This is my favorite place. Everything is delicious . Octopus Mole Oaxaca and salads are my favorite plus the warm bread .
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tamir Bermann
Great ambience and a very unique setting. The courtyard with the movie screen makes it a special place for dinner. The oysters were absolutely fantastic and the highlight of the evening.
The starters and mains were good, but not outstanding. The carpaccio and the fish stew à la bouillabaisse were solid, yet I was missing a real wow moment. The German cake for dessert was unfortunately a bit dry and rather boring.
Service was very friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. Excellent recommendations throughout the evening.
Overall, a beautiful spot with great atmosphere and top service, but the food itself did not fully impress.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Charlotte Lamm
EXCELLENT! They treat their vegetables with respect.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
lawrence liu
Food was delicious and service was friendly and prompt. Great vibrant vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Joe Cardenas
Fantastic food for reasonable prices. Let's start out by saying that Foreign Cinema has a lot of hype. Tons, to be honest. However, some of that hype is accurate. The food is great and plentiful. The drinks are tasteful and delicious. We came here on a warm spring night on a Friday. I had a grapefruit radler, delicious for summer by the way, and my girlfriend had a serpent's kiss. Pro tip: the serpent's kiss is the favorite drink and the favorite entree among patrons is the fried chicken. I had the fried chicken, it was cooked to perfection. Highly recommend this place.
Danny Kahle
Foreign. And cinema?! Count yourself in. And get whisked away with comida and whimsy. Tell your friends.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Angela Olton
Came for a private event and the atmosphere of this place (and sister bar Laszlo) were sexy and fun! I had the sesame curry fried chicken and ate every morsel. I highly recommend this spot for a great meal and evening!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Frank
Foreign Cinema is still a great night out after all these years.  The menu is super creative and of course the space is iconic. For our dinner, the curry fried chicken was amazing although the Dungeness crab salad was a bit of a miss. The food and wine service was great.
Richard
Had a wonderful experience dining at Foreign Cinema. Started with drinks; roku martini w/Roquefort olives and a Before Sunrise (spicy margarita). Both drinks delicious. Appetizers; acme bread, ceviche mixto, baby Sonoma greens salad. All so flavorful, crisp, fresh, delicious. Main entrees; Madras curry fried chicken & Crispy duck. Both so tender, well spiced and perfectly cooked. Best chicken dish ever. Included sides were yummy too; garbanzo salad, feta, beets. Lastly, we shared a creme de pot of chocolate and glass of port. Enjoyed the Wizard of Oz showing. Perfect meal and date night.
Bisrat
Beautiful place but the food was lacking in flavor :/ and on the saltier side. Great service!
The crowd here is bizarre in a sonewhat grotesque and carnivalesque way. I was extra careful to ensure to not be bitten and transformed into one of them. The food is pretty good!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 4
Jennifer Dowdy
Foreign Cinema - The food is always outstanding. This Friday 1.23.2026 was excellent, only topped by our incredible server, Harmony. Harmony, you are exceptional at what you do - our dinner and your care to time service to meet our travel schedule was above and beyond. We were able to relax in your care. We made it to SFO and home safely. Thank you!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
John Rushforth
Foreign Cinema is a true San Francisco gem where exceptionally high-quality ingredients meet a seasonally evolving menu. While we have been regulars for many years, it has become our definitive weekly Saturday brunch ritual since the end of 2024.
The raw bar is extensive and beautifully presented—the Maine lobster, fresh oysters, and Tsar Nicoulai caviar service are consistently impeccable. Complementing the food is a delicious cocktail menu that evolves alongside the seasons, offering inventive drinks that playfully pay homage to cinema.
What truly sets this institution apart is the world-class staff. We want to specifically recognize Amy, Brandon, Deanna, Lauren, Paige, and Sasha for their exemplary service; they are professional, attentive, and among the best in the city. Whether in the iconic heated courtyard or by the Gallery fireplace, the atmosphere and hospitality remain unmatched.
Thank you, John and Mark :-)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck Breast, Champagne Truffle French Rolled Omelette
Deena
Foreign Cinema was an amazing culinary experience!! Our taste buds were overjoyed from the appetizers to the salads to the main course and desserts! The atmosphere is beautiful and unique. The classic Wizard Of Oz film was shown on the wall in the courtyard and the retro speakers from the drive in movie days, were a delight! The service was absolutely perfect! It was a girls weekend in San Francisco and we will all be recommending this spot to all of our friends! Thank you for the most special dining experience ever!!
Troy
Everything was quite amazing. Our waiter, Samuel, is an absolute gem, and put on a masterclass in hospitality. The Bloody Mary is not to be missed, nor are any of their signature cocktails. The croque madame may be a mistake for one person to try and take down, but it is absolutely delicious. The dressed lettuces and side of pickled veggies served with it are perfect for helping to cut through the richness of that masterpiece of a sandwich. My wife's lamb burger was delicious and a perfect medium rare. The brown sugar bacon and french fries were unexpected stars on the table as they were absolutely annihilated by the three of us. We cannot wait to return. I cannot recommend this place highly enough. Kudos to the Cinema team for an amazing experience from front of house all the way to the back.
This is my favorite place. Everything is delicious . Octopus Mole Oaxaca and salads are my favorite plus the warm bread .
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great ambience and a very unique setting. The courtyard with the movie screen makes it a special place for dinner. The oysters were absolutely fantastic and the highlight of the evening.
The starters and mains were good, but not outstanding. The carpaccio and the fish stew à la bouillabaisse were solid, yet I was missing a real wow moment. The German cake for dessert was unfortunately a bit dry and rather boring.
Service was very friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. Excellent recommendations throughout the evening.
Overall, a beautiful spot with great atmosphere and top service, but the food itself did not fully impress.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
EXCELLENT! They treat their vegetables with respect.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food was delicious and service was friendly and prompt. Great vibrant vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fantastic food for reasonable prices. Let's start out by saying that Foreign Cinema has a lot of hype. Tons, to be honest. However, some of that hype is accurate. The food is great and plentiful. The drinks are tasteful and delicious. We came here on a warm spring night on a Friday. I had a grapefruit radler, delicious for summer by the way, and my girlfriend had a serpent's kiss. Pro tip: the serpent's kiss is the favorite drink and the favorite entree among patrons is the fried chicken. I had the fried chicken, it was cooked to perfection. Highly recommend this place.
Foreign. And cinema?! Count yourself in. And get whisked away with comida and whimsy. Tell your friends.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came for a private event and the atmosphere of this place (and sister bar Laszlo) were sexy and fun! I had the sesame curry fried chicken and ate every morsel. I highly recommend this spot for a great meal and evening!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Foreign Cinema is still a great night out after all these years.  The menu is super creative and of course the space is iconic. For our dinner, the curry fried chicken was amazing although the Dungeness crab salad was a bit of a miss. The food and wine service was great.
Had a wonderful experience dining at Foreign Cinema. Started with drinks; roku martini w/Roquefort olives and a Before Sunrise (spicy margarita). Both drinks delicious. Appetizers; acme bread, ceviche mixto, baby Sonoma greens salad. All so flavorful, crisp, fresh, delicious. Main entrees; Madras curry fried chicken & Crispy duck. Both so tender, well spiced and perfectly cooked. Best chicken dish ever. Included sides were yummy too; garbanzo salad, feta, beets. Lastly, we shared a creme de pot of chocolate and glass of port. Enjoyed the Wizard of Oz showing. Perfect meal and date night.
Beautiful place but the food was lacking in flavor :/ and on the saltier side. Great service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
The crowd here is bizarre in a sonewhat grotesque and carnivalesque way. I was extra careful to ensure to not be bitten and transformed into one of them. The food is pretty good!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 4
Foreign Cinema - The food is always outstanding. This Friday 1.23.2026 was excellent, only topped by our incredible server, Harmony. Harmony, you are exceptional at what you do - our dinner and your care to time service to meet our travel schedule was above and beyond. We were able to relax in your care. We made it to SFO and home safely. Thank you!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Foreign Cinema is a true San Francisco gem where exceptionally high-quality ingredients meet a seasonally evolving menu. While we have been regulars for many years, it has become our definitive weekly Saturday brunch ritual since the end of 2024.
The raw bar is extensive and beautifully presented—the Maine lobster, fresh oysters, and Tsar Nicoulai caviar service are consistently impeccable. Complementing the food is a delicious cocktail menu that evolves alongside the seasons, offering inventive drinks that playfully pay homage to cinema.
What truly sets this institution apart is the world-class staff. We want to specifically recognize Amy, Brandon, Deanna, Lauren, Paige, and Sasha for their exemplary service; they are professional, attentive, and among the best in the city. Whether in the iconic heated courtyard or by the Gallery fireplace, the atmosphere and hospitality remain unmatched.
Thank you, John and Mark :-)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck Breast, Champagne Truffle French Rolled Omelette
Foreign Cinema was an amazing culinary experience!! Our taste buds were overjoyed from the appetizers to the salads to the main course and desserts! The atmosphere is beautiful and unique. The classic Wizard Of Oz film was shown on the wall in the courtyard and the retro speakers from the drive in movie days, were a delight! The service was absolutely perfect! It was a girls weekend in San Francisco and we will all be recommending this spot to all of our friends! Thank you for the most special dining experience ever!!
Everything was quite amazing. Our waiter, Samuel, is an absolute gem, and put on a masterclass in hospitality. The Bloody Mary is not to be missed, nor are any of their signature cocktails. The croque madame may be a mistake for one person to try and take down, but it is absolutely delicious. The dressed lettuces and side of pickled veggies served with it are perfect for helping to cut through the richness of that masterpiece of a sandwich. My wife's lamb burger was delicious and a perfect medium rare. The brown sugar bacon and french fries were unexpected stars on the table as they were absolutely annihilated by the three of us. We cannot wait to return. I cannot recommend this place highly enough. Kudos to the Cinema team for an amazing experience from front of house all the way to the back.
Loading...