I love Black Bear Diner. The bear claws are great at every other location I have been to. I have been to the Davis location three times this last month and each the bear claw had hardly any filing. They seem to be cost cutting no butter was even served or offered. The Tulare location great claws and food just No access to the wifi. If you want a good claw go to a different location.
(3)
Jazmin D.
The cheddar stuffed burger is really good. They serve beer which is a plus. Breakfast plates are big! Big enough to share. I tried the corned beef not from a can. They make it here. Love this place
(5)
Grace P.
From the outside this restaurant looks gimmicky and not like it would be high quality food. However, there aren't a ton of restaurants in Davis and you can tell by the line outside that this is one of the most popular. I am a huge fan. The Shasta scramble is my favorite, I get it every time. I highly recommend the biscuts, they're huge and absolutely delicious.
(4)
Jossue V.
Right off the bat, let me tell you that 'Black Bear Diner' is known for their breakfast so if you get the chance be sure to do that! Like many other fellow Yelpers have mentioned, this place IS a bit pricer that Dennys or IHOp, but it is equally as good if not better. In my personally opinion, this far better than a regular Denny's or IHOP. The service here is great and the people were really kind and polite. The food was DELICIOUS. My favorite plates from here are the 'Sourdough Cheeseburger' and the 'Country Fried Chicken'. The portions are enormous! They will definitely fill you up in one sitting. For what it's worth, the value is really great, especially for how much they give you.
(4)
Kristina F.
Great place go with your family for a New Year's dinner. Tonight I joined my family and we had a great meal. We each had the huge chicken fried steak dinners and the portions were HUGE and DELICIOUS! Our server was really kind and took great care of our table. I'd love to come back again to try their breakfast. I imagine that they are as huge as our dinners were too. Not bad pricing, our dinners were about $13.99 each which included salad, wonderful cornbread muffins brought to our table with a container of honey, baked or mashed potatoes and soup or salad. More than enough to feed a hungry person. The decor is cute lots of black bear photos on the walls and faux cabin decor. Forget Applebee's, Denny's or Lyon's cuz Black Bear is where it's at!
(4)
Raf G.
Good food, make that a ton of good food, friendly staff, good prices for what you get, you basically get 2 meals for 1. Lots to choose from so something for everyone. They also serve up some pretty decent steaks without breaking your wallet. If your hungry this is a good place to go breakfast, lunch or dinner they have it all. You can't go wrong here.
(4)
Ruby H.
i loved the lava cake with huckleberry ice cream. it was the best dessert i ever had. i loved our server she was so nice!!!!!! i will go to black bear diner as long as i life. i got the kids burger with a side of chicken soup. my dad and sister split the volcano. my uncle had a breakfast omelette.
(5)
Christina S.
This place is an indecisive person's nightmare. There are literally a thousand choices. I came in here with three friends and we sat there, dumbfounded, until our very nice waitress came and helped us. And when we finally decided what to eat, there were a ton more options when it came to sides. By the time we had finished ordering, we were exhausted. The place itself is very cozy, with booths and the kitchen in plain view. The food did take a little long to come out, but it was alright, because the waitress kept coming back to fill our water. I ordered the steak and eggs, which came with a heap of potatoes and two enormous biscuits. Seriously, these babies were as big as my face. I valiantly finished my steak, but everything else came home with me. You seriously get a good two meals out of these plates. Overall, I enjoyed myself. Next time, I'll get something perhaps a little less substantial, because my stomach was seriously unhappy.
(4)
Sung K.
I could see why UC Davis students love this place. Great portions and great prices. Service was awesome and I'd definitely return to try their hungry bear portions ;)
(4)
LM C.
Should I complement a meal I have had at Black Bear? I usually get one of the breakfast items and the pancakes are good. The nine grain oat pancakes will give you your fiber.They serve the biggest portions of food compared to other places. They always try and make you feel welcome. Most employees are very nice if not "too" nice making you feel almost a little uncomfortable. It is probably the best place in town for giving bigger portions of food so I would give it a go and live it up!
(3)
Lei And John D.
Food was good. Service was terrible. Not going to write a lengthy review over an easily forgettable experience.
(2)
Mindy Y.
Black Bear Diner, why are you so good to me? I forgot my server's name, but she gave me the best dinning experience ever! So, let's start with.. SERVICE - our server was fantastic! There's no lie, hands down to the servers. Always, when I dine at Black Bear Diner, 100% service! Waiters approach you with friendly smiles, ask if you want this or that, pour more water when needed to, and always made sure our food is always excellent! 5 stars to service! FOOD: Here's what we got: (1) New York Steak and Eggs: I order my steaks medium-rare and depending on the day in Black Bear Diner, I actually get a medium rare steak. Most of the time it's usually over cooked, such as too medium, well done, or very well done. Sometimes it's a little burnt and I have to scrape it of. But, other than that the steak is super delicious with full flavor in every bite. Along with the steak, eggs - in any fashion of your choice - I prefer scramble or over-easy. Also, it comes with harsh browns and some bread. It's a huge meal! 4 stars. (2) Chicken Strip Basket: Chick strips with french fries. I must say, this is the best chicken strips I had so far. It comes hot and crispy! There's a lot of chicken meat and dip it in ranch and chilli paste - it's to die for and to live by. 5 stars. (3) Coffee: it's able the average diner coffee. Nothing exciting nor nothing boring. 3 stars. **OVERALL: Be greeted during breakfast by friendly, smiley servers - a good way to start the day. 4 stars!
(4)
Timothy N.
Good service & HUGE portions! Can't complain! (:
(5)
Patty H.
RUN, don't walk away from this restaurant. We had dinner there last night. I would say more than 1/2 of the staff had some sort of cold and were rubbing their noses with their hands or coughing into their hands, and then touching plates, utensils and food that their customers were going to use or eat. I got up from my table after I witnessed a worker sitting at the counter wrapping silverware into the napkins rubbing her nose, then rubbing her hands together in an effort to get rid of the snot, and then start up again wrapping utensils in the napkins. I asked her to stop doing what she was doing and wash her hands...all in front of her supervisor! She got huffy, got up and used some hand sanitizer and went back to wrapping the SAME snot covered utensils. Her supervisor did not say a single word to her. This place is GROSS and hires extremely lazy people. These people need serious training in food handling!
(1)
Jeff K.
I'm sorry but I find this place to be plain mundane. The food is mediocre and the restaurant is plain tacky. The menu is a disaster and difficult to read, and it has way too many items. I honestly cannot recommend this place to anyone.
(2)
Miika M.
(^_^) This is the face I left with after my first ever meal at this establishment. Sometimes, despite being spoiled by all the wonderful spots in the city (expensive and inexpensive) I will always find the time to seek out and explore new eateries when I'm visiting Sactown. Tonight was such a night. I decided to meet up with my friend in Davis (woohoo, my old stomping collegiate town) and it was exactly how I remembered it when the students have yet to show up for orientation: lots of parking spaces, warm calm streets void of the usual bicycle traffic and locals with their children taking advantage of the chaos free environment. I've actually come across a Black Bear Diner in Napa when I was hanging out with the fellow and he pointed it out to me. It was nice to see this location playing host to the same carved wooden bears out front. This use to be a Baker's Square (I use to take my Chemistry books down here on a break and eat and read) and now, the BBD, with a nice lot for parking. I ordered the CA Burger, which came loaded with the following: puffy bun, slice of red onions, tomatoes, a lettuce leaf, lots of Jack cheese and a half of avocado. My accompaniment was a huge side of fries which competed for space with my burger. Delivery was perfect as requested (I'm a medium rare kind of a gal when it comes to burgers) and our waiter was quick to respond to our request for mayo and kept our water/ice tea filled. A nice juicy and thick burger, resulted in utilizing several napkins. A good sign for me. Who wants a dry burger? This is a great place for families, lots of room and the interior is definitely kid-friendly. The waitstaff here are mostly college students and I found it amusing to reminisce through their stories (I confess, eavesdropping) and recall my days as the bumbling dork (I really was, seriously the big nerd on campus) My burger was $8.95 and totally worth the price. My friend also stated that she comes here regularly with her family and the other items (entrees) are huge and they usually end up with doggy bags. On our way out I passed by the dessert display and could not help but wonder how good the rows of pies looked: strawberry, chocolate, coconut and the mega Bear Claw that stared back at me. Perfect for the student on a tight budget and perfect for families with a large refrigerator.
(4)
Jackie S.
Last week was Picnic Day, and we needed some breakfast before exploring U.C. Davis. The restaurant was very busy when we arrived around 8:30am. We had a party of 11, and we had to split our group between three tables. I love the menu since it has the layout of a newspaper. It's very inventive. We ordered the following: 1) Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs - My husband liked the chicken fried steak. The batter was tasty, and the chicken was moist. The chefs messed up on the order since he received scrambled eggs, but wanted poached eggs. The waitress allowed him to keep the scrambled eggs and gave him poached eggs. It was a lot of eggs to eat! 2) Shasta Scramble with Spinach, Avocado, Cheese, Onions, and Bell Peppers - I really liked this dish due to the ingredients. Next time, I would not request cheese since there was too much scattered on top of the scramble. Each breakfast item received a biscuit and a type of potato. I preferred the country red diced potatoes than the hashbrown. The country style potatoes were crispy and had more texture. The biscuit wasn't bad. It was fresh out of the oven. You can definitely share a dish with another person since the portions are huge! I probably gained 5 pounds just from the breakfast. Service was pretty good considering that the restaurant probably had more people than usual due to Picnic Day. I would come back again.
(4)
Tiffany H.
I never really crave "American" food. Ate here on two different occasions. Had their omelets both times. There is nothing unique about their food, and I found their food always a little too heavy. Decent portion sizes for their prices. Below average service--super slow. All in all, I wouldn't come here unless I was guilted into it. I've heard great things about their fresh squeezed orange juice though.
(3)
J S.
Came here after a 1 hour and 45 minute walking tour at UC Davis and was starving! Good thing EVERYTHING served here comes in a huge portion. Even the side salads lol. The menu was huge as well; I actually had to ask the waitress for more time, which doesn't happen very often with me. I ended up getting the Joe Hobo omelette with country potatoes and a biscuit, and my dad got the Big Bear Burger (cheese added), a salad, and a side of onion rings. It was 1:45 and the lunch crowd was still huge, but our meal came out pretty fast and our waitress was very nice and had a good sense of humor. My meal was awesome, especially the biscuit. Definitely try it with some jam. The omelette itself was good; I only wish it had a little more spinach. Onion rings: good batter and not too salty. I can't comment on the burger, but it was huge! My dad said it was good though. I think I'll go try the Black Bear diner in Tracy now, since it's a little closer to home. Pancakes up next! Why would I ever go to IHOP again... Black Bear Diner has better (and more) food for an average of $1 more per plate. What's not to love?
(5)
Jacque Y.
Since there a so few breakfast places in Davis that open up early enough, we have continued to go here. But no more. They have lost faithful customers due to their poor service, poor food quality and lack of response to concerns. Hopefully they'll close and a real restaurant will open up in it's place.
(1)
Christine L.
Having a friend who's obsessed with 3rd and U means you don't really get the option of trying out other places.. Lo and Behold, that place was closed so we opted for Black Bear and boy am I glad 3rd and U was closed (no disrespect). The food was very good, I ordered the BLAST which is pretty standard but their fries were amazing (deal breaker here) and the service was great! What more could you ask for?
(5)
Ken G.
I had a good breakfast here... Biscuits and Gravy - The biscuits were not that great...very "bready" and not the typical dense, buttery experience one is expecting. The gravy was alright, but very peppery. Scrambled Eggs - These were straight forward and basic and a great way to start my day. Almond Granola Pancakes - Really, really good...typical pancakes are given a nice twist with the nice texture from the granola as well as the sweet and smokey hints from the almond flavor. Overall, this is probably one of the better breakfast/brunch options in Davis. The 3.5 rating is very appropriate.
(3)
Marshall M.
Huge portions. Seriously. I can eat a ton and I can't finish meal at this place. Service here isn't amazing. It stays crowded for hours and I think the staff are stretched thin. I've only eaten breakfast here twice. Once I had "The Volcano" and the other the corned beef hash. I have to recommend steering clear of the corned beef hash, it's more like a warm, greasy heap of shredded beef, nothing impressive. I'm also not a fan of the fettuccini-like hash browns. They are too wide and thick to be crispy.
(3)
Michelle B.
Black Bear never disappoints me. The portions are HUGE and the prices are just right. Their chicken fried steak is the best one I've had in a while. The hash browns are always on point. It's also convenient that you can pay individually at the register when you're in a big group!
(4)
chelsey m.
yummy food and good service but its packkkkeeeddd!
(5)
Mariam H.
Ridiculously unhealthy(check their nutrition facts), but good, average comfort food. You can find the exact menu at a place like IHOP. Don't be surprised if you come here and consume about a day's worth of calories because the portion sizes are huge! The service is okay, we had three people come serve us and deliver our food. It's usually packed on Saturday mornings, so come early or call ahead of time! It didn't blow my mind, but it wasn't amazing either.
(3)
Jessica L.
I always hear great things about Black Bear Breakfast so I always go with high hopes. I go and its like the breakfast food calls my name. Black Bear breakfast is always so disappointing. It's one of those restaurants you don't want to give up on but it continuously let's you down. This last visit was my breaking point. I ordered the blueberry pancakes...The pancakes came and they were mushy. They were undercooked but the blueberries were hard and not even ripe. I hate sending food back so I just ate the outer ring where it was not so mushy. The servers are awesome so I couldn't bear give 1 star. I have tried their chicken strips, which you can order with a shake that I loved. Black Bear! Step your pancake game up!!
(2)
Heather M.
I have to say I love Black Bear Diner. My experience at this location was just so-so. I ordered 2 egg breakfast with poached eggs, country potatoes, and an English muffin. All was good but the potatoes. Well under-cooked (hard potatoes) and too many onions and bell peppers. Not so yummy. English muffin was saturated in butter. BLECH. Overall it was ok - just disappointed. Service was not so great. I just think they were understaffed Thurs night when me and my family visited. Experience could have been improved, but feel this was just an isolated incident. Normally I'm very pleased with my meal at Black Bear. The Tracy location could teach Davis a thing or two because they are on point over there every single time.
(3)
Liz A.
Yes the food was adequate; however BEWARE STUDENTS (especially those who do not have the habit of checking their bank statements) IF YOU USE YOUR CREDIT/DEBIT CARD HERE ALWAYS CHECK YOUR BANK STATEMENTS AFTER. After having a lunch here last week, I used my card to pay for the bill, which came out to be about 50 dollars after tip. Just recently, I check my statement and it said that the Black Bear Diner had charged me 90+ dollars on my card. Fortunately, I found my receipt confirming that there was no way the bill was that high. I called Black Bear to sort this out, they mentioned that this type of incidents happen and it is because they get the bill itself and the amount of tip mixed up. They were apologetic; however that 40 dollar additive is a HUGE mix-up, and it just did not make sense to me. I do not know whether they charged another bill to my account or whatever, but I am glad to have caught this big "hiccup". Anyways, I was lucky to have caught it, if not it would of been considered a scam. Overall, the food is good BUT if you are using a credit/debt card check your statements afterwards. Better yet, pay cash!
(2)
Chrisy Y.
Breakfast = YES. Lunch = Sure ... Dinner = No. LOVE their omelettes. Not too fond of their dinners ... too salty! DESSERT APPLE PIES A LA MODE ... Nommmmmmmmers.
(4)
Lori N.
Like others have said, this place is practically a glorified Denny's but with slightly better food. Hearty breakfast dishes served all day, typical lunches, & hearty homestyle dinner entrees are what you will find here, & sometimes, that's all you need. We came in for dinner on a Sat. evening around 6:45pm & were seated immediately by the sweet waitresses. I had the Cobb Salad ($9.45) & it was good, nothing too special. It was a pretty large salad though. Others ordered breakfast dishes & they, too, were given a hefty amount of food. Everything was good & pretty much what you would expect at an American style diner like this. Dishes hover around $10, with dinner entrees costing a few dollars more. Overall a good place if you're looking for standard American cooking, you know, omelets, pancakes, sandwiches, prime rib, burgers, & the like.
(3)
Crystal W.
Really fun decor, especially the menus, which are printed on newspaper (so it looks like the whole family is gathered around the dinner table reading! Fun.), and the random bear paraphernalia everywhere. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are available throughout the day! The entrees really do come out in HUGE portions, but the quality of each entree is variable. On the days that the food comes out perfectly (eggs cooked as ordered, don't have to mention twice that I didn't want an item in my omelet, bacon is not overcooked, etc.), I am okay with the slow service (which IS almost always friendly and courteous, just very slow). Overall, the restaurant is cozy and well-decorated, offers classic diner items (blackberry shakes! yum.) all day long, and provides excellent customer service, but variable food quality and slow service time keeps me from giving Black Bear two more stars.
(3)
Cassie C.
This place is a nicer version of Denny's/Hometown Buffet! They give you a lot of bang for your buck with huuuugeee portions. Not sure about the rest of the sides, but I know you can also switch out your potato-y sides (fries/mashed potatoes/baked potato) which is nice. Service was good, the waitress checked up on us/refilled our water a couple times, and was friendly and accommodating (one of my friend's fries were on the cold side, and the waitress just took the plate back and came back with a steaming pile of fries super quick)! The desserts looked delicious but I didn't get to try any because I was so full from the meal. I saw a lot of people eating their pies so those must be good ;P If I'm ever in the area again I'd come again for the desserts and the breakfast items!
(4)
Chia-Fen Y.
Really, just another diner, but if I had to choose, I'd go here instead of Denny's. I had the cinnamon roll french toast, which was too sweet to be a breakfast, but delicious enough to be a dessert. All of the portions are really big, so you definitely won't leave hungry (seems like a good hangover joint, minus the elderly patrons and all). The food is served on plates with bear footprints across the middle, which I found kind of cute. There's also a bunch of tree trunk columns inside. Service is pretty decent. The servers are friendly, and the food comes pretty quickly.
(3)
Jami L.
Huge portions and the most delectable pancakes on earth. No idea how their other food is, because I always get pancakes. I have lots of fond memories of this location. We used to go to Sambo's and all of the other restaurants that have been here since the seventies. I'd give it five stars, but sometimes there's quite a wait for a seat.
(4)
Eric K.
Always a good place for breakfast. Love the place for their service. Knowing we were college students, the waiter split our checks for us! I will always come back to this place if I want to have a meal at a place that won't let me down
(4)
Jeff M.
Food was good but service or lack there of. We had to get the waiter for refills every time. Our food was waiting in the window for a good five minutes then when it comes my sons pizza cheese was off the pizza. It took another ten minutes to make a new one. When the food was first delivered a different server because our server could not be found. Then one server was smart mouthing his manager all night and we could hear it all and the manager put up with it. That same server argued with us about the cheese on my sons pizza. The manager did take some money off the bill and that was nice of him.
(1)
Samir K.
so I'm leaving Davis in a few days, I decided to get back to Yelp and do a mass review of all the places I've been over the past year. Pretty solid place. Massive portions, decent prices, typical diner food. If you're a cook and you can't cook diner food, quit the job! Came here for breakfast, eggs were properly cooked, bacon perfect- seems like they throw it in the deep fryer :) Service is good too, everyone's very friendly.
(3)
Amy Q.
Comfort food vs Asian girl on a diet = Black Bear Diner FTW. I told myself I would only eat 1/2 my plate, and box the rest. I had already been juicing and had light snacks all day and when I came here. I had the Country PAW "chicken" fried steak and I ate the whole damn plate with a salad and their honey cornbread muffin. I love that their side veggies are ACTUAL fresh vegetables hand-sliced, not some reheated frozen crap nuked out of a bag. I like the foamy butter bubbling around my squash, carrots, and broccoli with good seasoning, not salty at all. Their mashed potatoes are killer, you know its full of cream/butter when it starts solidifying by the end of the meal. Nice and creamy nonetheless with red skin potatoes. I also snagged a bite of my housemate's fried chicken, thats an order I'd come back. The chicken fried steak was good, but I've had my fair share in Texas and this one didn't compare to the ones in Dallas. BUT the fried chicken, its a super thin crusty skin with no/little fat on the chicken. Super moist, and comes with a breast, thigh, wing, AND leg. Better than KFC. It similar to Fried Chicken found in Soul Food kinda joints. Service was awesome, can't complain with the music, felt like I wanted to go camping the entire time I was in there. If they had free wifi I'd love to come here for breakfast and study groups. Pretty huge establishment and I was eye-ing their chcocolate lava cake the entire time, but hey I'm on a "diet" T_T Cursed metabolism. I wish I had the metabolism of a lion. My rating is a 5 because its in DAVIS alone. They outbeat the gross Applebees and iHop in Davis. Theres no other restaurant, (which i feel like) that caters homey food like Black Bear Diner. Decent pricing for the portions and great quality in the food. Hats off to the cook behind this place! Especially in Davis, I know most places here like to just serve "crap" because they think college students don't know better and willing to just swipe their credit card for anything. Wrong, wrong, wrong! I would definitely be back here. BTW, the newspaper sitting on your placemate is the MENU. I was fool'd too. :P
(5)
Hev Z.
The best thing here is the portion sizes, it's huge! I usually just go here for breakfast, typical stuff, eggs, ham, sausage etc. Like I said, you get a lot of food for your money, but everything is a little bland. I gotta use ketchup and pepper with my food. A little flavor won't hurt. But for the price and quantity, it's not bad. I always walk out full, just my taste buds are a little disappointed.
(3)
Mike B.
Kinda pricey. ...$25.44 for pancakes & scrambled eggs, oj & coffee.....And to be honest, it didn't impress & probably wouldn't have at 1/2 the price.....Lots of better places to grab b-fast.....Don't think I need to try this place again :-/
(2)
Lily R.
Hmm. This place gets a 3+, but I don't think it quite earns the 4 stars. I went here with classmates a number of times and everytime, we've had attentive, friendly, helpful, and quick service and moderately good food. I feel like the menu here has a good variety of healthier and more comfort food options available that can please any person with a huge appetite. Had the california benedict last time I was there and BOY was that delicious.
(3)
David C.
Great place for breakfast but you may have to wait a while depending when you go.
(4)
Lena K.
Went for dinner, ordered a taco salad and requested it with no tortilla bowl. Server told me that it could not be made without a tortilla bowl, "that would defeat the whole purpose", because the salad comes pre-made. First off, it's not a good decision to tell customers their meals are pre-made. Second, on the placemat it says Black Bear Diner welcomes special requests and accommodates all diets, such as gluten-free, vegetarian, low-carb, etc. This obviously did not occur during my experience. Third, my fellow diner and I could hear servers reprimanding one another in the kitchen, that's not terrible but it was a little distracting. Overall, I was not impressed. My salad was as good as I expected for being pre-made but when I was served it looked like it would be easy to dump the entire contents of the salad onto a plate or bowl.
(2)
Lincy H.
Huge portions, great service, but somewhat pricey. I usually go with the special, and it never fails me. But the wait can be super long :(
(4)
Elaine H.
Thought #1: How come this place looks like Baker's Square? Oh. Cause it used to be. Thought #2: Where's the menu? Oh. Its this piece of newspaper I'm pretending to read. Thought #3: Wow I've scanned through the first 3 items on the list, and want two of them already. This is a large menu with lots of good stuff. Thought #4: Huh? I think you've made a mistake. How come you're handing me two gigantic plates of food? Oh, that really is all mine. A mountain of country potatoes, couple small slices of oranges, two biscuits, plenty of butter, large portion of scrambled eggs, and a 1lb. of bone in ham. All for $9.99 Holy F-ing Cow! Cute place. Good food (better version of Denny's). Friendly staff. Clean. Options options. Parking next door for customers. So therefore, yes I approve.
(3)
Wendy G.
I always have an enjoyable experience at Black Bear, love the consistent friendly service and the food never disappoints. I've only been here for brunch. It gets super busy on the weekends, of course, so there is always a bit of a wait unless you get there before 10:30am. I've had the eggs benedict here, the flavor is great and you can't go wrong with it. Comes with a big heap of hash browns and side of fruit. I've tried the Joe's Hobo omelette, so much meaty goodness inside. The fried steak w/ gravy is also pretty tasty, well flavored and good texture. Big portions but I always manage to finish the plate. The best thing about this location though is the service. It's always consistently great. All the servers are super friendly and attentive.
(4)
Damon R.
They do give you a lot of food, but it is still mediocre food. I had the bacon wrapped stuffed chicken breast, but the bacon was not cooked enough. It would have been better if the bacon is a little crispier. The sauce really sucks though!
(2)
Simon B.
When I found out that they serve breakfast all day, I was extremely excited (I was tired of IHOP). I thought it was kind of funny how it was bear-themed. They even have their own crafted hot sauce: Baby, Mommy, & Daddy. They were alright. I rather choose Tabasco, though. Inside is fairly big and it's kind of homey while it looks like a pimped-out cabin lodge. I was surprised how clean the bathroom was, though I would have thought different when you're in a restaurant that serve huge portions. This place is the best when you're craving breakfast plates. And the fact that the dishes come in twice the size of your face, I would have to say that I'm pretty impressed. The first time I came here, I ordered the Tri-Tip Scramble and DAAAAMN, my whole plate was filled! The tri-tip was drizzled with caramelized onions and the meat was juicy on the first bite. I also find their strip-cut hash browns enjoyable because it's different from IHOP or Denny's and it's tastes healthier. Everything else on the plate (eggs, toast) were in generous amounts and I had to stare at my plate, not knowing where to start. The second time I came here, I got myself the Bigfoot Chicken-Fried Steak and DAAAAMN again! I feel that they have the right to boast about their Chicken-Fried Steak because this meal really gets you full. I wasn't disappointed either times I came here so I'm glad to be a fan. The only thing that restricts me from coming here is the price. But since I'm always walking out full, I wouldn't complain. Besides, at both times, I came with friends and they paid for the food...and that's awesome.
(4)
Jen B.
SWEET CREAM PANCAKES!!! Never had pancakes so fluffy and mouthwatering before! Cute bear themed diner restaurant, cheap, big portioned food...what's not to like about this place?! Always had great customer service and I love those mints by the register....I usually try to grab a few extra if no one is looking. Shhhh ;) Other good dishes are the turkey dinner and most of the burgers and sandwiches (haven't tried them all...yet)
(4)
Shannon S.
I remember when this used to be a different diner and ire member it had great pies. ,y experience here 2 days ago was meh. Service was ok but my food was cold. It tasted great but I am giving 2 stars cuz of my food was cold
(2)
Ary M.
GREAT FOOD! I've come here twice and i haven't been disappointed yet. Their burgers are great and so are their sandwiches. They have an extensive collection of food to choose from and the waiters here are extremely helpful. there is a limited amount of bike parking outside but its well within walking distance from UC Davis. The environment is very comfortable and its not too loud. They have a great selection of drinks and desserts to choose from and they always try their best to cater to your needs. Cons- - They consider "medium rare" a little rarer than you might think, so if you want it a little more well done just say medium. - Onion Rings are a bit "generic". Pros+ +Food is AMAZING +Love the fries +they put some extra onions/tomatoes/lettuce on the side incase you want more or you just dont want it to get all warm before it gets to you.
(5)
Ray Y.
Just ran 6.2 miles. Stomach growling. Where do I go? Black bear diner! Extremely crowded on a Saturday morning. My group of 8 waited for about 20 minutes, and then we were split up to 2 separate tables. No big deal. We were all excited for steak and eggs! I must add... LOVE how their menus look like newspapers. HUNGRY MAN NEW YORK STEAK AND EGGS (5 stars) - giant slab of steak perfectly cooked to medium rare with a small strip of fat on the edge for flavor - 3 eggs scrambled, delicious with the black bear hot sauce - generous serving of hash browns, nice and crispy - 2 biscuits, perfect to take home as leftovers to reheat in an oven - enough food to split between 3 hungry girls who just ran a 5k/10k race! OLD FASHIONED CHICKEN STRIP BASKET (5 stars) - we weren't expecting much, but the chicken strips were SO CRUNCHY! - excellent with bbq sauce and hot sauce - no extra charge for ranch - fries were average SERVICE (5 stars) Our waitress was awesome. She came back every few minutes to check up on us. I swear, our water cups were never more than 1/2 empty. **TIPS: Try out the black bear steak sauce and hot sauce! We loved it!
(5)
Sannie L.
I've heard good things about their chicken fried steak but I've only ever popped in for a quick breakfast before. I ordered a standard breakfast combo and enjoyed their food. It tasted pretty fresh and the portions were hearty. I especially liked their orange juice, which I could see was pressed fresh in their machine behind the counter. Can be a bit expensive depending on what you order but otherwise standard prices. Inside is a little tacky, just like how you'd expect a diner in a small town to look. The staff is friendly, attentive and prompt, even making sure our food arrived quickly when we told them we were in a rush.
(4)
L.J. M.
Standard diner food, with in a mountain theme and black bear decor. Staff was friendly and efficient. The food was okay but not overly memorable. However the pies looked very nice and appeared to be baked on the premise. If we come back again, we will make sure to leave room to try the berry pie.
(3)
Alex M.
Black bear diner is a great place to go if you feel like getting fat. It's a combination of IHOP and Denny's, but on steroids. They have huge portions for decent prices and the staff is pretty friendly. The food usually comes out pretty quick and always tastes fresh. A good place to come if you have a big appetite or enjoy food comas.
(4)
Jess s.
I'm not a huge fan of american diner food but my housemate kept raving about Black Bear so i just had to give it a try. When we sat down, the waiter gave us this newspaper looking thing. At first, I didn't know what to do with it after a while my friend was like "oh that's the menu." man i feel stupid. I got the tri-tip steak dinner and my friend got the stuffed chicken with tri tip steak dinner. Each of our dinner combo came with cornbread, choice of either a soup or salad and the choice of mashed potatoes, baked potato or french fries. We both opted for the salad and mashed potatoes. I must admit the portions are BIG, but almost half of the plate was filled with veggies (which I'm not really a big fan of) and the mashed potatoes was chunky and had some sort of meat mixed in with the gravy. The tri-tip steak was pretty good but it was so drenched in oil I could've seriously tipped over the plate and filled a teacup with the amount of oil leftover on that plate.
(3)
Sally C.
I can only say this: Don't come here if you're on a diet! The food is extremely caloric. The chicken fried steak with fries is ~2700 calories itself... My friend and I split the big chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and veggies. You get a side of soup with it and a cornbread muffin. Kudos to our waitress who gave us 2 cornbreads instead of one, even though we shared the meal! At first glance, the meal doesn't seem too big. I actually thought it was quite pricey for the amount of food they give you, contrary to what many Yelpers said! I mean, it's one handful of roasted veggies, and one cup of mashed potatoes at most. The chicken fried steak took up most of the plate with a thick gravy sauce. Mmmm heart attack on a plate. It was good though, as comfort food should be. I was fairly full from my meal, but $14 for diner food is on the more expensive side. I could have bought 2 meals from Ihop or Denny's for that price. However, I'll always try everything twice, so maybe I'll come back for breakfast one day.
(3)
Florence S.
Came here for lunch the other day and ordered the Chicken Strips basket. It came with 4 giant pieces of chicken and a huge side of fries. Overall, it was decent. The chicken was very meaty and wasn't just the breaded skin like some diners. Very juicy, too. The fries were good. I don't believe they came salted, which I liked because it allowed me to choose how much salt I wanted. The ranch dipping sauce was very bland. If I order this again, I'll get the BBQ sauce instead. Service was wonderful. Attentive but not overly attentive, and very prompt. The price for lunch was pretty good.
(3)
Kathleen H.
I really don't like this place but my friends do so I always end up here. The food is okay, the portions are huge. Nothing ever looks delicious. The staff is supposed to be staff, "friendly," however they don't seem genuine. If you're paying with aggie cash it takes awhile (their machine is broken).
(3)
Hannah L.
Large portions, huge sized biscuit. This is the ultimate destination for those that really want that "bang for your buck" deal! The prices are average and the service was good. I ordered the Shasta omlette. Not bad, but I couldn't even finish half of my order. Definitely a post food coma type of place with comfort food.
(3)
Farrah F.
The food is pretty good and the hunk of bread they give you is gargantuan (hell, all the portions are pretty big). I think the way they decorated it and the menus are a nice touch. However, the second-last time I went there for lunch with my roommate (I had a class; she had to work), it wasn't very busy, but they took over 15 minutes to seat us. We told them we were in a hurry and ordered immediately, and they took an unbelievably long time (over half an hour?) in getting the food to us. I kinda thought they'd forgotten about us. We did eventually get our food, but ended up having to pack it to eat later, since it was already so late. The last time I went, things were fine, so I guess it's kinda hit or miss with this place?
(3)
Betty T.
If I had to pick between IHOP and Black Bear, Black Bear wins hands down. They have comparable prices to IHOP, but definitely bigger portions. They also somehow make diner food look more appealing -- as in, it doesn't look limp/burnt/old. I had the bacon cheeseburger, which came with a huge side of fries. The burger was pretty small (not even In-n-Out sized), but the fries filled me up. My friends said they were a little dry, but they were okay for me. The burger was good -- I only wish it was bigger. My friends shared one of the specials for the night, which was prime rib for $12.99. It came with two sides and salad (I think); they had cooked vegetables, fries, and ranch dressing for the salad. When his meal came, I was impressed with how much food there was -- the side salad itself was a meal for one person! Definitely try the advertised specials! Tip: To get the most bang for your buck(s), try not to pick soup as a side -- you'll feel ripped off if you do. The soup comes in this super tiny cup.
(4)
Ruth H.
Black Bear Diner is an excellent place for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It is usually a hot spot for students due to its proximity to campus. From the many times I have eaten there, the waiters/waitresses have been more than nice and my food has generally been served with the up most speed. I tend to order breakfast items such as their buttermilk pancakes with blueberries which are delicious- and not to mention, HUGE. The more dinner-like choices such as steak, I find are more ordinary.
(5)
Elaine N.
Very quaint diner, what really caught my eye was their newspaper styled menus! My friends and I stopped here for an early morning breakfast before our trek up to Tahoe for some day-boarding. I ordered the chicken strips and fries basket, and an order of fresh squeezed OJ. The strips were very juicy and flavorful, the amount of food you get is a great! I was able to save some of it to eat after our day of boarding. The OJ was delicious, I was getting so full but I felt so terrible not to finish it, that I ended up chugging it just before we left. Great diner, lots of options, and very friendly and warm service.
(3)
Dustin J.
First time here. The pot roast is great. Chicken tortilla soup is amazing. Tastes cornbread. I really liked all the carved wooden decorations.
(5)
Sabrina S.
In town for a trip and the diner was across the street from my hotel. I went here twice for food. I got take out both times but both times I was greeted by a very nice employee. I got the chicken tortilla soup which was just ok. I had the turkey club which was pretty good. I also had a side salad which was decent. They gave me a cornbread side with the salad and I usually dislike cornbread but this was almost like dessert. It was pretty tasty. The prices were pretty reasonable and it looked like a nice place in side. I'd say the food was just ok but I would go back since its so convenient.
(3)
Molly M.
I hate to give reviews less than 3 stars, but I've tried this place 3 times now, and my opinion hasn't changed. I like that the have the healthy options (under 500 calories) as well as vegetarian options as well! There's surely something here for everyone. The service is awesome, don't get me wrong. Portions are huge, so you won't leave hungry, that's for sure. But every time I have come here, I ended up getting sick. I'm not sure if it's just some eerie coincidence, or if I'm sensitive to the food, but Black Bear Diner just did not make my list of places to visit regularly. I myself won't be back, but it is a great place to get breakfast and lunch.
(2)
Cheryl S.
We came here last Friday night after driving around and finding that everyplace seemed mobbed. We waited just a few minutes before getting a table. We are familiar with Black Bear Diners after visiting a few around the state. My daughter liked her burger. I ordered the taco salad. It was very large, piled high with lots of ingredients. I asked for no salad dressing so they brought me extra salsa which was perfect. It was really good, though I tried not to eat the fried shell. I'm really glad to have had this experience to know how good this salad is. I'll probably try it the next time I'm at a Black Bear Diner!
(4)
Elena N.
If you want a super filling meal, definitely come to Black Bear! They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner all day to satisfy whatever craving you have! The best part about Black Bear is their portions. They're huge! And their pricing is pretty low so you definitely get what you paid for and more. Recently I had the new Bear Claw French toast with blackberry filling. It was so rich and sweet! It was also huge so I couldn't finish it but it definitely fulfilled my craving for a sweet breakfast. Other than that I usually get the French dip sandwich for lunch or dinner. It's a great go to! The meat is always cooked well and the dipping sauce perfectly complements it.
(4)
Sheri S.
If you plan on eating here please be prepared for the HUGE Portions! Seriously, the food portions are made for giants! I have always enjoyed going here with the family for brunch. It is a pleasant diner that serves breakfast all day. The menu that is in the form of an old newspaper press release it quite interesting. Among my favorites are the Grizzle Breakfast with no meat (since I don't eat pork) I order a side of corn beef hash. The order comes with two eggs any style, hash browns and a choice of biscuit or pancakes. The Fried chicken dish was o.k. It personally, looked better than it tasted but I still enjoyed it. The salad we ordered was good enough to share for the four of us. Their milkshake is so creamy and delectable. I know most people can make a milkshake, but these guys got the recipe right! I either get that or a hot chocolate. Either one generally satisfies my palate Each time I have eaten here, I have sampled my family dishes such as the sweet creme waffle and the fried fish and mashed potatoes. Each bite was solid! Love this little place: good food, good customer service and a friendly atmosphere ;-)
(4)
Shriya C.
If you would like comfort food/diner food, come here! I have tried many things over the years: cinnamon roll French toast, loaded fries, chicken Caesar sandwich, and French toast! I have never been disappointed. Also, the shakes are so worth getting if you want to reward yourself! Their customer service is wonderful and I have never been let down! The prices are super affordable and each dish has a huge portion size. For comfort food, come here. I wouldn't go anywhere else. Can't wait to come back! :)
(4)
Marissa D.
Absolutely love this place! They have options to satisfy any of your American breakfast, lunch, or dinner needs. They have huge portions, do you really get what you pay for. My favorite dishes are the cornbeef hash or linguica plate, which comes with your choice of hash brown/red potatoes, eggs, and fruit or a biscuit. SO GOOD!! I also really enjoy the design of their menus which come in the format of an old fashioned newspaper. They switch them out seasonally, so the dates correspond with the current time, only a few years later.
(5)
Marion S.
Wow. Was expecting just a notch above IHOP or Denny's, but it was so much more than that! Our waitress, Doreen, was fabulous. Attentive and a sense of humor. The biscuits were the size of a human head and baked to perfection. The Portuguese sausage breakfast took my Hawaiian boyfriend back to his childhood where every cafe in Hawaii served Portuguese sausage with breakfast. Great food, great service, great price. Will definitely skip the Venus down the street and be back here for breakfast.
(5)
Elle C.
The smell of bacon upon entering, warm,-cozy,-and-casual surroundings, generous portions of nicely presented and tasty breakfast entrees (only complaint: my requested "over-medium" eggs were more like "over easy")... hit the spot for a casual breakfast. I was impressed with their biscuit (huge, soft, and warm -- unlike many which are stick-in-the-throat dry and dense)! Service was impressively friendly, both at the table and the front counter. Definitely preferred over Denny's.
(4)
Ivy N.
You definitely get what you pay for! The servings for all the plates are so big and we're not even talking about The Grizz. Every time I come here for brunch, I go home after and food coma for like 3-4 hours. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner foods, but every time I come here, I must get breakfast! They have everything! 2 egg combos, corn beef hash, chicken fried steak, omelettes, eggs Benedict, pancakes, french toast, waffles, sausages etc. The combos are excellent, I love the 2 egg combos because you get choice of potatoes (country or hashbrowns), bacon, sausage, or ham, and toast, french toast, or pancakes. So many choices and combinations! I love their hashbrowns, perfect mix of crispy and soft potatoes. I usually get the french toast if I'm feeling super hungry, the pancakes are way too big for me and most of the time I end up boxing it. The eggs benedict is pretty mediocre in my opinion, I've had better. I hear great things about the chicken fried steak, haven't tried it yet. The chicken apple sausage is quite delicious as well! The Grizz is definitely a meal of it's own. You get 3 eggs, bacon/sausage/ham?, pancakes, potatoes, just basically a really big breakfast! That comes out on a plate larger than all the others. Their fresh squeezed orange juice is also quite refreshing. In terms of lunch and dinner they have sandwiches, burgers, soups, steak, salmon, chicken parm, spaghetti, and salmon. This is a great place if you're craving brunch or if you're hungover af and you need something to get through the day. Trust me, been through both, this is the place to go.
(4)
Chena N.
Black Bear, Black Bear what do you see? I see some bomb food looking at me! (anyone get the reference? :D) .:: Ambiance::. ~A JUKE BOX.... SAY WAHH... I MEAN.. YESSS! ~Their menus are NEWSPAPERS.... like... newspaper format.. newspaper material (my bf literally ripped it when he picked it up LOL) ~Intricate decors with the pillars hidden with bears stickin their head out or paw prints here and there ~Very laid back, family/friend catchup atmosphere - came in around 10pm on a sunday, not packed at all ~I dont know why... but i just felt so happy/excited being there! (NO I WAS NOT ON DRUGS. Although... maybe there was laughing gas at the entrance......Just kidding... ) .:: Service ::. Amazing. Absolutely amazing. Servers were extremely friendly.. the cashier at the front was SUPER nice. It just added on top of the happy happy atmosphere. Um... they separated the check for us.... without us ever having to ask that.. YES... top notch service or top notch service. SUCK IT DENNY's, YOUVE BEEN SERVED. .:: Food::. Hot tea $2.59: I was just expecting hot tea. BUT it came with a whole bottle of honey, 2 slices of lemon, a whole basket of tea bag selection, and a small kettle for refill. WAS NOT EXPECTING IT! It's probably on the menu, but i didnt even see it. AMAZING! hahah only because not many restaurants/diners do this. yelp.com/biz_photos/blac… The Grizz $11.99: 2 fat slices of sweet cream pancakes, 3 eggs, 2 slices of bacon, 2 sausage links, a big chunk of ham steak, served with my choice of potato. The proportion was made for a bear. I literally did not finish this even after 2 hours and 25 minutes of the corn maze at Cool Pumpkin Patch (WE MADE IT OUT ALIVE!!!). Everything was good and not sh*tty like denny's. My new favorite diner! yelp.com/biz_photos/blac…
(4)
Jessie W.
"Where do you wanna grab dinner?" Black Bear Diner. Estrogen feeling low? Black Bear Diner. Aced that midterm and want to reward yourself? Black Bear Diner. Birthday? Black Bear Diner. Feeling like Ron Swanson? Black Bear Diner. As you can i see i have this unhealthy obsession with Black Bear Diner, and being a student at UCD doesn't help it at all. First of all, the food portions ARE HUGE and might as well count as two meals instead of one. If you want some greasy, delicious comfort food, this is the place for you, serving your needs breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Also, shoutout to Shane for serving me & my party multiple times, he's the bomb.com ! They also used to accept aggie cash, which was a great deal for freshman. I sadly have to take off a star because of their long seating times. It can take up to a couple of minutes to half an hour depending on how big your party is and how packed the restaurant is, which has a pretty smaller than average capacity. If you do want to be seated quickly, you're more than likely going to be crammed in a small booth. Also, UCD got rid of the aggie cash option this year, but when Black Bear did do aggie cash, the line was separate and took a long time to process orders because the machine was slow. Be sure to order a glass of their fresh pressed orange juice if this is your first time here, and be weary of their salt and pepper shakers! My friend shook some pepper on her fries and the top fell off. We never caught the prankster, but Black Bear did replace her fries for free :)
(4)
Hiba S.
Great pancakes! Has a very old feeling atmosphere.
(3)
Winnie I.
Oh Black Bear Diner, I remember those Saturday and Sundays where the wait was well over 30 minutes to an hour long. Luckily, it was always worth it! I recently came back over the summer with a few of my friends from back home who were craving eggs! We looked over a few restaurants on Yelp, but ultimately decided on Black Bear Diner due its its luxurious portions. We came in on a Thursday around noon and there was no wait at all. Though the wait for food was a different story. It took around 30-40 minutes even though it was not rush hour. It was all worth it as my friends enjoyed their food very much! My go-to item on the menu is always the Tri-Tip Scramble. I was very disappointed to see my favorite item off the menu! But the lovely waitress said they can still make it, so you can still order this! My friends ordered the Turkey Sandwich, which had real turkey meat and not the nasty prepackaged ones, the Fit and Focused Chicken and Apple Sausage Scramble, and the California Omelet. They all enjoyed it with some leftovers for the next morning. Overall, the staff is very nice and attentive and food is a lot better than the other diners in Davis. With cheap prices and large portions, this is definitely the place to go when you are feeling hungry!
(4)
Auburn S.
I hate to do it but I have to complain. I love the place but the food is to in consistent. My chicken fried steak tonight was in edibly salty. We do a lot of take out from here and the service is good. Service at the place is always excellent for sit down
(3)
Luke C.
Black Bear Diner is a down home style restaurant that serves large portions of food at reasonable prices. It is founded on principles that are strong and noble. Although I really want to like Black Bear, it just falls short in too many areas. Black Bear diner is a restaurant with a lot of fun and neat features. There are interesting things to look at all around the restaurant. Visually Black Bear has a busy, but engaging style that gives the feeling of an outdoors camp. The menus are made to look like an old newspaper... they even are on the same type of newspaper paper. Pretty unique for sure. While the style of Black Bear is charming, everything else about the restaurant is just average. The best time to go to Black Bear Diner is for breakfast. Their breakfast is pretty decent and compares similarly to that of Denny's or IHOP. The Black Bear breakfasts are hearty and filling. The sausages that I had were juicy and plump - surprisingly girthy! The bacon was of the thick cut variety. I love bacon just like everyone else... but I actually prefer a thinner, crispier bacon than the ones I got today. I requested that my eggs come over-medium, but when they arrived it was more like over easy. Also, the pancakes were a bit too sweet for my liking. So while there are positives, I would say the things that detract can't be ignored. My worst experience at Black Bear Diner was during dinner. I was daring and got the meatloaf that night. I'll just say this... is meatloaf supposed to have a sour taste to it? Skip lunch and dinner. If you're going to go to Black Bear, just go for an ok breakfast with hearty portions. I can't say too much about the non-breakfast items... but avoid the meatloaf!
(3)
Denise N.
Similar to Denny's & IHop but SO much better. Why? -BIG portions with multiple components (toast/fruit/potatoes) -Breakfast anytime you want -Other options are good too! -Everything is pretty much under $10 -Open late! What's there not to love? Oh wait, the food coma afterwards....
(4)
Nina C.
As far as breakfast spots in Davis go, Black Bear Diner is my first choice. Classic diner fare done well. I'm a fan of their house made biscuits and tasty multigrain pancakes. Their bacon is smokey, salty, and crisp...just how I like it. Large portions, reasonable prices, and great service.
(4)
Alyssa D.
First time ever eating here and I loved it!! Our server was friendly and constantly checked on us making sure everything was okay and checking to see if we needed anything. I'm a sucker for waffles so I just had to get me some!! These waffles were on point!! Sweet delicious strawberries on top mmm! The waffle itself was fluffy and just melted in my mouth. Making me hungry just thinking about it!! I will for sure come back here again. Looking forward to my next visit!
(5)
Eric M.
Went here for breakfast today. I ordered the chicken fried steak and the Bear claw french toast. All I gotta say is awesome. Huge portions and very tasty breakfasts. I'll definitely go to a BBD again. Thumbs up!
(4)
Ashley N.
Here's the thing, Black Bear Diner isn't "five star dining." It's a frickin' diner people. And as far as diners go? One of the best of the best. Incredibly friendly efficient staff. HUGE portions (My lovely 6' 7" husband could barley finish his order(s) ) and the decor is Black Bear all the time- totally kitschy and wonderful. I ordered from the "small lighter menu" Knowing I wasn't going to be able to finish anything "normal" on the menu and it was still a good amount of food and really well cooked. I was super happy with my omelet. My husband ordered the Huevos Rancheros Benedict and was SO happy he ordered the waffle as well. We took some food home. The entire staff was super friendly, courteous, and gave us anything and everything we wanted. It was our first time eating here, but if we are ever in Davis again we will be back. And if we ever see another Black Bear Diner we will stop and eat there as well. For all you haters? If you want "fine dining"? Go somewhere else. If you want really good food, with super friendly and efficient staff? Go here.
(5)
Diana C.
Big portions! You get what you paid for and maybe a lot more. I got the chicken apple sausage 2 eggs combo and had it with hash browns and a biscuit. Biscuit was fluffy and light and was a great addition to counter the sodium in the sausage and eggs. Hash browns were nice and crispy and so so good. Sausage was a little bit salty but was still good. I do wish we could have fruit included but it was an either or. I did have that one orange slice though. Be prepared for a food coma afterwards. Great place for meeting with a group of friends or your family.
(4)
Nancy D.
Bears choice is what I always go for and it is soooo bomb. Love this place so much especially for breakfast. I wanna cry because of how good it is
(5)
Robin B.
The food was great as always with black bear. My boyfriend and I shared a veggie omelet the last time with hash browns, yum. The seating was quick even though they had a full house. Food was quickly delivered hot and fresh. The only complaint was the older waitress that served us. She kept flirting with my boyfriend to the point that it made us both uncomfortable. She was acting like we were in a bar, unprofessional and ignored my request for coffee. We will still go to this old favorite but won't be seated in her section again.
(4)
Vivian C.
Definitely a great place if you're in the mood for breakfast or diner food. The portions are HUGE and the price is low for the amount of food you get. There is also a very cute atmosphere with a lot of knick knacks all around and these adorable newspaper menus. The servers are friendly and attentive. The noise level can be high though especially on a weekend. But I love that I can come for breakfast anytime and when I do have the urge to get eggs benedict I think this is one of the only places in Davis to get it. I have gotten a variety of items here and for the most part there isn't any one item that is better or worse than another (at least on the breakfast menu). However I'm not a fan of the non-breakfast items which is my main reason for giving a 3 instead of a 4. But overall Black Bear is a nice place for a hearty breakfast.
(3)
Jo A.
If there is one thing I like about America, it's American breakfast. I came here with my family for birthday and we had a HUGE breakfast. I am very satisfied with my pancakes, The Volcano, also including two link sausages, two bacons and two eggs. It's my favorite! We also order New York Steak, with a huge biscuit, two eggs and hash brown. I love the steak medium well cooked. It was tender and juicy. My husband said his Chicago burger was good too. In the end we could not finish and have to take some back. I pass by the Black Bear Dinner many times in past one year and can't believe I didn't come in and try. I love it immediately the first time. Can't wait to come back!
(4)
Samantha K.
3.5 stars They're a traditional American breakfast diner chain, but better than I expected. Their menus are printed on newspaper which I thought was kinda cute, but seemed a little environmentally unfriendly. I settled for the chicken fried steak SMOTHERED in country gravy. The dish came with 2 eggs, a side of fruit (or hash browns), and my choice of bread. They allowed me to sub my bread for French Toast. Score! I prefer the French Toast at Denny's/ IHOP more, but Black Bear is definitely not a bad alternative for other diner food.
(3)
Jo M.
The manager made good on my crappy eggs Benedict so that was good. But this bacon is way overcooked and eggs were marhinal
(3)
Margaret L.
First off, I did not know Black Bear Diner had a small parking lot, so thumbs up for that. I came here for Mother's day with my family. I ordered the bacon stuffed chicken, my sister ordered the country fried steak. I like that the food comes with choice of soup or salad. I got the salad - nothing out of the ordinary. We also got cornbread, which I thought was okay. I wouldn't amazed by the cornbread. Now time for my bacon stuffed chicken, it was smaller than I expected. It was good. It came with mashed potatoes which I enjoyed, and there was also vegetables. I tried my sister's country fried steak, and I enjoyed that a lot. Good choice! The items are on the menu are reasonable priced. In my opinion, it's a good deal. Breakfast items seem popular here, I should probably come back and try it for brunch. I think this place is pretty typical for your diner - if you want diner food, this is the place to go to, nothing to rave about but nothing to complain about either.
(3)
Samantha F.
(Review based on dishes I tried!) Just came here my friends for brunch and shared 2 plates with one of my friends: "Bear's Choice," $8.99 the waffles were okay - just like any other waffles (I like the ones at Benardos better because they are crunchier on the outside), the sunnyside eggs were tad bit undercook because one of the yolks still had runny white around the sides and also had 2 sausage links, but other than that it was a decent and satisfying if you're craving something both sweet and savory. "California Benedict"- $10.50 this was actually my first time trying a Egg's Benedict at a diner, but it was pretty darn good - The egg benedict came with hollandaise sauce, avocados, bacon, tomato & spinach it would have been perfect if the poached egg was runny, but it was fully cooked :/ This dish also came with the option of hashbrowns and fresh fruits. Overall, it was a very satisfying meal.
(3)
Jonathan T.
The portions at Black Bear are MASSIVE. You definitely get a good bang for your buck. Given that each plate costs slightly more than an average diner, this is still a great place to come if you're feeling hungry. I really enjoy their breakfast items here. You'll always find what you want in their menu. Any combination of eggs, corned beef, sausage, pancake, etc. you can find. Service is exceptional here. Friendly and quick waiters/waitresses. Parking is also convenient for a downtown area as they have their own private lot in the back. It's also very close to UC Davis campus. Overall a great place to come if you're hungry and want to leave happy.
(4)
Deborah S.
those biscuts!!!
(4)
Patti S.
I love Black Bear but the Davis location always disappoints me! I've tried it a few times and this will be my last. My husband and I ordered prime rib and it was very thin and dry. It looked and tasted like a thin hard steak. I asked the waitress what happened to the croutons in the salad and she told me that they did not look good today? I tried to cut into my corn muffin and it was so hard the knife wouldn't even cut it. I think I needed a chainsaw to split it. I let the waitress know and she apologized and said that she wasn't sure what was going on in the kitchen. We did get offered a free pie. I will go to the Truxel location from now on. I've never been disappointed there.
(1)
Miranda M.
I LOVE Black Bear Diner. I have been to three different black bear diner's in Arizona multiple times and love it every. single. time. First of all, they always have such friendly, upbeat staff and the atmosphere is great. It's a very welcoming and homey type of restaurant. At this specific Black Bear Diner, Angela was our server. She was very sweet and took good care of us. My boyfriend and I both got burgers and loved every bit of them. We went again the next day for breakfast. I can't remember our servers name, but she was great as well. I had the breakfast burrito. It had tons of flavor and I left feeling extremely full. The staff and atmosphere is what really makes this place and then the good food just brings it all together. If you have the oppurtunity to go to a Black Bear Diner, I highly recommend it!!
(5)
Laura B.
The ultimate comfort food hotspot. This restaurant is so cosy, the service is always good, and the food is pretty great. I've always ordered breakfast here and it is one of the best. The pancakes are just about as good as they come. They are sweet, fluffy, and even have hints of cinnamon in them. The portion sizes are great for your money and the decor is quite homey. This is the go to spot for breakfast with friends and family.
(4)
Sonia L.
Black Bear, oh Black Bear. This is the spot... and I just gotta say: SWEET CREAM PANCAKES. Hits the spot every time. My mouth salivates at the thought of these bad boys being served up to me. When I go I opt for the addition of blueberries (obviously this is to get my nutrient intake up and get those antioxidants in because I'm health conscious like that.), but I'm sure if you're feeling particularly naughty go for some chocolate chips on dat bad boy. These pancakes are HUGE. I mean all their portion sizes are huge. They are not your normal pancakes, they're so fluffy and indulgent and so bad but so good and so just yes. Alright, I'm done... just get these & thank me later. My friends got the club, french toast, and some corned beef hash, and a side of hash browns were involved. All us ladies were pleased with our food & stuffed beyond belief. Needless to say, you're gonna need a takeaway container unless you've starved yourself prior to your BB experience. The coffee however is not my favorite and they don't let you order off the kid's menu, even if you're truly 12 at heart. :( Oh yeah, and they have a healthy section for those trying to get grub without the self hatred afterwards... but seriously, just get the pancakes and pretend like it's broccoli or something because they are dizzzamn good.
(5)
David S.
Food was cold and gross. Service sucked too. We would have sent our food back if the girl had checked on us but didn't until she brought the check. Very disappointing!
(1)
Melssie S.
Black Bear never disappoints, and how can you say no to a place that serves breakfast ALL day, and actual good breakfast?! and besides that, their lunch and dinner and is amazing too. You get what you pay for 100% here because of their huge portions. Usually at other places with big portions I wouldn't be able to finish and get a to-go box, but here that's never happened. Why? Because it's SO good that you just eat it all, no matter what. I can't explain how great the food is here. and you obviously leave even happier knowing you got a great meal and paid what it was worth. I love their breakfast the most, and order it even at dinner because I just have to. but their burgers are savory and delicious, too. And if you want a salad, they have salads too, and guess what? their salads are also in big portions. I'd rather come here and get a huge amazing salad filled with berries and nuts and what not then go somewhere else for the exact same price of a salad except it being so small that I probably could've picked up a few leaves and chewed on them and it be the same. if you're hungry and want great food this is the place. Especially for brunch. And you cannot go wrong with their breakfast. the benedict is fantastic, and their hashbrowns are a different world of potato goodness. Black bear never disappoints ! so it can't hurt to try.
(5)
Paul G.
The food was yummy, the staff was really nice. They were crowded, because it was a holiday, so the food took awhile, but that is to be expected on a holiday. Easy access from the freeway, but the parking lot is a bit crammed. I will definitely be coming back here
Leoine Koposki, one of the workers at Black Bear is so rude!! She was yelling that we were impatient to the cooks just because we asked if we could get a milkshake to go, we were there a total of 20 minutes when they were just standing around. Black bear is usually one of my favorites but after this I don't think I will ever go back. That lady was unnecessarily rude. The management talks badly about their patrons while they are there and don't even care.
(1)
Miss D.
We walked in maybe a minute before they closed as I didn't realize it. I thought they closed an hour later. The service was so friendly that I had no idea until I got home and checked. I'm service industry and I hate people who do that! They were so nice and the food was great!
(5)
Vedran V.
Out of the several BBDs that I've had a chance visiting, this location in Davis stood out. Not that the food is any different from all the other locations: the menu is absolutely identical. Even the look and feel of the restaurant is the same as, say, Vacaville location. However, what makes it four stars is the level of care and energy that the management and Black Bear staff put in. From the hostess, bussers, and the waiting staff everyone is much nicer than at other Black Bear locations I've been to. The food is what it is and what BBD is known for: huge portions before anything else. Upon last visit I had California Benedict and it was pretty good. Not the best Benedict ever but the size is appropriate for a good appetite and I was full until dinner. On the weekends it gets crazy but the waiting area is large enough and even waiting outside is cool if the day is warm. If you are really hungry early in the morning while in Davis, BBD offers the best bang for the buck.
(4)
Hallie C.
Large portions, good food, friendly staff, cute motif. They handled my food allergy well. Pretty decent breakfast! I reccomend the Farmers Scramble.
(4)
X. Y.
Last Saturday we were in the area around Davis for a day trip at we decided to try this place for lunch. The place itself is conveniently located in the downtown area of Davis near shops and other restaurants. The inside of the restaurant is nice. It's big, it has a country-style atmosphere and it has many things to eat. At the time we walked it it was about 2PM and the place was bustling with waiters all over the places. Still, we were seated immediately. When we sat we got a menu that looks like a newspaper. The one I got had news from 1965 with Ed White's legendary EVA on the Gemini IV (good times). I really was undecided about what to order and I eventually settled for chicken fried steak. I also ordered tropical ice tea. The chicken was decent. It came with a gravy, it was edible but it was not amazing. I was given the choice of several sides and I chose two eggs, hashbrowns and 4 white triangular toasts. The eggs were standard. You cannot go wrong with them. The hashbrowns were cut differently. They were not thin like you normally see them. They were larger, decent in flavor but in my opinion slightly undercooked so I could taste the raw potato which is not horrible but not exciting to me. The tea was somewhat disappointing. My girlfriend said that they might have brought me regular iced tea. I guess I will never know. I did not have problems parking so if you are a parking freak you should be fine. When you walk out of the restaurant don't forget to get a pie ... they look yummy.
(3)
Mandy C.
You certainly can judge a place's food by their quality of coffee. The coffee was nothing great and neither was the food. Pros: Pretty good and friendly service, low cal options for breakfast Cons: A seemingly glamourized Dennys, kinda pricy Would not return, but would not complain if there was no other choice.
(3)
Brijesh P.
Last Sunday I woke up craving pancakes. I convinced my roommates to go to Black Bear diner because I heard about how amazing their breakfast food can be. The pancakes did not disappoint. The reason I bestowed 4 stars instead of 5 is because the non-breakfast food is about 3-4 star quality. What to try: Pancakes, Waffles, BISCUITS!!!!!!!!!! The eggs were well made and the potatoes were crispy and delicious. They have a HUGE bear claw and an assortment of pies for sale as well. The menu is like newspaper and when you fold it up they'll take your order. Not much else to say about Black Bear. GREAT place for breakfast but I wouldn't highly recommend it for much else.
(4)
Christine S.
if you're looking for munchies, brunchies, or even drunchies, look no further cause Black Bear Diner is the place to be! Located conveniently in downtown Davis, this place is always packed on the weekends. But don't worry, the wait is never long. Once seated in the diner-like restaurant, you can look at a newspaper-like menu and order whatever your heart desires. The meals here are HUGE and the prices are very reasonable. Great service, good food, affordable prices, and just a good dining experience!
(3)
Megan M.
I like this place. It's like an IHOP if I HOP weren't gross and had really excellent service. It's located pretty close to campus and is very clean and relaxed in terms of the overall environment.
(3)
Brittany L.
Coziest cutest diner ever! And the portions are huge! I'm a huge fan of bears and I'm actually planning to research them in the not too distant future! I have never been to one of these franchises and once I walked in, I'm now a fan! I came here for breakfast and our waitress was extremely friendly and nice. I got an egg dish and that proved enough for me, but next time I'm thinking about getting the bear plate. The ambience is really humble. The music is like the soundtrack to Disneyland's Grizzly Peak and Redwoods Creek. It definitely reminded me of home. Their biscuits are H-U-G-E! I took some back to my dorm to finish the following morning. :) Can't wait to come back and eat! If it's one thing I love about America, it's American breakfasts.
(5)
Jacob A.
Came in on our way to SF to grab a quick bite. Hostess was very nice and even took our drink order! Nicole was our waitress and was very attentive. Food came out hot and fast and was very delicious! I judge most lunch places by their Patty Melt and if have to give this one 4.5-5/5! Overall great place for breakfast or lunch!
(5)
Ali E.
I havs been in Davis for 2.5 years and this is the worst dining experience I've had here. The waitress was extremely rude to me and my friend. I asked her if there's rice with the steak so she said no. Then i asked if i can order an extra side of rice so she said "I SAID NO RICE". We told the manager so she apologized and said will get us another waitress. Moreover, after eating for like 2 mins the manager came and said "this sauce has pork" although we told that rude waitress that we don't eat pork and double checked with her. We left the food and left. The manager apologized and offered another free meal but we just couldn't stay in that place.
(1)
Sarah W.
This was the biggest waste of time, they are completely understaffed which meant we got no service for the first 45 mins of being there. The staff seems preoccupied and uninterested in providing service. After being seated we waited for service for 10 mins and instead of eating ended up leaving in order to save time during our busy day. I witnessed server touching various food with their fingers and rearranging the plates. Overall the experience was enough to never want to return even before tasting the food. The atmosphere is meant for large families and people with plain pallets. This diner is barley a step up from Denny's but not even as good as IHOP. Stay away!
(1)
Christian D.
Wow! The portions that they give you are incredible. The first time I came here I ordered The Grizz with a side of French toast...what I got was a mountain of food! It was incredible. I'm a pretty good eater and I couldn't finish it. I will be back!!!
(5)
Marylynn T.
I had Bear's Choice with waffles, sausage and scrambled eggs. The waffle was nice and fluffy. So good! The portions are really big too! Its a pretty busy in the morning during breakfast/brunch but not too bad of a wait. I would definitely come back.
(4)
Paul B.
Bad hard boiled eggs, but I won't hold it against them too much at 6 in the morning (tho I probably should, I'm mainly in here for the coffee tho).
(3)
Rik N.
Our server Doreen was amazing! I noticed that my favorite dish (Tri Tip scramble) was no longer available. Doreen, upon advising me that my dish was no longer on the menu, checked with cook Keen who said he'd make it for me anyway. That, to me, is the kind of great service you can expect at any Black Bear Diner. Of course the fresh squeezed orange juice, huge biscuits, and any entree you can imagine are good. It's like the home style cooking of grandma! But the customer service, the extra step that the staff takes to ensure a good visit is what prompted this review. If you visit, make sure to ask for Doreen!
(5)
Kosmo Z.
I come here whenever I crave for hash brown. This location has alright customer service and standard diner food. I'd come back in the future if I'm in the area and want some hash brown.
(3)
Sunshine S.
I had the Bacon Cheeseburger Salad from Black Bear Diner in Davis for lunch today and it was yummy! I would've given them 4 stars except when I opened my box they didn't give me any Ranch dressing...luckily we had some Italian in the fridge. It's basically their bacon cheeseburger without the bread and everything tasted fresh. The hamburger patty was chopped up on a bed of mixed lettuce, with onion, pickles, tomatoes, and bacon sprinkled on top. Portion size was huge so you definitely won't go hungry afterwards. Now I'm trying real hard not to fall asleep on a food coma.
(3)
Evelynn C.
Oh Black Bear.. You could have been a 4-star ): I went to breakfast with my housemates yesterday and ordered the Godfather Omelette, egg whites only. My housemates ordered California Benedict and Fried Steak and Eggs. Our orders came out together but my order was completely wrong! I was served the California Omelette, yolk included. I wanted meat with my eggs, hence why I ordered the Godfather Omelette... The California Omelette didn't have meat, but had mushrooms - I don't like mushrooms... I didn't want to be difficult, so I said it was okay... But I was thoroughly disappointed that I got a meatless, mushroom-filled California Omelette instead of the GODFATHER (what an awesome name..) Omelette ): The waitress was friendly, but she was really slow and inattentive after she gave us our check. We ran out of water some time after she gave us our check and she didn't come back and ask if we needed anything else. We waited nearly 10 minutes before ANOTHER waitress came over and asked if we needed boxes. Oh, and she gave us the wrong check.... Overall the food tasted pretty good, portions are huuuge. I had enough leftovers for another meal lol.
(3)
Jenny Q.
Oh, Black Bear. I had such a love/hate relationship with this place since I would come here STARVING after my long morning swims and devour an omelette or some French toast...and then the indigestion would hit! I would not have the ability to finish even half a portion here if I did not just work out immediately before. It's basically one of the only breakfast spots in town & takes Aggie cash too (UCD students holla?!), so go ahead & load up on some carbs! For breakfast food I would give it a 4 but the regular food is just atrocious. Chicken fried steak? Kill me now. Same goes for their monstrous but underwhelming/soggy burgers. I'll stick to BBD for brekkie when I'm ravenous.
(3)
Grace C.
I always have random black bear cravings!! After leaving Davis I had genuinely been missing this restaurant and finally got to revisit this past weekend. Still good as ever. As others have mentioned, the big foot chicken fried steak is totally worth every penny. It is 11.99 and for me personally, it accounts for two meals. You have so many choices of sides as well from fruits, hash brown, eggs, etc etc. The service is amazing too. Everyone is always helpful, cheerful, and smiling. At the end you can also pay individually at the counter so there's no hassle if you want to split the check!
(5)
Drew O.
Large portions, fresh and delicious. I like the family friendly atmosphere and painting on the walls. The servers make you feel right at home and the food comes out fast. Very close to UCD. Parking is at a premium in this area, there is parking behind the restaurant. A great place.
(4)
Chris M.
I had breakfast at Black Bear diner this morning and regret it. With the exception of huge portions, I don't much like what they're serving up. The hash browns were so hard on the outside that I almost chipped a tooth yet uncooked on the inside. It's hard to screw up breakfast food, but Black Bear seems to be able to do it. Plus everything there is way overpriced for what it is. Save some money & hit a Denny's or IHOP or other national chain. Better yet, find a locally owned diner.
(2)
The Bottomless Pi T.
This was my first visit to a Black Bear Diner. I had brunch with a friend, who the server recognized immediately. She was very friendly, attentive, and even tried guessing what my friend would order. I had the California omelet, which was what she guessed my friend would have. The omelet was excellent, nice fluffy eggs. Much better than I can make at home. The hash browns were crispy and hot, I hate it when they cool and get mushy. The biscuit was huge and delicious, they must be made daily. It didn't taste like it was bought from a vendor. As others have said, portion size is huge compared to the price. A wonderful experience!
(5)
Diane M.
Great service and the breakfast was delicious . I had a " little portion " breakfast and filled up! Fresh and tasty . Terrific pancakes and bear claws the size of your two hands!
(5)
Tomas S.
Great diner in Davis! Perfect on the way home from Tahoe. Fast service, great service, pleasant atmosphere. I got the California burger (avocado) for dinner and will surely be back!!
(5)
Li S.
I would want to give 4 and a half star. I like the environment and black bear is cute. I like steak here than apple bee. Since we have more selection, not only just sirloin. The tastes is more favorable. I've been there for four or five times, and first four visits are great. However, the last visit I was not satisfied. The steak that I ordered was median, but it came like fully cooked! Since it was over cooked, not that juicy anymore, and it was very hard to chew.
(4)
Nancy K.
This is definitely my go-to breakfast place in Davis. Black Bear Diner is affordable, pretty good quality, and generous with their portions. My two favorite items to get here are the country fried steak and the blueberry pancakes. I love how everything made here actually tastes like it was made here. As opposed to Denny's that tastes like everything was frozen and then reheated. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of black bear's food when it comes to breakfast. Lunch was not too bad too. These four stars are mostly just for the breakfast though. Service is really good here too. The workers are always incredibly friendly and prompt. ** I would skip getting dinner here though or at least skip the steak... One time I got steak here (it was obviously not the best quality of meat), so getting it medium rare was a bad idea because it ended up giving me major stomach problems. This has never happened to me with any of the breakfast items.
(4)
Kevin L.
Big portions. Very good comfort food breakfast lunch and dinner. I would go here all the time but was on a students budget. Very nice to have traditional breakfast here though.
(4)
Keisha K.
I love the portion size relative to their prices food is always great and no long wait. I love the volcano breakfast .
(5)
Heidi R.
I love having breakfast here! Their pancakes are super yummy and the portions are huge! I would recommend paying $1 more and getting the whole grain granola pancakes. They are so nutty and good! I've been to many black bears in California and never have had bad service. There always seems to be a line out the door, but I've never actually had to wait for than 20 minutes which is awesome!
(4)
Greg V.
Well I ordered the tex mex burger to go. Start eating it then decided to look at the patty. The patty is definitely a frozen Turkey patty and I didn't notice any grill or cooking marks so it looked like they microwaved a turkey patty to put on this burger. Very bland taste to much mayonnaise and some soggy frys to go with it. I don't see how they can charge so much for a really bad turkey burger or why they don't use ground turkey.
(1)
Tiffany D.
Vanilla ice cream over fresh, warm brownie topped with fudge syrup is Oh M Gee DELISH! Entree portions are huge! Servers at this franchise restaurant are attentive and nice!
(3)
Chris N.
Overpriced and pretty subpar food
(1)
Alec E.
I did not enjoy my food here. The fruit was not fresh at all and the potatoes weren't that great. 11/10 would not come back.
(1)
Andrew L.
I've been to a few Black Bear diners, but maybe I was asking too much. We went here because Delta of Venus, my all-time breakfast favorite, was closed. I ordered a chorizo scramble. Didn't even come close to anything they serve at DoV. Service was OK, but the food was way too expensive for the highly mediocre quality. Stick to lunches at Black Bear.
(2)
Destiny L.
Standard American restaurant, don't expect anything more. I would've given them 5 stars had I not have had terrible service for the first time in my life. Shane is a terrible waiter, and if you get him ask for someone else because I surely will if I ever go again. When we arrived it was about 7pm, parking was a little tight but that's Davis for you. It smells like bacon when you come in and the wait staff is a little unorganized when it comes to seating people. They gave us what looks to be a newspaper but is actually your menu and then I saw my waiter for the first time of four that night. He asked us if we were ready to order and when my boyfriend asked where the menu you was he simply opened the newspaper and asked us what we want to drink instead. When he brought back drinks we were ready to order. I got fried shrimp, they give you six and a huge portion of fries. The shrimp were over battered and small, I couldn't even taste them over the grease and bread crumbs. My boyfriend not the bacon stuffed chicken, be warned its chopped up bacon and broccoli with some cream stuff inside. Huge portions. I wanted desert but my waiter just brought me the check and so I decided to take my ice-cream and pot pie wanting business elsewhere. Our service was so bad that another waitress in the area had to refill our drinks. Everyone around us had great service and so that is why I recommend asking for another waiter if you get Shane. I honestly don't even know why he's working as a waiter, anyone could do a better job.
(3)
Tricia M.
Best pancakes ever! What is in them? Crack?! I have no idea but they taste amazing. Nice breakfast-all-day spot and plenty of parking.
(4)
JE B.
Originally posted 11/24/13. 3" Brown 'Grasshopper' in a Friend's lunch. *gasp* Short story: I WILL NOT eat here anytime soon. Make that SIX of us. Long story: This afternoon six of us - with me being the only male- stopped in. It was packed, so we had to wait outside about 15 minutes. I wasn't hungry but tagged along anyway. The wait staff seated us in a booth in the rear. One of the ladies, wanting only one pancake, graciously offered some pancakes, so I took the mantle. Thinking I'd leave before they, I thought to pay for her pancakes BEFORE I'd leave. So I secretly told the waitress that I wanted to pay for the pancakes. She then left. The waitress brought a tab out for me. So as not to attract any attention, I waited until I got to the counter. I gave the cashier the bill. She rang it up and said '$21.00'. I was surprised....shocked more the word. On the spot, I swiped my card, rationalizing 'Good Samaritan', but deep down I supposed I didn't make it clear to the waitress. I must have felt numbed by that tab. I said to our waitress standing by that I was paying Only for the pancakes. So the cashier swiped my card again and explained that two charges will show up first, but the pancake charge will remain. Well, not exactly. :( I finally got to check my statement Sunday night. Black Bear charged me for for the Pancakes AND the other orders that one friend ordered PLUS the pancakes again! So I paid $29.50 for pancakes ($8) I took one bite out of before I lost my appetite, AND two orders of food that NOBODY ate. To find out why nobody ate, one need only read further...or just read the top line of this review. I called them on early Monday morning (25th). The M.o.D. instructed me to see George later this week about this. general I still have my receipts so am going to see about getting my refund. Anyway, let's get back to the review. *Update 11/26: I just checked again and both of the charges are still pending on my card. :( Next, the ladies all ordered and I just asked for water. Twenty to thirty minutes later, the wait staff, who was okay, served us the food. I took ONE bite of the pancakes when suddenly our red-headed friend (who ordered something resembling beef tips) exclaimed, "OH MY GOD", and cringed. Her face was redder than a old-fashioned fire hydrant! Suddenly ALL of the girls at the table SAW it all. Mind you, I couldn't see it from where I sat. But THEY ALL DID, and that was ENOUGH for me. *GASP* "IT's THE SIZE OF A HUMAN THUMB!!" The tables around us looked at us, and some onlookers caught a glimpse of the thing. It LOOKED LIKE A GIANT COCKROACH. The booth cleared to let our friend out to get some air. I immediately lost my appetite and followed our friend out. Another of the ladies went to the manager and told him what happened! Another of the girls 'phoned a friend', but not for a tip to win $1,000,000 or a lunch... NO. She phoned that friend to tell her that we saw a cockroach in our friend's lunch, so they might not LOSE their lunch. She did this in the reservation room. When she did, half of the people who overheard her over there got up and walked out behind us. I've eaten here 3 times in the past, and those times were pleasant. Something's got to be really amiss in QA on the front line. How could something so BIG escape the eyes of cooks? The manager cleared us of the meal charge and we all left THOROUGHLY DISGUSTED. This is no offense to the staff there.The waiter and cashier were easygoing. But..... I have no plans to return there to eat anytime soon. We went to Mishka's after, and even there, the girls ate NOTHING. Right when it happened, the thought occurred to suggest that a girl take a picture of the offensive bugger, but I knew all the gals were already WEIRDED OUT. *Update*: 11/28/13: Returned to the restaurant on Thanksgiving Day for my refund. As promised, the manager was present. He was very agreeable. I presented my receipt and card, he gladly refunded me. Then he hopped back to work (they're open every day of the year). I'm bumping the rating up to a 3. The service the day on the 24th earned a 1, but the manager and staff get a 5 for a courteous and prompt resolution to my refund on my return.
(3)
Eric F.
A solid go-to diner for dependable traditional American breakfast/brunch. It's a very popular spot in Davis with a constant flow of students and families with growling stomachs. Amongst us, we had some steak & eggs, corned beef hash and the Acapulco scramble. The corned beef had great savory flavor with some mild spice, though pretty one note on the whole. My scramble was a fine mix of chicken, cheese, veggies and avocado mixed into the eggs - didn't expect much from one of the "healthier" options and it got the job done. Service was decent and I did enjoy some of the little touches like having the menus printed in newspaper.
(3)
Eman A.
Came here because Delta of Venus was closed. The diner has a very small-town, homey feel. There's nothing modern about it. Ordered the fiesta scramble and the 7 grain granola nut cakes to share. Scramble was ok but pancakes were pretty good. Waitress was nice and the potatoes are delicious. Does the job if you're just looking for a big portion, of basic comfort food.
(3)
John L.
Got the pot roast. It was dry and bland. The mashed potatoes helped but could not redeem the main dish. Don't get it. You can make a better one at home.
(3)
Tiffany N.
I went here for the first time a few months ago and I'm actually surprised I never took the time out to try this place before. I went for breakfast with another person and one plate between the two of us was more than enough food. The portions are HUGE. You know the place is doing something right if the plate is the size of your head and it's pretty much completely filled. We ordered an omelet and a side of biscuits and I could've been satisfied off the biscuits alone. I'm not a huge fan of gravy, but Black Bear made me a true fan. It's a bit more expensive than other breakfast joints but I feel like it's worth it considering the size of your portions.
(4)
Angela D.
The best place when I have breakfast food cravings. And the portions are huge! My favorites are the hash browns and omelettes, which are delicious. Also the french toast is so yummy and sweet. Plus every time I've gone the staff has been so friendly and always makes sure you have everything you need. Definitely a go-to place for breakfast or brunch!
(4)
Mark G.
Food was OK (larger than average portion size), but service was poor. General area around tables seemed a little dirty, but we were there near closing. Might try a breakfast here, but dinner was nothing special.
(2)
Melissa F.
Always seem to stagger in here half alive and hungover, but it's perfect for a morning after breakfast or lunch. They give you so much food and the prices are on point. Everything from breakfast to lunch is so bomb. Love black bear!
(5)
Cindy M.
Call me dumb, but I never thought that Black Bear was a chain restaurant...but surprise! They are. (Food) The portions of their food is always huge, no matter what you order. So the price you have to pay for it is very reasonable considering everything. I've always been super happy with what I've ordered and everything is very comfort food like, so if you want a "home cooked meal" without actually cooking yourself, then this would be a good place for you to try out--plus you can order breakfast/dinner whenever you'd like. Get this, their ranch has bacon in it...nuf said! (Service) I've always gotten good service here, even when they're really busy. Generally when places get busy, they forget your table maybe or check up on you less than you'd like, but not here. They check up on your table a decent amount, probably following their whole theme of being a "bear family" or whatever their theme is. (Overall) This is not a place you want to go if you're watching your weight, I can honestly say you'll gain weight by reading their menu and seeing how many calories are in their dessert...I stand by the fact that this is a "real" diner because all their food is "comfort food" (I.E.: Mac and cheese, Ribs and mashed potatoes, eggs, etc.)
(4)
Megan H.
I have visited this location 3 times. Each time, I had a great meal. Location- There's some parking behind the restaurant, but street parking is impossible. Service- Pretty good. The servers are very friendly and upbeat. They check on you frequently and have always gotten my order correct. Quality of food- stars. My boyfriend was not happy w/ his fried chicken (he said it tasted just like KFC, but more expensive), but I've always been satisfied. The onion rings are fantastic. I always get the two egg combo, which is typically enough to fill two of me, with a side of linked sausage (which are SO GOOD!). The iced tea is better than average as well. They have a fresh OJ machine that is full of fresh oranges. The eggs are made just how I like them, over-easy. The wheat toast is good. Fruit selection is also good. I ordered a chocolate shake the last time I was there and it was a 5/5. Price- More than I'd like to spend, but not too shabby. Wait time- Expect to typically have to wait 15-20 minutes. They're always pretty packed. The only thing I don't like is the fact that the menus are printed like newspapers and thrown out far too often. It's a waste.
(4)
Sara S.
The portions are huge, and the service was great. It's pretty basic, classic diner food, but it's well done and everyone there is super friendly and nice.
(4)
Abe M.
When I first came to Davis, I saw BBD and thought to myself "yeah I will probably never eat here." I thought it was one of those Denny's/Ihop wannabees that serve greasy American food. However, I was presently surprised one night when I felt like being a fatty and pigging out. BBD is a pretty decent diner with some interesting menu choices. I ordered the Dinner Combo and it was a stupid amount of food. Most of it lacked much flavor, but kinda of what you would expect from a diner. I have also came here for breakfast, and I can vouch for their blueberry pancakes (kind of hard to screw that up) All in all, give BBD a chance, it may surprise you!
(3)
William L.
Delicious brunch! Recommend the omelets and instead of toast ask for pancakes :)
(5)
Mimi C.
Cosy diner ~25 min wait when I came during UCD's move-in weekend, so it was packed! They specialize in comfort food, with generous portions so each big plate is enough for two people. Doesn't that make you feel better already? This is where I would want to be on a chilly day (with light sweater because of the vent above the table). Prices are around 10~14$ for the bigger plates, and ~8$ for the smaller combos which do not come with sides. What I tried: 1. Meatloaf (ok taste, rather have Cheesecake Factory's) mashed potatoes (always comforting) brocolli cream soup (nice) 2. Eggs Benedict Combo (the one with spinach, avocado, bacon. nice) red potato side (ok) Fruit bowl (small bowl. fresher honeydew at least) 3. Chicago Burger (interesting... ok) The food is passable, portion size is fantastic, and the atmosphere was very nice. I am rating this on the experience I had here. What I really want to try next time: Chicken Fried Steak smothered with country gravy + biscuits Beef Hash(?) Papa Bear and Sugar Bear paid attention to detail. Check out the sauces ;) Can you take a 'newspaper' out with you? It would be nice as a momento.
(4)
Jen W.
Wow. Soooooooooo slow... I'm a super frequent diner at black bear diner locations across NorCal and Reno. This was my first time at the Davis location and it was horrible!!! The service was slower than molasses...our server kept telling us she would bring us more coffee...she must've told us that at least 5 times before she brought it. I didn't even ask for napkins...I understand that she was trying to anticipate our needs...but she kept repeating it over and over again and ended up bringing us one napkin? So confused. Our food took 30+ minutes. How do i know this? I checked when I checked in to the place. The table next to us ordered, ate, and received their check before we got our food. I asked for medium for my burger...it came out well done. I saw the guy take my burger to the back area and grab a bunch of lettuce and tomatoes onto my plate with his hands. I have no clue when he washed his hands and he was previously helping out bussing tables. Wifey ordered her eggs over medium...they came out extremely runny with the egg whites still raw. It was just bad all around...I'll never come back to this location again. What a shame.
(2)
Cathy S.
I love eating here whenever I'm in davis! They have bacon ranch which is delicious! It's always cold in there so bring a sweater, you can't go wrong with the eggs Benedict, California club sandwich or the fried chicken
(5)
Alexandra G.
I love this place! When I was living in the dorms my parents would take me here and I could always expect an awesome breakfast. Nice homey atmosphere and great prices on everything. Service is good and they're very friendly. They're breakfast menu is the bomb and they have a variety of different sizes of breakfasts. I'm a huge fan of the homemade sausage patty and they're open to substitutions (I typically like to get hash browns and fruit as my sides which isn't really available on the menu). The Black Bear Diner is worth a shot!
(4)
Michelle R.
The breakfast was filling but didn't make me feel like vomitting which is always positive. It was such a huge portion and regular size is a small.lol I definitely couldn't get enough of the homemade hash browns, absolutely delicious. We also bought a few pies and donated money since it was all for a good cause. Now the pies, ordered an apple, chocolate, and pumpkin something maybe pecan (sold during holidays only). I expected the pies to be great, but really the pumpkin was very dry, and the crust was so hard. The food is wonderful, but I had to take a star off for the disappointment when it came to the pies, I wasn't happy with that especially since I waited all day to try it.....you guys let me down. Definitely recommend for breakfast everything was wonderful and well worth it, also please tip your waitress saw some college students give her nothing, so I made up for it by giving her a bigger tip, since she was working her butt off. I am also a college student and work, but when someone is a good waitress, which is rare, I always tip well.
(4)
Riki N.
3.5 stars rounded up, and it certainly feels unnatural clicking a 4-star for this. A friend of ours was visiting from back home and it's a bit of a tradition with us to hit the most average, uninspiring, normal diner in town. For nothing but the novelty of going to a diner, we seek average American food at average prices served by an average wait staff. Black Bear Diner is a chain that I've never been to, and I was fully expecting a perfectly 3-star experience. It could be because the expectations were set low, but we got more out of it than just a 3-star experience, to our collective surprise. The first thing you'll notice is the stupid, corny decor in the diner. It's made to look like a bit of a "wild west" diner with a lot of wooden fixtures that would make you feel a bit like you were in Tahoe if it weren't for the incredible amount of ridiculous bear paraphernalia. Seriously, it's silly to the point of ridiculous and I can't help but wish they'd have toned it down like 200%. The host behind the counter (George I believe) was an energetic fellow with a warm, joking attitude and a genuine way about him. After a 20 minute wait we were seated and our waitress (Carissa I believe) started off mostly by averaging us to our expectations. We looked in our kitsch-as-can-be newspaper menus and all decided on some form of the chicken-fried steak breakfast with 2 eggs, toast or a biscuit, hash browns, and gravy. At $9.99 we figured it sounded good enough. The portions were huge, so much so that none of us (even my ravenous roommate) could comfortably clear our plates. Our waitress did pop one of my roommate's eggs, but she brought him out 2 more (unpopped) at no extra charge. Not bad. The food was - drumroll please - surprisingly good. Everything tasted above-average in texture, temperature, quality and taste, and we couldn't stop commenting on it. The bottom line is we'd come back - but my roommate says don't get the chicken pot pie as he once did, because it was significantly more forgettable than the chicken-fried steak dish we all enjoyed. At $9.99 I can't say I've had a better breakfast in my life, and to say that about a goofy chain diner makes me feel like some sort of traitor. Oh well, we'll be back anyway, Black Bear. We will be back.
(4)
Renee L.
Love the smell of bacon upon entering for breakfast on weekends. The breakfast menu is quite standard for an American diner. Prices seem a bit high, most items will set you back $10 for breakfast, but the large portions more than make up for it. The hash browns are great!
(3)
Teresa P.
My husband and I are moving back to the East Coast so when it was time to say goodbye to family we decided to meet at Black Bear in Davis since it will be my last time. Now i love the Black Bear in Milpitas so i thought they would all be the same. I WAS SO WRONG. The staff didn't acknowledge us and when they did the totally for all the drink orders wrong. I always get the hot turkey sandwich and this one was awful. The turkey was dry and tough and the bread was stale. I ate maybe 5 bites but was sick all night. I wonder if the gravy covered up mold on the bread. I was so disappointed and it is sad that this is my last memory of Black Bear. If you can visit the one in Milpitas, CA they are fabulous. Davis go there and take some notes!!!
(1)
Rebecca F.
I've been here for both breakfast and dinner and have to say that this is a very good breakfast spot, but not so great for other meals. Portions are MASSIVE. It tries to ne home comfort food in a restaurant, and I think they achieve that with the breakfast options. The dishes for dinner meals seem like they aren't made from scratch, and are just okay...big, but okay. Think stove top stuffing instead of fresh homemade stuff (just as an example, not saying they do this). If you love bears (GREAT bear decor here... and stuff to buy!) and breakfast, this is THE place for you to go ;)
(3)
Kaycee S.
My boyfriend and I came in and were immediately seated. We were seated near the kitchen. Our server, Doreen, was perfectly nice and kept telling us to "live it up". After we ordered, I noticed that a waitress was making a salad with her bare hands when she was interrupted by someone who she proceeded to hug and touch his arm and pat his back. After he left, she resumed grabbing lettuce leaves and shredded carrots with her unwashed hands. Needless to say I lost my appetite a little. Our food came out and the meats were slightly dry. Besides that, the food was decent and the servings were generous. I took away two stars for the unhygienic way of handling the food.
(3)
Emily C.
Okay. I don't know why. I have given this place SOOO many chances, and after each visit I want to throw up immediately after. It's so weird, I have a feeling it's the syrup or something but the gigantic portions don't help. I get so nauseous afterwards and I have no desire to do anything else but crumple into a corner and wait for it to pass. I hate that this is one of the few group-friendly brunch places in Davis (and heck no I am not going to that god-awful IHOP on Cowell) because it does not sit well with me. Normally I got the breakfast foods (pancakes, eggs, hashbrown, etc.) Blehhhh so disappointing especially when I just want some good old fashioned American breakfast. My friends love this place (they usually get the T-bone steak) though so maybe it's different for everyone. I'd seriously recommend going to Crepeville over this. Sorry BB.
(1)
Jocelyn J.
This place isn't good, it's delicious! Our friends had suggested this place so we gave it a try coming back from a baseball tournament in North Highlands. After a long wait (this place gets crowded) we were finally seated. Greeted by an old timer who had obviously been working there for years who was flirting up a storm (it was cute). She offered great suggestions for what we were looking for and so we ordered. What appeared in front of me a little while later was what I soon described as heavenly. I ordered the Farmer's Scrabble which was noted to be a fresh vegetable omelet. Oh, it was so much more than that. I was expecting a little spinach, some tomato, a little onion...but what I got was much much better. Big pieces of zucchini, what you could tell was fresh spinach, the cheese was melted to perfection. I was so happy I devoured that thing like it was going out of style. This isn't a greasy diner like I was expecting. Wish they had a Black Bear near home....loved it so much maybe I will open one! ;)
(4)
Sonnia K.
Went here for the first time last Saturday night for dinner after a fun UCD Homecoming football game. This is one of those classic diners with comfort food. Definitely better than Denny's. It's a cute place with a very rustic and conservative interior decor. The dishes they serve have huge sizes. To-go boxes are definitely needed. I got my favorite New York Steak. I was curious to try their Linguica Beans with it but never liked it. Their Mashed Potatoes with Gravy needed more gravy. I honestly preferred the Bold and Spicy A1 sauce over their Black Bear Steak Sauce. My heart-husband had their giant Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs. It was huge! The atmosphere was relaxing and our server was very upbeat and attentive. I think I lost one of my silver/blue cross earrings there but I discovered it when I went back our hotel. Oh well. I could always buy a new pair. LOL Comparing this place to Country Way in Fremont, I'd say I still like Country Way since it's closer to home, but wouldn't say no to coming back to a Black Bear Diner. I'd surely want to try their other stuff.
(4)
Savannah S.
A little more expensive than Denny's, but exceptionally better. This is pretty quality diner food, not to mention monstrous portions! I've been here a few times with various people and along with my own food have tried bites of theirs. I haven't been too disappointed. One of the reasons I docked a star is because I've ordered my eggs over medium a few times and they've been either over or under-cooked every time. Another is because the place feels somewhat crowded, claustrophobic.
(3)
Erica Y.
First time :) good service and good food, but price is a little bit fancy. But it was good :)
(4)
Amy T.
This place definitely gives big portions! Though it could be a bit pricey but I always have some leftovers in the end. The times I have came here I had to wait a long time to be seated. The service here is really good; people are friendly. I love their clam chowder soup of the day and their cornbread. I have had their Chicken Fried Steak and it was pretty good and big! I've also had one of their sandwiches and it was decent; nothing to fancy. The specials here are usually pretty great so you can never go wrong with that!
(4)
Rebecca T.
I didn't know this was a chain restaurant. I came here for my first time.. The food was okay, typical American food. The portions are really huge and generous. The thing that made it 2 stars was the terrible service. Our waiter was bad. I did try to have patience because he was waiting on a huge party as well. But even so, he never came by to check on us. Another waiter had to refill our water. We asked for water once, they said ok, and never came back.. Had to ask again. Not to mention that the wait for the food was very long. Even the cashiers weren't very pleasant. We had 2 different cashiers and it was a long process. They weren't very attentive to us and were acting very distracted. Not sure if I would come here again.
(2)
Kristie F.
OMG WHY DID IT TAKE FOR ME TO FINALLY EAT AT THIS PLACE DURING MY LAST QUARTER AS AN UNDERGRAD!!!!!!!....... at least there's one in sac ;) LOL Definitely an upgrade from Denny's/IHOP! Prices were average, but portions were huge. Holy moly, those biscuits! O____ O There was a short wait on a Sunday afternoon. Parking is also difficult because the lot is kinda small and squishy. Some people were doing tandem parking and it made it even more confusing where to park! There was also a wait before our food came out, but it was okay, well worth it! At the end of the bill, we were also able to pay our bill individually (so plus for groups!) We will meet again... black bear diner... after I do some exercising~
(5)
Moe C.
This place by far is one of the best breakfast joints in Davis. Every time i come here the staff is always polite. I recently had there Denver Omelet add bacon and added some Tabasco sauce on top. It was awesome. I have yet to be disappointed with this place and whenever i am in Davis looking for breakfast this place has become my default staple. Other dishes i have tried are Shasta Scramble* - Avocado, spinach, tomato, onion, bell pepper & jack cheese. Vegetarian Omelet* - ,onion, tomato, bell pepper, spinach & jack cheese..plus bacon I love me some omelette's from this place.
(4)
Jen T.
Sweet Cream Pancakes!!!!! Freshly Squeezed OJ! 4 bucks for a cup..could buy Simply Orange 2 for 5 bucks at Safeway. Portions were very generous. Can feed a family of 3, maybe 4? You have tons and tons of options! still love IHOP, but Black Bear is DEFINITELY worth trying!
(4)
Mr. R.
Before I left Davis back to San Diego this morning, I had breakfast and it was very good and so was the service. I especially like the way one of the waitresses that sounds like Betty Boop came around and asking if I'd like some more coffee cause I really enjoy my cup of Joe. She has a beautiful voice and I'm gonna send her some flowers:)
(4)
David C.
I generally like Black Bear Diner, but it is either hit or miss. Breakfast is always good, and you cannot go wrong with the Grizz or the chicken fried steak. The Grizz gives you one of every breakfast animal. You get your bacon, ham, sausage, and eggs. If you're still hungry you still have to finish your hash browns and pancakes (which can be substituted with a biscuit or waffle, maybe toast?) As you move farther away from breakfast things seem to drift away from delicious. Their sandwiches/burgers are good, but depending on the cook, it can be dry. Yesterday I tried their Fried Shrimp Dinner. I wasn't in the mood for breakfast, so I thought I would pick something from their Big Bear Dinner selection. I don't think that is what it is called, but they told me I would be given Big Bear Portions for a value. I figured I would get at least 8-10 shrimp, but when my meal came out, I had 6 pieces. I was a little shocked because I was hardly able to see them as they got lost in my fries. They did mention that there was a new chef that was being changed, so I am sure that played some role in how our food tasted. The service is decent, however I was given the wrong order once. Last night, they lost our order completely and had to take it down again. If you want a good breakfast place with big portions, go to Black Bear. If you want an American lunch or dinner, its definitely an option, just less consistent.
(3)
Julianne S.
I'm from the East Coast and we don't have these there. But...it's the same thing as IHOP, no? Food was OK...I'm sure it's good for hangovers, maybe?
(2)
John C.
This place always fills me up. I really enjoy eating here, and it is a "go-to-place" if you're in Davis. It is a chain, but it's still good nonetheless. The portions are huge, and I believe that it is worth every penny. They have a lot of items on the menu, so you can always find something that you want to eat. The quality of the food is good, it's better than your average diner.
(4)
Erick M.
We love this place. We are officially fans ! We've dined here 3 times before i decided to write this review. The food is delicious, great service and great atmosphere. Our server was very attentive even though the place was packed. The desserts are great as well. We had a great experience all 3 times. I could go on ad on ad on with the details but less is more at times, try this place, you'll love it.
(5)
Steven E.
I have eaten here several times. Large portions. Food is quick and good. Usually quick seating except on weekends. Centrally located in town. Nice family setting.
(5)
T C.
The one in Davis is better than the one out here in Sac. IMO we get better service and the food always comes out tasty. Big fans of the biscuit.
(3)
Jay R.
Okay, forget IHOP and Denny's. If you want some quality diner food, this is the place. The portions are pretty big and the ingredients are fresh. They have the cool orange squeezing machine which guarantees perfect orange juice. I wish they brought back the steak and eggs combo. I always used to pass by the restaurant and see that sign, thinking it was a daily thing.
(4)
Lillian N.
It's basically another version of Denny's to me but the portions are bigger! It's a nice atmosphere and I always enjoy coming here to eat, especially during breakfast times. Customer service is excellent, never have I once experienced a rude staff member or waiter, and I always feel welcomed here.
(4)
Marina S.
I've been to BBD hella times (And yeah I just made it an acronym and used hella) and it's consistently good. Breakfast food after a night out or just because there is no where else to go in Davis, BBD is going to be a great choice. My go to is the Chorizo scramble and I mix it up with the waffle or the tortilla but, either way it's bomb.
(4)
Amy T.
Black Bear Diner is always on and off for me. Either they are really good that day or really bad. I love how they serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout the day and their portions are always so HUGE! The food isn't that bad, its quite good. I've tried their omelette and their special chicken fried steak. I love their food, but sometimes the server tends to forget little details of how you like your food to be. It is kind of my pet peeve, I guess. So before you go into Black Bear, you prepare yourself with irritated slow service. Even if it seems like its family run, they have a lot of customers throughout the day but they don't seem to mind the slow service. Their food is good when the waiter remembers to bring it to you when its hot. There are times when they forget to bring the food the table and the food actually gets cold and don't taste as good. You kind of have to constantly nag them for refills or more water. Although, they won't give you attitude or anything, its just a hassle you know? This is a great place for some comfort food, but beware of the slow service!
(3)
Charles T.
AWW YEAH AWW YEAH! This is an awesome place to eat when you WANT TO DIG IN!!!! I never leave this place hungry, their portion is so big for the value. And the quality of the food is spectacular! Just the other day, I was served by a great Host name Joe, he recommended me the Bob's Burger, and I must say it's the best burger in TOWN!!! In and Out doesn't come close! Thanks JOE! and Thanks for doing the bear pose! If you get service by this guy you gotta ask him to give you the "bear pose"! TO GOOD EATING!
(5)
Cathy N.
They have some big ol' portions here! I had the Chicken Fried Steak for breakfast, and could hardly eat half the plate... and I was super hungry! Breakfast is busy, but great. The staff are very friendly and mostly efficient. If I'm ever in the area again, I would love to try another breakfast dish - but maybe something a little smaller!
(4)
W. W.
Black Bear Diner of Davis, CA 95616 is a great place to go for a casual sit-down dining experience. The staff of Black Bear Diner really stand out as exceptional. The whole team is quick to provide anything that a customer could desire, and the food is delicious (huge portions and low prices)! Note: No health hazards/violations were noted at this location.
(5)
Christine T.
There's something about this place.. It could be the warm country feel, the oversized plates filled with perfection, or the overall zing of the great servers.. you'll walk out of here feeling like crawling back into bed and cuddling the day away. I've gone here so many times hung over, I'm pretty sure I would consider this place a college student's bed and breakfast.. Fat pancakes and amazingly perfectly fried hash browns, I just can't imagine waking up to anything else better! One suggestion: try and go at irregular hours. This place gets packed on weekend breakfast, brunch, and lunch so a typical wait could be ~20minutes.
(4)
Erin H.
I've been here several times and it's time to write up a review! My very first time was last year when I came home after my finals at UCSD and my mother took me to Black Bear diner. The fact it was my first time, my impression of the place was the large portions of food they give you, like a hungry lumberjack man. Great ambiance, as if you're in a cabin log with servers serving you with their cute suspenders! I would totally wear my red lumberjack hat to blend in with the theme. The menu printed on newspaper was a nice touch and beats touching greasy marks on laminated menus. Inside the menu, they have an extensive list of breakfast and lunch items. Like Denny's, breakfast is served all day. As I previously mentioned, I wasn't sure how big the portions are exactly, so I started at the "A Little Less/Senior Citizens" section of the menu (don't judge) and later work my way up on my next visits. I ordered the hot beef sandwich and the portion size was tolerable. Flavorful and hearty, I think I can jump up to the big leagues now. I'll jump to my last visit now. My mother and I came back from a two-week vacation in Korea, and because we had absolutely nothing in the fridge to fix up lunch, we came back to BBD. One of the things I missed here while I was overseas was an American breakfast plate (i.e. pancakes, waffles, French toast, omelettes, etc). No joke, I teared a bit when I finally got my order of Bear's choice with pancakes, poached eggs, and ham. Few more tears came out after my first bite of the pancake. Bigger than your head, the pancakes are made from sweet cream batter, which makes you think you're eating cake for breakfast (or lunch, in my case). I didn't use that much syrup, because it's already sweet by itself; in fact, I didn't need the syrup, but my mind was preoccupied from the delicious American breakfast fare. However, their ham was incredibly salty, like I took a bite of spam. The pancakes were so good that I demolished my entire short stack. Didn't even touch my poached eggs, or else my stomach would burst. Best breakfast (for lunch) ever. I think my sodium and sugar levels skyrocketed off the roof after that feast; It's good to be home. :)
(4)
Bonnie C.
My friends and I came here in the morning for the steak and eggs special. For less than $10 (I think it was about $7-8), you get a steak, eggs, choice of hash browns or house potatoes, and biscuit or toast- pretty good deal. The waitress helping us was pretty nice too, she helped us move tables when we found out we had a larger party than expected and she helped us split our checks so we could each pay separately. 5 stars for the service. The food- The steak was pretty salty and none of us got our steak cooked the way we wanted. My medium-rare steak was more like medium well. And even worse, my friend ordered her steak medium and got it served well done and burnt!! The house potatoes were also under cooked. The scrambled eggs were all right and the toast was delicious (I LOVE toast!). I guess if you're looking to eat A LOT of food for a SMALL price, this is the place to go. But I'd give the food here a 2 star rating.
(3)
Corey P.
My friends and I, 8 total, showed up at 5:30 PM on a Friday, we were seated in about 5 minutes. The service is premiere, friendly, attentive, and understanding. I think everything's priced as expected, nothing is overly expensive. Two of my friends ordered the Bob's Big Bear Burger or something, and it looked pretty big, they said it was pretty good, two of them ordered the B.L.A.S.T. (bacon, lettuce, avocado, Swiss cheese, and tomato) and said it was fine/nothing special. I saw their order of pancakes, they are huge, they give you two, which is probably equal to 4-5 IHOP pancakes, it's RIDICULOUS when you see them. I personally ordered the BBQ Pork Ribs which were TO DIE FOR. It was like biting heaven or something, the meat fell off the bone, melted in my mouth. The sides that came with it, clam chowder, macaroni and cheese, and country potatoes were pretty mediocre; those sides aren't anything I would look forward to. They accomplish the job of filling you up, and all together, it's SO MUCH FOOD. There was also a piece of garlic bread which was tasty. One of my friends got the pot pie and said it was really good, she also got "hot" maple syrup spilled on her accidently by the waitress who immediately got her a wet towel to wipe herself off. Even better, she didn't have to pay for her meal! Come here for the service and TRY THOSE RIBS, everything else may not be that special. What people say is pretty true, the portions are HUGE if you order full meals/dinner items. I want to come back and try their breakfast dishes and omelets and scrambles. I like this place, it was a lot of food, it's not the healthiest food, but it's super hearty. I wouldn't mind returning every now and then. It reminds me of a super friendly IHOP, but it feels less cheap, more family like, and warm. I came back some time later with my dad and my cousin and ordered the ribs again. I was extremely disappointed because I'm guessing due to the heavy customer traffic, they were trying to pump out food faster so the ribs were not nearly as tender, juicy, or fall-off-the-bone. It was actually kind of tough and chewy. Still, I got side orders of onion rings and baked potato, and that made it a little better. Still would recommend to go with friends.
(3)
Andrea A.
Had the Chicken Apple Sausage Scramble...yum! And the fruit that came with it was fresh, sweet and ripe. Couldn't have asked for a better breakfast!
(4)
Jonathan L.
My friends and I originally wanted to get some Zen Toro, but it turned out that they were closed on Sunday. =(( This is when we headed Black Bear Diner. The thing I really liked about Black Bear Diner is that their theme is heavily prevalent in the restaurant. Right when you walk in , there's a huge ass bear to greet you.and if you looked looked to your left, there will plushies of black bears that you can buy. Even in the bathroom, there's a bear paw telling you to wash your hands. Overall, the theme is nice and with it, comes a nice homey atmosphere. It's really a nice place to eat for a family dinner or something. As for the food, I have to say it was extremely unsatisfying. I ordered a medium rare steak and I actually got a medium rare steak, but there was just something that was left to be desired from the dish. I'm not really sure what. It was probably the flavor because it really didn't leave a strong impression on me. Granted, the whole dish was big, but I just didn't enjoy it. Hell, I enjoyed their corn bread more than the steak to be honest. I don't know. There's something to it... Pros: -Great Customer Service -Homey Atmosphere -Clean -Huge portions of food -Great theme Cons: -The food....it's ...not...mentally filling. =X -Expensive for Mediocre food.
(3)
Amy G.
Large portion for small price. A college student's dream. But of course, it is not the best tasting food out there. Just lower your expectations as you lower your credit card debt.
(4)
Nathaniel C.
So good and crazy large portions. Wish the OJ was cold, but I'll just ask for ice next time.
(5)
Aurora P.
It's SO BIG! (no, it's not a "that's what she said kinda joke") haha. Black Bear Diner really gives BIG BIG portions! Our meal was huge! I got the corn beef hash with eggs and a biscut and potatoes! mmm mmm mm yum, and YES, I ATE IT ALL! sooo good! The service is great, our waiter was very nice, the portions are huge and reasonably priced. The pancakes are also really delicious. The place is decorated like a cabin and has a statue of a giant bear that welcomes you at the front door. The place is really cozy and if you're ever in the mood for breakfast anytime throughout the day, this is the place to be!
(4)
Evonne M.
Gigantic portions of American breakfast foods. My boyfriend and I like Black Bear Diner better than iHop and would go to this restaurant when we want a ridiculous amount of food at a reasonable price. The restaurant is equally as large as the portion of food they serve so don't worry about being turned away. There is also a parking lot for customers behind the restaurant for added convenience. Besides being decorated to the finest details with bears, bears, and more bears, my favorite thing in Black Bear is the jukebox that they have near the front of the entrance. Customers are allowed to select and play songs of their liking FREE OF CHARGE. Needless to say, I spend just as much time in front of the jukebox programming playlists as I do wolfing down my bigger-than-life meal. The boyfriend and I were "bear-ious" and ordered non-breakfast food items on their menu once (boyfriend had a steak while I had roast pork). We were disappointed at how salty it turned out so I recommend that you stick to the breakfast foods.
(4)
Denny V.
Exterior - On the corner of Second St. Medium size building with wood craving decoration. Couple of bear statues surrounds. They have a parking lot which holds about 10 cars behind the restaurant. Interior - They try and give you this fill as if you just walked into a cabin. Once entering, first thing you see is the host/hostess table and the selection of cold desserts(pies) next to it. To the left is the kitchen and restrooms, while to right are set of tables. I would say this diner could hold about 30 people? They have tables if you prefer sitting in a booth or chairs. Food - Menu is in a newspaper style. There is a sign upon entering of the specials they were offering or you can always ask your waiter/waitress. Pricing was fair and portions were indeed huge. They had variety of foods. Breakfast (served all day), tortilla wraps, meatloaf, steak, soups, burgers, and more. I tried a burger combo which consist of single patty burger served with vegetable in a bun. They automatically make it medium rare, so if you prefer something else you should ask. Served with crisp fries. My girlfriend had the blueberry pancakes and they gave her HUGE i mean HUGE pieces of pancakes (I believe there is a photo of it uploaded so check that out). Wasn't joking about portion. Food was a 3/5. Customer Service - Greeted upon entrance. We came during the last hour so they were starting to wrap things up for the day. This didn't affected us until we were done with our meals and flagged someone down for our receipts.We talked for like 10-15 minutes until they finally brought that to us. I could see many were standing at times and minding their own business. The service here is a 3/5. Not too bad and not too great. Overall - This is a pretty good upgrade from your typical diners of Denny's, IHOPS, and so on. Overall, I recommend giving this joint a try if you are around the area. This place is frequent with locals and UC Davis students. You get a bang for your buck. Meals are $7+ and ensures that you are full or have leftovers. Customer service could be better but it's pretty much the same kind I've experienced in other diners.
(3)
Wendy L.
So, Black Bear Diner is a pretty good choice. My parents really like going here when they visit me. The overall aesthetic of BBD is very cozy, old-school diner-esque. They have a wide range of selections so my family can have breakfast, lunch and dinner options all in one meal. What I've tried: country fried steak (decent, but a little greasy), California omelet (MY FAVORITE), rib-eye (decent), and burger (not bad!). The best thing about BBD is their hash browns and BISCUITS! Their biscuits are HUGE!!! Overall, prices are relatively low and portions are gigantic, perfect for a college student.
(3)
Ashley B.
Rudest service I've ever had! Been to the Black Bear Diner in Walnut Creek and it was wonderful - there were even little kids in our group and the waitress was very accommodating and helpful. COMPLETELY different atmosphere at this one. A bunch of bratty Davis teens and "young adults" (used lightly) who would rather gossip then help out their customers - even when no one is even in the restaurant. I feel bad I have to say this about a BBD because I really like them as a whole, but they should just fire and rehire their entire staff at this place for how disrespectful they are.
(1)
Cherish S.
Didn't have much for the veg head but mashed potatoes and mixed veggies were great. And the homemade bear claw. Yum yum yum
(5)
Denise B.
Black Bear Diner is where you go when it's one of those days you just want to stuff yourself silly. At least, that's how I ended up here. If you've gotta get yourself huge portions of breakfast food at a diner with reasonable prices, Black Bear Diner is probably the best option in Davis. Beats going to the IHOP in South Davis, that's for sure. IHOP is just... ick... while at least Black Bear Diner tries. There are a lot of bear decorations inside, and the servers wore suspenders. The bear decorations reminded me of my mother's new timeshare vacation condo. lol. My food wasn't what I'd call incredible or anything, but it was good enough. My pancakes were pretty fluffy, the sausage had good flavor, the eggs were a little runny but not a huge deal. Our service was kind of slow. At least the food wasn't cold when we got it! Better diner places exist, but Black Bear Diner does it the best of a somewhat larger chain that I've tried. As I said earlier, it's the best option in Davis itself for this kind of food.
(3)
Tiffany C.
After my boyfriend raved about Black Bear Diner and how excited he was for it to open, we decided to go in for dinner. Very intrigued by the bear statue outside by the front door and the cute sign with the bear on a bicycle (very Davis-esque), we were greeted by an extremely friendly and enthusiastic hostess. We were given their newspaper menu and seated almost immediately. The decor is very cute inside. It makes you feel like you are in the woods, the carpet is green to look grassy and there are things with black bears all over the place. Our waitress came and took our orders. They serve breakfast all day, and make it a point to make their servings very large, bear-large, if you will. Each dinner meal comes with two side orders, and i ordered the meat loaf with sides of macaroni and cheese and sauteed veggies. My boyfriend ordered the two dinner special, and chose tri-tip and ribs with sides of scalloped potatoes and macaroni and cheese. The food came, and... well, the plates were large, but the food? I guess it was kind of big, but I was expecting more. There was a lot of food definitely, but my meat loaf consisted of two rather small pieces. My boyfriend was also a bit disappointed with the amount of tri-tip and ribs he received on his plate. It seemed like the plate was more the side orders and the piece of bread the meal comes with. The food itself was good. The meat loaf was a bit salty, but the veggies and the macaroni and cheese were delicious. The tri-tip was marinated in a tasty sauce and the ribs practically fell off the bone. He also liked how the food came with an extra side of barbeque sauce. The scalloped potatoes were creamy and very good. Time for dessert. Who goes to a diner without getting the pie at the end? Jason and I got an apple cobbler, a la mode. A little turned off by the price, we had to pay an extra dollar for a small scoop of ice cream on top. The scoop of ice cream was smaller than the dollar scoops Baskin Robbins used to have. The cobbler itself was delicious though. Overall, Black Bear Diner was a good experience. The food was good, and although it was a bit costly, definitely a good place to go if you feel like getting woodsy.
(3)
Natalia H.
SUPER HUMANGO GINORMOUS XXL PORTIONS. You have been warned.
(4)
Jacquelin S.
We decided to try Black Bear for Sunday breakfast. We arrived around 9 a.m. and were seated right away. The menu (very cute, printed on newsprint with articles from Davis in 1955) is extensive. I ordered the vegetarian omelette with the red potatoes, and he ordered the Small Volcano (3 pancakes stacked with 1 egg on top, served with 1 piece of bacon and 1 piece of sausage) The plates were huge and filled. My country red diced potatoes were undercooked. They were better as leftovers- recooked. Omelette so-so, not enough filling. The pancakes are a special recipe "Sweet Cream Pancakes" They were too sweet. He has a big sweet tooth, usually drowns his pancakes in syrup. Luckily he poured just a little on a corner and decided he didn't need any more and still considered them too sweet. Service was a little slow. It was awhile before someone came around to check if we needed more coffee, on the other hand, the mugs are so large we didn't need a refill until the server showed up. Not great food, but for a place for when we feel like going out for Sunday breakfast and read the newspaper, it's OK. Final note on service: A couple of days later my guy was at the athletic club and our server from breakfast was there and recognized him and started chatting. Nice to see they hire local friendly people.
(2)
Charla A.
The owner/manager had personally replied to my review, and apologized for the confusion. Turns out, they SHOULD have taken my groupon! Ugh! Goes to show you should never settle for the first "no" you get. Anyway, I still highly recommend this place. I definitely appreciate the personal effort made by the management.
(5)
Celena G.
This was a pleasant surprise. We had a larger party and the hostess people were very accommodating with getting us in quickly. We all loved the portions and flavor of everything we got. We also had a very friendly older woman for our server that was great. She was very apologetic with how long it was taking our food to come out which was extremely too long. We got there at 10:00 am and didn't leave until 11:45 am. I would go back but I would mention how long it took to get our food with the hope that it wouldn't happen again.
(4)
Van L.
3.5 stars, but I decided to round up. This place has great food with reasonable prices for the portions they give. Whether you are coming for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, you can count on leaving with some embarrassing buttons popping out of them jeans because you will leave full! Their eggs benedict breakfast is super delicious and if you come for dinner, you can't get a better deal than their dinner combos! The deducted stars are for their service. I don't know what it is, but its happened more than a few times when it took forever for them to acknowledge me when I come in or when I come to pay the bill at the end...annoying. BE MORE ATTENTIVE!
(4)
Alex W.
I have been here several times now. A few times with my family and friends. I must say, this is the one restaurant that has continued to satisfy me every time and not have me leave in disappointment. Sure sometimes the prime rib doesn't come out as rare as I want it to ... the food still tastes great. I've had the prime rib special (medium rare) with fries (extra crunchy!) and sauteed veggies. I've also had the classic burger and other plates before. The food may have a minor thing that disappoints me - as mentioned: the prime rib not coming out not as rare as I want it to, or the fries not being crunchy, or the sauteed veggies coming out too salty/down-right bland - but I am always content with the food that they serve me. Note: the CORNBREAD! Definitely one of the best I've ever had anywhere. The soup really depends on you. I'm not much of a soup person (clam chowder/broccoli soup/chicken noodle soup), but I would say the soup is okay. The dessert - I've had the strawberry cheesecake, (a type of berry) ice cream, an apricot pie, and others. They were quite tasty. All except for the strawberry cheesecake. The strawberry cheesecake just wasn't to my taste, but that can be different for everybody. On a last note, the staff is very friendly. You can easily engage in small chit-chat with anyone of them and inquire about the specials or ask for recommendations.
(4)
Christine M.
Best hangover cure, hands down. Really friendly servers, HUGE greasy portions - perfect for nursing that Sunday morning hangover. Why do people bother going to IHOP?
(5)
Karen H.
Generous, generous portions. I got the albacore sandwich with potato salad. The salad was good, but the albacore sandwich was a bit bland... the service was great (barely anyone there at the time we went- around 3pmish) The give HUGE portions at reasonable prices, perfect for hungry and starving college students. Parking may be a bit hard while school is in session (during the weekdays).
(3)
Niall M.
We needed a quick bite before the Celtic session at Delta of Venus and it was right there. We went with no expectations. It is a pretty extensive menu and as I had forgotten my glasses I was at a disadvantage. Glasses or no, though, I found the trout meal for $9.99. Judit found the fried shrimp meal for the same price. Where can you get any sort of seafood meal at that price? The trout was delicious, the vegetables beautifully done. Another time I would tell them to skip the gravy on the potatoes. It was not nasty, just not to my taste. Judit was similarly happy with her meal. For us the portions were just right, not huge. I think that is what that part of the menu was about. I do have a gripe with the beer selection but isn't that a running theme in my reviews. When offering only bottled beers why confine your selection to 4 or 5?
(4)
Ronald N.
We had breakfast there and it was pretty good. I had a pancake with eggs. The coffee was good and so was the food. I would come back again when I am in Davis.
(4)
Keith R.
Have again: Huevos Rancheros Verdes, yes! I saw I'd had this before and had it again. Almost five stars but the cottage potatoes were not quite cooked long enough and the eggs over medium were over hard. But still very good.
(4)
Jessica T.
Where do you go after a long night of drinking? Black bear diner of course! The portions are huge! Each platter can sever two or three people, depending on your appetite. :) they do have daily specials ranging from 6-9 dollars. The food here is well worth your money. Highly recommend if you want a sit down breakfast that's an upgrade from Denny's or ihop.
(3)
Ice Cream S.
This place has good diner food, better than IHOP or Denny's I'd say. It has a more authentic and homey feeling. It's similar to the OP in Sac. The country fried steak is really good and their omelets are huge! If only they were open 24... Oh, I also don't recommend getting their fresh squeezed orange juice, not so great.
(4)
Marilyn W.
Black Bear Diner is okay, but maybe I didn't order the right thing? I literally see this restaurant every 10 mins on the freeway on my way up to Davis. I just decided to try this place out one day for no apparent reason. I wasn't too hungry when I came here, so I just ordered a small plate of biscuit and gravy and sausage. The biscuit was extremely dense, like stuck-to-the-roof-of-my-mouth dense. The gravy was super thick like cool whip thick. The sausage, on the other hand, was pretty tasty. Their menu has a lot to choose from, and their prices are alright.
(2)
Ron W.
Farm fresh eggs make this a step above most diners. I ordered a Shasta scramble which had FFE plus pepper, tomato, spinach, onion, and guess what makes it a Shasta scramble? Well, up on the highest peaks of the piles of FFE creation was shreds of white cheese! Imitating snowtop mount Shasta! Brilliant touch. I imagine climbing black bears seeking out porridge in cabins while devouring my Shasta scram. You get hash browns or home fries or fresh fruit and a huge biscuit that unfortunately wasn't very inspiring. My partner had a BBQ chicken salad and was sated as usual. The bill came to $25 out the door and we were out the door in 30 minutes cause we got in right before closing. In respect to the supernice servers, we ate and ran. Honeys need to close up and get off their tired feet.
(4)
Brenda L.
The portions here are really big and the decor is cute (with all the bears and all). I had their wheat pancake and it wasn't very tasty but the belgian waffle and the country fried steak was pretty scrumptious!
(3)
Tiffany F.
Went here tonight with my boyfriend, and had the best chicken pot pie of my life. The crust was perfectly golden brown and flaky, and the filling was wonderful. Lots of chicken and vegetables, nothing over cooked. It was perfect. My boyfriend got the rib and tri-tip combo. The ribs were fall off the bone perfect and the tri-tip was tender and juicy. Both had a nice smokey flavor, and were perfectly cooked. Our wait staff was attentive and smiling, I really have no complaints! The prices and portions were more than reasonable too. I will be coming back here again, and recommending this place to all of my friends.
(5)
J K.
I used to be a strong supporter of Black Bear Diner. The first time I went to Black Bear for dinner, I was blown away by the food, service and portion size. Their food is awesome and you get a LOT for what you pay. After 7 or 8 visits, I decided that their food was pretty tasty overall (the only downside is a couple of their sides). I would gladly have given this place 4 stars and was planning to do so. However, before I got a chance to write my review, I had 1 terribly insulting and bizarre experience. It was a weeknight and my boyfriend and I decided to order dinner to go. We called ahead of time and went to pick it up. When I went up to the register to pay, everything was still fine (or so I thought). I used by debit card and filled out the exact amount of the bill. Upon picking up our food, we noticed that the chocolate milkshake that we ordered wasn't in there yet. No problem, we told the guy who rung us up. He was looking at the receipt that I had just handed him. When we asked him about the milkshake he went toward the drink dispenser behind the register (where there was a half consumed glass of milkshake), turned his back to us and made some kind of drink. When he came back, he handed us one of those small paper coffee cups and walked away. We opened the lid and saw that the cup was half filled with what looked like chocolate milk? This is where we started getting really upset. Did we really pay 4 bucks for half a cup of chocolate milk? We were already in the parking lot but decided to turn around and inquire about our strange beverage. This time we were greeted by a different employee. We told her about our situation. She looked at the cup, gave us a confused look and said "This is all you got?" We said yes and she went to make us a real chocolate milkshake. As she did so, the guy who 'helped' us walked over. They seemed to be talking about something, but we couldn't here any of it. She handed us our shake and said nothing else. I said thank you and she just looked at me. They proceeded to stare at us and talk amongst themselves as we left. My ONLY explanation is that they got upset that I didn't tip? But seriously, people don't tip when they order food to go! Service like that is inexcusable. Their rudeness was unbelievable. It's such a pity that something like this happened because we were huge fans of Black Bear and we ALWAYS received great service and scrumptious food. So, a warning to future customers of Black Bear, be careful not to offend your servers in any way or else they might give you disgusting food.
(2)
Rachel K.
The bigfoot country fried steak is always my go-to, california benedict eggs, shasta scramble, and the different omelets. I've come here so many times and I love it. The service is always nice. Even a few days ago I remember my waiter, George, even in the busiest part of the day remained cordial and attentive even when it was packed. There are bears everywhere so don't come if you have a phobia. I love the modern jukebox playing tunes. It's not fancy, but it's always cozy and just a good brunch place with big portions worth the $9-11 dollars you'd pay. They're assortment of pies in the front as soon as you enter immediately hook you. I love seeing the elderly and families fill the booth. Overall, its a nice breakfast/lunch joint for family meals and it's cozy but not the place to go if you want to be on a diet, and if you want something fancy. I love switching out their ginormous biscuits for pancakes or toast and they definitely never skimp on portions
(4)
Roman R.
I really really enjoyed their omelets here. The service was great....very attentive with multiple wait staff attending to our needs (although I never knew who our real server was). The pancakes were a little sweet but the kids loved them. I love the look and feel of the interior. My coffee cup was never empty. Overall a great dining experience.
(5)
Wilson Z.
I've been here too many times to remember, and I always leave with a super full stomach. The taste of the food is above average, and the portions are usually pretty big. Most of the workers there are really nice. The only problem I have with this restaurant is the long wait for the food; the wait for my meal to arrive in front of me usually takes around half an hour, if not more. Other than the wait, I'm pretty happy about the food, the atmosphere, and the service at Black Bear Diner. Overall, I'd give this restaurant 3.5/4 stars, and I will come back another time.
(3)
David L.
Going into this place, you get the sense that they really like bears... black bears. You'll notice that there are pictures of bears covering all of the walls, bear shaped condiment holders, and even a huge wooden bear statue gracing the front entrance. Then, once you're seated and start looking over the menu, you'll realize that saying they like bears here would be an understatement. Their menu is covered in bear related puns and innuendos that only a person with a (possibly inappropriate) bear fetish could come up with... Now BEAR in mind that the portions here are huge and you'll probably BEARly be able to finish it. I ordered the tri-tip steak dip (one of the rare menu items that didn't have a bear pun attached to it) and although the sliced steak pieces were a bit dry, the dipping sauce really balanced them out. I also substituted garlic fries for regular fries, which was a good choice; and as an added bonus, you get to lick garlic bits off your BEAR hands at the end. Overall, the food here somewhat reminds me of Apple Bees, but with a BEARy nice hearty homestyle feel to it. So, next time you're in Davis and want to stuff yourself full with some American food, don't be "BEAR-anoid" and just give Black Bear Diner a try! (Wow, I feel somewhat emBEARassed to have just spent 15 minutes writing a review full of bear puns.
(4)
Richard P.
Richard Pro here with an updated review, and I'm singing a different tune. I've been to black bear numerous times I randomly discovered one day that their pancakes are much bigger and tastier than ihop's, for a cheaper price. Since then, I have abandoned ihop for good, and I've experimented with numerous items on the menu. Sadly, I would not recommend most of them to you. Bacon wrapped chicken (boring) Chicken pot pie (way too small and not tasty enough) Fruit pie (tasty, but $6???) Biscuits (meh) I have yet to try the chicken fried steak, which I'm very interested in trying, but my standby every visit is their blueberry pancakes. Also, I've had very pleasant conversations with their servers, which makes each visit very enjoyable.
(4)
Peter K.
The reviews are right... Huge Portions, but that's about it. I had the corn beef and hash. The plate was mostly filled with country potatoes, which weren't the best. I usually like my potatoes crispy, more country-ish, but they were really soft, barely cooked. The corn beef had no hash, and it was really jerky. I also had a side of french toast that was really soft as well. My buddy had an omelette, which tasted fine, but his hash browns were also very soft and undercooked, and his toast was not toasted at all, it was more really really soft, barely toasted. Another friend had the minestrone soup, and he said it was very salty. He had the chili burger, and it was very messy, so he ate it with a fork. The service was fine, but the food was undercooked. I may or may not eat here again, but if I do, I am definitely going to ask for everything well done.
(2)
simon k.
I came here because I like traditional American foods, and the bear statues in the front intrigued me quite profusely. Darn.. if only this place was cheaper and better. As standard with my character to order a burger, medium rare at any new diner visited, for around 10 bucks I got a Yellow Cheeseburger and fries. Fries were okay.. not really crispy, and each fry somewhat limp, lookin quite sad and unhappy. My burger was pretty big.. but it was soggy, meaning the bread sucked, and could only be eaten with a fork. I remember eating the entire burger.. however, it was not because it tasted good.. it was because I kept trying to taste the meat, which never actually happened.. I could not taste the meat.. it was just blasted with a plain flavor, bland to the core. Service was somewhat stalled, even though there were a lot of workers. They seem to walk by my table as though we were invisible.. our water cups were constantly empty. but.. at least the older waitress was nice.. I had left my sunglasses there when I left and she chased me down to return it back to me. Overall, I would recommend similar foods somewhere else (like Putah Creek Cafe), don't let that giant grizzly bear statue fool you into eating here. I would come here for the traditional American decor, but.. I would not recommend the burger.. get something else.
(3)
Jessie L.
My Family and I along with a big group of friends come to U.C. Davis every year for the Whole Earth Festival and Mother's Day. Eating at Black Bear is a stop we never miss. The prices here are average. The amount of food they give you is INSANE!!! and it's really really good. I finally decided to yelp after this last visit. Our waitress Tanya was AMAZING. Serving a party of 6 is no easy task! Especially is everyone is asking for this an that and changes to this and can I get that!. Not only did Tanya totally have the table under control she really made you feel like she was gonna do whatever it took to make the group happy. She offered to make any kind of upgrades or switch out items. It's so rare to come across service like this that the whole table was totally amazed. Don't pass this up all their food is great. Grab a little Mini Pie on the way out they are sooooo good! Cheers & Happy Eating
(5)
Thomas S.
My wife and I stepped in early Saturday morning for breakfast, and both had a great time. I was especially touched by the enthusiastic and personal service. They have a huge menu as well. Coffee was prompt and plentiful. I had a massive breakfast on the menu -- three eggs, two sausages, two pieces of bacon, ham, hash browns or potatoes (I had the hash browns), AND pancakes. The latter weren't as good as say iHop but were huge. All in all great value and good food.
(4)
Kerina J.
Came here the other day when I had a craving for waffles and french fries. I could have gone to IHOP, but I definitely prefer Black Bear Diner when I am in the mood for diner food. FOOD: Pretty good for diner food (better than Denny's and IHOP) and they have a wide selection of food on the menu (which is good for me since I often crave breakfast foods and dinner foods at the same time). Also, they serve HUGE portions. People who eat normal servings could get 2-3 meals from their order. I am not included in this group because I often finish my meal in one sitting (this might be because my appetite is as big as a black bear). I would not recommend coming here if you are looking for a light meal. PRICE: Reasonable since you get huge portions of food. The dinner items are of course more expensive ($16-$19) because they include steak, salmon, etc. Breakfast and lunch meals are more in the $6-$12 range. SERVICE: Always really friendly and attentive. AMBIANCE: I love the forest/cabin theme! It's so cute. They do a good job of incorporating Davis town spirit with some bears hanging from bicycle handles or bears riding bikes. Overall, this place is my go-to place when I have my random diner food cravings. Go check it out!!! I'm sure you'll have a "beary" good time ...I just couldn't resist using a bear pun :)
(4)
Emily R.
Great food! Large portions, always well done, and the waitstaff is great. Very accommodating, check up on you without being annoying. Today our waitress Gabriella made a point to bring out our food faster because we were running late for work. I love when people go above and beyond even though they don't have to. This is my favorite restaurant in Davis because besides the food being great, so are the people :)
(5)
Ian M.
I actually had a nice dining experience here. The menu, printed on a newspaper that gets handed to you, was a bit confusing to find at first, but after the initial confusion, it's actually well laid out. I ordered the sweet pancakes and the additional sweetness was actually nice. The pancakes themselves were HUGE and I couldn't finish them all. The bacon was fairly standard. Come here with a large appetite because you'll need it if you plan to consume everything that's put in front of you. It's conveniently located in relation to the UC Davis campus, so you'll be able to walk off that meal you just ate.
(4)
Tony F.
This place rocks! To try and compare Denny's and Ihops food to Black Bear's is ridiculous. The food is so much better and you get treated like family..... Open more please!!!!!
(5)
Richie C.
The Black Bear Diner in Davis is good. The food is satisfying and the extras make it worth trying (i.e. a jukebox, a carved wood bear in the lobby, kitschy maps that have nothing do to with bears, and menu's that look like newspapers). There were a number of UC Davis students in there when I went. Although I'm not an alum of UCD or Sac State, I thought the diner could really be spiced up if a group of Sac State students came in one lunch hour. Subsequently the two schools could square off in a 1940's style confrontation whereupon the two sides form a circle and begin snapping their fingers while two ring leaders from each school battled for Causeway supremacy ... all the while Chubby Checker music plays from the jukebox in the background. (Yelp has reminded me to tell you that no one is to actually be harmed in the above named face off :) The woman who worked the register was really a nice lady and took good care of our party.
(3)
Eva B.
This place is a hit and miss. Their pancakes were phenominal but their chicken pot pie costed me $10 when I could have paid $2.50 for a Marie Callendar's one at the store that taste's twice as good. However, I really like the atmosphere and location. Of course I'll be going back.
(3)
Jill P.
Black Bear Diner, very well decorated charming casual place. Three Things You Can't Miss! 1. Great Helping Proportion Size 2. Clever Souvenir Newspaper Menu 3. How Tall the Waiters are I came late lunch early dinner, I had the Salmon which came with two sides. I enjoyed the mash potatoes, however my macaroni and cheese lacked cheese and was a bit crunchy for my liking. A great place to converse with your friends and spend quality time, and you'll save money because you won't have anymore room for dessert!
(4)
ST D.
Gugungous portions but it's sysco food (update: NO PREMADE, JUST INGREDIENTS) but it's gugungous, and tasteh always a solid standby. The bigfoot chicken fried steak is large
(4)
Mike C.
Fried chicken wrap is great.
(5)
Juliette R.
HUGE portions, reasonable prices, satisfying, and delicious! I enjoyed the array of black bears throughout the restaurant; this is a great place for children and adults alike!
(4)
Chris P.
Ate here on Sunday with the Wife who woke up with a need to chow down on Diner food state of mind. I agreed and we hit the Black Bear Diner. Breakfast was good, the iPhone Yelp app. warned me that portions were out of control so I went with "smaller sized" pancakes and eggs. It was still a ton of tasty food. The food came quick, coffee cup never went dry, they turned off the musak when a mom at the next table asked them to. All in all, good customer service. Its really a 3.5 star sort of place if you consider it alongside IHOP and Denny's but I didn't feel comfortable rounding up and describing myself as a fan.
(3)
Tiffany L.
Tried this place before going back to SoCal.. definitely worth it! The portions are HUGE for what you pay and service was excellent.
(4)
Jordan S.
I expected this place to be a rustic, Denny's-type place. It was much better that Denny's, however. I had a chili burger that was so blessedly messy it couldn't be eaten without silverware Good fries too.
(3)
Wayland L.
First thing I heard about this place was: their portions are HUGE. And yes, their portions are huge! Their prices are a bit more expensive than other restaurants, but they give you a lot more food. It's a nice place to get dinner with friends after a long, long day. You better be hungry though - you get so much food! Their service is great. The staff is attentive and my drink was never empty. I almost always get the meatloaf - it's great! The dinner version of their dishes comes with two side dishes - which weren't all that impressive. The macaroni and cheese is bland and tasteless. The scalloped potatoes were hard and unappetizing. Green bean casserole? Bleh. Although the "featured" sides all kind of.. suck, the mashed potatoes are great :) So all in all, bears. Big portions. Good main courses. Not so good sides. LOTS OF FOOD. Come here if you're hungry. It's usually enough for two meals, for my fellow poor college students :) As for the rating, I wish I could give it a 3.5... but I can't, so Black Bear gets a 3 from me.
(3)
Constance C.
I didn't know where to go for breakfast in Davis for my last meal out seeing as I don't usually eat breakfast at restaurants in Davis since I either don't wake up that early or I like to laze around in my apartment and prefer to eat something small at home. But under the suggestion of my friend I decided to go to Black Bear Diner, very quaint and very Davis. Had to get a coffee to start my day. Love coffee. Me and my friend shared a full stack of sweet cream pancakes with a poached egg. Sweet cream pancakes. The pancakes were really good. I usually make buttermilk pancakes at home so this was a nice change. It was surprisingly good because I usually prefer fluffy pancakes, these weren't fluffy perse but they were yummy nonetheless in a soft, cakey sort of way. Closeup of the poached egg. I love half cooked eggs, probably super bad seeing as there is a salmonella scare going on right now. Oh well, you only live once I say. Besides I think I have an iron stomach from my street food days in China. It was pretty good, not great though. But the portions were definitely large, I ended up only eating the poached egg and half of a pancake.
(3)
K L.
Pretty standard fare for diner-style breakfast. Tasted good overall. Good service.
(3)
Shauna S.
The first time I came here I was treated to some brinner! I love the atmosphere of this place. Reminds me a lot of my home in the south. My friend and I got cinnamon roll french toast and an egg plate with home fries. The waitress was SUPER nice, totally loved her, and when they put hash browns on my plate instead she brought me home fries so I had a ton of food. It wasn't too pricey, either. Parking is super easy, obviously. Unfortunately I left my to-go box on the table and when I rushed back in for it it was already in the trash. Boo! I will definitely be going back. Way better than IHOP!
(4)
Susie Z.
I am so, so glad that I found Black Bear Diner. I kind of wish that I'd known how good this place was since sophomore year because I'd be going here all the time. But then I'd be so fat. The seating / environment: Cozy, woodsy, laid back, family-oriented. I absolutely love sitting in the booths because the perfect way to eat a bunch of hearty breakfast foods. Usually, during early noon / noon times during the weekends it always a little bit crowded, but I don't think we've ever had to wait, and if we have, no more than a few minutes. Food: SO GOOD. Of course, this isn't the place you should go to if you just wanna eat healthy food or are on a diet. It's hearty, filling, and the epitome of comfort food. It's the perfect thing to eat during a cold day when you're feeling a craving for breakfast food. Some of the plates can be a bit pricey for what they are, but obviously, if you're going to Black Bear Diner, why would you pay for stuff like sandwiches and gimmicky "special" plates? Stick to the favorites/main breakfast plates, like the Chicken Fried Steak and the omelettes/scrambles. They are absolutely delicious, and come with a generous side of your choice of hash browns or diced potatoes, as well as another side of your choice of a couple pieces of toast, a biscuit, or (if you ask for it) an english muffin (my favorite!). They also have on the table bottles of their own sauces, like the really good (but spicy) pepper sauces and other variations that aren't always on all of the tables, but that you can ask for. I also impulsively ordered the Californian Benedict (regular benedict on english muffins, but with spanich and avocados), and while it sounded delicious, half raw, runny eggs aren't really my thing. But I know some people love that stuff; it's just not for me. People might complain about the prices, but in all honesty, I've been to IHOP, and BBD isn't even that much more expensive, with a HUGE portion and food that is soooo much tastier. Plus, if you're not a hulking bear of a man, or woman, with a stupidly huge appetite, you could probably eat about half of it and take the rest home for a snack. Service: Could be hit or miss, BUT for the most part, I have usually had very, very good service. They're really warm and friendly and accommodating. Sometimes they'll throw in an extra biscuit or something (like all that food wouldn't be enough) and I'm sure if you had specific dietary requests they'd be happy to customize your order for you. The onnnly not-so-great thing about the service is that it usually takes a while for them to make your food, but I'd always rather wait a bit for a plate of delicious, fresh food than have a suspiciously quick plate of food appear two minutes after I order. Bottomline: It's not dirt cheap like fast food, but it's much better than other breakfast restaurants. It's not the quickest place, but it's so worth the wait when your huge plate comes. It's also not the healthiest food, but BBD food is some of the most delicious I've had in Davis, and it's such a good pick-me-up if you truly want something comforting. I find that me and my boyfriend always end up going here at least once each quarter during finals week.
(5)
Mikolo R.
They're known for their chicken-fried steak, and rightfully so! 2 words: damn good. And their breadpudding totally hits the spot! 1 word: devine. I would go there just for the breadpudding every day if that didn't make me a glutton. Also had the hot meatball sandwich. I give that a B- . It's good, but not fabulous. Their chicken noodle soup is good, not too salty or watery. The service is fast and they're great about coffee refills. Oh yes, they are known for their coffee as well. I'd say the coffee is just ok, but then again I am no coffee expert. 4 words: Starbucks 4 blocks away. Aside from this Black Bear location, I've eaten at the one in redding. Quality of food is consistently yummy. I will need to go more often to try more things from the menu.
(4)
Rick E.
Man...I thought all those years of Davis dining doldrums would've lowered people's expectations! How else could there be any repeat business at places as abysmal as Raja, 3rd & U, or Bistro 33, or lines out the door to eat overpriced/under-spiced Thai food in a plastic-lined patio? Now that the USA's very best chain of family diners moves to your town, Davisites play hard-to-please? Sheesh! "2-out-of-5 [= a] C+"?.....sounds like someone's been through the O-Chem wringer! "I guess it was kind of big, but I was expecting more"? More than what? Where else can you even get a slice of meatloaf in Davis? Not to sound like a corporate spokesman for Black Bear or anything, but I've been their locations in Mt. Shasta, Yreka, Redding, Willows, Gridley, Klamath Falls, Madras, Sonoma, and Rohnert Park, and they have always been outstanding for both quality and quantity, whether judged against chain places or mom 'n pop places. The "Bigfoot" chicken-fried steak 'n eggs breakfast requires a day off just to hibernate during digestion, yet it also tastes like homemade heaven. The only CFS in the valley better than that is at Stagecoach, Too in South Sac, and that's a CFS that can compete with ones I've had in Texas where the recipe originated. If the place is falling short of a four- to five-star experience with regularity, that is just a new staff going through the growing pains of learning how to work for a truly great company. If anyone working at a new Black Bear location has worked at a restaurant before, it is likely that they will need to be deprogrammed to break bad habits such as miserly measuring a meager four ounces of french fries per plate, or skimping, or just figuring that mediocrity is good enough. I'm sure it'll work its way out soon.
(4)
Irene C.
The portions are freaking huge! And the prices are definitely reasonable for portions that generous. The food was quite delicious. Don't expect anything to knock your socks off but it's definitely yummy. I ordered the huge burger (can't remember the name) but had the waitress look at me, explain how big the burger was and ask me if I was sure. I wasn't offended; it was really a very funny moment. I came with a decent sized group and had a nice experience. I think we waited maybe 20 minutes or so for a table on saturday nite. The decor is exactly what you expect from a place so aptly named. A good place to take the kiddies.
(4)
Nick C.
After a morning of debating (or just me deciding) between what type of food to eat, it came down to going between IHOP and Black Bear. This was my first ever visit to Black Bear and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by both the portions, which many of have already heard about, and the quality of the food. This was honestly one of the best chicken fried steaks I have had to date. Maybe that's not saying much, but between the years of going to Mel's (for those from the Bay), to Denny's and IHOP...I have never had such a large, nor tasty chicken fried steak. The side of has browns, eggs over-easy, and english muffins were also done very well (mind you, they shouldn't be hard to screw up but Denny's manages to do it all the time). They did not seem to have this overly greasy and sodium infused taste to them. They were left up to me to season, which is something I prefer in this setting. All in all, I felt happy with my choice in picking Black Bear over IHOP today. As a strict health-nut....these were 1200 calories I did not regret devouring.
(4)
Ryden G.
I was going to give this place 3 stars, then I started to feel sick a few hours later.
(1)
Ngan T.
I didn't expect much from this restaurant since it is always empty when I pass by but I decided to try it one day since it's only one of the few breakfast spots in town. Man am I glad I tried it, the food was GREAT! The proportions are super huge and most people ask for to-go boxes. Service: The service here is the ideal service that every other restaurant wants to have. All the waiters and hostess are super friendly and nice. Some waiters are grandmas that are just so sweet and helpful. The service was great and the food came out pretty quick. Food: The food came out super hot and the proportions are HUGE!!!! My girlfriend's sunny-side up eggs were cooked perfectly, not too wet and not overly-cooked. My scrambled eggs were just perfect as well, not too soggy and not too dry. The huge slab of honey ham I had was phenomenal. Has browns are the best I ever had! If your gonna try this place out, try the country fried steak. Overall this is a great breakfast place and by far the best in Davis. I always go here when I want breakfast. 4 stars because I get these nasty looks from all the older white folks in there. They act like they never seen Asians before. I've been there 4 times and every time there's a table or few that just give Asians a dirty look.
(4)
Rebecca K.
Was visiting Davis for the picnic days and I really like Black Bear Diner so I went in. Two of my friends and I got seated in the very back corner when there were plenty of tables open in the front, we sat there for 20 minutes waiting to be served and nobody so much as glanced our way. They even cleaned the table behind us (it took 5 people to clean 1 table) and basically acted like we didn't exist. When we decided to leave we were given dirty looks and some rude comments were said. I am not sure if they were being racially discriminatory/sexist or if they just treat every customer this way but needless to say I will not be going back nor do I recommend this place to anyone.
(1)
MONICA T.
What a place! The food, service & ambience is just like the good ole days. I went here to have breakfast thinking it was like the competitors but it's not. they throw them out of the water. The waitress we had was friendly, hilarious & upbeat. She was very quick witted & made the experience very comedic in a great way. Once we chose what we were going to eat from their never ending menu we enjoyed the decorations of tons of bears :) Within 15 min our food came out cooked as ordered. I was very impressed. The food tasted scrumptious & the portion were out of this world. I usually pay so much & get hardly anything but here you get what you paid for plus some. You could tell it was all fresh & tasted like good ole home cooking. The biscuits were the size of my fists. One thing I often find that is good to come by is bacon. Alot of time it's either too cooked or looks pretty wimpy. The bacon here was thick & you could actually see the meat. If you are looking for any kind of good home cooking food where you wont be dissappointed come here!
(5)
Alice C.
My boyfriend and I love Black Bear. We first discovered this chain in Oregon on our way up to Washington. We've since been to a number of other Black Bears in California. In fact, we used to joke with our friends that we should go on a road trip and visit as many Black Bears as possible. :) Anyway, this is just my way of saying I have a relatively good grasp on the quality of food that Black Bears should serve. Unfortunately, my experiences at Davis have been mixed. How disappointing! First off, I must point out that their breakfast is generally MUCH better than their dinners (I've never really had lunch stuff like sandwiches or burgers). For breakfast I love their volcano or mini volcano because it more or less has everything that I love. They feature homemade sausages, this thick crispy bacon, and these amazing pancakes. I'm not much of a pancake person, but these are some of the best I've ever had. Their dinners, on the other hand, left much to be desired. Yes, the portions are huge and the price is pretty decent. But, the preparation somehow almost always falls short. We've given it a go quite a few times, too! On one occasion, the fried chicken was not warmed through (ice in the center). On another occasion, my tri tip (I asked for medium rare) came out cooked through, chewy and hard. The garlic fries, as Stacy C. pointed out, do not have nearly enough garlic. The fries themselves weren't great, either. Since I love Black Bear and I'm a sucker for diner type foods and environment, I will be back....but maybe just not so much for dinner. I'll probably try them out for lunch and definitely come back for breakfast.
(3)
Ting L.
If you love restaurants serving breakfast all day long, this place is the best place to be. Expect foods to be greasy, oily, and most likely hiking up your cholesterol levels. It's not exactly a place for those watching their weight or trying to slim down, but it's great diner place for comfort, filling food. Their food is delicious and never disappoints! The atmosphere is really cozy and nice and the direct smell of the food from the kitchen makes you hungrier than you really are.
(4)
Joanna K.
I have the honor of saying I have already spent a couple of hungover mornings at this wannabe kitschy place, and I will say when you want that grease to ease your sorrows Black Bear diner will fulfill it. The portions are gigantic. I would recommend the chicken fried steak and to order the side of biscuits. They will both be huge, and you will be happy if you had one too many long islands the night before. The chicken fried steak is fried golden and crispy, just the only way it should be. Sadly, I cannot say I love their dinner as much. The massive portions are still there, but the flavor is lacking. Maybe it was just what I ordered, the tri-tip, but it was extremely bland. Black Bear also suffers from the shitty side salad syndrome (SSSS) where a nastly head of lettuce is chopped up and sprinkled with 4 little croutons. I have to remember when I come here not to get healthy stuff. Remember try to come here the morning after killing the bottle of J&B, not before and you will be a happy camper.
(3)
linda c.
I went to Black Bear with a friend recently for dinner and must say that although the food was much better than places like IHOP/Denny's it just wasn't that great for what we expected it to be. The service was pretty friendly, but not as efficient. Our waitress had to come back and ask what we ordered for drinks. In the beginning of our meal, she made sure we had everything we needed but later in our meal it was hard to get a refill on our drinks. As for the food, I have to say that it was pretty tasty and good portioned. But...for some reason none of our food came out pipping hot. For instance, our garlic fries were pretty room temperatured. As for the rest, steak, bread, potatoes, tri-tip....it was the same. It seems like the food was sitting somewhere and not made to order. For the food to be luke warm I don;t think it's worth the wait and money. Maybe it was just a bad night...but I'll definitely come back for their yummy steak dishes...as for the garlic fries...not so much. P.S We didn't make it to desserts but their pies looked so yummy!
(3)
Blake C.
Good food and pricing!
(4)
Charmayne S.
Please god, save us from black bear diner! I'd been to another one a few months back at another location and was sorely disappointed. I didn't want to bring my folks here but the parking lot looked empty, the folks were cranky, and, well, here's where we landed. Mom was overwhelmed with the crowd noise and all the menu choices and underwhelmed with the prices. Vegan guest was slightly grossed out since the hot fresh smell of greasy meat was in the air. Dad was not happy with the coffee. I was not happy with the very fast-talking, rude waitress. I noted to her that my dad couldn't quite hear or understand her, but instead of raising her voice or speaking more slowly she just huffed and looked at me to place the order instead. The waitress forgot more than a few little things - didn't bring out the water we asked for, didn't bring condiments we'd asked for, didn't bring a smile or one iota of respect for customers. The food was nominal. Even if the food had been fabulous, the service and lack of ambiance killed the experience.
(2)
stacy c.
People weren't kidding when they said this place has big portions. My friend and I came here for a snack. We ordered garlic fries and the hot lava cake because the kid I babysit says that the lava cake is like THE moistest chocolate cake in the whole wide world. They brought us a HUGE heaping plate of fries. I was kinda disappointed by the amount of garlic. If you order garlic fries, it's probably because you LOVE garlic, and you probably love chunks of garlic all over the place. and if you serve a big plate of garlic fries, the amount of garlic has to be proportional to the portion of fries you give. Nonetheless, the fries were delicious and a whopping $5. Afterwards, we got the lava cake. They ran out of vanilla ice cream for the night and had to give us the bear ice cream or whatever. I promise on my life I gained like 10 lbs that night. The reason it is like the moistest chocolate cake is because they is a ridiculous amount of hot fudge all over the cake. The cake itself is pretty moist, but wow. chocolate overkill. If you want to have a heart attack after a good meal, this is definitely the place to come to.
(4)
Judith B.
I like the Black Bear Diners a lot, and this is a good one. Was in Davis taking my dog to the pet hospital on camping. Took off for lunch while they ran some tests on her, and was not disappointed. Parking was easy. Food was good and there was a ton of it. Service was good. We seemed to have two waitresses - maybe they changed shifts or something - but one was much more friendly than the other, 'though both gave good service. I had breakfast and my friends had lunch, and no one was disappointed. Great old coffee shop dining ...
(4)
sanci s.
Just had the bear grab, 2 yummy sweet pancakes, thick smoked bacon, eggs with a side of hashbrowns (super yummy, I highly recommend). Great food at a fair price served by very pleasant and attentive staff.
(4)
Johnny N.
Wow! The proportions here are HUGE! From what a friend told me, don't go for the lunch or dinner items. Just go here for the breakfast items. And I gotta say, they're pretty gooooood. If you got to try something, try the chicken fried steak. The ribeye steak was a little too chewy so try to avoid that. All the side dishes such as the biscuit, hash browns, eggs, pancakes are absolutely amazing though. The service is good. They are accommodating and refill your waters and check up on you frequently enough. It might have been because of the 12-person group we were which made the wait for the food slightly long (yeah it probably was because of our massive group). Come here hungry, because you'll definitely come out full!
(4)
Charles L.
Been here many times and mostly it's been pretty good. Pretty fast service (from my experience). The food varies at times and can be a hit or miss but majority of the time, it's been pretty pleasant.
(4)
Al T.
The portions are insanely huge! The atmosphere is fun and unique, but not as crazy as the other locations which was kind of sad. I had the cinnamon roll french toast. It was good, but too sweet with the icing and everything. The biscuits are really good here too! And the eggs are delicious, nice and warm and greasy off the skillet. Do not look at the nutritional info here, it will ruin your tasty meal. I am dying to go back and try the bread pudding!
(4)
Crystal L.
This is a nice place to go sometimes. The food is ok in general, the breakfast is great. When you go here you need to stick with safe choices, think upscale Dennys. Don't get the eggs benedict! The sauce is awful! But the cinamon swirl pancakes are amazing. The price is great, portions are huge, the staff is friendly, and the place is clean. Great place to have breakfast anytime of the day.
(3)
Neland M.
DENNYS REPLACEMENT One of my friends and I drove over to Davis early in the morning to visit our college buddies and go hunt for food. We came across this place because they were one of the only places open at 6 am. I have to say....this place has some unique theming which almost made me feel like I was at DISNEYLAND. The Beach Boys added to the tree stumps and black bears to create an awesome experience. After we were seated, our server brought out single page NEWSPAPERS! To our surprise, it's actually their menu legitly printed on them. TRY THE OJ!!! I ordered the chicken fried steak while my friends ordered omelets. A few minutes later, these beastly plates came out and already I knew this was gonna meal that was worth my hr and a half drive. The regular portions are already much LARGER than my standards so I can't even imagine what the large would be like. It's priced like other diners but the food has much better quality. The service is really quick and friendly as well. There are other locations but this specific location is the first impression that really made me a fan.
(4)
Matt C.
I'm a huge fan of the Black Bear Diner chain of family restaurants. Ever since we stumbled onto the ORIGINAL LOCATION in Mount Shasta, CA.....we've been hoping they will expand closer to our home turf. That wish is coming true..... One helpful tip about eating at Black Bear Diners, is to generally avoid the new location for its first year of operation. Every chain has "Growing Pains" and the Black Bear is no exception. New staff and new kitchens take time to develop and turn into 5-star money machines. Enjoy the pie and coffee, come for dessert......but don't come during rush hours for the first couple of months (or years, as was the case with BB Walnut Creek & Suisun City). In about one year, I plan to come to Davis Black Bear, and enjoy the signature 1/2 pound burger.........it will be perfect like the one I had on Father's Day in Suisun City. Suisun took 2 years to become 5-star! Davis, be patient with Black Bear......you're lucky to have 'em in place of the craptastic Baker's Square. Eventually, this location will make it through the Growing Pains and New Staff Woes.
(4)
Dale H.
I LOVE BLACK BEAR DINER!!! I've been going to Black Bear for quite a few years now. We usually stop at the one in Gridley when travelling between Chico and Davis. And often in Willows when we go camping. Imagine my excitement when I found out that one of my beloved BBD was coming to Davis. This is good ole down home cookin' at it's best. I love the large, LARGE, portions. The food is usually done just the way I want. It's not perfect, nor do they strive to be. They just strive to serve good cookin' in large portions at decent prices. Salads...great. Breakfast...large and in charge. Garlic fries...big but I never share...get your own! I recommend trying this a few times. Bring friends, family and children. Go alone. Heck...lemme know when you're going and I'll meet you there! Just go!
(4)
Tiffany B.
I was hesitant to try Black Bear because I wasn't very wowed by Baker's Square, however I was surprisingly impressed! I've only been to Black Bear for breakfast, but it is pretty decent if you're looking for that American Diner style. The menu is HUGE with a lot of variety. You get large portions for relatively good prices, and the portions can feed me for at least two or three meals. The wait can be long on weekends, especially when UCD is back in session, especially during the "hungover morning" 11-12 hour. However, the restaurant is large enough to accommodate most parties with a reasonable wait time (I've only ever come with a large party). I'm also a picky eater, and Black Bear has always been super accommodating to my special requests. All in all, a good breakfast place, and definitely one of the better in Davis. I wouldn't say it's amazing, but I will definitely be returning, at least while I'm living in Davis.
(3)
Colin H.
4 years at davis and I've never been to the baker's square once. Driving by one day I saw a sign that said Black Bear Diner and was intrigued. I had no idea it was a chain until I went there. The place was very accommodating, we had a mini dorm reunion there and had about 24 people when we only made reservations for 18 or so. The staff was very helpful and friendly. The service was great the location is good and they have their own parking lot. The bad thing about this place is it's mediocre-at-best food. I came here twice and the first time I had the chicken fried steak dinner which was nothing to write home about. My sides were rather bland - the macaroni and cheese was particularly disappointing. The second time I came here the food was absolutely terrible. I had an open faced turkey sandwich. The meat was dry, the fries were tasteless like cardboard, and the gravy had a burnt taste to it. During that meal I heard someone complaining about the taste of his hamburger to the owner. The food is cheap and plentiful... but you get what you pay for.
(3)
Mark S.
If you are hungry for diner food and quantity is much more important than quality, this may be your place. However, if you are expecting good food, you won't find it here.
(2)
Ben W.
I really love the big portions especially for the price they charge! The price is affordable and fair. The BBQ ribs and mashed potatoes were delicious! The reason I am giving it a 3 star is because of the rude service. The employers don't really seem to care about how they talk to customers. Bottom line: Great price, great food, but not a very welcoming atmosphere. I'll definitely be back for their ribs, but I will take it to go.
(3)
K B.
The ambiance is like a homier version of Denny's, but it sure is better! Food was a-plenty for a reasonable price. Some are bland, but it's solvable with salt and pepper. Lots of mommas and grannies, but I'm not complaining because the food is good!
(4)
Denise C.
If I could, I would give them 3.5 stars but I ended rounding up because of the HUGE portions. You will definitely leave here feeling full and will most likely be bringing home some leftovers. But you will also have to drink a lot of water as you eat because the food is usually a little on the salty side. This place beats IHOP and Dennys because of its cozy interior and polite and friendly staff. The portions are bigger too and I don't usually get heartburn afterwards, as compared to IHOP and Dennys. Black Bear Diner is a bit pricy for breakfast/diner food but you do get a lot of food.
(4)
Peter D.
Good portions, good prices, good food! Way better than Denny's or IHOP! Except our server didn't come until 10 minutes later cause she didn't know we were there..
(4)
A Cream Puff With Apricots D.
portions are large and you have plenty of choice :)
(4)
Brian W.
I recently went here again with my friends. Our server was really nice, but he forgot to bring out many of the things my friends ordered until we had to ask him. Also when we went to pay, the person at the cash register was really rude. We all paid separately, so we would try to tell her our orders nicely, but I think she was trying to make us pay in the order of the food items, which she did with a lot of attitude. The meal was great until we had to pay.
(3)
Jo Ann E.
I really do not have anything to complain about. Our party of 4 was seated right away when we went in for a late lunch / early dinner (400pm). The place is really cute with bears all over the place. The wait staff is VERY friendly and down to earth. Looking around I noticed the crowd was a bit on the older side. The menu is a fake newspaper (CREATIVE). Waiter took our drink orders and brought them out right away. They have Arnold Palmers (half lemonade and half iced tea) which I was so excited to see! =) PLUS! They serve breakfast all day so this is the place to go when you have a craving for pancakes--which I ordered. The black bear breakfast comes with 2 pancakes (or french toast or belgian waffle), 2 sausages (or 2 bacon strips, 1 piece of ham) and 2 eggs. So much food for 8 bucks! The rest of my table had spagetti and meatballs (which comes with 1 side) and the salmon dinner (which comes with 2 sides). Everyone had leftovers because their portions are so huge! Too bad because their desserts looked so yummy. Great portions. Great service.
(5)
Matthew G.
I had been to one of these restaurants several years in some po-dunk town in northern California and I liked it. So when one was coming to Davis I thought "Alright then." Even though it was replacing my go to restaurant in Davis, Bakers Square. What can I say, I like my pie. They have a whole menu full of comfort and food its awesome. My whole dining party including myself enjoyed their food and we all want to go back. The portions were all really big. I was the only one to finish my plate but even I was full 3/4ths of the way through. I never waste food because its rude to those who do not have it and I never take food home because to go containers are bad for the environment. Take a hint you take food home for the next day people. It was extremely crowded when I went so be cautious in these initial first months of its opening. Unless that is you are into wasting your time waiting to eat.
(4)
Liane T.
3.5 stars actually. I heard about the new restaurant so my boyfriend and I thought to give it a try. They really decorated the place to make it feel like a "lodge" outdoor kind of feel which is unique. It was pretty busy for a Friday night too. The food was rather big portioned in size and pretty good for the whole cost. What was a little turn off, was one of the waiters using one of those portable sweep/duster vacuum things to clean the place while people were eating. The service was good, considering it was a busy night the food came out promptly. The service was really good as well. I appreciated the managers asking how our meal went too. For a beginning restaurant, they seem to be managing it quite well. P.S: Onion rings.
(4)
Kevan W.
I came to the Black Bear right after a pre-medical conference that left me exhausted and hungry. The important thing to note here is that I am not very used to American diner food, and instead tend to go for asian or french/italian cuisines that tend to be more subtle and complex. In writing this review I took into account that I should be judging it on its own terms rather than in comparison to my own personal preferences. ATMOSPHERE: Smooth, polished log pillars with bears carved into them. Rustic paintings, photos, and wall hangings of bears. Warm country and light oldies music plays in the background lending a mood of authenticity and warmth. The newspaper menu is unique, and for a moment I was confused as to where the menu was exactly. The atmosphere is warm and fitting. 5/5 SERVICE: Excellent. The first waitress rattled off the special much too quickly initially (even though the diner wasn't even a quarter full), but while this might be a peeve this really shows her competence in knowing the menu, and I carried this impression throughout the meal. I ordered the beef tri tip from the dinner menu, and unfortunately due to some confusion I made a mistake in ordering my sides. Despite this, the second waitress, a very friendly girl by the name of Chong, handled it well and did so cheerfully. The whole "is everything okay here?" is very casual and unobtrusive. 5/5 PLATING: Beef tri tip in a fan, with a generous plastic cup full of sauce, along with red skinned mashed potatoes and gravy and sauteed vegetables with a soup. Nice little garnish of an orange twist and lettuce leaf. It's a simple presentation that adds a lovely touch of color and warmth to an otherwise simple dish. It made the meal extra appetizing. 4/5 FLAVOR: Beef had a hint of nice hamlike smokiness to it that you'd expect of a tri-tip, juicy and with a slight rind of fat that lent a nice edge of richness. Veggies and potatoes were nice, and you can't fail with onion rings. Soup was nice a nice thick tortilla rice with a good crunch from the corn chips. The only complaint was that the sides were only lukewarm, but the service makes up for it and it was only a very minor issue for me. Indeed, Chong made a couple of offers to warm it up and promised she'd tell the chefs, which were the important things. I also really appreciated how moderate the seasoning was: there was only mild salting on the sides, which contrasted nicely against the very rich and tasty meat. 4/5 OVERALL: The best that can be said of the Black Bear Diner is that the service is warm and friendly, and when there's a mistake or error (even if it's on the part of the customer) the service does its best to make the customer happy. Most importantly, while the service is helpful and friendly, they are also unobtrusive, and that is the most important thing. The dishes were also simple, rustic, and hearty, and I left feeling very full and quite satisfied. So much so that I had to take a short nap in my car before I headed off for home. The meal stuck with me and sustained me through a two-hour drive. Overall I was quite happy with the Black Bear Diner, and if I visit Davis again I would consider visiting once more. Hopefully the next time I'd be able to save some room for dessert. 4/5
(4)
Lina L.
I don't know why I always end up getting tricked to eat here. I start off thinking it would be a good idea to eat here then I end up being disappointed. The host was very nice and seated us rather quickly. The server came and took our order. She was friendly enough but didn't seem all that interested in us. We all ordered sandwiches. She took our ordered and disappeared. We could see her chatting with other servers as minutes passed and our lunch hour shrunk. It took more than 45 minutes to make sandwiches. No one came to check on us. We had to go find someone to remind them that we actually existed. The food eventually came and we had 10 minutes left on our lunch break. I ordered the BLT and it was average at best. The host came to our table (I assume he was the manager doing the host duties as well) and apologized for the service. He also gave us 50% off our bill which was very generous and the only reason why I gave this review three stars. I hope that they can improve their service. With better service, even mediocre food seems better.
(3)
Athena B.
I have been here twice and both times have been great. The juke box is really cool (my brother-in-law fell in love with it) and the old diner-feel is fantastic. The waiters are really nice and the food tastes great. If you order pancakes, you will get a lot of it. I normally finish all my food no matter what, but the pancakes were so overwhelming for me. The veggie burger is also very good. Also, the place is a bit pricey though, so beware.
(5)
Randall S.
This place is better than what I was expecting... Definitely true that they have ginormous servings!!! I had the chicken fried steak which was pretty good, the hash browns were ok, and the eggs were eggs. I have had gravy that is way better than this place so I can't give it five stars, but so far, in Davis, this is one of the better places to hit up for breakfast.
(4)
Picky E.
My teenage daughter and her 5 friends went to Black Bear the night after Christmas. The place didn't seem particularly busy or understaffed, but it took 20 minutes for their order to be taken, and after 45 minutes with no food they finally had to ask for the check and leave in order to make it to their movie. I have eaten at Black Bear a couple of times myself and was completely unimpressed by the food, waitstaff, atmosphere and smell. And I do love diners. I miss the old Baker's Square. Save yourself the trouble and cross the highway and go to IHOP.
(1)
Willie F.
On their menu under the omelette section, it states "interesting and tasty ingredients." So I went for the California omelette (their most popular), and not only was it bland, there were hardly anything inside the omelette. Interesting - Nope Tasty - Nah Ingredients - Hardly got any It was the first time I ever needed to use ketchup to finish an omelette. However, I'm really glad they make it own hash browns and biscuit.
(2)
Colin M.
it's good. portions are big. i would return. it is what it is.
(3)
Kelly W.
Sad, i should of listened to Matt C. I was really excited to find out that there was a Black Bear close to Sac we usually drive out to the Willows location. Last night my boyfriend and i decided to head out to Davis and check it out. I ordered the chicken pot pie, macaroni and cheese and clam chowder. My boyfriend got the chicken fried steak, scallop potatoes, macaroni and cheese and clam chowder. I've have never been so disappointed with Black Bear. I will never come back to this location. Our sodas came out mine was flat. The clam chowder came out and it was luke warm and had no clam in it. It wasn't very busy in there so our food came out rather fast. The macaroni and cheese was dry and had no flavor tasted like noodle and butter. My pot pie was cold, by the time i got our waitress attention my boyfriend was done eating his dinner. The waitress said that it happens and she will go re-heat it. So she ends up bringing me a new pot pie, it was just warm and way to salty i had two bits and was done. My boyfriend had a little better luck than i did his country fried steak was good, but his macaroni and cheese was just as bad and his scallop potatoes had no flavor and was dry. This was the first time i left black bear without a togo box full of food it was sad. From now on i am just going to stick to the willows location I've never had a bad experience there.
(1)
Little B.
This place breaks my heart. It has far fewer vegetarian friendly options that Bakers Square. And at least at BS you could build something fairly healthy, but at this place (and you can download the calorie content online) you're bound to get a coronary. The air is thick with grease (which is no service to its already heavy un-davislike decor. If you want to hang out here and shoot the sh** about it's down homey decor, then you're a tool (or your mom's cooking sucks). This isn't any homier than any chain and if anything, it's far less welcoming than others that have veggie burger or soy sausage, or at the very least a good salad. Blech!
(1)
Hilland C.
I absolutely love going here. During a span of one week, I must have eaten there four times. The portions are unbelievable. If you go to its competitors (IHOP and Denny's), the portions are not nearly as big. As for the quality, there's also no comparison. What I personally like are the hash browns. They are really crispy, but not oily at all. I also like the scrambles and omelets. the ingredients taste really fresh. The service is really excellent. The waiters and waitresses are really proactive in refilling my beverages. They also took the time to ask how my meal was. The place overall is really homie :)
(4)
Marie S.
Very much a diner. The portions are usually very large, with average food quality and average prices. Much preferable, and certainly better, than Dennys or IHOP, which a much friendlier atmosphere. A good fit for Davis, I think. While it's not the best of the Black Bear chain, it's a good place to eat before catching a movie or heading out of town.
(3)
Carolyn W.
The BF and I were craving good breakfast...alas we are in Davis and Cindy's was a let down last time. Also I can't be convinced to enter an IHOP for anything. I've driven by this place countless times but never thought it would be any good. I'll admit that knowing it is a chain restaurant turned me off from ever trying it. Boy was I wrong to judge this little gem! Yes it's gluttony at it's finest but it's also charming. The waitress was really sweet, very attentive, and when I ordered the California Benedict sans bacon she kindly put it on a separate plate for my boyfriend to have (made for one very happy guy!). The hashbrowns were perfectly fried, the hollandaise was tasty, and the fruit was very fresh and not soggy in the least bit. The coffee isn't gourmet by any means but I could drink it black and it was strong enough to wake me up. They do offer lighter fare and are really accommodating to vegetarians. Give them a chance, sit back and relax, and enjoy the kitschy atmosphere and homemade comfort food.
(5)
Marcus W.
I used to eat at Bakers square in Davis but today I was coming down and I saw the change to black Bear diner. I have Olny Black bear once before which was in Redding California this one was actually very good portion sizes of food and is very tasty. I recommended them way over Bakers square because of the quality and quantity of food. Good for a UCD student to make 2 meals out of their food.
(4)
Ashley M.
I went here for Davis' picnic day around lunch time and was suprised there was no one in there. The host sat us alllll the way in the back corner ( my two friends and I) and gave us our menus and walked off. Between the time we sat down and 20 mins later no one came to check on us. All the servers were to busy talking to each other and took five of them to clean one table behind us. No one glanced over at us or even asked if we have been help. So we decided to leave, they didnt even say anything when we left. Right when we were outside my friend noticed she left her sunglasses so i went back in to pick them up. The host had them right in his hand. They were sure fast enough to pick up our table than to help us. So i took the glasses and left. While i was leaving one of the waitresses was laughing and saying "what did she say" in like a rude and snotty voice. They were lucky i just wanted to get out of davis and go back to sac. I would of raised hell and topld the manager right then and there that this was the most horrible service i have EVER had and ive never even been to A black bear diner. I will never go there ever again and i would tell people never to go their either.
(1)
Alexander M.
All I had here was the bread pudding a la mode....but MAN was it delicious! I plan on getting more food here when I make my trips back to Davis.
(4)
Albert S.
decent food, good price, huge quantities. near campus. what more could one ask for?
(4)
John P.
Black Bear Diner opened today in Davis. It replaced Bakers Square. The service is excellent. The servers are assisted by bussers and runners. Someone is always checking to make sure you have everything you need. I ordered the "Small Volcano" (pancakes, egg, and a bacon and sausage) and a side of fruit and coffee for breakfast. The coffee was good, but the pancakes were so so and the bacon was overcooked. The strawberries and chopped melon were not fresh. Overall, I gave the breakfast a grade of C+. Since the breakfast was disappointing I decided to try dinner. The server was a young guy who didn't seem very familiar with the menu. I asked about the Meatballs & Spaghetti with the side of Scalloped Potatoes, and he said they were good. They weren't. The spaghetti was average, but the meatballs were dry and possibly included a filler. The potatoes were cold and not very tasty. I gave the dinner a C+. It's possible that I ordered the wrong dishes. My son said he went to a Black Bear in another city and liked their egg dishes, especially the omelettes. Give it a try. You'll like the service.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Don P.
I love Black Bear Diner. The bear claws are great at every other location I have been to. I have been to the Davis location three times this last month and each the bear claw had hardly any filing. They seem to be cost cutting no butter was even served or offered. The Tulare location great claws and food just No access to the wifi. If you want a good claw go to a different location.
(3)Jazmin D.
The cheddar stuffed burger is really good. They serve beer which is a plus. Breakfast plates are big! Big enough to share. I tried the corned beef not from a can. They make it here. Love this place
(5)Grace P.
From the outside this restaurant looks gimmicky and not like it would be high quality food. However, there aren't a ton of restaurants in Davis and you can tell by the line outside that this is one of the most popular. I am a huge fan. The Shasta scramble is my favorite, I get it every time. I highly recommend the biscuts, they're huge and absolutely delicious.
(4)Jossue V.
Right off the bat, let me tell you that 'Black Bear Diner' is known for their breakfast so if you get the chance be sure to do that! Like many other fellow Yelpers have mentioned, this place IS a bit pricer that Dennys or IHOp, but it is equally as good if not better. In my personally opinion, this far better than a regular Denny's or IHOP. The service here is great and the people were really kind and polite. The food was DELICIOUS. My favorite plates from here are the 'Sourdough Cheeseburger' and the 'Country Fried Chicken'. The portions are enormous! They will definitely fill you up in one sitting. For what it's worth, the value is really great, especially for how much they give you.
(4)Kristina F.
Great place go with your family for a New Year's dinner. Tonight I joined my family and we had a great meal. We each had the huge chicken fried steak dinners and the portions were HUGE and DELICIOUS! Our server was really kind and took great care of our table. I'd love to come back again to try their breakfast. I imagine that they are as huge as our dinners were too. Not bad pricing, our dinners were about $13.99 each which included salad, wonderful cornbread muffins brought to our table with a container of honey, baked or mashed potatoes and soup or salad. More than enough to feed a hungry person. The decor is cute lots of black bear photos on the walls and faux cabin decor. Forget Applebee's, Denny's or Lyon's cuz Black Bear is where it's at!
(4)Raf G.
Good food, make that a ton of good food, friendly staff, good prices for what you get, you basically get 2 meals for 1. Lots to choose from so something for everyone. They also serve up some pretty decent steaks without breaking your wallet. If your hungry this is a good place to go breakfast, lunch or dinner they have it all. You can't go wrong here.
(4)Ruby H.
i loved the lava cake with huckleberry ice cream. it was the best dessert i ever had. i loved our server she was so nice!!!!!! i will go to black bear diner as long as i life. i got the kids burger with a side of chicken soup. my dad and sister split the volcano. my uncle had a breakfast omelette.
(5)Christina S.
This place is an indecisive person's nightmare. There are literally a thousand choices. I came in here with three friends and we sat there, dumbfounded, until our very nice waitress came and helped us. And when we finally decided what to eat, there were a ton more options when it came to sides. By the time we had finished ordering, we were exhausted. The place itself is very cozy, with booths and the kitchen in plain view. The food did take a little long to come out, but it was alright, because the waitress kept coming back to fill our water. I ordered the steak and eggs, which came with a heap of potatoes and two enormous biscuits. Seriously, these babies were as big as my face. I valiantly finished my steak, but everything else came home with me. You seriously get a good two meals out of these plates. Overall, I enjoyed myself. Next time, I'll get something perhaps a little less substantial, because my stomach was seriously unhappy.
(4)Sung K.
I could see why UC Davis students love this place. Great portions and great prices. Service was awesome and I'd definitely return to try their hungry bear portions ;)
(4)LM C.
Should I complement a meal I have had at Black Bear? I usually get one of the breakfast items and the pancakes are good. The nine grain oat pancakes will give you your fiber.They serve the biggest portions of food compared to other places. They always try and make you feel welcome. Most employees are very nice if not "too" nice making you feel almost a little uncomfortable. It is probably the best place in town for giving bigger portions of food so I would give it a go and live it up!
(3)Lei And John D.
Food was good. Service was terrible. Not going to write a lengthy review over an easily forgettable experience.
(2)Mindy Y.
Black Bear Diner, why are you so good to me? I forgot my server's name, but she gave me the best dinning experience ever! So, let's start with.. SERVICE - our server was fantastic! There's no lie, hands down to the servers. Always, when I dine at Black Bear Diner, 100% service! Waiters approach you with friendly smiles, ask if you want this or that, pour more water when needed to, and always made sure our food is always excellent! 5 stars to service! FOOD: Here's what we got: (1) New York Steak and Eggs: I order my steaks medium-rare and depending on the day in Black Bear Diner, I actually get a medium rare steak. Most of the time it's usually over cooked, such as too medium, well done, or very well done. Sometimes it's a little burnt and I have to scrape it of. But, other than that the steak is super delicious with full flavor in every bite. Along with the steak, eggs - in any fashion of your choice - I prefer scramble or over-easy. Also, it comes with harsh browns and some bread. It's a huge meal! 4 stars. (2) Chicken Strip Basket: Chick strips with french fries. I must say, this is the best chicken strips I had so far. It comes hot and crispy! There's a lot of chicken meat and dip it in ranch and chilli paste - it's to die for and to live by. 5 stars. (3) Coffee: it's able the average diner coffee. Nothing exciting nor nothing boring. 3 stars. **OVERALL: Be greeted during breakfast by friendly, smiley servers - a good way to start the day. 4 stars!
(4)Timothy N.
Good service & HUGE portions! Can't complain! (:
(5)Patty H.
RUN, don't walk away from this restaurant. We had dinner there last night. I would say more than 1/2 of the staff had some sort of cold and were rubbing their noses with their hands or coughing into their hands, and then touching plates, utensils and food that their customers were going to use or eat. I got up from my table after I witnessed a worker sitting at the counter wrapping silverware into the napkins rubbing her nose, then rubbing her hands together in an effort to get rid of the snot, and then start up again wrapping utensils in the napkins. I asked her to stop doing what she was doing and wash her hands...all in front of her supervisor! She got huffy, got up and used some hand sanitizer and went back to wrapping the SAME snot covered utensils. Her supervisor did not say a single word to her. This place is GROSS and hires extremely lazy people. These people need serious training in food handling!
(1)Jeff K.
I'm sorry but I find this place to be plain mundane. The food is mediocre and the restaurant is plain tacky. The menu is a disaster and difficult to read, and it has way too many items. I honestly cannot recommend this place to anyone.
(2)Miika M.
(^_^) This is the face I left with after my first ever meal at this establishment. Sometimes, despite being spoiled by all the wonderful spots in the city (expensive and inexpensive) I will always find the time to seek out and explore new eateries when I'm visiting Sactown. Tonight was such a night. I decided to meet up with my friend in Davis (woohoo, my old stomping collegiate town) and it was exactly how I remembered it when the students have yet to show up for orientation: lots of parking spaces, warm calm streets void of the usual bicycle traffic and locals with their children taking advantage of the chaos free environment. I've actually come across a Black Bear Diner in Napa when I was hanging out with the fellow and he pointed it out to me. It was nice to see this location playing host to the same carved wooden bears out front. This use to be a Baker's Square (I use to take my Chemistry books down here on a break and eat and read) and now, the BBD, with a nice lot for parking. I ordered the CA Burger, which came loaded with the following: puffy bun, slice of red onions, tomatoes, a lettuce leaf, lots of Jack cheese and a half of avocado. My accompaniment was a huge side of fries which competed for space with my burger. Delivery was perfect as requested (I'm a medium rare kind of a gal when it comes to burgers) and our waiter was quick to respond to our request for mayo and kept our water/ice tea filled. A nice juicy and thick burger, resulted in utilizing several napkins. A good sign for me. Who wants a dry burger? This is a great place for families, lots of room and the interior is definitely kid-friendly. The waitstaff here are mostly college students and I found it amusing to reminisce through their stories (I confess, eavesdropping) and recall my days as the bumbling dork (I really was, seriously the big nerd on campus) My burger was $8.95 and totally worth the price. My friend also stated that she comes here regularly with her family and the other items (entrees) are huge and they usually end up with doggy bags. On our way out I passed by the dessert display and could not help but wonder how good the rows of pies looked: strawberry, chocolate, coconut and the mega Bear Claw that stared back at me. Perfect for the student on a tight budget and perfect for families with a large refrigerator.
(4)Jackie S.
Last week was Picnic Day, and we needed some breakfast before exploring U.C. Davis. The restaurant was very busy when we arrived around 8:30am. We had a party of 11, and we had to split our group between three tables. I love the menu since it has the layout of a newspaper. It's very inventive. We ordered the following: 1) Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs - My husband liked the chicken fried steak. The batter was tasty, and the chicken was moist. The chefs messed up on the order since he received scrambled eggs, but wanted poached eggs. The waitress allowed him to keep the scrambled eggs and gave him poached eggs. It was a lot of eggs to eat! 2) Shasta Scramble with Spinach, Avocado, Cheese, Onions, and Bell Peppers - I really liked this dish due to the ingredients. Next time, I would not request cheese since there was too much scattered on top of the scramble. Each breakfast item received a biscuit and a type of potato. I preferred the country red diced potatoes than the hashbrown. The country style potatoes were crispy and had more texture. The biscuit wasn't bad. It was fresh out of the oven. You can definitely share a dish with another person since the portions are huge! I probably gained 5 pounds just from the breakfast. Service was pretty good considering that the restaurant probably had more people than usual due to Picnic Day. I would come back again.
(4)Tiffany H.
I never really crave "American" food. Ate here on two different occasions. Had their omelets both times. There is nothing unique about their food, and I found their food always a little too heavy. Decent portion sizes for their prices. Below average service--super slow. All in all, I wouldn't come here unless I was guilted into it. I've heard great things about their fresh squeezed orange juice though.
(3)J S.
Came here after a 1 hour and 45 minute walking tour at UC Davis and was starving! Good thing EVERYTHING served here comes in a huge portion. Even the side salads lol. The menu was huge as well; I actually had to ask the waitress for more time, which doesn't happen very often with me. I ended up getting the Joe Hobo omelette with country potatoes and a biscuit, and my dad got the Big Bear Burger (cheese added), a salad, and a side of onion rings. It was 1:45 and the lunch crowd was still huge, but our meal came out pretty fast and our waitress was very nice and had a good sense of humor. My meal was awesome, especially the biscuit. Definitely try it with some jam. The omelette itself was good; I only wish it had a little more spinach. Onion rings: good batter and not too salty. I can't comment on the burger, but it was huge! My dad said it was good though. I think I'll go try the Black Bear diner in Tracy now, since it's a little closer to home. Pancakes up next! Why would I ever go to IHOP again... Black Bear Diner has better (and more) food for an average of $1 more per plate. What's not to love?
(5)Jacque Y.
Since there a so few breakfast places in Davis that open up early enough, we have continued to go here. But no more. They have lost faithful customers due to their poor service, poor food quality and lack of response to concerns. Hopefully they'll close and a real restaurant will open up in it's place.
(1)Christine L.
Having a friend who's obsessed with 3rd and U means you don't really get the option of trying out other places.. Lo and Behold, that place was closed so we opted for Black Bear and boy am I glad 3rd and U was closed (no disrespect). The food was very good, I ordered the BLAST which is pretty standard but their fries were amazing (deal breaker here) and the service was great! What more could you ask for?
(5)Ken G.
I had a good breakfast here... Biscuits and Gravy - The biscuits were not that great...very "bready" and not the typical dense, buttery experience one is expecting. The gravy was alright, but very peppery. Scrambled Eggs - These were straight forward and basic and a great way to start my day. Almond Granola Pancakes - Really, really good...typical pancakes are given a nice twist with the nice texture from the granola as well as the sweet and smokey hints from the almond flavor. Overall, this is probably one of the better breakfast/brunch options in Davis. The 3.5 rating is very appropriate.
(3)Marshall M.
Huge portions. Seriously. I can eat a ton and I can't finish meal at this place. Service here isn't amazing. It stays crowded for hours and I think the staff are stretched thin. I've only eaten breakfast here twice. Once I had "The Volcano" and the other the corned beef hash. I have to recommend steering clear of the corned beef hash, it's more like a warm, greasy heap of shredded beef, nothing impressive. I'm also not a fan of the fettuccini-like hash browns. They are too wide and thick to be crispy.
(3)Michelle B.
Black Bear never disappoints me. The portions are HUGE and the prices are just right. Their chicken fried steak is the best one I've had in a while. The hash browns are always on point. It's also convenient that you can pay individually at the register when you're in a big group!
(4)chelsey m.
yummy food and good service but its packkkkeeeddd!
(5)Mariam H.
Ridiculously unhealthy(check their nutrition facts), but good, average comfort food. You can find the exact menu at a place like IHOP. Don't be surprised if you come here and consume about a day's worth of calories because the portion sizes are huge! The service is okay, we had three people come serve us and deliver our food. It's usually packed on Saturday mornings, so come early or call ahead of time! It didn't blow my mind, but it wasn't amazing either.
(3)Jessica L.
I always hear great things about Black Bear Breakfast so I always go with high hopes. I go and its like the breakfast food calls my name. Black Bear breakfast is always so disappointing. It's one of those restaurants you don't want to give up on but it continuously let's you down. This last visit was my breaking point. I ordered the blueberry pancakes...The pancakes came and they were mushy. They were undercooked but the blueberries were hard and not even ripe. I hate sending food back so I just ate the outer ring where it was not so mushy. The servers are awesome so I couldn't bear give 1 star. I have tried their chicken strips, which you can order with a shake that I loved. Black Bear! Step your pancake game up!!
(2)Heather M.
I have to say I love Black Bear Diner. My experience at this location was just so-so. I ordered 2 egg breakfast with poached eggs, country potatoes, and an English muffin. All was good but the potatoes. Well under-cooked (hard potatoes) and too many onions and bell peppers. Not so yummy. English muffin was saturated in butter. BLECH. Overall it was ok - just disappointed. Service was not so great. I just think they were understaffed Thurs night when me and my family visited. Experience could have been improved, but feel this was just an isolated incident. Normally I'm very pleased with my meal at Black Bear. The Tracy location could teach Davis a thing or two because they are on point over there every single time.
(3)Liz A.
Yes the food was adequate; however BEWARE STUDENTS (especially those who do not have the habit of checking their bank statements) IF YOU USE YOUR CREDIT/DEBIT CARD HERE ALWAYS CHECK YOUR BANK STATEMENTS AFTER. After having a lunch here last week, I used my card to pay for the bill, which came out to be about 50 dollars after tip. Just recently, I check my statement and it said that the Black Bear Diner had charged me 90+ dollars on my card. Fortunately, I found my receipt confirming that there was no way the bill was that high. I called Black Bear to sort this out, they mentioned that this type of incidents happen and it is because they get the bill itself and the amount of tip mixed up. They were apologetic; however that 40 dollar additive is a HUGE mix-up, and it just did not make sense to me. I do not know whether they charged another bill to my account or whatever, but I am glad to have caught this big "hiccup". Anyways, I was lucky to have caught it, if not it would of been considered a scam. Overall, the food is good BUT if you are using a credit/debt card check your statements afterwards. Better yet, pay cash!
(2)Chrisy Y.
Breakfast = YES. Lunch = Sure ... Dinner = No. LOVE their omelettes. Not too fond of their dinners ... too salty! DESSERT APPLE PIES A LA MODE ... Nommmmmmmmers.
(4)Lori N.
Like others have said, this place is practically a glorified Denny's but with slightly better food. Hearty breakfast dishes served all day, typical lunches, & hearty homestyle dinner entrees are what you will find here, & sometimes, that's all you need. We came in for dinner on a Sat. evening around 6:45pm & were seated immediately by the sweet waitresses. I had the Cobb Salad ($9.45) & it was good, nothing too special. It was a pretty large salad though. Others ordered breakfast dishes & they, too, were given a hefty amount of food. Everything was good & pretty much what you would expect at an American style diner like this. Dishes hover around $10, with dinner entrees costing a few dollars more. Overall a good place if you're looking for standard American cooking, you know, omelets, pancakes, sandwiches, prime rib, burgers, & the like.
(3)Crystal W.
Really fun decor, especially the menus, which are printed on newspaper (so it looks like the whole family is gathered around the dinner table reading! Fun.), and the random bear paraphernalia everywhere. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are available throughout the day! The entrees really do come out in HUGE portions, but the quality of each entree is variable. On the days that the food comes out perfectly (eggs cooked as ordered, don't have to mention twice that I didn't want an item in my omelet, bacon is not overcooked, etc.), I am okay with the slow service (which IS almost always friendly and courteous, just very slow). Overall, the restaurant is cozy and well-decorated, offers classic diner items (blackberry shakes! yum.) all day long, and provides excellent customer service, but variable food quality and slow service time keeps me from giving Black Bear two more stars.
(3)Cassie C.
This place is a nicer version of Denny's/Hometown Buffet! They give you a lot of bang for your buck with huuuugeee portions. Not sure about the rest of the sides, but I know you can also switch out your potato-y sides (fries/mashed potatoes/baked potato) which is nice. Service was good, the waitress checked up on us/refilled our water a couple times, and was friendly and accommodating (one of my friend's fries were on the cold side, and the waitress just took the plate back and came back with a steaming pile of fries super quick)! The desserts looked delicious but I didn't get to try any because I was so full from the meal. I saw a lot of people eating their pies so those must be good ;P If I'm ever in the area again I'd come again for the desserts and the breakfast items!
(4)Chia-Fen Y.
Really, just another diner, but if I had to choose, I'd go here instead of Denny's. I had the cinnamon roll french toast, which was too sweet to be a breakfast, but delicious enough to be a dessert. All of the portions are really big, so you definitely won't leave hungry (seems like a good hangover joint, minus the elderly patrons and all). The food is served on plates with bear footprints across the middle, which I found kind of cute. There's also a bunch of tree trunk columns inside. Service is pretty decent. The servers are friendly, and the food comes pretty quickly.
(3)Jami L.
Huge portions and the most delectable pancakes on earth. No idea how their other food is, because I always get pancakes. I have lots of fond memories of this location. We used to go to Sambo's and all of the other restaurants that have been here since the seventies. I'd give it five stars, but sometimes there's quite a wait for a seat.
(4)Eric K.
Always a good place for breakfast. Love the place for their service. Knowing we were college students, the waiter split our checks for us! I will always come back to this place if I want to have a meal at a place that won't let me down
(4)Jeff M.
Food was good but service or lack there of. We had to get the waiter for refills every time. Our food was waiting in the window for a good five minutes then when it comes my sons pizza cheese was off the pizza. It took another ten minutes to make a new one. When the food was first delivered a different server because our server could not be found. Then one server was smart mouthing his manager all night and we could hear it all and the manager put up with it. That same server argued with us about the cheese on my sons pizza. The manager did take some money off the bill and that was nice of him.
(1)Samir K.
so I'm leaving Davis in a few days, I decided to get back to Yelp and do a mass review of all the places I've been over the past year. Pretty solid place. Massive portions, decent prices, typical diner food. If you're a cook and you can't cook diner food, quit the job! Came here for breakfast, eggs were properly cooked, bacon perfect- seems like they throw it in the deep fryer :) Service is good too, everyone's very friendly.
(3)Amy Q.
Comfort food vs Asian girl on a diet = Black Bear Diner FTW. I told myself I would only eat 1/2 my plate, and box the rest. I had already been juicing and had light snacks all day and when I came here. I had the Country PAW "chicken" fried steak and I ate the whole damn plate with a salad and their honey cornbread muffin. I love that their side veggies are ACTUAL fresh vegetables hand-sliced, not some reheated frozen crap nuked out of a bag. I like the foamy butter bubbling around my squash, carrots, and broccoli with good seasoning, not salty at all. Their mashed potatoes are killer, you know its full of cream/butter when it starts solidifying by the end of the meal. Nice and creamy nonetheless with red skin potatoes. I also snagged a bite of my housemate's fried chicken, thats an order I'd come back. The chicken fried steak was good, but I've had my fair share in Texas and this one didn't compare to the ones in Dallas. BUT the fried chicken, its a super thin crusty skin with no/little fat on the chicken. Super moist, and comes with a breast, thigh, wing, AND leg. Better than KFC. It similar to Fried Chicken found in Soul Food kinda joints. Service was awesome, can't complain with the music, felt like I wanted to go camping the entire time I was in there. If they had free wifi I'd love to come here for breakfast and study groups. Pretty huge establishment and I was eye-ing their chcocolate lava cake the entire time, but hey I'm on a "diet" T_T Cursed metabolism. I wish I had the metabolism of a lion. My rating is a 5 because its in DAVIS alone. They outbeat the gross Applebees and iHop in Davis. Theres no other restaurant, (which i feel like) that caters homey food like Black Bear Diner. Decent pricing for the portions and great quality in the food. Hats off to the cook behind this place! Especially in Davis, I know most places here like to just serve "crap" because they think college students don't know better and willing to just swipe their credit card for anything. Wrong, wrong, wrong! I would definitely be back here. BTW, the newspaper sitting on your placemate is the MENU. I was fool'd too. :P
(5)Hev Z.
The best thing here is the portion sizes, it's huge! I usually just go here for breakfast, typical stuff, eggs, ham, sausage etc. Like I said, you get a lot of food for your money, but everything is a little bland. I gotta use ketchup and pepper with my food. A little flavor won't hurt. But for the price and quantity, it's not bad. I always walk out full, just my taste buds are a little disappointed.
(3)Mike B.
Kinda pricey. ...$25.44 for pancakes & scrambled eggs, oj & coffee.....And to be honest, it didn't impress & probably wouldn't have at 1/2 the price.....Lots of better places to grab b-fast.....Don't think I need to try this place again :-/
(2)Lily R.
Hmm. This place gets a 3+, but I don't think it quite earns the 4 stars. I went here with classmates a number of times and everytime, we've had attentive, friendly, helpful, and quick service and moderately good food. I feel like the menu here has a good variety of healthier and more comfort food options available that can please any person with a huge appetite. Had the california benedict last time I was there and BOY was that delicious.
(3)David C.
Great place for breakfast but you may have to wait a while depending when you go.
(4)Lena K.
Went for dinner, ordered a taco salad and requested it with no tortilla bowl. Server told me that it could not be made without a tortilla bowl, "that would defeat the whole purpose", because the salad comes pre-made. First off, it's not a good decision to tell customers their meals are pre-made. Second, on the placemat it says Black Bear Diner welcomes special requests and accommodates all diets, such as gluten-free, vegetarian, low-carb, etc. This obviously did not occur during my experience. Third, my fellow diner and I could hear servers reprimanding one another in the kitchen, that's not terrible but it was a little distracting. Overall, I was not impressed. My salad was as good as I expected for being pre-made but when I was served it looked like it would be easy to dump the entire contents of the salad onto a plate or bowl.
(2)Lincy H.
Huge portions, great service, but somewhat pricey. I usually go with the special, and it never fails me. But the wait can be super long :(
(4)Elaine H.
Thought #1: How come this place looks like Baker's Square? Oh. Cause it used to be. Thought #2: Where's the menu? Oh. Its this piece of newspaper I'm pretending to read. Thought #3: Wow I've scanned through the first 3 items on the list, and want two of them already. This is a large menu with lots of good stuff. Thought #4: Huh? I think you've made a mistake. How come you're handing me two gigantic plates of food? Oh, that really is all mine. A mountain of country potatoes, couple small slices of oranges, two biscuits, plenty of butter, large portion of scrambled eggs, and a 1lb. of bone in ham. All for $9.99 Holy F-ing Cow! Cute place. Good food (better version of Denny's). Friendly staff. Clean. Options options. Parking next door for customers. So therefore, yes I approve.
(3)Wendy G.
I always have an enjoyable experience at Black Bear, love the consistent friendly service and the food never disappoints. I've only been here for brunch. It gets super busy on the weekends, of course, so there is always a bit of a wait unless you get there before 10:30am. I've had the eggs benedict here, the flavor is great and you can't go wrong with it. Comes with a big heap of hash browns and side of fruit. I've tried the Joe's Hobo omelette, so much meaty goodness inside. The fried steak w/ gravy is also pretty tasty, well flavored and good texture. Big portions but I always manage to finish the plate. The best thing about this location though is the service. It's always consistently great. All the servers are super friendly and attentive.
(4)Damon R.
They do give you a lot of food, but it is still mediocre food. I had the bacon wrapped stuffed chicken breast, but the bacon was not cooked enough. It would have been better if the bacon is a little crispier. The sauce really sucks though!
(2)Simon B.
When I found out that they serve breakfast all day, I was extremely excited (I was tired of IHOP). I thought it was kind of funny how it was bear-themed. They even have their own crafted hot sauce: Baby, Mommy, & Daddy. They were alright. I rather choose Tabasco, though. Inside is fairly big and it's kind of homey while it looks like a pimped-out cabin lodge. I was surprised how clean the bathroom was, though I would have thought different when you're in a restaurant that serve huge portions. This place is the best when you're craving breakfast plates. And the fact that the dishes come in twice the size of your face, I would have to say that I'm pretty impressed. The first time I came here, I ordered the Tri-Tip Scramble and DAAAAMN, my whole plate was filled! The tri-tip was drizzled with caramelized onions and the meat was juicy on the first bite. I also find their strip-cut hash browns enjoyable because it's different from IHOP or Denny's and it's tastes healthier. Everything else on the plate (eggs, toast) were in generous amounts and I had to stare at my plate, not knowing where to start. The second time I came here, I got myself the Bigfoot Chicken-Fried Steak and DAAAAMN again! I feel that they have the right to boast about their Chicken-Fried Steak because this meal really gets you full. I wasn't disappointed either times I came here so I'm glad to be a fan. The only thing that restricts me from coming here is the price. But since I'm always walking out full, I wouldn't complain. Besides, at both times, I came with friends and they paid for the food...and that's awesome.
(4)Jen B.
SWEET CREAM PANCAKES!!! Never had pancakes so fluffy and mouthwatering before! Cute bear themed diner restaurant, cheap, big portioned food...what's not to like about this place?! Always had great customer service and I love those mints by the register....I usually try to grab a few extra if no one is looking. Shhhh ;) Other good dishes are the turkey dinner and most of the burgers and sandwiches (haven't tried them all...yet)
(4)Shannon S.
I remember when this used to be a different diner and ire member it had great pies. ,y experience here 2 days ago was meh. Service was ok but my food was cold. It tasted great but I am giving 2 stars cuz of my food was cold
(2)Ary M.
GREAT FOOD! I've come here twice and i haven't been disappointed yet. Their burgers are great and so are their sandwiches. They have an extensive collection of food to choose from and the waiters here are extremely helpful. there is a limited amount of bike parking outside but its well within walking distance from UC Davis. The environment is very comfortable and its not too loud. They have a great selection of drinks and desserts to choose from and they always try their best to cater to your needs. Cons- - They consider "medium rare" a little rarer than you might think, so if you want it a little more well done just say medium. - Onion Rings are a bit "generic". Pros+ +Food is AMAZING +Love the fries +they put some extra onions/tomatoes/lettuce on the side incase you want more or you just dont want it to get all warm before it gets to you.
(5)Ray Y.
Just ran 6.2 miles. Stomach growling. Where do I go? Black bear diner! Extremely crowded on a Saturday morning. My group of 8 waited for about 20 minutes, and then we were split up to 2 separate tables. No big deal. We were all excited for steak and eggs! I must add... LOVE how their menus look like newspapers. HUNGRY MAN NEW YORK STEAK AND EGGS (5 stars) - giant slab of steak perfectly cooked to medium rare with a small strip of fat on the edge for flavor - 3 eggs scrambled, delicious with the black bear hot sauce - generous serving of hash browns, nice and crispy - 2 biscuits, perfect to take home as leftovers to reheat in an oven - enough food to split between 3 hungry girls who just ran a 5k/10k race! OLD FASHIONED CHICKEN STRIP BASKET (5 stars) - we weren't expecting much, but the chicken strips were SO CRUNCHY! - excellent with bbq sauce and hot sauce - no extra charge for ranch - fries were average SERVICE (5 stars) Our waitress was awesome. She came back every few minutes to check up on us. I swear, our water cups were never more than 1/2 empty. **TIPS: Try out the black bear steak sauce and hot sauce! We loved it!
(5)Sannie L.
I've heard good things about their chicken fried steak but I've only ever popped in for a quick breakfast before. I ordered a standard breakfast combo and enjoyed their food. It tasted pretty fresh and the portions were hearty. I especially liked their orange juice, which I could see was pressed fresh in their machine behind the counter. Can be a bit expensive depending on what you order but otherwise standard prices. Inside is a little tacky, just like how you'd expect a diner in a small town to look. The staff is friendly, attentive and prompt, even making sure our food arrived quickly when we told them we were in a rush.
(4)L.J. M.
Standard diner food, with in a mountain theme and black bear decor. Staff was friendly and efficient. The food was okay but not overly memorable. However the pies looked very nice and appeared to be baked on the premise. If we come back again, we will make sure to leave room to try the berry pie.
(3)Alex M.
Black bear diner is a great place to go if you feel like getting fat. It's a combination of IHOP and Denny's, but on steroids. They have huge portions for decent prices and the staff is pretty friendly. The food usually comes out pretty quick and always tastes fresh. A good place to come if you have a big appetite or enjoy food comas.
(4)Jess s.
I'm not a huge fan of american diner food but my housemate kept raving about Black Bear so i just had to give it a try. When we sat down, the waiter gave us this newspaper looking thing. At first, I didn't know what to do with it after a while my friend was like "oh that's the menu." man i feel stupid. I got the tri-tip steak dinner and my friend got the stuffed chicken with tri tip steak dinner. Each of our dinner combo came with cornbread, choice of either a soup or salad and the choice of mashed potatoes, baked potato or french fries. We both opted for the salad and mashed potatoes. I must admit the portions are BIG, but almost half of the plate was filled with veggies (which I'm not really a big fan of) and the mashed potatoes was chunky and had some sort of meat mixed in with the gravy. The tri-tip steak was pretty good but it was so drenched in oil I could've seriously tipped over the plate and filled a teacup with the amount of oil leftover on that plate.
(3)Sally C.
I can only say this: Don't come here if you're on a diet! The food is extremely caloric. The chicken fried steak with fries is ~2700 calories itself... My friend and I split the big chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and veggies. You get a side of soup with it and a cornbread muffin. Kudos to our waitress who gave us 2 cornbreads instead of one, even though we shared the meal! At first glance, the meal doesn't seem too big. I actually thought it was quite pricey for the amount of food they give you, contrary to what many Yelpers said! I mean, it's one handful of roasted veggies, and one cup of mashed potatoes at most. The chicken fried steak took up most of the plate with a thick gravy sauce. Mmmm heart attack on a plate. It was good though, as comfort food should be. I was fairly full from my meal, but $14 for diner food is on the more expensive side. I could have bought 2 meals from Ihop or Denny's for that price. However, I'll always try everything twice, so maybe I'll come back for breakfast one day.
(3)Florence S.
Came here for lunch the other day and ordered the Chicken Strips basket. It came with 4 giant pieces of chicken and a huge side of fries. Overall, it was decent. The chicken was very meaty and wasn't just the breaded skin like some diners. Very juicy, too. The fries were good. I don't believe they came salted, which I liked because it allowed me to choose how much salt I wanted. The ranch dipping sauce was very bland. If I order this again, I'll get the BBQ sauce instead. Service was wonderful. Attentive but not overly attentive, and very prompt. The price for lunch was pretty good.
(3)Kathleen H.
I really don't like this place but my friends do so I always end up here. The food is okay, the portions are huge. Nothing ever looks delicious. The staff is supposed to be staff, "friendly," however they don't seem genuine. If you're paying with aggie cash it takes awhile (their machine is broken).
(3)Hannah L.
Large portions, huge sized biscuit. This is the ultimate destination for those that really want that "bang for your buck" deal! The prices are average and the service was good. I ordered the Shasta omlette. Not bad, but I couldn't even finish half of my order. Definitely a post food coma type of place with comfort food.
(3)Farrah F.
The food is pretty good and the hunk of bread they give you is gargantuan (hell, all the portions are pretty big). I think the way they decorated it and the menus are a nice touch. However, the second-last time I went there for lunch with my roommate (I had a class; she had to work), it wasn't very busy, but they took over 15 minutes to seat us. We told them we were in a hurry and ordered immediately, and they took an unbelievably long time (over half an hour?) in getting the food to us. I kinda thought they'd forgotten about us. We did eventually get our food, but ended up having to pack it to eat later, since it was already so late. The last time I went, things were fine, so I guess it's kinda hit or miss with this place?
(3)Betty T.
If I had to pick between IHOP and Black Bear, Black Bear wins hands down. They have comparable prices to IHOP, but definitely bigger portions. They also somehow make diner food look more appealing -- as in, it doesn't look limp/burnt/old. I had the bacon cheeseburger, which came with a huge side of fries. The burger was pretty small (not even In-n-Out sized), but the fries filled me up. My friends said they were a little dry, but they were okay for me. The burger was good -- I only wish it was bigger. My friends shared one of the specials for the night, which was prime rib for $12.99. It came with two sides and salad (I think); they had cooked vegetables, fries, and ranch dressing for the salad. When his meal came, I was impressed with how much food there was -- the side salad itself was a meal for one person! Definitely try the advertised specials! Tip: To get the most bang for your buck(s), try not to pick soup as a side -- you'll feel ripped off if you do. The soup comes in this super tiny cup.
(4)Ruth H.
Black Bear Diner is an excellent place for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It is usually a hot spot for students due to its proximity to campus. From the many times I have eaten there, the waiters/waitresses have been more than nice and my food has generally been served with the up most speed. I tend to order breakfast items such as their buttermilk pancakes with blueberries which are delicious- and not to mention, HUGE. The more dinner-like choices such as steak, I find are more ordinary.
(5)Elaine N.
Very quaint diner, what really caught my eye was their newspaper styled menus! My friends and I stopped here for an early morning breakfast before our trek up to Tahoe for some day-boarding. I ordered the chicken strips and fries basket, and an order of fresh squeezed OJ. The strips were very juicy and flavorful, the amount of food you get is a great! I was able to save some of it to eat after our day of boarding. The OJ was delicious, I was getting so full but I felt so terrible not to finish it, that I ended up chugging it just before we left. Great diner, lots of options, and very friendly and warm service.
(3)Dustin J.
First time here. The pot roast is great. Chicken tortilla soup is amazing. Tastes cornbread. I really liked all the carved wooden decorations.
(5)Sabrina S.
In town for a trip and the diner was across the street from my hotel. I went here twice for food. I got take out both times but both times I was greeted by a very nice employee. I got the chicken tortilla soup which was just ok. I had the turkey club which was pretty good. I also had a side salad which was decent. They gave me a cornbread side with the salad and I usually dislike cornbread but this was almost like dessert. It was pretty tasty. The prices were pretty reasonable and it looked like a nice place in side. I'd say the food was just ok but I would go back since its so convenient.
(3)Molly M.
I hate to give reviews less than 3 stars, but I've tried this place 3 times now, and my opinion hasn't changed. I like that the have the healthy options (under 500 calories) as well as vegetarian options as well! There's surely something here for everyone. The service is awesome, don't get me wrong. Portions are huge, so you won't leave hungry, that's for sure. But every time I have come here, I ended up getting sick. I'm not sure if it's just some eerie coincidence, or if I'm sensitive to the food, but Black Bear Diner just did not make my list of places to visit regularly. I myself won't be back, but it is a great place to get breakfast and lunch.
(2)Cheryl S.
We came here last Friday night after driving around and finding that everyplace seemed mobbed. We waited just a few minutes before getting a table. We are familiar with Black Bear Diners after visiting a few around the state. My daughter liked her burger. I ordered the taco salad. It was very large, piled high with lots of ingredients. I asked for no salad dressing so they brought me extra salsa which was perfect. It was really good, though I tried not to eat the fried shell. I'm really glad to have had this experience to know how good this salad is. I'll probably try it the next time I'm at a Black Bear Diner!
(4)Elena N.
If you want a super filling meal, definitely come to Black Bear! They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner all day to satisfy whatever craving you have! The best part about Black Bear is their portions. They're huge! And their pricing is pretty low so you definitely get what you paid for and more. Recently I had the new Bear Claw French toast with blackberry filling. It was so rich and sweet! It was also huge so I couldn't finish it but it definitely fulfilled my craving for a sweet breakfast. Other than that I usually get the French dip sandwich for lunch or dinner. It's a great go to! The meat is always cooked well and the dipping sauce perfectly complements it.
(4)Sheri S.
If you plan on eating here please be prepared for the HUGE Portions! Seriously, the food portions are made for giants! I have always enjoyed going here with the family for brunch. It is a pleasant diner that serves breakfast all day. The menu that is in the form of an old newspaper press release it quite interesting. Among my favorites are the Grizzle Breakfast with no meat (since I don't eat pork) I order a side of corn beef hash. The order comes with two eggs any style, hash browns and a choice of biscuit or pancakes. The Fried chicken dish was o.k. It personally, looked better than it tasted but I still enjoyed it. The salad we ordered was good enough to share for the four of us. Their milkshake is so creamy and delectable. I know most people can make a milkshake, but these guys got the recipe right! I either get that or a hot chocolate. Either one generally satisfies my palate Each time I have eaten here, I have sampled my family dishes such as the sweet creme waffle and the fried fish and mashed potatoes. Each bite was solid! Love this little place: good food, good customer service and a friendly atmosphere ;-)
(4)Shriya C.
If you would like comfort food/diner food, come here! I have tried many things over the years: cinnamon roll French toast, loaded fries, chicken Caesar sandwich, and French toast! I have never been disappointed. Also, the shakes are so worth getting if you want to reward yourself! Their customer service is wonderful and I have never been let down! The prices are super affordable and each dish has a huge portion size. For comfort food, come here. I wouldn't go anywhere else. Can't wait to come back! :)
(4)Marissa D.
Absolutely love this place! They have options to satisfy any of your American breakfast, lunch, or dinner needs. They have huge portions, do you really get what you pay for. My favorite dishes are the cornbeef hash or linguica plate, which comes with your choice of hash brown/red potatoes, eggs, and fruit or a biscuit. SO GOOD!! I also really enjoy the design of their menus which come in the format of an old fashioned newspaper. They switch them out seasonally, so the dates correspond with the current time, only a few years later.
(5)Marion S.
Wow. Was expecting just a notch above IHOP or Denny's, but it was so much more than that! Our waitress, Doreen, was fabulous. Attentive and a sense of humor. The biscuits were the size of a human head and baked to perfection. The Portuguese sausage breakfast took my Hawaiian boyfriend back to his childhood where every cafe in Hawaii served Portuguese sausage with breakfast. Great food, great service, great price. Will definitely skip the Venus down the street and be back here for breakfast.
(5)Elle C.
The smell of bacon upon entering, warm,-cozy,-and-casual surroundings, generous portions of nicely presented and tasty breakfast entrees (only complaint: my requested "over-medium" eggs were more like "over easy")... hit the spot for a casual breakfast. I was impressed with their biscuit (huge, soft, and warm -- unlike many which are stick-in-the-throat dry and dense)! Service was impressively friendly, both at the table and the front counter. Definitely preferred over Denny's.
(4)Ivy N.
You definitely get what you pay for! The servings for all the plates are so big and we're not even talking about The Grizz. Every time I come here for brunch, I go home after and food coma for like 3-4 hours. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner foods, but every time I come here, I must get breakfast! They have everything! 2 egg combos, corn beef hash, chicken fried steak, omelettes, eggs Benedict, pancakes, french toast, waffles, sausages etc. The combos are excellent, I love the 2 egg combos because you get choice of potatoes (country or hashbrowns), bacon, sausage, or ham, and toast, french toast, or pancakes. So many choices and combinations! I love their hashbrowns, perfect mix of crispy and soft potatoes. I usually get the french toast if I'm feeling super hungry, the pancakes are way too big for me and most of the time I end up boxing it. The eggs benedict is pretty mediocre in my opinion, I've had better. I hear great things about the chicken fried steak, haven't tried it yet. The chicken apple sausage is quite delicious as well! The Grizz is definitely a meal of it's own. You get 3 eggs, bacon/sausage/ham?, pancakes, potatoes, just basically a really big breakfast! That comes out on a plate larger than all the others. Their fresh squeezed orange juice is also quite refreshing. In terms of lunch and dinner they have sandwiches, burgers, soups, steak, salmon, chicken parm, spaghetti, and salmon. This is a great place if you're craving brunch or if you're hungover af and you need something to get through the day. Trust me, been through both, this is the place to go.
(4)Chena N.
Black Bear, Black Bear what do you see? I see some bomb food looking at me! (anyone get the reference? :D) .:: Ambiance::. ~A JUKE BOX.... SAY WAHH... I MEAN.. YESSS! ~Their menus are NEWSPAPERS.... like... newspaper format.. newspaper material (my bf literally ripped it when he picked it up LOL) ~Intricate decors with the pillars hidden with bears stickin their head out or paw prints here and there ~Very laid back, family/friend catchup atmosphere - came in around 10pm on a sunday, not packed at all ~I dont know why... but i just felt so happy/excited being there! (NO I WAS NOT ON DRUGS. Although... maybe there was laughing gas at the entrance......Just kidding... ) .:: Service ::. Amazing. Absolutely amazing. Servers were extremely friendly.. the cashier at the front was SUPER nice. It just added on top of the happy happy atmosphere. Um... they separated the check for us.... without us ever having to ask that.. YES... top notch service or top notch service. SUCK IT DENNY's, YOUVE BEEN SERVED. .:: Food::. Hot tea $2.59: I was just expecting hot tea. BUT it came with a whole bottle of honey, 2 slices of lemon, a whole basket of tea bag selection, and a small kettle for refill. WAS NOT EXPECTING IT! It's probably on the menu, but i didnt even see it. AMAZING! hahah only because not many restaurants/diners do this. yelp.com/biz_photos/blac… The Grizz $11.99: 2 fat slices of sweet cream pancakes, 3 eggs, 2 slices of bacon, 2 sausage links, a big chunk of ham steak, served with my choice of potato. The proportion was made for a bear. I literally did not finish this even after 2 hours and 25 minutes of the corn maze at Cool Pumpkin Patch (WE MADE IT OUT ALIVE!!!). Everything was good and not sh*tty like denny's. My new favorite diner! yelp.com/biz_photos/blac…
(4)Jessie W.
"Where do you wanna grab dinner?" Black Bear Diner. Estrogen feeling low? Black Bear Diner. Aced that midterm and want to reward yourself? Black Bear Diner. Birthday? Black Bear Diner. Feeling like Ron Swanson? Black Bear Diner. As you can i see i have this unhealthy obsession with Black Bear Diner, and being a student at UCD doesn't help it at all. First of all, the food portions ARE HUGE and might as well count as two meals instead of one. If you want some greasy, delicious comfort food, this is the place for you, serving your needs breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Also, shoutout to Shane for serving me & my party multiple times, he's the bomb.com ! They also used to accept aggie cash, which was a great deal for freshman. I sadly have to take off a star because of their long seating times. It can take up to a couple of minutes to half an hour depending on how big your party is and how packed the restaurant is, which has a pretty smaller than average capacity. If you do want to be seated quickly, you're more than likely going to be crammed in a small booth. Also, UCD got rid of the aggie cash option this year, but when Black Bear did do aggie cash, the line was separate and took a long time to process orders because the machine was slow. Be sure to order a glass of their fresh pressed orange juice if this is your first time here, and be weary of their salt and pepper shakers! My friend shook some pepper on her fries and the top fell off. We never caught the prankster, but Black Bear did replace her fries for free :)
(4)Hiba S.
Great pancakes! Has a very old feeling atmosphere.
(3)Winnie I.
Oh Black Bear Diner, I remember those Saturday and Sundays where the wait was well over 30 minutes to an hour long. Luckily, it was always worth it! I recently came back over the summer with a few of my friends from back home who were craving eggs! We looked over a few restaurants on Yelp, but ultimately decided on Black Bear Diner due its its luxurious portions. We came in on a Thursday around noon and there was no wait at all. Though the wait for food was a different story. It took around 30-40 minutes even though it was not rush hour. It was all worth it as my friends enjoyed their food very much! My go-to item on the menu is always the Tri-Tip Scramble. I was very disappointed to see my favorite item off the menu! But the lovely waitress said they can still make it, so you can still order this! My friends ordered the Turkey Sandwich, which had real turkey meat and not the nasty prepackaged ones, the Fit and Focused Chicken and Apple Sausage Scramble, and the California Omelet. They all enjoyed it with some leftovers for the next morning. Overall, the staff is very nice and attentive and food is a lot better than the other diners in Davis. With cheap prices and large portions, this is definitely the place to go when you are feeling hungry!
(4)Auburn S.
I hate to do it but I have to complain. I love the place but the food is to in consistent. My chicken fried steak tonight was in edibly salty. We do a lot of take out from here and the service is good. Service at the place is always excellent for sit down
(3)Luke C.
Black Bear Diner is a down home style restaurant that serves large portions of food at reasonable prices. It is founded on principles that are strong and noble. Although I really want to like Black Bear, it just falls short in too many areas. Black Bear diner is a restaurant with a lot of fun and neat features. There are interesting things to look at all around the restaurant. Visually Black Bear has a busy, but engaging style that gives the feeling of an outdoors camp. The menus are made to look like an old newspaper... they even are on the same type of newspaper paper. Pretty unique for sure. While the style of Black Bear is charming, everything else about the restaurant is just average. The best time to go to Black Bear Diner is for breakfast. Their breakfast is pretty decent and compares similarly to that of Denny's or IHOP. The Black Bear breakfasts are hearty and filling. The sausages that I had were juicy and plump - surprisingly girthy! The bacon was of the thick cut variety. I love bacon just like everyone else... but I actually prefer a thinner, crispier bacon than the ones I got today. I requested that my eggs come over-medium, but when they arrived it was more like over easy. Also, the pancakes were a bit too sweet for my liking. So while there are positives, I would say the things that detract can't be ignored. My worst experience at Black Bear Diner was during dinner. I was daring and got the meatloaf that night. I'll just say this... is meatloaf supposed to have a sour taste to it? Skip lunch and dinner. If you're going to go to Black Bear, just go for an ok breakfast with hearty portions. I can't say too much about the non-breakfast items... but avoid the meatloaf!
(3)Denise N.
Similar to Denny's & IHop but SO much better. Why? -BIG portions with multiple components (toast/fruit/potatoes) -Breakfast anytime you want -Other options are good too! -Everything is pretty much under $10 -Open late! What's there not to love? Oh wait, the food coma afterwards....
(4)Nina C.
As far as breakfast spots in Davis go, Black Bear Diner is my first choice. Classic diner fare done well. I'm a fan of their house made biscuits and tasty multigrain pancakes. Their bacon is smokey, salty, and crisp...just how I like it. Large portions, reasonable prices, and great service.
(4)Alyssa D.
First time ever eating here and I loved it!! Our server was friendly and constantly checked on us making sure everything was okay and checking to see if we needed anything. I'm a sucker for waffles so I just had to get me some!! These waffles were on point!! Sweet delicious strawberries on top mmm! The waffle itself was fluffy and just melted in my mouth. Making me hungry just thinking about it!! I will for sure come back here again. Looking forward to my next visit!
(5)Eric M.
Went here for breakfast today. I ordered the chicken fried steak and the Bear claw french toast. All I gotta say is awesome. Huge portions and very tasty breakfasts. I'll definitely go to a BBD again. Thumbs up!
(4)Ashley N.
Here's the thing, Black Bear Diner isn't "five star dining." It's a frickin' diner people. And as far as diners go? One of the best of the best. Incredibly friendly efficient staff. HUGE portions (My lovely 6' 7" husband could barley finish his order(s) ) and the decor is Black Bear all the time- totally kitschy and wonderful. I ordered from the "small lighter menu" Knowing I wasn't going to be able to finish anything "normal" on the menu and it was still a good amount of food and really well cooked. I was super happy with my omelet. My husband ordered the Huevos Rancheros Benedict and was SO happy he ordered the waffle as well. We took some food home. The entire staff was super friendly, courteous, and gave us anything and everything we wanted. It was our first time eating here, but if we are ever in Davis again we will be back. And if we ever see another Black Bear Diner we will stop and eat there as well. For all you haters? If you want "fine dining"? Go somewhere else. If you want really good food, with super friendly and efficient staff? Go here.
(5)Diana C.
Big portions! You get what you paid for and maybe a lot more. I got the chicken apple sausage 2 eggs combo and had it with hash browns and a biscuit. Biscuit was fluffy and light and was a great addition to counter the sodium in the sausage and eggs. Hash browns were nice and crispy and so so good. Sausage was a little bit salty but was still good. I do wish we could have fruit included but it was an either or. I did have that one orange slice though. Be prepared for a food coma afterwards. Great place for meeting with a group of friends or your family.
(4)Nancy D.
Bears choice is what I always go for and it is soooo bomb. Love this place so much especially for breakfast. I wanna cry because of how good it is
(5)Robin B.
The food was great as always with black bear. My boyfriend and I shared a veggie omelet the last time with hash browns, yum. The seating was quick even though they had a full house. Food was quickly delivered hot and fresh. The only complaint was the older waitress that served us. She kept flirting with my boyfriend to the point that it made us both uncomfortable. She was acting like we were in a bar, unprofessional and ignored my request for coffee. We will still go to this old favorite but won't be seated in her section again.
(4)Vivian C.
Definitely a great place if you're in the mood for breakfast or diner food. The portions are HUGE and the price is low for the amount of food you get. There is also a very cute atmosphere with a lot of knick knacks all around and these adorable newspaper menus. The servers are friendly and attentive. The noise level can be high though especially on a weekend. But I love that I can come for breakfast anytime and when I do have the urge to get eggs benedict I think this is one of the only places in Davis to get it. I have gotten a variety of items here and for the most part there isn't any one item that is better or worse than another (at least on the breakfast menu). However I'm not a fan of the non-breakfast items which is my main reason for giving a 3 instead of a 4. But overall Black Bear is a nice place for a hearty breakfast.
(3)Jo A.
If there is one thing I like about America, it's American breakfast. I came here with my family for birthday and we had a HUGE breakfast. I am very satisfied with my pancakes, The Volcano, also including two link sausages, two bacons and two eggs. It's my favorite! We also order New York Steak, with a huge biscuit, two eggs and hash brown. I love the steak medium well cooked. It was tender and juicy. My husband said his Chicago burger was good too. In the end we could not finish and have to take some back. I pass by the Black Bear Dinner many times in past one year and can't believe I didn't come in and try. I love it immediately the first time. Can't wait to come back!
(4)Samantha K.
3.5 stars They're a traditional American breakfast diner chain, but better than I expected. Their menus are printed on newspaper which I thought was kinda cute, but seemed a little environmentally unfriendly. I settled for the chicken fried steak SMOTHERED in country gravy. The dish came with 2 eggs, a side of fruit (or hash browns), and my choice of bread. They allowed me to sub my bread for French Toast. Score! I prefer the French Toast at Denny's/ IHOP more, but Black Bear is definitely not a bad alternative for other diner food.
(3)Jo M.
The manager made good on my crappy eggs Benedict so that was good. But this bacon is way overcooked and eggs were marhinal
(3)Margaret L.
First off, I did not know Black Bear Diner had a small parking lot, so thumbs up for that. I came here for Mother's day with my family. I ordered the bacon stuffed chicken, my sister ordered the country fried steak. I like that the food comes with choice of soup or salad. I got the salad - nothing out of the ordinary. We also got cornbread, which I thought was okay. I wouldn't amazed by the cornbread. Now time for my bacon stuffed chicken, it was smaller than I expected. It was good. It came with mashed potatoes which I enjoyed, and there was also vegetables. I tried my sister's country fried steak, and I enjoyed that a lot. Good choice! The items are on the menu are reasonable priced. In my opinion, it's a good deal. Breakfast items seem popular here, I should probably come back and try it for brunch. I think this place is pretty typical for your diner - if you want diner food, this is the place to go to, nothing to rave about but nothing to complain about either.
(3)Samantha F.
(Review based on dishes I tried!) Just came here my friends for brunch and shared 2 plates with one of my friends: "Bear's Choice," $8.99 the waffles were okay - just like any other waffles (I like the ones at Benardos better because they are crunchier on the outside), the sunnyside eggs were tad bit undercook because one of the yolks still had runny white around the sides and also had 2 sausage links, but other than that it was a decent and satisfying if you're craving something both sweet and savory. "California Benedict"- $10.50 this was actually my first time trying a Egg's Benedict at a diner, but it was pretty darn good - The egg benedict came with hollandaise sauce, avocados, bacon, tomato & spinach it would have been perfect if the poached egg was runny, but it was fully cooked :/ This dish also came with the option of hashbrowns and fresh fruits. Overall, it was a very satisfying meal.
(3)Jonathan T.
The portions at Black Bear are MASSIVE. You definitely get a good bang for your buck. Given that each plate costs slightly more than an average diner, this is still a great place to come if you're feeling hungry. I really enjoy their breakfast items here. You'll always find what you want in their menu. Any combination of eggs, corned beef, sausage, pancake, etc. you can find. Service is exceptional here. Friendly and quick waiters/waitresses. Parking is also convenient for a downtown area as they have their own private lot in the back. It's also very close to UC Davis campus. Overall a great place to come if you're hungry and want to leave happy.
(4)Deborah S.
those biscuts!!!
(4)Patti S.
I love Black Bear but the Davis location always disappoints me! I've tried it a few times and this will be my last. My husband and I ordered prime rib and it was very thin and dry. It looked and tasted like a thin hard steak. I asked the waitress what happened to the croutons in the salad and she told me that they did not look good today? I tried to cut into my corn muffin and it was so hard the knife wouldn't even cut it. I think I needed a chainsaw to split it. I let the waitress know and she apologized and said that she wasn't sure what was going on in the kitchen. We did get offered a free pie. I will go to the Truxel location from now on. I've never been disappointed there.
(1)Miranda M.
I LOVE Black Bear Diner. I have been to three different black bear diner's in Arizona multiple times and love it every. single. time. First of all, they always have such friendly, upbeat staff and the atmosphere is great. It's a very welcoming and homey type of restaurant. At this specific Black Bear Diner, Angela was our server. She was very sweet and took good care of us. My boyfriend and I both got burgers and loved every bit of them. We went again the next day for breakfast. I can't remember our servers name, but she was great as well. I had the breakfast burrito. It had tons of flavor and I left feeling extremely full. The staff and atmosphere is what really makes this place and then the good food just brings it all together. If you have the oppurtunity to go to a Black Bear Diner, I highly recommend it!!
(5)Laura B.
The ultimate comfort food hotspot. This restaurant is so cosy, the service is always good, and the food is pretty great. I've always ordered breakfast here and it is one of the best. The pancakes are just about as good as they come. They are sweet, fluffy, and even have hints of cinnamon in them. The portion sizes are great for your money and the decor is quite homey. This is the go to spot for breakfast with friends and family.
(4)Sonia L.
Black Bear, oh Black Bear. This is the spot... and I just gotta say: SWEET CREAM PANCAKES. Hits the spot every time. My mouth salivates at the thought of these bad boys being served up to me. When I go I opt for the addition of blueberries (obviously this is to get my nutrient intake up and get those antioxidants in because I'm health conscious like that.), but I'm sure if you're feeling particularly naughty go for some chocolate chips on dat bad boy. These pancakes are HUGE. I mean all their portion sizes are huge. They are not your normal pancakes, they're so fluffy and indulgent and so bad but so good and so just yes. Alright, I'm done... just get these & thank me later. My friends got the club, french toast, and some corned beef hash, and a side of hash browns were involved. All us ladies were pleased with our food & stuffed beyond belief. Needless to say, you're gonna need a takeaway container unless you've starved yourself prior to your BB experience. The coffee however is not my favorite and they don't let you order off the kid's menu, even if you're truly 12 at heart. :( Oh yeah, and they have a healthy section for those trying to get grub without the self hatred afterwards... but seriously, just get the pancakes and pretend like it's broccoli or something because they are dizzzamn good.
(5)David S.
Food was cold and gross. Service sucked too. We would have sent our food back if the girl had checked on us but didn't until she brought the check. Very disappointing!
(1)Melssie S.
Black Bear never disappoints, and how can you say no to a place that serves breakfast ALL day, and actual good breakfast?! and besides that, their lunch and dinner and is amazing too. You get what you pay for 100% here because of their huge portions. Usually at other places with big portions I wouldn't be able to finish and get a to-go box, but here that's never happened. Why? Because it's SO good that you just eat it all, no matter what. I can't explain how great the food is here. and you obviously leave even happier knowing you got a great meal and paid what it was worth. I love their breakfast the most, and order it even at dinner because I just have to. but their burgers are savory and delicious, too. And if you want a salad, they have salads too, and guess what? their salads are also in big portions. I'd rather come here and get a huge amazing salad filled with berries and nuts and what not then go somewhere else for the exact same price of a salad except it being so small that I probably could've picked up a few leaves and chewed on them and it be the same. if you're hungry and want great food this is the place. Especially for brunch. And you cannot go wrong with their breakfast. the benedict is fantastic, and their hashbrowns are a different world of potato goodness. Black bear never disappoints ! so it can't hurt to try.
(5)Paul G.
The food was yummy, the staff was really nice. They were crowded, because it was a holiday, so the food took awhile, but that is to be expected on a holiday. Easy access from the freeway, but the parking lot is a bit crammed. I will definitely be coming back here
(4)Gloria D.
First time there with my fiancé. Great food and place to eat Sunday brunch.
(5)Amanda Z.
Leoine Koposki, one of the workers at Black Bear is so rude!! She was yelling that we were impatient to the cooks just because we asked if we could get a milkshake to go, we were there a total of 20 minutes when they were just standing around. Black bear is usually one of my favorites but after this I don't think I will ever go back. That lady was unnecessarily rude. The management talks badly about their patrons while they are there and don't even care.
(1)Miss D.
We walked in maybe a minute before they closed as I didn't realize it. I thought they closed an hour later. The service was so friendly that I had no idea until I got home and checked. I'm service industry and I hate people who do that! They were so nice and the food was great!
(5)Vedran V.
Out of the several BBDs that I've had a chance visiting, this location in Davis stood out. Not that the food is any different from all the other locations: the menu is absolutely identical. Even the look and feel of the restaurant is the same as, say, Vacaville location. However, what makes it four stars is the level of care and energy that the management and Black Bear staff put in. From the hostess, bussers, and the waiting staff everyone is much nicer than at other Black Bear locations I've been to. The food is what it is and what BBD is known for: huge portions before anything else. Upon last visit I had California Benedict and it was pretty good. Not the best Benedict ever but the size is appropriate for a good appetite and I was full until dinner. On the weekends it gets crazy but the waiting area is large enough and even waiting outside is cool if the day is warm. If you are really hungry early in the morning while in Davis, BBD offers the best bang for the buck.
(4)Hallie C.
Large portions, good food, friendly staff, cute motif. They handled my food allergy well. Pretty decent breakfast! I reccomend the Farmers Scramble.
(4)X. Y.
Last Saturday we were in the area around Davis for a day trip at we decided to try this place for lunch. The place itself is conveniently located in the downtown area of Davis near shops and other restaurants. The inside of the restaurant is nice. It's big, it has a country-style atmosphere and it has many things to eat. At the time we walked it it was about 2PM and the place was bustling with waiters all over the places. Still, we were seated immediately. When we sat we got a menu that looks like a newspaper. The one I got had news from 1965 with Ed White's legendary EVA on the Gemini IV (good times). I really was undecided about what to order and I eventually settled for chicken fried steak. I also ordered tropical ice tea. The chicken was decent. It came with a gravy, it was edible but it was not amazing. I was given the choice of several sides and I chose two eggs, hashbrowns and 4 white triangular toasts. The eggs were standard. You cannot go wrong with them. The hashbrowns were cut differently. They were not thin like you normally see them. They were larger, decent in flavor but in my opinion slightly undercooked so I could taste the raw potato which is not horrible but not exciting to me. The tea was somewhat disappointing. My girlfriend said that they might have brought me regular iced tea. I guess I will never know. I did not have problems parking so if you are a parking freak you should be fine. When you walk out of the restaurant don't forget to get a pie ... they look yummy.
(3)Mandy C.
You certainly can judge a place's food by their quality of coffee. The coffee was nothing great and neither was the food. Pros: Pretty good and friendly service, low cal options for breakfast Cons: A seemingly glamourized Dennys, kinda pricy Would not return, but would not complain if there was no other choice.
(3)Brijesh P.
Last Sunday I woke up craving pancakes. I convinced my roommates to go to Black Bear diner because I heard about how amazing their breakfast food can be. The pancakes did not disappoint. The reason I bestowed 4 stars instead of 5 is because the non-breakfast food is about 3-4 star quality. What to try: Pancakes, Waffles, BISCUITS!!!!!!!!!! The eggs were well made and the potatoes were crispy and delicious. They have a HUGE bear claw and an assortment of pies for sale as well. The menu is like newspaper and when you fold it up they'll take your order. Not much else to say about Black Bear. GREAT place for breakfast but I wouldn't highly recommend it for much else.
(4)Christine S.
if you're looking for munchies, brunchies, or even drunchies, look no further cause Black Bear Diner is the place to be! Located conveniently in downtown Davis, this place is always packed on the weekends. But don't worry, the wait is never long. Once seated in the diner-like restaurant, you can look at a newspaper-like menu and order whatever your heart desires. The meals here are HUGE and the prices are very reasonable. Great service, good food, affordable prices, and just a good dining experience!
(3)Megan M.
I like this place. It's like an IHOP if I HOP weren't gross and had really excellent service. It's located pretty close to campus and is very clean and relaxed in terms of the overall environment.
(3)Brittany L.
Coziest cutest diner ever! And the portions are huge! I'm a huge fan of bears and I'm actually planning to research them in the not too distant future! I have never been to one of these franchises and once I walked in, I'm now a fan! I came here for breakfast and our waitress was extremely friendly and nice. I got an egg dish and that proved enough for me, but next time I'm thinking about getting the bear plate. The ambience is really humble. The music is like the soundtrack to Disneyland's Grizzly Peak and Redwoods Creek. It definitely reminded me of home. Their biscuits are H-U-G-E! I took some back to my dorm to finish the following morning. :) Can't wait to come back and eat! If it's one thing I love about America, it's American breakfasts.
(5)Jacob A.
Came in on our way to SF to grab a quick bite. Hostess was very nice and even took our drink order! Nicole was our waitress and was very attentive. Food came out hot and fast and was very delicious! I judge most lunch places by their Patty Melt and if have to give this one 4.5-5/5! Overall great place for breakfast or lunch!
(5)Ali E.
I havs been in Davis for 2.5 years and this is the worst dining experience I've had here. The waitress was extremely rude to me and my friend. I asked her if there's rice with the steak so she said no. Then i asked if i can order an extra side of rice so she said "I SAID NO RICE". We told the manager so she apologized and said will get us another waitress. Moreover, after eating for like 2 mins the manager came and said "this sauce has pork" although we told that rude waitress that we don't eat pork and double checked with her. We left the food and left. The manager apologized and offered another free meal but we just couldn't stay in that place.
(1)Sarah W.
This was the biggest waste of time, they are completely understaffed which meant we got no service for the first 45 mins of being there. The staff seems preoccupied and uninterested in providing service. After being seated we waited for service for 10 mins and instead of eating ended up leaving in order to save time during our busy day. I witnessed server touching various food with their fingers and rearranging the plates. Overall the experience was enough to never want to return even before tasting the food. The atmosphere is meant for large families and people with plain pallets. This diner is barley a step up from Denny's but not even as good as IHOP. Stay away!
(1)Christian D.
Wow! The portions that they give you are incredible. The first time I came here I ordered The Grizz with a side of French toast...what I got was a mountain of food! It was incredible. I'm a pretty good eater and I couldn't finish it. I will be back!!!
(5)Marylynn T.
I had Bear's Choice with waffles, sausage and scrambled eggs. The waffle was nice and fluffy. So good! The portions are really big too! Its a pretty busy in the morning during breakfast/brunch but not too bad of a wait. I would definitely come back.
(4)Paul B.
Bad hard boiled eggs, but I won't hold it against them too much at 6 in the morning (tho I probably should, I'm mainly in here for the coffee tho).
(3)Rik N.
Our server Doreen was amazing! I noticed that my favorite dish (Tri Tip scramble) was no longer available. Doreen, upon advising me that my dish was no longer on the menu, checked with cook Keen who said he'd make it for me anyway. That, to me, is the kind of great service you can expect at any Black Bear Diner. Of course the fresh squeezed orange juice, huge biscuits, and any entree you can imagine are good. It's like the home style cooking of grandma! But the customer service, the extra step that the staff takes to ensure a good visit is what prompted this review. If you visit, make sure to ask for Doreen!
(5)Kosmo Z.
I come here whenever I crave for hash brown. This location has alright customer service and standard diner food. I'd come back in the future if I'm in the area and want some hash brown.
(3)Sunshine S.
I had the Bacon Cheeseburger Salad from Black Bear Diner in Davis for lunch today and it was yummy! I would've given them 4 stars except when I opened my box they didn't give me any Ranch dressing...luckily we had some Italian in the fridge. It's basically their bacon cheeseburger without the bread and everything tasted fresh. The hamburger patty was chopped up on a bed of mixed lettuce, with onion, pickles, tomatoes, and bacon sprinkled on top. Portion size was huge so you definitely won't go hungry afterwards. Now I'm trying real hard not to fall asleep on a food coma.
(3)Evelynn C.
Oh Black Bear.. You could have been a 4-star ): I went to breakfast with my housemates yesterday and ordered the Godfather Omelette, egg whites only. My housemates ordered California Benedict and Fried Steak and Eggs. Our orders came out together but my order was completely wrong! I was served the California Omelette, yolk included. I wanted meat with my eggs, hence why I ordered the Godfather Omelette... The California Omelette didn't have meat, but had mushrooms - I don't like mushrooms... I didn't want to be difficult, so I said it was okay... But I was thoroughly disappointed that I got a meatless, mushroom-filled California Omelette instead of the GODFATHER (what an awesome name..) Omelette ): The waitress was friendly, but she was really slow and inattentive after she gave us our check. We ran out of water some time after she gave us our check and she didn't come back and ask if we needed anything else. We waited nearly 10 minutes before ANOTHER waitress came over and asked if we needed boxes. Oh, and she gave us the wrong check.... Overall the food tasted pretty good, portions are huuuge. I had enough leftovers for another meal lol.
(3)Jenny Q.
Oh, Black Bear. I had such a love/hate relationship with this place since I would come here STARVING after my long morning swims and devour an omelette or some French toast...and then the indigestion would hit! I would not have the ability to finish even half a portion here if I did not just work out immediately before. It's basically one of the only breakfast spots in town & takes Aggie cash too (UCD students holla?!), so go ahead & load up on some carbs! For breakfast food I would give it a 4 but the regular food is just atrocious. Chicken fried steak? Kill me now. Same goes for their monstrous but underwhelming/soggy burgers. I'll stick to BBD for brekkie when I'm ravenous.
(3)Grace C.
I always have random black bear cravings!! After leaving Davis I had genuinely been missing this restaurant and finally got to revisit this past weekend. Still good as ever. As others have mentioned, the big foot chicken fried steak is totally worth every penny. It is 11.99 and for me personally, it accounts for two meals. You have so many choices of sides as well from fruits, hash brown, eggs, etc etc. The service is amazing too. Everyone is always helpful, cheerful, and smiling. At the end you can also pay individually at the counter so there's no hassle if you want to split the check!
(5)Drew O.
Large portions, fresh and delicious. I like the family friendly atmosphere and painting on the walls. The servers make you feel right at home and the food comes out fast. Very close to UCD. Parking is at a premium in this area, there is parking behind the restaurant. A great place.
(4)Chris M.
I had breakfast at Black Bear diner this morning and regret it. With the exception of huge portions, I don't much like what they're serving up. The hash browns were so hard on the outside that I almost chipped a tooth yet uncooked on the inside. It's hard to screw up breakfast food, but Black Bear seems to be able to do it. Plus everything there is way overpriced for what it is. Save some money & hit a Denny's or IHOP or other national chain. Better yet, find a locally owned diner.
(2)The Bottomless Pi T.
This was my first visit to a Black Bear Diner. I had brunch with a friend, who the server recognized immediately. She was very friendly, attentive, and even tried guessing what my friend would order. I had the California omelet, which was what she guessed my friend would have. The omelet was excellent, nice fluffy eggs. Much better than I can make at home. The hash browns were crispy and hot, I hate it when they cool and get mushy. The biscuit was huge and delicious, they must be made daily. It didn't taste like it was bought from a vendor. As others have said, portion size is huge compared to the price. A wonderful experience!
(5)Diane M.
Great service and the breakfast was delicious . I had a " little portion " breakfast and filled up! Fresh and tasty . Terrific pancakes and bear claws the size of your two hands!
(5)Tomas S.
Great diner in Davis! Perfect on the way home from Tahoe. Fast service, great service, pleasant atmosphere. I got the California burger (avocado) for dinner and will surely be back!!
(5)Li S.
I would want to give 4 and a half star. I like the environment and black bear is cute. I like steak here than apple bee. Since we have more selection, not only just sirloin. The tastes is more favorable. I've been there for four or five times, and first four visits are great. However, the last visit I was not satisfied. The steak that I ordered was median, but it came like fully cooked! Since it was over cooked, not that juicy anymore, and it was very hard to chew.
(4)Nancy K.
This is definitely my go-to breakfast place in Davis. Black Bear Diner is affordable, pretty good quality, and generous with their portions. My two favorite items to get here are the country fried steak and the blueberry pancakes. I love how everything made here actually tastes like it was made here. As opposed to Denny's that tastes like everything was frozen and then reheated. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of black bear's food when it comes to breakfast. Lunch was not too bad too. These four stars are mostly just for the breakfast though. Service is really good here too. The workers are always incredibly friendly and prompt. ** I would skip getting dinner here though or at least skip the steak... One time I got steak here (it was obviously not the best quality of meat), so getting it medium rare was a bad idea because it ended up giving me major stomach problems. This has never happened to me with any of the breakfast items.
(4)Kevin L.
Big portions. Very good comfort food breakfast lunch and dinner. I would go here all the time but was on a students budget. Very nice to have traditional breakfast here though.
(4)Keisha K.
I love the portion size relative to their prices food is always great and no long wait. I love the volcano breakfast .
(5)Heidi R.
I love having breakfast here! Their pancakes are super yummy and the portions are huge! I would recommend paying $1 more and getting the whole grain granola pancakes. They are so nutty and good! I've been to many black bears in California and never have had bad service. There always seems to be a line out the door, but I've never actually had to wait for than 20 minutes which is awesome!
(4)Greg V.
Well I ordered the tex mex burger to go. Start eating it then decided to look at the patty. The patty is definitely a frozen Turkey patty and I didn't notice any grill or cooking marks so it looked like they microwaved a turkey patty to put on this burger. Very bland taste to much mayonnaise and some soggy frys to go with it. I don't see how they can charge so much for a really bad turkey burger or why they don't use ground turkey.
(1)Tiffany D.
Vanilla ice cream over fresh, warm brownie topped with fudge syrup is Oh M Gee DELISH! Entree portions are huge! Servers at this franchise restaurant are attentive and nice!
(3)Chris N.
Overpriced and pretty subpar food
(1)Alec E.
I did not enjoy my food here. The fruit was not fresh at all and the potatoes weren't that great. 11/10 would not come back.
(1)Andrew L.
I've been to a few Black Bear diners, but maybe I was asking too much. We went here because Delta of Venus, my all-time breakfast favorite, was closed. I ordered a chorizo scramble. Didn't even come close to anything they serve at DoV. Service was OK, but the food was way too expensive for the highly mediocre quality. Stick to lunches at Black Bear.
(2)Destiny L.
Standard American restaurant, don't expect anything more. I would've given them 5 stars had I not have had terrible service for the first time in my life. Shane is a terrible waiter, and if you get him ask for someone else because I surely will if I ever go again. When we arrived it was about 7pm, parking was a little tight but that's Davis for you. It smells like bacon when you come in and the wait staff is a little unorganized when it comes to seating people. They gave us what looks to be a newspaper but is actually your menu and then I saw my waiter for the first time of four that night. He asked us if we were ready to order and when my boyfriend asked where the menu you was he simply opened the newspaper and asked us what we want to drink instead. When he brought back drinks we were ready to order. I got fried shrimp, they give you six and a huge portion of fries. The shrimp were over battered and small, I couldn't even taste them over the grease and bread crumbs. My boyfriend not the bacon stuffed chicken, be warned its chopped up bacon and broccoli with some cream stuff inside. Huge portions. I wanted desert but my waiter just brought me the check and so I decided to take my ice-cream and pot pie wanting business elsewhere. Our service was so bad that another waitress in the area had to refill our drinks. Everyone around us had great service and so that is why I recommend asking for another waiter if you get Shane. I honestly don't even know why he's working as a waiter, anyone could do a better job.
(3)Tricia M.
Best pancakes ever! What is in them? Crack?! I have no idea but they taste amazing. Nice breakfast-all-day spot and plenty of parking.
(4)JE B.
Originally posted 11/24/13. 3" Brown 'Grasshopper' in a Friend's lunch. *gasp* Short story: I WILL NOT eat here anytime soon. Make that SIX of us. Long story: This afternoon six of us - with me being the only male- stopped in. It was packed, so we had to wait outside about 15 minutes. I wasn't hungry but tagged along anyway. The wait staff seated us in a booth in the rear. One of the ladies, wanting only one pancake, graciously offered some pancakes, so I took the mantle. Thinking I'd leave before they, I thought to pay for her pancakes BEFORE I'd leave. So I secretly told the waitress that I wanted to pay for the pancakes. She then left. The waitress brought a tab out for me. So as not to attract any attention, I waited until I got to the counter. I gave the cashier the bill. She rang it up and said '$21.00'. I was surprised....shocked more the word. On the spot, I swiped my card, rationalizing 'Good Samaritan', but deep down I supposed I didn't make it clear to the waitress. I must have felt numbed by that tab. I said to our waitress standing by that I was paying Only for the pancakes. So the cashier swiped my card again and explained that two charges will show up first, but the pancake charge will remain. Well, not exactly. :( I finally got to check my statement Sunday night. Black Bear charged me for for the Pancakes AND the other orders that one friend ordered PLUS the pancakes again! So I paid $29.50 for pancakes ($8) I took one bite out of before I lost my appetite, AND two orders of food that NOBODY ate. To find out why nobody ate, one need only read further...or just read the top line of this review. I called them on early Monday morning (25th). The M.o.D. instructed me to see George later this week about this. general I still have my receipts so am going to see about getting my refund. Anyway, let's get back to the review. *Update 11/26: I just checked again and both of the charges are still pending on my card. :( Next, the ladies all ordered and I just asked for water. Twenty to thirty minutes later, the wait staff, who was okay, served us the food. I took ONE bite of the pancakes when suddenly our red-headed friend (who ordered something resembling beef tips) exclaimed, "OH MY GOD", and cringed. Her face was redder than a old-fashioned fire hydrant! Suddenly ALL of the girls at the table SAW it all. Mind you, I couldn't see it from where I sat. But THEY ALL DID, and that was ENOUGH for me. *GASP* "IT's THE SIZE OF A HUMAN THUMB!!" The tables around us looked at us, and some onlookers caught a glimpse of the thing. It LOOKED LIKE A GIANT COCKROACH. The booth cleared to let our friend out to get some air. I immediately lost my appetite and followed our friend out. Another of the ladies went to the manager and told him what happened! Another of the girls 'phoned a friend', but not for a tip to win $1,000,000 or a lunch... NO. She phoned that friend to tell her that we saw a cockroach in our friend's lunch, so they might not LOSE their lunch. She did this in the reservation room. When she did, half of the people who overheard her over there got up and walked out behind us. I've eaten here 3 times in the past, and those times were pleasant. Something's got to be really amiss in QA on the front line. How could something so BIG escape the eyes of cooks? The manager cleared us of the meal charge and we all left THOROUGHLY DISGUSTED. This is no offense to the staff there.The waiter and cashier were easygoing. But..... I have no plans to return there to eat anytime soon. We went to Mishka's after, and even there, the girls ate NOTHING. Right when it happened, the thought occurred to suggest that a girl take a picture of the offensive bugger, but I knew all the gals were already WEIRDED OUT. *Update*: 11/28/13: Returned to the restaurant on Thanksgiving Day for my refund. As promised, the manager was present. He was very agreeable. I presented my receipt and card, he gladly refunded me. Then he hopped back to work (they're open every day of the year). I'm bumping the rating up to a 3. The service the day on the 24th earned a 1, but the manager and staff get a 5 for a courteous and prompt resolution to my refund on my return.
(3)Eric F.
A solid go-to diner for dependable traditional American breakfast/brunch. It's a very popular spot in Davis with a constant flow of students and families with growling stomachs. Amongst us, we had some steak & eggs, corned beef hash and the Acapulco scramble. The corned beef had great savory flavor with some mild spice, though pretty one note on the whole. My scramble was a fine mix of chicken, cheese, veggies and avocado mixed into the eggs - didn't expect much from one of the "healthier" options and it got the job done. Service was decent and I did enjoy some of the little touches like having the menus printed in newspaper.
(3)Eman A.
Came here because Delta of Venus was closed. The diner has a very small-town, homey feel. There's nothing modern about it. Ordered the fiesta scramble and the 7 grain granola nut cakes to share. Scramble was ok but pancakes were pretty good. Waitress was nice and the potatoes are delicious. Does the job if you're just looking for a big portion, of basic comfort food.
(3)John L.
Got the pot roast. It was dry and bland. The mashed potatoes helped but could not redeem the main dish. Don't get it. You can make a better one at home.
(3)Tiffany N.
I went here for the first time a few months ago and I'm actually surprised I never took the time out to try this place before. I went for breakfast with another person and one plate between the two of us was more than enough food. The portions are HUGE. You know the place is doing something right if the plate is the size of your head and it's pretty much completely filled. We ordered an omelet and a side of biscuits and I could've been satisfied off the biscuits alone. I'm not a huge fan of gravy, but Black Bear made me a true fan. It's a bit more expensive than other breakfast joints but I feel like it's worth it considering the size of your portions.
(4)Angela D.
The best place when I have breakfast food cravings. And the portions are huge! My favorites are the hash browns and omelettes, which are delicious. Also the french toast is so yummy and sweet. Plus every time I've gone the staff has been so friendly and always makes sure you have everything you need. Definitely a go-to place for breakfast or brunch!
(4)Mark G.
Food was OK (larger than average portion size), but service was poor. General area around tables seemed a little dirty, but we were there near closing. Might try a breakfast here, but dinner was nothing special.
(2)Melissa F.
Always seem to stagger in here half alive and hungover, but it's perfect for a morning after breakfast or lunch. They give you so much food and the prices are on point. Everything from breakfast to lunch is so bomb. Love black bear!
(5)Cindy M.
Call me dumb, but I never thought that Black Bear was a chain restaurant...but surprise! They are. (Food) The portions of their food is always huge, no matter what you order. So the price you have to pay for it is very reasonable considering everything. I've always been super happy with what I've ordered and everything is very comfort food like, so if you want a "home cooked meal" without actually cooking yourself, then this would be a good place for you to try out--plus you can order breakfast/dinner whenever you'd like. Get this, their ranch has bacon in it...nuf said! (Service) I've always gotten good service here, even when they're really busy. Generally when places get busy, they forget your table maybe or check up on you less than you'd like, but not here. They check up on your table a decent amount, probably following their whole theme of being a "bear family" or whatever their theme is. (Overall) This is not a place you want to go if you're watching your weight, I can honestly say you'll gain weight by reading their menu and seeing how many calories are in their dessert...I stand by the fact that this is a "real" diner because all their food is "comfort food" (I.E.: Mac and cheese, Ribs and mashed potatoes, eggs, etc.)
(4)Megan H.
I have visited this location 3 times. Each time, I had a great meal. Location- There's some parking behind the restaurant, but street parking is impossible. Service- Pretty good. The servers are very friendly and upbeat. They check on you frequently and have always gotten my order correct. Quality of food- stars. My boyfriend was not happy w/ his fried chicken (he said it tasted just like KFC, but more expensive), but I've always been satisfied. The onion rings are fantastic. I always get the two egg combo, which is typically enough to fill two of me, with a side of linked sausage (which are SO GOOD!). The iced tea is better than average as well. They have a fresh OJ machine that is full of fresh oranges. The eggs are made just how I like them, over-easy. The wheat toast is good. Fruit selection is also good. I ordered a chocolate shake the last time I was there and it was a 5/5. Price- More than I'd like to spend, but not too shabby. Wait time- Expect to typically have to wait 15-20 minutes. They're always pretty packed. The only thing I don't like is the fact that the menus are printed like newspapers and thrown out far too often. It's a waste.
(4)Sara S.
The portions are huge, and the service was great. It's pretty basic, classic diner food, but it's well done and everyone there is super friendly and nice.
(4)Abe M.
When I first came to Davis, I saw BBD and thought to myself "yeah I will probably never eat here." I thought it was one of those Denny's/Ihop wannabees that serve greasy American food. However, I was presently surprised one night when I felt like being a fatty and pigging out. BBD is a pretty decent diner with some interesting menu choices. I ordered the Dinner Combo and it was a stupid amount of food. Most of it lacked much flavor, but kinda of what you would expect from a diner. I have also came here for breakfast, and I can vouch for their blueberry pancakes (kind of hard to screw that up) All in all, give BBD a chance, it may surprise you!
(3)William L.
Delicious brunch! Recommend the omelets and instead of toast ask for pancakes :)
(5)Mimi C.
Cosy diner ~25 min wait when I came during UCD's move-in weekend, so it was packed! They specialize in comfort food, with generous portions so each big plate is enough for two people. Doesn't that make you feel better already? This is where I would want to be on a chilly day (with light sweater because of the vent above the table). Prices are around 10~14$ for the bigger plates, and ~8$ for the smaller combos which do not come with sides. What I tried: 1. Meatloaf (ok taste, rather have Cheesecake Factory's) mashed potatoes (always comforting) brocolli cream soup (nice) 2. Eggs Benedict Combo (the one with spinach, avocado, bacon. nice) red potato side (ok) Fruit bowl (small bowl. fresher honeydew at least) 3. Chicago Burger (interesting... ok) The food is passable, portion size is fantastic, and the atmosphere was very nice. I am rating this on the experience I had here. What I really want to try next time: Chicken Fried Steak smothered with country gravy + biscuits Beef Hash(?) Papa Bear and Sugar Bear paid attention to detail. Check out the sauces ;) Can you take a 'newspaper' out with you? It would be nice as a momento.
(4)Jen W.
Wow. Soooooooooo slow... I'm a super frequent diner at black bear diner locations across NorCal and Reno. This was my first time at the Davis location and it was horrible!!! The service was slower than molasses...our server kept telling us she would bring us more coffee...she must've told us that at least 5 times before she brought it. I didn't even ask for napkins...I understand that she was trying to anticipate our needs...but she kept repeating it over and over again and ended up bringing us one napkin? So confused. Our food took 30+ minutes. How do i know this? I checked when I checked in to the place. The table next to us ordered, ate, and received their check before we got our food. I asked for medium for my burger...it came out well done. I saw the guy take my burger to the back area and grab a bunch of lettuce and tomatoes onto my plate with his hands. I have no clue when he washed his hands and he was previously helping out bussing tables. Wifey ordered her eggs over medium...they came out extremely runny with the egg whites still raw. It was just bad all around...I'll never come back to this location again. What a shame.
(2)Cathy S.
I love eating here whenever I'm in davis! They have bacon ranch which is delicious! It's always cold in there so bring a sweater, you can't go wrong with the eggs Benedict, California club sandwich or the fried chicken
(5)Alexandra G.
I love this place! When I was living in the dorms my parents would take me here and I could always expect an awesome breakfast. Nice homey atmosphere and great prices on everything. Service is good and they're very friendly. They're breakfast menu is the bomb and they have a variety of different sizes of breakfasts. I'm a huge fan of the homemade sausage patty and they're open to substitutions (I typically like to get hash browns and fruit as my sides which isn't really available on the menu). The Black Bear Diner is worth a shot!
(4)Michelle R.
The breakfast was filling but didn't make me feel like vomitting which is always positive. It was such a huge portion and regular size is a small.lol I definitely couldn't get enough of the homemade hash browns, absolutely delicious. We also bought a few pies and donated money since it was all for a good cause. Now the pies, ordered an apple, chocolate, and pumpkin something maybe pecan (sold during holidays only). I expected the pies to be great, but really the pumpkin was very dry, and the crust was so hard. The food is wonderful, but I had to take a star off for the disappointment when it came to the pies, I wasn't happy with that especially since I waited all day to try it.....you guys let me down. Definitely recommend for breakfast everything was wonderful and well worth it, also please tip your waitress saw some college students give her nothing, so I made up for it by giving her a bigger tip, since she was working her butt off. I am also a college student and work, but when someone is a good waitress, which is rare, I always tip well.
(4)Riki N.
3.5 stars rounded up, and it certainly feels unnatural clicking a 4-star for this. A friend of ours was visiting from back home and it's a bit of a tradition with us to hit the most average, uninspiring, normal diner in town. For nothing but the novelty of going to a diner, we seek average American food at average prices served by an average wait staff. Black Bear Diner is a chain that I've never been to, and I was fully expecting a perfectly 3-star experience. It could be because the expectations were set low, but we got more out of it than just a 3-star experience, to our collective surprise. The first thing you'll notice is the stupid, corny decor in the diner. It's made to look like a bit of a "wild west" diner with a lot of wooden fixtures that would make you feel a bit like you were in Tahoe if it weren't for the incredible amount of ridiculous bear paraphernalia. Seriously, it's silly to the point of ridiculous and I can't help but wish they'd have toned it down like 200%. The host behind the counter (George I believe) was an energetic fellow with a warm, joking attitude and a genuine way about him. After a 20 minute wait we were seated and our waitress (Carissa I believe) started off mostly by averaging us to our expectations. We looked in our kitsch-as-can-be newspaper menus and all decided on some form of the chicken-fried steak breakfast with 2 eggs, toast or a biscuit, hash browns, and gravy. At $9.99 we figured it sounded good enough. The portions were huge, so much so that none of us (even my ravenous roommate) could comfortably clear our plates. Our waitress did pop one of my roommate's eggs, but she brought him out 2 more (unpopped) at no extra charge. Not bad. The food was - drumroll please - surprisingly good. Everything tasted above-average in texture, temperature, quality and taste, and we couldn't stop commenting on it. The bottom line is we'd come back - but my roommate says don't get the chicken pot pie as he once did, because it was significantly more forgettable than the chicken-fried steak dish we all enjoyed. At $9.99 I can't say I've had a better breakfast in my life, and to say that about a goofy chain diner makes me feel like some sort of traitor. Oh well, we'll be back anyway, Black Bear. We will be back.
(4)Renee L.
Love the smell of bacon upon entering for breakfast on weekends. The breakfast menu is quite standard for an American diner. Prices seem a bit high, most items will set you back $10 for breakfast, but the large portions more than make up for it. The hash browns are great!
(3)Teresa P.
My husband and I are moving back to the East Coast so when it was time to say goodbye to family we decided to meet at Black Bear in Davis since it will be my last time. Now i love the Black Bear in Milpitas so i thought they would all be the same. I WAS SO WRONG. The staff didn't acknowledge us and when they did the totally for all the drink orders wrong. I always get the hot turkey sandwich and this one was awful. The turkey was dry and tough and the bread was stale. I ate maybe 5 bites but was sick all night. I wonder if the gravy covered up mold on the bread. I was so disappointed and it is sad that this is my last memory of Black Bear. If you can visit the one in Milpitas, CA they are fabulous. Davis go there and take some notes!!!
(1)Rebecca F.
I've been here for both breakfast and dinner and have to say that this is a very good breakfast spot, but not so great for other meals. Portions are MASSIVE. It tries to ne home comfort food in a restaurant, and I think they achieve that with the breakfast options. The dishes for dinner meals seem like they aren't made from scratch, and are just okay...big, but okay. Think stove top stuffing instead of fresh homemade stuff (just as an example, not saying they do this). If you love bears (GREAT bear decor here... and stuff to buy!) and breakfast, this is THE place for you to go ;)
(3)Kaycee S.
My boyfriend and I came in and were immediately seated. We were seated near the kitchen. Our server, Doreen, was perfectly nice and kept telling us to "live it up". After we ordered, I noticed that a waitress was making a salad with her bare hands when she was interrupted by someone who she proceeded to hug and touch his arm and pat his back. After he left, she resumed grabbing lettuce leaves and shredded carrots with her unwashed hands. Needless to say I lost my appetite a little. Our food came out and the meats were slightly dry. Besides that, the food was decent and the servings were generous. I took away two stars for the unhygienic way of handling the food.
(3)Emily C.
Okay. I don't know why. I have given this place SOOO many chances, and after each visit I want to throw up immediately after. It's so weird, I have a feeling it's the syrup or something but the gigantic portions don't help. I get so nauseous afterwards and I have no desire to do anything else but crumple into a corner and wait for it to pass. I hate that this is one of the few group-friendly brunch places in Davis (and heck no I am not going to that god-awful IHOP on Cowell) because it does not sit well with me. Normally I got the breakfast foods (pancakes, eggs, hashbrown, etc.) Blehhhh so disappointing especially when I just want some good old fashioned American breakfast. My friends love this place (they usually get the T-bone steak) though so maybe it's different for everyone. I'd seriously recommend going to Crepeville over this. Sorry BB.
(1)Jocelyn J.
This place isn't good, it's delicious! Our friends had suggested this place so we gave it a try coming back from a baseball tournament in North Highlands. After a long wait (this place gets crowded) we were finally seated. Greeted by an old timer who had obviously been working there for years who was flirting up a storm (it was cute). She offered great suggestions for what we were looking for and so we ordered. What appeared in front of me a little while later was what I soon described as heavenly. I ordered the Farmer's Scrabble which was noted to be a fresh vegetable omelet. Oh, it was so much more than that. I was expecting a little spinach, some tomato, a little onion...but what I got was much much better. Big pieces of zucchini, what you could tell was fresh spinach, the cheese was melted to perfection. I was so happy I devoured that thing like it was going out of style. This isn't a greasy diner like I was expecting. Wish they had a Black Bear near home....loved it so much maybe I will open one! ;)
(4)Sonnia K.
Went here for the first time last Saturday night for dinner after a fun UCD Homecoming football game. This is one of those classic diners with comfort food. Definitely better than Denny's. It's a cute place with a very rustic and conservative interior decor. The dishes they serve have huge sizes. To-go boxes are definitely needed. I got my favorite New York Steak. I was curious to try their Linguica Beans with it but never liked it. Their Mashed Potatoes with Gravy needed more gravy. I honestly preferred the Bold and Spicy A1 sauce over their Black Bear Steak Sauce. My heart-husband had their giant Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs. It was huge! The atmosphere was relaxing and our server was very upbeat and attentive. I think I lost one of my silver/blue cross earrings there but I discovered it when I went back our hotel. Oh well. I could always buy a new pair. LOL Comparing this place to Country Way in Fremont, I'd say I still like Country Way since it's closer to home, but wouldn't say no to coming back to a Black Bear Diner. I'd surely want to try their other stuff.
(4)Savannah S.
A little more expensive than Denny's, but exceptionally better. This is pretty quality diner food, not to mention monstrous portions! I've been here a few times with various people and along with my own food have tried bites of theirs. I haven't been too disappointed. One of the reasons I docked a star is because I've ordered my eggs over medium a few times and they've been either over or under-cooked every time. Another is because the place feels somewhat crowded, claustrophobic.
(3)Erica Y.
First time :) good service and good food, but price is a little bit fancy. But it was good :)
(4)Amy T.
This place definitely gives big portions! Though it could be a bit pricey but I always have some leftovers in the end. The times I have came here I had to wait a long time to be seated. The service here is really good; people are friendly. I love their clam chowder soup of the day and their cornbread. I have had their Chicken Fried Steak and it was pretty good and big! I've also had one of their sandwiches and it was decent; nothing to fancy. The specials here are usually pretty great so you can never go wrong with that!
(4)Rebecca T.
I didn't know this was a chain restaurant. I came here for my first time.. The food was okay, typical American food. The portions are really huge and generous. The thing that made it 2 stars was the terrible service. Our waiter was bad. I did try to have patience because he was waiting on a huge party as well. But even so, he never came by to check on us. Another waiter had to refill our water. We asked for water once, they said ok, and never came back.. Had to ask again. Not to mention that the wait for the food was very long. Even the cashiers weren't very pleasant. We had 2 different cashiers and it was a long process. They weren't very attentive to us and were acting very distracted. Not sure if I would come here again.
(2)Kristie F.
OMG WHY DID IT TAKE FOR ME TO FINALLY EAT AT THIS PLACE DURING MY LAST QUARTER AS AN UNDERGRAD!!!!!!!....... at least there's one in sac ;) LOL Definitely an upgrade from Denny's/IHOP! Prices were average, but portions were huge. Holy moly, those biscuits! O____ O There was a short wait on a Sunday afternoon. Parking is also difficult because the lot is kinda small and squishy. Some people were doing tandem parking and it made it even more confusing where to park! There was also a wait before our food came out, but it was okay, well worth it! At the end of the bill, we were also able to pay our bill individually (so plus for groups!) We will meet again... black bear diner... after I do some exercising~
(5)Moe C.
This place by far is one of the best breakfast joints in Davis. Every time i come here the staff is always polite. I recently had there Denver Omelet add bacon and added some Tabasco sauce on top. It was awesome. I have yet to be disappointed with this place and whenever i am in Davis looking for breakfast this place has become my default staple. Other dishes i have tried are Shasta Scramble* - Avocado, spinach, tomato, onion, bell pepper & jack cheese. Vegetarian Omelet* - ,onion, tomato, bell pepper, spinach & jack cheese..plus bacon I love me some omelette's from this place.
(4)Jen T.
Sweet Cream Pancakes!!!!! Freshly Squeezed OJ! 4 bucks for a cup..could buy Simply Orange 2 for 5 bucks at Safeway. Portions were very generous. Can feed a family of 3, maybe 4? You have tons and tons of options! still love IHOP, but Black Bear is DEFINITELY worth trying!
(4)Mr. R.
Before I left Davis back to San Diego this morning, I had breakfast and it was very good and so was the service. I especially like the way one of the waitresses that sounds like Betty Boop came around and asking if I'd like some more coffee cause I really enjoy my cup of Joe. She has a beautiful voice and I'm gonna send her some flowers:)
(4)David C.
I generally like Black Bear Diner, but it is either hit or miss. Breakfast is always good, and you cannot go wrong with the Grizz or the chicken fried steak. The Grizz gives you one of every breakfast animal. You get your bacon, ham, sausage, and eggs. If you're still hungry you still have to finish your hash browns and pancakes (which can be substituted with a biscuit or waffle, maybe toast?) As you move farther away from breakfast things seem to drift away from delicious. Their sandwiches/burgers are good, but depending on the cook, it can be dry. Yesterday I tried their Fried Shrimp Dinner. I wasn't in the mood for breakfast, so I thought I would pick something from their Big Bear Dinner selection. I don't think that is what it is called, but they told me I would be given Big Bear Portions for a value. I figured I would get at least 8-10 shrimp, but when my meal came out, I had 6 pieces. I was a little shocked because I was hardly able to see them as they got lost in my fries. They did mention that there was a new chef that was being changed, so I am sure that played some role in how our food tasted. The service is decent, however I was given the wrong order once. Last night, they lost our order completely and had to take it down again. If you want a good breakfast place with big portions, go to Black Bear. If you want an American lunch or dinner, its definitely an option, just less consistent.
(3)Julianne S.
I'm from the East Coast and we don't have these there. But...it's the same thing as IHOP, no? Food was OK...I'm sure it's good for hangovers, maybe?
(2)John C.
This place always fills me up. I really enjoy eating here, and it is a "go-to-place" if you're in Davis. It is a chain, but it's still good nonetheless. The portions are huge, and I believe that it is worth every penny. They have a lot of items on the menu, so you can always find something that you want to eat. The quality of the food is good, it's better than your average diner.
(4)Erick M.
We love this place. We are officially fans ! We've dined here 3 times before i decided to write this review. The food is delicious, great service and great atmosphere. Our server was very attentive even though the place was packed. The desserts are great as well. We had a great experience all 3 times. I could go on ad on ad on with the details but less is more at times, try this place, you'll love it.
(5)Steven E.
I have eaten here several times. Large portions. Food is quick and good. Usually quick seating except on weekends. Centrally located in town. Nice family setting.
(5)T C.
The one in Davis is better than the one out here in Sac. IMO we get better service and the food always comes out tasty. Big fans of the biscuit.
(3)Jay R.
Okay, forget IHOP and Denny's. If you want some quality diner food, this is the place. The portions are pretty big and the ingredients are fresh. They have the cool orange squeezing machine which guarantees perfect orange juice. I wish they brought back the steak and eggs combo. I always used to pass by the restaurant and see that sign, thinking it was a daily thing.
(4)Lillian N.
It's basically another version of Denny's to me but the portions are bigger! It's a nice atmosphere and I always enjoy coming here to eat, especially during breakfast times. Customer service is excellent, never have I once experienced a rude staff member or waiter, and I always feel welcomed here.
(4)Marina S.
I've been to BBD hella times (And yeah I just made it an acronym and used hella) and it's consistently good. Breakfast food after a night out or just because there is no where else to go in Davis, BBD is going to be a great choice. My go to is the Chorizo scramble and I mix it up with the waffle or the tortilla but, either way it's bomb.
(4)Amy T.
Black Bear Diner is always on and off for me. Either they are really good that day or really bad. I love how they serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout the day and their portions are always so HUGE! The food isn't that bad, its quite good. I've tried their omelette and their special chicken fried steak. I love their food, but sometimes the server tends to forget little details of how you like your food to be. It is kind of my pet peeve, I guess. So before you go into Black Bear, you prepare yourself with irritated slow service. Even if it seems like its family run, they have a lot of customers throughout the day but they don't seem to mind the slow service. Their food is good when the waiter remembers to bring it to you when its hot. There are times when they forget to bring the food the table and the food actually gets cold and don't taste as good. You kind of have to constantly nag them for refills or more water. Although, they won't give you attitude or anything, its just a hassle you know? This is a great place for some comfort food, but beware of the slow service!
(3)Charles T.
AWW YEAH AWW YEAH! This is an awesome place to eat when you WANT TO DIG IN!!!! I never leave this place hungry, their portion is so big for the value. And the quality of the food is spectacular! Just the other day, I was served by a great Host name Joe, he recommended me the Bob's Burger, and I must say it's the best burger in TOWN!!! In and Out doesn't come close! Thanks JOE! and Thanks for doing the bear pose! If you get service by this guy you gotta ask him to give you the "bear pose"! TO GOOD EATING!
(5)Cathy N.
They have some big ol' portions here! I had the Chicken Fried Steak for breakfast, and could hardly eat half the plate... and I was super hungry! Breakfast is busy, but great. The staff are very friendly and mostly efficient. If I'm ever in the area again, I would love to try another breakfast dish - but maybe something a little smaller!
(4)W. W.
Black Bear Diner of Davis, CA 95616 is a great place to go for a casual sit-down dining experience. The staff of Black Bear Diner really stand out as exceptional. The whole team is quick to provide anything that a customer could desire, and the food is delicious (huge portions and low prices)! Note: No health hazards/violations were noted at this location.
(5)Christine T.
There's something about this place.. It could be the warm country feel, the oversized plates filled with perfection, or the overall zing of the great servers.. you'll walk out of here feeling like crawling back into bed and cuddling the day away. I've gone here so many times hung over, I'm pretty sure I would consider this place a college student's bed and breakfast.. Fat pancakes and amazingly perfectly fried hash browns, I just can't imagine waking up to anything else better! One suggestion: try and go at irregular hours. This place gets packed on weekend breakfast, brunch, and lunch so a typical wait could be ~20minutes.
(4)Erin H.
I've been here several times and it's time to write up a review! My very first time was last year when I came home after my finals at UCSD and my mother took me to Black Bear diner. The fact it was my first time, my impression of the place was the large portions of food they give you, like a hungry lumberjack man. Great ambiance, as if you're in a cabin log with servers serving you with their cute suspenders! I would totally wear my red lumberjack hat to blend in with the theme. The menu printed on newspaper was a nice touch and beats touching greasy marks on laminated menus. Inside the menu, they have an extensive list of breakfast and lunch items. Like Denny's, breakfast is served all day. As I previously mentioned, I wasn't sure how big the portions are exactly, so I started at the "A Little Less/Senior Citizens" section of the menu (don't judge) and later work my way up on my next visits. I ordered the hot beef sandwich and the portion size was tolerable. Flavorful and hearty, I think I can jump up to the big leagues now. I'll jump to my last visit now. My mother and I came back from a two-week vacation in Korea, and because we had absolutely nothing in the fridge to fix up lunch, we came back to BBD. One of the things I missed here while I was overseas was an American breakfast plate (i.e. pancakes, waffles, French toast, omelettes, etc). No joke, I teared a bit when I finally got my order of Bear's choice with pancakes, poached eggs, and ham. Few more tears came out after my first bite of the pancake. Bigger than your head, the pancakes are made from sweet cream batter, which makes you think you're eating cake for breakfast (or lunch, in my case). I didn't use that much syrup, because it's already sweet by itself; in fact, I didn't need the syrup, but my mind was preoccupied from the delicious American breakfast fare. However, their ham was incredibly salty, like I took a bite of spam. The pancakes were so good that I demolished my entire short stack. Didn't even touch my poached eggs, or else my stomach would burst. Best breakfast (for lunch) ever. I think my sodium and sugar levels skyrocketed off the roof after that feast; It's good to be home. :)
(4)Bonnie C.
My friends and I came here in the morning for the steak and eggs special. For less than $10 (I think it was about $7-8), you get a steak, eggs, choice of hash browns or house potatoes, and biscuit or toast- pretty good deal. The waitress helping us was pretty nice too, she helped us move tables when we found out we had a larger party than expected and she helped us split our checks so we could each pay separately. 5 stars for the service. The food- The steak was pretty salty and none of us got our steak cooked the way we wanted. My medium-rare steak was more like medium well. And even worse, my friend ordered her steak medium and got it served well done and burnt!! The house potatoes were also under cooked. The scrambled eggs were all right and the toast was delicious (I LOVE toast!). I guess if you're looking to eat A LOT of food for a SMALL price, this is the place to go. But I'd give the food here a 2 star rating.
(3)Corey P.
My friends and I, 8 total, showed up at 5:30 PM on a Friday, we were seated in about 5 minutes. The service is premiere, friendly, attentive, and understanding. I think everything's priced as expected, nothing is overly expensive. Two of my friends ordered the Bob's Big Bear Burger or something, and it looked pretty big, they said it was pretty good, two of them ordered the B.L.A.S.T. (bacon, lettuce, avocado, Swiss cheese, and tomato) and said it was fine/nothing special. I saw their order of pancakes, they are huge, they give you two, which is probably equal to 4-5 IHOP pancakes, it's RIDICULOUS when you see them. I personally ordered the BBQ Pork Ribs which were TO DIE FOR. It was like biting heaven or something, the meat fell off the bone, melted in my mouth. The sides that came with it, clam chowder, macaroni and cheese, and country potatoes were pretty mediocre; those sides aren't anything I would look forward to. They accomplish the job of filling you up, and all together, it's SO MUCH FOOD. There was also a piece of garlic bread which was tasty. One of my friends got the pot pie and said it was really good, she also got "hot" maple syrup spilled on her accidently by the waitress who immediately got her a wet towel to wipe herself off. Even better, she didn't have to pay for her meal! Come here for the service and TRY THOSE RIBS, everything else may not be that special. What people say is pretty true, the portions are HUGE if you order full meals/dinner items. I want to come back and try their breakfast dishes and omelets and scrambles. I like this place, it was a lot of food, it's not the healthiest food, but it's super hearty. I wouldn't mind returning every now and then. It reminds me of a super friendly IHOP, but it feels less cheap, more family like, and warm. I came back some time later with my dad and my cousin and ordered the ribs again. I was extremely disappointed because I'm guessing due to the heavy customer traffic, they were trying to pump out food faster so the ribs were not nearly as tender, juicy, or fall-off-the-bone. It was actually kind of tough and chewy. Still, I got side orders of onion rings and baked potato, and that made it a little better. Still would recommend to go with friends.
(3)Andrea A.
Had the Chicken Apple Sausage Scramble...yum! And the fruit that came with it was fresh, sweet and ripe. Couldn't have asked for a better breakfast!
(4)Jonathan L.
My friends and I originally wanted to get some Zen Toro, but it turned out that they were closed on Sunday. =(( This is when we headed Black Bear Diner. The thing I really liked about Black Bear Diner is that their theme is heavily prevalent in the restaurant. Right when you walk in , there's a huge ass bear to greet you.and if you looked looked to your left, there will plushies of black bears that you can buy. Even in the bathroom, there's a bear paw telling you to wash your hands. Overall, the theme is nice and with it, comes a nice homey atmosphere. It's really a nice place to eat for a family dinner or something. As for the food, I have to say it was extremely unsatisfying. I ordered a medium rare steak and I actually got a medium rare steak, but there was just something that was left to be desired from the dish. I'm not really sure what. It was probably the flavor because it really didn't leave a strong impression on me. Granted, the whole dish was big, but I just didn't enjoy it. Hell, I enjoyed their corn bread more than the steak to be honest. I don't know. There's something to it... Pros: -Great Customer Service -Homey Atmosphere -Clean -Huge portions of food -Great theme Cons: -The food....it's ...not...mentally filling. =X -Expensive for Mediocre food.
(3)Amy G.
Large portion for small price. A college student's dream. But of course, it is not the best tasting food out there. Just lower your expectations as you lower your credit card debt.
(4)Nathaniel C.
So good and crazy large portions. Wish the OJ was cold, but I'll just ask for ice next time.
(5)Aurora P.
It's SO BIG! (no, it's not a "that's what she said kinda joke") haha. Black Bear Diner really gives BIG BIG portions! Our meal was huge! I got the corn beef hash with eggs and a biscut and potatoes! mmm mmm mm yum, and YES, I ATE IT ALL! sooo good! The service is great, our waiter was very nice, the portions are huge and reasonably priced. The pancakes are also really delicious. The place is decorated like a cabin and has a statue of a giant bear that welcomes you at the front door. The place is really cozy and if you're ever in the mood for breakfast anytime throughout the day, this is the place to be!
(4)Evonne M.
Gigantic portions of American breakfast foods. My boyfriend and I like Black Bear Diner better than iHop and would go to this restaurant when we want a ridiculous amount of food at a reasonable price. The restaurant is equally as large as the portion of food they serve so don't worry about being turned away. There is also a parking lot for customers behind the restaurant for added convenience. Besides being decorated to the finest details with bears, bears, and more bears, my favorite thing in Black Bear is the jukebox that they have near the front of the entrance. Customers are allowed to select and play songs of their liking FREE OF CHARGE. Needless to say, I spend just as much time in front of the jukebox programming playlists as I do wolfing down my bigger-than-life meal. The boyfriend and I were "bear-ious" and ordered non-breakfast food items on their menu once (boyfriend had a steak while I had roast pork). We were disappointed at how salty it turned out so I recommend that you stick to the breakfast foods.
(4)Denny V.
Exterior - On the corner of Second St. Medium size building with wood craving decoration. Couple of bear statues surrounds. They have a parking lot which holds about 10 cars behind the restaurant. Interior - They try and give you this fill as if you just walked into a cabin. Once entering, first thing you see is the host/hostess table and the selection of cold desserts(pies) next to it. To the left is the kitchen and restrooms, while to right are set of tables. I would say this diner could hold about 30 people? They have tables if you prefer sitting in a booth or chairs. Food - Menu is in a newspaper style. There is a sign upon entering of the specials they were offering or you can always ask your waiter/waitress. Pricing was fair and portions were indeed huge. They had variety of foods. Breakfast (served all day), tortilla wraps, meatloaf, steak, soups, burgers, and more. I tried a burger combo which consist of single patty burger served with vegetable in a bun. They automatically make it medium rare, so if you prefer something else you should ask. Served with crisp fries. My girlfriend had the blueberry pancakes and they gave her HUGE i mean HUGE pieces of pancakes (I believe there is a photo of it uploaded so check that out). Wasn't joking about portion. Food was a 3/5. Customer Service - Greeted upon entrance. We came during the last hour so they were starting to wrap things up for the day. This didn't affected us until we were done with our meals and flagged someone down for our receipts.We talked for like 10-15 minutes until they finally brought that to us. I could see many were standing at times and minding their own business. The service here is a 3/5. Not too bad and not too great. Overall - This is a pretty good upgrade from your typical diners of Denny's, IHOPS, and so on. Overall, I recommend giving this joint a try if you are around the area. This place is frequent with locals and UC Davis students. You get a bang for your buck. Meals are $7+ and ensures that you are full or have leftovers. Customer service could be better but it's pretty much the same kind I've experienced in other diners.
(3)Wendy L.
So, Black Bear Diner is a pretty good choice. My parents really like going here when they visit me. The overall aesthetic of BBD is very cozy, old-school diner-esque. They have a wide range of selections so my family can have breakfast, lunch and dinner options all in one meal. What I've tried: country fried steak (decent, but a little greasy), California omelet (MY FAVORITE), rib-eye (decent), and burger (not bad!). The best thing about BBD is their hash browns and BISCUITS! Their biscuits are HUGE!!! Overall, prices are relatively low and portions are gigantic, perfect for a college student.
(3)Ashley B.
Rudest service I've ever had! Been to the Black Bear Diner in Walnut Creek and it was wonderful - there were even little kids in our group and the waitress was very accommodating and helpful. COMPLETELY different atmosphere at this one. A bunch of bratty Davis teens and "young adults" (used lightly) who would rather gossip then help out their customers - even when no one is even in the restaurant. I feel bad I have to say this about a BBD because I really like them as a whole, but they should just fire and rehire their entire staff at this place for how disrespectful they are.
(1)Cherish S.
Didn't have much for the veg head but mashed potatoes and mixed veggies were great. And the homemade bear claw. Yum yum yum
(5)Denise B.
Black Bear Diner is where you go when it's one of those days you just want to stuff yourself silly. At least, that's how I ended up here. If you've gotta get yourself huge portions of breakfast food at a diner with reasonable prices, Black Bear Diner is probably the best option in Davis. Beats going to the IHOP in South Davis, that's for sure. IHOP is just... ick... while at least Black Bear Diner tries. There are a lot of bear decorations inside, and the servers wore suspenders. The bear decorations reminded me of my mother's new timeshare vacation condo. lol. My food wasn't what I'd call incredible or anything, but it was good enough. My pancakes were pretty fluffy, the sausage had good flavor, the eggs were a little runny but not a huge deal. Our service was kind of slow. At least the food wasn't cold when we got it! Better diner places exist, but Black Bear Diner does it the best of a somewhat larger chain that I've tried. As I said earlier, it's the best option in Davis itself for this kind of food.
(3)Tiffany C.
After my boyfriend raved about Black Bear Diner and how excited he was for it to open, we decided to go in for dinner. Very intrigued by the bear statue outside by the front door and the cute sign with the bear on a bicycle (very Davis-esque), we were greeted by an extremely friendly and enthusiastic hostess. We were given their newspaper menu and seated almost immediately. The decor is very cute inside. It makes you feel like you are in the woods, the carpet is green to look grassy and there are things with black bears all over the place. Our waitress came and took our orders. They serve breakfast all day, and make it a point to make their servings very large, bear-large, if you will. Each dinner meal comes with two side orders, and i ordered the meat loaf with sides of macaroni and cheese and sauteed veggies. My boyfriend ordered the two dinner special, and chose tri-tip and ribs with sides of scalloped potatoes and macaroni and cheese. The food came, and... well, the plates were large, but the food? I guess it was kind of big, but I was expecting more. There was a lot of food definitely, but my meat loaf consisted of two rather small pieces. My boyfriend was also a bit disappointed with the amount of tri-tip and ribs he received on his plate. It seemed like the plate was more the side orders and the piece of bread the meal comes with. The food itself was good. The meat loaf was a bit salty, but the veggies and the macaroni and cheese were delicious. The tri-tip was marinated in a tasty sauce and the ribs practically fell off the bone. He also liked how the food came with an extra side of barbeque sauce. The scalloped potatoes were creamy and very good. Time for dessert. Who goes to a diner without getting the pie at the end? Jason and I got an apple cobbler, a la mode. A little turned off by the price, we had to pay an extra dollar for a small scoop of ice cream on top. The scoop of ice cream was smaller than the dollar scoops Baskin Robbins used to have. The cobbler itself was delicious though. Overall, Black Bear Diner was a good experience. The food was good, and although it was a bit costly, definitely a good place to go if you feel like getting woodsy.
(3)Natalia H.
SUPER HUMANGO GINORMOUS XXL PORTIONS. You have been warned.
(4)Jacquelin S.
We decided to try Black Bear for Sunday breakfast. We arrived around 9 a.m. and were seated right away. The menu (very cute, printed on newsprint with articles from Davis in 1955) is extensive. I ordered the vegetarian omelette with the red potatoes, and he ordered the Small Volcano (3 pancakes stacked with 1 egg on top, served with 1 piece of bacon and 1 piece of sausage) The plates were huge and filled. My country red diced potatoes were undercooked. They were better as leftovers- recooked. Omelette so-so, not enough filling. The pancakes are a special recipe "Sweet Cream Pancakes" They were too sweet. He has a big sweet tooth, usually drowns his pancakes in syrup. Luckily he poured just a little on a corner and decided he didn't need any more and still considered them too sweet. Service was a little slow. It was awhile before someone came around to check if we needed more coffee, on the other hand, the mugs are so large we didn't need a refill until the server showed up. Not great food, but for a place for when we feel like going out for Sunday breakfast and read the newspaper, it's OK. Final note on service: A couple of days later my guy was at the athletic club and our server from breakfast was there and recognized him and started chatting. Nice to see they hire local friendly people.
(2)Charla A.
The owner/manager had personally replied to my review, and apologized for the confusion. Turns out, they SHOULD have taken my groupon! Ugh! Goes to show you should never settle for the first "no" you get. Anyway, I still highly recommend this place. I definitely appreciate the personal effort made by the management.
(5)Celena G.
This was a pleasant surprise. We had a larger party and the hostess people were very accommodating with getting us in quickly. We all loved the portions and flavor of everything we got. We also had a very friendly older woman for our server that was great. She was very apologetic with how long it was taking our food to come out which was extremely too long. We got there at 10:00 am and didn't leave until 11:45 am. I would go back but I would mention how long it took to get our food with the hope that it wouldn't happen again.
(4)Van L.
3.5 stars, but I decided to round up. This place has great food with reasonable prices for the portions they give. Whether you are coming for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, you can count on leaving with some embarrassing buttons popping out of them jeans because you will leave full! Their eggs benedict breakfast is super delicious and if you come for dinner, you can't get a better deal than their dinner combos! The deducted stars are for their service. I don't know what it is, but its happened more than a few times when it took forever for them to acknowledge me when I come in or when I come to pay the bill at the end...annoying. BE MORE ATTENTIVE!
(4)Alex W.
I have been here several times now. A few times with my family and friends. I must say, this is the one restaurant that has continued to satisfy me every time and not have me leave in disappointment. Sure sometimes the prime rib doesn't come out as rare as I want it to ... the food still tastes great. I've had the prime rib special (medium rare) with fries (extra crunchy!) and sauteed veggies. I've also had the classic burger and other plates before. The food may have a minor thing that disappoints me - as mentioned: the prime rib not coming out not as rare as I want it to, or the fries not being crunchy, or the sauteed veggies coming out too salty/down-right bland - but I am always content with the food that they serve me. Note: the CORNBREAD! Definitely one of the best I've ever had anywhere. The soup really depends on you. I'm not much of a soup person (clam chowder/broccoli soup/chicken noodle soup), but I would say the soup is okay. The dessert - I've had the strawberry cheesecake, (a type of berry) ice cream, an apricot pie, and others. They were quite tasty. All except for the strawberry cheesecake. The strawberry cheesecake just wasn't to my taste, but that can be different for everybody. On a last note, the staff is very friendly. You can easily engage in small chit-chat with anyone of them and inquire about the specials or ask for recommendations.
(4)Christine M.
Best hangover cure, hands down. Really friendly servers, HUGE greasy portions - perfect for nursing that Sunday morning hangover. Why do people bother going to IHOP?
(5)Karen H.
Generous, generous portions. I got the albacore sandwich with potato salad. The salad was good, but the albacore sandwich was a bit bland... the service was great (barely anyone there at the time we went- around 3pmish) The give HUGE portions at reasonable prices, perfect for hungry and starving college students. Parking may be a bit hard while school is in session (during the weekdays).
(3)Niall M.
We needed a quick bite before the Celtic session at Delta of Venus and it was right there. We went with no expectations. It is a pretty extensive menu and as I had forgotten my glasses I was at a disadvantage. Glasses or no, though, I found the trout meal for $9.99. Judit found the fried shrimp meal for the same price. Where can you get any sort of seafood meal at that price? The trout was delicious, the vegetables beautifully done. Another time I would tell them to skip the gravy on the potatoes. It was not nasty, just not to my taste. Judit was similarly happy with her meal. For us the portions were just right, not huge. I think that is what that part of the menu was about. I do have a gripe with the beer selection but isn't that a running theme in my reviews. When offering only bottled beers why confine your selection to 4 or 5?
(4)Ronald N.
We had breakfast there and it was pretty good. I had a pancake with eggs. The coffee was good and so was the food. I would come back again when I am in Davis.
(4)Keith R.
Have again: Huevos Rancheros Verdes, yes! I saw I'd had this before and had it again. Almost five stars but the cottage potatoes were not quite cooked long enough and the eggs over medium were over hard. But still very good.
(4)Jessica T.
Where do you go after a long night of drinking? Black bear diner of course! The portions are huge! Each platter can sever two or three people, depending on your appetite. :) they do have daily specials ranging from 6-9 dollars. The food here is well worth your money. Highly recommend if you want a sit down breakfast that's an upgrade from Denny's or ihop.
(3)Ice Cream S.
This place has good diner food, better than IHOP or Denny's I'd say. It has a more authentic and homey feeling. It's similar to the OP in Sac. The country fried steak is really good and their omelets are huge! If only they were open 24... Oh, I also don't recommend getting their fresh squeezed orange juice, not so great.
(4)Marilyn W.
Black Bear Diner is okay, but maybe I didn't order the right thing? I literally see this restaurant every 10 mins on the freeway on my way up to Davis. I just decided to try this place out one day for no apparent reason. I wasn't too hungry when I came here, so I just ordered a small plate of biscuit and gravy and sausage. The biscuit was extremely dense, like stuck-to-the-roof-of-my-mouth dense. The gravy was super thick like cool whip thick. The sausage, on the other hand, was pretty tasty. Their menu has a lot to choose from, and their prices are alright.
(2)Ron W.
Farm fresh eggs make this a step above most diners. I ordered a Shasta scramble which had FFE plus pepper, tomato, spinach, onion, and guess what makes it a Shasta scramble? Well, up on the highest peaks of the piles of FFE creation was shreds of white cheese! Imitating snowtop mount Shasta! Brilliant touch. I imagine climbing black bears seeking out porridge in cabins while devouring my Shasta scram. You get hash browns or home fries or fresh fruit and a huge biscuit that unfortunately wasn't very inspiring. My partner had a BBQ chicken salad and was sated as usual. The bill came to $25 out the door and we were out the door in 30 minutes cause we got in right before closing. In respect to the supernice servers, we ate and ran. Honeys need to close up and get off their tired feet.
(4)Brenda L.
The portions here are really big and the decor is cute (with all the bears and all). I had their wheat pancake and it wasn't very tasty but the belgian waffle and the country fried steak was pretty scrumptious!
(3)Tiffany F.
Went here tonight with my boyfriend, and had the best chicken pot pie of my life. The crust was perfectly golden brown and flaky, and the filling was wonderful. Lots of chicken and vegetables, nothing over cooked. It was perfect. My boyfriend got the rib and tri-tip combo. The ribs were fall off the bone perfect and the tri-tip was tender and juicy. Both had a nice smokey flavor, and were perfectly cooked. Our wait staff was attentive and smiling, I really have no complaints! The prices and portions were more than reasonable too. I will be coming back here again, and recommending this place to all of my friends.
(5)J K.
I used to be a strong supporter of Black Bear Diner. The first time I went to Black Bear for dinner, I was blown away by the food, service and portion size. Their food is awesome and you get a LOT for what you pay. After 7 or 8 visits, I decided that their food was pretty tasty overall (the only downside is a couple of their sides). I would gladly have given this place 4 stars and was planning to do so. However, before I got a chance to write my review, I had 1 terribly insulting and bizarre experience. It was a weeknight and my boyfriend and I decided to order dinner to go. We called ahead of time and went to pick it up. When I went up to the register to pay, everything was still fine (or so I thought). I used by debit card and filled out the exact amount of the bill. Upon picking up our food, we noticed that the chocolate milkshake that we ordered wasn't in there yet. No problem, we told the guy who rung us up. He was looking at the receipt that I had just handed him. When we asked him about the milkshake he went toward the drink dispenser behind the register (where there was a half consumed glass of milkshake), turned his back to us and made some kind of drink. When he came back, he handed us one of those small paper coffee cups and walked away. We opened the lid and saw that the cup was half filled with what looked like chocolate milk? This is where we started getting really upset. Did we really pay 4 bucks for half a cup of chocolate milk? We were already in the parking lot but decided to turn around and inquire about our strange beverage. This time we were greeted by a different employee. We told her about our situation. She looked at the cup, gave us a confused look and said "This is all you got?" We said yes and she went to make us a real chocolate milkshake. As she did so, the guy who 'helped' us walked over. They seemed to be talking about something, but we couldn't here any of it. She handed us our shake and said nothing else. I said thank you and she just looked at me. They proceeded to stare at us and talk amongst themselves as we left. My ONLY explanation is that they got upset that I didn't tip? But seriously, people don't tip when they order food to go! Service like that is inexcusable. Their rudeness was unbelievable. It's such a pity that something like this happened because we were huge fans of Black Bear and we ALWAYS received great service and scrumptious food. So, a warning to future customers of Black Bear, be careful not to offend your servers in any way or else they might give you disgusting food.
(2)Rachel K.
The bigfoot country fried steak is always my go-to, california benedict eggs, shasta scramble, and the different omelets. I've come here so many times and I love it. The service is always nice. Even a few days ago I remember my waiter, George, even in the busiest part of the day remained cordial and attentive even when it was packed. There are bears everywhere so don't come if you have a phobia. I love the modern jukebox playing tunes. It's not fancy, but it's always cozy and just a good brunch place with big portions worth the $9-11 dollars you'd pay. They're assortment of pies in the front as soon as you enter immediately hook you. I love seeing the elderly and families fill the booth. Overall, its a nice breakfast/lunch joint for family meals and it's cozy but not the place to go if you want to be on a diet, and if you want something fancy. I love switching out their ginormous biscuits for pancakes or toast and they definitely never skimp on portions
(4)Roman R.
I really really enjoyed their omelets here. The service was great....very attentive with multiple wait staff attending to our needs (although I never knew who our real server was). The pancakes were a little sweet but the kids loved them. I love the look and feel of the interior. My coffee cup was never empty. Overall a great dining experience.
(5)Wilson Z.
I've been here too many times to remember, and I always leave with a super full stomach. The taste of the food is above average, and the portions are usually pretty big. Most of the workers there are really nice. The only problem I have with this restaurant is the long wait for the food; the wait for my meal to arrive in front of me usually takes around half an hour, if not more. Other than the wait, I'm pretty happy about the food, the atmosphere, and the service at Black Bear Diner. Overall, I'd give this restaurant 3.5/4 stars, and I will come back another time.
(3)David L.
Going into this place, you get the sense that they really like bears... black bears. You'll notice that there are pictures of bears covering all of the walls, bear shaped condiment holders, and even a huge wooden bear statue gracing the front entrance. Then, once you're seated and start looking over the menu, you'll realize that saying they like bears here would be an understatement. Their menu is covered in bear related puns and innuendos that only a person with a (possibly inappropriate) bear fetish could come up with... Now BEAR in mind that the portions here are huge and you'll probably BEARly be able to finish it. I ordered the tri-tip steak dip (one of the rare menu items that didn't have a bear pun attached to it) and although the sliced steak pieces were a bit dry, the dipping sauce really balanced them out. I also substituted garlic fries for regular fries, which was a good choice; and as an added bonus, you get to lick garlic bits off your BEAR hands at the end. Overall, the food here somewhat reminds me of Apple Bees, but with a BEARy nice hearty homestyle feel to it. So, next time you're in Davis and want to stuff yourself full with some American food, don't be "BEAR-anoid" and just give Black Bear Diner a try! (Wow, I feel somewhat emBEARassed to have just spent 15 minutes writing a review full of bear puns.
(4)Richard P.
Richard Pro here with an updated review, and I'm singing a different tune. I've been to black bear numerous times I randomly discovered one day that their pancakes are much bigger and tastier than ihop's, for a cheaper price. Since then, I have abandoned ihop for good, and I've experimented with numerous items on the menu. Sadly, I would not recommend most of them to you. Bacon wrapped chicken (boring) Chicken pot pie (way too small and not tasty enough) Fruit pie (tasty, but $6???) Biscuits (meh) I have yet to try the chicken fried steak, which I'm very interested in trying, but my standby every visit is their blueberry pancakes. Also, I've had very pleasant conversations with their servers, which makes each visit very enjoyable.
(4)Peter K.
The reviews are right... Huge Portions, but that's about it. I had the corn beef and hash. The plate was mostly filled with country potatoes, which weren't the best. I usually like my potatoes crispy, more country-ish, but they were really soft, barely cooked. The corn beef had no hash, and it was really jerky. I also had a side of french toast that was really soft as well. My buddy had an omelette, which tasted fine, but his hash browns were also very soft and undercooked, and his toast was not toasted at all, it was more really really soft, barely toasted. Another friend had the minestrone soup, and he said it was very salty. He had the chili burger, and it was very messy, so he ate it with a fork. The service was fine, but the food was undercooked. I may or may not eat here again, but if I do, I am definitely going to ask for everything well done.
(2)simon k.
I came here because I like traditional American foods, and the bear statues in the front intrigued me quite profusely. Darn.. if only this place was cheaper and better. As standard with my character to order a burger, medium rare at any new diner visited, for around 10 bucks I got a Yellow Cheeseburger and fries. Fries were okay.. not really crispy, and each fry somewhat limp, lookin quite sad and unhappy. My burger was pretty big.. but it was soggy, meaning the bread sucked, and could only be eaten with a fork. I remember eating the entire burger.. however, it was not because it tasted good.. it was because I kept trying to taste the meat, which never actually happened.. I could not taste the meat.. it was just blasted with a plain flavor, bland to the core. Service was somewhat stalled, even though there were a lot of workers. They seem to walk by my table as though we were invisible.. our water cups were constantly empty. but.. at least the older waitress was nice.. I had left my sunglasses there when I left and she chased me down to return it back to me. Overall, I would recommend similar foods somewhere else (like Putah Creek Cafe), don't let that giant grizzly bear statue fool you into eating here. I would come here for the traditional American decor, but.. I would not recommend the burger.. get something else.
(3)Jessie L.
My Family and I along with a big group of friends come to U.C. Davis every year for the Whole Earth Festival and Mother's Day. Eating at Black Bear is a stop we never miss. The prices here are average. The amount of food they give you is INSANE!!! and it's really really good. I finally decided to yelp after this last visit. Our waitress Tanya was AMAZING. Serving a party of 6 is no easy task! Especially is everyone is asking for this an that and changes to this and can I get that!. Not only did Tanya totally have the table under control she really made you feel like she was gonna do whatever it took to make the group happy. She offered to make any kind of upgrades or switch out items. It's so rare to come across service like this that the whole table was totally amazed. Don't pass this up all their food is great. Grab a little Mini Pie on the way out they are sooooo good! Cheers & Happy Eating
(5)Thomas S.
My wife and I stepped in early Saturday morning for breakfast, and both had a great time. I was especially touched by the enthusiastic and personal service. They have a huge menu as well. Coffee was prompt and plentiful. I had a massive breakfast on the menu -- three eggs, two sausages, two pieces of bacon, ham, hash browns or potatoes (I had the hash browns), AND pancakes. The latter weren't as good as say iHop but were huge. All in all great value and good food.
(4)Kerina J.
Came here the other day when I had a craving for waffles and french fries. I could have gone to IHOP, but I definitely prefer Black Bear Diner when I am in the mood for diner food. FOOD: Pretty good for diner food (better than Denny's and IHOP) and they have a wide selection of food on the menu (which is good for me since I often crave breakfast foods and dinner foods at the same time). Also, they serve HUGE portions. People who eat normal servings could get 2-3 meals from their order. I am not included in this group because I often finish my meal in one sitting (this might be because my appetite is as big as a black bear). I would not recommend coming here if you are looking for a light meal. PRICE: Reasonable since you get huge portions of food. The dinner items are of course more expensive ($16-$19) because they include steak, salmon, etc. Breakfast and lunch meals are more in the $6-$12 range. SERVICE: Always really friendly and attentive. AMBIANCE: I love the forest/cabin theme! It's so cute. They do a good job of incorporating Davis town spirit with some bears hanging from bicycle handles or bears riding bikes. Overall, this place is my go-to place when I have my random diner food cravings. Go check it out!!! I'm sure you'll have a "beary" good time ...I just couldn't resist using a bear pun :)
(4)Emily R.
Great food! Large portions, always well done, and the waitstaff is great. Very accommodating, check up on you without being annoying. Today our waitress Gabriella made a point to bring out our food faster because we were running late for work. I love when people go above and beyond even though they don't have to. This is my favorite restaurant in Davis because besides the food being great, so are the people :)
(5)Ian M.
I actually had a nice dining experience here. The menu, printed on a newspaper that gets handed to you, was a bit confusing to find at first, but after the initial confusion, it's actually well laid out. I ordered the sweet pancakes and the additional sweetness was actually nice. The pancakes themselves were HUGE and I couldn't finish them all. The bacon was fairly standard. Come here with a large appetite because you'll need it if you plan to consume everything that's put in front of you. It's conveniently located in relation to the UC Davis campus, so you'll be able to walk off that meal you just ate.
(4)Tony F.
This place rocks! To try and compare Denny's and Ihops food to Black Bear's is ridiculous. The food is so much better and you get treated like family..... Open more please!!!!!
(5)Richie C.
The Black Bear Diner in Davis is good. The food is satisfying and the extras make it worth trying (i.e. a jukebox, a carved wood bear in the lobby, kitschy maps that have nothing do to with bears, and menu's that look like newspapers). There were a number of UC Davis students in there when I went. Although I'm not an alum of UCD or Sac State, I thought the diner could really be spiced up if a group of Sac State students came in one lunch hour. Subsequently the two schools could square off in a 1940's style confrontation whereupon the two sides form a circle and begin snapping their fingers while two ring leaders from each school battled for Causeway supremacy ... all the while Chubby Checker music plays from the jukebox in the background. (Yelp has reminded me to tell you that no one is to actually be harmed in the above named face off :) The woman who worked the register was really a nice lady and took good care of our party.
(3)Eva B.
This place is a hit and miss. Their pancakes were phenominal but their chicken pot pie costed me $10 when I could have paid $2.50 for a Marie Callendar's one at the store that taste's twice as good. However, I really like the atmosphere and location. Of course I'll be going back.
(3)Jill P.
Black Bear Diner, very well decorated charming casual place. Three Things You Can't Miss! 1. Great Helping Proportion Size 2. Clever Souvenir Newspaper Menu 3. How Tall the Waiters are I came late lunch early dinner, I had the Salmon which came with two sides. I enjoyed the mash potatoes, however my macaroni and cheese lacked cheese and was a bit crunchy for my liking. A great place to converse with your friends and spend quality time, and you'll save money because you won't have anymore room for dessert!
(4)ST D.
Gugungous portions but it's sysco food (update: NO PREMADE, JUST INGREDIENTS) but it's gugungous, and tasteh always a solid standby. The bigfoot chicken fried steak is large
(4)Mike C.
Fried chicken wrap is great.
(5)Juliette R.
HUGE portions, reasonable prices, satisfying, and delicious! I enjoyed the array of black bears throughout the restaurant; this is a great place for children and adults alike!
(4)Chris P.
Ate here on Sunday with the Wife who woke up with a need to chow down on Diner food state of mind. I agreed and we hit the Black Bear Diner. Breakfast was good, the iPhone Yelp app. warned me that portions were out of control so I went with "smaller sized" pancakes and eggs. It was still a ton of tasty food. The food came quick, coffee cup never went dry, they turned off the musak when a mom at the next table asked them to. All in all, good customer service. Its really a 3.5 star sort of place if you consider it alongside IHOP and Denny's but I didn't feel comfortable rounding up and describing myself as a fan.
(3)Tiffany L.
Tried this place before going back to SoCal.. definitely worth it! The portions are HUGE for what you pay and service was excellent.
(4)Jordan S.
I expected this place to be a rustic, Denny's-type place. It was much better that Denny's, however. I had a chili burger that was so blessedly messy it couldn't be eaten without silverware Good fries too.
(3)Wayland L.
First thing I heard about this place was: their portions are HUGE. And yes, their portions are huge! Their prices are a bit more expensive than other restaurants, but they give you a lot more food. It's a nice place to get dinner with friends after a long, long day. You better be hungry though - you get so much food! Their service is great. The staff is attentive and my drink was never empty. I almost always get the meatloaf - it's great! The dinner version of their dishes comes with two side dishes - which weren't all that impressive. The macaroni and cheese is bland and tasteless. The scalloped potatoes were hard and unappetizing. Green bean casserole? Bleh. Although the "featured" sides all kind of.. suck, the mashed potatoes are great :) So all in all, bears. Big portions. Good main courses. Not so good sides. LOTS OF FOOD. Come here if you're hungry. It's usually enough for two meals, for my fellow poor college students :) As for the rating, I wish I could give it a 3.5... but I can't, so Black Bear gets a 3 from me.
(3)Constance C.
I didn't know where to go for breakfast in Davis for my last meal out seeing as I don't usually eat breakfast at restaurants in Davis since I either don't wake up that early or I like to laze around in my apartment and prefer to eat something small at home. But under the suggestion of my friend I decided to go to Black Bear Diner, very quaint and very Davis. Had to get a coffee to start my day. Love coffee. Me and my friend shared a full stack of sweet cream pancakes with a poached egg. Sweet cream pancakes. The pancakes were really good. I usually make buttermilk pancakes at home so this was a nice change. It was surprisingly good because I usually prefer fluffy pancakes, these weren't fluffy perse but they were yummy nonetheless in a soft, cakey sort of way. Closeup of the poached egg. I love half cooked eggs, probably super bad seeing as there is a salmonella scare going on right now. Oh well, you only live once I say. Besides I think I have an iron stomach from my street food days in China. It was pretty good, not great though. But the portions were definitely large, I ended up only eating the poached egg and half of a pancake.
(3)K L.
Pretty standard fare for diner-style breakfast. Tasted good overall. Good service.
(3)Shauna S.
The first time I came here I was treated to some brinner! I love the atmosphere of this place. Reminds me a lot of my home in the south. My friend and I got cinnamon roll french toast and an egg plate with home fries. The waitress was SUPER nice, totally loved her, and when they put hash browns on my plate instead she brought me home fries so I had a ton of food. It wasn't too pricey, either. Parking is super easy, obviously. Unfortunately I left my to-go box on the table and when I rushed back in for it it was already in the trash. Boo! I will definitely be going back. Way better than IHOP!
(4)Susie Z.
I am so, so glad that I found Black Bear Diner. I kind of wish that I'd known how good this place was since sophomore year because I'd be going here all the time. But then I'd be so fat. The seating / environment: Cozy, woodsy, laid back, family-oriented. I absolutely love sitting in the booths because the perfect way to eat a bunch of hearty breakfast foods. Usually, during early noon / noon times during the weekends it always a little bit crowded, but I don't think we've ever had to wait, and if we have, no more than a few minutes. Food: SO GOOD. Of course, this isn't the place you should go to if you just wanna eat healthy food or are on a diet. It's hearty, filling, and the epitome of comfort food. It's the perfect thing to eat during a cold day when you're feeling a craving for breakfast food. Some of the plates can be a bit pricey for what they are, but obviously, if you're going to Black Bear Diner, why would you pay for stuff like sandwiches and gimmicky "special" plates? Stick to the favorites/main breakfast plates, like the Chicken Fried Steak and the omelettes/scrambles. They are absolutely delicious, and come with a generous side of your choice of hash browns or diced potatoes, as well as another side of your choice of a couple pieces of toast, a biscuit, or (if you ask for it) an english muffin (my favorite!). They also have on the table bottles of their own sauces, like the really good (but spicy) pepper sauces and other variations that aren't always on all of the tables, but that you can ask for. I also impulsively ordered the Californian Benedict (regular benedict on english muffins, but with spanich and avocados), and while it sounded delicious, half raw, runny eggs aren't really my thing. But I know some people love that stuff; it's just not for me. People might complain about the prices, but in all honesty, I've been to IHOP, and BBD isn't even that much more expensive, with a HUGE portion and food that is soooo much tastier. Plus, if you're not a hulking bear of a man, or woman, with a stupidly huge appetite, you could probably eat about half of it and take the rest home for a snack. Service: Could be hit or miss, BUT for the most part, I have usually had very, very good service. They're really warm and friendly and accommodating. Sometimes they'll throw in an extra biscuit or something (like all that food wouldn't be enough) and I'm sure if you had specific dietary requests they'd be happy to customize your order for you. The onnnly not-so-great thing about the service is that it usually takes a while for them to make your food, but I'd always rather wait a bit for a plate of delicious, fresh food than have a suspiciously quick plate of food appear two minutes after I order. Bottomline: It's not dirt cheap like fast food, but it's much better than other breakfast restaurants. It's not the quickest place, but it's so worth the wait when your huge plate comes. It's also not the healthiest food, but BBD food is some of the most delicious I've had in Davis, and it's such a good pick-me-up if you truly want something comforting. I find that me and my boyfriend always end up going here at least once each quarter during finals week.
(5)Mikolo R.
They're known for their chicken-fried steak, and rightfully so! 2 words: damn good. And their breadpudding totally hits the spot! 1 word: devine. I would go there just for the breadpudding every day if that didn't make me a glutton. Also had the hot meatball sandwich. I give that a B- . It's good, but not fabulous. Their chicken noodle soup is good, not too salty or watery. The service is fast and they're great about coffee refills. Oh yes, they are known for their coffee as well. I'd say the coffee is just ok, but then again I am no coffee expert. 4 words: Starbucks 4 blocks away. Aside from this Black Bear location, I've eaten at the one in redding. Quality of food is consistently yummy. I will need to go more often to try more things from the menu.
(4)Rick E.
Man...I thought all those years of Davis dining doldrums would've lowered people's expectations! How else could there be any repeat business at places as abysmal as Raja, 3rd & U, or Bistro 33, or lines out the door to eat overpriced/under-spiced Thai food in a plastic-lined patio? Now that the USA's very best chain of family diners moves to your town, Davisites play hard-to-please? Sheesh! "2-out-of-5 [= a] C+"?.....sounds like someone's been through the O-Chem wringer! "I guess it was kind of big, but I was expecting more"? More than what? Where else can you even get a slice of meatloaf in Davis? Not to sound like a corporate spokesman for Black Bear or anything, but I've been their locations in Mt. Shasta, Yreka, Redding, Willows, Gridley, Klamath Falls, Madras, Sonoma, and Rohnert Park, and they have always been outstanding for both quality and quantity, whether judged against chain places or mom 'n pop places. The "Bigfoot" chicken-fried steak 'n eggs breakfast requires a day off just to hibernate during digestion, yet it also tastes like homemade heaven. The only CFS in the valley better than that is at Stagecoach, Too in South Sac, and that's a CFS that can compete with ones I've had in Texas where the recipe originated. If the place is falling short of a four- to five-star experience with regularity, that is just a new staff going through the growing pains of learning how to work for a truly great company. If anyone working at a new Black Bear location has worked at a restaurant before, it is likely that they will need to be deprogrammed to break bad habits such as miserly measuring a meager four ounces of french fries per plate, or skimping, or just figuring that mediocrity is good enough. I'm sure it'll work its way out soon.
(4)Irene C.
The portions are freaking huge! And the prices are definitely reasonable for portions that generous. The food was quite delicious. Don't expect anything to knock your socks off but it's definitely yummy. I ordered the huge burger (can't remember the name) but had the waitress look at me, explain how big the burger was and ask me if I was sure. I wasn't offended; it was really a very funny moment. I came with a decent sized group and had a nice experience. I think we waited maybe 20 minutes or so for a table on saturday nite. The decor is exactly what you expect from a place so aptly named. A good place to take the kiddies.
(4)Nick C.
After a morning of debating (or just me deciding) between what type of food to eat, it came down to going between IHOP and Black Bear. This was my first ever visit to Black Bear and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by both the portions, which many of have already heard about, and the quality of the food. This was honestly one of the best chicken fried steaks I have had to date. Maybe that's not saying much, but between the years of going to Mel's (for those from the Bay), to Denny's and IHOP...I have never had such a large, nor tasty chicken fried steak. The side of has browns, eggs over-easy, and english muffins were also done very well (mind you, they shouldn't be hard to screw up but Denny's manages to do it all the time). They did not seem to have this overly greasy and sodium infused taste to them. They were left up to me to season, which is something I prefer in this setting. All in all, I felt happy with my choice in picking Black Bear over IHOP today. As a strict health-nut....these were 1200 calories I did not regret devouring.
(4)Ryden G.
I was going to give this place 3 stars, then I started to feel sick a few hours later.
(1)Ngan T.
I didn't expect much from this restaurant since it is always empty when I pass by but I decided to try it one day since it's only one of the few breakfast spots in town. Man am I glad I tried it, the food was GREAT! The proportions are super huge and most people ask for to-go boxes. Service: The service here is the ideal service that every other restaurant wants to have. All the waiters and hostess are super friendly and nice. Some waiters are grandmas that are just so sweet and helpful. The service was great and the food came out pretty quick. Food: The food came out super hot and the proportions are HUGE!!!! My girlfriend's sunny-side up eggs were cooked perfectly, not too wet and not overly-cooked. My scrambled eggs were just perfect as well, not too soggy and not too dry. The huge slab of honey ham I had was phenomenal. Has browns are the best I ever had! If your gonna try this place out, try the country fried steak. Overall this is a great breakfast place and by far the best in Davis. I always go here when I want breakfast. 4 stars because I get these nasty looks from all the older white folks in there. They act like they never seen Asians before. I've been there 4 times and every time there's a table or few that just give Asians a dirty look.
(4)Rebecca K.
Was visiting Davis for the picnic days and I really like Black Bear Diner so I went in. Two of my friends and I got seated in the very back corner when there were plenty of tables open in the front, we sat there for 20 minutes waiting to be served and nobody so much as glanced our way. They even cleaned the table behind us (it took 5 people to clean 1 table) and basically acted like we didn't exist. When we decided to leave we were given dirty looks and some rude comments were said. I am not sure if they were being racially discriminatory/sexist or if they just treat every customer this way but needless to say I will not be going back nor do I recommend this place to anyone.
(1)MONICA T.
What a place! The food, service & ambience is just like the good ole days. I went here to have breakfast thinking it was like the competitors but it's not. they throw them out of the water. The waitress we had was friendly, hilarious & upbeat. She was very quick witted & made the experience very comedic in a great way. Once we chose what we were going to eat from their never ending menu we enjoyed the decorations of tons of bears :) Within 15 min our food came out cooked as ordered. I was very impressed. The food tasted scrumptious & the portion were out of this world. I usually pay so much & get hardly anything but here you get what you paid for plus some. You could tell it was all fresh & tasted like good ole home cooking. The biscuits were the size of my fists. One thing I often find that is good to come by is bacon. Alot of time it's either too cooked or looks pretty wimpy. The bacon here was thick & you could actually see the meat. If you are looking for any kind of good home cooking food where you wont be dissappointed come here!
(5)Alice C.
My boyfriend and I love Black Bear. We first discovered this chain in Oregon on our way up to Washington. We've since been to a number of other Black Bears in California. In fact, we used to joke with our friends that we should go on a road trip and visit as many Black Bears as possible. :) Anyway, this is just my way of saying I have a relatively good grasp on the quality of food that Black Bears should serve. Unfortunately, my experiences at Davis have been mixed. How disappointing! First off, I must point out that their breakfast is generally MUCH better than their dinners (I've never really had lunch stuff like sandwiches or burgers). For breakfast I love their volcano or mini volcano because it more or less has everything that I love. They feature homemade sausages, this thick crispy bacon, and these amazing pancakes. I'm not much of a pancake person, but these are some of the best I've ever had. Their dinners, on the other hand, left much to be desired. Yes, the portions are huge and the price is pretty decent. But, the preparation somehow almost always falls short. We've given it a go quite a few times, too! On one occasion, the fried chicken was not warmed through (ice in the center). On another occasion, my tri tip (I asked for medium rare) came out cooked through, chewy and hard. The garlic fries, as Stacy C. pointed out, do not have nearly enough garlic. The fries themselves weren't great, either. Since I love Black Bear and I'm a sucker for diner type foods and environment, I will be back....but maybe just not so much for dinner. I'll probably try them out for lunch and definitely come back for breakfast.
(3)Ting L.
If you love restaurants serving breakfast all day long, this place is the best place to be. Expect foods to be greasy, oily, and most likely hiking up your cholesterol levels. It's not exactly a place for those watching their weight or trying to slim down, but it's great diner place for comfort, filling food. Their food is delicious and never disappoints! The atmosphere is really cozy and nice and the direct smell of the food from the kitchen makes you hungrier than you really are.
(4)Joanna K.
I have the honor of saying I have already spent a couple of hungover mornings at this wannabe kitschy place, and I will say when you want that grease to ease your sorrows Black Bear diner will fulfill it. The portions are gigantic. I would recommend the chicken fried steak and to order the side of biscuits. They will both be huge, and you will be happy if you had one too many long islands the night before. The chicken fried steak is fried golden and crispy, just the only way it should be. Sadly, I cannot say I love their dinner as much. The massive portions are still there, but the flavor is lacking. Maybe it was just what I ordered, the tri-tip, but it was extremely bland. Black Bear also suffers from the shitty side salad syndrome (SSSS) where a nastly head of lettuce is chopped up and sprinkled with 4 little croutons. I have to remember when I come here not to get healthy stuff. Remember try to come here the morning after killing the bottle of J&B, not before and you will be a happy camper.
(3)linda c.
I went to Black Bear with a friend recently for dinner and must say that although the food was much better than places like IHOP/Denny's it just wasn't that great for what we expected it to be. The service was pretty friendly, but not as efficient. Our waitress had to come back and ask what we ordered for drinks. In the beginning of our meal, she made sure we had everything we needed but later in our meal it was hard to get a refill on our drinks. As for the food, I have to say that it was pretty tasty and good portioned. But...for some reason none of our food came out pipping hot. For instance, our garlic fries were pretty room temperatured. As for the rest, steak, bread, potatoes, tri-tip....it was the same. It seems like the food was sitting somewhere and not made to order. For the food to be luke warm I don;t think it's worth the wait and money. Maybe it was just a bad night...but I'll definitely come back for their yummy steak dishes...as for the garlic fries...not so much. P.S We didn't make it to desserts but their pies looked so yummy!
(3)Blake C.
Good food and pricing!
(4)Charmayne S.
Please god, save us from black bear diner! I'd been to another one a few months back at another location and was sorely disappointed. I didn't want to bring my folks here but the parking lot looked empty, the folks were cranky, and, well, here's where we landed. Mom was overwhelmed with the crowd noise and all the menu choices and underwhelmed with the prices. Vegan guest was slightly grossed out since the hot fresh smell of greasy meat was in the air. Dad was not happy with the coffee. I was not happy with the very fast-talking, rude waitress. I noted to her that my dad couldn't quite hear or understand her, but instead of raising her voice or speaking more slowly she just huffed and looked at me to place the order instead. The waitress forgot more than a few little things - didn't bring out the water we asked for, didn't bring condiments we'd asked for, didn't bring a smile or one iota of respect for customers. The food was nominal. Even if the food had been fabulous, the service and lack of ambiance killed the experience.
(2)stacy c.
People weren't kidding when they said this place has big portions. My friend and I came here for a snack. We ordered garlic fries and the hot lava cake because the kid I babysit says that the lava cake is like THE moistest chocolate cake in the whole wide world. They brought us a HUGE heaping plate of fries. I was kinda disappointed by the amount of garlic. If you order garlic fries, it's probably because you LOVE garlic, and you probably love chunks of garlic all over the place. and if you serve a big plate of garlic fries, the amount of garlic has to be proportional to the portion of fries you give. Nonetheless, the fries were delicious and a whopping $5. Afterwards, we got the lava cake. They ran out of vanilla ice cream for the night and had to give us the bear ice cream or whatever. I promise on my life I gained like 10 lbs that night. The reason it is like the moistest chocolate cake is because they is a ridiculous amount of hot fudge all over the cake. The cake itself is pretty moist, but wow. chocolate overkill. If you want to have a heart attack after a good meal, this is definitely the place to come to.
(4)Judith B.
I like the Black Bear Diners a lot, and this is a good one. Was in Davis taking my dog to the pet hospital on camping. Took off for lunch while they ran some tests on her, and was not disappointed. Parking was easy. Food was good and there was a ton of it. Service was good. We seemed to have two waitresses - maybe they changed shifts or something - but one was much more friendly than the other, 'though both gave good service. I had breakfast and my friends had lunch, and no one was disappointed. Great old coffee shop dining ...
(4)sanci s.
Just had the bear grab, 2 yummy sweet pancakes, thick smoked bacon, eggs with a side of hashbrowns (super yummy, I highly recommend). Great food at a fair price served by very pleasant and attentive staff.
(4)Johnny N.
Wow! The proportions here are HUGE! From what a friend told me, don't go for the lunch or dinner items. Just go here for the breakfast items. And I gotta say, they're pretty gooooood. If you got to try something, try the chicken fried steak. The ribeye steak was a little too chewy so try to avoid that. All the side dishes such as the biscuit, hash browns, eggs, pancakes are absolutely amazing though. The service is good. They are accommodating and refill your waters and check up on you frequently enough. It might have been because of the 12-person group we were which made the wait for the food slightly long (yeah it probably was because of our massive group). Come here hungry, because you'll definitely come out full!
(4)Charles L.
Been here many times and mostly it's been pretty good. Pretty fast service (from my experience). The food varies at times and can be a hit or miss but majority of the time, it's been pretty pleasant.
(4)Al T.
The portions are insanely huge! The atmosphere is fun and unique, but not as crazy as the other locations which was kind of sad. I had the cinnamon roll french toast. It was good, but too sweet with the icing and everything. The biscuits are really good here too! And the eggs are delicious, nice and warm and greasy off the skillet. Do not look at the nutritional info here, it will ruin your tasty meal. I am dying to go back and try the bread pudding!
(4)Crystal L.
This is a nice place to go sometimes. The food is ok in general, the breakfast is great. When you go here you need to stick with safe choices, think upscale Dennys. Don't get the eggs benedict! The sauce is awful! But the cinamon swirl pancakes are amazing. The price is great, portions are huge, the staff is friendly, and the place is clean. Great place to have breakfast anytime of the day.
(3)Neland M.
DENNYS REPLACEMENT One of my friends and I drove over to Davis early in the morning to visit our college buddies and go hunt for food. We came across this place because they were one of the only places open at 6 am. I have to say....this place has some unique theming which almost made me feel like I was at DISNEYLAND. The Beach Boys added to the tree stumps and black bears to create an awesome experience. After we were seated, our server brought out single page NEWSPAPERS! To our surprise, it's actually their menu legitly printed on them. TRY THE OJ!!! I ordered the chicken fried steak while my friends ordered omelets. A few minutes later, these beastly plates came out and already I knew this was gonna meal that was worth my hr and a half drive. The regular portions are already much LARGER than my standards so I can't even imagine what the large would be like. It's priced like other diners but the food has much better quality. The service is really quick and friendly as well. There are other locations but this specific location is the first impression that really made me a fan.
(4)Matt C.
I'm a huge fan of the Black Bear Diner chain of family restaurants. Ever since we stumbled onto the ORIGINAL LOCATION in Mount Shasta, CA.....we've been hoping they will expand closer to our home turf. That wish is coming true..... One helpful tip about eating at Black Bear Diners, is to generally avoid the new location for its first year of operation. Every chain has "Growing Pains" and the Black Bear is no exception. New staff and new kitchens take time to develop and turn into 5-star money machines. Enjoy the pie and coffee, come for dessert......but don't come during rush hours for the first couple of months (or years, as was the case with BB Walnut Creek & Suisun City). In about one year, I plan to come to Davis Black Bear, and enjoy the signature 1/2 pound burger.........it will be perfect like the one I had on Father's Day in Suisun City. Suisun took 2 years to become 5-star! Davis, be patient with Black Bear......you're lucky to have 'em in place of the craptastic Baker's Square. Eventually, this location will make it through the Growing Pains and New Staff Woes.
(4)Dale H.
I LOVE BLACK BEAR DINER!!! I've been going to Black Bear for quite a few years now. We usually stop at the one in Gridley when travelling between Chico and Davis. And often in Willows when we go camping. Imagine my excitement when I found out that one of my beloved BBD was coming to Davis. This is good ole down home cookin' at it's best. I love the large, LARGE, portions. The food is usually done just the way I want. It's not perfect, nor do they strive to be. They just strive to serve good cookin' in large portions at decent prices. Salads...great. Breakfast...large and in charge. Garlic fries...big but I never share...get your own! I recommend trying this a few times. Bring friends, family and children. Go alone. Heck...lemme know when you're going and I'll meet you there! Just go!
(4)Tiffany B.
I was hesitant to try Black Bear because I wasn't very wowed by Baker's Square, however I was surprisingly impressed! I've only been to Black Bear for breakfast, but it is pretty decent if you're looking for that American Diner style. The menu is HUGE with a lot of variety. You get large portions for relatively good prices, and the portions can feed me for at least two or three meals. The wait can be long on weekends, especially when UCD is back in session, especially during the "hungover morning" 11-12 hour. However, the restaurant is large enough to accommodate most parties with a reasonable wait time (I've only ever come with a large party). I'm also a picky eater, and Black Bear has always been super accommodating to my special requests. All in all, a good breakfast place, and definitely one of the better in Davis. I wouldn't say it's amazing, but I will definitely be returning, at least while I'm living in Davis.
(3)Colin H.
4 years at davis and I've never been to the baker's square once. Driving by one day I saw a sign that said Black Bear Diner and was intrigued. I had no idea it was a chain until I went there. The place was very accommodating, we had a mini dorm reunion there and had about 24 people when we only made reservations for 18 or so. The staff was very helpful and friendly. The service was great the location is good and they have their own parking lot. The bad thing about this place is it's mediocre-at-best food. I came here twice and the first time I had the chicken fried steak dinner which was nothing to write home about. My sides were rather bland - the macaroni and cheese was particularly disappointing. The second time I came here the food was absolutely terrible. I had an open faced turkey sandwich. The meat was dry, the fries were tasteless like cardboard, and the gravy had a burnt taste to it. During that meal I heard someone complaining about the taste of his hamburger to the owner. The food is cheap and plentiful... but you get what you pay for.
(3)Mark S.
If you are hungry for diner food and quantity is much more important than quality, this may be your place. However, if you are expecting good food, you won't find it here.
(2)Ben W.
I really love the big portions especially for the price they charge! The price is affordable and fair. The BBQ ribs and mashed potatoes were delicious! The reason I am giving it a 3 star is because of the rude service. The employers don't really seem to care about how they talk to customers. Bottom line: Great price, great food, but not a very welcoming atmosphere. I'll definitely be back for their ribs, but I will take it to go.
(3)K B.
The ambiance is like a homier version of Denny's, but it sure is better! Food was a-plenty for a reasonable price. Some are bland, but it's solvable with salt and pepper. Lots of mommas and grannies, but I'm not complaining because the food is good!
(4)Denise C.
If I could, I would give them 3.5 stars but I ended rounding up because of the HUGE portions. You will definitely leave here feeling full and will most likely be bringing home some leftovers. But you will also have to drink a lot of water as you eat because the food is usually a little on the salty side. This place beats IHOP and Dennys because of its cozy interior and polite and friendly staff. The portions are bigger too and I don't usually get heartburn afterwards, as compared to IHOP and Dennys. Black Bear Diner is a bit pricy for breakfast/diner food but you do get a lot of food.
(4)Peter D.
Good portions, good prices, good food! Way better than Denny's or IHOP! Except our server didn't come until 10 minutes later cause she didn't know we were there..
(4)A Cream Puff With Apricots D.
portions are large and you have plenty of choice :)
(4)Brian W.
I recently went here again with my friends. Our server was really nice, but he forgot to bring out many of the things my friends ordered until we had to ask him. Also when we went to pay, the person at the cash register was really rude. We all paid separately, so we would try to tell her our orders nicely, but I think she was trying to make us pay in the order of the food items, which she did with a lot of attitude. The meal was great until we had to pay.
(3)Jo Ann E.
I really do not have anything to complain about. Our party of 4 was seated right away when we went in for a late lunch / early dinner (400pm). The place is really cute with bears all over the place. The wait staff is VERY friendly and down to earth. Looking around I noticed the crowd was a bit on the older side. The menu is a fake newspaper (CREATIVE). Waiter took our drink orders and brought them out right away. They have Arnold Palmers (half lemonade and half iced tea) which I was so excited to see! =) PLUS! They serve breakfast all day so this is the place to go when you have a craving for pancakes--which I ordered. The black bear breakfast comes with 2 pancakes (or french toast or belgian waffle), 2 sausages (or 2 bacon strips, 1 piece of ham) and 2 eggs. So much food for 8 bucks! The rest of my table had spagetti and meatballs (which comes with 1 side) and the salmon dinner (which comes with 2 sides). Everyone had leftovers because their portions are so huge! Too bad because their desserts looked so yummy. Great portions. Great service.
(5)Matthew G.
I had been to one of these restaurants several years in some po-dunk town in northern California and I liked it. So when one was coming to Davis I thought "Alright then." Even though it was replacing my go to restaurant in Davis, Bakers Square. What can I say, I like my pie. They have a whole menu full of comfort and food its awesome. My whole dining party including myself enjoyed their food and we all want to go back. The portions were all really big. I was the only one to finish my plate but even I was full 3/4ths of the way through. I never waste food because its rude to those who do not have it and I never take food home because to go containers are bad for the environment. Take a hint you take food home for the next day people. It was extremely crowded when I went so be cautious in these initial first months of its opening. Unless that is you are into wasting your time waiting to eat.
(4)Liane T.
3.5 stars actually. I heard about the new restaurant so my boyfriend and I thought to give it a try. They really decorated the place to make it feel like a "lodge" outdoor kind of feel which is unique. It was pretty busy for a Friday night too. The food was rather big portioned in size and pretty good for the whole cost. What was a little turn off, was one of the waiters using one of those portable sweep/duster vacuum things to clean the place while people were eating. The service was good, considering it was a busy night the food came out promptly. The service was really good as well. I appreciated the managers asking how our meal went too. For a beginning restaurant, they seem to be managing it quite well. P.S: Onion rings.
(4)Kevan W.
I came to the Black Bear right after a pre-medical conference that left me exhausted and hungry. The important thing to note here is that I am not very used to American diner food, and instead tend to go for asian or french/italian cuisines that tend to be more subtle and complex. In writing this review I took into account that I should be judging it on its own terms rather than in comparison to my own personal preferences. ATMOSPHERE: Smooth, polished log pillars with bears carved into them. Rustic paintings, photos, and wall hangings of bears. Warm country and light oldies music plays in the background lending a mood of authenticity and warmth. The newspaper menu is unique, and for a moment I was confused as to where the menu was exactly. The atmosphere is warm and fitting. 5/5 SERVICE: Excellent. The first waitress rattled off the special much too quickly initially (even though the diner wasn't even a quarter full), but while this might be a peeve this really shows her competence in knowing the menu, and I carried this impression throughout the meal. I ordered the beef tri tip from the dinner menu, and unfortunately due to some confusion I made a mistake in ordering my sides. Despite this, the second waitress, a very friendly girl by the name of Chong, handled it well and did so cheerfully. The whole "is everything okay here?" is very casual and unobtrusive. 5/5 PLATING: Beef tri tip in a fan, with a generous plastic cup full of sauce, along with red skinned mashed potatoes and gravy and sauteed vegetables with a soup. Nice little garnish of an orange twist and lettuce leaf. It's a simple presentation that adds a lovely touch of color and warmth to an otherwise simple dish. It made the meal extra appetizing. 4/5 FLAVOR: Beef had a hint of nice hamlike smokiness to it that you'd expect of a tri-tip, juicy and with a slight rind of fat that lent a nice edge of richness. Veggies and potatoes were nice, and you can't fail with onion rings. Soup was nice a nice thick tortilla rice with a good crunch from the corn chips. The only complaint was that the sides were only lukewarm, but the service makes up for it and it was only a very minor issue for me. Indeed, Chong made a couple of offers to warm it up and promised she'd tell the chefs, which were the important things. I also really appreciated how moderate the seasoning was: there was only mild salting on the sides, which contrasted nicely against the very rich and tasty meat. 4/5 OVERALL: The best that can be said of the Black Bear Diner is that the service is warm and friendly, and when there's a mistake or error (even if it's on the part of the customer) the service does its best to make the customer happy. Most importantly, while the service is helpful and friendly, they are also unobtrusive, and that is the most important thing. The dishes were also simple, rustic, and hearty, and I left feeling very full and quite satisfied. So much so that I had to take a short nap in my car before I headed off for home. The meal stuck with me and sustained me through a two-hour drive. Overall I was quite happy with the Black Bear Diner, and if I visit Davis again I would consider visiting once more. Hopefully the next time I'd be able to save some room for dessert. 4/5
(4)Lina L.
I don't know why I always end up getting tricked to eat here. I start off thinking it would be a good idea to eat here then I end up being disappointed. The host was very nice and seated us rather quickly. The server came and took our order. She was friendly enough but didn't seem all that interested in us. We all ordered sandwiches. She took our ordered and disappeared. We could see her chatting with other servers as minutes passed and our lunch hour shrunk. It took more than 45 minutes to make sandwiches. No one came to check on us. We had to go find someone to remind them that we actually existed. The food eventually came and we had 10 minutes left on our lunch break. I ordered the BLT and it was average at best. The host came to our table (I assume he was the manager doing the host duties as well) and apologized for the service. He also gave us 50% off our bill which was very generous and the only reason why I gave this review three stars. I hope that they can improve their service. With better service, even mediocre food seems better.
(3)Athena B.
I have been here twice and both times have been great. The juke box is really cool (my brother-in-law fell in love with it) and the old diner-feel is fantastic. The waiters are really nice and the food tastes great. If you order pancakes, you will get a lot of it. I normally finish all my food no matter what, but the pancakes were so overwhelming for me. The veggie burger is also very good. Also, the place is a bit pricey though, so beware.
(5)Randall S.
This place is better than what I was expecting... Definitely true that they have ginormous servings!!! I had the chicken fried steak which was pretty good, the hash browns were ok, and the eggs were eggs. I have had gravy that is way better than this place so I can't give it five stars, but so far, in Davis, this is one of the better places to hit up for breakfast.
(4)Picky E.
My teenage daughter and her 5 friends went to Black Bear the night after Christmas. The place didn't seem particularly busy or understaffed, but it took 20 minutes for their order to be taken, and after 45 minutes with no food they finally had to ask for the check and leave in order to make it to their movie. I have eaten at Black Bear a couple of times myself and was completely unimpressed by the food, waitstaff, atmosphere and smell. And I do love diners. I miss the old Baker's Square. Save yourself the trouble and cross the highway and go to IHOP.
(1)Willie F.
On their menu under the omelette section, it states "interesting and tasty ingredients." So I went for the California omelette (their most popular), and not only was it bland, there were hardly anything inside the omelette. Interesting - Nope Tasty - Nah Ingredients - Hardly got any It was the first time I ever needed to use ketchup to finish an omelette. However, I'm really glad they make it own hash browns and biscuit.
(2)Colin M.
it's good. portions are big. i would return. it is what it is.
(3)Kelly W.
Sad, i should of listened to Matt C. I was really excited to find out that there was a Black Bear close to Sac we usually drive out to the Willows location. Last night my boyfriend and i decided to head out to Davis and check it out. I ordered the chicken pot pie, macaroni and cheese and clam chowder. My boyfriend got the chicken fried steak, scallop potatoes, macaroni and cheese and clam chowder. I've have never been so disappointed with Black Bear. I will never come back to this location. Our sodas came out mine was flat. The clam chowder came out and it was luke warm and had no clam in it. It wasn't very busy in there so our food came out rather fast. The macaroni and cheese was dry and had no flavor tasted like noodle and butter. My pot pie was cold, by the time i got our waitress attention my boyfriend was done eating his dinner. The waitress said that it happens and she will go re-heat it. So she ends up bringing me a new pot pie, it was just warm and way to salty i had two bits and was done. My boyfriend had a little better luck than i did his country fried steak was good, but his macaroni and cheese was just as bad and his scallop potatoes had no flavor and was dry. This was the first time i left black bear without a togo box full of food it was sad. From now on i am just going to stick to the willows location I've never had a bad experience there.
(1)Little B.
This place breaks my heart. It has far fewer vegetarian friendly options that Bakers Square. And at least at BS you could build something fairly healthy, but at this place (and you can download the calorie content online) you're bound to get a coronary. The air is thick with grease (which is no service to its already heavy un-davislike decor. If you want to hang out here and shoot the sh** about it's down homey decor, then you're a tool (or your mom's cooking sucks). This isn't any homier than any chain and if anything, it's far less welcoming than others that have veggie burger or soy sausage, or at the very least a good salad. Blech!
(1)Hilland C.
I absolutely love going here. During a span of one week, I must have eaten there four times. The portions are unbelievable. If you go to its competitors (IHOP and Denny's), the portions are not nearly as big. As for the quality, there's also no comparison. What I personally like are the hash browns. They are really crispy, but not oily at all. I also like the scrambles and omelets. the ingredients taste really fresh. The service is really excellent. The waiters and waitresses are really proactive in refilling my beverages. They also took the time to ask how my meal was. The place overall is really homie :)
(4)Marie S.
Very much a diner. The portions are usually very large, with average food quality and average prices. Much preferable, and certainly better, than Dennys or IHOP, which a much friendlier atmosphere. A good fit for Davis, I think. While it's not the best of the Black Bear chain, it's a good place to eat before catching a movie or heading out of town.
(3)Carolyn W.
The BF and I were craving good breakfast...alas we are in Davis and Cindy's was a let down last time. Also I can't be convinced to enter an IHOP for anything. I've driven by this place countless times but never thought it would be any good. I'll admit that knowing it is a chain restaurant turned me off from ever trying it. Boy was I wrong to judge this little gem! Yes it's gluttony at it's finest but it's also charming. The waitress was really sweet, very attentive, and when I ordered the California Benedict sans bacon she kindly put it on a separate plate for my boyfriend to have (made for one very happy guy!). The hashbrowns were perfectly fried, the hollandaise was tasty, and the fruit was very fresh and not soggy in the least bit. The coffee isn't gourmet by any means but I could drink it black and it was strong enough to wake me up. They do offer lighter fare and are really accommodating to vegetarians. Give them a chance, sit back and relax, and enjoy the kitschy atmosphere and homemade comfort food.
(5)Marcus W.
I used to eat at Bakers square in Davis but today I was coming down and I saw the change to black Bear diner. I have Olny Black bear once before which was in Redding California this one was actually very good portion sizes of food and is very tasty. I recommended them way over Bakers square because of the quality and quantity of food. Good for a UCD student to make 2 meals out of their food.
(4)Ashley M.
I went here for Davis' picnic day around lunch time and was suprised there was no one in there. The host sat us alllll the way in the back corner ( my two friends and I) and gave us our menus and walked off. Between the time we sat down and 20 mins later no one came to check on us. All the servers were to busy talking to each other and took five of them to clean one table behind us. No one glanced over at us or even asked if we have been help. So we decided to leave, they didnt even say anything when we left. Right when we were outside my friend noticed she left her sunglasses so i went back in to pick them up. The host had them right in his hand. They were sure fast enough to pick up our table than to help us. So i took the glasses and left. While i was leaving one of the waitresses was laughing and saying "what did she say" in like a rude and snotty voice. They were lucky i just wanted to get out of davis and go back to sac. I would of raised hell and topld the manager right then and there that this was the most horrible service i have EVER had and ive never even been to A black bear diner. I will never go there ever again and i would tell people never to go their either.
(1)Alexander M.
All I had here was the bread pudding a la mode....but MAN was it delicious! I plan on getting more food here when I make my trips back to Davis.
(4)Albert S.
decent food, good price, huge quantities. near campus. what more could one ask for?
(4)John P.
Black Bear Diner opened today in Davis. It replaced Bakers Square. The service is excellent. The servers are assisted by bussers and runners. Someone is always checking to make sure you have everything you need. I ordered the "Small Volcano" (pancakes, egg, and a bacon and sausage) and a side of fruit and coffee for breakfast. The coffee was good, but the pancakes were so so and the bacon was overcooked. The strawberries and chopped melon were not fresh. Overall, I gave the breakfast a grade of C+. Since the breakfast was disappointing I decided to try dinner. The server was a young guy who didn't seem very familiar with the menu. I asked about the Meatballs & Spaghetti with the side of Scalloped Potatoes, and he said they were good. They weren't. The spaghetti was average, but the meatballs were dry and possibly included a filler. The potatoes were cold and not very tasty. I gave the dinner a C+. It's possible that I ordered the wrong dishes. My son said he went to a Black Bear in another city and liked their egg dishes, especially the omelettes. Give it a try. You'll like the service.
(2)