FX's "The Bear" Is A Must-Watch If You've Ever Worked In A Restaurant

"You didn't say corner."

There's something about working in a restaurant that's unlike any other job.

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Especially if you're used to working at a fast-paced high-end location. Your shifts can feel like a constant hammering of taking orders, making sure you're entertaining guests, ensuring your orders came out properly, and, at the end, looking down and hoping that your service was good enough to get tipped (and also not end up losing money after your own tip out to runners, bussers, bartenders, or barbacks).

I've never been a chef, but I've gotten to know a few over my years in hospitality. As much as sometimes we would get slammed in the front of house (the dining area where guests enjoy meals), the back of house (the kitchen) can get pretty hellish and equally intense when you're dealing with a hierarchy of chefs.

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That's why I think FX's The Bear hits home with current and former employees of restaurants.

©FX Networks / Courtesy Everett Collection

The show captures a lot of the chaos that happens in the kitchen that not many other shows or movies have been able to represent in the past.

© FX Networks / Courtesy Everett Collection

So now I'm going to give you three simple reasons why this show should be on your watch list if you've ever worked in a restaurant.

1. The Story

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We've seen other films and shows that depict what life is like at a restaurant, but The Bear's story is one that combines tragedy and comedy. We see this young chef Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto (played by Jeremy Allen White) have to take over his dead brother's failing restaurant, "The Beef," after being regarded as one of the best chefs in the US. His experience in fine dining is then implemented in this mom-and-pop location where the old employees who worked with his brother are somewhat set in their ways.

He's not only trying to change the culture but also the food, which puts Carmy at odds with his cousin Richie (played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach) who was close to his older brother and ran The Beef before him. His story lets us learn more about the grief he is dealing with while trying to turn around his brother's business and seeing how the other characters adapt to this new regime.

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At the heart of this show IS the restaurant, and it's not only a location in which the characters work, but it's also a part of the story and has its own erratic personality. This lends more to the story and characters adapting to the new environment, which can be frustrating to watch but will also make you laugh when you wonder, What else can happen at The Beef?

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2. The Characters

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Like any restaurant, all the positions are vital to running a healthy operation, and this show tackles that as well. Though clearly, some characters get more shine than others, the philosophy where everybody is just as important as the other when it comes to functioning and staying above "The Weeds" is shown. There are also the interactions between each character that not only will make you laugh but in tense moments make you wonder if somebody is going to end up fighting. 

You have Carmy and Richie who will get "Hey Cousin!" stuck in your head from their fights and interactions, to the new sous chef Sydney who has a similar background in fine dining but is not accustomed to the craziness at The Beef. Marcus is the most lovable of all the characters who gets the drive to create the best pastries and has a carefree attitude that balances so many of the personalities and many more.

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Overall, you get to see the old guard really come into their own as the show progresses in some of the most fulfilling ways as well as seeing the new guard realize certain things from the past are meant to be kept. 

The camaraderie you gain from absolutely getting your ass kicked during a busy shift is shown throughout, and that for me really hit me with nostalgia when it came to my time in hospitality.

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3. The Kitchen Representation

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There's something about the way The Bear depicts the frustration that goes on in the kitchen that I don't remember seeing in any film or show. Whether it's not using the proper kitchen terms like "Behind" or "Corner" when you're supposed to or seeing multiple chits (ticket orders) on the expo line while a chef is trying to make sense of it all, this show captures all the moments of a high-volume shift at a restaurant.

The way The Bear is shot you feel the confined space of it all as if you're on that line whipping up meals and feeling the intensity that comes with it, which for me was exciting as a viewer.

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There's a specific episode where the kitchen gets absolutely demolished due to Togos, which had me dreaming I was back in hospitality that night. If you've worked in a restaurant, you remember those "I forgot to give this table or order something" dreams.

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These might seem like small details, but it's these details that really sell what it's like working in these incredibly intense environments. Working in these kitchens can feel stressful but satisfying when in the end you and your co-workers realize you survived it all. 

On top of it all, I wouldn't be surprised if this show was nominated for an Emmy for how good the show's actors are.

© FX on Hulu / Courtesy Everett Collection

Specifically, the lead Jeremy Allen White for his role as Carmen, although he wouldn't be complete without his supporting cast, like Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas), Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), Marcus (Lionel Boyce), Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), and many others that really made the show all that more interesting and entertaining.

Did this show bring back that restaurant nostalgia? Let us know in the comments below, and here's the trailer to give you a tease of what to expect from FX's The Bear.

FX Network / Via youtube.com