After a long (and expensive!) summer holiday, we decided to keep things simple this week. No fancy plans. No big budget. Just us, a movie and some good food. And we didn’t even go fancy this time! (Unlike: Date Night #21: Gold Class & blue aliens — a fancy night at the movies)
There’s something fun and freeing about stripping it back and just enjoying each other’s company like two mates on a casual night out. No pressure. No dressing up. Just popcorn, burgers and beer.
Where?
🎬 Golden Village, Junction 8
🍔 Shake Shack, Junction 8
What?
We kicked things off with a movie — our second time in a short while watching a kids’ film without our kids… and honestly? We might be onto something!
This week’s pick: the new live-action How to Train Your Dragon.
We both loved the original animated trilogy (and yes, so do the kids), so we were curious—and a little sceptical—about how it would hold up as a live-action remake.
Before we even found our seats, we did what any true cinema-goer should do: bought the popcorn. Mixed, of course—salty and sweet. My husband introduced me to this combo way back in the early days of our dating life, so not only is it delicious (and addictive), it’s nostalgic and reminds me of “early us.” Always a nice feeling.
And we didn’t stop there. We went all-in and got the kiddy combo ($18 for large popcorn, two large drinks and a dragon-shaped cup)… because being a little silly is part of the fun. (Plus, the toothless cup was adorable – I couldn’t resist!)
The film was better than expected! We kept our expectations low—because, let’s face it, live-action remakes don’t always work—but this one stayed incredibly close to the original. Almost scene-for-scene in parts, which for us was a good thing. It felt like revisiting something familiar, but fresh.
Hiccup was still endearingly awkward, Astrid still had her signature fierceness and Toothless—though now CGI—retained all his cuteness and cheeky personality.
The flying scenes were beautifully shot—mostly filmed in Northern Ireland, I later discovered—and showcased sweeping, stunning landscapes that added a real wow factor.
After the film, we kept the night simple and walked straight to Shake Shack for dinner.
We skipped our usual orders and went for the special: two Caesar Chicken Burger meals ($66 for 2 burgers, 2 Parmesan fries and 2 beers). The burger was a juicy breaded chicken breast with Caesar dressing and crispy greens in that signature soft bun. The Parmesan crinkle-cut fries were dangerously addictive, and the ShackMeister Ale (brewed just for Shake Shack) was smooth and crisp—just hoppy enough to cut through the fried goodness.
Shake Shack doesn’t pretend to be gourmet, and that’s part of its charm. It’s fast, reliably tasty, and perfect for nights when you want something comforting without the fuss.
Sitting across from each other, sipping beer, swapping bites and chatting about animated dragons—it was all just so relaxed and easy. One of those nights that reminds you how nice it is to just hang out as friends.
WOW Tips
⭐ Go see a kids’ movie without your kids — it’s weirdly liberating.
⭐ Don’t skip the popcorn — it’s a movie date night must.
⭐ Kiddy cup sets are fun, especially when they come with collectible characters. Plus, your actual kids will love them when you bring them home!
⭐ Shake Shack is great for a casual follow-up meal: no bookings, quick service, reliably tasty.
⭐ This kind of chilled date night is great mid-week or when you don’t have the energy for something fancy—but still want to connect.
⭐ Take turns picking the film—it keeps things playful.
Worth it?
Yes! 7/10.
It wasn’t glamorous or extravagant, but it was us. Simple, easy, fun. The kind of date night that reminds you how good it feels to just be friends, laugh a little, and enjoy the little things – like popcorn and cinema snuggles. Sometimes it’s nice to just not overthink it.
What HE said…
“After a long summer and first week back at work, it’s good to go with a classic dinner and movie. The film was better than expected. Shake Shack is always a win.”
7/10 (Same!)
Wrap-Up
Sometimes, the simplest date nights feel the most like you. No big plans, no pressure—just a relaxed, easy evening, full of little moments that remind us why we do this every week.
Have you ever gone to a kids’ movie without your kids? Let me know in the comments!
And stay tuned for next week’s date—we’ve got some fun ones coming up…
Wanna see?
📸 For photos from the night, check out Instagram.
