In “Lamb,” Cicero admits that he canceled the wagyu order.
The revelation arrives when the restaurant is already dealing with severe financial and logistical pressure. Tina learns that The Bear’s wagyu delivery has been canceled, and Sydney asks who made the decision. Cicero, the restaurant’s investor and longtime family connection, acknowledges that he did it because the order cost about $4,000.
The choice reflects the season’s central conflict: The Bear is trying to operate at a high culinary level while facing unsustainable expenses and uncertainty about its future. Wagyu is associated with highly marbled beef and premium pricing, so canceling a large order is a blunt but understandable cost-cutting move.
A common mix-up is confusing the canceled new order with the wagyu already on hand. The episode indicates that the restaurant still has some remaining wagyu, but the expected delivery will not arrive. Cicero’s decision therefore changes the kitchen’s inventory rather than eliminating wagyu from the menu entirely.