Black Bear Diner Ventura — Restaurant in Ventura

Firstly, I have never heard of the “Black Bear Diner” before visiting the establishment. When I found out that a popular Diner-Style restaurant (that was new to this area) was about to open in Ventura, my Fiancée and I had to check it out. We frequently go out for breakfast, Eggs n’ Things being our go to spot, and this sounded like a place that could end up being a new regular for us. It came highly recommended from our friends up in Northern California, so we decided to give it a try. Our first visit was a pleasant one. Our server greeted us and asked if it was our first time. After we explained it was our first time, the server was nice enough to explain how the restaurant works and that the food portions are a bit larger than your typical breakfast joint. I guess that explains the “Black Bear” in the title. Now, for us, quantity doesn’t always mean quality. A lot of times, the quality of food is sacrificed just to maintain a larger size. That being said, we decided to try some typical American breakfast items. We got, eggs, bacon, pancakes and has browns. My dish included the Chicken fried steak with White Gravy. The food really does come in large portions, but the quality isn't necessarily sacrificed.. We enjoyed the food very much. My daughter and I really liked the Cake-Batter Pancakes. They really are delicious and it’s something we really haven’t tried before. Just as it sounds, it really does taste like a pancake made out of cake batter. Simply delicious. We highly recommend the pancakes. Just one pancake can be enough to enjoy between two adults. Just to make sure the quality of the food was consistent, we decided to go again a week or so later. My fiancée ordered breakfast, but since it was about brunch time, I decided to get a burger. I wanted the biggest burger they had. I asked our server and he explained that their "Bob's Big Burger" was already a pretty big burger, but they also have a burger that is not on the menu that they can make. Sort of like a secret menu item. He explained it was called “The Big Daddy.” It was similar to the “Bob’s big Bear Burger” which already has a 10oz patty, but “The Big Daddy” comes with two 10oz patties and a cooked egg. I decided to order it and when it came out, I was surprised by the gigantic size of burger. It truly was a beast. The burger was delicious, and it will satisfy anyone’s appetite. If you have a Bear-Size appetite, order “The Big Daddy” and you won’t be disappointed. To conclude, the Black Bear Diner really is a nice addition to the already vast restaurant options in Ventura and I really do recommend everyone to give it a try. The service, the food and the fun atmosphere gave us a pleasant experience. We will...

Black bear diner is honestly my least favorite place to go in Ventura, which is a shame because Carrows used to be one of our favorite places to go, not to mention the black bear diner in Vegas made it seem like the chain was really good. Unfortunately, after multiple visits it has proved a regular run of the mill diner who doesn’t actually care for customers and completely lacks the low key hometown warm service that Pierpont used to be known for. And it’s no surprise. We met the owner during one of our visits and talk about a humorless man with a serious nature about him. You would think otherwise since he’s in the food industry, but he acts more like a corporate owner with no interest in building a relationship with local consumers. We asked him about possibly reserving a table for my grandpas birthday and you’d have thought we asked to borrow his car it was such a foreign concept. This last visit though pushed my mom and I over the edge. We wanted to show an out of town friend a good time and they wanted to try BBD despite our warnings. After being seated in the very back corner booth where the table next to us might as well have been sitting at the same table, we waited 20, yes 20 minutes before our waitress even looked at us. And whether it was from the crowded table or lack of customer service, she merely leaned over to tell me she would be with us “in a few minutes”, and proceeded to serve, refill and check out all the tables around us. Funny too because a young pale group sat down at a table a few rows from us and she had no problem jumping in to get them situated and drinks ordered. I don’t know if there’s ANY training for these people but it’s lacking in so many ways. We left after another 10 minutes of being ignored to go to another diner, known and respected and homey, where we got drinks and serviced almost immediately after sitting down. Busy or not there is a certain way to do diner business and BBD completely lacks the quality and service to maintain loyal returning customers. The freeway location is the only thing saving this place from closing down because it obviously gets one and done out of towners driving through who they will never have to service again or build a repertoire with. Ask any respectable local and they will never recommend you this place. Also read some of the lower reviews. One in particular makes me laugh. They praise this location but only give a one star review. Whether it was a mistake or done in irony, owner responds to have it amended because they take their reviews seriously, yet I see no effort to resolve any of the low rate reviews with actual complaints and issues. I’d personally give it...

I have been a loyal patron of Black Bear Diner since it opened nearby, and I can confidently say that this establishment just keeps getting better. From the consistently excellent service to the delicious food, every visit is a pleasure.

One of the standout features for me is their commitment to customer satisfaction. I truly appreciate how they bring me a fresh bottomless iced tea before I even finish my first one—such a classy touch! The portions here are large and always served hot, which is a big plus. The dining area is pleasantly air-conditioned, and for those who prefer a more relaxed atmosphere, they also have a spacious shaded patio. Additionally, there is a special events room available for local organizations, which is great for community gatherings.

Convenience is another strong point of this diner. There’s ample parking, clean bathrooms, and it’s right by a gas station and Vons Grocery Store. Plus, getting on and off the 101 freeway couldn’t be easier.

Now, for the food recommendations—I highly suggest trying the Cobb salad with spicy crispy chicken topped with blue cheese dressing. Be sure to ask for the salad tossed with the spicy chicken on top for the best experience. And for breakfast? You can’t go wrong with any option, but definitely consider starting with the hot Italian sausage patty as an appetizer.

I can assure you that after dining here, you’ll leave feeling like you truly got your money's worth....