The in-house restaurant is housed at newly-launched Emperor Cinema

Like Robin is to Batman and Thelma is to Louise, a scrumptious snack is the trusted sidekick to a great cinema experience. With the increasingly refined palates of cinema-goers, gone are the days when the caramel-laden popcorn cut it; instead, fine dining experiences from gourmet nibbles to perfectly-mixed cocktails are being sought after.

Cue the latest collaboration between award-winning restaurant group Maximal Concepts and Albert Yeung’s Emperor Group, which this week opened its first cinema spanning 16,000 square feet at Queen’s Road Central’s Entertainment Building. It also houses new in-cinema restaurant, Roomsbar. Under Maximal Concepts group managing director Malcolm Wood and group executive chef Russell Doctrove’s helm (the latter recently scoured the US street food scene for inspiration on the menu), an array of classic American street fare are reinvented with unexpected ingredients and new techniques. 

'gallery right' 'gallery right'
'gallery right' 'gallery right'
Photo 1 of 8 Burger set
Photo 2 of 8 Classic nachos set
Photo 3 of 8 Hotdog set
Photo 4 of 8 Cocktails on tap
Photo 5 of 8 Americano cocktail
Photo 6 of 8 Aperol spritz
Photo 7 of 8 Sarsaparilla Diet cocktail
Photo 8 of 8 Emperor Cinema

Click through the above slideshow to see Roomsbar's culinary offerings

Think nachos, hotdogs and burgers with a gourmet twist: the pork carnitas nachos with melted cheddar cheese are topped with fresh pico de gallo salsa and homemade guacamole, while the pork sausage-encased Kobayashi, slow-braised pulled pork burger and truffle dog with Japanese togarashi and truffle mustard take cinema bites to the next level.

The meticulousness extends to a well-curated beverage list: hand-crafted cocktails on tap include margaritas with cadillac foam, gin and tonics topped with a selection of unusual garnishes, and an array of bubbles, wines and draft beers. Kids can also opt for mocktails like the sarsaparilla and raspberry fizz. So next time you catch the latest blockbuster, curl up for a full cinematic feast for the senses.

From 19-25 October, customers can redeem one free cocktail at Roomsbar with a full price ticket purchased. For more information, visit emperorcinemas.com