The Black Bear Diner Dining Review

The Black Bear Diner
By Cowgirl Connoisseur Dining Review

There once was a time when you went to a diner for a meal and found good solid nutritious food in hearty portions and as delicious as Mom’s cooking. Not many of those places survive in the modern fast paced world.

If you yearn for a diner of yesteryear, mosey into The Black Bear Diner. They have two locations in north Glendale at 6039 W. Bell Rd., Glendale, AZ 85306, (602) 843-1921 and in Phoenix, at 2410 W. Bell Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85023, (602) 298-2671. The franchise, out of Mt. Shasta, California, says they have 35 Diners and are still growing! Other Arizona locations include Bullhead City, Goodyear, and Lake Havasu City.
Their menu is an old-time newspaper with stories about local events in the past. On my last visit I enjoyed the California Scramble $7.69 for breakfast. It’s scrambled eggs with avocado, spinach, tomato, onion, and jack cheese. It came with potatoes (your choice of hash browns or diced) and bread (your choice of toast or biscuit). The waitress asked about how you liked everything cooked – regular or crispy. The biscuit was the biggest fluffiest most delicious I’ve ever eaten. And the eggs were fabulous!
Others in my party had the Ham and Eggs $7.69 with pancakes, Hungry Man Steak and Eggs $9.99 and another had the Pancakes Mama Bear stack $4.69. Everyone had too much to eat and couldn’t finish their plates. Servings are extra generous and delicious.
The menus for lunch and dinner are both so extensive and economically priced, you are sure to find what you like. Lunch menu sandwiches are generally about $7.99 and dinner averages about $11.99. A large Senior Menu is mostly about $7.99 for dinners.
Their menu notes they have been trans fat free at all locations fo the last 3 years. Their menu says good old fashioned comfort food. And everything on the menu looks very comforting to me!
The décor includes extra large deep booths and tables where you won’t feel cramped even if your hubby is a double X. And there are stuffed bears everywhere to compliment the pine and rough wood trim. Two giant sleeping bears in the reception area are said to wake up and hug patrons on occasion. It’s a family friendly very comfortable place. Jason and his staff did a good job to make us all feel welcome and happy to return.
They have a website at www.blackbeardiner.com with a gift shop.

Longhorn Saloon and Grill

What were you doing on Friday night May 30th? If you were not at the Longhorn Saloon and Grill, then whatever you were doing you were doing it in the wrong place. The Longhorn Saloon and Grill is the new "In" place in the West Valley. It is family owned and operated withfive star roots that reach into some of the best New York restaurants. Maybe even one or two highlighted in the long running television series and just released movie.

Chef Charles Steppe and his brother Chris opened their restaurant the first part of this year but on the 30th they held a ribbon cutting to celebrate their becoming members of the Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce one of the fasts growing chambers in the West Valley. Chris and Charles and their mother Nancy Tuatagaloa welcomed David Lewis President/CEO of the Surprise Chamber along with a large number of Chamber members, and Youngtown Mayor Michael LeVault and Councilmember Dorena Mello and several other Councilmembers to the Longhorn. Three generations of the family Chris, Nancy and Shay (the chef's daughter) took part in the ribbon cutting. Charles was busy in the kitchen preparing the feast for their guests. Included in this were hamburger and pulled pork sliders, fried mushrooms, chicken croquettes, pigs-in-a-blank, stuffed pasta and fruit, all in large quantities, no one left hungry. If you missed the events of the 30th including Emil Flaim the pianist/singer who entertained everyone throughout the evening, you can enjoy the Longhorn for lunch and dinner throughout the week in their sports bar, lounge or dinning room.

The Longhorn Saloon and Grill is located at 13232 N. 111th Ave., just South of Grand in Youngtown. For all who have no idea of where Youngtown is, the town of just over 6,000 is located on the Agua Fria River in the West Valley, South of Grand Ave., and just West of Sun City. Nearby attractions include the Bradshaw Mountains, Lake Pleasant Regional Park and the University of Phoenix Stadium. Youngtown still enjoys the tranquil, small town feel while providing residents with five parks, its own police force, a library, clubhouse, a lake, beautiful sunsets and wildlife. The town is a vibrant mix of young singles, families, professionals, blue collar and retirees, and is close to all the great shopping, entertainment, art and work locations in the West Valley. The next time your looking for a great meal in a relaxed atmosphere just head over to the Longhorn Saloon and Grill, it's worth the gas. If you would like information on their live entertainment, specials or just need directions call 623-933-6023.

Photo:
On the left in the cowboy hat is the well known Arizona Dude who partook in the celebration at the invitation of Panorama Hills Monthly. On the right in the suite is David Lewis President/CEO of the Surprise Chamber. And in the center cutting the ribbon is Nancy with her son Chris and her granddaughter Shay.