Black Bear Diner offers comforts of home

Black Bear Diner is all about comfort.

From the homey cabin decor to the newspaper-styled menu (dubbed The Black Bear Gazette), it's no wonder Goldilocks preferred to hang out with the three bears.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, owners Bruce Dean and Bob Manley opened the first diner in Mt. Shasta, Calif., so people could enjoy "huge portions of home-style cooking in a comfortable atmosphere." Now with 68 locations, the duo added Henderson to the list in December 2014.

The diner serves a full menu all day, every day so you never have to miss out on simple-yet-delicious comfort food again. In addition to the traditional larger plates, the restaurant also offers "little less" versions for seniors or guests who prefer smaller portions. Most meals range from $7 to $15.

Breakfast meals include The GRIZZ! (two sweet cream pancakes, three eggs, two slices of bacon, two sausage links and a ham steak and your choice of potato) and the Bear Claw French Toast (fruit-filled or classic bear claw grilled in French toast batter and topped with powdered sugar and icing).

The lunch menu features the Parmesan sourdough cheeseburger (1/3-pound hamburger patty topped with Dijon mustard, Swiss cheese, tomato and grilled onion on sourdough bread with a Parmesan cheese crust) and The Gobbler sandwich (roasted turkey, avocado, tomato, mayonnaise and cranberry sauce).

Dinner dishes include Bigfoot Chicken Fried Steak covered in country gravy or the Bear's Triple Play (served with slow-cooked pork ribs, crispy deep-fried shrimp and half a smoked kielbasa-style sausage.)

The family-oriented restaurant also serves a cubs menu for children 11 or younger. Meals feature strawberry waffles, chocolate pancakes, chicken strips, fish and chips and more. Order a cubs' meal after 11 a.m. and receive a free cub's sundae.

So whether you're looking for something hot or cold, light or filling, sweet or savory, Black Bear Diner makes each meal just right.

The restaurant is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily at 2751 N. Green Valley Parkway. Call 725-333-6805 or visit blackbeardiner.com