Pretty tasty food! Always busy but never disappoints:) they are usually busy but it's not that bad. Get some drinks at any of the 2 bars downstairs good selection for a quick drink. They have some fun themed nights where at times the upstairs will be open. There is also another 2 bars upstairs :) Lots to look at inside. read more

The food is mediocre at best, if anything I was to busy looking at the decor than eating my food. It's definitely for the decor and events which is still good. Should stop by at least once. read more

You can't beat the Bear! Come one come all ! The staff is always nice and service is quick ! Food is always good and the outside is nice with music playing. They should update the bathrooms to a vintage look so it matches but I guess the night life couldn't handle it! I love the Bear ! read more

Madison Bear Garden - Bars Near Me - Chico, California

Burger was great and a toasted bun is the best. I got onion rings also and a salad. Ton of food. Love the decor, so many things to look at. The only negative is you go to one place to order and another place to get drinks. No table service. Staff was friendly! read more

Something not right there today. ... food I thought was fine till about 1 hour later till you know what.... Lovely food poisoning. Another irritant was having to pay a buck for a cup of ranch after my family just got done dropping a hundred for dinner. Really MBG? read more

We came here as a group of 17 and they were surprisingly fast. Food was tasty, no leftovers and they had veggie options!!! read more

Madison Bear Garden - The Bear Garden - Bars Near Me - Chico, California

Many pissed off people working here. The restaurant has a lot of character but overall feels grimy. I thought that we could overlook the angry workers and unclean environment if the food was good, but that wasn't the case. The service was so slow. We waited 45 minutes for our names to be called to pick up the order. The burgers were nothing special and the kids said their burgers were gross. The fries were the saving grace. I guess people like this place because they are drinking while they are here. I desire food made with intention and love. This is not a restaurant for food lovers. read more

Great drinks great ambiance. Cool place to hang with friends and family. Always visit whenever I'm back in town. read more

As a Chico State Alumni, I had to bring my daughter here for her first trip to Chico. The food and drinks are as fantastic as I remember! read more

Madison Bear Garden - Delicious Sours - Bars Near Me - Chico, California

Good food and a cool establishment! Great service! One of my favorite places to go in Chico.

Chico is a nutty town. Sure almond trees are everywhere, but a bumper sticker I saw summed it up well. It said "Chico, where nuts come." Get it? And speaking of nutty... Chico literally means little boy in Español... I guess it beats being named bad hombre. Anyways, to dick around, I'm gonna replace Chico with Little Boy the rest of the review. Other than Sierra Nevada Brewery, there really isn't much to see or do in Little Boy and there aren't too many highly-rated restaurants. Work had me in Little Boy so I did a quick nearby search and noticed the Madison Bear Garden because of its not-so-funny name knockoff of Madison Square Garden. And, it had a 4-star rating. Found some 1-hour meter parking and walked into a dimly-lit eclectic place with all kinds of weird shit that included road signs to road kill for decor. When I walked in, I was confused on how to order. It turns out you walk up to a counter on the left and pay for food. But if you want a drink, including water, you can only get it at the bar. This means if you don't have cash, you need to swipe your credit card two different times. What a stupid ass system. I ended up being a numbnut myself and got the peanut butter burger they call Jiffy Burger because you know the old adage "when in Rome" or in this case "in Little Boy." So, the Jiffy Burger was a burger with Jiffy peanut butter and thick bacon. To be honest, it didn't work. The whole thing just fell apart in my hands and in the dimly lit restaurant looked like I had just changed the diaper of a toddler with the shits. Flavor wise, it felt juvenile, which is fitting since the college students at the adjacent Little Boy State University that probably get piss drunk here on weekends graded this place on a curve. I dunno, I guess I expected something more than literally peanut butter replacing ketchup. And the curly fries tasted freshly fried out of a frozen bag. Again, Madison Bear Garden is probably a cool place for college kids to hang out at and grab a beer or two or three. But as a food destination, this Little Boy establishment needs to mature. read more

Madison Bear Garden - Bars Near Me - Chico, California

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The short review is four words: Room temperature French fries my burger was kind of normal, acceptably warm. which means the fries sat there on the little plastic serving platter for quite a while before the burger slid in and nobody really cared. You order your food from the food window. Then you order your beer from the bar, where you find that it costs something like $6.79, for no good reason. So instead of walking out with bills in your wallet like a normal bar, you walk out with a pocket full of dimes and pennies. I know the place is built for college kids, so they don't care of some cranky seventy year old didn't like it, but it did not work for me today. read more

An awesome place with a strange layout and oddly high bar. Decor is so different at Madison Beer Garden, but still a great place to grab a drink and bite to eat. Incredible beer list. read more

EVENT: made a little trip to Chico for some great outdoor adventures! Walked around Chico state and came upon this place! Very interesting decor and I love it - it's a must check out place. SERVICE: excellent service, business very conscious about Covid - I felt safe. FOOD: 1. Burger with blue cheese - excellent! I loved how they drench the burger with cheese. Burger was cooked perfectly! 2. Chick strips & fries - excellent! OVERALL: Will come back again one of these days! read more

Yummy food, fast service I would reccomend the avocado burger it's fantastic! Would reccomend bringing bug spray, a lot of mosquitoes.

I really like this place and enjoy coming here, the drinks are always good and reasonably priced but the food here is extremely hit-or-miss. The normal burger is very average, if a little dry. Their weirder burgers can be really cool. I recently tried that grilled cheese burger which was most likely very unhealthy but wow it tasted amazing. I got really mad at the turkey sandwich I ordered for $13 on doordash. I assumed it would be more than a cold cut sandwich at $13, but it was literally just a cold cut sandwich for $13. Don't know why it was on the menu in the first place. I'd still be excited if someone brings up the idea of coming here, though. read more

Wow! Great food Jiffy burger is a must try. Zook and shrooms good shrooms were soggy but still good. Service great the place was very clean and inviting. Could think of a cooler place inside is beautiful hand crafted bar back patio is great. read more

There's so much to look at, and they do special events like kareoke night, trike races, bingo, and more. The bartenders are friendly, funny, and cool. The guys who run kareoke are awesome and help make the whole experience fun for everybody. EXCEPT for whoever was running kareoke yesterday 9/12... he was rude and used the whole crowd as a captive audience while he sang terrible renditions of songs, not even in a fun/joking way. Super weird and he seemed annoyed by anyone trying to sign up (I guess cause the night was about him) but otherwise this place is awesome and worth it for the experience. read more

Wildly rude and disrespectful. Apparently this family friendly restaurant is not so friendly after nine. Went out for dinner with some friends here, went to get a WATER, was asked to show my ID so I did. They wanted me to take it out of my wallet. I replied I'd rather not. Then the bouncer tried to FORCEFULLY PUSH ME OUT. I had to verbally fight him just to tell my friends what was happening to me. Very hateful people with attitudes it was very appalling. Guess I won't get to see what their karaoke is like. I do not recommend this place after dark. Wildly unprofessional. Don't let them push you around. read more

Love love, the BEAR!!!. Come here early during their BOGO (usually a weds once a month/they announce it on social media too) because the line wraps outside all the time. The drinks are super cheap as well if you are planning to come at night. Come here early on holidays and events because it gets super crowded, if you want to be able to dance. Cover is usually 0$$. Which is an even bigger plus. All the employees are super friendly and inviting. I've never had a bad experience at all. The decor also is super carnival like and thematic, it's like west world x AHS. My go to is always the bravo avocado. Tip: order and find your set, and then pick up your food. read more

They wouldn't accept my phone order because they said they were too busy. I used to really enjoy the food here back when they valued my business. read more

Cool ambiance, eclectic n whatnot. Decent prices and execution on bar food. Expect a long wait

The bear is awesome. Cool shit hanging all over the place. Food is pretty good and cool atmosphere.

Great burgers. Just be prepared that this old place smells a bit like floors that have been marinated in beer. You'll get used to the smell. Lol. read more

I love the bear and always will but the other day I had a cockroach on my table and that's gross. I understand most restaurants deal with this and it isn't like it ran me off but still. I tried to tell a worker but they kept walking off when I tried talking to them. I'll still come back and have always enjoyed my time there but maybe spray for bugs? read more

Being born in New York, I thought this restuarant had a pretty nostalgic ring to it. I have been told the burgers were a hit so I stopped in with some friends from work on Thursday around Noon. The building spans across a city block and sits on the corner of an intersection. You open up the doors to an entire plethora of dècor filling every inch of wall space. I was waiting for a host to seat my party but my friends showed me the way to the order window. Three girls were in the kitchen on the line cooking during lunch and one of them took our order. We each tried a different burger and ordered an appetizer as well. We past the bar on the way to finding a table so I ordered an Angry Orchard draft. The gentleman had informed me that they were out but recommended a similar cider draft that was a bit more Dry. I agreed to that and we made small talk for a minute or two. My party all sat down at a booth nearby and we waited for our food. I had the Jiffy burger which essentially was a Bacon Cheeseburger with Peanut Butter ontop. The fries could have been cooked a tad bit longer but that's a drop in the ocean and it doesn't bother me at all. The burger was good, it wasn't anything over the top or anything that would compel me to come back to this specific restuarant for burgers. The atmosphere was inviting and the prices were great. Food portions were good size & everything tasted how it should. Thank you guys for lunch! read more

Madison Bear Garden - Jiffy Burger - Bars Near Me - Chico, California

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Normally I enjoy the Bear but the service received today has just been appalling. Ordered garlic fries with food and checked after receiving it and was just normal fries. A little frustrating but over all no biggie, mistakes happen. We give it back to the young lady who handed us the meal and she let out a big sigh and grabbed it and went back inside. As she was walking back to the kitchen she was saying she "fu*king hated her job." I get the frustration, it's a rush and there's an issue. I get the fries and back and literally the garlic is just dumped on top of the now cold fries. They didn't remake or even mix the garlic and now there are really cold fries. Idk what's going on and I understand there are struggles with a pandemic but bad service and cold food while we are just waiting outside for it to be remade, is no excuse. read more

Madison Bear Garden - They just dumped garlic on the fries after we sent it back because they forgot to give us garlic fries - Bars Near Me - Chico, California

This restaurant is located in the college town of Chico, CA. IT IS A BAR that happens to serve food mostly burgers. This was our first visit and more than likely our last. Not because we had a bad experience, but because it does not fit our age bracket. Yes there were people there older than us, but we just felt out of place. Let me say the food was amazing. We all had a burger and fries, I upgraded to onion rings and they were perfect. The reason we felt uncomfortable was the business of the environment. As a first timer it was real confusing to navigate. No greeter, no one to guide you. You order food on one side and then on a separate bill you order your drinks. You are on your own when it comes to seating. We were there on a Friday evening and seating was at a premium. It was so loud we could not hear the lady say our order was ready. Again this is in no way meant to be a negative review where we say do not go. It is just not for us. If you are visiting Chico it is definitely a place you should visit...I only say these things so you know about this place up front. read more

This iconic place is a must go-to in town. You cant come to Chico and say that you didnt go the Bear. Decent Burgers, Decent Drinks, awesome decor. HOWEVER. The customer service at the bar is by far the worst in Chico. To be fair, they are fast. But their people skills leave a lot to be desired... and that's being nice. My friends always joke that being "rude" and "abrasive" is a requirement for bartender applications at the Bear. While this obviously would be ridiculous, it might not be far off. There are one or two very nice and respectful drink maestros in this place, but the rest are quite the opposite. I have many times brought new people to the Bear and had them comment on the attitudes and "choice vocabulary" of the bartenders. It's very unfortunate, this place is a legend. Just wish that they held their employees to as high of standard as their interior designer. read more

Free burger of your choice on your birthday! Heck yes! It comes with a side of fries, too. Just bring your ID and show it to the Bartender, then they will hand you a free burger ticket. They also have a checklist where you can keep track of which burgers you've tried. Here's what I love about The Bear: The atmosphere. It's fun, no drama, everyone is having a good time drinking beer and playing pool upstairs. The staff. They're friendly​ and quick to clean up the tables. There's hardly ever an empty table full of trash. The food: it is the typical burger and french fry place. They also offer appetizers and my favorite is the Zooks and Shrooms. This is a good place for groups because everyone orders at the window and pays for their own meal. There are no worries on how to split the tab. Another great thing is the price of a pitcher of Sierra Nevada. At the right time this can run you only $6! Chances are that if you've been to Chico you have made a stop at the Bear. You will not be bored here! read more

Stopped in for a late lunch before watching our girl cheer for Chico State Basketball. The place was busy but they are fast! You walk up and order food from one counter, and later have your name announced when ready to come back to pick up. Drink orders are done at one of the three bars in the building. Lots of beers on tap and in the bottle to choose from. We ended up w/Sierra Nevada for me, coke for the boy, Coors light for the other boy and the biggest Coors Light for the hubs. In hindsight they should have gotten a pitcher of Coors Light. Our food arrived super quick! The hubs ordered the Fire Fries which is French Fries with melted cheese, chopped onions, sliced jalapeño and chunks of bacon. They were huge! He really enjoyed them and was surprised by the amount of toppings. The boy ordered his usual plain burger w/bbq sauce and fries: The burger was a nice thick patty that looked delish even plain. The boy ate every bite. I split the Boneless Buffalo Wings and Fries with my other son; so glad we did because that was a huge plate. The boneless wings were cooked perfect and were dressed with the right amount of sauce. The fries were curly fries and they were super good too. We had planned to go to dinner after the Chico State Basketball game with our daughter but we were all so full. We would for sure eat here again when in town. Be sure to bring your appetite. read more

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Looked on yelp and found this popular place for dinner. It's an order/pay at the counter and seat yourself kind of place. It's very kitschy here - all the walls are covered and wooden furniture everywhere. We kinda sat outside under a covered area. And it was HH so I got a beer for $3.50 at the bar - it's a different place than where you order food. I got the jiffy burger, which is a bacon burger with peanut butter. It sounds kinda gross but surprisingly good. In addition, when you check in on yelp, you get a free appetizer. We opted for the buffalo wings, which was a huge portion and almost $10 - what a deal. But they weren't my favorite. They were both too salty and spicy for me. I had to dip them in the ranch sauce to kind of mellow it out. Plus with my huge burger and beer, it was quite a filling meal. read more

Okay, imagine that you walked into a dirty college burger bar one evening. Now, turn the lights on. Gross and sticky. The atmosphere just felt icky. Tables were dirty even after asking several times to clean one of for us. They really weren't busy, so it must have been shift change. It was just after lunch time when we arrived. The chicken wings come attached (drum, flat and tip). They really didn't light me up. The draft beer was fine. All in all, this was not a good experience. I was told that it was a must see place while in Chico. Well, I saw it. I won't be back. It's just not my style. read more

Hate to leave a negative review but it was upsetting. Next time educate the bouncers. I would expect better door service.

Cool place. Ordered a drink and it had a shard of glass that I pulled out of my mouth. Didn't offer a refund just a drink remake.

Great burgers. They are all so different and fun to choose. Burgers, beer and fries. Can't go wrong with that. If you haven't been for lunch you probably should. The site is almost historical to Chico, if you haven't been you have to go. Turns into a bar at night. Make sure you look up and checkout all the cool collectibles. read more

Great atmosphere with amazing service. The food was really good. This bar/restaurant has a great ambiance and welcoming feel.

I went there on 4/30/19 around 9:10 pm to get a beer. It was a bit busy so i waited about 10 minutes to get a beer. A few people cut in front and got their beer first, which was no problem. As i ordered my beer the bartender yelled 1/2 price was over and charged me full price. I told him i was waiting for over 10 minutes and the lady in front of me was just charged $3 for her beer. He said it was not his problem and charged me $6. I left him a $2 tip on top. It was not the money but the fact he saw me standing for over 10 minutes and i had already ordered my beer when he made the call. I went there on a friend's recommendation and i was very disappointed. Hope next person gets better service. A few days later the business reached out to me to apologize and explain i needed some type of gear in order to get the discount that night. I really appreciate them going out of their way and doing that. As mentioned, it was not the money. A 5-second answer would have been better than "not my problem". I didn't know about the gear since it was my first time there. I was visiting from 4 hours away for a training. Thanks once again for reaching out. read more

We were so disappointed today. We had our mouths watering for one of their delicious hot dogs. Got up to order and were told they were out of hot dogs! How can you be out if hot dogs!? I worked as a server a few years back and if we were out of something, we went to the store! It beats turning away business. read more

I went to this bar and hamburger joint all the years I attended Chico State. The burgers were so great. The beer was ice cold. The layout is intentionally darkish but you can sit by an open wall and fell the coziness of a private area just for you. The prices ae good. read more