When we have the funds, Dustin and I love to wander about on the weekends looking for new and exciting brunch spots. We were turned on to Foreign Cinema by some friends a while back and it has quickly developed into one of our favourite fancy brunch restaurants.We went again this weekend and it reminded me to gush.

A walk down a colourful part of Mission Street turns into a building that looks a bit like a Rep Cinema. Pretty metal doors open to a red carpet walk down to the hostess. We ask if they have availability for two, she asks where we’d like to sit. Dustin says, “Some place warm”. Briefly consulting her seating chart, she gestures, “Come - sit by the fire place”. So, already they get a ’super sweet.’ It quickly turns into a ‘hell yeah’ in a matter of minutes.

Foreign Cinema
www.foreigncinema.com
2534 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 648-7600

How do I love thee?

Our waiter, who we’ve seen maybe on two or three of our six other visits spanning six months recognizes us, complements the cameras (we do love flattery - it will work every time), and asks what we want to drink. Dustin, coffee, me, Oolong tea. Shortly the waiter returns and says they do not have it and offers other caffeinated alternatives. Along with the coffee and tea, he brings us a complementary ‘Pop Tart’ specialty of Foreign Cinema that looks pastrilicious and contains fresh apples and cinnamon. It is  truly a delight to taste and super rad to get for free.

My kingdom for a duck.

I love duck. If it’s on the menu, a good percent of the time, I will choose to eat it. Right now, I have talked myself into needing duck even though I just had dinner… it’s that bad. Either way, Foreign Cinema has a dish: Two poached eggs; grilled duck breast; warm salad greens; croutons; currants; shitakes and sherry12. It is of the Gods. I have ordered it a few times now and I’m convinced it exists to solely to please me. At $12.00, it’s a really good deal.

The atmosphere amuses the hazy minded at 2pm.

You are given the choice between still and carbonated water and the salt and pepper are done in pinching bowls. The sugar is raw and naturally clumped. Several people are involved in waiting on you from water servers, bus staff, your regular waiter, the hostess and random people who help bring hot dishes over to ensure their warmness. It’s a circus of professional, cheerful and skilled restaurateurs. If you can manage to still eat, they offer an extensive dessert menu as well.

Not too spendy.

Dustin feigns terror at the bill, but it’s really not that bad for the type of atmosphere. In the evening the dinners are just as great (I will regale you again I’m sure) and they project, you guessed it, foreign cinema in the outdoor heated and covered courtyard. Foreign Cinema is like the ideal restaurant you imagined yourself eating at when you were poor in Film School, if you were me. Now it’s a tasty reality and I will most certainly return again and again.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 5th, 2009 at 10:41 pm and is filed under Restaurants. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.