Lazy Bear

Lazy Bear might offer one of the most unusual dining experiences in San Francisco. At this modern American restaurant, there are only two seatings a night. You must buy tickets in advance. You'll be seated at a table with strangers. In fact, Lazy Bear calls itself a dinner party, not a restaurant, which might be a more accurate description of the experience. Tickets first go on sale in the middle of the previous month—so, for example, June 15 for all July dinners—and will get you a seat for either a 6pm or 8:30pm tasting menu, which includes at least 15 courses. Chef David Barzelay is cooking some incredibly inventive food here, from charred onion broth with country ham and egg yolk to rabbit with snails and stinging nettles to beets with dark chocolate and burnt vanilla. The cost: between $189 and $211 per person, with an additional $95 for beverage pairings. Is it expensive? Hell yeah. Is it worth it? Absolutely.