On our way back home from Santa Cruz, our plan was to find a Black Bear Diner and have a late afternoon breakfast. We are fans of the restaurant chain, and it wasn't too hard to locate this one just off the freeway. What we enjoy about Black Bear Diners are, that they serve American style food and pride themselves in serving hearty, home cooked meals offering a large menu selection that should tempt just about anyone's taste preference. This place wasn't too busy, but they were impressively staffed! They seemed very prepared for when large crowds arrive for upcoming dinner time! Our waitress Kacie was very nice as she took our orders. I got two eggs over medium, rye toast & grits, and orange juice which contained pulp, meaning it was freshly squeezed! Everything was just the way I liked it! I couldn't believe my large bowl of grits! I couldn't finish it, and ended up taking the rest home. Which was still delicious the next day. Joe K ordered the Western Omelet, hash browns, sourdough toast and orange juice. Our food was very appetizing and better than what one would expect for a typical diner, and that's why we are fans! The only thing I noticed that seemed odd, was the women's restroom. It was very small with only two stalls. One for a wheel chair and the second one was so tiny that I felt like I was in an airplane bathroom. The door swings inward, making it hard to enter and you end up standing close to the toilet! I can't imagine how things go when the restaurant is busy! read more

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Always good food at a reasonable price!! Good service especially like seeing Ramona, great server!!!

Always good service and food. I get the crispy chicken bacon ranch wrap and it never disappoints.

Mom and Pop style diner chan with a solid menu, fair prices and high wualityeats. Nice service, good food at a decent price.. What can be more American than that??? read more

The Good: + Service: 5 stars. Our orders were taken promptly and delivered hot from the kitchen. Our waitress made sure that everything was fine for our meal. Iced Tea: 5 stars. Someone here knows the secret to making great iced tea BLT: 5 stars. This is what a BLT should be. You need to hold it carefully to keep all that wonderful bacon in the sandwich; but, if the bacon falls out, you can still enjoy it by itself. Sweet Cream Pancakes: 5 stars. Sweet Cream Pancakes, as far as I am concerned, are the signature food at a Black Bear Diner. These pancakes lived up to my expectations. The Bad: Fried Eggs: 2 stars. I ordered eggs over medium. These were overcooked almost to the point of being over hard. Fries: 2 stars. The fries are usually good here; but, these were not good. They failed the good-when-cold test so badly that I ate exactly one. Condiments: 2 stars. The ketchup bottle was empty. In my view, this should rarely happen. The Ugly: Ham: 1 star. This was not ham. It was more like what is used at a carnival food stand to make fried pork fat. After the fries and ham, I left the restaurant wondering if the management is cutting corners on food quality. Our waitress: 0 stars. As we approach the 18 month mark of this pandemic, proper wearing of a mask should be a no brainer. This waitress wore her mask below he nose the entire time we were there. Even the slightest risk to the health of customers is unacceptable. The fact that the management of this restaurant appeared to not be enforcing basic pandemic health precautions, makes any return to this restaurant highly improbable. Next time I want to eat Sweet Cream Pancakes, I will drive a few miles to a different restaurant. read more

Black Bear Diner Lodi - Southern Scramble - American Near Me - Lodi, California

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We love black bear don't get us wrong, the food is amazing and the atmosphere is always so homey , but our server kinda killed today's experience, her name was Ashley and i don't know if she was just having an off day or something but her attitude when talking to us and her body language when with us said "I Don't Wanna Be Here" definitely not inviting , hopefully she has a better day tomorrow read more

Amazing service! Mary (waitress) is so sweet and attentive. We had to sit outside due to Covid, but the weather was beautiful. The seating is limited-approx 12 tables, 4 chairs per table. We had The Grizz and Joe's Hobo Omelet. Everything was so delicious. read more

Black Bear Diner Lodi - American Near Me - Lodi, California

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Had a great breakfast here. The waffle was nice and crispy on the outside, while soft inside. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. Pretty big menu that included lunch, so something for everyone. Would definitely be back next time I have a waffle craving. read more

Black Bear Diner Lodi - Sweet Cream Waffle (660 cals.) - American Near Me - Lodi, California

My meal was fair. The hash brown potatoes were served barely warm almost cold in some parts. The bacon was alright, cooked to order though. My omelette was fair as well. Service was slow and had to ask for items a few times before we received them. The cornbread muffin was good, nice flavors and moist not crumbly. Waitress seemed overwhelmed with our group of 8. The food was good, not great but good enough where we'll be back. The chicken tenders were served hot, fries were ok. Everyone was happy with their meals, not complaints. Just not the absolute best we've ever had nor the worst. But we would come back read more

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We've been waiting for them to open, and today was the day. It was packed but they move people in and people out in a nice flow. We sat right away, and our server, Velia and the others that checked in to make sure we didn't need anything were all awesome. I had the bacon cheeseburger salad. It was huge and delicious.. couldn't finish it all, but I made a good dent in it. Hubby had the steel cut oatmeal with the fixings and a side order of egg whites. He took home a coconut cream pie for later We've been to quite a few of the BBDs and we're glad to add this place to one of our faves. Be back soon read more

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I normally really like this olace and usually it would garner a higher rating, but tonight the meal fell really short. I ordered a breakfast omellete and it was really lacking in flavor and it was dry. The rest of the family's dishes were subpar. I'll try it again in the future. I'm hoping this was just an off day. Normally the food is much better. The service was a bit lacking that day as well. The server had to be asked multiple times for hit sauce and it felt like to us like the server felt inconvenienced when we made requests. They have to step up their game. read more

Black Bear Diner Lodi - Omelete - American Near Me - Lodi, California

Black Bear Diner is much like Denny's but not much like Denny's. What makes it much like Denny's is it's breakfast and how you can always count on it being good. How it isn't much like Denny's is you can order lunch or dinner and count on it being good. That's why I will pick Black Bear Diner over Denny's any time. I have not visited the Lodi location before and decided one night after a hockey game in Stockton that this would be a good choice for something quick to eat. My son got his usual chicken tenders with fries and my wife ordered biscuits and gravy. I went with a bacon cheeseburger and fries. I also decided to get a chocolate shake to top it all off. When we ordered our waitress was attentive and polite. She got the order in quickly and the food was delivered even quicker. I couldn't believe how quick it came in. At one point I thought maybe we got someone else's order. My son is nine years old so chicken tenders are his go to and he said they were good. Take that with a grain of barbecue sauce. . My wife really enjoys biscuits and gravy and said that Black Bear Diner did a wonderful job with hers. In fact she ordered a double set thinking a single wouldn't be enough. She said she was wrong as she was full after eating the first. No worries, we just took the rest home and she was very happy to have it later. My burger was quite good and for the price was really good. Again, unlike Denny's, the food is good all around. Oh, the chocolate shake was excellent. I would highly recommend stopping by here time of Covid and the difficulty of finding good help. While we did have to wait for my shake everything else was quick and to the point. I will definitely be stopping in again here if not just for the great milkshake. read more

Black Bear Diner Lodi - Biscuit and gravy. - American Near Me - Lodi, California

Went this morning and had a very nice breakfast and seated right away. Restaurant was so nice and clean and everything on table was nice and full and well kept (condiments,salt,pepper) We had a Belgian Waffle with strawberries and cream and a chicken fried steak breakfast with loaded hash browns. Everything was delicious and our waitress was so nice and helpful and patient with our ordering thank you for being so sweet...wish I remembered her name. And we also took a bear claw to go read more

Black Bear Diner Lodi - Fresh baked bear claw - American Near Me - Lodi, California

Well we were pleasantly surprised The food was delicious and the service was on point! The restaurant was clean and believe or not the restrooms were clean, too! The decor quaint and appealing. Yes, they had DESSERTS TOO MANY to choose Like I need a excuse to not over indulge and I didn't this time but I know where to find cakes pies and cookies and Trust me "I will be BACK" read more

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Went in for a mid-morning breakfast. Got a booth in seconds. Had to wait over 5 minutes to order as waitress was talking excessively about personal stuff with customers that she knew. She was also wearing a heavy coat, looked so unprofessional. Food came in a reasonable amount of time. I ordered the basic 2 eggs and sausage patty, hashbrowns (well done), and a biscuit. I upgraded and added gravy to the one biscuit that comes with the meal. First impression: the eggs are small and overcooked. Second impression: hash browns look raw. As I started to eat here is what I discovered. NOTHING was hot. Eggs, sausage, and potatoes were all lukewarm. The gravy was thin and runny, and also not hot. The only "pro" was that the sausage tasted really good. Every time I eat here (once a year maybe) I leave disappointed. Why do I go back? It's close to my house and I didn't want to go to my normal spot as I was "slumming" in jeans, hoodie, and hat. And it's always crowded. I just don't see how this place stays in business. It is, by far, the worst BBD I have ever been to. And it is expensive, IMO. I could get far more food, and way better tasting, at my local independent breakfast spot- Avenue Grill. read more

I don't write yelp reviews anymore but i had too this time. First time here. Mary was our server, she was sooooo nice and chipper. She was the best server ever. Thank you again Mary. I ordered the hot sausage patties, hash browns, over easy eggs and a side of biscuits... Everything was TOOOOOO good. Excellent service, great brekkies. read more

Black Bear Diner Lodi - Bekfast - American Near Me - Lodi, California

Good for with friendly service. We regularly visit this black diner when we go out for a family dinner. We are a family of 8 and need a restaurant with good food that is also kid friendly. The restaurant is clean and the staff are friendly. read more

This location meets the expectations of all other black bear diner locations! Such a great consistency with this brand! Fast service, friendly host and wait staff, excellent food and everything tastes the same as other locations! Plus - great prices. Can you beat that? read more

Every time we order take out our order was either incorrect, missing items or the food was not edible. The pot roast looked more like dog food. The staff on the most part are friendly but the food is expensive for what you get. I have removed their app from my phone. Our family will not be eating at Black Bear Dinner again. Giving one star is being very kind. read more

customer service like it used to be currently do you see customer service to the level that we saw tonight. We are very fond of black Bear diner, we order from them for takeout and we have eaten in a few times as well. The food is always good, the service is always top notch, the restaurant is clean and easily accessible for me (I'm in a wheelchair). But tonight we experienced service above and beyond. Being Father's Day, we went a little extravagant and ordered my husband the prime-rib and Shrimp. The prime rib rib is always cooked to perfection and is my husband's favorite dinner. Make sure you read the whole story, because there was a mistake with the order, but you will not believe how it was fixed. The shrimp was mistakenly, forgotten, wasn't in the bag, we were eating at home. My husband was very disappointed and he called the restaurant right away. When he arrived, the manager, Maria had already had an entire new meal, waiting for him, added a couple extra shrimp and credited our entire meal for the night. It was probably a small thing to the restaurant, but I can't tell you how huge it was for us! We haven't seen customer service like this in 30 years! Needless to say, we were overjoyed with the credit, but the customer service itself was the icing on the cake. It was above and beyond, it was so appreciated. This diner in Lodi is highly recommended. Say hi to Maria for us! read more

I have been a Black Bear fan for many years. My mom and I went to the local Black Bear in Lodi, Ca. today. I have never been more impressed with any meal I have had in the area. I had the taco salad it was huge and the variety of ingredients was impressive. On the side was salsa, sour cream and a bowl of blue cheese dressing. I took home as much as I was able to eat in the restaurant. Mom had a sandwich and once seeing the salad I had she wished she had had the Taco salad also. I congratulated the manager. Very impressed. 3 X Impressive here. I am adding a pic but I had already started on the grilled chicken so a good chunk was gone before I thought to take a pic. read more

You cannot go wrong at Black Bear for breakfast. Huge portions and a lot to choose from.....like a big Wolly blanket on a cold morning.

Always there for a "Comfort Food" meal. Large portions too. Great family restaurant or a nice breakfast for two. The staff is friendly and meals come quickly. read more

This was probably the worst black bear experience I have ever had. Look at my plate. I did not eat much. The sausages was the item that killed it for me. The sausages were not warm and did not taste fully cooked. It ruined my appetite. Because of this, I stopped eating. The wait staff were nice. This was the reason for at least one star. Otherwise this would have been a negative stars review. read more

Black Bear Diner Lodi - Look how much food I wasted! - American Near Me - Lodi, California

Clean and comfortable surroundings. Very friendly and efficient staff and service. Avocado toast is very tasty, cup of fruit is a nice touch. Everyone in our group enjoyed their meal. Will be back. read more

I just don't get it. I have been to this restaurant 3 times since it opened and ALWAYS because someone else has made me go. People seem to like the cute bear decorations and products for sale in the diner, but I just cannot wrap my mind around what the allure is to this place. All three times I have been, there is a waiting list and the business is packed. That's lovely for them, but not so enjoyable for me. It's uncomfortable to stand in a loud, crowded waiting area (many people wait outside) with music playing and children screaming. When you are finally seated, the menu is limited and feels overpriced with lots of "add-ons". For example, on my last visit, I ordered a breakfast that was $12 and came with a waffle, 2 eggs and sausage. Now, I know you can do a lot better for your money at Dennys or Ihop but when my friend ordered, she wanted to "add" has browns and the waitress offered her strawberries and whip on her french toast and she said "sure". When the bill came, there was a $5 charge for the hashbrowns and $3 more for the 2 strawberries and whipped cream...that was almost as much as she paid for her meal. This isn't a huge deal because we want what we want, but for some people this could be a big problem and it seems shady. My food is always just ok and same with service. The servers seem nice but they are always rushing because it's so packed. Also, I tried the sweet tea on my first visit and they should be ashamed of themselves for calling it that...I only add this because my friend ordered it on our last visit and as soon as I saw the look on her face I handed her the sweetener without a word. Not that we talk much here anyway because it's so loud and chaotic! Unfortunately for me, I am sure someone will drag me back, but with so many other great places to eat in the city, I would never come back here on my own. read more

Black Bear Diner Lodi - American Near Me - Lodi, California

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I've come to this location twice now which is a lot for me as I haven't been to a Black Bear diner twice in the last 10 years. Anyway this location is newer in which they took over the old Coco's. The food is good quality as compared to most sit down diners using mostly pre-made and frozen items, or at least I didn't sense those items with the food I ordered. Joe's Hobo Omelet - bacon, sausage, and ham with cheese, spinach, and onion. I asked for no onion and added avocado. Good omelet and not super filling even tho it's a fairly large size bc the egg is thin compared to a place like the Omelet House. Chicken Fried Steak - quality is of one made in house so I'd be surprised if it's frozen given the tenderness. Country Gravy is decent but I do prefer when places serve sausage gravy instead. Just a note for health and environmental conscious folks: no high fructose is used in any product such as ketchup, jelly, bbq sauce, hot sauce, etc. They use biodegradable takeout boxes and even plant based straws. I think I might be popping in here a little more than usual given my recent experience. Nice work Black Bear Diner! read more

Black Bear Diner Lodi - Joe's Hobo Omelette + avocado. I forgot how big the portions were. Solid breakfast. - American Near Me - Lodi, California

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My son ordered Bob's Big Bear Burger w cheese and when the waitress brought out the Burger, there was no cheese. The waitress Ciera took the Burger and came back w 2 slices of cheese slapped on a plate. Obsurd Asked if we want to put the cold cheese in the Burger or have the chef do it? Wow really, I said no, please re- make the Burger. Waitress came back with the same plate and same knife I. The same Burger and same for fries. I had the Chicken salt Rock pot pie. I tried to eat it, but too much salt, I looked for chicken and almost choked on dry, what looked to be fried pieces of crunchy chicken. My son tipped the waitress $5.00 and My meal was $45.39 Highly not recommend read more

Black Bear Diner Lodi - Salty chicken pot pie - American Near Me - Lodi, California

The cleanest Black Bear Diner I've ever been in. Staff was friendly. Food was hot! Look forward to stoping here again on our travels.

OMG! Mary from Minnesota is awesome!!! High positive energy throughout her service! Extremely attentive!!! Thank you for a great dining experience read more

Lousy! I've eaten at Black Bear Dinner's before. Oakley, South Sacramento and in Reno. Much better than Lodi. Had the Chicken Fried Steak, mash potatoes, green beans and gravy on the side. Could finish it. Every thing tasted like flour. No spices, no flavor just starches and flour. I left half of it there and the waitress never ask if I want a box. She new. Wife had a glass of wine, cheap. Live here in Lodi and can't get a good wine at a local restaurant. Waitress said now you know. Got a cherry pie to go for later at home. Mistake!!! Waist of money For the money we spent there we should of gone to Pietros. read more

Black Bear Diner Lodi - No filling and the crust tasted like burnt mush! This is half the pie, one nibble out of this bowl. - American Near Me - Lodi, California

Great breakfast!! Fast & efficient service ~ MARY is a fantastic server Very reasonable and no surprise added on surplus for using a cc, unlike many other Lodi businesses ~ will def be back!! A+++ read more

Brought my Eggs Benedict with burnt muffins. I mean burnt! I ask the waitress to make sure they were toasted because half the time they dont toast them. Must have pissed off the chef just cuz I asked. Also, the Holinday sauce was flavorless. All around terrible food. Not going back! read more

Missed the mark tonight, but we'll be back see if I can give more stars. Our waitress wasn't very friendly. We saw her when she dropped off our food and then again when she dropped off our bill. I ordered the hot open face turkey sandwich with potatoes NO ONIONS, I got onions and the turkey was very dry. More like turkey jerky. I wanted to order a side of gravy, but again, we were done eating when we saw our waitress. I picked the onions out and chewed the jerky. read more

Let me start out by saying I love this restaurant . I eat here at least twice a month. Last time in I ordered the Rib Eye Steak for $19.99. It was way too small, and thin sliced. The taste was fine, but in comparison to everything else they serve, it did not cut the mustard. If it had been $10.00, I probably wouldn't mention it. If your hungry for steak, go somewhere else. I will continue to eat at Big Bear, but not steak! The 2stars is based on my last meal there. read more

Sat there for awhile. No server came. Left. Nobody around. People at other tables also unserved.

Our servers were friendly and very attentive. The food was tasty for the establishment. There were food options for all of the family.

Nicely decorated large restaurant chain. All day breakfast with lots of choices. Arrived at 10am on a Monday. Got seated immediately in a booth. Waitress friendly and helpful. The coffee cups are large and thick. Bear paws and pictures of black bears all over. Food was awesome too. I recommend this comfortable diner. read more

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I had breakfast at this restaurant. I am on the keto diet, so I cannot eat fruit,potatoes or bread or pancakes.. It would be great if I could order a veggie to go with my breakfast as a substitute for the potatoes and bread at no extra charge. They do not offer that. So I am paying full price for a breakfast of just eggs and sausage. Really not happy that there is no other choice. read more

We walked in here this afternoon , it was not busy. They maybe had 3-4 tables of customers. We walked to front to to be greeted, and there was no one there to do so . They had 5-6 staff standing in front of the counter ,not attending to anyone may I add. No one had acknowledged my family or even asked us to wait , or that someone would be with us. We stood around for a few minutes, and I realized that I wasn't going to accept this service at the door, nor would I want this service at the table. Not wasting my time here...ever! To management: If you haven't identified that your business is lacking in many areas , which not only based on my experience , but many others on here you need to revisit your process from beginning to end . You need to hire employees who have a sense of urgency. Your employees are ruining the customers experience. read more