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    Grumpy Bears Retreat

    4.4 (30 reviews)
    InexpensiveAmerican
    Closed Closed

    Grumpy Bears Retreat Photos

    Business Info

    GRUMPY BEARS RETREAT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - Grumpy Bears Retreat

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    Jackie L.

    I meant to take a picture of the food but I guess we were too hungry, our order was buffalo wings with a legit bleu cheese. They were seriously good wings, don't sleep on them. We had a burger too added bacon and egg. Everything just hit the spot after a couple of days of hiking and camping. It looks like they def have amenities if you're hiking the pct which is cool. We felt welcome, we had our small dog

    Craft beer at Grumpy Bear Saloon.
    Adriana M.

    Off roading the Kern Plateau last spring we stopped in for a beer. Immediately dug this funky cabin bar overlooking Kennedy Meadows. The saloon is surrounded by several smaller buildings for Pacific Crest Trail hikers passing through to camp, shower and rest. There were several hikers warming up and charging their phones when we arrived. Modest and cozy, the cabin is reminiscent of a rustic ski lodge. There's a large patio with a bandstand and panoramic scenic views. Seating is somewhat communal, picnic style, or else at the bar. Outdoor seating with plenty of nooks if you want more privacy. Large dirt parking lot. Nice craft beer selection, above average bar food menu. Standard service, order and pick up at the counter. We watched the sunset over a cold beer and tasty burger in the middle of nature. Cool destination spot.

    Very very cold beer.
    Tracy B.

    Place is ok. They need to update their website, especially the menu. They have no sandwiches. Just burgers. Wanted pizza and yes, they don't have that either. They do have ever have a full bar and very cold beer which is a plus. So I got some chicken wings and the hubby got a burger. The fries are homemade and very good.

    Hiker Breakfast included hashbrowns, 2 eggs, sausage patty,  and all you can eat pancakes that are bigger than your head! Delicious!
    Connor M.

    This place was a hiker oasis! The food selection was decent greasy spoon type food with vegetarian and vegan options. They had a full bar, lively atmosphere, and great service. Free camping, free laundry, and free showers were available on site. It can get a bit loud at night but other than that it is a great place to prepare for the Sierra Section of the PacificCrestTrail. Don't act like disrespectful hiker trash and they will treat you wonderfully. They work hard and clean up after a lot of nasty hikers so clean up your mess, tip well, and say thank you!

    a row of tombstones and skeletons
    Amy C.

    Seriously the best place! We have always wanted to make the drive up the mountain to Kennedy Meadows.. we finally did and we were really impressed. Stopped in at Grumpy Bear for a quick beer and ended up staying a few hours. Food was amazing and the owners were super friendly! Worth the drive!

    Eddie C.

    Camping in the Sequoias? If you are going over Sherman Pass on Hwy 395 side, this is the place to stop and grab a bite. Don't let the sign fool you, the place inside is not nearly as nice at the sign indicates... that is except for the service and the food! Grumpy Bears is located on Sherman Pass road along with 2 other eateries. Other than these, I think the closest place is a Subway about 30 miles away, so if you are hungry stop here. Grump Bears is a simple rustic building, in a huge parking lot, a big bar, and a couple of tables. Apparently folks drinking in the parking had been a problem, considering all the "No Alcohol in the Parking Lot" signs posted. There is also a corral for the locals that decided horses are the preferred mode of transportation. The power for the place comes from a big diesel generator running in the back. I don't think they have landline service and cell signal is a definite no. They do however accept credit cards approved via a satellite link. Now, that is about as fancy as it gets! We ended here at the end of our Memorial Day camping trip tired and hungry from a long drive down Sherman Pass. We were greeted by a friendly and efficient server that offered to give the nine of us all separate checks. Nice!! I couldn't decide on the chicken Sandie or the patty melt and without hesitation she recommended the Patty Melt, so that was what I had with a side of macaroni salad and an ice tea. The Patty Melt was an excellent recommendation. The generous portion of ground beef was perfectly grilled and seasoned. Grilled onions, melted cheese and nicely browned bread completed this great lunch selection! Next time? You bet! Every year on Memorial Weekend.

    Enjoying a cold one

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    8 years ago

    Opening day of Trout season we were at Kennedy Meadows. Limits every day.

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    Ask the Community - Grumpy Bears Retreat

    Review Highlights - Grumpy Bears Retreat

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    Pierpoint Bar & Grill

    Pierpoint Bar & Grill

    4.6
    (65 reviews)
    31.2 mi

    If we are ever back in the area, my husband and I and our dog will definitely be back! The owners…read more(I believe) were extremely friendly and welcoming. The food was good! Ate here at least 2 times a day while staying right around the corner. Really enjoyed the breakfast burrito, the club sandwich, the hamburgers and the fries and onion rings!! The vibe was laid back. They also gave our little dog a bandana to wear for the 4th of July.

    My. family and I were visiting SNP and staying near Camp Nelson. A friendly local we met…read morerecommended Pierpoint for dinner so we thought we would give it a try. The man who greeted us upon arrival (I believe he was the owner as his there were photos of him and his wife on the wall) was very welcoming; unfortunately, we never saw him again after being seated. To preface the experience we had, It's worth noting that we were the only table in the entire restaurant. The waitress was not very friendly and was extremely unattentive. We had to flag her down for everything from ordering, to getting silverware, to actually checking out. She never once checked in with us to see how our food was or offer us refills on drinks. We also ordered a well drink from the bar and she automatically upcharged us without asking. As a former bartender I am all for upselling, but don't charge a customer for greygoose when they ordered a well vodka. Once we were finished eating we sat there for a good 15 minutes as she was outside on the patio smoking and chatting with her friends. When she did check us out she seemed bothered by us even being there and never once said thank you. The food itself was ok, we had two of their sandwiches with onion rings and fries. Overall though, I can't recommend this spot, which is sad because I love supporting local businesses. Hopefully this was just an off day for them.

    Photos
    Pierpoint Bar & Grill
    Pierpoint Bar & Grill
    Pierpoint Bar & Grill

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    Johnny McNally’s Fairview Lodge

    Johnny McNally’s Fairview Lodge

    4.2
    (172 reviews)
    22.4 mi
    $$

    My boyfriend and I were camping in Kennedy Meadows the night before when we realized we did not…read moreprepare for 20 degree weather. So we drove down and randomly saw this place and decided to have dinner. We ended up speaking with the owner. We asked about lodging and he told us he did not have anything available. He came back to ask us how we're doing and we asked if there was other lodging close by. He said they would most likely be booked. We told him about the night before and how we were very unprepared for cold weather. In front of him I told my boyfriend that we can sleep in the truck again, no worries. Next thing I know the owner came by again and said he has a camper for friends and family that no one is in and he offered it to us, saying he felt bad that we froze. We were elated. I have never felt more grateful and it reminded me that there really are kind souls. He walked us over and provided us towels and turned the heat up. It was perfect. We sat by the fire pit with others, who all had nothing but kind words about this place. People come every year and stay here. I felt such a warm welcome from everyone. My boyfriend and I are so thankful for the owners. We both said we can't wait to come here more and hopefully decades down the road we can stay in the same camper and reminisce. I will tell everyone about this place. It's nothing fancy but it's definitely special! Thank you for making my entire weekend.

    Good food but not the service!…read more I came here few time because that's my mom in law's favorite place to dine in. My husband and I drove from LA to take her and her husband for birthday dinner. Here is my positive and negative review based on our experience when we were there. Positive: Food cook perfectly as we asked for. We have 12oz and 8oz fillet mignon, 2 orders rib eyes steak for mom and her husband, large suchini appetizer. Pickle is delicious, you can ask as much as you want for free, good bread. The owner stop by at our table, my mom gave him compliment about the website video he done such a great one, so my mind automatically expect great service. Neg: My mom has reservation at 6PM, we arrived 5 mins b4 6, they didn't have or can't find my mom reservation. Waiting a bit then get our table at the last room due to a large parties were at the patio and crowded and noisy which no big deal for us, we can see the big parties from our window room. It took an hour for our steak, salad served with a warm bowl, suchini too dry to eat. By the time the steak ready, we are half full with bread, salad, pickle and appetizer. 5 minute after the waitress brought the food to us, my mom asked a box to go, my husband ate not even half of his steak, I can't finish my meal either. We are so full end up to bring our food home. The waitress take too long to bring our bill and we still waited again for our debit card back then walk to look the waitress at the bar ask our card. The whole experience is not my expectation with the money we spent we should get better service, also few flies and mosquito flying around on our food. I hope they consider to improve the service better in future

    Photos
    Bar
    Bar
    Golden Fried Chicken
    Golden Fried Chicken
    Restaurant interior

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    Restaurant interior
    Kristy's Family

    Kristy's Family

    3.9
    (259 reviews)
    35.4 mi
    $

    The diner was definitely better than I expected and we will return! The Pancakes were really good,…read moreand was the Veggie omelet. However, the Homemade Cinnamon Roll was just okay. The gentleman who took our orders was nice and very patient! The ambiance was nothing special-typical diner. The toilets could use good cleaning, too, but the bathrooms were generally okay. We stopped here on our way to Mammoth from San Diego, and we would return!

    It's a country diner, with booth seating and 50s oldies playing softly in the background…read more We were seated promptly and drink order taken right away. Coffee has free refills. I had the Country Benedict, which is a sausage patty and an egg on top of a biscuit and covered with gravy, served with hash browns. The egg was over easy, and the yolk, when broken, blended deliciously with the gravy. The hash browns were crisp and fresh - very good. The biscuit was buttered, which was a pleasant surprise. They pay attention to small details like that here. Mr. P enjoyed his burger, which came with fresh onions, tomato and lettuce on a specialty bun. The burger was smashed, yet very juicy. His fries were golden brown crisp and cut thick. He liked them a lot. This was easily the best diner breakfast I've had in a long while. Looking forward to stopping in again when I'm nearby in the future. I am full and happy.

    Photos
    Old school coffee shop/diner type place. Wish me luck.
    Old school coffee shop/diner type place. Wish me luck.
    Meat lovers omelette
    Meat lovers omelette
    Misleading advertising.....$0.99 coffee??? But only on Monday and Tuesday upon further discussion with staff

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    Misleading advertising.....$0.99 coffee??? But only on Monday and Tuesday upon further discussion with staff

    Grumpy Bears Retreat - tradamerican - Updated July 2026

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