A few days after I got back from Vancouver, Geoff came down to SF to visit for the first time in a long time. Our first dinner was at
Foreign Cinema, a place in the Mission. The place is themed around, you guessed it, a cinema. After entering, you walk through a long corridor before entering a large, open room. Usually, they'll have a movie being projected onto a massive wall while you eat. There is also an upstairs section which I didn't get to check out. It's a very interesting setting and hard to describe - you should go check it out yourself if you can! I'm sure the film buffs love this place.
baked fromage d'Affinois, finnish potato and roasted garlic - $10
beef carpaccio, dijon sauce, waffle chips, fried herbs & capers, cress - $10
sea scallops & mussels, saffron-fennel broth, romesco, aioli, arugula, chapons - $22
The food is a vague mix of French, Italian, and some Mediterranean... I it's guess best described as Californian, like so many restaurants nowadays. The fromage, under the heading "Urban Picnic (unleash the appetite!) is delicious. It was just a simple presentation of cheese, potatoes, and garlic, but the three ingredients went together extremely well. The baked fromage was extremely smooth and creamy, with a fairly mild flavor - a great complement to garlic and potatoes. I loved the dijon sauce on the carpaccio; I'm always glad to see something more than olive oil. After trying the original carpaccio at
Harry's Bar in Venice, I really feel that carpaccio deserves some type of aioli/mayo sauce, and this dijon fit the bill. The waffle chips were a bit too salty though. The scallops and mussels were a nice twist on bouillabaisse, using seared scallops which I thought was a great idea. The saffron lended some color without overpowering the dish, and the broth was delicious. I also loved the romesco (like a red version of rouille using some nuts and red peppers) which can be seen on the big crouton.
Foreign Cinema is definitely worth a visit. It's also a great option for bringing guests or out of towners - the place has a unique character to it. The whole them is interesting and a lot of fun.
baked fromage d'Affinois, finnish potato and roasted garlic - $10
beef carpaccio, dijon sauce, waffle chips, fried herbs & capers, cress - $10
sea scallops & mussels, saffron-fennel broth, romesco, aioli, arugula, chapons - $22
The food is a vague mix of French, Italian, and some Mediterranean... I it's guess best described as Californian, like so many restaurants nowadays. The fromage, under the heading "Urban Picnic (unleash the appetite!) is delicious. It was just a simple presentation of cheese, potatoes, and garlic, but the three ingredients went together extremely well. The baked fromage was extremely smooth and creamy, with a fairly mild flavor - a great complement to garlic and potatoes. I loved the dijon sauce on the carpaccio; I'm always glad to see something more than olive oil. After trying the original carpaccio at Harry's Bar in Venice, I really feel that carpaccio deserves some type of aioli/mayo sauce, and this dijon fit the bill. The waffle chips were a bit too salty though. The scallops and mussels were a nice twist on bouillabaisse, using seared scallops which I thought was a great idea. The saffron lended some color without overpowering the dish, and the broth was delicious. I also loved the romesco (like a red version of rouille using some nuts and red peppers) which can be seen on the big crouton.
Foreign Cinema is definitely worth a visit. It's also a great option for bringing guests or out of towners - the place has a unique character to it. The whole them is interesting and a lot of fun.