AMC DINE-IN Menlo Park 12 — Hotel in Edison

Here is my review for this sorry excuse for a cinema, conveniently located attached to the Menlo Park Mall in Edison, New Jersey.

Went with family to watch Top Gun: Maverick for the second time. (Went to Route 1 AMC in IMAX the first go round)

Sad to report that this particular AMC Theatres is very much run down now and the "dine-in" experience has heavily declined!

The ticketing is very smooth and it was a breeze to order tickets ahead of time. Prices are fair due to inflation and rising costs of everything so I won't complain on that front.

We order food from one of the two concession stands and was told it would be delivered to our seats. Very cool, but the downside is if we wanted other items we would have to physically get up and walk out and then go back in line and order. I understand it's a bit difficult to have food service while movie is playing but a good compromise would be if they had some sort of phone Application to order drinks and food from seat instead.

Once inside our cinema for the showing, I easily found our seats but much to my dismay the trays were VERY VERY Dirty. Not the most welcome sight especially if you plan to munch or drink on something during the movie. (Photos attached)

The only saving grace are the comfortable seats. That being said I should probably get tested for Hepatitis because I'm pretty sure they haven't cleaned the seats since the First Top Gun 30+ years ago, SMH !

Picture was decent but IMAX definitely a large and more crisp viewing experience. Sound was okay but NOT loud enough! We could literally hear the next door showing of the same movie that was starting at a later time then ours.

There were people talking and cell phones going off. Wish staff would have thrown them out. It was annoying and damaged moments for sure. Floors looked dirty and there was that awful smell of popcorn and carpet that was very pungent.

Overall staff was pleasant and helpful, i just wish there was more leadership and direction here at this location.

Saving grace of all this was the movie was great and the overpriced "Not so Giant" Oreo Milkshake was fantastic !

Final Verdict: Two Stars ⭐⭐

(Just a friendly warning ⚠️)

Eject ⏏️ yourself from the idea of coming here if you value your money and movie going...

The dine-in experience is a must do but it's distracting for the serious film aficionado (or for sound/smell sensitive people).

You sit, examine a menu with barfoods dressed up with a gourmet appeal (and price), examine an alcohol menu with a rather large selection of beers, craft beers, wines, and mixed drinks, press a little buzzer next to your chair, and a live human appears at your side a few moments later. After taking your order, it's hand-delivered to your swivel table some 10-20 minutes later. You're now eating and drinking food / alcohol on a plushy seat. America.

But, no matter how fun that seems, it robs from the film viewing experience. You are often distracted by various AMC workers walking around the theater, taking orders and delivering foods. Some people order in semi-loud voices as if they were in a restaurant. Then comes the sounds of people fumbling with their silverware and glass bottles. All complimented by munching sounds and various food aromas. The light at your side is a bit overbearing (for me). No way to shut it off. Although I covered mine with the menu, you can see a soft glow of light over the rest of the theater's chairs from their own dine lights.

I have never been more distracted from a film than in this dine-in experience. I lost track from the film various times, especially when dealing with the bill. However, your experience might be (positively) different. I'm a film nerd that immerses my senses into the film screen. You might not.

Also, getting to this place might seem tricky for first timers. You have to get on side road (west or east from Cheesecake factory) drive all the way to the back of the mall, get inside the parking garage, and drive all the way to the top. Then you'll see AMCs entrance.

I will come back for 2nd viewings of films already watched and/or to do beers and a night dinner with buddies. For serious viewings, I'll visit AMC...

If you wanna go watch a movie at this AMC, make sure you eat something before cause you will be wasting endless time at the food concession stand. After having repeated bad experiences this is my experience and review.

I am a stubs member and I had received free popcorn and a drink on my birthday. So went to redeem on the concession stand and the guy says it’s already redeemed while it’s not at all. I told the guy to scan the card and see and he just pretended to scan the card again and told me to stand on the side so we can ask his manager and he pretended to whisper something and said no it’s not working somehow I apparently magically redeemed it and also while he was doing so he made me stand on the side while taking 5 other people and wasting my 25 minutes. Few days after I went and scanned the card it and it worked magically so you can guess how professional they are.

Another bad experience is another day I decided to order some food and waited on the priority line cause I was an AMC member and the concession lady took like 5 other customers before me while I was the only one in the priority line. Then I ordered food and after waiting an hour and a half I was curious where my food is cause the movie is almost ending, so I asked the lady who took my order and she said she can’t help me apparently for no reason. Asked the waiters and explained and they were able to give me my food but it didn’t even taste good and appeared cold and extremely salty.

So yes if you order something I hope you have a better customer service then what I had received cause well I have been to other AMCs including the very busy one in Times Square and haven’t witnessed this type of unprofessional behavior and lack...