Cinemark Bistro Raleigh
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Cinemark Bistro Raleigh offers a premium movie-watching experience characterized by highly comfortable recliner seating, an impressive, immersive sound system, and modern technology. While some food items can be expensive, leveraging their membership or rewards program significantly enhances the overall value for families. It generally aims for a clean and high-quality environment, though isolated incidents suggest potential inconsistencies, especially during busy periods.
Key Highlights
- ✓Incredibly comfortable and spacious recliner seats, allowing for a relaxing movie-watching experience.
- ✓Exceptional sound quality described as 'much louder and clearer' and 'impressive, delivering clear and immersive audio'.
- ✓Generally clean and neat theater appearance, with comfortable and clean seating accommodations (though one negative report exists).
- ✓Wide selection of good food options and always fresh popcorn.
- ✓Efficient service at the concessions, ensuring quick assistance without long wait times.
- ✓Welcoming, courteous, and helpful staff members who demonstrate a strong sense of responsibility (though individual negative interactions are reported).
- ✓Cutting-edge entertainment technology, keeping everything up-to-date.
Standout Features
- ⭐Highly comfortable recliner seating, providing a luxurious movie experience.
- ⭐Superior sound system that delivers clear, loud, and immersive audio.
- ⭐Membership/rewards program that offers significant savings on tickets and food, making the overall experience more affordable.
- ⭐Variety of fresh popcorn and reasonably priced snack options.
- ⭐Efficient concession service with minimal wait times, beneficial for families with impatient children.
- ⭐Modern and up-to-date entertainment technology.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Strongly consider signing up for their membership or rewards account to save money on tickets and food, as this significantly impacts the overall cost.
- →Be prepared for a potentially lengthy pre-movie commercial sequence; plan your arrival accordingly if you prefer to skip most of these.
- →If ordering food, especially for a specific movie start time, allow extra buffer time for delivery, as delays and cold food have been reported.
- →Even though snacks are generally 'reasonably priced', bring your own if you have very picky eaters or want to control costs further.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Food can be definitely expensive if not utilizing a membership or rewards program.
- ⚠A significant number of commercials are played before the movie starts, which some parents find excessive.
- ⚠Occasional reports of poor cleanliness, including stuff on floors, overflowing trash cans, and unclean seats.
- ⚠Instances of cold and delayed food service (e.g., pre-ordered food arriving 15 minutes late and cold).
- ⚠Some staff members reported as rude or making snarky comments.
Price & Value
Food items are noted as 'expensive' if purchased without a membership or rewards account, but prices become 'reasonable' with these programs. Popcorn and snacks are generally considered 'reasonably priced'. A membership or rewards account is crucial for maximizing value and making the overall experience more cost-effective, offering savings on both tickets and food.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility accommodations (e.g., wheelchair access details, sensory-friendly hours, staff training for specific needs) were explicitly mentioned in the provided reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Offers a bistro-style dining experience where a wide selection of food and snacks can be ordered and delivered directly to the comfortable recliner seats. Popcorn is consistently fresh. The reviews do not mention specific policies regarding outside food, but in-house dining is a prominent feature.
🚗Parking Info
- •The parking situation was not mentioned in any of the provided customer reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •One review explicitly mentions a 'Saturday night' as the time when issues like lack of cleanliness and service problems were encountered, implying that it can get busy and potentially impact quality during peak weekend evenings.
🛡️Safety Features
- •No specific safety features (e.g., staff monitoring, controlled access, first aid stations) were explicitly mentioned in the provided reviews.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If you are highly sensitive to cleanliness standards, consider avoiding peak times like Saturday nights, where specific cleanliness and service issues have been reported.
- • If you dislike extensive commercial pre-rolls before the movie trailers and feature film begin.
- • If punctual hot food delivery is absolutely critical for your experience, manage expectations or consider alternative food options before arriving, due to reported delays and cold food.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
Cinemark Birthday Party
Celebrate your child's birthday party at a participating Cinemark theatre.
Includes:
- •Private screening option for classic movies or new releases
- •Discounted snacks
Private Screenings
Hold a private screening of the latest blockbuster or a favorite classic film.
Includes:
- •Discounted snacks
Meetings & Special Events
Host meetings, events, and presentations in the comfort and safety of a Cinemark auditorium.
Field Trips
Plan an affordable group movie screening.
Independent Film Screenings
Filmmakers and independent studios can host a private screening of their film.
Theatre Church
Start or grow your congregation on Sunday mornings with Cinemark Theatre Church services.
Private Gaming Event
Enjoy larger-than-life gaming with movie-quality images and booming 5.1 surround sound technology.
Gamescape Events
Book your private event at Cinemark’s GameScape for an unforgettable gaming experience. Perfect for parties and corporate events.
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie
Upcoming, check showtimes
Dude Perfect: The Hero Tour
Upcoming, check showtimes
The Rocky Horror Picture Show: 50th Anniversary
Upcoming, check showtimes
Sight & Sound Presents: NOAH - Live!
Upcoming, check showtimes
Spider-Man (Fathom 2025) Re-Release
2025
Spider-Man 2.1 (Fathom 2025) Re-Release
2025
Spider-Man 3 (Fathom 2025) Re-Release
2025
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time 4K
Upcoming, check showtimes
Available in English Dubbed and Japanese with English Subtitles.
BTS 2019 WORLD TOUR ‘LOVE YOURSELF: SPEAK YOURSELF’ LONDON Remastered
Upcoming, check showtimes
Korean with English Subtitles
BTS 2021 MUSTER SOWOOZOO Remastered
Upcoming, check showtimes
Korean with English Subtitles
BTS 2016 Live The Most Beautiful Moment in Life On Stage: Epilogue Remastered
Upcoming, check showtimes
Korean with English Subtitles
BTS 2017 Live Trilogy EPISODE III THE WINGS TOUR THE FINAL Remastered
Upcoming, check showtimes
Korean with English Subtitles
Casper 30th Anniversary
Upcoming, check showtimes
Perfect Blue Remastered
Upcoming, check showtimes
Secret Movie Series | October 6
October 6
The Devil's Rejects 20th Anniversary
Upcoming, check showtimes
Battle Royale 25th Anniversary
Upcoming, check showtimes
The Dark Crystal (2025)
2025
Trick 'r Treat
Upcoming, check showtimes
Critical Role Live: NYC Radio City Music Hall
Upcoming, check showtimes
Spirited Away (Studio Ghibli Fest 2025)
2025
Available in English Dubbed and Japanese with English Subtitles.
The Metropolitan Opera: La Sonnambula
Upcoming, check showtimes
Berry Gordy’s The Last Dragon 40th Anniversary
Upcoming, check showtimes
Corpse Bride 20th Anniversary
Upcoming, check showtimes
The Metropolitan Opera: La Sonnambula Encore
Upcoming, check showtimes
Back to the Future: 40th Anniversary
Upcoming, check showtimes
Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago – The Director’s Cut
Upcoming, check showtimes
Karen Kingsbury’s The Christmas Ring
Upcoming, check showtimes
The Metropolitan Opera: La Bohème (2025)
2025
The Metropolitan Opera: La Bohème (2025) Encore
2025
The Boy and the Heron (Studio Ghibli Fest 2025)
2025
Available in English Dubbed and Japanese with English Subtitles.
The Metropolitan Opera: Arabella
Upcoming, check showtimes
The Metropolitan Opera: Arabella Encore
Upcoming, check showtimes
The Metropolitan Opera: The Magic Flute Holiday Encore (2025)
2025
The Metropolitan Opera: Andrea Chénier
Upcoming, check showtimes
The Metropolitan Opera: Andrea Chénier Encore
Upcoming, check showtimes
The Metropolitan Opera: I Puritani
Upcoming, check showtimes
The Metropolitan Opera: I Puritani Encore
Upcoming, check showtimes
The Metropolitan Opera: Cinderella Encore (2026)
2026
The Metropolitan Opera: Tristan und Isolde
Upcoming, check showtimes
The Metropolitan Opera: Tristan und Isolde Encore (2026)
2026
The Metropolitan Opera: Eugene Onegin (2026)
2026
The Metropolitan Opera: Eugene Onegin Encore (2026)
2026
The Metropolitan Opera: El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego
Upcoming, check showtimes
The Metropolitan Opera: El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego Encore
Upcoming, check showtimes
🍎Food Policy
- • No outside food explicitly mentioned, but emphasis on internal offerings.
- • Mobile Ordering available for concession snacks and full meals.
- • Food delivery services (DoorDash, etc.) available for movie snacks to home.
- • Seat-side delivery for Mobile Orders in Luxury Loungers.
- • Drinks are self-served for online pickup orders.
- • Menu and dining options vary by theatre.
📅Booking Policy
- • Advance tickets available.
- • Online booking available.
What People Say
What's Great
- Clean and well-maintained facilities (mentioned in 2 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Pricing can be high (mentioned in 4 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Mike
a month agoThe food is definitely expensive, but other than that, the experience was pretty good. I highly recommend getting a membership to save money on tickets and food. The sound quality is excellent—much louder and clearer than most movie theaters.
Hunter MacConnell
2 months agoAwesome theatre, highly recommended for all. Food is good with a wide selection, prices are reasonable, especially with the rewards account, and theatres are all in good condition. But wow, do you gotta sit through a lot of commercials before the movie starts. I'd prefer if they just kept it to trailers and the movie.
Vamshi Krishna
a month agoThe theater offers a great ambiance, creating an enjoyable movie-watching experience. The recliner seats are incredibly comfortable, allowing for a relaxing time throughout the film. The sound system in the movie room is impressive, delivering clear and immersive audio that enhances the overall experience. The service at the concessions is efficient, ensuring quick assistance without long wait times. Staff members are welcoming and courteous, greeting customers warmly and demonstrating a strong sense of responsibility for their comfort and satisfaction. From the seating to the service, every aspect contributes to a pleasant and seamless visit.
Ash Lee
2 weeks agoMovie theater was NOT clean as there was stuff all over the floors, trash cans were overflowing, seat was not clean. I scheduled food ahead of time to be ready at 1015 (the time the movie started) - got my food at 1030 and it was cold 😐. On top of that, some of the staff members were rude (heard one make a snarky comment when i asked if my order could be checked on after waiting for 10 minutes). Giving 2 stars instead of 1 because it was a Saturday night but I did not enjoy my experience.
A. Patelos
4 months agoThis Movie Theater is simply PHENOMENAL and is a standard by which others should be judged. I have taken my family to multiple movies at this location, despite the fact it is an hour away from where we live and we NEVER leave with less than a stellar experience. The seating accommodations are spacious, clean, and add to the enjoyment of each experience. The theater is always kept clean and neat in appearance. There isn’t a bad seat in the house! The popcorn is always fresh and there are lots of snack options, all reasonably priced for what you get. The staff are not only courteous, but always helpful. The theater itself always seems to remain on the cutting edge of entertainment technology as well, keeping everything up-to-date. This is THE choice for a movies experience!!