The Barnstorm Restaurant — Restaurant in California

This restaurant has been on my list of restaurants to try in Big Bear. I was drawn to it because of the location of it being at the airport. My husband and I decided that we should just go and see if we have found another Big Bear favorite.

We went for breakfast on a Wednesday around 9:00am. It was not crowded at all. There were only a few tables occupied and they all seemed to be of locals. We sat at a table near the window in the corner so we had privacy (not that we really needed it) and to be able to see the planes come in and out. We were here on a Wednesday so it turned out that we didn't see any planes land or take off while we were there. That was a disappointment but it was a weekday so not sure why I expected it to be busy.

So here's my review:

Wait staff: Very friendly and welcoming. One thing that caught my attention was that they both had dirty aprons on. Honestly I thought it was kind of gross but I always want/try to look past things like that. They were attentive and came back to ask how our food was and if everything was ok.

The food: -My husband ordered the Barnstorm omelette with home fries. The omelette had cut up sausage patties, onions, peppers, mushrooms, Ortega chili and cheese. The home fries had potatoes with onions and peppers. The potatoes were cooked but not crispy. There were lots of peppers and onions in the mix. He also ordered the biscuits and gravy to go with it (you get a choice of toast or biscuits and gravy) He told me the omelette was average, nothing to brag about. The biscuits and gravy were "ok", not what he likes in a biscuit and gravy (He does like a good biscuit and gravy and this unfortunately wasn't it) -I ordered the veggie omelette, hash browns and the biscuit and gravy. The omelette had tons of freshly grilled veggies in it including mushrooms, onions, zucchini, tomato and cheddar cheese. It tasted good but needed a bit more cheese and seasoning, in my opinion. Serving it with salsa could have made it more flavorful too. In hindsight I should have asked for some. The hash browns were cooked crispy and were good. The biscuit was not like a biscuit at all. It was more cake-like (without the sweetness). The gravy didn't taste homemade, wasn't very flavorful and only had a few chunks of sausage in it.

All in all it was an OK experience. I have heard that their burgers are pretty good and I might try this place again on the weekend for a burger and to watch the planes come and go. However, for now I will just cross it off my Big Bear restaurant...

The food was pretty good, But the owner is kind of strange lady. She goes around to the tables and wants to talk to everybody right in the middle of your meal.

Whatever you do don’t complain because she has a temper and she can’t take any criticism. The waitress doesn’t speak very good English, when I paid my check my bill was for $13 and I gave her 20 and she never came back I guess she thought she got a 50% tip. So I called her on it and then she gave me my change and she gave me a five and a couple of ones then I said why didnt you give me more ones so that I can leave you a better tip anyway the owner said I’m the one that made the change and so I said well you should give more ones that way people have more options when they are leaving a tip. Then she lost her mind and started flipping out and started saying I’m through with you, I’m through with you. She said that like four or five times, so I said that’s nice and I left but I just thought it was really inappropriate for an owner of a restaurant to act like that because I did not do anything except come up to get my change and say something like the waitress was good but she wasn’t that good meaning I’m not going to leave a 50% tip anyway I don’t know if she took that wrong and thought I was criticizing her waitress, But she lost her cool and I thought it was inappropriate for a Owner especially after she told me how nice the people are up in big bear.

I thought it was really awkward, And My overall impression was that the food was fine the place looks clean but the energy of the people is really strange. And in my opinion the people make...

Bad experience 1st time there. Once seated we waited for 65 minutes to be served our lunch. 65 minutes make you hungry and irritable. Only one waitress there. She did an amazing job with a poor set up. I felt sorry for her. The owner was there and provided little support. The owner is nice and cordial, but when the service is falling apart because they are short handed someone needs to step up and help out.

The food portions are small and over priced. The food was good but it was over $50 for 3 people to have a modest lunch (tip not included). The chef messed up my wife's salad and after another 15 minute wait (i.e 80 minute wait) my wife cancelled her order and left without lunch. It would have been a $16 vegetarian salad. The decor is a modest country appearance that does not match the prices the owner is asking for. Overall, it was a very poor experience and our last...