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Variety of tastes<br>found at IMAX Theater

TUSAYAN — Teriyaki beef bowls for the adults, pizza for the kids, ice cream for dessert and an order of fudge to go represents just one dining possibility for visitors and locals at IMAX Theater.

Cecil Smith stir-fries veggies at Pacific Rim Market in the IMAX food court.

The food court area went through a facelift recently with popular choices remaining and new dining options debuting. Patrons can even purchase box lunches for a Canyon picnic.

Cecil Smith, restaurant manager, said changes were implemented after the decision was made to close the Taco Bell Express outlet.

"We closed Taco Bell Express and reopened it under Tacos and More," Smith said. "The 'More' was Pacific Rim, oriental-style cuisine plus we still had the basic taco menu, too."

Navajo tacos were among the items on the original menu, but Smith said various complications involving preparation led to them being eliminated. Soon thereafter, Casa Ortega Mexican Food and Pacific Rim Market restaurants were established and now serve visitors with Mexican and oriental food.

Navajo tacos may not be entirely out of the picture. Smith said they could be a menu item again at some point in the future, which he said "would be nice for visitors."

Pizza Hut Express is going on about six years at IMAX and remains a popular choice. The restaurant has also evolved since its inception.

"The express concept included only the personal pan pizzas," Smith said. "After it was open about a year, there were so many requests for the larger pizzas, that we were also allowed to make a 12-inch pan pizza. Then we added other items like breadsticks and chicken wings."

Under the Pizza Hut Express agreement with IMAX, there are still restrictions. The larger, speciality-item pizzas, for example, found at regular Pizza Hut restaurants are not available at Pizza Hut Express outlets.

The food court area also includes a deli case and box lunches can be prepared for visitors. Smith said fresh fruit is delivered a couple of times a week. IMAX prepares box lunches for a couple of different tour groups, he added.

Other features at the IMAX food court includes Canyon Cappuccino and Cafe, Fudge Factory and Miss Karen’s Frozen Yogurt, which also features Dreyer’s ice cream. Espresso has been a popular choice at the Canyon Cappuccino and Cafe with beans imported from Italy.


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