Slideshow Black Bear Restaurant on Hopyard near Owens, with its impressive carved wood bear scuptures out front, will open Monday. Photo by Jeb Bing. Previous Next

Black Bear Diner opened its newest California restaurant Monday in Pleasanton, offering its famous breakfast specials that fill the plate, and then some.

Located at 5100 Hopyard Road near Owens Drive, the restaurant has its signature bear carvings in front and along the sides of the renovated building that's been home to several other eateries over the years.

The first Black Bear Diner was opened in 1995 near Mt. Shasta by Laurie and Bob Manley along with their partner Bruce Dean. In choosing a name and a theme for their restaurant, they decided on the black bear, which is native to the Mt. Shasta area. The family of restaurants has grown to mover than 60 in eight Western states.

The founders said their goals at all their restaurants, including the new one in Pleasanton, is "a desire to bring home-style cooking and personal service back to the dining experience."

The restaurant also will feature original artwork by Steve and Gary Fitzgerald, who have 110 murals of nature scenes on display at Black Bear restaurants and other locations. Another Black Bear mural artist whose works are in the restaurant is Colleen Mitchell-Veyna of Visalia.