Lazy Bear

I visited Lazy Bear for dinner and desserts in early November to celebrate my birthday. From the time you enter, you move from the Mission to a cozy cabin in the woods. The amazing service starts immediately and continues throughout the whole experience. This experience definitely moves a bit faster than your average Michelin starred restaurant which for me worked perfectly and I appreciated it. The food was amazing, one dish was beans, mussels and mushrooms which I thought would be disappointing but it was absolutely Amazing. The wine pairings were excellent. We were moved upstairs to the Den for the dessert and dessert drinks which were cozy and lovely. I highly recommend this restaurant for a visit, make sure to book early!!

I don't really know what to say. I know it sounds cliché but words can't do it justice. I was shocked right away by the hospitality. The moment I entered the staff was so sweet and helpful. We showed up early and they kind of ushered us to a nice bar nearby where I had a great experience. When we came back we were welcomed eagerly and treated like we were old friends. This would be the theme for the night. The table setting came with a "field guide" and pencil which had a sense of childlike whimsy that followed through the night. We were allowed to write notes (without any pressure!) and as we did throughout the night the staff seemed so delighted in how much fun we were having. The decor was peppered with bears, which as a big fan of the animal I appreciated. This is atmosphere. Every moment of my experience felt rich with an exciting, bubbly energy. The food told a story. Every ingredient either had rich roots in the bay area or told a tale of collaboration. It felt as though everything on our table had made its home here. The execution on the food was master class, sparing no details but never including things just for the sake of seeming upscale or elaborate. I can say confidently I have not had a better meal. But to call it a meal feels silly. Really, it was an experience. A trip to Disney World feels cheap and boring by comparison, and I can't stress that enough. We asked so many questions and we were encouraged to (I cook quite a bit so it was an honor) and the chef himself even answered a few, merely a few feet from where I was sitting as the kitchen was right next to us! For the dessert course we were brought upstairs and as a couple it was nice to get a little quiet time in a dimly lit mezzanine, served on a coffee table. It was the wind down of the evening with dessert wines and treats. But even still everything came packed with such fascinating stories and everyone we asked could answer every single question we had. Magical. On our way out we were given a cute little bag of breakfast coffee and an apple cider loaf. I was then ushered around because I was peeking at all the bears (I'm a bit obsessed with bears) and they encouraged me to find the one in the mural! At most places I would feel awkward but by then the staff felt like friends. It never felt like an imposition to look and talk or to do anything. I won't tell you where the bear is, though. We were given a card congratulating us on our 11th anniversary and I made a joke to my boyfriend at the time that if he popped the question now I'd say yes. Joke was on me because I came home to an array of lights and flowers in my back yard, and a man on one knee holding a ring. I couldn't imagine a more perfect night. Even the music playing was rich with musicians like Belle and Sebastian, which I am a big fan of. And yes, Dear Catastrophe Waitress is the best album. There isn't enough thanks I could give to the incredible staff and to the chef for creating such a magical experience. I cannot possibly imagine a better night to have. Please just go and bring a friend or loved one. Ask questions. Make friends. It's an experience like no other. Get the wine pairing. Get dessert. Spare no cost, let go of your shyness or your seriousness, and have fun!

Lazy Bear continues to up their game. This was my fourth visit and it was magnificent.. The food was impeccable. The beauty and detail in each presentation were second only to the flavor. Everything perfectly prepared and perfectly presented. The wine pairing this evening was also spot on…. The food, the wine and the service continue to improve …. Could a third star be on the horizon? Maybe? They are absolutely killing it right now.

Finally got to eat here and it was YUMMY!! Usually I find with multi-course meals that the best things are the small bites at the beginning and then it goes down from there. But here it was the opposite! The last three savory dishes we had were out of this world! The food was outstanding and I didn’t leave hungry. LOVED this meal! I would recommend it to anyone and I also appreciate them accommodating my seafood preferences. Now for a little feedback… 1) The checkin desk/ area is strange and seems thrown together/ not up to two Michelin star standards 2) at first they sat us at the end of the table right in front of the entry stairs/ door. This is a pretty unpleasant seat so we asked to be moved which they accommodated. But given the price point there shouldn’t be a bad seat in the entire place. 3) they do not bring you the drink menu and instead like to recommend things and “surprise you.” This is nice in concept but when you say you’ll have a Cabernet and they bring you a glass without telling you the price and then you get the bill and see it was $55 for one glass it’s a bit annoying. All the other glasses were around $25 each. When the price for a glass is over $30 the waiter should give you a heads up. I find it super rude not to do this even when it is an expensive dinner. 4) the strawberry soda desert was creative and tasty. But the play on bananas foster fell very short. Cute idea but it really didn’t come together - some of the components were good but overall it did not work.

Amazing food and service! I absolutely love the pea dish, the halibut, and the wagyu. They truly capture the authentic flavors of their ingredients, which was a delightful surprise. I'm a big fan of this natural, nostalgic style of cooking, especially since many of the ingredients are gathered from the wild.