Foreign Cinema
Businesses in SF often surprise me by cramming an awesome establishment in the oddest of places. The Mission isn't one of my favorite spots, though I'm sure some of that can be attributed to my lack of time spent in the area. It isn't always the nicest area, so the beauty of Foreign Cinema stands out all the more.
It's the first restaurant that made me want to bring my camera. The host stand rests at the end of a long, dim hallway. Beyond lies the dining room, which opens up to the back patio. The walls are nothing but bare concrete, opened up with large wood framed windows and very elegant lighting. The room really adds to the experience -- it's just so well conceived and put together.
The menu changes daily, though I think the heavy hitters like steak, salmon and their righteous pork chop never leave the menu. What does change is how they're prepared and what comes with them.
But, we started with the carpaccio. The carpaccio from my first visit came with thinly sliced parmesan flakes, whereas round two's carpaccio was covered with these light, crunchy flakes. The beef is thinly sliced and cold and was fantastic with either topping. The duck breast salad and tuna tartare were also good, though the former was a bit...ducky, and the latter was literally five bites. The carpaccio was just far more satisfying.
The drinks were also good, though they tended to lean towards the overly alcoholic side. It just knocked out the flavor of the drinks. Their Sexy Beast is quite tasty when mixed properly.
The main course was worth the wait. We alternated between the steak and porkchop, both of which were prepared differently each time. The pork chop was best when served with these ridiculous white beans, balsamic, and roasted cherries. The Kobe steak was also good, though not as good as the New York Strip. It was served with a cabernet butter and potatoes, but the perfectly cooked meat melted like any good steak should. The Kobe just didn't quite have the flavor of the strip and the portion wasn't as big.
I'm not a huge fan of creme brulee -- the top tastes like burnt sugar (...it is). I do like homemade strawberry shortcake, though. It's what pushed me into the stuffed state.
Old, foreign films typically begin at sunset. I watched as much of The Postman as I could between bites. It's an old Italian film, by the way, not the Kevin Costner epic (horrid film).
Foreign Cinema is probably a top three SF restaurant of mine. The ever-changing menu and awesome decor make it an excellent choice every time, and there are only so many places where you can watch old Italian films out on the patio in the city.
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