Appreciated the historical charm of this family-owned, rustic seafood and steakhouse rumored to have once served as both gambling den and brothel, and service was so gracious (the owner even took us on a private tour of the premises, which may or may not include a mischievous ghost ;)! Our party of 2 took advantage of Happy Hour (Monday through Friday from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM) in ordering a well-priced Captain's Basket (fried cod filet, breaded shrimp, and steak fries), before digging into a massive 16 oz. Prime Rib (Certified Angus Beef slowly oven-roasted in our signature House Prime Rib Seasonings with freshly baked bread and choice of starter and side)--we chose the delightful Clam Chowder and virtuous Steamed Vegetables. In retrospect, we would have skipped the Sinfully Rich Chocolate Cake (a moist, three-layer fudge cake featuring chocolate fudge icing) to which we added a scoop of vanilla ice cream, as it seemed to be from a B2B industrial food supplier rather than made in-house. read more

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C+, and the plus is being generous. The C is generous for that matter. I guess it gets that much for retaining all the 1947 charm of the building (re-opened after it was bought and rebranded in the '70s) but that's it. When the in-house magician came to our table and was promptly re-buffed by my friend he said, "OK, maybe next time", "probably not" my friend replied. At this point a good entertainer would read the room and move on, but this guy just had to know why we preferred our own conversation to whatever nonsense he was about to pull out of his sleeve, so he non-consensually put his hand on my friend's shoulder seated nearest him and pursued a line of questioning as to why. When you're in a hole, stop digging. Meal done, a silk shirt and gold chain showed up dripping from a guy asking about our dining experience. "C plus" I replied. He laughed as if I was being facetious. I held my disdainful gaze. The smile dissolved from his face. "My dad would be disappointed to hear that. What things didn't you like?" I didn't know where to start and just opened my palms in a bland gesture. Should I talk about the meager salad with a plastic ramekin of dressing? The surprisingly tough and uninspired prime rib cut that's easily eclipsed by the most middle-of-the-road Vegas buffet? Or perhaps the huge sickly sweet miss of the spin taken on an old fashioned that the server talked us into? We can leave that awkward magician out of it. When I drop $100 on a meal for myself I tend to get far superior results. I don't know dude, your dad should rightly be disappointed in this. And the cherry on top of his disappointment would be that that's where you left it. No "how can I make it right?" Or even "Can I send you over a dessert?" Or whatever specialty that you know you do really well. Just 'well that sucks, g'night'. So I guess you get this review, C+... actually C- after that effort. read more

One of the best restaurants in Big Bear! To start, the service here is phenomenal. We usually come with our large family & we are always so well taken care of. The food is amazing - you get great portions for what you pay for! And the ambience, we love the upstairs dining area so much. It is a darker and rustic feel, but has the perfect amount of light to where you can still see your party and have conversations. There's always such kind service from the entire staff + the owners. Sometimes they have live music and when we went on Saturday, there was a magician! Great entertainment. Highly recommend this spot! read more

Ambiance 5/5 Make sure you meet "George" the one form the underworld. He still lives up stairs...... Service 4/5! Ok this is gonna be tough. Food...... 4/5 You didn't get 5/5 because the clam chowder came out room temp. Service was decent! There was a mid way point where we didn't see anyone for a while. Food took quite a bit of time but it came out good! We got prime rib filet mignon and the best dish was the Alaskan king crab legs! $110 ish for 0.5 pounds. My daughter loved it. That was her dish. Really cute place with a lot of history, our waitress stopped at the end and told us all the history and how this place was a gambling hall at some point, brothel etc. wow! Loved this joint read more

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We were pleased with our dinner visit here. We made reservations just in case it was busy but it wasn't really busy for a Monday night. We arrived a little early and had a choice between bar area and main dining. We chose bar area since it seem to offer a more intimate atmosphere. The service we received was exceptional. She was informative and so attentive. We had clam chowder, beef vegetable soup, prime rib (medium with sear) and shrimp teriyaki. The star of the show was absolutely the prime rib. Hubby is not picky but is also not easily impressed and had nothing but praise for the dish. The vegetables was fresh and perfectly steamed. We're visiting Big Bear and do want to try other establishments but we will be back before we head out. I would recommend for sure. read more

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Went here on a whim and it was delightful! Great food good service and first time we tried a "peanut Colada" YUM! Some of us got fish some steaks and I got the prime rib... I was a little dismayed to see the au jus on it when it came out (typically I don't love it) BUT it was so good! This is a a FUN place and rumor has it it's haunted lol... but apparently that's just upstairs and we sat downstairs so ... next time! read more

This is the best place to stop by if you want Certified Angus beef in big bear lake. And reservations For Sure! They are fully reserved! Their free outside parking was fully occupied So Reservation will be necessary. Our servers were so friendly and knowledgeable...Obviously Their Prime Steaks and rib with their side England clam chowder and their loaded bake potato! Dont skip it...the portions are in a large side so be ready to eat a very big portion but delicious one...They pretty nice selections of drinks/ cocktails so dont miss that part either. The ambiance and its better to say the style is a pure classic mountain nostalgia...Its a fireplace in middle. Dark wood paneled walls and very old and vintage leather boots. There is also old images on the wall and im supposed to add that this restaurant was founded by Hollywood western star, famous comedian and actor Andy Devine. Also, another side note, this place is lil bit spooky and no im not overthinking lol....dont forget to ask the waiters about George, the resident ghost...Its entertaining and fun...and you can little bit of spice to your great experience and imagination....So its a great idea to sitting near fire place to get that whole historic experience...This is very hearty multi course steak dinner and its perfect for couple or family night... read more

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Captains Anchorage is one of the more fine dining establishments in the Big Bear area featuring a rustic and cozy atmosphere. This establishment has some history dating back to 1947 under its previous name. The menu features various appetizers (crab cakes, steamed clams), some various Angus beef steaks (top sirloin, New York strip, filet mignon, standard cut), a prime rib (which seems they are famous for), a couple chicken dishes, a pork chop, a pasta, some various seafood (fish, crab, shrimp etc). A friend and I wanted some steak and dined in here for that reason; we had a nice time. We didn't have a reservation and it was a busy night. We were able to sit in the bar area however at a table and were served by a great team of staff whom were friendly and provided great service. We had skipped appetizers on this visit and went straight to drinks and entrees. Hendrinks Martini was a good pour and nicely made and my friend enjoyed some Woodford. I went with the 12oz New York Strip with a blue cheese topper and a choice of steamed vegetables. The steak was cooked to a nice medium as I wanted, tender and nicely seasoned. The blue cheese topper was nicely cooked on top and gave the whole steak another great layer of taste. Friend had the Petite Cut 6oz with a loaded baked potato. Ended the meal with some good coffee and all was well. Prices are reasonable and to the times. Parking was easy and plentiful on premises in a lot filled with tall pine trees. Looking forward to the next visit! read more

Captains Anchorage - The New York Strip 12 Oz with a blue cheese topper and steamed vegetables - Seafood Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

What a cool spot in the heart of Big Bear! We tried to walk in a year ago but there was a 1 hour wait or longer, even at the bar. So this time we made a reservation way in advance. Turns out, this past weekend was pretty empty due to no snow. The location is super close to where we stayed, and the parking lot is a decent size. When you walk in, the ambiance is very old school with the dark wood, covered windows and candlelight/fireplaces. There's 2 sections downstairs, the left and right side, and then you go upstairs to the upper level, where there are an additional 2 sections. I love the different spaces and mix & match furniture style. We sat upstairs across from the fireplace, which wasn't on. We were approached quickly by our server, who was very nice and offered suggestions on food to order. The staff served us some bread & butter which was ok, nothing great. We started with two small cups of clam chowder, that was pretty good - super creamy and had a good amount of clam. I like that it was a smaller portion because it was very rich. We also got one prime rib with brussels sprouts and a Chilean seabass with garlic mashed potatoes. My man loved his prime rib and veggie. My seabass was buttery and delicious but the potatoes were watery and not very flavorful. We got two cocktails - the cadillac margarita and a fruit margarita. Price was very fair and the drink was tasty. We didn't have any dessert, a lot of the options came with ice cream and i'm just not a fan. We definitely would try again to order something else. read more

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Food was mediocre at best, rice pilaf was cold, prime rib had no taste, quality of food overall for the price was not up the standard. But Service was good. read more

Bill for 7 people 568.00, food sub par at best. I ordered barramundi with a Mornay sauce that was highly recommended. It was a plate of fish drowned in a very cheesy sauce too much oregano with stems and my fish had so many bones after the 6th bite of fish with constant bones I gave up and just ate the Brussels sprouts. 34 dollar dinner and the best part was the side salad. No lie. My son also got the fish he only had one bone but his rice was not fully cooked. We ordered sautéed mushrooms that tasted like they came from a can very rubbery. Shrimp cocktail was good. Steaks that were ordered were cooked well. It was so dark in there. Flickering lights were giving me a headache I have seizures not a good vibe for me. When we asked the hostess if we could leave our name for a table of 7 she said it's kind of slow now our last seating is at 8 go back and ask the group and if you want to you can call and make a reservation. So we went back to the hotel a two minute walk, asked and everyone said yes I called same girl answered the phone and says well we don't do same day reservations. Wth? I should have known then. To be honest a hot mess for 568.00 not worth it can't read the menus in the dark. Service was meh food was worse. Never going back read more

Very interesting place. Everyone was extremely welcoming and friendly. When we asked about a display featuring Andy Devine, we got to hear a very interesting story (I'll leave it to you to hear). The food was delicious and great portions size also. The place was dimly lit which made it a great option for dates. read more

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Horrible meal. Chicken special was inedible and my medium rare steak was well well done. Manager took chicken meal off our ticket. I showed her my steak which I did not eat and she comped me a dessert. We will never never never go back!!! read more

Ray and I had a wonderful dinner at Captain's Anchorage while in Big Bear, and it was such a great experience from start to finish. Ray ordered the top sirloin steak, and he said it was absolutely delicious--cooked to perfection and so flavorful that you don't need steak sauce at all. His tip: order melted butter on the side and drizzle it over the steak--it takes it to the next level. He also had a baked potato with chives and sour cream and a side of sautéed mushrooms, which were phenomenal. I had the vegetable beef soup and the New England clam chowder, and both were excellent--comforting, rich, and perfect for a cold Big Bear evening. For drinks, Ray enjoyed an Irish meal, and I had a Mountain Mule--both were delicious. The atmosphere is cozy, moderately quiet, and has that classic Big Bear cabin feel, which we loved. Our waiter, Shawn, was fantastic--very knowledgeable about the restaurant's history (he's been there for 31 years!) and even shared some of the restaurant's ghostly stories, which added a fun and unique touch. This is definitely a must-go dinner spot when you're in Big Bear. We'll absolutely be back. read more

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We had brought another couple here from out of town to dine with us. The service was okay but two of the Prime Rib medium rare dinners were rare if not raw and two of the Steak Diane medium rare dinners, were close to well done. We sent the two Prime Rib dinners back just to have them warmed up and the meat was that was returned were even worse. The clam chowder had little to no clams and the steamed clams were small and flavorless. The apology from the waitress and the manager were really weak. It was mid week, off season, with little to no one there. There is no excuse for this. We will not be returning anytime soon. read more

Our waitress Jennifer was fantastic as usual! The prime rib absolutely amazing. The Ella had a great taste to it with rosemary, the salad is great as well as the onion soup. Peaceful music and relaxing setting in one of big bears oldest steakhouses. Best prime rib we've ever had. Thank you, Carlos who is a great manager! read more

Captains Anchorage - Main dining room - Seafood Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

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This place is so cool, the ambiance is incredible I love the all the wood and tiffany lamp lighting. The service was so nice and fast, very warm and welcoming. And the food and drinks were absolutely delicious. The portions were very big as well so definitely worth the price. read more

Captains Anchorage - Cheese and Vegetable Tortellini and Steak Diane - Seafood Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

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Review of HH on 07/10 . Nice experience at the bar. Service, managers, and bartenders are really friendly and there is something nostalgic about this place. We elected to try the happy hour since we got there early. Overall pretty good and I like the people that run it great attitudes. We would return. read more

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First time here and the service and food was amazing! Very welcoming as you walk in and friendly staff. Our server Val went over the menu in details with us and answered all our questions and her food recommendation hit the bullseye! Shrimp dilabo, clam chowder, Steak, lobster, garlic mashed potatoes, and crispy brussels sprouts. I added a Long Island iced tea, read more

Captains Anchorage - Lobster and Long Island iced tea - Seafood Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

Wow! Stopped by the Captains Anchorage for an early dinner. The place was busy with locals having cocktails and dinner. We ordered the prime rib and the orange roughy. Our dinner was fantastic!!! Cooked to perfection, tasty, and served quickly. Staff were amazing. Friendly, chatty, and helpful. They went overboard to provide excellent service. We also enjoyed reading the displays mounted on the wall featuring Andy Devine (original owner). Very charming restaurant, service and food are wonderful! read more

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I really enjoyed this cozy restaurant. It is the kind of place where you'd take someone on a nice date or celebrating something special like an anniversary. Since we came on a weeknight, it wasn't too busy, but I'd imagine it would be packed over a weekend. I had the 12 oz prime rib which was way too much food for me, but it was sure delicious with the included clam chowder and the yummy baked potato. Lessons learned for next time is that I don't need to order such a large portion of prime rib as the small portion is ample. read more

Captains Anchorage - New England style clam chowder Cup - Seafood Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

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Got a recommendation of this place from some other visitors during brunch. Checked it out on Yelp and the menus looked quite nice. Plus I've been craving prime rib lately... We arrived for dinner Sunday night around 7:45 during sunset. Inside it was quite dark and moody with lighting and very rustic vibes. Fits perfectly with the town. The host asked if we would like inside or outside. Outside preferably with a heater was our request and it was met. We got seated next to the fire pit which was perfect. There was a party of about 8/10 and a couple that was already seated in the patio area. It was quite nice with the outdoor lights and water feature. And the perfect fire pit. Besides that, it was empty. First thing I notice were the metal chairs. With shorts on, it wasn't going to be nice during dinner. But one of the ladies actually offered a seat cushion for us as well as blankets. The perfect duo for dinner. That was a plus in service. Jennifer was our waitress. First off, she's amazing. The service was excellent and she was outstanding and friendly. Not only her but another one of the lady that was outside with her was great as well. Both took very good care of us and made us feel so comfortable throughout dinner. Amazing service from both of them. It's an impressive menu with pretty much all amazing dish. But found out that they had ran out of the prime rib which I was looking forward to. That was bummer. Drink wise, we had the espresso martini and a margarita. Drinks were good which was a nice start to the meal. Full bar offered. Food wise, we started off with the clams in the wine broth. Came out pipping hot and some sourdough bread for dipping. Both was a great start to dinner. Broth was quite tasty and flavorful. Nice chunks of clams added. Entrees, the top sirloin with veggies and Chilean sea bass with a bake potato and all the trimmings. Was sold on that as it was fresh and not frozen. Also had clam chowder to start as it was part of dinner. Chowder was quite nice and thick. Very flavorful and served with oyster crackers. Steak came out nice with chunks of broccoli, cauliflower and carrots. Both steak and sea bass were very good. Fish was a good meaty portion and very flavorful without a fishy taste. We were pretty full after that meal. Overall, the food was quite nice. Everything we had was excellent. A little disappointing when I found out that they had ran out of prime rib but it was fine. Service was amazing with Jennifer and the other lady. Ambiance outside was perfect with the fire pit, lights and blankets. Would definitely be back for another meal. read more

This is the best surf and turf steakhouse in big bear. Their staff is amazing and super helpful. And the food is always so perfectly done! It's a treat to eat here. read more

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All I can say is WOW!! The food, ambience, and customer service. Everything was perfect. We finally made it here. It's only open from 4:30 pm-8:30/9:30. So, it's either we're too early or too late to try this place and I'm glad we finally made it here. Thank you Jessica for taking great care of us and for the recommendations. They have blankets if you're sitting outside and feeling cold, thanks Carlos for the blanket. We'll be back for sure with family and friends!! read more

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I mean do I really have to say anything? Just look at this HUGE lobster tail it was amazing the best one yet!!! worth every penny read more

Captains Anchorage - Lobster tail - Seafood Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

After a 15 year hiatus from Captain's Anchorage, I have now been back twice within a month. I kept hearing good things about it and decided to give them another chance. Glad I did. The newish outside patio is fantastic on a warm summer night. Service is great. Food was great and worth the price. After talking to the lovely owner, I learned that her father who previously owned the restaurant was an absentee owner and they had difficulties after a long-time manager left. The owner, Patti, I think her name is, said she moved up there, took over the restaurant and turned it around. I'm very glad she did. read more

I'm more than happy to post yet another update to my review - as comments made on THIS post from Carlos were incorrect AND not directed to my review mostly. Carlos should not have responded to two separate reviews with one response here - as they are not indicative to my review. I do take pride in being honest in my reviews -AND I do not like being commented on with response to any other review other then my specific comments - nothing that anyone else with me comments separately. Please see my initial review, i DID CLAIM that MY FILET order was fine and cooked perfectly - I had my sauce, and my salad was fine. References in Carlos responses here - comments that are about and referencing a TOTALLY SEPARATE ACCOUNT and review/ APP should NOT be referenced in a response to ME on my Review. So the comments made here - regarding Jeremie's review - should NOT be referenced here. You should remove them and post on his review alone. Do not lump a single response together for separate reviews. read more

Excellent choice for dinner, date night or to celebrate a special occasion. The next table celebrated a youngster named Eli who got a candled dessert and a happy birthday serenade. The atmosphere is romantic with low lighting, strung lights, and relaxing music of the past by crooners and even Chain Gang. Hubs had their pork chop and he demolished everything on his plate. Doc had an 8 oz medium prime rib while I had a medium well end cut. Mine was tender, Juicy and perfectly seasoned. We both had take home boxes. Their bread was soft and the loaded baked potato was delicious. You are treated like valued customers cuz at least 2 people came around to ask how everything was. I believe the woman was the owner and the gentleman was the manager. I would definitely return for the food, courteous service and the ambiance. read more

Captains Anchorage - End cut, Loaded Baked Potato - Seafood Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

Food was delicious!! Service was very good and friendly. Our go to place for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. Atmosphere upstairs is very pleasant. read more

Came up here for the weekend with my fiancée and we knew we had to try this spot. I'm so glad we did! The food, the atmosphere, the history, the haunted nature, it's all perfect. Started off with some sautéed garlic mushrooms and wow, I never thought I could enjoy mushrooms by themselves this much! Ended up saving some for the steaks. Also got the diablo shrimp app, they are the perfect way to start a meal; bacon wrapped, a little heat from the jalapeño, a bit of sweet from the bbq sauce. Chef's kiss! We both got clam chowder and it was very tasty. Hard to go wrong with it honestly! For dinner she got the teriyaki top sirloin, I got the prime rib. The teriyaki top sirloin was cooked to perfection and very tender. It had a couple slices of pineapple on top and a side of teriyaki sauce for dipping and it was delicious! Also got a side of herb garlic butter, do yourself a favor and get this to add to a steak, veggies, or a baked potato (trust me). When I ordered my prime rib our server asked if I wanted it flip flopped. I asked her what that was and she said it's when the chef finishes it on the grill. I've never had it that way so I said let's do it! Totally worth it, it changed the flavor in such a great way. Gave it that little charbroil taste on the outside and still had that excellent pink color throughout. Super tender and flavorful! We both got the steamed veggies on the side and there was nothing to complain about, but definitely get that butter to add to the flavor. We heard the stories about the building being haunted so we asked if we could see upstairs and they were kind enough to give us a quick tour. Overall the staff was so nice and accommodating, the food was excellent, and the atmosphere is exactly what you want from an old school establishment such as this. If you find yourself in Big Bear put Captain's Anchorage on your list! read more

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This was a very cute spot for me and my fiancee to have dinner for my bday. It had vibes of a cool old school date spot in the heart of big bear. We were sat upstairs in a cute corner where we could sit side by side. Our waitress Jennifer (Jessica? Sorry I forgot!) was phenomenal and provided us with the special & other delicious options. She was extremely attentive and just gave amazing service. We ordered the bourbon bacon jam, the he special which was a surf and turf, and the prime rib. Everything was so delicious and we were stuffed to the brim! It was funny that the bourbon bacon jam crumbs were dropping on other parts of my food and it was still an amazing combo. Cucumbers? Baked potato? Brussel sprouts? YES it ALL worked haha Overall, when we are back in town we will 100% come back! read more

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One of the fanciest places in big bear for sure. The prices are a bit high but its definitely work it for the food, the staff are very quick and kind. The vibe is TO DIE FOR. Its very relaxing and quiet when its not super packed, the warm lighting is very peaceful. Food is good, not many vegetarian options though. The meat is delicious and I personally reccomend the filet mignon. read more

Drinks are good and inexpensive. Artichokes, loaded potato's were good appetizers. Barramundi was quite good. The big disappointment was the $74 porterhouse. It was full of tendons and and chewy. Very dissatisfied with the poor quality of what is supposed to be a top piece of meat. Also there are many bees that forced us out of the table. Overall not a good quality place. Service was good and the ambience outside was nice u til we were attached by bees. read more

The food in the service were top-notch, I really mean that. Worth every penny. We went on a Wednesday and there was still a pretty good crowd. I love that they had a real steak on the kids menu. Our nine-year-old can eat. read more

Captains Anchorage - Porterhouse in all its glory - Seafood Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

Always the best place to have a nice dinner on the mountain. The sea bass is fantastic and always consistent.

Very beautiful restaurant. It's like an old wooden ship inside with all the wonderful wood and decorations. Very large stone fireplace in the dining room and very comfortable red naugahyde booths. Nice large outdoor patio as well. I started with the fuzzy bear specialty cocktail for $11. It was delicious. Then I had the artichoke appetizer which was a nice size with butter and mayonnaise and a grilled lemon. Then I had a side salad with Caesar dressing and for the main course I enjoyed a nice 12 ounce lobster tail and a side of steak fries. Everything was delicious and my server was fantastic. All the staff were very friendly and attentive. Cleared away my plates very quickly and asked if I needed anything. I recommend this restaurant. read more

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The food was good, but the service was awful. Christina was our assigned waitress and never even contacted us in the first 30 minutes we were there. We were seated about 15 feet from the waitress station and saw a few employees gathering around. A manager came to check on us and we shared our experience of lack of service. Soon thereafter an assistant waitress named Susana took our drink orders. After another 15 minutes Susana returned with our drinks. During our 45 minute lack of service, we were able to decipher who Christina was. Susana was overwhelmed helping with multiple tables as Christina chatted with other employees. We requested another meeting with the manager this time requesting that Susana get 100% of our gratuity. Big Bear has a bad reputation for service in restaurants and Christina's demeanor certainly proves that. I will not be frequenting Captains Anchorage again. read more

Escaped the Vegas heat and landed in Big Bear where the air actually feels like air and not a hair dryer on high. First stop? Captain's Anchorage and let me tell you, they set the bar higher than the elevation. Live music in the background, perfect weather outside, and a menu full of solid dinner options. I went with the seared ahi tuna, because if you're going to eat fish this far up in the mountains, you want it to be done right. The staff? Friendly and welcoming, like they've been waiting for me to finally leave Vegas and show up. Between the atmosphere, the food, and the service, Captain's Anchorage nailed the trifecta. If it's your first time in Big Bear, skip the guessing game, just start here. You'll thank me when you're sitting there with a full belly, good tunes, and a smile on your face. read more

Very cool lodgey type restaurant... kitschy and just a little creepy because of the ghost stories you might have heard. All that aside, service is great and so were the steaks! The manhattan was also perfect! read more

Captain's Anchorage is a Big Bear gem! Our server Yuri was wonderful, and Carlos made the night unforgettable with his ghost stories. The prime rib, filet mignon, lobster tails, and dessert were all cooked perfectly--fantastic staff, amazing food, and a memorable. The outdoor seating with enough heat lamps made the evening comfortable. read more

Captains Anchorage - Seafood Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

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