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Mezzanine Private Dining Space - Foreign Cinema, San Francisco, CA

Foreign Cinema

4.8 (8961)
$31 to $50
Californian
2534 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94110

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 105 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Lively
  • Neighborhood gem
Foreign Cinema is a one-of-a-kind, nationally acclaimed restaurant blending independent films with California-Mediterranean cuisine. Enjoy a stylish indoor dining room with a full bar and fireplace, or relax in our heated and covered outdoor courtyard where 35mm film screenings begin at dusk.

For those seeking a more intimate experience, our private dining options include the mezzanine, amate terrace, and gallery, thoughtfully curated by Modernism West. Our vibrant DJ/live music bar, Laszlo, serves craft cocktails, zero-proof options, a full dinner menu, and lively tunes to end your night.

We are currently accepting reservations for both the heated and covered outdoor patio and indoor dining up to 60 days in advance. Standard seating refers to indoor dining. For groups of 9 or more, please reach out to our private dining department at janine@foreigncinema.com for booking details.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Mediterranean
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 10:30 am–2:30 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–9:30 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (415) 648-7600 ext. 0
  • Website
    http://www.foreigncinema.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Gayle Pirie & John Clark
  • Private party facilities
    We provide distinctive private dining spaces for up to 350 guests, from intimately sized cocktail events, to large, formal seated events. Our chefs personalize each menu, matching, seasonal and market availability with guests’ special preferences.Inquire via email, janine@foreigncinema.com
  • Private party contact
    Janine Jacobson: (415) 648-7600 ext. 124
  • Location
    2534 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94110
  • Neighborhood
    Mission District
  • Cross street
    Between 21st and 22nd Streets
  • Parking details
    We recommend parking at the Bartlett Garage located on 21st St between Valencia and Mission.
  • Public transit
    MUNI: 14 Mission bus; BART: 16th & 24th/Mission station; Mission-Bartlett Garage: 3255 21st Street San Francisco, CA 94110
  • Entertainment
    We show a film starting at dusk only in the outdoor patio dining room. This is to provide a lovely ambiance, dialogue is not audible. While we take into consideration all requests for courtyard seating none are guaranteed.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Experiences

  • Guest Chef Series: Jeremiah Tower

    Sep 25, 2025 only
    Our Guest Chef Series is a collaboration with remarkable chefs who have made their mark in San Francisco Bay Area culinary history. Let's bring back the alchemy of Stars, the legendary San Francisco dining institution led by Chef Jeremiah Tower, where he defined California cuisine. Join us to experience and taste the memorable flavors of these distinguished culinary leaders. These are non-ticketed events with an à la carte menu.
    Guest Chef Series: Jeremiah Tower Photo

Private dining

Menu

Foreign Cinema's menu was last updated on 2/1/2022.

View menu on restaurant's website

What 8,961 people are saying

Foreign Cinema reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • San Francisco

    Californian

  • San Francisco

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Foreign Cinema offers an exceptional dining experience in San Francisco's Mission District. Guests rave about the "amazing food," "superb service," and "unique ambiance" with vintage films playing in the courtyard. The menu rotates seasonally, ensuring fresh and creative dishes. It's perfect for special occasions and casual nights alike.
8,962 Reviews

  1. Samantha

    Washington, D.C. Area11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Had a lovely anniversary dinner at Foreign Cinema! One of my favorite restaurants in San Francisco. I love the ambiance and the pork chop was incredible. Would highly recommend and they gave us a nice treat for celebrating our anniversary :)

    Is this helpful?

  2. Victor VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area16 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One of my favorites! You will not be disappointed!

    Is this helpful?

  3. Jillian

    Las Vegas1 review

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing experience! Atmosphere was A plus. I started with two styles of Oysters , the Gema and Bisou which were outstanding that then ordered the waygu which was a perfect pairing to my glass of Cabernet. No complaints!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Brad

    Seattle / Eastern Washington4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Not for those with a tight budget in mind, but more than worth the price of admission if you have the means...got to watch Mrs Doubtfire after driving by the house earlier in the day. Very cool!!

    Is this helpful?

  5. Sarah VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area79 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    We are glad we went to experience Foreign Cinema. We had a tasty meal and appetizers. It’s not a place to enjoy oysters from our point of view. It’s a lovely design, but the service team was not coordinated well when we visited and it is extremely loud, very hard to have a conversation even with someone right next to you, let alone across the table. Again, we’re glad we went, but we won’t be back.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Sam

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything was perfect!!! The ambiance, service, drinks, food were amazingly fast and delicious.

    Is this helpful?

  7. leema

    San Francisco Bay Area1 review

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    If there’s one place in the city that always delivers, it’s Foreign Cinema. Whether you’re celebrating something special or just treating yourself to a leisurely weekend meal, this spot gets it right every single time. Every dish is beautifully executed, packed with flavor, and made with top-tier ingredients. Service is warm and unpretentious.

    Is this helpful?

  8. M. Almira VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area24 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 2, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Foreign Cinema was fantastic. Very accommodating of our needs. Hospitable beyond words. We had a wonderful evening with great food and wine.

    Is this helpful?

  9. John VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area25 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 31, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Superb food and service. Such a special place for us to wind down after a hectic week.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Rachel VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 28, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The most delicious pork chop in town. Love sitting in the courtyard,

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Foreign Cinema offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (415) 648-7600 ext. 0.

Foreign Cinema is rated 4.8 stars by 8961 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Francisco Bay Area
  4. San Francisco
  5. Mission District

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 105 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Foreign Cinema

2534 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94110

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Between 21st and 22nd Streets
  • Neighborhood
    Mission District
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 10:30 am–2:30 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–9:30 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Mediterranean
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    We recommend parking at the Bartlett Garage located on 21st St between Valencia and Mission.
  • Public transit
    MUNI: 14 Mission bus; BART: 16th & 24th/Mission station; Mission-Bartlett Garage: 3255 21st Street San Francisco, CA 94110
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Gayle Pirie & John Clark
  • Entertainment
    We show a film starting at dusk only in the outdoor patio dining room. This is to provide a lovely ambiance, dialogue is not audible. While we take into consideration all requests for courtyard seating none are guaranteed.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.foreigncinema.com/
  • Phone number
    (415) 648-7600 ext. 0
  • Private party facilities
    We provide distinctive private dining spaces for up to 350 guests, from intimately sized cocktail events, to large, formal seated events. Our chefs personalize each menu, matching, seasonal and market availability with guests’ special preferences.Inquire via email, janine@foreigncinema.com
  • Private party contact
    Janine Jacobson: (415) 648-7600 ext. 124

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