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Captain Lou's

3.7 (258 reviews)
ModerateNew American, Bars
Open • 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

Captain Lou's Photos

CAPTAIN LOU'S ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Live music
Casual
Good for dancing

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Recommended Reviews - Captain Lou's

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Reviews With Photos

Manistee Mama
Laura M.

We went to Captain Lou's for an early dinner with our kids on summer vacation. It's completely remodeled since the last time we were there. The outdoor patio was great, very laid back summer vibes. It's a no reservations and seat yourself place. We couldn't find a table at first and a couple got up to give us their table since we had kids, they grabbed seats at the bar instead. Very cool of them. We sent them a round of drinks! They have lots of Michigan craft beers on the menu. My husband had beer and I had their South Haven Spritz. I liked the Soha Sunshine better. We started with their Captains dip. It's a creamy smoked salmon dip served with pita chips, it was good. I had their Manistee Mama, it's their fried perch sandwich with a cajun tater sauce. It was great and not overly battered. It was actually a pretty lite sandwich considering it's fried. My husband had their Beachside wings with Spicy Ranch Sauce. The "Spicy Ranch" Sauce intrigued him. He loved the wings and the sauce tasted just like it sounds. We had a great dinner. Captain Lou's is a great location on the river by the bridge, but parking is tough. We had to park off Black River St. and walk. Another option is to park in town and walk over the bridge. We were waiting for the check and noticed another group of four looking for a table so we got up early to give our table, pay it forward! The guy offered to buy us a round of drinks. We passed on the drinks, but such a positive vibe all around.

Jennifer R.

It is what it is. A fun boat-up waterfront bar for salty dogs and summer people alike. If you are looking for a big old basket of onion rings, a cold beer, and some Jimmy Buffett tunes - you are in the right place. Luckily for us that is exactly what we were looking for. I would humbly suggest, from personal experience, avoiding the cocktail menu. Service was friendly and efficient.

Waterfront dining
Abby W.

I loved both the food and the ambiance at this riverside restaurant. I ordered the fried fish basket and picked tater tots as my side. With four pieces of fish, the basket was plenty of food and I probably ate more than I should have because it was so good. This fish was pike perch, which is a new kind of fish for me. I also tried a Mer Bear cocktail, which was nice and fruity. We sat outside and enjoyed a beautiful evening overlooking the water.

Lindy Lou tacos (fish tacos)
Katy C.

Captain Lou's is a hot spot for waterfront dining in South Haven. They have mostly outdoor seating overlooking the river. It was a rainy day when Nate and I visited, so everyone was huddled beneath the circular outdoor bar. We managed to grab the last two seats at the bar and had good service from the bartenders. The other parties around the bar were definitely celebrating with lots of rounds of shots, so it got pretty loud. I know this place can get super packed in good weather and later at night, so it was nice to experience it in the afternoon. The menu is typical of these waterfront, beach type bars with fish baskets, handhelds, etc. I got the "famous" fish basket, which comes with fried perch and your choice of fries, tater tots, or slaw. Nate got the fish tacos. Our food came out pretty quickly and I was impressed with the generous size of the fish filets and crispy tots. I've eaten a lot of perch and it's one of my favorites, so I was pleased when I realized this was one of the best perch baskets I've had in awhile! The filets were huge and meaty, and perfectly fried with a light coating, no heavy batter here. The tots were nicely seasoned. I'd definitely come back for more perch in the future, it was that good. We were walking but the parking situation at Captain Lou's looked a little hectic!

Spicy Cheese Curds

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7 years ago

This place was a great place to eat some appetizers and drink some beers on a warm summer afternoon!

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7 years ago

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7 years ago

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13 years ago

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12 years ago

perch basket great..waiter forgot the cole slaw? Now that Oberon is over will not be nearly as much fun.

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10 years ago

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7 years ago

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7 years ago

Best bar and best staff in South Haven, Michigan! Great perch and great live music. Megan is a great bartender.

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10 years ago

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12 years ago

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15 years ago

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12 years ago

Great portions of perch and frees and cold beer in a very casual setting. Fun to watch the parade of boats and people. We will return

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10 years ago

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8 years ago

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17 years ago

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8 years ago

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15 years ago

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14 years ago

Outside on the water. Waitresses were friendly. Food was good. Had the chicken wrap and my husband had the perch basket.

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14 years ago

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12 years ago

Our server was very very good. Food was very good. Atmosphere is awesome. Right on the water with the drawbridge right beside it.

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12 years ago

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11 years ago

If you want the shits after going there go. Place was gross and you stuck to everything. Was expensive for plastic cups and forks.

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10 years ago

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8 years ago

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8 years ago

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8 years ago

Absolutely love this place! Great food, staff, and atmosphere. Best bar in South Haven!

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13 years ago

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9 years ago

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Page 6 of 7

Ask the Community - Captain Lou's

Is there a dinghy dock? We looked and were told what's there is private....

The restaurant is in the marina so I am sure you can find someplace to tie up.

Hello-what is your current wait time?

None

Are pets allowed?

No sorry it’s against Michigan health code to have dogs in bars

Where are dogs allowed? On the outside patio with the little bar?

No, it is against Michigan health code to allow animals in places that serve food.

View All 6 Questions

Clementine's

Clementine's

3.6
(672 reviews)
0.3 mi
•$$

We had a really good lunch at Clementine's! I ordered the Corner Deli, which is basically their…read moretake on a Reuben, and it was delicious. The bread was perfectly toasted, the meat was flavorful, and everything just worked together. My husband got the club and kept saying how good it was, and both of our kids liked their kids meals. The service was great too. Everyone was friendly, attentive, and our food came out quickly. The only thing that kept this from being a full 5 stars was the ambiance. The building itself has a lot of character and is really cool from the outside, but the inside felt a little dated. Overall though, we'd definitely come back because the food and service more than made up for it!

We always make it a point to have a Clementines night during our annual summer vacation in South…read moreHaven, and it's one of those traditions we look forward to every year. It was raining and past the dinner rush, so we were pleasantly surprised to have no wait. We had to start with the onion rings, which are a family favorite and never disappoint. We also ordered the Mess of Perch, which is an absolute must every time we visit. My dad chose the walleye, and my son was perfectly happy with the buttered noodles from the kids' menu. The perch and walleye both come with Texas toast and your choice of side, making for a lot of food. I got the French onion soup and it was great. We left completely stuffed and already talking about our next visit. What makes Clementine's so special is that it never tries to be anything other than what it is. In a world where everything seems to change, Clementine's has stayed true to itself, and that's exactly what makes it such a cherished part of our South Haven vacation tradition year after year.

Photos
The bar
The bar
Harbortown burger, sans bun. Cream of cauliflower soup.  Excellent.
Harbortown burger, sans bun. Cream of cauliflower soup. Excellent.
Lemon Drop Martini/Vodka Soda & a splash of Cranberry

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Lemon Drop Martini/Vodka Soda & a splash of Cranberry

Captain Lou's - newamerican - Updated July 2026

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