The beauty of a lakefront village, fresh mountain air, and a slower pace than a big city might be just what your need on your next getaway. You want to make sure all your needs are met, from sleeping accommodations to dining accommodations. Those with special diets, including gluten-free, often find it difficult to enjoy a dinner out due to limited choices. Look no further than Big Bear and the surrounding area to meet your dining preferences and needs. Read on to see some of our picks for good restaurants in Big Bear that serve gluten-free options!
Azteca Grill
Dubbed “the best Mexican restaurant in Big Bear,” you can sample their delicious bites and time of day. Choose from Mexican breakfasts like the Mexican omelet – eggs with chopped tomatoes, onions, cilantro, jalapeno, and topped with avocado and cheese, or the chilaquiles – pieces of fried corn tortillas smothered with red or green sauce and topped with cheese and sour cream. Come back for lunch or dinner and sample appetizers like fish or shrimp ceviche, raw shrimp or fish marinated in lemon juice with onions, tomatoes, and cilantro, and many other dishes. There are an array of soups and salads to choose from, as well as their house specialties like garlic shrimp prepared with Mexican gulf shrimp, filet of tilapia, and more. Adults can complete the meal with a specialty cocktail or beer, and there are a variety of soft drinks and other non-alcoholic beverages to choose from.
Captain’s Anchorage
Enjoy fresh seafood. There is a myriad of dishes to choose from, including starters like steamed clams or artichoke, the jumbo shrimp diablo – charbroiled with jalapeno peppers wrapped in bacon and served with spicy BBQ sauce, or the ragu of fresh mushrooms sauteed in butter with fresh garlic and white wine. Enjoy jumbo shrimp scampi or shrimp teriyaki. Go to “the market place” for crab or lobster or choose from a variety of fish including ahi tuna, fresh wild salmon, or the fresh seasonal fish. Land lovers will love steak from top sirloin to New York Strip and filet mignon. There’s also slow roasted prime rib or choose a make your own surf & turf when you combine any two dishes. Market prices apply to all meat and fresh seafood dishes. The gluten-free options here make it one of the nice restaurants in Big Bear for those with dietary restrictions and preferences.
Big Bear Lake Brewing Company
From the water source – the deep aquifers surrounding the Big Bear Valley – to the final product filling your glass, Big Bear Lake Brewing Company’s beers are crafted completely on site. Add a wide selection of cocktails and spirits including mojitos, margaritas, bourbon whiskey, rum, and more, and you have a myriad of options to pair with your gluten-free meal. Start the meal with seared ahi tuna or Brussels and bacon. Add a Cobb salad or other choice, too. Entrees that jive with your diet include the 9 oz filet mignon, Brewers Steak, and blackened chicken. Add coleslaw or veggies, then top off the meal with something sweet like a classic sundae loaded with two scoops of vanilla ice cream, caramel and chocolate syrups, whip cream, and of course a cherry!
Oakside Restaurant & Bar
Starters like roasted Brussels sprouts, ahi poke, and more will on whet your appetite for the goodies to come. Choose from an array of soups and salads, chicken mushroom ravioli in sage brown butter cream sauce. Dig into the macadamia crusted filet of Alaskan halibut – finished with a passion fruit beurre blanc. Combine vegetarian and gluten-free when you choose the sweet chili Thai veggie bowl – mushrooms, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and edamame over jasmine rice, and the Korean beef and Teriyaki chicken bowls, both made with meatless soy vegetarian beef or chicken accompanied by mushrooms, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and edamame over jasmine rice. Ask about gluten-free options in kid sizes, too.
Peppercorn Grille
Italian favorites ooze with warmth and flavor from appetizer to dessert at Peppercorn Grille. Whet your whistle with roasted Brussels sprouts, ask about soup of the day or opt for the restaurant’s signature New England clam chowder. Some pasta dishes may be available with gluten-free pasta, upon request. There’s also a gluten-free and vegan kale mushroom ravioli topped with vegan pesto cream sauce, Roma tomatoes, and roasted pine nuts. There are several pork, chicken, steak, and lamb dishes to choose from, like chicken marsala, or the roasted five-spice pork tenderloin topped with brandy-dijon cream sauce, charbroiled rack of lamb, or their ‘surf n’ turf’ meal of a 6 oz. Filet mignon topped with garlic-herb butter and served with a 7 oz. lobster tail.
Dining for All in Big Bear
You came to the area for a fun and relaxing getaway to release the stresses of everyday life. Extend that fun to your accommodations by booking a vacation rental with Big Bear Vacations. Make your favorite home-cooked gluten-free meal in the fully equipped kitchen. Gather together on the couch and watch a movie or spend some time outdoors. Choose a cozy one-bedroom for a sweetheart getaway, or a sprawling five-bedroom for a fun family or group reunion. Big Bear Vacations has a vacation rental that is just right for you. Our premium units include upgrades like stainless steel appliances, granite counters, hardwood floors, flat screen TVs and more!
Contact us today to book and take the first step toward planning your next getaway and visit one of the many good restaurants in Big Bear!
