Running Bear Pancake House — Restaurant in West Yellowstone

I’ve never done a 1 star review but had to post this so maybe someone else wouldn’t have a bad experience like we did. The service was non-existent. They use a pager system but seated other groups that arrived after us (same party size). We had to go in to check on our status after watching group after group get seated, and then the host told us “oh you’re next”. I think he screwed up our pager but didn’t acknowledge that or apologize. I get that mistakes happen but own up to it. Waitress approached our table with “what are you having?” No “hello”, no “would you like some coffee?” (Is it too much to expect a greeting?) Ordered Papa Bear (biscuit was dry, gravy was cold, bacon was good), Meatloaf substituted pancakes (meatloaf was dry, eggs over cooked), Kids #1, and the cinnamon roll (my son loved it but I thought it was heavy on the cinnamon). They also charge 3% for credit card transactions and had added that to the bill before we even paid (what if we paid in cash?). I didn’t see this disclosed on the menu but this is common in West Yellowstone. Very disappointed in our experience here and would hope that no one else has to waste...

Interestingly enough, I did not eat any pancakes at the Running Bear pancake house. We visited this location twice during our stay in West Yellowstone mostly because of the amazing blueberry muffins that we discovered here. The muffins were lousy with blueberries. More blueberries than you could ever ask for. The muffin is served with butter and comes to the table super warm to melt the butter. The staff is friendly and makes sure that your cup of coffee stays full while you sit and have your breakfast. Just don’t sit too long, they will ask you to leave. (thus the 4 star review). The food was good, nothing overly special besides those blueberry muffins. They offer other types of muffins, but blueberry is my favorite and why I visited for a 2nd time. The location is cute and homey with street and off street parking. They serve breakfast and lunch. The other thing I found interesting about this little gem is that they offer a box lunch. You can come in for breakfast or just for the boxed lunch, have them pack up a sandwich box lunch for you to take on the road as you head into the park. I will utilize this extra offer next time...

During our week-long adventure in Yellowstone, we always make it a point to seek out local eateries, and the Running Bear Pancake House definitely caught our eye. Located in West Yellowstone, it seemed like the perfect place to fuel up for a day of exploring.

We decided to split the towering Triple Stack of pancakes as a side, and the generously portioned Grizzly Bear chicken. The original syrup that accompanied the pancakes was indeed very tasty – a classic done right! Both plates were substantial and left us feeling full.

Our little one, Bellamy, certainly enjoyed his share too!

The Snickers hot chocolate was a treat as well, adding a bit of sweetness to our breakfast. While the food arrived promptly, we did experience a slight delay in getting our drink refills. However, the overall speed of the food service was impressive.

Based on the hearty portions, delicious food, and cozy local atmosphere, we'd definitely recommend the Running Bear Pancake House for a satisfying breakfast while visiting Yellowstone. Just be prepared for potentially slightly slower drink service...