Foreign Cinema Restaurant Review, San Francisco

Reviewer: Foodnut.com Foreign Cinema 2534 Mission Street San Francisco, CA 94110 415-648-7600 Foreign Cinema Website Book Reservation

Since 1999, they have been California/Mediterranean-inspired menu in a stylish setting in the middle of the Mission district of San Francisco. They focus on local and organic ingredients.

They play Foreign and independent films in the courtyard when darkness starts to fall. They have seating both inside and outside (heat lamps). Our last visit was in fall 2025, 2008 was the previous visit! It has been way too long. On a Tuesday night, the place was packed with lots of stylish people in their 20’s to 40’s, definitely a place with a scene and bar activity. Perfect Date night spot.

Menu pics

Website menu

Good medium sized menu with just a couple options for vegetarians. Separate menu for Brunch. 6.25% charge is being applied to each check for San Francisco city mandates. Foreign Cinema also has a kids menu.

 

Foreign Cinema Food Picks

Romancing the stone (spicy) Cocktail ($17) is a tequila based drink made spicy!  Bartender knows his stuff. 9/10

Pulp Fiction ($18) was a rum based on the sweet side. Lots of ice. 9/10

Shio Tang (Skagit Bay, WA) ($4 each) were small oysters with lemon and a vinegar sauce. 8.5/10

Warm Acme levain bread, our cultured butter, sea salt ($5) really hit the spot for a bread lover. 9/10

Heirloom chicory salad, Jonagold apples, fried almonds, Dijon vinaigrette, Brabander ($16.50) was perfectly balanced, not too sweet and not bitter. 10/10

Beef sirloin carpaccio, horseradish cream, fried capers, frilly mustard greens, gaufrettes, Wilde Weide ($24) is sliced thin and well done. Fancy pringle chips round out this dish. 9.5/10

Five-spice duck breast, Parsi-style potato hash, Warren pear, roasted chicories, pistachios, quacklin butter ($43) is a signature dish and was excellent but low in duck quantity! Good flavors and perfect doneness level. 10/10

Heritage pork chop, grilled, honeynut squash purée, grilled kale, Pecorino salsa, balsamic ($43) is almost as good as the Nopa one. Tender, juicey and good size. 9.5/10

Passionfruit granita with blackberry sorbet ($8.50) is a light dessert that works but isn’t great. 8.5/10

Madagascar vanilla rice pudding, poached quince, cocoa, lemon zest ($14) was the better dessert of the night. Good flavors and textures without being too creamy. 9.5/10

The service was adequate, but not top notch. Waiters had to be tracked down from time to time. The place has a fun energetic vibe, making it a place to be seen. Foreign Cinema is a great place to take friends or out of towners to get a taste of City life.

Outside, this part of the Mission is still gritty at night.  Have an Uber or Waymo drop you here.

 

2008 Visit

Fruits de mer ($23, $39) – Lots of clams, oysters, crab, and a crayfish with 4 dipping sauces.  Impressive presentation. Very fresh, excellent oyster selection.  Hard to mess up if the shellfish is fresh.

Beef carpaccio ($10) fried herbs, waffle chips, fried capers, Manchego, horseradish sauce was delicious, with the crispy chips contrasting nicely with the thin beef and dressing.

Grilled Monterey calamari ($11), roasted peppers, tomato vinaigrette, aioli, toasted almonds had an Italian flavor to it, well prepared and nice fresh octopus.

Pacific Tuna Tartare ($13) romesco, harissa waffled potatoes, toasted black cumin had high quality tuna and made for a good combination of ingredients.

Consumme of peach, yogurt ($8) – Refreshing light dessert after a heavy meal.  Nice soup and really good but small yogurt scoop.

Strawberry tart ($8) – The special dessert of the night. Huge portion, hot and delicious.

OK:

Lavender Pork Chop ($26) morel mushroom risotto, sunburst squash, black truffle – Very big portion and good risotto. Overcooked slightly, so it was not juicy.

Sea Bass ($26) – roasted in a fig leaf, white bean puree, porcini-fig-walnut sauce. Also a very large dish.  Undercooked slightly, we have had better elsewhere.

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