Lazy Bear

Lazy Bear is currently my favorite fine dining restaurant in San Francisco. In the Bay Area you have a lot of great best-​in-​class places to eat — The French Laundry, Benu, Saison, Quince, just to name the obvious comparisons you’re familiar with — but none of them offer the unique experience that Lazy Bear does.
Plenty of reviews cover the tickets, upstairs-​to-​downstairs progression, and communal seating so I won’t touch on those other than to say that all of them are crucial components in the dining experience at Lazy Bear feel simultaneously like an event and dinner in some ultra comfy rustic setting; I love being with my friends here and meeting new people in the upstairs lounge.
Every meal I’ve had here has been top tier and not one of the dishes wasn’t at least pretty good. Some highlights: sweet peas with morel mushrooms and «fudge-​y egg yolk» is to die for, lamb has always been very flavorful, and the caviar inside of the potato with sour cream is one of my favorite bites ever. Of course one would be remiss if the opening bite of whipped eggs with maple syrup didn’t get mentioned at least once during the review — it’s like a perfect comfort food breakfast distilled down into a single bite.
If you’re looking to try a contemporary SF fine dining institution, you’d be hard pressed to find a better candidate than Lazy Bear. Do remember to plan in advance — this place is very popular and tickets for the forthcoming month sell out fast.

I was lucky enough to get the chance to try this place out finally! The service was impeccable. Everyone was so attentive and I loved how they explained every dish they served. I was too busy half the time taking photos of my food (of course), but appreciated it nonetheless. As with all restaurants and meals that have multiple courses, not every dish is going to be a hit with me, but I certainly did enjoy a fair share of them, which is why I give it ⁵⁄₅ because the combination of great service plus being able to enjoy my food (even if I didn’t love every single dish) should get a good rating.
My favorites were: Whipped Scrambled Eggs, Spelt & Rye Dinner Roll (OMG this roll was delicious!), Dungeness Crab with avocado, Porcini with fudgy yolk (the flavor of the shrooms plus the creaminess of the yolk SO good), Grilled lamb (so flavorful), and the Cherry with cocoa nib! I also loved how they served their coffee and milk. So adorable.
Communal dining may not be for everyone, but I was more focused on my food anyways :)

Going to Lazy Bear is like going on a fancy urban cabin trip. It certainly has that camping feeling, sitting around a communal table in a woodsy cabin setting but with a twist, because everything feels modern and all the guests are dressed to the nines. Food and drink ⁴⁄₅ stars. Social experience and Atmosphere ⁵⁄₅ stars. Service ⁵⁄₅ stars.
Arrive at least 30 minutes early because you’ll be escorted to the lounge area upstairs where you’ll be served punch, and 4 different appetizers which were all very good. I’ll go on to review my favs /​highlights of the tasting menu.
Whipped Scrambled Eggs (snack) — with bacon, maple, hot sauce served in a tall shot glass. I loved this because it was packed with umph and flavor. Absolutely delightful.
Fried Soft Shell Crab (snack) — with green tomato, ramps, and cilantro. Who doesn’t like soft shell crab?! One soft shell crab per 2 people and the serving was generous! Crunchy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, can’t really screw up on this dish!
Dungeness Crab (1^st course) — with charred cucumber, sugar snap pea, avocado, and mint. Color and presentation was absolutely beautiful with the bright green colors. Delicious flavors that opened up my taste buds.
Halibut (2^nd course) — with crawfish, summer squash, and nasturtium — the halibut is poached sous vide style so it retained a lot of moisture yet flaky and smooth to the tongue. My favorite was the reddish orange crawfish sauce made from the juices of crawfish heads, the flavors were very concentrated.
Porcini (3^rd course) — with fudgy yolk, blackberry, and grains — I am a big fan of runny yolk and this yolk, I don’t know how they did it, was poached to perfection.
Cold Brew Coffee with brown sugar whip — OMG. Just get it. If you’re a coffee lover, you will love this one.
I realized I liked most of the seafood because they were all made very well with complex flavors and textures. I wasn’t too impressed on the Guinea Hen, Bintje Potato Fondue, Grilled Lamb or any of the desserts. My fiancé had the drink pairing and the drinks kept coming for him. I suggest ordering your drinks at the lounge upstairs because if you want to order drinks down at the communal table, its a little harder to flag somebody down. The portions are plentiful, you will leave full.
We came with another couple for a double date and we also got to meet and mingle with the guests next to us and it was quite fun getting to know everyone. The entire meal felt almost like a performance with their open concept kitchen. We walked up and took pictures of the chefs and asked questions when appropriate. We all had an amazing time, met some amazing people and truly enjoyed this wonderful dining experience!

I LOVED LOVED Lazy Bear! Everything from interior, ambience, open kitchen and chance to talk to chefs/​staff while food preparation, communal table, field guide for note taking, and especially the food and wine, it was a perfect night for whatever the reason you are here for.
They offer wine pairing which we didn’t initially opt in for, but I’m so glad we ended up doing it because the wines either elevate or transform the taste into something completely different and still very delicious. Would definitely recommend it!

I have been to Lazy Bear three times now, and was thrilled with my meal each time. It’s actually quite shocking that I love this place so much, as I am admittedly a quite picky eater. Walking into a restaurant and eating whatever is served to me is not exactly something that I am naturally drawn to. Lazy Bear has completely opened my mind to the concept of the 15 course tasting menu, and knowing that it’s okay to relinquish control of my plate. when there is such a brilliant chef at the helm!
What I love about Lazy Bear is that it is so darn thoughtful. Every single piece of food, on every single plate, on every single course is very well thought out and planned. Each plate is a work of art, so beautifully and carefully plated, typically not looking anything like you expected from the menu description. Every serving is a fun surprise! All of the flavor combinations are truly unique and inspired by what is in season. I have tried foods here that I have never heard of, always paired with foods that I know, to form a brilliant, delicious, and well balanced bite. Don’t come here if you want the same old same old. You might get something called a «crab cake» on your menu, but I guarantee you that it won’t look or taste like anything you have ever eaten before.
To add to the amazing food journey led by Chef Barzelay, you have the super cool atmosphere of the restaurant. You start with your first 4 or 5 courses upstairs in the lounge, like you are at a happy hour, with the cocktail du jour, or your own beverage choice. Head on down to one of the two long communal tables and walk up to look directly into the open kitchen. They actually invite you to come up to check them out while they are working! Before every course, one of the chefs gives a detailed description of what you are about to eat. Sometimes we waited to hear what was on our plates (because we couldn’t tell from looking at it!) and other times we chose to dig in and try to figure it out before we heard the explanation. Whatever method you choose, it’s always an adventure!
HIGHLY recommend eating here for your next special event, with friends (or come alone and make some friends!), or if you REALLY want to impress your date with something extraordinary. Be prepared to spend about 3 hours at dinner. It’s worth every minute!
Special note: No need to worry about what you are going to wear. Lazy Bear is indeed highly elevated and fancy food, but the environment is laid back, casual and fun! (p.s. wear stretchy clothes! ha!)
Here is a partial list of the foods that I just do not eat, but I have eaten AND loved at Lazy Bear: lamb (cooked), lamb (tartare), sweetbreads, mushrooms, hot sauce, soft shell crab, caviar, black olives, coffee. I literally cannot believe I liked these things. Unfortunately, I still can’t eat them elsewhere because they just do not contain the magic that they did at Lazy Bear!
p. s. I have read some of the 1-​star reviews here out of morbid curiosity. I can’t believe anyone is complaining that the parkerhouse roll and cultured butter should not be considered a course! When you have FIFTEEN courses, they are all small. But not only that. THIS roll is a special spelt rye roll that comes to you piping hot out of the oven and is served with their jaw-​droppingly delicious cultured butter that they have been maintaining for *years*! That, my friends, is what makes that «dinner roll» course so special. Like I said above, you might see «dinner roll» on the menu, but it’s like nothing you have eaten before. :)

The name of this restaurant must be referring to the desire to happily hibernate after dining here.
Our house hibernated at Lazy Bear back in September 2015 (before it had gotten its Michelin star) for our inaugural housemate dinner. There are two seating times – ours was for 8:30pm on a Tuesday. When they warn you not to arrive late, don’t, because you will miss out on 4 – 5 cute appetizers + champagne served in their upstairs mezzanine. When dining time arrives, everyone is ushered to the two long communal tables, where a cute red notebook and a small pencil await your diligent note-​taking. From there, the meal commences, with chefs explaining the dishes before they are served, the sommeliers explaining the wines before they are poured, and freedom to move around the room and observe the activity in the open-​air kitchen.
Our group opted for the wine pairings, which made for some very «fun» comments in our notebooks. As with Benu and Saison, the tasting menu is set, so I won’t be delivering too much commentary on the individual items. But I will say that, for the fairly generous portions that are served, this restaurant provides both quantity and quality.
The snacks:
Snack #1: whipped scrambled eggs with bacon, maple, and hot sauce
Snack #2: albacore with aji amarillo on a rice cracker
Snack #3: caviar with sour cream & onion wrapped in potato (it’s like the best potato chip evolution you’ll ever taste)
Snack #4: hot sweetbreads with pickled watermelon
Snack #5: Concord grape soda with lemon verbena
The menu:
Dish #1: matsutake & juniper broth
Dish #2: spelt & rye dinner roll with house cultured butter (soft as a baby’s bum, that roll)
Dish #3: summer minestrone with parmigiano custard, legumes, tomato water, and tomato leaf (+ cucumbers! gorgeous presentation, amazing textures)
Dish #4: lamb tartare with sunflower and its seeds, pear, and sumac (unsure if sunflower petals were meant to be eaten)
Dish #5: trout with corn, chanterelle, green tomato, brown butter (fav)
Dish #6: lobster mushroom with Feuilles de Brik, lobster, celtuce, sauce Americaine, spinach («not enough lobster» hahaha)
Dish #7: duck breast with braised and fermented greens, pluot, foie gras, amaranth (holy moly, fav)
Dish #8: Miyazaki ribeye cap with tomato, black garlic, eggplant (marbling on-point…sir, could I please have some more?)
Dish #9: fig with brown rice and fig leaf
Dish #10: potato with cashew, vanilla, and chicory
Dish #11: treats of Vietnamese coffee semifreddo, rose & hibiscus beet macaron, and red berries red velvet (was underwhelmed by the desserts sadface)
Such a memorable evening for so many reasons. Lazy Bear, you make me bear-​y happy.

My first Michelin restaurant and it’s well worth that celebration in itself, because this place was SO WORTH IT.
For 2.5 hours, you and your party will be attending a cuisine performance worthy of Cirque Du Soleil. From the beginning to the end, the diners of Lazy Bear are guests, and the waitstaff and chefs are the actors. Enjoy~
You need to plan at least a month in advance and book tickets to this show online at their website. 6:30 or 8 PM for dinner, my love? This is entirely up to you. 6PM means you can watch the 8;30 party from up above in the lounge where you originally began, but 8:30 PM means you can watch the 6 PM party from up above as well when they’re ending. We chose the 6 PM party because I can’t eat dinner late, makes me too hangry.
With cabin-​themed décor all around, it’s cozy and didn’t make me feel out of place. It’s not luxurious, it’s not bougie, and I didn’t feel out of place, despite my age and my work casual attire.
** TIP: Arrive half an hour before your time to get a seat upstairs, otherwise you’ll find yours elf standing around these tall tables. **
Waitstaff will come by, show you the beverage pairing menu in case you’d like to add that on to your meal tonight, and also the beverages list as well which includes a small list of cocktails, and an extensive list of wines and spirits. Got our cocktails before the snacks arrived, and they’re in this rustic and beautiful glassware that fits so well with the cabin theme.
Once it’s 6 PM, the real fun begins. Waitstaff comes back with 4 appetizers. Seems to be that no matter the season, the snacks are consistently the same, but I won’t go into detail. My boyfriend asked the waitstaff how certain things were done for the appetizers, and they were friendly and informative, and didn’t seem troubled by all the questions.
After your four snacks, my boyfriend and I were conversing when someone came back and asked if he could take us downstairs to our seats. WELL OF COURSE YOU MAY! Having yet another conversation about food and cooking, he brought us to the long communal tables next to another couple, and sat us across from each other. There’s the small book everyone’s raving about, but I tried my best not to peek at what’s to come.
With each course, the chef behind it will introduce it, explain the thought process behind it, and the ingredients as well. You can begin eating the dish before the chef is done explaining it, as he said you should eat hot food when its hot and cold food when its cold, but I found that as each plate /​bowl arrived in front of me, the plate /​bowl itself was hot, so that’s not bad either.
Because of the open kitchen right next to the communal tables, you’re free to walk up and watch them plate every dish in the small intermissions between your courses. Of course, once you walk up to the open kitchen, you realize they must be doing the prepping and cooking somewhere else, because the open kitchen is really just for plating. After all, can you imagine that the chef wants to talk to you while he’s cooking something? No, I imagine it would be difficult. Still, as they were plating, I noticed that it’s practically a tag team of 4 – 5 chefs per prep table, working around and over each other. Another chef came by and said «everyone, it’s 7;40!» and all the chefs that were prepping at the time chanted «7;40!» which goes to show that timing is important for this meal to work.
Most of the dishes featured local vegetables that were in season, and although my boyfriend doesn’t like vegetables, he didn’t have a problem with this at all.
NOTE: because everyone’s tastes are different, it’s obviously hard to imagine a meal where you enjoy every dish coming your way. Naturally, it’s almost impossible, and though I didn’t think I was much of a picky eater, there were a few dishes that I finished but was not as fond of, so please keep an open mind and enjoy your time here.
Each course challenged your impression of the ingredients’ taste and texture. These courses were not ingredients that naturally complemented each other, but instead showed thought and finesse as to how to make these ingredients work together. Each dish challenged my impression of the ingredients’ taste and texture, with innovative pairings and great contrasting features.
Overall, the performance led on by the Lazy Bear team was brilliant from the décor to the setup to the mood set by them, and we were simply guests enjoying a show.
— great casual experience with rustic cabin themes incorporated in everything from the building to the bathroom walls to the glass stemware.
— super friendly waitstaff that seemed to be enjoying themselves as well, and answered any questions we had and were seen but not heard. Despite being there and everywhere, they did not hover at all.
— food that challenged your impression of cuisine to the next level with creative combinations and unique texture that isn’t easy to be found.
TLDR: come once, and I’ll be coming again.

Came back again. of course.
I won’t go through the entire menu since this was the LAST week of this menu.overall.amazing service as always. They just know when your spoon is dirty and replaces it without you knowing. With that said.exceptional.
Dessert is always great. the reisling is spectacular.
I think one or two snacks were repeats. the egg foam and the oysters. not bad, oysters I can go without.
By far my favorite dish for spring was the carrots. Who would of known you can make a vegan dish taste so amazing! Carrots, the one veggie I have never been a fan of. it’s amazing!
Thank you LAZY BEAR!

Blown away. Service, location and food all top notch. Not the cheapest meal and you have to buy tickets a month out sometimes, overall though what an experience. No signs out front but once you step inside, the world is yours. Creative foods and amazing combinations. If you can swing the price tag, this is a 6 star recommendation!!!

I’m not much of a reviewer, mostly because I think other people do a better job of describing dining experiences. Lazy Bear, however, left a mark in my mind. I can honestly say that I will never forget the experience and so I think I should probably take the time to review it. Why not, right?
Here is the most reductionist way to explain it, (please excuse my writing style as I’m a political scientist with little creative writing experience) It’s essentially a commune style dining experience in which even the kitchen is eventually cleaned by the artists that construct the meals.
The dishes are all unique. Each dish a fusion of various colors, flavors and textures that will make your taste buds dance!
The chefs encourage interaction. The underlying idea is to encourage dialogue and to be fully immersed in the dining experience. What this means is that you won’t have the dark, quiet table you often have at fine dining restaurant. It’s lively and the entire experience appears to be designed in a way that mimics much of the features of a real commune. Skilled chefs, work diligently in front of the crowd to prepare the dishes that are then passed out by staff.
I’ll post some pics. My words don’t do it justice. It’s the coolest dining experience I’ve ever had. I will absolutely make it back when I’m in SF.

Generally we were really charmed and delighted by this place. Upon first entry, staff is surprisingly cordial and pleasant and professional without being stuffy. Staff of all sorts were surprisingly knowledgeable about essentially everything we asked them, and courteous about talking about it.
The food was also exquisite. Thoughtful and beautiful, everything you would expect from a restaurant with this reputation and cost.
EDIT: We had a misunderstanding with the staff regarding gratuity being included in the prices (we were told it was, but it was not; 20% gratuity+tax is added automatically to all their prices), but they promptly and graciously took care of it as best they could.
Will be heading back here some time in the future, for sure. Very much appreciate chef David’s graciousness and humility throughout our experience.

⁴⁄₅ solid stars
We came here for a bday celebration. I love their reservation system – more fine dining restaurants should adapt this method.
(I am sitting here typing my Unilocal review with my Lazy Bear notepad they gave me)
Our reservation was at 6pm, and the email advised us to arrive 20 minutes early for snacks and drinks in the mezzanine. 5 awesome stars to the Lazy Bear team for communication in the mezzanine area. Servers all knew what we ordered and who was served in this small mezzanine area. Ideally, I would have liked the mezzanine area to be a bit bigger. I felt quasi-​clustaphobic.
Snacks:
–Whipped scrambled eggs: 3.5÷5 a bit salty, but custardy delicious
–Green Machine oyster: 2.5÷5 definitely tasted like a green machine smoothie… the oyster was superb, but the sauce was not
–Whipped Goat Cheese: ³⁄₅ eh, it was OK
–Beef Tartare: ⁵⁄₅ my favorite «snack of the night»
Approaching 6:50pm, we were escorted down to the dining area. The staff encouraged us to treat our experience like a «dinner party.» We kindly introduced ourselves to our neighbors as we were seat in a communal table. There were two long communal tables. Sitting down, one of the dishes were already in front of us.
Savory dishes:
–Caviar: ⁴⁄₅ this was delicious. I am usually not a fan of caviar, but this dish was well prepared.
— Spelt & Rye Dinner Roll: 2.5÷5 I’ve had better. Honestly, the dinner roll was too salty for my taste. The butter was good though.
–Asparagus: 4.5÷5 Surprisingly delicious and very refreshing
–Halibut: ³⁄₅ OK, nothing special and a bit salty for my palate
–Artichoke: ⁵⁄₅ This was my one of 2 favorite savory dishes! Never knew artichoke could taste so GOOD!
–Morels: ⁵⁄₅ YUM!!! My 2 of 2 favorite savory dishes of the night! I am amazed at how they prepared the egg!!!
–Grilled Lamb: ⁴⁄₅ I am not a fan of lamb. When I saw this on the menu, I was a bit disappointed, but I was wrong!!! The lamb was not gamey at all! Delicious lamb dish!
–Cured Carrots: ³⁄₅ eh, coudl’ve gone without this, but the bone marrow in this dish made it worth while.
Sweet dishes:
–Rhubarb: ³⁄₅ this was OK – the white chocolate was the only thing good in this dish. The Hibiscus was overpowering for this dish.
–Cereal Grain: 2.5÷5 this was my least favorite sweet dish. The «cereal grain» at the bottom was a bit dry. The goat milk «ice cream» was pretty tasty, but overall, this dish did not stand out to me.
–Coconut: 2.5÷5 okay, not memorable
–Cocoa Nib Jelly Roll: 2.5÷5 Again, not memorable
–Honey Meringue: 3.5÷5 good and innovative, but again, it was just OK
In conclusion, Lazy Bear has perfected their veggie dishes; the fish was OK and the desserts were a bit disappointing for a fine dining establishment (no WOW factor).
Final question: Would I come back again? I am glad I experienced Lazy bear, but to be honest, prob not.

Amazing experience! Every dish was so well thought out and delicious! Worth every penny, I won’t go into detail about the actual meal cause it’s fun to be surprised (or you could read the reviews below!) The dress is business casual, I wore a skirt and shirt with a light jacket! I actually just got back from dinner two hours ago and had to post a review! It was fun watching each dish be prepared and the speech made before each course! Some of my favorites:
Snacks:
Whipped eggs
Beef tartare
Main courses:
Carrots three ways
The lamb
Desert:
Hibiscus and rhubarb desert
I also got mint tea with desert which was refreshing
Note:
Tea, coffee is extra charge
Don’t be afraid to go up and watch them plate! Each chef is super nice and interacts with you if you go up! Feel free to ask questions

Lazy lazy bear. I felt like such a lazy bear after having this meal at a late night Wednesday because the next day, I wasn’t awake till like noon. Haha. My brother made a reservation/​bought tickets for this place a month early just so we can dine here AND it was for 8:00 PM. How crazy is that? #HYPE
When I arrived to this place, the hostess checked off our reservation and led us upstairs to the little lounge area to wait while the other people who started at 6:00 PM to finish up their meals. We got a complimentary punch *alcohol* which was pretty sweet and it was good to freshen up but I got a bit tipsy since I was very hungry. Good thing was that we started four of the menu items upstairs. The egg shot thing was pretty amazing, I never had such in the restaurants I have visited and I thought that this was kind of crazy but I liked it. After we had the four courses, we went downstairs and they seated us by an «arrangement» (they already had a seating chart and I felt like I was in preschool again or something) Food was great and chefs would come out to the center of the room to explain what we were having and what is inside the dish. I would say that this was a cool experience to have at Lazy Bear. I dined from 8:00 PM-11:20 PM.
+ coffee/​tea IS NOT COMPLIMENTARY at the end of desserts******** so when they asked you if you would like coffee or tea, you will know then. (:
+Bring a jacket because I do not think that they turn on the heater or their heater is strong enough. It gets chilly as you wait for your meal.

If I could give them 6 stars than I would. Had a 8:30 reservation on a Saturday night. Couple things to know about LB, they do not accept traditional reservations, instead you set up an account through their website and you purchase tickets for a specific date and time based on availability. Tickets cost $ 175 per which includes gratuity. Wine pairing and drinks are extra. Once you have paid for your ticket (s), you cannot change the date. You can sell your tickets but the date is yours!!! Lastly, the dining experience is casual and communal seating for most of the meal.
They recommend you arrive 20 minutes before your reservation. When you arrive the hostess takes you upstairs to a lounge area. The ‘snack’ portion of your meal is held upstairs in the cozy yet homey lounge and seating is limited so that’s why it’s important to get there 20 minutes beforehand. The lounge area overlooks the main dining area.
When the snack portion has concluded, a host/​hostess will lead you downstairs to the main dining area. The host/​hostess will seat you at your assigned seat at the communal dining table. A different chef will explain to the diners each course beforehand. Diners are encouraged to stop by the open kitchen, take pictures and engage with the chefs.
As for the food, it’s a gastronomic experience. Lazy Bear brings farm to table to a new level and they try and source local ingredients. The techniques used is remarkable! Their play on scrambled eggs is mind blowing, how they were able to infuse so much complex flavor?! I can go on and describe each course but I won’t. You have to experience Lazy Bear for yourself. Treat yourself, you won’t be disappointed!
The service is impeccable, the ambiance casual but yet sophisticated. Lazy Bear deserves their star and I can see why they are so deserving.
I will be back!!!

One of the best dining experiences ever.
When you first walk in the door, they check your name off the list and guide you upstairs to the lounge area. There is complimentary punch, which was delicious but pretty light, and we also ordered a couple cocktails. The meal starts up here with four «snacks», basically bite-​sized appetizers. All were delicious and primed me for the rest of the night. (I won’t go into too much detail about the specific courses since the menu changes frequently.) From the upstairs mezzanine, you can actually observe the previous seating finishing up or the waiters setting the table.
When it was time to get seated at the communal table downstairs, they remembered our names still! This was a really nice surprise and showed how much thought they put into the whole experience. Because I had the menu customized for my boyfriend’s birthday, I knew they had to have remembered who we were in order to lead us to the correct seats with the menu already there. (Sidenote: the little menu booklets are adorable and you get to keep them!!) There’s no dress code, but I did notice that people were dressed pretty nicely for the most part.
With the open kitchen, we were free to walk up and watch them plate every dish meticulously. All of the courses were spectacular! Before each course was served, the chef that prepared it would speak a little about it to the entire room, giving a bit of context for where the ingredients are sourced, etc. They actually forage some of the vegetables themselves! I couldn’t complain about any of the main courses, but the desserts are on the unique side and can be hit or miss. I applaud the pastry chef for being bold, and everything was definitely very well-​made, but some of the flavors didn’t agree with my palate as much.
One of my favorite cocktails, if it’s on the menu, was a twist on the classic old-​fashioned, made with Japanese whiskey. It was so smooth and well-​balanced. Also, if you have any room left in your stomach at the end of the meal, you have to try their signature iced coffee! It comes in a beaker, and the whipped cream floating on top is absolutely rich and decadent.
You might think that Lazy Bear has been hyped up too much, but I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Easily my favorite dining experience in San Francisco. I had stalked the reservations (from the underground days to the brick and mortar days) for quite some time, and a friend finally took me for my birthday a couple of years ago. Since then, I’ve come back to bring others for their birthdays, or just because we were able to get reservations. Picnic-​table style dining has led to some fantastic conversations, and the open kitchen makes the experience pretty unique.
They were recently awarded a Michelin star, and for good reason — the quality of both service and food are truly impeccable. It’s also nice to see a staff that seems to genuinely love working together.
My most memorable — the whipped scrambled eggs with bacon and hot sauce. If I wasn’t trying to be decent, I would use my finger to clean the sides of the glass. Of course, all of their food is pretty memorable (THE WAGYU) in how creative their preparations/​ingredients are!
The not so memorable would have to be, for example, scallop dishes. Because scallops are delicious and yummy with just a good sear. Still, I gobbled mine up without question.
The pastry chef — Maya Erickson — is something else. I always look forward to the dessert portion, and her awkward-​quirky speech prefacing the dessert portion of the meal is always exciting.

OMG! This place is more than just a dinner. It’s an event! I took a friend here for her birthday and it was well worth the experience.
This place has 2 set dinner times. They will start without you if you’re late as they will serve everyone their courses at the same time. You start off upstairs with cocktails and the first few appetizer courses before they move you downstairs and seat you at one of two long communal tables.
The dining experience is very social and we ended up chatting with the couples on either side of us. The kitchen area is in the same space and they encourage you to come up and chat with the chefs/​take pictures.
Each course has a back story and the chef responsible for it will give a short speech about it as the dishes are served. I can’t think of a single dish I didn’t enjoy… even the dinner roll and housemade butter was amazing!
Go here if you’re looking to impress a date or just want to treat yourself to an amazing meal.

Lazy Bear is an culinary experience. The presentation of the food was superb as well as the taste and service. Although expensive, I definitely think this is something everybody should try at least once. ($ 300+)
Two of my awesome bestest foodie friends (Christine, David) who wanted to dine at this restaurant unselfishly purchased a gift certificate for me and my girlfriend. In return I promised to take many photos and write an extensive review on Unilocal about my experience, so here it is!
First things first, I wanted to note how Lazy Bear does its reservations/​seatings. You will have to purchase the tickets via website a month prior to your desired date. They sell out pretty fast. Tickets range from $ 150 – 175 per person. It is a set menu and they will accommodate dietary special requests. If you purchased/​received a gift certificate you will have priority and be contacted immediately when tickets go on sale. Parking isn’t too difficult to find in this area, and it is also not too far from Bart.
My dinner reservation for two was at 6PM. Upon arrival, our coats were taken and we were escorted upstairs to the mezzanine area where we sat and ordered alcoholic drinks (not included in the ticket price). You can order pretty much anything as they do have a full bar downstairs. I had requested for a more intimate area for my and my girlfriend as we were celebrating our anniversary. I was seated in sofa fit for two in the corner of the mezzanine and was very pleased they were able give us a secluded intimate area. They served us complimentary refreshments that was very refreshing and flavorful. My girlfriend said it sort of tasted like chinese herbal medicine. It was similar but this was much more refreshing and delicious. Once everybody was settled in the handful of waitresses/​waiters started rolling out the appetizers/​snacks.
*Note: Lazy Bear serves a different set menu every day (or maybe month?). Below is what I had on 02÷05÷16.
SNACKS/​APPETIZERS (bite sized):
1) Whipped scrambled eggs — You are eating foam that tastes like bacon and at the bottom of the glass had a spicy sauce that was very delicious.
2) Shigoku oyster — this was my favorite dish upstairs. It was amazing! They put kiwis in the oysters that I thought really fit well with the oyster.
3) Beef tartare — beef on top of a cracker (made out of rice?). The beef just melted in your mouth. It was very flavorful.
4) Tete de moine — this was a very beautiful dish and there was a flower that tasted like cheese on it. The main component of the dish was some kind of celery mousse.
After these dishes we were brought downstairs and seated. In Front of everybody was a warm wet towel, a menu, some caviar, and bread and butter***. The head chef David, welcomed everybody and introduced the dishes in front of us prior to eating. Before each dish is served a different chef would explain each dish.
***I’m going to quote the head chef on the cultured butter they’ve been working on for 3 years. «The butter is pretty f***ing delicious» and yes, the butter was f***ing delicious. I’m drooling just thinking about it. Hands down, best butter I’ve had. I asked if I can purchase some and she was able to accommodate my requests.
Entres:
5) Bay scallop with geoduck, dill, buttermilk — I’m not a huge seafood fan, but these were amazing. The scallops were so fresh and tender. It might have been one of my favorite dishes.
6) Steelhead trout — Again, fresh and tender. It was amazing.
7) Egg yolk Fudge– Egg yolk fudge, super savory dish. The egg really was fudge like.
8) Black truffle grits — Most comforting dish. It reminded me of mac and cheese but a lot better. Heavy amounts of black truffle on top.
9) Squab — Not a big squab fan, but you can tell the meat was incredibly tender and had a nice smokey flavor. It tasted a bit like duck.
10) Lamb — Very juicy and flavorful. I don’t eat lamb regularly, but this was good.
11) Coconut & Dark Chocolate desserts — The coconut had a very interesting texture. I preferred the dark chocolate.
12) Small dessert snacks — The snacks were underwhelming. Some had interesting flavors, but the presentation was beautiful. I probably enjoyed the peanut butter & Jelly the most.
Lazy Bear was a great experience for me. I really wanted seconds of certain dishes. I think all of them tasted good and all of them had a great deal of thought and consideration in each dish. By presentation alone, you can really appreciate the work they put into making each dish.
I know you are wondering, «Will I be full? I’m paying $ 300+». Yes, you do get full because they serve you so many dishes. In addition to that I’ve tasted and experienced flavors I’ve never had before. Like I said, it is an culinary experience. There is more to it than just sitting down and eating.
Shoutout to the waitress who hooked me up with some of that delicious cultured butter. God damn… It’s so good.

This place deserves all the stars it can possibly get .
This place is a very rare gem of a place with the most delicious food there is.
I really really suggest calling ahead before coming too this place, definitely make reservations and I do suggest coming here tho.
This would definitely be the place I would come to for my last meal on Earth.
I would definitely go a happy man.

TL;DR — Daring and innovative dishes, exquisite but not intimidating service, and a dinner party-​in-​the-​woods atmosphere. 5 Unilocal stars isn’t enough and 1 Michelin Star isn’t enough. Book your reservation now!
_​_​_​_​
Perhaps the hottest gastronomic ticket in town, Lazy Bear generally sells out a full month of meals in about an hour. In fact, you actually have to pre-​purchase a ticket to dine here. Being Valentines weekend, the cost of admission came out to nearly $ 300 per person, and that’s without the over the top beverage pairings! While some may find it frou frou, it’s actually a very clever way to allow diners to focus on each bite of their tasty (and very pricy) adventure, all while maximizing revenue by pre-​selling out the evening and minimizing spoilage. Mmm… Über-​y.
When my girlfriend and I arrived, we were given a lay of the land before being escorted upstairs to the mezzanine for cocktails and snacks. The décor makes the space feel like the most incredible log cabin in the woods and is perfectly sized to feel intimate but not cramped when full of dinner guests. The amazing view over the dining room is a tease, contributing to the build-​up of anticipating that I’ve been feeling for weeks.
I’m not sure what is normally served, but we started off with a nice dry champagne and special spiked punch blend (which was incredibly complex and refreshing). To accompany the beverages, Lazy Bear likes to get things started with some amazing appetizers (or snacks as they call them). Ours mezzanine snacks included:
1) Whipped scrambled eggs — Breakfast in a shot, consisting of a whipped egg foam with bacon fat and an amazing hot sauce that I wish they would bottle.
2) Shigoku oyster — Fresh oyster shooter served with an oyster broth and frozen kiwi sauce. It had incredibly clean flavors, though the kiwi seeds could be a little overpowering to the delicate flavor of the sweet oyster.
3) Beef tartare — Served on a brown rice cracker with shaved foie gras — incredibly delicate flavors and textures that melt in your mouth.
4) Tête de moine — Celery root mousse with Swiss raw cow’s milk cheese, compressed dehydrated Asian pear, and pine tips. Amazing texture and flavor from the perfect little bite.
I ordered the «exquisite» Ruhstaller to cleanse the palette before we were led down to the dining room and our assigned seats. Waiting for us was a Lazy Bear field guide (a menu booklet for note-​taking) and our final snack:
5) Caviar — An homage to San Francisco featuring a sourdough cracker, caviar, and a purée. Again, amazing sourdough flavors and textures.
Chef David Barzelay opened dinner with the protocol for the evening and told the story of their absolutely incredible, mouth-​watering spelt & rye dinner roll served with their signature cultured butter.
6) Going on 3 years old, their butter culture produces a product that reminded me of a strong cheese. The combination was like nothing I’ve ever had, and I yearned (and continue to yearn) for more.
If you’ve never had the privilege of dining at Lazy Bear before, each dish is served with a description from the chef who concocted its creation. Between dishes, guests are encouraged to meet their neighbors, roam throughout the dining room, visit the bar, or even stop by the kitchen to watch (or in my case to photograph) as the chefs meticulously placed each component of the dishes during plating. As expected, each dish was incredible thoughtful, and told a story.
7) Bay scallop with geoduck, dill, buttermilk, and bergamot. The seafood was incredible fresh and tender, with a slight sourness, and I love the bite of the geoduck. The chef himself foraged the spinach used in the dish.
8) Steelhead trout with a fried stinging nettle, hedgehog mushroom, butterball potatoes, and an amazing smoked salmon roe. The fish was served with a butterball potato, green garlic, and stinging nettle mash that inherited a nice green color and had just a hint of the subtle garlic flavors.
9) Poussin with lettuce and spring onion. It’s a 21-​day old chicken breast that is sous vide to maintain it’s incredibly tender texture with subtle, clean flavors. The chicken was raised on a diet of lacto-​fermented grains which was apparent in the meat.
10) Poussin Bouillon — The egg yolk fudge is served with fermented grains and spring onion, and includes a stock made from the chicken itself as a table-​side pour over. This was one of my favorite dishes of the evening because of its richness and the level of technique involved. It also felt familiar, like a dish I grew up with… Wonderful.
…
I hit the character limit for this review so please read the rest on Medium:
.

My friend, Brenda, invited me as a joint birthday gift to experience the Lazy Bear for dinner.
Experience is the word I would use! From the second we entered the restaurant until the moment we left, it was a dining experience that I will never forget.
From the greeting, to the ambiance, to the staff throughout the dinner — excellent on every level. I chose to do the wine pairing and I would also recommend that as part of the evening.
The chefs each took turns describing the meal, the ingredients, the reasoning behind the food, etc. You can also go up and into the prep area to look and ask questions.
I love the communal dining also. We sat next to some lovely people and that just added to the evening.
The only thing I did not like is that 2 of the main courses were quail and lamb, neither of which I like and there are no substitutions (obviously), but I still loved every bite I had.
Great night, great friend… good memory!
LCP

I got a gift certificate as a birthday gift. I’d say the worst part was making a reservation. That was stressful. But once we got there last night, everything was absolutely amazing. We were welcomed so warmly and escorted right on upstairs. We were slightly late, we got there at 6:05 but we didn’t miss anything, thankfully. They started serving the snacks almost immediately. My favorite snack was the beef tartar, surprisingly. I’m not usually one for tartar and it had foie gras, which I am usually not that big on either. But it was delicious. They served a tequila based punch, it was very good also. Once we were done with snacks and cocktails we were whisked downstairs and sat. We sat next to a group that were bro-​I got out, that was a bummer but hey, bros have to eat too. Each course was gorgeous, each chef that created the course spoke about their dish. Their explanations were wonderful and very detailed about where the ingredients came from and why they paired this with that. I think the best part about the dining experience was the their urge to get up and take photos and ask the cuts questions. My favorite course was the steelhead trout with stinging nettle, hedgehog mushroom, smoked roe and perfect little potatoes. It was delicious!!! It was all delicious. I love the little note book and pencil they provided. I totally geeked out and wrote notes. My boyfriend and I shared the wine pairing, I felt it was the perfect amount. I loved it, it was gorgeous in every way and I recommend to get the 1^st seating. You can go upstairs afterwards and they welcome you to drink in the lounge afterwards.
Go, it’s worth it!

I just got a message from someone (jrrd v.) works in Lazy Bear. They accused me of lying. This is my response to that accusation.
I somehow kept a little red note they handed out at the end of the meal. On bonito dish, I noted that «It was very fatty, was ok. (My husband’s name) just got vegetables.»
The Lazy Bear person messaged me, claimed that they do work with people’s dietary restriction request. However, we got nothing, but a piece of vegetable. Not cool.
— — –
They do not accommodate your dietary restriction.(Although it says on the web, they are trying to work with your request.) I understand that since they produce same dish for everyone and serve them at the same time.
It’s like having a meal at the dorm, everyone gets same dish and if you cannot eat raw meat, they won’t serve you something else. My husband got an empty dish with a piece of leaf because we asked for no raw meat/​fish. They didn’t even try to be a little creative and put a grilled mushroom instead. Well, again, on their website, they stated that they have a right to cancel your reservation if they cannot work with your dietary restriction request. Maybe, it’s my fault to expect something better for $ 200 meal.
The real issue I had was food was not that good. It was interesting concept and quiet experimental. But, at the end food should taste good and I didn’t think anything was delicious. Especially, the dessert I had (black sesame cake?) was so disappointing (interesting texture) that I had to get ice cream somewhere else.

Maybe I came on the wrong night, but seems like every other dish had some kind of smoke element. While very tasty at first, it does get a bit redundant. And pretty much every dish had some kind of foraged leaf or flower component as well. I get it; you’re trying to hit all the correct locally-​sourced-​sustainable-​farm-​to-​table buzz words. But, again, in some dishes it actually detracted from the dish, resulting in some unbalanced flavor profiles.
A few hits (the poached trout with smoked roe, fresh potatoes, and stinging nettle) but quite a few misses (oyster with kiwi and chickweed; coconut and bay dessert). Not quite on the good side of the price-​to-​quality efficiency curve. Not worth the investment.

The first time I was amazed and in awe. Second time the luster has somewhat faded.
Our first time we were so giddy and enjoyed the whole experience. We were in the 2^nd set of seating, first we were directed to the second floor to have a cocktail then appetizers. After an hour or so or when everyone from the first seating left, they accompanied us down to the communal tables. At the tables we are given booklets and pencils — great idea! to write down notes of what we thought about the dishes. When each dish was served a chef would introduce and describe the dish. Everyone was welcomed to go to the open kitchen and ask questions, take pictures, talk to them, or observe them in action.
Our second time was about a month later and the awe of «different» dining experience already happened and we expected everything which ruined some of the experience for us. And what dishes i thought were amazing the first time were just «good» the second time. Majority of our meal like 90% of it was the same. Now, it’s my fault for not going during the next season and im sure i’ll be wowed again, but until then I’m sticking to my 4 stars. There was some good dishes I was happy about, but others were uninspired and having it a second time I wasn’t so pleased.
Ranked– 1 being most favorite
December 28,2015 Menu
Snacks
3-​Whipped scrambled eggs– bacon, maple, hot sauce
2-​shingoku oysters– granny smith apple, fennel
4-​caviar– sourdough
1-​beef tartare-​brown rice, foie gras
5-​cranberry ice-​ricotta, sage
Toasted Brassicas broth-​kohlrabi, kale, romanesco, turnip, broccoli
3-​Spelt & Rye dinner rolls– house cultured butter
1-​Bay scallop– pine, citrus, buttermilk
2-​Suncoke– egg yolk fudge, sweetbread, sunflower
5-​butterball potato-​stinging nettles, steelhead roe, chanterelles, green garlic
6-​grilled aged duck– quince, collard greens
4-​pork belly– blood orange, black olive, radicchio
1-​Hazelnut-​brown rice, coffee, carob
2-​Persimmon-​root beer, malt, chocolate
Treats
1-​Semifredo– vietnamese coffee
3-​chocolate bonbon-​yuzu pine
2-S’mores macaron– toasted marshmellow, graham, chocolate
Long Story Short: AMAZING first time experience – «OK» second time experience, wait for new season for different menu before trying it again

Just discovered my field guide from March 25, 2015 while cleaning up and realized I never reviewed this amazing meal.
First off, a solid star for giving me a glass of punch when I walk through the door. Delightful. Another star for confirming the one menu swap request I had put in in advance (no lamb/​beef). They totally worked around this for us, which was unexpected. I loved the appetizers served upstairs in the lounge area and appreciated the glass of sparkling wine to kick things off:
–Whipped Scrambled Eggs (with Bacon, Maple, Hot Sauce)
–House Kosho Oyster
–King Salmon (with Pickled Green Strawberry)
–Foie Gras (with Kumquat, Fennel, Brown Butter Brioche)
–Artichoke Dip (with Aged Cheddar, Artichoke Chips)
They were all great but I remember my husband really liking an oyster which is a rare thing. The scrambled eggs served in a shot glass were warm and tasty like a soup, and the scrumptious foie gras seemed to be the crowd fav (they just started to let us eat that again).
Once downstairs, I enjoyed the open kitchen and the chefs who explain each course with a shocking amount of detail (some people found this excessive but I thought it was adorable in a Portlandia sketch kind of way).
I think the one thing that really set our dinner apart was the wine pairing. We love wine and spend a great deal of time drinking: ahem: doing wine research, but we don’t often do wine pairings with multi-​course meals. I have certainly never had a pairing that changed my experience quite so much. With each course we were directed to taste the wine, then taste with the food. Each time, things changed. Everything went together so perfectly. It really added to the experience for me.
That said, I will now relay for you the courses along with a smattering of my wine-​induced notations:
–Valentine’s Bread: Nikki Notes «Soft Butter=yum. Lactic Tang. Gluten good.» I just remember thinking, damn, this bread and butter is amazing.
–Charred Onion Broth with Country ham, Egg yolk, Apple, Scallion
–Sweet Pea Custard with Cured Steelhead Roe, Pea Shell-​Mint Sauce, Spring Onion Nikki Notes «Wild shoots from forraging! Mint tips you guys!»
–Hailbut with Asparagus, Lettuce, Meyer Lemon, Brown Butter Hollandaise: Nikki Notes «Bergamot mmmmm… especially with the wine. Totally changes the flavors.»
–Rabbit with Snails, Stinging Nettles, Green Garlic: No notes on this one, I was in heaven.
–Lamb with Date, Mustards, Farro, Blood Orange, Olive, Garum: I don’t eat lamb and we had notified them of this earlier so I had a crazy delicious duck breast while everyone else had lamb. I totally won this round because while the rest of my party was way too full, the duck breast was on the lighter side and I had plenty of room for dessert. ;)
–Rhubarb with Chamomile, Pink Peppercorn, Tarragon: Nikki Notes «Killer pallet cleanser after the duck/​lamb. Why is rhubarb the best?»
–Oats with lavender, honey, almond
–Treats: Nikki Notes «I ate all these.»

I’m giving this a 4-​star because I think it is worthy to be experienced at least once.
Reservation/​ticketing: They use Tock ticketing system which basically is like buying a ticket for a dinner as a pre-​paid meal. They sell out fast, so I had to literally wait by the second for their tickets to be available one noon time a month prior to my intended dining date. I signed up on their newsletter so I would be kept on the loop about when tickets will be available.
The dining experience: The first five snacks are served up in a mezzanine where guests can mingle and meet the other guests. As for us, we stayed busy chatting within our own party of trio. They have a full bar and we were happy with our order of cocktails and wine. One of us ordered a pairing of wine for the entire dinner, priced at $ 85, which is not bad vis-​a-​vis ordering by the glass, and not to mention they allow sharing of this pairing!
While enjoying the snacks, you also get to see the diners downstairs and the chefs preparing each course. After about 30 minutes, each party will be escorted downstairs and will be seated according to a pre-​arranged seatings.
You will then be encouraged to introduce yourself to the other parties sharing the same long table with you. There are two ten-​topper tables within the restaurant so while it is communal, it is pretty intimate. This makes this dinner interesting and special.
While each course is served, a chef would walk in front and provide a description of the meal. Diners are also welcome to walk to the chef’s tables and converse with them and ask just about anything. It’s awesome!
The food: Each course for me was A-​ok but not spectacular. That evening, there were about three courses which are on the higher level of saltiness. What stood out for me as great courses were the (1) duck liver mousse — can’t go wrong with the foie gras I guess and the (2) Persimmon. I am being forgiving about the food being salty, as the overall dining experience was very pleasant.
The service: I would say that the staff were all wonderful and vibrant, you would feel that they are passionate about their job. The sommelier was excellent, too!
I would recommend any foodie to give this resto a try at least once.

3 disappointing stars. Save your money!
Lazy Bear is what I would call a sacred cow, one of the SF pop up underdogs you can’t hate on because of the history of how they came about, and the «local ingredients» they use. After years as a pop-​up in the Mission, they finally secured 20-​year long lease in place of Hi-​Lo BBQ. People are strangely intrigued by the supposed unique Lazy Bear experience: start with apps, eat in a communal setting, ask chefs questions throughout the meal. Turns out, their head chef is not so laid back, and some of his cooking staff are just as pretentious. How unfortunate But more importantly the food is not bad, but there are so many other restaurants worth going to first.
Now, reservations are still hard but not as bad as before — they release tickets on their website for group seatings (6 and 8:15pm), offering a prix-​fixe, pre-​paid $ 180/​pp meal after tip/​tax (wine pairings $ 75, can be added when you get there).
*******THE FOOD*******
I really wanted to like LB but I had to rank this establishment as I usually do, based on 3 main factors: 1) Food Quality/​Value, 2) Innovation/​Taste, 3) Service/​Experience
1) FOOD QUALITY/​VALUE — 2 STARS:
At $ 180/​pp after tip/​tax, Lazy Bear is far inferior in value to similar caliber restaurants — Liholiho, State Bird, The Progress to name a few. Lazy Bear deceives you into feeling you get great value, by serving you «4 courses» before dinner begins (which are actually 4 h’ours devours). Dinner is several «courses», some of which I could fit into my mouth in a single bite (e.g. the micro slice of squab I received — see pics).
2) INNOVATION/​TASTE — 3.5 STARS:
While MOST dishes were tasty, NONE were especially innovative. I definitely had favorites, and some things I’ve never had before; innovation/​taste were the highest marks Lazy Bear got from me, but the innovation and flavor did not justify the price tag in any way.
3) SERVICE/​EXPERIENCE — 2 STARS:
The wait staff and sommelier were attentive, knowledgeable yet unintrusive — the perfect balance of wait staff you could ever ask for. However, the head chef and cooking staff encourage patrons to visit the kitchen and ask questions, yet they are rude and pretentious. I hate that people like this corroborate false stereotypes about the Mission, but they do.
I regretfully left Lazy Bear partially hungry, personally insulted, and woefully regretful for the wasted time and money on this dining experience. I’m generally the type to encourage everyone to try everything once, but I encourage you to prioritize other fine dining establishments before this one.

This was my fiancée’s belated birthday present dinner. Since this was a specific request of her’s, I must admit there was a little sticker shock at booking time at the nearly $ 450 for the two of us. After dining though, you’ll get no complaints from me.
Just about every bite/​dish we had was amazing. Since I am guessing the menu changes quite frequently, and there are no choices since this is a tasting menu, I won’t touch on any specific dishes. Nonetheless, as long as you keep an open mind, I am sure you’ll find a lot to like here. They may even wow you with things you wouldn’t think you’d like.
The portions are typical of a tasting menu, so don’t expect to get stuffed beyond comprehension here. Make no mistake, though, I was sated when I left. I could still move comfortably and wasn’t exhausted afterwards.
Everyone who we encountered was overwhelmingly welcoming, helpful and gracious. They even encourage you to get up and watch the kitchen staff work as they plate dishes. You can even chat with them as they work and take pictures or videos.
Definitely not an everyday kind of thing, but if you can afford to splurge, you’ll get great food and service. Will look for more excuses to come back after I dig through the couch cushions.

HOLY SMOKES this place is amazing!
6pm RSVP, got in checked in, took bags and coats, AMAZING service. =)
Went up stairs to check in again, stood at a stand up table, and then snacks came. The way they do it is quite interesting. They have a host that basically knows where you sit, and then she/​he will tell the servers to come at you with snacks. There were 5 snacks, so be sure to be there on time. If you come later, they won’t repeat it as they come in order.
After the 5 snacks, about 45min or so, you go downstairs, by your group. Server will walk you down and tell you where you are sitting. Most likely if you come in pairs, you will sit across from each other. If you have drinks, they will take it down for you.
I suggest you don’t get the meal with the wine pairing as they have a HUGE drink menu. You can order whatever you want upstairs, they will keep tabs on you and hand you a check end of the night.
Two super long tables, total is 20 per table, so total of 40 people max. About a good 7 – 8 dishes came out, and they were amazing. Some were a bit salty, but all were simply delicious. A chef will interrupt your dinner and explain the dish. It’s quite fun, you can get up and walk close to the kitchen, observe, take photos, and talk to the chef.
I saw pretty much next to the kitchen, and it was really cool how they line everything up. Service was great, fold your napkins as you get up and wander. Everything was great, I would definitely come back. Riesling was amazing!
They also give you a book and a pencil for you to take down notes, it has the whole menu on there. Also, it’s encouraged to mingle with people next to you, so you can also jot their contact info down if you want to contact them again.
Very fun!

Definitely one of the most inviting dining experiences I’ve ever had. I truly cannot say enough good things about this place. If you’re looking for a memorable meal, you will most certainly find it here. Everything from the service to presentation is spot on. The level of thought that is put into crafting the dishes and curating the experience is truly impressive. And yes, the food is absolutely delicious as well. The grilled aged duck and bay scallops were two of my favorites. I’m still in awe at how this place manages to create such a opulent yet cozy vibe. You can dress up or dress down and you’ll still fit right in. Also, do make sure you arrive 30 minutes before your reservation time, you’ll be extremely glad you did.

Lazy bear was this hip new-​ish spot when I went in April 2015 (sorry for the delay!). Fortunately, my friend scored tickets just as they were released and I was invited to join in on the fun along with Nina Y. I think the ~$ 130/​pp we paid seems a bit high but think of it as a dinner party experience and delicious food. We went on a Tuesday night for the first seating. We all work in the city and barted to that direction so it was pretty easy. Might be a challenge looking for parking though.
PRELUDE: Front
Check in at the door. Give your name. Someone will escort you upstairs (and note: they won’t forget your name)
SCENE I: The upstairs gathering
I recommend getting to the event early especially if you’re the first seating. You definitely want to get some of the limited seating/​table area upstairs if you want to be able to set plates/​drinks down or, if you’re a Unilocaler like me, to get good lighting to take pictures as it is very dim. We were served five amuse bouches (Whipped Scrambled Eggs, King Salmon, Foie Gras, Firefly Squid Yakitori, Artichoke Dip). They were little interesting bites. I actually liked the whipped scrambled eggs a lot in their simplicity of ingredients but complexity of texture! Also, as I was allergic to cucumber (p.s. they are great about food allergies) they allowed me to substitute the punch of a glass of champagne.
SCENE II: Downstairs
Can my dining room look like this? It’s very modern décor (Imagine somewhere Eames chairs would fit but with more warmth and character). Everyone had assigned seating which you don’t have to find yourself (they bring you there). Our fellow diners were cheerful and we exchanged hellos (but no obligation here to make new friends). They provide you with a small notebook and pencil allowing you to jot down notes about your dishes as the chef describes it or as you eat it. Also between courses you are encouraged to get up, walk around, observe the chefs cooking/​plating (from a distance), and even ask them questions! It’s an open kitchen.
List of Dishes (I’ll just say everything is amazing and highlight any fun facts): Valentine’s bread,
Sweet Pea Custard (This had salmon roe, I mentally told myself it wouldn’t work, but it did. This was a mouthful of Spring), Charred Onion Broth (Egg yolk and pork fat. The depth of flavor was soul warming). Halibut (One of the chefs gave us their brining ratio and preparation method with sous vide). Rabbit (Served with snails that they raised and had been fed only with basil — how long does that even take? I swear I tasted the basil). Lamb (on the bone with the right amount of fat). Rhubarb (an icy sorbet). Oats financier (yum. It was served with granola that reminded me of campfires and coffee). Final Treats (5 different classic pastry chef deserts like a macaron and cream puff).
FINI
Food: There’s a story behind every dish. David Barzelay (Owner/​Head Chef) is fun and not too polished. He also allows every one of his chefs to express their creativity and lead on a course (including providing a brief intro the dish).
Service: Very professional. Each one of their seatings is a carefully choreographed party. The servers were very attentive. The chefs and kitchen staff were fun and friendly. We even took a picture at the end (unknowingly with all the folks having a blast behind us – I guess we were the serious ones?)
Overall: If you can go, do it. I’m not sure if its worth the premium to have it on a weekend night (what are you doing for 2 – 3 hours on a weekday night anyway?) as they serve the same food throughout. Like I said, it’s not just a meal. It’s a dinner party, food story, and a memorable experience.

I came to Lazy Bear for the first time tonight and it absolutely blew me away. The atmosphere was comfortable yet classy, the service was very friendly, and the food was incredible. Definitely worth the hype.
We started with snacks and some gin punch in the upper level. We had whipped scrambled eggs, Kumamoto oysters, caviar, peekytoe crab, and sorrel soda. I don’t really enjoy grassy flavors but I could still appreciate the sorrel.
After moving to the main dining area, we were served Matsutake broth, seared Bonito with pomegranate and beets, Lamb Tartare with sunflower, Foie Gras in toasted brown rice duck broth, grilled aged Duck, and Miyazaki ribeye steak with pumpkin and bone marrow. The Foie Gras and Miyazaki steak were so well-​executed and flavorful!
For dessert, we had Olive Oil with Meyer lemon and herbs, Black Sesame ice cream with forbidden rice, cocoa and cassis, a Vietnamese Coffee semifreddo, a sticky Toffee Pudding, and a Cinnamon Macaron with milk chocolate, cayenne, pear, and caramel.
My friends (who were repeat customers) mentioned that they thought this time was even better than previous dinners at Lazy Bear, which can only mean that these talented chefs are improving with time. I will definitely be back!

Lazy bear was by far one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. The service was attentive but not overbearing. The atmosphere was cozy yet sophisticated. It was fine dining without all the stuffiness that usually accompany it! Above all, I love that they encourage you to take pictures and engage the chefs in the open kitchen.
Dinner starts with appetizers upstairs in a dimly lit lounge overlooking the main dining area. Enjoy drinks and conversation in the laid back and relaxed atmosphere. It felt so much like a wood cabin that I almost expected to see an open fireplace. We ordered a couple of cocktails and I found the drinks to be just as innovative as the meal itself!
After the appetizers, you are seated downstairs at the long communal tables. Each dish is described by a chef and everyone is served at once. Everything tasted perfect and the presentation blew me away!
You have to buy tickets online a month in advance. However, the tickets are transferable if you can’t make it. We came for no special occasion other than to try it but I can definitely see lazy bear being a great anniversary/​birthday place for a foodie!

I’m just going to say that this is the first «steps» restaurant in San Francisco that I really enjoy.
I thought the lounge part was going to be wired, you know… just waiting there, getting some appetizers, some drinks… what’s that?! a wedding?!? But it turned out well! I actually enjoyed siting upstairs getting to see all the people that was going to share dinner with us, it felt like a relaxed way to start a lovely evening.
I also enjoyed the big communal table. We talked to some very interesting people while dinning, which can be fun considering you are here for about three hours!
About the service, I can’t say enough. They are great! They make every step very enjoyable.
I would come back maybe next season to taste a different menu!
Thanks for making a nice dinner fun rather than uptight!
TIP: Don’t order the pairing unless you REALLY like wine. Our neighbors were not even drinking theirs after their 4^th glass.
(We had 1 cocktail at the lounge, a white wine for the first 3 or 4 light courses, a red glass for the protein courses and then a Sherry as a pairing with dessert and that was a very nice pairing for the whole meal).

Anyone who doesn’t give this place full 5 stars is [insert insult here]
This place is over-​the-​top good – no wonder there’s such a long reservation time. The price is pretty high too, but well worth the cost. Every dish is made with a lot of attention and care. Before the start of each course, the chef who made it will address the entire restaurant and explain what the dish is, how it was made, why it was made a certain way, and the flavors to look out for. You also get a little notebook to record down your «notes» for each dish – pretty neat.
The food quality is, suffice to say, amazing. The raw slice beef was simply heaven. True genius. The desert at the end was also very memorable – the sweetness was just perfect. Each dish seems to give rise to new taste and flavors I’ve never tasted before. Each dish has a different and special taste. I felt like a kid in a candy store, tasting a bit each and every totally different and new styles of candy.
Also, be sure to get the wine pairing. You can share it with more than one person. Definitely worth it.
Definitely go there at least once. That is, if you can get a reservation!

Like what everyone else said, it’s a unique dining experience. Walking into the restaurant was like walking into someone’s cabin in Tahoe. I loved the dark wood and the cozy atmosphere. It’s fine dining without the awkward silences. Manners can be somewhat tossed out of the window. I got up multiple times during my meal and wandered about to take pictures of the chefs working in the open layout kitchen. Not only do they allow it, they encourage it. They totally get the modern dining experience — which is that people love sharing what they’re eating across their social media channels. They even give you a little notebook with that day’s pre-​fix menu items so that you can take notes.
TLDR REVIEW BELOW:
AMBIANCE
Fine dining but with a casual spin. Jeans and sneakers are fine. Communal tables, but we didn’t really talk to the people next to us. I would try to nab a table close to the kitchen so you can see all the cooking and plating action.
PRICE
$ 175 per person. You must buy «tickets» beforehand. The four of us shared a bottle of wine and each got a cocktail — turned out to be another $ 50 per person for the wine and the cocktails on top of our ticket.
FOOD
Fresh and creative. The A5 Wagyu and the blue corn grits WOWed. All of the desserts fell flat though. :(See my pics for more commentary!
SERVICE
Attentive but nothing amazing. One of the chefs will announce and explain each dish to the entire restaurant before it is served.