Hi Lo BBQ / Lazy Bear

A unique building and restaurant remodel inspires a second restaurant read more...

The 1800 SF restaurant interior was inspired by the unique cathedral-like space of the original 1900 building. Previously housing a Filipino-American Hall, we exposed the roof’s wood framing , and chose materials to achieve a raw-modern-warm style that echoed Hi Lo Chef Scott Youkilis’ sophisticated global take on rustic barbeque.

The rich material palette features charred cedar plank siding (aka “Shou Sugi Ban”, an ancient Japanese wood preservation technique, and a visual metaphor for BBQ), hand plastered walls , salvaged tin, rustic/industrial recycled gas cap pendant lights, and communal white oak tables with salvaged 10″ square douglas fir beams as bases. These highly textural elements contrast with the mezzanine’s sleek glass railing and custom amber glass apothecary bottle chandelier, designed by the architects, with 1100 amber apothecary bottles sourced from San Francisco’s own ScrapSF.

A year after opening, the owners of Lazy Bear, approached Hi Lo, offering to purchase the renovated restaurant space. We, along with Colling Design/Build, Small Batch Creative, and the clients, kept the strongest design elements of the former Hi Lo space and added key Lazy Bear camp/scout/lodge elements, mixed with a mid-century vibe. The POS counter was removed to foster the interactive, creative epicurean philosophy. The upstairs mezzanine was reimagined as a living room/ pre-dinner lounge space. Hosting two “dinner party” seatings each night, table layout is simplified with 2 large communal tables in the middle of the dining room.