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    Captain Lou's

    3.7 (258 reviews)
    ModerateNew American, Bars
    Closed 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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    9 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    16 years ago

    This restaurant has an Awful atmosphere. Their food was pretty decent but their restaurant needs to be completely demolished and rebuilt.

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    9 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Extremely friendly staff and great bar food! The server Tom is great! Definitely recommend and will definitely be coming back!

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    13 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Ate lunch here. Burgers seemed frozen? High top tables only. Great selection of Michigan bottled beers. Service nice and attentive.

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    10 years ago

    Great perch tacos and a wonderful view of the boats and bridge lift to lake Michigan on the back deck area!

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    10 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    Page 7 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

    Salt of The Earth

    Salt of The Earth

    4.2
    (630 reviews)
    15.6 mi
    $$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Locally sourced ingredients

    I was worried we weren't going to get seating due to the online reservation posting, however, my…read moreboyfriend and I found seating at the bar. It is first, first serve but we found around 7 pm, the bar was empty. If you don't mind this, I highly recommend for last minute planning. When we were seated, the bartenders were pleasant and helpful. The service was quick. We ordered the aged cheddar pierogis for the appetizer which was a good start for two people. They were fried so you are staying clear of fried foods--I would skip this dish (it wasn't listed as fried). The cocktails and food was amazing. We ate all of our food but it wasn't too much where you felt sick. I would come back to this restaurant again if I am in the area.

    We love Salt of the Earth. It has been many years since we were able to visit, but we finally made…read morea pilgrimage back. We found things just as good as before, it not better! First of all, the drive to Fennville is gorgeous! We always love the rural landscape and the quaint town itself. Definitely a destination to visit. Second, the building itself is cute, rustic, inviting, and well-kept right in the heart of Fennville's adorable downtown. Third, the staff are so welcoming, kind, helpful, and professional. We especially loved our hostess (Chrissie/Christy?). She treated us so well and definitely talked us into some yummy extras Now to the food and drinks! The extensive cocktail, wine, and beer selection is high quality and specially curated. I had a hard time deciding, but I settled on the Sage Rub. It was so delicious and refreshing; not too sweet. I highly recommend it! My husband got the Bell's Hazy IPA, one of his favorites! We started with the Brussels sprouts and the bread board. The Brussels were decadent, crisp, and flavorful! The bread was such a rich array of tasty breads and butter/salt/pepper sides. We loved every bite! I got the house salad and my husband got the special. We each preferred our own salads, so that's good! I loved the house salad because of the light and refreshing vinegarette . The flavors were spot on. My husband liked that the special salad brought together a bunch of different flavors into a sweet/tangy delight! For our main entrees, both my husband and I were eying the Three Little Pigs pizza. He ended up getting and let me have a bite: so flavorful with high quality meats, cheese, and ingredients overall. So good! I got the Housemade pasta with beef tenderloin, charred onions, and mushroom sauce. It was literally divine and I cherished each and every bite. We would have loved to get dessert, but we were stuffed! Maybe next time? Prices are great, the space is clean/safe, and the portions are excellent. And you can make reservations through their website beforehand. Very clutch, especially since it is a good drive from most towns. If you are nearby and have the time, please make Salt of the Earth a part of your dinning experience. I promise that your taste buds will be very thankful. See you next time, Salt if the E

    Photos
    We are all about FRESH!
    We are all about FRESH!
    Patio dining available!
    Patio dining available!
    Salt of The Earth

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    Captain Lou's - newamerican - Updated July 2026

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