Sunday, June 7, 2009

RAVE - Foreign Cinema

To describe Foreign Cinema as an oasis would be to suggest that everything around it is a cultural and culinary desert. True, there are some eyesores on Mission Street around 21st and 22nd, but the best restaurant experiences start like those at Foreign Cinema, where there's no hint outside of the wonders inside.

Pass through the night-clubbish entrance, skoot past the side door to Laszlo's, the cool pre- or post-dinner bar, and you're into the open air courtyard that houses 1/3rd of the tables and the projected movies - usually classic French and Italian fare.

The idea has now been copied by several other restaurants in town, but no-one has matched the accompanying food.

Once the novelty of the film-on-a-big-brick-wall has been absorbed, you can concentrate on the superior Mediterranean menu.

We've been here often - sometimes just to show visitors how much fun it is to socialize in San Francisco - and have always enjoyed the great food, atmosphere and company.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Phillip-
Saw your review of our restaurant and appreciate the plug as well as the way you put it. Are you a writer? Don't read many reviews that seem to say something new about us. Your blog is pretty entertaining too.
Cheers,
Bruce McDonald
Co-owner, Foreign Cinema

Philip Page said...

Not a professional writer, more a passionate socializer and unavoidable critic.
It's easier to write interesting stuff when you really like something (in this case, Foreign Cinema) or really hate something (see my RANTs).
Keep up the good work.
Philip