Sunday: Brunch With a Big Screen at Nitehawk Cinema

A movie house, bar and restaurant all under one roof, Nitehawk Cinema is perfect for when you want to go out for brunch, but feel too hungover to maintain a conversation.

Nitehawk's several small theaters double as dining rooms, with tiny tables occupying every other row of seats. Upon arriving, servers provide you with a menu and take your initial food and beverage order. But once the lights go down and the film begins, all mid-movie munchies must be ordered by writing on scraps of paper, which are then slipped into metal tabletop coils and discreetly retrieved by the wait staff. 

During weekly brunch screenings, Nitehawk shows everything from cinematic masterpieces to cult classics. The concise brunch menu includes a choice of entree and drink for $14. Options are breakfast heavy, including plenty of egg dishes and several vegetarian plates, but there is also the ubiquitous brunch burger dressed with an optional fried egg. To drink, take your pick of a mimosa, Bloody Mary, coffee, tea or soda. 

The food generally gets the job done, but stick with selections that can be consumed without cutlery, as eating with a fork and knife on a small surface, in the dark, can be more frustrating than fun.  

ESSENTIAL INFO:

-Total Cost: About $30 per person for an $11 ticket (plus $1 processing fee), a meal and a drink. Tax and tip included.

-In addition to the brunch menu, diners can order food and beverage specials inspired by a current feature (go now for the "Spielburger"). Charcuterie and cheese plates, as well as your more conventional concessions, are also available. Get the day drinking started early with a house cocktail, beer or wine by the glass and bottle. 

-Tickets can be purchased at the Nitehawk Cinema website. Since many of the brunch screenings are one-off features, certain shows can sell out quickly, so it's best to purchase tickets a few days in advance. 

-The "Country Brunchin'" series screens Western flicks, preceded by a 30 minute set of "southern style" live music. 

NEARBY:

-After the movie, head around the corner to Skinny Dennis, a country honky tonk with cheap drinks, free peanuts and live music every Sunday afternoon.