The Golden Bear

I’ve been to Golden Bear a handful of times and so for I haven’t had disappointing or incredibly experience. I’ve come on late nights and the small interior gets packed along with their coveted outdoor seating. The patio outside is cozy and perfect for when the weather is nice outside. The inside is small and can be dark and loud, but depending on how many people are there it can be great for date night or a more intimate hang out. The music I’ve experienced here has been house/electronic/pop. During a recent visit the energy was definitely.. different both inside and out. Oddly quiet inside and very dark, and an interesting crowd outside. Came recently and had their olive pizza and fries. Both food options were delicious and I think the fries were some of my fav that I’ve had recently. Their cider and sour on tap are my go tos and they have a nice drink menu. The bartenders have been friendly too. Give this place a stop on your next bar crawl or if you’ve never been to see if it’s your vibe!

Portion sizes are massive come hungry. The staff is great and the place is cute and comfortable m. We went for brunch, I got the Chilaquiles and iced black coffee. Flavours are great, the right mix of spicy tangy and yum. You cant tell but this plate was dinner plate sized and loaded. The only reason I am rating 4 and not 5, as they only had one food option without ham.

Loved their bloody mary mix and toppings! The food is absolutely amazing and I got their basically a salad sandwich. The homemade focaccia bread was perfect. I tried the pickled egg which was also sooo good! Even dumped the remaining juice in my bloody which was SO GOOD! The happy hour began at 4 on Friday and I stayed for more drinks! Service is amazing and everyone who works there is so cool ! Loved it & can’t wait to try more stuff.

Had my 100th lunch at The Golden Bear!.. after all these years; every Chef they have in house KILLLLLS IT with the creativity, quality of ingredients, flavor, and love on a plate… Homemade fries were perfect!.. Owner is Rad and service is on point… Fair price for these 2 entrees and 2 beers each…

Yesterday, I called to order sliders and chips and gauc. Whoever answered the phone, pretty sure it was the owner, was super rude!! Told me that they don't like me ordering food on happy hour to go. I work 2 doors down and have been eating golden bear to go once every few months for the last 10 years!! I've never had someone make me feel so uncomfortable. I didn't even want to go get my food! And I shouldn't have because then they served me a super RAW slider!! I knew they would messed it up because of the comments on the phone. I do tip when I pick up!! Waster $23 on to go food that wasn't even edible. I am a single mom who wanted to treat her self on Valentines day instead I got treated like crap. Awesome. Ill never be back.

Food was ok however the place was dirty and service was a little rude. Someone literally dropped a box with silverware in front of us with the tines and knives facing upside down, took a look inside the box, it was covered in filth and crumbs, the silver itself was smeared with something, the toilets are horrifying. Hope their kitchen and bar is in better condition, highly doubt it.

If I could give them 10 stars I would!! The owner was personable and down to earth. It might not look like much from the outside but 100% worth it. It has a layed back downtown feel. We order the Waffle Sando and a pizza that was half the Old Monterey and half Olive Pitt pizza. It was the best tasting pizza I have ever had. My husband ordered the waffle Sando and he got a habanero pineapple sauce on the side. Words can’t describe how delicious it was, I think part of it made it so delicious is that you know that everything that they cook is from scratch. We live two hours away and we will definitely be back here for some more pizza and waffle sandwiches.

A Midtown favorite, the Golden Bear did not disappoint during a recent lunch visit. Great food, good drink selection, and an eclectic display of local art. I think the walls and floors were still pulsing from the dance party the night before!

Chill spot, great vibe. The Golden Bear is the kind of place that just feels easy to the relaxed atmosphere, good music, and a crowd that's friendly without trying too hard. Drinks are solid medium price range $$ If you come before kitchen closes the juicy Lucy burger is incredible lives up to the name (ask for extra napkins)

Do not sleep on the brunch at Golden Bear! It is a divey watering hole and it might not be for everyone but they do a great brunch. Bottomless mimosas on Sunday too! We sat out on the patio. The seating is benches and wood, no frills. A solid menu, heavy on bacon as the protein. The waiters were friendly and quick even with several rather large groups. Not the most fancy or aesthetic place but good vibes and great food. Such a weird pet peeve but the triangle plates take up so much space on the table! Offerings: -Chilaquiles: Solid dish. Thick green salsa really allows the chips to keep their crispy shape and texture. Love all the toppings. Very reminiscent of nachos, just with egg! - Breakfast Crunchwrap: Wow. Everything I would want in a breakfast Crunchwrap. It did have potatoes instead of hashbrowns but I still loved the flavor. The bacon addition was also fantastic and they do not skimp. It is real bacon and good quality.

Nice place to grab a drink. Went with my friend on a Saturday night at around 10pm. Cover fee was only $5, which was great compared to other bar covers in the area. Inside gets a bit crowded but wasn't too bad when I went with my friend. Music is great! Definitely a great place to vibe. The back room area stunk like the bathrooms (because the bathrooms were in there lol). Didn't stay in there very long. Drinks were good and service was quick. Fun experience all around.

I've been to Golden Bear a handful of times and so for I haven't had disappointing or incredibly experience. I've come on late nights and the small interior gets packed along with their coveted outdoor seating. The patio outside is cozy and perfect for when the weather is nice outside. The inside is small and can be dark and loud, but depending on how many people are there it can be great for date night or a more intimate hang out. The music I've experienced here has been house/electronic/pop. During a recent visit the energy was definitely.. different both inside and out. Oddly quiet inside and very dark, and an interesting crowd outside. Came recently and had their olive pizza and fries. Both food options were delicious and I think the fries were some of my fav that I've had recently. Their cider and sour on tap are my go tos and they have a nice drink menu. The bartenders have been friendly too. Give this place a stop on your next bar crawl or if you've never been to see if it's your vibe!

Walk by and see the hilarious / topical sign out front (changes daily, if not more often). Choose not to walk in. Your loss, loser! Jk. But seriously, if you think this is JUST another midtown dive bar, you're greatly mistaken. No matter what time of day, you'll be greeted by the very best. Whether that be Cliff or Matt (the most experienced bartenders) behind the bar for lunch / dinner, or Julio or BJ (god they're hot) at the door after 9pm to ensure no riff raff gets in. Is there something higher than a Michelin Star? If so, the menu will win it every year. The chef takes great pride in their work and all of the team puts out the very best quality food that will exceed your expectations. Amazing people, great atmosphere, delicious food. Shut up and take my money!!!

New favorite dive bar $10 beer and pizza or beer a tacos how can you not love love this place. Legit my my favorite dive bar with good food, cheap booze and a great vibe, the service was amazing especially for a dive bar, overall how can you not love this place. Came here with friends and coworkers and can't wait to return

The Golden Bear was an alright experience. The food is delicious. 10/10 on food alone. The fries were so salty and crispy. The pizza was hot and flavorful. The drinks were also good. I got the strawberry tajin margarita and my friend got a pina colada. The service was also good. Our bartender was quick and friendly. The food was out fast as well.

Popped in here really quick to grab a drink while we were waiting for a table somewhere else, got served really quickly! Bar tender was super nice. The front room is small but they have an outdoor patio area in the front and then another room in the back. There is also a stage where I'm sure a DJ would set up but when we were there it was empty, we got there pretty early. We didn't order any food so maybe next time we'll come back to eat.

Came to the golden bear for drinks and tapas and it is now one of my go to places! Service is awesome, crowd is awesome, kind of small inside but there is outdoor seating! The drinks were not disappointing and overly sweet and the oyster shooters were the perfect amount of strong and savory. Yes and yes.

I had a great time here. The food and drinks were just super good and very fresh. The service was very fast and very attentive. The ambiance is just super chill and pleasant. 5 stars.

Another great decision to stop in for a quick snack, and a cold beer. Tried something new that I can definitely recommend. The tacos are great here. Went with the chicken, and a cold IPA today.

Always love coming here. Staff is friendly, drinks are great and the vibe is chill yet lively.

Really great little place settled in-between a BierGarden and amazing Pizza. Not only are their drinks solid but their food is also amazing. Also the bartenders are freaken hilarious and engaging.

The best bar in Sacramento. Maddy rocks and so does Nate and Tunde and Julio and Mark and Tara and Ian and King and BJ

My wife and I came here after the Cubs swept the new Sacramento athletics . There was other cubs fans here also . We got the olive pizza and it was good for what it was. It was cook very well. But we wouldn't eat it again. We would try a different pizza. It's a total dive bar With not many good selections to choose from if you're in the Bourbon, but they did have one or two good tequilas

Dropped by here for drinks and bites with some family. The menu sounds really good, but the food that came out was only so-so. Wish it lived up to the menu. We got a handful of different items: a couple of cheeseburgers, Adobo chicken wings, a black bean taco, a coconut shrimp taco, Umi fried chicken sandwich and a pizza to share. The different items we ordered was hit or miss. My black bean taco had good flavor, but a third of the beans were hard. Not very fun to eat. The Adobo chicken wings were supposed to be spicy, but the sauce they gave us had absolutely no flavor. It didn't taste bad, but it didn't taste like anything... Literally, it was just a brown sauce. I don't remember the exact pizza my family ordered, but they said it was pretty decent. The coconut shrimp taco was delicious - best thing I had there. My sister's fried chicken sandwich was pretty good too. So it seems the quality of fried food was pretty good. It's just the rest of what makes food good was lacking. Meaning flavor. Overall a good outing at the Golden Bear. The ambience was good - the fam could just hang out and chill with some beers and cocktails. Just wish the food was better. Some people might say, "Well, don't go to a bar if you want to eat good." Touché. But you'd be surprised at the level of good eats you'd find at some drinking establishments here in Sac. Golden Bear should raise their level of standards... Or it could have just been an "off day"...

Yummy lunch menu - food selection was good and same for the drink menu. Outdoor seating excellent for big parties as the inside seating is limited. Since it was a weekday - the server was also the bartender which was fine because it wasn't that busy. Overall good experience

One of the best food spots in Sacramento. Came here with my family and the food was insanely good (get the hot chick sandwich). The server was so good. He was a very sweet guy and super funny. The ambience was also great! Loved the much they were playing. Would give it a 6/5 if I could

The Bear is a staple. These days for me I've enjoyed their brunch to mix things up. #underratedbrunch Their breakfast burrito is as good as it gets, especially with their house fermented hot sauce. Not the largest menu, but no skips all bangers...the breakfast pizza...the chilaquiles....the specials. It's all Golden. Do it.

Great bartender and drinks. Great sour beer collection on draft too. Also amazing menu choices.

Great service from the owner, Josh. Food was delicious and imaginative. Amazing cheese stuffed burger and the goatcheese and fresh beet salad was fresh with a one of a kind, house made tasty vinaigrette. Great porch to sit and people watch in good weather. Will be back soon to taste the other unique menu items.

Golden Bear is one of the dopest bar/restaurants in Sacramento. Bartenders and chef/cooks are the best. Offerings are unique and irreplaceable. Weekly cocktail, pizza, pasta, taco, sandwich specials are to die for. I have had some of the best pastas, better than most Italian restaurants, from this place. They play quirky movies on silent so you have something to look at besides sports. Happy hour lasts until 7:00 for those of us who work late. Do not sleep on golden bear.

The food here was really good, I tried both the sunrise sando and breakfast pizza. The sunrise sando was really flavorful and the pizza was good as well although I wish it had sauce but they brought us some hot sauce that made it even better. The service was fast and friendly and the outdoor seating was nice since it is a patio so you're not on the street.

I don't know how I have lived in Sac for so long without visiting Golden Bear!? Sure I've walked past and giggled at their fun street signs, I've even taken photos of some of the particularly good ones, but somehow we never popped in! Finally, a group of friends decided to have a fun Saturday around Midtown taking photos at the different gorgeous murals (as one does) and we ended at Golden Bear for brunch. We sat outside since I had my dog with me and they came to check on us right away. Our server was so friendly and attentive and even humored me as I requested *extra magic* in my Bloody Mary. To be fair though, if you're going to list "magic" as an ingredient it's going to be a conversation starter and get some questions. The Bloody Mary was fantastic btw. Our group ordered drinks and food, including a breakfast sandwich that looked amazing, their special the Huevos Rancheros and a breakfast plate. Everything came out hot and had great flavor, my eggs were perfectly runny in my Huevos Rancheros and I wish I had ordered some of the potatoes because they looked so good! Our server even brought my pup some ham so he wouldn't feel left out and kept the water coming as he noticed I was splitting mine with my furry friend in his water dish under the table. I definitely want to check this spot out for lunch/dinner and I'm happy to say this first experience was a great one!

Friendly, fast ,helpful. The food is beyond great I got the bacon hot dog that is very much so worth the price and my girlfriend got the grilled chicken sandwich which was also a 10/10 highly recommended and will definitely swing by when I'm in town. It's not a big place but it's a comfortable ambiance and great to kill some time and spark conversation

No one is here?!? Tomatillo bloody with pickled something and oyster and shrimp... was not expecting golden bear to crush it this hard

The Rotating taps generally have interesting beers. The good menu is relatively small but includes some great itemsZ the breakfast burrito in particular is a greasy, crispy fluffy piece of heaven. Portions are large. The service is often fairly slow due to the popularity of this location. Indoor seating is can be noisy but the outdoor patio is beautiful if you can snag a seat.

This Bar/Restaurant has an amazing ambiance, there's neon Christmas lights on the inside and the staff are dope. The food was amazing! I had the turkey and avocado sandwich and the chicken noodle soup (very good soup). The wings were also a 10/10! Would definitely come back. The space is on the smaller side so come with smaller groups of people.

Amusing drinking and dining spot-popular with university students but as a foursome of 30-40 somethings, we held down a table and enjoyed a meal and drinks to end a fun day in Sac. My favorite dish was the Kimchi Fried Rice. We tried some pizzas as well. Excellent bartending - he was so busy but kept all the orders straight and got the drinks out fast! The Bánh mì is still on the menu along with a few others from the episode of DinersDriveInsDives-but it seems the menu is way smaller and the focus is more on the fun bar and music venue part of the business. Solid bar/dining experience.

Great service and a friendly staff! Ice cold beer and the food was very good! I will definitely go back!!

Everything is great here. Service, selection, prices. The chef produces masterpieces with every item they create.

If you want industry cocktails and solid bites, this place will fill that need. You gotta order at the bar, at least I had to, but when it's not slammed, that's not a huge issue. Their cocktails are made with fresh ingredients and if you're feeling daring, try an oyster shooter.

Did not expect there to be food or a full menu here. Had a cheeseburger and it was absolutely delicious. The burger was huge too, couldn't finish it. The bartender was very friendly as well. Will be back.

Creative, fresh and tasty with happy staff. Good Ness shows. Handsome bar and very... Comfortable. Herb

Ladies and Gentlemen, it's not often that i get this feeling when i eat somewhere, and it's less often that that place is a local dive bar and restaurant in the sacramento metro area. it may not seem like much, but inside the golden bear on k street, magic is happening. come in for the cheap beer and craft cocktails, but do not and i repeat do not, come on a full stomach. do yourself a favor and get the kimchi fried rice, and if you're lucky, the short rib pappardelle will be on the specials menu. beautiful flowing pasta drenched in a hearty rich short rib ragu will send you straight to heaven. the vibes are good, the drinks are cheap and the food is out of this world. in my book, that's a 10/10. do yourself a favor and make it out to k street for some good food and good vibes.

The tacos are amazing and the margarita ain't bad either!!! the bartender is a sweetheart! i'm happy

Harassing at Golden Bear. I've been coming to this place for some time and have good memories until recently and that's a disappointing. Towards the end of the night of 11/09 or 11/10. I was outside with my friends having a good time until golden bear security, Julio, rudely approached us from outside Pizzasaurus Rex. Accidentally I brought a half open bottle out, Julio that night a poured out the liquid and told me to," Leave his bar!" I'm outside the bar and in front of their neighbor Pizzasaurus Rex. I decline because his statement had no logic to it and I doubt he owns Golden Bear yet Julio pursued with methods of harassing and intimidating me (Getting in my face, tower over me, raising his voice). If that wasn't crude enough Julio also tried harassing/ intimidating the person I was with too. Julio had no right to act so crass and unkind to her! A man who yells and tries to intimidate a lady is beyond unprofessional. Everyone has a job to do but manners make the man, hence the word "man" in manners. Julio did not conduct himself as such which makes me think twice about giving golden bear my business. We reached out to management about this incident and it went under the rug. And that's also a major disappointment too.

Our server spilled a bit of our coffees as he set them on the table. Despite possessing a pretentious demeanor, they did not have the skills to back it up. I used my napkin to wipe up the spilled coffee when two forks and two napkins were dropped on the table with the bottle pictured. Six options on food menu. Sub mediocre, but edible for anyone without any digestive problems.

The first place I had a legal drink in Sacramento! Facts. Reminiscing during the time of the Rona. Bear with me LOL I crack myself up. Golden Bear has always been there for me when I've been in need. Even last month they supplied us with take out corn beef and cabbage meals on St. Patty's Day. :-) Golden Bear food offerings are legend, and I feel like they just keep getting better over the years. I could go on and on about all the pleasant memories I've had here over the years...but I'll keep it to just a few so I don't bore my audience, whoever you weirdos are that still read my reviews. One time I came in here and was in a horrible mood for some reason. When I noticed that they had my fave movie on tv my mood immediately improved. Another time my Yelp wife and I got wasted in the back room and I don't even remember how that night ended. The patio is my favorite spot when it's not crowded. Good times and good chats out there over the years. Another thing on top of handfuls of good things that absolutely sold me as a loyal patron here is their policy on predators. They will help you remove yourself from a situation without questions, if you ever need it. I'm being a little vague here on purpose, but if you're a woman who comes here often you know what I mean. I've never had any issues with weirdos here myself, but knowing it's there makes me feel at ease. (And the people who work here are awesome people!) Other bars in midtown could stand to follow Golden Bear's example. As of today, in these trying times, I know they're still offering to go food items for pickup, from a delicious selection. If you have a hankering, give them a call. See you in person on the flipside of this crazy time, GB. Stay golden. PS They have killer wangs. Definitely make sure you taste this scrumptiousness sober.

I've only been here twice in my life: once in 2010, just passing through to get a shot of Patron before heading to Faces; and once in 2023 during May's Second Saturday to get a tequila shot, again, before heading to Faces. Service is quick, the drinks are strong, and the prices are decent. They were playing the weirdest 80s movie (Re-Animator) on the TV behind the bar, which I thought was so camp of them, but joke's on me because I actually found myself hooked as I threw back my tequila shot and ordered a screwdriver to stay longer and finish the film. I'll try not to wait another 13 years to visit this place again.

Going to be real: The Golden Bear's Bánh mì is the worst I've ever had and ranks as one of the worst sandwiches I've ever had. Like, none of it makes sense. I'd go into it and deconstruct ingredient by ingredient, but it feels like a lot of work. Just take my word for it -- it's bad. My wife had the portobello sandwich which was good, she said. Service was top notch. The bartender was attentive and kind. I'd love to come back here for happy hour and knock back a few cold ones-- my kind of bar, food not withstanding.

The Golden Bear is located on the SW corner of 24th and K. Depending on the day and time, street parking can be a bit of a challenge. It's a house converted into a restaurant and the vibe is a laid-back neighborhood favorite. On the inside is a bar with about 8 bar stools and 3 tables; on the outside front patio, it's more spacious with a handful of tables and portable heaters; there's a back area where there are booths but I mainly come during the day so I imagine people hang out there in the evening. I've been going to The Golden Bear on and off for years. The main draw for me is the food by Chef Matt Brown. Their menu mainly consists of bar-forward items like pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and chicken wings. They also have beers on tap and cocktail specials. Where it gets fun are their daily specials written on a chalkboard; these are often creative dishes, featuring seasonal and uncommon ingredients, gourmet cheeses, pastas, etc. I've visited during weekday lunches and weekend brunches. Service can be minimal (where the one bartender is also the waiter) but the staff are generally helpful and friendly. At my most recent visit, we were lucky enough to get some recommendations from the Chef and had the best lunch. The Pear and Gorgonzola Salad with candied pecans was an unusual mixture of ingredients but it was fresh and flavorful. The Mushroom Pizza with cremini mushrooms, thyme, goat cheese, garlic confit, and mozzarella was cooked to perfection: great crust and another mixture of unusual and delicious ingredients. Last but not least was my favorite dish: Baked 3 Cheese Orecchiette with pheasant and venison sausage. Just a beautiful, incredibly tasty dish of melty cheese and sauce that was even better the next day.

Small little place to stop in and have a drink and some brunch. Really relaxed atmosphere, we came in close to St. Pattys day and tried a green mimosa, I had their breakfast sandwich which was pretty tasty and great for getting through the hangover from the previous evenings shenanigans. Really cool to be able to check out old movies and play them at the bar. Service was quick, and friendly.

"Bar food"?! Yeah right. This is some of the best meals I've ever had. How can you not love Golden Bear?!? Like seriously this is a gem in Sacramento. Whether it's a quick pit stop for a drink or an incredible TOP CHEF LEVEL meal, the GB always delivers. The owner Josh works so incredibly hard to deliver the best drinks, the best service, and of course the BEST food. Very unique drinks!! Very unique food. They literally have what feels like 50+ drinks to choose from. Some things I've never even heard of but are SO good. Thank you GB. Been coming here for 5 years and it's a pleasure every time.

Came here with my fiancé after hearing the food was decent. I ordered the banh mi and he ordered a fried chicken sandwich. My banh mi came with dry, unseasoned, unmarinated roast beef. There were only a tiny bit of pickled veggies & It also had no cilantro or jalapeño. Was not even barely reminiscent of a banh mi. When I asked the waiter if I could get some cilantro and jalapeño, he was pretty confused. He did bring me a little cup of cilantro and jalapeños from a jar. I give the sandwich a 0/10. My fiancé ordered the fried chicken sandwich without slaw. A real shame because the sandwich could have used some slaw to break up the flavor of breading and burnt bun. He gave the sandwich a 2/10 It was really disappointing and not worth $20 each (including tip) at all.

After eating pizza on my double date, we wanted to have some drinks and the Gold Bear was our choice. Spacious outdoor seating at the entrance. Inside was dim but lively. Sat at the bar and ordered Paradise Trailer Park, it reminded me of a Black Licorice, and I enjoyed it. At the time we were leaving a band was setting and getting ready to play. We missed the happy hour but will be back to try it! Bartender was awesome!

With so many food options within walking distance, The Golden Bear kitchen doesn't get a fraction of the love they should. Never had a bad meal here. They have a regular menu, but I highly recommend looking over at the specials board. The service is always friendly and quick with taking my order. Fun ambiance during the day with fun movies always playing and upbeat music in the background. Don't pass up Golden Bear for lunch!

Super friendly staff, great ambiance, and food. We went for brunch and got the Breakfast Sando and Breakfast Burrito. Both were super good, but the bread on the sandwich was especially good and paired super well with the aoli.

.. That is a tasty burger .. .. Double patty, pineapple, melted cheese .. .. IPA .. .. Happy Hour ..