Brandon Styles - TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE. Go for the show SKIP the food.
- Robert Henley
- Oct 3, 2024
- 7 min read
Name: Name: Brandon Styles - TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE Dinner Show
Location: Foley, AL (Brandon Styles Theater at OWA)
Date: 10/02/2024
Cost: $153.75 (2 x $66 VIP Admission (Any Age) Dinner & Show)
Overall Rating (1-10): 7 (The show saved the day over the food)
Review by My Out n About - Robert and Sheila Henley
This review and related comments are based on our personal experience at the business discussed and are not endorsed or solicited by the individual business. Your experience will differ.
Description: I originally thought we were going to a magic show, but turns out it was more of a music sampling / variety type show. We purchased the VIP experience which included an autographed signed picture of Brandon Styles, a meet and greet, and a short magic show.
Upon arrival we waited in a small store / reception area with no seating. It became pretty evident quickly that this was a family business as everyone including the family dog was working the event (Which I think is a good thing). The doors opened about 10 minutes after the scheduled time and to my surprise we were told to grab what we wanted to drink (Soft drink or water) and what salad dressing we wanted from the cooler as we entered. In the theater, there were several well-spaced tables with 8 seats per table. The VIP section we were with was 6 people. The chairs were what I would call standard restaurant / event chairs with enough padding to be comfortable.
As we arrived at the VIP table the salads were already at the table in Styrofoam bowls and plastic forks. The salad was a simple garden salad with cherry tomatoes. The ingredients were fresh and clean.
After about 15 minutes Brandon came to our table to introduce himself. We had a nice encounter with him and learned a little about his history. He performed several card and coin tricks which were very interesting and entertaining to see.
30 minutes after we sat down they opened the seating to general admission. A few minutes later It looked as if all tables in the theatre were filled. About 45 minutes after our arrival we were the first to head for serving line. At the serving line your food is plated for you (which I hate) by a server. She put some spaghetti noodles on a paper plate then passed the plate to another server who put tomato sauce, 2 medium size meatballs, and a piece of garlic bread on the spaghetti noodles. For desert you could pick up a gingerbread or Oreo style cookie (Straight out of a bag).
Once I got back to the table I realized that when they picked up my salad bowl they also took my plastic fork. I went to the serving line to get another one and the girl said she would get one for me. After about 5 minutes, myself and my neighbor at the table got tired of waiting as I food was getting cold so I went to the front desk and asked the attendant for a fork. She found a box of them out near the serving line so myself and several others finally got a replacement fork.
As far as the food, the spaghetti and meatballs were difficult to eat without a knife, with a small plastic fork and on a paper plate. Of course to top it off, myself and another at our table broke the plastic fork trying to half the meatball. So off to get another one.
The food flavor was very bland with very little sauce. The meatball taste and consistency was like it was just out of a food service freezer bag. So now for one of my favorite foods, the Garlic Bread. Unfortunately, there was so much garlic salt on the bread that it was not edible at all.
The show itself was very entertaining. Brandon impersonated the voices of many of our favorite singers from the 40's to the 90's. (Tina Turner, Frank Sinatra, Roy Orbison, Tony Bennett, etc.) He did this with some funny props at times and at others with some audience engagement. The theatre volume was perfect. The music was at the right level for you to clearly hear Brandon but not so loud you were overwhelmed.
Bottom Line:
Sheila and I both recommend going to the show, but I would pick one that does not include a dinner. Stop by anywhere, including McDonalds before eating this stuff. Then go to the show. (I later learned that the food was catered from The Groovy Goat in the same complex. Sheila looked at their menu and they do serve the same items, but only on their kids menu. Figures)
Brandon is very entertaining, engaging and has amazing talent both from a magic show perspective and singing. See the show!!
Features:
R&S Rating Scale (1-10)
Atmosphere: 6
Food Price: included
Food Quality: 2
Liquor: No, but you can bring in liquor from other establishments in the complex
Beer: No
Wine: No
Drink Price: NA
Drink Quality: NA
Music: Part of the show
Cleanliness: 8
Fun: 8
Staff: Theater staff 8. Buffet staff: 3
Purse Hangers: NA
Non Smoking: Yes
Restrooms: 7 (Part of a common area)
Parking: Plenty
Comfort: Room temperature was a little on the cold side, but not too bad. The chairs were padded restaurant / event style and comfortable. - TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE Dinner Show
Location: Foley, AL (Brandon Styles Theater at OWA)
Date: 10/02/2024
Cost: $153.75 (2 x $66 VIP Admission (Any Age) Dinner & Show)
Overall Rating (1-10):
Review by My Out n About - Robert and Sheila Henley
This review and related comments are based on our personal experience at the business discussed and are not endorsed or solicited by the individual business. Your experience will differ.
Description: I originally thought we were going to a magic show, but turns out it was more of a music sampling / variety type show. We purchased the VIP experience which included an autographed signed picture of Brandon Styles, a meet and greet, and a short magic show.
Upon arrival we waited in a small store / reception area with no seating. It became pretty evident quickly that this was a family business as everyone including the family dog was working the event (Which I think is a good thing). The doors opened about 10 minutes after the scheduled time and to my surprise we were told to grab what we wanted to drink (Soft drink or water) and what salad dressing we wanted from the cooler as we entered. In the theater, there were several well-spaced tables with 8 seats per table. The VIP section we were with was 6 people. The chairs were what I would call standard restaurant / event chairs with enough padding to be comfortable.
As we arrived at the VIP table the salads were already at the table in Styrofoam bowls and plastic forks. The salad was a simple garden salad with cherry tomatoes. The ingredients were fresh and clean.
After about 15 minutes Brandon came to our table to introduce himself. We had a nice encounter with him and learned a little about his history. He performed several card and coin tricks which were very interesting and entertaining to see.
30 minutes after we sat down they opened the seating to general admission. A few minutes later It looked as if all tables in the theatre were filled. About 45 minutes after our arrival we were the first to head for serving line. At the serving line your food is plated for you (which I hate) by a server. She put some spaghetti noodles on a paper plate then passed the plate to another server who put tomato sauce, 2 medium size meatballs, and a piece of garlic bread on the spaghetti noodles. For desert you could pick up a gingerbread or Oreo style cookie (Straight out of a bag).
Once I got back to the table I realized that when they picked up my salad bowl they also took my plastic fork. I went to the serving line to get another one and the girl said she would get one for me. After about 5 minutes, myself and my neighbor at the table got tired of waiting as I food was getting cold so I went to the front desk and asked the attendant for a fork. She found a box of them out near the serving line so myself and several others finally got a replacement fork.
As far as the food, the spaghetti and meatballs were difficult to eat without a knife, with a small plastic fork and on a paper plate. Of course to top it off, myself and another at our table broke the plastic fork trying to half the meatball. So off to get another one.
The food flavor was very bland with very little sauce. The meatball taste and consistency was like it was just out of a food service freezer bag. So now for one of my favorite foods, the Garlic Bread. Unfortunately, there was so much garlic salt on the bread that it was not edible at all.
The show itself was very entertaining. Brandon impersonated the voices of many of our favorite singers from the 40's to the 90's. (Tina Turner, Frank Sinatra, Roy Orbison, Tony Bennett, etc.) He did this with some funny props at times and at others with some audience engagement. The theatre volume was perfect. The music was at the right level for you to clearly hear Brandon but not so loud you were overwhelmed.
Bottom Line:
Sheila and I both recommend going to the show, but I would pick one that does not include a dinner. Stop by anywhere, including McDonalds before eating this stuff. Then go to the show. (I later learned that the food was catered from The Groovy Goat in the same complex. Sheila looked at their menu and they do serve the same items, but only on their kids menu. Figures)
Brandon is very entertaining, engaging and has amazing talent both from a magic show perspective and singing. See the show!!
Features:
R&S Rating Scale (1-10)
Atmosphere: 6
Food Price: included
Food Quality: 2
Liquor: No, but you can bring in liquor from other establishments in the complex
Beer: No
Wine: No
Drink Price: NA
Drink Quality: NA
Music: Part of the show
Cleanliness: 8
Fun: 8
Staff: Theater staff 8. Buffet staff: 2
Purse Hangers: NA
Non Smoking: Yes
Restrooms: 7 (Part of a common area)
Parking: Plenty
Comfort: Room temperature was a little on the cold side, but not too bad. The chairs were padded restaurant / event style and comfortable.
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