15 Best Food Scenes In Movies

When it comes to the greatest food moments in film history, several iconic scenes come to mind. Meg Ryan's memorable fake orgasm in When Harry Met Sally. Stallone gulping down raw eggs in Rocky. Everybody references those Goodfellas scenes — you know, the ones where they cut garlic into paper-thin slices, and go to Joe Pesci's mother's house after killing Bill Bats. We all know the Animal House cafeteria scene and the Chez Paul scene in Blues Brothers. We're tired of Cool Hand Luke, and the scene in Alien where the creature bursts out. Even the opening sequence in The Godfather III is cliché. So, besides the obvious, what are the most outstanding food moments in cinema?

Lady and the Tramp sharing spaghetti? Diane Keaton hurling a lobster at Woody Allen in Annie Hall? Willy Wonka? Mystic Pizza? These are scenes worth noting. Forget the Weird Science laser-popped popcorn. Forget Chunk's Baby Ruth in Goonies. Let's not discuss Ghostbusters' Stay Puft marshmallow man, or E.T. and Reese's Pieces. Let's stick with unrecognized classics — the lunch scene in The Breakfast Club. The intro to The Big Lebowski. There's more good food beyond the scenes routinely noted on average sites.

So, which great cinematic food scenes made The Daily Meal's cut of the best ever? Look for your favorites. Think we missed one? Comment below or write us an email.

• The Big Lebowski — The opening scene features The Dude (Jeff Bridges) drinking milk from the carton in a grocery store while in his bathrobe, then paying for it by writing a check for 69 cents. Need we say more?

• Big — Between eating ears of baby corn kernel-by-kernel and his putrid reaction to tasting beluga caviar, Josh Baskin (played by Tom Hanks), certainly shows his true age in this scene. 

• Lady and the Tramp — Arguably the most romantic scene in the history of Disney, the Tramp takes Lady to an Italian restaurant where they share a gigantic plate of spaghetti and meatballs (and their first kiss). 

• Annie Hall — In this scene, Alvy (Woody Allen) and Annie (Diane Keaton) struggle to cook lobsters they bought for dinner.

• Chocolat — This movie is essentially a series of beautiful scenes featuring food. However, this one, which shows Vianne (Juliette Binoche) setting up her chocolaterie and giving townspeople their first taste of her confections, is one of the best.  

• Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory — Hard to imagine a place sweeter than Willy Wonka's factory. In this scene, the viewer experiences the thrill of stepping inside the candymaker's world.

• Beauty and the Beast — Singing cutlery, dancing dishes — all choreographed by an animated candlestick. Can you think of anything more charming? It sure worked for Belle. 

• Mystic Pizza — In this scene, Leona and her staff rejoice after watching restaurant critic, Hector Freshette, give Mystic Pizza a glowing review. 

• Five Easy Pieces — This exchange between Robert (Jack Nicholson) and a waitress takes the concept of "zero menu substitions" to new heights.  

• My Cousin Vinny – The aha moment for Vinny Gambini (Joe Pesci) comes after he is miraculously able to coax a witness into questioning his claim about a crime based on knowledge of preparing grits.

• Hook — The Lost Boys are no strangers to the art of wishful thinking. In this scene, the crew teaches Peter Pan to conjure a feast with the strength of imagination. 

• Pulp Fiction — Is the "Royal with Cheese" scene not one of the most heralded food moments in modern cinema? It's more charming than that Arnold on Green Acres, that's for sure.

• The Breakfast Club — One of the most telling uses of character development in this iconic film is in what each of the students brings with them for lunch — from sushi to Pixy Stix. 

• L.A. Story — This scene pokes fun at the LA restaurant scene. In order to get a table at L'idiot, the potential patrons are subjected to an interview, weeks in advance of their desired reservation. Lucky diners are treated to rapping waiters, miniscule portion sizes, and an overwhelmingly uncomfortable experience. 

• Stand By Me — Barf-O-Rama. You know the scene. Stephen King's classic blueberry pie revenge.