Black Bear Inn

Very friendly servers who were quick and attentive. The food was pretty good with a large selection of burgers, sandwiches and entrees, including pasta. When we were there they were very well decorated for Halloween. Pretty impressive. The cheese curds were very unique. They were cubes and tasty.

I'll be honest, it wasn't a perfect experience, but our bartender recognized there was an issue and brought it to her manager without us even saying anything. The manager apologized and reconciled the issue without hesitation. And when the food came, it was great! I look forward to giving it another chance!

Black Bear Inn In our quest to try a bunch of local restaurants near us, we ordered carryout from Black Bear Inn. The staff was super friendly over the phone and made ordering super easy. Upon pickup, the food was ready promptly at the time they advised. The atmosphere of the bar was pretty cool. The huge skeleton statue was awesome. The staff was friendly and helpful, even making sure to go over some specifics we had mentioned when ordering. The food was great overall! The burger was moist and tender. The cheese was melted to perfection. The bun had a gorgeous sheen to the top, looking freshly baked. One of my favorites was the mozarella sticks. They were super thick and stuffed with cheese. The breading was well seasoned, and they weren't the least bit greasy. They had a wonderful flavor and were definitely well worth it. The chicken strips were also delicious. The breading had a great taste, and the chicken inside was moist white meat. The seasoning was great and complimented the chicken well. My wife loved the chicken parmesan sandwich. The marinara tasted a homeade, which was a pleasant surprise. The chicken was super tender and juicy. The bun was great and added a nice softness to the crispy chicken. The fries were good but not crazy seasoned. If you like more potatoey fries, these are the ones for you. Nothing super special about them but a solid side. The chicken wild rice soup was thick and creamy. The chicken in it was tasty, and the soup itself had almost a gravy like consistency, which was super cozy and warming. Our toddler loved it as well! Overall, we will for sure be going back to Black Bear Inn and would recommend it to anyone in the Cottage Grove area! Until next time!

Having a seat at the Black Bear Inn instantly reminded me of the sort of diner and bar out in the black hills of South Dakota. It’s warm, inviting and cozy and draws you in both with the decor and hospitality. The service was prompt and polite and the food was pretty tasty as well. Definitely seemed like the kind of establishment with the regulars everyone knows on a weekday, but they don’t make you feel out of place at all if you’re new!

This place is such a great local gem. Ann provided us amazing dine in service. Everyone enjoyed their brunch and the bloody mary bar that is brought to the table. The local fish fry here is also very great! Thanks Black Bear and Ann!

I DO NOT recommend. The staff was friendly, including our waitress, but that’s about the only good thing I have to say. The meal was very overpriced, especially for the portion size. Two of us ordered the fish sandwich without a bun. The waitress said it would be the same thing as their “fish platter.” From the menu, I knew fries were an additional $3.99. I assumed the “fish platter” would include coleslaw, at the very least. It did not. There were two pieces of fish slightly larger than hush puppies (anoyt 2.5” in diameter, and yes, they were round), and a garnish for $9.99. Nothing else. The fish was okay-ish. The menu said to request pickle spears. I did, but didn’t get them. I Looked at my bill more closely when I got home and I was charged $4.99 for fries that were very over cooked and tasted of nothing but grease. The place was not not at all busy, but the wait time was VERY long. I left hungry, very dissatisfied, and very overcharged.

everything about this place was amazing. food was some of the best food I've had in a long time.. great service great experience!

Be sure to check your bill and ask questions. One person in our group asked if they could have a side salad in place of fries as their side choice. The waitress said, "Sure, or you could go to the salad bar." Her comment implied that the salad bar would not cost more than a side salad. As a result two others in our group opted to change their order. The waitress said nothing about a charge and when the bills arrived everyone was surprised to see they had each been charged $7.50 for a salad bar trip. In addition, the menu listed the fish sandwich as $9.50, but the bill charged us $10.45. Sauces also were separately charged and on the wrong bills.