a new dine-in theater in March in Lexington, Ky. The brand will open a new location in Columbus, Ohio, on May 11 and in the Denver suburb of Aurora, Colo., on May 25.
"Call buttons are currently being installed in all locations," said Jeff Benson, chief executive of Movie Tavern. "In addition to quicker service times, we even have the ability to measure service times across all our theatres."
Gainey, who joined Movie Tavern after working at Brinker International's Macaroni Grill concept, said, "We've created some wonderful recipes on which we've received great response to so far, and our new menu format – along with inspiring guests' appetites – makes information about our super selection more accessible to our guests."
Benson added: "The convenience of quality food and first-run films is the core value of our brand, and we're delivering on this promise in an exceptional way."
children's menu features fried mac and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches and chicken tenders. Wines, beers and margaritas are available for adults.