“The Bear” Draws Inspiration from a Real-Life Chicago Restaurant.
The incredible success of FX’s “The Bear” continues to captivate audiences, with viewers currently enthralled by the show’s third season, which premiered on June 27. This scripted series gives an intimate look at the restaurant industry and follows two ambitious chefs, Carmy and Sydney, as they work to transform an old family sandwich shop into a high-end dining experience, all under the looming threat of a potential Michelin star.
The fictional restaurant, first named The Beef (which later evolves into The Bear), acts as a significant character in the series, alongside Carmy, Sydney, and their kitchen team. Its authenticity is heightened by the fact that it draws inspiration from a real establishment.
The show borrows its essence from the iconic Chicago restaurant Mr. Beef, renowned for its Italian beef sandwiches and other favorites like hot dogs and cannolis. Fans of the series may recognize its familiar backdrop, as the dining room scenes in the show’s pilot were filmed entirely on location, with many external shots in the second season also taking place at the restaurant.
The story of Mr. Beef’s inception and its rise as a cherished culinary institution.
Mr. Beef has been a staple of Chicago’s culinary scene since 1963, founded by locals Carl Bonovolanto and Tony Ozzauto. In 1979, they sold the restaurant to Joe Zucchero, who transformed it into a local legend. Today, Mr. Beef is operated by Zucchero’s son, Chris, maintaining the same charm and tradition since the late ’70s. It was this commitment to tradition that inspired “The Bear”‘s creator, Christopher Storer, to base the show around it.
Storer and Chris Zucchero grew up together in Chicago, their families having a close relationship. However, the Zuccheros never anticipated that their friend headed to L.A. would write about their beloved family business—until one day he arrived at the restaurant with an entire film crew. Alongside filming actual scenes at the restaurant, Storer replicated its interior on a soundstage. He even invited Chris Zucchero to portray a small role in “The Bear” pilot as Carmy’s meat vendor.
Mr. Beef will remain unchanged despite The Bear’s influence.
Although Mr. Beef has long been a well-known establishment in Chicago’s River North area (with Jay Leno as one notable regular), the surge in popularity following the launch of “The Bear” is something the Zuccheros are still adapting to. Joe Zucchero, who passed away in 2023, expressed pride in Chris Storer and the creative team of “The Bear” before his passing. However, his family, including Chris Zucchero and his sister, remain committed to maintaining the small business.
While The Beef undergoes a transformation into a Michelin-worthy restaurant in “The Bear’s” third season, celebrating the organized chaos of upscale dining, Mr. Beef remains dedicated to its original vision and operations. Zucchero has reportedly declined numerous publicity opportunities from the show and allegedly hasn’t even viewed it himself, choosing instead to uphold the traditional values that define Mr. Beef as an iconic eatery to this day.
