Violet Crown Cinema

Location :

• Anynomous

  18 December 2017

  One of my favorite theaters here in Austin. Small theaters, great films, full bar and light dining fare and free parking in the garage!
  Go early have a drink, order some food and bring what you want into the theater or eat in the bar/dining area.

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• Anynomous

  11 December 2017

  The movie was good. I like that parking was validated, but the entire set up for getting food was weird, inefficient, and distracting from the whole theater experience.
  
  Here was how my movie watching experience occurred: Arrived 15 min early, ordered food, got buzzer, sat down to watch the movie, buzzer goes off, go get food, have to show attendant ticket while juggling dishes. Try to get seat tray pulled out with one hand while guy sitting next to me looks on. Watch movie while others around me get buzzed and get up to pick up food. The drink holders are in the armrest, but if you use the student desk tray tables then you can't use the drink holders because it is now blocked by the tray?!
  Movie ends. Juggle dishes, purse, jacket while trying to put tray away. Put dishes on a giant pile of dirty dishes that all slide to the floor.
  
  This was my first (and last!) experience at this theater. For the same ticket price, I could have a real table, my food brought to me, and roomier aisles.

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• Anynomous

  18 November 2017

  This is hands down one of my favorite places to watch films. Great beer selection, decent food options, including cake balls and cupcakes from a local bakery. The seats are quite comfy and include cupholders and fold out tables at each seat to accommodate your popcorn or other food (like those cake balls that I mentioned). The first row is also made up of lounge chairs if you're looking for an even cozier viewing option. If you're looking for a great place to watch independent films in Austin, you can't really beat the Violet Crown. Heck, I'm from Houston and whenever we come to Austin we make it a point to catch a film at the Crown.

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• Anynomous

  11 November 2017

  Beware of their cancellation policy if you need to cancel same day reservations. Violet Crown instituted a new policy recently that they will not refund your money on the day of the show. Instead, they issue you "Rain Check" tickets and then hold them in a drawer at the Theatre until you ask for them to be redeemed. Customers are not able to book those "Rain Check" tickets for seats online but rather, you have to call them directly to book your seats. In addition, Violet Crown refuses to mail the "Rain Check" tickets to me at my home address. While I will miss their original programming, I will no longer patronize the Violet Crown. Perhaps, they should take a cue from the Alamo Cinema Drafthouse, which actually works with their patrons to resolve issues and either refunds you the $$ paid or sends the "Rain Check" tickets in the mail.

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• Anynomous

  02 November 2017

  This is an obviously older theater, but the small bar is wonderfully appointed. The prices will run you similarly to going to Alamo, but with smaller theaters you get a much more intimate atmosphere. The sound system in the theater I was in was great, but unfortunately their seating is fairly basic and can't compete with the comfortable seating in other places.

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• Anynomous

  19 September 2017

  I really hate to give this place a negative review because the "pros" about the theater really make it sound like a great place:
  
  -movie starts on time without previews
  -reasonably priced theater considering no previews ($13 a ticket)
  -smaller, intimate theaters
  -comfortable seats with tray table for meals
  -bar with reasonably priced drinks (less than $10 for a mixed drink)
  -varied food menu with traditional move snacks and made to order food items
  
  Unfortunately, the set up causes way too many headaches mainly due to the food menu. Unlike iPic or Alamo Drafthouse, you order your food before entering the theater and you pick up the food outside of the theater. We learned the first time we saw a movie here that it takes a good 20+ minutes for food to be prepared. This time, we arrived at 7:10 pm for a 7:30 pm movie and finished ordering at 7:12 pm. The 2 out of 3 items were ready just after 7:30 pm and sat under a heat lamp until 7:42 when the last item was ready. I walked in to the theater for the first time almost 15 minutes after the movie started. And to top it off, since my pizza had been sitting under the heat lamp 10+ minutes, it was only marginally warm by the time I ate it.
  
  After I sat down, 5 other parties got up during next 25 minutes of the movie to get their meals. This would not be a huge deal but the buzzers to alert you that food is ready is incredibly loud and distracting. Additionally, if those individuals aren't sitting on the end, everyone in the row has to move their legs so people can get their food (and again when they return). And since there isn't a good place to put the trays when you are done eating, some people get up to remove their trays causing even more of a distraction. The first 45 minutes of any movie is basically musical chairs.
  
  The kitchen should not take 30 minutes to prepare meals for a movie. After the first time I visited this theater, I learned to show up early and even 20 minutes early was not enough. I get that the kitchen is a made from scratch kitchen (at least I hope it is) but they need to hire more cooks, prep food ahead of time and learn to multi-task. Or maybe just scratch the kitchen all together and focus on popcorn and other movie snacks.

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• Anynomous

  09 September 2017

  Great food and bar. Highly recommend the beet sliders.
  
  Good drink selection! Gelato is on point!
  
  Good theater experience, too.

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• Anynomous

  30 August 2017

  Very comfortable seating in the theater, Excellent beer, wine and cocktail selection, delicious food and helpful staff.

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• Anynomous

  20 August 2017

  First time I came here, and I came to see The Big Sick. I think my bartenders name was Cole, but he was kickass from beer recommendations down to suggesting the suprisingly good brussel sprouts. Loved the movie and the venue, but it will definitely be the staff that brings me back.

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• Anynomous

  17 June 2017

  Go to spot for a unique movie and dining experience. The chairs don't recline and the theaters are always a little hot for me. Also the food can smell during the movie since no one takes it out. I'm being picky. Overall I'm always satisfied with food and service so I'll keep going back

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• Anynomous

  15 January 2017

  This is a luxury theater. So much to love - the assigned seats, their choice of films, the real butter in the popcorn, full bar, those seats in the front row. In truth, when I've missed out on front row seats, I've found all the seating really comfortable and with an uninterrupted view of the screen. Parking is validated. Prices are not much higher than a non-luxury theater, if they're higher at all. Ah, there is only flaw in all this perfection, the kitchen is super slow if you're ordering food. Still, no other theater gets close to this nice of an experience.

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• Anynomous

  09 January 2017

  The small theaters are intimate and the seating is comfortable. Great vegetarian and vegan options to bring into the theater with you. I liked the vegan chilli dog a lot.

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• Anynomous

  02 January 2017

  Very cool place to see a movie. Great menu with interesting cocktails and lots of vegetarian options. My only complaint is that the upholstery on the seats is a bit noisy when people shift around during movies.

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• Anynomous

  19 December 2016

  This is one of my favorite places to see a movie in Austin. The theaters are fairly small, and the chairs are nicer than I have in my living room. Great cocktails and beer, and the food is good also. Staff is very friendly and helpful. Free validated parking.

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• Anynomous

  04 November 2016

  Violet Crown is an amazing theater. Great food and drinks. Also their selection of movies are top notch.
  
  I've seen several documentaries and indie films and just love the theater overall.
  
  Protip, if you reserve your seats far enough in advance, select the first row closest to the screen. These chairs are super comfy and really add to the movie experience.

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