Really bad service! Â
Got there about lunch time on a Saturday. Â We walked in and there were only a few tables in what seemed to be the main dining area. Â They were taken, so we went near the stage where live music was being played. Â It was mellow; just a guy with his guitar. Â The problem is, nobody ever came to bring menus, take a drink order, nothing. Â 10 minutes, we figured maybe they just don't serve that area. Â Went back to the main dining area and found a table had opened up. Â
Then things started moving. Â Got a menu, drinks, and then placed our order. Â The food took a little longer than average, but not so long as to be considered unreasonable.
After we were brought our food, our waitress never checked on us again. Â Not to offer a second drink, not to check if everything was ok, not even to bring the check! Â We had to request our check 4 times! Â Our baskets were cleared and still no check. Â When I asked for our check on the 4th time our waitress asked if we knew who our server was! Â They are disorganized, inattentive, slow, and disrespectful of people's time. Â
The food was ok. Â Although, I should point out that when ordering "fish and chips", the "chips" should be what we call french fries, instead of something that is more like kettle chips.
The Little Bear is an Evergreen staple... That being said, I'm not a huge fan.
I've gone several times, mostly on week days, and the things that stand out the most are:
The insane cover charges for mediocre bands
The bras on the wall
The decent drinks
The neat old cash register
The tourists
This is not a "local" hang out and for the most part, you'll find all kinds of tourists here... Which is great, beef up the mountain economy, but with the tourists comes the insane covers...
I tend to shy away from this bar on most nights (if I go out) and go to the more friendly, cheaper bar right down the street (Cactus Jacks).
If you like the smell of STALE beer and P*SS, this hole is for you! Used to be a very popular place....but is quite overrated. Summers? This place is a "I'm a BIG BIKER GUY, LOOK AT ME!" hangout for day-tripping doofi who bought a Harley, and are now instantly "bad". All the "rugged individualists" dressed the same, in their stupid chaps and "doo" rags. Grown men should NOT wear DOO RAGS, OK? But most of these idiots are trying to cover their bald heads...I understand. I enjoy this place more in the winter, since I live in Evergreen, when p*ssies from Denver are afraid to drive up Bear Creek Canyon...a notorious Jeffco Sheriff hangout. Do NOT speed on this road, esp. after dark, kiddies, thank me later. Cover charge is always usurious (look it up, dummy) and the service is indeed non-existent. The food used to be passable, but this place is a hole, plain and simple- a DUMP. Oh- the Bear DOES win the award for the MOST DISGUSTING MEN'S ROOM IN THE ROCKIES/FOOTHILLS. It always smells horribly PISSY, and is a just a giant trough where you can hang your hog and try not to gag on the stench. So, if you like bad service and the overpowering smell of old beer and PISS, this sheeyot-hole is for YOU!
Review Source:Used to come here all the time. But now, every time I come the service SUCKS! My order is always wrong so my boyfriend refuses to eat his meal until they bring mine back out corrected.
And right now I'm being tortured listening to some new band they've brought in from Idaho Springs - the lead singer (female) must be friends with someone who works here!!! It's really awful!!
Not the place it used to be :(
The Little Bear is the place to be! If it's 1970 or if you were kickin it there in 1970.
It's where the tourists go. It's what people ask about when they hear you are from Evergreen. For me and my friends, it's just mostly done. That said, I don't hate it. But meh, I can skip the cover and/or enjoy good--and better--music elsewhere.
Sorry, but that's just how it is. In my experience, the under-30s crowd goes there for class reunions of sorts when they are home for the holidays. That's really the only time I've been there, and I'll admit that there was some good dancin to be had--so they get an A-OK from me.
Servers? Â We don't need no stinkin' servers. Â Yet it looks like at least 2 people have that job. Â
Very enjoyable old rock music. Â Very cool atmosphere. Â Would bring out of town guests for rustic mountain atmosphere.
Did not like that there is a cover charge to get in to see bands.
The husband and I stopped in at the Little Bear today after a hike on Three Sisters trail. I was hoping to see the bra I left there 30 years ago. The bra is not there but the Little Bear is still bringing them in. I think my bloody Mary was one of the best I have ever had; there was no fancy buffet on a pick, no fancy vodka, no fancy glass but it kicked my butt with great flavor and lots of vodka, it went well with my classic Little Bear burger. The husband had a green chili strip on his burger; his fries were really good and my Cole slaw was OK. Service was fine and if we would have hung for a few more hours, we could have stayed for the 5:00 happy hour live band. We are enjoying a lot of the hangouts of our youth sans the smoke, the Little Bear is a classic.
Review Source:Years ago, when I first lived in CO, I would only ever come up to Evergreen to catch a show at The Little Bear and it was always great and always packed. Now 15 years and 4 cities later I am back in Colorado and living within walking distance to The Little Bear. What happened? It's the same 4 or 5 bands in rotation and it is usually nearly empty. It is really sad what this landmark has become. In a town with SOOOO much music The Little Bear could be so much more.
Review Source:Saw Opie AGAIN ! Was a nice way to end an era/relationship. The band is missing their bass player...Windall...which is sad. The food this night was fantastic ! The crowd was small, but everyone wanted the food because the man in the kitchen rocked ! Â I don't know when I will be back, but I will always treasure my "Little Bear" memories. :)
Review Source:Midday, I found the kitchen exceptionally slow and the slacker-dude ski bum waiter truly annoying. My burger was exactly average. Nothing special,nothing bad. Reasonably decent. It took me an hour and ten minutes to get and eat my lunch. Way too long at 2pm on a Thursday.
BUT, the building itself, old and dark, built with massive wood beams you can no longer find, is definately worth a visit. Up stairs is a catacomb-like balcony of old wood timbers and three pool tables.
Its a classic rocky mountain building that should be seen.
My husband and I stopped in for a beer and to listen to some live music. The server got us a drink right away but never checked back in until we flagged her down to pay. They serve beer in disposable, plastic cups. We got a pitcher of Blue Moon for $9.75 so reasonable pricing. I would have probably giving it another star due to the atmosphere if the server had ever come back to ask if we wanted another drink. Guess if you want something going to the bartender is the way to get it.
The atmosphere here is really neat. There is a melting pot of patrons, bikers, hikers, and everything in between. The bar is wood and seems like every surface is written on or carved into. There are bras hanging from the ceiling around the stage. There are license plates all over and for some reason one dollar bills stapled to the walls, which I was going to ask our server about but since she never came back opted out. It was about 3 in the afternoon so the band that was playing was not a headliner so there was no cover to get in.
I would classify this as a dive bar with live music. I wouldn't necessarily eat here as the tables are dirty as is pretty much every other surface you look at. Luckily we had just eaten at the winery/deli across the street so we were not  hungry and therefore I cannot comment on the food.
If I was in the area again I would stop in to listen to the bands and have  a beer but wouldn't go out of my way to return here.
I have never been treated more rudely than I was at this establishment. The waitress who resembles Marla from 'League of Their Own' was a complete and utter b****. I will never return and recommend the winery across the street or the Mexican place down the block. One star is too many.
Review Source:DON'T come here for the food!! We went driving around today and initially were going to go to Cactus Jacks, but they had an after wedding party there so it was pretty packed. So, we decided to walk down the street to see what else was around.
My bf mentioned The Little Bear was right down the street, so we went in. Definitely a 'bar' scene and not a pub type atmosphere. However, we went upstairs and sat on the porch and watched the cars and people go by. That wasn't bad.
What was bad was the service!! Took forever for the waitress to come get our drink order and then to bring it to us was forever! We finally placed our order, my burger was to be medium well and my bf's medium. My daughter had the 10" pizza. A loooooooong time later our food arrived.
My fries = pretty disgusting. They were cold and my burger was well done.
My bf onion rings = dry, dry, dry... burnt even.
My bf burger = BURNT! He asked for medium...this means a little pink in the middle. It was literally black as the Ace of Spades burnt!
My daughter's pizza = eh, ok. However, the crust was gross - her words.
The waitress never offered us any condiments to go with our burgers and fries. My daughter's cup was empty for the longest time. She ate her whole meal without a refill.
Definitely won't go here again.
If you're there for a stellar dining experience, someone led you astray. Them thar mtn folk are tricksters, muwahaha. Buffalo steak night isn't bad though.
The Bear's an institution, and don't touch that dust! Show respect. Have a whiskey or beer, listen to the bands, and grab some grub to wash your drink down with. Most importantly, get some perspective & relax. There, wud'n that better?
I rated it five stars because for what it is, yes, it's as good as it gets.
It's a dilapidated, run-down derelict mess of a place where the urinal looks like a horse-trough and there's garbage on the tables and the beer is served in plastic cups. The food is more accurately described as "grub" or "vittles". It's good enough. Applebee's is in Lakewood. Baker Street Pub in Bel Mar is almost as good a pick-up joint, but will have the low-fat faux-cuisine entrees and precision voca-school service that some here obviously treasure. The charm of the Bear is that they just don't give a &$^*, and really, neither should you.
I have heard bands there that electrified the crowd. I'm not even talking national names: just local Denver bands that entertained beyond anything I've seen in larger live concerts with "name" bands. The beer and drinks kept flowing, bugers fries and pizzas were served, people danced. Some hooked up and went home. Some stayed and closed down the place, then hooked up and went home.
It's a brilliant place that constitutes a life passage for many, and for that reason it is as good as it gets. After all, everyone knows about the Bear.
2 1/2 stars.
Yes, it's a "quaint" mountain bar that has live music, but does that mean it's okay to never, ever, ever clean the place?
I went for lunch with the BF and boy was I happy that I wasn't hungry. Just looking at the floors made me itchy. There were pieces of cheese, tortillas and all sorts of food crumbs in every little nook I saw-- and there are a lot of nooks. Really, there was food stuck in the name carvings on the tables. The floor looked as if it hadn't been mopped in decades.
The burger he got tasted good, and the fries were okay even though they were a little overcooked. They have good fountain coke if that's what you're into (I am).
Next time I want to sit in a filthy bar I'll just sneak a flask into Waffle House and call it a day.
I really would like to give a better review, but could not find any especial. I stopped by for lunch after hiking in the area. I have a buffalo burger  which was Ok. The fries not crispy at all.
I had been there before to enjoy a few drinks and some music. Personally, it is was a better experience that time hanging out with friends.
This review may have gotten 4 stars if the fries lived up to their name- crispy fries. They were soggy. But the burger was 4 star. I enjoyed the patty melt burger that came on thick rye bread that didn't fall apart and had tons of awesome sauteed onions and Swiss cheese. I would go back for the burger if I were in the area.
FYI- if you don't like country music, like myself, this might not be your seen. AND if you don't like seeing or HEARING kids in a bar, then this is definitely not your scene either.
Seems like everyone knows The Little Bear. I was visiting friends in the area and they suggested getting a drink at their local saloon down on Evergreen's tiny main street. Little did I know their saloon was so well known.
You walk into The Little Bear and it looks like a barn - if your barn was covered in roadsigns, carved graffiti and bras of every size and color! They have live music almost every night which is what they are known for. Last Wednesday for a $4 cover we saw Nathan McEuen, the son of John from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. He was great - amazing guitar, great vocals, and a faux horn section he kind of hummed out himself. Being a Wednesday there were only about 30 people there making it a really intimate performance. Nathan even started coming up with theme music for some folks in the audience for every time they got up from their chairs.
The beers were good and reasonably priced. Service was fine. The atmosphere was great. Apparently The Bear gets pretty busy on the weekends with the crowd filling the whole downstairs as well as the second floor balcony. The locals said it gets hard to talk in there on the weekends, but the music is always great.
So I leave thinking what a great local saloon. As I traveled around CO over the next week, it seemed like everyone in CO knows The Little Bear and its great reputation for live music. I was feeling pretty lucky to be introduced to it and I'm definitely going to make it a stop on any future visits.
The Little Bear is one of two places in the Denver area that when you mention you are going there, the response is always "Ohh, The Little Bear!" Â The other is the Bucksnort, also in the mountains outside Denver.
The food here is marginal - basic bar food. Â The bar is fully stocked and there is a wide variety of beer. Â The decor is mountain funky, and the stage is decorated with a wide assortment of bras.
The most amazing thing about this place is the musical talent it attracts. Â They have some of the best bands in town on any given night, but you need to come early - there can't be more than a hundred seats in the whole place.
In a phrase, this place is the "BOMB DOT COM"! Â
My friends and I went there in the middle of the afternoon on a warm Saturday only to be greeted by great local music and fabulous service. Â This place is a must when in Evergreen. Â The atmosphere was inviting and welcoming despite the array of bikers stopping in for a beer and a bite to eat.
Our waitress recommended the Homemade Buffalo Chili and offered us each a tasting. Â It was phenomenal... so we naturally had to get a bowl with tortillas. Â I went with the "Tourist" Burger and made sure to get their special home made fries and was pleasantly surprised by the flavor, but have to admit, I couldn't finish it. Â The patty was HUGE!
This place defines the term "dive bar" with a twist. Â They have the best bands from anywhere and everywhere playing here all the time. Â This is one of the best places to watch a live show, within mere feet of the stage. Â One of the best party atmospheres anywhere. Â Located in downtown Evergreen, in the foot hills of the Rocky Mountains.....this is a true mountain town circa the times of the gold and silver rush of the 1800's. Â To describe this place is nearly impossible. Â If you find yourself in the Denver area, visit the Little Bear on a Friday or Saturday night.
Oh, the food's pretty darn good too.
We live in Evergreen and just LOVE the "Bear"....the bands are great. Â The food is bar food but most go for the bands and beer. Â I even have a bra hanging above the stage. Â The service stinks most of the time, but who cares...right?? Â Some nights you can get a whiff of Bourbon Street, the morning after. Â HA!!! Â If you haven't stopped by the Bear, you should because it's a wonderful piece of history.
Review Source:Great place to see a show... acoustics are surprisingly good for such a small venue. Will often just drop in when I'm in town just to experience the vibe of the place..They could use some help in the drinky department. I've waited for 10 or 15 minutes trying to get the bar tender to even give me a passing glance...
Review Source:I like the bouncers at the Little Bear but I've never had a good bartender there. I was blatantly ignored by the girl the last time and even though she saw me standing there for 5 minutes, she helped another lady who walked up well after me. They weren't busy either. Plus their pool tables are in really bad shape and there is always a cover charge. Not worth it in my opinion.
Review Source:I have been coming to The Little Bear for nearly a decade. It is a part of my Colorado history that I love and have made memories here that I cherish. It is just plain ol' fun.
I am very much a biker chick. I have never ever been to The Little Bear without being on the back of a Harley. These two things together are simply the way the world should be. Freedom and hospitality. It is easy to be happy here.
It's kinda dark and smells of old beer and possibly old men drinking beer but this matters not. The staff is salty and fun and the drinks well ..(lets just say there was a time it was suggested I be bungeed to the bike on our way back down the hill, so I didn't fall right off. But that's a story for another day) they are strong and the beers are cold. The food is pretty good, considering where you are and the tables may or may not be clean. This is just what I'd expect from a mountainside biker bar. If this bothers you , you have no business here whatsoever. The potties are very very small and not necessarily ummm... sanitary? But again if you can't stomach this well then a biker you are not and a lightweight you may be.
The live music has NEVER disappointed me. Not once. If by some grace of God you can catch a performance by Jakarta here ... DO IT, DO IT, DO IT. They are insane, ridiculous and phenomenal. The dance floor here is smallish so be prepared to dance up close and personal with strangers, but to me this just means more fun.
Be careful on your way back home so you can come back up again. I love The Little Bear so very much! So when should we all yelp up there together???
This is definitely my kind of place! This is a bar/music venue with TONS of character. Very rustic. The bar top has been carved into by whomever was last sitting there. You can smell stale beer. There are bras lining the walls, along with historical memorabilia. There are signed headshots of the musicians that have played there. And the drinks are plenty strong! I always feel right at home at a good biker bar...
We strolled in here on a Saturday afternoon, shortly after having lunch down the street. There were two guys on stage, playing acoustic guitar, and singing original tunes. We walked up to the bar, grabbed a stool, and chilled out for a while.
I saw some of the musicians they host, and it is quite impressive! Â I can't wait to go back and see an artist that I have on my iPod. Very cool place!
I do like this place, but mainly because of where it is, the music they have, and it's fun when crowded. Â The food is just normal bar food, nothing to write home about. Â
I was there tonight with some friends that had never been. Â I had talked the place up, but when we entered, there were several tables with garbage on them, plates, cups, food, etc. Â We had to clean our own table to sit down and watch the band. Â No one ever came to clean anything, so for the time we were there, we sat among filth. Â
I hate to say this because I used to love the Bear, but I think it's going downhill. Â They just don't seem to care about appearance anymore. Â It's not what it used to be, which disappoints me.
The 3 stars I gave are mainly based on my memory of the place, and would probably give 2 stars if this visit were my only impression of the place.
Low lit biker dive bar is well mentioned whenever mountain road trips come to conversation. Â Seated at a booth, I entertained myself with all the carving done by pen or by pocket knife. Â There's advertising for live music on different nights of the week. Â This is an excellent stop when visiting this neck of the wilderness.
What to order? Â Burger boy, get me a burger. Â My buffalo burger was quite tasty and the fries delish. Â Wash it down with a beer and you have yourself a well rounded meal.
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