Black Bear Diner Tempe — Restaurant in Tempe

My husband saw an advertisement for the Black Bear Diner and suggested that we check out their biscuits and gravy. We arrived there a little after 10 AM and were seated immediately at the counter (we're counter people). We both ordered "Bear's Choice" (we selected 2 eggs, 2 biscuits & gravy, 2 slices thick-cut smoked bacon). We both ordered our eggs over medium and were very specific about the need for the whites to be completely firm, but the yolks runny (this is how medium eggs are supposed to be). We also ordered an extra side of gravy.

It wasn't long before our food was brought out. It looked wonderful, and the portions were HUGE. We checked our eggs, and to our dismay, the whites were still liquid and runny. The server said they would correct the eggs and took the plates away. A short while later, our plates were returned with correctly cooked eggs, so we settled in to enjoy.

I was doing fine with the eggs and the bacon, when I tried a fork full of the biscuit covered in gravy. There was absolutely no flavor at all to the gravy - I mean AT ALL. We tried adding salt and pepper, but it was useless. We waited for a good while for our server to check back with us, but finally gave up and decided to go eat elsewhere. The experience was ruined - the gravy was what the dish was about. We went to the front and got in line to request and pay our check (our server never brought it).

When we were trying to pay, there was difficulty with the credit card reader, so the manager came over to take care of us. As she was about to run the card, she smiled pleasantly and asked how everything was... We shared our thoughts about the meal and I asked if anyone bothered to taste the gravy that day and mentioned that they might have some quality control issues. She listened, seemed genuinely concerned, and was very apologetic about our experience. She then indicated that she could not let us pay for the food. My husband and I both objected but she gave my husband his credit card back and would not take it again. She indicated that she was going to go to the kitchen to taste the gravy herself since clearly something was out of order. She just asked that we return to try dining there in the future.

In retrospect, I appreciate the manager's attention, and handling of the situation, but the eggs, and then in addition the gravy ruined our entire visit - and we had driven well beyond our zip code just to eat there. We may return in the future, and if we do, I sincerely hope that I can write a revised review. Our experience was in June and I hesitated to publish this review torn between how bad the food and service were, and how the well manager handled...

Maybe we were just visited on an unlucky day with our two babies (9 month old and 1.5 year old). We were greeted by a kind hostess who showed us to our seats. Unfortunately after a few minutes we realize no one was going to offer a booster or high chair for our babies to join us at the table. We were forced to find one ourselves. Personally this wasn’t a big deal as they usually Cater to an older crowd and it may have slipped their mind that families with babies need high chairs or booster seats.

The greatest reason for my review is the server and the food for today. For starters we orders the soup of the day. Forgive my ignorance but I was under the impression that soup of the day meant the kitchen made this soup fresh for the day. Unfortunately, we received a cold chicken tortilla soup. When we brought this to the attention of the server we were informed that the soup is pre processed so the chicken didn’t need to be heated up to the 165. I was shocked but decided to just move on. When ordering a scramble the menu states to choose a side then choose your omelette or scramble. After choosing my side I then inform the server I would like the scramBOWL. I was then informed the side I choose (hash brown) must replace the red potatoes. However that is not what the menu states. So I choose to substitute as required by my server. I was excited to try the European butter blend that was stated to be served with the English muffin. When my food arrived I found that the hashbrowns were not a good substitute for the red potatoes because there was more crust than potatoes and the English muffin was served with just regular butter. When I asked the server about the European butter she pretended it didn’t exist and said multiple times the butter I received was the only butter. I then showed her on the menu where it states European butter blend and that’s when she remembered that they do actually have that butter but it would require her to spread the butter before bringing it to the table.

The only reason I am not leaving 1 star is because the manager stepped in and recognized the issues we were having. We truly appreciate any individual and company that is willing to take feedback and improve.

I do hope to give them another try one day. We all have bad days and hope this was just one of them for the Black Bear...

I used to be a cook here and decided to return after not coming here for 4 years. So I was excited for the atmosphere and quality food but our server was absolutely awful. Didn’t offer me flavored creamers then never brought any after I asked so I had to walk to the front to get some. We never were offered any refills and there was little to no ice in the iced tea. We were only given 3 silverware sets for 4 guests. Never given a chance to ask for more napkins butter or syrup after the food came. The kids meal came out to the table well after everything else, but every plate already had an issue. Potatoes were not to spec (no peppers and undercooked) ,pancakes leathery from sitting so long, gravy had cooled and coagulated over the biscuits, grits were cold and lumpy.. the kids volcano was supposed to have scrambled w cheese but it was just shredded cheese thrown over the entire plate pancakes and all. When I mentioned the poached eggs being overcooked, the server reached across the table and GRABBED the over poached eggs from my plate WITH HIS BARE HANDS!!! When I brought the issue up with a manager, they decided to try negotiating my bill. How about 20% off? How about $20 off? (Trying to get me to pay the majority of my bill) SIR WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH EVERY PLATE and only picked at the food. We would’ve left if we could get someone’s attention. I almost asked him to go look at the table because the plates all still looked full. We ended up paying like 20 bucks after eating a couple of leathery pancakes and a couple of sausage links. I wanted a banana cream pie so bad (it’s my birthday and I’m pregnant) but there were none in the display case so I assumed they didn’t have any. The Bathrooms were clean, the biscuits were cooked perfectly, and my one cup of coffee and orange juice was good and that’s it. Manager kindly brought me a coffee refill Togo with no creamers after mentioning the issue with not being...