Standard diner service. I've been here plenty of times with family. We've always been seated with little to no wait. Waiters/Waitresses are attentive to what you need. I've always gone for breakfast dishes. I like a restaurant that has fresh toppings (strawberries, blueberries, etc.) for pancakes and waffles, my son loves the chocolate chip pancakes. I've had good skillets in the past. There's decent parking availability, people are usually in and out. Restrooms are respectfully clean. Overall great experience everytime.

I went there for breakfast. When I tell you the customer service was amazing.Shout out to koula ,Laura and the big boss Tom. The place was spotless clean and the foods was delicious.It was my first time. I'm definitely coming back

This is my new favorite breakfast joint in the area. The menu is extensive! I mean you can get all kinds of crepes, waffles, pancakes, omelets etc. What I love: The ambiance- it feels like you’re in a cabin somewhere in the woods in the snow. There are bears everywhere. It’s just so darn cute! The people- the owner is there. I love that! He is sweet and walks around making sure everyone has what they need. He’s had this place for 30+ years if I remember correctly. The staff is really sweet and extremely attentive. The food- They have a machine at the front of the restaurant that squeezes fresh orange juice when you order it. The menu is insanely extensive for breakfast foods AND super tasty!! I ordered: ham and cheese crepe: This came packed with cheeses inside, and then a side of queso blanco as well as hollondaise to dunk bites into. My crepe was slightly sweet, which pleasantly surprised me as sweet and salty is my favorite combination. I hope that was intentional and not a mistake, because that’s how I want it every time. I chose the potato casserole as my side and wow! Cheesy goodness!!! I also added a side crepe- the lingonberry. This was also great. I love lingonberry because it’s not only sweet, but sour. This crepe tasted like it was cooked in a bit too much oil, but once I took it home, and reheated it, it was perfect. Something else I love, is they have mugs that you flip over once you sit down to let the waitstaff know you’d like coffee. They serve that, before anything else and as long as your mug is turned upright, they will keep coming around and refilling it. All of the waitstaff walk around with the pots of coffee, so there is no need to eat for your server. Truly and hidden gem! I can’t wait to come back

This was a carryout order & I should have known what I was getting into when I walked through the door. I'm very specific when it comes to food. I requested NO ONIONS in my food because I cannot eat raw or undercooked onions because I'll get sick. Unfortunately I got exactly what I didn't ask for, and spent almost 15 minutes picking them out of my omelette. The taste & smell were still present so I didn't enjoy it at all. I asked for well done hash browns & what I got looked like burnt food scraped from the skillet. They were inedible(pix). The pancakes were about as good as the ones you put in the microwave. Didn't taste fresh or homemade at all. The pictures they show are for aesthetic purposes only. My food didn't look or taste as good & I'm confused about all the 3,4 & 5 star reviews.

We like trying different restaurants, so we decided on the Golden Bear. My husband had cornbeef hash, hash Browns, wheat toast and a cup of coffee, I had 2 scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, 2 pancakes and a glass of orange juice. Service was good and the atmosphere was great. Food was delicious.

Wanted to try someplace new, my mouth wasn't overwhelmed with the flavor. However, I was impressed with the speed of my order. Restaurants need to provide more options for sugar free jellies. Sugar free syrup alone isn't enough.

The food was delicious and service was quick! I had the Mexico skillet and it was flavorful. Got the pancakes but wish I had the French Toast opyion, pancakes were too fluffy for me. My son said the hot chocolate was creamy and wanted to order a refill 🥴. He had just the French toast and devoured it! We will be back to see Tom

Great service and fantastic breakfast food. We will definitely be coming back! We got the Nutella and banana crepes, banana nut bread, and French toast.

WOW! I don’t even know where to begin with such a wonderful experience. First off we came in and were immediately greeted by the owner, Tom. He sat us and then our server Mirna took care of our table. From the beginning to end we had smiles on our faces and couldn’t stop talking about how great everything was. The coffee was delicious. The menu has SO many delicious items and you can tell they’re all made with not only high quality ingredients & skill, but with a feeling of love and comfort. The options and customization is endless! I ordered the fruity pebbles pancakes and they were SO fluffy, so warm, and stayed warm throughout the whole breakfast. Our server was kind, attentive, and the food was made and served so quick without feeling like it was rushed to be made. The presentation of all of our dishes were stunning. I dropped a little wallet in between the booths and the owner came over with a tool to retrieve it for me, and cracked some jokes to share some laughter! We ended up learning he is from Greece and we took a picture too! This little spot is what you’d maybe call a “hole in the wall” that provides everything you need for a good experience. The inside has this cabin like interior that is super cute and cozy. Overall 10000/10 recommend. I hope this place sticks around forever!!!!

The older man (maybe the owner Tom?) was nice until there was an issue. My party and I just wanted an itemized receipt and the man was so rude he lacks a customer service and friendly attitude. The food and server were decent but dealing with this man makes me not want to go back.

Food was good, service was substandard but the real kick in the teeth was on the bill. I have been to many places that charge an 18% gratuity for parties of 6 or more and I usually add to that when the service is good (by the way, there were five of us). On the bill they added a second tax (20%) on the total bill where the standard 10% tax has already been charged. I was going to leave a tip on the table like usual, but was curious about that "TAX". I was told it's because some people don't leave a tip. So now here I am being forced to pay a tip I didn't agree to but it was less than I was going to leave, for poor service that is probably why people don't leave a tip. Possibly illegal, definitely shady. I wonder what the servers take is and if the house takes a cut. Won't be back until this shady practice is stopped.

2 out of 3 experiences were good but after the last one will not be coming back here ever! The first 2 times the service and food was good. The last time service was absolutely horrible! We were seated quickly but put all the way in the back. It took about 30 min before anyone took our order. Finally did take our order and our food came out 30 min later, only for 2 of 4 hot meals to be cold. We had plans and needed to leave so we figured we'd take at least pay for the 2 meals that were warm. We went up to the front before we could get a receipt a we didn't want to wait any longer. They wanted to charge us for all the meals! Fortunately we had them just charge us for 2 meals and the coffees but honestly should have just walked out. The food is good but not good enough to ever go back.

What a great diner! The menu has everything you can want for breakfast and lunch. The coffee was pretty good, and the service was excellent. The prices were pretty good for what you got, and the decor was really fun. It did not take long to get my food and I was really pleased. It's worth going out of your way to come here.

I always love the quick tasty breakfast of a few scrambled eggs, fruit bowl, and of course pancakes. I don't eat meat anymore, so I don't always want a big omelette or skillet. Just a few scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese. Plus I don't always want to pay $20 for breakfast. This is my go to breakfast restaurant. Pancakes are always fluffy and the syrup is delicious. Prices are very reasonable. Even if I do decide on a veggie skillet, it's well worth the reasonable price. Always friendly staff and you feel welcome when you come here. Great breakfast eats at a price that won't stress your wallet.

Sweet place...sweet food...sweet service! I never would have chosen anything other than a savory crepe, but with some encouraging from the server, I took a chance and had wonderful, sweet crepes.

Food was good. One star for the terrible treatment. Anyone that goes out to eat goes for the convenience and to be treated nicely. I can make pancakes at home, I went to share with my family. For starters the soda was flat when I mentioned it the man rolled his eyes and took it back. At that point I didn't want anything. I asked for water. There were 5 of us. Not enough silverware we had to ask. But all of that I can live with. I understand no place is perfect especially on a Saturday. When we got the bill there were TWO taxes charged. I asked what the 2nd tax was that was 20%? I was told, with attitude, gratuity. I asked after how many people do you automatically Include gratuity? And do you have it posted anywhere like most places? I was told "on the ceiling" the old man gave me, a paying customer with a question , that smart response!! To make matters worse I paid with my debit card and he ask me in the pad what percentage did I want to tip??? Excuse me??? You just took %20 without notice and still have the nerve to ask me this??? So when I got upset he began to shoo me out the restaurant. Throwing me and my family out. A paying customer. I will NEVER go back to this place. I DON'T recommend it. Save your money for another place that appreciates their customers. Anywhere I stand I will speak on what this owner did. Some people should not be in the business.

Me and my daughter went out to eat Golden Bears and wow. It was amazing. The atmosphere is pretty nice. And the food is amazing, I recommend getting Cornbeef Hash and the Buttermilk Pancakes.

Very pleased with the Golden Bear in Lansing, IL. Breakfast was delicious and the prices good. The reason for only 4 stars is: no place to hang our overcoats. It's pretty tight when a party of four sits in a booth with their coats too!! Also, during the pandemic, safe-distancing was not followed on our visit. (We visited on 1/14/22.) We were seated right next to an occupied booth. Lastly, no diversity in the waitstaff - would be great to see people of color on the staff.

Plentiful portions with delicious food at great prices! Our waitress was very attentive and the food came out fast. The atmosphere helped tie everything together into an excellent experience. Definitely going to be a regular here from now on!

I have no idea why this place isn't bursting at the seams at lunchtime on a Tuesday. They have an extensive breakfast menu and a lunch sandwich menu. The bacon cheeseburger was really good and the fries were hot and crispy. The chicken and dumpling soup was really good too. Stop in ASAP!

Ordered the Santa Fe Chicken to go. They didn’t add my salsa or sour cream. The chicken was hard and dry. The skillet overall was dry. Hardly any cheese on the skillet. Ordered chicken and dumplings soup. The soup was bland in taste and not traditionally made. Instead of pancakes I got fruit. The only good thing was the fresh squeezed orange juice and fruit. I’m still trying to figure got my bill came to $35, but I will never know since the owner balled up and kept my receipt. I know for a fact the menu prices didn’t match what I was charged. I feel ripped off! Don’t go here.

The food was quite tasty. Waitress rendered Good service, restaurant was clean, however, upon first entering, not sure why owner wanted to seat my husband and I in a crowded small space. I requested to be seated in the huge dining area, which he complied.Otherwise, it was a pleasant visit.

Our family loves this place! Always a great welcoming place to have breakfast. The food comes out perfect and so fast. I can't say enough wonderful things about this small cozy diner. The waitresses are warm and accomodating. Always a great experience!

Very friendly staff, food was delicious! My sorors and I enjoyed it. It's a little darker than i thought, but good food and friendliness. Great combination! I will be back.

I'm not a breakfast person at all, so when I wake up on a Saturday morning and say "I really want to eat at Golden Bear today", you know it's good!! The service was great, selection is top notch and the food is so delicious. The freshly made mango smoothie was so refreshing, and chicken crepes were a definite hit. This breakfast spot made me crave and like breakfast! Our new spot for sure!

Myself & my family went in a hr before they closed. Pancakes were hard like they were microwaved. The waitress was acting weird when taking our order like she was on something. She added a meal & an extra drink to our order. My fiancé pancakes got wet by our 11month old so he needed new pancakes. When she brung out the extra order we told her what happened & she gave him the pancakes from the “extra” order & said it’s fine just keep it. The old man got upset because we told him what happened & said “he wish he would’ve known” she did that.Than charged us a 20% gratuity because he had to take off the extra meal & drink. He told us “it’s only $19” with an attitude, when we asked why this was added to our bill. Very rude. Ooh & it’s a $1 for adding cheese to your eggs even kids meals. Definitely a -1/10 TRASH resturant

Looking at it from the outside you would not believe it had a nice warm woodsy cabin feel on the inside. The steaks were cooked to perfection, the eggs were fluffy and moist, and the nutella crepes were amazing. It was our first visit today can't wait to return in the future. My only complaint would be the strawberry shake. It's more like strawberry milk with cream, almost like Nesquik. Needs to be a little thicker. Non the less it was pretty good. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone.

Server was very nice and food was good. Be CAREFUL with getting scammed when paying. It was my girl and I, ordered breakfast, coffee and milk. My tab $32. When I gave the older man my receipt at the register, he swapped it with another tables' order and was trying to charge me $42. (I pay close attention to my totals as I like to give cash as tip.) So I knew something was off and felt wrong for not tipping my 20%) I told him I thought my total was $32&change and not $42... he turned to his side and grabbed the ticket insisting that was my tab... I turned the stapled ticket to view the order and it was not it! He proceeded to grab another ticket he threw on the side of him and out of my view.. Take a Guess?? That was my ticket. He was mad, grumpy and unapologetic. TOTAL SCAMMER: It's only 10 bucks, no big deal, it's the bad intention that makes me upset! If you are the typical person who pays and goes, please pay attention. How many times has this happened without customers realizing? 🤔

The breakfast here was so good and reasonably priced. I loved dining here and the customer service was amazing.

Golden Bear was delicious! I wish we went there more often. I am sure we will be returning soon. A+ rating Update 9/10/22... More great food. Service was outstanding. Arrived a little bit after the lunch rush so no wait for a seat. Tried some crepes today. A good chance I will order them again in a future visit.

Totally disappointing… once arriving it was dark on uninviting, I was trying to give it a try due to other reviews that it was good. I tried location on Cicero . I ordered the taffy apple crapes which the apples were apple pie filling totally mushy. I spent 25.27 on crepes ham and coffee over priced.

I really love this spot!! But recently, the last two times I have been there.... the old man has over charge me. First time, it was a overcharge of two dollars. Second, time it was over three dollars. I let it slide but be on the lookout. I hate to give a bad review. They need a new cashier!! I love the service and they have delicious food!!

My significant other and myself love it for a nice breakfast together and its a great place to bring my kids. The wait staff is very competent. The pancakes are some of the best! Elegantly good crapes.

Stayed in town and wasn't feeling the hotel breakfast, so we jumped on Google maps and found this restaurant. This place is outstanding! I got a skillet, my wife got the "Goldilocks". Kids got their own versions of the Cub breakfast. Overall.... excellent! Delicious skillet with O/E eggs that oozed goodness all over. The hash browns were crisped up perfectly, french toast was toasty on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Perfectly cooked bacon and sausage. Coffee was yummy and the staff was super friendly. We were seated immediately and the service was on point! If we're ever in the area again, we would definitely eat here.

Second time visiting because despite the restaurant needing to do some very obvious deep cleaning, they had good service and amazing French toast. We noticed our server was sick immediately once seated. She had a mucus filled sniffle and coughed near her other tables. We left within the first 10 minutes of being sat especially since she was not wearing a mask. No thank you.

Nice place, have dined in before. I got the Papa Bear breakfast which was pancakes, sausage, bacon, and eggs. The food was good and served hot. I ordered a side of potatoes since they didn't come with that particular breakfast and they were good as well. Our server was Sheryl and she was absolutely great and very understanding. (Was just leaving Christ hospital; thank you Sheryl!) I'll definitely be back.

Everytime its so good here. Tried the chicken crepes and they were incredible.

Worth the trip , #therewillbebloodys #ubonsbloodymary #porkmafia

The service at this place will blow your mind. It’s so cute and clean in there. Jessica, our server, was so great and attentive. We had everything we needed. The customer service and the food was awesome ! I highly recommend this place to everyone. Get the potato casserole and cinnamon swirl French toast. Amazing !

The food was terrible. The pancakes were rubbery, the eggs were dry, the waitress was very nice and polite. The guy at the front was rude and inconsiderate. They seated the blacks on one side of the restaurant. I will not be coming back to this location. The only good thing was the coffee and the waitress.