Lettuce Guide to Chicago: ‘The Bear’ Edition

Where would Carmy, Sydney & Richie eat at Lettuce?

FX’s The Bear is BACK, serving up all the “Yes, Chefs” you crave for its final season. Even after multiple 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.

Chicago is once again at the center of the conversation, 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 – 4 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. Carmy would appreciate Miru’s signature raw Hamachi & Lemon with white ponzu, a dish that reflects the same balance and precision he brings to his own cooking. 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

Richard “Richie” Jerimovich (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) continues to grow into one of the most grounded forces within The Bear in Season 4, stepping further into leadership and embracing the responsibility that comes with it. That makes RPM Steak a natural fit for him, where classic steakhouse tradition meets modern hospitality and signature dishes like Japanese Wagyu and RPM Steak Frites reflect his blend of grit, pride, and evolving refinement.

Make a reservation at RPM Steak | Order carryout or delivery from RPM Steak

Sydney + Aba

Boundlessly creative and resourceful, Carmy’s chef de cuisine extraordinaire Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edebiri) has saved the day more than a few times. She continues to evolve in Season 4, stepping further into her confidence as a chef while navigating major opportunities and the growing responsibility of shaping the future of The Bear. 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 + Crying Tiger

The Bear’s in-house baker Marcus (Lionel Boyce) continues to evolve in Season 4, building on his reputation for experimentation, precision, and increasingly refined dessert work that has earned him recognition from Food & Wine as one of the industry’s rising talents. Similar to our own rising star Corporate Pastry Chef Juan Gutierrez, the mind behind Crying Tiger’s viral “Crying Tiger” dessert, Marcus would find inspiration in this edible work of art, where a traditional Thai dessert is reimagined into a bold, sculptural creation that blends technique, imagination, and playful detail.

Make a reservation at Crying Tiger | Order carryout or delivery from Crying Tiger

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 (Abby Elliott) head for business, the family continues to find its footing in season 4. 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 (Oliver Platt) 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 Ribs, the Patty Melt 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!)