Black Bear Diner

[barrettd]

They are taking the former Mimi's space at 3015 W. Memorial.

Breakfast continues to be on fire in N. OKC.

I didn't even realize Mimi's was gone.

[stile99]

I didn't even realize Mimi's was gone.

This is exactly the reason I keep saying the Memorial Corridor isn't the hot spot so many people desperately want to think it is. The reason you keep hearing about restaurants going in there is because restaurants keep dying there, with the usual reaction being "Huh...didn't even know X had closed". I have absolutely no insight why this is, just something I've observed, but I do know if I were considering putting a business in there I would research it a little more thoroughly. If places are closing without people even realizing it, is traffic not as high as people believe?

[Pete]

^

There is a lot of turnover in these big, chain-style restaurants in general and in OKC, there are more on Memorial than anywhere. The Tulsa Mimi's closed as well and that company doesn't seem to be doing very well.

However, several of those places on that Memorial corridor seem to thrive: Carino's, BJ's, Chili's, Twin Peaks, etc.

[barrettd]

This is exactly the reason I keep saying the Memorial Corridor isn't the hot spot so many people desperately want to think it is. The reason you keep hearing about restaurants going in there is because restaurants keep dying there, with the usual reaction being "Huh...didn't even know X had closed". I have absolutely no insight why this is, just something I've observed, but I do know if I were considering putting a business in there I would research it a little more thoroughly. If places are closing without people even realizing it, is traffic not as high as people believe?

Funny thing is, I drive that stretch of Memorial a few times a week, too. I guess I just assumed Mimi's was established enough to be there forever. Yet, Red Lobster and Olive Garden survive.

I actually really like Rock 'N Brews, but I'm not a regular enough guest to any of those places on Memorial that I'd care if they closed. Most that I've tried are either average quality and/or overpriced.

[SoonerScot]

My son took me to the one in Colorado Springs when the wife and I went to visit him last fall. the food was really good and you got a ton of it. I happy to see the one in MWC open, but since I live in Piedmont it wasn't a place I would to go. So, I am glad to see one open up on Memorial.

[Roger S]

My son took me to the one in Colorado Springs when the wife and I went to visit him last fall. the food was really good and you got a ton of it. I happy to see the one in MWC open, but since I live in Piedmont it wasn't a place I would to go. So, I am glad to see one open up on Memorial.

Yeah portions are huge... It was the only meal I ate the day I tried it.

[Pete]

The old Mimi's spot:

[okcwonder]

Sad to see Mimi's Cafe go. We were in MWC for some business and ate at Black Bear Diner MWC. Had the big bear country fried steak and we liked it. But MWC is a far drive. Can't wait for this location on Memorial to open.

[Mantison]

Went to the MWC location last night, and I was prepared to be pretty critical of yet another "diner" chain. I must admit, it was impressive. Had the Tri-Tip plate, and the meat was really good, seasoned well, the brown gravy on the potatoes was on point, and the green beans were outstanding. Portions are clearly "friendly" as I was stuffed. Impressive outfit. If you are a value hunter and like good food, I would say check it out.

[Pete]

^

Thanks for the review!

[SOONER8693]

Went to the MWC location last night, and I was prepared to be pretty critical of yet another "diner" chain. I must admit, it was impressive. Had the Tri-Tip plate, and the meat was really good, seasoned well, the brown gravy on the potatoes was on point, and the green beans were outstanding. Portions are clearly "friendly" as I was stuffed. Impressive outfit. If you are a value hunter and like good food, I would say check it out.

Totally agree.

[Rover]

This is exactly the reason I keep saying the Memorial Corridor isn't the hot spot so many people desperately want to think it is. The reason you keep hearing about restaurants going in there is because restaurants keep dying there, with the usual reaction being "Huh...didn't even know X had closed". I have absolutely no insight why this is, just something I've observed, but I do know if I were considering putting a business in there I would research it a little more thoroughly. If places are closing without people even realizing it, is traffic not as high as people believe?

Restaurant bus in the area is thriving. There is a huge number of restaurants, so of course some will fail. Mimis is failing all over the country because of the chain, not their location. I know many on here love to hate the north part of the city, but it is a huge restaurant, retail and entertainment market with lots of high density residential, even if it is lin the style some here don’t like.

[Pete]

They are now open at 3501 W. Memorial, the old Mimi's Cafe near Quail Springs.

[John1744]

Ate at the MWC place a week ago. Had the 4 meat omelette and hash browns, and a side of biscuit and gravy. Normally omelette's on their own can't quite fill me up. I made a huge mistake here. The portions are massive. Just massive. The biscuit and gravy was almost comical in size, it was 2 biscuits but each biscuit was probably the thickness of 3 regular biscuits. The omelette I believe said it was a 3 egg, they obviously meant ostrich egg size. And I'm quite certain I received 4 entire russet potatoes worth of hash browns. All that said, the food was fine. Nothing to write home about but just fine. Not bad in any sense. Just nothing wow about it besides the portion size. My wife had the steak and she said for a diner type place it was fine, maybe a bit overseasoned on the crust. One friend had the pot roast and really enjoyed it. Our other friend had a sourdough Parmesan crusted sandwich and said it was fine.

So there's that, I'd definitely go back but wouldn't go out of my way to go over there. They have a massive menu which is usually a bad sign to me, I've always personally felt like you either do a dozen meals really really well or you do 100 meals in an average capacity.

[stile99]

Did they change menus since I was there a couple weeks ago? It would be difficult for me to call the menu I looked at 'massive'. I'd call the biscuits that, no problem, but certainly not the menu. If a single sheet of paper, folded newspaper-style (and the entire thing is not the menu, the front page is a replica of a newspaper with local historical items) is massive, don't even think about going to Cheesecake Factory.

[Pete]

Taken today:

[John1744]

Did they change menus since I was there a couple weeks ago? It would be difficult for me to call the menu I looked at 'massive'. I'd call the biscuits that, no problem, but certainly not the menu. If a single sheet of paper, folded newspaper-style (and the entire thing is not the menu, the front page is a replica of a newspaper with local historical items) is massive, don't even think about going to Cheesecake Factory.

It seemed really dense to me. But maybe it was just the layout that told me that, didn't help that I was looking at breakfast and dinner options since I couldn't decide what I wanted.

[catcherinthewry]

I don't usually leave bad reviews, but I don't want people to go there with the high expectations that I had only to be disappointed. I got the Big Foot Chicken Fried Steak which they said was their best seller. It was not huge like I was expecting, about the same size as any other steak I've had in OK. The breading was bland and the gravy was nothing special. There are many CFS in the area that are much better. My wife had Chicken and Waffles and while the waffle was fined, the chicken had been beaten thin and once again the breading was bad.
Our service was bad, but that could've been just the server we had. Over all, I can't recommend it.

[Thomas Vu]

Service on my visit wasn't great either. I ordered the big breakfast thing for my last American meal for two weeks. It's a step above ihop/Denny's/maybe first watch.
On the plus side, when my good did get to me it was hot.

What I had
https://photos.app.goo.gl/XQDzqqTFHLM3wyHX7

[Urban Pioneer]

My wife and the kids have been there twice this past month with friends. All loved it. I had the chicken fried steak the first time. It was just ok. The surprises were the clam chowder of all things, their turkey plate, and the selection of pies they have. The portions in all cases were HUGE. Service was highly commendable both times. It is a great place for comfort food and I look forward to that clam chowder this winter.

[RadicalModerate]

Based simply on a glowing recommendation by a close, and very picky relative (regarding the MWC location) my wife and I ate here not long after its Grand Opening.

It was good.

I had the Meatloaf she selected the Chicken Fry. Neither one of us missed Mimi's fer a minute.

Next time, the food was a little slow gettin' to the table but it was good.

The third time, as they say, was the charm (reminding us of our first visit): I had the Chicken Fry, She had something else.

It was all good: Plus No Prep. No Cleanup. No Complaints. Home Cookin' without all that. =~)

It isn't easy to be The Next Big Thing when The NEXT Big Thing is going in right next door.

Consistantly. Black Bear Diner? I'll give it a 7.5.