Black Bear Diner Cottonwood — Restaurant in Cottonwood

I just experienced one of the worst waitresses that I have had in a long long time. We went in for the Thanksgiving Feast. I asked for a rare prime rib. I understand that when asking for rare prime rib means I am likely to be getting medium rare. The first one she brought was well done and the waitress actually asked me to cut into it in front of her when I immediately refused it as not rare. Like maybe it was a steak and she didn't know how prime rib was supposed to look? The second one was medium well done. It took three tries to bring me a prime rib plate that was appropriately cooked as I had asked. The meat was of good quality but it was served with instant potatoes and canned green beans. The waitress gave no butter to go with the cornbread and butter finally came at the end of the meal when the cornbread was cold. My son asks for water and she asked if I needed anything. I said I would like some water too. She takes my son's glass, not mine, and walks away... Never did bring me more water. She did spend some time leaning up against the wall talking to the elderly couple seated next to us. She was complaining to them how hard it was to do her job and get things out on the table at the appropriate time when they were supposed to be. Then she disappeared for some time while somebody else brought the couple their dinner plates before the waitress had even brought out their salads. They sent those plates back. So I'm not the only one that was experiencing horrible service from this woman. But hey, she plopped my bill on the table before I even had my dinner in front of me, so she was obviously in a big hurry for that.

This is not the first time we have been here. The food is okay (not great) but I think overpriced for basic diner food. After 2 years, we figured we would give it another chance. With canned green beans on a $26 plate from a horrible waitress, I really don't think we will ever be...

Nice enough staff, but this location needs some attention from upper management. I've been a patron of Black Bear Diner for a long time, almost entirely at their California locations which have always been 5 star experiences. Was passing through Arizona on my way back to San Diego from New Mexico and decided to stop here with my Mother and Sisters as they'd never been there before. Not only was the orange juice not fresh (which is a strong expectation I have from BBD), but the staff neglected to mention that until I asked them directly while paying and saw that they charged us for the fresh orange juice when it clearly wasn't, they said it came from gallon jugs, not that fancy machine they had which sat gathering dust. Even after asking them directly they did not change the price, I am not one to cause a scene or anything of that nature so I just let it be. Also their country potatoes were of vastly different quality just from plate to plate, some were perfect while the rest were way overdone and looked like they'd been under a heat lamp for 3 hours. The most attentive members of the staff weren't even our waitress as she seemed to be more interested in talking with her coworkers, but two of the gentlemen were very attentive and seemed to really care about their job. I absolutely love your restaurant chain and have for many years (please build one in or nearer to Escondido, CA) and usually the experience, the people, and the food are beyond exceptional, but this one almost seemed like a poor imitation in comparison. I really recommend that you send them some help and maybe do some retraining as they seem to...

I used to defend this place all the time. I noticed it's very polarizing place in town and people either bash it or go regularly. I wanted to get breakfast and it was my day off. I didn't want to wait for any other place to open till 11:00 a.m. so I went down there and there was no one at the booth. I understand things get busy and people get short-staffed. When the hostess/server arrived she looked like she had been through a hurricane and looked like shehad had it So I took my seat and the table was still dirty and she just brushed some crumbs aside with her hand and got my drink order. I would have left right there but I was famished.The orange juice came out relatively quickly but the coffee took about 20 minutes and I actually had to go up to the service counter and ask where it was. They had to bring my coffee to my own table. That's okay if your fire creek. But this is a sit-down restaurant. So I could have brushed that aside but when she finally came out with my food she brought the check with her. How is that okay? Basically the message was eat and get out. The food which I ordered by the way which was eggs benedict which they normally do a good job at look like slop. The sauce was all over the place and the food was not well presented and the avocado had brown marks on it. The message was pretty clear and I listened. I ate what I could and I got out. Pretty disappointed and I am now going to join the ranks of people who have nothing nice to say about this place. Go to Pepe's. They're a little Podunk but damn it if they don't serve a good breakfast and have pride in...