For many years we made a point to come to this restaurant during our Pentwater vacations. One would think that during their peak season they would open both levels of the restaurant but instead they decided to let 50+ people sit on the waiting list and just keep main level open because apparently it is to much work to walk up and down stairs. We went across the street to give our $$$ to another great establishment and the service was wonderful. read more

The full size bear burger is more than most reasonable people will want to take on. If you're looking to impress your friends with how much you can eat, then by all means.... go for it. I've got a decent appetite and the cub burger is where I draw the line. All their burgers are excellent, with a wonderful char-grilled flavor. The onion rings are outstanding, as is the rest of their food. I go there for the burgers because I can't say no once I get there. Be advised that the Pentwater location may close down during the winter months (it's a lakeside tourist town), so call ahead if in doubt. I'm told that they operate a couple restaurants in that area and some stay open year round. read more

This place does not disappoint! The Big Bear burger is huge. I recommend splitting it with a couple of people. I got the olive one- it was so delicious. I also recommend the breaded pickles...yummy with ranch dressing. Plus the atmosphere has a very home town feel. The Brown Bear is surronded by a lot of cute shops and close to the water. Worth the drive for a mini vaca! read more

OK...so I really struggled with 4 or 5 stars, and the only reason why I ended with 4 is because I haven't dined in any other restaurants in the Pentwater area. However, based on the two times I have been there and quality of food, I just had to stand tight on my rating. My last outing there was wonderful. 4 of us ate, and a 2 year old, but my sandwich was amazing, completely manified, and filling beyond belief. I'm not going to describe their food in detail except that their burgers are good to great, fried chicken is delicious and cheap, but their prime rib sandwich with provolone and mushrooms added was terrific. Au Jus was spot on. I barely could finish and get lots of napkins. Great job Brown Bear, see you very soon! read more

Great burgers and dark beer. I had the olive burger and was stuffed! Nice staff. Prices are average. The place is clean and family friendly.

Good hamburgers and salads. Krab bisque (notice k) had chopped Raw celery throughout. Nachos were dry and the cheese not melted. Drink.service slow. I had to get another drink at bar myself, waitress was their and could tell she was miffed. They were not busy. Waffle fries were cold and undercooked to say the.least. Menu is boring. Will not be returning. read more

A disappointment !!! I ran into a lady while camping in Mears, she made this place sound wonderful and informed me that they have the best burgers hands down. Well, after trying them I've come to the conclusion that I was chatting with a crack head. The staff was good, the portion size was good , however the burgers were average. I had their homemade chips that lacked any flavor and were burnt. The rest of the family had their french fries and stated that they were " just ok." Definitely not a place I would try again. read more

After reading the reviews, I had to try the burger. It was so so tasty. I'll have to come back to the Bear!

Never heard of this place.. staying at the Comfort Inn 3 miles down (nice place in themiddle of nothing). with visiting beautiful Michigan. Desk clerk suggested Brown Bear. Wonderful.. our service was superb..beer cold...Tanya suggested the Black and Blue Burger- cajun spice and blue cheese burger - yum!!! Hubby is fat free vegan and she worked with him to get a sub sandwich with lettuce, tomato, onion, banana peppers and olives! He was in heaven.. I want to go back, had the cubby size.. would like the next one up.... Sam Adams on Tap....they also have specials - today was choose 2 for 12.99 - 20 shrimp, 6 oz steak, or rib tips... dining room was pretty full for a Thursday night off season, read more

Consistent great food. Cold microbrew on tap. Reasonable prices. Best giant ham sub anywhere. Never had a bad meal there!!!!! Eaten there 20+ times. read more

Stopped in for lunch on my motorcycle trip up to Luddington. I passed by several places with nice waterfront outdoor seating just to find this hole in the wall and get a taste of the famous burgers. I was not disappointed! Get to Brown Bear. read more

Not super duper fantastic, but not super duper awful either... I was really hoping to be blown away by the burger I ordered (the Pine-A-Peno burger), but I was only half blown away... I loved the interesting combination of ingredients (pineapple, jalapeño and blue cheese), but the burger itself didn't come out as fresh tasting as it should have... Maybe it was the bun? The burger was pretty soggy... My friends ordered appetizers, which came out piping hot and fresh, so that was a plus. As for the selection of beer on tap, it was just eh... Nothing too exciting... I'm sure I'll be back, but I'll hope for a better burger and selection of beer on tap next time... read more

Classic small town burger joint done right. Juicy, flavorful burgers. Crispy and yummy handmade potato chips. Friendly service. It's a destination spot for us when we're on the west side of the state. You're an animal if you can polish off the one pound burger. My guys get the cub-size, us girls do the wimpy. read more

If you have never been here, get the notorious bear burger. My sweetie and I split this and some fries and it was more than enough! ! ! My son had the chicken dinner, which was very good. Our server was also the bartender. Her name was vitalua Forebear and was good at her job. The place was an average type bar inside......except the bathrooms.....they need some work! Go for the burger and a beer... use the bathroom before you leave home and when you get back and you will love the place:)! ! ! read more

My husband loved his 1/2 lb burger. The burgers are huge and a must order. I had the quesadilla which was pretty standard. We got to sit at on of the few outdoor tables on the upper level. It was a great spot for sight seeing. The waffle fries were also tasty. read more

Sat in their upstairs area. Took a few minutes to get menus and our drink order in. Their burgers are awesome! I got the Dixie burger and it came cooked to perfection, and the waffle fries are pretty good as well. I will be making another trip to this bar read more

When our kids join us in Pentwater throughout the summer, The Bear is always our first stop. The burgers are only eclipsed by fried asparagus and fried pickles. Great service too! Now, if they were only reliably open for lunch! And if it's winter, there's always our second choice, The Anther. read more

Awesome service & food was great. Upper level patio was perfect! Music & shots were perfect!

Pretty good place to drink a few beers. We didn't eat anything, so not sure what the food was like. This is a nice little bar.

Three for dinner. Regular Hamburgers were good. Spicey Jack hamburger was not so good, little flavor that the name suggests. Service was at best ok. Never offered refills on drinks. Came by table suggesting boxes to-go before we were finished eating. Check was placed on table, never offered desert or anything else such as after dinner drink. The place was not busy on Tuesday evening. Felt more like we were interrupting staff from socializing verses the purpose they were being paid for. Took our after dinner money elsewhere. Won't be back. We don't suggest this place. read more

The chili cheese burger is a giant delicious mess that will leave you stuffed but wanting more. Everything else is great too.

The "Bear Burger" is a must at least once. Great bar food with a TV for every major sporting event. Friendly staff, and a great location!

Awesome joint...best burger ever! I've lived in West Michigan 15 years and this was my first visit. Great location in a very cool little town. If you are within a 1-2 hour drive, I would recommend the trip! read more

Great burgers, cold beer, kinda a dump inside, service was ehh, but we had a balcony seat that made up for the place.

The spicy burgers are magically delicious. My son ordered the Spicy Jack Burger and I ordered the cub with jalapenos. Both outrageously good and despite making a real effort, neither of us could manage to finish! Great value. We loved the sports and the vibe reminds of our favorite spots in N. Tahoe. read more

People, I have lived in Pentwater and frequented this place at least 3-4 times a week for a long time. For those of you that seem to be 'drinking the Kool-Aid', put your cup down. Everyone else, I hope this helps. Service is 5 stars, food is 1-2 stars (burgers are 4-5) and ownership hovers around a 2. Some bullet points for quick viewing: Pros: *Wait/bar staff - This crew is great. They do a great job of keeping the place afloat amidst comically poor management and avoidable issues that customers often complain about (NASTY bathrooms, ubiquitous ripped bar stools and chairs, bad/non-existent managers/ownership). I know service industry folks are supposed to be 'happy' all the time, but if you knew what these guys/girls had to deal with behind the scenes you'd forgive them if they are ever less than super friendly (very rare). *Good burgers. They are not great as many folks would try and tell you (I surmise that the "best burger ever" reviews or those like them are from people who don't eat at too many restaurants that don't serve tons of fried food), but they are solid. Unlike high quality beef, if you were to eat these burgers without condiments or toppings you'd find them fairly mediocre, but the toppings and size of the patties seem to trick most people, myself included sometimes. *Fairly cheap prices for the large serving sizes Cons: *Management is terrible, when there is even a manager. Again, it's a testament to the staff that the place runs as well as it does, because they have very little guidance or formal training from their hire date on. *Ownership seems like they read a manual on "how to run a restaurant:", but skipped the chapters called "how to manage people" and "how to set your employees up for success". I know people that gave this establishment at least $200 a week in business through this winter (2010/2011) and didn't get so much as a "thank you", much less a free drink/app/whatever from the owner. Classy, very classy. *Facebook page managed by the owners is often laughable. Not only do you get little gems from employees saying how great their shift was (are we really to believe that's done on their own volition without any suggesting from the owners??? Hint: I know for a fact it's not), but you also get unintentionally hilarious posts like "...that's 33.3% off the normal price!" Seriously? Do you really think breaking down some numbers that you just read from your calculator (while looking at your own profit margin no doubt) is going to attract customers? Just tell people what the special is and let them compare the price vs. the standard menu price. Again, a rookie move clearly based on concerns about their own bottom line. *Food is often not fresh. Seeing soup on the white board for a full week is not super appetizing! *Bathrooms that are smelly and unclean, and chairs that are so ripped apart that they look like they were stolen from an alley behind student housing at a college. Look, I have much love for the Brown Bear, especially for the employees. What I don't love is the fact that ownership is WAY more concerned with their own bottom line than they are with providing high quality fresh food, and a genuinely caring attitude towards their employees. I fully understand that a restaurant is in business largely to make money, but it is absolutely possible to make money while also keeping the food fresh, the furniture not ripped, and the restrooms a step above "hold my breath as long as I can until I'm done" status. Seriously. read more

You haven't lived until you've had a Brown Bear hamburger. I recommend their olive burger--have friends who drive here from all over the state for them. The infamous Bear burger is a whopper--it could serve a family of four but I've seen it eaten by a single person. The Brown Bear was recently remodeled but the seating is limited. Go earlier than you planned for lunch and dinner, especially on the weekends. read more

i went here while staying in mears, michigan. i knew that the internet had not lied when i was a block away and could smell the grilled meat. i got a "wimpy" bear burger supreme. the only reason i did not give this place five stars is the bun for the wimpy was truly wimpy. also all burgers are served deluxe which apparently means they come with mayo. i hate mayo and had to ask for a new bun. besides those two points i loved the food. my boyfriend had the olive burger and the bun held up nicely to the huge piece of meat! i love burgers and this place had one of the best burgers i've had. read more

We go here often during the Summer. We love the burgers, but today they weren't delicious, like they've been in the past. Hoping the cook was just off for Fathers Day and he'll be back for next time. If not, we won't be back. Nothing else on the menu is worth it. read more

Food was great at The Brown Bear. However with no hostess stand and the wait list being a handwritten list on a white board past the bar, it's really difficult for a first time visitor to figure out how to get a table or determine how long the wait is on a busy summer evening. read more

This place rocks!! Great chili, Great burgers. Soups are good too.

Really good burgers and a bar with cold beer and reasonable prices... nice view of the green and lake in Pentwater... what more could one want? read more

Absolutely, hands down one of the WORST restaurants that I have ever been to. The price:food quality ratio is extremely high. You definetely get much less quality than what you pay for. A true RIPOFF! The staff met the basic expectations of filling the order, delivering it and attending to our needs and were pleasantly indifferent. The quality of the food however is the Brown Bear's shortcoming. The food is so terrible that it is as if a Sysco truck dropped off the cheapest processed crap right onto my plate. I had the "broasted" chicken thinking that it would be less greasy and tasty as broasted chicken is (if it is truly broasted) supposed to be. The claim on the menu is false, misleading and provides you with the greasiest nastiest chicken that was probably reheated in a fryer and neglected enough to soak up globs of oil. If your looking for a place to get a mediocre beer and watch sports in a wooden pub atmosphere then this would be a decent place to go. If you are looking for a meal, do yourself a favor and skip the Brown Bear and look elsewhere or go without. I suspect that the only reason that this restaurant is still in business is because it is a local watering hole and the reputation of being the home of the big burger baits the carnivorous gluttons into patronizing this culinary disaster. If you must go to this horrible dive get stinking drunk first so your senses are distorted before you eat there. read more

Went to The Brown Bear with a group of Michigan students during the Final Four. Everyone in the bar was nice and welcoming, from other guests to the staff. The food was good, and the drink prices were not bad. It was definitely an enjoyable experience and will be coming back when I am in the area. read more

Took a roadtrip over 4th of July weekend, and tried this place for the first time.. ended up with the wimpy burger one of the best burgers if not the best I've ever had.. waiter was very good, we will definitely be back.... next time were in Pentwater read more

Go here on an empty stomach! The medium sized Brown Bear burger is very delicious and filling. Their french fries are excellent too. Only downside is they get busy and you have to wait around fifteen minutes to half an hour to get a seat. Also it's crowded up to the point like everybody are cramped sardines. Customer service wasn't too bad. I'm coming to the conclusion every waitress no matter what the restaurant is trained to be a little snooty. She did her job, nothing more nothing less. That's all I'm going to mention about the service, but great food. read more

Great burgers, three sizes.. I had one of their new burgers, it had pineapple and jalapeño peppers along with blue cheese crumbles.. Can't think of the name of it, but it was delicious!! Service was good, but it can get very busy, and that slows the service a little.. My go to place in Pentwater!! read more

Good food here, I had the broader chicken. Very moist and tasty. My wife had the small brown bear burger which was plenty big. Nice selection of beers too. They could do a few dollars in buying some new chairs though, ours were trashed. read more

Homey, slightly chaotic place, packed (on a Sunday night), friendly service, just ok food (that said, neither of us had a burger, which was obviously the big draw for the place and from what we could tell from our view of the kitchen. it looked like EVERYone else in the joint was having a huge juicy Bear Burger...) my waffle fries were undercooked, the fish and chips didn't have much fish, and the pickle spears were weirdly overcooked.. But service was friendly, the beers were cold, and it turned out to be a good place to watch the game. Folks at neighboring tables were friendly, and the whole place had a really family feel to it. Cleanliness wasn't the best, everything in there's on the grimy side and run down, but it wasn't the kind of dirty that would make you worry about the food or anything - it's just a little on the dive-y side. We'll probably be back and I'll definitely try one of those burgers... But probably only one of the smaller ones, the big ones are INSANELY big! read more

You can get no better burger anywhere. Will cook to order, even rare. I love it when a joint serves a good burger. Great food and service. Prices are reasonable as well. read more