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| - Went to Bearden's today with a friend. It was probably the first time i had been here in over 6 years or so. As some of you may know this whole part of Lake Rd. was completely screwed by slow construction for what seemed like a number of years. Times must have been rough for business seeing as it was almost completely inaccessible for the most part. Bearden's seemed to take a hit and even closed down for a while. I can confirm that it is open and it's also been remodeled.
As you pull in you will notice the fully revamped Bearden's illuminated sign. The old one was iconic and classic looking - a zone that had been tested by time and succeeded. The new sign has the same classic boldness with a bit more color and sports a sharp appearance. The parking lot seemed a little bigger as well. As you approach the entrance, you will notice a Ford Mustang cemented into the wall. It looks pretty cool actually.
You enter down a small hallway and roll right up to the counter. You will notice some menu's posted along the wall with letters from Bearden's fans. A dedicated tribe indeed. You now order at the counter and take a number. A cup for a beverage is provided and you can have at the fountain all you want. The menu is standard if you know how Bearden's is set up; classic steakburgers, milkshakes, fries, onion rings etc etc. It's basically like a mom and pop styled Steak N' Shake with a style all it's own. I ordered a Bearden's Double Steakburger and an order of fries. With a drink out the door we're talking $11.99. It's steep.
I sat down with my pal at a booth and checked out the scene. Everything is a bright white color with sea foam green interior. It's much, much different than the old 70's styled Bearden's we all remember and love. The same train I think they always used to have was on and circling the perimeter. Classic style! It was sad to be in there when it got dumpy to see the old train even broken down. Maybe it was a sign of their situation.
Our food was delivered and it was EXACTLY the same as it always was. I consider this to be a good thing. A lot of people don't like when places like this change. If the food takes a twist (re: Sweet Melissa's, which will never live up to Max's Deli, just down the road) there is a good chance you will offend your loyal following for life. The fries were pretty good, not incredible. The burger was actually better than i remember it being.
If you're going to Bearden's and you're a vegetarian or something, you might be in a bit of a bind. This is the fried food zone to the max, not much in the way of healthy eating here. But for the most part, Bearden's is a local staple people have come to love and enjoy - there is an element of nostalgia that is directly tied to the atmosphere of the restaurant. If you didn't rock Bearden's as a kid and you're just passing through town and stop here, it might be easy to misunderstand what this place is all about.
I was thinking of giving it a 3 star review, just because of the bitterness of the renovation and the intense aqua overdose in the decor, but those are personal feelings that don't make sense in the larger picture of running a business and the upkeep that comes with it. It's the nostalgia and the effort to keep things classic at the end of the day that I appreciated. They had these cool bear shaped ketchup and mustard bottles that will surely stick in the mind of a new youngster for years to come. That's the vibe that Bearden's seems to have always rocked well. Besides that, the food was as good as ever. You're coming in for a steakburger and fries, how bad can it really get??
It's a diner in a small town, if you come here expecting gourmet food, hang back. If you haven't had Bearden's in a while, come by and check it out because it's worth the time.
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