Foreign Cinema Restaurant Reviews

Dear management. These live music events have got to stop. Seriously. So loud. completely unacceptable. I will be exploring legal means of stopping this practice. Whoever is leading this new initiative needs to be refocused.

Great vibe overall, and cool surroundings. Bit annoying that they will not seat you until every member of your party has arrived, thus 4 stars instead of 5. Service was efficient and understated. They served the best porkchop I've ever had in my life! It was as big as my head, and I finished the whole thing without thinking about it. The accompaniments were perfect as well. Five- spice duck was also excellent. As I wasn't drinking, I tried the Gerwurztraminer Grape Juice - delicious. I'd definitely go back!

getting seated was fine. getting served on time was a problem here. the art gallery seating is cute, and some dishes were yummy, but you shouldn't have to wait an hour for your meal.

Pros:
---Brunch--- [5 stars]
- French toast (sweet and custardy mmmm)
- crispy duck leg confit (so tender and juicy w/ crispy skin!)
- croque madame (juicy ham, perfect egg yolk)
- Four Barrel coffee (bold and flavorful dark roast)
- St-Germain cocktail (lightly sweet with clear Elderflower flavor)
- awesome server who refilled my coffee 4 times without me having to ask
- hostess took a ton of photos of our group even though she was busy :)

---Dinner--- [4 stars]
- king salmon (wow. so tender and buttery)
- beautiful outdoor patio
- the owner/manager was walking around and even stopped to talk to us and take our picture!

Cons:
- super rude hostess from my first visit, but this time EVERYONE was really nice :)
- brunch here kicks dinner's butt

Bottom line: Come for brunch!! There are so many choices and everyone in my party of 8 enjoyed every dish we ordered. One of the best brunches I've ever had-- I probably won't return for dinner, but I can't wait to brunch here again!

11 , 6 .
, .. .
2 .

What a cool place! The courtyard is delightful, mostly covered with heaters (but bring a sweater just in case). The food is fantastic. We had oysters, the sourdough (to die for) and the duck and pasta. All the food was well executed and super tasty. The staff was very attentive and the atmosphere was great. The old movies playing on the back wall were a hoot. Very charming!

A great spot for a comfortable celebratory dinner (the champagne is great!)

It's not my favorite restaurant it lacks the charm and intimacy of other places in the Mission. But... it's always a safe bet when the mums and dads are in town and their bacon... Sweet Jeebus! Somehow Foreign Cinema has managed to break through the bacon barrier and concoct a meaty treat that tears holes in the space-time continuum. It's that good.

Wow! Went here for a wedding, and was blown away by the food and the atmosphere.

The Somm Takeover was Sommelier Free. Wine flights arrived without explanation. Service was poor, with the wrong dishes arriving at our table and a long wait between courses. Food is very good but the prices would suggest less chaos and more attention.

One of my new favorite restaurants- great service Joey was our waiter so sweet and knowledgeable he told us the great story about how the Foreign Cinema came about and everything named after the arts etc etc - very cool story - the good, wine and drinks out out of this world delicious

Nothing wowed me with the brunch menu. Bit I did like the kind of fanciness about the place

I like a place that took reservation for brunch on Sunday in SF. The interior decor is modern and nice. portion on the smaller side.

Great food and service. Movies are a plus, especially in warm weather sitting in courtyard

Best brunch in the city. Also, one of the only places that takes reservations. Bring a group of people and share the entire "picnic" menu.

Foreign Cinema is a great place for a nice dinner with a fun atmosphere. The food is great and they have an excellent wine list.

Fabulous place the good was delicious and the staff were great

I've actually been here on my first trip to SF. That would have been around 2004-2005. I hadn't been back since then (it's now 2018). It kind of looked similar, but had a major renovation since then. I remember it being very busy and cool. It was very cool, but not as busy. They have an excellent wine list, and we ordered a bottle. This was a work dinner. We ended up splitting some apps and mains. Everything food wise was okay, but nothing was particularly stand out. The meal was expensive, and I likely wouldn't go back.

Recently dined here for dinner. I must say this place never really disappoints and it's been around in SF for a really long time. I've been seated in the patio and in the main dining area but never in the "museum" room. That's what I call it because it's enclosed by white walls with framed photography lined along the perimeter. They also project movies in this room too! Some may call it stark esp compared to the other rooms in the restaurant but I prefer to describe it as minimalistic. Cool vibes!
The menu changes nightly but the fried chicken is a constant and it's delicious. One of the best I've tried in SF.

After all these years it's still great. A SF original.

Food was amazing. A bit up there in price but it was good. At night they project an old film on the wall. We were lucky that a group canceled their reservation right when we got there. If not it would have been a 3 hour wait.

trendy young moderns, excellent food, great weekend brunch.

This place is amazing! Can't wait to bo back there.

I d say it s cream of the crop spots for brunch. Unique menu items unlike your typical brunch in the city. Croquet madam was to die for. It was even good cold for leftovers. The coffee rum drink layered with cream is what sealed the deal. Best spiked coffee drink on this planet.

Really great meal tonight. Starting with the amuse bouche all the way to dessert, everything was superb. Definitely would come back.

Awesome neat place for Tapas and Dinner with a Movie playing in the background. Great place to spend time with a family and friends.

Love this venue. The food is consistently good and the venue is spacious enough to carry on a conversation without any "disruptions".

Best fried chicken I've ever had in my life. Cinema was great, drinks were great, food was excellent.

The service is excellent and so is the environment. However, not a foodie joint. We tried 3 different dishes from around the world, but neither of them even came close to any original flavors.

We came in here on a Saturday night with reservation and were seated right away. The restaurant has a really nice atmosphere, both indoor and outdoor seating. The decorations are beautiful and the bar has a big selection. They also project movies on the wall outside once it gets dark.

The food was just amazing! We tried the curry chicken, the duck confit and breast, and the brined pork chops. All were delicious but the pork chops and the duck were our favorites. The portions were very generous which is always a plus. The drinks were good as well: we tried the cider, the living edge, and before night fall. Service was good and quick.

I highly recommend this place!

Visited foreign cinema while in SF with a bachelorette party and the atmosphere was incredible. The open patio, the food and the service were impeccable! Not to mention, they catered to my nut allergy so well and were very attentive the entire night. Definitely a romantic spot for a date, a fun girls night or even a family dinner!

Like every soup kitchen ive ever come across. Simple flavors that any cook could come up with. Even with no experience.

One of those arrogant places that thinks because it has established a brand name it doesn't need to continue providing similar service. Management is very unhelpful regarding any matters that come up.

Very nice restaurant. Food was good. Came out surprisingly fast. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. Not a lot of people while we were there. My wife ordered the curry chicken and I had the duck. It was delicious. I also had the lavender lemonade and definitely recommend it.

Really glad we visited Foreign Cinema. Photo not shown was the duck entree. Everything was sooooooo good and the service was top notch. A must visit!

Good but not as great as expected and hyped. Interesting atmosphere. Found the food a little bland and the portions a little too controlled. Trendy crowd and loud and busy.

Cold hospitality, food failed to meet expectations and very expensive for the quality and quantity. Bummed me out.

Very cozy and affordable restaurant in the area! Just a week ago, I tried to have my lunch in this restaurant, and I was so happy and satisfied with their tasty dishes. I want to go back there. The presentation of the food was so nice and attractive. I can say that you are one of the best restaurants here in our area, guys. Cheers for more customers!

Omelets were great. Solid execution on everything else, though you'll have to spend a lot to avoid leaving hungry.

Excellent food, disappointing service. It s a shame that the service is not as great as its pop tart and baked egg. The service was surprisingly slow and getting the attention of the servers was a very frustrating experience.

Excellent food. The price would be more justified if it wasn't so noisy and crowded

Amazing retro feel and the good was fantastic. They project movies onto the wall outside. Very cool :)

Food was good (definitely recommend the Sesame chicken!) And the ambiance was cool. Our waitress however, was not. Instead, she was irritable, non-attentive and rude with our table of ten, and fake nice when she thought she had to be. Everyone noticed, and it certainly marred our overall experience.

For brunch Foreign Cinema is perfection! Haven't tried it for dinner, but I've heard good things. Love the outdoor seating area and creative, fresh cuisine. Try the homemade poptarts!

Good food, come in the daytime for a great "indoor patio" feel

Housed in an old building on Mission Street, Foreign Cinema has a great design. You walk into a front door and it looks like you're in an old-time theater. Walk to the back, and you can either sit in the beautiful courtyard (which plays foreign films on the wall) or inside, which is just as nice. The food was all delicious and the wine recommendation was enjoyed -- come here for a date (and I hear brunch is very popular).

Our server was amazing! Cocktails were not watered down (big plus), great atmosphere, very casual, romantic and of course the food was great. We tried to find a table online but it was fully booked, we showed up at the door and instantly got a table for two. Prices were decent, but if you're not willing to pay $16 for a small cheese fondue DON'T EVEN BOTHER. The food tastes great so a small portion will do you good.

The only con to this place is the wait time for your food, but it's understandable when this place is PACKED and you have your loved one to chit chat with. I am not sure if this is kid friendly, most of the people I saw were couples or group of friends..there is no phone number so either email or stop by to get in! OpenTable is not 100% accurate so have a plan B!

French meal, it is recommended to book first, the price is higher, but the cp value is ordinary

Our waiter Juan was fantastic. Offered pairings with our drinks that were outstanding. More on that later.

Ambiance is fantastic. We sat on the patio that has a movie playing. Charming lights and of course plenty of heaters so you don't get cold.

When you first arrive you walk down a candle lit corridor. It sets the mood very nicely.

The food was delicious. We started with a pear endive salad with a frise, blue cheese and vinaigrette dressing.

Thier curried honey glazed fried chicken was great. I sampled my partners meal. I had the duck that was perfect.

Serving portions were perfect and was a top choice while dining in SF. Get yourself a reservation.

Cool spot great service. The good was good and price is not bad. Perfect place for a date. The waiter was nice and thoughtful.

Dinner here is so delicious every time. Great seafood, pasta, wine, and cocktails.

Calamari appetizer, gazpacho, and duck are all excellent.

We had a very enjoyable weekend brunch here. The courtyard setting is beautiful, super pleasant when the weather is nice. The menu is varied with many appealing options, and the food was great on the whole. The oysters we tried were excellent; the pop tarts were nice and based on good pastry. I had the poached eggs with duck leg confit and frisee salad which were very tasty. On the minus side now: my latte was OK - nice but nothing to write home about; my wife's mimosa was low on champagne; and service was slow and a bit random. Overall definitely worth a visit though.

Delicious food and excellent food, this is a restaurant well worth visit.

Very good as I remember from a few years ago. Their seafood dish was amazing

Amazing food, great service, reasonable prices, what more can you ask for.

Cool place. Great for large groups. Food was delicious and services great.

Good food, great service, good atmosphere. Recommend the buttermilk fried chicken!

Great food and wine. Pork chop and duck were awesome and the deserts were stand out. Go for the signature desert cocktail too

Dinner was decent, out of three dishes no stand outs though.

We came here for brunch on Saturday. I highly suggest you make a reservations weeks in advance. We got here about 10 before our reservation time and was sent to the small bar area to wait for our table. Now you'll have to settle up your tab before going to your table. After we were seats there was several groups who came in and was at the bar for much of time we dined waiting for a table to open up. The service is wonderful here. We loved evening we ordered, even though they got my order wrong. Next time we come back it will be when there's a movie playing. There's three dining areas, the patio, the room with the bar and the room showing the movie.

Perfect place for date night! I love sitting outside on the heated patio, sipping my wine while watching foreign films on the gigantic movie screen. Every time I go the food is always delicious! I am never disappointed.

Good but not great and therefore quite overpriced. It aims to be fine dining but is too hit and miss for that. La Frita is a wonderful appetizer, fried tempura style vegies very well presented. Mains can vary: scallop dish is too spicy and watery for the delicate flavor of scallops, salmon is just fine. Bread is warm when served, with butter but not, as often desire, with olive oil, but not exceptional. Service is good but somewhat too eager to clear dishes which is nice on the one hand but also can make one feel rushed. Noisy and popular and worth a try.

Probably the best brunch I've ever had. Dungeness crab frittata was unreal: fluffy, lemony, rich, and light. Amazing array of flavors in the beef tartare as well. We sat on the protected outdoor patio on a beautiful Sunday with great weather and people watching. Expensive, but awesome for a special occasion!

Horrible service. Reserved a space for a company event with prefix dinner and staff didnt not care about refilling drinks, they served drinks with no ice and seemed offended when we complained

I've had some mixed results here. Very good food, and very mediocre food. I used to recommend it, but have a hard time doing so now.