Black Bear Family Restaurant — Restaurant in Appleton

MY CAR HAD TO GET WORK DONE ON IT, SO WHILE WE WERE WAITING WE DECIDED TO TRY SOMETHING NEW. WE ARRIVED AROUND 11AM new years day AND IT WAS PACKED. WE FINALLY FOUND A SPOT AND HEADED IN. the hostess ANGIE GREETED AND GOT US SAT. NOT LONG AFTER LISA CAME OVER TO GREET US. SHE HAD SERVERAL TABLES AND ALL MADE SURE TO CLEAN UP AFTER THEMSELVES AND GIVE HER A FEW DOLLARS. IF SHE WASN'T TAKING ORDERS , SHE WAS FILLING COFFEE'S, REFILLING SODAS. WE WERE IMPRESSED ON HOW CLEAN AND ORGANIZED EVERYTHING WAS. THEY HAVE BUS CARTS WHICH I THOUGHT WAS GENIUS BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS IT EFFICIENT BUT SAVES THE BUSSER BACK.

Now the FOOD SELECTION COVERS JUST ABOUT ANYONES TASTE. FROM BEER BATTERED COD , STEAK, SHRIMP, STIRFRY, FRENCH DIP OH AND A CHICKEN AND DUMPLING TO RIVAL Mary's in my opinion 😋 I grew up in Milwaukee and Sunday rider was Broasted Chicken. I've lived in Appleton area for 33 years and it hard to find Broasted Chicken let alone good braosted chicken with the right amount of seasoning and not dry. Well I found it at The Black Bear. THEIR BROASTED CHICKEN IS NOT ONLY PERFECTLY SEASONED BUT IS TENDER AND JUCICY AND PERFECTLY COOKED INSIDE. OT TOOK ME BACK TO 1977 Milwaukee Wisconsin. it comes with a verity of sides and a desert for 10.99 I think it was and a $2 uncharg if you want all 4 pieces white or all dark meat. IM A DARK MEAT GIRL SO I APPRECIATED THE OPTION. I FORGOT TO TELL HER ALL DARK MEAT AND SHE WAS GENUINELY SWEET AND SAID ILL GO RIGHT BACK AND TELL THE COOKS. LEO & JUAN. I TOLD HER TELL THEM IM SORRY , TRULY. IF YOU WORKED IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY, YOU KNOW ITS A HARD TO CHANGE AN ORDER IF THEY ARE ALREADY MAKING IT AND WHY I SENT MY APOLOGIES. OUR SOUP CAME OUT A DECENT AMOUNT AND WAS FLAVOURFUL AND THE DUMPLINGS WERE REALLY GOOD. THE DESERT I ORDER WAS A STRAWBERRY SHORT CAKE AND I REALLY HATE WHEN THE CAKE IS SOGGY WITH THE STRAWBERRY SAUCE BUT AGAIN I FORGOT TO SAY PUT STRAWBERRIES AND SAUCE ON THE SIDE BUT NO WORRIES THEY GOT YOU! IT ARRIVED AND I SAY OH BOY BUT I LIKED LISA SO MUCH I JUST COULDN'T SO I TOOK A BITE HOPING FOR THE BEST LOL AND OMG SO GOOD NO SOGGY CAKE. THE CAKE WAS MOIST AND EVERYTHING TASTED SO GOOD, THE WHOLE MEAL, PATRONS WERE REALLY SWEET AND THE VIVBE WAS RELAXED AND CHEERFUL 😊 YOU CAN TELL THE STAFF LOVES WHAT THEY DO AND THE OWNER MADE SURE TO SET THEIR STAFF UP FOR SUCCESS, EVERYTHING THEY COULD NEED IS A FEW STEEPS AWAY SO THEY DON'T WASTE TIME GOING DOWNSTAIRS OR BACK STORAGE ROOM TO GET SUPPLIES. I don't get why THE Black Bear only gets a 4.4 star. either the people reviewing are never happy or don't know good food. I've eaten at Bobby Flays in Vegas we had 4 people with 3 bottles of wine for a total 3,200 including tip. we also like to eat at RYE so we know we'll made food so if you love food WELL MADE FOOD AND AN INVITING ATMOSPHERE. WITH REASONABLY PRICED SELECTIONS THIS IS YOUR PLACE! I'm...

This was our first time visiting this restaurant but not this location. Black Bear reopened what was previously a diner as well. We attempted to visit the past weekend but could not find any parking available. I believe the diner has a lot more capacity for customers than they may have for parking. As such, if you can manage to park, I do not believe you will feel crowded inside. On this day, a Thursday morning around 9:30, parking was still at a premium but there were perhaps 4 spots available.

Once inside, we quickly located the cash register/host station and waited as it was unattended. Unsure if we were to seat ourselves, we simply waited hoping any of the employees walking by would politely tell us someone will be with us shortly. None did. Disappointing as it would have made a great first impression and perhaps turned this 4 star review into a 5 star.

The cashier/host returned and he was very friendly and we were promptly seated in a spacious booth and a server came by within minutes with our water. Our server was friendly as well and not one of the employees that basically ignored us when we entered.

The menu was quite extensive and provided quite the variety that generally makes me believe the food will be good but not great. We were here for breakfast so that is where our focus was. I ordered a Ham skillet with a side of sausage gravy while my wife ordered the Gyro and eggs.

The gyro was exceptional according to my wife as she stated she would order Greek Gyro sandwich should we return for lunch. The Ham skillet was good but not great. I am used to skillets having the meat and vegetables diced and easier to make sure I could get a little of everything in every bite with the potatoes served underneath. With the larger pieces of vegetables and ham, I found I was eating more potatoes toward the end. Because I had ordered the gravy, I simply added my own flavors but had that not been the case, I think I would have been disappointed. Compared to others' skillets, I would rate this one a 3.5.

Our server checked in on us after an appropriate amount of time and thus we were very satisfied. We left feeling full and comfortable although I still felt I missed out on having a fabulous meal but it is a diner basically. Good food, comfortable atmosphere,...

Turkey and canned gravy were placed over stuffing. The stuffing did not resemble any stuffing I've consumed. The turkey was processed slices and canned gravy covered everything on the plate.

Also received a baked potato 😋, canned corn, extremely small serving of cranberries and homemade chicken dumpling soup.

The soup was the best I've ever eaten. Not salty, dumplings tasted like my mom's and the broth was very tasty.

The dinner also included dessert in which I chose rice pudding. It was edible.

The service was about the worst I've experienced. Upon arrival there were quite a few empty tables yet waited over 5 minutes to be seated.

Our server took the order after sitting for over 15 minutes. After the order was taken, she proceeded to chit chat with another customer prior to the order being placed in the kitchen. I timed it - it was 10 minutes after the order was given that she brought it to the kitchen.

I asked for extra napkins and she actually counted the 4 napkins that were sitting on the silverware stand.

After the food was brought to the table, she returned once to asked if anything else was needed. She did not return after that time.

I could see her behind the counter talking and laughing with a fellow employee while ignoring her customers.

I asked another server for additional water, a box and my dessert. The original server brought my dessert and the check and did not say anything.

If anyone would like to know the female server's name, it starts with an M and is five letters in length.

Needless to say, I will not...