Excellent burgers and fries. Closes early, but great to stop if you're in Ferndale for the day. Get…read morethe fry sauce. You won't be disappointed.

Ending a nearly four week roadtrip w a terrific burger and fries/rings here. Ronan makes amazing…read moresauces and the burgers here are super special. High recommend!

Such an excellent food, ambiance and all around a great local place to eat and visit,,read more

Papa Joe's, Ferndale, CA…read more Some places earn their reputation not by chasing trends but by simply refusing to change. Papa Joe's in Ferndale is exactly that kind of place. It has been a fixture in this town for over 35 years, and if you walk in expecting avocado toast and oat milk lattes, you are in the wrong building. What you will find is honest, unapologetic diner food cooked by someone who actually knows what they are doing, served in a room full of deer heads, dairy association flags, and enough history to fill a book. The story behind the place is worth knowing. Papa Joe's was opened by Joe Alexandre, who came to Humboldt from the Azores at age 12 and went on to build Alexandre Family Farm into one of the most respected dairy operations in the region. When Joe retired, he and some colkegues bought this spot and described it as a daycare center for retired dairyman, a place where the old guard could gather, play cards, and hold court. Joe has since passed, but the building is still owned by his wife & partners, the spirit of the place is completely intact, and the same waitstaff that has been there for years is still holding it down. The kitchen is now in the hands of a classically trained chef who previously cooked at Curly's and Ridgetop Cafe in Fernbridge. That pedigree shows up on the plate. The omelets are the move here. You pick one meat and two vegetables, choose your cheese, and decide between home fries or hash browns, then pick your toast. I go sourdough and hash browns every time without thinking about it. It is straightforward at Joes, perfectly executed greasy spoon cooking, the kind that does not need to explain itself. The hash browns come out shredded and crisped up just right, the omelet is fluffy and generous, and the whole plate delivers exactly what it promises. They never used to have biscuits and gravy on the menu, but this chef makes them fresh every day now, and they are the best biscuits and gravy in southern Humboldt County. Full stop. Thick sausage gravy, proper biscuits, stick to your ribs, and completely worth every calorie. The vibe in here is unlike anything else in the county. On the walls you will find deer mounts, flags from the Mexican, Portuguese, and Humboldt dairy associations, and artwork that has been hanging in the same spot for decades. They have freshened things up just a touch, but the soul of the place is exactly where Joe left it. The menus were recently redone and they tell his story, which is a genuinely good read while you wait for your food. They also now accept credit cards, which is a welcome change from the cash only days that caught more than a few people off guard over the years. A couple of things worth knowing before you go. This is not the spot for low carb substitutions, side salads, or specialty coffee drinks. You get black coffee, or you doctor it up yourself at the table with the cream and sugar that's already sitting there. The menu is focused and traditional, and that is intentional. They also do lunch, with solid options including a French dip and a good egg salad sandwich, and clam chowder on Fridays that I have not tried yet but fully intend to. If you are someone who needs a lot of options or wants a modified order, this may not be your place. If you want real food cooked well in a room full of history by people who care about keeping a tradition alive, there is nowhere better. Papa Joe's is a four star spot in the best possible way. It is not trying to be five stars, and it does not need to be. It does what it does better than almost anywhere else in the county, and that counts for a lot. Ferndale is worth the drive on its own, and stopping here while you are in town is non-negotiable.

We were not happy with our meals at all. We were so looking forward to their oven baked macaroni…read morebut the excitement soon turned to sadness. There was no flavor, the noodles were undercooked and the overall dish was very watery. The hamburger had no seasoning and was just beef. I wish we had better things to say about this place because the staff was friendly and attentive, but I don't.

We love coming to The Boardroom!…read more The atmosphere is beautiful and feels both Victorian and modern at the same time. It's bright & sunny with great views of the charming main street. It's a wonderful place for a leisurely lunch date. Service is nice (order at the counter but you don't need to pick up your food or clear your table), and the food is delicious. Since things are made meticulously in-house, prices can be high... but then again, prices are high most good places these days! I have never left here disappointed.

Let's start with coffee, I ordered a 12oz hot coffee with caramel. I was given 3oz of…read moreespresso..okay, whatever. I wasn't happy about it but I decided to let it slide and hoped the food would make up for it. I was extremely disappointed with the food. My eggs Benny's egg whites were still runny, English muffin absolutely soggy and disgusting, with a thin slice of deli ham. The potatoes (that I wasn't informed or asked if I wanted onions or peppers by the way) were so grease soaked and cold that they were actually inedible. My partner's chicken fried steak was way overcooked, hard and tough. Just all around terrible. TLDR; given the completely wrong drink, food was impossible to get down, and no concern of my uneaten food by the server or owner. Not worth it at all.

I missed this cafe when it closed; however, the new owner is dynamic and fun, as is her staff. They…read morewaited on us as soon as all our party had arrived. I had the "Alliecat's Favorite Toast". It was absolutely delicious. Thick slices of sourdough topped with a smashed avocado, two eggs over-easy, very tasty cherry tomatoes, drizzled with olive oil and sea salt. The room has some really cool farm-type decorations, a hardwood floor, but the tables are far enough apart that you can talk to your guests and not have trouble hearing each other. The last question below was if a staff member requested me to leave a review - she did; however, I always like to share my experiences in case someone else has any questions. I am a repeat customer now.

The teriyaki tofu bahn mi is delicious! They easily accommodated my vegan diet by holding the mayo…read more I asked for spicy, and they delivered. The baguette was crisp and delivered what I'd hope for in a bahn mi. Their menu's prices need to be updated, and the decor is a bit of a work in progress, but my food was delicious. This place gets busy around 12:30 with high school students coming in during the school year. Other members in my party enjoyed the Reuben, felt that the spicy Philly cheesesteak just tasted like jalapeños and cheese, enjoyed their blue cheese burger, and enjoyed their pork belly bahn mis.

No wonder this place closed. Owner bought me tequila and sat me In a chair in the kitchen when I…read moretold him I wanted to go home. He had this really cute youthful waitress working there and I was confused why she wasn't riding horses in Ferndale or selling real estate in Malibu. Apparently I was rude to her (maybe because I asked why she wasn't riding horses and working there?) I was so embarrassed about whatever happened. I just wanted to go home.....never had a meal there worth ordering twice. RIP

Every thing was perfect. Great company, service, food and…read moredrink. It's a brewery with a restaurant it should be great right? It was. Super crunchy fish and chips with what I think was house made tartar sauce and cocktail sauce with a good bite of horseradish. Sitting outside was cool but the propane heaters made it pretty cozy. Service was engaging and enjoyable... nice. Every one enjoyed their food without a single gripe. Last word... returning.

So I had to post an update. We just finished a grueling drive. We were starving and it was 9:30pm…read more Eel River was a logistical choice. Our service was 5 star which helped since we were exhausted. I have a super strong recommendation for the Cali 101 sandwich. It might be one of the sandwiches I've ever had. The fried parmesan on the tops of the bread sealed the deal. My wife asked for a custom burger. Mind you, the kitchen was closing but chef pulled off a beautiful dish. I don't normally photo food but wish I did. My wife goes bun-less and they served the dish on a bed of spinach (which she requested and they had to dig for it). To do all that as the kitchen is closing says something. They could have just thrown it on top. I am completely stealing that one. I love amber ale and they make a good one. I hope we can squeeze one last visit in before we leave.

We were in town on a busy St Patrick's Day. Our waiter, Michael, was perfect. Michael was…read morefriendly, attentive and got our order perfect. The surprise appetizer and warm bread was a special treat. I went for the lobster and shrimp tacos, which was delicious. If you are in the area, make this a stop on your list.

Worst food I've ever had at a restaurant. Appetizers were horrendous, our steaks tasted like road…read morekill. Nearly raw, tough, and chewy. Had to send everything back. Luckily the manager comped our whole meal so at least the customer service is good.

One of those places where the owner is there and knows everybody. Was there for breakfast and had a…read more'granola cake' which was news to me. It was delicious, and I still don't understand it. I make oat cakes and they are dense, this was fluffy ... but not saggy. Excellent. Beware of portions. My son's chicken fried stake was gigantic.

Great locals breakfast place, just out of the way off School Street. Stopped in recently for a bite…read moreearly one morning while in town. This little eatery was busy, an old school feel inside there's not a lot of tables here, and seating is both inside and out. Friendly staff, was kind and helpful. Our server who is also the owner, dropped off a couple menus on her pass through and returned with two cups of coffee on her way back. After looking over the menu, I opted for the Ambers Breakfast Tots. Tater tots loaded, with cheese, gravy, an over medium egg plus one added and bacon crumbled all over. This is a seriously good breakfast. Filling and hearty, that hit to spot for me. 4 Stars a solid choice for breakfast 01181

We were a party of 9 that decided to eat here last minute. They were able to accommodate us, even…read morethough they had a party of 11 reserved for that night too. The server/host was very kind and actually fun too. The food was delicious. Most of us had the prime rib with mashed potatoes. Very generous portions and very delicious. If you are traveling in the area, I would say this is a must stop restaurant

Food was delicious, as were the drinks - a good selection of local beers, root beer, and cider,…read moreplus a large selection of wines. Service was a little slow, but they got a big rush of customers when we came in, and servers were literally fast walking the whole time to keep up with them all, so we were patient, and it was worth it!

So glad we found this sweet spot in Rio Dell. We had a simple lunch, splitting a cheese quesadilla…read morewith grilled chicken and it was excellent! Authentic and fresh.

Really great food, amazing customer service! We love this place so much!!! We have ordered from…read morehere probably 10x and every single time, it's been awesome.