Foreign Cinema

Had Saturday Brunch at this incredibly quaint and quirky venue. The main dining section in the restaurant has a high ceiling and large windows that illuminate the area, making it perfect spot for brunch on a sunny day! If you prefer sitting outside, there’s also a lovely courtyard that projects classic foreign films on the walls during your meal.
For all the egg enthusiasts out there, the Champagne Omelet was so beautifully soft and eggy, and the fresh fine herbs and mushrooms inside of it collaborated to form the most luxurious tasting omelet I’ve ever eaten. The Croque Madame was broiled to perfection and wasn’t overwhelmingly cheesy. The rich Duck Liver Pâté was on point and paired harmoniously with the acme bread and sweet baby beets.
We received excellent service and our server was really helpful in giving recommendations.
My only doubts about this place are the potatoes and the location. The potatoes were slightly too large and not crispy enough. I wasn’t a fan of the location since it’s a bit out of the way and in a slightly sketchy neighborhood. Otherwise, this was a really pleasurable dining experience and I’d love to come back to try more of the brunch items and the dinner menu sometime.

Foreign Cinema is a really interesting, well laid-​out establishment. It’s pretty unassuming from the outside, and you walk down this long (kind of dark, but it’s cool) hallway leading to an outdoor area where a film of some sort is playing on the wall. We didn’t really pay attention to the movie and I think it was there more for the effect, but it definitely adds to the ambience. There are actually picnic tables outside, but the way that they play on the lighting, they totally don’t look like picnic tables and it still feels like a proper dining area.
I was running behind, and by the time I arrived, my colleagues were already munching on baked fromage and enjoying glasses of wine. I started off with the Crow & Oak salad, which has a romaine base with a champagne herb dressing and various vegetables and Feta cheese. I enjoyed the layers on the salad, although I think they could have lightened up on the Feta just a bit.
Being a duck lover, I followed up the salad with the peppercorn duck breast cooked medium, which came with potato hash and orange jus. I found it to be a tad fatty, even for duck, but otherwise finished the plate. Placing the duck on top of the potato hash to allow the flavors to combine was a nice twist on what otherwise could have been a fairly simple dish.
Our waitress was super amiable and great with taking vague notes from me – «a tequila drink that’s not on the menu, something sweet… the bartender can do whatever they want» — and returning with a delicious libation. Props to the bartender as well, obviously. Loved it!
For dessert, we shared a cheese plate and the summer berry pudding. The pudding was a little heavy on the seeded berries for me, which resulted in a bit more crunch than I had expected, but was otherwise good.
While Foreign Cinema wasn’t my number one pick on my most recent trip to SF, it made the top three!

Do you want to eat here? Well then you better make a reservation waaaay in advance.
When I first moved to San Francisco, I had heard so much about this place I went on their website to make reservations. I was appalled that the wait was THREE months and thought, «I just want some fucking eggs». Anyways, I then forgot about trying to eat here until my friend said she made reservations for her birthday brunch at Foreign Cinema. Fast forward maybe a year later and I was pretty excited about it.
So, friend’s birthday brunch. Yeah. We miscounted how many people we had for brunch by one person and they were pretty snooty about setting up an extra chair. Not only that, it took almost 30 minutes to do so, and kept telling us how inconvenient it was for them to accommodate us. Kind of put a quick damper on the birthday brunch mood. Not to worry, we made up for it fairly quickly.
Once we were all settled in and ordered our meals, everything came pretty quickly. The presentation is beautiful and the food is nothing short of delicious.
One friend and I shared half a crab since the algae issues were recently rid of; which was juicy and sweet. We also had the Poached Eggs; crispy duck leg confit, endive & frisée salad, torn croutons, with sherry dressing which was my absolute favorite.
Everyone seemed to enjoy their food, which made the experience a bit more pleasant. They also let us bring a cake for a small cake cutting fee. Nbd.
If you get a chance to sit outside, it’s the cutest and you should.
So, would I come back here? Yes. Just not in a hurry to.

Sunday Brunch, possibly one of the most excruciating events in the history of SF eats (actually, dining at any of the top restaurants in SF on any day is quite difficult as well, but we’ll touch on that later.) But thank goodness, Foreign Cinema opens their doors at 11am sharp on Sundays. The perfect time for those who have the mindset of «I want to sleep in but still get amazing food because I love food and I love sleep but I can’t compromise one for the other.» And yes, I sadly and proudly fit in that category especially after a long night out in the city.
My friends and I arrived approximately at 10:50am, and there’s already a decent line forming outside the theater-​esque entrance. As the doors opened, I was amazed to see a red carpet, movie theater posters and the interior of the building. The high ceilings and modern look of the restaurant took us away from the semi-​shoddy Mission District of San Francisco and into a wonderland that resembled a quaint city. I was already drawn into the aesthetics and beauty of the restaurant, and let’s just say it’s a lot more than just looks because the food was strikingly saporous.
We all shared the Hamachi Tartare as our starter. Our palates were in joy as we devoured our first bite. I have had several hamachi tartare starters from other restaurants, and I’d have to say this dish was the best hamachi tartare I’ve had. With the combination of taro chips, everything was perfect.
I ordered the Dungeness Crab Frittata. And as a lover of the «egg and ketchup» amalgam, my friend and I were eager to request ketchup before taking our first bite. Luckily, we did not get the opportunity to, or else I would have felt that I was insulting their food by dousing their delectable egg frittata in ketchup. It was that incredible. The frittata was moist, savory, and filled with fresh Dungeness crab. The portion of my frittata was perfect as I still had room for dessert!
We all shared the Earl Grey Crème Burlee with Macaron, still delicious but definitely did not shine as much as the appetizer and egg dishes. I still wouldn’t pass up on this! A must get.
After having an astonishing brunch at Foreign Cinema and hearing endless amount of great things regarding their dinner service, I can’t wait to be back to experience their dinner and film concept!

Foreign Cinema: SF’s version of movie drive-​in date night. It is, of course, dressed up in all-​out movie-​themed décor and flawless with the meticulously prepared food. («contemporary cuisine» i.e. creatively constructed, beautifully plated, and so unique that people should be able to identify the restaurant without a location tag)
The cinematic theme begins at the entrance, complete with restaurant signs designed like movie posters and a long, dark hallway with a red carpet leading to the seating area Unknowing tourists may be confused of this restaurant disguised like a movie theater. While the patio is most well-​known with the quaint strings of light bulbs and movie projected on the wall, the indoor area looks nice as well with large windows and a rustic wooden theme. Of note, the outdoors area is conveniently covered by a tarp and equipped with heat lamps, which addresses the dilemma of advance reservations in the face of unpredictable SF weather.
The food was stellar and came (mostly) in non-​tiny portions. Hurray for affordable-​ish fine dining (heavy emphasis on the ish). Entrees are high $ 20-​$ 30’s, and apps are $ 10 – 20. I noticed that dishes are priced similarly, so I would suggest going for the fancier sounding ones.
(++) Complimentary bread: Mmmmm so soft and fresh. You get both a rustic wheat bread and a white bread. No seconds offered, but decently satisfying
(+) SB smoked salmon, farm egg crostini, Tsar Nicoulai caviar, crème fraîche, herb salad ($ 15): Delicately constructed with a mix of caviar, crème fraîche, a blend of herbs, and a garnish of colorful edible flowers. However the smoked salmon tasted underwhelmingly like typical smoked salmon, and farm egg crostini was just egg salad spread on crostini. (And don’t all eggs come from farms???)
(++) Cardamon scented fried chicken, savory spinach with sesame, chickpea hummus, seared ginger raita ($ 26): The menu changes daily, but there is always a version of their famous fried chicken. The batter is magical; it’s as if they added oats or something for extra crisp and texture. The chicken remained nice and succulent. Note that the two pieces of chicken are not the same (The piece I gave to the boo turned out to be the thigh/​wing, which made me feel bad… but secretly I was glad because my chicken breast piece was so easy to eat) The condiments are complexly flavorful, coming together as an adventurous spin on comfort food.
(++) Espresso rubbed pork chop, grilled broccoli rabe, Umbrian farro, shelling beans, roasted garlic vinaigrette ($ 28): The espresso rub added a rich depth to the pork chop, though it seemed a tad bit underdone. (Nopa is my pork chop gold standard) I was more drawn towards the farro with beans, which was a hearty medley. The garlic vinaigrette added a zesty dimension in contrast to the earthy flavors, and the farro had a nice grainy texture similar to barley.
Tips:
— If you want to see the movie, be sure to come after dark. We came when it was still light, which meant good lighting for food pictures but no movie
— Reservations fill up fast, though we came at 6pm on a Friday and there were still a lot of tables available
— Parking is awful as expected; I was fine with biting the bullet and using the paid parking garage nearby
— Service is alright and a bit slow (I can’t help being disgruntled over paying extra for parking because everything took so long)
— Portions are decent, but entrees are not quite enough for a hungry appetite. The star of the show is really the entrée section; the apps/​desserts are pricey and nothing too special
The verdict: Memorable dining experience with superb ambiance and noms. SF redefines movie drive-​in date nights to Foreign Cinema with its bouge food and artistic cinema in the background (or the more economical counterpart, Netflix and take-​out).

Such a cute brunch spot! I originally came here because the wait at El Techo next door was way too long but I’m so glad that I did. There’s a beautiful heated outdoor patio with boka lights and a screen to shield you from the wind/​rain. 5+ stars for ambiance.
As for the food, some standouts were:
1) lavender baked goat cheese — LOVE. Lavender + goat cheese are some of my favorite things, but I’ve never tried them together… sooo good!
2) balsamic fried eggs — the combo of prosciutto with potato hash and the acidity of the balsamic, omg
3) organic pop-​tarts — flavors change seasonally, but this is a staple if you come here for brunch
The only disappointing dish I’ve had here was the duck liver pâté. Both the portion size and flavor were subpar — I would definitely skip this if you come here.

What do I say. Everything here is incredible. The rumors are true. The hype is well-​deserved. When you order the foie gras there are globs of it. I opted for the duck and my date had the sole. We spent the dinner trading bits or our dishes because everything was excellent. The wine list is insane and unless you’re a connoisseur, just ask the servers — their recommendations were on point.
The entrance is very burtalist and the red carpet leading to the main area is a nice touch. I’m not sure if the main area ever has an open roof, or if there’s a transparent cover, but either way it setts the ambiance. Movies are projected on the wall of the main area, but I wouldn’t say they were thee focal point. Food. Focus on the mind-​blowing food.
Also, we got our reservation the night before, so calling them is always worth a shot, even if it’s short notice.

Mmmm brunch. One of my favorite meals that I look forward to when traveling! I’ve been keeping an eye to check out Foreign Cinema and I’m glad I did! It opened in 1999 I believe, and I’m actually pretty surprised that I haven’t visited before since I grew up roaming around in the Mission. When you enter inside, you’re welcomed by the vast sunlight beaming in through the ceiling. To your left you will see the outdoor seating area, and to your right, indoor seating but you still get the breeze from the outdoors. It was sunny, calming, and a really nice ambiance overall.
The service was pretty quick! To start, we tried the caramel pecan sticky bun. This was sweet and delicious… a nice way to start! As for our drinks, I got the Mulberry Field Forever – refreshing and it paired well with my dishes.
For the entrée, poached eggs with duck confit and my friend got the chile verde (my fave!). The chile verde had beans and pork and cheese on top. Mine had a nice salad with a light dressing, some croutons (flavored with duck fat perhaps – these were good!), endive, and the duck leg. This was more refreshing and lighter it seemed and the chile verde was definitely a bit heartier. We shared both and it was a good idea! I honestly would come back for that chile verde. There were so many good options for appetizers! The presentation and flavors of both dishes were spot on.
They play a movie in the background when it’s darker out, so it’d be nice to catch that if you plan to get more of that romantic ambiance. I would definitely come back here again!

Saturday Brunch. Great ambiance, takes reservations for brunch (very rare) and great service. Ordered:
Serpent Kiss drink: I love drinks over a glass of crushed ice. Perfect for that mission weather.
rhubarb pop tart: good to try at least once. Makes me want to try to make it.
poached eggs with duck confit: Comes with two eggs and one of the eggs was a little overcooked and didn’t achieve the runny consistency I would have liked.
croquet madame: very heavy, on the salty side and def can be shared. French fries were too salty. Try asking for more salad in place of the french fries instead.
Our two egg dishes were too heavy together. I wish we just ordered one egg dish and one «picnic» dish. We ended up taking a little less than half of the croquet home.
overall, this place is a really cute date place and special occasions. (streetside of the restaurant can be deceiving, the inside is super cute). But considering how much we paid for brunch, I would want to try someplace else than come back.
Tip: Make reservations for brunch! Ask for outside table if you like that sort of thing but it can get pretty warm!

Sooo delicious! A great little date spot or social spot with friends at night. Definitely make a reservation and plan to come around sunset/​nighttime so you can get the full «Foreign Cinema» dining experience with the movie playing in the background…
Just to clarify, the movie is silent and is just part of the ambiance. Aside from this place being incredibly cute the food is really good!
We tried the scallops and duck and both were delicious. Cocktails are great as well.

My boyfriend surprised me with a reservation here for my birthday. I was ecstatic when we walked in since I had had this place bookmarked for a quite awhile. The exterior looks like a cinema, as well as the hallway leading into the dining area. Do make a reservation for dinner, as they were packed the entire time we were there. They have heat lamps so I advise bundling up and sitting outdoors to enjoy the films they play when it gets dark! The film is more for the ambience, but we thought it cool nevertheless.
On this visit, we ordered the grilled calamari to start, and ordered their fried chicken and pork chop as entrees. I loved the grilled calamari. It was flavorful and perfectly juicy. The pork chop was my favorite of the three! The pork chop may look dry, but it is so tender and juicy! Our server recommended that one and boy am I glad we took his recommendation! The salad and peach paired perfectly as a side. I thought the fried chicken wasn’t bad, but I wouldn’t write home about it either. We were too stuffed for dessert but will definitely order dessert next time as they looked promising!
It gets a bit too loud (as expected) since the place is popular. Slightly pricy as two entrees and an appetizer came out to nearly $ 80 before tip. Street parking available from what I’ve observed, but difficult around the area. Remember to lock your car as the area isn’t the safest! All in all, really glad that I got to try this spot and will definitely be back to try brunch as others have recommended!

I’ve been wanting to come here for over 10 years. Finally, I had an opportunity yesterday so I took it. I ordered the salted cod appetizer with mashed potatoes, while my friends ordered vegetarian omelettes and a burger with fries. One of my girlfriends ordered the famous organic pop tarts to bring back home to her man. Fast forward a few hours later, he love it!
The food was a bit pricey and small for what you get, however the ambiance was worth it for me to check out. I am not sure if I would come back for brunch again, however may check out their dinner menu in the future.

Cute and relaxed ambiance in the dining area. There was a film projected onto the wall, very fitting given the name, Foreign Cinema.
— avocado toasts. with Egyptian pepper relish, grilled lavain, and shaved manchego.
–yellowtail tartare
— scallops
–strawberry shortcake, served with ricotta ice cream.
The avocado toasts and scallops were my favorite dishes. It’s a good place to enjoy dinner with a date or a few friends. Order a few dishes and share to try a bit of everything!

We moved from Chicago to South Bay almost a year ago, and my wife and I have this running joke whenever we look at our budget. Whatever we gained in rent, we cut in restaurant bills. It was not uncommon for our Chicago dinner bills to easily reach three figures, or three figures per person if we weren’t feeling particularly thrifty. Meanwhile, South Bay dining specializes in wallet-​friendly ethnic cuisine. If only those rent prices…
In any case, it naturally made perfect sense that, when our friends from Chicago visited, we had a quintessential American (New), trendy-​casual, three-​figure dinner that so defines the Chicago dining scene. We pushed play on a reservation at Foreign Cinema, a San Franciscan institution that hardly needs a few more of my blithe words atop 3,800 plus reviews. I’ll try anyway.
The grandeur of Foreign Cinema surely contributes to its charm. Off the main thoroughfare of the Mission, the restaurant immediately bedazzles you upon entry, masking itself as a theater (natch), before revealing a grand dining space replete with an actual outdoor movie screen. It’s a gorgeous interior with a rambunctiously loud dining room, as such a thoroughly enjoyable place to dine.
On that alone, the review would garner five stars, but I felt the spread of food to be merely good and not great. The menu, as previously mentioned, is vintage American (New): a mix of plates large and small, featuring ornate descriptions with an emphasis on trendy and local, and just the right mix of red meats, white meats, and vegetables to satisfy the average consumer. The foundation is classical French, with reportedly Mediterranean influence. In other words, American (New).
There’s a whole host of restaurants in Chicago that do just this. Kahan, Sodikoff, and Wentworth do it best, in my humble opinion. But a cut below that are still very good restaurants like The Bristol or Homestead, a cut where I precisely placed Foreign Cinema’s offerings. We started strong, with cocktails and a fruits de mer plate. It immediately hearkened to one of our last Chicago meals at Sodikoff-​owned Bavettes, where with the same dining companion we went HAM with a plate of shellfish galore. Bavettes was undeniably better, and so set the tone for the night.
Maybe I’m biased from my Chicago experience, or maybe I’m just projecting envy that I don’t live in a similarly wonderful culinary city like San Francisco. (That’s not a knock on South Bay, which has a great restaurant scene. It’s just not renowned, rightfully, in the way a Chicago or San Francisco is.) But I just felt like San Francisco could do better than Foreign Cinema. Good, but not great.

A friend of mine recommended Foreign Cinema during our visit to SF. It’s in a bit of a sketchy area, but I trusted her. I was pleasantly surprised with the venue. It’s a lot prettier in person, the pictures doesn’t do its justice. I thought the concept was so cute, playing movies out on the covered patio while guests are dining. But don’t plan on actually watching the movie, because the sound is low since they are projected on these small radios along the exterior walls. This would be a fantastic venue for an evening reception, very romantic.
Since there were 5 of us, we were able to try quite a few things. I LOVED the warm four cheese fondue and five spice duck breast. We also ordered the warm brandade gratin, some Kumamotos, cinema seafood stew, pot de crème and chèvre cheesecake. Everything was delicious. I would definitely come back.

Foreign Cinema is one of the only popular brunch spots in SF that accepts reservations. Take advantage of that as it is a rare find! They’re absolutely perfect if your in-​laws are in town and you want to impress them with their beautiful space and delicious refined dishes. Enjoy their airy and bright patio during weekend-​only brunches, or dine in the evening under strings of festive lights while they project old movies on the wall.
After a few brunch visits, there really isn’t one dish that keeps me coming back. It’s their seasonal and inventive menu that seamlessly blends typical brunch fare with more sophisticated «California cuisine.» If beef carpaccio, smoked salmon toast topped with caviar, and oysters sound like your kind of appetizers, then this is your jam. I’ve had the crab frittata with goat cheese, the baguette French toast w/​huckleberries and pears, the pork pastor, and duck leg confit and everything was great! Well executed, full flavored, and the ingredients are always incredibly fresh.
The organic flaky pop tarts, which are featured in 7×7’s 2016 Big Eats list, come in seasonal flavors like rhubarb or pear and are $ 7 a pop. They’re good, don’t get me wrong, but they’re overpriced and definitely not life changing. Still worth a try if you’ve never had them before though.
The service is friendly and professional, but the food can be a little slow sometimes. The prices are higher than your average brunch (~$ 65 for 2 people), but the quality of the food and unique menu choices are worth it!

Foreign Cinema during dinner time: intimate and romantic
Foreign Cinema during brunch time: bright and lively
What a difference!
Came to Foreign Cinema for my high school bestie’s birthday celebrations a few weeks ago, and it was yet another good dining experience!
— Organic Pop Tarts –granny smith apple ($ 6.75): don’t worry, I gawked at the price tag too. But the pop tarts are big enough to share! It’s a pretty good snack to share between friends. :)
— Beef sirloin carpaccio ($ 15): very eye-​pleasing dish and tasty!
— Rich duck liver pâté crostini ($ 13): pretty standard
— Brazilian ceviche ($ 15): kind of small portions, but fresh Pacific tuna!
— Balsamic Fried Eggs ($ 17): eggs were cooked to perfection
— Frittata ($ 19): how do they make this?! It was so light and fluffy, but still filling
— Croque Madame ($ 17): I really dig the toasted ham and gruyère on this dish
The Serpent’s Kiss was refreshing, and the Irish Coffee was strong (can’t go wrong with whiskey!).
Like dinner, brunch was a fun experience at Foreign Cinema. The venue, ambiance, and service were all on point. Definitely a perfect place for celebrations or for a fancy date!

I really liked the atmosphere and setup of this place. It really was like a movie theater and if you sat outside under the string lights, you will see a movie casted on the building outside.
The food was really good! We ordered avocado toast and beef carpaccio. Both very tasty and healthy. My husband ordered the sesame chicken and I ordered the duck. Medium raw was the perfect temp for this duck! It was juicy and paired well with the pickled cabbage side. I really liked the pickles cabbage, but the other pickled veggies were bitter tasting. There was also a hair in my dish. My husband’s chicken was extremely salty. Unfortunately everything that touched the chicken also was equivocally salty. He tried to eat his chicken but it was just too over seasoned.
Overall it was a good dining experience and great food. The bill came out to $ 130 which isn’t bad for two appt, two entrees and two drinks

My friend has been dying to try this place out, so we came here for brunch.
Ordered the following dishes:
Caramel pecan sticky bun — moist and delicious
Beef sirloin tartare — pieces were cut so thinly and very difficult to eat. Not much meat at all although the presentation was pretty.
Rich duck liver pâté crostini — very rich in flavor
croque madame — one of my favorite croque madame’s I’ve ever had although the fries were very forgettable. Thick layer of cheese on top and in the middle with a runny egg.
I loved the ambiance of the place. Lots of natural lighting with very tall ceilings. The air was filled with lively chatter and was overall very pleasant.

Delicious food, great drinks, very expensive, beautiful ambiance inside and professional staff. I give Foreign Cinema 3 stars for dinner service, because when I’m paying this much money, you are competing with a bunch of places down the block with Michelin stars, and that’s where I would tend to go instead.
However, if we’re talking about the brunch game, Foreign Cinema is one of the better options out there, so 4 stars over all. Grab a reservation, they are super popular.

The ambiance here is beautiful and it’s a great place for a date but it is quite loud so it’s hard to talk.
I was disappointed by the food. My boyfriend ordered the fried chicken which was quite tasty while I got the duck breast. This main course only comes with 3 thin slices of duck breast, a chicken sausage and some vegetables. Definitely not worth the $ 27 price. It was very flavorful but the dish was entirely soaked in oil! If it wasn’t for the free bread, I probably would have had to stop by in n out on the way home. The cheese fondue is again not very good. There was nothing special about it.
Service was good until the end of the night. We asked for change back and she gave us the wrong amount. She took back the money and never gave us our change so we took it off her tip.
I wouldn’t come back here.

I came here expecting a solid experience, but actually had an outstanding experience.
Managed to snag a last minute OpenTable reservation at 530pm, which was fine, since I was flying back to the East coast and needed to somewhat get back to an East coast meal schedule anyway. We were the first ones there, and we sat down to an empty restaurant, which actually was awesome, because you could see the staff still getting ready and we also had the opportunity to see the indoor and outdoor space unadulterated by you know, people. The ambient lighting is great for both a date and a dinner with friends. Also, it’s interesting to see the foreign movies that they put on the back white wall.
We went with the fondue, smoked fish gratin, seared scallops, and the famous sesame fried chicken. Our waitress told us that the chef rotated the entrees everyday, and the only entrée that stayed constant on the menu was the fried chicken, just because it was so good. So yeah, we kinda had to. Anyways, the fondue was not like traditional fondue, and was whipped light, almost to a froth. Paired with a number of different crostini, the fondue was a great start to the meal and didn’t leave us feeling too heavy. Moving onto the gratin, which came in a cast-​iron skillet, the smoked fish wasn’t too salty and really went well with the accompanying pickled vegetables and panini pressed crostini.
As for the entrees, the seared scallops were tender, as were the accompanying asparagus, orange, and mushrooms, but the star of the show really was the sesame fried chicken. HOLY MOLY. There’s a reason why it’s always on the menu. Rubbed with curry and perfectly fried with a slightly sweetened sesame crust, it may have been some of the most unique and delicious fried chicken I’ve ever had. I would easily come back for that fried chicken alone. Hot damn. Ended the meal with the chocolate pot de crème, which was unbelievably good. I don’t really have a sweet tooth, but I do love. It was a little denser than chocolate mousse/​pudding, and had a really rich, sweet flavor, complemented nicely with the fluffy cream.
The waitstaff was excellent, and constantly checked up on us without being overbearing. It was cool to learn that the entire staff gets to try the constantly rotating menu before opening, and as a result, they seemed to be a lot happier and friendlier, and as a result, the service was just better too. The prices are on the more expensive side, but the quality and flavors are there, so in my opinion, the value is there too.
Before we even ended the meal, we kept talking about how a return trip was in the works already, so it’s easy to say we’ll be back. The space is great for just about everything, the food was unreal, and the service was excellent. I’m curious to try their brunch the next time I’m in SF, although if it means forgoing the fried chicken, then perhaps I’ll just come back for dinner again, heh.

Cute date spot! The ambiance was romantic and intimate in the patio. They project a movie up on the wall and have speakers interspersed throughout the patio area.
The food was good, if pricey. We ordered oysters, beef carpaccio, smoked salmon, brandide, the seafood pasta, swordfish, and duck. The beef carpaccio was served with potato chips which was surprising — I’m not sure how I feel about this given the price we paid. The smoked salmon was good but not mind blowing.
However, the brandide, pasta, and swordfish were definitely outstanding. They were very flavorful and cooked to perfection.
I’d like to come back and try their brunch — I hear the pop tarts are to die for!

Love the setting here. It’s a clever idea to setup dinner tables with lighting & heated lamps across a large viewing screen that plays classic movies. So classy & elegant.
Had to make a reservation because it’s tough waiting for a table without one, that is if you don’t mind waiting until after 9pm for a table.
The food is okay, tasty dishes but I’ll leave it at that. It’s pricey.
Service was good & luckily we did not have to wait too long for the food. We were seated at 6:30 and the tables were already full. Drinks were refilled & our waitress was attentive. We ordered some small dishes & she was prompt removing empty plates to make room for the next order.
I would not mind coming here for another experience. The ambiance is inviting but maybe I need to lower my expectations on the quality of the food.

Summary: Great food, even better ambiance, but presentation and portion size could be better
This is a great place to take a date (but not the first date unless you got $$$ like that) or go with a group to celebrate. Outdoor seating in the back is really nice. They have these orange lights that hang above the tables and project a movie against the back wall. Staff is very professional and friendly, as you would expect at a place like this. You can trust that the waiters have tasted all the wine/​food and can provide you expert recommendations.
Here’s what my group ordered:
–Oysters: can’t go wrong here. very refreshing taste!
–Monterey calamari: highly recommended-​some of the best calamari I’ve ever tried!
–Four cheese fondue: unlike other fondue I’ve had this was light and fluffy, but had more flavor
–Venetian Risotto: could have been better with more scallops-​my dish had one small scallop :/​
–Fried Chicken: great choice, probably the freshest fried chicken I’ve ever had! large portion too
–Tunisian pork chop: this is their signature, what they’re known for! large portion too
–Cheese plate: the blue cheese is a must have
–Cheesecake: rich flavor, very small portion
–Chocolate mousse: A++++
Overall, the food was very well prepared and tasted great! But again, portions were small, especially since my group shared many of the apps. I recall asking one of my friends if I could have 2 chickpeas from the calamari app! He gave me 4 chickpeas, and I don’t know how I can ever repay him! All jokes aside, if you’re hungry get the fried chicken or the pork chops. Otherwise, come to sample some of the unique options this place offers!

My girlfriend and I tried to hit up el techo on a Sunday afternoon only to find the wait to be over an hour… So we decided to head next door to foreign cinema. From the outside its just a big steel door kind of like the ones you’d see in front of strip clubs, but once I stepped through the doors I was like WOW this place is amazing! The restaurant itself has a beautiful interior as well as outdoor patio seating with lights strung above. A really nice place to dine when the weather’s good.
The wait was around 30 min for a table but we were able to grab seats at the bar and have drinks while we waited for our table. We ordered a Persian Bloody Mary and the serpents kiss. This was the first Bloody Mary I had ever tried and I must say it was pretty good, a little spicy but good. The serpents kiss was also really good and refreshing. After about 20 min we were seated outside in their patio area.
We ordered oysters, lavender goat cheese with bread, tuna ceviche, and the balsamic eggs with potatoes and prosciutto. Everything was amazing! And not just because I was buzzed. I usually HATE oysters but gave these a shot and they were heavenly! No oceany taste or crunchy sand bits. The onion vinegar that they serve with it was great for masking that ocean taste. And I also don’t go for goat cheese but this one was sooo good with the poached pears it was served with and you could really taste the lavender flavor.
Of course we got talked into ordering dessert, and then the problem became which one do we try? We ended up ordering two. Lol the lavender caramel flan with honey comb and the cheesecake. They were both really good but the cheesecake was probably the best part of the meal. So good! We finished EVERYTHING.
Really cute spot, good drinks, good food, can’t wait to come back!

My new go-​to restaurant when friends come to visit. The food is incredible, atmosphere is very unique and relaxed, and it’s the perfect hidden gem within the mission district. If only brunch reservations were easier to get… Or even dinner reservations honestly.
If you’re walking in for dinner, there’s a bar at the back and it’s kind of hit or miss. I made reservations on my second visit here, and if you’re willing to postpone dinner til 830 or 9, there’s more likely to be availability on short notice.
Absolutely order the pork chop and the risotto. Fried chicken is good but not earth shattering. Duck is also very good. I tried the Hawaiian poke appetizer last time I was there, and if I could somehow wake up every morning with a plate of it next to my bed, I would not be mad. Not mad at all.
A bit on the pricier side, but worth every single penny. Can’t wait to make it to brunch here.
Very classic SF restaurant not to be missed.

Foreign Cinema, forgive me. I’ve taken you for granted.
Whenever I’d hear from friends raving about the oysters/​steak/​pork chop at Foreign Cinema, I’d casually dismiss it with a «oh sure!» telling myself I’d come back and try it again someday. I’ve never been for brunch either, I’ve always known that it’s one of those restaurants that’ll stand the test of time.
I am right.
The food is as good as ever and the ambiance is still exciting!
Admittedly, the best place to dine would depend upon your mood. Is it a nice, warm SF night? head outside in the courtyard where they project movies on the white wall and the string of lights hanging above make it an absolutely romantic setting. Inside the restaurant is a different scene: bustling with high ceilings and tightly spaced tables. Ask for a corner seat to maximize people watching, because when you’re here, people watching is part of the experience.
Speaking of experience, California cuisine is the name of the game. Seasonal and fresh are what you’ll find on the large paper menu. The Santa Barbara smoked salmon with Petrossian caviar, farm egg and crème fraîche are two miniscule teasers of what’s to come. You should supplement with a bowl of creamy heirloom tomato soup with tomatillo and hatch chili topped with a super flavorful pulled chicken. His seared tuna entrée with artichokes, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, olives and marbled potatoes on little gem lettuce was like a garden of freshness on a plate. While my five spiced duck had that crispy skin and was served with Asian pears and frisee on a bed of braised red wine lentils. With the ambient lighting, it looked as if my duck was really rare, but in reality, it was cooked medium rare just as I like it.
We happily skipped dessert because my sweetie gifted me macarons. Whatever room we had in our bellies went to delicious cocktails. The Swarm had Barr Hill honey gin, ancho chile liquer, honey syrup and pink peppercorns. It was cloyingly sweet but spicy at the same time, but I preferred his drink much more: The Estban. A cocktail with tequila, mezcal, elderflower and punt e mes. There was a bit more body in this cocktail and the smoky mezcal really comes through.
I’m curious now more than ever to come back here soon so I can try their legendary brunch. The Bloody Mary’s calling my name and I promise not to take Foreign Cinema for granted again.

My dinner at Foreign Cinema turned out to be an M. Night Shyamalan movie but without all the disappointment. There was purposeful misdirection. And then a twist at the end. Think Sixth Sense. But instead of a creepy ass Bruce Willis (spoiler alert) ghost, you had tons of wine, tequila shots, appetizers, and entrees.
It was Stephanie B.‘s birthday and birthday girl selected F. Cinema. My first impression: the glamorous red carpet turned out to be anything but. Dudes, it reeked of urine. But I think the root cause was its proximity with the lavatories. Moving into the restaurant, you’re swept up in its delightful, charming mise en scèné. Simple but elegant touches adorn Cinema. The mood throughout the restaurant was one of warmth. You felt at home and at ease. Everyone was dressed nicely and hunkered down for a long delicious meal.
A good majority of the appetizers were ordered. I cannot recall the names of the dishes. But take it on good authority that most of them were delicious. I do, fortunately, remember the entrees:
— Duck: cooked to perfection.
— Kobe: again, seasoned well and cooked a perfect medium rare.
— Fried Chicken: definitely an interesting twist on a Southern classic. Massive portion.
At about the half way point, the birthday girl halted the meal. She raised her goblet and shared her news. No, it wasn’t related to her birthday. We were aghast. Panic seeped into the group. A gluttonous celebratory dinner without reason to celebrate meant that we were all just being total fat asses. We demanded answers. And on cue, the plot twist came: Stephanie B. had successfully negotiated a jump of several tax brackets at her 9-​to-​5. The table erupted in joy and caused an abrupt raucous in an otherwise mellow patio. Roll credits. Commence Tequila shots.
It was a great time celebrating Stephanie B.‘s birthday/​professional achievements. F. Cinema is really conducive for an extended meal. We were in no rush to leave. You get to really enjoy your time here. As you should. I highly recommend visiting.
Like any great movie, a sequel inevitably follows. I’ll be back. For brunch. Congratulations again to Stephanie.

This has got to be one of the most romantic dining experiences in the city. If you want a sure fire-​way to date number 2, book a seat outside under the amber lights and vintage screening. Not only is the ambience beautiful, but the food is as well. Unfortunately California crab season has taken such a big hit, but Foreign Cinema also delivers on meat items as well. Either ordering small plates to share, entrees, or just enjoying drinks, this place is amazing.

This place epitomizes Bay Area dining. If you love food and San Francisco then come eat here. Don’t mess around. Eat at this place. Eat the fried chicken. Get a cocktail. You will love it. I promise.
We were lucky enough to be seated at the best table in the house. The fried chicken made me get all emotional and by the time dessert came I had decided I didn’t want to ever leave the restaurant. I envisioned raising my children there. We would watch movies every night and dine upon food that finally got me. I’d tell the children stories of what life was like before we lived in the restaurant.
Anyways– here’s what I suggest: beef tartare, tuna ceviche, the pink lady apple salad, the fried chicken (main course), and for dessert the lemon marscapone cake.
Eating here was truly one of the greatest dining experiences of my life.

4.5 stars
This review is based off of my many visits to the nicest restaurant within a golf shot of my flat. What is there to say about FC that is in any way negative? Not freakin’ much!
The constantly evolving menu and absurdly courteous staff are always a joy. The interior itself is a marvel and the energy is the most palpable of cool.
If I could take away something from them it would be that on occasion, I feel some items are a few $$ too many. Case in Point: my delicious Ham and Cheese Croque with salad and fries at $ 17. Sure, the bechamel was luxurious but I was left a bit underwhelmed. Though that could’ve been due to the fact that our food took entirely too long to come to table. So long, in fact, that I drank 2 $ 8 beers before having even a bite.
All in all, FC will impress. Anyone. Especially your Financial Planner.

Fancy and pricy, but well worth the experience.
Came here to celebrate a friend’s birthday, and they accommodated our party of six for dinner one day in advance-​on a Friday night!
Beautiful place and atmosphere. There was definitely a wow factor when I got to the entrance. There’s a huge grand door you enter from and then a carpet trails inside.
I ordered:
— the salmon appetizer ($ 15)
–fried chicken ($ 25)
–pot de crème
The food overall was good, but doesn’t have me dying to come back. Along with the fried chicken I ordered, I tried my friend’s pork chop, and that was good as well.
Dessert wise, the pot de crème was actually too rich/​chocolatey for my liking and I love dessert, but the waiter said it was the most popular dessert item. I preferred my friend’s chocolate tart that came with ice cream.
The service was great here. They let us split the check on several different cards and they even brought out a candle for my friend’s birthday.
I’d like to come back and try the brunch sometime. I thought that they showed movies here… but I didn’t see any. Maybe I was in the wrong room.

There’s something so nice and relaxing about eating outside. Once you find the location, you’ll open the doors to a long carpeted hallway that leads to the actual restaurant. There are some indoor tables and a bunch more tables in what looks like a spacious backyard.
It would have been nice to try this place out for dinner since they show indie films and classic films on a screen projector at night. Instead, we enjoyed a nice brunch here one sunny afternoon.
We ordered…
Viva L’Italia — Campari, orange & grapefruit, sparkling wine:
tart, sweet, bubbly, refreshing cocktail
Beef Carpaccio, dijon horseradish crème, potatoes, fried Rosemary, olio nuovo:
The beef was not bad. The potatoes are basically little potato chips. The carpaccio was shaved so thin that it clung to the plate, so I needed to use the fork to scrape it off to eat it. It had a mild flavor on its own, so most of the taste came from the dijon horseradish and salty potato chips. The olive oil drizzled on top helped everything come together a little better.
Pork Pastor — 2 eggs, pork, guajillo peppers & anchiote, mojo verde, queso fresco, plantains:
I believe this was one of the brunch specials at the time and it was delicious. The eggs were cooked perfectly as the whites were soft and springy, and the yolk was nice and runny. There were chunks of pulled pork that tasted great with the verde sauce. Everything else went together nicely with the peppers and queso cheese on top. The crispy plantain strips were a nice touch, but definitely needed more seasoning.
Rich Duck Liver Pâté Toasts, Ecopia Lettuce, Five-​Spice Cracklings:
The pâté was deliciously sweet and creamy. The dressed lettuce added some acidity and cut through the rich pâté. The cracklings added additional flavor and crunch. I thought the bit of mustard on the side was unnecessary. The toast was just a touch burnt.
Overall, the food was pretty solid, albeit a little expensive. I’ve had better carpaccio, but I enjoyed the eggs pastor. I would definitely like to return one day for dinner and a show.

We ordered
Japanese Whiskies flight: Hakashu 12 yr by Suntory, Kikori by Soh Spirits, and Nikka Coffey Grain by Nikka Whiskey distilling.
German Wine flight: Donnhoff Riesling, Kreuznacher Kalenberg, Trocken, Nahe 2014
Weingut Wohrle Auxerrois, Lahrer, Baden, VDP 2014
Schafer Dornfelder, Rheinhessen 2014
I recommend the German wine flight if you like sweeter wines.
Grilled Calamari — cooked just right!
Sea Scallops — creamy soup base is delicious
Lamb Chops — the sauce blends well with the meat
I enjoy coming here because of the food and the ambiance.
The service is always excellent here.

TLDR — quintessential SF brunch, good food, good ambiance
All you food photographers out there, this place is like heaven during brunch hours. Light EVERYWHERE, beautiful dishes and rustic, wooden tables — what more can you ask for?
Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way. Foreign Cinema is a classic SF brunch spot. Delicious food, great ambiance, long waits. but they take reservations! Definitely recommend making one. My friend and I made a reservation for a very late brunch (like 1:30pm) and it was still super busy by the time we left an hour later.
Their menu changes a little depending on what’s in season, but everything generally seems the same. I ordered the Poached Eggs ($ 18), which was deeeelicious, and my friend got the Heavenly Scramble ($ 16), which he scarfed down very quickly. We also shared a side of Chicken Sausages ($ 6), which were pretty good as well.
Definitely a worthy brunch! They play movies on the wall in the outdoor courtyard area during dinner, which is a pretty unique experience, and the ambiance makes it a nice date spot.
–POACHED EGGS ($ 18) — ⁵⁄₅
[moroccan spiced duck breast, chicories, farro, currants, croutons, quacklins, sherry dressing]
MM. I’m all about runny egg yolk and these eggs were perfectly poached. The duck breast was tender and a nice medium rare. I wasn’t really a fan of the croutons, which were too fried/​greasy, but the dish overall was savory and flavorful
–CHICKEN, SAGE & CHANTERELLE SAUSAGES ($ 6) — 3.5÷5
Comes with 2 sausages. Good flavor but honestly not incredibly memorable. The texture was great though — incredibly tender, none of that chewiness you get from cheap sausages.

You are the cinema, I could watch you forever…
Action thriller, I could watch you forever!
My boss loves this restaurant, so I was pretty intrigued about our dinner experience. (Get on OpenTable and make reservations!) Besides a high end dinner, Foreign Cinema screens a movie in its outdoor courtyard. If you are interested in which movie they are showing, check their website! Unfortunately, on the night we went, there were no tables set in the courtyard. Their restaurant space is pretty big, with a patio, mezzanine, courtyard, and bar area.
— Grilled Monterey calamari, sauce romesco, patatas bravas, spanish onions, aioli ($ 14): This was just an okay appetizer. Definitely can skip it next time!
— Maine sea scallops, French caviar lentils, tangerine-​Champagne butter sauce, Belgian endive, prosciutto, tobiko ($ 31): I love scallops, but this dish fell flat. The scallops were pretty small, and all the accompanying items on the dish didn’t blend together.
— Sesame seed curry fried chicken, hummus, spiced carrots, cranberry-​tangerine chutney, chicories ($ 25): One of the best dishes of the night! The chicken was super juicy inside, and the sauce they use is out of this world!
— Grilled heritage pork chops, soft Piave polenta, grilled spigarello kale, chimichurri, ancho butter ($ 27): yummy!
— Forgot the name of the beef dish, but it was fantastic!
Be prepared to spend at least $ 30/​person if you dine here. The food can be a hit or miss, but the ambiance definitely makes up for it!

Finally tried this place! If this place was cheaper, I’d come here all the time. But alas, it was a ~$ 82 total brunch for 2 people — 2 bloody marys included.
With all the hype of this place, you do have to wait or make reservations. Especially for weekend brunch. I got a reservation right at 10 and there was already a long long line forming BEFORE 10 — which is when the restaurant opens.
I suggest outside seating — it’s so so pretty and they’ve done a fabulous job with the décor. Very rustic.
And now for the food… which I must say was pretty good. I got their balsamic egg dish… which I can’t remember the name of. But the egg was cooked perfectly topped with some proscuitto, pepper, and cooked greens. The pairing of that balsamic vinegar and cooked egg worked perfectly.
All in all, like I said, if this place wasn’t so expensive, I’d come here and try all their dishes.

Wow ! Comme le disait Cyrielle T dans son avis, on a un peu bataillé pour avoir notre table, mais on l’a eue ! Une table à 22h, certes, dans notre état de fatigue jet-​lagguée, c’était un peu piège. Surtout que la table d’avant a du retard (on a compris pourquoi quand on les a vus partir en titubant…) donc on patiente 30 minutes dans le bar du restaurant. C’est long, mais le bar est magnifique alors ça aide à patienter. Si c’était à refaire, on aurait d’ailleurs pris un verre sur place, je pense.
On est enfin placés, et là, c’est parfait. Déjà on nous offre des entrées à partager pour s’excuser de l’attente, et là, miam, tout est délicieux, original, intéressant. bref, vraiment chouette ! Ajoutez à cela une bonne bouteille de vin et un plat délicieux dont j’ai tout oublié à part que c’était délicieux — je valide totalement.
Effectivement c’est vraiment pas donné (je copie Cyrielle: les plats varient entre 22 et 31 $, et les desserts entre ⁹⁄₁₀ $), mais pour se faire plaisir, c’est très sympa. Je recommande une table en extérieur, le patio est couvert et c’est vraiment beau. Il parait que quand la pluie tombe, ça rend le tout encore plus magique.
Bref, une belle adresse !

On le voulait, on l’a eu !
C’était un peu notre premier choix quand il a fallu choisir notre resto du mercredi soir avec la team CM. Oui mais voila, victime de son succès, Foreign Cinema affichait complet depuis bien longtemps. Le petit + du Unilocal USA est que vous pouvez réserver votre resto directement via l’appli Unilocal (Cette option nous indique aussi les prochaines dispo). Mais Alléluia ! En fin d’aprem, après moultes actualisations de la page, une table se libère pour 22h. C’est tard mais on la prend quand même !
Une fois arrivée, c’est la découverte des lieu. C’est grand, c’est beau et c’est ambiance tamisée. Direction le bar en attendant que la table soit prête (bon, 30 minutes plus tard quand même) puis on entre dans le resto. Ouaah que c’est beau (on oublie les 30 minutes du coup !) ! Un style industriel dont je né me lasse pas décidemment mais aussi un style un peu campagne française avec ces tables en bois. On nous installe sous la terrasse couverte et la, surprise, sur le grand mur extérieur, un film français est projeté. On dinera donc avec Romain Duris.
Plus important, la carte ! Appétissante à souhait ! Vous savez ce genre de cartes où vous pourriez prendre 2 entrées, 3 plats et 2 desserts mais où vous vous souvenez que vous n’avez qu’un seul estomac. Ce sera donc boeuf de Kobé pour moi (ultra tendre) avec ses petits légumes (asperges et pomme de terres) en accompagnement. Un régal ! Et en dessert, une tarte tatin tout aussi délicieuse. Attention toutefois au prix qui peut grimper très vite ! A titre d’exemple, les plats varient entre 22 et 31 $, et les desserts entre ⁹⁄₁₀ $.
Mais bon, il faut savoir se faire plaisir de temps en temps. Et franchement, chez Foreign Cinema, ça vaut la peine de dépenser quelques dollars en plus.

Service froid mais efficace. Délicieuse entrée au fromage de chèvre et lavande. La côte de porc au maïs était très goûteuse et parfaitement équilibrée.

Super restaurant !! avec un service parfait!!!
Ils offrent un menu varié et fin, avec des plats assez conséquent et très goutu, une ambiance sympathique et avec une partie extérieur chauffé avec la partie cinéma en plein air et une partie intérieur avec une grosse cheminé et une ambiance plutôt agréable !!!
Il offrent même un bar a l’entré, séparé du restaurant pour attendre son heure de réservation !!!