I love an intimate dining experience and Cow by Bear was just that! Definitely a pricey dining adventure but I honestly loved every second of it. They have all of the guests meet at a location across the street prior to dinner and then the host and chef bear met us and walked us over to a location for the dinner. The table was absolutely stunning, I wish I could replicate it! The menu sounded amazing and I really loved every bite of food that we got. It was 5 courses total along with wine pairings for each. I really loved getting to be apart of this experience and the Spring menu looks amazing so I may have to splurge and do it again! I could go on and on but I will let it be a surprise for those who decide to join in on this intimate dinner.
TheZombieoutbreak ..
Amazing. It's not a meal, it's an experience. I was lucky enough to be served by Bear JR on his first run. I am not a seafood enjoyer but I trusted him and was so glad I did. First time ever eating a few seafood items especially scallops. Absolutely delicious. A creative taco that surprised and amazed me. A wonderful experience from beginning to end for everyone attending. I suggest going in knowing nothing and just have a blast.
Mayra M.
If I could give them a 100 star review I would. This was hands down the best dining and culinary experience I've ever had. Brought my husband here for his birthday and he was over the moon! Our host Melissa was phenomenal and explained every course and pairing so well. Chef Bear is a true talent, every dish we had blew our minds. We made new friends and had the best time. I can't recommend this place enough, if you're on the fence just do it! It's such a special place and a beautiful environment to dine in. I look forward to future visits here.
Rachel J.
Bottom line, don't come here unless you are an absolute carnivore. My husband surprised me for my birthday with a dinner event for myself and 14 friends. I'm pescatarian. I grew up on a farm, and 10 year old me was left traumatized about where beef comes from. From uni to foie gras, that's the only non-foodie sticking point for me. Left to my own devices, I would have never chosen this place. I absolutely adore the idea of a pop up dinner, but this was the WORST meal I have had in years. My extraordinarily overpriced 40th birthday entrée was basically just raw cauliflower with a very aesthetically pleasing window dressing. After so many years in operation, I am appalled they only have a strictly vegan and non vegan menu options. I wish I could tell you that the overall experience made up for it, but the first courses were mediocre at best. At a minimum, I thought we could linger on their back patio. As soon as desert was cleared, we were pushed out across the street back to Nolita. This place was an epic disappointment. I LOVE a good foodie experience, but this was not it.
Katie W.
We have been to CBB twice now and both were exceptional. The food is decedent and the atmosphere is so inviting. The intimate dinner party setting allows for very attentive service. I was pregnant during one of our visits so they substituted the normally planned cocktails with yummy mocktails.
Penney L.
This was a fun & intimate experience. Was really interesting to dine with other strangers who are also foodies! Service was great, staff were very friendly & personable & the setting was beautiful, sunset, outdoor space with Photo Booth & the atmosphere was very welcoming. But the food!! Everything on the menu along with wine pairings were impeccable. To start we had a hush puppy amuse on top of goddess aioli paired with Riesling.Then we had the garden watermelon salad, which offered a variety of different textures which I really appreciated, paired with rosè.Then we had ricotta raviolo with asparagus & peas paired with Chardonnay.Then I had a squash roulade on top of forbidden rice paired with Pinot noir. (I had the vegetarian option, but the offered dish was chicken & pork roulade).Then I had the mushroom steak with potato pavè paired with bordeaux. (Again, vegetarian option so the offered dish was ribeye).Then for dessert we had panna cotta paired with a delicious drink-matcha milk punch.10/10 would highly recommend & will definitely be returning for another dining experience!
Penney P
I absolutely loved this experience! It was really intimate, yet interesting to dine with other strangers who are also foodies. All the food, from start to finish was delicious. The wine pairings were perfect. The hush puppy amuse definitely woke my tastebuds up, I loved the different textures that the watermelon salad offered. I was never a huge fan of asparagus, but the asparagus & pea ravioli was delicious. squash roulade was amazing. mushroom steak was really good-paired with the Bordeaux was perfection & the panna Cotta with the matcha milk beverage was probably my favorite. 10/10 definitely going to recommend this experience & would come to another cow by bear dining experience again!
Lynda F
This was the most enjoyable evening, EVER. The fun we had, the amazing food we enjoyed, the wine pairings, the setting. Everything was perfectly executed. Every meal course was almost too pretty to eat, but eat we did. I highly recommend this venue, hope to go back. ???
Nichole P.
Such a great experience! Chef Bear...whoever he or she is...makes fine dining approachable, whimsical (amuse-buche, served literally in a fairy tale book!) and fun. The technical preparation from the French menu I experienced was absolute perfection. Some of the fine details (salt and harmony/texture of a few sauces) were slightly off, but that's just me being super picky. Our hostess was wonderful and very entertaining. I would absolutely do this again and recommend it to anyone who loves a unique dining experience in San Diego.
Carrie T.
I had such an AMAZING night with 17 of my girlfriends at Cow by Bear last night! I originally was not going to go when I learned about the opportunity- I do not eat meat and am unable to eat gluten. Therefore, I usually am unable to eat at fixed menu places. My friend, who was coordinating the evening, said she would ask them about accommodations for me. Color me SHOCKED when she told me the accommodations were of no issue for them! My food was delicious, but more important than that, I was included! I cannot thank Cow by Bear enough for making such a great evening possible for me! It means so much.
My daughters and I attended this unique dining experience last night. We didn't know what to expect because none of us read the reviews, but we were more than pleasantly surprised. The venue, only disclosed the night before, was lovely. The outdoor area was perfect for the initial greeting of photos and champagne. The dining room was inviting and decorated with care and attention to detail-- a lovely ambience to enjoy a special meal with friends. I enjoy fine wine, and the wine pairings were excellent-- complex and original. My favorite dish of the evening was the tomato and stone fruit burrata salad with pickled Fresno chiles placed over a puree of arugula. It was one singular sensation! I need this recipe. And finally, the friendly staff worked seamlessly together to make the dinner unforgettable. WOW by Bear!
Isha C.
What an amazing dining experience!!! We had no idea this place existed until we accidentally came across it on Tock while looking for sushi reservation. $195 for 5 course with wine pairing is really an excellent deal! Below were my favorites that night: Tomato and stone fruit burrata salad - so simple yet so delicious! Love that they use locally sourced ingredients. The whole dish tasted very fresh and summary. Flavors were well balanced with a nice kick from the chili. Halibut ceviche - my absolute favorite dish of the night! I like ceviche and orders them whenever I go. However, this is definitely one of the best I've had! The coconut milk is light, creamy and not over powering at all. Duck confit ravioli with ricotta filling - I mean... who doesn't love a homemade ravioli topped with lemon purée sauce and pecorino? SO who claims he doesn't like Italian food ate all of his and stole half of mine. They did a great job with the wine pairing as well! Instead of having one large communal table like they did in the past, they've now separated the groups into 3 different tables. We sat with another couple and had a great time throughout the night. Can't wait to go back again and try their fall menu!Thank you Chef Bear for a wonderful dinner!
Beatrice P.
This dining experience was very strange and overall a huge disappointment. My husband had mentioned this idea to me a few years before I actually committed to the outrageous price tag. I only say outrageous because the whole experience just does not live up to to what it costs. We were given a location on India Street in Little Italy and arrived at the residence promptly by 7:00 pm. Doors were open and we were greeted right away and told where to sit. The greeting seemed rushed. We were ushered to a table and then given champagne and an appetizer. There was a mix up with the table next to us and our table so the couple next to my husband and I received two different appetizers. It was confusing, and a young woman who seemed to be in charge of the organization of things seemed flustered. Next course came out pretty quickly after the appetizer. It was a tomato salad with burrata and wasn't that impressive. It seemed to have been plated and sitting for awhile. But more disappointing than the taste of the food was the explanation of it. A woman sous chef came out with each course and in a hundred words or less explained exactly what we could already gather from looking at the plate. She didn't engage the audience, half the crowd wasn't paying attention, and she honestly appeared to want to finish her explanation and go back to the kitchen. It was pretty disappointing. Did nothing to enhance the "dining experience" but did make the experience more awkward because you could feel a lack of connection between the cook and the courses. Third course was a halibut ceviche in a coconut milk, Thai style. It just didn't work together, the flavors were not good together but we made the best of it. This course took longer, wine was poured and we waited. The length between courses appeared to have no fluidity. Fourth course was the cow dish, wagyu mbeef. It was served room temperature even cold. I know it's best cooked cold but it was served cold too which neither my husband nor myself enjoyed because the fat was hardened and cold. By this course it was evident that the lady in charge of organizing and speaking throughout the event was inebriated. She was slurring through her explanations and making jokes but none of it was entertaining. Not to mention that another young lady who was working for Cow by Bear came around a few times and seemed to promote herself to our table. She mentioned she was going to take over the business. It was awkward. Last course was a sorbet served with a dessert wine. Nothing impressive, just lack luster. The whole experience was again strange. It didn't seem well put together, the staff seemed to struggle to work together well, and the food was lacking. Overall, I couldn't recommend this experience to anyone because it failed in all areas.
Lexy E.
Wow! What a great dining experience! I've never done anything like this before and I'm so glad I did! I first heard of Cow by Bear on the Netflix show Fresh, Fried, and Crispy. As they did a San Diego episode. This is a reservation only, prepaid, 5 course experience. I believe there are usually 12 people at each seated dinner. The one I went to was the special Waygu and Whiskey tasting. I snagged the last ticket and went by myself. There were 20 of us. The dinner is $195 ($200 for the Waygu dinner) and that includes tip and service fee. The dinner location is revealed a day before. Our dinner was at Nolita Hall's event space, what a cute space it is! It has a very indoor/outdoor feel and newly renovated. I was greeted by super friendly staff who gave me a glass of sparkling wine and didn't make me feel weird about being by myself. Each of the five courses were made up of Waygu beef in some way and had a whiskey to go with it, which the whiskey connoisseur described to us. Bear's interpreter chef explained each of the courses to us as well. The first course was a Waygu tartar, delicious! Really great start. The second course was Waygu brisket Kansas style. Oh wow! This was super tasty! I totally forgot to take a proper picture. The third course was Ribeye ebds stroganoff. This was super delicious, seasoned well, full of flavor. I think everyone at the table were all saying "mmmm" a lot! The fourth course was amazing! It was an A5 Waygu filet with a sherry sauce, potato purée, and carrot. Oh man this was so good! I've never had a proper Waygu filet before and wow, so good! The fifth course was Waygu fat turned in to ice cream and their take on a banana split, it had banana and chocolate as well. This was super tasty! And Bear comes around at the end for pictures. Overall this was such an amazing experience, I got to know a couple of the strangers sitting next to me. We connected on the same love of great food. I can't wait to come back with a couple of friends to share this experience. Well done!
Catie S.
Rewind back to the great PNW Heat Wave of 2021. My husband and I needed something that would capture our interest when our house was 91 degrees inside, and we found Fresh, Fried and Crispy, and were immediately entertained by the idea of a secret dinner party served by a Bear in San Diego.Like any normal people, we planned a trip from Seattle to San Diego to meet Chef Bear. A last minute address was sent to us to an unassuming fence in a cute neighborhood downtown. What happened next was such a fun and delicious evening. We got to meet our fantastic dinner guests - we all warmed up as the wine flowed through. Bear's Handlers (the servers), were also genuine, warm, friendly and teriffic hosts. The food was phenomenal - every course was delicious, locally inspired and delicious. And unlike most 5 course meals that are more plate than actual food, we left full, happy, and grateful that we had an uber home. Our friends thought we were a bit nuts to plan a 4 day weekend around Chef Bear, but as I look at the polaroid framed in our house, we would absolutely do it again. Thank you, Chef Bear, and Bear's handlers!
I love an intimate dining experience and Cow by Bear was just that! Definitely a pricey dining adventure but I honestly loved every second of it. They have all of the guests meet at a location across the street prior to dinner and then the host and chef bear met us and walked us over to a location for the dinner. The table was absolutely stunning, I wish I could replicate it! The menu sounded amazing and I really loved every bite of food that we got. It was 5 courses total along with wine pairings for each. I really loved getting to be apart of this experience and the Spring menu looks amazing so I may have to splurge and do it again! I could go on and on but I will let it be a surprise for those who decide to join in on this intimate dinner.
Amazing. It's not a meal, it's an experience. I was lucky enough to be served by Bear JR on his first run. I am not a seafood enjoyer but I trusted him and was so glad I did. First time ever eating a few seafood items especially scallops. Absolutely delicious. A creative taco that surprised and amazed me. A wonderful experience from beginning to end for everyone attending. I suggest going in knowing nothing and just have a blast.
If I could give them a 100 star review I would. This was hands down the best dining and culinary experience I've ever had. Brought my husband here for his birthday and he was over the moon! Our host Melissa was phenomenal and explained every course and pairing so well. Chef Bear is a true talent, every dish we had blew our minds. We made new friends and had the best time. I can't recommend this place enough, if you're on the fence just do it! It's such a special place and a beautiful environment to dine in. I look forward to future visits here.
Bottom line, don't come here unless you are an absolute carnivore. My husband surprised me for my birthday with a dinner event for myself and 14 friends. I'm pescatarian. I grew up on a farm, and 10 year old me was left traumatized about where beef comes from. From uni to foie gras, that's the only non-foodie sticking point for me. Left to my own devices, I would have never chosen this place. I absolutely adore the idea of a pop up dinner, but this was the WORST meal I have had in years. My extraordinarily overpriced 40th birthday entrée was basically just raw cauliflower with a very aesthetically pleasing window dressing. After so many years in operation, I am appalled they only have a strictly vegan and non vegan menu options. I wish I could tell you that the overall experience made up for it, but the first courses were mediocre at best. At a minimum, I thought we could linger on their back patio. As soon as desert was cleared, we were pushed out across the street back to Nolita. This place was an epic disappointment. I LOVE a good foodie experience, but this was not it.
We have been to CBB twice now and both were exceptional. The food is decedent and the atmosphere is so inviting. The intimate dinner party setting allows for very attentive service. I was pregnant during one of our visits so they substituted the normally planned cocktails with yummy mocktails.
This was a fun & intimate experience. Was really interesting to dine with other strangers who are also foodies! Service was great, staff were very friendly & personable & the setting was beautiful, sunset, outdoor space with Photo Booth & the atmosphere was very welcoming. But the food!! Everything on the menu along with wine pairings were impeccable. To start we had a hush puppy amuse on top of goddess aioli paired with Riesling.Then we had the garden watermelon salad, which offered a variety of different textures which I really appreciated, paired with rosè.Then we had ricotta raviolo with asparagus & peas paired with Chardonnay.Then I had a squash roulade on top of forbidden rice paired with Pinot noir. (I had the vegetarian option, but the offered dish was chicken & pork roulade).Then I had the mushroom steak with potato pavè paired with bordeaux. (Again, vegetarian option so the offered dish was ribeye).Then for dessert we had panna cotta paired with a delicious drink-matcha milk punch.10/10 would highly recommend & will definitely be returning for another dining experience!
I absolutely loved this experience! It was really intimate, yet interesting to dine with other strangers who are also foodies. All the food, from start to finish was delicious. The wine pairings were perfect. The hush puppy amuse definitely woke my tastebuds up, I loved the different textures that the watermelon salad offered. I was never a huge fan of asparagus, but the asparagus & pea ravioli was delicious. squash roulade was amazing. mushroom steak was really good-paired with the Bordeaux was perfection & the panna Cotta with the matcha milk beverage was probably my favorite. 10/10 definitely going to recommend this experience & would come to another cow by bear dining experience again!
This was the most enjoyable evening, EVER. The fun we had, the amazing food we enjoyed, the wine pairings, the setting. Everything was perfectly executed. Every meal course was almost too pretty to eat, but eat we did. I highly recommend this venue, hope to go back. ???
Such a great experience! Chef Bear...whoever he or she is...makes fine dining approachable, whimsical (amuse-buche, served literally in a fairy tale book!) and fun. The technical preparation from the French menu I experienced was absolute perfection. Some of the fine details (salt and harmony/texture of a few sauces) were slightly off, but that's just me being super picky. Our hostess was wonderful and very entertaining. I would absolutely do this again and recommend it to anyone who loves a unique dining experience in San Diego.
I had such an AMAZING night with 17 of my girlfriends at Cow by Bear last night! I originally was not going to go when I learned about the opportunity- I do not eat meat and am unable to eat gluten. Therefore, I usually am unable to eat at fixed menu places. My friend, who was coordinating the evening, said she would ask them about accommodations for me. Color me SHOCKED when she told me the accommodations were of no issue for them! My food was delicious, but more important than that, I was included! I cannot thank Cow by Bear enough for making such a great evening possible for me! It means so much.
Restaurantji Recommends
My daughters and I attended this unique dining experience last night. We didn't know what to expect because none of us read the reviews, but we were more than pleasantly surprised. The venue, only disclosed the night before, was lovely. The outdoor area was perfect for the initial greeting of photos and champagne. The dining room was inviting and decorated with care and attention to detail-- a lovely ambience to enjoy a special meal with friends. I enjoy fine wine, and the wine pairings were excellent-- complex and original. My favorite dish of the evening was the tomato and stone fruit burrata salad with pickled Fresno chiles placed over a puree of arugula. It was one singular sensation! I need this recipe. And finally, the friendly staff worked seamlessly together to make the dinner unforgettable. WOW by Bear!
What an amazing dining experience!!! We had no idea this place existed until we accidentally came across it on Tock while looking for sushi reservation. $195 for 5 course with wine pairing is really an excellent deal! Below were my favorites that night: Tomato and stone fruit burrata salad - so simple yet so delicious! Love that they use locally sourced ingredients. The whole dish tasted very fresh and summary. Flavors were well balanced with a nice kick from the chili. Halibut ceviche - my absolute favorite dish of the night! I like ceviche and orders them whenever I go. However, this is definitely one of the best I've had! The coconut milk is light, creamy and not over powering at all. Duck confit ravioli with ricotta filling - I mean... who doesn't love a homemade ravioli topped with lemon purée sauce and pecorino? SO who claims he doesn't like Italian food ate all of his and stole half of mine. They did a great job with the wine pairing as well! Instead of having one large communal table like they did in the past, they've now separated the groups into 3 different tables. We sat with another couple and had a great time throughout the night. Can't wait to go back again and try their fall menu!Thank you Chef Bear for a wonderful dinner!
This dining experience was very strange and overall a huge disappointment. My husband had mentioned this idea to me a few years before I actually committed to the outrageous price tag. I only say outrageous because the whole experience just does not live up to to what it costs. We were given a location on India Street in Little Italy and arrived at the residence promptly by 7:00 pm. Doors were open and we were greeted right away and told where to sit. The greeting seemed rushed. We were ushered to a table and then given champagne and an appetizer. There was a mix up with the table next to us and our table so the couple next to my husband and I received two different appetizers. It was confusing, and a young woman who seemed to be in charge of the organization of things seemed flustered. Next course came out pretty quickly after the appetizer. It was a tomato salad with burrata and wasn't that impressive. It seemed to have been plated and sitting for awhile. But more disappointing than the taste of the food was the explanation of it. A woman sous chef came out with each course and in a hundred words or less explained exactly what we could already gather from looking at the plate. She didn't engage the audience, half the crowd wasn't paying attention, and she honestly appeared to want to finish her explanation and go back to the kitchen. It was pretty disappointing. Did nothing to enhance the "dining experience" but did make the experience more awkward because you could feel a lack of connection between the cook and the courses. Third course was a halibut ceviche in a coconut milk, Thai style. It just didn't work together, the flavors were not good together but we made the best of it. This course took longer, wine was poured and we waited. The length between courses appeared to have no fluidity. Fourth course was the cow dish, wagyu mbeef. It was served room temperature even cold. I know it's best cooked cold but it was served cold too which neither my husband nor myself enjoyed because the fat was hardened and cold. By this course it was evident that the lady in charge of organizing and speaking throughout the event was inebriated. She was slurring through her explanations and making jokes but none of it was entertaining. Not to mention that another young lady who was working for Cow by Bear came around a few times and seemed to promote herself to our table. She mentioned she was going to take over the business. It was awkward. Last course was a sorbet served with a dessert wine. Nothing impressive, just lack luster. The whole experience was again strange. It didn't seem well put together, the staff seemed to struggle to work together well, and the food was lacking. Overall, I couldn't recommend this experience to anyone because it failed in all areas.
Wow! What a great dining experience! I've never done anything like this before and I'm so glad I did! I first heard of Cow by Bear on the Netflix show Fresh, Fried, and Crispy. As they did a San Diego episode. This is a reservation only, prepaid, 5 course experience. I believe there are usually 12 people at each seated dinner. The one I went to was the special Waygu and Whiskey tasting. I snagged the last ticket and went by myself. There were 20 of us. The dinner is $195 ($200 for the Waygu dinner) and that includes tip and service fee. The dinner location is revealed a day before. Our dinner was at Nolita Hall's event space, what a cute space it is! It has a very indoor/outdoor feel and newly renovated. I was greeted by super friendly staff who gave me a glass of sparkling wine and didn't make me feel weird about being by myself. Each of the five courses were made up of Waygu beef in some way and had a whiskey to go with it, which the whiskey connoisseur described to us. Bear's interpreter chef explained each of the courses to us as well. The first course was a Waygu tartar, delicious! Really great start. The second course was Waygu brisket Kansas style. Oh wow! This was super tasty! I totally forgot to take a proper picture. The third course was Ribeye ebds stroganoff. This was super delicious, seasoned well, full of flavor. I think everyone at the table were all saying "mmmm" a lot! The fourth course was amazing! It was an A5 Waygu filet with a sherry sauce, potato purée, and carrot. Oh man this was so good! I've never had a proper Waygu filet before and wow, so good! The fifth course was Waygu fat turned in to ice cream and their take on a banana split, it had banana and chocolate as well. This was super tasty! And Bear comes around at the end for pictures. Overall this was such an amazing experience, I got to know a couple of the strangers sitting next to me. We connected on the same love of great food. I can't wait to come back with a couple of friends to share this experience. Well done!
Rewind back to the great PNW Heat Wave of 2021. My husband and I needed something that would capture our interest when our house was 91 degrees inside, and we found Fresh, Fried and Crispy, and were immediately entertained by the idea of a secret dinner party served by a Bear in San Diego.Like any normal people, we planned a trip from Seattle to San Diego to meet Chef Bear. A last minute address was sent to us to an unassuming fence in a cute neighborhood downtown. What happened next was such a fun and delicious evening. We got to meet our fantastic dinner guests - we all warmed up as the wine flowed through. Bear's Handlers (the servers), were also genuine, warm, friendly and teriffic hosts. The food was phenomenal - every course was delicious, locally inspired and delicious. And unlike most 5 course meals that are more plate than actual food, we left full, happy, and grateful that we had an uber home. Our friends thought we were a bit nuts to plan a 4 day weekend around Chef Bear, but as I look at the polaroid framed in our house, we would absolutely do it again. Thank you, Chef Bear, and Bear's handlers!