Bear Pit Bar-b-que Restaurant
Business Information
Restaurants, Caterers, Foods-carry OutCarry Out
Top Sentiments among Bear Pit Bar-b-que Restaurant Reviewers
Excellent barbeque restaurants
Yummy steak sandwich
Excellent garlic bread
Best beef ribs
Best barbeque beans
Great iced pickle bowls
Great tastes
Best lamb garlic toast sandwich
Like sweet barbeque sauce
Best roast beef sandwich
Customer Reviews (45 reviews)
octobass
on Citysearch Apr 13, 2009After driving past this place for 30+ years, thought I'd give it a shot. After all, the parking lot's nearly always full. It must be very good. Well, it's not good. Actually it's horrific. I picked up take-out (... (more)
hamiller
on Citysearch Mar 19, 2009The only HUGE portion you get is a piece of garlic powder toast, other than that the chicken and ribs I had today were tasteless, and dry to brittle dry if there is such thing. I started to wonder if I ordered ribs or beef... (more)
Citysearch User
on Citysearch Aug 15, 2008This restaurant has been around forever. They are reasonably priced and the atmosphere is very layed back & casual. My family loves their bar-b-que sauce! It's great for lunch or dinner & is easy access from the... (more)
sillyshell
on Citysearch Jun 25, 2008Best BBQ in town. Great friendly atmosphere. It's hard to find a great place with sawdust on the floor. My family has been going since the day I could walk....over 35 years. The Bear Pit Special on Garlic toast is the... (more)
marlamoomoo
on Citysearch Jun 12, 2008when i first walked in i was surprised to see sawdust on the ground, thats just a litlle bit to weird for me. didnt seem hygenic to me. our server was nice but seemed very rushed. i ate the kodak which is ay-okay... (more)
jazzyjeff41
on Citysearch Jun 11, 2008I have been going to the Bear Pit BBQ Restaurant for over 35 years. This restaurant is a Landmark. My favorite is the BBQ beef, pork or ham served on garlic toast with BBQ beans and Cole Slaw. This is a must try. all the food... (more)
Contributor
on Citysearch May 13, 2008Who says things don't get better with age? Since 1954, slow-cooked, Missouri-style barbecue and famed garlic toast have been the hallmarks of this sawdust-floored family restaurant.... (more)
mustjazz
on Citysearch Mar 25, 2008I've been coming here since my college days 30 years ago. It is as good now as it always was. The BBQ sandwiches on their ultimate garlic bread is heavenly. Worth risking a heartattack over!!! The sauce is smokey,... (more)
Katherine794
on Citysearch Feb 11, 2008I STARTED GOING TO THE BEAR PIT 40 YEARS AGO WITH MY DAD, AND NOW I TAKE MY KIDS AND GRANDKIDS, I LIVE 50 MILES AWAY BUT WE WILL MAKE THE DRIVE TO EAT, HAVE TO HAVE BBQ SANDWITCH ON GARLIC CHEESE TOAST, AND THE BEEF RIBS ARE... (more)
lenahanson
on Citysearch Aug 24, 2007tonight i was craving bbq. i searched for bbq places in my area and the bear pit was not only the closest, but had really great ratings...so we took a chance. it was so yummy! we can't wait to go back! at first you think "oh... (more)
310valleygirl
on Citysearch Jun 24, 2007i hate the fact that this place is so far into the valley. as if it couldn't get any further, it's at the tip of the 405. nonetheless, the drive is well worth it. this place is finger-licken good. they remind me of that... (more)
Citysearch User
on Citysearch Feb 11, 2007Its appalling to see & feel that a place like this exists here in S.F.Valley. Our family recently dined here and was treated very rudely as if a Latin family didn't belong in a Missouri style restaurant. Its funny we... (more)
whynotsoup
on Citysearch Jun 21, 2006This is a place that if you go enough, they'll remember you. The floor is covered in sawdust and the appetizer is pickles, carrots, and celery. Don't go here if you're a vegetarian! It is a meat haven. Ribs, chicken,... (more)
foodtasters
on Citysearch May 16, 2006The portions are HUGE, tastes great, and at a good price. Not large selection of dishes, but the quality makes up for it. They make thier own garlic toast, that you want everything to be served with.... (more)
jbtats
on Citysearch May 14, 2006I have tried many BBQ places before and after the bear pit, but I just keep going back to them. The food is great, the price very reasonable. Even if the parking lot is full, I have never waited very long to be seated. The... (more)
jaecruz
on Citysearch Apr 23, 2006This is arguably one of the best places for bbq in the valley. The portions are huge, the sides are excellent, and the service is outstanding. The menu is extensive with different combinations to suit your taste.... (more)
bmu15
on Citysearch Oct 01, 2005I've been going to the bear pit for years and now my wife and children probably go about once a month. I've never left hungry and the quality is always good. Those that complain might've received something less than... (more)
importinsider
on Citysearch Sep 09, 2005Bear statue's, bear murals, bear logo'd bbq sauce bottles, and sawdust! If thats all it took to make a restaurant great, than this place would be bearriffic. Unfortunately, this place is the opposite of being... (more)
kellikins
on Citysearch Aug 19, 2005To all the people that wrote bad reviews about this place...its because you ordered the wrong thing. I have been going there since I was a kid and all I have ever had is the bbq beef on garlic toast. Its their specialty.... (more)
uclagirl
on Citysearch Jul 28, 2005My husband and I stumbled across The Bear Pit when we missed the interchange and exited the freeway. I said, "It looks horrible, which means it might just be fantastic." Not everything was fantastic, but we both were... (more)
gtrman100
on Citysearch Jul 09, 2005I've been going to the Bear Pit for many years and have always really enjoyed it. I like my barbecue milder- I don't like getting my mouth burned with hot sauce. I love the turkey and pork sandwiches on their awesome... (more)
foxhound870
on Citysearch Jun 13, 2005I went to bear pit last week and never going back again the Beef ribs was tough and burned. the sauce was not hot parking lot was full (more)
amohempour
on Citysearch May 16, 2005In their TV commercial they show a guy and his wife and the guy is eating the "kodiak" and they make it sound like it's a lot of food. I took my girlfriend there, and I ordered the Kodiak and she ordered the steak sandwich.... (more)
mrbbqlover
on Citysearch Nov 23, 2004What a great place. I got the Taster's Treat and what a lot of food. It was so much food I couldn't finish. Taster's Treat comes with pork ribs, beef ribs, sliced beef, sliced pork, and two pieces of your choice of white or... (more)
gmailer
on Citysearch Nov 11, 2004The roast beef sandwich is the best I have ever had. Make sure you order it with the garlic toast. The regular BBQ sauce herereally makes the sandwich great. They currently do not offer a spicy though, which would be... (more)
ditzypoohjean
on Citysearch Jul 13, 2004My boyfriend and I stopped into bear pit 2 weeks ago and I don't know if they were just having an off night or what but the ribs we has were terrible! The rest of the food was excellent but the ribs were crispy, tough, and WAY... (more)
lawthersd
on Citysearch Jun 30, 2004I have been going to the Bear Pit since I was a baby (obviously my parents took me). I no longer live in the area but I always have to go to the Bear Pit at least once when I am in town and we have taken alot of our friends there,... (more)
brteeyes01
on Citysearch Jun 13, 2004I have to say that while I am a native californian, I have lived and eaten BBQ in the South and in Texas(San Antonio, Houston and Dallas) So for all the people from TX that know what BBQ is, I have had worse BBQ in TX. I would... (more)
crystae
on Citysearch Jul 22, 2003I have been eating at the Bear Pit since I was 5. The ambiance is laid back, with sawdust on the floor and bear-themed murals on the walls. Cold vegetables and ice water greet you at the table. Easily the best sandwich on... (more)
caltoad
on Citysearch May 18, 2003I've been going to the bear pit for over forty years. It was always considered a family treat to drive out to the place. The food has always been good. I prefer their chicken dinner the best, my husband likes the... (more)
grogmaitlando
on Citysearch Feb 03, 2003The Bear Pit has been a favorite of mine for over thirty years, it is always one of my first stops when in the northern SF Valley. During those thirty years+ I've eaten BBQ in TX, MO, KS and all over the south. None of them... (more)
leftyson024
on Citysearch Jan 31, 2003It doesn't matter if your from Texas or wherever, BBQ is a matter of taste. The Bear Pit is Missouri style BBQ, and has been there for over 45 years. You can't get a table during dinner especially on weekends. Its crowded... (more)
mikecot
on Citysearch Jan 12, 2003I have been twice and both times I found the meat totaly without flavor, once you remove the sauce. Sauce is everything or else you might as well eat the box the ribs came ion (more)
neldacruz
on Citysearch Jan 12, 2003I come from South Texas where REAL bar-b-que is the best. I was so disappointed in the tastless meat, both chicken and ribs. I couldn't believe it. The only salvage of this restaurant is the sauce. They put mounds of it... (more)
dragbike13
on Citysearch Jan 08, 2003This place has the best beef ribs I have ever had at a restaurant very tasty, they also have a great sandwich called the bear pit speacial with ham and roast beef on cheese toast ummmmm! you can dine inside or on the patio... (more)
kenag
on Citysearch Dec 24, 2002Great service! Servers work hard to please their customers. Have not had a service problem in 15 years(ever). I love the Hot Links plate and wife swears on the BBQ pork sandwich on garlic bread (excellent)!... (more)
jbatesball
on Citysearch Nov 22, 2002The sauce is all that you need. I like the food, I like the lokk, but the sauce. Grrrrrrreat! The Old Fashioned is excellent but the NEW Fashioned is perfect. If you like a sweet BBQ sauce you have to try this one!... (more)
m_smith
on Citysearch Oct 21, 2002The food here is OK at best. The portions are small for the price, which turns out to be OK as the food seemed dry to us. Service OK, restaurant average, dated decor. Area is also a bit sketchy. Bottom line, there are... (more)
npcoach
on Citysearch Oct 20, 2002One of L.A.'s most overrated bar-b-ques. It might have been good at one time - though don't know for sure because I have only been there four or five times in the last 15 years. And it has never been any good. Second rate... (more)
unkralphie
on Citysearch Sep 18, 2002a few friends and i decided to try it out,what a disappointment ,we all ordered the sampler plate with chicken,ribs and sliced beef , the meat was dry and the ribs had no flavor at all , ( shouldn't good ribs have some... (more)