Premium Luxury Bar and Casual Restaurant
Date nights and family outings often include two of my favorite past times – dining out and going to the movies. With the opening of Scripted Bar & Kitchen (located inside the MetroLux Theatres in the Outlets at San Clemente), combining both for a memorable evening out with my husband or a family fun day with the kids just became infinitely easier.
For the former, the full-service bar features a nearly 30-foot show stopping (pun intended) natural stone quartzite bar serving top liquor brands for a variety of classic and custom cocktails, craft draft and bottled beer, fine wine and non-alcoholic beverage options. Another defining feature – six overhead television screens perfect for catching favorite sporting events.
I lean toward appetizers as entrees so the perfect “date night” involves a glass of fine wine and an array of delicious dishes to share. Our faves at Scripted? The fried calamari with marinara, Thai chicken tenders (options also include BBQ, plain or Buffalo), Bretzel bites with beer cheese sauce or honey mustard and edamame. Other popular picks include the prosciutto arugula plate, crab rangoons (think crab and cream cheese accompanied by a sweet chili dipping sauce) and hulk nachos (homemade tortilla chips, chicken, guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream and cheese sauce).
The great thing about Scripted Bar & Kitchen is that it’s open to the public – whether or not you’re going to a movie. So it’s destined to be an option for a quick bite to refuel when my daughter and I hit the Outlets for a mom + me shopping excursion.
Meals out with the kids? There are plenty of pasta and pizza offerings including the Penne Emiliano (julienne of zucchini, prosciutto and creamy Parmesan) and a spicy sausage flatbread topped with mozzarella, Andouille sausage, pepperoni and chili flakes.
“Handhelds” served with fries, rice, truffle fries or side house green salad range from a crispy shrimp burger and Malibu organic veggie burger to a herb chicken bacon avocado sandwich on ciabatta and the signature Metro burger with gouda cheese, bacon onion jam, arugula, tomato and garlic aioli.
You’ll have your work cut out for you in choosing between the sweet treats for dessert. The Metro sundae puts an inventive spin on the traditional favorite topping vanilla ice cream with brownie bites, chocolate and caramel drizzled popcorn and whipped cream – yum!
