Another name for what you saw is 'Dinner Theatre' and the format is quite common around the country. They come in full dinner/luncheon format all the way down to those serving only drinks with sofas and easy chairs as seating.
You could easily design one on just one seating level, but the rub there is the obstruction of the view as servers or patrons go from table to table or elsewhere while one is trying to see the screen. That is why most newer ones are designed on multiple levels, as in Stadium Style, so as to allow someone to pass in front of one, but below his eye level. Dinner Theatres and "brew pubs" are considered to be more about the food than the film, so you may want to gain experience in running a restaurant first, and realize that the local building and health codes for restaurants may have more bearing on your design than codes applying to places of public assembly.
If you search the Archives here, you will come upon John Pytlak's referrences to the SMPTE Standards for projection and links to them. They outline proper screen sizes and ceiling heights for ideal presentation. Further information can be obtained from the Theatre Historical Society of America via their Ex. Director whose address is listed on their site:
www.historictheatres.org
The concept is not at all new, with the 1986 book "Milwaukee Movie Palaces" showing a photo of the CRYSTAL dinner theatre circa 1935. Some such offered only live action stage attractions, others also offered film as in the CRYSTAL, long ago demolished. In the Milwaukee area alone these venues offer some variation of what you mean: the FOX BAY, THE MAYFAIR, THE ROSEBUD CINEMA DRAFTHOUSE, THE FIRESIDE, and shortly, THE AVALON. Write-ups on these and many other theatres may be found through Location search at:
www.cinematreasures.org 
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