The Black Bear Inn in Monmouthshire

I recently posted a poor review of what I thought was this place.. when it should have been for a similar named establishment.. I can only apologise to the owner, and anyone who read the review.. This place ‘Black bear inn’ usk is truly amazing. Just returned from having lunch, the best quality and cooking I’ve had in a very, very long time.. cannot recommend enough..

We're visiting some Welsh Gastropubs and we had a fantastic meal here. Really great selection of snacks, delicious oysters and croquettes and a beautiful seafood main course. Really interesting wine list and fab, friendly service.

This is our second visit, we last came about 3 years ago. We only had mains and shared a dessert this time as we'd had a big breakfast. The food was outstanding though, even better than our first visit we thought. amazing slow cooked beef and a brilliant halibut dish with a white wine sauce, both absolutely spot on! Nice selection if wines by the glass, not loads of beers on tap but a good selection of drinks all the same and lovely warm service. Flabbergasted by a couple of recent reviews, you can't please everyone though, keep doing what you're doing!

I went here as I saw it on Fred Sirireixs channel 4 programme. This is Michelin star! Absolutely not shoulder of beef was over cooked and dry not happy at all over price and not all locally source. Welsh rarebit tasted horrible over powering flavour they need to rethink how to do that one. And it wasn't warm in there over priced drinks. Carrot was over cooked as well but the sauce was nice also beef was tasty but terribly dry

Like some others who have reviewed the Black Bear recently, we had previously been there in 2018 and really enjoyed it, but it was under different ownership then and was a completely different establishment. If I had known it had changed hands and looked at their website before we went on this visit then we would have seen the menu and prices and not gone. We were disappointed to find that the interior of the pub has become bland and no longer has the cosy country pub feel. The menu was a tremendous disappointment in terms of the lack of choice; likewise the tiny selection of beers available, and the astronomic prices. On the good side, the service was excellent and the food very good. The lamb and pumpkin were very tasty, and it was a reasonably-sized portion of lamb to be fair, but what accompanied it was a bit laughable: 3 leaves and a tiny block of potato. I don't want this review to be overly negative because if you know what you going to get and what you have to pay then you will enjoy it as the service and food are very good. Sadly, such a limited choice and tiny portions at a huge cost are not what we enjoy, so we will not be returning.

Visited for Lunch on Sunday with friends. The staff are really warm, friendly and attentive. We had the most amazing lunch, beautiful dishes and lovely menu. We all ended up sharing so we could try different things out. Fine dining but with a relaxed atmosphere. Lovely drinks - murmuration cider and the best orange and lemonade 🤩 Very helpful with my nut allergy. Will definitely return! Highly recommend.

Warm welcome and great service from the off. The menu is limited but well worth it as everything was made fresh and so tasty. We had a number of snacks instead of a starter and these were all beautifully presented, and then the main courses went on to wow us further. Dessert and cheese was also tremendous. Everything was paired beautifully with a fantastic well priced wine list. We’re at the end of October and we have to say this is the best meal we’ve eaten out this year….Thank you, we will be back.

Excellent food. Best cod I've had in many years. The service was friendly and efficient and the menu was well conceived giving both fish, meat and vegetarians a choice.

Failure by staff to recognise my reservation.Inadequate menu. A pub for the bar crowd. Poor atmosphere for dining. One to avoid.

We had to cancel earlier this year but rebooked for my daughter’s birthday lunch . We were certainly not disappointed, the welcome, the staff and the food was outstanding.

A splendid place for surprisingly fine dining in a cosy, traditional pub environment. Food is original, rich and enormously high quality. A super place for ‘slow food’ of great flavour and quality, in every good sense. The home-baked bread is delicious. The service is friendly.

My only disappointment is not eating at The Black Bear before. I don’t live that far away and I’m kicking myself I’ve not been before. We booked a table for our Silver Wedding Anniversary and the food, drinks and service were amazing. We had two snacks before the meal some Welsh Rarebit and potted pork that were lovely. For starter I had the shin of beef in a broth that was so flavoursome and my wife had grilled mackrel. They were both delicious. The dish of the night was The halibut in a mussel broth. I think it was the best dish I have ever eaten and didn’t want it to end. The rare breed Welsh pork was top notch as well. The custard tart and cheese selection finished off the meal brilliantly. The wine and drink selection was comprehensive and the service was really attentive but not overbearing, they’ve got the balance just right. I’ve already booked to go again and I can’t wait. I’ve recommended the restaurant to my friends and family. If you go you certainly won’t be disappointed.

My husband and I went for lunch today. We deliberately booked having seen the review on the Michelin guide. We were not disappointed! Lovely fresh decor. Friendly and helpful staff. The food was excellent and beautifully presented. We had the Dexter beef broth and the beetroot salad for starters followed by halibut and pork loin for mains. Nice wine selection available by the glass. Finished off with Monmouth Pudding and a blackcurrant sorbet. Highly recommended!

Excellent service and the food was delicious. I recently stopped eating animals and was a bit nervous that the only main option was cabbage, but I needn't have worried, in the hands of a good chef it was more tasty than I would have believed possible. My OH had the Monmouth Pudding for dessert and made mmmm mmm noises throughout. Not cheap but you definitely get what you pay for. The pub is in a lovely village, off the beaten track but well worth a detour.

This was a Sunday afternoon meal for two, ad-hoc visit. We were unaware that this was a foodies place so the first surprise was that Sunday lunch was not an option. Still , we threw ourselves into it and had two courses and some of the small plate dishes. In all honesty they were a bit bland and uninteresting. Starters were better and we chose lamb and cod for the mains. These were ok. Staff were very pleasant and the service was good. Very basic decor, typical of any country pub which isn’t a criticism I add. The bill was steep. Was it ok ? Yes. Would we return, no. Perhaps my palate isn’t refined enough to understand what is going on here. I’d probably stop by for a pint and relax out the front though, as it’s a nice setting.

Fantastic food and service. Small menu of great quality seasonal food. It was all delicious and felt like care had been put into each dish. Service was spot on. Waitress very knowledgeable and great presence. Such a gem to find a restaurant like this!

Fantastic food in a picturesque village, we enjoyed our first of what will definitely be a large number of future visits. We passed groups who had walked their dogs there on our way in (they ate in the garden) and made our way to our...

Really exceptional food in a casual and relaxed atmosphere. Characterful little pub with a great drinks selection and nice service.

Proper job! Absolutely superb food- small menu, local produce, thoughtful recipes and every mouthful a joy. On top of that, the people obviously give a damn, and it shows. The dining room might not be ideal- not sure I'd want to be stuck in the...

What a lovely Friday lunch! One of us is a meat-eater, the other a vegetarian. Not a 'choice' as such for vegetarians (as only one dish is available), but the dish on offer was extremely delicious. Great service too. We ate in the garden as...

Five of us had lunch here for the first time on a sunny trip to Wales. Two live nearby and had heard good things about the restaurant. I read some reviews and was keen to try. The menu is small but even so there is...

The small menu is this place never disappoints. We shared some “snacks” where the oysters were delicious and then all of us enjoyed the duck with the usual “star of the show” confit potato. Steamed pudding for dessert was a real treat.

Simple and yet cultivated menu of three choices for each dinner course. Very fresh tasting locally sourced produce was apparent from the first mouthful. The duck was a particular stand out Very extensive wine list for all budgets and absolutely faultless and friendly service.

If you like food - you’ll love this place. The menu is reassuringly simple and everything we had was delicious. Do NOT miss the confit potatoes. Service perfect and just a lovely place to visit.

Tempted back here by the incredible meal we had last time and the excellent menu, we snapped up a last minute table last weekend. And just like expected, we're still talking about our visit even now. Highlights included my hogget, the anchovy and the confit...

We went here this week for the third time in the last few months and have to say that it would be difficult to fault the food or service in any way on any of the visits. Excellence and consistency. This week, one of our...

Had a fabulous time at Black Bear today for lunch. Food was delicious with thanks to the Friday night BB crowd for recommendations! Service was excellent thanks Minty! We will definitely be back.

We have been going to the Black Bear a few times per year ever since they opened and I must say that every time we are very impressed. The last two times I have been there I really think Josh and his team has really...

Delicious meal, with excellent service, in this charming and welcoming restaurant. Thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

The food and service was very good and enjoyed by us all. Good food, wine and a Michelin star all come at cost so be prepared to dig on to one’s pockets. Nevertheless we enjoyed our visit and would recommend the place.

I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. It is unpretentious and welcoming, beautifully yet simply designed and the food and service is second to none. We are not short of fine restaurants and pubs in the area but very often something falls short- poorly trained waiting...

Often overwhelmed by choice on menu's, makes you wonder how many microwaves some kitchens have. Things are different at the Black Bear. A short appetizing menu defined by the area's excellent seasonal produce. fabulous setting, awesome produce, a talented chef and charming front of house....

Booked a table last month after meaning to for over two years after hearing so much about it and we were blown away. When researching, the information we found told us that the pub was wheelchair accessible but when we arrived, there is one small...

A lovely setting with first class food and wine. The service was excellent and overall this was a highlight of our trip!

Two-star restaurants charging five-star prices are sadly part of the UK culinary scene. This long-established eatery in the Monmouthshire countryside is currently typical: its promising but ultimately bland and unexciting menu is not reflected in reasonable charges but in end-of-meal bills that make the eyes...

It's so uplifting to find a country pub that ticks all the boxes of outstanding food, attentive service and excellent value for money.

We loved the cosy atmosphere and the food was excellent. The food uses seasonal and really high quality ingredients, which shine through in the cooking. The menu was small, but well curated with options for different preferences - we wanted to try all of the...

Had a great meal here on Saturday night! All the dishes were amazing, we had a few of the snacks which were all great and good sized portions and we shared a starter but the standout was the main course which was the best pork...

Me and my brother in law had an exceptional dinner here a few weeks ago. I'm a vegan, I let the restaurant know in advance and they especially made some of the best vegan food I've had - even though I realise this is not...

Arrived here for a meal but after looking at the very limited menu of 2 main meals ( 1 Pork 1 fish ) and 1 limited vegan meal We decide against having food. The pub takes a £20 per person deposit which ok I get...

Low key but absolutely stunning food. Only a few choices which I love as it means it’s well sourced and fresh. Best Oysters I think I’ve ever eaten and then a gurnard with fresh peas and chargrilled lettuce that was out of this world. Would...

Despite living 10 minutes away, we have regrettably never eaten here, but managed to put this right with a short notice booking Food was amazing, unpretentious and beautiful cooked and presented, with the best oysters we have ever eaten Truly lovely

Cute pub with exceptional food and friendly service. The food was beautifully presented and tasted as good as it looked. We had 2 starters and roast lamb. We will be going back!

Best meal in a long time and such lovely service. Really cosy, beautiful pub with a great atmosphere in a quiet country village. We all shared the snacks to start, then had the duck, cooked beautifully with an incredible confit potato and the cod with...

The pub/restaurant is situated in a delightful quiet area down a country lane. It doesn’t have many covers so booking is recommended. Inside, dogs on lead are welcome and so probably are children. I looked at the menu before booking, it says that the menu...

Never been here before but was made to feel welcome the minute we walked in. Served the best pint of Butty Bach I’ve had in a long time. Thought the menu was limited but between us we tried nearly everything and it was all excellent,...

This is by far the best pub we’ve been to! The food was out of this world! This pub is a go to if in the local area. Cannot praise the staff highly enough. The food is really next level!

We’ve lived in Monmouthshire for over 6 years, so it was GREAT to at last have a local pub with good food. We visited Friday lunchtime on 1st April, and we weren’t disappointed with a main course of freshly cooked fish for me and vegetarian...

Ate here Saturday evening on first day of holiday at Alice Springs. We arrived a little early but made to feel very welcome. I had the chicken starter and the confit pork main. Food was excellent, best meal out for a long time. Front of...

Great food, staff and atmosphere. Rhubarb pavlova was exceptional - and I don’t normally eat dessert, although all the food was excellent. Well behaved dogs welcomed as well!! We will be back

At here Saturday evening on first day of holiday at Alice Springs. We arrived a little early but made to feel very welcome. I had the chicken starter and the confit pork main. Food was excellent, best meal out for a long time. Front of...

We always enjoy the warm welcome from the maitre d’ and were soon on our way with some fizz and a pint of Butty Bach. The starter of scallops was fresh and succulent and the main course venison was sumptuous along with the signature confit...

I booked a table here as a treat for my husband and 17 year old daughter, we visited on a Sunday lunchtime. We received a wonderfully friendly welcome from Joe, and were shown to our table where a jug of water was immediately provided -...

Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. The passion for the good really shines through. A very special place. Small, so make sure you book ahead.

Enjoyed a really well cooked meal here recently. Attentive staff and good range of drinks too. Very good restaurant in a lovely part of the world.

Very good food in a comfortable, welcoming pub. The choice of starters and mains is limited to three of each plus an interesting choice of snacks which could be eaten as tapas or a selection used for a starter. We had pork belly and branade...

Our previous visits have been as a couple and with friends. The food and ambiance have been most enjoyable and warranted the price. However the food on this last visit let us down with a bang. The hake on the main course was mushy and...

Superb food and superb service. Another wonderful evening of great food, beer, wine and atmosphere in the best country inn. After a gorgeous evening our taxi let us down ( Dragon Taxis Newport - do not use them). The host, Joe, after serving us so...

I love understated places like this. The food is an absolute treat. Joe the front of house manager and colleagues are charming, super informative and efficient. The food is the best I have tasted in a pub for a very, very long time. You can...

Friendly service in genial location. Limited menu but with something interesting to please most people. This is most definately not pub grub but is fine dining. All cooked freshly on site all tasted fabulous. I had the boar pate and halibut. A special treat was...

The Black Bear is a bit off the beaten track. It take's some finding but it's worth the effort. The food is amazing. We had 3 courses and every dish was stunning. I couldn't imagine getting too excited over confit potato but this was packed...

This restaurant us about 3 miles outside of Usk Town Centre. Staff were very friendly and attentive. I went with 4 friends and we all tried different dishes. The stand out dishes for me were the oysters in batter and the belly pork. There was...

Our first visit (a Sunday lunchtime) and we received a warm welcome to a cosy pub with a clean pared back style. We liked the fact the menu was small and quickly made our choices, drinks were ordered and arrived promptly. My husband ordered the...

I ate here once before and I was a little disappointed but the chef has "bedded in" now and the food is really carefully thought out, the dishes balanced, and there are some quietly surprising and effective flavour combinations. Not a huge menu but enough...

First class food, we’ve eaten here at least 5 times since the summer and every time it’s been perfect. I’ve never been able to say that about any place before. Staff very friendly too

Wanted to take my family somewhere special for lunch, and it didn’t disappoint, the food was delicious, the chef seriously knows his food, innovative and totally scrummy . Being a little picky perhaps, I would have preferred my soup served in deeper bowl, and perhaps...

We went to the Black Bear today on a beautiful autumn afternoon. Bettws Newydd is an ideal place to have this lovely country pub. We were greeted warmly and immediately felt relaxed in the cosy atmosphere. The food was outstanding. A small quality menu, but...

This has long been one of my favourite places to eat and we came to see what the new owners are up to. The best I can say is that the food is outstanding! A satisfyingly short menu and an exciting choice of dishes. My...

This is a superb - if bijou - inn in a tiny village in the midst of unspoiled countryside, yet no distance from centres of population. Amongst the best meals I’ve had, with delicious locally foraged mushrooms followed by immaculate duck and a ‘homely’ lardy...

Had an absolutely faultless meal at The Black Bear last night. Greeted by friendly bar staff, seated in a cool, private courtyard in the garden and then served exceptionally good food. We opted for a tapas style selection from their snack menu, that exceeded our...

All six of us enjoyed our meals from the short but varied menu that changes frequently. Locally sourced food where possible (Gwent is not known for it's oysters) very well cooked. Good service, reasonably priced.

We made a last minute lunch booking on the off chance and were happily accepted but asked if we could come towards the end of their lunch window as they were very busy. No problem! We are not great fans of traditional pub Sunday roasts...

We passed the black bear a few months ago and thought what a lovely little country pub. So we called in for a local cider and having seen the menu we vowed to come back. We visited last Saturday with some friends for my husbands...

We ate at this lovely pub on Saturday evening with friends. Staff were all very engaging and very attentive. Yes, the menu is limited but couldn't fault the food in any way... from the smoked mackerel and beetroot starter, through to the venison main and...

We stumbled across this place on our recent trip to the area. Apparently taken over by a young couple about a year ago and it's a real breath of fresh air! Really excellent food! The menu is short but everything on it was fantastic. Much...

Yes, that's true. This former local now wants people to eat from a very limited menu, not drink there. Mains choices are from 1 meat, 1 fish or 1 veggie dish. No premium lager on display and beer prices are the highest in the area. The pub is not accessible for a self propelled wheelchair user altho' a lot of money was recently spent on cosmetic changes. Sadly this former local is no longer such, culminating in its closure for the festive period. Let's hope the owners soon realise a 3 course lunch at the Walnut Tree is cheaper and better before people continue to vote with their feet

Been following these guys for a while on social media now, really love their simple, but regularly changing menu. Visited on Sunday 8th for the fish special menu. Started with a great selection of snacks, included some really delicious bread and seaweed butter followed by 3 courses of fantastic well thought out and beautifully presented dishes.Really love what this young couple are doing with the place. Can't wait to visit again

First visit, not a huge selection on the menu but all our food was superb, the winter squash soup was delicious but the highlight was the duck breast which was cooked perfectly. Will be back.

We visited with 3 friends on a Saturday in October after hearing good things about new owners doing exciting stuff and we had an absolute blast!! A warm welcome was followed by great food and drink. (If you want a quieter atmosphere it might be best to ask to sit in the back room, we enjoyed being in the bar area though) The menu is short but super seasonal and still manages to offer a great range all cooked and seasoned extremely well, love the snack menu too! Oysters and a pint of ale to start, YES PLEASE! and what a great wine/drinks list! European only and mostly natural/organic/whatever you call them wines covering a good range of styles and prices as far as I could tell, some simple cocktails and a really interesting selection of port, sherry and aperitif/digestif. A really refreshing change from the usual dross you find in pubs - cheap and nasty Chilean/Kiwi Sauvignon blanc and sickly sweet Zinfandel rose. Only one slight whinges is that we did get a bit of a blast of cold air every time the front door opened, so hopefully they’ll address that soon. But all in all a great evening and whilst not cheap we found it to be excellent value for money, BRAVO!

It has never disappointed on the previous visits and this time was no exception for. 70th birthday celebration.Although the menu looks limited it is all freshly prepared and from the snacks through to the deserts and wine it is wonderful. Beautiful and cosy inn.Wish we were in walking distance as we would be frequenting very often.Thank you Joshua and hannah

The Black Bear is our local and over the years we have lived in the area it has had many operators. The Bear changed hands a few months ago and was overdue a visit. We visited on Saturday the 19th of October, our party consisted of 4 experienced diners who regularly visit a wide range of Restaurants in South East Wales, prior to the visit we looked at the various reviews including those on trip advisor which in the main are good but on our visit all in our party thought the evening came nowhere near the expectation we had. The menu on our visit was very limited with a number of dishes unavailable, the wines at the Bear are all European with popular new world wines not available, but nice to see some craft beers on the bar.

We had passed by the Bear earlier this year whilst out walking when it wasn't open and wanted to get back to try it out under its new ownership.Another walk in this picturesque area presented that opportunity and we weren't disappointed.

A real find; a short menu where each entry was tempting. Hake cooked perfectly and melting "Firepit Pork". I could easily have eaten a plateful of the rabbit croquettes. Relaxing atmosphere, nicely laid out; not full on a Saturday night but I suspect that it is going to get busy.

Superb food at lovely pub In beautiful location. Can’t fault anything about this place. Service excellent - quietly done, friendly and attentive. Portions just right. Balance of protein and veg better than most establishments. Wine great. My local favourite.

We had previously walked past the Black Bear Inn and it’s unassiming albeit tidy exterior didn’t catch our attention in the way some of the other well known restaurants in Monmouth do. After reading a great review in a local magazine and the recent Tripadvisor comments we decided we’d give it a try. We are so delighted we did...as the Black Bear Inn is such a brilliant find, only wish we’d tried it earlier and not walked past! Whilst the menu is limited to 3 starters, there are also some great “snacks” which work well as starters and 3 mains the choice was balanced and reflective of the locally sourced products. The wine list is very extensive and well priced with great options on beers and ciders too. If you find you don’t really have room for the wonderful desserts at least try one of the sorbets or ice cream as the Fig Leave Ice Cream truly captures the creative and perfectly executed culinary skills of the Black Bear. No walking past it again for us we will definitely be back.

Adorable accueil, moment delicieux, cadre chaleureux, cuisine au top niveau : Quel talent! Merci Josh et Hanna!

What à lovely find. Got recommended here and so glad we came.

We had tried to eat here before, but it was always full. Now I know why!

Incredible food and wine in a cosy setting. Absolutely loved everything about this restaurant - go and you will not be disappointed! Already planning my next visit...

Had an amazing meal at the black bear inn last weekend. The food, wine and everyone working there were unbelieeeeevable. Get yourself here!

We had a superb meal at the Black Bear last night, the deep fried Oysters and potted Pork from the snack menu as a starter were excellent followed by two outstanding main courses of cod and belly pork. A lovely atmosphere in the recently revamped dining area and great to see hosts Hannah and Josh putting their own mark on this great little local pub and restaurant. Well done all at the Black Bear, we look forward to returning again soon !

Beautiful country pub, with a stripped back menu focusing on the best of the season. Every dish served was excellent and perfectly balanced. The pork with greens and barabrith pudding were particular highlights! We had to ask to order drinks twice, rather than the bar staff noticing the we were running low- but that was ok, they might have been new. Highly recommend, delicious food in a stunning setting. The kids very much enjoyed their fish and chips and sorbets, possibly nearly as much as meeting Frankie the dog in the pub garden! Thanks for a lovely Father’s Day lunch.

We went here on a weekend in Wales and were so impressed by the amazing food and wonderful service. Would definitely recommend going out of your way to experience it.

My girlfriend and I stopped for some lunch after a weekend of canoeing on the river wye. The food was absolutely outstanding, both of us agreeing that it was among the best we’ve eaten (particular favourites were the fried oysters and monkfish) and we were tempted to try the whole menu. The location is beautiful in the Welsh countryside and indoors feels spacious with a relaxed vibe. The service was also first class, bravo Josh and Hannah! I would highly recommend anyone to visit.

Went for Lunch here on our way home from a lovely week in the Gower

Second time dining here with family and we had a lovely lunch, finishing off our holiday in Wales. Our table cycled through fresh oysters, fried oysters, sourdough bread, mackerel, lamb, monkfish and a variety of desserts - and my favourite dish, the beef tatare. Lovely atmosphere, no doubt we'll be back again soon!

We've eaten twice in a fortnight at this charming little pub and it's been a revelation both times. From the delicious home baked sourdough to the incredibly fresh fish with delicate fresh vegetables, to the wafer thin pastry base of the chocolate tart: this is a chef with real flair who cooks flavourful, unusual food. Yes, the menu is small, but it changes very often and offers wonderful quality food, beautifully served by the two young owners.

My wife and I arrived at the Black Bear on Saturday evening after a six mile walk along the Usk Valley Path from Usk. We only intended on having a drink but were pleasantly surprised to find a “bar snack” menu in addition to the 3 course menu. We managed to create a mini tapas by sharing a selection of these mini courses, accompanied by wine, beer, pudding and cheeses! Maybe slightly indulgent but it felt super special. A lovely atmosphere and very friendly service throughout. A great relaxed end to the day. Thanks!

We were greeted at The Black Bear Inn by by Hannah who is a fantastic Front of House Manager; friendly, accommodating and efficient. The menu had clearly been carefully crafted to offer lots of choice even with only three starters, three mains and five desserts on offer (along with some great snack/side options). The options were rustic but had a certain flair that set them apart from other country bistros we’d eaten at recently. The food we ate was exceptional. Cooked to perfection, every flavour married to each other with real thought. They have a great selection of local beers, wines and cider, and we made our way through three courses and a couple of glasses of wine in a warm, comfy and memorable environment. Will 100% be returning here.

Great beer and lovely food from young new owners. Made our weekend visit to Usk. This lovely pub is well worth supporting.