Foreign Cinema

Name: Foreign Cinema
Address: 2534 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110, San Francisco, CA, US
Telephone: (415) 648-7600
Price range: $$$

📍 The Mission District 💰 $$$ 🍽️ California-Mediterranean

The Verdict

"Book a courtyard table for weekend brunch. The pop-tarts with seasonal fillings and the oyster raw bar are the calls. Bar seats are your walk-in backup."

What you need to know

Foreign Cinema is the Mission restaurant that projects classic films on the courtyard wall while you eat. Chefs Gayle Pirie and John Clark have run the kitchen since 2001. The food is the reason to come and the films are the bonus.

The Space

The indoor and outdoor courtyard is the main draw. Heaters keep it warm on foggy nights. Films, mostly from the 1960s and 1970s, run on the wall. You can watch or ignore them as you prefer. The interior dining rooms are quieter and screen-free. The whole building is a converted warehouse with an industrial-romantic feel.

The Food

California-Mediterranean: seasonal produce prepared with French, Italian, and Spanish technique. Pan-roasted chicken with herb jus, grilled lamb chops, fresh pastas, and oysters from the raw bar.

Brunch on weekend mornings is one of the best in the city. Reserve a courtyard table on a sunny weekend.

What to Order

Oysters from the raw bar to start.
The roasted chicken, the kitchen’s benchmark dish.
Pop-tarts with seasonal fillings for brunch dessert.

Practical Info

Price: Entrees $32 to $55
Reservations: Strongly recommended, especially weekends. Book through OpenTable up to 60 days out.
Hours: Mon-Thu 5-9:30pm, Fri 5-10pm, Sat 10:30am-2pm and 5-10pm, Sun 10:30am-2pm and 5-9pm
Address: 2534 Mission Street

📍 Location: This restaurant is in The Mission District. Explore the neighborhood →