San Francisco's culinary scene is about to bid farewell to Osito, its only Michelin-starred restaurant celebrated for a distinctive fire-driven menu, which will notably shutter its doors after an impressive Mother's Day brunch this coming Sunday. Chef Seth Stowaway, the architect behind Osito's signature dishes cooked entirely over an open flame, has confirmed the impending closure, citing the economic landscape of the city as being less than kind to restaurateurs. "We are proud of the restaurant that we created and grew from the ground up in 2021," Stowaway told the SF Chronicle. After opening at 2875 18th St. and subsequent delays caused by the pandemic, Osito swiftly gained Michelin recognition in less than a year.
While running a busy establishment and garnering accolades like a Michelin star in December 2022, as reported by The SF Standard, Stowaway faced the harsh financial realities of keeping a restaurant afloat in the demanding San Francisco economy. Despite often being “very busy,” according to Stowaway, the $15,000 a month rent was unsustainable in the long term, and the landlord remained unmoved by negotiations, believing "the space is worth what it’s worth." A pandemic-inspired hit, Osito provided a Big Sur ambiance within the city's Mission District, where seasonal produce and whole animal butchery were the stars of an ever-changing menu that once featured an exclusive $295 tasting experience for no more than 52 diners seated communally.
Osito's journey has been marked by evolution, from a singular, expensive tasting menu to the inclusion of more accessible à la carte options and a less formal dining approach as the years progressed. With a pivot that saw the once accompanying cocktail bar, Lilliana, transform into The Bar at Osito, and later a venue for Bar Agricole pop-ups, Osito has shown adaptability in an ever-changing dining landscape.
As the final plates are served this weekend, including items like grilled pork loin and soft scrambles with English peas and beurre blanc, Stowaway maintains a positive outlook. Despite the closure, he expressed heartfelt pride for the concept he created, “Truly, Osito is one of the best restaurants” in San Francisco, he said, in The SF Standard interview, laughing despite the circumstances. Furthering his venture into the restaurant industry, he recently launched The Same Sun, a collective aimed at supporting independent business owners by pooling resources to offset operational costs.
