Let's say you find yourself up in northern California and your stomach is growling something fierce - where do you go to grab a bite? How about the Black Bear Diner.
Now, I learned two things during my 23.5 hours in Redding:1. If it's summer and it's only 99 degrees at 2pm, it's considered "not so hot" (out-of-towners like me don't realize that the temps soar here during the "summer", but it's no desert.)
2. The Black Bear Diner will easily satisfy the appetite of even the largest mammal.
The menu is full of "comfort food" favorites: for breakfast there's omelettes & scambles, pancakes and waffles, steak and eggs, and 3 kinds of eggs benedict. For lunch and dinner the selections range from burgers (including Gardenburgers), hot sandwiches, meatloaf, pot roast, to salads, steaks, ribs, fish, chicken.
I had strawberry french toast for breakfast, which consisted of three oversized slices of hot french toast, slathered with fresh-cut berries (none of that ice cream topping stuff), and a continental divide of whipped cream bisecting the whole thing. I ordered a side of eggs for some protein, but I'd have been full without it.
Breakfast made such an impression, I drove back for a late lunch. This time I enjoyed the fried cod sandwich with Gilroy-style garlic fries and slaw. The sandwich consisted of two thick, batter-fried cod strips, a little melted cheddar, and a mess of "fixins" (tomato, pickle slice, red onion). The slaw was standard, but the garlic fries were outstanding. Not for the light-heartedly garlic tolerant. These things mean business. I smelled the garlic before the plate actually hit the table. Minced garlic all over the fries. There was even enough to spoon a little garlic into the sandwich.
Black Bear also offers some huge, delicious looking pies and cobblers, but after being so stuffed with the main course, there was no room for pie. Check them out on their website, though.
When in Redding (or near any of their other 36 locations) stop at the Black Bear. It's not the typical "greasy spoon", either. With 7-grain almond granola cakes (breakfast), Gardenburgers, salads, and an open invitation on their menu to substitute and mix n' match anything you want on the menu, just about everyone can find something to eat.
Be sure to pick up a souvenir for you or your little cubs from their Bear Store, too.
Black Bear Diner (Redding)
2605 Hilltop Dr.
Redding, CA 96002
(530) 221-7600
PS- Redding has the cutest little airport I've ever seen. This is it below. No, seriously - this is IT. One building. No jetways. Parking starts at $0.50. I love this place!
Welcome to Redding, CA. It may be 105 degrees, but you'll never have a long walk to your car.
3 comments:
Nice! Thanks for the recommendations. Can't wait to try them out.
I found you through the BlogRush widget on my blog. You should come and get one.
Great country, Redding. I live just a stone's throw away. I see some new recommendations here, of places I must hit.
Thanks.
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