I probably pop into the Bear once a month. I have watched it change over the years, and it has not changed for the better. I'm giving this place 3 stars because it is as average as can be. Fiddlesticks (up the road) is cheaper and has more character.
The waitstaff is hit or miss. At times, one of the girls who has been a mainstay at the bar for years appears to be drunk and/or high. As such, she screws up orders and forgets things. A couple of the other girls are fairly competent. Gary - the night bartender - is cool. Most of the girls who work there reek of cigarettes, and a few of the regulars like to smoke out front, their smoke and raspy, emphysemic laughs hanging in the air.
The building is still fairly new, so you won't find wood paneling (like you'll find at Fiddlesticks). The ceiling is high and there's lots of glass, so it doesn't feel so closed in. There are TVs everywhere. The beer selection is meh. The food is what you'd expect for a neighborhood bar. I often gravitate towards their Grizzly Bear or the jalapeno poppers. I wish fries came with the burgers. Their burgers are pretty juicy and flavorful as far as neighborhood bars go.
My friend claims that the place smells like urine. I haven't noticed it, but the bathroom smells terrible. The chairs are all too close together between the tables. During the winter it gets pretty chilly inside, so you'll want to sit as far away from the doors as possible (thanks again, smokers).
My husband and I live within walking distance of this bar so out of convenience we walk there all the time. Basically, the only good thing this place has going for itself is the bartender Gary. If he's not working or you can't sit at the bar you might as well leave. We went there tonight and were served by "shayla"... We waited for 10 min and were never served on. I had to ask for a server and both waitresses acted as if it was an inconvenience. We ordered food (sub par but its bar food so whatever), when we got our order we had to ask for silverware and "shayla" was so offended by this that after waiting on a few more tables finally brought us our silverware but literally slammed it on the table. She never asked us how our food was... We had to stop her to ask her for everything we needed. I love Gary but the waitresses there SUCK. Also, would it be too much to ask for some local Colorado beers on tap? And what is that smell?!?!
Review Source:T-Bear is a solid 3 star, A-OK watering hole/burger joint. The beer selection is mostly macro, but the prices are good. The waitresses get the job done and check on you regularly. Their burgers - at least the one I had, though I've been here 4 times - was fantastic. Big, juicy, cooked as ordered, and served quickly. It's impressive how quickly this place fills up, and how packed it is at 3:30 - 4 p.m.
Review Source:Went here while not being able to find another restaurant my girlfriend couldn't find with her smart phone. Looked nice from the outside, but the food was just shy of horrible. We were served green chili that had the cook even smelled just a little, would have never left the kitchen. I knew we were in trouble when we ordered the burgers and not asked "how would you like those cooked" ...neediness to say, the burgers were dry like the sands of time and it just was a bad experience.
Will not return.
I went to the Thirsty Bear last night to eat, drink a few beers and watch a basketball game. Â There were eight people at one end of the bar in front of ONE of the TWO TVs. Â Six of us did not want to watch the entire NFL draft and if we had to we would like to have listened to some music. Â However the bar tender would not change the channel because these two old fat blanks who had only ordered a beer and a glass of wine were "regulars" and wanted to watch the draft. Â Two of the six of us had been there for an hour prior to these two slobs showing up and had purchased several drinks and dinner. Â I bought a beer and ordered wings. Â When I found out the bartender was not going to change the channel I got my wings to go and left. Â I've been in there several times. Â I buy a few beers some wings and a burger. Â I can't believe the bartender would not change the channel because of these two fat slobs that I've never seen there.
Review Source:A very "in" place... if you are part of the "in" crowd. Â If you are not, don't bother coming in. Â I've been here a few times, and it is as if you are bothering the staff by daring to come in and not be good friends with a staff member. Â Last time I came here, the bartender was too busy chatting it up with three heavily drunk guys to even notice me for about 10 minutes. Â When I caught her attention and waved her down, she rolled her eyes, came over, and said "what do you want?", not in a "hey there, welcome, what can I get you?" way, but an obvious "WTF are you doing interrupting my conversation?" way. Â I was thirsty and waiting for a friend to get off work, so I ordered a beer. Â A draft beer. Â A single draft beer somehow takes 10 minutes to find a glass, find the right tap, and pour. Â It is NOT rocket science, hell, it isn't even 4th grade science. Â Whatever. Â I drank my beer and another, then had to leave. Â I hate carrying cash most times, and the bartender acted as if running a credit card was the most strenuous and impossible task known to mankind. Â You know what? Â I won't be back. Â If you are seriously trying to run a bar and keep it open (especially in a nicer neighborhood without many bars) and you have snotty staff like this, you might as well ready yourself for bankruptcy. Â Avoid unless you like being treated like an a-hole for spending money.
Review Source:Fun place for a change of pace over our usual watering hole. Â Typical bar food menu that is done well. Â Wing drumettes are huge. Â Decent happy hour prices. Â Friendly enough staff and a very nice patio for an up close foothills experience - the only downside being that it is next to Kipling and it can get noisy from the traffic. Â I think they also need a TV outside to watch games from the patio.
Review Source:This is our local watering hole, of which there are not many in our neighborhood. Â They have a pretty decent selection of beers on tap, and their prices are pretty good. Â The food is good, not great but right about what you would expect for the price. Â Wings were meaty and tasty, salads are good sized and fresh, and you will find a pretty good bar burger here.
Waitstaff is friendly and somewhat hit or miss. Â We've had excellent servers, and some who seemed a bit clueless and slow. Â But overall a pretty good time there. Â Atmosphere is fun, with a nice mixed crowd. Â Lots of TVs to catch up on your sports events, NASCAR, football, baseball, hoops, they pretty much cover it all. Â Worth a visit if you're in the area, but not really worth going too far out of your way for.
"It is what it is" Â a local bar with minimal food service.
Beer is good - no problems.
Burger was good - I only had a plain cheeseburger.
Onion rings were just like you buy at the store. Â So a least they were hot, done and not greasy.
Plenty of TV's - yes a little noisy - not real packed on a friday night though.
Bummer. I am buying a home and this place is right by it. Unfortunately I would be better off wasting gas driving further for another bar.
The bar is small but with tall ceilings. Makes for a sound amplifier inside the brightly lit bar signed walls. Taking a quick look at the bar, I notice a VAST assortment of vodkas. Having opened restaurants myself, seeing this unnecessary quantity of different brand flavored and unflavored vodka tells me their bar manager (if they have one), is being manipulated and taken by the liquor vendor, or they just have no clue how to negotiate with the vendor. Â Skyy, Svedka, 3 olives, finlandia, Stoli. And those are just the flavored vodkas! Goose, Chopin, Belvedere, ketel, and many many more. Â The beer was okay. Â Pretty flat which tells me they may have skimped on the draft system.
Now let's get to the reason why they get to 2 stars. If your sign out front says bar and GRILL, you better have something other than frozen fried bar food and smashed unseasoned burgers. The food tasted like I had bought a frozen food bag from the 99 cent store. Except I was charged 6.99 for it. The fried mushrooms were greasy and obviously sourced out from the cheapest vendor. The "Cajun" "crawfish" were laughable at best. Â Charging 7 dollars for frozen boxed fried mushrooms is a disgrace to the word grill. I would rather pay 7 dollars to not eat this food again.
Like I said. Bummer. This place was close and had the makings of a good local bar. You are better off getting liquor next door and hitting the frozen food isle. Â It will most likely taste better and at least it will be cheaper.
The bathrooms are disgusting so let's move on. The booze is always good and the service is friendly. This place is really hit or miss from a food standpoint. A few burgers/sandwiches we had were not the greatest as the breads were very dry. This place charges almost a buck for condiments on a hotdog and they don't even use Vienna Beef franks. OMG that is not a Chicago hotdog as advertised. But overall the place is clean (public areas), service is good, easy parking with open lighting and atmosphere. We've had some poor service on sundays but all the other days things were fine (slow bartender that talks too much and is just annoying) so we just find another place on sundays.
Review Source:Best Gyro in town!! This is the only place I know where I can get a classic gyro. The meat is thick and a full cut, instead of tiny pieces. They also have some really great appetizers like their quesadilla and southwest egg rolls! The service is very friendly and you never have to wait for a seat, although I only go for lunch.
Review Source:This was our neighborhood haunt for the six months I had to live in Lakewood which really doesn't have much in the way of great spots to eat! Â This little jewel is tucked away in one of the few NEW places in Lakewood near Kipling and Hampden. Â It's the perfect spot to watch the game, there are always regulars there and our favorite two waitresses .. Amy and Amy were great about always keeping your glasses full and the food comes out hot. Â We were fans of the burgers/fries/rings, nacho's are HUGE and we often ordered the half order, they gyros are really good there too and the drink prices and happy hour are very good prices. Â
It also has a great outdoor seating area  with wonderful sunset mountain views. Â
Go check it out!
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