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Name: Black Bear Diner
Address: 2700 El Centro Rd, Sacramento, CA, 95833
Telephone: (916) 641-2327
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.61

Black Bear Diner

2700 El Centro Rd, Sacramento, CA, 95833

(916) 641-2327
Store is closed

Black Bear Diner Menu

Hungry Bear Breakfast

The Grizz! (1480 cals.)

Bigfoot Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs* (2300 cals.)

The Grizz! (1480 cals.)

Bigfoot Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs* (2300 cals.)
Classic 2-Egg Combos

Chicken Fried Steak (750 cals.)

Patty Sausage (750-760 cals.)

Portuguese Linguica Sausage (710 cals.)

Chicken Apple Sausage (380 cals.)

Link Sausage (380 cals.)

New York Steak* (550 cals.)

Hickory Smoked Ham (600 cals.)

Thick-Cut Smoked Bacon (470 cals.)

Corned Beef Hash (400 cals.)

No Meat, Just the Eggs Please (140 cals.)

Chicken Fried Steak (750 cals.)

Patty Sausage (750-760 cals.)

Portuguese Linguica Sausage (710 cals.)

Chicken Apple Sausage (380 cals.)

Link Sausage (380 cals.)

New York Steak* (550 cals.)

Hickory Smoked Ham (600 cals.)

Thick-Cut Smoked Bacon (470 cals.)

Corned Beef Hash (400 cals.)

No Meat, Just the Eggs Please (140 cals.)
Omelettes & Scrambles

Southern Scramble (1160 cals.)

Shasta Scramble (360 cals.)

California Omelette (480 cals.)

Joe's Hobo Omelette (620 cals.)

Bruce's Meat Lover's Omelette (670 cals.)

Denver Omelette (460 cals.)

Vegetarian Omelette (400 cals.)

Southern Scramble (1160 cals.)

Shasta Scramble (360 cals.)

California Omelette (480 cals.)

Joe's Hobo Omelette (620 cals.)

Bruce's Meat Lover's Omelette (670 cals.)

Denver Omelette (460 cals.)

Vegetarian Omelette (400 cals.)
Pancakes, Waffles & French Toast

2 Cakes (990 cals.)

Waffle (490 cals.)

Cinnamon Roll French Toast* (1460 cals.)

Thick-Cut French Toast (580 cals.)

Bear Claw French Toast (1580 cals.)

Bear's Choice (630-1510 cals.)

The Volcano (1710 cals.)

2 Cakes (990 cals.)

Waffle (490 cals.)

Cinnamon Roll French Toast* (1460 cals.)

Thick-Cut French Toast (580 cals.)

Bear Claw French Toast (1580 cals.)

Bear's Choice (630-1510 cals.)

The Volcano (1710 cals.)
Specialty Breakfast

The Scrambowl (1560 cals.)

Avocado Toast (680 cals.)

The Scrambowl (1560 cals.)

Avocado Toast (680 cals.)
Bear's Benedicts

California Bacon (850 cals.)

Classic (700 cals.)

California Bacon (850 cals.)

Classic (700 cals.)
South of the Cave

Chorizo Breakfast Tacos (1200 cals.)

Breakfast Burrito (1060 cals.)

Huevos Rancheros (1200 cals.)

Chorizo Breakfast Tacos (1200 cals.)

Breakfast Burrito (1060 cals.)

Huevos Rancheros (1200 cals.)
Fit & Focused

Fit & Focused - Veggie Hash (510 cals.)

Fit & Focused - Chicken Apple Sausage Scramble (500 cals.)

Fit & Focused - Veggie Hash (510 cals.)

Fit & Focused - Chicken Apple Sausage Scramble (500 cals.)
Little Less

The Mini Volcano (1030 cals.)

1 Biscuit & Country Gravy with 2 Slices of Thick-Cut Hickory Smoked Bacon

Ham & Cheese Omelette** (270 cals.)

1 Egg* & 2 Slices of Thick-Cut Hickory Smoked Bacon** (170-240 cals.)

The Mini Volcano (1030 cals.)

1 Biscuit & Country Gravy with 2 Slices of Thick-Cut Hickory Smoked Bacon

Ham & Cheese Omelette** (270 cals.)

1 Egg* & 2 Slices of Thick-Cut Hickory Smoked Bacon** (170-240 cals.)
Breakfast Extras

Classic Bear Claw (1110 cals.)

Country Red Potatoes (330 cals.)

Strip-Cut Hash Browns (380 cals.)

2 Biscuits & Gravy (1290 cals.)

McCann's Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal (740 cals.)

Fruit Bowl (230 cals.)

Specialty Meat

Toast or English Muffin (360/460 cals.)

Classic Bear Claw (1110 cals.)

Country Red Potatoes (330 cals.)

Strip-Cut Hash Browns (380 cals.)

2 Biscuits & Gravy (1290 cals.)

McCann's Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal (740 cals.)

Fruit Bowl (230 cals.)

Specialty Meat

Toast or English Muffin (360/460 cals.)
Beverages

Java City Coffee (0 cals.)

Assorted Juices (180-270 cals.)

Fresh O.J.

Lemonade (280 cals.)

Arnold Palmer (140 cals.)

Pepsi Soft Drinks (0-300 cals.)

Iced Tea (0 cals.)

Sweet Tea (160 cals.)

Hot Tea (0 cals.)

Hot Chocolate (80 cals.)

2% Milk

Java City Coffee (0 cals.)

Assorted Juices (180-270 cals.)

Fresh O.J.

Lemonade (280 cals.)

Arnold Palmer (140 cals.)

Pepsi Soft Drinks (0-300 cals.)

Iced Tea (0 cals.)

Sweet Tea (160 cals.)

Hot Tea (0 cals.)

Hot Chocolate (80 cals.)

2% Milk

Healthy Meal suggestions for Black Bear Diner

Hungry Bear Breakfast

The Grizz! (1480 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bigfoot Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs* (2300 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Grizz! (1480 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bigfoot Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs* (2300 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Classic 2-Egg Combos

Chicken Fried Steak (750 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Patty Sausage (750-760 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Portuguese Linguica Sausage (710 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Apple Sausage (380 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Link Sausage (380 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

New York Steak* (550 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hickory Smoked Ham (600 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thick-Cut Smoked Bacon (470 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Corned Beef Hash (400 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

No Meat, Just the Eggs Please (140 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Fried Steak (750 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Patty Sausage (750-760 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Portuguese Linguica Sausage (710 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Apple Sausage (380 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Link Sausage (380 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

New York Steak* (550 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hickory Smoked Ham (600 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thick-Cut Smoked Bacon (470 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Corned Beef Hash (400 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

No Meat, Just the Eggs Please (140 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Omelettes & Scrambles

Southern Scramble (1160 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shasta Scramble (360 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

California Omelette (480 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Joe's Hobo Omelette (620 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bruce's Meat Lover's Omelette (670 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Denver Omelette (460 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetarian Omelette (400 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Southern Scramble (1160 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shasta Scramble (360 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

California Omelette (480 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Joe's Hobo Omelette (620 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bruce's Meat Lover's Omelette (670 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Denver Omelette (460 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetarian Omelette (400 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pancakes, Waffles & French Toast

2 Cakes (990 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Waffle (490 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cinnamon Roll French Toast* (1460 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thick-Cut French Toast (580 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bear Claw French Toast (1580 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bear's Choice (630-1510 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Volcano (1710 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

2 Cakes (990 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Waffle (490 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cinnamon Roll French Toast* (1460 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thick-Cut French Toast (580 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bear Claw French Toast (1580 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bear's Choice (630-1510 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Volcano (1710 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Specialty Breakfast

The Scrambowl (1560 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Avocado Toast (680 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Scrambowl (1560 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Avocado Toast (680 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Bear's Benedicts

California Bacon (850 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Classic (700 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

California Bacon (850 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Classic (700 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
South of the Cave

Chorizo Breakfast Tacos (1200 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Breakfast Burrito (1060 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Huevos Rancheros (1200 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chorizo Breakfast Tacos (1200 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Breakfast Burrito (1060 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Huevos Rancheros (1200 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Fit & Focused

Fit & Focused - Veggie Hash (510 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fit & Focused - Chicken Apple Sausage Scramble (500 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fit & Focused - Veggie Hash (510 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fit & Focused - Chicken Apple Sausage Scramble (500 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Little Less

The Mini Volcano (1030 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

1 Biscuit & Country Gravy with 2 Slices of Thick-Cut Hickory Smoked Bacon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ham & Cheese Omelette** (270 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

1 Egg* & 2 Slices of Thick-Cut Hickory Smoked Bacon** (170-240 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Mini Volcano (1030 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

1 Biscuit & Country Gravy with 2 Slices of Thick-Cut Hickory Smoked Bacon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ham & Cheese Omelette** (270 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

1 Egg* & 2 Slices of Thick-Cut Hickory Smoked Bacon** (170-240 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Breakfast Extras

Classic Bear Claw (1110 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Country Red Potatoes (330 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Strip-Cut Hash Browns (380 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

2 Biscuits & Gravy (1290 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

McCann's Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal (740 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fruit Bowl (230 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Specialty Meat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Toast or English Muffin (360/460 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Classic Bear Claw (1110 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Country Red Potatoes (330 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Strip-Cut Hash Browns (380 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

2 Biscuits & Gravy (1290 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

McCann's Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal (740 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fruit Bowl (230 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Specialty Meat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Toast or English Muffin (360/460 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beverages

Java City Coffee (0 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Assorted Juices (180-270 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh O.J. [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lemonade (280 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Arnold Palmer (140 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pepsi Soft Drinks (0-300 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Iced Tea (0 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Tea (160 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot Tea (0 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot Chocolate (80 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

2% Milk [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Java City Coffee (0 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Assorted Juices (180-270 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh O.J. [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lemonade (280 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Arnold Palmer (140 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pepsi Soft Drinks (0-300 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Iced Tea (0 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Tea (160 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot Tea (0 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot Chocolate (80 cals.) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

2% Milk [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Sacramento for healthy meals suggestion.

McDonalds ( 6370 Mack Rd )

Denny’s ( 7401 Elsie Ave )

Visit below restaurant in Sacramento for healthy meals suggestion.

McDonalds ( 6370 Mack Rd )

Denny’s ( 7401 Elsie Ave )

Write An Anonymous Review

Meghan C.

Been here several times for breakfast and dinner, big portions. Have tried their chicken fried steak and eggs for breakfast, and their ribs for dinner. Their burgers are good too.
(5)
Jared W.

Huge portions of good food.
(3)
Natalie C.

The first time we went there I would have given it a 4 star rating...coulda been 5 had it not been for our ditsy waitress. She messed up my order complete I ordered the fried chicken and she sent out a chicken fried steak. (which is one of my least favorite foods in the world) she gave me a free chili which I must admit was some of the best chilli ever with the most delicious corn bread muffin! When the chicken finally came out it was cooked PERFECTLY! so delicious! and their mashed potatoes...Bombtastic! Then she forgot our dessert! Waited like 20 minutes before calling over the manager and we just canceled it. She came out 10 minutes later with the dessert in hand and had no clue what was going on. So minus the ditsy waitress the experience with the taste of food was good. Then I went for breakfast with my husband. The breakfast was bland and probably meant for the blue haired crowd. It LOOKED absolutely amazing but the taste was bleh. We went again for dinner with some more family and I had the salmon with mashed potatoes. I ordered the chilli for myself this time around and it was not as good and the corn bread which I loved on the first visit was cold and dry and the chilli was alright. The salmon was COMPLETELY well done and over cooked and tasted bland. The potatoes were not as good as the last time and mediocre at best. So if you go there I would say they have some good nights and some off nights. Nothing to write home about and very inconsistent.
(2)
Muilan C.

This place is really good! I ordered the California Bacon Benedict with hash browns. My boyfriend ordered the Chicken Fried Steak (small paw) with hash browns and a biscuit. We also ordered a small stack of their sweet cream pancakes. We just had to try their pancakes because we've heard great things about them. FYI their portions are huge! Go there hungry! Even though we ordered the small pancakes, we still had leftovers because they were huge! The service was really good and quick. Not sure if it was because we got there around 1pm. The decor at this diner is interesting and quite funny. I'm glad I purchased two Groupons for this place. We will definitely be coming back.
(5)
Paul R.

3/30/12: Went to Black Bear Restaurant for lunch. Gina de la Rosa ordered the chili cheese burger, she did not like it, she said it was dry and not tasty. I ordered sunny side up eggs, bacon strips, fried potatoes, biscuit, hot chocolate. I received a 2nd refill on the hot chocolate - free. My order was excellent! Iul Aelees ordered turkey with gravy. Iul could not finish her meal and says it was not that tasty. The place was crowded, the employees greeted us with smiles and were very friendly. The service is exceptional. Iul drove us back to work and my stomach felt like it was going to burst. Thank you Iul for treating me to lunch!
(3)
Renee N.

Where do you go when driving back from a Tahoe trip with nothing but Taco Bells and Denny's in sight? Black Bear Diner. I got the tortellini alfredo minus the chicken, Oleg went for corned beef re-hash. I also got a chocolate milkshake, and that was definitely a win. My dinner came with a salad, which was average, possibly above-average for a diner style chain. It came out with a huge hunk of corn bread, for which I am a sucker, and my delicious shake. Our meals came out a bit later and we both fantastic. Oleg's had a huge biscuit that he planned not to eat until I grabbed some of the awesome corned beef and put it between two bits with some hot sauce. Perfect--like a less-fancy Giordano's sandwich. He then followed my lead and devoured the biscuit in its entirety. On my end the alfredo was great and came ringed by what appeared to be fresh chopped (not frozen, not bagged) carrots and broccoli, a welcome addition to an otherwise less-than-healthy dinner. Black Bear continues to win amongst other chains, and while it most likely wouldn't stand a chance measured against other SF foodie destinations, as a road trip option it can't be beat.
(4)
Michael D.

This was opening night so I expect it will be much better in a few weeks. Service was very slow, took approx 10 minutes for someone to take our drink orders, it then took 45 mins to bring the food after ordering it. When the food did come it was not correct and my plate was a little on the cold side prob waiting on the other dish to be ready? They did apologize for the wait and it was very busy. Will give it another shot in a few weeks.
(3)
Reenie M.

This rating is for the yummy diner food. The server was atrocious and should find a job that does not interfere with his own schedule. He told us we were his last table last night, then told another table we were his last table, then did everything in his power to get rid of us: reaching across the table to pick up the condiments, turn the ketchup upside down, then on his next visit back again to pick up the salt & pepper, then replace the S&P, then back again to put another [beat up, cheap looking] menu behind the condiments, back again to check our wine bottle which he did not pour for us, just set back down. I really wanted to ask him if we were in his way! then my sis told him we were going to be a while and maybe he should turn us over to another server so he could LEAVE. no no that's fine. um - it wasn't fine for US. I see my sis about twice a year and she was getting back on a plane in the morning and we wanted to TALK, preferably without your arm in between us. Then they started vacuuming!! at 730 pm with a half full restaurant. I don't think I will go back there.
(3)
DeAnna M.

First, let me start off by saying this restaurant was very clean and roomy. The server was great every one was very friendly and informative when it came to questions regarding the menu...
(4)
Jeremy D.

Fast and friendly service. Their portions are huge. The food is ok though, nothing memorable. I went there with 4 people for lunch. One of my friends didn't eat her food because she didn't like her omelet and hash browns.
(3)
JC R.

Try the Chicken Fried Steak. It's about as big as a bear's paw.
(3)
Kathleen B.

i wasn't impressed with this place at all. the food was mediocre and the service wasn't anything to rave about. i'm sure there are better breakfast places to enjoy.
(2)
debbie l.

For a chain restaurant I think Black Bear is a notch above all the rest. The breakfast options are endless and delicious and the fresh squeezed oj is so good. Just be sure to order your bacon crisp or it may be not cooked much. Everything we have had has been great and the service is top notch way better than a lot of much higher priced bistros in Sac.
(4)
Will C.

Be prepared to eat. People on a diet or carb counters shouldn't eat here. The portions are huge. I ordered the New York steak and eggs which came with country red potatoes, 3 eggs, and get this...6 slices of toasted sourdough bread. Top that off with coffee...oh my! Very busy for a Saturday morning - wait time was about 15 minutes for our group of 5. Service was great, friendly, will come back again...when you're hungry of course!
(4)
John G.

Id say 3.8 I just had a burger and fries w/shake. Was painfully stuffed when leaving, price was up there a lil, waitress was excellent. They had a decent Menu, problem for me is they are always packed!! I went on a Saturday @ like 2p, 3/4 full!! I would never attempt to go during peak hours. Very solid place.
(3)
Charlie K.

This is difficult. We love this place, so it's really worth five stars. I like breakfast, country fried steak, their burgers, meatloaf, and several other things. My wife loves their fried shrimp and garlic mashed potatoes. She says their blackberry ice cream is the most amazing finish to a wonderful meal. We always take some of our meal home for another day. We have been to a dozen of their restaurants and they are uniformly excellent, with cheerful staff who keep my coffee or iced tea replenished. Now to the difficult - we had their brunch buffet on Sunday, and it sucked, so that's where the 4 stars came from. The food on the buffet was cold, and nobody was watching, so some pans were empty. The omelet maker was gone most of the time while we were there. Our waitress brought a pancake shortly before we left. We arrived at noon, so maybe they were anticipating the buffet close at 1PM. She mostly kept coffee in my cup, so thanks for that. We will try again another time.
(4)
Eric M.

Service was HORRIBLE! My ordeal was a nightmare, server dropped a syrup laden fork on me, could not get a drink refill to save my life, food took over 1 hour while others who were seated after me had their food brought to them. When I complained I was blown off like it was no big deal......I usually like Black Bear Diner and cannot believe the poor quality of service at this location. What a shame!
(1)
Galen S.

Was brought here by a close friend who knows I like diners and most things that come with them. Oh my god! This place rocks. The coffee is excellent and free flowing. Do you like big portions? This is the place for you. I had the "Grizz" breakfast, 2 pancakes (sweet cream - YUM), 3 eggs, hash-browns, sausage, ham and bacon! I was impressed. Plus on top of all that they delivered a biscuit and gravy I hadn't ordered, it was boxed and given away. Delicious and massive and free. Service is good. I highly recommend Black Bear Diner!
(5)
Meuy R.

I went there for the first time on 5/27/2011 and I gotta say I'm impressed. At the time I didn't know, but when the host grabbed the menus, I was like, huh, why is he grabbing newspapers?? only to find out it was the menu...haha. Our server greeted us right away and was very attentive. The food was great...the pancakes are bomb. On the first bite of the pancake, I was in love...lol! I never tasted any pancake like that. I ordered the Joe Hobo's Omelette which came with some kind of bread, but I told our server I didn't want any, but she suggested the pancake, so I said okay. I'm so glad I got it. My husband ordered the Chicken Fried Steak. Both of us enjoyed our breakfast and we will be going back there soon! Ever since, I've been craving their pancakes!
(4)
Josh d.

I ordered the volcano (i think that was the name) breakfast special. I didn't expect they'd give me a 10lb breakfast. It came with 2 giant pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 big sausages. The pancakes were moist and delicious. Best sausage links I've had. The place was packed when I we got there for breakfast (around 9:30am), so come early if/when you plan to hit this place.
(5)
Angela V.

I like coming here for breakfast, it is definitely better then all the other chain breakfast joint such as Denny's and IHOP. I love the waffles, fresh squeezed oj and sandwiches. I'll past on the dinner though, not the best steak I've had, its just mediocre.
(3)
James C.

Had dinner here last night, dinner was very good. David the owner introduced himself to us, have me his business card and call him he we had a problem. Tried the Sunday brunch, food was good, but limited selection. Service was excellent, after my first meal at Black Bear I didn't expect anything less.
(4)
Cind Y.

Cute interior and clever concept w the newspaper menu. Large portions and one of few places that make the perfect pancakes.
(5)
Kachet J.

Good food, large portions! Couldn't finish it all! Great service... very friendly server (he had curly hair) that made our experience very great. Large menu. I like having choices, but too many choices is a little overwhelming! Got too full and didn't have a bear claw or any other dessert! Won't make that mistake next time, they looked scrumptious!
(4)
Casey S.

We could smell the delicious food as we entered the parking lot! We're North Natomas residents and our good friend Ryan has been telling us to try this place forever! What a nice surprise. We thought it was more of a truck stop kind of place- how wrong. It's a really nice resturant. Our daughter was digging the carved bears outside! (Think South Lake Tahoe!). Despite being very busy, we only had to wait a minute for a cozy booth. The host- Greg entertained us with air guitar while we waited. The menu is unbelievable! Homemade corned beef hash and eggs, huge juicy burger baskets with crispy hot fries, tri tip steak salads and the infamous chicken fried steak! My little one got the ribs. They were so tender and juicy, they fell off the bone. Her happy little face had BBQ sauce all over it! My husband got the chicken Fried Steak -the 10oz size. It was absolutely perfect. Tender and crispy on the outside, (not greasy at all) and perfectly cooked on the insdie. My husband's quite the chicken Friend Steak affcionado. He said it was one of the best he's ever had. Now this man doesn't hand out kudo's frequently. That's a testimonial! It came with huge home made biscuits - a little crispy and buttery on the outside, and flaky tender on the inside. We had them put gravy on them. The portions were lumberjack size-plentiful! I have dietary constraints, which made Black Bear Diner that much more exciting for us. Like Jack Sprat, I can eat no fat. I had a customized omelette. Egg beaters, mushrooms, spinach, some ham and a little parmesean. Which I drizzled with some of the house hot sauce. What is that green magic in a bottle? Washed it down with fresh squeezed OJ -Wow. It was delectable! Finally a local place that we can all eat together. My facebook friend all started chiming in and told me I couldn't leave without the famous blackberry pie. The pie went home with us. Can't wait until I'm hungry enough to eat it tonight! Deeply satisfying!
(5)
David D.

I had my usual country fried steak here, and It is my favorite so far in the Sac area. The gravy was plenty flavorful and the home fries were not dried out. The biscuit was kinda an awkward block of biscuit and not as great, but the gravy made up for it. For some reason, the coffee here tasted exceptionally good. I like the general feel of this place, and I think this will be my usual breakfast spot.
(4)
Steve J.

Their Bacon & Cheddar Cheese Stuffed Burger and the Bob's Big Bear Burger are two of the best I've had outside my house. I'm told the Rueben is great, also. The service was excellent. The waitress was friendly and attentive, and for the amount of food we got, the price was more than fair. We will definitely go, again.
(5)
MISTY D.

Me and my husband were very surprised when we seen that the Black Bear wasn't that busy. So we are seated given some water and told that our waitress would be with us soon, we'll we sat there for about ten minutes and we are looking around and there's all these waitresses just standing around talking. So my husband asks me if we should leave and I had thought the same thing yes, we should, but we didn't leave without telling the Manager that we were leaving, because service was bad.Remember it's not that busy, they weren't swamped there were a lot of empty tables. There's always another place to eat and we went to the Tower Cafe, they were really busy,but great service, and the food was really, really good.
(1)
Robert I.

Just left the Black Bear Diner on El Centro in Natomas....party of 13@ 2pm. I was with my "girlfriend" and her family which I was meeting for the first time. It was recommended to me to order the BIGFOOT chicken fried steak. I chose french fries and chicken noodle soup with a biscuit for my sides. Just as many reviews described...lotsa food. I wasn't hugely impressed with the quality, but the quantity was more than enough. Ok, I weigh 240# and I struggled with the thought of finishing the steak or maybe taking it home. Before I knew it I was 2/3 through the steak, there wasn't enough left to take home so...I plowed through the rest. During the meal, I was looking around the table. What was being enjoyed the most was the breakfast plates. I saw a plate that had a huge stack of eggs, sausage, potatoes, gravy and some other goodies. Boy, my eyes got huge on this strangers plate but, I kept my head down. I didn't want to drool....lol. My girl ordered a California Burger and it looked good...made to order. She said she was only gonna take a bite...watching her weight. A couple minutes later....I looked over and noticed she had skipped her salad and scarfed down the whole burger. She's a tiny girl...never hungry...I was surprised. So, I guess what my overall opinion is....this is a good place to get stuffed. I wasn't completely happy with MY MEAL but, I still want to go back and have breakfast. Maybe, I just ordered the wrong item...maybe my taste buds weren't in the mood. I have "big" plans to go back for BREAKFAST. I really can't say the food was bad...you just gotta experience it for yourself. Either way, I had a good time.
(4)
Jeannette C.

Excellent service and generous portions. Had their patty melt and breakfast plate called the grizz. Everything was delicious. Our drinks were refilled before our glasses was empty. Kids friendly with coloring activities & crayons . Definitely have to try their jalapeno sauce, i love it with my hash brown. Will recommend this place to friends and family and return for more visits.
(4)
James G.

My family discovered Black Bear Diner in Mt. Shasta, the first in the chain. Ever since then we have been loyal customers for their food, service, and ambiance. When we discovered a Black Bear Diner in Natomas, we were in heaven. We love this place and return far more often than we should. The Natomas store is the first to have its own building constructed from the ground up solely for Black Bear. The others were conversions from other restaurants. The quality shows in the venue as well.
(5)
Jacob J.

food is average; management (Artie Reveles) is horrible. I think he may have been a dishwasher before a manager. Just my opinion based on his customer service.
(1)
B B.

I have only eaten breakfast here a handful of times but it has always been fantastic. Their sweet cream pancakes are A-mazing! And the biscuits and gravy are pretty good as well. I love the atmosphere and the decor. The employees are always super friendly. I love coming with friends or the family on a weekend. I will definitely keep coming back!
(5)
Quinnell T.

I come from an area where there are two Black Bear Diners that I frequent at least once a month and have always been very satisfied with the food and service. So I expected the same from this establishment. The restaurant is twice the size of the ones in my area and very brand new. Gorgeous, in fact. Our server was wonderful and gracious as are the other servers in my home town. But the food....oh my goodness.....I ordered a California Avocado Burger that is to come with a mix of jack and cheddar cheese. This burger came without the cheese but loaded with shredded lettuce and Thousand Island dressing and with some kind of specialty bun that was way too much bread for the burger. My friend ordered a Western BBQ burger and his was also loaded with shredded lettuce on the bottom of the patty with mayonnaise...as if the burger had been made upside down. I told the server my burger was missing the cheese and he promptly returned my plate to the kitchen. A few minutes later the manger returned with my plate and informed me that they use a shredded cheese mix, that when melted, resembles a sauce (Thousand Island dressing). Huh? I know what yellow and white cheese looks like when it melts and when it does melt, it does not turn pink and have pickle chunks in it. So I had a California burger that was mostly bread and shredded lettuce with Thousand Island dressing and a melted mix of shredded jack and cheddar cheese. And when it came time to order dessert (hoping to salvage the meal) and asked for blackberry cobbler....the only option was one apple cobbler, lots of bread pudding (which neither of us like....who does?), one coconut cream pie and one chocolate cream pie. We shared the one apple cobbler and ran across a few slices of apple that had a gummy bear texture....ewwww....I will not be returning to this particular Black Bear Diner.
(2)
Kyle G.

Excellent food at a decent price. Not to mention they have quite a few cute waitresses working there
(4)
Chris A.

My homie was talkin bout the chicken fried steak served here all weekend on our way to tahoe/reno so we stopped by on the way back to sf. I had to try the bigfoot chicken fried steak to see if it was all the hype he was talkin bout. Didn't regret it. Piled all my hashbrowns on top of the chicken fried steak followed by the over easy eggs with the yolk dripping down and then doused the mountain of food with tabasco sauce and ketchup. Didn't really like the biscuits. Got a side of gravy for em too. It didn't really help em either but that won't stop me from orderin this again.
(4)
Denise M.

I have gone here for breakfast two times this week and the service has been great and the food tastes so fresh. They have fresh squeezed orange juice. Today the place was so packed I had to park on the street in front of Burger King, even so the wait was only 5 min and our food and service was great. My husband loves their burgers and shakes and the portions are huge. Go check it out.
(5)
David J.

Breakfast should not take longer than the wait for seats on a busy morning of course that could be why we waited so long. But the food was good. The chicken fried steak was huge. But they ran out of cinnamon rolls. I'm going back just to get some hopefully it won't be as long a wait.
(3)
Gary R.

I have been a fan of the Black Bear for years, back when there was only one and that was way up in Shasta. I was delighted to have one close to home, and this one started off pretty good. Now it has gotten so bad that after tonight I will not likely patronize the Natomas location again. Tonight I went in for dinner, was greeted at the front desk and taken to a seat, where I sat without anyone paying attention for about five minutes. There were plenty of servers walking around, but none of them paid me any attention. This happened once before when I was there with my wife. That time we stayed; tonight I left, never to return. As I was leaving the manager on duty tried to get me back and said he didn't want to make me angry. He was too little too late, and I was already too angry to eat. Had this been the only problem I might even reconsider, but the last few visits to Black Bear have all been ruined by inattentive or uncaring help. A couple weeks ago I ordered a taco salad, which was delivered without the dressing. By the time I was able to flag down an employee (a busboy as my sever was nowhere to be seen) and waiting even longer, I finally got my dressing just as my wife finished her dinner. My wife ordered a dinner but was brought entirely the wrong order. As mine was served at the same time she just ate what she got, but we weren't too thrilled with the experience. I could go on and on about my bad experiences there, but--until tonight--kept going back because I like their chicken taco salad without the shell for a tasty and healthy dinner. If they don't get some decent servers and train them better, this place will be closed in a few months. Even the road warriors on which the chain depends will not stop there as more are more people get shafted.
(1)
John S.

Party of three and we all ordered milk shakes. 15 minutes later they show up and two of them are in mugs and one in classic style glass. After waiting waiting 15 minutes for my drink I expect it to look like the picture on the menu. I don't care to hear excuses about not having enough dishware in a over half empty restaurant. Right now as type this they are running a noisy floor sweeper as I'm trying eat.
(1)
Letia G.

I've been here twice, once for dinner, and once for the breakfast buffet. The service is pretty slow but the food is pretty good. It seems like they are still trying to figure out the whole management and server thing. AS a customer just observing the atmosphere I see a lot of confusion and disconnect in the staff. It is unfortunate because they have the customer base. I have friends who swear by this place but I just believe I can find better food AND better service at other places, so why settle for ok food and crappy service? Hopefully they work out their issues so I can become a regular too.
(2)
Shannon H.

Went again two weeks ago and just have to say that the service is great! Our waiters name was Donny (I think!) and he was so attentive and friendly, it makes it worth while to come here - not to mention the food is good and the portion sizes are huge :) Still love it, just wanted to reconfirm it!
(4)
Drew T.

3.5 stars. better than most chain breakfasts, but the service is a little off and some of the dishes could use some freshening up. It's still a great bargain for a big breakfast. Now if only they were open later and downtown.
(3)
Sean F.

We were first timers at the Black Bear Diner. Our Groupon brought us in ($14 of food for $7). Lunch for 4 people, two adults and two kids, ran $46, $5 tip included. Pros: Great service, Nate did a great job taking care of the family during the meal. Excellent kids menu. The girls loved their macaroni & cheese and chicken strips. Great family atmosphere. Good portions on the kids meals. Kids, especially loved the free sundae. Cons: Word of mouth and reviews mentioned the "huge" portions that they give their customers, which is what enticed us to begin with, but this wasn't our experience. The Two adult meals were a little lacking. The Fish and Chips were served cold. I ordered the "Giant" shrimp plate. I received 6 breaded shrimps and a half order of fries for $12, initially. When I questioned the portion size, I was given more fries, but was told that six shrimp was a "Black Bear Diner" huge portion. I'd hate to see what a "Regular" portion was. In addition, I was never given my side of coleslaw that was part of the meal. During our ordering process, we were asked which we wanted soup or salad with our meal, not realizing that these weren't included in the meal until the check came and we were charged an additional $4, for a cup of soup and a green salad. $4 isn't going to break us and, as a professional salesman, I can appreciate "assuming the sale" since it was posted in tiny print on the menu that these were options , but we left feeling a little taken, especially gien the size and quality. Overall: Prior to our meal being served, we were approached by a Black Bear Diner Corporate Rep, who asked us to take a quick survey in exchange for an additional $5 off our meal, which we were happy to do. It wasn't until after we finished our meal, that we were told we could not use the $5 off, because we were Groupon customers. This was a management call. The atmosphere and decor were nice, but the quality and portions of the food were nothing to write home about. We had expected a cheap Denny's or Carrow's style lunch, given the Groupon. Since we rarely get to eat out, it'll probably be a while before we redeem our $5 voucher. I would have loved to have given this place a glowing review, based on the service, Management and the cooks dropped the ball and you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Run of the mill fare, not worth going out of your way for.
(3)
Paul F.

I love this place. It's like a clean Denny's only with better food, ambiance, and servers. There are no drug induced hungry people there and it's perfectly located near the freeway. My son, who is on a chicken finger only diet, loves the chicken club sandwich! My Wife and other son, the human garbage disposal in compact form, almost always orders the tri-tip dip. A better alternative to IHOP
(4)
A K.

The diner was situated across from our hotel, so we decided to go there for breakfast before our flight. They easily accommodated our group of 8 and were pretty quick in terms of service. I ordered the cinnamon bun french toast and it was delicious and very filling. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their food. It's a great place to go for breakfast!
(4)
Tashara H.

Wow.. I've seen Black Bear Diners popping up throughout CA and have never tried one until my friend and I stopped by for a Sunday breakfast three weeks ago. I've heard they're hit or miss depending on location. This location is definitely a hit! The decor was woodsy-cozy but not country clutter creepy. Music was from a jukebox--not too loud or quiet. As I always do when visiting a new location, I took time to watch waiters delivering plates of food ordered by other patrons. Everything appeared piping hot and oversized in portion, and smelled wonderful. My friend ordered an omelet and biscuit with gravy and I ordered eggs, bacon and, fruit. We both thoroughly enjoyed our meals. The food was more than plentiful, warm, and not greasy (a major plus!). I couldn't believe how fresh the fruit was! Our waiter was hospitable and properly attentive, our drinks were never empty, and the coffee was fresh. All in all, a wonderful meal. We will return next time we're in the area.
(4)
Jeannie L.

I bought a groupon to give this place a try. It's tucked behind the freeway across from the Fairfield Inn. The parking lot was really full and there were people already waiting in line at 11:30am on a Sunday. We waited about 20 minutes for a table. The servers were really nice. And the food is absolutely delicious. I ordered the corned beef hash and you could tell it was made from scratch. Large chunks of fresh corned beef along with large cut hashbrown along with fluffy scrambled eggs. My husband orded the belgian waffle. It was fluffy on the inside yet crisp on the outside. Made the old fashion way in a cast iron skillet. His slice of ham was thick and juicy, unlike the canned or processed ham where it's dense and blah. The portions were pretty big compared to Denny's and IHOP. Never will i go to the commericialized chain restaurants again. This is a place that i would take my dad to because the food is that good.
(4)
Scott F.

My coworker went here last week and raved about it, so we decided to go today for lunch to celebrate a couple of birthdays. We had 7 people in our party, and were seated right away. The decor has a homey cabin feel similar to Claim Jumper's, but instead of deer/bucks on the walls, there are bears. The menu has a wide range of items, from your usual greasy spoon type of breakfasts, burgers, and fish for dinner. If a place serves breakfast all day, I almost always order it even if it's lunch or dinner time. Since I had to go back to work, I went against my urge and had the taco salad. The portion was plentiful, and very tasty with a cilantro chipotle dressing, but not spectacular. My coworkers had the big huge burger, and trip tip sandwiches, which all looked very good. The server was energetic, and very helpful in his suggestions, and came early and often to refill our drink orders. What prevents me from giving a 5 star rating is the fire alarm went of twice, which had something to do with the maintenance guy on the roof, and the food in my opinion and my coworker's opinion wasn't out of this world. Next time I will follow my instincts and get the breakast, which I saw many patrons do.
(4)
Lydia B.

we have been here over ten times on Sunday mornings for breakfast and have always had very good service and great food. i cant recommend this location enough they are excellent!
(5)
moey m.

i camped on the river recently and stopped at the black bear before and after my trip. both times i was treated to friendly, attentive servers, huge portions of tasty food (breakfast, lunch, and dinner all day!), clean facilities, reasonable prices, and a comfortable setting. i'll be stopping here every summer on my annual visit to the area.
(5)
Penny C.

The diner was cute in it's interior and decorations. We got to enjoy it as we waited 15 minutes before another server asked if we were ready to order. From a newspaper of a menu My Luv had the pancakes and I had the verde rancheros. Food was huge in portion and tasted well, but my sausage and hash browns were rock, burnt , hard. My biggest complaint was the staff was so enthusastic with each other that they were more of a distraction than courteous. One server needed to talk loudly with each server and cook that I thought I was part of the conversation. When we asked 3 different servers for a glass of milk, the final server walked right past our table with glass in hand because she was more interested in being involved with 2 server's conversation. Literally I could have swiped the glass from her hand. Dessert was to go and I am happy with the outcome.
(3)
Myron G.

The theme of this place is Paul Bunyan cabin. Lots of heavy logs ant timber construction, that's very nice. Everything is clean and neat. Personable, friendly staff was good, but maybe just a bit too enthusiastic and eager to please, or maybe that's just me. So, now on to the food. I ordered the BIGFOOT Chicken-fried Steak & Eggs with (so called homemade) biscuits, and a large orange Juice. I asked if the C/F steak was grilled or deep fried. New York steak and eggs was going to be my alternate choice. I was told it was deep fried, (which always turns out horrible), but my server assured me their C/F steak was really good, so his winning personality convinced me and I ordered it. BIG MISTAKE ! The steak was, as usual, dry and leathery (when they shoot it through the grease) instead of grilling it. The crust was thick and crutchy, as it should be, and then topped off with some rather tasteless gravy on top, which is an other reason why I never order it. The eggs were eggs, no problem there. The hash browns cooked to death, close to burned. Biscuits were huge, heavy, doughy and did have anything about them that came close to "homemade." Then there's the "Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice," NOT!" Tasted right out of the carton. Why-oh-why didn't go for the stake and eggs. A BIG breakfast for sure, but quantity in place of quality impresses me very little. Orange juice was $4 a glass, I thought at the very lest for that price, the REAL THING would have been as advertised.
(2)
Amanda N.

came here for the first time on sunday. there was a 20 minute wait which isn't that bad, but i have never waited to get breakfast before! haha. the portions here is huge! the price isn't bad neither! this place sure beats ihop and denny's tho! the huckleberry lemonade was really good! don't order the fresh squeezed orange tho... yeah sure it's fresh squeezed but for $3.99?? that was half of one of our meal. you can probably go to the store and get a whole bag of oranges for $3.99. lol.
(4)
Mark M.

Had breakfast on way to airport. It was OK, but nothing special. Service was weird... our waiter was nice, but it seemed soooo unauthentic and phony. Then, he disappeared when I needed something. Oh well.
(3)
Syndi B.

It was ok. Pricier than other Black Bears. Cute decor :)
(3)
Joe P.

I have been to several locations and they always come through.Love the country style food and the Large portions.Usually for breakfast and have had several different items and all were good !Service has always been up to par also.
(4)
Sarah S.

I came in on a busy Saturday morning with two other people, but we were seated right away. BBD is a pretty typical family diner with huge portions, but at least they're good at it. The food is a little better than Denny's and IHOP in my opinion. I love their bear claws and cobbler, they have good prices, and you can get almost any meal in a smaller portion without having to be in diapers. We actually had great service, which was surprising since they had just opened.
(4)
Kelley M.

Sat at counter. Quick service. Ordered Bears choice for breakfast. Not the best flavor. Seems to be catering more to the masses. Smaller specialized places care more about quality and fresh flavors. Could have made this standard meal at home-meh!
(2)
LuvFood S.

Came here on a Saturday around 1:30ish to avoid the weekend breakfast crowd. Well, the place was pretty empty and not busy at all. Walked into the lobby and there was no one to great us. We just stood there for a while looking around and finally someone from the back of the kitchen saw us and greeted us. Hostess said she would get a booth ready for us so we waited...some more...eyeing the cleaning bucket of dirty water sitting out in the lobby with no one attending to it. I don't understand why we had to wait since the place was only about 1/4 full. After we were seated our waitress handed flimsy newspaper menus. There are lots of items to choose from and it took me a while to decide on what to get. When the food finally came after a couple of other tables who were seated after us got their food first, we had to ask our waitress for knives. When we had ordered she said she would get the rest of our table settings...she obviously forgot. When we were done eating, she left the check at our table. We put a credit card down on top of it waiting for her to take and run it through. She ignored us after she gave us the check and stood behind us chatting to the customer sitting behind us. After being ignored and not informed to pay at the front counter, we figured it out and got up. Waitress said a less than enthusiastic goodbye with a slight head turn. Yeah...goodbye and goodbye to your tip. The food: Joe's Bear Scramble - It was alright, nothing spectacular. Scrambled eggs with spinach, onions, diced sausage, and ground beef (hold the cheese). Served on top of chunky red potatoes cooked on a grill. Doused with ketchup and hot sauce, this dish was not too bad. Corned Beef Hash - Not from a can and made from in-house cooked corned beef. Not what was expected. A small portion of shredded corned beef that was dry...I mean DRY! There was no hash going on within the corned beef...just the meat. Hash browns were served on the side. Don't get this dish. Chicken Fried Steak - It was rich, heavy, and oily. Came with a creamy white gravy with sausage bits in it. On the menu it was called the Bigfoot, but it really wasn't that big. All breakfast entrees came with a giant biscuit, which was forgettable. Side of sweet cream pancakes - too sweet and dense. Ate around the edges because the center was thick, dense, and didn't taste good. Service - crappy. Tables were not set and ready for customers at a time of day when it was super slow. I won't be coming back here for breakfast.
(2)
Allen B.

Good chicken fried steak and corned beef hash.
(4)
Jeremy P.

I have been to the Black Bear 4 times since they opened and 4 times they have screwed up my order. Maybe the people in the kitchen don't know the difference between a scrambled and over easy egg?-That's just one example. I can see getting things wrong opening night, maybe even opening week, but come on... get your act together now. Though greasy, the breakfast seems to be the way to go. The sweet cream pancakes are quite good if you like eating the type of cake usually reserved for birthdays, for breakfast. The home-fries, which they seem very proud of, are just OK. The portions are big, but pretty bland. I guess they figure Americans are fat and we don't care about things like quality and taste. The burgers are bland and they only give you 5 onion rings to go with them. My wife had the pot roast which was overcooked and dry. Perhaps the biggest sin are the seemingly frozen and definitely microwaved biscuits. There is a southern granny somewhere planning a Rambo style assault on this place just for that reason. I guess I will stick with the truck stop across the street, at least they are open all night, whereas the Black Bear closes pretty early.
(2)
Whute A.

This place is great! The food is actually fresh and feels like mama's home cooked meals. The staff has been good and the waits usually not that long. They do get pretty busy.
(4)
Travis M.

Nice family restaurant. good food too.
(4)
D. B.

Good menu and good food. But slow service two times I have been. Long wait to order. Longer wait for food to come. Server stated, "I don't know what is going on in that kitchen today but they have been off all day." Hey manager, do something!!! Soda was not refilled. No water offered. But area needed a restaurant like this.
(2)
Brian K.

Service was amazingly friendly. I was asked 6 times if I had been served. Their bear claws are huge. The menu was gigantic and the food was fast and delicious!!!
(5)
Arish R.

In the mood for comfort food? This place pretty much delivers on that. Imagine Denny's on steroids with really pleasant staff. The portions are nuts for the prices - you get so much food! Enjoy yourself but for your gut, butt, and heart's sake, just eat 'til you're satisfied and confident you won't starve to death then save the rest for later. No need to ask for extras here (ranch included).
(4)
Denise C.

Waiting for a flight home and this place was across from our Marriot. My husband and I were pleased with the food, portions and prices. I ordered a smaller plate and still took home left overs. Waited a bit long for our check it seemed but maybe we just ate it too fast.
(4)
Megan W.

Huge breakfast portions. I ordered a hot chocolate, pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon. Mmm bacon. I think I go out for breakfast for the thick cut bacon that's crispy in all the right ways. Service was prompt and I loved all the bears!
(3)
Glock P.

This place has the best breakfast and lunch if you want good food with big portions. I had their Belgium waffles with sliced ham and it was delicious. But be prepared to wait a long time for breakfast or lunch because there was a long line and we were there waiting for at least an hour before we ate. They have buffets for breakfast and lunch so I will have to go back and try it. I noticed they recently added some prime rib to their menus, so it will be interesting how their prime rib will taste. A+ for the food and I give them a C+ for speedy service.
(4)
Koala E.

for good ole fashioned comfort food, this place can't be beat!! I'm consistently surprised by the quality and not-greasyness of this little place. I have tried the pot roast (lots of meat, not greasy), the chicken strips (perfectly crisp, delicious batter), the barbeque chicken salad (a favorite), the gobbler, and the chicken pot pie. All were delicious, and far better quality than I even hoped at that price. Can't think of a better comfort food spot. The only things I don't like here are the desserts - I've tried that chocolate lava cake and the bear claw, so I can't speak for the other stuff, but they were not worth the calories. Everything else is though!
(5)
Crystal H.

Black Bear Diner opens September 28th!!!!
(5)
Lena N.

Ordered Eggs Benedict with country potatoes. It was absolutely delicious, cooked to perfection. We also tried their bread pudding...awwwesome! Service was excellent. Everyone was friendly. I'd come back again just to try the other dishes.
(5)
Kato L.

Crazy place on sunday
(5)
Rene L.

i had to come back and try the patty melt at 9:45 in the morning and very glad i got to partake in the ewwy gooeyness of the swiss and grilled onions and toasted rye my oh my. they do fries right with a perfect crispness and salted just so. i needed my cup o joe, but that just gives me a reason to come back for a choco shake or the warm bear claw a la mode... damn you David D.! :-)
(5)
Alani N.

This afternoon was my first time visiting the Black Bear Diner and I will definitely be BACK! I was so pleased to learn that they serve breakfast all day long!! I was able to customize my omelet and it came out perfect with no problems and tasted delicious! My boyfriend's breakfast was equally as great and we were happy to see a lot of options in addition to pork. I have to say, the most fabulous part of the meal were the sweet cream pancakes!!! They just melted in my mouth - AMAZING!! Also, the service was wonderful - our servers changed but they were both very friendly and attentive.
(4)
Russ S.

Breakfast. Tried the hash brown "strips". Massive portion of unedible burned potato strips. rest of breakfast was fine. im just sayin. get the red potatoes.
(3)
Nia W.

A couple of days ago I heard wonderful things about Black Bear Diner from different people in the same day. I thought it was a sign to try. I DIDN'T enjoy it!! It was 8am on a weekday...Not that busy. Less than 10 tables in the restaurant. It took our server almost 10 minutes to approach our table. I NEEDED my coffee a lot quicker than that. I ordered the cinnamon french toast (heard amazing things about it)...It was dry. I wasn't impressed at all. Very disappointed. I might try again because it might of been an off day. But very disappointing to my first impression
(2)
kristina n.

Food was tasty and reasonably priced. Though the guy who sat us was kinda a creeper. He keept staring and trying to make conversation. We just wanted to eat lunch.
(3)
Mani T.

The best pancakes in the world! This place is waay better than iHop. I can't believe I used to eat there.
(5)
David K.

Ordered Tri-tip to go. Awful, Cooked to death and dry. It shows a lack of careing on the staffs part. Some one screwed up cooking the tri-tip and they served anyways.
(1)
L S.

I will be back here many times. Fast service and the food was delicious. I had the chicken fried steak - I thought it was quite good. Better than I've had at other places locally. Others around the table had the pot roast (tender and tasty), the fried chicken (excellent), and my 3 year old had the kids volcano (pancakes, eggs, bacon and sausage). The pancakes were incredible - so sweet and cakey. No syrup needed. The menu had so many choices - the hardest part was deciding on something. I'm thrilled to have a diner with plenty of southern style comfort foods. The decor was cute - reminiscent of something you would find in Disneyland with it's log cabin theme and bears all over the place. Plus, the prices were very reasonable. Overall I think it's a great family restaurant and we'll return frequently.
(4)
Randy C.

On our third visit, we had breakfast food for dinner. My omelette was great and my wife had their sweet cream pancakes and loved them. The food has always been good and great service. We will keep going back.
(4)
Jen C.

My husband and I ate breakfast here this Sunday. I heard great reviews and wanted to try it out. I have to say the food was great, however it took 20 minutes for a server to come to our table to greet us and ask if we would like anything to drink. The couple in the table next to us were actually seated about 10 minutes after us and they were greeted, had their coffee and placed their order before a server came to our table. My water glass was cracked and water leaked all of table and myself. Silverware was dirty. The server that ended up waiting on us was exceptional (once he made it to our table), he was very apologetic. Kudos to Sean!
(2)
Jay A.

Having eaten at the Vacaville, Mt. Shasta and Yreka Black Bear Diner locations, I was happy to hear there was one in my area. The locations previously mentioned always have great service, delicious food, and huge portions. Unfortunately, the Sacramento Black Bear Diner misses the mark, and falls way short of the standard set by these other locations. The Sacramento location needs a SERIOUS tune-up. The wait is always long, the service slow, the employees aren't terribly friendly, and seem miserable working there, and the food is just ho-hum. On my first visit to the Sacramento Black Bear Diner, I was served hash browns with a nice big hair in them. I figured this was just a fluke, as my previous experience at the other BBDs had always been fantastic. So, I brought some friends there for dinner about a month later. The service was just awful. Drinks weren't refilled without flagging down a server and requesting it. The food was slow to come out, and when it did, it was all dry, and crumbly tasting, as if it had sat out beneath a heat lamp, drying out for the last 20 minutes. Blech!!! If I wanted that kind of food, I would have went to Dennys. I tried to like the Sacramento Black Bear Diner, but I found no redeeming qualities that would make me revisit this location.
(1)
Samar R.

i have never gone tho this place and been disappointed! their food is amazing and the staff is very nice!
(5)
amy s.

Huge portions and awesome food. I got the chef salad and it was amazing. It was super fresh and filled me up.
(5)
Kevin M.

This place was really good. And if your looking to load up on grub this is the place to go! I can't wait to go back and get pancakes n Reuben!!!! Hahahahaha
(5)
Victor P.

My Girlfriend and I had been casing this building months before it opened ... wondering and dreaming what it could possibly be. To our exstatic retarded joy it was a Black Bear Diner.Ok I will start by saying I am immediately bias twards restaurants that serve large portions of food with all their entrees, but hey extra food never hurts. Black Bear Diner never dissapoints not ever. I went for "The Grizz" on my first visit and have been hard pressed to get anything else when I go for Breakfast. It comes with everything a " Soon to be writhing in stomach pains of joy Man , needs. 3 Eggs, 2 Sausages, 2 Bacons slices, 1 Slice of Ham, a Half a plate of potatoes, and 2 friggin Huge Pancakes made their special way. I had fasted the night before so it all went down and stayed down. Go there ! Doooo it .... Dooo it now!!!
(5)
Laura H.

the pancakes are the bomb, best breakfast,lunch and dinner, i've been here 8 times since they opened.and love the cornbread muffins :-) very heavy and sweet.
(5)
Chris C.

Good food, good value, and good service for breakfast this morning. Plus some nice little touches like excellent homemade sausage, getting my special request for well done hash browns right, and a manager warmly checking up on people. The menu has a range of portion sizes, so it's not just a place to be gluttonous. We'll try it again to see if the quality remains high as they grow.
(4)
Michelle M.

This is hands down probably one of my most favorite places to eat. They are a new establishment so as expected there are a ton of people, and you're going to have to wait to be seated. I've only ever gone for breakfast because it's so amazing, but I'm sure the rest of the food taste just as good. The servings are huge, and very inexpensive for the quality. It taste home cooked, and very flavorful. The servers are nice and the management is wonderful. The steak here I got with my breakfast was delicious. So tender and full of flavor. You don't see that very much with the little New York strips especially at these diners. I went in on Halloween once, and a ton of the servers were dressed like the cast from the Jersey Shore. Made me love the place even more as that is my favorite TV show. It just goes to show the servers know how to have fun. The short little host who dressed as Snooki is awesome. Very easy on the eyes and polite. The decor is fabulous. Makes you feel like you're in a cabin and the menus are dressed as news paper articles which is great because you can read what happened in 1986 while you wait for your food. Either way, love this place. I recommend this place to everyone!
(5)
mo b.

My husband said it best - nothing outstanding, but okay dinner food all around. Nice portions. We'll be back to try the breakfast.
(3)
Laylah N.

my husband, son, and i went to try them out one afternoon. we've seen them in monterey on vacation but never got around to trying them and were super excited when we heard they were coming into town. when we got there, no one greeted us for a couple of minutes. there were no signs saying wait to be seated and no one paid us any attention for a while. finally, someone stepped back behind the counter to pay a tab and she looked up and said, "oh, hi!" eventually, after being seated in the back against the far wall, we looked over the menu and even had time to feed the baby his food. we waited and waited but never caught glimpse of our waiter/waitress. there were people seated around us, and they were already eating and were leaving and replaced by new families. but not once, when their waiter/waitress were working with them did they come over to acknowledge us. not even the busser acknowledged us, although he did talk to our son and goof off with him. we watched as some other waitresses looked over at us and quickly look away when we caught their eyes, but the last straw was when we watched a couple that arrived a good fifteen minutes after us get served while we sat and watched. we got up and left without a second thought where a "greeter" said "have a nice day!" no matter how hungry and bored we are with our normal eateries, we vowed never to eat there.
(1)
Rae H.

Love the whole grain pancakes and my man had a perfectly cooked veggie omelette. Coffee was good enough to drink black and the ice tea was delicious-we had loads of refills of both. Our server Jason was super awesome. We will definitely be going back. I do wish they had wifi. If they did they could be our new hangout.
(5)
Ida H.

My boyfriend and I have developed an affiliation for Black Bear Diners after reading many positive reviews and finally dining at one while passing through Modesto. We enjoyed having dinner there and hoped to find one of its chain establishments in Sacramento. During my boyfriend's birthday week, I suggested treating him for breakfast at a restaurant of his choosing. It didn't take a lot of contemplating before Black Bear Diner was on the top of his list. The closest one we located via Yelp was in the Natomas area, which was a moderate distance from my neighborhood in South Sac. When we entered the restaurant, we received the same friendly reception as was our previous experience in Modesto. But our waiter Dass, made our visit a step above pleasant. He was not only friendly and polite, but he worked with an upbeat attitude, and had no problem making sure our meals would be prepared to our liking. This was especially appreciated because of Joe K's strict low sodium diet regimen. I ordered a spinach and cheese omelet that included my choice of fresh fruit, a homemade biscuit, and a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice, while Joe got steak & eggs with hash browns, sourdough toast, and decaffeinated coffee. Breakfast turned out to be very satisfying for the most part, although Joe's steak was cooked medium instead of rare as requested. When Dass, brought our food to the table, he asked my boyfriend to cut into the steak to make sure it was cooked correctly. But even though it was not as he had ordered, he didn't want to make a big deal about it and accepted his steak as it was. My food was very delicious, except the biscuit was heavy in consistency and seemed a bit dry. Even butter didn't help it much. The food at Black Bear Diner is American style and they pride themselves in serving hearty, home cooked meals offering a large menu selection that should tempt just about anyone's taste preference. Minor issues aside, the food here was very appetizing and better than what one would expect for a typical diner. I look forward to trying out more of their bear sized portions again! youtube.com/watch?v=H1rUâ€¦
(4)
Rosanna P.

We went here right at shift change, around 2:pm, on a Friday. We were sat by a woman that had her hands full of her belongings trying to leave. Whatever, no problem. Our server was taking a large order in the back room, understandable. Coffee was decent. Grilled cheese was simple. Chips were great. Bacon lettuce avocado sandwich was huge. Chili was not warm enough but we were in a hurry so I didn't care. The service was fine. The baby bear hot sauce was amazing. Overall, nothing special but fun for the novelty of it. They have a fun history to read about on the placemat and menu.
(3)
Helen B.

I love this place especially for breakfast they have the best pancake and you can order healthy meal if you want. Always have a huge biscuit and the staffs were all nice. Place that we always come back. Huge serving is a plus
(4)
Luis J.

This used to be my favorite place to go for breakfast, today, however, they gave me undercooked scrambled eggs, it looked like there was mayo on top of them. Extremely gross. I would not be eating here again.
(1)
Chuck C.

I got attack by a bear in the parking lot. It was a friendly guy so I gave him my left over. It was a intense moment. I waved goodbye and went on my way.
(5)
Mike M.

Hey Yelpers, Got the skinny on this joint and I'm 'bout to lay some knowledge on ur noggin'. Good Stuff: For a chain diner that is competing with Denny's, IHOP, Brookfields, etc., this place is aces. If my choices were other chains, I'd choose BBD. That is the bottom line. Their food is of better quality, their prices are competitive, and their restaurants are well maintained, cleaned, and polished. In fact, if I'm grading on a curve, I'd give this diner 4 stars easy, if it were not for the one glaring inconsistency. As with a couple of other reviews I've done on various chains, the one knock is that the service is inconsistent. I've been here half a dozen times and whether or not you get an attentive waiter or waitress is a crap shoot. So on 12/26/14 at 1:30 pm I took the fam out to eat here. We got a server that was more interested in chatting up the girl working the register than waiting on tables. It took this dude 20 min to bring water, (no silverware) and take our order. After a half hour of no food and no attention, I calmly walked up to him and his potential GF and explained that he either needed to bring our food or our ticket. Either way we would be out of his hair. I did this out of earshot of any patrons or my family. This was followed by a visit from, what I can only assume was, a manager. So here is the thing. If you're a manager and you have unhappy customers, the first thing out of your mouth should be "I'm so sorry! How can I help?" Not this guy. His first question was... Him: "I heard you have a problem with our food." Me: "No, we like your food, we have a problem with our waiter." Him: "Well, your order has only been in 14 min and we are busy with the Holidays." Me: Sir, your restaurant is half empty and all your personnel are chatting at the pie counter. Him: "Well, I didn't come over here to argue with you, your food will be out soon." Then he left.... So, at no point did this manager EVER ask why we were annoyed. He had a solution in his head before he even approached the table. He assumed it was the food and never asked for specifics. If he had, he would have learned we were there 20 min before his favorite waiter even attempted to take our order. Now, I'm sure I was hungry and cranky and I'm sure this guy was very busy for the holidays. Christmas IS a bitch in the service industry. I totally empathize with his plight. However, if you are a waiter or restaurant manager, the words "We are too busy" shouldn't even come out of your pie hole when you're dealing with paying customers. We honestly don't care. Feed us, take our money and let us go. If you don't like the food service hustle, if being busy doesn't mean you're making more money and a bigger bonus, then find a different job. Don't spin your patrons expecting sympathy, especially when your people are too busy trying to get laid during business hours. Oh and then there was the attitude I got from the cute girl at the counter when I was trying to pay. Apparently she didn't take kindly to my assertion that her BF actually do his job. Having a 5 foot teenager give a 6'6" dude attitude was actually hilarious. Had an urge to put her on restriction, maybe take away her phone and car keys... Hey, did I mention the food was good.... It truly was... :-)
(3)
Serina H.

Never returning. 1 star because they did try to fix the issues. Ordered pretty simple meals (2). Waiting for food and realize it's now been over 31 min. I'm annoyed and no one seems to be coming over to check on my husband and I. I get a girls attention and she grabs our waitress. She apologizes and says the food is coming. Then the manager passes by and apologizes for the wait as well. Apparently they had gotten slammed and we felt the brunt of it with a slow order. We get our food and it's wrong. All of it. My husband ordered eggs over easy and got scrambled. My sandwich was just completely the wrong sandwich all together. They brought my husband the correct eggs and took my plate to get me my correct order. Soon after I got my correct meal (over an hour of waiting to eat). The manager did remove the item from our check which was appreciated, but didn't change my mind on the epic fail. I will admit, I did not tip our waitress as we usually do (20-25%). Here's why: as a server your table is your #1 priority. It should have been noticed long before that we didn't get our food. She should have dealt with it, told management, and acknowledged the issue before I had to say something. Further, she should have looked and checked on food or communicated with her runners to ensure that our orders were correct before hitting our table. Therefore, i adjust my tip. Maybe I expect too much, but if this is your job... Then act like it, so management isn't apologizing for all the mistakes and you'll prob get a better tip. Lastly, it's managements job to teach these things to their staff. All in all.... Never returning.
(1)
Hemi M.

Bigfoot breakfast was HUGE! Got pancakes instead of biscuits. I didn't get asked if I wanted a refill on my coffee and my waitress seemed dazed. No biggie! Maybe she was having an off day. Either way, loved the food and portion. This Natomas location is one of the best ice been to.
(5)
Karen L.

I've been eyeing Black Bear Diner for a while now and was excited to find one so close to where I work! I came here for lunch and ordered a coffee and the Chicken Fried Steak. The dÃ©cor was cute and I loved the bear figurines throughout the restaurant and the bears on all the cups and mugs. My food came out hot and the Chicken Fried Steak was delicious and the best I've ever had! I was hesitant to order it because it's not one of my favorite foods but I'm so glad I did. The gravy on top complemented the juiciness of the chicken well. The bread roll was large and came with some yummy butter. The dish also came with hash browns and eggs but those tasted pretty average in comparison to other restaurants.
(4)
Linda G.

Usually, I adore Black Bear Diner but this particular location definitely has some issues. Incredibly slow service, REALLY bad cold food, and a dirty bathroom are all found here which is surprising since every other Black Bear I've been to has been great. This location is an absolute disappointment and I hope they fix the problems with servers and bad cooks because it's definitely not the usual Black Bear quality.
(1)
John H.

OK this place isn't a five star restaurant, but honestly we couldn't find anything to complain about. Service was excellent, food was very good (especially the bacon) and prices were fair. Plus, the restaurant has a "lodge" sort of decor that would appeal to kids. I'd definitely go back.
(5)
Nick D.

One of the best diners I have been too. Food is great, service is excellent, and food typically comes out fast. I try and come once a week. I searched and searched midtown and couldn't find anything noteworthy. Glad I found the black bear!
(5)
Dalene N.

Bryan Vantine is the best!!!!!! The food is always good but the fact that the service is out of this world amazing is what keeps me coming back. He is personable, diligent, attentive, detail-oriented, patient, witty, and much more. There are usually one or two servers in a restaurant that keep me coming back. I'm very particular when I dine and have high standards since I work in fine dining. Bryan always exceeds my expectations! I highly encourage anyone dining at this location to sit with him! P.S. The tuna melt is delicious!
(5)
Scott D.

Food portion are on the big side.... but prices reflect that.. if your a lite eater you might want to share a plate. Food is pretty good, have had dinner and breakfast here. Service is good, food came out promptly.
(4)
Lucy M.

Been here once before, but today came for Father's Day late lunch with my dad. I ordered the Chicken Apple Sausage Scramble and my dad got the Chicken Avocado Club Sandwich. Both entrees were very good and filling. The bad parts of this visit: Looking around seeing multiple tables that needed to be cleaned up, my silverware had little chunks of food on them, things took a while to get, (i.e. our food and a glass of water), and to top it off, my dad wasn't greeted for Father's Day. I understand they were obviously busy because of the special day, but come on now. There's people waiting to be seated and you have more than 5 empty booths or tables that just need to be busted. Just be a touch more punctual when you expect a large crowd.
(3)
Jackie B.

This place is not just a hype! It exceed my expectations! Their food is soooo gooood! I'm in love with their french toast, their omelets, country fried steak, and much more! I'm not a fan of pancakes but their pancakes are so good that you don't need any syrup on it. I'm really excited that they're opening a black bear diner in Elk Grove, yayyyy!!
(5)
Blink S.

Nice little family place, But my mom jus found a lil snail/bug in her club sandwich. Fucking disgusting!!!
(2)
Kristina F.

I love an enormous chicken fried steak on a weekend with friends. My friends and I came to this location on a Saturday around 1pm. I was expecting to wait for a table since weekends are usually the most busy times to eat out. When I walked in, I was blown away by how enormous this was. It was quite refreshing and very smart on their part. I can appreciate being seated right away with a wide range of seating. There was a good amount of folks dining. My chicken fried steak came with eggs, toast, and hashbrowns. Oooh ee. It was deeelicious. My friends had a club sandwich and rueben sandwich each. I highly recommend this place as great place to have a hearty brunch on a weekend. There is hardly any waiting since they can accommodate a fair amount of people. Oh! Don't forget to try the bearclaws and pies! I'm hungry just thinking about this. ;)
(5)
Natalie P.

This was the first time that I have been here. It was really crowded on a Sunday and I thought that would be a good thing. We received a nice size portion with the breakfast plates. Bad thing: we ordered a hot chocolate and there was a used sugar packet in the cup. Not very sanitary and they didn't even bother to take the hot chocolate off of the bill. Doubt that we will be going back.
(2)
Heidi H.

Came in here for my free "bear"thday breakfast on my way out of town and as usual this place delivers. They have hot and fresh food and more of it than you need. The pancakes are huge and are really too much for one person to eat especially when it comes with eggs and sausage too. Its hit and miss on service and depends on how busy they are but overall its a good place to get a good meal be it breakfast or lunch, I have never tried dinner but know you can get breakfast all day so thats nice. The bear claws are a bit too brown sugary and not what I expected I like the almond paste bear claws but this was full of way too much sugar. The pies look good but I have yet to have enough room to even attempt dessert. Sign up for their club and you get a free bear claw and then on your birthday you get a free breakfast.
(4)
Joe Y.

Here for dinner!!!! Char has a "Free Entree Birthday Dinner". We both ordered the Rib Eye Steak dinner. I was a little disappointed in my steak since I ordered it "medium rare" and it came out more "medium". After downing half of it, I realized that Char had the "medium rare" steak on her plate and I had her "medium"... Oh well, the steak still was seasoned properly and tasted great except a little cooked for me. The steamed veggies were fair because the zucchini was overcooked and the broccoli undercooked. The red-skinned mashed potatoes were great with the country gravy. I would definitely give them another chance if I returned at a later date. The Pineapple/Mango milkshake was great and I was happy I ordered it. BTW, the service was very good and attentive. Black Bear Diner is a nice place to dine if you are on I80 and looking for a place to eat but I wouldn't travel across town just to eat there which is what we did.....
(3)
Jean S.

Black Bear Diner is excellent! I've been to BBD many times for brunch and dinner, especially when they first opened. They have the best chicken fried steak (get the Bigfoot for $1 more) and sweet cream pancakes! The portions are huge! One Bigfoot CFS can last me 3 meals! Another favorite is the corned beef hash. It's real fresh corned beef, not the canned kind. There may be a bit of a wait on the weekends, but the service is usually pretty good. (Some of their waiters are as big as bears!) I love the cute bear theme and the outdoor, woodsy, diner feeling. Also, if u join their eClub, you get a free coffee and GIANT bear claw. I've never seen a bear claw so big! It's good but pretty sweet...make sure you share. Actually everything you order there, you will probably want to share. The portions are so big for how much they cost!
(5)
Aisa H.

This place is located pretty close to where I work. It's a nice, quite and clean place to go. The servers and hosts are nice and attentive. The food is wonderful. Unfortunately, this last time they didn't have their most famous bear claws so one of my friends was a bit disappointed. Their food is amazing and you get a pretty large portion for what you pay. The parking here is a bit tricky and there aren't that many spaces.
(4)
Raymond G.

The place gets two stars for consistency. The food is excellent. That is consistent. BUT - are you going to get your food on time? Will they mess up your order? I am a fan of Black Bear Diner, but I WILL NEVER come to this location ever again. I stayed at a hotel next door to get ready for a race that was the next day. My plan was to eat dinner the night before and have a hearty breakfast the morning after my race. The food was great - but the waitress screwed our order and I was eating alone while my friend was waiting... and waiting... and when I was done, his food came out. Again, the food was excellent. When paying, they told us to sign up for the e-club for a free coffee and danish. I immediately signed up to use it the next day. After my race, we went to breakfast and it was again - excellent. BUT - when paying for our meal, they would not accept the coupon because we didn't print it out. It was only good for two weeks and I was like "are you kidding me"... the cashier said no with a smile. So Black Bear Diner - thanks for a weekend of crappy experiences and a reminder NEVER to come to your location. TIP - have your staff write down their orders when taking them so they screw up them up.
(2)
Paul N.

Man went her today. Food was exalent service was exalent. This place is so good can't wait for me next visit.
(5)
Frankie P.

Craving breakfast for dinner? Then this is the place for you. Sometimes, after a long day, you just need a good plate of pancakes and some crispy bacon. And Black Bear doesn't disappoint. I ordered the chocolate chip pancakes (on the kid menu) with bacon and hash browns. The bacon was thick and crispy. The hash browns tasted good, but were obviously reheated. I think I would have enjoyed them more if they were hot and fresh. The pancakes were huge and grilled to perfection. I'm not even a huge pancake fan, but these were perfect. They use large chocolate chips that hold their shape well but are still melty. Yum. Service was fast and friendly. The decor feels like a glamorous Denny's, in a neighborhood joint kind of way. There's nothing fancy or earth shattering here. Just good, simple food at a fair price.
(4)
George W.

Good home cooked food with huge portions. Had the chicken fried steak! Thought I was in Texas it was so good. Meat you could cut with a fork, no knife required! For dessert I had the chocolate cream pie which was creamy and just the perfect amount of sweetness.
(4)
Ross R.

I have never been inside this place but they have the best french dips hands Down. I've gotten at least 6 in the last month all to go and all have been the same. Can't beat this place for a french dip
(4)
Victoria B.

We had steak & eggs and eggs & bacon. Very great service from the hostess to the waiter and the manager. Will definatly come back.
(5)
Tim A.

Overall a good experience. Food was decent. Service was fast. No waiting at lunch on a Friday (which was good because one of my party had an afternoon appointment ).
(4)
Charlie L.

Quite delicious. This restaurant is in a random location and I would've never considered it had a friend not recommended it. I got the B.L.A.S.T. -- bacon, lettuce, avocado, swiss and tomato on a club sandwich with mayo. It was amazing. I'm sure it was really unhealthy, but it was delicious. Bacon was thick cut and cooked to have a nice crisp, but not overdone. Very good. Another time I got the "volcano" -- it's basically a big pile of pancakes, eggs, and bacon. (I got double bacon, no sausage.) Again, everything was delicious. Fluffy, tasty pancakes with butter and syrup. I asked for scrambled, well-done eggs and they were perfect. Their bacon is awesome. Just as with the aforementioned, it's a thick-cut bacon with a really nice flavor. Portions are very filling and reasonable for the prices. I heard "Black Bear Diner" and saw the location and expected the inside wouldn't be too great. I was wrong. Very clean inside, service staff is friendly and competent. Definitely a place I'd recommend for breakfast/brunch/lunch. They serve breakfast all day, which is a nice bonus.
(5)
Miquel Jocelynn B.

Amazing and always has been. Better then Denny's service and all. Family has been coming here for all occasions and we haven't been unsatisfied!!!
(5)
T T.

Love, love, love this place. Black Bear Diner has not once let me down in all of the years I have been a patron. The prices are right and the portions are HUGE. Breakfast is by far my favorite, but lunch is a close second. Their cobb salad is top notch. The staff are always friendly and are pretty quick to boot. Love the option to take a pie home on my way out too.
(4)
Eddie H.

The food is delicious. I've been here a number of times and the service is consistent. Great every time. Very clean and comfortable booths which I prefer. Good location with plenty of parking.
(5)
Fabi R.

I Love Black Bear Diner! It's my favorite place to have breakfast! Their staff are always so friendly! Service is pretty quick. Their prices are great considering the amount of food you get! I always get their waffle w/ hash browns, over easy eggs and sausage. Hungry man steak and eggs is always great! Omelets are good too! And pancakes! The California Bacon egg Benedict Is awesome!!!! Over all I love this place and have never had any bad experiences.
(5)
Joe K.

My girl friend recently treated me to breakfast at the Black Bear Diner for my birthday. We had been to a different Black Bear diner for dinner a couple of months ago and were most curious about their breakfast offerings. Everything about this place is quite large. I think they might even have enough seating to accommodate the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Their genormous (short for generously enormous, it might even be a word some day) servings definitely add to that theme. I am on a low sodium diet due to heart problems so I cannot order salt infested things like bacon, sausage, or ham. I reluctantly decided on steak cooked rare since they did not have any pork chops (come on, it is my birthday) along with hash browns, eggs over easy, and sourdough toast without butter. I made sure to ask that they did not add any salt to any of the items I ordered and nothing was salted just as I had asked. It is amazing how my taste buds have evolved to where I can still taste traces of salt that are naturally in the food along with flavors that I use to not even notice. I had these incredibly wonderful visions of a steak that was very red inside, its blood and juices pleasantly flowing across my plate to commingle with my eggs and potatoes in a wonderful mixture of integrated flavors. Unfortunately that turned out to be little more than a pipe dream. The steak was cooked medium, it's over coagulated proteins were quite solid thus destroying any wonderful visions I might have. The waiter asked me to cut into it and when it was discovered that it was over cooked, he offered to send it back but I stubbornly refused. My wonderful expectations had already been vanquished. On a brighter note, the eggs were cooked perfectly and the hash browns were both crispy and soft. They brought me six slices of toast. Bread contains sodium so I could only allow myself to eat one slice which was a bit of a waste. Service was good and the food was decent and plentiful. I would definitely go back.
(4)
Gail P.

I gave this restaurant three stars because the.food was good but nothing special. I guess because it taste almost too much like home cooking. I had the chicken fried steak with a side biscuit (they generously added gravy) and a fruit cup. Everything was good but the fruit cup lacked pizzazz so I wouldn't order that again.... A highlight, I did take a bite of my husband's pancakes and it tasted really good and nothing like anything I have had at home so that's good.... all and all it was a good experience but nothing I am going to rush to go back to.
(3)
Jackie B.

Their light and fit menu is definitely the go-to while i'm here! Try the Acapulco scramble - egg whites, chicken, diced chile peppers, and jack cheese.... with one slice of wheat toast and a side of fruit! Very healthy, filling, and most importantly yummy! I always get great service here. Great breakfast place for the family on the weekends.
(5)
Marcus C.

Decent food w huge portions. They always take long bringing the food out tho. This place is like Denny's but a tad better w filling portions.
(3)
Ebony B.

Staff was friendly. Portions were fairly large enough for two people to eat. Reasonalbly priced.
(3)
Lindsay C.

We love Black Bear Diner for breakfast. Yummy food. Big portions. Family friendly. Recently, we had a very slow service... over an hour wait for our food from order to arrival. Our waitress acknowledged the issue, brought us a complementary bear claw, tended to us, and was really apologetic! They made it right and our food came out hot. My order had a hair in it and my best friend's had the wrong side. So they had to remake those. But it didn't take long. They didn't comp any of our ordered meal, which was a little surprising, especially b/c of the hair. But we scored a free bear claw and a table all to our selves for two whole hours. Ha! We'll go back though.
(4)
Arvin C.

I like this restaurant. It's huge!!! As a first timer, I got seated once I came into the door. The host gave me my newspaper which is actually a menu when you open up, which is pretty cool. I ordered a BIG-foot chicken fried steak and my cousin ordered a rib eye steak. Each entree comes with your choice of salad or soup and a side of your choice (mashed potatoes, fries, beans, greens, etc.). We also ordered orange juice as well. When our order came out, it was unbelievably huge! Huge portions, which I barely finished. The food wasn't all that great though... The ribeye didn't really have flavor so we added black pepper and steak sauce. The chicken fried steak was okay as well. The onion rings were well fried and battered so I would suggest getting that as well for $4.99. The orange juice was very good. Fresh squeeze with the right amount of sweetness. However, a glass of orange juice will cost you about $3.99 with no refills... I mean really!?!?! I paid $3.99 for a glass of orange juice that's not even refillable!?!?!?! LAME! Breakfast is all day so maybe I'll try getting that next time. We used our $7 black bear coupon. For the price and amount here, you can't beat it. It tops Original Perry's, Mel's diner and Denny's. It's a far drive from where I live; about 30~35 minutes away. The food is real HEAVY though, like this is primarily the main reason why America is so obese cause of the huge portions they offer. No joke. Customer service is excellent and the environment feels like a huge cozy cabin. I would come back here again whenever I'm around that area! Maybe I'll stop after shopping at Ikea.
(3)
Garret J.

When I first got here, the service was a bit slow. Of course, the party "ahead" of me was for ten (with six kids, three of which were toddler or younger). Finally, when someone noticed me amidst the screaming kidlets, they ushered me into a nice cozy booth. Today their special is all-you-can-eat fish fry (on a Friday). I also had their cup of clam chowder, which came with a hotsy-totsy cornbread muffin. Delicious! The clam chowder had a grainy texture to it but it tasted very good. I took advantage of the all-you-can-eat feature of the fish (and they give you an extra hush-puppy, too) because the fish was so good. And if you ask, they will give you a bottle of their malt vinegar to go with it. That's the way I like my fish n' chips: with the malt vinegar (like I said before, I'm not much of a tartar sauce kinda guy). They have all kinds of other tasty items I want to try, but they serve pretty hefty portions to begin with. definitely I will be back to try the pork ribs and the fudge volcano...!
(4)
Shawn B.

The service is decent, it took a little longer than normal to get my food but they brought out a chicken fried steak big enough to make a fat man like me scream unkle. Not to mention they used enough biscuit mix for my biscuits and gravy to feed a third world country. I have enough food for lunch tomorrow and there's no complaint from me. Overall a good diner to go to but don't expect a quick meal.
(4)
M. M.

I really wanted to like this place. I've been looking at the menu online for months and thought it would be a winner. *Lackadasical staff - We came in after dinner rush 2/21 and our server was slow, getting drinks for the table after being asked twice, then he didn't refill my ice tea after I'd requested it. He filled everyone else's drink - not mine. The only time I felt like I was being listened to was when the manager took my money at the end of the meal. *Food - Like I was eating leftovers. I ordered a meat combo - pork ribs and tri-tip. The ribs had been cooked a VERY long time - very little meat, dry and hidden in sauce. Giant loser. If the manager had seen that come out of the kitchen, she might've stopped it. The Tri-Tip was the tip end of the meat - Of three pieces ordered medium rare, the 'tip' was cooked thru and one of the toughest pieces of meat I've chewed in years. (The people who brought me were appalled.) The other two slices were cooked on one side and rare on the other, also difficult to cut and chew. The vegetables were mostly carrots. The baked potato was, literally, the best part of the meal. My wife, vegetarian, ordered sides of vegetables and they were 80% carrots - four pieces of very limp and overcooked broccolli, three small pieces of cauliflower and carrots. Not good if you don't like soft carrots. Her hash browns were barely that. Friends ordered omelets, which looked small on their plates. Is it possible to make a denny's omelet look better? Yes, it is. The desserts - They were out of my friend's first choice, so he ordered something else. *I went to the restroom with paper towels overflowing the garbage bin. Came back and my friend had to pick ANOTHER dessert - they were just out of food! He settled for ice cream, but I'm allergic to cream, so I went for the heavier bread pudding. Result - Not going back, not even for breakfast. This is a chain and I might be tempted to try the one near GIlroy, but this experience made me want to write this review.
(1)
Priscilla V.

Love this place! We usually stop for breakfast, which is delish! The sweet cream pancakes are awesome! You don't even need syrup. The country fried steak was also a hit! My only disappointment was with the biscuit. It tasted like a KFC biscuit. You have the option for toast, so no big deal. Last night we were there for dinner and to my surprise the meatloaf with mashed potatoes was good. It comes with a salad and cornbread muffin for 9.99. You can't beat that!
(4)
Tom B.

Well, I think I've discovered the reason why America has an obesity problem. After ordering, I happened to notice the calorie content guide, discretely inserted into the centerpiece on the table. Yikes! The salad that I had was fairly mediocre, the "greens" being little more than head and green leaf lettuce. The onion rings had a nice texture, but flavor-wise were pretty innocuous. Unless you like breakfast entrees, there are few vegetarian options on the menu. Yes, the portions are large, the prices good, and the number of meat dishes offered fairly boggles the mind, but the food is standard "American" fare and not overly impressive.
(2)
Cliff L.

Very friend staff and family oriented establishment. Portions are very generous especially for the price you pay. Breakfast platters must be shared unless you want to be put to rest in a food coma. Fresh squeezed OJ is a must but too bad it's not unlimited refills during their breakfast buffets during the weekends. Their habanaro hot sauce is definitely a hit as it ask that 1, 2 punch that marinates in your mouth for 10mins but is slightly salty. Plates I've ordered in the past that are well worth trying is the Hungry Man New York Steak and Eggs platter, Bigfoot chicken-fried steak and Eggs, The Grizz, California omelet, and crispy chicken wrap.
(4)
Thuyvi M.

HUGE portions and cheap prices! Good quality food and they were fast! defin would return to this location. Our server was really nice and even though she did forget our drink refill she admit forgetting it. Tons of items on the menu you just gotta check it out for yourself!
(5)
Ashley O.

My daughter, some friends and I had dinner last night there for the 1yr Bday party at 7pm. The food was excellent the service was great. From the moment we walked in Artie the manager made us feel like family even when we left he held the door open for us. Thank you Black Bear for your great food, prices and service. Cant wait to go back!!
(5)
Dave H.

Been back about a dozen times since this post. My wife swears they put crack in their pancakes--she's addicted to them now!! Tuna Sandwich is good...fish and chips, not so much. Chicken fried stake is yummy!!
(4)
Song C.

Big portions! Come here when you are REALLY HUNGRY for some good ole fashion home cooking. Don't even dare count the calories!
(4)
Jay O.

Went to Black bear today. Good service but the breakfast came out my eggs were undercooked my sausage was raw my wife's potatoes were not cooked all the way through
(1)
Crystal G.

Hey Y'all! My hubs and I dined here Friday, March 22. I was craving chickin' fried steak, so I yelped exactly that and found out about this place. When walking in at about 8 pm, a host greeted us and asked if this was our first time! I guess we looked the part. LOL! Asked for booth for 2 and received that right away! I asked if they had beer/wine and, score! They did! So we ordered 2 Sierra Nevada, hubs got the bacon cheeseburger basket (cause he is sooo adventurous) and I got the chicken fried steak with 3 eggs over medium with 2 yummy pancakes in place of the biscuits and fries for the potato option. Was so full I brought 3/4 of CFS home and 1 pancake for dessert. Hubs ate one. So I'm from south Texas and I know AMAZING CFS. This was pretty good for Northern Cali. When I'm having that hankerin' for CFS, I will come here. And the service: awesome. She was so sweet and event commented on my cute southern accent. Gotta love good hospitality!!!
(4)
Nicole M.

Service is excellent! Nice family atmosphere. HUGE portion sizes & the food was excellent! Loved those sweet cream pancakes!!
(4)
Troye B.

Only been once, got the 7 grain cakes with no pow sug. whip and strawberries instead. Veryyy good pancakes, loved how there were oats and nuts in them. But i have to say either there was one too many pancakes or i just can't handle the trad three stack. I was stuffed about 3/4 the way through and i knew if i tryed to finish i would be very unhappy hahah. I do not like leaving food on my plate but i had tooo, too much!! hehe very delicious, i wanna try the cinnamon roll french toast next time. Damnnn sounds tasty. Everything on the menu sounds pretty delicious, your bound to find sometime you like :D ALOT OF CALORIES THO, i ate hear around 12 and didnt eat anything else for the rest of the day.... not the best decision haha
(4)
Molly C.

Black Bear is the epitome of well-tuned diner. The service was good, the food was good, but can I just say, the portions were meant for Sumo Wrestlers looking to bulk up. The biscuit served on my side plate was on steroids. I mean, why do we need the huge portions to convey value? The portions are the example of why we are larger than our bones intended us to carry. I can't return or I will exceed the size of the moon - no offense Black Bear. I would like to see us all demand that we move away from the mega portion diner and all-you-can-eat buffet model. I'm just saying.
(3)
C H.

LOTS of food, nice servers. Prepare to take some home or share a dinner. My friend's chicken taco salad was full of chicken, more meat than vegetables. My husband's tri-tip was cooked medium and the fat was trimmed. The hamburgers are HUGE, and the french fries are plentifiul. Another day, the breakfast portions are again HUGE. The pancakes are tasty and the bacon is good, cooked well done but not overdone. A friend's breakfast steak covered the entire dish. While some may find it somewhat bland, take advantage of the numerous sauces available. The bear claw ice cream is chocolatey and topped with caramel. Come hungry! And come early. This place can be quite busy on Saturday nights or Sunday mornings.
(4)
Amanda B.

The people who work here are always nice. The Bob's big bear burger is so juicy and flavorful. Always more bang for my buck. Also the pancakes are really good.
(5)
Carol P.

I should've read my original review (from 2013) because I went ahead and ordered the hashbrowns, and they were still horrible!!! I was supposed to order French fries with my breakfast. That was funny. I had the chicken apple scramble made with eggs, not just egg whites, as listed on the newspaper menu. It was good and filling. The biscuit and gravy was not good. The gravy was bland, thin, and served lukewarm, if that. The biscuit was huge but had the texture of a soft Hawaiian roll. I didn't eat any of it. Service was excellent but they forgot the toast with my boyfriend's order. No big deal. Our sever and host, and other staff were friendly and attentive. For being as busy as they were, food came out really fast. A solid 3 stars.
(3)
Liz N.

Arrived at 6:30a on a Saturday and assumed service would be better but our server today was just ok. She rushed taking our order and seemed a bit distracted. Maybe she was the only server that gets in that early overseeing all the guests.... Onto the food. Favorites include: corn beef hash (made in house not from a can), the Bigfoot (chicken fried steak) and the sweet cream pancakes!
(3)
Daniel C.

Short Review, Words: Big Big Big Fried and Diner! Large plates and big dinners, traditional diner fare done well in this chairn. Good for what it is! Thanks
(3)
Crystal C.

I adore this diner. I've been coming here since they opened. I love that they serve breakfast all day long. The menu choices are so vast and it's typical diner fare at reasonable prices. The food is tasty and the portions are huge; and remember nobody is forcing you to eat the entire portion at one seating. Clean modern dopey kitschy interior; keep a look out for all the brown bear wood carvings...they are darn cute. The wait staff are cordial and efficient. They have well maintained womens restrooms. Faves: meatloaf plate, Cobb salad, occasional special prime rib dinner, and corn beef hash breakfast plate (corned beef is not from a can). Fresh squeezed OJ-delicious but a bit pricey. Downside: this place is so popular expect long waits at peak B-L-D times.
(4)
Jose O.

Today was just like any other ordinary Sunday... Until I came to black bear diner. I definitely was starving! I had the fried chicken dinner and boy was it something to write home about. The chicken was perfectly crisp and seasoned. As I took a bite an explosion of flavor entered my mouth. It was the epitome of finger licking good. My meal came with a salad, a corn muffin, baked potato, and veggies. So much food, excellent price! I will definitely be back for more!
(5)
Michelle L.

I'm usually here only for late night dessert cravings (personal size banana cream pie to go) or lazy late morning breakfast needs (pancakes). On this occasion I really struggled to get the best deal moneywise and calorie-wise, haha. The old me would totally have ordered the Volcano (3 pancakes, 2 sausage, 2 bacon, 2 eggs) for $9.69. So much food! There is a Mini-Volcano option for lighter eaters with a little less portion (2 pancakes, 1 sausage, 1 bacon, 1 egg) for $7.99, BUT I found my perfect compromise: Bear's Choice. 2 eggs plus pancakes and 2 bacon for $8.99. Call me the Goldilocks of Black Bear Natomas. Not sorry I'm so picky, literally it was sacrificing sausage which I'm not a huge fan of and getting more eggs in. Build your own breakfast basically. Technically, the Bear's choice could include French toast or a waffle but I really do like their pancakes. Nutritionally...the Volcano is a whopping 1650 calories, the Mini-Volcano is 1100 calories, and my Bear's Choice selection was 800 calories. Not the healthiest thing on the menu (fit scrambles for the super calorie-conscious) but satisfying for both my tummy and wallet. This location is also great when I feel like a takeout banana cream pie ($5.99 I think), right on the way home. It is most convenient to anyone staying at the hotel there.
(3)
Jessica H.

I travel to this area often for work and this place is right across the street from the hotel. Unfortunately, even though it's convenient, they've lost my business. I once got back to my room only to realize I only had a salmon fillet in my takeout box. Seriously? They leave out the salad or the sides EVERY dang TIME. It's incredibly annoying. I would rather drive 5 minutes up the freeway and get curbside at BJ's, thanks.
(2)
Kandy F.

I've been here a few times now. This is a great place for my coworkers and I to meet after work for breakfast. If you have growing teenagers who are always hungry...this is the place!! They have large portions with decent prices. It's a chain not a mom and pop place. ( Their competition would be someone like I-Hop or Denny's. ) However, this place is very well maintained. I've had their corned beef breakfast platter, chicken fried steak, and their pancakes with eggs and bacon. Their portions are really huge. I could probably be sick if I ate all of it in one sitting. Thank goodness for to go boxes!! They have bears everywhere. If you look closer and pay a little more attention....there is bear statues outside, inside, and the rooftop. There is a long hallway of bear pics in front of trains, too. They even sell souvenirs!!! Overall, our waitress was great. She was cordial and patient. Our drinks never got empty. It's nice to see a happy face while swamped in a breakfast rush. Their bathroom was cleaned and well maintained. I will have to try their lunch menu next....
(4)
S W.

Great food, excellent service, and excellent value. I had the chicken fried steak which was a treat and in hindsight, the meal could have fed 2 or 3 people. I sat at the counter so my experience as far as service may have been different than others that have sat at tables. I am rating this 4 stars as a family style restaurant and/or diner option. I would definitely go back.
(4)
Mireya R.

Came here on a Sunday morning with my family, yea that wait was long and so was out food but it was all worth it when this baby came to me
(4)
Dnd H.

Man...I ordered the scrambled bowl for the first time and it was on POINT! And my husband ordered the Country Fried Steak...he always loves that! Ordered for pick up and they prepared the order within 10 mins opposed to waiting an hour there to eat! Just a little tip!
(4)
Emmalouise B.

Much like any other Black Bear. Same menu, same decor and same huge portions! Stopped in here on our way to Tahoe for a quick bite to eat and left incredibly full. Afternoon on a Friday the place was quiet, service was attentive and the food was satisfactory. It's noting special but it stopped mine and Hubby's stomachs from growling. I had the special of the day which was a Sourdough Sandwich filled with Egg, Ham, Cheese and Tomato with a side of Fruit which was tasty but very heavy, I ended up picking most of the filling out and leaving the Bread. I think the main appear here is actually the cases of Baked goodies - Fruit Pies, Cheesecake and giant Bear Claws. I've never had one myself but they look amazing and the Pies are only $4.99 each. *TIP* Sign up for their email club and receive a free meal for your Birthday and a Bear Claw just for signing up.
(3)
Jonathan A.

This was my first time eating at any Black Bear Diner. My dad suggested it after he said he liked it when he went with a friend. We were on our way to San Francisco early in the morning and hungry. Walking into the restaurant, I instantly loved the decor. I loved the theme of the place and the workers were really friendly. I ordered The Grizz (2 giant buttermilk pancakes, 3 eggs, 2 thick cut slices of bacon, 2 juicy sausages, some ham, and your choice of red country potatoes or hash browns). It filled me up in an excellent way where I was full, but it wasn't too heavy to make me just wanna pass out like other big breakfasts have done to me. Only thing I wasn't too thrilled was the wait considering it wasn't that busy but overall it was awesome.
(4)
Jasmine C.

The best Black Bear Diners from 4 locations that we have been visited and this location is the first one in Sacramento. Foods always good and served in big portion. Don't forget to try their fresh squeeze orange juice and sign up for their club and get treat for your Bearday ;)
(4)
Susana D.

Comfort food! Decent service, appealingly rustic decor.
(4)
Johnny S.

Service was good. Portions were great for the price. Can't wait to go back and try something else. I had the meal named "The Grizz". Which is a breakfast platter. 3 Eggs, Two Sausages, Ham Steak, an option of Chopped Potatoes or a mountain of Hash Browns and lets not forget about the two pancakes. I went home and prepared for my food acoma. For me and my girlfriend, the meal came out to $33 and some change which is about the same price you would pay anywhere else.
(4)
Raveen R.

This diner is great and family friendly. The decor is super cute. The food is always yummy and the staff is very sweet.
(5)
Lien V.

This was my first time at Black Bear Diner. I Love how extensive the menu is. The large portions of food they give you here is always a plus when you are extremely hungry. I also enjoying reading the story about how Black Bear Diner started up. I Love supporting businesses that really appreciates their Customers feedback and try to make their business stronger as a whole. I ordered some Eggs, Waffles and Bacon. The Eggs and Bacon was delicious and was the first to go! The Waffle took a little bit of time for me to finish half since it is a pretty big waffle. The flavors were good and pleasing to my taste buds. I can't wait to come back and try more menu items. I also have to mention how the cleanliness of this Restaurant was quite impressive. Everything just seems so well kept and organized. Great Job Black Bear Diner! I will return soon to try their French Toast!
(4)
Matthew A.

Always hits the spot! Big portions and decent prices can't go wrong with Black Bear Diner! My go to is the Chicken Fried Steak. The taco salad is also a good choice. A good place to go when u want good food in a hurry. There is hardly ever a wait and the service is always fast. The bacon ranch is also really good!
(5)
Precilla B.

I can't believe I waited so long to come here. I loved all the small details of this place, from the menus to the napkins and coffee mugs. Service was great, our servers were pretty talkative and patient with us as we kept needing more time to look over the menu. The food was good and came faster than expected, even for a busy Sunday morning. I will definitely be coming back. I've found my replacement for Lumberjacks..
(4)
Abby W.

If I would've listen to the Debby Downer who complained about this place, I would not have found this gem of a restaurant. We had breakfast and can honestly say, I haven't had pancakes as good as theirs. Our family declared it out new favorite breakfast location. And we'll return for lunch and dinner too. The staff is just great and they deserve an applause for being on top of things and displaying excellent customer service. Two thumbs up for this place. Yum!!
(5)
Tee B.

We got all excited for nothing. I ordered the huevos rancheros Benedict and my husband and son ordered the volcano pancake meals. The only thing with flavor was the syrup and my son's sausage. Service was good though. I will not be back. I will not recommend.
(2)
RANDY L.

First impressions is a major thing with me so the moment I walked in I seen the light no really I seen the light the decor of this place is nice gives it a big home feeling the Bears cover the room gives it a pleasant feel to it. Great family or group restaurant! Our waiter was helpful and nice and our food was brought to us fast and very tasty and our coffee was never neglected keeping our cups full which is a plus if your a coffee drinker like me:0) ( We definitely be back)!!! Every detail about The Black Bear seems very well put together down to the napkins.
(5)
Hector R.

All I'm going to say is "oh my" I regret not stopping here to eat when I first moved to Northern California. I invited my whole Texas family here for breakfast & we all absolutely loved it. Our waitress was kindhearted sweet, the service was prompt, excellent, and they even had grapefruit juice which was happens to be my morning favorite. The food was Fresh! Delicious! Healthy! And those Eggs Benedict on point! Overall a great experience I recommend you guys this location. #lovebears
(5)
Ashley M.

Mmmmmm! Excellent service! Cody, our waiter was amazing! The food was wonderful! HUGE portions! I am still eating left overs a day and a half later. Tri tip. Yummy! We have eaten here many times before and cannot wait to be back!
(5)
Amy C.

Huge huge portions! Good quantity and quality for the price! Super cool environment with all the wooden bears around. Lots of choices for meals.... A must try is their famous sweet cream pancakes and waffles. So yummy! Even delish the next day cold! ;) service was great! Sat and chatted for 2 hours and never once felt rushed or forgotten about. Always had hot coffee in my cup.
(5)
Jim G.

I keep giving this place chance after chance to get my wife and I hot fresh food. Every time what I get is at best a hit or miss experience. But one thing I can say about this location is that if there is a problem they fix it real quick and the food comes back to you the way it should have been in the first place. They have a great restaurant if the food is served fresh and hot. My wife and her family went here the weekend after mothers day. There were 8 of us and when they tried to sit us down, they tried putting in a corner booth that had not even been cleaned. So we had to wait again until they got us a table set up. When the food came it was as usual. Some plates were hot and fresh and some were not. My daughter in law's plate had a hair in the food and my wife's and my food was barely warm. The butter wouldn't even melt when put on top of her pancakes. I did my usual corporate complaint. This time I actually ask for some kind of compensation for the problems encountered. I have not ever actually ask up front for a free meal like I did on this visit. Maybe I was just in a bad mood or something. What I got was the same manager I talked to last march. Nice enough guy, but I can tell when I am being talked to in a condescending manner. I have been a food secret shopper for over 10 years now and have talked to countless managers and owners. I know what the owners expect from their store. I can also tell when the person I am talking to is just going through the motions of customer service. I will stop there...................... But what I will say is that when the manager offered me compensation, he told me that his assistant broke her leg and it may take a while to send me a voucher. Funny thing is, that is the same excuse he told me when I talked to him back in March about a different visit. I contacted him yesterday because it has been 2 weeks since I last spoke to him. This time his excuse for not sending me any food voucher was that when he went over his records he saw that he sent me a voucher back in march. So the manager said that he thought that he had already gave me compensation in regards to the latest problem. Funny thing is, there is 3 months between incidents and he mentioned nothing about his assistant breaking her leg. So he just decided to ignore me without calling me back and finding out for sure what happen. Like I said..... I know when I am being talked to in a very insincere manner. In fact I think that the manager probably thinks I am trying to scam him...... I am not. I just voice my opinion and really expect to be talked to with respect and professionalism without any BULL............... I will probably go back here but only if my family members want to go there. But never will I suggest this place. An honest sincere apology goes much much further than free food ever will.
(2)
Ashley C.

I have to start by saying I am a huge breakfast at anytime of day fan! This place serves breakfast all day so I do love that! I have only ordered breakfast items from here. They serve reliable food in my opinion. I have definitely had better but also had worse. The food is pretty decent and the staff were nice put didn't come around that often. One of my favorite parts of breakfast are country fried potatoes and theirs tend to taste like frozen potatoes that aren't cooked long enough. Our son likes this place because he got to order strawberry waffles but as a parent I was not too thrilled to see that it literally is just a waffle with a few strawberries and topped with a bunch of whipped cream. It didn't come with an egg or anything healthy other than a few berries. It would have been a wonderful desert.
(3)
Devo S.

Really? It's been over three years since I've written a review for this place? Geez, what a slacker I am ;) Anyway, this is the go-to place for me and Hubby when one of two things happens: 1. I got a hankering for breakfast for dinner. Yep, I need french toast at 6pm, stat! 2. We're tired, wanna eat, I don't feel like cooking, and we don't wanna drive farther than a mile from home and/or spend alot of dough. Yep, it's close and cheap! Last night was a bit of both. I felt like having breakfast for dinner, and Hubby didn't feel like wandering too far from home. So in a quick five minutes after pulling outta our driveway, into Black Bear Diner we walked. Now, I might have thought I wanted breakfast, but for some reason, when I looked at their extensive list of menu offerings, the "little less" (which is really false advertising because this sandwich is jam-packed huge!) tuna melt caught my eye. So I ended up with a tuna melt with a side of mashed potatoes with turkey gravy, instead of french toast. And boy was it GOOD! Seriously, I may make this my regular menu item unless I REALLY am here for breakfast! The toasted wheat bread between which the huge mound of tasty tuna rested provided a lovely crunch and texture to my sandwich. I'm glad I chose the turkey gravy for my taters, though I had to make the difficult decision between brown, country, turkey,or beef gravy. It was all delicious, and I couldn't even finish up my taters because I was soooo full. :( Oh, Hubby got his usual; the Gobbler turkey sandwich on wheat (has cranberry sauce and avocados), hold the mayo and tomatoes, with a side salad (he usually gets soup, but doesn't like broccoli/cheese soup). As usual, a triumph, my dear. Our drinks were never empty; our server was great. Oh, and I got one of their Key Lime pies TO GO so we could nosh on it later; to my surprise, it was 1/2-off, so only $2.50...woot! And it was delicious when I had a little of it later on that night, though the portion is so big that there's still half of it left in the fridge as of this morning. Guess I know what I'm having for breakfast! :) Loves me some Black Bear Diner grub! We will mos' def' be back :)
(5)
Aracelli V.

This is my new favorite diner. I dont think I will ever go back to a chain diner or any other diner, the service is good, and the food the best, starting with their awesome fluffy pancakes, everything looks and tastes homemade. The breakfast plates are awesome. The burgers are juicy and the pies are huge and delicious.
(5)
Anthony P.

The manager refused to accept my free bear claw & coffee coupon at the register even though the waitress and the hostess said it was good. The reason why the manager said my coupon was no good because she said, "No, because then it would be free." Nowhere on the coupon does it say I had to purchase anything else. I've gone to black bear diner many times and had 0 problems, but no more!
(1)
Ariana V.

So.......I love this place. I really wanna give it a 5, but that's really pushing it too far. Your expectations will be set too high, and it's really just diner food. with bears. on your ketchup, on your napkins, in the bathroom, on the suspenders, the newspaper menus....yeah. I love it. This particular one is a bit larger than the ones I've been to in the Monterey/Salinas area. The two times I've been here (I just moved to Sacramento.....), the service was really friendly. The first time, my family and I were early and not many people were there, and the second time, we came at prime Sunday brunch time (just me and boyfriend) -- but both times we were served with equally friendly and accommodating staff. Portions are on the rather large side. I can't say much about the food besides the fact that it's most definitely satiating and it's hard to screw up breakfast. Stick to good favorites and stay away from things that can leave you disappointed (like, ordering steak....) From here I've had a "mini volcano" (1 egg, 1 bacon, 1 sausage, 2 pancakes) and a cornbeef hash. I really enjoy breakfast, so the Mini Volcano was perfect for me (I don't have to choose between bacon or sausage) and the corn beef hash was not my favorite dish....but I'm not so sure I'm a fan of corn beef anyway (by the way, it's not from the can!) In general, Black Bear has given me some good hearty breakfasts and I'd pick coming here over other chain diners any day. Plus, I love bears. I'm a fan of this place.
(4)
Kelly W.

Came in here for dinner on the way out of town. My friend and I split a burger and fries. It was a really good burger cooked perfectly and the bacon was nice and cripsy. The fries are just normal but good. I love the decor of this place. They have wood carvings of bears everywhere. Just super cute and the menus are newspapers. I have one in my area and I look forward to trying that as well.
(4)
Addie R.

History of bad service (as it seems the waiters aren't assigned sections), but the food and environment has always made up for it. Never have been disappointed in a meal, as their steak, sausage, omelettes, etc. are delicious. Proportions are generous and they're lenient on substitutions. The freshly squeezed orange juice is a must!
(4)
Karli D.

To begin, I was seriously impressed with this diner and wonder why I haven't been here before?! The wait staff was super friendly and both the interior and exterior (along with the bathrooms) were kept nice and clean. I ordered the bacon breakfast which arrived at my table promptly with 4 strips of hickory smoked bacon (yum!), scrambled eggs, 2 pieces of dry sourdough toast (the biscuit is a delicious second choice), and red potatoes mixed with onions and bell peppers. I also ordered coffee which has been my most tasty diner coffee to date. I was famished when I reached this diner and I was able to eat nearly everything on the giant platter that was my breakfast. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a hearty meal or simply great breakfast options.
(5)
Gary K.

PROS: Very nice server Plenty of food Great atmosphere Safe location Food was fresh and tasted delicious CONS: Needs organic sugar and organic half and half for coffee to improve taste. I will be coming to this place regularly from now on and highly recommend it to everyone!
(5)
Vanessa A.

So I came here last night for my first time and I sat down and would see the plates that people were ordering come out and they all looked so delicious. So I was happy I came here for dinner finally. I ordered my food a simple steak and eggs and the other people I came with ordered also it was a party of like 8. The server was rude and didn't look too happy to be at work and on top of that it took forever for the food to come out. And when it did it wasn't hot. I don't know what was going on but I was really disappointed at the end of the visit. I don't know if I will consider going back.
(3)
Elizabeth E.

By far my favorite location! It's huge! Food is fantastic and just yum. I say it's as great as Cracker Barrel without the storefront.
(5)
Vanessa P.

I love Black Bear Diner! I love the overwhelming amount of bear decor and the selection of food! This restaurant in particular is the biggest one I've ever been to and was SUPER busy (probably because it was a Sunday morning and its located within walking distance of two hotels). The staff was friendly and accommodating and the good was delicious as usual! One thing that I found cute was that a man in a chef's jacket collected children (whose families were still having breakfast) to take them to give them ice cream. Each child was paraded back with their ice cream prize back to their families and unfinished breakfasts. I am and have always been a big fan of Black Bear Diner. I'll definitely come back, but probably not on a Sunday morning.
(5)
Kevin G.

Ugh.....I have to admit I got lazy and didn't go to a good place. I found myself checked in to the hotel across the street and just didn't want to travel so I went here for dinner. The food was so plain! Completely mundane. If you have no taste buds then go here, you'll love it. Now the one thing I'll say is that my waiter, Patrick was awesome. He went out of my way to make sure that I had everything I needed. He's the only reason it got 2 stars otherwise it would have been 1. I feel bad giving him a 30% tip. Dude go find a different restaurant and use this review as a reference!
(2)
Joel J.

I have never had a bad experience at Black Bear. Food comes out fairly fast, service is great, and the serving sizes are plentiful. This is my "go to" spot to take the family out for dinner when cooking at home is not an option.
(5)
Sambo C.

My friends and I came here one day to try it out. I ordered the half portion and for the portion that I ordered it was considerably huge. Overall, I was satisfied with my food. Plus, the toilets are so funky!! lol
(4)
Victoria C.

We came here for the hubby's birthday and were seated immediately - not surprising for a Tuesday afternoon. Their menus are cute little newspapers, which was really cool until my grandma noticed that hers was ripped and sticky, and when she opened it, a tiny bit was so stuck that it ripped, and you couldn't read a part of the menu. Our server was nice, very attentive, though it was a bit different that she plopped down in the booth and sat right next to my grandmother to take our order. I've seriously never had a server do that, but maybe it's more common than I think. Also, there was a group of really loud, boisterous employees on their break behind us, talking about politics, and unpleasant news events. We were seated right by them, and they literally could NOT keep it down. I understand news is important, but we just came for lunch on my hubby's birthday. The breaking news can wait, methinks. The food was enjoyable comfort food (i.e. not heart-healthy, but you love it anyway). I ordered the hot beef sandwich, which was a pretty large-sized portion, and the texture on the mashed potatoes was actually really good - you need to understand, that I NEVER compliment mashed potatoes because my mother makes them better than anyone in the world. The gravy, however, seemed like the stuff from Knorr packets that you make for Thanksgiving because you can't make it from scratch. My grandma got chili and cornbread, which was good, but I can't help but suspect that they used canned chili as a base and simply added spices or some chicken stock or something. We asked about dessert, and the server let us know that the banana split was enough for the three of us - and boy, was that the truth. The huckleberry flavored ice cream was interesting. We spent about $40 to feed all three of us, and we were pretty full. I liked the place enough, and I think I might have had much nicer things to say if it hadn't been for the other employees on their break seated next to us. I don't need to hear cussing and conspiracy theories while trying to enjoy my lunch.
(3)
Bryan H.

Definitely not Denny's with a different theme! Great prices and portions. I would recommend Black Bear to anyone. Been to several locations all with great people willing to give good attention to customers.
(5)
D. A.

My friend didn't have time to go with me this time. He handed me a discount card for Black Bear, so I thought I'd give this place another shot. The previous lunch/dinner didn't work here, so I thought I'd give breakfast a shot. Positives + Seating was almost immediate. The acting hostess was able to have me seated wherever I wanted. + My server, Alia, was quite attentive, from taking my order, to the delivery of my breakfast. And overall, I think the servers are really nice. + This time I wasn't able to finish my breakfast. I had to take home the pancakes. Negatives - Towards the end of my breakfast, Alia handed me my check (not a complaint). BUT... it took 25 minutes to attempt to flag Alia or anyone else down, so I could get the pancakes to go. I was finally able to flag someone other than Alia down to get my pancakes boxed up. - Because of the wait, no tip. Maybe this should be a positive for me. Well hey, they got another chance. Based on my previous review, again, 1 star. At this point, I see Mr. Perry's as a better choice. The Black Bear needs to be put down by high powered rifle.
(1)
J M.

I had not been in any Black Bear Diner before, so I had no concept of the way they operated. I called to make a reservation for a group of 12, four weeks prior to the lunch date. For the first 3 days, when I called, my phone number was taken and I was told I would be called back after 2pm. No calls were returned. On the fourth day, I was (finally) told the Banquet Manager was the only one who could book large parties and she was on vacation for the rest of the week. I called again on the day she was to have returned from vacation, but was told she just got back from vacation and was too busy to take my call and she would return my call after 2pm. Of course, the call was not returned. Two days and two more calls later, she finally took my call. She said they would make the reservation, but could not promise the banquet room. She would call if we could get it, or since it could be divided, a portion of it. Surprise, no calls back. Three weeks later, and two days before the luncheon, the group increased to 15, so I called to tell the Banquet Manager, but she as usual she was too busy to answer the phone, so I told the person taking the call to be sure she got the change. On the day of the luncheon, the tables were set for only 12, and we were initially told there were no more tables to available. When I and the club President said we would set at the counter, they magically found another table, then proceeded to lecture us on how we should always add 3-6 to the total for future reservations. On to the next fiasco: They have food servers, but they are not allowed to pick up check payments and take them to the cashier. I was aghast that they expected 16 elderly ladies (several on canes and in wheelchairs) to line up in front of their cashier to pay their bills individually. When I called 4 week prior, I had stressed that we are requesting separate checks. Three times I was told by the Banquet Manager, Cheryl, and the owner, that they would accommodate separate bills for our group (including again on the day of the luncheon), but these "managers" failed to tell the food server. I was told their banquet room was still unavailable, but then they proceeded to seat our group just outside this empty room. Poor management, bias against large groups, and a total lack of customer service by this so-called "management" assured me that I will never return to the Black Bear Restaurant on El Centro in Sacramento. If you enjoy mediocre food, lousy customer service, and an extremely unprofessional management team, this is the place to go.
(1)
Chris N.

I've been stopping at the Black Bear Diner near Mt. Shasta for years. That I-5 trek between Oregon and California can be a doozy, and their hearty meals were perfect for a refueling stop. While this location's log cabin decor doesn't feel quite as authentic as the Shasta restaurant, the food is still excellent. They've got a huge menu with some quality breakfast options. But what's even better... they offer the choice of country potatoes OR hash browns! You get an option! Too many places these days go for only country potatoes, and I am a hash brown man, so this is a big bonus in my book. Even the sourdough toast seemed unusually tasty. I had a great omelet that filled me up for much of the day. And on top of that, the prices were surprisingly reasonable! We went to a diner in midtown the next day for breakfast, and ended up paying maybe $5 more for food that was far inferior to Black Bear's. The place can get crowded for brunch, but there is plenty of seating and a huge staff. We were seated quickly and we never felt like we were forgotten about. I think this is my new favorite place in Sac for breakfast, and I will certainly be back soon.
(5)
Eric W.

I was very excited to take my wife out to breakfast and wanted to go somewhere I had not been before. We settled on this Black Bear Dinner. Service was good however the food was not so good. We ordered breakfast items. They tasted okay but were way over cooked on everything except the bacon. The biscuits in the biscuits and gravy was so hard I could not cut it with a fork and required considerable force to cut it with a knife. We ordered scrambled eggs, what we got was like yellow chalk with brown patches from over cooking. The hash browns were cooked till they were very dark brown with black burned areas. On a good note the bacon was crispy like I like with out being burnt. Overall I feel I would have been better off going to McDonalds for a bacon egg and cheese biscuit.
(1)
Charla A.

I've been a fan of Black Bear Diner since they've opened up in Davis. Never will I step foot into another Denny's again! food: "BEAR-y" large portions.. hehe..every time I've been here, taste has been consistent. Not as greasy as Denny's or IHOP, nor does it have that "Diner" taste. If you're looking for good, American comfort food - I'd definitely give this place a try. atmosphere: So BEAR-y cute! hehe, fine I'll stop. There are hella pictures of cutie pie bears, with a log cabin-esque feel. Feel free to come through in jeans. My favorite thing about the restaurant? Newspaper menus! So cool. customer service: I've only been to this location once, but this waitress was particularly sweeter than any of them I've met in Davis. Everyone is extremely nice, and always has a smile on their face. things to try: Ribs, Tri-Tip, Country fried chicken, PANCAKES (blueberry AND chocolate chip)
(4)
Mike D.

The roast beef (french dip) AMAZING!! The customer services EXCELLENT!! I withhold the other star based on the fact that I personally dislike suspenders, and it's standard issue for employees here. Sorry it's one of my quirks...
(4)
Christine H.

One of my favorite comfort food restaurants! You have to try the sweet cream pancakes and chicken fried steak. Everything I've tried was good and more than enough food. The $9.99 breakfast buffet is pretty good if you don't want to wait on the weekends. The wait can be pretty long in the morning. It's standard food but still good. It comes with freshly made pancakes and made to order eggs and omlettes! Pretty good price for all of that.
(5)
Adam Z.

Black bear diner puts ihop and dennys to shame. I wish we had one of these down where I live. the food tastes great, they have an almost over whelming menu, the service is good, and you get very large portions.
(4)
Jasmine F.

I came here twice with my hubby and the babes, both times the food was just OK. I would have rather dined elsewhere but it's the only breakfast place in the Natomas area. The burger I had was plain "nothing special" and so was the omelet I ordered the second time around. I do have one compliment, the pancakes were good. Hope this review helps you Yelpers!
(3)
L. T.

We came here twice, the first time we ordered the volcano with the wheat pancakes. They taste like a banana nut without the bananas. The sausage is made by them, it was averaged. It as slot of food two people sated this. I got the egg Benedict but substituted the Han wit te spicy sausage. This was yummy, but the has browns are okay. I asked for hem to be extra done and it was just slightly crispy. The inside was still very soft and swishy not my fav. The wait time on a sat was 25 minutes for three at 9:30am. The next time we arrived around 8:00m with out a wait. I ordered the country fried steak, it was okay but I like the eggs Benedict better. We also got the owned beef hash, it is real corned beef. It was good, the potions are good but then the pricing kind of fits amount of food. We asked for well done hash browns because our last visit we found it hard to eat them. Disappointed they weren't well done. Oh the papa bear hot sauce is delicious. The jalapeÃ±o one s not as flavorful. I want to try the lava cake it looks good.
(3)
James M.

Hamsteak with Hashbrowns. they seem to understand gluten free but your have to tell them exactly what you want / don't want.
(5)
Jacquelin S.

It is possible to eat a healthy meal at BBD. My book club decided to hold one of our meetings there for dinner. I downloaded the Diner's nutritional information sheet in advance. Most of their entrees are very high in calories, but some of their omelets, salads and the turkey dinner weigh in under 1,000. I ordered the turkey dinner without gravy (I've never been a fan of gravy with turkey and mashed potatoes) The waitress asked if I'd like to substitute a baked potato for the mashed. The turkey dinner consisted of a dinner salad, two big chunks of turkey breast which must have totaled about 9 ounces, fresh vegetables, the baked potato, some cranberry sauce and a corn bread muffin. I had enough leftovers for a good lunch the next day. Our server was very friendly. We all had an enjoyable dinner and will be returning next month.
(3)
Wendy J.

Best place for Breakfast. Great customer service. On weekends they have a great breakfast buffet which is more worth than ordering from the main menu. The Ham steak is also a must try!
(4)
Arnell T.

Very busy visit at lunch, but don't let that distract you. We were immediately seated and ordered our drinks. Our server was very friendly as well as the management staff roaming around. Its loud, but friendly. As stated this place is loud, but is no different from other similar establishments. This seems like a good place for large parties or families with kids. The food was slightly above average with large portions. I don't want to sound like a pessimist, but this is pretty common for new shops. When I return, I hope to see the portions the same as they were on my initial visit. I order the ribeye rare and they cooked it as I would expect. This is not always the case when asking for rare. Pricing is as expected, approx $15 for my meal. I enjoyed this place and would recommend a visit.
(4)
Michael F.

Takes a while to get served and lots of crowds but the food is good. Serving sizes are big. Won't mind coming back. Wait staff are attentive whenever they get the chance. Nice cabin lodge feel.
(4)
Juvy M.

The first time i came here, I ordered corned beef hash for breakfast. It was okay, but I decided to go back and give it a second chance. This time, I ordered chicken fried steak since people were raving about it on yelp. Nah, big disappointment. Never again.
(2)
Razzle D.

Since living in Natomas (about 2 years), my husband and I have had breakfast here many times. The service is always good, the food is always good and the portions are enormous.
(5)
Cindy S.

Where are my fat pants!?!? When in need of a big hearty breakfast and more head over to Black Bear Diner. Every time I visit this establishment I leave overwhelmingly full and out of order for the rest of the afternoon. Who wouldn't after a biscuit the size of the Hulk's fist? This past weekend my boyfriend and I decided to stop in and use our living social vouchers. Despite the crowd of people who already had their names on the wait-list, we were seated right away since there was only a 2-man booth available. That felt pretty V.I.P. Upon seating our server asked if we were ready for drink orders- my boyfriend had coffee and I just couldn't pass up a glass of their fresh squeezed orange juice. Yes, their orange juice is FRESH SQUEEZED and oh so good. I was torn between the chicken fried steak and corn beef and hash so my boyfriend ordered on and I the other. To my surprise the corn beef wasn't that mushy salty stuff from a can but shreds of freshly cooked corn-beef mixed with hash. After I took my first bite I thought nothing of the chicken fried steak except that it looked good. I was no longer prepared to split or share my selection. My hash browns were good and eggs cooked sunny side up just the way I like. I did eat my whole biscuit and a few bites of the chicken fried steak... that's probably what put me in overload. I've also tried the ham steak here. I also recommend that if you like traditional ham and eggs. There is a breakfast buffet on the weekends for $9.99 if your interested.
(4)
Brittany R.

Wear your stretchy pants. (or I guess you could practice restraint...?) Whatever you choose to wear to Black Bear you will enjoy the cute, kitschy-ness of this themed restaurant/diner. The menu is on the black bear diner newspaper which also includes fun facts and ways to spend your time while waiting for your food to come. The portions are crazy plentiful (enter stretchy pants) and you may want to ask for a box ahead of time. The food is tasty, a much higher quality than most diners and they have no problem making substitutions or offering their suggestions. Service here has been quick and friendly and please please please try their sweet cream pancake. You can thank me later.
(5)
Joe A.

Whats not to love! Always get the bacon & eggs with pancakes. Huge portions, and great service. Can be hard to get into on the weekends for breakfast. Be ready for a wait, but so worth it.
(5)
Robb M.

I just love this place! Maybe because it reminds me of my vacations to Mt. Shasta where I'd visit their first diner. Apparently, they knew they had a good thing, because now I see Black Bear Diner's popping up all over the place! If you're a breakfast fan, this is the place for you! Nothing on the menu disappoints. Make sure to grab a bear claw on the way out for later! I only wish they were closer to my place downtown!!!!
(5)
Craig M.

+ prices are AWESOME! + home cooked food + atmosphere is very home-y + waiters are very nice
(5)
Gi A.

Second visit - same result.....slow service. Two tables ordered and ate before we ever got our food.
(2)
Andrew S.

This place has solid service and very good value. Food is mostly American a bit on the unhealthy side, but its delicious and very filling. Its great for groups, and we often stop by here during road trips.
(4)
Steffanie R.

Very impressed with how good breakfast was. And they are great at making my food Gluten Free. I ordered off the light menu It was egg whites chicken, green chilis with cheese. I love their hot sauces, nice and hot. I had that with fresh fruit and Coffee and OJ all for $8, great steal.
(5)
Steven P.

The Sacramento Valley Bears showed up on the Sunday of BITS 2011 and took over the buffet! Now, Black Bear Diner does not take reservation. When we arrived, we informed the staff that there were going to be 18 to 20 of us. The were polite and let us know that they would try to seat us all together, but might not be able to. They not only seated us, but we grew to 33 men! And the seated all of us, together! Artie and his staff were very attentive and took care of all of our needs. The Bears, well, ate like Bears and all were very satiated and had nothing but praise for the food, and the staff! Definitely a restaurant that knows how to feed the hungry Bear! There is always a bit of a wait, as it is a very popular place! Plan accordingly for time!
(5)
Craig L.

So I guess this is a California chain but you would never know it. Very homey atmosphere. Food was uniformly good and service was friendly, happy and efficient. Very large portions so not your choice on a diet.
(3)
Brett Y.

Good breakfast food. Nothing extraordinary. Will go there again.
(3)
Beatrice A.

I love this place! The foods always delicious and the atmospheres always nice just filled with hungry familes and couples and elderly. The staffs pretty great as well, never had a bad experience with them. I did cash out with the manager last time and she wasnt to friendly she didn care to ask how everything was or even smile i forgot her name but its the lady with the nose piercing and short hair. Other than that i give black bear in natomas 4 stars ! Thanks for being a dependable resturant!
(4)
Adam O.

Usually I am a huge fan of black bear but this time was quite disappointing. The service was pretty lack luster and the food.....The food is why people come here by the way. It was awful. My bacon burger was burnt to a hockey puck and the patty was about the size of an infant fist. The French fries were pretty much cold. For all of the times I have been here this is the 1st time i have been disappointed. Come on black bear, you can do better then that....gezzz!
(1)
Greg E.

Came for a late lunch, the service was good and friendly this is basically a food review this is one step up from fast food just a rustic Denny's. food was below average.
(2)
Susan H.

It was o.k. but nothing outstanding or special.
(3)
Mike C.

Ok, so I'm a fan of cheap food. Now cheap good food... and a lot of it? I'm all over that like white on rice! My first experience at Black Bear Diner was great! It was right outside my hotel there in Sac. The steak breakfast were damn cheap so I expected shabby food right? Oh hell no. The steak was thick n juicy. The sides were cooked exactly how I like em. The overkill part was when they brought out the biscuits. Yeah, you can ask them to dump gravy on em and they do for free. But the portion size was huge-mungus! I went here with two tiny Asian girls (as usual right?) lolz. Anyways they were overwhelmed. We wanted steak for breakfast and Black Bear Diner ended up giving us half a cow. Needless to say we went back to another location somewhere; I think Vacaville off the 80. Same great flavor, same monster portions, and the service was excellent. Damn, I wish they had a Black Bear Diner in San Diego.
(4)
Laurance S.

Came in to the Sacramento location on I-80 & El Camino at 7 pm 7/13 after a busy day and a long drive. Ordered a prime rib dinner, starting with a salad. The food was all fine but the timing wasn't. The main course was served by kitchen helper in a blazing 5 minutes. Two minutes later, the salad was delivered by the waitress. What to do? Eat the salad and let the main course get cold, forget the salad or send it all back and demand they start over. I came in for dinner, not a dilemma or a drama. This was perhaps a forgivable faux pas. However, the waitress proceeded to act like there was nothing wrong. "More ice tea?" There should have been an apology and an offer to do something to make up. The indifference was far worse than the faux pas, sending a message that "we don't really care how you feel." I answered silence with silence but somehow forgot to leave a tip.
(1)
Matt C.

Four star food elevated to 5 stars due to ginormous servings and efficient service. This is the Best Chain Diner Restaurant in Northern CA. Highly regarded for breakfasts and lunches.....comfortable and spacious dining area.
(5)
Karen F.

Worth coming in and waiting just to get a yummy biscut - best I've ever eaten!! Huge portions, so come hungry. Service is typical of a chain, sometimes great and sometimes not. If you come on a weekend morning later than 9:30, expect at least a 20 minute wait.
(3)
Gerhardt O.

We got re-acquainted recently with Black Bear Diner having purchased a coupon from Living Social. It is easily now one of our favorite restaurants and has become a regular stop. The food is always good and plentiful. The servers are friendly and professional. And the restaurant is CLEAN! A very reliable food establishment - give it a try, you'll like it too.
(4)
Ron B.

Good home cooked food. Just like I would make if I knew how. Service is good and most of the employees friendly. Order the small portion! It will be enough.
(5)
Erynn S.

Each time I have visited this location I have had a great experience. The employees are always willing to help and point out different options on the menu that may accommodate a picky eater, like myself. I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)
David K.

Our family had our first visit to the Black Bear Diner in Natomas off of I-80. Black Bear is similar to Denny's and IHOP except with better quality food and a slightly bigger menu selection for lunch and dinner. The surroundings are also nicer (kind of like a large wooden lodge in the mountains). I was happy with my fried chicken dinner (4 pieces of half a chicken, mashed potatoes and brown gravy, and steamed veggies. The chicken and potatoes/gravy were tasty. The veggies just tasted like steamed veggies (unflavored) that were a bit oversteamed. I also had a bowl of broccoli cheese soup and it was very good with fresh broccoli in it. My wife had fish and chips and liked it. She had a side salad and it looked very fresh with a variety of veggies (not just green lettuce). The serving size of the entrees was generous (you get your money's worth). The kids had kids meals (mini corn dogs, grilled cheese sandwich) and they finished their meals. If they don't like something, they won't eat it (like my cooking). The kids meals come with a choice of fried, mashed potatoes, or fresh fruit. Despite a full house for a Saturday late breakfast/early lunch, service was fine. Overall, rating-wise, Black Bear Diner is more like a 3 1/2 but not quite a 4. We'll be back again.
(3)
z z.

Cold Food served with an attitude. I visit Black Bear Diner at least 6 times a year and have always had great food and service. This location seems to have it's own way of doing things. We complained about the food and the staff seemed Shocked that we would actually complain. I was offered $4.00 off of my $30.00 check??? We ate less than 5% of the food we were served and still had to pay? It will be a cold day in Hell before i ever step foot in this S***hole.
(1)
Phee Y.

We put in a to go order. our first warning sign should have been this place caters to travelers. DO NOT understand how ANYONE could give this place more than 1 star. First of all the food is really really bad.. Let's start with the chicken fried steak which is suppose to be good. Chicken Fried Steak is SUPPOSE to be beef steak, tenderized, dredged in seasoned flour/egg and then fried. Some use hamburger instead of steak. This WASN'T EVEN hamburger. It looked like some sort of imitation meat patty maybe a soy patty. Not good at all, I became nauseated after eating a few bites and stopped. The hash browns....ordered the crispy hash browns and these are like short ribbons of potato some raw and not cooked and then the rest was like it had been dehydrated and heated up...really tough, dry flavorless. Did not eat any of it except the first revolting bite The chicken fried steak came with a biscuit, the biscuit was like fake food, maybe this was suppose to be a display a plastic biscuit and someone got confused. It was dry, stale and hard. French Dip was also disgusting. Pork sandwich was dry and came with a stingy amount of BBQ sauce. The potato salad was inedible. Ordered a apple bear claw and did not even get it. (order to go) No eating utensils, napkins, condiments etc. were put in with our order. This place should send a check for the cost of our meal + plus money to compensate us for our pain and suffering.
(1)
Professor X.

Diner food (greasy spoon) with massive portions. If you can handle greasy food, you will love this place. Very 'down home' feeling to the restaurant and food. DON'T come here on a diet! As an example, their Bear Claw is almost 2000 calories. It's very tasty, but has all of your calories you'd need in a day.
(4)
Peter R.

Fantastic food!!! Had the Eggs Benedict..the wife had Chicken Fried Steak..everything was perfectly cooked...and our server had an awesome personality..and looks like Sinbad...
(5)
Sandra J.

A friend recommended Black Bear Diner, the service our of staff was wonderful we did not have to wait to be seated. But the cook read my order wrong and I sat while my party ate their food. When the rest of my order came out my hashbrowns were luke warm almost cold. I thought I was being picky and offered some to my party and they said my hashbrowns were cold. The came out with new hashbrowns so after being seated it took over 20 minutes to get all of my food while my party was finishing up their food. The server apologized and brought out a manager and the manager was dismissive and gave me a coupon for the next time. I asked if I could use the coupon for today and he said NO on your next visit. Unfortunately, I was not happy and will not be returning for services. Great food yes, service yes, but on time and cold I don't think so.
(2)
Sharon H.

Visited on Saturday, June 1. New menu, new prices. $5.50 for a side order of onion rings and $4.00 for a side of fries. I ordered the Harvest Salad which states it comes with cranberries, blueberries, and cherries. I thought they would be fresh fruit, but no, they are itty bitty pieces of dried fruit. The server showed us the packet the fruit comes in and it's an airline sized packet. This is what you get for $10. There are two fresh strawberries. They did not put the fruit in my salad and when I pointed this out to the server, I heard her go back and tell the kitchen that I changed my mind and now wanted the fruit which is completely false. I have always thought Black Bear Diner was a good value for the money and they had decent food. I'm done.
(1)
Mark R.

Put my review in the tip section. Whoops. Bottom line: food is decent, but the service is always hit and miss. If you don't see a manager on the floor, you can most certainly expect service to be slow and inaccurate.
(2)
Mary U.

BBD has the best pancakes I have ever had. I always have a hard time figuring out what to order for breakfast. Wasn't as wild about the blueberry ones, but the regular sweet cream pancakes are the best around. Large and fluffy, always cooked perfectly. My other favorite breakfast entree is the Southern Scramble. It's a huge biscuit cut in half and each are topped with a homemade sausage patty, scrambled eggs and country gravy. I order these items for take out and the service was fast and friendly. I had one pancake and half of the SS. Very filling. Jeff ate the other two pancakes and the other half of the SS will be eaten later or tomorrow morning! You will have to rely on other reviews for anything other than breakfast. I've gone there for lunch, but I ordered breakfast!
(5)
Stephanie M.

A cheery franchise has moved into Sacto! Been wanting to try them for a long time. So the Heiress and I drove over on a rainy rainy night. Pros: Top scores for friendliness. From the host to the cashiers to the waitstaff, everybody was lovely and energetic. I would come back for the service alone. BEARS! if you love bears (and I do), you will love it here. Bear decor of all sorts, even carved into the woodwork. And they have a wee shop where you can buy stuff with BEARS on it. I got me a mug and some bumper stickers. There are t-shirts but at nearly $20 a pop, I don't think so. Still: BEARS! Kids get dinner free on Tuesdays if they bring in their bear. We brought a bear, but it was Sunday night. Oh well. They were still very polite to him. :) Clean and well-kept. Portions are big big big. When we arrived, the loudspeaker was playing Johnny Cash. That's always a good omen. Cons: I bet you want to know about the food. Well...I ordered the French toast and bacon and sausage (the latter made in-house). It was mediocre. The bread was nothing special and the batter was hardly eggy. Nor was the dish particularly hot. The bacon portion was two pieces, which is a bit skimpy, and was nearly all fat. The sausage had an odd taste, and that just may be a preference thing. The Heiress had the corn dogs and a side order of fruit and applesauce. She ate the corn dogs but nothing else, so I had the fruit. Too much of that green melon that nobody ever eats, but it was fresh. We also ordered some take-out: a chocolate lava cake and some apple pie, both a la mode. These arrived double-quick and the ice cream was packed separately. The spouse liked the vanilla bean ice cream very much as did I. However, the apple pie crust tasted a bit off, and the lava cake was basically a dry brownie. Oh, and last thing: it's a bit hard to find. My GPS had the exit wrong. It's off the I-80 and is kind of a truck stop. Anyway, if you're going, here's what I'd do. Find a big group of people who like breakfast food anytime of day and go at an off hour. Bring some kids and bears with you. Have a good time and keep your expectations kind of loose.
(3)
Meghan L.

I really like this place. it's like a cabin when eating there and let's just get straight to the point. The food is good and i wanted to try everything. if you get the bigger meals, i suggest sharing it, it's the right amount of food. i had the country fried steak and eggs with a side of pancakes. it was delicious. i want to go back to try other things because as other peoples food came out, it looked so yummy!
(4)
Rebeka M.

Everything on the menu is great...Staff are always nice. Love the juke box!
(4)
Ruth P.

The only thing I have to say is that I will never come back. Horrible food.
(1)
Cindy M.

Went here last night. Had the fish fry. The fish was over cooked and tasted awful. Hush puppies over cooked. Waitress checked on us one time never refilled our drinks. We had to search for her just to get our check. This is the second poor meal here we won't be back. It's sad because a year ago it was a great place. We could not complain to the manager because we couldn't find him.
(1)
Mr Monkey M.

I was treated rudely at this Black Bear Diner, left without ordering, and will not return. Many Black Bear Diners are great. This is not one of them. The staff was disrespectful towards me, rude and dismissive. The first young female host led me to a booth. I asked her if I could please sit at the empty table by the window. She informed me I would have to go back to the waiting area and wait until it is cleaned. She did not say this with a smile nor advise me she would work on this quickly. 10 minutes later, a second host came to help me. He greeted me with "What are you waiting on, buddy?" with an implication that he was uninformed, and had been told "go help that guy." 5 minutes later, our host returned, and the young host made me believe him to be untrained, and told me (a 40-ish man) "Come with me to your table, bud." After a 5 min wait at my tabe, the waiter came up and said to me "What can I get you to drink, Big Man?". While the former description is accurate, I am a big man, I am in fact, not "Buds" with the latter young gentlemen. It is my opinion that the management of this restaurant hires overly familiar untrained service staff. It is my concern that if they exercise this care in their customer facing staff, they might have sub-par people handling their food. If they have sub-par people handling their food, they may not follow safe food-handling guidelines and I might get sick eating there. That's why I told the high school looking waiter "I don't care for waiters addressing me as Big Man and I am leaving."
(1)
Brian B.

Great group meeting room
(5)
Natalie E.

Ate here while staying across the street at a hotel.for a concert. Service was good, portions were HUGE and food was 4 out of 5 stars;) would definitely eat here again if I'm was back in the area!
(4)
chester c.

If you want big portions for breakfast items, this is the place! Food taste and quality is ok, but huge portions make up for it. The staff is always friendly, which is a huge plus in my book. Breakfast items are typically two people's portions. The hash browns are typically burnt and super crispy, so ask for it not as burnt if you don't want to chip a tooth. I would pass on the burgers (buns are so huge and the meat only takes up 1/2 to 2/3 of the bun) and the sandwiches (club sandwich has only one thin slice of ham and one thin slice of turkey, meatloaf sandwich had barely any meatloaf in it - again eating a lot of bread with no meat). Plenty more burgers and sandwiches I tried, but won't review as they are all the same review - not enough meat/filling, too much bread. I tried a lot of items here and the best bet is stick with the breakfast items. The burgers/sandwiches/specials are not worth it.
(3)
B C.

Two Short stacks. thats 2 pancakes on each plate hear. Two coffees. equals $23. total rip off. Go to Ihop short stack gets you 3 for almost half the price.
(1)
Bea P.

If I could give this place 1/2 star... I would. The waiter (Cody) was very professional, courteous and accomodating. However, the food was cold and burnt!!! Cody, knowing that we were unsatisfied with our meal sent the manager out to speak with us. However, the manager was only concerned about my 49er shirt and my chest. I told Cody this and he sent the manager back. The 2nd time the manager came out he never apologized but instead offered to make us a meal to go. I have always raved to others about Black Bear...but NEVER AGAIN!!!
(1)
Jen W.

Every black bear diner seems to be different. There are some that are completely on point...there are others that need quite a bit of work. This one represented the latter. Unfortunately, the service was not up to par. When I asked for orange marmalade, the guy insisted we had it on the table. Um, no, we checked already. The fresh squeezed orange juice was absolutely horrific. Although I appreciate the effort, it was like drinking lemon juice. I've been to other establishments that won't serve oj if the oranges aren't good enough to sell. Blech. The food took a long time. No really...I'm not exaggerating...a very long time...30 mins? The restaurant wasn't packed...so I had a huge question mark over my head. Unfortunately, this BBD has a ways to go. I think I'll skip out on this location.
(3)
Mark H.

I love a place that majors on having a reputation for large portions. I wish I could remember what I ordered...but it had a little of everything and was HUGE. Dem pancakes.... This particular day that my wife and 3 boys went in was packed and the service was kinda slow but understandably so. Given the busyness I understood. The food was worth the wait. I rolled out of there. My breakfast was about 12 bucks but it was enormous. The prices are pretty good but if you do buy something a little on the pricey side, you'll get fed like a king. Waitresses are polite and accommodating. Menu has a good selection too...but I'll always get the big breakfast I got because that was amazing. Red potatoes with seasonings are really good. Everything that everyone else ordered was good as well. We'll be back.
(4)
James W.

Awesome food . We always stop at the Black Bear up north .BlackBerry cobbler just like my grannies.
(5)
Trish C.

How did I not discover this chain sooner? There's one in Fremont not far from my place where I first started to go, and then this one near the hotel where my kids and I stayed. Both places the food was great - I'm a breakfast all day type of person so that's all I've had thus far, but everything from the granola pancakes to the egg dishes are filling, and flavorful, with great prices for the quality and quantity of food. I've also been staring at their big fat bearclaw pastries (get it? BEAR claws?) but just haven't been able to muster up enough stomach space just yet. The bear pictures on the walls too are a hoot. I'm easily amused. And even more so when the food is much better than "bear"able. Sorry, I couldn't help that one. Good service too, in both places. Beary well done. :)
(4)
Patrick M.

The short: Only been here for a quick breakfast and it is a step above your average Dennys/IHOP type spot. The long: The first time I came here I was out and about running errands and my wife and I decided we needed a quick breakfast and checked to see what was close by. We found this diner and it was reviewed well and well that was good enough for the time. We had always seen BB Diners on our trips around the state just never stopped. Well we were sat immediately and our server stopped by soon after. Our order was taken and then in 3-4 mins shazaam breakfast arrives. Well my wife had their "famous" sweet cream pancakes and found them to be good, but nothing earth shattering. I had ordered a sweet cream waffle and eggs/bacon. Of course my order showed up incorrectly and by the time the right food got in front of me my wife was finished eating. Really the food is better than an Ihop or a Dennys type place but it is still just a big chain diner. Manage your expectations. What works: Cheap, quick, and fairly decent food overall What to improve: Service can be hit or miss and orders are frequently incorrect
(3)
Crystal O.

Would not be returning. Although the manner tried to help, it s still not a success. Ordered a California omelet which was delicious, it came with hash browns which I had to send back 3 times because they were not cooked on the top of them. It was shocking was the easier as if I wanted hit him to take them back and have them more crispy, I stated to him"No I would like to have them cooked". crazy question to ask me until the manger came over after he himself brought the second plate in which I also sent back if I wanted them to be deep fried like potato chips. I Iooked at the manger with the look as if he really just asked that question. Horrible, can't even get cooked Hash browns done correctly. First time and last time coming here.
(1)
Victor A.

As usual I have heard about this place and as usual, the reviews were always good. As usual I was disappointed. They may be famous for their breakfasts but a restaurant shouldn't be held up by just one menu, everything should be good right? It was a cold and rainy afternoon, I just got out of work and I was hungry. First, the location is way outta the way, right next to a field, literally. The parking was plentiful and easy to navigate. When I entered I was greeted promptly and had a choice of where to sit, I chose the counter. I ordered the meatloaf and a water. It didn't take too long for the food to come but I was expecting it to be piping hot since it wasn't that busy and the kitchen was just steps away but it was warm! The sausage meatloaf came with steamed veggies and mashed redskin potatoes. The meatloaf was mushy and had no seasoning, the mashed taters were flat and droopy, the only redeeming factor on that plate was the veggies. They were crisp and tasted fresh. The only way I could eat the mashed potatoes was to splash some their pepper sauce on it, which was really tasty. I do plan on coming back to try their breakfast menu.
(3)
Christina T.

I have been to this Black Bear Diner several times now and I have NEVER had a bad meal or treated with bad service. You may have to wait if you want a table when it's busy, but it's your choice to wait or not wait. People get mad because they have to wait so long at times, but if everyone would eat, visit and be courteous enough to open a table once they are through instead of waiting around to play on their Smart Phones..seriously. . maybe things would move faster. I have seen this happen more than once where five people in one family are holding up a table while they are all playing on their phones. The service has always been excellent. The food has been served quickly and hot. The coffee is delicious and the staff treats us well. The portions are large and the prices are very, very good. Weekends are packed. Expect to wait, but if there are only one or two of you- take a seat at the bar!
(5)
Monica A.

It was my first time going here and it was really good! Great customer service. We were seated and served quickly. Reasonable prices. The breakfast was excellent. I'll definitely be back!
(4)
Malik B.

Great Service love the Carved Wood Design of the restaurant .. Come hungry huge portions of food .. I brought my Sweetheart back here for a Valentine's Breakfast
(5)
Diddy Y.

Went there on a Sunday AM and sat at counter. Great fresh squeezed OJ..that's about it! Our food came out 45 mins. after ordering and my waffle was burnt (and only warm), and 1 of the 2 bacon strips was a half. None of our food was HOT and felt like it had been sitting under the heat lamps for a while. DON"T GO! many other better places for breakfast / brunch....it was very crowded and food was TERRIBLE!
(1)
Dionne T.

This place is truly one of my fav places to come for breakfast!!! Portions & price are very nice at this family restaurant. Service is always on point with the food too. My fiance loves the chicken fried steak. My personal fav, the California Eggs Benedict.....THIS is the dish I can crave! I as the more adventurous in the couple, I have tried numerous items on the menu & everything has been great! Not sure if "Donnie Bear" still works there, but he's been our all-time fav server at this location. We've even gone so far as to go to their site & make such comments there. If I could give 4.5 stars, I would definitely do so with the .5 markdown only from one incident where we came for dinner & were VERY disappointed. (I ordered a T-bone steak dinner that came out more like a L-bone steak) That night, we vowed to never come for dinner again!
(4)
Brijet B.

Portion sizes are pretty big which is always a plus and they are way better than the "Other" diners. We have been several times and we will be back. Breakfast all day, pancakes to die for. Staff is friendly.
(4)
Shannan W.

Contrary to my initial review, we did return to give this place a second try, and the only positive thing I can add is they are consistent. Too bad their service is consistently lackluster. The food is OK, but it was warm when it should have been hot. It's not busy in here, but there are four people cleaning tables but not one of them care enough to check on diners. It's just a strange vibe. I really feel like they don't care AT ALL about their customers. Plus, that famous biscuit isn't really anything special. This time, I'm really over it.
(2)
Clare S.

We came here on the way home from Reno and it was one of the few places open past 9pm. Only one thing can be said about the Black Bear Diner: ENORMOUS PORTIONS. My sister and I shared a half rack of ribs, the tri-tip, a cup of soup, cornbread, mashed potatoes, and onion rings, for around $17. They truly should not call it comfort food if you feel like you want to explode after all that food! I loved everything except the onion rings. Way too much breading and not enough onion. Other than that, everything was fantastic and hearty. The staff was wonderful towards us and very attentive.
(4)
Jeff S.

The Natomas location has become a favorite for my family. Breakfast is great. Lunch and dinners I find just so so. Service is always friendly which is of the utmost importance to me. I can tolerate most things if the staff is friendly. Oh, and keeping the coffee cup full!
(5)
Carl M.

I wish I could give NO STARS! Came to have breakfast at around 9am at the Black Bear Diner on 2/28/15 with my wife, daughter and aunt. I ordered a steak and eggs breakfast, medium steak with potatoes extra crispy and eggs over easy. Everyone received breakfast in a timely manner but I noticed that my steak was burnt. No problem, asked to have it changed and my waitress even told me it was burnt. I waited while everyone else eat, not wanting to eat my eggs with out my steak. Saving them was a bad idea now looking back. When I got my new steak it was so riddled with fat and tendon that I could not even cut it with my steak knife. My eggs are cold now and so I decided that since my family was almost done with breakfast I would just have it removed from my ticket completely. I had maybe three bites of potatoes and eggs because of my wait for my steak. So you could just imagine my anger when my waitress came back to tell me that her manager was only taking off $7.00 for the price of the steak. Management put the blame on me that they purchase bad steaks, and that I should still have to pay for my potatoes and eggs. Three bites at the cost of half the meal? What? What happened to buying better steaks without fat or tendon? What happened to making the customer happy? What happened to the customer is always right? What happened to making it right with the customer? I felt bad for my waitress really, to have to work for such a crappy diner and crappy manager is not her fault. We tipped her better then any other breakfast we have had in quite some time. Management never even came over to talk with me! So the next time you want to eat at Black Bear Diner, do yourself a favor and drive somewhere else, me and my family will never be back again. Natomas has much better options that actually order WAY better quality food and have REAL customer service. RUN FROM THE BEAR!!!!!!!!!
(1)
Holly Marie V.

Love, love, love this place. Consistent good service. Great food. Good location right off the freeway.
(5)
Blueyed B.

Ordered "The Cobbler" a Turkey, Avocado and Cranberry Sandwich on toasted wheat.. Was very good!!! Will most definitely order again. Highly recommend! Try it out and take your friends!!
(4)
Nicola C.

This is a return visit to meet with several former co-workers for a monthly breakfast get together as we are all retired now. It is great fun to get together and eat together and share stories of our lives since we departed work. The Black Bear knows we always come on the same day of the week once a month and they set up tables in an outside area so we can talk and laugh and be louder than we should. We usually have the same waiter who is very attentive and knows exactly what we like and do not like. He knows what everyone usually orders, he just remembers. Today we had a new waitress her name was Joy and she was just as good as our usual waiter. She handled our rather rowdy group of people with ease and she served us all and kept our cups full with good hot coffee. We have tried other Black Bear Locations and this is the only one that is consistently good food and service.
(4)
Armina T.

This place is amazing. The people here are super nice. Our waitress was polite and quick to get us refills. I love the service and the food is amazing as well. I got the vegetarian omelet and it was delicious. So much flavor. I will be coming back.
(5)
Art A.

I love going to BBD in Gilroy, or Reading or Grants Pass OR (haven't tried Roseville) BUT,,,, this one in Sacramento SUCKS. Service was very good, but the food is dry, burned and bland. I'm sure their breakfast is good, but breakfast eggs are easy. My family went for dinner and all three of our meals were negatively remarkable. I had their specialty pot roast, wife had the Reuben sandwich, and son had chicken. We were totally shocked because BBDs are consistently very good. Bottom line the cooks at this location need to be fired and possibly the back house manager too. The mistakes were obvious and you can tell they do not taste their bland over cooked food and no one in their right mind would serve fries as over cooked, especially to a childs plate as this was. It was so bad, this place could ruin the brand because the consistency is lost at this location.
(1)
Joshua K.

So the place was nice decor and the menu seems fine. so we ordered the potatoes were not done right the sausage was a burntand way too salty and the pancakes for my son we're really dry and just seem to be sitting out for a while. I was really dissapointed and did not enjoy the food and will not be back.
(2)
Jessica M.

Good service. Waited a while for our food but the place was busy. Portions are big so the money is worth it. Restaurant is clean as well as restrooms.
(4)
Mike O.

Black Bear is a chain restaurant from north north California. The Mt Shasta area, maybe? North of Sacramento anyway. In the last few years, as I spent some time traveling around California for a job I had, I visited a number of Black Bear restaurants in various parts of the state, and as a whole, they're a pretty cool place to get a plate of sausage and eggs. This location isn't quite up to speed yet. But here's hoping they get there. Let me explain.... The decor is that kind of fun sierra woodsy thing that, personally, I find really homey and charming. And their menus are these newspapers that have local information on them - each restaurant has a version local to their location. The portions of food are giant and lumberjacky, and usually really tasty. The sausage and egg platter has these giant sausages that are like the size of thick cigar and the eggs are full and rich. The coffee is bottomless and delicious. All in all, it's an amazing thing that will fill your gut and soul in equal amounts. But the Sacramento location.... I've been about a half-dozen times, each time hoping it would get better. I want to go on record and say that maybe each time I went it was an off-day, or that things have improved since my last visit, but honestly... every time I went it was a disaster. The kids working there were always too busy chit-chating with each other or with customers - I waited once over 45 minutes on a slow day to have someone come to my table. And every single time I went, they got my order wrong. Like, once or twice would be worrisome, but every single time? That's appalling. Not that I wanted something fancy - I mean I ordered one thing, and something else came out. And by the time it did, I had been waiting so long that I didn't say anything and ate it anyway. Every time. The thing is - the Black Bear is a good restaurant as a whole, despite this location's short-comings and this is still a pretty new location, so maybe they were working out their kinks, so I'm still holding out hope that they'll get it together and become the Black Bear that I know and love.
(3)
Grace C.

I looooove coming here! The food is great and the price is even better. You seriously get an amazing amount of food for a great price. I usually get the volcano which is a pretty big breakfast for me, but I always like the challenge. The diner is always very clean and the service is great. Sometimes the chef even comes out to ask people's opinions about the food. People should at least come once to see what I'm talking about!:)
(4)
Kat M.

Been several times and truthfully, I'm not THAT impressed. I feel like the breakfasts are a little pricey for what they are and that I've gotten similar dishes at other establishments for less. Service is good though.
(3)
Ed C.

Great people who enjoy coming to work, Food ... Top end diner style, large portions. We love this place
(5)
T R.

The best customer service I've ever received time and time again, I'll tip these guys 20%+ every time! The food is better than average and worth the money for sure. Had breakfast a few times. the biscuits & gravy are better than most, and eggs Benedict was great, most dinners are good too, especially the pot roast, meatloaf, fish & chips on Friday's a good deal too!
(5)
Karina P.

This was my first visit to Black Bear Diner, and I was not disappointed. Upon walking in, we were seated in a large booth, as our hostess was kind enough to accommodate our request. The decor mirrored a lodge cabin, and considering it was a diner, this place was clean and inviting. Our server, Alyssa, was hospitable and patient. I ordered an iced tea, to only change my mind and ask for a strawberry milkshake instead. For dinner, I ordered the California burger (with avocado and jack cheese) with fries. The burger was good for diner quality, and the ranch dressing was in fact bacon ranch, with actual bits of bacon. The milkshake was the highlight was of my meal. It was delicious and tasted like an authentic milkshake, with pieces of strawberries. Overall, I enjoyed my experience, and curious to return and try a breakfast dish next time.
(3)
Todd B.

Pretty good for a motel diner. My wife had the tri tip with shrimp. She got a whole 4 butterfly shrimp. Could have gotten a little more shrimp. I had the chicken fried steak. It was a nice sized piece and tasted good. Have had better and worse so it's fight in the middle. All and all, a decent place to eat.
(4)
Jacob P.

Let me just start off saying that the meals here are huge! You get a great size portion for the price you pay. The coffee was always fresh and service is usually good. I had an experience when I checked in with my group and we were continuously skipped for about 20 minutes because we had a baby in our group. I had to tell the lady we don't need any special seating we will take whatever, which i was then told they had a booth ready for our group and brought us to a table. Aside from that experience the food has been great. Orders have been messed up a few times but were quickly fixed. Great food, decent service. Also, They have a 2% military discount. Kind of useless.
(4)
Jordan C.

Love this place and everything about my favorite is the bigfoot chicken fried steak! !!!!!! Always have excellent service and great tasting food keep it up black bear! !!!!
(5)
C W.

My boyfriend and I came here last weekend for breakfast. We were seated promptly but right next to a large group but we didn't think anything of it. Our waitress came to get our drink orders and we also ordered our food at that time. That was pretty much the last real interaction we had with our waitress. She did come by and get my boyfriend a refill before our meal came out. Someone else brought our meal out and gathered the condiments that we needed. Our bread items (biscuit and sourdough bread) was somehow forgotten. We were going to mention it to our waitress but by the time she came around we were done with our meal. She went to ask us if we needed anything else but the group behind us tapped her and she turned abruptly and started tending to them. When she delivered the check I told her that we never received our bread. Right after the words rolled off of my tongue she immediately walked off, which was a little rude, and brought the items plus a bear claw. She apologized and handed us the check. My boyfriend said the bear claw was dry and really could have been saved for the next victim. The food was amazing though. Next time we won't sit next to a large group!
(3)
marc j.

You can never be sure with this chain. It's always Hit or Miss. This morning was a miss. We were on a 60 min time crunch, for the Anime Con. The server took our order and walked away. About 10 minutes went by, our server appeared with another server to let us know she was taking her break and the other server was taking over. From that point on, all down hill. We waited, and waited and waited. From the time we gave our order, we sat waiting for 45 minutes. How hard is it for 3 orders if scrambled eggs, toast, and fruit. I guess it's extremely difficult ! My girl had to go ask the manager on duty for assistance. We were on our way to being late, I had to pay the bill as our food hit the table. We chowed our food and ran out of there quick. We might be back, if we're not on any time commitments.
(3)
Adam S.

I had the FIT chicken sausage scramble it was tasty. Service was great and everyone who worked there was friendly. If I'm ever out this way I'll be stopping by again. Oh yeah all the workers dressed up for Halloween
(4)
Helen H.

Are you in the mood for a big breakfast? Then Black Bear Diner is the place for you. The portion size was humungous. I only managed to finish half of my meal and saved the other half for lunch. I noticed they have a $9.99 breakfast buffet, which seems like a good deal. I didn't partake in it, since the buffet food is pretty standard. Joe's Hobo Omelette- It had ham, bacon, sausage (all of the different breakfast meats), cheeses, spinach and onion. I wish they didn't dice the meats so small, so that I could've tasted them distinctively. My breakfast came with a choice of fresh fruit, strip-cut hash browns, or country red diced potatoes. I chose the potatoes. It also came with a choice of a pancake, English muffin, or toast. I chose the pancake. I don't really like pancakes, but this one was really fluffy. The location is pretty far out. I don't think I'll go out of my way to eat here. It's a franchise, so maybe I'll cross paths with another one of their diners in the future.
(4)
Ted M.

Yes you just have to stop at this place the food was fantastic. Based on many of the reviews the breakfast menu is why you stop here. I stop for dinner and had to Western bacon cheeseburger. The Patty was hand formed, cooked to a nice medium and was still very juicy. I also had a side of coleslaw which was refreshing tasted fresh just with the into vinegar. Now dessert. The little pies they serve are fantastic, on the large side so you could probably share a pie but the chocolate cream pie was very very good. The best thing I could say besides the five stars is I would eat here again and again and again
(5)
Kimberly F.

We ate here for lunch and was not that excited about the food. It was priced a bit high and the flavors were lacking. When I needed more dressing for my salad, it took a bit to catch the waitress as she was a bit chatty with other patrons.
(3)
CK T.

I have been here on two occasions and the food and service are consistently AWESOME. Forgot the waitresses name on the first visit, but on my latest, Bryan was extremely attentive and courteous to my party. All the staff is friendly and equally attentive. Food-wise, bring an appetite unless you want to have your next two meals to-go!
(5)
Ash A.

No complaints. I tried the sweet cream pancakes and the cinnamon roll. Both were great. My son had corn dogs with fruit and he seemed to like it -- though I'm sure there wasn't anything special about them. My husband said his club sandwich tasted exactly like a in sandwich from anywhere else, good but dry. He had a small cup of vegetable soup with his dish and he though it was good. Portions were large.
(5)
Michelle J.

Oh Blackbear Diner how I want to love thee... The last several times I've eaten here for breakfast I've gotten burnt meat. Yesterday I got a burnt hamsteak that was inedible because it was blackened on most of it and dried out like jerky on the rest. It was also waaaay too salty and it looked like the chef tried to hide the fact it was burnt because it was black side down! Come on now, I'm not an idiot! The few times before that the corner beef hashed was so overcooked it was hard. At least the servers are nice about it and get me a new one, but when it keeps happening over and over like that I start to lose my patience. Most places will also appologize profusely and try to give you a discount or something conplimentry when your food is grossly over cooked like that, but Blackbear doesn't. I don't think I'll be back for awhile, if not ever because it's gone downhill so much. I doubt they'll even care if they lose my business...
(2)
Noel M.

I decided to take my girlfriend to breakfast here because I've had great service and food before alone in the morning. Today was not their day. Service was mediocre and the food was not to my liking. My eggs came out over easy when I asked for over med. Asked for 2 links and got 3 but the third link was burnt badly.my hash browns where not cooked all the way through either and to top it of my girlfriend found bits of shell in her farmers scramble. Don't think I'll be returning foe a long while. Server was nice but not the best. It was slightly busy but not slammed.
(2)
Pete K.

I had a really bad experience with a small group of casual diners: Our waitress was either overwhelmed or incompetent. She had no idea who ordered what or what ticket belonged to whom. Some folks were served well before others who had ordered earlier. I asked for coffee and received an enthusiastic "right away" body language response. After she had served coffee to others (but not to me) I asked her again and received another positive body language response. Still no coffee. My third attempt was successful. CA has recently enacted a law which prohibits establishments from the adding gratuities to bills. Black Bear added a 20% gratuity without notifying any of us .... perhaps fishing for additional gratuities from the inattentive. One of our party challenged the 20% gratuity added. The manager explained that the charge was really not a gratuity but was rather a "Service Charge" .... even though our bill lines clearly stated "+ Included Gratuity". My gut feeling is that the business is failing and management is reduced to hiring incompetent staff and to cheating their customers. For sure, I will not go back.
(1)
Mia D.

So many options...We like coming here because the location is ok but there's plenty of parking and the staff are really nice, especially since we have younger kids. This place does get packed but we've never had to wait, which is always good. There's isn't anything on the menu that isn't good. I've had anything from the burgers to the full on dinner menu with the steak/tri tip and everytime I have them I'm fully satisfied. The food comes out piping hot and doesn't last a minute. By the time our serve comes back to check on us, our food has pretty much been devoured. Yes, the food is pretty good. It's close enough to being home cooked and that's what I love about coming here. I love the milkshakes. Yum. More variety would be good though. I'm content and my family and I will continue to come by here when our appetites are craving it.
(3)
Julie E.

On Thursday October 25,2014 in entered the restaurant for breakfast, (it was raining that morning). The host was taking myself and my husband to our table and I slipped and fell. The hostess and my husband helped my up to our table. She asked was I ok I stated that my knee was hurting and I would put ice on it when I return home. We placed our order and at the end of our meal (about 30 - 40 minutes) the manager comes to our table to inquire how I was doing. I told her that I did not see any sign on the floor when I entered the door. She stated that she came in behind me and seen me on the floor and seen the sign when she came in. She started negative debating about the sign not been concern about if I sustained and injuries. My husband stated that we were just informing her so that no one would fall and get hurt. Maybe she needs some further customer service training.
(1)
Ryan Y.

The food was delicious! I had the chicken fried steak breakfast with 2 eggs, stripped hash browns, and a HUGE biscuit. The portions are absolutely ginormous. Might be the best chicken fried steak I've had.
(5)
Isabelle S.

I love this place..somewhat a regular. Their french toast and omlettes are the best. Service is great and have always gotten more than enough of my portion to eat.
(4)
Julie S.

I love, love, love this place. Walking up to the building it's very cute and decorated with wooden carved bears. When you go in the place is clean and well kept and the bear theme continues. The hostesses are extremely polite and the servers are as well. The food is awesome!! If you're looking for some down home old fashioned cooking this is the spot to go. They have their food come out on pretty much platters for plates and it fills the whole thing up! It's good quality food too. The pricing is very reasonable and did I mention the food is awesome...because it is. It's like you went to grandmas house and she stacked you up with more food than you could hope to eat. They also have their own hot sauce there and it's sooooo good. Try their big burger too....it's enough for 2. The service here is quick and they don't let your glass get too low on coffe, soda, or coffee. Very cute and homey decor and you can't go wrong with the food. Strongly recommend for anyone that wants old school cooking.
(5)
Cindel P.

Service was TERRIBLE! After being seated for ten minutes had to go back up to the front and ask what happened and if we had been forgotten. Same thing happened after the food came, we were forgotten again. Although the food was ok, the service was so bad I won't be returning.
(2)
Kristi S.

Came in here a few days ago with the hubby and kid. Hubby has never been to a Black Bear before and was very impressed. He ordered the Ruben and said "it's the best one he's ever had".. Andrew was our server, he's amazing! Very helpful and knowledgable about the menu. All around great service! I think there was some kind of manager meeting going on in the room behind us, which 2 of the managers made it a point to stop and talk to us. We will for sure be back to Black Bear more often and we'll be requesting Andrew!
(5)
Natalie B.

One of our favorite places to go for breakfast. We have ordered a variety and never been disappointed! My personal favorite is the cinnamon roll french toast- so so so delicious! The staff is friend and helpful as well. Love going to breakfast there whenever we have friends that want to meet up for breakfast. Haven't been there for lunch/dinner but I wouldn't be surprised if it's just as good. The pancakes are also amazing.
(5)
Patrick Y.

I'm not the Duke for nothing.... I love being able to walk into the place on a weekend and sit down immediatly for their buffet. The buffet has changed over time, but still a great deal when you are super hungry. Get the Grizz!! Get the Bear Claw heated up!! Bring your kids and get a free sundae after 11am with any Kid's Meal purchase!!! The staff is wonderful, accommodating, attentive and greet me by name whenever I visit.
(5)
Rich H.

Great Decor, lots of space to sit. Staff is cheerful. Had a great bk there this am and even took a bear claw home to the parents. My server Valerie was great, checked in to see how everything was coffee was always full. Only thing that was a little off was the hash browns. They were a little cool but otherwise everything else was great. Their wheat toast is awesome. If you are passing through stop on in for some good food. They also have a large banquet room for larger groups. I guess this is quite the Monday Night Football spot!
(4)
Stephenie D.

We were seated an hour before our food was delivered. This was after waiting 20 minutes to get seated. We ordered an English muffin, pancakes & scrambled eggs. They were good, but not good enough for all of that wait time. My Mom had to hunt someone down for coffee refills.
(2)
Carissa U.

Apparently there are several of these scattered around, but this is the first time I actually noticed it. Stopped in here since I bought a LivingSocial deal and we were staying at the Inn at Parkside. I ordered the Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Chicken with a clam chowder. Boyfriend ordered the Country Fried Steak with soup as well. I didn't care too much for the soup, but boyfriend seemed to enjoy it. Then the entrees came out. OMG huge plates. I could not finish my meal. Overall the food was good and the service was good. Wouldn't mind giving this place another try.
(4)
Jeannette G.

This was our first time here. My fiancÃ© is in love with the orange juice here. He had steak and eggs and this was the first place to cook his stake right. Finally a place that knows what medium rare is. I had a burger with a milkshake and this was the first place I finished my milk shake. Even the tin. Can't wait to try this place again: this time I want to try breakfast and my fiancÃ© wants the burger.
(5)
Marian J.

Love this place! My BF and I go to the Black Bear Diner in Sacramento on El Centro. We go there every week for breakfast. The place does get really packed, but they seat you as fast as they can. The parking lot is small, but we usually make do with it. The meals are huge! We get so full that we never have room for desserts! Haven't had a bad meal here yet! Would recommend this place to all!!
(5)
H C.

Great service, good food, will definitely return!
(4)
wei z.

My sister and I were here for breakfast. We had the corn beef hash and the chicken fried steak, both came with potatoes and pancake. I had high expectations for this place since it has such great reviews, especially for their chicken fried steak. The portions were great for the price but the food was mediocre. I was disappointed at their hash browns as they were not fully cooked. Service was good, our waiter was nice and promptly replaced our under cooked hash. I recommend their sort-of-pricy fresh squeeze orange juice, it's really freshly squeezed on premise!
(3)
Mason B.

The food is great for the price. Whole American food. We got the club sandwich and a French dip sandwich. The restaurant is conveniently located right near the I-80 and I-5 interchange. The service is good too. The French dip was amazing! It's definitely worth the extra dollar to get mushrooms, Swiss cheese, and onions! You also get a lot of French fries! Yum!
(4)
Amy J.

Dining at Black Bear can be a frustrating experience. The food is reliable and affordable enough to keep me coming back, but service is sometimes bad enough to make me stay away for months at a time. Oddities like the waitress that was sugar-sweet while taking our orders, but then took out her frustration on the cooks so loudly that it was making the whole dining room tense. Understaffing seems to be the MO. The servers are mostly young and cute, running the gamut from seasoned vet to clueless rookie. The assignment of tables is strangely unbalanced, leaving one or two servers doing most of the work, while the others (including management) wander around aimlessly. The register is located right next to the hostess stand and both duties are usually carried out by the same person, creating irritating waits on both sides. Everything I've tried has been above-average or better. Chicken-fried steak breakfast, French Dip lunch and fried shrimp dinner were all solid. Not outstanding, but very good. Tried a few bites of a steak that the BF ordered and was really impressed with that. I thought he was crazy ordering what was sure to be leather, but it was actually very flavorful, juicy and perfectly cooked. If you're a ranch dressing lover, be sure to try theirs. Sinfully good stuff with bacon sprinkled in. Delicious with extra crispy fries. Hey, if you're gonna indulge in the food here, you might as well go all the way :) Be prepared for huge portions. I made the mistake of checking the on-line nutrition info before coming over one time. Wouldn't recommend doing that if you want to enjoy a guilt-free dining experience.
(3)
Stephanie S.

I ordered Rib Eye steak dinner. Requested medium well cooked steak. It came in and it was undercooked. Server kindly offered additional stove top time which was much appreciated. When the steak was brought back to me - it was dull, hard and dry. Worse Rib Eye I've ever had. I took two bites of the meat. Finished of the veggies and potatoes and was done. When I informed the server about the obvious she didn't care much. Provided me with a full bill and left. No guilt no sorry. . Not the best experience. This place didn't make my favorite list.
(1)
Lee B.

Slow service, eggs over cooked, hash browns flavorless. Denny's would have been better
(2)
Raf G.

Give you lots of food! Good chicken fried steak! It's good food, not great, but I'm a fan. Pretty good steaks for the price!
(4)
Bruce B.

Open face turkey sandwich awesome !
(3)
Elena B.

Not bad for a chain restaurant. The portions are large and the food is tasty. I always get the pancakes, they are big, fluffy, and extremely filling. The omelets are also a good choice. The service here can be hit or miss. The first time I came our waiter was great, and super attentive. The second time our server seemed overwhelmed and took a long time to return our check or even take our drink orders. Overall I enjoy this place and likely will be returning for breakfast sometime soon.
(4)
Drea R.

OK, so went with my family to Black Bear Diner this morning and I must say the staff was super friendly and seemed like a fun crew, and after our order came out the portions were GIGANTIC! Lol, tons of food, I couldn't believe it! I can only speak on the plate I ordered, which was the Shasta Scramble. Looks delicious, however super bland! I guess I just expected more flavor, but the over all experience was nice and my kids seemed to enjoy their strawberry waffle
(3)
Nikki C.

Let's 1st start off saying that the customer service SUCKS! My hubby set his timer which he never does & it took a whole hour to get a freakin cobb salad & pot roast sandwich. Somehow our ticket got lost and everyone else who came in before & after us got there HUGE amounts of food before us...smh Any how, the manager tried to make it better by giving us half off our bill & a gift card, but by the time he came out, talked our ears off, all the while my stomach was feeding off itself it was WAY TOO LATE... STOP The pot roast sandwich my hubby ordered was seasoned with excellent flavor, BUT it was really a pot roast on two slices of big white bread...we expected the roast to be shredded and placed on the bread...NOPE not the case...they need to work on their presentation...but then again it is a type of "homey" type of place...like a Hungryman t.v. dinner diner... Cobb salad...just your average cobb salad that you would get from Denny's or Ihop...nothing impressive... I do not like giving bad reviews...however, there's nothing good to say about this place other than we got a giftcard that i'm waiting for a poor homeless person asking for food so i can bless them with it because we WILL NEVER GO BACK AGAIN... If you are a Hungry Jack you'll probably enjoy the Black Bear Diner...try it for yourself...we won't...but my mama always told me me if you don't have nothing good to say don't say nothing at all... I've dropped the mic & existed the stage...i have no more to say...let me know if you want this giftcard though...peace
(1)
Elizabeth R.

Great customer service. Just had lunch there today and the manager took the kids and had them make their own sundaes. I am so amazed at the time the manager took to do this. Thank you. We will be back
(5)
Thomas H.

Every time we come here for breakfast it never fails we can't help getting the chicken fried steak cause it's good and the only other place I go for chicken fried steak is the stage coach but that place is always crowded so once again here we are and the proportions are great so enjoy
(5)
Karen N.

Welcome home Allison, Gabe & Marissa! Having yummy food before heading for home!!! :)
(4)
Josh H.

It's hidden behind a hotel but this place has really great food. It has classic diner favorites and it does them pretty well. I got a club sandwich and it was great! Exactly what I came in for. I also tried the Chicken Avocado club and it too was delicious!
(5)
Julia T.

I'm not a breakfast food lover but I always bring my boyfriend and his son here for breakfast. I will usually order lunch. It's usually pretty busy and takes a long time to get your food, but the food is pretty good. California Burger is the best, haven't tried much else. Because it does take so long, I'm only giving 3 stars.
(3)
Crystal C.

For being such a wide spread and inconsistent chain, this location was surprisingly good, and fun, to visit. Yes, the bear theme is cheesy but sometimes you just gotta grin and bear it. I mean, you wouldn't want to eat at a bare restaurant, right? Sorry, I'm done. Really. I realize that was all barely funny. Ok, NOW I'm done. The service was super friendly even though they were totally slammed. We were seated within a few minutes and our waiter was quick with the drinks, taking the orders, and bringing us our food. The food was typical diner fare, but I and my companions enjoyed it. Sometimes the greasiness just hits the spot I guess. I wolfed down my biscuits and gravy like I'd never been fed before. I don't think I'd eat here every weekend, but I will absolutely be back.
(4)
Craig E.

Wow very impressed very full no IHOP or Denny's for went there for the first time man oh man
(5)
Alison T.

This place was.. okay. Had their garden salad (spring salad?) with peppers, craisins, etc.. The lettuce base looked like it came out of a Fresh Express bag. Not impressive. The bf had an open-faced steak sandwich. He said the gravy was tasty but it didn't look it. Came on untoasted sourdough that looked like white wonderbread to me. Maybe their breakfast items are better? Waitress wasnt too friendly. She brought out the check waayyy too early with not so much as a "take your time with it."
(2)
Josh N.

I travel a lot this is my favorite place to get steak and eggs the steak is about 1.25 inches thick and bursting with flavor. The place is operated very well
(5)
Andrew B.

I had the Bigfoot chicken fried steak. After eating, I had the biggest headache and felt just so uneasy. Second, the servers only came to our table three times, that being...once, to ask what we want to order; second, to drop off our food; then, to drop off the check. No check ups. Great.
(2)
Steven P.

Great pancakes! Black Bear is a great value with good food and big portions. Look forward to next visit.
(5)
Wally's D.

Decor is nice . Except turn the music down a notch . Always seems to be a wait . Not too long though Greeter/hostess is pleasant , Food taste is average Portions are normally generous I've been here 3 /4 times and never satisfied with the wait staff. Maybe once had a good waiter. This last time was very bad though and this is why I am giving 2 stars. t was Memorial Day "NO Excuse" Waited about 25 minutes for a party of 2 . We were told only a few if we were ok with one of the small booths . ----------- Waitress came after a brief wait . Coffee for me . Iced tea for partner . Delivered and order was taken . I ordered the veggie omelette with no mushrooms . (spinach pepper onions) with fruit instead of the potatoes and English Muffin . Dining mate had bacon and eggs with English muffin Waited a little bit but expected because of the crowd . Not revisit from Waitress at all Rcvd breakfast . I kid you knot . I leaf of baby spinach on top of the omelette . Maybe 2 leaves inside with pepper onions. Maybe they were low on spinach ?? English muffin was barely toasted seem like they just took it out of a warmer and drowned it in butter.Not a toast mark on it . Dining mate received his and said that English Muffin would be out in a few minutes . after about 6 minutes waitress came back and said How is everything . Told her still waiting for the English muffin and she said oh you didn't get it . Also asked her for ketchup as the bottle on the table was empty . another 5 minutes she bring his English muffin and again not toasted . then she brings another empty ketchup bottle and said sorry this is all I cold find we are short handed Not even an offer to refill coffee just the bill put on the table
(2)
Michael W.

Cheryl gets worst manager award. She didn't place our name on the wait list, so we got to wait for the other people to be seated before us. Our wait went from a few minutes to over 20. Then she sat us and didn't even apologize - which makes her the worst. A quick apology can go a long way, if you care enough to apologize.
(1)
Kellmerr M.

Came here today for lunch. Excellent service and food. We all ordered breakfast. Huge portions and inexpensive. Will definitely be back.
(4)
Rosie T.

This was my very first experience at a Black Bear Diner. We came in for breakfast after dropping my dad off at the Sacramento Airport. The location is right off the freeway. Our server was delightful and their food is to die for! I LOVE the pancakes! You barely need any syrup because they are slightly sweetened on their own. Mmmm, yum. The food is worth every penny because they serve heaping portions. My uncle got a omelette and it was huge, and the eggs were nice and fluffy :)
(4)
B B.

Really neat place! The people are friendly too. Someone took me here for breakfast. Good thing he showed me how the menu works because it was printed like a newspaper. Very nifty, but it wasn't explained by the waiters so I saw that other first-time customers were confused. The menu had a huge selection. I ordered the breakfast steak with eggs. Turned out to be a HUGE portion. Steak, eggs, hash brown, toast, potatoes. Goodness. I could barely finish the steak and eggs--didn't touch the potatoes and toast at all. I'd love to go back and try other things on their menu.
(5)
Hang T.

This place is so rustic and the thing I remember the most from this place was not the food, but the atmosphere. I loved the music they played during my meal! It was all music from the jukebox. You would hear Frankie Valley and the Supremes. It was so nice, like walking into a time capsule. I was swaying my head the whole time. In terms of the food, be prepared for huge portions, and I do mean huge! The menus are really creative. It's like you are opening up a newspaper and reading it before your breakfast. I ordered the steak sandwich and it was perfectly cooked, open faced. I couldn't finish it of course, but it was worth trying. The salad that was included with my meal pretty much filled me up before that. It was a pretty decent size for a free salad. The service was great. The girl we had was very considerate and made sure we were taken cared of. The prices are fabulous for the portions. I'm waiting to find a Black Bear Diner around me soon.
(4)
L L.

My family and I Love Black Bear Diner breakfast, lunch and dinner anytime is good customer service is great every one is always friendly food is always perfect large portions
(5)
Joey B.

Good food but service is not fast and the waitress just acts like u r not there!!! So if u want good food u can come get it but all of the people that work here are very lazy there were 4 tables and like 5 waitress and still had to say hey I'm ready to order please!!!
(1)
Mia C.

Have been to black bear diner twice for dinner. I had the chicken fried steak both the times. Was good enough.
(3)
Brandy M.

Delicious! a bit overprices but good food. i love that i can get breakfast any time of the day! makes life more enjoyable. always clean always fast service never a disappointment
(4)
Geoff S.

Turkey burger I had was good, not great. Meat seemed cold. Taco salad I saw at another table looked fantastic; should have ordered that. Staff was attentive and friendly.
(3)
Kristy C.

The food was good and came in large portions. It has a "cabin" feel to the inside with wood and bear theme. I thought it was cute that the menus were printed on newspaper. Came here for dinner and it was not crowded. It is nice that they serve breakfast all day. If you have kids ordering off of the kid's menu, they will love that they get a scoop of ice cream for dessert. Our server brought over all the various toppings that they had (oreo, gummy bears, sprinkles, and one other I can't remember) and let the kid's pick the toppings they want and sprinkled them on their ice cream for them. Watching their eyes light up from seeing all the topping choices was the best part.
(4)
K N.

Large portions for a very reasonable price. My fav is their chicken fried steak, the gravy is awesome! It gets pretty busy on the weekends so it's sometimes a little difficult to grab your waitress' attention but other than that it's one of my favorite breakfast spots! ...oh and I always get a pie to go mmmm
(4)
Natalie D.

So i decided to go here with a friend and was craving steak so badly. This place feels like your in Lake Tahoe or in Disneyland for the ride Splash Mountain due to all the bears around you. Which I thought was cute and fun to eat at. I orderded a rib eye steak medium rare. When I got my order, the steak was absolutely dry and did not look appealing what so ever. I wanted to ask the waiter why it looked the way it looked but I was soo hungry I just dug in. I asked for au jus so it would have some kind of moist in it. They came back to me with a cup of au jus layered with fat. I didn't know what to do but I gave it a shot anyway. I dipped my steak and ate it. I was like..."wow...i'm not going to use that dip ever!" It was quite disgusting and couldn't believe they served me such horrible steak and au jus! I gotta give it up for the corn bread and that's it! I'm never coming back to Black Bear Diner! Waste of my money and all that grease they tried to serve me in a little bowl was just plain nasty! They ruined my first time experience that for sure!
(1)
Michelle C.

I've been here a couple times, and I have to say that it's one of my most favorite diners ever! Had a very cozy cabin feel with a bunch of black bear decor everywhere. (I love bears LOL). The staff are all very friendly and checked up on us frequently if we needed anything. The prices are very reasonable with the portions being HUGE and delicious. Breakfast, burgers, sandwiches, all of them were just awesome! I'm definitely coming back here again and again in the future!
(5)
Rachel H.

Black Bear Diner: it doesn't get any better. Great food; excellent service; big portions; comfy atmosphere. Teddy bears and gifts for sale too. Hands down, this place has a great menu with lots of choices. My favorites: tri tip salad, chicken fried steak, wraps. The pecan-crusted trout is a nice change-up too. Dessert: again, big servings... split the chocolate lava cake or a slice of pie. Breakfasts.... again, BIG SERVINGS. The cream pancakes are the talk of the town, although I tend to go for the homemade sausage patties, eggs, and taters. I appreciate their consistency!
(5)
Jessica P.

First timer at Black Bear Diner ... Walked in with a party of 9 seating for Dinner and it was only about a 10 min wait.. Its quiet roomy in there enough for elbow space.. Our waitress was new , i do have to say she did well ..I ordered a California Burger and it was really good .. more then good it was great !! The food is so tasty and so cheap.. You do get huge portions which is great .. I plan on making more trips in the future that's how great it was.. If you haven't been to BLACK BEAR DINER... you have to try it for yourselves !!!
(5)
Patrick H.

Good place to go for brunch. Much better than the likes of Denny's or Ihop. There was a wait to get a table on a Sunday morning. While the food was decent and service adequate, not sure this is the kind of place I'd wait in line more than 10 minutes for. It's not like this is Tower Cafe or anything.
(4)
Svetlana K.

I obviously came on the wrong day. Everyone and their mother decided to eat here today since they have the day off. The line went out the door, parking was atrocious. I was lucky to have come early enough to beat most of the crowd getting a table. But long wait times for service and food. I wanted to try something new so I ordered 7-layer granola cakes. The waitress said you either love them or hate them. I happen to be the latter. I'll come back again later and see if I have a better experience.
(3)
Summer M.

I am SO thrilled to have a Black Bear in my county! FINALLY! I've been madly in love with the original Black Bear in Mt. Shasta for years, but that's quite a drive from Sacto for some good breakfast. Now I can get the same big, hearty, classic breakfast in my home town. (Granted, it's not as great as the Mt. Shasta Black Bear, but then what is?) Standard American breakfast, lunch and dinner menu items. You get a huge amount of food... I mean HA-YUGE, like Claim Jumper portions. It looks like a big posh cabin but don't be fooled by the pretty new building, it IS diner food- so just don't go in there expecting the healthiest of meals. But man is it tasty... try it!
(4)
Melissa L.

This location is really a hit or miss. It really all depends on who is your waiter and who is cooking. We've found that when they are under a lot of pressure i.e when they are super busy, they tend to give you bad food and bad service. You need to go when they are not so busy. The portions are big. Enough that you could split it between two people or just take half home for a second meal. We love this about this place. We only go for breakfast but the other food looks like typical diner food: burgers, salads, and sandwiches.
(4)
Jeffrey T.

Good service bumped this from 3 stars to four, but... So I'd heard about this place quite a bit, but never had any reason to take the jaunt out there. Finally got the chance to. Excellent menu. Large selection of items. Newsprint with lots of fun information not related to food. Fun. This venture started on a good note! Since I was ready to eat, I went "BIG" with my order choice, the works. Felt a little deceived when my food arrived, but back to that in a moment. My menu selection stipulated that it had three eggs. Well they must have been hummingbird eggs, because I've seen more egg on a plate with ONE egg. Bummer #.1No biggie though, I was still going to eat big. I requested that my hashed browns (their special version) be served CRISPY like someone else at my table had requested. When the plates arrived, hers were crispy, mine were undercooked. Bummer #2. Tried to eat them, but really couldn't. Server took them back to get them browned, but realized they were still going to be undercooked. When he saw this, he had the cook drop my taters in the deep fryer. Yowza! Now I had the best taters on the table, a custom order. Nice. Very healthy plateful too, so I was going to leave very contently full. We had about 7 people in out party and enjoyed it. I'd definitely dine here again, may even make a point to stop here the next time I am venturing west.
(4)
Melissa S.

We have been here a couple of times. Breakfast is pretty good, they have yummy pancakes. We tried dinner, they brought me out the wrong plate. When they corrected my order there was a peace of plastic in it. My son found a hair in steak dinner.
(3)
Brent N.

I had their signature burger. It was very good. They were very persistent on refilling out drinks and checking on our table.
(5)
Katherine G.

I come here at least once a month. Great and friendly staff. Portions of the food are huge. And prices are pretty reasonable.
(5)
Elizabeth G.

This is one of my favorite breakfast/lunch places because of its consistently delicious food and always excellent service. Love their fries, especially with the bacon ranch dressing and that they still use thick - sliced bacon. My two issues...the menu is pretty pricey, especially for sodas and sides and when I ordered a BLT last week, it came with only 2 pieces of bacon. Ridiculous!
(4)
Jesse P.

Great Atmosphere, people are very friendly people and HUGE portions of food. A great place to eat if your passing through Sacramento.
(5)
Alex K.

I've never had a bad dish at Black Bear. They have an amazing choice of foods and the decor is too cute to boot. My favorite dish is the chicken fried steak. One look at it and you gain 10 pounds, but, you gotta live a little. Great place. Only complaint is that parking is sparse at times.
(5)
Jeff R.

This place is incredible for breakfast and brunch; not so much for lunch or dinner. Service is absolutely incredible and you can always count on an incredible meal. Saturday and Sunday mornings are a complete zoo so you should plan on arriving before 8:30am if at all possible as later than that and you are staring at a 45-60 minute wait for a table. I recommend the Volcano, Eggs Benedict, Steak & Eggs, and French Toast. Coffee is great and they refill it often!!
(4)
Douglas Y.

The newest and only Black Bear Diner around here. It is hard to find and pretty empty when you get there. The food is standard american cafe food with good sized portions. I have eaten at 2 other Black Bears and they are pretty much the same. Service here was good, probably because there werent many people here. Nothing special other than the cool newspaper lookalike menu.
(3)
Sandy N.

Went to this place with the expectation of it being a dive. from the outside it felt more like it belonged in Lake Tahoe area. It has a cabin feel to the place. The food was surprisingly good and fresh. I was amazed that the food was fresh considering it is a franchise. The portions were big and match the price. Service was good, but not great. Our server wasn't too attentive to our refill needs. We bought their hot sauce...it was the best hot sauce that we've had compared to the usual Tabasco or the like.
(4)
Phoenix H.

Biscuits with scramby eggs and gravy...Joygasm on a plate!! :9
(5)
Stacy G.

No, no, no, no, no. That's what I was thinking when my family wanted to eat here one night recently, that's what I would say if anyone asked me of my intentions to return. This chain represents everything that is wrong with American chains today - serving nauseating amounts of mediocre food does not make up for the poor quality! And yet white trash, truckers, and hotel guests from across the street flooded the place that night when we ate there. Service was nice, but it couldn't cover up the fact that the food just isn't good. No one liked what they got, but it got the job done (meaning it filled us up). Why would you pay $10 for a huge plate of not-great, gut-busting food when you could get a plate of outstanding pad thai or a huge bowl of delicious pho for less money? America needs to wake up and stop eating up the mass-produced drivel that we are supported by eating it.
(2)
Aaron L.

Luckily, this wasn't our first experience at Black Bear Diner. We've visited several of them over the years and have even been to this one before a long time ago. However, this time was less than stellar. Even parking was difficult. E and I jumped out while P looked for parking. The waiting area was empty except for one couple. The hostess was very nice and said the wait would only be "a few minutes". We should have known when the board with "Today's specials" was blank, it wasn't going to be a special visit. It took forevvvvver to be seated. P managed to find parking, move the car and find parking again and then still waited a while with us. After a good half an hour of watching people come in and get seated (even parties with the same number of people), we were finally called. They led us into the back room which seemed like a sad extension of the rest of the place. We were seated at these really weird fold up bridge tables in the back corner. The table clearly hadn't been cleaned before we got there so that was the first order of business. Once the table was wiped down, we noticed some of the silverware had food left on it. I really hoped it wasn't left over from the people at the table before us. When the bus boy brought back silverware, we joked that there were no knives, and he apologized and said they were out (!?). Some of us had knives, some of us had spoons, some had both. Eventually, we were all settled and eventually the waitress came by and took our order. She was nice enough, but just after we ordered she took over a bunch of other tables from a waiter that was going on break so she was pretty busy. After that, it felt like we were deserted in the far reaches of the restaurant. We couldn't believe how long it took for our food to arrive. It was literally another half an hour before anyone came by to refill our water or anything, when they brought our food out. Naturally, the food wasn't hot and E's burger was missing bacon and my hash browns were undercooked (I asked for them to be "crispy"). The waitress did come back to check on us and after we asked, brought a side of bacon for the burger. An hour and half later, we were done and headed to the front to pay our bill. The woman at the register wasn't very nice. She took the bill from me, didn't say a word and before I had even signed, was asking for the next person's bill. She didn't seem very happy to be there. While we may eventually go to another Black Bear Diner, we won't be back to this one any time soon. Moral of the story is if the special sign is blank, that means your experience won't be!
(2)
Lee T.

Horrible service ! Came in at 6pm on a Monday night . Cute young waitresses every where but to help me. Ord a tuna sandwich and salad/ minestrone soup to go. This place has NO TUNA!! What diner in the USA has no Tuna. Reordered everything but the soup . Food was good . Got the soup to go. 3/4 if that cup filled with reddish broth ?? Wtf? I showed it to the cashier and she just kinda looked at me? Um where's the minestrone ?? She takes off and leaves me standing there with my ticket on the counter . 3 separate girls came up to the register . After helping two other parties that came after me , the fourth girl says " did you wish to pay for this now??" That's why I'm standing here!!! The soup? They are making more??? Omg!! Last time I will come here !! Missing my Redding Black Bear, Joe, Craig & Jerry !!!
(1)
Eagen P.

The Orange Juice is a must have! Fresh and AMAZING. Everything is incredibly flavorful. The service was just average but the good food made up for it. The wifi password is bbdns. All lower case :)
(4)
Veronica R.

I have always wanted to try this place and I was finally able to convice my son to go. We went on a Sunday and let me tell you it was packed! We were greeted by the very nice hostess and only had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. They were jamming some good oldies. The Supremes and The Temptations on a really nice jukebox that is free! The food was pretty good. I had Huevos Rancheros and they were good. Sweet cream pancakes were good too and the portion sizes were pretty good. I saw someone with the NY steak and eggs and thought man that steak looks good, I should've ordered that! . The only thing was my food was not hot when it came out, nor was it cold, but luke warm. I've never had food come out like that. I didn't want to complain or be a pain and send it back. The food was still good, but I was disappointed by that. Also the prices were a little high, but not outrageous. The staff were very friendly and I would recommend going. I would also give it another try myself.
(3)
David S.

I have been to this restaurant two times and both times I was very pleased. They have a great menu with some different choices you don't see at many restaurants. The portions of food are very big and the cost is very reasonable. The food arrived to my table in about 1/2 the time of a similar restaurant. The service was good. The place was clean and had the feeling of a place you may find in Tahoe.
(5)
Wendy B.

Road Trip, Day One: Dinner (uh, er, breakfast) was a 5 oz. chicken fried steak for me, an 8 oz. NY steak for Mr. B. Ridiculous. I mean, we got 5 eggs between the two of us, a pound of country fried potatoes, a giant biscuit and two huge pancakes. Yummy on all counts. Steak was still mooing. That's what Mr. B likes. And one of the better CF steaks I have had the pleasure to chomp into. In other words, flavorful and crispy. Good creamy pepper gravy. Add one refillable iced tea and the TLC of a very competent and pleasant server. Grand total - $2. 25. Yup, we stayed pretty close to our Groupon budget that allowed us up to $24 worth of food between the 2 of us. The whole Groupon cost me $59 total, and included a one night stay at the Fairfield Inn. Eat your heart out, Rachael Ray.
(3)
Kamala S.

Best breakfast /brunch food EVER! Great service and the food never disappoints!
(5)
David C.

I went to Black Bear yesterday. I had high hopes for this place. The food wasn't that great. The service was just okay. Really nothing special. I think I would have had a better breakfast at Denny's and that is not even a favorite. For me Black Bear was at best filler food. Something to fill your stomach without any true love of what is going down.
(3)
Teri I.

If you've read my first BBD review you know I only go there because I am a fan of my husband and he likes the BBD. But after this last experience the only way I will ever go back is if my husband buys me a very expensive handbag! No handbag, no BBD. Now I'm not sure what it was exactly that hurled me into such a hissy fit, perhaps by the end of this review I will have figured it out... * It could be... after taking our order we did not see our waiter again for 45 minutes and then it was to tell us he forgot to put our order in (hello...may I get some coffee with this bad news!) At least he was honest and did not blame it on the cook staff this time. So no, that's not it. * Or was it...when my husband's Club House finally arrived by courier 20 minutes later we still were without beverage refills since being seated 65 minutes earlier...Give Me Coffee! Nope, still not it... * Or maybe it was it when... our waiter blatantly told me he was "too busy" to refill our beverages when I pointed out (while he was dropping off our bill) that he had neglected to do so the entire time we were there. WTF? Let's see, you could count the number of tables he was serving on two hands and have four fingers left over. That's six tables, we being one, means he only served five! Now I could be wrong but I don't think it's in a waiter's best interest to tell the table whose order you forgot to put in that you could not refill their beverages because you were too busy serving your other five tables and expect a tip. OK, getting closer but still not it... Then it must be... for the first time in my (adult) life I did not leave a tip. I should feel good about it, but I don't. Yep, definitely it... I feel crappy about stiffing a waiter whose bad attitude and service made me pissy enough to stoop this low.
(1)
Isaiah M.

Black bear diner is definitely a top 3 breakfast pace to eat in Sac! So amazing, literally haven't had a bad experience here since I've been going, almost every weekend, for the past year. Service is top notch, food is huge, delicious, and always always delivered in a timely manner! Hobo omelet and Bruces meat lovers omelet are must haves, pancakes are great for pancake lovers, and their potatoes and eggs are always a good way to go! Dont understand how this place isn't 5 stars, it's amazing.
(5)
Phil P.

After a late morning run to the Sunday farmers market on 8th and W, me and my lady worked up a healthy appetite and were in the need for some serious food. It was 12:15 pm and we were still in the mood for breakfast. We first thought about Denny's, nope; that only tastes good after hours on consuming massive amounts of Jack and Cokes. Second we pondered the Tower Cafe, nope; it was too crowded and then I remembered hearing about this diner in Natomas called the Black Bear. Upon entering the BBD, the decor reminded me of those tourist diners outside of Yellowstone park. My server suggested that I order their most popular breakfast, the chicken fried steak breakfast. My lady ordered the pancake plate. What came out next was a behemoth plate with chicken fried steak, eggs, potatoes and a biscuit the size of Lou Ferrigno's fist. The food was very delicious and service was great. The only negative about this place is that it is not open 24 hours a day. This is the kind of food that I want to eat at 2:30 after boozing it up and fist pumping .
(4)
Chan T.

I sure do like this place. Had never heard of it until about 6 months ago, but now? We go at least three times a month. Then a Groupon appeared in my email. Uh DUH YES I'm going to buy that groupon for a place I already like. Win win situation I must say. Service is super friendly, and the food is a-ok. There was only one time I ordered the tri tip scramble and reluctantly had to ( ok i was forced to by my dining partner) send it back due to the cuts of meat having wayyyyy too much fat hidden under the cheese and eggs. The server passed the test for being super sweet about the issue. What a relief, because I never like to send food back. The last time we were there the manager was walking from table to table smiling, and giving away coupons, I thought that was cool and very smart. That man deserves a raise.
(4)
Emily O.

I visited this diner for breakfast for the first time last weekend and will not be going back again. Some of the food was decent, but arrived barely warm still. The biscuits for the biscuits and gravy were so hard I had to saw at them with my knife to break off a piece and I couldn't even finish it because it was just too hard (and also cold). Our waitress was very nice and attentive, but when we got our bill I noticed we were overcharged for the OJ we ordered. The menu only listed one price for "assorted juices" which was $2.79, but our bill said $5 for the juice. I brought it up to the manager figuring it was just a simple mistake and that they would correct it, but instead the manager told me that $5 was the price for a large OJ.... the menu didn't list any sizes or any prices other than $2.79 (I showed them the menu and pointed to where the price was shown). He said the waitress was supposed to ask what size I wanted, and when I told him that she didn't, he acted like he didn't believe me and said "well did you drink a large orange juice?". I was FLOORED by this. How was I supposed to know if they considered it a large or not??? There wasn't a label on the cup, and AGAIN the menu only listed the price $2.79 and no sizes! I couldn't believe the manager was arguing with me over this $2.21 discrepancy when we had just spent over $25 on breakfast. He finally agreed to "comp" us $2 which still didn't even bring the prince down to what was advertised on their menu. After that experience, they will never see another dime from us again!!
(1)
Rome D.

You know how when you go to a fast food place and the workers don't want to be there and they don't even try to hide it? Well it's a lot like that here. Sad because it used to be good. Food also wasn't as good as it used to be. They even had a plastic wrapper over a portion of our food. hmmmm can you say microwave? Now let's talk about the service or shall I say lack of service. Our order was taken and dropped off and then even though our server passed by our table six times we were never asked how the food was, if we needed any refills or anything. We eventually were able to make eye contact and get our check. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER! AGAIN.
(1)
Jen S.

Great restaurant for a quick breakfast or brunch. Huge portions. Love bringing the family here.
(4)
Linda L.

It's ok... affordable... better than ihop & sizzler. Will take the family back there soon.
(3)
Debbie Downer D.

Good food, generous portions, and great service! My boyfriend and I arrived here for breakfast on a Sunday morning and there were a bunch of people waiting outside AND inside! It was a little discouraging because he was hungry and we didn't want to wait near an hr to eat. Surprisingly, it took less than 15 min for us to be seated. So don't be discouraged to go in and ask for wait time. I ordered the Steak Fajita Omelet; the steak was packed with flavor. My boyfriend had a steak meal and biscuits, which were ginormous! Seriously, the biggest biscuits I've ever seen! Their menus are cool...it's like a page of newspaper!
(5)
Hayley S.

This place is Comfort food central. I'm from the South, and this place's biscuits ain't bad for California! It's a fun atmosphere and the iced tea is really good.
(4)
Ronnie m.

Ordered the egg Benedict The atmosphere is quiet and calm Friendly staff great food, fast service.
(4)
Lerae Q.

Great service and awesome food to boot! The sandwiches are scrumptious and the breakfasts are amazing. Great atmosphere also. They have a jukebox that plays everything from the golden oldies to 70's. A great family place to eat.
(5)
Heather M.

My 2nd time at this restaurant but new location. I ordered the BLAST - bacon lettuce avocado swiss tomato sandwich. All was yummy BUT the bacon was old and tough. Ruined the sandwich. So hard I almost broke a tooth. Disappointed. The fries were delish and I worked my way around the tough bacon to enjoy what I could. My teen had the tri-tip and she enjoyed it. Cornbread is good too. Overall we like it here. Service was great - the lady was right on top of all of our refills. We'll be back but next time no bacon from here OR make sure it is FRESH!
(4)
Mary Q.

Thought it would be a safe bet to go to BBD again, eaten at many up to Washington and south to Bakersfield over many years. What happened? Just had a horrible lunch and my husband a horrible breakfast, complete with burnt home fries, me the cheese burger would pass for a slider and refried greasy French fries. You just lost a chain wide loyal customer, times 2
(1)
Fred L.

After eating here I always leave feeling FAT as a bear! The food is good and the portions are big. Staff is nice and attentive to my needs. I've tried most everything on the menu and my personal favorites are the pot roast and the fish and chips. The breakfast menu is good too and they serve up a good omelet and a great stack of pancakes. If you have room, you can try one of their desserts. Those are BIG too! It's pretty rare that I eat dessert and If I do decide to order one I get it to go.
(4)

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Address : 2700 El Centro Rd
Sacramento, CA, 95833
Phone (916) 641-2327
Website https://blackbeardiner.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :6:00 am - 10:00pm

Specialities

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 : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Black Bear Diner

2700 El Centro Rd, Sacramento, CA, 95833

Black Bear Diner Menu

Hungry Bear Breakfast

Classic 2-Egg Combos

Omelettes & Scrambles

Pancakes, Waffles & French Toast

Specialty Breakfast

Bear's Benedicts

South of the Cave

Fit & Focused

Little Less

Breakfast Extras

Beverages

Healthy Meal suggestions for Black Bear Diner

Hungry Bear Breakfast

Classic 2-Egg Combos

Omelettes & Scrambles

Pancakes, Waffles & French Toast

Specialty Breakfast

Bear's Benedicts

South of the Cave

Fit & Focused

Little Less

Breakfast Extras

Beverages

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