Alamo Drafthouse Cinema East El Paso — Restaurant in Horizon City

Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I just survived (and thoroughly enjoyed) a trip to the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in El Paso, and my cinematic soul is singing... mostly because it's full of popcorn and a surprisingly decent local brew. First off, let's talk about the concept. Movie theater? Good. Food and booze while watching said movie? Genius bordering on dangerously enabling. It's like they peered into my soul and said, "You know what would make that intense car chase even better? A perfectly cooked burger and a local IPA." And they were RIGHT. The pre-show is an experience in itself. Forget those soul-crushing ads for car insurance and erectile dysfunction. At the Alamo, you get a curated selection of vintage trailers, bizarre PSAs, and clips that are often funnier and more engaging than half the stuff on streaming. It's like a cinematic appetizer that primes your funny bone and makes you wonder what glorious weirdness they'll unleash next. Now, the food and drink situation. Listen, I'm not saying you should go to the Alamo just for the grub, but you wouldn't be entirely wrong if you did. Their menu is surprisingly ambitious for a movie theater. I opted for the Royale with Cheese (because, duh) and it arrived piping hot, juicy, and with actual, honest-to-goodness crispy fries. Not those sad, lukewarm potato sticks you usually get at places that also sell overpriced candy. And the beer selection? Local craft brews alongside the usual suspects. My West Texas IPA paired beautifully with the on-screen explosions, adding a certain je ne sais quoi to the mayhem. The in-theater service is a delicate dance of ninja-like servers who glide through the dimly lit aisles, somehow anticipating your every need without ever blocking your view of the screen. You jot down your order on a little slip of paper, stick it in a holder, and like magic, a fresh beverage or a plate of loaded fries appears. It's like having your own personal cinematic butler, minus the stuffy attitude and plus the potential for a silent thumbs-up when your order arrives promptly. And the rules! Oh, the glorious rules. No talking. No texting. Violators are threatened with the cinematic equivalent of being sent to the cornfield in Twilight Zone: The Movie. They take this seriously, folks, and it's a beautiful thing. Finally, a movie theater where you don't have to listen to Brenda from Boise give a play-by-play of the entire film to her oblivious companion. It's a sanctuary for those of us who actually want to hear the dialogue and see the action. The seats are comfy enough for a two-hour epic, and the screen and sound system are top-notch. You're not just watching a movie; you're immersed in it. Plus, they often have special events, quote-alongs, and themed screenings that add an extra layer of fun and fandom. My only minor gripe? Sometimes, deciding what to order can be as stressful as the movie's climax. Do I go for the pizza? The wings? Another beer? It's a delicious dilemma, but a dilemma nonetheless. Maybe they need a "surprise me" button on the order slip. In conclusion, the Alamo Drafthouse in El Paso is not just a movie theater; it's an experience. It's where your inner film buff and your inner foodie can finally hold hands and sing Kumbaya while watching a giant robot punch a monster in the face. Go. Treat yourself. Just try not to spill your milkshake during the jump scares. You've...

Update- a manager emailed me and did an excellent job in attempting to rectify this experience. Seemed genuine and we certainly appreciate the time he took to send a follow up email. We will definitely give them another shot! Thanks!

We enjoyed the food, drinks, and the tiered set up of the theater. However, this was our first time here, therefore we were not sure how to place an order nor did anyone offer any assistance when we first arrived and Specifically stated we've never been there before and asked if we can place our order there at the ticket counter. The only thing the lady at the ticket counter said is "you order at your seats" so we assumed that meant a server would come, provide a menu and take the order. After a long period of waiting, no one coming to us and watching other guests getting their orders, I did some digging around the seating area where I quickly noticed the paper due to the dim light though I wasn't sure what it was for. After some more feeling around , I finally found the menu, then noticed a small pen sticking up from the table so I wrote down our order and placed it in the paper holder. The servers passed us by several times while the paper with our order was propped up, serving others sitting next and all around us. I thought this was unusual so I had to get up and walk around looking for someone to assist, missing the beginning of the movie. I did finally locate what seemed like the kitchen area and handed one of the two servers our order, they asked what theater and what seats we were located. After providing them that information, I again advised we were not sure how to order going forward and asked for assistance. I was told there's a button we should push when we need something though no further specifics we're given as to where the button is located. I was in somewhat of a hurry to get back since I had already missed the first 25-30 minutes (at the very least) of the movie due to just trying to figure out how this works/feeling around the seating areas and walking around looking for a server so, I just thanked them and went back to my seat- assuming the button must be somewhere easily located and I just overlooked it. Once back in my seat, I still could not locate the button, there is no dimly highlighted area showing where this button is-similar to the paper holder. It wasn't until they finally arrived with the large order we placed when I asked them to please point it out. One server finally showed me where it was. Again, I missed at the very least 30 minutes of the movie due to attempting to figure all of this out when the lady at the ticket counter could have easily given some instruction when we advised this was our first time here and didn't know how the ordering process goes. There was no one waiting behind us in line, no one in the lobby area so there was no reason to not take a moment to do so since we specifically stated this was our first time there &didn't know how to order. Though the prices are a little high, (we ended up with 130$ bill not including a very generous tip) which would've been alright had I been able to enjoy the entire movie as opposed to figuring things out. For those who are familiar with ordering, etc then this would have been a good dinner and a...

Movie experience is top notch Environment is unique Food is delicious but service at bar sometimes struggles due to staffing shortage.

We go here often, and love the personality it brings. Some major pros: The movie experience is great. Easy process to get tickets, very flexible even if you happen to miss it due to uncontrollable circumstances. The pre-show entertainment is something you definitely want to go for, much better than some other theater attempts with their weak trivia. Sound and audio are fantastic, and the service of the people in the movie theaters are outstanding. Food is delicious and hot, and the seats are luxurious and comfortable Food : food is outstanding overall. Whether it's the chocolate chip cookies, milkshake, burgers, and fantastic popcorn, most of the time we haven't had any issues when we're in the theater ordering. Unfortunately there was one time beyond meat burger wasn't cooked nowhere near requested. It was shocking because we had ordered 3 to 4 times before in the movie theaters, and we never had any issues. This time was in the bar location, and they were one for two with quality. The positive thing is the manager quickly resolved the issue. He was very gracious and empathetic and made sure that it was done right. I can't say the same for other restaurants that I've been to. Service: service as mentioned is very quick, and professional. People are friendly and casual, and don't try to push you out of your tables to try to bus them. Ambience is great as well. Music's not too loud, lighting is just right. The one thing that I would tell the upper management is to increase staffing hours during crunch times. To be honest I don't blame anyone on this, because the staff seems to be trying to do what they can, but with the number of guests that they have, becomes a challenge to get to everyone sometimes. One time we waited almost 20 minutes to get the order put in. This is the exception to the rule, but nevertheless, it is an area of opportunity Cost: to be honest it is slightly more expensive than other places, but excluding the one issue, it truly is worth the value. We support these type of businesses, and the people who work in it, so paying a slightly higher premium doesn't bother us as long as everything else is up the task. Prices are on par with other gourmet joints like crave. But I would give the edge to Alamo ironically over crave. Summary: besides a hiccup or two, we really do enjoy coming here. We would wholeheartedly recommend this as a night out. Yes if you're bringing a few people, and they're getting food and snacks, you are going to end up paying a bit the money. But honestly, for what you do get, I can't complain. The diversity of movie selection, especially some of the more classic stuff that gets brought back, the cleanliness of the location, the energy and vibe, and the people make it a place where you can go to relax and enjoy yourself. Would like to see more opening night fan showings like some places like flix does, but Alamo also has things the others don't. Looking forward to continuing to come here and enjoy our...