I’ve never had to work in food service, but after watching The Bear, I feel like I have because it carries an air of gritty authenticity that is further amplified by the identifiable blue-collar Chicago atmosphere. It radiates the constant stress and anxiety of working in a professional kitchen. It can be a bit much, like Uncut Gems for chefs, but the performances are so natural that it makes for an intimately addicting series about grief, loss, the drive for success, and, of course, food. Overall, it’s a genuinely pleasant surprise that made me hungry for more episodes and an actual Chicago-style Italian Beef.