Beer and wine might be on tap at Ward theater

You may soon be able to enjoy Chinese-style barbecued pork with a craft beer or lilikoi cotton candy with a glass of Champagne while watching the latest blockbuster film.

Lindsey Chun-Hori, Consolidated Theatres Hawaii promotions and events manager, confirmed that the company is in the preliminary stages of introducing its new elevated food and beverage concept at its multiplex facility in Ward Village.

The idea was introduced at the Ala Moana/Kakaako Neighborhood Board meeting Tuesday night "and the response was positive," said Consolidated spokeswoman Christine Smith. "People were excited to hear about the menu concept."

Some of Consolidated’s mainland sister cinemas have had success with the untraditional food and beverage offerings, and the company has been "conceptualizing in-house, working with chef consultants" who have worked on the sister cinemas’ menus, Smith said.

The company has not yet filed an application to serve alcohol with the Honolulu Liquor Commission.

"We wanted to present (the idea) to our neighbors in Kakaako and Ala Moana before going through with that process," she said.

Pricing information for the menu is still under development as "we’re still in the early planning stages," Smith said.

Consolidated’ssister theaters include the Angelika chain, with locations in New York City, Texas and Virginia.

The Fairfax, Va., property offers cafe and lounge menus comprising global fusion cuisine crafted by chef Lee Anne Wong, according to its website.

The cafe menu includes coffee and various nonalcoholic beverages such as mint lemonade and apple cider as well as some branded juices and bottled water, sparkling or noncarbonated. Also available are draft, canned or bottled beers from $6.50 and a selection of white, red or sparkling or dessert wines from $8 by the glass, up to $52 for a bottle of Freakshow cabernet sauvignon.

The cafe menu selections are divided into categories called "Small Bites," "Big Bites," "Fresh Bites" and "Sweet Bites."

Items range from an artisanal cheese plate for $4 or spicy maple-glazed nuts at $7, to a kale-and-cheddar melt for $8 or a Southern-style short rib panini sandwich for $12. "Fresh Bite" salads start at $8, and desserts range from $2.50 on up for pastries and baked goods.

The Lounge Menu offers the same beer and wine selections along with an abbreviated selection of snacks, and offers free Wi-Fi with no movie ticket required.

The Dallas Angelika Cafe and bar website does not display its menus separately but says offerings include "sandwiches from Empire Bakery, a savory assortment of Breadwinners desserts, or Bloomsberry specialty chocolates," as well as domestic and imported beers and wines.

The Angelika Film Center in Plano, Texas, serves "light gourmet fare as well as an array of fine wines and beers" and, according to its website, partners with a nearby Italian restaurant for a dinner-and-a-movie night that costs $65 for two people and includes movie tickets.