The History of the #1 Restaurant at the Lake

JB Hook’s is your favorite restaurant at the Lake of the Ozarks. You love the long happy hours, delicious steak & seafood, 14-mile panoramic views of the lake, live music during the week, and so much more! But, do you know the full history of our incredible restaurant? Keep reading to learn all about how we got started and how we got where we are today. 

Ownership

The JB Hook’s location was originally owned by Dave and Phillis Marose in 1978 under the name "Captain Hook’s". For a time, Dwayne and Donna Steele owned the location under the name "Krazo’s". Then in 1995 John Lafata and Bruce Elliott opened the beloved JB Hook’s, combining their initials and hearkening back to the location’s roots. That year in February, the legend of JB Hook’s began!

Persevering Through Adversity

Three months after opening, all seemed to be going well when disaster struck… Fire.

The blaze burned through JB Hook’s, destroying most of the building. Even though it would have been easy to throw in the towel, John and Bruce weren’t ready to give up. They had a vision for JB Hook’s and knew they could achieve great things. Restoration and reconstruction began and in just four months JB Hook’s reopened, more beautiful than ever. While they had to forego that summer season, the restaurant was still a great success and continued to grow in both capacity and popularity. 

Expansions

Over the years, JB Hook’s has added to the building and the menu, expanding fine dining at the Lake of the Ozarks.

The Sunset Room and an additional lower kitchen allowed us to add lunch items to our menu and expand our service. The Sunset Room takes full advantage of the beautiful lake views with three glass walls overlooking 14 miles of the Lake of the Ozarks. The fourth wall features a fireplace constructed with abalone tile, making the Sunset Room an excellent location to host weddings or rehearsals, upscale conference meetings, and Christmas parties.

Construction of the Lake of the Ozarks Community Bridge in 1998 made a lasting impact on JB Hook’s. Now individuals on the west side of the Lake can easily travel to us.

Recently, the impressive West Wing opened its doors. Boasting an incomparable 180-degree view of the Lake with floor-to-ceiling windows, the West Wing is a gorgeous place to indulge in the best seafood at the Lake of the Ozarks.

The #1 Restaurant at the Lake 

JB Hook’s is proud to be the number one restaurant at the Lake of the Ozarks according to Trip Advisor. But we couldn't have done it without you! We love every one of our customers... Our full-time regulars, vacationing visitors, and everyone in between. We look forward to serving you for many more years to come. See you soon! 

The Lake's Best Ocean Fish and Steaks

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2260 Bagnell Dam Blvd.

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 365-3255