The original concept was fantastic. I've been multiple times in Austin, TX where they started and it was great. No talking and phone use policy is STRICTLY enforced. Like no warning, you get caught you're out. Loved it. And the serving staff lived up to the "sneaky ninja" reputation that Alamo claims all locations should have. No walking standing up, crouching only. If they need a clarification on an order, they'd write it on a card for you, not talk during the movie. So it really wasn't distracting at all. Best movie experience I've ever had. And most of the time the employees were all cinema buffs and understood their target audience. Not just off the street servers.

These newer locations though appear to be out of touch with that though. Bringing your order and literally standing up in front of you blocking the screen asking if this is yours. Talking to customers regularly during the film at full volume. And having a more laxxed no talking/phone use policy. We've had to report multiple people and they just get multiple warnings by a manager.

I'm a huge cinema lover. We used to see nearly every movie we watched in a proper theater. These days, in doing more and more to my living room to make it feel like a home theater and staying home. Paying $20/per to go and just be annoyed the entire film by both staff and other patrons just doesn't do it for me.