Lettuce Guide to Chicago: ‘The Bear’ Edition

Where would Carmy, Sydney & Richie eat at Lettuce?

FX’s The Bear is BACK! Season 4 is now serving up all the “Yes, Chefs” you crave. Even after four seasons of stressful, high-stakes service, work, family and relationship drama, and walk-in meltdowns, the series continues to capture the passion, pressure, and beauty of working in restaurants, and fans can’t get enough.

The show has been the talk of Chicago for months, with filming taking place all over town and cast members popping into Lettuce restaurants, from Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Matty Matheson dining at Shaw’s Crab House, Corey Hendrix enjoying cocktails at Gus’ Sip & Dip, and the entire cast gathering for dinner together at RPM Seafood.

To celebrate the new season streaming on Hulu and Disney+, we’ve paired characters with what would undoubtedly be their favorite Lettuce spots IRL.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for seasons 1 – 3 of The Bear.

Carmy + Miru

Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) would feel right at home at Miru at The St. Regis Chicago, especially with Executive Chef Hisanobu Osaka. Both have experience in Michelin-starred kitchens and focus on using simple, high-quality ingredients to create dishes that really stand out. In season 3, Carmy creates a hamachi dish that shows his care for balance and technique, exactly the kind of approach Miru brings to its signature raw Hamachi & Lemon with white ponzu. It’s clean, precise, and quietly brilliant, just like Carmy’s cooking. Yes, Chef.

Make a reservation at Miru at The St. Regis Chicago

Richie + RPM Steak

After growing into a confident front-of-house leader in season 3 of The Bear, Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) deserves a dining experience that matches his unique blend of Chicago grit and polished professionalism. RPM Steak offers exactly that: A classic steakhouse with a modern touch, where attention to detail and top-notch hospitality come together. It’s easy to imagine Richie unwinding over their mouth-watering selection of Japanese Wagyu or digging into the perfectly-executed RPM Steak Frites.

Make a reservation at RPM Steak

Sydney + Aba

Boundlessly creative and resourceful, Carmy’s chef de cuisine extraordinaire Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) has saved the day more than a few times. But by the end of season 3, she’s at a crossroads, overwhelmed by pressure and uncertain of her next move. She’d find both comfort and clarity at Aba, where Chef Partner CJ Jacobson’s warm, modern mezze offers a sense of adventure mixed with familiarity—especially the Crispy Short Rib Hummus, a reminder of the dish that helped put her on the map.

Make a reservation at Aba | Order carryout or delivery from Aba

Marcus + Beatrix

The Bear’s in-house baker Marcus (Lionel Boyce) began his obsession with perfection back in season 1, losing sleep over creating the perfect chocolate ganache cake. After sharpening his skills abroad in Copenhagen, Marcus came back in season 3 to create three killer desserts, proving he’s a rookie no more. He would find endless inspiration at Beatrix’s pastry counters, eyeing the all-day favorite’s beloved cookies and baked goods. Executive Pastry Chef & Partner Yasmin Gutierrez might even try to lure him away from Carmy to bring his vision and precision to creations like Beatrix’s signature, gluten-free Tall, Dark & Handsome Chocolate Cake.

Make a reservation at the Beatrix location nearest you | Order carryout or delivery from the Beatrix location nearest you

Want try your hand at another dessert that would be Marcus-approved? Make RPM Steak’s 14K Chocolate Cake!

Tina + Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

Mr. Beef veteran Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas) is a whiz when it comes to zhuzhing up classics, like her recipe for rosemary mashed potatoes. She would marvel at what Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab does with sides—Jennie’s Mashed Potatoes at Joe’s are a gold standard in Chicago (IYKYK)—not to mention other time-tested signatures like Lobster Mac & Cheese, Seafood Chopped Salad, Dry-Aged Ribeye Sandwich and Joe’s Fried Chicken.

Make a reservation at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab | Order carryout or delivery from Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

Don’t forget pie! Joe’s Key Lime Pie is legendary – make it now.

Natalie + Mon Ami Gabi

Thanks to Carmy’s sister Natalie’s head for business, the family found its footing in season 3. But whenever “Sugar” is in need of a pick-me-up, like that season 2 moment when a hangry and frustrated Natalie is soothed by Sydney’s perfectly-made French omelet, we can imagine her making regular stops at the cozy bistro classique Mon Ami Gabi. Recently named one of the best brunch spots in America, it is the perfect place for delicate omelets and other authentic French cuisine, whether it’s date night with Pete or a family brunch with their new bundle of joy. (Oui, Chef!)

Make a reservation at Mon Ami Gabi – Lincoln Park | Order carryout or delivery from Mon Ami Gabi – Lincoln Park

Donna + Osteria Via Stato

Jamie Lee Curtis brought major drama as the Berzatto clan’s long-suffering matriarch. Who could forget that iconic episode where she baked, stirred and stewed all day long (cigarette in hand, of course) just to serve a feast to her ungrateful family? Donna would do well to treat herself to authentic pasta, meatballs, the Famous Italian Dinner Party and more at Osteria Via Stato anytime. And maybe next Christmas Eve, she’ll finally take a break from cooking to enjoy the traditional holiday feast prepared by Chef Partner David Di Gregorio.

Make a reservation at Osteria Via Stato | Order carryout or delivery from Osteria Via Stato

Channel Donna Berzatto with the recipe for Osteria Via Stato’s Seafood Stew.

Uncle Jimmy + Shaw’s Crab House

Carmy’s Uncle Jimmy “Cicero” Kalinowski is a man who enjoys the finer things in life, so we know he’d be a regular at Shaw’s Crab House. As iconic as it gets in Chicago (they just celebrated 40 years!), we’d surely catch him in a red leather booth at this River North seafood stalwart digging into a plate of King Crab Legs while negotiating a deal on a cocktail napkin, or just snagging a few moments of peace to himself as he throws back some oysters and martinis at Shaw’s Oyster Bar.

Make a reservation at Shaw’s Crab House – River North | Order carryout or delivery from Shaw’s Crab House – River North

Mix up Shaw’s Classic Martini for some Uncle Jimmy-style fun at home.

The Fak Brothers + R.J. Grunts

With $5 classic cocktails available during late-night happy hour every Thursday – Sunday, plus all-American grub like Potato Skins and the French Dip Enigma (the other iconic beef sandwich in Chicago, in our humble opinion), we can’t think of a better place for Neil and Theodore Fak (Matty Matheson and Ricky Staffieri) to pass the time waiting for parts to come in to fix the condenser/walk-in/range hood and everything else at The Bear in need of the goofy brothers’ mechanical expertise. (FUN FACT: Staffieri is a former employee of R.J. Grunts and met his spouse there!)