My husband and I enjoyed pulling up in our pontoon and going to the restaurant to eat. The service was great. Staff were very friendly. You could eat on the porch and enjoy the lake view or sit inside where it's cool! Also, the food was great as well. Amazing fries!! We will definitely visit again! read more

The food choices are terrible. They offer a fried chicken wrap, but can't do a fried chicken sandwich. The grilled chicken is bland and small. read more

Location, service, and view are impeccable. However, the food is an utter disappointment and seems to get worse every year. I don't believe that anything is actually made in the restaurant at all tastes like it is frozen and from a restaurant supply store. They paired down the menu this year and I was hoping that subsequently the quality of the food would improve, but that unfortunately was not the case. French fries were soggy and undercooked. Shrimp were small and slimy. The quality of the food does not match the cost. It's very disheartening because this place could be truly wonderful if the owners would only invest a little more in the quality of their food. read more

Waited 40m for dinner on a slow night. 5 of 6 dinners finally arrived; my small, grilled shrimp was cold and my coleslaw resembled soup. My rum punch tasted like juice...disappointing. I was too tired to complain. The kicker was my sister never received her dinner...10m later the server said they just "dropped it "? Another 10m later he says he's sorry & not sure why it was taking so long. Another 10m later we stop the server walking by and ask again and he literally just shrugged his shoulders and said "I don't know". We all freaked out a little at this point and demanded to see manager. She was nice & apologetic and got the meal in 5m for us to go-we were all done eating by that time. Though she only comped the one meal... should've done more imo. Fast forward another 2 weeks, we try again for lunch. Mixed drinks were watered down. The wrap was ok but very small and arrived on a massive plate with no garnish or accompaniments...it's like the chef doesn't care at all. Also got another order of coleslaw soup...yuck. Will go back for beers & entertainment only but I think we're done eating here. Sad. read more

Visited the Marina on a Saturday afternoon. The view from the deck is always incredible. The food has not been. However, we met Tim, the new chef, last week and he encouraged us to give it another try. So many thing have changed! The Mac n pepper jack cheese bites were a fun start. Very creamy. My husband got the flounder and sweet potato fries. He said these are as good as he gets at the beach. I got the BBQ chicken pizza. It was large enough for two and I really enjoyed the flavors. The pizza crust was baked to perfection; I'm not a fan of the burnt crusts typical to pizza ovens. Our server, Reagan, checked back with us often and service was spot on. We used to be regulars. Food was terrible so we quit driving out. We're excited for the changes Tim has made with the menu and quality of food that we'll be frequent visitors again! read more

Great location... dinner... not so much. Table not clean Very slow service No olives so no martini for G, had to have just water. Water refill was a little yellow... not clear so didn't drink. Okra was cold Catfish was warm, not served when done. No silverware till well after we got our entree. Salad served after entrees. Overall disappointment read more

We stopped by Bear Creek marina on a weekend camping trip to Lake James State Park. The staff was friendly and inviting the food was delicious. We had the buffalo chicken pizza which I highly recommend. Our server Alexis did an awesome job and checked in on us regularly. At one point the manager came over with a smile to make sure everything was great - and it was. We were able to pull our boat up to the dock behind the restaurant, and there was plenty of space. Even though there was a decent crowd we did not have to wait to get a table, and our food came right out. I think a lot of reviews on this restaurant are old because there were servers buzzing around all over and smiles on faces everywhere. I highly recommend stopping by Bear Creek Marina and Restaurant if you are in the local area , it was a five-star experience. read more

Bear Creek Marina & Restaurant - Pulled our boat right up to the dock. - New American Near Me - Nebo, North Carolina

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I do not usually write reviews but I sincerely hope the challenges we had with dinner tonight are not the norm. I do realize that it is quite hard to find help in today's environment but we waited over an hour and a half for our food and while the waitress was doing all she could, the manager never came over to explain the delay or check on us. When the food came it was certainly not worth the wait. The burgers were over-cooked and one of the chicken tenders was not fully cooked. It was not until we asked to see the manager that an apology was made. The manager tried to make amends which we appreciated. i sincerely hope that the Bear Creek Marina can recover and regain its standing as a quality restaurant on the lake. read more

Moved a few months ago to WNC area and every weekend we check out somewhere new. After reading reviews we were skeptical but since the change of kitchen comments we decided to check it out. Food was amazing the catfish, calamari (special) was cooked to perfection breading was loose but the calamari was so tender it didn't even matter, burger was also delicious. View is amazing. We will definitely be back! read more

First time visiting Lake James. We rented a boat for the day and decided to try the restaurant for dinner. When we arrived we overheard the hostess telling the people ahead of us that there was at least an hour wait if not longer, she said she had no real idea of how long it would be. Those people decided to leave. Then another person came up and asked the hostess why they were still waiting for an hour now to be seated when she had just counted 7 empty tables. The hostess said that the kitchen was backed up and that she couldn't seat anyone until the kitchen got caught up. She said they had been very busy all day and were doing their best. We were unable to wait due to having rented a boat and couldn't wait as long as she was estimating. For being the only restaurant on the lake they should be better prepared for busy times and have the ability to get guests food done quick and efficiently to keep customers happy and moving in and out quickly. Definitely losing business! read more

This venue is a local treasure, and should be a top destination venue. We went there for Mother's Day, and although it was crowded, I couldn't be more pleased. Katherine was a great hostess, and kept us posted on the wait time. We enjoyed a drink from the bar and enjoyed the view during our 20 minute wait. Bryson was our server, and he was excellent and attentive. The special was prime rib with fingerling potatoes and glazed carrots, and it was expertly prepared and delicious! Add in the beautiful mountain and lake views, plus Jeff Honeycutt's great acoustic live music, and it was a five star experience! We will definitely be spending more time here this summer. Thank you, BCM management and staff for helping to make this a Mother's Day to remember. read more

The reviews about service are spot on. Just awful. You want silverware? You want any type of sauce? You want refills on your drink? You want your bill? Forget it, ain't gonna happen. Server was nice enough, but just slow as hell. Here is the funny thing, our party of twelve got our food in about 30 minutes, not bad as it was a full house, but the bitchy, unfriendly, her face would break if she smiled ------ hostess promised our table to another group, as we got our food!!!!! Then when our server dragged ass and did her disappearing act - 1.5 hours later, the hostess told the people waiting it was our fault. Wtf? So the people were pissy with us......Actually coming to our table and asking "Not to rush you, but are you guys about done." We said that we were done 15 minutes ago, but have not been able to pay. The view was great. The building is totally cool. The band was great. To bad we had a terrible experience. Oh and by the way, the Sysco mediocre food is just nothing special. Just bar food, around a 5 or 6 out of ten. read more

When we came through the doors, two girls on their Cell phones looked up and stared at us. We had to greet them and they "pointed" where we could sit. Server was not polite at all and acted like she didn't want to be there. Food was not good and 2 of the 5 plates were not correct. We were on vacation and drove 30 mins to try 'tis place. Don't waste your time. read more

I have never been here to eat and I came here to get some lunch with my mom and the food was amazing highly recommended this place

Really wanted to give ten 5 Stars. First, the entertainment (Red Dirt Revelators) were outstanding! The server, Autumn was also awesome. My chief complaints are the food was not the best and the service was slow until Autumn came over. My first impression is that they did not have enough servers for the people watching the band. Overall, not a bad experience. read more

Bear Creek Marina & Restaurant - Outside Bar area - New American Near Me - Nebo, North Carolina

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Good food and great service. Filled our needs for a place we can eat at while on vacation.

We had a great family meal at Bear Creek Marina. Although they were very busy, our server was attentive and our food was delicious. In this challenging time in the food service business, they work hard to deliver a great experience. read more

I don't know why this place has such low ratings. Simple menu but our food came out fast, was good, and the staff was extremely nice. Great lakeside scenery. Ceasar salad, Philly cheesesteak and fries were all tasty. I'd like to try the fish next time. read more

After traveling the blue ridge we came in here to try something new with a view of the lake. Sweet and kind waitress although the rest was to be desired. They had no silverware for us, our food was so bad we didn't know how to put that in words. The Mac and cheese is better from a box and at least has flavor, couldn't figure out what it was like to eat theirs, the chicken I had was rubbery and still slightly wet from being thawed. I ordered it blackened and it resembled nor tasted like that! My girlfriend got Salmon and wow, it was so fishy the nicest thing we could do is tell the waitress and the remedy was to offer us teriyaki sauce to smother it. It filled the home however left us unsatisfied. They also threw the tea out so couldn't provide a refill when I asked, the waitress did offer something else however I thought that was odd while people are still there and then the bill, hard to swallow paying that much for the food we could barely swallow! read more

We went on a Thursday evening. Service was good. The food came out quickly. We ordered chicken wings, fried pickles, and a house salad. The fried pickles were great... The chicken wings were not so good. We did not finish them. They were dry and tasteless. The salad was ok. Nothing special... a lot of greens and perhaps two thin slices of tomatoes at best.... Nothing else in the salad to make it more appealing. I might give it a second chance, but was definitely disappointed with the food quality on this outing. read more

Food was good, it took a very long time to arrive though. The draft beers were really great.

My server was rude as hell. She refused to give the bill until she was ready. The silverware was dirty. I just went to McDonalds after. Also my burger was overcooked alot. read more

I just went here for lunch today and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the Cobb salad.. It was very good for what this place. This is a very cool venue and it has great views and lots of seating. However, it is a bit inconsistent... Sometimes it is good and the service is great and other times you are waiting an hour for your food. Hit or miss read more

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It was amazing! The service was top notch! The food was delicious! We loved the meals that we ate. Faith was our waitress. She was so attentive! What a great place and beautiful view of Lake James!!! read more

We almost didn't go because of the reviews, but so glad we did. Sitting outside and eating with family and friends looking out on the water was perfect. The food was better than we expected. Was it gourmet? No, you are eating on the lake. Was it super fast? No, you are eating at the lake. Did we have fun and leave happy? Yes. read more

Great place to hang out on lake to enjoy a cold beer.....awesome view, great food and great people. Service has always been prompt and courteous. Highly recommended ! read more

Bear Creek Marina & Restaurant - Great view ! - New American Near Me - Nebo, North Carolina

Went there today with a party of six, have had good experiences in the past. But today the covered dinning area was filled, so we attempted to seat out on the patio. It was blazing hot so we moved some tables with umbrellas, but the umbrellas being small did not shield us from the 2 pm sun. So we noticed the stage area was not being used so we moved our tables under the covered stage area. The waitress said she could not serve us there because the band was coming to set up (bs) why is a band setting up at 2 in the afternoon. The staff was not willing to accommodate us or to offer us comfortable seating from the hot sun. So we left. read more

I was looking forward to trying their restaurant for the first time but they don't even answer the phone to take orders, oh well now I know.

My experience was better than the ratings that I have seen lately. The food was really good and my waitress (Madison) was very attentive. Food was delivered promptly, drinks were never empty, and check was delivered timely. read more

This place was a huge disappointment. They did not have any of the beers we wanted. Waitress stated "We sell a lot of beer here." Well, management should order double then because we were here on a Sunday at noon and everything we wanted, they were out of. Then we ordered the nachos and they were the absolute worst I have ever had. Fake nacho cheese was not even hot and the chili was practically nonexistent. I will never come here again even for the views....oh and that was another thing: the waitress said no outside seating but half of the outdoor patio was blocked off. Very poor management to not have the entire patio open on a busy Sunday lunch with gorgeous weather. They are not even trying. read more

Where is the management? This is the BLT sandwich. One star is not an option...it was a still is terrible read more

Bear Creek Marina & Restaurant - Yes!! The BLT. No bacon, no mayo, diced tomatoes, AND bacon bits......crappy. and the management or ownership would not comment on this. - New American Near Me - Nebo, North Carolina

BIG DISAPPOINTMENT !!!! This could be a great place but they really don't care for repeat customers. It is the only place on the lake with dock access as well as a campground with owners who would enjoy having a place to go after spending a day at the beach or on the lake. In the evenings all they care about is the bands they bring in and want customers who are just there to eat to pay a cover charge. We are new to the area and were excited about this place only to be very disappointed in it. They stop serving dinner at 6 to prepare for bands. What the hec that is just when people are ready to eat. Have now talked with locals who have been coming to area for years and they all say the same thing, they wish it better. They would like to have a place but I guess the owners just don't care about what they could have. I hate to see such a BIG Wasted Opportunity. Really wished for this to be better. read more

Honestly? If you are coming to the lake bring your own lunch. The restaurant was not full or very busy. Still couldn't get a soda until I followed another table's lead and ordered one from the bar. When we did finally get to see our waitress (15 minute wait) she claimed all the menus were being used. I could see the whole dining area and there were only two. Our burgers tasted like walmart's freezer burned rejects. I didn't eat any of my sides since I couldn't get silverware. Our appetizer came out with our food because of technical difficulties in the kitchen. It was chips and salsa. Not that we cared because the salsa was above room temperature and the chips were stale. I wouldn't send my worry enemy here. The only nice part was the views. read more

Went to dinner. Great view. Service slow and food was cold. I recommend going here for drinks and the view find another place to eat.

Food, excellent. Service at the bar, outstanding, bartender really knows what he's doing. Wait time, no complaints. While there we did notice other patrons waited too long for their food and drinks but it seemed this was because the majority of the wait staff were beginners and the kitchen understaffed. But overall I would highly recommend and will return. The view and facility are beautiful. For those giving bad reviews, I would encourage you to try the other restaurants on Lake James...oops I forgot, there isn't one. read more

Drinks and view alone are awesome plus had a guitar player. Service slow till they find you on the lakeside deck. Dog friendly spot. Now the food was hot and clam basket was cooked perfectly for 7.00. Double cheese burger was cooked with two cheeses and a favorable bun. Hand cut fries are extra, but ya gotta have fries, the also have sweet potato fries. Nice little marina bar on Lake James for good bar food and drinks. read more

It's definitely the nicest marina on the lake. It's a beautiful building with a great view of the lake. Little rocky start to the season, but overall, the food and service is MUCH better than last season. The only thing I miss are the fried green beans, but they have way better (and some healthier) options vs. last year so I'm ok with that. The bartender is super nice and as far as the wait staff goes, the only time I had an issue was when I asked for a hot dog fully loaded minus onions and received a plain hot dog. They usually have good bands playing, although be prepared to pay a cover if you come in late. There is always an interesting mix of people. They usually have a good selection of beers and the last time I was there, the waiter brought me a drink called a Blue Mother ^&*%er which I only had one of, which after Googling the ingredients was definitely enough. read more

Best place in McDowell county. The food is great. Staff is amazing. View was spectacular. Shame this place doesn't stay open year round. I will definitely be visiting this place as much as possible this summer. Chef Loren came out to check on every table that was eating. Honestly couldn't ask for anything better in such a small town. Bear Creek you guys rock!!! read more

My family rented a house on Lake James. We had been over to the Marina earlier in the trip to get gas for the boat and noticed it had a restaurant and decided to give it shot. We were quickly seated on the deck where the views were fantastic. That's about the best it got. The service was horrible. It took forever just to get our drink order placed and they were never refilled. I ended up going to the bar to order another beer. When the food finally came out it was meh. It's the same fried stuff you find at any low end bar and grill. read more

This place has so much potential yet is poorly ran! The owner should be ashamed of himself for running such a poor operating business. You are in a prime location! Do something! Very few items on the menu, like 6 or 7, none of which are great... Mediocre at best. Service sucks! If you wouldn't charge $8 to listen to a band we might actually come in and buy alcohol drinks which makes you money! We can easily hear the band from the boat saving $8 a person while drinking our own drinks... Get a decent menu, hire some kitchen help, get servers who can do their job and get rid of a cover charge and let people buy alcohol! read more