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This place is fun. I've been a couple of times and have never been disappointed. Totally in line with my expectations based on the Yelp reviews.
Family style, tons of food, nice people who are normally traveling just like you to talk to, more of what you like, less of what you don't like, service if fast and efficient.
I've only been there for lunch and that has put me in a food comma so I can't even imagine what a breakfast would do. Soup, salad, fresh baked bread (no mold, see review below), two entree choices, veggies, potatoes or other starch, dessert, coffee, tea, and if you feel like for extra you can get a glass of wine or bottle of beer.
As one of the reviewers said.. its on the list of things to try and do when you are traveling the 101 from here to there.... I think if you had little kids they would really enjoy the experience too.
I laugh, as I thought I might get a FTR. Uh, NO. There are 63 ahead of you, Ms P (and there I go talking to myself again). But this place was AMAZING. I wasn't really sure what to expect, since we were here during our camping trip. I hadn't researched it, but it was in one of those 101 Things to Do tourist things you pick up at stores or information centers.
Basically, the Samoa Cookhouse is the last surviving cookhouse in the West, and serves food lumber camp style (meaning lots of it, family style)! We came for lunch, and we were served fluffy fresh bread, salad, soup, FRIED CHICKEN, calico beans, corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, and then dessert. And basically, it's ALL AYCE; you can ask for seconds or thirds of ANY of this hearty great food. And since we'd been hiking and were planning to go hiking the next day, NONE of us were on a diet (actually, I don't think any in that group ever is on a diet). We had extra helpings of the bread, extras on the soup, and extra fried chicken (he even brought us a plate JUST of thighs and drumsticks).
Not only does this place serve a hearty meal, there's also a museum and gift shop with relics and photographs from the old logging and Cookhouse days. I was most amused by the photos of the fancy ladies posed in the cut of a tree. So stylish!
Apparently, the island this cookhouse is on was bought by a developer who planned to build a carnival area and call it "Samoa Play House" or some variation of that name because, at the time it was named, the tropical islands were all the rage. Although the Play House never came to be, the "Samoa" part of the name stuck. As an aside, the small town nearby is called Manila.
What a fun discovery! This is, in large part, why it is fun to travel and explore.
If you have dreamed of escaping reality for a short period of time to pretend you are a lumberjack...
if you enjoy eating at long picnic tables covered in red and white tablecloths with a bunch of complete strangers...
if you eat with your elbows on the table and chew with your mouth open...
if you are one who likes to eat until you fall over...
...then this is the place for you. They don't stop bringing the food. My tummy hurts when I think about how many pancakes I ate for breakfast that morning. Blah pancake death.
The food is good (by good I mean soaked in butter) and the people are nice, but tooooooo heavy. Blah. Never again. The end.
Good lord, this place is fantastic!
Once upon a time, on the way back from a college road trip to Sonoma State, we visited this place on the way back home. I had no idea where I was or what this place was, but a bunch of us stopped in and had a HUGE, lumberjack-style breakfast per the recommendation of one of us who knew the area. The food was fresh and plentiful, and they just kept the food coming. My kind of breakfast spot. Fresh eggs, bacon, pancakes---phenomenal. Ever since then, I had been wondering what the name of this place was. Fast forward about 15 years, and I was talking to my wife about the experience and she informed me that I had been to the Samoa Cookhouse--and she had been going there for years!
God bless that wife of mine. :)
Note: I don't give more than 3 stars unless food, service and setting are outstanding. The food here is homestyle, but very good.
Setting: A logging cookhouse that was used to feed hundreds of loggers in days gone by. Now its a large room (with at least two smaller rooms) with community tables seating 10 or 12 people. Checked oil cloth table clothes and well used flatware. Paper napkins only. Food is seved family style. The servers keep parties together and while we were there separated groups with open seats. Men,s room could have used a clean up.
Service: Service is extremely informal and homey, but competent.
Food: Family style for everything except dessert. We had vegetable soup, green salad with marinated beans (choice of dressings per person), BBQ'ed pork ribs with red potatoes, garden peas, and baked beans. Chocolate cake for dessert. Everything appeared fresh and the cake was homemade. 2nds for anything we wanted. I enjoyed it all and would return when I'm in the area. Cost was $11.95 per person for lunch.
This place rates at a 10 in my book!
You walk in and it's almost still cafeteria style, which I don't mind, especially since you don't have to sit on a bench but your own chair! You enjoy good coffee, tea, water or juice. Scrambled eggs, french toast and sausage! Of course if your plates become empty they will come and ask you how much more you need! I loved the biscuits with the gravy they provide on the side for you to put as much or as little as you want!
Good service and good food, and quite filling if you ask me!! Plus you get to learn a little more about the redwoods, don't forget to check out the museum!!
So in 2003, we were on a church conference up in Eureka b/c apparently some of my people ["what doya mean 'you people'?"..hahah..Tropic Thunder is ridckerous!] decided to relocate to the great North-North Cali..sup Maualugas!. So before we even left the Bay we MapQuest'd Eureka and found a town called Samoa. Now were went kinda giddy becuz Samoans make up like .02% of the U.S. population? So any trace of my people we pretty much go poke our chests out and feel all patriotic and such (to SAMOA folks). So we HAD to stop by and see whats good in Samoa!
On the way up, there were HELLA signs saying to visit the famous Samoa Cookhouse. SAMOA + FOOD = Next Exit please!
call me crazy, but I walked into the Samoa Cookhouse expecting to see something...well something...I dunno..SAMOAN?
But the most Samoan thing in the joint was..well..me and the fam. Funny thing is, the waitress said the only time she's seen a Samoan was when her husband is watchin Monday Night Football. Yup..felt kinda racist to me. hhahaha..JUST KIDDIN! (sorta).
The food? Good if anything. I mean it really is a 'stick to ya ribs' kinda meal, but hey! No complaints from me. At least the meal came in Samoan portions, so it was enough to tie us down until dinner (HAHAH..Ya'll think I'm playing with this Samoan vs. Food thing. It's SERIOUS!) The fried chicken was HITTIN'! Mash was mash, but the gravy did compliment it real nice.
I think the side museum though tied it all in though. It was mad interesting and we took plenty of kodaks of the ordeal. Hell we were laughing so much though because of how we really expected Samoans that the hostess thought we were crazy.
[shruggz]
That's a real Samoan for ya. 4 or the food, but 3 in the end b/c they mislead us. hahaha!
If you want home cookin', this is the place! Visiting northern CA with family and son said this was a must see. It's the only "camp" kitchen left in America according to advertising fliers. Lumber mill workers ate here, slept in what now is the parking log and worked all day in the lumber mill. If they were fed like this, they certainly must have enjoyed it.
We stopped in late--right before closing and the place was still hopping. The menu for the day was roasted pork loin and chicken marsala. Everything is served family style and cooked just like it would have been in 1893. It comes with a drink, soup, salad, veggies, and dessert--all for 14.95. You certainly won't go hungry. Our server was knowledgeable and friendly. He told us about the history of the place (hard to miss with all the pictures of big old trees chopped down in they hey day. One pic had a redwood with at least 10 work horses standing on top of it. Amazing that these giants have been harvested!) But I digress.
Server kept the food coming. We had a choice of iced or hot tea, coffee, and he also brought a pitcher of iced water. You could buy other drinks if you liked, not included in the price of meal--including beer. Soup was split pea and it was great, followed by a nice fresh salad and then the main course. The pork loin was so tender and chicken marsala was fantastic. It felt like it was cooked just for you. Baked potatoes and corn were the veggies, but the baked potatoes were dried out and waiter said he'd rather we had red potatoes, so we took him at his word and they were great. They did run out of apple pie, but we got pudding and whipped cream instead. Needless to say, we couldn't eat it all--though waiter wanted to make sure we were full!
Only "downs" about this place: 1) you can eat too much in a snap 2) a little confusing for first-timers
Our table was out of condiments and silverware, but eventually everything worked out.
We may go back for the lumberjack breakfast!
Definitely make time to check out the historical displays.
Update: Breakfast was just as good as dinner. We had French Toast, biscuits and gravy, sausage, scrambled eggs, and beverages. Yummy, Yum!
It was late, and we were hungry! After a long wait to sit, the hostess forgot about us, we were greeted with a big bowl of split pea soup, salad, and a basket of delicious fresh bread. Soup was devoured. Man, was it tasty! Almost better than Pea Soup Anderson's. Next up was ham with honey mustard and chicken parm. The chicken was juicy and the sauce was pretty good. It tasted like it was freshly made. The ham was also good. Last up, Bread Pudding. I've never had bread pudding, but this was a delicious introduction to it.
Humboldt...
I used to have several friends up here and I'd ride my motorcycle up to hang out for long weekends. They've all moved but I still make my way up for weekends to Trinidad and Arcata.
When I go, one of my must destinations is the Samoa Cookhouse. They serve family style, with only a couple menu choices for each: b-fast, lunch and dinner. Again, they serve what ever is on the whiteboard menu on your table in bowls or plates. So if its chicken or steak or ribs, you get a couple pieces (enough) per person, with a couple bowls of sides. Everything is always tasty, very saucy, and its a real experience. Samoa is a little out of the way, but if you find yourself in Eureka, it's a great adventure.
OMG! This place still exists!! I have the fondest childhood memory of this place. The food was family style and I remember them bringing us a whole pie to the table for dessert. My family always talks about this place. Now I have a reason to go back knowing its still out there!
If I could, I would give this one 6 STARS!!!!!!!
Hands down, Samoa Cookhouse is amazing! By appearances, it doesn't look good. The outside is old and the building looks likes a barn. You walk in and it's a little dark and there are tables set up like a picnic. So I didn't know...
We sat down and the food started to come out! The soup and bread were perfect. The salad and ranch tasty. Then the main course came out and WOW! The beef was ok but the fried pork & gravy were out of this world! I got seconds and wanted thirds but couldn't. Then the dessert came out and the bread pudding...stupid good!
If you are anywhere close to Samoa...GO TO THE COOKHOUSE!!!!!
After hearing so much about this place, I tried it once on a road trip to Oregon.
I expected to eat heartily.
The food, however, was doled out as though we were dining at the French Laundry by an unbelievably belligerent waitress who seemed to resent the fact that I was sucking up her air.
If I could have burned this place to the ground as I was leaving, I would have done so.
That said, this was 8+ years ago, hopefully they've addressed these issues since then.
Once, during a visit to La Maison Du Lizard, Liz D. decided to show me her latest acquisition. It was a pastoral meadow scene muddily painted on a saw blade.
"Have you ever seen anything like it?" She asked in breathy tones. "It's so bizarre, who would paint on a saw blade?"
"Honey" I said. "Where I grew up, that's more common than dollar bills."
While not strictly "where I grew up", the Samoa Cookhouse definitely posses enough of the Small-Town/NorCal/Lower-Middle Class sensibillity and it's fair share of painted saw blades to easily pass for it. Long, family-style tables with tablecloths in red-checked vinyl and those weird brown plastic glasses that were so popular in the 80's have found their home here where the patrons treat them with neither derision or irony, or even suspect that they should.
This place is for loggers, truckers, Mom and Dad and their kids and the extended family, grandparents getting their early bird special, college kids on dates and oh my goodness several busses of high-school-aged basketball players descending on this place while it merrily churns out platter after platter of food. And yet, with all that variety, it wasn't even a busy night.
The waitresses ain't nobody's baby, and will streamline the process of your ordering, consumption and bill paying. With names like "Cheryl" and "Beth" they look like they've seen everything that can be done to a lemon and weren't impressed by any of them.
"Eating here makes me nervous" My friend Emily says as we dunk the oddly tasty white bread in soup. Apparently, the location of the Cookhouse lies in a prime position to be wiped out by tidal wave the minute the huge earthquake that will one day sever California from the rest of the States happens. "The wave would move so fast that all you would be able to do is stand and watch the water level drop impossibly fast and then 'Hiy-gah'." She finishes with her hands splayed beside her face, the expression of a person hit with a giant wall of water lingers, and then is lost while she dunks another chunk of bread in the soup. Judging by the boisterous noise around us, few are aware or concerned that they've been taking their life in their hands by eating dinner is such a precariously placed restaurant.
However, the food here is not a culinary fantasy, and most definitely not worth dying over. Probably the best and most prolific adjective used to describe the food would be "large". Any star it might have lost it's for quality is immediately regained by quantity and the fact that they have no menu. Just a simple little board telling what meat is the meal today. I hate menus that use thirty-six adjectives to tell you how they cut the beef, and forty more to tell you how they cooked it, so the lack of pretension was surprisingly refreshing. And I LOVE pretension!
If you happen to be in the area, camping with a bunch of friends, spent the day at the beach, visiting with the parents, or if you just want a simple, easy warm meal, check this place out. You might not be amazed, but you definitely won't be sorry, and that's more than I can say for a lot of places.
This place was surprisingly better than I expected. Most of what is served is fresh, and prepared on site, even though it is simple old style American. We enjoyed a good fresh vegetable soup, a simple fresh salad, boneless pork ribs, and chocolate cake. We were told that this is the last remaining cookhouse in the U.S. This is a very informal restaurant with paper napkins, oilcloth on the tables, and simple cutlery.
"Just ask the locals."
We saw the place, went inside and walked out. Back in the car, I mentioned, "It looks like a place where the local people eat." Suddenly, I heard Rachael Ray's advice for finding good food: "Just ask the locals." I made a quick U-turn and we were waiting for Sunday dinner in no time.
Simple food and lots of it. LOTS OF IT. Good stuff. Must try. (Just ask the locals.)
Breakfast here was an adventure. French toast (done with large egg bread slices) link sausage (w/lots of sage, yeah!) scrambled eggs (really light & fluffy, yeah again!) biscuits & country gravy (big light tasty biscuits, another yeah!) Gravy would've been better w/sausage in it but I'm not complaining. And last but not least, endless coffee & O.J. Our waitress was a kick, really down to earth & friendly. Everything is served family style so if you're hungry this is THE place to come. You really get alot for not much $$. We'd heard about it for years & we're glad we tried it. The logging museum is great and across the parking lot is a small but well kept local Maritime museum that was really interesting to go through. Really worth the trip.
Logging History, Large Portions and a Massive Chain Saw
It's really about the volume, not really the best food but huge amount for the money. Keep in mind this is where they used to feed hungry loggers and the menu and decor still stays true to that. One menu for all is posted at the door so check what will be served (or call ahead) to see what the day's choice is. Breakfast on the last time I went was all the eggs, french toast, sausage, biscuit/gravy and OJ or coffee you can eat for one low price. I particularly liked the french toast and maple syrup as the bread was thick and fluffy. The long communal tables can feed a huge group or provides you the opportunity to sit with other hungry folks and make some new friends.
The historic significance of this building and the way of life it provides a glimpse of is really the star here. The museum side has both artifacts (6 foot long chain saw anyone?) and amazing photographs of loggers in their Sunday best and hats posing with old growth trees. Make sure to check out the huge metal buoy in the parking lot.
Somoa Cookhouse...
Family style food
spare ribs, carrots, potatoes,
pork roast with gravy
This place was amazing, filling and amazing... food good, soup, salad, meal, dessert and a whole pot of tea, tasted the coffee(came in a whole pot) not a fan, not strong enough, my only complaint. checkered table cloths too. prefecto.
Best Part they offer extra of anything. Extra slice likes that...
Holy gravy, Batman!
This is a must-stop spot for visitors to the area. Combine it with a trip to the jetty for the real experience! This place reminds me of a traditional-style cookhouse near where I grew up in Virginia. It is no-frills, family-style, eat-as-much-as-your-gut-will-hold. You come in, sit down at a long table, and they pile it on in front of you.
My mouth is still drooling today from the sausage gravy and incredible biscuits. The eggs' texture were a bit funny somehow, but I couldn't quite place it and they tasted yummy otherwise. The French toast is everything your mama made you :) And you can have as much of this as you want for $10.95. YAY!
The setting is really cool, too. It's an historic building, set near a lumberyard and a marine museum. It's neat to see all the pictures of enormous redwoods being pulled by horses, and relive the old times when Arcata/Eureka/McKinleyville were major shipping and industry centers.
I would eat here every weekend, except that the menu is the same every weekend. Perhaps they should consider rotating around their other breakfast items. Oh, and add bacon. BACON BACON.
We all had an amazing meal here when I went there a few years back. The atmosphere is welcoming and the folks working here are extremely friendly. I like that you can see the kitchen next to the dining area. I also like very much the cafeteria style seating in here, although I usually do not like that kind of setup. The food was delicious and let me warn you, don't fill up on the bread and drinks as you will probably get more food then you can eat in 2 meals! They have daily specials and you get what you get, so be prepared to eat some fresh food out the kitchen. Definitely a 5 star place!
I have told my husband about breakfasts here for years. I visited an old friend in Eureka tons as a teenager, and hadn't been there since. So, on our recent roadtrip, I made a Samoa pilgrimage.
I was bummed to have missed breakfast, but lunch was awesome. They charged less for me since I am veggie, but I still had a lot of selections. I love the bread and the salads.
The food is simple, but good.
The service is pretty awesome, but the food can be hit-or-miss. Today's breakfast consisted of biscuits that were overcooked, a fairly decent french toast, great sausage links and poorly cooked watery eggs. But a great deal for the price, so who's complaining?
I can't think of a better place to refuel after a race.
We drove 45 minutes from our campground to eat at Samoa Cookhouse Sunday night and it did not disappoint. After my disappointing meal at Ad Hoc the same weekend (see review), I was a little hesitant to dine at another set menu family style venue.
The minute I entered the large wooden cafeteria-like room lined up with long tables covered in red and white checkered table covers, I knew I was going to like it here. This place was honest and unpretentious. I think it is what Ad Hoc was going for but failed to execute.
I don't think they see many lumberjacks here these days but from our experience, they are happy to feed just about anyone that's hungry. They have been for nearly 120 years. We were a group of 6 adults and 6 kids and we fit in beautifully. In fact, anyone would fit in here. It's that kind of a place.
The food was really very good. It exceeded my expectations. Our meal started with a generous basket of the most delicious home made white bread. Slathered with butter, it was seriously the most comforting thing I have eaten in a while. Our group scarfed it down and the kids couldn't get enough of it.
Next came a simple salad of cold crisp greens with a side of croutons and a jar of delicious dressing (I adore Italian style dressing made from a packet). It was followed by large piping hot bowls of home made vegetable soup. yum.
The main course that night was fried chicken and baked ham with a side of corn (canned most likely) and baked potatoes. They didn't specify which farm the chicken was from nor did they indicate whether it was free range or caged. In fact, we weren't told where anything was grown. And I found it kind of refreshing! I support sustainability as much as the next person but sometimes all I want is simple and delicious. No statements.
Dessert was bread pudding and/or vanilla pudding. Our server came around and topped each serving with canned whip cream. Included in our meal was coffee/tea service.
We brought our own wine and drank it out of the clear plastic cafeteria cups they provided. Although they serve wine, they didn't charge us a corkage fee. We did have to quickly return the restaurant's only cork screw whenever we opened a new bottle. I found that rather charming. Next time, we'll bring our own wine opener too.
For this all-you-can-eat family style feast, it cost $14.95 per person and our kids (under 5) ate for free. So for our family of four, the total with tip was $40. Not bad for a soul satisfying, rib-sticking 1000 calorie meal.
If our meal at Ad Hoc was like eating at a snooty architect/socialite/foodie friend's dinner party, our meal at Samoa Cookhouse was like eating at our grandma's country house among dusty afghans and relics. Delicious, comforting food. No pretenses. Utterly charming and comfortable. Like a warm ben-gay hug.
i'd wanted to try this place for years and i finally got my chance - not once but twice! definitely some down home cooking. quirky service. well, quirky everything, actually. but pretty neat. definitely won't leave hungry! samoa (and eureka too) are quite odd though... and depressing with all the fog. but you'll forget about the fog here with all the grub!
The bf and I came across this place on our trip to visit the mighty, majestic redwoods. The location is kinda out there, but you can't miss the HUGE "Cookhouse" signs, pointing you in the right direction.
There's ample parking and once you've entered the log-house restaurant, you face a whiteboard that tells you what's on the menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The pricing is great, whether you're a kid or an adult (view pictures for prices). It's a very home-style, community atmosphere when you dine. You sit at a rectangular bench with others and wait for the waitress to get your order.
That day we had link sausages, eggs and lumberjack french toast. We also tried the biscuits and gravy...the gravy I didn't care for too much, for it tasted rather bland. The food comes quick and comes in an abundance! Service is great, our waitress kept asking us if we needed re-fills on any of our plates. A great place to take the family as well, there's even a museum in the back for a quick education lesson!
- If your pants would never fit on a buffalo, then you are likely to feel like you are the smallest person in the room.
- The ratio of pounds of food to dollars spent here WILL BLOW YOUR MIND
- Even your 9 foot tapeworm will feel stuffed after leaving this place!
- Comfort food: Come for the mash potatoes & fried chicken. Call ahead and skip it if it happens to be "italian food" day...
- Ponder the sentimental, kitschy lumbercamp history museum before you sit down to eat, ad nauseum
I'm giving this place 4 stars because there ain't no place else like it, not because I believe the food is worthy. This place is a unique landmark and interesting piece of California history, you won't forget it quickly, nor will your overstuffed belly let you.
This place is beyond category. I first experienced it on a camping trip in the Eureka area with my older brother, Mike. The best quick description I can give of it is the place itself reminds of me Melville's description of the Try Pots in the fifteenth chapter of Moby-Dick--only it is decorated with relics of the lumber industry rather than the whaling industry--while the staff is like something out of a Kerouac novel. How I formed that impression follows.
Mike and I had been on a weeklong camping trip in the area, while we had only intended for it to be a four day trip. After camping at some of the public camping site along the Pacific shoreline for a couple days, we made a trip to Patrick's point, where we were rained out of the meal we had just cooked--grilled steaks with baked potatoes and steamed vegetables--and went into the car to wait finish our meal before setting up the tent. There was just one small problem: When we began to construct the tent, Mike took off his jacket, placed it in the trunk, and shut it; would you like to venture a guess about where he had been keeping the car keys?
So, we spent the next day trying to find a way into the trunk and taking hikes along the shoreline when not getting into the trunk proved frustrating. On the second day, we decided to go looking for a ranger. We found one towards the end of the day and he helped us loosen the bolts on the backseat, which gave us access to the trunk. (When we finally called my mother and sister-in-law to tell them we had retrieved the keys from the trunk, my eldest niece shouted a very audible "HURRAY!" at the news.)
The morning following our ordeal, Mike suggested going to the Samoa Cookhouse for a large breakfast. From the name, I was expecting something like the Snack Box in Red Bluff, CA, a typical renovated former-residence-as-eatery in rural Northern California. Instead, as we approached the place, a huge, red and barnlike building emerged from the forest and a modest concrete parking lot surrounded it. I thought it vaguely resembled parking designed for a workplace. When we went up the steps and entered the building, it was clear that this place was, indeed, different from most rural California eateries.
The dining area had row after row of old lunchroom tables with checkered tablecloths under what seemed like a heavy plastic cover. The walls were adorned with photos of the area's old logging days and various logging implements, like tandem saws, safety helmets, and ridiculously large chainsaws, along with various things made out of old growth redwood and it had hardwood flooring that was of the same type. Each of the tables had several settings with pitchers of water and condiments and the grill, which resembled an old fashioned diner's, lined the left side of the area. Given the look of the grill, I headed over to place my order but Mike assured me they had waitstaff, so we sat down as the sole patrons of the morning.
We had been sitting there for about 45 seconds before this blond, tall waiter zipped over to the table. The waiter had a very Neal Cassady look: sunbleached blond and medium length hair, a golden tan, blue eyes, and a flannel shirt over a white undershirt with khakis and red Converse sneakers. He alarmed me by rattlingly off the history of the cookhouse with a weirdly manic energy--he literally covered about a century of history within two and a half minutes--and immediately then prompting us for our order. And I mean "immediately" literally. There was no attempt at a segue whatsoever or even an intermediary breath. The last sentence describing how the place went from a lunchroom for the local loggers to a restaurant ended and "May I take your order?" was right there. I was in a kind of rapt awe, wondering if I had taken any hallucinogens that morning without realizing it or if the day and a half of hiking without food had put me into that naturally induced hallucinogenic state that the mystics among our region's indigenous peoples strive to attain, so Mike placed our breakfast order of pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffee, and orange juice. The food was passable, not great and not bad, but the experience of the place is what you want to seek out.
First of all, you can get a coupon for a discount at the front desk of the Clarion. Ok, that's my tip of the day!
All right! I lied. Second tip. This isn't a gourmet restaurant. Don't come here to impress your date. If you aren't into kitsch and tourist, then stay in town and pick somewhere else to eat!
Enough said! This is where you bring the family for a fun filled, back in time experience. This is a honest to goodness lumberjack cookhouse. You are seated at a long table with red checked table cloths. You may have other groups join you, its part of the fun and the experience.
You will see a big board on the wall with the meal of the day and the prices. Your waiter will get you started with your soup and salad (unlimited and served family style). You will be offered free refills of everything as you progress through your meal. Make sure you save room for their homemade bread. It is really wonderful.
For those of you that have spent any time in the military, it's similar to the food you get in the chow hall. Good and hearty. It'll stick to your ribs. You aren't going to write home to mom about it, unless she's a retired lumberjack, but it's a fun experience. The staff is really friendly and quick.
If you have to wait to be seated, you can enjoy a spin around the cookhouse museum and enjoy all of the vintage photos on the wall. There are even a few momento's for sale at the front counter.
A must for your "tourist" attractions in Humboldt, especially if you've taken part in the herb that the area is most famous for. This place will cure you of the munchies.
I shake my head in wonderment as I write this: How could the Cookhouse's utterly abysmal food warrant its current 4.5 star ranking? City folk driving up for the authentic lumber-camp experience who are willing to overlook bad food, apparently.
As a local I've been dragged to the Cookhouse for breakfast a couple of times in recent years. Yes, the place has a folksy, anachronistic charm, and yes, you will walk out (roll out?) completely stuffed, as the grub is all-you-can-eat.
Speaking of which: Who in their right mind finds this stuff even minimally palatable? They can't even get the scrambled eggs right. Rather, the eggs seem to be augmented with cream cheese or some other foul-tasting adjunct. The linked sausage is, I'm quite sure, pre-cooked, frozen stuff from Costco that has simply been re-heated. The gravy is plain -- its most dominant flavor being sodium. Even the orange juice is sub par, tasting suspiciously similar to Sunny Delight.
I wish I could find a redeeming feature in the cuisine here, but neither the pancakes (tough) nor the hash browns (greasy) nor the coffee (watery) warrant a sliver of praise. I would even prefer McDonald's to this.
Don't believe the Bay Area yuppies giving 5-stars to this place!
Tourist destination. Lots of food. Friendly waitstaff. Served homestyle on tables for 8. My houseguests were suitably impressed. For lunch we were served Baked Ham with green beans. Unlimited soup and salad. At $12 per person a very enjoyable experience. Ambience is rustic and friendly. Photo ops galore.
I grew up in Humboldt County, and never once went to The Cookhouse. I guess I thought it was the place tourists go. It wasn't until I returned as a tourist, that we experienced the holy food institution that is, The Samoa Cookhouse!!
Some advise before going: I recommend hiking into the forest and cutting down a redwood. After chopping this tree into kindling, you will need to run a marathon. Once you've done all this, you MIGHT be hungry enough to eat here.
Seriously, this place gives you enough food to feed a small army. It's all done family style and everyone gets the same thing. Just when you think you can't take another bite, they bring out more food. It's all about comfort food like fried chicken, ribs, mashed potatoes, etc. A massive food coma will set in way before dessert, so pace yourself.
This is a great place for families. There is a ton of history and lots of things to look at. You really get a sense of what loggers expreienced back in the old days. It bums me out to think I could have experienced this as a kid.
The reason for taking one star off: you don't get a choice of food. You eat what they are serving for the day. I recommend checking the menu before you make the drive.
What will I do from now on, until I die, every time I am in Humboldt County? (Besides praise Jah) Go to the Samoa Cookhouse. I made my first journey here as a young boy and the memory of this magical and beautiful lumberjack eatery sticks with me whe'r I go.
Then what happens almost 15 years later? I move to Arcata, CA mere miles from the Fried Chicken I had been dreaming about as a boy.
This place is spectacular. It is what memories are made of. All you can eat fried chicken? Automatic 5 stars!!! I only wish I had the option of 6 stars, you know why?
I saw Jesus there.
He came in for breakfast and stayed through lunch. Jesus probably mowed through 20 pancakes, 5 cups of coffee, 25 sausage links, 10 biscuits with gravy, 4 slices of french toast, and he didn't stop there. After a short pause and the restaurant switching from breakfast to lunch, he consumed about 4 lbs. of pork loin, 4 helpings of corn, 5 helping of mashed potatoes, and 20 pieces of fried chicken. But you want to know what he ate the most of?
Homemade white bread.
He lathered up about 4 loaves of the stuff with blackberry and strawberry jam and went to town. You know if Jesus likes it its going to be pretty good. The white bread is an absolutely heavenly vice. I still dream about it to this day. As well as their fried chicken and everything else that's on the menu that day. It's all you can eat so keep on goin'! It's down home cookin' and everyone loves it! Even Jesus!
Came here to see one of the many things my parents used live among during their Humboldt State life 25 years ago. I'd say it was decent enough.
The experience of it all was nice, and my friend and I enjoyed sitting at the indoor picnic tables. I guess customers just sit down and eat whatever they serve that day. Very friendly waiter, and there were many courses, even dessert.
I wish, though, that the chef didn't change his mind and "Italianize" the food that day (was he bored?). It was all still swell, and I love Italian food. But, I was hoping for the usual, what they're famous for, since I'm not expecting to return anytime soon.
One thing... Living out of the area, it certainly was a project to find! It was still worth it.
A lumberjack breakfast that will even satisfy the heartiest of RV driving retiree guts. French toast, puffy scrambled eggs, and potatoes make this a must have every time you are in Eureka.
Lunch and Dinner aren't as good, but if you eat breakfast here, you won't need dinner.
I came to love this place while visiting my boyfriend's family, who live in Eureka. This place is a historic institution in the area...everyone knows of it and has eaten there. And you should to.
They serve it family style, in which everyone shares dishes. It's almost like a buffet, in that they keep bringing you more and more until you can't eat another bite. I've only been for breakfast and lunch, and I'd have to say breakfast is the best. The biscuits and copious flowing gravy. The fresh made bread is heavenly. I could go on and on.
If you're in the area, treat yourself to this Humboldt County experience. I told a friend I ate there, and when he was a kid he went on a trip to the Eureka area. The only thing he remembered was the Samoa Cookhouse, and he remembered it fondly. If that's any indication, you won't regret it.
The closest thing to my Mom's home made bread was what I had here. She used to bake 14 - thats right FOURTEEN loaves a week and they disappeared right quick and in a hurry. (There were 7 of us eatin' on it).
But seriously, this really is the closest to home cookin' you will find anywhere on the planet. The fried chicken reminds me of my grandmother's on the ranch in Eastern Washington during wheat harvest . . .
Breakfasts to die for, the fried chicken is legendary, and it just keeps on a comin' until you could pop!!!
Never will forget the first meal here, the HUGE platters of fried chicken, the mashed potatoes and gravy, the green beans, and that home made bread with a ton of jam . . . I'm gettin' hungry just thinkin' about it, now I'm in the car and heading north, the Samoa Cookhouse will be on the horizon soon . . .
WELL, WHAT ARE YOU WAITIN' FOR ? ? ? ?
SEE YOU THERE ! ! ! !
Mmmm! It's kinda your family, mess-hall style service and seating. There's even the friendly lunch lady with a huge mole and warm eyes..
My exboyfriend and I lived only a mile away so...yeah!
A relic in today's times.
I'll flesh this one out when I get back home, but for now let's just say I'm having trouble fitting my pants.
Pictures and details forthcoming.
I'M BACK (April 3, 2007)
The food snob in me screams in horror everytime I think of this restaurant. Then I just pretend I'm 8 years old again and I can eat anything I want. That's what this food is like.
There is no menu; breakfast is usually eggs, pancakes, french toast, or something like that, while dinner is chicken fried steak, fried chicken, and other EAT ME type munchables.
My waistline also trembles in fear when it senses the Cookhouse coming near. It's probably because the CHEAP BASTARD part of my personality absolutely insists that I get my money's worth by eating as much as humanly possible.
I took a picture of all three plates of food that I ate so you can see what I do to myself to save a buck!
I must admit that at first I was skeptical about the Samoa Cookhouse, but my fears were quickly assuaged. The food is served family style and there is no menu, you just get what they happen to be serving that day. The food selection seems to rotate fairly regularly. Dinner comes with soup, salad, veggies and sides, meat and dessert and you can always ask for more of whatever it is you want. The bread is baked fresh on the premises every day and is resurrected as toast for the following morning's breakfast. Breakfast at the Cookhouse is actually probably the best meal they serve. I'm drooling at just the thought of it. (What's that you say? Just a six hour drive from Reno to Arcata? Hmmmm.) Of course, last time I had breakfast there I ate so much that my sinuses were stuffed with sausage, so maybe I'd better take it easy from now on.
Eureka, CA
Category: Bakeries
Eureka, CA
Category: Restaurants
Eureka, CA
Category: American (Traditional)
Eureka, CA
Category: Pubs
Eureka, CA
Category: Grocery
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