My wife and I come from Redding CA and have been working out here for 4 years. Growing up in Mt Shasta and Redding, black bear has always been a go to our whole lives so it's pretty cool Colorado is seeing more now. While comparing the newest location to the originals isn't a fair, it's a nice taste of home at times, just living right down the road. Like any restaurant, you're gonna have slow service at times and ups and downs, everyone's human. Foods great, give it a shot! read more

I was neutral about my trip. I loved the original Johnson's corner and was excited to try the remodeled diner. The kids working here are happy and nice, There was a couple who came in made a scene and stormed out, no idea what happened, but the staff and management were supportive of one another and made sure the the rest of the customers were taken care of The ambiance was forced rustic with logs and carved bears, nice try but a little tacky. I miss the art deco 50's diner lunch counter and ginormous cinnamon rolls of the old Johnson's corner The food was good the entrees could have been a little larger and the biscuits a little smaller. I cannot say if I will make the out of the way trip again. read more

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Atmosphere is warm friendly and inviting and food was great, (coffees strong) This review will revolve around Caleb the most amazing server I've ever seen! (I'm 50) Caleb is upbeat but not overbearing, incredibly attentive and has an amazing grasp on people skills. I observed as Caleb, took my order and was friendly, & knowledgeable, as I waited on my order (wasn't long) a table of 8 clearly repeat diners asked for Caleb by name, I then watched as he assisted some lovely ladies to a separate section of the restaurant as they requested a "quiet location" he then went to another server to clearly communicate why he placed them there and then offered to give her other clients, Caleb engages in quick friendly conversation and makes people feel welcome. I watched him go on to have conversations with 2 other diners and still got food to the table in a timely fashion. My only regret on this visit is that I don't get to this area enough to enjoy this level of service! If you're anywhere within 200 miles it's worth the drive! If you make it to Johnstown Colorado and the Black Bear Diner and don't have the same experience because you didn't ask for Caleb..that's on you! read more

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Waited 1hr for 2 eggs w/cheese, 2 bacon and 2 biscuits and gravy! Then I was going to leave and the guy said I was next order to come out and to please wait. So I did and the order was missing simple things like the cheese I paid extra for. Im surprised they are still in business. Avoid at at costs and I won't be going back. read more

First time for dinner have been for lunch. We were greeted upon arrival and taken to our table. Our hostess was nice and chatty which was fun Waitress took a few motto get with us but she was great at answering our questions and giving us time to look over the menu Husband ordered chicken fried steak with a salad and baked potato. I ordered meat loaf with fries and green beans and a cup of the loaded potato soup. Soup hit the spot since the outside temperature was 7 I needed something warm for a starter. Food came and there was plenty of it. We enjoyed the cornbread muffins which came before dinner with real butter and honey. Chicken fried steak was done just right. Not dry, still moist. Meat loaf was 3 pieces with onion straws and brown gravy. I enjoyed the meat loaf. Onion straws were overcooked and tased a little burned. Brown gravy was great. We ended up taking some of each home. French fries were eaten but mostly for the dog that was waiting patiently at home. The diner is so much nicer than the old Johnson Corner restaurant. It's nice that they renovated the inside. Tables and booth are far enough apart that you don't hear other's conversations. If you're traveling I25 and want to eat as in sit down eat stop here. The big new gas stop down the road may have food but you can't sit down and eat it there. read more

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The wait time was pretty long. The service was just so so. From the time our waitress took our order to the time we received our food was at least 45 minutes. I ordered the corned beef hash and it was pretty good. The portions are huge so keep that mind. The restaurant was nice inside and kept clean. Would I go again?? Maybe. read more

Black Bear Diner is the kind of place that reminds you why dining out can be so special. From the moment you walk in, you're welcomed like family and surrounded by a cozy, rustic atmosphere that just makes you feel at home. The portions are huge (bring your appetite!) and the food is always hot, fresh, and full of flavor. What stood out most to me was how much care goes into every plate--from the fluffy pancakes and hearty breakfasts to the savory comfort food dinners. And don't even get me started on the desserts... absolutely worth saving room for! The staff is friendly, attentive, and genuinely makes you feel like you're a regular, even if it's your first visit. Whether you're grabbing breakfast, brunch, or dinner, you'll leave satisfied, smiling, and probably already planning your next trip back. Honestly, this place speaks for itself--if you want a true diner experience with food that never disappoints, Black Bear Diner is it. Once you try it, you won't even feel the need to look anywhere else. read more

Black Bear Diner Johnstown - Diners Near Me - Johnstown, Colorado

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Third time here since it opened as BBD. Large portions were nice, Berry Bear Claw was tasty and shared by three of us. Service a bit sketchy... refills on coffee and water, had to flag down server. Food, atmosphere, and avg price were good. Definitely visit again read more

Server was very pleasant. Although we weren't ever checked on prior to our food being brought out. No one came by to say your order will be out soon NOTHING! Service was HORRIBLE! Food took forever to be brought to our table. Husband had chili was just ok. We split a patty melt, asked for well done very pink inside didn't finish. Decorations are always cute with the bears, however not worth eating here. read more

Black Bear Diner Johnstown - Diners Near Me - Johnstown, Colorado

You won't believe what's happened to the old Johnson's corner, the famous landmark in Colorado! It's now a Black Bear Diner! I've been to a few Black Bear diners in Northern California and Arizona, and they've all been pretty great. But this one stood out. It's got a bigger space, a really cool atmosphere, and fast and friendly service. So far, it's definitely my favorite Black Bear diner. The place is spotless, and the service was fast and friendly. Our server, Caleb, was amazing! And the restaurant manager, Toya, went from table to table to make sure everything was perfect. I will be going there again in the near future. As with all other Black Bear Diners, I recommend this one too! read more

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Great breakfast. Friendly service. Not too noisy even though it is part of the truck stop. Lots of car parking. read more

Black Bear Diner Johnstown - Respect - Diners Near Me - Johnstown, Colorado

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The food presentation was an A+. The portion size was an A+. The food itself was probably a C. It looked pretty and there was a ton of it. It just was really, bland. The service was good but the waitstaff walking around with stuffed black bears strapped to their backs was a ridiculous gimmick that falls flat . I won't go back until the taste improves. read more

Black Bear Diner Johnstown - The Grizz - Diners Near Me - Johnstown, Colorado

Food was really good. Server friendly. It just took a really long time to get our order. If it had been a full restaurant, I wouldn't have mineed. But a mostly empty place shouldn't have had this slow of service. read more

Our first visit here was right at the grand opening when corporate was on site, training. Everything was spectacular from our greeting, service was top notch, fun ambiance, food was timely, hot and tasty. Fast forward to Sunday morning, July 13th when I wanted to take my daughter and granddaughter. Could not get greeted even with 5 employees in the area. Took 7 minutes to even put our name in for a 40 minute wait with half the tables empty! Got seated, and we were told although the menu states breakfast and dinner ALL day, the cooks freak out if anyone orders a dinner item, so breakfast was all that could be ordered. Out of mushrooms. Took close to an hour more to get our food. What happened here? Lady at the register kept reaching into the drawer and putting something into her mouth. Food was okay, certainly not great. Lettuce was rusty, looked very old. Needless to say, we will not come back and my bragging this place up is over. read more

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Food is great however it takes 45 minutes. They need better cooks or more of them. Waiters are great trying to keep you positive. read more

Great food and Camryn was awesome!!!! Huge portions!! Fresh and healthy. Great service. Highly recommend and we look forward to coming back!!! read more

We had breakfast today, Saturday. It was slammed. We ate at the bar and our waitress AnnMarie was awesome! Gracious and totally efficient, gave us an honest estimate of when our food would arrive and was there with that 2nd cup of coffee on the spot! Thank you so much Annmarie! read more

Roast beef plate was great, large portion and very tasty. Service was a little slow, place was pretty busy but they could have used another server. Overall was very good. read more

This may have been the only restaurant where I've sat down, Looked at the prices, then said no thank you. I then went to pay $5 for the cup of coffee I had and left. Seriously, In what world is any breakfast with two eggs $20+ dollars? read more

Flies, flies and more flies. We sat down as usual at a booth, ordered the same decent old food - fish was a bit disappointing in my opinion - it didn't give me that "THIS IS REAL WILD FISH AND ITS GOOD!!" Feeling. Instead, it gave me, "Damn man this fish looks sad as hell like the other fish just ganged up on it and slapped it around before stuffing it in the microwave frozen as hell then slapped onto my plate," type of feeling. Then the flies, I ain't talking bout one or two or even three. I'm talking bout THIRTY OF EM! My poor daughter screamed, "THE ANIMALS!! THEY WONT LEAVE ME AND MY FOOD ALONE!" My wife did her best to shoo them away as they flew around, servers looking on as my daughter in screaming in horror as she has a death grip on my wife. Now my wife was mad cause she couldn't eat either. Staff didn't address the hordes of flies at all. My daughter stopped eating. My wife couldn't finish her meal. Lord have mercy on my soul - two angry girls is a death wish for any kindred soul. Otherwise, this trip was "alright" compared to last time. read more

Black Bear Diner Johnstown - This isn't black bear diner stays - Diners Near Me - Johnstown, Colorado

With the BB being just down the road we decided it was time to give it a try despite the negative reviews. We lucked out and they were not overly busy and were able to get seated right away. Our waiter was on top of it and assisted for our drink order as soon as we sat down. We did notice that there was a lot of staff and we were asked many times to refill our coffee. The only negative was on the wait for our food. Once the food came out it was good and hot. It's typically diner food, but that's what we wanted. From the older reviews it does seem that they are working to improve and have. Speed up the kitchen and it would solve the table turn over issues. read more

I moved here from Las Vegas last year, where I was a regular at the Black Bear Diner. I was so excited to see that one opened here. We went to check it out and it was one of the worst breakfast dining experiences ever. The wait for a table was over an hour. There were empty tables everywhere. We opted to sit at the counter. It took 50 minutes to get our food, which was mediocre. The waitress was very nice and apologetic, but we won't be back. read more

I had a great breakfast there a few weeks ago. I checked Yelp and Google reviews before trying the place when it first opened. They were so bad I just stayed away. I can honestly report that they seem to have the kinks worked out. My service by Ann Marie was just fabulous. At the moment they are not ADA compliant as all the handicapped parking is at one end where the doors remain locked. The hostess stand is at the other entrance. It took me a while to get inside. read more

The restaurant was clearly understaffed, and the women's restroom was in terrible condition--3 of 4 stalls were filthy and out of toilet paper. When I told the waitress, she and the bus boy said they didn't have any toilet paper to restock. Completely unacceptable for a restaurant. read more

We've tried Black Bear twice since they opened here in Johnstown - and we're pulling hard for them! The food has been really good, and we like the atmosphere. It's very similar to the Johnson Corner restaurant than had been here for so many years. They struggled a bit on service during our visits though. During both visits, we've waited 30-40 mins for our orders - far too long with so many other nearby options. read more

It's appalling how bad this place is!! I sent an email to corporate several times and no response. Place is dirty, food is inedible and no one seems to care. read more

I thought this looked like a nice little place to eat, being a trucker- finding a place like this in a world full of McDonalds and subways- is very nice. Starting off normal it seemed like a normal dining experience. I asked for a booth and was found one, which is nice. I was sat down and asked what I would like to drink and got an iced water with lemon. It was brought to me right away, I was given a menu and was told someone would be right with me. I sat there for about 45 minutes until someone approached me and asked if I had ordered yet. I stated no, and they asked if I was ready to order. I replied that I was and placed my order. (Blackened salmon, red mashed potatoes with country gravy, and seasonal vegetables.) I attempted to order a Bloody Mary. I was asked for my ID. Which usually wouldn't be an issue but I had left it in my other jacket, in my truck parked on the far end of the lot. I told the waitress I had a photo of it on my phone and showed her. At this point my generally pleasant demeanor was still there soon thereafter she came back and stated that they couldn't accept a photo of a license; which I will admit started to make me feel annoyed. I do understand the laws and was just hoping for a little grace in the matter after having to wait so long but I was told that I could go fetch it and they would make me the drink, which I wasn't in the mood for. Then I waited another 15-20 minutes for my food. Then had to wait for my waitress to retrieve me silverware to eat the food. The food wasn't very good. The tomatoes were only half ripened, my sides were cold, and I was unable to ask for lemons for my salmon because she didn't come back until I was finished eating. The pie was good. Probably the best part of my experience. When I was given my ticket- she stated she was giving it to me early so I "wouldn't have to wait on her"- which I thought was ironic. When I went up to the till to pay my bill another person (who may have been a manager?) asked how everything was and I told her I was honestly kind of disappointed in my experience. And she brushed it off, thinking that my experience was ruined solely because of not being to be able to order my Bloody Mary. I tried to explain otherwise, but she just went further into the explanation of why she couldn't serve me an alcoholic beverage. At that point I had given up. Unfortunately, I left no tip. I am not usually someone that complains about things to this extent. I used to work as a waitress in many different establishments and I have a lot of patience and grace when it comes to the service industry workers. I feel let down in my experience today as a patron. And in a world where prices keep rising the way they do I feel like I wasted my money on something that wasn't worth it. (Except the pie- that was definitely worth it) I feel there should've been retribution for some percentage of the meal at minimum but I felt like they didn't care because it was the end of their shift. I saw they closed at 10 pm and I left at 10:07. I feel I wouldn't have been in past close if I was treated with a little more respect. Thank you for reading this, if you did. It's nice to actually be able to express this, as I wasn't able to in person. read more

Very unorganized. Service was slow. Food was incomplete and cold, not of good quality. Numerous wait staff and no one to run register on check out . Also dining room was full of flies Very disappointing Will not be back!! read more

Not impressed. Food was warm not hot. Worst blue cheese burger. Fries warm. Ice tea was weak. Service was slow. Ambiance ok.

Placed a delivery order for 3 items, meat in 2 of the items tasted old/stale like it had been prepared several days earlier and 1 item was not delivered. Have called 3 times over the past 3 days trying to resolve this issue. Been placed on hold for over 15 minutes (finally hanging up), another call to shift manager who told me another manager would have to call me (still waiting on that call) and now have left a voice mail for their restaurant manager (who knows if I will get a call back). Their customer service is completely non-existent and I will never give them another ounce of business. read more

Came here on a Sunday afternoon we had a party of 2 we ordered drinks & food the restaurant was dirty food all over the floor, it took over 25 minutes to get food I ordered a meal with a salad when food came out I still did not have my salad they forgot my roll also had to ask for that. While food was good the service was not great. Ran out of drinks had to ask for them also. We were looking forward to trying this restaurant but were disappointed in our visit. read more

Was excited about black bear dinner coming here, found out it opened yesterday, so we went by to get 2 small pies. Got a chocolate and a banana pie. We came home and when getting ready to eat the chocolate pie we found 2 dark hairs in the whip. We lost our appetite and threw pies away!!! Re- thinking going back. read more

Just wasn't that good. Burnt potatoes for breakfast, service was very slow. And had to ask for water a few times .

Corporate trainers need to do a better job with kitchen staff, and hosts. The hosts have no idea how to properly seat people. They have a full staff but seat everyone in one section only using 2 servers. This leaves a bunch of servers with nothing to do but ask if we need coffee or to go boxes repeatedly. The cooks need training as well. 45 minutes to get meals out is ridiculous. We know they just opened but they've been training the employees for over a week. The trainers must be terrible. The servers are all nice. I don't feel like corporate cares for this location. We went back again recently and management is non existent. I called in a complaint and Justin just said sorry and had excuses of just opening. However, corporate is there, there's no excuse. They've opened 163+ stores. There is no excuse for such a failure. It is so obvious they hired managers with ZERO experience. read more

First off, I'd like to say this has nothing to do with the food. The food was excellent, and I genuinely enjoyed it. The diner itself has a nice, cozy atmosphere, and I believe I would have really enjoyed my visit if the service had matched the quality of the meal. We were seated fairly quickly, which was a positive start. However, after being seated, we waited about 10-15 minutes for our server, Maria, to approach us. When she did, her first and only words were, "Are you ready to order?" There was no greeting or introduction, which came across as abrupt and unwelcoming. It gave the impression that she was unhappy to be working or annoyed that we were there to dine, and it set an unfortunate tone for the rest of our visit. What was most disappointing is that this was the only time we saw her during our entire meal. We noticed another server, a gentleman with long hair and a mustache, actively engaging with his tables and providing a warm, friendly presence. In contrast, Maria did not check on us, run our food, or provide our ticket -- these tasks were handled by others. As we left, we passed her once more, but there was no farewell or acknowledgment. I understand that working in a restaurant can be challenging -- I've been in the industry myself. However, basic hospitality, such as greeting guests, checking in during the meal, and thanking them as they leave, makes a huge difference in the guest experience. I truly enjoyed the food and the atmosphere, and I would gladly return if I had a different server. I only hope this feedback can help ensure that future guests feel as welcome and cared for as they deserve. read more

The food is wonderful, service is great, no idea why this only had 2 stars. We had a great experience and will be back again.

The claims of slow service are 100% accurate. Waited and waited to get seated. Every worker there kept telling us "somebody will be with you". Somebody never came. Also, the place was relatively empty, with plenty of seating available. This was not a capacity issue - it was a service issue. I don't know how the food was, but ONLY go here if you have a clear schedule and time to kill. I likely will not return, despite the likelihood of receiving a "We are sorry you were disappointed" response from the company. read more

I was so hopeful to have a good experience, but unfortunately we did not. We should up for breakfast this morning. We were told that it would be a 30-35 minute wait. We waited over an hour. I understand that it's hard to quote those times exactly, but then get to the table and wait over 45 minutes for our food is ridiculous. We wanted to give them a shot, and were induced by a free breakfast offer that they didn't even honor. Our server was great, but the food was definitely not worth a 2 hour wait. I spoke to the manager and the gave us $5 in bear bucks. A bit of an insult. We will not be back! read more

We went to check out what happened to the diner at Johnstown. I was impressed how clean it is compared to before. The waitstaff were pleasant, the food was outstanding. We got a roast beef sandwich and a tritip sandwich. Good food and we both could only eat half a sandwich. Toya was attentive and very pleasant. Fantastic overall read more

Very long wait to receive our food. Hashbrowns were cold and burnt. My omlette had no cheese. The hamburger was not cooked. Our waiter was great, It was suggested to managee to hire some experienced cooks. Manager did make it right by not charging for the breakfast. Let's just say, I was very disappointed with the food and I will not be returning until they can hire cooks who can cook. read more