The Bears Den — Restaurant in Macon

I drove here from Johns Creek around 11am to take my mom to the Medical Center for a procedure. I hadn’t eaten all day and I overheard one of the nurse instructors telling a student they were coming here for lunch. She said the food was beyond good. She said it was a soul food restaurant and I was like ok, bet! Fast forward to 5:30 pm and I finally get a chance to leave the hospital and found out it was 3 mins away. I pulled up to some male workers outside in back of the restaurant who were super nice. (Because the front parking was taken) I got inside and the young ladies inside were even nicer, very welcoming!! They showed that real southern hospitality. Service was very fast! I didn’t think it would be walking in because the line was out the door. Hunni these girls moved that line within a matter of minutes ‼️

I ordered 3 meals because I was gonna have something for my mom when she came outta surgery, not thinking that she wasn’t gonna be able to eat all this heavy stuff..so I enjoyed my dinner with her in mind. Lol The chicken was so tender, literally falling off the bone. I’m thinking ok looks good, but I bet it’s bland…..NOT‼️ The food was seasoned well, not overdone at all. Everything was very good and I was beyond satisfied with the quality of the food. Do y’all know how hard it is to find someone who actually knows how to make good cornbread?!? Everybody ain’t able hunni 😂 Lawdddd, I can’t wait to gonna back tomorrow before I take mama back home! You really get a bang for your buck with these meals….a whole filling meal with sides, cornbread, and a cold sweet tea for $12‼️ I honestly thought since it was so close to closing I would probably end up with the bottom of the barrel….wrong!! Food was stocked like they had just opened!! Mac n cheese is a must have, and so are the cornbread muffins. Places around Atlanta are much higher, so it felt good to be reminded that good food still exist in this inflation filled economy for the money. I’m beyond satisfied with the food and staff. I was disappointed all the peach cobbler and banana pudding had sold out, but that just lets me know it must be tht good. I’ll be back tomorrow before heading back home 😃

Oh, and don’t forget to tip these ladies!! Even tho the tip jar was full, I felt good to add to it. I believe in paying people worth the...

Bear's Den, like many college dining halls, serves a fundamental purpose: to feed a large student body with diverse needs and preferences, multiple times a day. It is with this understanding that I offer this review.

The Basics:

Variety: Bear's Den generally offers a reasonable variety of food options. There are usually stations for hot entrees, a salad bar, a sandwich station, and some form of dessert. Efforts are made to include vegetarian and vegan options, though consistency in this area can vary.

Quality: Food quality is, as expected, a mixed bag. Some dishes are well-prepared and flavorful, while others can be bland, overcooked, or otherwise unappetizing. The salad bar is usually a safe bet, and certain "comfort food" items tend to be reliable.

Atmosphere: The dining hall is a large, often crowded space. Seating can be challenging to find during peak hours. Noise levels are high, making it difficult to have quiet conversations. The general ambiance is functional rather than inviting.

Cleanliness: Cleanliness is generally adequate. Staff members work to keep tables and food service areas tidy, but the sheer volume of students makes it an ongoing challenge.

Areas for Improvement:

Consistency: The biggest issue is the inconsistency in food quality. Improving this would significantly enhance the dining experience.

Atmosphere: While it's unrealistic to expect a fine-dining experience, small improvements to the atmosphere, such as better lighting or more comfortable seating, could make a difference.

Communication: Clearer labeling of food items, especially regarding allergens and dietary restrictions, would be beneficial.

Overall:

Bear's Den fulfills its primary function of providing sustenance. It's a place of necessity rather than a culinary destination. Students will likely have a range of experiences, from satisfactory to disappointing. Management and staff face the difficult task of serving a large and demanding population, and while there is room for improvement, they generally succeed in providing the basics. For a college dining hall, it's within the range of what one...

I know it's difficult to be on your game everyday, but it seems like the concern to do that has somewhat exited the building at this location.

Good was the portion size, except when ordering a single vegetable portion to go, the it was maybe half of the size as on the plate, which is actually a Styrofoam to go container. The collard's were very good, as was the meatloaf and cornbread muffin. The lemonade would have been great, except it was too sweet.

The southern decor is done well and very nice.

Unfortunately, for our family on our first visit, that is where it ended. The fried chicken was dried out, but for 3pm, I suppose you could expect that. Okay, I can accept that. But, the rice and gravy... I have no idea how anyone could let that get on the line. Gravy out of a jar has a little taste. This literally had none, and to make it worse, the rice was about the same.

The chicken strips in the kids plate were about nugget size. Potato salad... It looked okay, but honestly, Publix out the cold deli is better. This is all we tried.

Very bummed that they were out of Mac and cheese, baked beans and one other item.

You should never get a 5 if your bathroom is dirty or worn out. If it's both and then the food is lacking, you're headed for a 3 or less. If I can see crud plastered on the door that I'm tempted to scrape off... I don't know if I'll be back. I do truly hope someone that still cares will see this and make sure a manager looks at the restroom before opening in the morning, because I do actually want you all to be a place to come back to. Yes, I cleaned the...