Wow! Just wow! This place was featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. It looked like a good place simply based on the show. My family and I recently stayed in Ferndale for a weekend getaway. Of course, we decided to try Hotel Ivanhoe. It was a very busy weekend (fair season) so I called that day to get reservations. They weren't able to get me in until about 8:30. Let me tell you, it was worth the wait. Great ambiance, and great bar up front. It was very lively to say the least. The food was absolutely outstanding. The salad and bread were a great starter for our entrees. My wife and I tried the Fettuccine Alfredo, My wife claimed it was the best she every had. I cannot wait to go back and try something else. read more

I've been a couple of times and everything we've eaten has been good. On our most recent visit, the rack of lamb special was great. The sauce was very nice. The linguini del mar is also excellent. It's a busy dining room, reservations are definitely a good idea. They seem well able to handle larger groups but don't neglect small tables. The owners float through, keeping an eye on things. The bar is lively, with lots of locals in and out. read more

If you should happen to find yourself in the middle of nowhere Nor Cal and end up in a town called Ferndale, there you will find a hotel/restaurant called the Ivanhoe that serves up a mean, savory, damn it's so good my face is going into contortions, steak. Which is not surprising. Ferndale is a quaint, slow paced, Victorian town that was founded on the dairy industry. So one should assume they know a thing or two about cows and how to properly prepare them for steaky goodness. I also had a very good New England clam chowder. The place is charming, laid back, and it's fun to sit back and eavesdrop on the chatter of the local folk. read more

This was our first visit to Ferndale and the second restaurant we've been to. My husband elected to get the calamari appetizer. In his words, he's had better fish sticks. The calamari was soggy and appeared to have been previously frozen. We both had Cesar salad before our meal. It wasn't the best I've ever had but the dressing did have enough garlic kick to my liking. For our main course, I had the cheese ravioli with creamy pesto and the hubby had shrimp scampi with a baked potato and veggies. My pasta was actually pretty decent. Who could go wrong with cheese, pasta, and creamy pesto. My hubby, on the other hand, was very dissatisfied. He said the shrimp were over cooked and rubbery. The baked potato was the best thing on the plate and it was nothing special. For dessert, we had a chocolate mousse and a coconut creme brûlée. The mousse was tasty and a large portion (probably too much). The creme brûlée came from the cold box and was more like pudding. Overall, the food quality was so so. The waitress was ok but we got more attention from the woman filling our water. I doubt we will return for a second visit. read more

Yes!...yes, yes... Thursday night at the Ivanhoe is a wonderful step back in time. In this old Victorian town everything quiets down early evening, all except the Ivanhoe. Will Rogers must have made his presence shown at some time, because the old guys play to a packed house, that stays to cheer them on, and we were in on the fun the whole time, enjoying the ride. Yes, we had a two hour wait for dinner, and it was totally worth it. Put our name down a 7pm for a 9pm reservation, and while everyone smiled acted like we were locals, the host found us through the crowd, to tell us he had a table ready for us a bit early, if we choose. We ordered one of every thing off the appetizer list: char broiled beef sticks, giant grilled prawns and super soft calamari strips, that we tossed in the big mixed green salad with a vinaigrette, and bit of bbq sauce. We had a ball, and made them all take notes on our festive feast. We waddled home happy. Cheers! read more

For a weekend getaway, Ferndale can't be beat. We stayed at the Ivanhoe, and ate here our first night. I was shocked at how many people were there, so definitely make a reservation. The food was pretty good, not great, nothing real out of the ordinary or creative, but it was all well prepared. Service was very professional, and the ambiance was nice, but a little hectic. The hotel itself is quaint. Rooms are clean, maybe a little noisy (I traded a little kitchen noise for bar noise on their bargain rooms.) If I could change something about my experience, it would be a call back. I left two messages with staff and one on a machine for someone to call me about a room, but I never got a call. I had to keep calling until someone who could take a reservation was there. I'm not sure how times I would have called before giving up, luckily, I didn't have to find out, but it was definitely more than 4. All in all, I'd do it again. read more

We stumbled on this by accident. My brother asked a shop keeper where he would take his wife to dinner. He replied, Fortuna. We asked where he would go in Ferndale and he said, the Ivanhoe. We loved it. Great food, great service. You need to be there when they open or have a reservation, it fills up fast. Look for Hans. This guy is a regular that comes down from Eureka. He yodels if he sees someone he knows. We had a great time talking to him. He gave us his card which says, "Will Yodel For Beer". Good times. read more

I've been coming here for years! Food is always on point and DELICIOUS!!! I love the Chicken Marsala. Something about their Marsala sauce, YUMMY!!! I def recommend this restaurant to all my friends. read more

The pictures really don't sell Hotel Ivanhoe; while it's not super upscale, it is very charming and not shabby as the pictures sometimes imply We ate at the restaurant which we really enjoyed. I had the shrimp scampi which was quite tasty. Very good price on wine by the glass. My husband ate the steak which he seemed to enjoy as well. Started with the steamers which were also delicious. Service: good, very slightly overbearing, but helpful Ambiance: cozy, somewhat romantic, but fairly casual price: everything was well-cooked, but it did seem just a tad pricey probably recommend a reservation: our party of 2 had to return after 20+ minutes; the dining room is not very big read more

We just fell in love with this restaurant, Hotel Ivanhoe!!! Great service!!! I'm still dreaming about the scampi & NY Marsala. Also the spicy shrimp is to die for!!! I mean it, to die for! This is a place I wish they had in SF. The Quility & flavors are amazing. And yes we are foodies. You will enjoy this place. Thank us later. read more

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The hubby and I consulted with Yelp for our first evening in Ferndale and were delighted with Hotel Ivanhoe's restaurant. The American fare was just to our liking and oddly, we both ended up with pasta dishes, which isn't our normal thing, but it was a great choice! Hubby had Linguini Del Mare and I had Seafood Fettucine (different pasta and sauces, but both delicious....his lighter than mine which had a creamy rosa sauce...). Each was available in a small or large portion and came with soup or salad. We had the salads and they were awesome with, what I recall to be some nice house-made dressing options. Ambience is historic (read the info re: the history and famous guests!) and the bar is fun to wait in with locals if you have to wait for a table. The Maitre'd was very good at not overwhelming his wait staff and had a good handle on the seating process which was appreciated. We highly recommend this restaurant....seems like the locals do, too! Don't let the hotel/restaurant's site scare you about it being a fancy schmancy place...jeans are fine...the locals are dairymen and farmers! A suit would be a little out of place here... read more

First, may I just say that most of these reviews have been for the restaurant and saloon. This review is for the hotel accomodations only. After researching the local B&Bs, the boyfriend and I decided to try an evening in this charming hotel after a day of trekking through the redwoods. Barb, the primary caretaker for the hotel, was wonderfully accomodating for us. She came to meet us at the hotel when we got there, although we were the only visitors in the hotel that evening. Because of that, she upgraded our room for free so that we could have the balcony overlooking the charming Main Street for Ferndale! The accomodations were exceptionally clean and well furnished. Boyfriend and I spent time enjoyed spending time in the parlor playing cards, and examining the books available in the upstairs parlor. All in all, our stay was absolutely perfect, and we could not have asked for anything more! When considering the other options (Travelodge in Fortuna, etc) the choice is obvious-for the same price (or less, even) you can stay in a charming piece of history with an absolutely lovely host. Thank, Barb! read more

Lovely victorian, wonderful food. Live music drifted up until 9pm from the bar below. Note that 4 pm check in means 4 pm. Innkeeper is only on site from 4 pm on, at least early in the season when we were here. read more

We spent three nights at the Ivanhoe and loved the victorian decor....just like stepping back in time. You must get a room with balcony access, sitting out there you can almost see the dirt road with horse drawn buggies. One issue is the bar down stairs and one a few doors down. Thursday and Friday not so bad, Saturday night was LOUD off and on untill 2 am. Oh well, travel day so tired didn't really matter much on Sunday. The food was fantastic!! read more

Truly unique if you a no frills person. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed staying here. There is a tv in the room. The decor is very nice. Make reservations to eat at the restaurant downstairs. Lots of history in the books downstairs in the lobby. We will definitely stay there again. read more

Our family clan of four adults ate at the Ivanhoe while vacationing in Ferndale this summer. The hotel is very historic and interesting to look at. The food was very good, but not with a wow factor for me. None of us had anything negative to say about our meals, but neither did anyone rave about it either. The service was good, but since the restaurant was bustling, those poor gals were busy, busy, busy. The ambience left much to be desired. It's an old rickety feeling building that could use some TLC. The dining area is stuffed in the dark back of the building with only covered side windows and little natural light. I believe the whole atmosphere would change if they moved it to the front of the building with the view of the main street and the breath-taking Victorian Inn, but it is in a dark, dingy part of the hotel. It gave us the feeling that the restaurant had been an afterthought. Sadly, the prime position is given to the separate bar with a wall dividing the two rooms, and we saw only one person in there when we left around 8:30 p.m. Truly bad planning on their part. The Ivanhoe wasn't really my cup of tea, especially when I can see such wasted potential. read more

Another year, another fair. Another Friday Night at the Ivanhoe!! This year's challenge was my sister and two nieces who are here for the first time in region. Very nice meal and specials......of the four of us, three got the off the menu specials..very tasty from what we shared. The next day, I saw the owner of the Ivanhoe walking down the street. While passing, I told him we had a good time the night before at his establishment. He looked up, and said "thank you." My sister asked me who he was......I told her.... she was still happy, if the sole picatta is a special....you will be happy. I enjoyed the the Steelhead. My niece enjoyed the lamb chops and fettucini Alfredo.....all top notch!!! . read more

My husband and I went in for dinner on New Years Eve. The restaurant was packed but we were seated right on time. We each had the prime rib, which was excellent. The service was spectacular. Everything was served in a timely manner and everything tasted great. The crime brûlée that I had for dessert was the best I have ever eaten. I highly recommend this restaurant, but reservations are imperative. read more

My favorite restaurant in Humboldt County. Everything on the menu is perfectly delicious. Their food is always consistently amazing. Their chicken cacciatore on Thursdays is my favorite dish. Old family recipe. All their appetizers are great. I could go on and on. Must try!! read more

This is a historic Victorian hotel with only 4 rooms. We stayed in the Briar #2 on a weeknight in the winter, and had the place to ourselves. It was like staying in a movie set from an old Western - it was an original stagecoach stop and it has been restored authentically. The lobby and rooms are decorated with antique furniture, doilies, etc. There are artifacts and history all over the hotel to pique your interest. And the restaurant in the hotel is excellent - gourmet Italian with an extensive wine list. Ferndale is less than 5 miles from the 101, and the town is charming, well kept, and filled with delightful shops and boutiques and little cafes. This would make a peaceful weekend getaway experience. We were enchanted. Note- no phones in the rooms, but there is WiFi. The hotel is downtown, and there is a bar attached to the restaurant, so some noise is present until later in the evening. We didn't mind! Ferndale is a thriving town and they seem to take pride in their history. There are also parades several times a year, which could be enjoyed from the upstairs balcony of several of the rooms. It was a memorable experience staying at the Ivanhoe. read more

If your table is at a corner then you're out of luck on good service. Server may have had a bad day and took it out on us because she didn't smile and made us wait for our food for a VERY LONG TIME. She forgot the special of the day and she brought out croutons and parmesan cheese but without salad until 20mins later. My hubby ordered a medium prime rib and he got rare instead. My New York steak had no flavor and server never brought my red pepper chili flakes I asked for. As for the dessert, we waited for an additional 20mins on tiramisu while our server took care of other tables. To top it all off, it took 20 more mins for our check. Other servers were great so the experience wasn't as terrible. read more

NIce family style yet upscale victorian setting where you don't have to dress up but you still feel classy. Dave, the owner (I think), was soo wonderful. He took our picture outside in front of the HIstoric Landmark sign. Oh, yeah, FOOD, yes, it was good. Lots of garlic on my shrimp with a nice fresh baked potato. I also had the minestrone soup. I would go back just for that. It was comfort food!! YUMMY! Hubby loved the salad. He had the 14 oz NY Steak. He asked me if that was a 14 oz steak. It was huge, I said waaaay bigger to me. He liked it. He also had chocolate mousse for dessert. tasty. Very reasonably priced. It was funny, the waitress was telling us the specials. She said " Oh, get this. There is only one left!" Or when hubby ordered dessert she said " Ooh, last chocolate mousse" The table next to us was disappointed cause they wanted the Chocolate mousse. Conclusion...if the waitress says ONE LEFT get it, cause it's gotta be good!! read more

Very much an old western feel, with a fun bar and also dining room. The food was great and you kind of felt like you'd been flung back in time a little bit. In the summer when the racetrackers are there, there's always one on the piano in the bar and another one singing, so it's fun whether you're drinking, eating, or just hanging out. read more

We had dinner here on a day trip to Humboldt County. The food was amazing. I think in my top 5 best meals. Our waiter was really nice and friendly. Even the busgirl was sweet and attentive. The prices were very reasonable too. We will definitely be going back here again. I love this place. read more

My wife and i stayed for four nights over the Thanksgiving weekend. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The room was clean and comfortable with victorian feel an charm, but with updated accessories. The rooms are over the inn's own popular bar and (in our opinion) the best dining establishment in Humboldt County. The owner's are on site often making sure everything goes great for their guests and patrons. I would highly recommend this location for anyone looking for a nice place to stay in Ferndale or Humboldt County. Don't forget to make reservations at the restaurant! read more

Best Scampi I have ever had. The service is on point, the food is wonderful. I would easily say this is the best steakhouse in Humboldt County! read more

Spent a great evening here. Started with a drink in the bar. Dixie the bartender was friendly and willing to chat about the local scene. Dinner was excellent - both food and service. Great atmosphere - casual but special enough to make the evening a real night out on the town. read more

We both stayed here and ate here. The food was awesome. Even if you don't stay in the hotel, you MUST eat at the Ivanhoe. Barb (the owner) is a wonderful hostess and innkeeper. Despite the fact that the hotel is historic, it is very nice and without some the issues old hotels often present (no creeks, squeaks or drafts). They have done a great job with the decor and presentation. The location is right downtown and close to everything. read more

We came in on a Thursday night because we had heard about the live music and fun atmosphere. It was a great time. We ate at the bar and chatted with the very friendly and knowledgeable bartender. The music was not so loud that we couldn't talk as is often the case with live music. Funky, old-time musicians playing the country songs of my childhood (1950s). The guests all seemed to know each other but were very friendly to us as well. My pasta primavera was scrumptious (at least five different vegetables cooked al dente) and my friend's chicken cacciatore was yummy but a quantity only a lumberjack could finish. Unpretentious, not for snobs. read more

Five stars for an unexpected gem in the little town of Ferndale. Our room was clean and comfy, decorated in period antiques, but not too frilly or busy. We parked right outside on the street and they have free wi-fi. We stepped next door to the restaurant and were shocked that the dining room was booked for the evening. There was nobody on the streets, but this place was hopping! We sat at a bar table and could order from the full menu, and are we ever glad we did! The chicken piccata was so tender and buttery accompanied by creamy penne and steamed broccoli. My husband had the linguini with meatballs. He said they were just really good. The salad was fresh and delicious. They had the option of full portions or smaller servings. We really appreciated that. We took off the next morning for the Lost Coast Drive of a lifetime! read more

This town is the best place to be, and the locals and Dave & Barbara the best folks to hang out with. Oh, don't miss my favorite shoe store, Abraxas. I can't leave town without dinner and a room at The Ivanhoe (anything on the menu is absolutely delicious), then fun & pool table at the Palace, and at least one pair of shoes. read more

Too tired to drive north to Eureka, wife and I decided to have dinner in town. Hotel Ivanhoe was recommended to us by our innkeepers and we were glad we went there. They had a nice steak, cooked-to-order well done, and had a basic salad. Relaxing atmosphere in the historic building and the place was easy to find. read more

First experience at Ivan Hoe. Overall it was o.k. The prime rib was pretty good. The desert options were typical. The soup was very salty. The atmosphere was ok but very hot and stuffy. dated it's an historic building and it could use a little paint and cleaning. Seating tight. The primary problem was the service. The bartender man was dismissive and rude , even though not busy at all. Left us standing at the bar, as there's no bar waitress, for 20 mins before asking what we wanted. Then acted like we were difficult for asking for ginger ale. The waitress seemed out of it. Dropping utensils,getting order wrong, forgetting to ever come back, getting bill wrong. Coffee spilled. Slight slur with her grammar. And kept saying sorry. We sorta thought she was stoned. Lastly, there's a 5.00 plate split but they don't split the meal for you. So what's a plate split for? No more food nothing plated soo?? All that being said, I may return but wouldn't go out of my way. read more

Dinner terrific and loved the bar Wednesday is peanuts on the floor night and Thursday live music. I loved that the people in the town would come in a pick up their guitar and sing. It was beyond a highlight experience and for this alone I want to come back to Ferndale. read more

A favorite dinner place! Delicious Italian food and classic steak and chicken dishes, a full bar, live music on Thursday nights, and a great Victorian/Old Time Saloon vibe! read more

My family loves Ivanhoe. When we were looking at Ferndale as a place to move to we had gone to Curley's and really gotten hooked. Unfortunately by the time we moved here Curleys had relocated - still close by and wonderful. So we tried Ivanhoes and were very very happy with it. We go regularly. The place is clean, service is top notch, food is savory and fresh, they are great to our little one, the patrons are friendly, the bar in front is comfortable and upbeat. This outfit definitely cares about what they are doing and it shows. My little one loves the chicken piccata, we have enjoyed several of the seafood dishes, their salads a crisp (thousand island is wonderful), pastas are tasty and rich. read more

We were on a day trip to the redwoods and decided to re-visit Ferndale, one of our favorite small towns. It was about 7:00 pm on a Sunday and not too many places were open, so we chose Hotel Ivanhoe. OMG - amazing meal. Hubby had the "small" prime rib and I had the steelhead salmon special. The minestrone was excellent, the salad was fine. We swapped halfway through, like we always do. The prime rib was among the best we ever had and my salmon was delicious. The vegetables were beautifully cooked and seasoned. The rice pilaf actually was tasty and not overcooked. The creme brulee disappeared quickly, as did the chocolate mousse. The only negatives were the bread - very uninspired, and the fact that you could not split the entrees. Those are the only reasons I didn't give 5 stars. The wait staff was attentive, without being annoying. The decor is vaguely Victorian, quite attractive. read more

I visited Ferndale back in December 2015. I loved Ivanhoe's chicken barley soup, YUM. They served it as part of my steak meal. The soup was extremely tasty and hit the spot on a cold December evening. My meal was above average a decent size steak with good flavor. The funny thing is the chicken barley soups shocked me because I've only had beef barley soup and the idea of chicken just through me off. Plus, I feel that beef matches the heartiness of the barley more than chicken. However, not in this case, the chicken with the barley was an excellent pairing. read more

Was here last week. Got seated at the bar area right away. Ordered the NY Steak and had Clam Chowder. Both were very delicious. The Clam Chowder was the best I had ever had. The Service was average, the bartender was ok, just would not split our tabs. I recommend this place to couples for a night out or with friends. read more

Beautiful Hotel. Special treat to stay there. Right downtown.