We tried several new-to-us restaurants on our winter trips to Big Bear Lake. The food and service, was so good, that I wanted to share it with y'all ( We didn't have biscuits, the y'all just felt right).
If you've been following my blog, then you know that one of our favorite places is the Le Dolce Vita Tasting Room. It's simply the most fun place in town. There is always a great crowd, live music and the owners are very chatty. The only problem is we could easily spend our entire trip parked at the bar and never do anything else. We visited on the weekends just before Valentine's and St. Patrick's Day, so note the decor. The cheese plate was the best I've ever eaten, so much variety.
We were excited to go back to the Grizzly Manor Cafe for breakfast, but the line was out the door. We drove through the city and stopped at the Grind & Grill Cafe. It's not as unique as Grizzly Manor, but the Grind & Grill is strong competition when it comes to the best pancakes and waffles on the lake. Plus, they use local coffee mugs, which I love.
One of biggest dining surprises was the Evergreen, a fine dining restaurant that is nestled up on a hillside and offers the best views of the lake. I should clarify the fine dining. Big Bear has restaurants that serve amazing meals, but even the nicest places have a woodsy/casual vibe. Don't let this deter you or make you think that the food is somehow less with regard to quality. Our meal at the Evergreen rivals some fabulous meals that I've eaten in big city/ celebrity chef restaurants.
What's more, is the hospitality was stellar. We arrived early, not realizing that the restaurant wouldn't be open for another half an hour. The owner of the Evergreen saw us out front and opened early for us. She escorted us to the best table in the house and got us started with champagne and appetizers, as we waited for her staff to arrive.
Dan and I had their Beef Wellington for two, which was scrumptious. The meat was so tender and had zero gristle. The thing to order is the scallop appetizer. Wow. I've never eaten better scallops. Evergreen goes out of their way with presentation and decorative plating.
The best thing at Evergreen was a moment where I relived my childhood. This is the same ship painting that my mom had hanging in our living room for my entire childhood. Isn't it dreadful?!?!
Sometimes a big, greasy breakfast is not what you want. In Moonridge, just off the main road that runs through Big Bear, we found the Moonridge Coffee Company. This independent coffee shop was super cozy and the antithesis to Starbucks. We had made-to-order breakfast sandwiches and lattes while perusing the local newspaper.
Big Bear has a Himalayan Restaurant, lacking imagination, it's actually called the Himalayan Restaurant. I ordered the chicken sekuwa, which is a chicken that is baked in a clay oven and served with onions and assorted vegetables. It's hard to describe exactly how it's seasoned, as the spices are completely foreign to me. I've ordered this dish at Tara's Himalayan Cuisine in Los Angeles and the taste is very similar. Whatever it's seasoned with, it's delicious. I try to sop up all of the spices with some naan, just to savor it. Excuse the single, not so great photo. We were too busy chowing-down to take pictures!
Finally, if you love your pizza drowning in toppings, then Neo's Pizza House is the place for you. Neo's isn't technically in Big Bear, but it's close. It's located in the town of Running Springs, just a short drive from Big Bear Lake. I've never seen so many toppings on a pizza. Never. The price was so low that we left an extra big tip because we felt like we were robbing them. This is good stuff!
I'm convinced that Big Bear is a town for foodies. Take a weekend trip and bring your appetite!
