Cerrito Speakeasy Theater

I'm amazed I haven't written an update in all these years! Yesterday afternoon Nina and I saw a screening of "Wicked". Alan and I saw the play in San Francisco before it went to Broadway and loved it. Nina saw it during that run and was bored. I read an article about the film in the Chronicle Datebook as well as an interview w/ the director, Jon M. Chu and asked Nina if she wanted to see it w/ me. That's when I learned of her response to it. I suggested she read the article and the interview and see if they made her want to see it. She did and they did, so we made a date. Yesterday was my second time seeing it. The first time was a Saturday soon after it had opened. I got lost in doing tasks at home and arrived late, just before the film started., The theatre was full and the only place I could find a seat was on the floor level, too close for Nina, who decided to leave. I stayed and loved the show.We liked the movie even better than the play. They were able to achieve magical effects that couldn't be done on stage, like having real animals and making them speak and having Elpheba and Glinda or the winged monkeys fly, not to mention sprout their wings, which would be frightening for small children. The movie is not recommended for kids under 6. It was fun watching Glinda choose the color for the yellow brick road, w/ the wizard going through a few choices before she stepped in and chose yellow. We also liked the sadness that played across Glinda's face at the beginning of the Munchkins' celebration of the wicked witch's death. It was subtle and eloquent. The cast was marvelous and sang and acted well. I didn't recognize Jeff Goldblum as the wizard and I've seen him in many roles and love him. I only realized it when I pulled up the IMDb to write this review and read who was in the cast. This film is part one . The second part, which was shot simultaneously, will be finished and released next year.The theatre was comfortable and we were able to sit father back in the raked seats, which are plush rockers. At this point I take the elevator up and down and appreciate its convenience. The bathrooms have three stalls, one wheelchair accessible. Food is available, as is wine and other beverages. The smell of popcorn pleasantly fills the air.

Food quality has plummeted while price has skyrocketed. New bar style tables are hard to eat at.. but decent movie selection and good way to see a film. Seems like they are overstuffed most of the time yet no one at ticket booth, so if you just want your ticket and a seat first you have to wait in food line anyway before claiming a seat..

I didn't think it was possible to love something even more than I love the original Parkway, close to my home in Oakland.But this NEW theater is so clean!! The bathrooms are so spacious and sparkly! The chairs so undefiled!I was there for a weekend matinee with The Poop readers (the baby blog in the SF Chronicle) and it was, as they say in Bollywood, "housefull."Yes, the food line does move slowly, so be prepared (I wasn't, and my tot found his way out of the theater to track me down).But that is only a tiny gripe. I love both Parkway theaters so much!

First of all, major props to manager, Jenny Martens, who worked close to an eleven hour shift along with the rest of the crew. All of whom were constantly in perpetual motion to ensure that opening day (today) went off without a hitch. Just came back from watching _Pulp Fiction_ (which played on their upstairs screen) and _Casablanca_ (which played downstairs on the main screen) and was extremely impressed all the way around by both the theater itself as well as the presentation. The only improvement would be if they were to dim the house lights a bit further in the downstairs theater. Spoke with owner Kyle Fischer and was told that, for the time being, the events and schedule for the Cerrito will parallel that of the Parkway (Baby Brigades weekly on Mondays, Thrillville monthly on Thursdays etc.) except no two-for-one Wedesdays for now. Of course, since Kyle's future plans will depend on what he hears from the patrons none of this is a 100% certain. He'll wait for public interest and customer feedback before any of it will be set in stone. A pretty admirable business philosophy though, for entirely selfish reasons, I hope that the local audience's preferences will be similar to those of the Parkway. Irregardless of how it turns out, this is truly a kick ass moviehouse and one which the owners hope will become an invaluable addition to the neighborhood. Judging by the audience's reaction tonight, I think they already got their wish. Thanks -Kyle and Catherine.

I heard about this place on the news when its sister location in Oakland was closing down. The report informed me that the El Cerrito location was still alive and kicking and that it everybody should check it out at least once. Despite the drive to El Cerrito in rush hour traffic this was a truly enjoyable experience. We caught the 7 PM showing of "I love you man" (also and great guy/chick flick hybrid) on a Wednesday night which is their 2 for 1 night. $7 for 2 tickets to see a movie damn unheard of haha.Once inside you see the refreshment stand to order food. This is not your typical refreshment stand. They have their nightly specials on a board plus a full menu of grub. On top of that they serve wine and beer!!!!. So we order a small chicken/pesto pizza, chicken sun dried quesadillas, and 2 super pint beers (almost pitcher like beers). This came out to be about $42 no bad. They give us and number to place where we sit for our food and we got lucky number 8 :). We head up to the theater and man this it totally cool. There are couch's with tables in front along with seats with tables then a little further back you have normal theater sitting with tables in front. I've never seen this in a theater. We pick our spot for the night and settle in. Shortly after our food comes and we are happy campers. This crust pizza was great and so was the quesadillas. I have to say i wish there where more theaters like this. Its very comfortable. I mean we did dinner and a movie in the same place for less the $50. If your on a budget or your looking for a fun date spot you can't go wrong here. I'll be back again!!!!!!!

Since I don't own a TV, I decided to watch PRESIDENT OBAMA'S INAUGURATION at El Cerrito Speakeasy. I missed taking part in the theater's viewing of the debates, conventions, etc. So I figured I'd wake up @ the crack o'dawn to nab a seat so I could witness Barrack Obama's swearing-in as POTUS. I got there @ a wee bit under half-past six and the line waiting to enter the theater was already wrapped around the block. I'm guessing it's because El Cerrito Speakeasy was offering a special brunch menu including pastries and wine-based cocktails. Free for first come, first served! Since I was the 9th to last person to score a ticket for a spot in the theater, I decided to scrounge for a seat rather than grub it up on complimentary treats. Since I went solo --- I figured it'd be easier to nab a seat. NOT the case! There are some surly territorial angerballs in the East Bay!!! Despite the fact that not all Speakeasy patrons were friendly as initially hoped, I finally found some folks that were all about "sharing is caring" --- and made some room for me on their front row couch. SCORE!!! Had a blast chitchatting with them and swapping random WEST WING factoids.Overall, twas SO worth waking up before the sun did, to make my way over to El Cerrito. Now I can't imagine taking part in election festivities any other way. I LOVE THE SPEAKEASY!!!

I really love the Parkway, and so I was very excited when it was announced that Speakeasy Theaters would be operating the renovated Cerrito Theater.I have paid several visits to the Cerrito since it's opening and sadly it has not, so far, lived up to the expectations set by the Parkway. The couches (yes, there are couches dispite what other reviews have said) are so close to the screen as to make them an undesirable seating location. The office chairs used for the tables begin to get uncomfortable after sitting in them for a full length movie. Fortunately, the theater-style seating in the rear is quite comfy.The service seems to be having some issues too. Some of items on the menu are not yet available and during a recent visit, the food I ordered during another visit never arrived. Fortunately, my money was refunded without question.I will keep visiting the Cerrito, and I hope that it is just going through some growing pains as it opens, but for now 3 stars is probably more generous then it deserves.

What more can you ask for from a cinema?When any of our friends visit from out of the area (and many locals who just don know) we take them here and they get blown away by "A cinema you can get good pizza and drink beer at?"So true, it is awesome. Maybe not the top end when it comes to sound but the screens are good, seating rocks (now they got rid of them office chairs) and the food and bevs are great.Cheap too, oh man how lucky are we to leave three blocks away...

A very cool theater. Not your typical blockbuster Century 47 screen theater. The lack of teens at a 9PM Saturday night showing of The Bank Job automatically gives the Cerrito Speakeasy 5 stars. BABIES are welcome on certain nights! No one is gonna Shushhh you. Baby Brigade http://www.cerritospeakeasy.com/index.php?v=baby_brigade.htmlComfy theater seats, soft loungy chairs with tables to eat on, and fluffy couches with tables in front to eat on makes you feel like you're at home. For $25 we got a 16" Mushroom and pepperoni pizza, a pint of BEER, AND a LARGE soda. UNHEARD OF at any theater! This is CHEAPER than DOMINOES!!!!! And they deliver your food to your seat! Food & Drink Menu http://www.cerritospeakeasy.com/index.php?v=speakeasy_menu.htmlYo Bucky, Phil, & Rommy! Organize some movie watchin' on this side of the bay!

OH NO- do NOT go here! Forget everything i said before! Avoid it like the plague; this theater sucks!(Well, not really, it is actually awesomeness incarnate - the perfect combination of food, film and inebrients, but the last 2 times I've come, they've been either sold out or not had 2 seats together for the movie I wanted to see) So STAY AWAY! I MEAN YOU! Those yummy buffalo wings are really fattening! And the popcorn's so good you'll eat way too much! You'll just lol around on the couch, stuffing yourself and watching great movies, and THEN where will you be?!? Huh?!Go to the crap UA Shattuck, or the ridiculously over-crowded AMC where you have to pay for parking - but GET OUT OF MY THEATER!! I"M WATCHING YOU!!! I WILL make you regret it...