Peppercorn Grille

Seriously. Get a changing station. You’re in a family oriented location. As I sit in your restaurant I am surrounded by families with small children. As I type my husband is walking our 1 year old back to our hotel so he can change him. Because of this we will not be dining in your establishment again. Get a clue. Get a changing station !

Great staff and atmosphere. We like their clam chowder and peppercorn steak. However, the steak can be too peppery and can cause you some discomfort later. The steak is NOT a traditional peppercorn sauce but I wish it was that way I could get the sauce on the side and control how peppery I want it.

Went back to Peppercorn on ²⁄₂₀ and the two girls working the hostess stand are the pinnacle of customer service… very friendly, attentive and communicate well to all those waiting.
I didn’t order a steak this time (big mistake), but went with the bolognase… which I didn’t like very much. Waitress was Ezmerelda and the service seemed lacking compared to my last two visits.
Would I go back, sure… the clam chowder soup is worth every visit.

Upon arrival the service was slow, slow, slow but the hostess checked on us several times. It was nice because it let us know they knew we were there and recognized the slow service. Once we ordered our food arrived quickly and was delicious. The spinach salad was huge and so good. The warm bacon vinaigrette on the salad was amazing. The cranberry turkey Brie sandwich was amazing. My husband liked the Cuban sandwich and my son didn’t leave a drop of clam chowder in his bowl. They have a nice selection of wine. Overall it was a good experience.

Place looked very nice, so we had high hopes for the food. Waitress was very friendly. Pizza was VERY greasy, poor quality cheese, crust, and sauce. Pasta was marginal. Clam chowder was good. Some of the other meals might be better as some did look good.

Food was great!!! The peppercorn ranch was spicy but delicious! I did the Halibut with pesto sauce and the sauce was amazing! The sauce completely made the dish. Vegetables were not seasoned and a little too undercooked for my liking. The server was attentive but did forget a few things.

The hostess and host were both professional and accurate. We were seated without reservations promptly. Edwardo greeted us and promptly served us drinks. I ordered the Pistachio crusted Chicken Breast with a baked potato. I also ordered the Chicken Pot Pie soup. Yes, Chicken Pot Pie Soup! My husband ordered Barbecue Chicken Pizza with a Mai Tai drink. Edwardo made a perfect Mai Tai. Our dinner was served with the flair of a 5 star waiter. The sauce on my Pistachio Chicken was perfect. My husbands Pizza was really good.
Julie,
This was the BEST DINNER we have had in Big Bear Lake in the last 12 years of living here. Yes, I am a local. This was a true STAR MEAL! Our desert was delicious

Out-​of-​Townies from San Diego here. We had a great lunch at The Peppercorn Grille.
The establishment is clean, staff is sweet and friendly, food was good, and our server, Colin, was attentive and friendly as well as welcoming.
Great experience, we’ll be back :)

Very friendly staf
food was great (best free bread ever!)
very good hamburgers
crab cakes were delicious
cocktails was good as well
definitely will return next time we are in Big Bear
very nice little restaurant

Read the reviews and decided to stop in.
Not sure what the deal was but my experience wasn’t as great as I had hoped for.
I ordered the sundried tomato pasta light on the sauce. It had good flavor but it was super heavy on the sauce, and there was a single white hair on my bread. Also our server seemed a bit out of it not very attentive anyway. All in all just feeling disappointed especially for the $ 15 dollar price tag on the entrée. I will say the woman at the front desk was wonderful and did her best to help us when our server was busy.

What a great experience! I took my boyfriend here for his birthday dinner and it was everything we could have asked for and more! Our waiter was so helpful and his suggestions on what to order was on point!
My boyfriend had steak and I had the halibut with pesto, we were both extremely pleased with our choices. The food was so flavorful… The portion sizes are big so I would stay away from on appetizer, we ordered the bruschetta and although it was good, it put us over the edge when it came to finishing our dinner.
Over all it was a great experience and we will definitely be back, when we’re back up there!

In the heart of the Village, busy even on a Sunday night, so make reservations. We tried the steak, veggie, clam chowder and potato cheddar soups, salmon, and steak salad. Everything was good. I will say that my son who is a salmon connoisseur of sorts didn’t like the salmon-​you can interpret that anyway you want! :) The bread and butter they brought to the table was also delicious and warm. Good wine and drinks list also.
The service is great. The parking is small. If you are looking for a restaurant on the nicer, pricier side in Big Bear, then this is a good place to eat. Also bring your jacket in the winter if you are sitting by the window, because the draft comes in!

We’ve been to PG a couple times in the past decade, and although the menu doesn’t change, the diner, family style delicious flavor doesn’t either! You can always count on a good cup of coffee, glass of wine, steak, salad or sandwich. Usually pretty busy, always seems to have a wait, but a good choice for downtown Big Bear.

It felt like I wasn’t in California. Other than seeing snow everywhere which is not a normal attraction in Los Angeles, people here are friendly and polite.
Wait staff was superb. Service was efficient and fast. What I got were the MAUI CRAB CAKES AND APPLE WALNUT SALAD. They were both super tasty. I had mimosas also. For a group of 10, we have ordered different things on the menu. And per their claim, the PEPPERCORN SIGNATURE CLAM CHOWDER was super good! I had a bite of the CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE MOUSSE CAKE and yeah, I could have gotten more bites!
Bathroom was clean. Front desk ladies were nice. People around us smile.

Amazing clam chowder? Check
Cute charming restaurant? Check
Make a reservation? CHECK
Came here for Christmas Eve dinner with the hubby and our 2 friends. I called the restaurant and since we didn’t have a reservation we were put on the call ahead list and was told it would be about an 1 hr 30 – 1 hr 45 minutes. Not too bad considering. We ended up having to wait for an additional 40 minutes but we walked around the Village and ordered some drinks. It is a small restaurant with only about 15 tables inside. They do have outside seating but when its 20 degrees outside, that’s not a possible option.
Now I have to give credit to the amazing hostesses that night. My crew was very patient and understood that on a night like this, it’s going to be BUSY!!! And I guess other people that came in that night didn’t understand that. And gave the hostesses such a hard time, it was ridiculous. But the whole time we were waiting, they were so patient, kind and I can’t even imagine dealing with some of the people that came in that night. Way to go ladies! Super props for handling annoying idiots!
As far as the service and food goes, it was amazing! I ordered the Chicken Fettucine Alfredo and it was seasoned and cooked perfectly. The bread they bring out was scrumptious with warm butter (score!). Our server was friendly and you could tell was a little stressed from the busy night but she was awesome. Oh and the Moscow Mule? One of my faves!
All in all, this is a PSA for all the upcoming patrons: When you come into a small restaurant WITHOUT a reservation on CHRISTMAS EVE and expect to be seated right away, you seriously have issues. Call ahead if you don’t have a reservation and please, for the love of god, don’t be a jerk to people that don’t deserve it. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
P. S. On the other end, to the annoying older couple that was seated at the table for 2 hours AFTER they were finished with everything and paid for the bill and NOT talking to each other and noticed how busy it was and how many people are waiting, you suck too. Be courteous and leave. If you want to just sit and look out the window, go to the coffee shop down the street. Thank you.

We had a very nice thanksgiving dinner here!
My mum and my sister ordered two traditional turkey dinners for themselves, and they said it was amazingly good!
Since I don’t like turkey, staffing or cranberry sauce, so I ordered crusted salmon; It was sooooooo good. It could be my best thanksgiving dinner or best piece of salmon so far!

Haven’t been to Big Bear in years, after scanning reviews on Unilocal we decided on the Peppercorn Grille. It did not disappoint! We were greeted by the hostess, she showed us to a nice booth.
The restaurant is small, but nice décor. The servers are outstanding we had CC, she let us know what special were available. We decided on the artichoke, with an amazing dip, it was to die for!!! We also had warm fresh bread, yummy. For our main course 26oz Porterhouse Steak, we split it and for $ 6 extra we both had a choice of salad, soup and side. It truly melted in your mouth, my baked potato was fluffy, veggies cooked to perfection! This is at the top of our list!

Not too many places for fine dining in Big Bear. I found this restaurant on Unilocal,read reviews and also drove past the location. I wanted a nice place for my husband and I wedding anniversary. I hadn’t thought to make reservations until the day off. I called and also checked open table and was quoted a 4 or 815 time. I chose the 815. We went there early around 715 to see if they could get us in as the village was dead and not many people around. They were not able to get is in so we went next door to have a drink to wait.
We were sat and reviewed the menu. They have an ok wine selection, full bar and beers. I ordered a dirty martini-​the have blue cheese stuffed olives– yay!
The artichoke appetizer was amazing, very garlic and full of parm. I also ordered the claim chowder which was creamy and full of clams. Has the 16oz porterhouse which was pretty tender. Garlic I mash tasted very salty to me. Lots of big portions. Asked for half of everything to go.
We ordered desert, Chocolate cake and creams brûlée. Right after we got our dessert, our waitress brought us out a chocolate lava cake in a box and said oh yeah we know it’s your anniversary so you can warm this in the microwave. Wtf. It was totally a rookie move. I mean we practically ordered the same thing with the chocolate cake. You would think she would have said oh wait we have something like what you are ordering for you for your anniversary. So no special writing or nothing special really except a chocolate cake I have to microwave. We didn’t even finish all of the $ 10 cake we had ordered so now we had 2 of them. Great. So, to say I was disappointed is an understatement. Totally killed the mood of the night.
Blah! Wouldn’t go here for a special occasion!

We only had one night out without the kids during our stay in Big Bear, so we had to make it count. After Unilocaling numerous places, we narrowed it down to Cowboy Express Steakhouse, Captain’s Anchorage, and Peppercorn Grille. Ultimately we chose Peppercorn Grille, based on many great reviews.
Luckily, I made a reservation. It’s better to be safe than sorry. My wife’s aunt and uncle said they tried walking in a few days prior and were turned away without a reservation.
I would describe Peppercorn Grille as casual fine dining. The interior is classy yet comfortable. There were people dressed up, and others in more casual attire. There were people of all ages, including kids.
Melissa was our server. She really made our experience excellent. She was informative, helpful, and prompt. I asked to sample several wines and she was very accommodating. She was also very knowledgable about the wines. I ultimately went with the North Star from Columbia Valley. A glass was $ 12. «This rich full-​bodied wine is packed with cassi, chocolate truffle, cola, various spices, blackberry, and red plum flavors that float through to a firm finish.» It certainly was rich and full-​bodied. I did experience a few of the flavors, although it wasn’t as fruity as I thought it would be.
Let me tell you, the food was stellar. We started with the Maui crab cakes, and they were absolutely spectacular. I’ve had crab cakes all over the country and these were definitely one of the best. They were battered to perfection – crisp, yet light. The crab meat was succulent and fresh. The mango pineapple jalapeño relish complimented the crab nicely. The lemon aioli and greens were excellent as well.
The clam chowder was creamy and flavorful. It contained lots of clams. I sensed little bits of bacon that further enhanced the chowder experience. I tasted my wife’s asparagus soup, and it was great. I never thought asparagus could be turned into a natural tasting, delicious soup flavor, but Peppercorn Grille has done it!
The ribeye was tender and well seasoned. It was cooked medium rare, as requested. I tried the sauce that came with the ribeye and didn’t like it. The ribeye could stand on its own without the sauce. The New York cheesecake dessert was indulgent and delicious. Once again, the service was excellent. I would return to Peppercorn Grille the next time I’m in Big Bear.

I want to give these guys 4.5 stars. I really wanna give em 5, but won’t. Here’s why… so we drove up to Big Bear from Vegas. I’m on leave, remember. We get into town and get checked in. I’m tired, I’ve got road filth on me, I just need a few minutes to relax and clean up. It’s Tuesday, folks. It’s off season… there’s no snow on the mountain. I use my trusty Unilocal toy in search of recommendations and find this place.
I call, it’s 1640L… that’s 4:40 pm for the mortals. I’m hoping for a 5:15 — 5:30 pm reservation. That’ll give me time for dinner and a movie. I’m fairly tired and still on Kabul time. The young lady informs me it’s 5 or 6:45 pm… that’s all she’s got. I think wow! This place must be really fricken awesome! It’s a rush, but the place is literally three blocks from where I’m staying.
Perplexed, I agree to the 5 pm res and shift into overdrive. I pull up at 5:02 expecting the place to be brimming with a line out the door, but no. The young lady who greets us is the same young lady who helped me on the phone. The lilt is unmistakable with that oh so Cali accent. Were seated right away and provided menus. I and my dinner companion discuss this turn of events… maybe they’re low on staff? Maybe the mad rush is only seconds away… maybe?
Within a few minutes, our wait person arrives, explains the house specials, and takes our drink orders. Off she goes. I’m looking around the place, 75% of the tables open… yes, I did the math… wait staff standing around. Still no throng of customers… I’m annoyed. Folks, it’s the small things. I’ve been under enormous pressure the last several months… this is my vacation. Why was I rushed unnecessarily? My companion goes to speak to the young lady… he’ll get to the bottom of it!
Turns out, the «system» only allows her to make ONE reservation every 15 minutes… wha wha what? I’m thinking there must be something lost in the Cali/​rest of the country interpretation. This cannot be the case… I just got «systemed».
I spend the next 10 minutes lamenting to my pal how this would have been such a simple fix. «Ma’am, I can’t make a reservation for that time, but it’s off season so take your time and show when you can… we’ll certainly be able to accommodate you, I’m sure.» Those few words or something to that effect would have conveyed a much more accurate picture of the state of affairs here. Ms. Owner/​Manager, please use this feedback as a teachable moment for your hostess because…
Now, onto the goodness. In spite of my salty demeanor, let me tell you the menu is amazing. I had a really difficult time choosing, everything sounded so good. We started with crab cakes and artichoke hearts, the crab cakes were some of the best I’ve ever had and folks I’ve had crab cakes from one side of this country to the other, delicious! We also had soup with our meal, New England clam chowder and some kind of potato cheddar… the chowder, again, some of the best. I found no grit at all in the clam which was accompanied by a wonderful smokey bacon note.
Fresh bread was brought to the table, it was warm, soft sourdough with crusty edges, delightful! I settled on the 5 spice pork tenderloin served with sweet potatoes and veggies. The tenderloin was cooked perfectly and served with a sauce that reminded me of my mother’s pork gravy, wow! My dinner companion ordered the 12 oz ribeye, medium rare. The steak was cooked to just the right color, but the flavor profile left me flat. The waitress brought a peppercorn gravy in an attempt to improve to no avail… the sauce, while tasty, couldn’t overcome a lack of seasoning. Avoid the steak. But there are enough wonderful options that this won’t be a challenge.
We also enjoyed beautifully boozy Manhattans… another staple of mine so I’m telling you these things were perfection! And closed dinner with their bread pudding, wonderfully spiced with fruit bits and a fabulous whiskey sauce served with fresh whipped cream. We missed our movie and, in spite of an incredibly rough start, ended up having an amazing meal and a nice experience overall.
Give these guys a go. Avoid the steak. Save room for the bread pudding. Order the soup. Enjoy.

Muito bom, estive em Fevereiro com minha esposa. Recebemos indicação da Val dona da pousada/​hotel Hillcrest Lodge. Valeu a pena. A sopa de Alcachofra é incrível e a carne muito boa também. Gostamos tanto que voltamos no dia seguinte, mas dessa vêem comemos lasanha, também muito boa.

Simplesmente maravilhoso! Viemos no Valentine’s Day, dia 4 de fevereiro e fomos atendidos pela Melissa.
A entrada foi a Soup of the day que foi, com certeza a melhor sopa que já tomei, de alcachofra. Depois pedimos um Angus Eye com alho, já na sobremesa comemos um cheesecake de chocolate branco e preto.
Recomendo!

Recomendable completamente! La comida muy buena y la atención excelente, el ambiente es elegante.