I stumbled upon the perfect place for seafood on a busy Mother's Day May 10. A very good view of the Humboldt Bay from the King Salmon area of southern Eureka. Because I was alone, I was able to seat myself on the patio with no waiting. The cool wind actually felt great. The serve staff was friendly and attentive. The fish and chips were glorious so was the large salad. Prices were reasonable. I did go inside to use the restroom, kinda awkward have a pre-restroom area. Otherwise, nice and clean throughout the inside. The ice plant was in bloom as I walked around taking pictures before and after my meal. read more

Overview: Seafood Cafe with views of the water Meal/Time:  Lunch/Saturday Party Size: 2 Seated: 1137AM Ordered:  1141AM First ordered item arrived:  Salad and soup out 1144AM Mains out 1157AM Decor/Atmosphere: Fisherman diner.  Inside booths and counter seating.  Outside patio dining area.   Service/ Front of the House: Need to check in inside with the hostess. Service/Serving Staff: Our server was FM as it was on the bill. Sweet lady.  Really made us feel  welcomed.  Awesome smile.   Food: Gumbo is good.  Shrimp and chicken is a slight kick. Salad has chicken peas and pickled beets.  Good solid side salad. The coleslaw is lacking flavor.  The fries are semi think cut but perfectly seasoned... Great Job. The clam cutlet is pounded clam then breaded and pan fried.  It's heavy on the breading but its also heavy on the flavor... thumbs up.    The fish and chips are pretty good too.  Taste like beer battered .. flaky and moist white fish (cod) I think inside a golden brown shell. Restroom: Single men's with urinal and toilet.  Clean, well lit and roomy.  Sink area is clean but there were some paper on the floor near garbage can. Will I come back? Yes, I would like to check out calamari read more

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What a gem of a find for breakfast. It's a dive of a place . . . just like we like! It's buried at the end of a winding drive, but well worth the journey. The staff was friendly and welcoming and their clientele eclectic. We had the crab omelet which to say was delicious is an understatement. The potatoes and sourdough bread capped it off nicely. Tossed in were a few slices of fresh watermelon which were a nice touch. We were just passing thru Eureka for the weekend, but if we're ever back we will definitely return to Gill's! read more

Super cute, casual seaside restaurant. Lots of outdoor seating making it perfect for a warm day. The vibes were great with friendly staff and a general happiness about the place. Lunch was super tasty. Ice cold beer, crab sandwiches. What could you ask for? Definitely stop by if you're in the area. read more

Gill's By The Bay - Crab sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Eureka, California

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The food is amazing, great friendly service, great prices, can sit inside or outside over over look the Bay. Beautiful view. will be going back. read more

Gill's By The Bay - Seafood Near Me - Eureka, California

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Another great diner by the water! The view is amazing by the window and the outdoor patio. Friendly staff. My boyfriend ordered a BLT which he enjoyed (so he says). I ordered the special grilled crab sandwich and it was absolutely delicious. They packed nicely seasoned fresh crab in a perfectly toasted bread. The side of slaw was a tad sweet and it went so well with the sandwich! The mimosa was super sized and it was enjoyable! Would love to return on our next road trip. read more

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Gill's By The Bay is one of my favorite restaurants. Great breakfast, especially the biscuits and gravy and the seafood chowder is second to none. Great service as well as prices. read more

Always a great place to go sit by the bay, enjoy a great view and some great food. A clean, no frills establishment, run by nice local people. Breakfast's are always great- lunch of some crab and a beer can never go wrong.... We always make it a stop on our travels up the coast. $$$ because mostly seafood. read more

I was greeted so kindly as a single guest. I had options of deck (which was packed) booths or the bar. I chose the bar. I was served quickly and had a great experience watching the back and front of house run. It's a very homey vibe which I love. The food was great. I normally can't finish a meal and I had the special crab benedict with potatoes. Oh yeah I finished it. I also had some coffee and a mimosa. I liked it so much I got a shirt. Will be back. read more

Gill's By The Bay - Lots of sea wildlife hanging and lining the walls. - Seafood Near Me - Eureka, California

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I love the ambiance. Fish and chips were good and service was great. Fish chowder as terrible.

Great view, large patio. Crab sandwich was the best, oh and the mimosas . The service great, very courteous.

Great food and good service. We always enjoy our time at Gil's by the Bay! It is clean, also. read more

Service was super fast and helpful lovely spot to stare out into the bay definitely has the old restaurant by the sea vibe to it so far did find anything that didn't taste amazing portions are vary generous read more

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Yesterday's clam chowder was heard to be so good. However, today, 11/23/25, it was so bad we left three cups partially eaten and paid $5 and some change apiece. Good for them, unfortunate for us. Today's tasted like overly floured white sauce with no clams. I was disappointed as I love clam chowder and was excited for a great experience. Thank you for your attention to this matter. :) read more

I'm not sure what happened :( the food is terrible now! It used to be so good! I've been coming here since I was a kid, and I don't know if they have a new cook or if it's new suppliers for the food products but their famous potatoes were so bland they tasted like boiled or something. No seasoning. No flavors. The rest of the food was salty and not good. It's really sad because this is a local landmark but with their food changing like that they won't be open much longer. It was the first time ever that I had a bad meal there and it was bad. And REALLY expensive . Almost 50 dollars for two people to eat breakfast. That's just insane. We won't be coming back anymore which is so sad and kind of depressing . Not many local landmarks anymore. Oh well :/ read more

Gill's is out on the bay by way of a long crazy road from the Hwy. I first sat inside at the counter. Typical seafood joint on the water, old, worn and very busy. They were super crowded but the service was good in spite of it. I decided to go outside which was lovely over looking the bay. I had the Fish and Chips, which was crispy and and a wee bit fishy but still very tasty. They served a lovely salad with it loaded with beets, corn, olives and other garnishes. This place is popular and I enjoyed my lunch there for the atmosphere and food. read more

Nothing like Gill's for location and vibe - it doesn't try to be cool, it just is. One of a kind place perched right on Humboldt Bay; be lucky enough to go in good weather and eat on patio. read more

Found this diner on YELP. It was everything and more. It was fathers day so the place was busy. They have a large outdoor patio and pretty big indoor area. We sat at the counter to watch the waitstaff dance. Busy but not Crazy. Everyone was friendly we had a beer and the famous hot-crab sandwich. I will definitely atop here again when I am in the neighborhood. read more

Gill's By The Bay - Hot crab sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Eureka, California

Perfect day with a perfect lunch. View is awesome and food is solid. Our service was spot on. read more

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Excellent food and service. We sat on the patio and watch the water and sea gulls. The special was a grilled crab sandwich that was loaded with tons of crab meat. We also had fish and chips that was cooked to perfection. The waitress was friendly. I would definitely go back! read more

Gill's By The Bay - Fish and Chips - Seafood Near Me - Eureka, California

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Although they have a large patio, they don't allow dogs! Just spent a wonderful week on the Oregon coast visiting all kinds of pet friendly establishments. Do better California!! read more

We walked in seeing it was ful and busy but that because I know it's good food so worth the wait but we waited an hour and 45 minutes with no updates on our food order. When I noticed people AROUND us were getting food and leaving. I decided it was time to go, it felt like our business was not wanted so I went to pay for the coffee and two drinks my daughters ordered. When the cashier asked where I was seated I informed her, so she went to pull my ticket from the kitchen, she looked and looked. She got the owner to help....no ticket. I was like wow! Sat here for that long with no food in sight. I live 5 minutes away and always recommend them to family visiting from out town but NOT now, if they are busy. read more

It's a great local spot to visit. Coastal restaurant with regulars ordering their usual. Great patio but unfortunately dogs are not allowed read more

Gill's By The Bay - Crab Benedict - one of today's specials. - Seafood Near Me - Eureka, California

2 Sept'24-10:00-Food and service excellent. Indoor and outdoor dining available. We ate outside. Nice views of South Humboldt Bay. I had the breakfast sandwich which was packed with sausages. Highly recommended! I can't wait to go back! read more

The food was fantastic! Service was excellent and you couldn't ask for a better location!

Cute little diner type restaurant on the bay in Eureka. We unfortunately missed brunch so we decided to go with the fish and chips. My sister and I split that and it was pretty filling. The service was really nice and friendly. We got the pie, although it was nothing to write home about. read more

A local favorite with a great view. The staff is very kind, the food is excellent, and the hot crab sandwich is my go-to. I am sure the rest of the menu is solid as well, but that is the reason I keep coming back. Complaints about the timing of dishes, like the review posted on September 1, feel a bit over the top for a neighborhood seafood spot, but everyone has their preferences. Mine are simple: good flavor, friendly service, and a beautiful setting. Check, check, and check. read more

Nice view of the bay on the deck and plenty of seating out there! The warm crab sandwich special was terrific!

Overpriced food, service i feel bad management taking their tip money. They had one great cook and the other she was popping pills left and right making the poor man work as if he was four people the ambiance is thick and uncomfortable. And they are slumlords that don't fix anything. I worked for them and I was a tenant, so I know first hand read more

Best onion rings in Humboldt and best oyster shooters! Love to eat here. Best seafood great service and love the ambience

4 stars. Place is busy even on the weekdays. We decided to wait knowing it was very busy. Didn't disappoint. Overall a good place to eat quality food at an affordable price. Great views right off the ocean. 5 stars salad. A lot of toppings. Very fresh. Tasted great. Italian dressing was perfect. 4 stars coleslaw. Was fresh. Everything tasted good. Could've used a little more flavor. 4 stars. Captains platter. Cod was good. Prawns were good. Fillet of sole was very small, not a lot of flavor. Oyster was good. Fries were plain. No seasoning. Definitely needs ketchup. Everything had a lot of batter. 4 stars Monte Cristo. French toast was good. Ham and turkey was ok. A little dry. Syrup made it good. 3 stars burger. Burger was dry and a bit over cooked. Not a lot of flavor. Fries also had no seasoning. Needed ketchup. read more

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Solid Local Fare a little bit geared towards the bay classics and the older crowd yet still great. Easy to get a seat here on crowded days if the weather is good as they have the outdoor patio but have a jacket at the ready as the wind can bite. All the classic fare is on point. Fish n chips, Calamari, Chowder, Monte Christos, Louis... all yummy. Mimosas and bloodys at an easy price tag compares to other spots around. Gills has huge local history and a great view. If it's not too crowded check out the Historical Pictures all around the restaurant. They have been here since the old days of Whaling and Timber. All around Humboldt staple from times past where the service is good, the people are friendly, and the bites are filling and consistent. Great start to the new year here for us at Gills by the Bay! read more

Gill's By The Bay - Calamari Steak! Delish! - Seafood Near Me - Eureka, California

Gill's by the Bay is a gem totally worth visiting! Extremely fresh! Tried my first oyster shooter. Huge, fresh oyster served with lemon & cocktail sauce - delicious! Fresh brewed iced tea came in a really large glass with lemon. Creamy clam chowder was perfect. And the fresh catch for fish & chips was cod. Nice crispy batter & really tasty well seasoned fries. They have a huge outdoor patio area with a beautiful view of the bay. I sat inside where they were kind to let me charge my phone. It seemed to me that regulars sat inside & tourists sat outside. It was fun to watch the interaction between the waitstaff & the regulars. After being on the road for many days, they made me feel welcomed & at home. I would be a regular too if I lived in the area! read more

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The chowder is very good. Very rich! There's an herb in it I couldn't place which made it quite different from New England clam chowder. The fried oysters had a nice light crispy batter. They weren't served with any sauce though. I'd like a horseradish sauce. Just sayin. His hamburger looked sad and he said it tasted like it looked. The fries were your standard. So somethings shine. Somethings are pretty mediocre. Choose carefully. read more

This a fun laid-back coastal restaurant where our group had breakfast. Our server was very kind and was efficient on bringing our coffee and food! Service was on point! We had the following:Crab Benedict, Eggs Benedict and Crab Omelette. Everyone LOVED their dishes. I liked my crab Benedict but the potatoes were cut up too chunky and were not crispy. Outside of that delicious! The Ambiance was charming outside and so colorful with flowers but inside was like a vintage diner! read more

Gill's By The Bay - Menu - Seafood Near Me - Eureka, California

Best Food, Pacific NW weather, Birds, and Fishermen. Local folks fill the restaurant for both breakfast and lunch - be there at 8 AM.

I had the opportunity to visit Eureka, Ca for my class reunion and when looking for a place to have breakfast, I found Gill's By The Bay. Their crab omlet and pancakes were fantastic and the staff was friendly and efficient. I wanted to try other items on the menu but didn't have the time. When I return to Eureka I will definitely revisit Gill's. read more

2.5/5 First off, if you are in a rush to go somewhere, do not come here. They have a big sign warning you that the food will take at least 45 minutes to come out. We had a lot of time to kill so we figured we could wait. lmaoooo what a mistake because it wasn't just the meal prep that was slow. it took forever for us to even get our menus to begin with, to call someone to take our order, and of course for our food to arrive. The service was all around kind of lousy; our waitress seemed annoyed the whole time we asked questions when she was taking our order. For a restaurant that seemed to take everything so slowly, I have no idea why she was so impatient with us and seemed to be rushing our party to order. The table next to ours ordered after us and got their food before us. Our waitress didn't bring out a salad that came with our meal as well as a side cole slaw, so we had to ask her for it. She seemed surprised and actually carefully inspected our table (as if we had gotten it and were lying to her??). She eventually admitted that she actually totally forgot to bring it out with our meal. In terms of the food, nothing stood out except for the hot crab sandwich. Everything else was pretty subpar, but I will have to say that the hot crab sandwich was exceptional. In the off chance that I ever come back here again, I would only get the hot crab. read more

Gill's By The Bay - Seafood chowder in a bread bowl and hot crab sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Eureka, California

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Ordered the chicken fried steak and when it showed up I swore it was a sausage patty covered in gravy. Small,over cooked and not crispy at all. And who in the hell loads up country potatoes with mushrooms??? Disgusting. The best part of my breakfast was the sourdough bread that they forgot to bring out until I was done with my meal. read more

I love coming to Gil's for breakfast. Everything is made fresh and almost to perfection every time that I've been there. I've been going to Guild for years and my mom and Pop environment is something that is desirable and the location is amazing. read more