Black Bear Diner
955 Black Lake Boulevard, Olympia, WA, 98502
Black Bear Diner Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Olympia for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Olympia for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Olympia for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
955 Black Lake Boulevard
Olympia, WA, 98502 - Phone (360) 352-1219
- 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 : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Kenny H.
The idea? Solid. A regional diner chain based on the West Coast to compete with Dennys, Ihop and all that stuff. The food? $hoddy diner food. I have yet to try something I like, and I have gone a few times. This means, though, that the food is better than other crappy diner chains. Just don't expect any really awesome food here. Unless you are strapped for time, better off going to downtown Olympia for food. Trust me!
(2)Samantha S.
Had a tasty lunch of patty melt and fries here today, everyone was friendly and food was cooked perfectly, especially the fries, and they had a good selection of typical diner fare plus seasonal specials. As I was entering the restaurant I spoke with a man who says he eats there regularly and they have amazing breakfast food.... I had been avoiding this place based on really bad reviews but I'm glad I finally took a chance on them.... good place to calm down after some lady tried to run me over in the biglots parking lot crosswalk earlier bc the host made me laugh and smile being so friendly.
(5)Jason C.
Quantity over quality.... I've passed by here a few times on the way to the Capital Mall in Olympia, figured I would take a break from food court fare. I ordered the pot roast meal and got my daughter the chicken fingers kids meal. About ten minutes after I ordered my meal, some guy in a blue shirt told me that the pot roast was not available. So I chose meatloaf instead. The food was completely blah, the meatloaf was pretty hard to cut through with my fork and the mashed potatoes were a little thin for my taste. The only vegetable I could get was some squash/zuchinni/broccoli/carrot mix and that was pretty bland too. There was a ton of food, I could only finish about half of it, so I got some to take home and reheat. My daughter's chicken fingers were pretty dry and way too hard for a 2 year old to chew up, so she ate some smiley face "fries" and some of my broccoli. This is a kid who loves chicken, wouldn't even take a bite.... Maybe their breakfast is better, but avoid this place for lunch/dinner. They had some nice looking little pies in the case though, but I didn't want to risk it with the blah meal I just had. Probably could have gotten a better meal at the food court for less than the $25 with tip I paid here. Not to mention the older lady waitress there had no people skills and her tip reflected that. The younger brunette girl serving the table behind me was a lot friendlier.
(2)Erica W.
Pancakes were THA JAM!!! That's all I have to say about that!!
(4)Olystacy B.
If you like huge portions of decent food - this is the place for you. If you like gourmet food, this isnt the place for you. This is just simple food and a lot of it. I have only ate here for breakfast but I always take enough home for lunch or dinner. You can split just about any breakfast plate between two people and have plenty. Prices are good, service is good, and prices are reasonable. Nothing more, nothing less.
(4)Jenny J.
I wish i could give this place ZERO STARS!! Do NOT come here!!!!!! This was the worst service ever! Our waitress was extremely rude, our drinking cups were dirty and when we tried to tell the waitress she responded very unprofessionally. We waited 45 + minutes for our food and it still was nowhere near being ready so we left.
(1)Joff Z.
Went hungry, left disgusted. Let me preface this by saying that our waitress was an absolute sweetheart. She was cheery, kind and efficient. The food, however, was not cheap and was served in grotesquely huge portions. The menu, in my opinion, is lacking. Some breakfasts, sandwiches, homestyle dinners and salads. NO HEALTHY OPTIONS. Everything is fried, slathered in grease or gravy, served with fatty salad dressings or piled on with "all the fixin's! plus a biscuit that is larger than your face!" The vegetarian options were limited and I went with the most healthy sounding option- a veggie omelet. It arrived in all of its greasy glory- twice the size of the plate itself and surrounded by homefries made out of 18 potatoes. This meal would serve 10 people, I kid you not. As my friend said "Leftovers for 8 days... 9 if you stretch it." My friend liked her food, but it was also disgustingly huge. A proud omnivore, she ordered a chicken fried steak slathered in sausage gravy with mashed potatoes. She really enjoyed it but also felt disgusted after eating only a few bites of food. I remembered this place being great from a visit I had a few years ago, but I don't remember whether or not that was influenced by other substances. After reading it's been shut down for failed health inspections, I sure as heck am steering clear. As one customer was heard saying: "No alcohol AND you're out of cornbread? WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO?" Well stated, random man. Well stated.
(2)Juan S.
I thought prices where low, food awesome, large sizes, taste soooooo good. I will go back!!!
(5)Stefan K.
Stopped there this weekend. I like bears, and so I like the bear theme. Menu is in a newspaper format. Kinda fun. Food was good. I subbed standard eggs benedict for a country benedict (sausage instead of ham, country gravy instead of hollandaise--it's crackin if you ain't knowin). My friend got the club. We both enjoyed our meals, and I guess I timed it right, maybe, bc the waitress said that was the orange juice was "just squeezed" and it did taste pretty good. Will probably come back the next time I'm on Black Lake Blvd.
(4)JP M.
TRY the corned beef! I had it with eggs over easy and hash browns. A little splash of the black bear hot sauce and wow! WOW! Good service too and they were crankin' busy due to the power outages. Big surprise. Really good meal.
(4)Jonathan F.
Monster portions! 2 people could easily share one breakfast plate and be full. Biggest biscuit I've ever seen! Great service, good food, and good prices!
(4)Jeffery D.
Best breakfast ever!! The service was quick and friendly,there was a bear walking around waving at the kids even Alfredo the manager came and introduced himself to us and welcomed us, it was our first but not our last visit
(5)JN B.
This is a serious breakfast place any time you want it! The portions was very very generous; The biscuits and gravy were huge!!! The bear claw was ridiculous!!!!!!! Don't take on by your self; it covers the whole plate. Clean, service was good.
(5)Judy C.
Large, comfortable booths. Pleasant and prompt service. Huge portions that are reasonably priced. The food itself? I've only eaten here the one time so not a lot to evalute but my order was ok. Not yummy coming back here soon. Just ok. I ordered fish and chips with an extra green salad on the side. Yeah, I realize dark leafy greens are healthier but I still like a little crunch in my salad. The greens were droopy, limp, and just didn't satisfy. Lots of fries. Lots. Mediocre fries though. Not much different than the type I an oven-bake at home from a bag of frozen fries. When I'm eating out, I want my fries to taste deep-fried and have a bit more flavor. As for the fish, the breading was OK. The breading had a pleasant, crunchy texture. However, the flavor was bland. The white fish inside was moist, also with nice texture, but also bland. It was the type of fish that you need to dip into the tartar sauce just to get some flavor. I did take home quite a bit to eat later as the portions were huge, and I did eat it the next day, but only because it was there and easy to heat up, not because my mouth was drooling for it. I might eat there again and try something different on the menu hoping it will be better but I'm in no rush to do so.
(3)Adrian S.
I went to eat there one time, but there was such a strong smell of old grease wafting in the air outside that I turned around and went somewhere else. They almost lost their food permit: RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS for Dec. 23rd, 2009 Comments are taken directly from Thurston County inspection reports, which are available at each food establishment and at the Thurston County Environmental Health Office. For questions concerning these reports, contact the health office at 360-786-5490. Red violations are those most likely to cause food-borne illness and must be corrected immediately if feasible or according to a compliance schedule established by the health officer. Blue violations relate to the overall cleanliness and condition of operation and must be corrected according to a compliance schedule established by the health officer. Any establishment receiving more than 45 red demerit points or more than 65 total demerit points will be automatically reinspected in 10 days. If an establishment exceeds those limits twice in a calendar year, the permit will be suspended immediately. BLACK BEAR DINER Nov. 10 Routine check 60 red; 33 blue 9 55 Black Lake Blvd., Olympia COMMENTS: Red -- Several employees were missing or had expired food handler cards. Cook did not wash hands at all during entire visit. Bean dish was not cooled properly. It was covered and placed inside nonworking reachin refrigerator at cook's line. Raw eggs in shell in top of refrigerator were at 60 degrees. Cold storage must maintain temperature of 41 degrees or below. There was strong evidence of rodents with significant amount of droppings in the kitchen not being cleaned. Food in back kitchen exposed to loose ceiling insulation that is working its way through the ceiling tiles. Blue -- Many repairs and maintenance issues need to be addressed, including missing tiles on floor, missing grout on tiles on cook's line, peeling paint inside dry storage area, leaking roof by stove in back, holes in wall, ceiling, baseboard, and dirty grill on ceiling near entrance to walk-in. Entire refrigeration unit across from cook's line in unable to maintain 41 degree temperature. Compliance rating: 77 percent.
(1)Kim E.
We have dined at this restaurant for about 2 years. However, the service lately has been very poor. Today, our waitress offended us by not taking a beverage item off the bill our son did not like and would not drink. She verbally insulted us stating we were "creating problems" then stormed off from our table. It was bizarre, inappropriate behaviour. We hope the management starts to monitor their people closely as the service is declining. Generally, the food is good, but today we paid the price of BAD service. In fact, we are still shaking our heads at off experience at this diner. Dine with CAUTION- the food is not worth the poor service.
(2)Mark M.
The portions here really stand out. Definitely more bang for the buck. Otherwise it's just an above average diner with a cozy atmosphere. I'd give it five stars, but the service I received during my last visit left something to be desired. I'm really not a difficult customer, but the waitress was sort of short with me when I pointed out that she got my order wrong. I may have accepted it as a miscommunication on my part had she not responded with what seemed like hostility. Service has been pretty good outside of that one experience though. At times even exceptional. Don't let my story scare you away. If anything should scare you, it's the fact that the biscuits are the size of your head. If you're not careful, they may eat you before you eat them.
(4)Mark S.
Sadly, this was not like previous Black Bear restaurants I have been to. The food seemed to be all about quantity over quality and cooked too fast. Both my wife and I ordered corn beef hash, over medium eggs. The eggs were raw and runny, but all brown on the outside. The potatoes were the same way - brown on the outside undercooked in the middle. The corn beef was not mixed in with the potatoes, but piled on the side. Good corned beef, but not what I would call hash. My wife got a biscuit that was so ridiculously huge it looked like a little loaf of bread. It tasted just like bread too. Not light and flaky like a biscuit should be. The hostess was super friendly but our waitress was a bit abrasive and seemed to be in a big hurry to move along. Rather than just apologize about the eggs, she kept pushing to make us new ones, but the last thing we wanted was more food at that point. All I was hoping to do by mentioning the eggs was pass it along to the cook, since this place is supposed to be all about breakfast. Can't say we will go back.
(2)Maria L.
Kylie, our server, was awesome! Very prompt with the refills... The food was awesome too... Pancakes, hash browns, corned beef hash, sausage... All solid.
(5)Hailey M.
Probably the best place in Olympia!!!! So yummy. The biscuits are so big! They even have freshly squeezed orange juice. The staff is great!
(5)Marie Louise F.
I would give this place five stars for service alone! We had Joey as our server, and he remembered my elderly grandma from her other visits. He was exceptionally patient and sweet with her, and was willing to repeat himself whenever she said she couldn't hear. The guy had a lot of tables as the night wore on, but he made sure to check in on us and also be attentive to our needs all throughout our meal. Stellar cast of employees overall, as the hostess was very sweet and accommodating as well. The serving sizes are MASSIVE, as it has been pointed out in other reviews. I must commend the kitchen though, since they were willing to tweak the dish I wanted to make me happy, as well as let me and the rest of my party sub almost every side imaginable (we are *those* guests). The hash browns were not greasy, and you could tell that they were fresh. We had some of the minestrone soup as well, and it was meat-free and fantastic. The pies are so tempting, and they are on display calling out to you as you leave. Be warned, you'll probably have to buy one.
(5)Stacy F.
Really good food and huge proportions waiter was nice as well , I'll be eating hear again !
(5)William P.
Despite the negative reviews on Yelp, my wife and I decided to give Black Bear Diner a try. It was a Wednesday night around 7:30pm and there were very few cars in the lot, usually not a good sign. Staff seemed to be busy and we had to wait for five minute to be seated. We almost left, as there were no other customers ahead of us. Glad we waited. The advertisements read: old fashioned comfort food. That's what we wanted and that's what we got. We both had the Bigfoot Chicken Fried Steak. Someone posted saying the potatoes are instant, that's a lie! These are real red potatoes. Someone else posted about the gravy being sausage gravy. What we got was plain, good old country gravy with lots of pepper, no sausage. The decor was nice, lodge style with plenty of bears to go around. The staff were great. The prices were good, although I thought the price for their bear-claws was a little high, until I saw one. It was the size of a small Buick! No kidding, it really is huge and fruit filled to boot. Other than the seating being a little slow, we have no complaints and we can't wait to try there breakfast. BTW: the music was 50's & 60's rock-n-roll and not so loud that you can't hear the person you're with.
(4)Robert G.
On the cusp of the lunch hour and after a workout up the street, I opted for lunch. I was expecting a slightly different Black Bear Diner, having seen it upon driving up Black Lake Blvd. (coincidence) to the gym. It looked more low key, being newer and in the PacNW. I thought the (faux) stucco exterior was nice, even though the woodsy theme of other ones is trademark Black Bear Diner In short, the restaurant is clean and spacious, the management is very cordial, the server was very attentive, the portions don't disappoint, and all the fun, goofy black bear paraphernalia is there. I'm giving them 5 stars for service and value. On this experience, and based on what I chose to eat, I'm giving the meal 3 stars. I deviated from my preferred known quantities, and went with the club sandwich. It was abundant; however, the turkey and ham stuffed into the sandwich were of a temperature (somewhat cold) that was incompatible with the toasted exterior. If that hadn't been the case, I'm sure it would have been delicious. The fries were good. As for sandwiches, I will be returning to their Chicken Avocado Blast. The server was always quick with things and even asked "Is there anything else you'd like for your fries?" Telepathy! Hell yes! Bleu cheese dressing. I've got my 2 dinner favorites (meat loaf and pot roast) and the chicken avocado sandwich I like. I still saw breakfast being served and, damn, it looked good. I would definitely come back.
(4)Pearl W.
Went here with the hubby for dinner today. He had the bacon cheeseburger with fries and I had the B.L.A.S.T (bacon, lettuce, avocado, swiss cheese, & tomato) sandwich with onion rings. The sandwich was good and very filling. I wasn't a fan of the onion rings, however, the fries were good. We finished our meal with their chocolate lava cake. The server asked us if we were sure we wanted just one. It made me think the dessert would be small. I'm so glad we didn't order another dessert because they were huge!! For the rest of this month they are donating $1 from every dessert purchase to the Make-A-Wish foundation. I will have to come here to try the breakfast next time. The menu looked really good, but I wasn't in the mood for breakfast.
(4)Jessi K.
This is the email i sent to the owner: Mike Ridge at the Olympia Black Bear is amazing! Six weeks ago my son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Tristan's pancreas does not work and he now needs to give himself a shot to account for everything he eats. Going out to eat has been a challenge, to say the least. Usually, when we ask for nutritional information, I'm told to go to a website or we don't give out that information. Usually servers can't tell me how many ounces are in a container or they serve me 12oz and give me information for 16oz without telling us. When I ask about serving sizes because we can do the math, we get rude looks and stares and it is obvious we are inconveniencing them. Without accurate information though my son could get too much insulin and have seizures and/or go into a coma or not enough insulin and his body gets no nutrients and he is basically starving. Mike brought out nutritional information, he compared the mini volcano to the cub meal my son wanted. He measured my son's fresh squeezed oj, and brought out the container of syrup for me to see the nutritional info. He gave me a 1oz plastic container so we could get accurate measurements and info. I didn't realize ice cream came with the kid's meal and my son had already given himself a shot and didn't want another shot so he could have his sundae. Mike offered to bag it up in the pre measured plastic containers so he could have it with his afternoon or dinner insulin. Mike was patient and understanding and joked with my kids all while being attentive to other patrons! He made my day a little easier and right now that's hard to do. Thank you!
(5)Tracy S.
If you choose quantity over quality than this place is for you. Food was average and service was extremely slow. I don't think I will ever come back to this place. If you want under cooked or even burnt food, come here.
(2)April A.
Black Bear is one of my favorite breakfast places but I usually go to the Federal way location. Today was the first time I visited this location and I'm really let down. They keep running out of silverware so we didn't get spoons, the waitress gave me a hard time about my order--I get the same thing every time I come--never been an issue. She seemed very inconvenienced I ordered an extra egg. Also, for being less busy then the other location this one seems like everyone is confused. Food was great still, always is but the service and experience was not. Won't come to this location again.
(3)Jenna R.
The hostess Kim is super friendly and makes you feel welcome and at home. The server seemed a little busy, which was totally understandable, but Kim have it that personal touch that made you feel special and taken care of! Coffee within minutes of being seated is always a good thing! Awesome breakfast!
(4)Mark S.
GIANT servings. Come here if you want to eat a lot. Great bang for your buck. Great place for families. Taste is pretty standard. Service is very good. Seriously, you have a meal here and you wont need to eat for a day!
(3)Joseph P.
The food is what you'd expect at a diner; it's not particularly outstanding, but it does the job. What sets this place apart is the people. From the hosts who greet you, to the servers who bring you your drinks and food, to the waiters, they're all terrific. They're friendly without being phony. When I went in for supper on Saturday night, each of the folks I encountered went out of their way to make the experience memorable and special. If you get the chance to eat here, do it.
(4)Jo A.
Love the food and the service. Very friendly staff and quick service. A great place to take the family for a nice dinner.
(4)Frank C.
Love the Bear. Big portions, great food. Great atmosphere. Always love Sunday mornings with my daughter here. Old town feel
(5)Tina K.
Fabulous! We've had the worst steak ever next door. This was a great steak, a great burger, great fries, great salad, great ranch, and attentive service! Thank you for honoring my substitution needs and taking care of details!
(5)Christian J.
Food was great I had the western BBQ burger it was pretty big but could of had more it was good for the price and service was great
(4)Matt B.
Excellent service and excellent food yet again! One of my favorite breakfast spots! I took my Girlfriend here and she had the Shasta Scramble and I had the Hobo Omelette, both where great, I love the country potatoes!
(4)Connie S.
Kim the hostess there is a sweetie she always remembers our name and makes you feel welcomed, I wish she was a waitress she would be awesome at it. 5 stars for BB for having Kim.
(5)Puff M.
We expected a wait because it is Sunday after church, but the hostess said 15 min. Well 35 min later we sat down. Anyway we got.coffee and our waiter Mike showed up and took our order. We ordered simple sandwiches turkey club and blaze chicken, an hour, yes 60 minutes to make a sandwich, they arrived. There was so little chicken on my sandwich I tore it open and put it all together and there couldn't have been more than one ounce of chicken. Then no one came to the table to check if we needed anything. My husband said his turkey club was good, but really you would have to work to mess that up. We eventually had to ask a passing server for our check. It took 2 hours and ten minutes from start to finish and cost $27 for two sandwhiches. It was terrible food, and terrible service. I would advise McDonalds, faster, tastier, and way less expensive.
(2)Sara T.
We've been to Black Bear Diner a few times with friends and it's pretty good food. I haven't been back in a while because we've just been busy, but the burgers are good, the shakes are good, and the staff is pretty friendly. Not my most creative review. Sorry. :)
(4)Melissa H.
First time going there after shopping with my BFF. Everything was sooo big I had to take it home for lunch the next day! Very down home ish. Nice staff and wonderful atmosphere!!
(5)Brad D.
Good food could have been better, eggs were not good, the chicken strips over cooked.
(3)Harold W.
The food is on the good side of mediocre for breakfast. Eggs Benedict are made with thin-sliced deli ham and the hollandase sauce is thin and only fair. The biscuits were about 4" wide and 5" tall. They weighed at lease a pound and looked more like dinner rolls. Worst excuse for biscuits I have ever experienced. Hamburgers are very good and their fries were also crisp and tasty. Service was better than fair but need improvement. Had to ask for water and refills on the coffee. The huevoes rancheros are made like eggs Benedict served on English muffins and poor excuse for salsa. No beans or tortillas. For breakfast, go elsewhere. Lunch is very good.
(2)Felix O.
Love this place. The staff are very frindly and personable. They have been awsome to my son and wife. There food is good huge portions so sharing is recomended i say:) You Rock BB
(5)Tess B.
Black Bear is working hard to win back my heart. They mailed out a half-off an entree coupon with an announcement of new management- and it got me back in. Food was much less greasy. Here's hoping it stays that way. Don't know if I'll be the one to find out though- too many better places in town.
(2)Carlos S.
Went with to he wife and kids, and we had an overall good experience. The kids had the mini volcano and they loved it, it comes with bacon, one egg one sausage and two pancakes, which the kids added chocolate chips. The misses and I shared the California omelet, which we substitutes the mushrooms for tomatoes added bell papers and real bacon (not the plastic bacon from McDonald or some other breakfast places). Services was average neither good or bad. They have amazing looking deserts which we can't never get because we are always to full.
(4)Sarah E.
I really enjoy this place. It is a step up from Denny's and has a nice local atmosphere. The food can be a little bland. My buttermilk pancakes were flavorless, but if you douse them in butter and syrup, they are pretty good. The potatoes also need seasoning too, but after your DIY seasoning they are pretty good too. The lunches are way better than the breakfast items. They sandwiches are huge and delicious and you don't pay a ridiculous amount! The service is great too! I never have room for the desserts, but I hear they are amazing too!
(3)Melissa F.
Good place for good food. Let's be honest, this place isn't gourmet, but you know what? It totally does the job and hits the spot. Expect lots of calories and saturated fat. Expect giant portions and friendly cheerful service. This is for when you want the biscuits and gravy or the chicken fried steak. Don't look for the half order salad with the dressing on the side, or the organic, free-range chicken. I recommend getting really sh*tfaced the night before and then coming here with a hangover. Go for pretty much anything on the breakfast menu! :)
(3)Heather M.
Black Bear Diner used to be a place I frequented often while working on my undergraduate degree in Northern California back in the early 2000's. However, I hadn't been back to one in years as the last time I went back to the same location, both the service and food were awful. However, we ended up coming to this location a few weeks ago after some friends, who were visiting from out of town, were craving a big breakfast. Despite walking in on a Sunday morning, we only had to wait a few minutes before being seated (big plus). After everyone was settled, our drink orders were quickly taken and we received menus. I love their menus here as they're printed up to look like an old newspaper. My group ended up ordering a variety of breakfast and lunch dishes. I ended up getting the small club sandwich with fries. Two others at my table ordered omelettes and the other ordered french toast. The wait for the food was pretty short, and when it came, the table became silent as everyone was busy eating their meal. My sandwich was awesome! No complaints here. It was your standard club, but delicious none the less! My fries, which were of the shoe-string variety, were a big hit at the table. Needless to say, they didn't last for very long. From what I was told, both omelettes were great. Best part is, they were so big that there were plenty of leftovers to take home! The only thing that was just okay was the french toast. It was boring, lacking flavor, and definitely wouldn't be something my group or I would order again. When it comes down to it, this last experience really made up for the past one I had at the location in Nor Cal. I don't plan on becoming a regular again, but I won't hesitate to recommend this place if someone if craving some good breakfast grub or upscale diner food!
(4)Tami N.
We came here for breakfast early on a weekend with our 2 year old. The parking lot was already packed, but we were seated right away. My 2 year old was so excited about all the bears. They had a good and reasonably priced kids menu. However, the portions here are huge, so I think my husband and I could have easily just shared with our son, and not bothered to order him a kids meal. The breakfast is simple classic stuff, nothing fancy, but comforting and filling.
(4)Kellie S.
Went here for brunch on a Saturday. Got seated right away. The hostess took our drink order and brought our drinks. The waitress took our order after sitting there for 15 minutes and then disappeared. Someone else brought our food. After that, no one returned to our table to find out if we needed anything. The condiment jars were completely empty, our drinks were never refilled and our order was wrong. The waitress was fawning over the table right next to us and other servers were attentive to the tables around us but we had on our invisibility devices because no one came to us until......it was time to drop off the check. When we went to pay the hostess asked if everything was okay and when we said no and detailed what was wrong we got an "okay, I'll let the manager know." I have never NOT left a tip, but here I did not. I'm paying for service and I wasn't going to pay for something I didn't receive. I'll Never eat here again!
(1)Sam B.
The food was awful and over priced!!!!
(1)Chris R.
Food is breakfast good, but service is glacially slow. Don't be in a rush, and you will enjoy your visit.
(2)Jaymee M.
I came here last Saturday with my mom on the way back home from Ocean Shores. She has been to the Federal Way location so I was up to try something new. There were 3 people in front of us waiting to be seated. The hostess came up and asked if any of us were on the list yet. Nope. This is the 1st time anyone was acknowledged of being there. Hmm Okay. Took maybe 5 mins to be seated which is really good for a Saturday. They have a large menu and HUGE portions. I ordered the french dip and onion rings. Both were really good. I don't think you can really screw up a french dip though. It was served on a flaky, crusty roll which is my fave. Small portion on the onion rings, but I didn't need a lot. :) Service was good, straight to the point and no messing around which I appreciate. Got an apple cobbler to go to share with the Hus and it was pretty good. Id be back again to try some breakfast for sure.
(3)Peter L.
A church to the Gods of Kitsch. As you may already know, this is a chain restaurant decorated in a northern California "olde-style" diner theme. Definitely geared primarily towards families (read: kids, and possibly their weirdly nostalgic grandparents). I've been to this Black Bear 2-3 times in the last year for lunch and dinner. Portions are massive: I don't think I've ever seen a plate there that couldn't feed at least 2 people fairly comfortably -- you will definitely have leftovers here. The burgers are good as are their garlic fries. They can get fairly busy. The waitstaff doesn't seem to really care much about their work/customers and aren't putting a helluva lot of effort in to checking on how folks are doing during their meal... They also don't appear to be paying much attention to delivering the bill in any kind of hurry, either. I'd go there again, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come back here. I recommend you arrive either ravenously hungry, or with space in your fridge for the ample leftovers. This Black Bear Diner does compare favorably to the one in Sequim, however. They don't seem so grossly understaffed here.
(3)Peter A.
The diner that time forgot! Or maybe, the diner that stole my time! Have you ever waited so long for dinner that you wished you ordered breakfast, because the sun would rise before you ate! We came to BBD on a cold and snowy night when our power went out. The place was busy, but not overwhelming. Apparently, the power went out for a lot of houses in the area. There was a 5 minute wait to be seated. Not too bad for a cold lightless night. Then there was a 10 minute wait to be asked our drink preference. OK, now I was a bit annoyed but it was better than sitting home in a cold house with no warm food or lights. Next, there was a 30 minute wait before someone took our order. I was beyond annoyed now. Especially since our server only had about 10-12 tables. Maybe it was the cold, but maybe, just maybe, this was incompetence or poor management. My mother ordered the chicken fried steak (with soup). My wife ordered the turkey dinner, and I ordered the New York Steak (with salad). We waited almost 40 minutes for our salad and soup. Then we waited another 30 minutes for our food. The food was average at best. The service was just terrible. I spent approximately two hours of my life waiting on BBD food! I want my two hours back.
(1)Renee Q.
I wanted to like this place. It was so cute on the inside and had such a fun story but the food quality was just not there. Huge portions of less than mediocre food. A real drag...
(1)Murph Mama L.
Saw the three star reviews and gave it the benefit of the doubt. Wish we would've followed our gut instinct and turned around at the front door. Service is great. But otherwise, don't waste your money. I ordered the French Dip with a green salad. Over half of the lettuce was brown and there were two tomatoes, two cucumbers, and shredded carrots. No cheese. The meat was decent but the bread was beyond soggy. And don't expect much from this au-jus. I can make better au-jus from a packet from the grocery store. My SO had the Hot Beef Sandwich. The meat was the same meat as mine, so it was decent, but it was drenched in instant gravy, which had no flavor, and served with a side of instant potatoes. I'm not one to rag on instant potatoes (I've had my fair share on lazy dinner nights) but when I go to a restaurant, I would hope they would spend a little more time preparing the food. Overall, very disappointed. Still kicking myself for walking into this restaurant.
(1)Brittney K.
We went here twice in one week!! Took our family that was here from out of Town and they all loved it! They give you too much food! Which is Good! We went to eat around 11:00am and at 6pm we were still to full for dinner! Seriously and we are not small people. My favorite part is breakfast all day :) the staff are great and friendly too
(5)Melanie F.
Have been here many times. Only for breakfast or breakfast for dinner. There pancakes, eggs, skillets are great. Typical diner food. nothing amazing but they definitely can hook up breakfast.
(3)Todd R.
Bad reviews are from professional whiners!!!! We were here six years ago and stumbled on the BBD and had a great meal. Back in the area tonight and had another great experience. Happy friendly courteous staff from busboy to server to manager. My wife had the chicken fried steak and said the breading is light, crispy and melts in your mouth , perfectly cooked. I had the BBQ burger and fries which I asked for well done. They arrived slightly under-done and when I brought it to our servers attention she apologized and explained she thought I meant the burger. The replacement fries were dead on!!! As for other reviews here.... Come on Lobster at a diner??? Sure they offered it but your going to expect $75 flavor at diner prices. Get real. And we watched this place being cleaned by every employee. If the windows are smeared blame the uncontrolled rug-brats that sat there before you. Keep up the good work BBD we are moving nearby and will gladly make this a regular stop.
(5)Becky K.
My mother in law, grandma and I decided to try this place after trying an out of town black bear diner that was AMAZING! This Tumwater/Olympia one= Huge portions! No flavored eggs, gross flavored gravy - kept trying to add salt and pepper to improve it- didn't work! couldn't finish eating - not happy!
(2)Beth R.
Don't expect nouvelle or haute cuisine. If you are snobby foodie, go elsewhere. If you are in the mood for Classic American Comfort Food and lots of it, give it a go. If you are concerend about fat, salt, and cholesterol, make it a special once-in-a-while treat. The atmosphere, right down to the newsprint menu, is kitschy to say the least but it's kind of fun and, the last time I was there, the youthful wait staff was almost over enthusiastically helpful. I've been there several times and have enjoyed Chicken Fried Steak smothered in gravy, Prime Rib, and Breakfast anytime. Prices are very reasonable. As several folk have noted, the portions are huge. Consider splitting an order with someone or ask for a to-go box.
(4)Rusty S.
Good food, big portions, reasonable prices, efficient staff.... great diner! I'd been to a couple of Black Bear Diners in Northern California, but until recently I was unaware that the chain extended into Washington State (one here in Oly and another in Federal Way, apparently). Previous encounters with the Black Bear had left a 'paws'itive impression, so I had to give this one a try-- glad I did! Breakfast here has been awesome every time so far: hot and tasty entrees served with a choice of hash browns or red potatoes w/ peppers and onions and toast or a HUGE homemade biscuit for under $10. The coffee here is alright but not as good a deal at $2.20, but what's breakfast without coffee? I love their 'Baby Burn' hot sauce, though-- and it's available along with everything from stuffed bears to hand lotion in the gift shop up front. They also sell ENORMOUS fruit-filled bear claws for about $5. So far I've visited this location on three occasions: Two weekday mornings the place wasn't very busy and service was swift, but when I visited with family for a late breakfast on Veteran's Day the place was packed which resulted in a long wait to be seated and for food to arrive. This was not at all unexpected, of course, but the staff here really impressed me by keeping a quick pace and upbeat attitude despite the hectic atmosphere and some pretty snotty customers (one guy with a party of nine was loudly complaining that others had been seated before them, for example-- and others in the same party were loudly complaining about something or other after they were seated). Personally, I can't think of a single thing to complain about on any visit here thus far. Well, wait a second: why must they blast country music in the men's room?? Completely unnecessary, IMHO. The 'bears' / 'rustic mountain lodge' theme of the Black Bear is a nice touch on top of what would be a good classic American diner based on the food and service alone. I'll have to come back here sometime to try their lunch and dinner options... but for now I'm glad to have another go-to breakfast joint in the area!
(5)Clint P.
Don't believe the bad reviews. Remember that this is a diner and not a fancy restaurant. People are complaining about the greasy food. Remember that this is a DINER! I have been to this location several times and I have always had good friendly service and the food is always tasty and consistent.
(4)Fengie O.
I have only gone to the Black Bear Diner during breakfast hours. One time was with my retired relatives, another time was with a group of friends, and one time I went by myself. Each time was early in the morning and involved small groups of people in an almost empty establishment. The food is wonderful fried, greasy goodness served in large portions perfect for sharing. The diner is large and has lots of seating. Unfortunately, the customer service is not consistent. When my relatives took me to the diner, our waiter was inattentive at best, and it took an hour for us to get our food. The second time I went with friends. After seating ourselves, one of us had to track down a waiter who later forgot our order. We lucked out later because our second server was excellent. The last time I gave the Black Bear Diner a try was when I went there alone. It took thirty minutes for a server to take my order and after waiting another thirty minutes, flagged down my server to ask how my order was coming along. They replied 'What order? Do you want to order something?' I politely said no thank you and left. . Summary [overall] -Great, greasy, deep fried goodness -Cheap -Large diner -Inconsistent service that ranges from absolutely horrible to fantastic. There are good servers who work there, but finding them can be hard.
(1)Volker B.
Well the BBD is a neat franchise, if you like lots of food, their Grizzly breakfast is truly a giant, and I had trouble finishing it, which I usually have no problems with. Prices are regular nothing too expensive there. BUT their staff can be a pain, waiting to be seated, waiting to get your coffee or refill, waiting on the order, waiting on the food, waiting on the cashier....... So a American fast diner is that not, but it ain't a classy lets take your time joint either!!! A big plus is, they give military discounts.
(3)Orlena K.
Was not happy with the flavor of our food. Everything was very bland and greasy. I wouldn't recommend or return to this establishment. Prices were definitely too high for the quality.
(1)Steve B.
Went for breakfast. Good service even when pretty busy. Found the food typical quality for breakfast. Really large portions. Wait staff is super friendly and good. Not only did my primary wait person attend to my table so did the hostess and other staff. Good family enviroment. Huge group room probably 20 to 30 people easily.
(4)Mike C.
This place was pretty good. It wasn't overall mind blowing but it was good. Good portions and the dessert was decent. The wait took a little while but I'd go back
(3)Jas P.
Great brunch and service! The huge portion of food can overwhelm you!
(5)Mike S.
We seated ourselves at the counter on a busy, but not slammed Saturday morning. The service was basically terrible, to put it briefly. It took forever to get drink and food orders. The food was ready and sitting under the warmers for a good five minutes before it was served to us. Plus, there was no checking up on us after the food came. While the portions were humongous, the food was average. I've had good experiences at other Black Bear Diners, so this meal was pretty disappointing. Quick note: they microwave the biscuits to warm them before serving. It seemed strange to do that.
(2)Brent C.
Portions are huge. Service has been better at other establishments. Very inconsistent. Mostly all about the breakfast. Picture if the Claim Jumper focused on mostly breakfast and lunch. There is some great food but I gave it three chances and I was only satisfied once. Service take a while.
(2)paul h.
We drove by here on our way to the mall so we decided to stop and try it out. IT WAS WONDERFUL! the atmosphere was wonderful the waitress was fantastic as well. the food was good and portions were very good. I came from Kansas and we have a steakhouse called Montana mikes and they have huge portions and homemade food and this place is on tops with my hometown food. We will be back again for great service and food.
(4)Marjorie H.
Why would you go here? It's been closed by the county health inspectors not once, but twice. One of the complaints was rats in the kitchen. Before I knew this I did go there. Guess what? I got food poisening. Really, do your body a favor and don't go to Black Bear Diner
(1)Vicki J.
Food is great but service is poor. At least leave a pot of coffee on the table if it's going to take 30 minutes to come around. Finally gave up on this place.
(3)Jorge M.
Pretty good diner fair, but again the prices don't match the food. If you go there get breakfast, you won't be disappointed, as for the rest feel free to skip it; however, try the dessert, that was good, blackberry pie=YUM. I've got to say if you go to satisfy your sweet tooth or wake up hungry go here and eat like the grizzly inside you!
(3)Yoshi M.
The biggest thing I heard about this diner was that their Chicken Fried steak was the best. Not one to believe everything i hear, I had to check it out for myself. The diner was exactly what I would expect as a diner. The lighting was just right, the smells were very good, and it was busy. We didn't wait long to be seated, and the waiting area is rather nice. When we got seated, they had an old fashioned newspaper as the menu, which I found to be rather cute. The service was great. They did a great job of waiting on us, and we did not have to wait long for our food. Although one time, it did seem they were extra busy and the food was a little bit slow in arriving. After eating the chicken fried steak, I have to say that it was all I expected and more. the portions are bear sized, and if you can eat all the food, then you must have a great appetite. The prices are modest, and it will not break your wallet. I have heard a couple complaints on the food, however, I dismissed them as isolated incidents. I recommend this diner, and would go there again.
(4)dj d.
Delicious! I'll update this once I've eaten more than the bacon burger but for now I'll just say good potato salad, great fries, great burgers! I like this place beary much!
(5)Kirun M.
I've been here a few times, hoping to see an improvement, and each was worse than the time before. The service is awful and so is the food. And, it's not cheap.
(1)Nick S.
I was very excited at the prospect of a new breakfast dining experience, The Black Bear did not deliver. The portions are huge which I honestly love, but I only want to eat a lot of good food, not pancakes that taste like my 11 year old daughter made them. They were WAY under cooked and the flavor on just about everything else just was not there. To cap it all off I am fairly certain that our waitress was on crack. Overall it was a horrible experience and I will never return on my own free will.
(2)LeAnne A.
This place is awesome. The portions are huge, the food is great, and the customer service is pretty good to. They have a big menu selection and we love to eat here!
(4)Zaphod B.
Mediocre breakfast with perhaps the worst sausage link I have ever tasted. Ever.
(2)Cork H.
After this small chain took the old Coco's place we were anxious to give it a try. Before we could get there we had at least three other friends say it was horrible - so we didn't go. Time passed. Finally, we thought we'd see it through our own eyes. At breakfast ordered the Eggs Benedict (I know, I know....) your choice of potatoes. The ham was as thick as a piece of typewriter paper and the hollandaise sauce was the color of a mud puddle, and definitely came out of tinfoil packet and then not well made. At least at Darby's they add a touch of lemon to the pre-mix. The eggs were undercooked but there were plenty of potatoes and some deli fresh fruit. The service was not slow but inattentive and it was hard to get more coffee. This place was not cheap and the portions were big but Lenny's (Dennys) does a better job at breakfast.
(2)Susangail B.
This was our second time here for breakfast. We thought it was better the first time we visited. I had the eggs,bacon, hashbrowns, DH had the hash. You get a choice of hashbrowns or country potatoes. Probably should have had the country, the hashbrowns, were sliced really thin and were over cooked with not much flavor. I ordered over easy on the eggs, one was almost over hard, one over easy? The biscuit you get is huge, but crumbled into pieces once we both attempted to cut it in half. It was too hard to eat, crumblying after each bite. The service was great, but we aren't sure that's enough to come back.
(2)Jane L.
I am suprised at some of the not great reviews. We have never had any issues with service and our meals are great. I didnt really like their pot roast once but that was at the federal way location. Other than that we usually come for breakfast and it beats all the places around! Their thing is all about getting your moneys worth and you do! We always have a doggy bag to take home.
(5)Bob W.
This Black Bear Diner was just opening when I arrived in April '07. Black Bear Diner is a small restaurant chain in the Northwest with a logging decor. Service was slow which I think was due to short staffing and a packed house. I had the steak with was well done the two teenagers with me both liked the burgers.
(4)Brenda V.
Steer clear of this place! We ate here right after it opened and were disappointed. Since we've heard a couple of good things about it, we thought we'd give it a try (only because IHOP had people waiting out the door). We would have been better off with a bowl of cereal at home... The host took our order for drinks and promptly forgot about us. After the waitress took our order, we did get our coffee promptly. (As other posters mentioned, the waitress was great, and we even had two of them checking on us.) The food was awful. My hashbrowns were crisp sticks and tasted like old oil; the enormous biscuit was dried out and tasted like paste (the one bite I had stuck to the back of my throat); the bacon was like jerky marinated in grease. My husband's breakfast was much the same--huge portions of greasy, crispy ick. The pancakes were fine, although he got enough syrup for half of one pancake. Also, he said the restroom was filthy and had no toilet paper. The ceiling and the walls in the dining room obviously hadn't been cleaned in probably years. Another thing we noticed is how unorganized they were. The couple next to us was there before us but didn't get their food until we were almost done with ours. We've always had great meals at the Yreka, CA, location, but stay away from this one!
(1)Mike P.
Great food, (generally, the biscuits can be dry) Huge portions, pretty good service, standard coffee shop coffee. Try the corned beef hash! Made from real corned beef, not the mush you get from cans or at other restaurants, the real roast torn apart and mixed with country fries, just the best restaurant corned beef hash I have run into! try the ham and eggs, thick ham steaks, yum! They have a really hearty Apple/Almond pancake that qualifies for vegetarian I think. For a kind of smaller chain they are pretty danged good! My son has had the Taco Salad a couple of times and he swears it is the best anywhere!
(4)Jody F.
Pretty kickin' for a place that specializes in what I like to refer to as a "heart attack on a plate." This is NOT my sort of establishment. That being said, it exceeded all expectations. My friends say their chicken fried steak is even better than the Claim Jumpers.... My corned beef hash was the freshest I've tasted. My eggs were cooked as ordered, and their oversized biscuits are a lovely side. Good times.... Happy Birthday, Tammy!
(4)tim a.
Love this place! Great Food for the price and HHHUUUGGGEEE portions.
(5)Chris P.
Had huevos rancheros, eggs were slightly over cooked for my taste as yolks were mostly settled. Fruit was fresh, especially the melon. Hash browns were okay, nothing special really. Hollandaise sauce with chillies really set it apart, paired really well with the pulled pork. I absolutely adored their house habenero sauce, deliciously spicy and full bodied. Portions were gigantic, and the homey atmosphere was very inviting, as were the staff. Also bears... Lots of bears.
(4)Forrest B.
Huge plates, good food! We had a party of 10 for breakfast and we didn't have to wait an extraordinary time to get or food. They had a well trained staff that took care of us. Being a mid-west guy this was my first experience with Black Bear and was a good one. I will not shy away from the chance to visit next time I venture west of Oklahoma.
(4)Alan A.
LOTS of food, but is a lot of discussing garbage. The place is dirty, the server we had reeked of smoke. Dead flies in window, and we will not talk about the bathrooms. Sticky tables, coffee cups looked dirty. Uck
(2)Taureon S.
Reheated spaghetti and meatballs..no explanation of the menu and left in a corner for quite some time with no waiter...this place needs work
(2)Ron S.
1. They had an orange garnish!!! I would've preferred a lemon!!! 2. The ketchup bottle was only 1/8 full.
(1)Keith K.
Pretty nice diner. Went here with family for breakfast. I liked their corned beef hash.... and the freshly squeezed orange juice was terrific!
(4)M P.
Amazing server on top of orders and drinks and actually listens thanks John. Great food great service.
(5)Ashley H.
I absolutely love this place!!! Reminds me of being back home in Montana. When ever I need a little piece of home I come here!
(5)Cassie M.
Very homey. Big portions and good food. Worth a stop.
(4)