We had only to walk into the Peppercorn Grille,  in the Village at Big Bear Lake, to know we were in an exceptional restaurant.  The ambiance, the warm greeting of the Hostess, the arrangement of the booths and tables, sparkling with glassware, bright tablecloths and gleaming silver.
A look at the menu showed a careful selection of Continental fare complete with interesting appetizers, salads, many steak selections but also seafood, pastas and pizza.  The choices here were many.
Our party of three opened with wine and a cocktail.  The wine list here is large and well selected and balanced with California and wines from other countries.
Two ordered the fresh Maine lobster tail while I decided on the shrimp and scallop pasta which arrived with black tiger shrimp and sea scallops in a scampi sauce that included roma tomatoes, basil, garlic, capers and parsley served over linguine.
Our desserts included Tiramisu and an old fashioned root beer float.
We learned that the Chef is Raoul Perez but the restaurant was so busy that evening there was no chance to meet him.
We would have liked to tell him as well as the owners that we considered Peppercorn Grille an award winning restaurant.
Address is 553 Pine Knot Avenue in the Village at Big Bear Lake.  Open daily from 4 p.m.  For more information call 909 866-5405, web www.peppercorngrille.com.