Big Bear Ellijay Bar & Grill — Restaurant in East Ellijay

We were in North Georgia and googled places to eat. We saw the reviews for this restaurant and decided to drive an hour because they were good reviews. Upon arrival we entered just a few tables occupied with people eating. The hostess told us it would 15 to 20 minute wait as she waiting to hear from the kitchen (we arrived at 2pm). So we figured maybe the kitchen was behind and they were attempting to get caught up. A few minutes passed and several tables opened up we were seated. The waitress came to get our drink order now we drove to this restaurant based on the reviews and also seeing they had basil pesto chicken on the menu which is a dish I really like. Our 11 year old daughter was with us and wanted the pasta off the child's menu. The pasta came with either butter or marinara sauce but since they had pesto sauce for the chicken we asked if they could put some pesto sauce on her pasta and was told they were out of chicken pesto and steaks. This should have been our clue to leave. I decided to make the best of it and order something else. We ordered our drinks and mozzarella sticks as an appetizer I ordered the Roadhouse burger with fries, wife order potato soup, and my daughter ordered the pasta with marinara sauce. The cheese sticks were good so things were looking up Not!. Our order arrived and my burger was served on two pieces of brioche bread they were soaked with butter and grease the fries were decent though. My wife took one bite of her soup and it was so cold it felt like it came straight from the fridge. My daughters pasta was cold and the marinara tasted wierd. The waitress came to ask if everything was good to whichy wife told her the soup was cold. The waitress apologized and said they were very short handed but could get my wife another at that point my wife was over it. The waitress took the soup to the back and returned to ask if there was something else on the menu my wife would like. My wife ordered a kids grilled cheese and fries as my daughter couldn't eat the past because it was cold and didn't taste good. The grilled cheese was brought out and it was serve on the same type of bread thrle burger was on and had very little cheese. The burger was OK but extremely greasy. My wife and daughter picked and the grilled cheese and ate the fries which were decent. Finally we were ready to just leave the waitress brought the check $50 for the three of us which wouldn't be a problem if the food would have been good. I don't see us returning as we visit the area several times a year. Maybe it was because they were short or having an off day but the experience wasn't a...

We’ve been eating here on a regular basis since they opened. It’s always been good food. Until today. We went with two other couples for a get together and to enjoy some good food. After seating us, the server started going over what they had run out of. Strange since it was five o’clock in the afternoon. Several items on the menu were not available. So we finally got our orders in when we were told that they only had rice for two of the dishes, so one took pasta instead, no big deal. Two of also ordered tomato bisque for starters. Big mistake, thick as grits. On the special of the day they had two T bone steaks left, so I ordered one of them with baked potato and vegetables. When the order arrived I was told that they didn’t have any baked potatoes so the “cook” just planted a big scoop of “mashed potatoes” on the plate with gravy from a can. Absolutely disgusting! I ordered the steak rare, it was medium. The two that had rice as a side, said the rice was al dente. In other words, another bad surprise. Our server, who was absolutely doing her best, got so frustrated she started crying. In the end she gave everyone 25 percent off. A nice thing to do, but where was the manager or owner? Who hired the clowns in the kitchen? This was our last visit to a place we...

We had a great experience at Big Bear Ellijay Bar & Grill! We called ahead on our way into town — it was a Saturday evening — and were pleasantly surprised to be able to make a reservation. We showed up a little early, walked right in, and were seated immediately with no wait.

The service was friendly, professional, and on point from the moment we walked in. Our food came out super fast, which was a nice bonus.

The blueberry margarita was absolutely heavenly — perfectly balanced and refreshing. We tried the wings, and they were crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and full of flavor. The Big Bear Salad was a standout with a great combination of fresh, bold flavors. The French onion soup was also delicious — rich, cheesy, and topped with perfectly crusty bread.

There was live music during our visit, which added a fun touch to the atmosphere without being too loud. Overall, it’s a great spot with excellent service, food, and vibes. We’ll definitely be back the next time we travel to Ellijay!

**apologies — I took pictures but not til after I dug into the...