Foreign Cinema
A few nights ago a friend and I went to Foreign Cinema to check it out. We'd both heard about it and wanted to go and the timing seemed perfect. She had just got back into town from several weeks on the road on a trip that covered NYC, Mallorca and several other european destinations. Consequently we were getting together so she could share her photos and stories. I just love hearing about the adventures other people have. There is a vicarious quality to my interest, but mostly I just love witnessing how a few days or weeks, or even months away from what someone knows can alter their perception. Caitlin's trip was catalytic for her in ways she wasn't expecting and she was positively glowing from her experience.
Despite the fact that we arrived at the restaurant a bit late because she had left her album at home, they seated us outside anyway. By 'outside' I mean this large courtyard that sort of sprawls between several Mission District buildings, is partially covered by clear, plastic tenting, and is littered with heat lamps. On the far wall, a bare, concrete surface, they project the movies they show (using an actual projector, sans reels). It was Fellini's 'Roma' which I hadn't seen, and didn't really see that night either, what with photos and dinner and so on. Dinner. Dinner was great. A true surprise actually considering the 'gimmicky' nature of the idea behind the restaurant. It turned out not to be a gimmick at all. The service was outstanding, our Rumanian server, Vladin, was extremely friendly and attentive and the food was damn good. We started with a bottle of wine and a plate of fresh, local oysters that were heavenly. Next up was an Heirloom Tomato salad with shaved parmesan, some pine nuts and this Basil Coulis that rocked. Our main was a simple halibut filet on a bed of the the most tender Pesto Risotto I've had. I insisted on dessert because they had Chocolate Tiramisu, and it had been awhile for me.
After our leisurely dinner we popped next door to Laszlo, the sister bar to the restaurant, and had an aperitif. Then we zipped round the block to Pink where we met Hendrik and his Polish crew for a drink, dancing and (of course) the best music in the city. After a small fiasco over the photo album (Caitlin left it in the ladies room at the restaurant), I left her in the good hands of some friends across town and headed back to Pink to finish myself off on the dance floor.
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The restaurant is truly worth checking out. The place is huge, with vast dining possibilities both inside and out. The service is uniformly gracious and personal, from booking a reservation to the table-side service. The food is excellent, delicate and at the same time unpretentious, my favorite kind of cuisine. To boot, Modernism West has a space there, literally right off the outdoor courtyard, and they have a changing exhibit of artists' work. Right now Naomi Kremer has a Canvas/Video Projection installation up that is very interesting and worth seeing in it's own right, even if you can't stay for Dinner and a Movie.
Despite the fact that we arrived at the restaurant a bit late because she had left her album at home, they seated us outside anyway. By 'outside' I mean this large courtyard that sort of sprawls between several Mission District buildings, is partially covered by clear, plastic tenting, and is littered with heat lamps. On the far wall, a bare, concrete surface, they project the movies they show (using an actual projector, sans reels). It was Fellini's 'Roma' which I hadn't seen, and didn't really see that night either, what with photos and dinner and so on. Dinner. Dinner was great. A true surprise actually considering the 'gimmicky' nature of the idea behind the restaurant. It turned out not to be a gimmick at all. The service was outstanding, our Rumanian server, Vladin, was extremely friendly and attentive and the food was damn good. We started with a bottle of wine and a plate of fresh, local oysters that were heavenly. Next up was an Heirloom Tomato salad with shaved parmesan, some pine nuts and this Basil Coulis that rocked. Our main was a simple halibut filet on a bed of the the most tender Pesto Risotto I've had. I insisted on dessert because they had Chocolate Tiramisu, and it had been awhile for me.
After our leisurely dinner we popped next door to Laszlo, the sister bar to the restaurant, and had an aperitif. Then we zipped round the block to Pink where we met Hendrik and his Polish crew for a drink, dancing and (of course) the best music in the city. After a small fiasco over the photo album (Caitlin left it in the ladies room at the restaurant), I left her in the good hands of some friends across town and headed back to Pink to finish myself off on the dance floor.
_________________________
The restaurant is truly worth checking out. The place is huge, with vast dining possibilities both inside and out. The service is uniformly gracious and personal, from booking a reservation to the table-side service. The food is excellent, delicate and at the same time unpretentious, my favorite kind of cuisine. To boot, Modernism West has a space there, literally right off the outdoor courtyard, and they have a changing exhibit of artists' work. Right now Naomi Kremer has a Canvas/Video Projection installation up that is very interesting and worth seeing in it's own right, even if you can't stay for Dinner and a Movie.
posted by Peter at
11:16 PM
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