America's best poke is in a tiny Calif. mountain town, not Hawaii

"You'd never know it inside Tropicali, the hilltop hangout right in the center of town. With its Tiki-ish island decor, leopard print accents and many sunset-toned touches, the restaurant feels a flight away from the icebox that Big Bear can occasionally become. Of course, the menu helps, too. Tropicali is one of California's great purveyors of poke bowls, the Hawaiian fresh fish staple that surged in popularity a decade ago on the mainland."

""I felt this sense of more," Eaton says, by way of an introduction into the unlikely story of Tropicali. In a wide-ranging phone call with SFGATE, he spoke at length about his time as a creative director, photographer and hospitality partner, including his work with San Diego's Lafayette Hotel, which was named 2024's Hotel of the Year by Esquire. Originally from Del Mar, Eaton moved to Big Bear more than a decade ago with his wife and two young children,"

"Tropicali has previously been given the title of highest-ranked poke restaurant in the entire United States by Yelp - and was even the highest-ranked restaurant, regardless of cuisine or price point, in all of California in 2019. Owner Michael Sterling Eaton doesn't mind the surprise that washes over customers' faces when they first set foot inside Tropicali. He's used to getting the same few questions:"

Big Bear Lake's winter air turns thin and sharp by mid-December, though snow usually arrives later. Tropicali occupies a hilltop spot in town with Tiki-ish island decor, leopard print accents and sunset-toned touches that contrast the mountain cold. The menu prioritizes poke bowls, the Hawaiian fresh-fish staple that surged on the mainland about a decade ago. Tropicali has earned top rankings on Yelp and was California's highest-ranked restaurant in 2019. Owner Michael Sterling Eaton moved from Del Mar more than a decade ago with his family and brings a background in creative direction, photography and hospitality partnerships, including work with San Diego's Lafayette Hotel.

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