Everything You Need to Know About San Francisco's Legendary Lazy Bear
San Francisco is known for its culinary delights. It is home to such trend-setting institutions as State Bird Provisions, The Slanted Door, and Chef Corey Lee's stylish In Situ. Adding to the city's culinary reputation is Lazy Bear, which offers a one-of-a-kind dining experience.
This is not your typical American restaurant. Here, you sit down with strangers at a communal table, talk to chefs as they prepare the meals, and even jot down notes for every course that you have. What started off as an underground dining event has become one of the most sought-after dining experiences in San Francisco.
Here is everything you need to know about Lazy Bear.
The History of Lazy Bear
The Lazy Bear Experience
Lazy Bear is in a two-tier warehouse. The upper floor is for drinks and aperitifs. After sampling tasty concoctions and appetizers like Kumamoto oysters, guests head downstairs to the dining room. At the dinner table, each diner gets a pencil and a notepad.
Menu Highlights
The cuisine at Lazy Bear is full of contemporary surprises. The menu changes every month, depending on the season and availability of ingredients. Chefs put together complex flavors, resulting in imaginative dishes that will please most palates.
How to Reserve a Table
You need to buy tickets to a Lazy Bear dinner. Ticket availability is announced via their Twitter handle (@lazybearsf). All tickets for a particular month go on sale the month prior. Lazy Bear hosts dinners Tuesday through Saturday in two separate seatings, at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Ticket prices vary between $165 and $195 per person, excluding taxes and service charge. You can add beverages to your course for an extra $95.
How to Get to Lazy Bear
Lazy Bear is in the Mission District, which means it is easy to get to. The 14 and 49 Muni bus lines will stop a block away, and the 16th Street BART station is just a short walk up Mission Street.
Other Restaurants in Mission District
Getting a reservation at Lazy Bear is no easy task. Thankfully, the Mission has quite a few other restaurants that are equally good. There is Foreign Cinema, an eclectic French bistro that attracts a hip clientele. First opened in 1999, it has consistently been ranked as one of the best restaurants in San Francisco. There is also Flour + Water, which offers an intimate dining experience. The four-course menu here includes freshly rolled pastas, some lip-smacking desserts, and a curated wine list. Other notable restaurants in the Mission include Lolinda and Central Kitchen.
Nearby Attractions
The Mission District has a lot to offer visitors. If the night is still young, head to one of the many bars in the area. Doc's Clock and Knockout are the best dive bars in the neighborhood. For sophisticated drinks, ABV on 16th Street is your best bet. You can also head to Trick Dog on 20th Street for some mean cocktails. In the off-chance that you have room for dessert, there is Bi-Rite on 18th Street, with its famous flavors. There is the popular Savanna Jazz Club in the neighborhood, which has live acts every night of the week. For a cover charge between $5 and $10, you can enjoy some great live music.
