Foreign Cinema

Foreign Cinema is a unique dining experience located in San Francisco, offering a blend of Mediterranean cuisine with a touch of California flavors. The restaurant, set in an old movie theater setting, boasts both indoor and outdoor seating where patrons can enjoy meals while watching a movie.

The menu at Foreign Cinema features a variety of options, ranging from oysters and shellfish to delightful dishes like warm mixed Mediterranean olives and brandade gratin. Customers rave about the endive salad and fried chicken, which are described as delicious and perfectly balanced in flavors.

One of the standout dishes is the wagyu bavette, cooked to perfection and paired with vinaigrette tomatoes and seasonal vegetables. The combination of flavors is unique and delicious, making it a favorite among diners. The restaurant also offers a wide selection of cocktails and beverages to complement the meal.

Overall, Foreign Cinema provides a fantastic dining experience with a romantic ambiance and attentive service. The outdoor seating, complete with heat lamps and string lights, adds to the charming atmosphere. While the prices may be on the higher side, the quality of food and the overall experience make it worth it for a special occasion or a memorable night out.

If you're looking for a place with great vibes, delicious food, and a unique setting, Foreign Cinema is definitely worth a visit. Make sure to try out their specialties and enjoy a cinematic dining experience unlike any other.

Foreign Cinema Menu

Location

Address: 2534 Mission St San Francisco, CA 94110
Phone: (415) 648-7600

🕓 Work Hours
MON 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM
TUE 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
WED 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
THU 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
FRI 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
SAT 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
SUN 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Business info

  • Takes Reservations
    Yes
  • Offers Takeout
    Yes
  • Walk-ins Welcome
    Yes
  • Vegan Options
    Yes
  • Limited Vegetarian Options
    Yes
  • Wheelchair accessible
    Yes
  • Accepts Credit Cards
    Yes
  • Accepts Android Pay
    No
  • Accepts Apple Pay
    No
  • Outdoor Seating
    Yes
  • Romantic
    Yes
  • Moderate Noise
    Yes
  • Casual Dress
    Yes
  • Good for Groups
    Yes
  • Good For Kids
    Yes
  • Good for Dinner
    Yes
  • Street Parking
    Yes
  • Waiter Service
    Yes
  • Free Wi-Fi
    Yes
  • Best nights on Friday, Saturday, Sunday
    Yes
  • Full Bar
    Yes
  • Heated Outdoor Seating
    Yes
  • Private Dining
    Yes
  • Offers Catering
    No
  • Not Good For Dancing
    No
  • Pool Table
    No
  • Smoking
    No
  • Dogs Not Allowed
    No
  • TV
    No
  • Compostable containers available
    Yes
  • Provides reusable tableware
    Yes
  • Bike Parking
    No

Last Reviews

  • Author: Mahima R.

    04 August 2024

    Had a great time at foreign cinema. The place is inside of an old movie theater like set up, and opens up into a restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. The indoor seating is nice enough, but the real attraction is the outdoor seating where you're able to watch a movie while enjoying friendly fantastic service when excellent food. Tried many things here and everything was quite good, a clean Californian flavors with a fusion twist on some of the entrees, but want to make some specific call outs. Really enjoyed the endive salad. Thought it was the perfect balance of fresh flavors to begin the meal. The fried chicken is quite delicious, I've had it a couple different ways here when the menu changes and it's fantastic every time. Definitely will be coming back!

  • Author: Allison L.

    24 July 2024

    fantastic dining experience. came here on a weeknight for a last minute work dinner, and we were able to be seated at the bar very quickly. Our server was very kind- even though they were quite busy that night she apologized for the delay and made sure we had plenty of water while we browsed the menu. The food here is absolutely fantastic. My coworkers and I shared the burrata charcuterie plate appetized and that was mind blowing. I never thought of adding chili crisp on top of burrata! The combination of flavors was unique, interesting and delicious. For my main I got the wagyu bavette. It was cooked to a perfect medium, and was perfectly rich, tender and juicy. It also went well with the vinaigrette tomatoes and seasonal vegetables served with it, as the flavors complemented each other well. My coworkers, who got the duck breast and the curry fried chicken, also had high praise about their choices as well. We shared a dessert sundae, and it was good. Not mind-blowingly amazing like everything else, but decent. I'd probably skip it or get something else next time. For 3 people, we got 2 drinks, 1 appetizer, 3 mains, and 1 dessert. We spent about $220 in total. The restaurant is quite spacious and has a beautiful outdoor section with string lights. The bar section had smaller tables so finding space for all the food was a little hard, but that is also to be expected. The menu changes with the season so you might get something different than what I got if you choose to go. Even though this restaurant is a little on the pricey side, the quality of food make it all worth it!

  • Author: Michelle Z.

    22 June 2024

    One of the best meals I've had in SF, if not ever. Been wanting to come here ever since moving to SF because everyone talks about it, and I'm so glad I finally went! We went at 8pm which was about 30-40 min before they started the outdoor screening (they start it when it starts getting dark). The outdoor seating has heat lamps so it's soo warm and cozy, so don't worry if it's a cold night! Would highly recommend a later dinner time and sitting outside for the full movie ambiance. Heard a ton about their curry fried chicken, so we ordered that, along with the scallops, paneer cheese starter, and calamari appetizer. We absolutely LOVED the paneer cheese starter and calamari. Both were incredibly complex and flavorful dishes, and paired wonderfully with each other. We were practically licking the plates clean. The chicken was overhyped imo -- nothing crazy but still really good; I'd probably just not order it again. The scallops were also amazing but quite pricey imo - $42 for 4 scallops. But all the elements on the plate were incredibly delicious and very unique. They put a lot of effort into sourcing local/seasonal ingredients, and it was super fun eating ingredients you don't see often. Ofc we had to end with dessert (we got the sundae), which was beautiful and a perfect way to end the night. Service here was phenomenal! Everyone we interacted with was incredibly polite and friendly. We felt super spoiled here. Would highly recommend this spot for a special occasion meal :)

  • Author: Jiamei L.

    05 June 2024

    The vibes are immaculate here! It's bustling and so intimate with friends at the same time. You can tell everyone is enjoying themself and the atmosphere. We started with rye bread and oysters for the table. I would say these were well prepared but nothing too special. I ordered the grilled lavendar brine pork chop and the marinade was savory and delicious. It does not really taste like lavender. There was enough meat to make me full. At dessert time, we ordered a crostata for our friend to celebrate her birthday. They kindly placed a candle and also gave her a happy birthday card. The small card decor on the plate was not trimmed straight at the top, so it prompted me to reconsider their attention to detail. As for the movie, the sound was not loud enough (not sure if it was on?) for those who wanted to watch. But overall, I did enjoy my experience here and the atmosphere was definitely a key player. The bill can be a bit hefty, so I think people come here for special, fun occasions.