Launched as a shared vision by owners, friends, and colleagues, Dave Rauschkolb and Chef Phil McDonald, Black Bear Bar Bread Company was born in 2016. Together with their team of professionals, the pair baked, tested, and tweaked into perfection craveable recipes that customers quickly came to love. The original location expanded in 2019 to include the Bar Room, which is located in Santa Rosa Beach, and the Shops of Grayton, adjacent to the Grayton Beach cafe.’
The Black Bear Bar Room features a full dinner menu, nightly seasonal specials, farm-raised oysters, cheese, and charcuteries as well as house-made pasta. Add to this the brand’s extensive natural wine list and the local craft beers they keep on tap, and it’s easy to see why this locale is a favorite of visitors and locals alike.
Customer service is of paramount importance to all Black Bear Bread Company locations, including the Black Bear Bar Room. Anyone who wishes to learn more information, needs help planning an event, or just wants to drop a line to the owners is always welcome to do so or to call. As mentioned above, The Black Bear Bar Room frequently plays host to various interesting live performance events. Some past examples include Boukou Groove, and DJ L’mont, both of which performed live in the venue.
When it comes to sources, ingredients, and products, Black Bear Bar Room is especially mindful. The entire company has developed close relationships with vendors, farmers, and growers, which ensures that food served in any of the brand’s locations is made of the highest quality and is sustainably produced. Daily specials are often based on the bounty experienced by local farms and artisans, which can spark many interesting and delectable creations.
The Black Bear Bar Room’s parent company has been featured in Home, Southern Living, Emerald Coast, and Review Magazines, which list it as a must-visit location when in the area. Other awards include the Perfect Award by South Walton, The Best of the Emerald Coast by Emerald Coast Magazine, the Golden Spoon Award by Florida Trend, and the James Beard Foundation Outstanding Baker award.
This quaint location features a sizable bar with a casual, yet sophisticated seating area situated near windows to enjoy the beautiful outdoor view. There are small tables as well for guests who would like to dine at the Bar Room. When you visit Black Bear Bar Room, obviously be sure to try some bread, which is what the parent company is known for, a particular type of cultured bread that was expertly created and is good for the gut and the body overall.
When visiting the Black Bear Bar Room, be sure to try the…
Oysters
This dish is served with Horseradish, Sourdough, Mignonette, or Cocktail Sauce.
Grouper Ceviche
With Garlic, Cilantro, Lime, and Avocado.
Champagne and Oysters
This dish is a dozen farm-raised oysters with a choice of Collet Champagne.
Sharables:
Some dishes on the menu are made to share among a group, table or at least a couple. They include the following:
Bread & Butter
Again, guests must try the signature specialty of the Black Bear Bar Room by tasting the delicious homemade Country Sourdough bread with seasonal pickles and Zaatar Butter.
Marinated Olives
With Thyme and Lemon Confit.
Classic Gulf Shrimp Cocktail
With House-made Cocktail Sauce.
Black Bear Board
This is a compilation of three kinds of cheese, three types of meat, house pickles, dried bruit, smoked & salted nuts, grain mustard, and baguette.
More
There are many delicious options on the menu at Black Bear Bar Room, all of which are made with the freshest ingredients to ensure optimal flavor.
The Black Bear Bar Room also offers wines by the glass in sparkling, white, and red varieties as well as featuring reserves, draft beers and beer by the bottle.
Insider Tips:
–The Black Bear Bread Co.— the parent company of the Black Bear Bar Room— was so named because local Grayton Bears would frequently pull test bread out of the dumpster to consume.
-The delicious house-made bread is a work of art by Chef Phil McDonald who painstakingly perfected the cultured recipe until it was mouth-watering.