Bear Den - Balmorhea

As for the food, it was quite bad. The salsa was excessively hot, but in an unpleasant way; it was overly peppery. The burrito was simply a dry tortilla filled... read more As for the food, it was quite bad. The salsa was excessively hot, but in an unpleasant way; it was overly peppery. The burrito was simply a dry tortilla filled with ground beef—lacking flavor and toppings. The enchilada sauce was also peppery, which none of us enjoyed. We were all starving, but none of us could eat more than a couple of bites. Perhaps this style of Mexican food just isn’t for us, but we have dined on plenty of Mexican cuisine before, and this was unlike anything we’ve experienced. By the time we left, the restaurant had started to fill up with what appeared to be local patrons. I genuinely appreciate small, local establishments and hope they thrive, but our experience was overwhelmingly negative. From customer service to wait times, food quality, and pricing, everything fell short.

Charming little restaurant, but my experience was far from satisfactory. It took 15 minutes for our waitress to bring our drinks, and we didn't receive the chip... read more Charming little restaurant, but my experience was far from satisfactory. It took 15 minutes for our waitress to bring our drinks, and we didn't receive the chips and salsa until much later. Unfortunately, we had to wait nearly an hour for our meals to arrive, and when they finally did, they forgot the rice and beans. Another waitress had to intervene to bring those out. The food itself was not authentic Mexican cuisine and was honestly underwhelming. Despite asking two different waitresses for a side of rice and beans, they never brought it. I found the prices to be excessive for the quality of food we received. Our waitress rarely checked in on us, didn’t refill our drinks, and when I asked her questions about the menu, she didn't have the answers and didn’t bother to find out. I had to hunt someone down just to get the bill. Overall, the customer service was terrible, and I have no intention of returning.

This restaurant offers genuine homemade Mexican cuisine, quite different from typical fast food. The style here leans more towards New Mexican food rather than... read more This restaurant offers genuine homemade Mexican cuisine, quite different from typical fast food. The style here leans more towards New Mexican food rather than Tex-Mex, with red and green chile sauces being central to many of the dishes. One notable aspect is the friendliness of the staff; our waitress, Rachel, was exceptionally pleasant. The restaurant is connected to the El Oso Flojo Lodge, which is likely the best accommodation in the area. We stayed there and thoroughly enjoyed our room and the swallows flitting about the beautifully maintained courtyard. The atmosphere was delightful and reminiscent of the Gage Hotel in Marathon. You'll love this place, especially since it's just down the road from what could be the best swimming pool in the country at Balmorhea State Park.

Used to be THE BEST place in Balmorhea to eat. Great food and service. Last time I was here 2015, I thought we caught them on an off night. The food was good bu... read more Used to be THE BEST place in Balmorhea to eat. Great food and service. Last time I was here 2015, I thought we caught them on an off night. The food was good but the service was really slow. We were back with students again on 3/18/17 and everything was bad. We sat so long waiting just to get drinks that two of our students left and went a couple of blocks over to another grill. (They got drinks before us). I'm so sad because I used to look forward to The Bear Den as much as diving at the State Park.

The food was awesome!!! Green chicken enchiladas with fried egg on top beans and rice!! Fast service and friendly people. Close to state park and swimming pool.... read more The food was awesome!!! Green chicken enchiladas with fried egg on top beans and rice!! Fast service and friendly people. Close to state park and swimming pool. Highly recommend this eating establishment!!