Lunch Ladies: Black Bear Diner
The Lunch Ladies welcomed a new member to the team with a delicious meal at Black Bear Diner in Orem.
Janell joined the Lunch Ladies team with a visit to Black Bear Diner, where she ordered the California Burger with Onion Rings.
Jennette enjoyed her Chicken Caesar Sandwich at Black Bear Diner.
Gabby ordered Bruce's Meat Lover's Omelette at Black Bear Diner.
Change is sadly a part of life.
Jim Harbaugh left the 49ers. Spicy Corea closed down. Word on the street is Spencer Boldman won’t be a part of the new Lab Rats/Mighty Meds merge. The Spurs waived Jimmer. Adam Levine shaved his head. Most of us still haven’t gotten over DBSK’s split from a few years ago. And sadly, our good friends Sylvia and Shellie have decided to hang up their Lunch Ladies’ hats and join us in heart but not in pen from here on out.
Change is hard.
But not all change is bad. Some change should be celebrated in fact! Thankfully, Justin Timberlake became a solo artist about a decade ago. Jimmy Fallon became the host of “The Tonight Show.” There are going to be two LDS Church temples in Provo. Twenty One Pilots are getting more of the acclaim they deserve for their latest album, “Blurryface.” And many of us are still celebrating that Peyton Manning made the switch to the Broncos.
So, some change is definitely good.
Two recent changes that are definitely both noteworthy and exciting are the addition of Black Bear Diner to Utah County and the addition of our good friend Janell to the Lunch Ladies.
We’ll introduce you to Janell shortly, but first we’ll acquaint you with Black Bear Diner. It’s up on University Parkway in Orem, by the mall. This rustically decorated diner is part of a chain of franchised diners that have a reputation for comfort food in generous portions!
We were excited to check it out since we had heard a lot of great reviews from friends. So we gathered a particularly large group of friends and visiting family and headed to the restaurant.
Here is what the Lunch Ladies went with:
Janell: California Burger with Onion Rings — $9.99
My name is Janell Esplin; I am a new addition to the Lunch Ladies. As a way of introduction, I love to eat, “Doctor Who,” Real Salt Lake, and reading. All of those activities revolve around food, so I am very excited to go to lunch and then share that experience with you all. At the Black Bear Diner I ordered the California Burger with onion rings. When I go into a new restaurant one of the first things that I look for on a menu is a California burger or sandwich. This is not because I am from California, but these items always have avocado or guacamole. Avocado always makes a sandwich or hamburger better in my book. This was the case with my burger this time as well. My burger was freshly made, juicy and delicious. The onion rings on the side were a good size, crispy and great with ketchup. Having lunch with friends made this a highlight of my week. Thanks, Ladies, for letting me be part of the team. I look forward to being a part of your group and going to lunch with ya’ll.
Jennette: Chicken Caesar Sandwich — $10.49
I was very happy that we chose to go to Black Bear Diner today; I needed comfort food! That is exactly the way I would describe the food at this new restaurant in Orem. My parents have been raving about the food here because they stop at the one in St. George on their way to Arizona. I now know what I was missing. The food was delicious and with large enough portions to satisfy even my teenage niece and nephew that got to tag along. From the many menu items, I decided to try the Chicken Caesar Sandwich. It was delicious. The Parmesan chicken was served on thick cut sourdough bread that was grilled golden brown with Parmesan cheese crust. The sandwich included Swiss cheese, romaine lettuce, tomato and Caesar dressing. The only sad thing for me today was I had to have water since they only serve Pepsi products.
Gabby: Bruce’s Meat Lover’s Omelette — $10.49 (Fresh Fruit+$0.99)
There were so many tempting options on the menu, that it was rather difficult to make my final decision. However, I decided I was in the mood for a hearty breakfast option. The omelette I chose had three types of meat: ham, bacon and diced link sausage. The sausage definitely stole the show with its strong flavor and crisp texture. There was also jack cheese inside this three-egg omelette, rounding out the abundance of protein and flavors. This dish was also served with a choice of a side. I was torn between the country red potatoes and strip-cut hash browns, but in the end I opted for the promise of crispy hash browns. They definitely delivered and were delicious! I rounded out my meal with a little fresh fruit; it only seemed right since I had gone with a “Meat Lover’s” option. It was a tasty, filling meal, and I wasn’t ashamed to take half home with me for later.
Well, we had a great lunch! We sent Shellie and Sylvia off with a fond farewell, and a full hearty meal. In fact, all of our party relished their abundant dishes. We enjoyed this new lunch spot, and were glad to welcome both Black Bear Diner and Janell to the world of the Lunch Ladies!
– Black Bear Diner: 771 E. University Parkway, Orem. Open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.