I recently saw a poll that said 71% of Americans are afraid to go back to the movies. As I was about to turn 42 last weekend, my mortality always in question, I could really see that cinematic fear alive and well at the opening weekend of the Flix Brewhouse, 8590 Broadway Extension.
A mostly lowkey celebration all by my lonesome, I decided on a quiet evening of dinner and a movie at this recently opened restaurant and cinema combo, a theater that is trying to kindle an Alamo Drafthouse explosion of fandom here in Oklahoma City, almost succeeding.
Located near The Oklahoman's old Dark Tower, the parking lot was moderately empty and the lobby something of a ghost town, filled with masked employees selling tickets and tending bar. The movie I wanted to see was Bill and Ted Face the Music and, strangely, this was the only place in the city screening it.
My ticket was easily purchased—only five bucks—but, next to the ticket counter, I noticed there was a fridge full of Flix-branded beers, large growlers of which would have been dutifully stolen by my fellow theater subordinates back in the early aughts when I was managing various theaters across town. I guess times have changed.
With an hour to go before my film, I was eager to try their menu, filled with wraps, burgers and, of course, Flix Beer, none of which I could have. Instead, I ordered a refillable cup of strong coffee ($1.00) and to start, the Hatch Chile Queso ($6.95), a mixture of white cheese and famed chiles, served with tortilla chips.
Delivered to the table with a moderate film on the top—always a favorite of mine—the queso was better than expected while the chips seemed a bit stale, which to be honest, is usually how I like them. I dipped the broken chips and sipped the black coffee as a few more people petered in, always heading to the bar for a Flix Golden Ale or 10 Day Scottish Ale.
As beer tanks surrounded me up above, I made do with the Flix’s signature sandwich, the Bacon Brewhouse Burger ($13.50), a slab of beef topped with cheddar cheese, bacon and remoulade on a Hawaiian bun. Like the queso, it was a solid meal, similar to what you'd sample at a high-end chain eatery, but delicious nonetheless.
Leftovers boxed up and with another refill of coffee, I entered into theater nine for the 5:45 screening of Bill and Ted. Socially distanced appropriately enough, I had a whole row to myself as I settled in for the next ninety minutes. If, during the movie, you needed some eats, there was a small button to press under the lamp at your table, wherein an employee would come up behind you to take your order.
Halfway through the admittedly stellar flick, I ordered yet another refill of coffee and they brought me a beer. There was no one around me to offer it to, so it just sat there, sweating. Happy birthday, I thought to myself, wishing I had that coffee.
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