The staff was friendly and now only do they serve you alot for one person, but the food is like being at home. Small place and cozy. Definitely, the best french toast I've ever had. If I come back here again, this is definitely the breakfast spot.

My family and I spent 4 days in Wilmington in July and had breakfast at Country Bear every morning! We absolutely loved the service by the owner , she remembered us and our breakfast preferences after our first visit! We highly recommend and we will definitely visit again next time we are up that way. Did i mentioned that the french toast were an absolute hit for my husband and daughter! An overall gastronomic delight! Susan and family (all the way from Barbados!)

Definitely a family vibe! We were welcomed, and you HAVE to try their French toast! It truly is unforgettable!! We live many hours away, and I've contemplated driving up JUST for the French toast!

They only do breakfast, and that's just fine. Very tasty, my wife had the french toast and it might very well be the best in the Adirondacks, as a sign inside says. Prices seemed almost cheap when considering the portion size you had placed in front of you.

Favorite place for b-fast when we ski st Whiteface. Nice hard working people own this place. Not Denny's or Ihop. i'm guessing the paper plates, cups, plastic utensils...is a cost saving maneuver. Wasn't like thst few years back...but i don't own the place, so guessing it saves $$. Great bfast, good people...can't ask for more in 2024.

A must if you're in Lake Placid or the surrounding areas. If you're not, well...I've driven up from Syracuse more than once just for the French toast...and some good conversation. Someday I'm going to get her to sell me the recipe for the French toast. 😃🙃

The menu was a solid, comfort selection of your typical breakfast foods. A few fun, freshly baked items like muffins and breads! Food came out fast and hot, service was great, and location was clean. Nice and central, too! We’ll be back!

Amazing french toast. Great prices for the area.

Great quaint little breakfast stop. It's one of those "Mom and Pop" pillars of American ingenuity. The family that owns and runs it are wonderful and welcoming. He makes the very best French Toast in the #NorthCountry hands down. They also have fresh baked goods that are to die for.

Jesse and all the other waitresses make you feel right at home oh, the place is neat and tidy, the food is delicious and serve promptly and warm. They have a large selection of homemade dishes and desserts. Their prices are very reasonable and it's a down-home atmosphere that you can appreciate. I love going there regularly for my breakfast and lunch. If you have a problem they're more than happy to correct it. You won't be sorry that you stop by for a meal here. Bon appetit!!!

Great French toast with real maple syrup. Specials were good.

The place felt homey, and the food was absolutely delicious. The host was warm and welcoming.

Great food! Freshly made bread, the French toast was AMAZING the best I’ve ever had! Everything we had was good, my picky kids even cleared their plates. Highly recommend

The most incredible french toast!!! I recently tried Country Bear for the first time and boy was it worth it! I've never had french toast like that in my entire life so I definitely encourage everyone to try it atleast once! I will definitely return every single time I visit the adirondacks!

Best sausage gravy and biscuits anywhere. Biscuits are made in house, as is all their bread. Sausage gravy is not on the regular menu, but if it's on their specials menu, get it. Be beware, you won't be able to order it anywhere else because it will pale in comparison. Also best French in the Adirondacks.

We could not ask for a friendlier, nicer place to dine. The owner was wonderful. Thank you for an enjoyable experience. The French toast did not disappoint. Fabulous!

What a wonderful little spot to enjoy a quiet breakfast. Family run, delicious food, and a nice quiet calm inside seating area. Cash only and the food is made to order. Oh, and no cell service so it really is quiet!

This place is awesome! Service was great. Portions were generous and well priced. The food is amazing. I cannot say enough about the French toast. It was delicious! We’ll be back!

Several years ago I went to the Country Bear for breakfast, and it always beckoned for me to return. I took my wife there two years ago, and we try to make it a necessity to go. The French toast is incredible, as are the home fries. The French toast starts with in-house bread and is dipped in custard, so it's not your run-of-the-mill selection. Two slices are enough since each slice is about two inches thick. The home fries are also great. They have their own spin on them as well. It's a cash-only place, but there's an ATM down at the four-way intersection near Whiteface Memorial Highway.

Perfect breakfast spot! Made my visit to the area.

This place is amazing. Small little diner with a homey atmosphere. The bacon was DELICIOUS!! A nice slow paced place that is a real getaway from the busyness of life.

Great breakfast ahead of a bluebird day on Whiteface. Generous portions of homestyle cooking from biscuits and sausage gravy to French toast and pancakes. Friendliest staff, and lovely chat with the local regulars as well. Great value, even after we had added a home baked stollen to the bill. 🙂

we were looking for a perfect country side diner with great food and this was the one! we were a party of 4 with 3 kids. the food come in pretty quick and the service was great. The food was phenomenal and cooked to order. loved it! there were paper plates and plastic cutlery but we dont care as long as the food is good. we will return to this diner when we come back to wilmington.

Wonderful small town breakfast joint. The sausage links were amazing and the French toast was the best French toast I've ever had. My fiancee is a big time French toaster and she remarked the same. Do yourself a favor and get here early so you don't have a wait. When we left it was about a 15 - 20 min wait time.

We had a delicious breakfast here — the French toast really stood out, but pancakes and home fries were yummy also. Very friendly and kind people too! I know from direct experience that if you discover after you drive more than five hours to get home that you lost your wallet at the restaurant they will put it in the mail to you ASAP without even accepting reimbursement for the postage.

A group of 7 of us stopped for breakfast before we headed home after a long weekend (3.5 hours away). Our waitress was absolutely wonderful and I feel horrible that her name slipped my mind! She had no problem discussing my picky orange vs white cheddar cheese choices...yes, white tastes better and that's just what they had...and then she joined in with everyone telling me I can't change my order after someone else mentioned another kind 😂 She honestly made us all feel right at home. The food was EXCELLENT. They make their own rolls for the breakfast sandwiches and homemade bread for the toast and boy were they both delicious. Every single one of us would definitely stop back if in town again!

A perfectly quaint place for a relaxing breakfast! The French toast is exquisite!

Before you go judging this place, try going and talking with the owners. They are a family owned and operated restaurant. They are polite and friendly! They work hard and it shows! Yes they use paper plates and plastic utensils but who cares! The food and prices are great and you know what, if it makes sense for them financially then thats all that should matter. Food is phenomenal and staff is top notch. Great atmosphere. Gives me “breakfast at grandma and grandpa’s house” vibes and I love everything about it.

Absolutely the best French Toast ever! Staff was very friendly. Very cozy atmosphere

A lucky find! We sat down and were offered homemade stollen. It was delicious! Better than my Mothers . We ordered eggs and French toast. It is THE best French toast ! Eggs were prepared perfectly and coffee was delicious. We spent quite a bit of time talking to the owner and a very interesting local named Earl. If you are in the area. Well worth the time. Your tastebuds will thank you

Had delicious French Toast with scrambled eggs made perfectly! Service was friendly & efficient. Highly recommended.

Great breakfast! Fast and friendly service. Nice cozy atmosphere.

Stopped in for a quick homemade breakfast before we jumped on our motorcycles and rode into Maine. The food was great, and the service was excellent and super quick! Would definitely recommend this little gem!

I had read the reviews on Google prior to coming in and can honestly say I feel guilty for how skeptical I was. I read someone say "best breakfast on east coast" and thought that was a little excessive on the buttkissing. But after visiting, I can say that they are amazing. The local maple syrup with the French toast or Pancakes tastes awesome, the rye bread was fantastic, and the eggs were cooked to perfection. These days, it's hard to find great mom and pop diners in or near the big cities so this was exactly what I was hoping for. Staff was awesome and welcoming. Honestly I would say this is one of the best breakfasts I've ever had. Certainly top 5, a must visit for anyone looking for the traditional breakfast, rustic Americana style

Multiple trips to the Lake Placid region and every time we’re up there… it’s COUNTRY BEAR! One gem that’s not on the menu is meeting one of the locals with tons of life experiences to share.

The diner is pretty cute, love the vibes. Food was delicious. My waiter, Sir William Jester the Second was a wonderful fellow. However he was quite odd and kept cracking jokes about my wig. He's balding too so we exchanged some laughs

I will say that when you walk in, you might just want to turn around if you're not used to these small little restaurants. We almost did but decided to stay. And I will say it was a great decision. Literally the BEST french toast I have ever eaten. Eggs are farm fresh and delicious. Home made sausage is amazing. If there was one thing I could take points off would be the tiny little cup of syrup they give you. It's real maple syrup but not enough. We go there are least once every year when we visit now.

The Country Bear rocks - best little family diner in the north of NY - great coffee and french T but also such sweet attitudes and conversation : )

Fantastic place! The food is good, especially sausages and toasts. It's small friendly family business

We've returned several times to The Country Bear over the years. Our family feels like it is a local gem hidden in Wilmington and look forward to eating there when we're in Lake Placid. They have always made us feel welcome and comfortable. I wish I could leave a 10 star review- we all absolutely LOVE the food, especially the French toast. It is so very delicious!

When the sign says North Country's Best French Toast, they deserve the bragging rights on that one. They make the bread that it's made from and you have never had such easy to slice fresh bread. Reasonable prices and even when there are a lot of people there, it's not noisy. Relaxed atmosphere and gorgeous views from the parking lot! Oh, and they offer real maple syrup! A+++

What a very comfortable little place with great service that compliments their famous French toast. Very tasty sausage patties and full of flavor omelette as well. The wait for a table is worth it.

Fantastic food and service! Plan to wait a little while (15 minutes for us) to be seated because they are busy. Well worth the wait, huge portions, fresh ingredients, and fresh baked bread. This meal was approximately $10 with a hot tea.

Good cozy place to eat breakfast. Food was very good with little slow service. But was worth it to wait.

+6

Great local diner. We followed other reviews and the French toast was as good as others said.

When I heard other reviews saying, "best French toast I've ever had", I chalked it up to just being really good French toast. But trust me and all the other people when we say that it's the BEST french toast we have ever had. The restaurant is very small and homely. Expect a little bit of a wait if you arrive after 10am. As the word has gotten around and people will flock here on the weekends. Came during the very end of 'tourist' season which around October 13, and it was quite busy. Don't be foolish and just come here and wait if you have to. It will be much worth it, as the prices here are lower than all of the restaurants around lake placid and white face.

An absolutely lovely place and is a perfect fit for the Adirondack region. The owner was so nice and friendly and the food is top notch!! Great breakfast!!!

Feels at home. Excellent breakfast especially the french toast.

Delicious breakfast! Great prices! Friendly staff.

The service was great, the food was fresh and the atmosphere was tranquil. A family of 8 had a great experience

AMAZING! The best French toast I've ever had, small cozy place, family run. Huge lumberjack breakfast with everything you could want. Delicious baked goods for sale too.

The only open breakfast spot in the area. The food is great and even the kids enjoyed theirs. Portions are big and takeout containers were needed. This is a good spot to fuel up before a hike!

Cozy local breakfast place. I loved their french toast! Note that they are cash only.

Love this place! The people were so nice and the food was excellent and priced very well. It was a quiet morning when we came by, but it was clear this is a local spot. Owner knew almost everyone who came into the "Bear." Too bad we only found this place on our last morning! We will be back.

Delicious breakfast spot in Wilmington, NY with daily specials, friendly-service and awesome pancakes! This is actually the only breakfast place/diner we know of in town, and it is a very small place, so there's sometimes a short wait but I've never seen anyone wait more than 15 minutes and we're there pretty regularly in the summer. One little warning - and it is not exclusive to the Country Bear but to businesses in the Adk region in general - call right before you go to make sure they're actually open! We've had a few times when despite the hours posted online, we arrive at a place to find they're randomly closed. As you can imagine, when you're hangry and restaurants are scarce, it's not a good scene to make the trip out to a place that's supposed to be open to find it dark and empty. We love the Bear, but do yourself a favor and even if Google or the website claims they are open, give them a ring before you leave to be sure.

Top notch food, well worth the wait. Of course the famous french toast lived up to the hype! It’s a small space with great food with a mix of locals and flatlanders, so expect a wait. You’ll be glad you did!

Pat D

Great breakfast. Small place, homey feel. Good mix of local and visitor type customers. HUGE cups of coffee. Had the corned beef hash, 2 eggs over easy very good. My wife had the French toast (one slice - more than enough) cinnamon coated, real maple syrup. All excellent. It is a place to start your day.

Ryan Jerchau

We stop here every time we're in the area. A lovely family run restaurant with reallly good french toast.

Martin Martin

The best Place for breakfast 🥞 in Wilmington NY, the French toast are amazing, if you are looking for a place to eat before to ski in Whiteface this is the one. Freddy and her Family are super nice. Thanks

Tom Delaney

I'd go back to this place again when traveling the Adirondacks. The food was great! We tried the stollen which was a hit and had the bacon egg and cheese croissant 🥓 🍳 🧀 🥐. The restaurant was small but very inviting and cozy. Wifi was available to guests.

Andy Chango

This place is honestly great! the food was delicious and it felt so homey. I've never seen anything like it. Would definitely recommend for anyone going up to the Adirondacks.

Susan Henderson

We drove 81 miles for breakfast here two weeks ago Saturday. We had eaten here two years ago and had to go back. The French toast was a favorite but the grilled almond raisin muffin was superb! Freddy was great! Can’t wait to return!

Brenda L

What a great little spot. The owners have obviously been doing this a long time. Family owned business, with the best French toast I have ever had in my life. Owners are friendly and personable. This is a small space that rightfully so is busy at times. If you go on a weekend you may have a little wait time (totally worth it though). If you are in area when they are open...do yourself a favor and go.

Abbey

Was not disappointed at this place! It’s casual (paper plates and cups) but they know what they’re doing with food. One of the best breakfasts I had on my lake placid trip

Joti Locker

This is a lil gem with the best French Toast - wow! It was very thick & not soggy even with maple syrup & butter on it. The Breakfast Special of 2 sausages & 2 eggs is filling & tasty with the French Toast order on side. The English Breakfast tea cup was large & full but perfect with 2 teabags & honey ‘n milk. Muffin worth $4! I took mine to go for later & was still delish next day. Staff was warm & friendly, & interior is cozy & quaint. Highly recommend!

David Sartori

Best dang French toast I've ever had. With real maple syrup not breakfast syrup. And the sausage links are the bomb

JW SeChrist

First time visiting the Country Bear and I was blown away. I had corn beef hash and it was some of the best I’ve had. Out of the corner of my left eye I noticed they had just brought out warm cinnamon rolls so I ordered one and oh my God it was phenomenal. It was so good. I got three to go along with a chocolate mint muffin and a peach muffin so I can have coffee and pastries tomorrow morning at home. I’m a sucker for any homemade baked goods and these taste like my grandmother could’ve made them. If you’re ever near the country bear, I would give it a try.

Dita Virostkova

Very cozy place. French toast is a winner for sure. The earlier you go the better.

Eva Rodriguez

Great affordable breakfast spot! I always plan my vacation, around the Lake Placid region, to include a day when this restaurant will be open. Cozy atmosphere; family owned and operated and always a warm and pleasant time!

Curtis

Stopped in to grab some breakfast before a big day of hiking. The french toast really IS the best! So good. And that staff was super nice. Looking forward to going again soon!

eagleeyearchery

Best French toast I've ever had! All the food is incredible and service is great. So fun to chat with the servers. This was my second year up there and had breakfast every morning at the Country Bear. Love it

Ariel Fuller

Easily the best French toast I’ve ever had! They are also GIGANTIC so you might be better off ordering 1 than 2 lol, overall very cute place and sweet staff!

claudia lorena barrera

My husband and I enjoyed such a delicious home made breakfast. The special of the date was French toast with eggs and sausage. Everything was so delicious. The service was so nice. 100% recommended! The place is very clean and cozy, we loved it 🥰

Udit Anand

Loved the food and the courtesy of the hosts. Really enjoyed the pancake, omelettes and the French toast. Remember that this restaurant only accepts cash, so bring some or access the ATM at the gas station next door.

1 word describes this place...BREAKFAST! Go and enjoy, friendly folks work here and the kitchen knows what they are doing. It's not fancy inside but it is coffee and food you're after. This is an easy recommendation.

We got seated quickly, the service was good and so was the food. We also purchased some muffins to go. They were very tasty. I would recommend this restaurant for breakfast!

I am so happy The Bear is in my back yard. Laid back country kitchen. Awesome breakfasts, great prices. My fave dish is their french toast. Its truly stellar. Worth a stop!

I can't say that I have eaten here in a little over 38 years or so. That's when my parents owned and operated this business under a different name. I was reading the reviews and keep seeing negative reviews due to 1. Not being open even when they are supposed to be. A lot of the best Mom and Pop places are actually run by Mom and Dad and kids/teenager's. They CAN'T be open if anyone in their family is sick as they live in the attached house directly behind the dinner. I don't think any customers would want to see or hear the sick person through the kitchen. 2. Paper plates, Plastic utensils and Styrofoam cups. As the teenager that was responsible for bussing and washing all of those plates, utensils and cups; I can say that they are saving time and money. They don't have to pay anyone to do that job and they don't have to wait for those items to be cleaned in order to seat the next guest. Bravo! You found a good way around this financial strain. 3. If you don't live in Wilmington year round, you don't understand the North Country economy. The owners make the majority of their profits during the summer tourist season and some during hunting season. That's about it. The rest of the year is the locals that come in for breakfast or lunch on their way to work. Wilmington is a small town outside and away from all of the large towns in the North Country. During the winter which starts around the end of October and runs until about April; the locals help keep the lights on. So yeah, the owners might seem more friendly to the locals but that's because they are like family (and some may actually be family) when its 10 below Zero and tne owners are doing their best to keep the pipes from freezing or are putting special coverings on the windows so they don't lose heat. It's not that the owners and staff don't appreciate you, because they very truly do. They are just saying hi to the person that pulled their car out of the 1o foot snow drift last winter.

Slightly overpriced for being a breakfast only diner. The French toast Is amazing as advertised. A very cozy setting, makes you feel like you're in a house. A great place for breakfast before a long hike.

I really enjoyed the food here. They are known for their thick cut french toast. Know if you are going hiking after breakfast that french toast will weigh you down!

Small place, expect a wait, we checked in when we got there and the girl took my cell number to call me when there was a table. I tried the biscuits and gravy... Terrible.... My GF got the corned beef hash, was pretty good. (Both were listed specials) Following recommendations we ordered a piece of French toast.... Best decision, it was delicious, I'd go back just for another piece.

It's hard to give an honest review because we didn't actually eat here. We were on our way home from a mini weekend getaway and we heard about this place and wanted to try it out. There's not many tables and there's typically always a wait and unfortunately the staff wasn't that friendly even when asking simple questions about how long the wait is and things like that. I know when you're under stress and it's busy it can be tough to manage your business. We were just looking forward to trying out this great recommendation

Hours are a little weird and service has a lot to be desired, but the food is excellent. The bad part is you never when open and when there will be fresh baked goods. And the price isn't bad for all the food you get.

Michael Allread

Food was great. French toast was awesome with homemade bread. Nice little cozy breakfast joint you should try

The custard French Toast is worth the wait. Staff is nice and very friendly. Atmosphere is very old school dinner counter and booth setup with locals getting their breakfast and gossip.

Don’t expect much and you won’t be disappointed. We were a party of 4 waiting for a table even though the “large” table was available. “We save that for larger parties.” Ummm, we were the large party waiting for a table! Food and drinks all served on paper plates and plastic cups. Good cinnamon rolls.

The food here is fine. The French toast is pretty good, and the other things are perfectly good in terms of normal breakfast fare. Only 2 stars though, because this restaurant can't seem to serve you food on real plates, and provide you with real silverware. Using paper plates and disposable silverware in such times of global climate crisis seems like a travesty, especially in an area where the environment is the reason that people come to visit. If they washed dishes like a normal restaurant - 4 stars.

Amanda Giancamillo

Waited 45 minutes to be treated rudely by wait staff. My 2 year old grandson spilled his chocolate milk and the waitress did nothing but come over and put a roll of paper towels on the table and continued to act annoyed that it was on the floor. Food was great but will not go back.

Whoever left this place a good review, must of never went to breakfast anywhere. McDonald's is better. The coffee is undrinkable, so bitter. Nothing is home made. The best part of my breakfast was the toast. To top it off, everything is served on paper plates with plastic silverware and Styrofoam cups. Save your money and go somewhere else.

We DON'T recommend this diner. We were greated by a young woman (robotic-like) that told us to wait. ok..however we waited so she could put plastic silverware and paper placemats on our table.  Took forever for her to take our order.  So when she finally came over to ask what we wanted to drink we put our food order in too.  Still took forever to get our coffee.  There was 2 people working for a 6 table diner.  We had to be served with paper and plastic products due to Covid. This is contradictory considering NOONE had a mask on.  Prices were a bit much...should have driven to Lake Placid and got a much better breakfast at a much better price.  Also, CASH ONLY.  My french toast could have been cooked longer.  The other lady at least brought us our coffee refills.  Won't be going back. We were always curious about the place but now that's gone!