Review of Black Bear Diner, Roseville, Ca

The members of the Sacramento Breakfast Club are always on the lookout for a new restaurant, and last October, when we heard that another Black Bear Diner was coming to the area, we waited with eager anticipation. The newest Black Bear Diner was supposted to open January 3rd, but do to inclement weather, the opening got pushed back a week. Good restaurants are worth waiting for!!!

Photo: Black Bear Diner is located in a small, upscale strip mall on the border of Roseville and Rocklin. If the building looks vaguely familiar, it should, as it once was the home of a now-defunct Applebee's outlet. Today's date is Friday, January 18, 2013, and the restaurant has only been open since the 8th. This is the second Black Bear Diner in the greater Sacramento area... back in December, 2010, we enjoyed a meeting at the Sacramento Black Bear Diner location.

Photo: I had a feeling the restaurant would be busy, so my wife and I arrived about 40 minutes ahead of the scheduled 0900 club meeting. The restaurant wasn't busy... yet, but things would change. This view is just inside the entrance, just past the cashier's station, with part of the pastry counter to the left, the "bear goods" store further to the left, and shows a very small portion of the spacious dining room. The dining room is very large - it probably can seat 200 or more people - and it a mixture of booths and tables. We were impressed that none of the booths or tables are "boxed-in," that is, you have to move a couple of your fellow diners if you need to move out.

Photo: Our server, Sarah, takes Bev's order. By the time of our 0900 meeting the restaurant was very busy. Note the "country" decor. The restaurant was so new that the inside smelled of freshly cut wood!

Photo: The restaurant features a very small breakfast counter, with the kitchen in the background. By the time our meeting started, at 0900, the place was packed, and there were diners waiting the foyer for a chance to enjoy the delicious cuisine. Black Bear Diner's web site promotes their fare as "quality comfort food," and we feel that's a very true description of the great food, as well as a "mission statement" of the restaurant.

Photo: Our server, Sarah, had some help with a couple of other servers, including a young lady, who's name badge read "Trainee." Hmmmmm... I haven't heard of that name before. Server Shelly, brings a couple of plates to our table. We've met Shelly before, as back in 2006, we visited Cornerstone Restaurant, where we had the pleasure of meeting Shelly, so it was good to see her again, working at a new restaurant. She recognized us, especially when I whipped out my camera and started taking photos. Good to see you Shelly!

Photo: My breakfast of chicken fried steak, two eggs, home style potatoes, and two eggs over easy. The menu advertises this as the restaurant's best selling breakfast, and I agree, as it's simply delicious! As you eat your meal, you're treated with a surprise, as black bear tracks will appear on your place, which adds to the ambiance, and enhances the flavor of the delicious food!

Photo: Today's members of the Sacramento Breakfast Club, from left to right: Eric Rench, Bev MacLeod, Dan MacLeod, David DeMario, Teri McCloud and Sharlene Rench. We're all current or former AT&T employees, so you know who to turn to for good taste.

Black Bear Diner is a small chain of restaurants with a footprint in six western states. The Roseville location is their newest location, and like anything new, we noticed a few wrinkles and "teething" pains, including:

* I called the night before for reservations, and was told they don't accept reservations.
* We requested separate checks, but were told they couldn't do it that way. They said the cashier would separate      our orders at the resister, and charge each party accordingly.
* At the cashier's station, the gal wasn't familiar with the procedure and, much to the chagrin of folks waiting     behind us, had a difficult time getting things straightened out. Always cheerful, she managed to settle the     individual bills.
* Because of the confusion at the register, I'm not certain if our server(s) received a proper tip! I flagged Sarah      down and presented her with a $5.00 tip from Sharlene and I, but I'm not sure about the rest.
* David's corn beef hash was tough, stringy, and he was barely able to cut it! He commented the fact to our     server, Sarah, and she said she'd tell the cook.

Things happen when you open a new restaurant, so we're looking forward to our next visit to the Roseville Black Bear Diner, as we know that all will be well and good, as it is with the other outlets that we've had the chance to enjoy.

Minor opening glitches aside, with the exception of David, all of the members of the Sacramento Breakfast Club agreed that the Roseville location of Black Bear Diner serves delicious, quality, comfort food, with portions that can be described as GIGANTIC! As an aside, my breakfast kept me going all day - I skipped lunch - and my dinner consisted of a small bowl of vegetable soup. Now that's value for a breakfast!

Like the other Black Bear Diner in the Sacramento area, and every other Black Bear Diner outlet that I've had the pleasure to visit, the Roseville store serves good food - dare I say the menus are identical? - served by friendly staff, in a very "bear-friendly" dining room. We're happy another Black Bear Diner outlet has set up shop in our area, as they're a welcome addition to the Sacramento breakfast scene.

Black Bear Diner
6700 Stanford Ranch Road
Roseville, CA 95678
916 788-8101
www.blackbeardiner.com

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