"Scallop" is the third episode of the fourth season of the American comedy-drama television series The Bear. It is the 31st overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Rene Gube and directed by series creator Christopher Storer. It was released on Hulu on June 25, 2025, along with the rest of the season.
Sydney creates an updated, less costly version of the Bear's scallop dish, involving fewer ingredients; Carmy praises it and has it added to the menu that same day. Richie continues putting off the decision on whether to attend his ex-wife Tiff's wedding. Donna helps Cicero's efforts to sell his house. Ebraheim hires a business consultant named Albert Schnur to mentor him on how to expand the Beef window, which is currently the only part of the restaurant making profit. Marcus asks Carmy for more "firepower" with desserts. Richie arranges a surprise for a family dining at the restaurant for the first time with a snow-themed final course, delighting them. Carmy visits Claire at her home to apologize for his outburst in the refrigerator during the Bear's soft opening and opens up to her about his anxieties about their relationship. After leaving, Carmy calls Pete asking to update the terms of the restaurant's partnership agreement.
Context
The Bear crew deploy a known technique involving a pressure washer to make fake snow for a faux winter wonderland experience for a guest.[1]
Ted Fak (Ricky Staffieri) mentions the 2001 Disney Channel movie Motocrossed when describing his feeling of being in love with Kelly (Mitra Jouhari).[2] Loosely based on the Shakespeare play Twelfth Night, the lead character dresses as her brother to compete in motocross races.[3]
Production
Casting
"Scallop" introduces the character of business consultant Albert Schnur (played by "borderline overqualified" guest star Rob Reiner), who begins collaborating with Ebra (Edwin Lee Gibson) to "create opportunity" for the family business.[4] TV writer and essayist Gary Janetti plays a restaurant customer named Mr. Clark who may or may not be a restaurant investor or a reviewer or a Michelin Guide inspector.[5][6]
Costuming
Sydney wears the "Double RL" indigo scarf sold by MyTheresa.[7]
Sydney's scallop cook is lighted quite specifically: "Instead of the kitchen's usual cool tones, Sydney is colorfully illuminated by a shifting array of vibrant blues, pinks, and purples, a combination sometimes dubbed 'bisexual lighting.' (In this case, I suspect the lighting was purely an aesthetic choice, because while it could be hinting at something for Sydney's love life, we just don't have enough indicators from The Bear to definitively classify Sydney's sexuality.)"[9]
Music
The soundtrack songs in this episode were "Fast Slow Disco" by St. Vincent, "(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up" by the Ronettes, "Slim Slow Slider/I Start Breaking Down (Live)" by Van Morrison, "Only You Know" by Dion, "Haunted When the Minutes Drag" by Love and Rockets, and "Finest Worksong" by R.E.M.[10] The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the use of "Only You Know" over the family gathering to enjoy snow scene felt like "a collective reward."[11]
Food (and wine)
One recipe developer attempting to recreate Sydney's scallop dish theorized that the ingredients in the orange ginger compound butter could have been marmalade, minced orange zest, and minced fresh ginger, combined with either Kerrygold or Animal Farm Creamery butter (the "Orwellian butter" from season three).[12][13] Another recipe involved creating basil oil, and the ingredients for the compound butter were orange zest, orange juice, ginger paste, garlic paste, and heavy cream.[14] Tasting Table noted that "Sydney talks about an orange and ginger compound butter, but the final dish she delivers is largely obscured by some kind of pale foam."[14]
Sweeps suggested a Chenin blanc to pair with Marcus' strawberry panna cotta.[15] Panna cotta, which means "cooked cream" in Italian, is a light custard, typically served cold.[16] Chenin blanc grapes, which are grown in California and France's Loire Valley, produce a "intense, spicy, slightly sweet wine."[17] It has been described as a "shapeshifter" or "chameleon" grape that produces an array of wines but a sweet chenin blanc wine is considered an excellent match to a fruit-centric dish.[18]
Critical reviews
The episode opens with a kaleidoscopic montage of Sydney preparing lightly seared scallops with an orange ginger compound butter, a prospective dish for the restaurant's more economical, reduced-components menu. She presents the dish to executive chef Carmen for review; after one bite, he declares it "perfect" and "better than perfect," and tells her to "put it up."[12][19] The San Francisco Chronicle reviewer commended the episode's "extended, beautifully choreographed sequence" of Sydney cooking as a highlight of season four.[20]
"Scallop" is the first of a run of more cathartic episodes after the emotional doldrums of season three. The Ringer reviewer argues this is because of Carmy's new willingness to relinquish control: "consciously or not, he opts to let his employees come into their own. And for once, the Bear operates...efficiently?"[21] The A.V. Club reviewer commented "It's been hard, even punishing, to have watched The Bear fail for so long, so it's a true release to see the gang have a genuinely great night. There are finally more green Post-its on the order cards than red, Sweeps has found his stride as a somm, and Syd's scallop dish is a huge hit. Hell, Richie even trusts Carm to amp up the presentation on an Italian beef he's bringing to the VIP table."[19]
Lady Geeks Media commended Edebiri's performance, writing about Sydney's reaction to Carmy's declaration that her scallop was "more than perfect": "This unprecedented declaration has a profound effect on Sydney, particularly in light of the past three seasons. In the span of 14 seconds, thanks to an acting masterclass by Ayo Edebiri, we see the weight of Carmy’s words wash over her. The moment demonstrates how, even though she is far beyond relying on Carmy’s approval, Sydney still very much respects his opinion."[9]
Retrospective reviews
In 2025, Vulture ranked "Scallop" as 19th-best out of 38 episodes of The Bear, describing it as "Another pretty damn solid episode, 'Scallop' falters only because it maybe leans a little too far into the 'dream weaving' category."[22]
Collider placed "Scallop" at number 6 on its 2025 list of top 10 episodes of The Bear, commenting "Season four of The Bear has two episodes that are true bangers all the way through, and the first of these is its third episode, 'Scallop'. After the initial fallout of the Chicago Tribune's negative review, the staff of The Bear bounce...and it's really incredible to watch. The best part of the episode is the service that night, which sees all of The Bear's new changes finally pay off."[23]
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