Black Bear Diner

My family and I went into black bear to enjoy a nice Sunday breakfast and we end up receiving terrible service. The initial waiter took for ever to come to our table and take our order. When she did, it was to tell us that she would be taking her break and another waiter would be taking our order. The comes over and take our order, and only thing we received was our drinks. We never received the food we ordered. The manager claimed that our order was stuck in the system, and the ticket didn’t print out. The customers that came in and ordered after us didn’t have that problem. They ordered and received their food no problem. We will not be returning to this restaurant due to very and do mean very poor service.

I usually come here for breakfast with my family. The portions are extremely large. I always order off the «Little less» part of the menu as it fills me up pretty well. The wait staff is always super friendly and never mess up orders! The foods is great. You get homemade flavors for not a lot of money. Our waitress this time around was a sweet young lady that made small talk with my infant son. I just love that. I know small kids can sometimes be a hassle to take to restaurants, but she made us all feel very welcome here.

Poor service. Even Burger King brings the food to the table. Shared a chicken fried steak, it was the only thing good, potatoes were cold and bearly brown. Biscuits were rock hard and bready. It will be awhile, if ever, I go again

Let me start of by saying that I really love Black Bear Diner. Usually. We were in this part of town and decided to drop in. I love the pancakes and came in specifically for that. My first set of pancakes looked like they were in a fight. They were beige and oblong. and they looked like the were punctured as well. I sent them back. Second set came out lukewarm and flat.
Hubby ordered the Grizz breakfast. He always has ordered this before from other BB diners. and often has trouble finishing it. Not this time. He had such a small helping of country fried potatoes that needed a few more minutes in the pot. It was very underwhelming.
Overall service was ok. Food was lacking big time. Won’t come to this location again.

Very exceptional customer service at this location. Loved it!
There major issues that have influenced me to NEVER come HERE AGAIN though:
1. I ordered a corned beef hash and there was a hair in the food. I then sent that plate back for a taco salad in replacement
2. The taco salad instead of the season ground beef was topped with a hamburger patty that is generally used for the hamburgers they serve
Due to my inconvenience my meal was comp’d. I’ve been here before but am quite disappointed since I love this place.
I do want to commend my server she was such a joy. Desiree was her name she was awesome

The meal I had was top notch! Everything they make is huge like the taco salad! Best meal I had in 1 month!

I love this place! I have dined in and out and must say I have never had one complaint! I’ve tried so many different things on the menu and just love everything I have tried! For a REAL supper experience at reasonable prices come here! For excellent breakfast 24 – 7 this really is the place! The staff have always been super awesome and kind and always accommodating!

My husband and i have dined at this restaurant for years, usually after pheasant hunting on weekends, or before or after going to Travis Air Force Base for business. We have had generally good service and the food is fine. We are alwsys polite and respectful to all the staff and tip our server generously.
Today, Saturday March 19, 2016 was the first time we experienced overt racial discrimination. I know, because i am a former Trial Attorney with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, am a practicing attorney licensed in California, Hawaii and Washington, D.C. My husband served 21 years in the U.S. Air Force, so he is both a Veteran and a Retiree.
We arrived at 3:30 p.m. a group of 3 was already waiting. When the Hostess came to the podium, I deferred to the goup. They wanted a booth. The Hostess then asked me what was my seating preference, and I also said we wanted a booth. The Hostess told us that 2 booths were being cleaned, and then both parties would be seated.
John came up and announced the booth for the group of 3 was ready. My husband was already standing near the left wall, and I went closer to the left side of the podium to wait for our turn. By then, two white men had come in and were standing near the window to the right of me. John asked if the men and we were both groups of 2 for booths. We said yes. Without hesitation, John immediately turned to the men and told them he would seat them now. The men rushed around me and followed John to the booth. I looked at my husband and asked, «How did that happen?» We knew, so my husband said, «Let’s go.»
When we got in the car, I called the restaurant. Guess who answered the phone? John! I asked to spesk to the manager. He asked me who I was. I told him and he put me on hold. Three minutes later, while still on hold, I was cut off. I called again. John said, «Oh, she didn’t pick up? My bad.» I asked his name and the Manager’s name. He told me his name and said there are 2 managers, but only gave me the name «Victoria.» Then he said the managers were both busy and could they call me back. I replied «no» and hung up. My husband and I are Filipino-​Americans. Enough said. We will no longer patronize this place.
We grew up with this kind of racial discrimination. My husband also experienced racial discrimination in the military, as well as in the southern states of the USA. We are shocked to experience it yet again in 2016! You bet we are angry and offended!
If I could give a «zero» rating, I would. That is all this place deserves!

I have not even here in quite a while since my last bad review. I was talked into going and I was hoping it’s gotten better. The men’s bathroom is absolutely filthy and the towel dispenser is broken. We arrived at 8:50 in the morning and received our food at 10 o’clock. The food was ice cold. The waitress was very nice but she said the manager runs the Staffing short. It’s too bad. That wasn’t nice restaurant until it was taken over by the current owners a couple years ago. I should never have went back it was a complete waste of time and money. Although, they did remove the cost of our main meals after waiting 20 minutes to talk to a manager.

Phoned an order in tonight at 6:30pm and it is now 8:20pm and the food is NOT HERE! We called and they said it would be another «15 mins» and they’ve already thrown their $ 9.99 delivery charge in and included their own tip. Last time we ordered from them they forgot my cheeseburger and our food was cold. I guess we should’ve learned the first time not to order from this place. Smh

Was visiting from out of town and thought I would give black bear diner a try.
I had a California omelet and the eggs were cooked good. (dislike browned eggs) hashbrowns were delicious also.
I have to stay at the star of the show is the excellent very excellent customer service–
Desiree, Nicole, and Jon were really a great team !
Friendly, efficient, and the restaurant is very clean.
I will return.

I have no idea but I give this place a shot every year to see if things have changed. Yeahhh, no.
Went last night to try to «ALL YOU CAN EAT FISH FRY.» I should’ve taken my hint from the call I made that morning to see if it was on for that night as the sign was not posted outside the restaurant. I think it was a manager who took my call @ 10 AM. «I’m not sure if we’re having it. I haven’t checked to see if the fish came in.» I asked how late they were open and was warned, «We’re open until 11 PM but come early because we run out early.» Um… thanks?
So, I went right after work and… sigh. Where to begin?
Waitress was pleasant and to the point. Food came out quickly as I was there @ 5:15PM.
The initial platter looked «different.» The «hush-​puppies,» I kid you NOT, were the size of Whopper malted milk balls and burnt crunchy outside, gummy-​ish raw inside. The fish was the same color and the serving was 2 smallish medium «starter» pieces. The coleslaw was a mayonnaisse-​vinegary flop but nice color due to purple cabbage. There was a largish order of limp fries with no personality to mention… Oh…I left out greasy. Gross. Didn’t touch a 2^nd one.
Asked if I was «ready for more fish?» Why soitenly! I’m not sure why. I guess I wanted to compare their color/​taste. The initial pieces were dark and, well, I can’t describe the «coating.» It didn’t seem battered OR breaded… just up coated with something that leant nothing to the dish. Tartar sauce was 99% mayonnaise, 0.5% lemon, 0.25% pickle relish and 0.25% other… probably something to make it look white.
Second round of fish came out in pretty good order; about 8 minutes. They brought a new, smaller plate with 2 pieces of fish that were the size fish sticks for JR High school instead of the tiny ones you serve, um, in Grade school, I’m guessing? There was no 2^nd round of hush-​puppies, fries or slaw; just the two smaller pieces of fish than the originals. I immediately noted when the waitress tilted the plate to the table, in placing it before me, it ran with dark brown greasy oil. Ew. The oil was darker than the fish it was dripping off. I’m guessing the oil changing of the deep-​frier standards have changed since I worked fast food… um, at LEAST 1x/​daily/​???
If they’re trying to save MONEY, could someone share that cabbage and mayo colesaw, pseudo hush-​puppies and french fries are cheaper than FISH?!! They fill you up quicker, too! Not sure @ the economics/​restaurant management know how there. They should bring out a whole 2^nd plate full of SIDES plus fish bits, instead of nickel and diming the customer with only little fish bits and another lemon wedge.
Additionally, at least the manager told me up front that it was Pollack they would serve. Not sure if they have Cod in other dishes. Pollack is the cheaper substitute of the two and any real Fish & Chips aficionado would… well… I was starved, so I ate the 2^nd serving.
I was sick to my stomach within the hour, likely due to the old oil rather than bad fish, I’m thinking and am only up now @ 10 AM writing this, due to it’s ill effects.
IMPRESSION: AVOID THE FISH FRY. It’s wrong on so many levels, even if they gave it away free.
OK, to catch you up, I went there last year with a friend and had a BLT, maybe BLTA? It was simply… meh. Overpriced, overvalued.
Two years ago, I had a breakfast scramble and it was non-​descript. Hard to go too horribly wrong with eggs, meat, veggies and cheese mashed up together. Better mainly because I got the toast instead of the biscuit.
Four to five years ago (WHY so LONG in BETWEEN? you ask?), I was on a local search for decent Biscuits & Gravy. I should have prefaced ALL of this with, «I am not a ‘foodie’ but a picky eater from back South/​East USA where they care if you return or retch.
I asked the waitress if the biscuits were fresh, going in at 6:15AM, as they open at 6AM. «Yes, they’re made fresh.» Bold. Faced. Lie. After, I wanted to say, «Kid. The older people get, the smarter and wiser they really DO get. Otherwise, well, the species does manage to cull a few out, anyway.»
You could SEE where the «Biscuits» were CUT on 3 sides by a knife!!! They were obviously not real, not real Bis… I can’t even say it again in this same post. I’ll call them «B’lets.» River rock hard on the outside, with a dusting of some sort of flower which was more likely sawdust, gummy «grossAmoeba» on the inside. (Sorry. No actual Amoeba identified. That’s just my term for really gross stuff.) The «gravy» had the consistency of canned cake icing and was as bland as the flour, water and stiffening agent used to prepare it. NO TASTE. Oh wait. Sorry. Forgot. They’d put HOT SAUCE in it!!! OMG. If an individual wants THAT type of condiment, you put it in bottles on the table [which they since have] and let THEM add to satisfaction… never in preparation of this dish. Yeah, so for awhile I would take the long way to avoid seeing.

THE FOOD: is alright, pretty good really, but waaaay more expensive than it should be. This isn’t Napa, where people expect to pay more than they should for everything. Portions are good.
THE BOTTOM LINE: NEVER GOING BACK. They could offer me free food, and I won’t go back.
WHAT HAPPENED?:
My last experience here was a while ago. It was maybe the fifth time I’d been there. At that time I determined that I would not be going back.
The place was basically empty, but it still took a while to be seated, and they put me right next to the kitchen (wtf!?).
So I’m next to the kitchen, in an almost empty restaurant, and it took them about fifteen minutes to get me coffee…
At this point I was considering just leaving. But, I was hungry, and already in the place.
At that time, the manager type guy was a really sleazy middle-​aged used car salesman type, and he would periodically go into the kitchen with a waitress to verbally abuse her. Luckily, I was sitting RIGHT NEXT TO THE KITCHEN, so I didn’t miss any of the conversation. Later on he asked me how everything was and I almost threw up in my food.

I actually really like this place. They are always nice and when we come in a big group, they accommodate. Portions are generous! If you plan to eat dessert, try to get a smaller sized meal or else you will be taking some food home.
We were served by Jocelyn and she was very attentive and friendly. My son asked for the password to the secured wifi and sure enough she gave it to us!
My hubby had the chicken fried steak (what he usually orders here) and he is never disappointed. The hashbrowns are delish! I had a waffle and it was good, not great, but good. Breakfast is served all day here. :) and their menu has a variety of items.
My son had the Mac and cheese and as always he was a happy camper. We’ll be back again!

Today my work had a going away. We had about 30 people for breakfast in our group. Black Bear took care of us. Our waitress did a great job of serving us, even though it was just her helping us and we were a large group. Food was hot and delicious. Great place to go for breakfast.

Nicole made our first experience great! Good food and amazing service! Will definitely be back :)

Really nice staff, very attentive… our salads and soups came out literally 1 minute before our dinner came out so maybe this place needs to work on their timing because the place wasn’t even that busy at the time we were there. Rating solely based on my experience this one time. Black Bear Diners have the same overall quality and feel to them and this one follows suit.

I went to black bear diner last night, I ordered the open face turkey sandwich with mashed taters and gravy. We waited 45 minutes for our food. No big deal, I get it, they were pretty busy. When they brought my husbands salad out, a lot of the lettuce was browning, no biggie, it happens.
So they finally bring our food out, and when they say my food in front of me I smelled something weird, thought maybe it was the waitresses apron or shirt, no biggie. So I took a bite of my food and realized it wasn’t the waitress that smelled, it was my food. My food smelled like legit dirty mop bucket water.
The waitress came back and I told her my food smells, and she says «oh I smelled that and I was wondering what it was when I brought your food out»
Now I’m pissed.
I told her to take it back and how disgusting that is to serve a guest food that smells like that. She took it back, and offered me something else, I said hell no I don’t want anything from this place.
So I do understand that things happen at restaurants, and I am pretty patient and understanding. When the manager came to my table, she had a dam attitude with me! Like I put dirty soap water in my food!
Now had I been a ghetto ass I could have easily raised my voice very loudly so the entire full restaurant heard what I was saying, but I didn’t.
Moral of the story– if u eat there, smell your food!!!

Ever since my college days in Davis black bear has always had a near and dear place to my heart. On our way down the 12 today some coworkers decided to stop by for breakfast on a pitstop to work.
From the décor to the service I was impressed with how warm and inviting our dining experience was, something that black bear prides itself on. I ordered the breakfast steak and eggs special and the waitress was nice enough to change my potatoes and biscuits to fries and a pancake for free. I can say that me entire party was satisfied by both the quality and quantity of the food we ordered.
It is not often that expectations meets reality, and for a hungry boy with an appetite for good grub and a slice of nostalgia, black bear made that boy one happy camper. Keep up the good work!

The food has gotten much better from the last time I’ve tried this place. I’ve ordered steak twice and both times they were cooked perfectly to my specifications; which is very rare and at a diner at that! This place is now our semi favorite «I don’t know where to eat» place to go to with the boyfriend.
I also really like their mini banana cream pies!