“The Bear” draws inspiration from a renowned Chicago restaurant.
The tremendous success of FX’s “The Bear” continues, with audiences eagerly watching the show’s third season, which debuted on June 27. The scripted series, which provides a revealing glance into the restaurant industry, follows two ambitious chefs, Carmy and Sydney, as they strive to transform a traditional family sandwich shop into a high-end dining establishment (with the looming anxiety of a possible Michelin star).
The fictional eatery, initially named The Beef (later changed to The Bear), is as integral to the narrative as Carmy, Sydney, or any of their culinary colleagues. Part of what makes it feel like a tangible establishment is that it is rooted in reality.
The series draws inspiration from the beloved Chicago institution Mr. Beef, celebrated for its Italian beef sandwiches and other favorites like hot dogs and cannolis. Fans of the show might recognize the dining room scenes from “The Bear’s” pilot, which were filmed entirely on location, with several exterior shots in the second season also captured outside the restaurant.
The origin story of Mr. Beef and its evolution over the years.
Mr. Beef has been a fixture in the Chicago dining scene since 1963, when locals Carl Bonovolanto and Tony Ozzauto opened it. In 1979, they sold the shop to Joe Zucchero, who transformed it into a local icon. Today, Zucchero’s son, Chris, oversees Mr. Beef, maintaining the same beloved traditions since the late ’70s. This steadfast commitment to heritage was a key inspiration for Christopher Storer, the creator of “The Bear,” to bring the narrative to life.
Storer and Chris Zucchero grew up together in Chicago, with their families sharing a close bond. However, the Zuccheros never expected their friend bound for L.A. would choose to spotlight their family establishment until the day he arrived with a full TV crew. Besides shooting scenes on site and replicating the restaurant’s layout on a soundstage, Storer invited Chris Zucchero to portray a minor character in the pilot of “The Bear,” as Carmy’s meat supplier.
Mr. Beef will not become The Bear.
Although Mr. Beef has long been a popular destination in Chicago’s River North neighborhood (Jay Leno was one infamous patron), the surge in interest following the debut of “The Bear” is something the Zucchero family is still adjusting to. Before his passing in 2023, Joe Zucchero took pride in both Chris Storer and the creative team behind “The Bear.” Nevertheless, his family, including Chris Zucchero and his sister, is committed to preserving the small business’s legacy.
As “The Beef” is fully developed into a Michelin-caliber restaurant in “The Bear’s” third season, showcasing an extravagant menu that captures the delightful disorder of fine dining, Mr. Beef — which remains operational as always — has no intention of evolving in the same way. In fact, Zucchero has declined numerous promotional chances offered by the show and reportedly has yet to watch it himself. He prefers to maintain the traditional approach — a mindset that contributes to Mr. Beef’s status as the iconic eatery it continues to be.
