TASTE TESTING

Popcorn and Coke are getting some competition at the snack bar--from upscale Yuppie snacks.

An Outtakes survey of the cushier local movie theaters found trail mix, Haagen Dazs, gummi bears, Austrian wafers, French fruit drops, herb teas and Perrier crowding candy counters. And Frutelle Victoria Springs Mineral Water (from Australia) is making inroads at $1.50 for 12 ounces.

Top honors for the really “with it” snack bar goes to the Plitt Century Plaza Theater, one of the few in the country with a beer and wine bar. For two bucks, moviegoers 21 and over can get domestic or imported brew; for $1.50, California wine (drinks can be taken into the auditorium).

The Cineplex Odeon chain plans cafes in some of its lobbies, offering cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches, tortiere, quiche, sour cream coffee cake, chocolate walnut flan, and exotic teas and coffees.

Meanwhile, South Pasadena’s Rialto serves 15 flavors of hot and iced herbal teas, plus iced and freshly ground coffee (with real cream, if you like).

The most unique theater yummy we came across: The bagel dog (a hot dog wrapped in a bagel), exclusively at Goldwyn Pavilion Cinema, for $2.

The most expensive: Lindt candy bars (milk chocolate, dark chocolate w/raspberry filling) at $2.25 for a 3-ounce bar. Runner-up: Toblerone bars (white and dark chocolate) at $2.25 for a 3 1/2-ounce bar.

Why the trendy invasions?

“Because we believe in the experience of going to the theater,” said a spokeswoman for Laemmle Theaters. “And we want it to be as pleasurable and accommodating for the customer as possible.”

Added Eric Levin, manager of Newport Beach’s Balboa Cinema: “The more expensive stuff appeals to people who come to art films.” He was quick to add that sales of all “the regular stuff” aren’t suffering, “because that’s what most people still want.”