Captain's Grill is a seafood-focused restaurant with a Latin American twist, located in the heart of downtown Upland. It is a family-owned and operated establishment that provides a cozy, bistro-like atmosphere. The menu offers a variety of gourmet seafood dishes, tacos, burritos, and other Mexican-inspired fare. Popular dishes include: Fish and Chips: Beer-battered cod served with fries, coleslaw, and tartar sauce. Captains Boil: A Cajun-style dish with shrimp, clams, baby scallops, sausage, potatoes, and corn. Surf and Turf: Available as a taco or loaded fries, featuring a combination of juicy steak and shrimp. Tacos: A wide selection is available, including fish, shrimp, steak, and vegetarian options.
Fresh seafood plates: Specialty plates like grilled salmon, mahi-mahi, octopus, and rib-eye steak are also featured. Vegetarian options: These are available, including a vegetarian burrito and taco, as well as salads. Ambiance: The restaurant is known for its romantic Latin atmosphere, with a full bar and a cozy dining area. The interior features appealing decor with various paintings on the walls. Drinks: A wide variety of tequilas, mezcal, cocktails, and other beverages are available from the full bar. Service: Reviewers praise the friendly and welcoming staff, noting quick service. Location: Captain's Grill is situated at 161 N 2nd Ave in Downtown Upland. Opening: The restaurant was welcomed to the downtown area in September 2023. Dietary considerations: The menu can accommodate some dietary restrictions, but guests with severe allergies should speak directly with staff, as a past review raised concerns about handling food allergies. Yelp: 4.5 stars (498 reviews) Google: 4.6 stars (189 ratings) Grubhub: 4.9 stars (24 ratings) Tripadvisor: 5.0 stars (1 review)
Excellent food: Many reviews consistently mention the flavorful and well-prepared dishes, including the clam chowder, octopus plate, coconut shrimp, and tacos. Friendly service: Customers frequently mention the welcoming and attentive staff, who contribute to a great dining experience. Great atmosphere: The restaurant's cozy and romantic Latin ambiance is often noted as a highlight. Taco Tuesday: The restaurant's Taco Tuesday special with discounted tacos is a popular draw.
Slow service: A few reviews mention experiencing long wait times for food, especially during busy hours. Drink quality: One Yelp reviewer criticized the cocktails and sangria, though this is not a widespread complaint. Water taste: One customer complained about the taste of the water. Food allergy handling: As mentioned previously, one reviewer had a negative experience with a food allergy request, raising potential concerns for individuals with severe sensitivities.
Service issues: One reviewer in March 2025 noted that it was "very difficult to get" service, suggesting it may not be an ideal place for a quick meal. A November 2023 Yelp review mentioned waiting "40 minutes" for a main course and having to complain to management, who never responded.
Tacos: A reviewer in September 2024 found their fish tacos to be overcooked and rubbery. Side dishes: The same reviewer described the accompanying rice and black beans as unappetizing and picked out the edible parts of their meal, paying $80 for a "mediocre" experience. Allergy handling: One Yelp review noted a customer with a severe food allergy felt mocked by the food presentation. While the review is from November 2023, it raises a significant concern for diners with severe dietary restrictions or allergies. Other negative remarks: A November 2023 Yelp review mentioned the cocktails and sangria were underwhelming. A March 2024 Yelp review complained that the tap water had an unpleasant taste.
Friendly and welcoming: Numerous diners describe the staff as "super friendly and welcoming". Attentive service: Several reviews highlight the servers being attentive and prompt. One Facebook user praised a server named Tiffany as...
Read moreThis place is really good in all aspects. The Claim chowder soup was so good, I could taste the sea in every spoonful. The coconut shrimps were big and full of crunchy coconut, as for my husband, he order a Mahi mahi plate and he was delighted. I also order a Virginia Margarita and was pretty good. The service provided by our waiter, I forgot his name but he said he was cuban, was above and beyond. The atmosphere is more to have a reunion with friends. I really...
Read moreWe were sat down but no one came to us for about 15-20 minutes. Until a server asked what we were doing. I said we are here for dinner. Than finally we got our drinks and food. The food was good but not great. Just a little high on the price. We don't live in LA downtown that's why we live out here. We are not Celebrities who don't care what they pay. Try it you might like it, maybe 🤔 your cup of tea. MUSIC IS LOUD....
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