Houston’s Historic River Oaks Theater Reopens With In-Seat Dining and Cocktail Service | Eater Houston

"Houston’s oldest movie theater has officially reopened after a multi-year restoration led by Culinary Khancepts, relaunching October 3 with a sold-out screening of Joker: Folie à Deux. The 85-year-old, art-deco building retains its iconic marquee, terrazzo flooring, and auditorium statues while receiving modern infrastructure upgrades — new sound, lighting, stage systems, projectors, and refined seating — so it can host films and live events like concerts and comedy shows. The main auditorium seats 237 and features two retractable screens plus an additional 10-foot cinemascope screen; two upstairs auditoriums seat 50 each, and an upstairs VIP screening lounge with a Blu-ray-capable projector seats 20. A full dine-in experience lets patrons order from each plush seat via QR code and a light-up request button for table service; the menu curated by Justin Yoakum includes spicy veal and pork meatballs, lobster rolls, the saucy Luv Ya BluBurger topped with French-fried onions and gorgonzola, pretzel bites with beer-cheese and honey mustard, seafood cakes, a banh mi–style Houston Hot Dog with Sriracha mayo and jalapeños, and desserts like homemade-cookie ice cream sandwiches, chocolate tarts, and strawberry mascarpone cheesecake, alongside candy choices such as M&M’s and chocolate-covered almonds. Ritzy bars with velvet seating on both floors serve wine, beer, and film-inspired cocktails (for example, a vanilla vodka–Kahlúa–cream drink riffing on The Big Lebowski and a vodka/gin/blue curacao/Sprite cocktail garnished with a paper umbrella nodding to Zodiac). New incentives include subscription services, themed clubs, and the option to personalize one of 50 seats with an engraved plaque (filmmaker and actor plaques already honor supporters), and attendees are encouraged to buy tickets online as shows are quickly selling out." - Brittany Britto Garley