Dinner and a Movie? Taste Film Takes the Cinema Experience to a Whole New Level
What if your next cinema trip came with dinner, but instead of eating before or afterwards, the food arrived at exactly the right moment during the film? That’s the idea behind Taste Film, an immersive dining experience that brings together two of my favourite things: good food and a great film.
I recently headed to The Refinery in London to experience it for myself, with a screening of the much-loved Christmas film Elf (2003). I knew it was going to be a little different from an ordinary night out, but I hadn’t quite appreciated just how much fun it would be.
Taste Film describes itself as an immersive cinematic dining experience, where iconic moments from the big screen are brought straight to your table, course by course. And that’s exactly what happens.
Rather than simply watching a film while enjoying a meal, the food becomes part of the storytelling. Each course is carefully timed to arrive alongside a particular scene, creating a rather clever combination of cinema, dining and entertainment.
A Christmas classic with a delicious twist
For our evening, Buddy the Elf was taking centre stage, and what better film to choose when you’re looking for a little festive fun?
For anyone who has seen Elf, you’ll know that Buddy has a rather unusual relationship with food. His enthusiasm for anything sweet is legendary, and his four main food groups are, of course, candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.
The five-course menu took inspiration from some of the film’s most memorable food moments. There was spaghetti (with a nod to Buddy’s famous maple syrup obsession), beef and cheese for the faux Santas, a New York street-vendor hot dog with a festive twist and, naturally, a journey through Buddy’s rather unconventional food groups.
It was such a fun way to revisit a film that so many of us know and love. Instead of simply sitting back and watching, you find yourself looking forward to what might arrive next, with the dishes adding another dimension to the scenes unfolding on screen.
More than just dinner and a movie
What I particularly enjoyed was how the whole evening felt like an occasion. It’s sociable, entertaining and just a little bit unexpected. There is something wonderfully nostalgic about watching a favourite film, but having the food incorporated into the experience makes it feel completely different.
It’s also a great option if you’re looking for something beyond the usual restaurant booking or cinema trip. Whether it’s a date night, an evening with friends or a different way to celebrate a special occasion, it offers something to talk about long after the credits have rolled.
And it’s not just about Christmas films. Taste Film has a changing programme of cinematic dining experiences inspired by a variety of much-loved movies, so there is plenty to appeal to different tastes.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely!
I went along expecting an enjoyable evening but came away having had a fabulous experience. The combination of food, film and perfectly timed surprises makes for a genuinely different night out.
If you’re someone who loves a good film and enjoys trying something a little out of the ordinary, I’d definitely recommend putting Taste Film on your list.
It’s cinema with a culinary twist, and Buddy the Elf would undoubtedly approve. Just don’t forget the maple syrup!
Find out more
To discover upcoming films, locations and menus, visit Taste Film.
You can also explore their London dining experiences and find out what’s coming up next.
Taste Film also offers gift cards, making this a rather lovely idea for anyone who enjoys a memorable night out.
Poppy Watt