One word of advice: don't see Chef on an empty stomach.
And if you do, have dinner reservations ready, because after 115 minutes of what can only be described as food porn (shot after shot of mouth-watering, delicious-looking meals) popcorn just ain't gonna cut it.
Perfect for foodies, Chef is written, produced and directed by Jon Favreau, best known for helming films such as Iron Man and Elf. In this smaller-budgeted, more personal film, Favreau stars alongside a cast of heavyweights including Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson and Sofia Vergara.
As Carl Casper, Favreau plays a talented chef but absent-minded dad, who's stuck in a creative rut at his plum restaurant gig. When he tries to add some flair to the menu, the stuffy and demanding owner (Dustin Hoffman) reins him in.
As such, a biting and hurtful review from a highly influential blogger hits the internet and goes viral. Casper's very funny attempts to retaliate via Twitter only make things worse and leave him scratching his head about what to do with his life.
Vergara plays Casper's likeable and disconcertingly caring ex-wife, who suggests he clear his head with a trip to Miami with their son Percy (charming child actor Emjay Anthony), where he cooks up the idea of getting into the food truck biz.
At its heart, Chef is feel-good, laid-back fare.
It chugs along leisurely, turning into something of a US foodie road trip. There aren't a large number of obstacles or high stakes - there's no terrifying ex-wives, no nasty bad guys. Everything is very amicable in this earnest tale of a chef falling from grace, who tries to start over and become a better father in the process.
It takes its time and as such, won't suit everyone's tastes. But if you're a fan of cooking shows or put chefs in the same category as rock stars, this is probably right up your alley.
Chef also brings a realism to the screen. There is Carl's amusing attempts to grapple with social media to the dismay of Percy but it's the food culture that really feels authentic.
It's no surprise to learn that food truck pioneer chef Roy Choi was a consultant and co-producer on the flick (stick around to watch him work his magic on a grilled cheese sandwich in the credits).
Downey Jr is hilarious, as expected, in his scene-stealing brief role, while Johansson is a welcome addition and John Leguizamo lights up the screen, bantering with Favreau as a former co-worker who helps in the food truck venture.
Chef meanders along and wraps up neatly, just the way you expect it will. But that doesn't stop it from being a charming and funny watch. It's a great choice for those with the appetite for a light-hearted flick, heavy on shots of simply scrumptious grub.
* Chef opens in Australian cinemas on May 8
