BIG BEAR: The Grizzly Manor Cafe

Bigger is better at the Grizzly Manor Cafe, where pancakes are the size of stop signs and butter comes in heaping scoops. Jayme Nordine has owned the cafe for 23 years. His work philosophy is simple: keep portions large and attitudes sassy. Nordine says he loves his customers but doesn’t hesitate to give them a hard time when they don’t finish their grizzly-sized meals. Nordine credits the cafe’s success to the menu’s homey breakfast fare and ample portions, but says atmosphere has a lot to do with it too—in the tiny restaurant, guests have to cram in and are forced to get cozy with the wait staff and fellow diners. Everyone’s family at the Grizzly Manor, Nordine says. That business model seems to be working, there’s a line of people out the door waiting for the Grizzly experience almost every day.