Films, Fairy Lights, and Terroir-Driven Pours
Mission District · San Francisco · Californian-Mediterranean · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 22, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Foreign Cinema’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You walk into Foreign Cinema and the wine list feels like it belongs in a different restaurant — in the best possible way. An outdoor courtyard, flickering film projections on a brick wall, and then a list that actually takes terroir seriously. It sets an expectation that the kitchen and the cellar are both doing the work.
The list leans California-forward with genuine depth — not just the usual Napa Cab suspects, but producers like Tablas Creek and Qupé that signal someone here actually cares about where wine comes from. France shows up credibly, with Domaine Tempier's Bandol Rosé anchoring the Provence section like it owns the place. Italy and a smattering of global picks round things out without feeling like they were tossed in for show. The gaps are real — you won't find a deep dive into lesser-known Spanish or German producers — but what's here is coherent and intentional.
Estimates put the by-the-glass program somewhere in the 14-20 range, which is a serious commitment for a restaurant that's also running films and a full kitchen. The selections track the bottle list's terroir-driven philosophy rather than defaulting to generic house pours. Rotation feels limited — this reads more like a curated standing program than something that changes with the seasons.
Qupé Syrah, Central Coast — $60
Qupé is one of California's most honest Syrah producers and still flies under the radar relative to its quality. At a Mission District restaurant charging $30-50 per entree, finding it on the list at a reasonable entry point is a win — it's the kind of bottle that drinks above its price tag and holds its own against the bolder flavors on the menu.
Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc
Most tables at Foreign Cinema are going to reach for a rosé or a Cab. The Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc — Tablas Creek's Rhône-style white blend from Paso Robles — gets skipped constantly, and it shouldn't be. It's complex, textured, and genuinely interesting in a way that the easy crowd-pleasers on this list aren't.
Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon
Clos du Val is a perfectly fine Napa producer, but it's also exactly the kind of safe, recognizable name that restaurants lean on when they want a Cab that sells itself without effort. At the price point it commands here, you're paying for the label recognition more than what's in the glass. The Qupé is a better use of your money.
Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé + Madras curry-scented fried chicken
Tempier's Bandol Rosé has the structure and savory backbone to stand up to spice without getting steamrolled — it's not a delicate pink wine, it's a serious one. The curry-scented fried chicken needs something with both body and brightness, and this is exactly that bottle.
The Bottom Line
Foreign Cinema is doing something most San Francisco restaurants aren't — pairing a genuinely thoughtful, terroir-driven wine list with an atmosphere that could've easily gotten away with phoning it in. The markups sting a bit, but the selection earns the trip.
Embarcadero · San Francisco · Peruvian Seafood
La Mar is a great dinner — the ceviche alone is worth the trip — but the wine list is along for the ride rather than driving it. Order something crisp and cold, enjoy the view, and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Union Square · San Francisco · American
The Rotunda is a lunch experience first and a wine destination a distant second — the list is safe, the markup is real, and you're largely paying for the address and the atmosphere. Come for the crab salad and the occasion, order something bubbly, and don't go in expecting a serious wine program.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
San Francisco · San Francisco · Wine bar & bottle shop
Bodega SF is what happens when someone actually gives a damn about the list instead of just checking a box. Twenty-six bottles, almost all pourable by the glass, priced fairly, and built around grapes most wine bars wouldn't dare touch — send your adventurous friends here and tell them to skip the safe picks.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
San Francisco · San Francisco · Wine bar
Fig & Thistle is for people who trust a short menu built by someone with a point of view — thirteen bottles, all pouring, all worth talking about. If you need a fallback Cab or a recognizable label to feel safe, this isn't your spot. If you don't, this absolutely is.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
San Francisco · San Francisco · Steakhouse
STK San Francisco has the bones of a wine program and the ambition of a hotel minibar. With only three by-the-glass pours, a list built entirely around safe brand names, and steep markups baked into the concept, this is a place to order a cocktail or splurge on a specific bottle you already know you want.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Francisco · Wine Tavern
Big Finish is doing something genuinely different — an all-glass list built around obscure varietals, serious fortified wine, and pricing that doesn't punish curiosity. Send anyone here who wants to drink something they've never tried before and walk away feeling like they learned something.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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