This place gets 1 star only due to the kindness of the server and her patience. The place has been around forever so I don't expect it to look new what I do expect though is it to be clean. It's not remotely clean, it's less clean than a hotel room where 10 drunk teenagers stayed for 30 days without ever cleaning.
The benches, sticky, like my hand stuck to them, the bathroom, the door was the first indication and it was insanely sticky as if it hadn't been wiped down in a year, not a figure of speech. The bathroom looks like a set from an episode of SVU where they found a body. Standing water in the bathroom, bathroom floor cracked all the way though, zero paper towels and if you walk out the bathroom don't look into the kitchen to the right, it's the stuff of nightmares.
Now to food, half our order was wrong, the server though was fantastic and was quick to fix / help with everything. She was kind, great with kids, super pleasant and is the best thing here.
Food quality was bad, really really bad. Some of my favorite places are small, local BBQ places (like manny or dons in Yucca or 29). The food was caked in oil / butter, meat was sparse and incredibly fatty, potato salad was runny, like tip the container over and it just ran out runny.
Avoid, seriously, go anywhere else. Unfortunate as I was hoping this place would be a gem but after digging it was just a dirt clod.
Meal type
Lunch
Food: 1
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 1
This is hands down my favorite restaurant and BURGER in Big Bear! Cash only, in an effort to keep prices low, and boy are the prices a steal! Their specialties are burgers and sandwiches, and they have fantastic homemade sides including potato salad, macaroni salad, and a balsamic coleslaw. You can get beer / wine for ~$3/4 per glass, and pitchers offered as well!
It’s family owned and run, the waitress & cook are the owners, I believe! It does have limited indoor seating, but they turn over tables quickly, and there’s lots of room for outdoor seating in summer / if you have your warn gear on in the winter.
The building is old, and the seating is picnic table style, so there is some aging. The decor is hilarious vintage Big Bear in the best of ways, a legitimate version of what an Applebee’s tries for. Families welcome.
To combat an early review on the cleanliness… 1. I’ve been here many times and I was not aware they even severed French fries? Never mind how “greasy” they are. Also, you’re mad that food that had been deep fried is greasy? Hmm… 2. I’ve seen into this kitchen many times (anyone can from the dining room) and while it’s not aesthetically pretty, it’s clean. I’ve worked in many kitchens, and it meets the standards.
3. A bathroom is not a kitchen. They don’t cook in the bathroom. Complaint noted, but did you tell the staff or just troll about it on the internet?
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$1–10
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Recommended dishes
Macaroni Salad
Great pastrami! Wonderful atmosphere! Will definitely be back!
Service
Take out
Price per person
$1–10
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Sandwiches
Holy Hotdogs! I had a beef dip and went back to try a bacon cheeseburger. The beef dip was good and the burger was one of the best I’ve ever had! Good grilled cheese too. Cash only is a bit inconvenient but the food is great!
Service
Take out
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
