By Frances Sharples
BREWERTON – On Thursday July 13, TV program and YouTube channel America’s Best Restaurants arrived in Brewerton to interview restaurant owner Michael Piraino at his restaurant, Bear Creek.
From the first glance of the restaurant to the feel of the interview itself, it’s evident why.
“They [America’s Best Restaurants] walked us through everything,” said Piraino. “They explained B roll and A roll and all these different film terms, and we did a walkthrough of what we were going to do in the segments…it was really a fun experience.”
Piraino provided insight into the style of the channel’s filming, as well.
“The way they like to shoot is kind of off-the-cuff,” he said. “It’s like being on a talk show, and they don’t give you the questions in advance. For me, I love that—I’ll engage with anybody.”
Starting off in 2019, months before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Piraino opened Bear Creek with his girlfriend, Jackie Allen, after attracting attention from the restaurant’s previous owners for his success at another diner Piraino ran just down the road.
While the pandemic led to many other businesses closing, Piraino transformed tragedy into opportunity, selling over 150 burgers through a drive-thru window every Wednesday.
This is not the only time that Piraino spotted an opportunity to create community through food.
“I make good food—familiar food,” Piraino explained, “and I make it so that all walks of life can enjoy it…We welcome anyone—any walk of life, any race, color, creed, political [view], whatever. Everyone here is just human, [so] who’s hungry? Who likes food?”
Beyond his award-winning menu and attentive staff, Piraino has established a welcoming feel with outdoorsy, camp-esque decor, using ingredients from local vendors, and utilizing care-oriented employment tactics.
Piraino referenced several times that he values helping his employees establish smart financial habits and doing all he can to support his workers’ lives and families outside of work.
Piraino’s care for his employees might only be outshone by his care of Bear Creek itself.
Despite the prevailing homey environment, topnotch food, and family-oriented work atmosphere, Piraino identified the defining characteristic of Bear Creek quite simply—it’s an infant.
“This is a never-aging infant. It never can do anything on its own—it won’t open itself, it won’t cook the food, it won’t do the menu,” he said. “Everything has to be done by you, and if you’re not willing to be there and you’re not willing to do it, you’re not going to be successful.”
Of course, Piraino alluded to some of the other potential pitfalls of owning a restaurant, including some local drama among other restaurant owners that unfolded in the aftermath of his interview with America’s Best Restaurants.
“I think the best thing I took out today—don’t even engage with it,” he said. “You know, everyone’s going to hate you for something. They’re going to say things, they’re going to try and get your attention. The best thing I picked up out of today was, don’t focus on it. If you worry about that, you’re not worrying about where you need to go. So if you’re looking in your rearview mirror, you’re not going to see the truck that you’re gonna run into in front of you.”
Despite some backlash, Piraino handled the feature with grace and gratitude, quite similarly as to how he’s handled Bear Creek.
To tune in to the restaurant’s feature on America’s Best Restaurants, keep an eye on their website americasbestrestaurants.com/rests/new-york/bear-creek-restaurant and follow Bear Creek at facebook.com/americasbestrestaurants/.
