Family Movie Night: Movie and Local Take-Out Ideas

If your family is anything like ours, it’s a struggle to come up with things to do with all this social distancing and the canceled activities.

One of our family’s favorite things to do is to pick a fun movie and pair it with some local take-out for dinner. I’m all about supporting local businesses during this time when they’re really hurting, and this is a way we can do just that!

Without further ado, here are the Grove family’s movie night suggestions.

#1 Coco and Guac Box

OK, Coco has got to be one of the most surprising feel-good movies in recent memory. I mean, it’s about death, but is it really? There’s nothing better than watching this one with your family around you. Plus, the music is phenomenal!

Pair this one with some delicious food from Guac Box, Greater Lafayette’s premier taco truck. They specialize in delicious empanadas, tacos, nachos, and OF COURSE, hand-smashed guac. The loaded nachos (chicken or steak, grilled onions and peppers, queso, street corn, salsa, guac, and pickled red onions) are a delightful appetizer or entire meal for a growing 12-year-old girl. Ahem. Also, the roasted street corn—get it!

#2 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and 9 Irish Brothers

OK, so the child catcher in this movie is a little bit terrifying. But the rest of this movie is classic Disney—warm, funny, and whimsical. I mean, what’s not to love about an eccentric inventor who invents a revolutionary car? It gets even better when a foreign government gets interested in the car and resorts to underhanded tactics to get it.

For dinner, call up 9 Irish Brothers and get some European fare to go with this flick (which was filmed in England and Germany). Pop Quiz: What’s a banger? To make things easy, you can order family meals for 4 or 8 people, including shepherd’s pie, Guinness stew, or fish and chips (complete with sides). You can also order from their regular menu.

#3 Cool Runnings and Walt’s Pub & Grill

Our kids love Cool Runnings because it’s a true story! It’s an amazing tale about people conquering the seemingly impossible and overcoming all the odds. (It’s loosely based on the true story of the Jamaican national bobsled team and its quest to compete in the 1988 Winter Olympics.) It was actually the last John Candy film to be released during his lifetime.

Grab some delicious Caribbean chicken from Walt’s Pub & Grill to enjoy while you watch your movie. I also hear that the coconut shrimp platter is amazing.

#4 Hoosiers and 6^th Street Dive

OK, if you live in Indiana, you’re required to watch Hoosiers. It’s an oldie but definitely a goodie! And yes, it’s a feel-good about basketball! Can you believe how the entire TOWN would come out to watch games on Friday nights? So amazing!

6^th Street Dive is a 21+ restaurant, but their carryout is for the entire family. My 12-year-old said “Mom, this is the best burger I’ve ever had in my life. I think I’ll be a burgertarian.” Try the hand-spanked cheeseburger or the delicious breaded tenderloin. Toppings added by request, and all burgers come with fries (or tater tots or onion rings or chili, if you wish).

#5 Harry and the Hendersons & Dog ‘n Suds

Oh, Harry. You’re so terrifying and yet so nice. Harry and the Hendersons is one of about a gazillion John Lithgow classics from the eighties, and if your kids haven’t been introduced to it, it’s about time. It’s all about family togetherness, conquering fears, and seeing people for their true worth. Those are just a few of the life lessons learned in this one!

Stop by Dog ‘n Suds for a root beer float or a milkshake to enjoy while you take in the movie (which is on Netflix, BTW).

#6 Babe & The Homestead

I couldn’t imagine a movie about a pig that would compare with the delight of Charlotte’s Web, but Babe is pretty much there. It’s an adaption of a 1983 novel called The Sheep-Pig. It’s the story of pig who is raised as livestock but actually wants to be a sheepdog.

Now, if you haven’t enjoyed the incredible take-and-bake meals from The Homestead in West Lafayette, enjoy their delicious comfort food while you watch the movie. We highly recommend the chicken and broccoli casserole. It’s time to enjoy an evening down on the farm!

#7 Hugo and Bruno’s

I’ll be honest with you! Hugo might be one of my favorite children’s movies in recent memory. I was totally captivated by the storyline and drama! It’s about a boy who lives alone in a Paris railway station in the 1930s, and it was nominated for 11 Academy Awards (and won 5).

Before you snuggle up and enjoy the show, call Bruno’s and order either The Duo (spaghetti, garlic bread, and garden salad) or the Trio (pasta, Bruno dough, and garden salad), which both feed four.

I hope this gives you something fun to look forward to with your family! If you have any movie/food suggestions, leave a comment below.