For more honest reviews check my profile thanks I never went to the old place, but every time I go here it's on a weekend.i usually sit at the bar and everything is always on point. If it's two or more coming on the weekend expect a 20 to 40 minute wait to be seated, everyone is here or at IHOP. Food is bomb, service is bomb. read more

After a long first day of scuba diving certification, you can bet yourself that everyone was starving. Black Bear Diner sits on the property of the Lauren Inn in Salinas, the hotel my family and I were staying at for our dive weekend, and conveniently satisfied our big appetites. This place is a great alternative to the typical Denny's or Carrow's that are so abundant at so many motel/inns, and the entire feel of the restaurant completely exceeds the original diner feel. The entire ambiance and environment of the restaurant resembles that of a country diner. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zp5L3ZKWqWp-Im-Kega59w?select=6OFUKtE5HThGWAKS4RN4yQ http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zp5L3ZKWqWp-Im-Kega59w?select=HcQ1BdtVaU_qcSgHASuyHQ Everything was properly decorated in bear motif--from the wallpaper, curtains, napkins, and water cups--very cute. The menu was also made of newspaper, and really made you feel like you were actual reading the paper. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zp5L3ZKWqWp-Im-Kega59w?select=CrRy-wSextUnwS9upyE84A http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zp5L3ZKWqWp-Im-Kega59w?select=W2vXKkWfjVbmA0d-GIIjwg http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zp5L3ZKWqWp-Im-Kega59w?select=cfBhhTIJ2guLK9YA6w1_eQ We dined here twice for dinner during the dive weekend, and both servers we had were very friendly, and definitely helped us out with their extensive menu. They quickly warned us that the entree's were very big. And they weren't kidding. We took their advise, and shared a few things among our large group. On our first visit, my sister and I shared their famous Chicken Fried Steak. We mentioned we were sharing, and our servers on both days very graciously split the plates for us. When our entree's came out, I couldn't even tell it was already split--they were still very big. We also ordered the Meat Loaf. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zp5L3ZKWqWp-Im-Kega59w?select=NVVA9aGU_6Ab64IfpeIg1Q http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zp5L3ZKWqWp-Im-Kega59w?select=IoNe_F5IG4M3Axx3BwLaVg (Both of these dishes are half sizes) Each of the meals start off with a side salad or a cup of soup. Our first day had the Chicken Noodle Soup. Eh...salty and warm...should've been hotter. Needless to say on our second day, we ordered the side salad which was much more substantial for what we ordered. I enjoyed the Chicken Fried Steak very much. It was perfectly crispy on the outside, and juicy on the inside and had a nice lumpy gravy that topped the steak and mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes was perfectly thick and chunky with potato pieces. The Meatloaf had chopped onions and carrots, but could've used a bit more flavor when prepared, needed some more flavoring from either ketchup or worcestershire sauce, something. In addition to some good food, they also have a very cute Bear Store selling everything from black bear slippers, sweatshirts, tee-shirts, BBQ Sauce, mugs etc. I was so tempted to buy a pair of black bear slippers! So cute. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zp5L3ZKWqWp-Im-Kega59w?select=JyWLTXbNnBsKp3J7uEAG7Q http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zp5L3ZKWqWp-Im-Kega59w?select=ApUhxpuPpm2tWxeHNcY3dA Overall Black Bear Diner was a very convenient option for my starving family after a day of scuba diving. Their portion sizes are huge, and they have a very extensive variety on the menu. You will have no problems finding something that will catch your eye. Great place to eat after a long day. read more

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Waited a little over 5 mins to be seated. They were pretty busy for a Sunday night as they are open pretty late for a Sunday. We were seated at this interesting booth towards the front - I say interesting because it's facing towards the best people watching view. lol. Our waitress was super friendly, her name was Esis (I think that's what it said on her name tag) I ordered the Sourdough Melt without the ham which was sourdough bread grilled golden with a garlic Parmesan cheese crust, Swiss cheese, tomato and dijon mustard. It usually comes with ham but I asked for it without. My order came with ham but they removed it since they forgot about it. Food was good because I was STARVING. lol. read more

Black Bear Diner Salinas - Sourdough Melt with no ham. - Diners Near Me - Salinas, California

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If you are going on a weekend morning anticipate a long wait. They're usually pretty busy and seat by a waitlist like most diners. Their food and service however makes up for the wait! It's a good amount of food for the price you pay, you're guaranteed to get full! The staff is quick and very attentive. It's a very family friendly place, our first choice for family breakfasts! read more

Black Bear Diner Salinas - Fiesta Scramble - Diners Near Me - Salinas, California

This diner is great. Huge sandwiches lots of meat and the sweet potato fries were some of the best I've ever had. Be sure to take it vantage of the free bear claw. It's literally about as big as a bears paw. If you're near one of these they're worth the stop. read more

Black Bear Diner Salinas - Diners Near Me - Salinas, California

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I had the breakfast burrito without any chorizo and it tasted good, nice and spicy. Our waitress was super pleasant. The orange juice was also really good but can't say anything positive about the coffee. Typical diner coffee. I was happy to stop here. read more

Black Bear Diner Salinas - Diners Near Me - Salinas, California

Black bear, you got to be kidding, the food is like crazy filling , tasty , looking good. You order on the phone for pick up. Super polite . To say they give large portions is an understatement. Even the kids meal will feed a full-size adult. No I don't suggest it. The kids mac & cheese was basically easy Mac, and a side of fruit. The small portion of chicken fried steak was more than enough. I even had leftovers. Try and keep room for dessert. Even though I always forget to the pies are delicious. A good place to come , if your hungry and want to good meal. read more

This Black Bear Diner crew works really really well as a team. If you listen to them on a busy weekend morning, they are always communicating with each other. It makes for quick coffee refills and great service. They obviously have a great team and management style. Keep up the good work. We've been going to this location for years. The food is consistently great and you can see the kitchen from the counter. Spotless shiny stainless steel and super clean and tidy. Means a lot to me when I want my family to have a safe meal while traveling. The portions at any Black Bear diner are always big, but they will work around your diet restrictions. I'm on an Adkins lifestyle and they are always helpful in guiding me to different options other than potatoes. These folks work hard so tip them well! 5 stars from Phish read more

I give this place a 4.4 out of 5. I had the Big Foot chicken fried steak with country fried potatoes and 2 biscuits and it was delicious. Steak was tender, potatoes were flavorful (chosen over hashbrowns at another reviewer's suggestion), biscuits were huge, and the gravy thick. Due to how large they are, though, they do have more surface area to dry out, so make sure to cover all your biscuits with gravy to retain in moisture/prevent hardening. Huge portions, especially their biscuits. I could not finish the entire meal, which is a once in a blue moon occasion for me given how much I like to eat. I came in around 6:45am, so it was pretty quiet and had pretty regular service throughout the meal. A solid American diner. I'll definitely be back. read more

Black Bear Diner Salinas - Big Foot chicken fried steak and egg; sides of country fried potatoes and 2 biscuits. - Diners Near Me - Salinas, California

I don't think they care about the quality of food, unless you like burnt potatoes and pancakes. read more

Black Bear Diner Salinas - Diners Near Me - Salinas, California

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I was in need of some good home cooked food, and stumbled across this gem of a restaurant. Great food, and fast service. I got the Turkey dinner, and it was delicious. If I am ever back in the area, I will be visiting again! read more

Black Bear Diner Salinas - Turkey dinner - Diners Near Me - Salinas, California

Absolutely loved it here , the atmosphere is great! Everyone is so friendly & of course very attentive to details. The manager briana was definitely friendly and on top of multiple tables . I can see why she's the manager :) every employee was friendly and courteous. I would definitely recommend anyone coming here :) the pricing was great for what you get ! read more

This location never disappoints.. Great energy, delicious and fresh food every time! Keep up the great work! The pancakes are delicious.

Big portions, but lacking in taste. Got the chicken fried steak dinner while friend got the eggs benedict. Presentation was fine but everything needed more flavor. My cousin got over easy eggs but they came underdone with the egg whites still very runny, the waitress said they come that way but it was obviously undercooked. They were nice and were able to fix it. I'd prob skip out on this place. Unless you like covering your food in salt and pepper to get any kind of flavor. read more

My friends and I stopped by here for a dinner pit-stop on our drive back by the ocean. I'd heard decent things about Black Bear Diner so I was kinda excited to try it. The place had a few patrons for a Sunday night, but overall a lot of seats available. That's why it kinda surprised us that we had to wait for a table. Anyhow, we sat down and got our menus. There was many options to choose from, so it was kinda hard. Sides, mains, etc. I settled for the chicken parm, salad, mashed potatoes and veggies. Let's start with the amount of food...it was cray! Seriously, tons of food. But the chicken was burned in some areas, so meh. The taste otherwise was fine, but nothing amzing. Would I come here again? not sure, nothing against this place but not my thing. read more

Good considering other options. Open late. Cute old school diner with food just above Dennys quality. Great service. Lots of cool people come here. A bit of a scene lol. Chicken pot pie is just ok. Cost effective. Easy parking. read more

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NOT Black Bear Diner standards. It could go wrong it did. I ordered a burger without veggies with the waitress. The young man helping out goes to deliver our order to the table next us. His response, "they just told me to bring out the food". I point out that I ordered without veggies on my burger. He took the burger in, and that was taken care of. I bite a fry as my were cold. I point it out to the young man. His reply, " we are having problems heating the oil in the fryer that why it is cold, sorry about that", and walk inside. I was in shock of the response thinking, "omg he didn't just say that". Then with covid restrictions - I ask the same young man for more soda expecting new glasses with soda and ice knowing rules from other restaurants. He proceeded to take our original glasses, and filled them. My wife had the tri tip dip, and had to ask twice for more au ju sauce. Needless to say we waiting a little while for a check at which point frustrated I went inside to the cashier and informed him that I was coming in to pay my check. The young lady that took our order came walking over, and the cashier mentioned something to her quietly. I didn't get the standard "how was everything? as he probably already figured it wasn't good. Needless to say we won't be returning to this location. Attitudes and poor service. Ugh. read more

Great service and food. Stopped in at Black Bear for breakfast. Outside dinning during COVID-19 but the service was excellent. If you come to the Black Bear Diner come hungry because the servings are huge. Thank you Black Bear for the great service and yummy food. read more

Had an awesome birthday breakfast here. Atmosphere is great. The best diner in town and the price is very reasonable. read more

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When we arrived, the place was half full, but we had to wait 10 minutes for a table. Kind of strange. Gumbo is not bad with a light bite. Shasta Scramble- eggs, avocado, pepper, onions spinach. . Scramble need to add the jalapeno Mama Burn Sauce (think green color Tabasco)...otherwise it's pretty bland. Strip hash brown is crispy and yummy. Got a side of the Veggies of the Day (Squash) - also kinda bland, taste like some garlic and butter, but otherwise not that good...I would have skipped it. Prime rib special - simple black pepper crust. In this case this was more of a standing rib roast not a grade of beef. The beef had a good beefy flavor which was what I look for in a medium rare slice. There was not enough marbling to be considered Prime Grade. The green beans that came with it was from a can and salty...looks like they just dumped the entire can in a pot to warm up and then serve from there. ***Also note - that the sign at the front gave you a choice of toppings and had corn bread as part of the 'Prime' Rib special. When we had our order taken, the waitress looked confused when we asked for the onion topping. The corn bread did not come with the meal. Kitschy diner feel. Just as the name suggest, it feels like a lodge with a black bear theme. Green carpet and green trim adds to the feel. The green carpet has a problem, the white straw wrappers and other bits of paper show right up...walk ways were dirty, it needs to be vacuumed. At least the tables were wiped and clean. The pie display had smudges on the outside glass and whip cream on the inside glass...should have been cleaned. The outside of the restaurant had cigarette butts by the front doors. This needs to be cleaned. While I was there, I could see 3 or 4 servers sitting at the end of the counter near the restroom hallway, just talking instead of vacuuming and cleaning. Men's room.......1 stall / 1 urinal Floor is mopped clean...walls need to be wiped down. The stall was not flushed, floor in the stall had TP around the toilet. I checked for dust top of wall hangings and stall doors and walls - pretty clean read more

This is some stick-to-your-ribs type of sh!t. We were in Salinas visiting some relatives and were on our way back down south and wanted to grab a bite to eat before we left town. My cousin brought us here. The first thing I see are all the pretty cool wood carved bears all over this "mug". We walk in and bam! I see a bear claw the size of Nigeria! We get seated and they brought us newpaper. Actually it's their menu that looks like newspaper (pretty cool). They have a huge selection. I order me some of the chicken fried steak breakfast. Boy oh boy were the servings freakin' gargantuan! It's on some Claim Jumper type sh!t. The food is what it is, diner food. Not bad, not a delicacy. But it sure did hit the mother'effin spot. The inside is what you would expect from a diner. Kinda old and run down, but clean and tidy. I'm not big on pancakes, but the GF ordered up a short stack for herself and let me have taste. Dawg dem sh!ts were some of best pancakes I've had. They also have a souvenir shop where you can buy some of their sauces and Black Bear trinkets. So after your done and are in food coma you can waddle your as$ to the hotel right next door. I would've given it a 3 and 1/2 star rating were it available. Trust. read more

Black Bear Diner Salinas - Diners Near Me - Salinas, California

Comfort food, super freindly staff and cold beer after a hard day at Laguna Seca is why I keep coming back. Ultimately this is a diner and thus the food is diner quality. Some food is pre-produced and heated up thus the 3 stars. But overall you can't really go wrong here and I'll keep returning. Cheers! read more

My brother and I came here on Thanksgiving for brunch. The service is slow (I guess that's typical of a small town diner, though) and the food took a while to come out (but it might've seemed that way because we were both famished). We ordered the full stack of blueberry house pancakes, but I could barely finish one after my french toast/egg dish. They're supposedly "known" for their pancakes, but they were very sweet and soggy. This place really plays on the whole "black bear" theme, which is kinda cute. There's a parking lot in front, and the restaurant is pretty big. It's definitely not my favorite diner, but that might be because I'm spoiled by LA/NY restaurants. I guess it's the best choice in town if you don't want to go far when you're visiting Monterey and have the misfortune of having to stay in Salinas as the nearest town. read more

I had never been to a black bear diner and I don't think I'll be back. The food was cold on arrival and very bland tasting. Giving it one star because it leaves our waitress was nice. But besides that everything was not good. read more

One of my favorite breakfast spots because the food is just a bang for your buck. Great taste, good quality and big portions. And a huge shout out to the manager. Every time I come here I see him running around with a friendly smile on his face. No matter how many time we stop him to ask for napkins or more coffee he always has a bright smile on his face. Many times he's training people or waiting on tables himself when they are busy. When I see a manager get down and step in during busy times it's admirable! Today he was sweet enough to give my son a sundae for his bday. You rock! Awesome service as always. Restaurant is always busy but the food is always on point and quick service. The only wait is getting your table. Ambiance is very family friendly. read more

Our waitress was the one of three employee not wearing a mask (the manager and busser weren't either) and then she misgendered my girlfriend. After doing so she basically hyperventilated every time she approached the table. We left her a 80% tip so she can stop fearing lesbians. Best of luck to this place read more

We love big bear dinner! The food portions are big. Foods always amazing. The service is awesome. We had savannah she was great!

This was close to where we were staying and so glad we tried it. Family loved everything they ordered and Enrique did a great job. Will probably come back for breakfast before we head home. Thanks Black Bear Diner! read more

First time to order a takeout meal here. Ordered the Chicken Fried Steak family dinner meal online. Was never told of any substitutions. Got home and found out they didn't include the four corn bread that came with the meal. And then throwing in one partially burnt brownie that'd we didn't order. read more

Service was impeccable, the waiter was friendly and attentive, always ready with a coffee or water refill at a moments notice. The helpings were heaping, chose the country fried steak and a side of biscuits and gravy. Unable to finish everything I left with extras which were subsequently consumed at a later date. High expectations met high execution. Happy nosing. read more

This Black Bear diner has the smallest proportions in all the Black Bear diners I've visited. If you read what they're all about, for one is big proportions. The service at this particular location is bad. Are bacon was undercooked and when we asked to have it cooked better it came back over cooked almost burnt. When we asked the server for napkins we never got any then we asked a different person who worked there for napkins and we never got any. finally I had to get up and go to the cash register to get napkins. read more

Black Bear Diner Salinas - Skimpy proportions at this particular - Diners Near Me - Salinas, California

Black Bear diners have a way of showing up close to a race track. That's why you will find me here. I didn't realize that they are a chain of 51 restaurants throughout the western states Ian one in Idaho). They are a diner, so expect traditional diner food. Their portions are large, their service is usually quick and friendly. Their pies are pretty good. Can't go wrong for some comfort food, and this one has free wifi! read more

The worst. Most of the pies in the counter showcase had mold on them and our meals weren't really even edible. Not exaggerating at all!

Black Bear Diner, Thank you for making every Sunday a special one. My family and I enjoy stopping by after church to enjoy a delicious meal. We frequent this location because of your flavorsome dishes, and thus this review is an accurate one. First, I want to express my gratitude to Brianna, who always has a bright smile even when customers are unattentive to the fact that she's handling an entire restaurant. Splendid job Brianna and thank you for being professional, positive, and a vital team member. Because of you, the usual wait (30-40 min.) feels brief and swift. I applaud your customer service abilities. Secondly, the cooks, bussers, and servers (except for one) are all fast-moving and secure in their positions. The cooks provide consistent delectable meals, the bussers rapidly sweep, wipe, and disinfect the tables, and the servers work accurately as a team. For example, Maria, the server, always brings our drinks within 60 seconds of taking the order, and Bao, a server, is lively and a kind person when taking orders and getting the food. The only reason why I gave a four-star review is because of a server who usually handles the left side of the restaurant (the opposite side of the bar-top where the bathrooms are) because of his negativity and displeased attitude. Asking for a mere coffee refill is a big issue for him, and he will make a childish temper tantrum. As a result, we ask the front not to sit us in his section. Lastly, Black Bear management, thank you for hiring people like Brianna, Maria, and Bao. I am confident that you will read this and congratulate them for their strong work ethic and efforts to upkeep your restaurant continually. May God bless you. read more

We came on Saturday night for a family dinner, the place had enough empty tables that we didn't need to wait to be seated. Excellent experience, our server Bao was attentive, food was great and arrived quickly. Just what we were looking for. A+ read more

Black Bear Diner has the best comfort food and serves up plenty to eat. You always get more then your money's worth. A gem tucked away in Salina's! Their Bread Pudding heated up with ice cream & that Praline Sauce is heavenly!!!! We usually buy one and split it. Vicky today Sept 16 2015 took a order over the phone for me, with specific instructions because it is my moms bday. She thought of even a better way to get the dessert here without melting. She thought immediately outside the box. A great atmosphere, casual dress yet you are treated like royalty would be. Thank you all who work there for your hard work, great food, service and fair pricing. Blessings read more

really bad service, sat at the table for 30 minutes never got waited on. So I had to walk out!

On the way to Southern California, my friends and I were craving for food, as it was a fairly long road trip. It was pretty early in the day and most places weren't open, so we decided to go with Black Bear Diner, but ended up leaving quite appalled. On the positive note, this place has loads of options to choose from. We were actually taken aback by the extensive and pretty creative menu. Three of us decided to go with a garden fresh patty sandwich. Now this was the only vegan/vegetarian patty available with the burgers. We also ordered waffles and pancakes and some others ordered chicken pasta. Given that it was a long weekend, the Diner was busy and we had to wait for a long time before placing the order. We finally placed our order but our server messed up big time. She got us burgers with a beef sandwich It didn't take us too long to realize that something wasn't right and I stopped eating it immediately. Some of my friends do not eat meat for reasons of faith and so it was quite horrifying for them when we checked with another server that it was indeed meat and not a vegetarian patty. I choose to not eat meat as a food preference, so I was mad about being served meat as well. While placing our order, we ensured to emphasize on not being served meat, hence this should not have happened. The part that bothered us the most was that our server didn't seem apologetic about it at all, and we really wish she had not taken this as lightly as she did. In the end, they did take the burgers off the check, which we appreciate. The place does serve good food which we realized after trying the pancakes and waffles. We were also given 3 garden fresh sandwiches as replacement which we had later that day, and honestly those were quite good. We just hoped that our trip did not start with the food mix up. read more

Better than Denys! I was surprised portions where of the hook, breakfast was delicious, outdoors. I wanted blueberry pancakes unfortunately they had ran out but our waitress suggested strawberries with wiping crea, best choice ever! Lol read more

- I'd give ZERO stars if I could. - - Came in for lunch with a friend. As we walked in, behind us came a lady with a small white dog. As we were seated, the lady and the dog walked past us, and the lady sat down. - This was NOT a legitimate Service Dog. In fact, it didn't have a vest of any sort. - I beckoned the waiter and asked whether the lady with the dog would be allowed to stay. He said he didn't know. I asked him to ask the Manager. I further said that if the lady and dog stay, my friend and I would leave and never return. - - The Manager said "We're not allowed to ask why a person has a dog." Hey Black Bear Diner... -- Learn the LAWS..!! and get a backbone..!! - You're so worried about offending someone with a FRAUDULENT "service dog" while you actually offend the rest of us!! - We left and will NEVER return to another Black Bear Diner no matter where we are. read more