Samoa Cookhouse, Samoa - Eureka, California

 

 

Samoa, Calif.--Samoa Cookhouse, the last surviving lumberjack camp style cookhouse in the West, has been serving heaping meals since 1893. Located near Eureka, California, there's no doubt that locals and visitors know about this family-friendly restaurant, which serves up to 15,000 meals on a busy day such as Mother's Day.  Samoa Cookhouse, Samoa, California Call: (707) 442-1659.

 

When you're out there looking for something that offers a taste of Real California, this is one of the best bets. Big lumberjack servings, a long checked table setting, and the kitchen overlooking the dining area all make this the hit of the town Samoa, once known as a thriving lumber community. Today when visiting Eureka and Humboldt County, do stop by for a heaping breakfast at the beloved institution that's open to the public and serves travelers lovingly in northwestern style.

 

With over 100 years of doing something right, there's only good vibes in the big red building with several huge rooms and a smaller dining enclave next to the Lumberjack Museum inside the building. Filled with long tables covered in red-checkered vinyl tablecloths, you'll find yourself or your groups sitting next to people you may not know. You don't have to talk to the folks next to you but the food will put you in a good enough mood that you may choose to do so.  Served on large platters, the quantities are huge, allowing you to pass around the food. Seconds are offered so no one goes home hungry either. 

 

From your table you can smell the food cooking, hear the sizzle of the sausage and watch the cook prepare the hundreds of meals within view. Cooking thousands of eggs, sausages, sandwiches and soups is what Samoa Cookhouse does best. A logging camp tradition in which the cook was one of the most important people at the camp, established the importance of good meals for hard working lumberjacks who burned thousands of calories each day. If the food wasn't up to snuff, loggers were known to leave a camp for better fixins'.

The restaurant still features long oilcloth covered tables, mismatched chairs and an abundance of food, with waiters & waitresses quickly filling the tables with huge loaves of bread. Be sure to leave room for the desserts that will come later.

The Samoa Cookhouse also has three private rooms available for large or small gatherings and a historic logging museum. The museum houses artifacts from the early logging days as well as implements used in lumber camp kitchens. From old logging boots, saws and machinery to a massive wood-burning stove, the museum is a treasure trove of items from the lumber mill and Cookhouse in Samoa. Visitors can sign the guest book in the museum and quickly discover that tourists come from around the globe to enjoy old-fashioned food service and quality meals cooked fresh daily.

 

To reach the Cookhouse, take the Samoa Bridge (Hwy. 255) from Eureka, turn left at the end of the bridge on Samoa Road and look for signs.

 

Eureka < Samoa > Arcata