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Categories: French, Breakfast & Brunch, American (New)
Neighborhood: MissionMon-Thu. 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri. 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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I didnt know eggs could be so good. Wow!
I have only done brunch here twice but I have to say i loved it and all the people I have gone with shared my opinion.
The wait staff was super attentive and the food was not only pretty but wonderful. One could argue that the portions are not big enough but I would counter with the fact that many breakfast places have portions that are too large and while caught up in the moment i often eat to much. That said I would advise getting a side or starter of some kind because the entrees are served a la carte. This drives up the price tag but if you want good food sometime you have to pay.
Over all. I love it, I freakin love it!
The Mission baffles me... by appearance, it looks shady and not a place a girl should be wandering alone... but there's so many damn delicious places to eat here! Foreign Cinema being one...
* Brunch recommended (I hear dinner isn't as good)
* Bright as heck on sunny days with the big glass windows (sit with your back facing it if you don't want to be squinting during your meal)
* Fellini - lip-smacking tasty! What's orange juice?
* Pop tarts - crumbly, buttery but light deliciousness. Could I have these every morning? (Altho ours came out flatter than the other tables, which was puffy and more appetizing.. still yummy tho)
* Croque Madame - melty, cheesy, warm, chunky, ham and cheese sandwich with poached egg on top. + side of french fries is foolproof.
* Porcini and ricotta omelette was good but not my favorite. Went back for sum mo ham n cheese :)
* Dungeness crab w/avocado was interesting.. I'm not a fan of avocado but the crab blended in with it was tasty. hm......
* French Toast - CUTE, fluffy, lightly powdered, heaven on a plate. This and the croque madame made my morning.
Overall the meal was light, filling, and very satisfying. Excellent, friendly service (water glasses always filled and plates cleared in a timely fashion)
Will rate other brunch places to Foreign Cinema :)
It was disappointing. After everything I heard about it, maybe my expectations were too high.
So yes it's outdoors, yes they have heaters, yes everything seems to be charming but it just was not...
First I think it was way too crowded. I expected more intimacy, way more intimacy. When you can hear your neighbors' discussion in details, I believe that it means you are way too close to them. You don't have enough room around you. When you are on a date, it sucks.
It just sucks balls.
The food was good, not incredibly good. Dishes were small, I was hungry when I left. And it was expensive.
- Disappointing
----
Finally what's up with the ridiculous Laszlo bar associated with Foreign Cinema? Loud bad club music upon exit. It feels like ending a romantic date by going to a rave party. It's an obvious lack of taste.
After reading some reviews on here I was a bit hesitant to go here for Brunch--a lot of "meh's" and "hell yeah's!"
Well...I loved it. I loved every moment. And I am full!
I had their coffee, the fromage of melted brie goodness with potatoes and raddichio (apples for the GF boy), the fruit plate with persimmons, grapefruit, pomegranates, apples, cinnamon ricotta and fresh mint. YES YES. Was a perfect start.
Then I ordered the Croque Madame--perfect sandwich ever. Grilled ham and gruyere with a fried egg and bechamel sauce. The perfect baby arugula salad and pickled veggies.
The boy got the Fried Eggs: prosciutto, potato hash, greens, and a balsamic drizzle. I had a bite, with all the yolky goodness too! mmmm :)
Then we shared the rose geranium creme brulee...perfect. Oh so beautiful and fresh.
I spent $35. To me that is money well spent! Tho, I really wanted a fellini, I resisted cause I had to work later :(
Also, the server was very helpful with the boys gluten allergy and paying attention to him...thank you!
I will be coming back...This will be my go-to brunch spot!
I live in San Diego and read an article about this place in the AAA Westways magazine. I am really glad I tried it out.
Okay, first off, don't let the neighborhood fool you. I had to ask for Bart directions and the guy giving them to me said to watch my back when exiting off of Mission and 24th Bart exit. He was right. A group of gang members started shouting gang jargon at me, which I just ignored and picked up my step! As you walk toward 21st, where Foreign Cinema is located, it instantly turns into a better neighborhood (not great, but better!)
The ambiance is excellent, the food even better. My friends and I shared two different types of oysters, the Kumamoto and the Chelsea Gems. Get the Chelsea Gem, they are sweet and delish! For an appetizer the tartar is amazing as well. All in all, a must visit at least once for the experience.
Unfortunately, the ambiance and conversation was so good, I probably only watched 2 min of the movie. But, I went for the food. The movie was just a bonus.
Make sure to make a reservation.
Overall, a great experience for a dinner for 4.
Not much to say except everyone was happy with the service, food, and atmo. Movie optional. You can't go wrong.
Foreign Cinema reminds me of the eccentric older woman who lives below me in my apartment building. Over 10+ years, she's become a pillar amidst chaos, while younger, trendier people have come and gone. Instead of projecting a film on her walls she has hundreds of pictures of her cockatoo on her walls, but both have been labelled as novelty seeking nonetheless.
Luckily Foreign Cinema's dining rooms open to a roomy expanse, unlike this woman's bird poop speckled and cluttered studio apartment. As yuppies say, "it's a great space." Unfortunately I was recently seated with my back to everything, so I only really got a view of my friend's face, but it's a nice one.
Last time I went the menu decided to wed indian flavors with almost everything on the menu. Lucky for me, I adore the subcontinent. Golden daal soup with lime and creme fraiche was delicious, and the petrale sole with duck fat potatoes (okay, not very indian) was a bit heavy on the gribiche sauce, but decadent nonetheless. A bit of my friend's quail (stuffed with dates and basmati) was as tender as the night. Grapefuit tarragon creme brulee was perfect light accompaniment to the meal, with my usual double espresso, even if it's 11:45pm at this point.
Like my neighbor with the rent controlled apartment, Foreign Cinema is here to stay. This doesn't mean that it should rest on its laurels though. From the food to the service, everything could be ratcheted up a notch to compete with many other memorable but younger eateries in the city. I'll return soon though, if only to try these pop tarts.
I really want to give Foreign Cinema a stellar review because I'm all about organic eating and beautiful spaces. However, it's like watching a bad movie with beautiful actors, so I can only give it a mediocre review.
I've been here a few times over the past few years, and it hasn't been consistent. Dinner here a while back was excellent - I remember eating delish roast pork tenderloin and a decadent chocolate pot de creme. Fast forward to brunch last weekend, and I'm paying $80 for a 2-person brunch that included: a frisee and endive salad with the tiniest beets (that looked like they were made for smurfs), a "pop tart" that really was just a pop tart but organic fruit, fried eggs deglazed with balsamic, rose potato-roasted garlic hash, and bitter, bitter, bitter tender greens, and the Persian scramble that seemed to come straight from Seuss: green, cold and rubbery.
Tack on a $9 Bloody Mary and a coffee served in a mug the size of my head (and which the bf mistook for a bowl of soup), and I left feeling a little bit gipped.
The food, while not terrible, just didn't deliver. The eggs in my Persian scramble were definitely overcooked to an unappetizing consistency, but I felt like I had to eat it all since it was $18, I suppose due to the 3 slivers of crab on top. The bf's fried eggs were doused with balsamic so that it was much too vinegar-y, and the greens served alongisde the fried eggs were almost too bitter to eat.
I can appreciate an organic meal served in a beautiful setting, next to beautiful people, but I just don't get what Foreign Cinema's trying to accomplish with random dishes that aren't executed well. Consider this critic underwhelmed.
YUMMY!!!! I came to Foreign Cinema for the first time on Saturday with Kat C. and other friends for a girlie birthday brunch date. =)
The interior of the space felt so open and airy. The natural daylight that comes through the tall window wall is so nice - unless it's all up in your eyes, then it's problematic.
We decided to do our meal family style so we ordered a handful of dishes:
- fellinis - - grapefruit mimosas basically. delicious.
- organic fruit pop tarts - apple and strawberry - - DELICIOUS, apple was my favorite. It was like eating apple pie. I wish our pop tarts hadn't been so deflated though - we were all jealous of another table's pop tarts.
- baguette french toast with bananas - - yum yum!
- porcini and ricotta omelette with crispy potatoes - - i LOVED the potatoes
- croque madame (gratineed sandwich of Gruyere; French ham crowned with an egg and bernaise; small salad) - - probably my favorite of the meal, I would definately order again.
- scrambled eggs with avocado and dungeness crab, tomato chutney - - not memorable for me
- side of french fries - - perfect addition to the meal....
I would definately come back for brunch. Plus it's so accessible from BART! I hear mixed things about dinner but I'm still curious...
I had a late brunch here today with Hue L. and our non-yelper friend. We had a 1pm reservation, didn't have to wait and all, and chose to sit indoors versus outdoors because it was a tad bit sprinkly out today. They do have a tent thing set up outside to keep people dry, but we preferred to sit indoors.
We ended up paying $85 including tax/tip for three people for brunch, which I guess isn't too bad. I got the Croque Madame, which was sooooo good. I'm definitely ordering that again if I go back to Foreign Cinema for brunch. It's grilled ham and gruyere with a fried egg and bechamel sauce. It also came with baby arugula salad and pickled vegetables. Sooooo good! Hue L. ordered the side of slow cooked bacon in brown sugar and the french toast. I tried a piece of his bacon and it was really good. Very sweet though. I wouldn't be able to eat too many pieces of those. When he first got his french toast, he thought it wasn't enough, but he ended up getting totally stuffed and not even finishing his dish. Our non-yelper friend ordered a Bloody Mary and the Crab Frittata. Her dish looked really good and it must've tasted good because she polished that whole thing off. Literally. Nothing left. Completely clean.
I thought the service was a little bit slow, but since we were planning on enjoying a long, leisurely brunch, we didn't mind. I'd most certainly make another trip to Foreign Cinema.
I've got to give credit where credit is due...this place was as good as it gets!
Decor: Love the silent film playing in the background. The lighting was perfect for dinner time but light enough to take in the crowd. Table settings were up to par and all utensils were perfectly clean (yo'd be surprised how many nice restaurants get this wrong)
Service: Waitress was always available, never imposing and very knowledgeable of the menu and wine listings.
Food: Omg, the food! I know you can never really spoil chicken but this was chicken done impeccably well. I ordered the lamb and oyster salad appetizers as a meal. It came out looking really tiny but it was actually pretty filling.
Price: Priced very well for the quality of food and service.
Location: It's in the Mission...I guess it had to miss at least one mark right?
I just want to eat. I like eating. Especially when the food and service add up to a delightful experience for the senses.
F.C was not that experience for brunch. It was expensive and too chi-chi. Honestly, I can do chi-chi la-la....but this was frou-frou (sp) on top of that!
$6 pop tart (yes one!)--dumb
Coffee (unconventionally large and difficult to handle mugs/saucers)
food (not that good)
I cant' remember what the order was exactly (something with a fried egg....) but it was sloppy looking---and you know you eat with your eyes first....
Never again F.C!!
Yum, yum, yum.
Came here for brunch today. And luckily we had reservations. Man the line to just get in was horrendous. MAKE RESERVATIONS!!!
We sat outside and thankfully the weather was pleasant. It helped with the noise issue as well, b/c there were 6 ladies in our party having discussions that ran the gamut!
I consulted Yelp before hand to see what to order. And was still waivering between 2 things. Funny thing, 3 ladies on one side of the table ordered 1 of the dishes, and the other 3 ladies on the other side of the table ordered the other dish.
I had the French toast and I'm so glad that I did. I was afraid to see how hard the "toast" was being that it is made from a baguette, but every bite was tender and delicious. The banana was just the right amount and so fresh. I think I could have eaten the toast and bananas alone with no drizzle of the organic maple syrup, but that would have been NO fun. I also ordered the FC chicken sausage. Just the right amount of savory and sweet. The other dish was the chanterelle and champagne omelet which was also very yummy.
This review is for the brunch. The food was excellent, especially the bacon but I wasn't a fan of the french toast. The pop-tart would be better if they served it to us hot. The reason why I rated them 3 stars, is because of the bad service.
They quoted us a 30-45 minute wait, and after 45 minutes at the bar and seeing several parties get seated before us (even though we were there first), they told us it would be another 15 minutes. The service at the table was not too great, we felt as if we were treated second class. They didn't even offer to refill the coffee. We never feel discriminated anywhere, but here we did. I wanted to try the dinner here, but the service was a turn off.
Despite that it's located in a shady area with questionable parking, once you enter Foreign Cinema, you feel like you're in a completely different place. The patio is really cute, with plants and nicely spaced tables, and they have old movies playing on the big screen. Inside, it's very clean feeling. I like the set up and decor, but it's a little awkward being at some of the huge tables with your group - you feel like you're so far from everyone else. Plus, you can't really see the movie screen from inside. Next time, I'm going for the patio.
There was a good wine selection. Carpaccio was fresh, and the horseradish had a nice kick to it. For my main, I got the halibut - it was cooked perfectly tender. The dish was very light and good for summer, but it was a pretty small plate. I also really enjoyed the classic affogato as my dessert - strong espresso over creamy vanilla ice cream - simple yet a nice close.
Service wasn't bad but wasn't memorable. It ended up being a pretty pricey meal, though. It's fun with a group, but it'd also be very cute for a date, especially if you can score a table on the patio.
This place has got to be one of the best places to enjoy weekend brunch. My good friend, her son and I decided to enjoy a late brunch here today. Their last seating for brunch is at 3:15 pm and we got in just before with a reservation at 2:45 pm.
I love the set up of Foreign Cinema, you can sit inside the restaurant and still feel as if you're sitting outside. The vibe is awesome - super chill and hip.
We ordered the french toast, eggs with bread crumbs and mimosas.
The french toast was simply AMAZING. The eggs with tomatoes, bread crumbs was so fresh and delicious. Mimosas were great!
After enjoying brunch, we also decided we wanted to try their dessert and settled on the creme brulee and chocolate pot de creme.
I will so be back with the rest of my girls next time. I love it here.
I went here for brunch one Sunday and while the experience was great it would have been much better without a massive hangover. After resolving a miscommunication issue (way to forget calling in the reservation Sai) we put our names in and patiently wait for a table. Luckily this was not long. Regardless, I quickly make a bee line for the bar and order a bloody mary. Normally I do not order bloody mary's, this one was heavy with vodka. I dislike tomato juice and was very pleased about the ratio.
I hear about the films played at night, its unfortunate I wasn't able to see that. However did I appreciate the ample natural lighting allowed from high ceilings. Luckily it also happened to be a non-overcast day in SF.
The food was great, though I think I scarfed through it like a 2am drunkard at Norms. I recall it was turkey hash with poached egg served with crispy string potato and I think some avocado. Sorry I'm no food critic I can't describe every bit of flavor. I remember it had some spice to it. I got to try someone else's duck breast which was also good.
So yeah to sum up my elegant dining experience, I'll describe it with one ineloquent sentence. "Hmmmm, it good."
But really, I'll try dinner next time I'm in the 'hood.
So I FINALLY had a chance to try out FC.
Everything was delicious from our mimosas to our entrees to oysters to dessert!!
Minus one star though for our not-so-friendly-perma-scowled waiter.
It would have capped off a great brunch with 5 stars to have friendly, accomodating waiter - but one can only wish!
I think if he was a little more friendlier it would have made our time here much more pleasurable.
BUT since I was surrounded by my family - we all had a GREAT time - we weren't going to let a surly waiter put a damper on OUR time!
Started off with some mimosas - we toasted to the birthday girl - my aunt!
I got the fried eggs with balsamic reduction and prosciutto - my God it was to die for! and i think my lettuce in it was deep fried because it was crunchy - weird, I know, but delectable.
We all shared the kumamoto oysters and they were so briney, so fresh and scrumptious!
we all shared dessert - peach cream puffs w/ peach ice cream and cardamom - yum.
strawberry and peach granita - mouthwateringly good.
creme brulee
& some other chocolatey thing.......
I definitely must come back for dinner and a movie!!!
All I have to say is...YUM. The food here is superb. So incredibly tasty. They also have some great cocktails, including one of their specialties which includes huckleberries. Great wine selection, excellent service. If you choose to sit outside and are there around dusk you can also view whatever movie they are currently playing...and even better they won't kick you out because you've finished your food if the movie isn't over. Relax, grab another drink, and feel free to watch the rest of it.
The neighborhood is not fantastic but it's highly worth a trip out to eat at Foreign Cinema. And they have valet....use it. It's so much easier than trying to park!
My BF took me here for my birthday and I had a great time. We had reservations and we were seated immediately upon arrival. Unfortunately, we were seated indoors. Albeit, the waiter was wonderful and courteous, I just wished I got the actual dinner and movie experience. My BF was very pleased with their beer selection as it's an important factor for him. As for me, I had a lovely glass of white wine to accompany my entree of curry fried chicken. My BF ordered the special pre-fixed menu that day and really loved every bite.
The food is great, service is delightful, but I think it this place would have been more spectacular had we sat outside. Also, I love the free sparkling water! Overall, this place deserves 3.5 stars.
I was sooo excited to have brunch here this past Saturday.
But since we got such horrible service from our waiter: 3.5 stars
Everything was great from when we first entered...the ambiance, the hostess, the outdoor seating, the menu...But, then walks up our snooty, what's up yer a$$ waiter, who was very indifferent and unaccomodating. We never received on smile or "Thank You" or "Is there anything else I can get you?" while he served us.
He had brown slick hair and brown facial hair. If you are reading this, I suggest you up your customer service, if you wanna last in this business. Even the bus boys were nicer!
The food was totally on point...the oysters to DIE FOR! We got a dozen kumamoto oysters and they were sooo delicious! I could have ate a dozen to myself. I had the Croque Madame, which I found to be a bit too rich with the two slices of Gruyere...One in the sandwich and then another melted on top...It could do without the additional slice.
Other than that jerk of a waiter...I will definitely be coming to try a dinner and a movie!
I was wrong about Foreign Cinema. I love it. It graduated to one of my favorite brunches, due to aforementioned French toast, the presence of at least one fabulous egg dish on offer each week, and the burgers...the burgers! Gaaaaaaaah. So good. They are ground coarsely, so that you can see recognizable bits of meat, cooked to specification, and dressed nicely on brioche buns. I recommend adding gorgonzola.
Cocktail-wise, their bloody Caesar is also delish, powerful in punch and spiciness without being in either way overpowering. And I am a sucker for a French 75.
I have only been to one dinner at FC, but it was amazing. I had the steak, and sampled the sole and a ravioli dish, whose details are fuzzy due to ample wine.
This is a 3.5. Well, rather a 3.49, since I am not rounding up.
I had been wanting to go to Foreign…
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------------BRUNCH REVIEW ONLY----------
FINALLY, after months of hearing nothing but good things about this place, we finally made a reservation to come have brunch here.
First of all, let me just say, it's not the biggest portions I've ever had at brunch but it's definitely the most flavorful brunch I've ever had.
The setting is very industrial but cute. Outdoor & indoor seating with lots of light. Our waiter was friendly and very helpful. I'm not originally from the Bay so I think this place is the epitome of how SF is like. Maybe that's just me.
We ordered coffee, oysters (Olympia, Kusshi and Beau Soleil), smoke salmon with capers, and fried eggs.
Coffee: surprisingly huge cup and tasted pretty good. Better than your average coffee you get at any brunch place
Oysters: Let me just say I'm a HUGE oysters lover. The Beau Soleil was pretty standard. The Kusshi had a lot of flavor and was pretty tasty but the Olympia was the winner. The waiter warned us that it would be small but he failed to mention it was TINY. But it didn't matter because damn, it had such a huge kick of flavor, it was by far my favorite one. It just proves that size doesn't matter hahaha
Smoked Salmon with capers: Love love. I'm a huge smoked salmon lover as well so this all might be very biased. It's not your average portion that you get at brunch, it's a little smaller but I still enjoyed it anyway. It's smoked salmon with bits and pieces of whatever the hell is listed on the menu. It didn't look like much but it was really tasty
Fried Eggs: The waiter told us that this was one of the more popular dishes and it was definitely good. Probably the most familiar thing at brunch, since everything else I had wasn't something I can usually order at any brunch. It takes your average fried eggs and takes it up one level.
Overall, if you're looking to get stuffed, don't come here. But if you're looking just to try different flavors and have a brunch that will leave you feeling satisfied (but not completely full) come here. I love it, I think I'll be coming back again soon.
this place has great air and sunlight. in addition they have great wooden tables. Makes me want to slam down some glasses at a vodka shot showdown with some hairy siberian bearded guy or that ugly girl from Raiders of the Lost Ark.
for food i had the poached eggs over this meaty and potatoe stick thingy. it was heavenly. this is definitely one of my top brunch places of all time. right up there with magnolia's in chicago and isabella's in nyc.
I was underwhelmed.
The waitress was bitchy.
The food was good, but not fantastic.
The decor was beautiful.
I would go back to give it one more try, but for now, it gets an "eh".
It's also really hard to enjoy a place when the waitstaff makes you feel unwelcome.
I came here for a friend's bday brunch on a saturday morning. They didn't make any reservations but they were ready to seat us even though our party was over 8 people. The serve was not as good as i thought it would be. It took a long time before they came to take our order and they just had this look on them that they didn't really care. I did order a cup of coffee, which was pretty big. not the best coffee i had but it did the job. I also got the french toast. it was really good after the first couple of bites but it started to get really heavy. i was the last one to finish my plate because it was just too much. overall it was an okay place. i might come back to try the dinner but pass on the brunch.
Food was overrated, overcomplicated and too expensive. A disappointing experience with no real 'cinema' feel, cramming 500 people in an acoustically challenged venue and one small screen
This review is only for brunch at Foreign Cinema.
They manage reservations well and I've never had to wait more than a minute for my table. The rest of the service is very hit-or-miss. I've had some very inattentive waiters but I will say that I've never felt rushed, even the two times when my party was the last in the restaurant.
The ambiance is nice, particularly on the patio where it feels a little less crowded and bustling (as the place is usually full for Sunday brunch). Sat next to Adam from Mythbusters and his family one morning.
The food has always been very good. The famous "pop tart" is so-so. I prefer the little sugary brioche they have. The famous bacon really is as good as you've heard, though. The cheeses are always very tasty and I've always opted for them instead of a sweet dessert. I've had a fair sampling of brunch items and I've not been disappointed in anything I've ordered. However, the portions are a little on the small side.
Parking can be rough, but they offer valet service, which is great, if not cheap.
As a brunch establishment, Foreign Cinema is tops. The Croque Madame, smothered in gruyere and accompanied by a side of their $6.50 sugared bacon is easily one of the best brunch meals I've had in this fair city. I thought the bloody marys were decent/palatable enough, but my associate, who considers himself an expert on such matters, assured me they were tops. This place is also huge and there was no wait for a Saturday brunch so on balance, a well-deserved 5 stars.
I have to give this place kudos for an AMAZING ambiance. The surroundings are a perfect combination of kitchen and dining room interaction, patio placement, and gorgeous mingling people.
My one complaint: gorgeous people distracted me from my meal. I am sure the gorgeous clientele also had deep personalities to match their physical charm. The food, on the other hand, was a bit shallow. I thought the plating and presentations were gorgeous, but the taste did not carry through.
Highly recommend a date here. Highly recommend a girl's night out here. Highly recommend hopping over to their bar next door. The good-looking people will titillate you. It's apparent the food won't put out.
Foreign Cinema is quite the culinary experience in a great themed restaurant. Movie style posters are outside the restaurant, along with a menu. Enter into a long corridor to the counter and try to get a seat outside on the patio. (You can get a reservation and request a seat on the patio. No guarantees, but worth a shot.)
The patio is dimly lit, with candles on the tables and a string of lights hanging from above. On the back wall, a movie is being projected. (Right now, the feature film is Days of Heaven.)
That's all and well, but it's all about the food! We started out with the Olympia oysters, which were quite good. Can't beat oysters from Point Reyes when you actually are in Point Reyes, but these were pretty decent.
Then on to the premieres. The Hawaiian ahi crudo (tobiko, lime, Picudo oil) was good, especially if you like tuna. I was a big fan of the natural beef carpaccio (horseradish sauce, waffle chips, cress). A nice horseradish kick with awesome thinly sliced beef, topped with potato chips. Yum!
Tip: They don't bring out bread, but you can request it. It says on the menu that bread is by request.
Next, on to the features! Fedelini pasta (tomato confit, summer squash, botarga, breadcrumbs) was pretty tasty. It was an angel hair like pasta that had a bit of a seafood taste to it. I had the fried curry scented chicken (fresh corn and lobster mushroom spoonbread). If you go to Foreign Cinema, I can't recommend the fried chicken enough! The chicken is pretty much boneless, hammered thin, and fried to perfection - crispy outside and juicy inside. The taste is amazing. It's like eating chicken katsu with Japanese curry, but without the sauce to make it soggy. Delicious!
For drinks, they have great specialty cocktails and lots of wines. We had a cocktail called "sexy beast" which was amazing, as well as a glass of the 2003 Albert Boxler Riesling, which was nice and smooth. Also, you get complimentary still or sparkling water.
For dessert, we had these cream puffs filled with peach ice cream and topped with a raspberry sauce. A great delicious way to end the meal. Since it was a birthday, they brought the dessert over with a tall, skinny candle. Also, our waiter, Raphael, hooked us up with a wonderful dessert wine.
Yes, the staff here is amazing. Our waiter talked to us for a bit about coming in each day and tasting all the food being served for the day. He detailed all the variations in preparation and all the tasty ingredients. Very knowledgeable and friendly!
The food is pretty much what you'd expect from Gayle Pirie, a Chez Panisse alumnus. Delicious and fresh. All served in a great, laid back, unpretentious atmosphere.
I'll be coming back again soon, if I can convince other people to splurge for a nice fancy dinner.
I fell in love this place, about three years ago... The food was amazing and the ambiance is just perfect. I can't exactly remember what I had but there was this butternut squash puree that was to excellent!
An alfresco brunch at Foreign Cinema with a freshly squeezed glass of OJ in one hand and a golden, buttery, flaky, powdered sugar topped Plum "Pop Tart" in the other is worth getting out of bed for.
(High praise indeed!)
J'adore la musique internationale. Jon weiguk pewngyuhnguhl johah heyoh. Me encantan los acentos… Read more »
This is my absolute favorite brunch spot in the city. Hands down.
But they only get 4 stars out of 5 because I think their dinner is not so great and overpriced for what you get.
But I have been to this restaurant at least 30 times for brunch. I always bring out of town guests here and they are always impressed.
Love it Love it Love it -- Favorite dish is the Fried Eggs with Deglazed Balsamic - DELISH!
Here's a quickie about Foreign Cinema. From all I heard about this place, I was underwhelmed. This is a review of brunch only, and I have a feeling the dinner here with the whole movie atmosphere is pretty awesome, and I still want to go back for that experience.
My review is based mostly on the food that I had. It was good, but not incredible. I had an omelet with truffles. It was a basic omelet with fancy mushrooms inside, it was fine, but not the best omelet I've had out. My friend ordered a plum pop tart and that was delicious, I probably would have been happy here had we just shared that and juice. It was huge. The potatoes that came with my meal were cooked well and presented nicely.
Still, I just was underwhelmed with this place. Maybe it just felt too cool for me... which left me feeling a little uneasy. It's a nice space, though, I do like the overall look. And I'll be back for dinner one of these days...
Picked this place for my annual "fancy birthday dinner that someone else pays for." I've wanted to come here for years, so my expectations were ridiculously high.
The service was perfect: friendly, unpretentious, unobtrusive. Water was magically refilled whenever a glass was less than 3/4 full, bread supply never low. The setting was beautiful and the weather cooperated: a perfectly sunny, breezy day in San Francisco. Now I'll focus on food:
Within five minutes of ordering, we were treated to an amuse bouche of prosciutto-wrapped nectarine with a citrusy vinegrette (meyer lemon I think). A yummy bite--the lemon was a perfect complement to the fatty pig. Definitely amused my bouche.
I ordered a glass of an Alsatian Muscat/Riesling/Sylvaner blend. It was surprisingly dry, but fruity with a mineral finish.
Our starter was a scallop dish with crab and lobster sauce. Truly one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten. GET THIS. Definitely the highlight of the meal.
I had the Moroccan spiced duck with cherries and frisee as my main. Duck was moist and perfectly cooked. Spicing was nice, but I would have liked a bit more. The whole cherries were lovely, but the pits were annoying.
Since it was my birthday, our wonderful waiter also brought out a complimentary summer granita for dessert. I love italian ice, and this one had some of my favorite fruit flavors: cantaloupe, cherry, and plum. Would have been even better on a hot day. A nice end to a delicious ($100) meal.
Looking forward to coming back for this brunch I keep hearing about. As long as someone else is paying.
The service was great. I recommend sitting outside near the movie screen. There are Christmas like lights hanging from the transparent canopy in the outdoor section which add to the mood. There are also outdoor heaters in case you are the type to get cold easily. The menu changes according to what it in season. I love the chocolate mouse dessert...huge chocolate fan. They also have a great wine list. It is on the pricey side but worth a visit if you have never been.
I have been to Foreign Cinema for dinner twice in the last month. Both times, I was blown away by the ambience and the helpful waitstaff. Be sure to request a seat outside; it's worth it. The first time I ate there, the food was incredible. Smoked salmon starter and sole entree were both "oooh" and "aaahhh" worthy. The second time I ate there, the food was only so/so. The crab starter and halibut entree were both just lacking any sort of flavor. Very poorly seasoned and bland. That said, I'm hoping it was just an off night for the kitchen and will definitely be back to try their famous brunch sometime soon.
Easily a four star experience. I am a week late in reviewing this, so unfortunately I can't be as detailed as I like. Everything I ate was delicious -- I had the pouched eggs with balsamic over roasted potatoes and salmon substituted for the prosciutto. The eggs were perfectly runny, just like I like them, and the salmon (despite the waitress' reservations) went really well with the balsamic giving the whole thing a nice smokey flavor. The hog island oysters (all three varieties) we had to start were delicious and fresh, but I generally expect good things when they're on the menu.
As for drinks and dessert: the mimosas weren't the best, but they were good, and the bloody mary was actually verging on incredibly -- it was spicy and delicious. I'm not usually a huge bloody mary fan, but this one won me over and my friend who is a regular bloody mary drinker. We got the strawberry shortcake and the crembrulee for desert, and I would suggest them both but the strawberry shortcake with it's hint of lime in particular.
The atmosphere was industrial chic done right. I really enjoyed the entire look and feel of the place. High ceilings, great lighting, and just a wonderful place to have meal in general. The service was great, we didn't have a reservation, it was fairly crowded and they managed to seat us not at the bar. Our waitress was wonderful with questions and staggered our 2 dessert order.
Overall, I had a wonderful experience, but my friend who got the Khima (possible misspelling, but it was a chicken hash dish) wasn't as impressed with his main dish. Thus, 4 not 5 stars, but I'd give it 4.5 if it were an option.
So many reviews of this but I don't care! Had a great brunch experience even with just drinking a 'NO/FAUX-ito' with the gals.
Started off with sticky buns which were really good though I'm more of a cinnamon bun gal. I didn't partake but the oysters looked fresh. I had a yummy buttery croque Monsieur (so it's ham and cheese but it's gruyere) another had a Madame, baguette French toast and another ordered wrong and got beef carpacio. It looked good but not for a meal!
The pot de creme was amazing as well as the lemon tart. I like my creme brûlée in a shallower dish with more crunch on top but still good. There was another fruity one I forgot.
Good place to go if you are pregnant and everyone offering you the last bites of dessert. Will try dinner so I can see a movie. Also al fresco is nice when you are not in the blazing heat wave like near my hood.
That mission area sure has some good places to eat!!!
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow
Category: Venues & Event Spaces
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Italian
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