So I had to post an update. We just finished a grueling drive. We were starving and it was 9:30pm. 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. read more

Amy was our waitress, and she made the entire experience amazing from start to finish. She was incredibly helpful when it came to choosing our drinks and appetizers. The onion rings were absolutely brilliant, and the Organic IPA was also fantastic. What really stood out was how well Amy understood the drinks menu -- she listened to the kinds of flavors we were looking for, answered all of our questions, and recommended drinks that matched exactly what we wanted. She also had a great sense of humor that made us feel completely at home. On top of that, the atmosphere was incredible -- even the people around us were interactive and engaged in conversation despite us not knowing each other. The whole night was filled with great energy, shared laughs, and an overall memorable experience. read more

Eel River Brewing - Onion Rings - Pubs Near Me - Fortuna, California

Overall this spot was very good and a surprise for us. We came here to live out our "Virgin River" fantasy and left satisfied. There was no Preacher or Jack, but our waiter was very friendly and made sure we got everything we asked for. He came from SoCal like us and moved to Fortuna to escape the crowd. I understand why and I would move too if I could. The food was great. I got the smoked wings and my wife got the tri tip dip. It was the first time we had smoked wings and they were great. Not only were they juicy, they were smoky, and tasted very healthy. Healthy and tasty don't usually go along. The tri tip was tender though my wife wanted a more crispy bun. The double IPA I got was good too. Bitter is how I like it. My wife got a cider and sweet is how she likes it. Overall 5/5 I'm not sure why people didn't like this spot, but our experience was great. The ambiance was cool, we got our small town vibe and felt the friendly atmosphere of Fortuna. read more

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Honestly I thought this place knocked out of the park! Was expecting typical pub food and a sleepy eatery, got a super local watering hole with top notch munch and a very welcoming wholesome atmosphere with peeps playing magic the gathering at a table nearby us and smiles abound! Doesn't get better than this. Service staff was quite attentive despite it getting busy, so honestly this feels like a reliable stop if you're passing through. Pulled pork 5/5 I've had many a pulled pork sandwich, this is the first I've had that I can describe as "juicy", and without copious amounts of BBQ sauce! Fries are fabulously seasoned and have a nice crunch and soft interior. Reuben 5/5 Bursting with flavor and plenty of crisp to the toasted bread. They advertised it as a specialty and they delivered in spades! Had it with the coleslaw which was very well balanced as a slaw, fresh veg with just enough creaminess and not too watery and just enough seasoning. Carrot Cake 5/5 Hearty slice of carrot cake with a hunk of buttercream frosting. Good amount of walnuts and carrot, small amount of raisins. Standard, but executed well. Whipped up with whipped cream as well. Didn't even snap a pic, but trust me bro. read more

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Wow! Ok... so like some one said previously... come for the beer and stay for the food. Food was really good and you get a large portion. The clam chowder is excellent and it's made fresh and homemade every day. Definitely get. !!! We had pulled pork and the California 101. So much food left over it was crazy and it was excellent. But the beer was phenomenal and the service was excellent. Everybody is so friendly, so helpful. Honestly, if you're looking for a great meal and a large amount of food and a phenomenal beer on the side .... You have found your place.!! read more

Eel River Brewing - A awesome imperial stout! Smooth and delicious - Pubs Near Me - Fortuna, California

We enjoyed our late lunch here. Great service and ambience. Boyfriend liked his beer and we got some to take to our Air BnB.

I love this place and always get the shrimp and chips but today I was quite disappointed. Unfortunately the shrimp were not peeled all the way. Kept getting shrimp shell at the end of each shrimp. The shrimp were still delicious but I was disappointed in the peeling. FYI People do care if their shrimp aren't peeled all the way. Whoever was peeling tonight did a horrible job. They probably figured no one would care but I did. Hopefully it gets better. read more

Eel River Brewing - Shrimp and chips - Pubs Near Me - Fortuna, California

September 10, 2025 - Fortuna Another solid 4-star experience. The staff is always friendly, the crowd is a good mix of locals, and the atmosphere is relaxed. It can get noisy and crowded during peak hours, so I recommend going off-peak if you can. The outdoor patio is a nice bonus, especially if you're traveling with a pup. We shared the BLTA special--decent overall, though the bacon and avocado portions could have been more generous. The fries were good, crispy and not greasy. This place remains a go-to stop whenever we're in the area. read more

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Food: Ok. Kinda like a pricier version of Chili's. Service: Disastrous and so sloooooooooooooooooow!! My mom (age: 72) and I (age: 45) had the MISFORTUNE of being seated at a table "waited" by Courtney. I say "waited" in quotes because Courtney did not do much waiting at all. Although it took nearly ~1.5 hours for our two entrees to arrive, during that time Courtney never bothered to check if we wanted another beer (at a brewery!), never refreshed our waters, and never even brought cutlery to the table?! When Courtney finally did appear at our table, she was *politely* informed of our annoyance and asked to refill our waters (I had already gone to the bar myself for a pitcher of beers). But when Courtney returned with our belated water refills, she snidely asked if we wanted to just cancel our (super delayed) orders and/or get a new server?! We told her we wanted our food, didn't need a new server and were simply annoyed that she had been MIA for over an hour. Nonetheless, shortly thereafter the manager (Melissa) brought our food to the table and then proceeded to tell us that Courtney had told restaurant management that she could no longer "wait" on our table because she had been called a b**ch?!! As the manager came to appreciate the fact that no such thing - or anything remotely like it - was ever said (and doubly so in front of my mom!!!), the manager actually discounted our bill by 30%. Nonetheless, to put it mildly ... Courtney's needless slander left a sour taste on the entire experience. After all, it's one thing for a restaurant to have super slow service (a reality noted by other reviewers), but a whole other thing entirely for a waitress to falsely slander a customer to deflect from their inability to ... properly wait on a table of two, manage expectations, or simply apologize. Total fail. read more

Great brewery with a large selection of beer on tap and a huge menu with lots of food options. I ate at the bar, but would like to check out the beer garden on my next visit. I opted for the Thai peanut salad recommended by the bartender. It was a little light on greens but the dressing was delicious. The guy eating next to me ordered wings that looked amazing. I'll definitely order wings on my next trip. read more

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Stopped in while visiting from Wisconsin. The service was friendly & attentive and the food was great! They were kind enough to let us taste test a few brews before landing on one. It was a well attended space considering they had just opened for the day and everyone was just so happy to be there! We'd certainly return in the future should we be in the area. read more

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GREAT service! Went twice in one day because our first server, Laura, was so nice, attentive, and personable. Our second server, Melissa, was just as great- made time for us even though she was so busy and answered all my questions about the menu with kindness! Chill yet fun environment inside and a beautiful sitting area outside. TVs to watch the game is an added bonus (although maybe expected in a brewery?). Great variety of menu options- you'll likely find you're torn between what you want! The food was phenomenal - seriously the best fish and chips I've ever had (and I'm from a coastal town). Also a great spot to see some local historic photos. read more

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Most of the food is actually pretty good chowder good they Redwood logs, good fish and chips. Good burger needs to have actual quantity of meat per bun ratio. Seems like with the burgers you get a bunch of fries a lot of bun not particularly my favorite. Service is OK depends on who you got. Atmosphere is nice outdoors nice and nice weather. I definitely think the price is not on point for what you pay and what you get there's a discrepancy probably making up for Covid times not sure. read more

Eel River Brewing - Loaded fries and cheese steak sandwich, fish and fries! - Pubs Near Me - Fortuna, California

Great service! Seated right away. Server brought me three beer samples to determine what was best for me. The Pale Ale was super yummy! I also got to try a hard seltzer for the first time. I had the beer battered shrimp and a salad, hubby had the beer battered fish and salad. Both were awesome. read more

Eel River Brewing - Amazing beer battered shrimp. Sorry, I ate before I snapped the picture. - Pubs Near Me - Fortuna, California

I like the whole vibe of the restaurant. It's both family friendly, while also feeling like a good happy hour spot. The staff was very nice and knowledgeable about the specials and dietary concerns. The food was delicious and memorable for sure. The portion sizes were pretty generous. I couldn't finish any single dish, it was a lot. This is an awesome spot for everyone to visit on your way through, or while visiting Fortuna. read more

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We ate there on a Friday evening and enjoyed the food and beer very much. Our server was great.

Came in on a Sunday afternoon. Got seated immediately and ordered right away. Food took 45 minutes and our server didn't provide any updates as to when we would see our order until the 40 minute mark. Had to flag them down. The food was good, some was slightly burnt. Server seemed pleased with how hangry we were. read more

Was in town for fly fishing the Steelhead run. I stayed across the parking lot. and walked into Eel River for a quick beer and dinner. I ordered the fish and chips. It was great. then I ordered the blue salad. It was great. The beer I ordered was just ok. read more

We stayed down the road at Riverside RV Park and they suggested this place to us. We were there every night. Had a great time. The locals were nice. They have Empress Gin! read more

This place is a nice location. The beer is good, food is good atmosphere is little loud but friendly service. It was my first time I've had smoked wings they were amazing I tell everyone to stop and try while working in town. read more

I have purchased food from the Eel River Brewery several times over the years. It has been mostly hit and miss, particularly with takeout. The fare is standard for a brewery. Neither awful nor outstanding. The prices are high. My main takeout complaints were wildly inconsistent portion sizes for the same dish (some normal, some generous, some penurious) the odd missing item, and VERY inconsistent cooking skills. Unfortunately, during the last year or so I have personally received moldy food (the restaurant refunded the purchase) and I have seen friends receive stale, dried out, inedible, and presumably old food in their takeout orders. Against my better judgment, I recently decided to give this place another shot and made the mistake of ordering clam chowder. Food poisoning ensued. I spent the rest of my day feeling very nauseous, and all of my night ill. In a bizarre and completely unprecedented turn of events, I also developed a quick-moving rash with hives that covered a large portion of my body. That has never happened to me in all of my years of being alive. I had eaten the chowder on previous occasions with no issues. I have no food allergies, and I ate only from the Brewery on the day I fell ill. The soup itself was not the same consistency, quality or flavor as before. It tasted old, and I remarked to a friend in the moment that I detected the taste of freezer-burn. I don't know what is going on over there, but this is a consistent and escalating pattern of poor quality and old food. I'm built like a tank and was able to recover quickly, but what if that food had been served to someone with compromised immunity? A child? An elderly individual? Cutting corners with food safety is not only disgusting and reprehensible, but it shows a complete lack of regard for the health and welfare of others. Humboldt County is already notorious for having far too many terrible restaurants. We didn't earn the nickname "Scumboldt" for no reason. I have to wonder why the businesses here never seem to care enough to clean up their act. Perhaps scraping those few dollars off of hapless customers is all that matters to these business owners? This reflects poorly upon more than any single establishment itself, but upon our entire community. I love Humboldt and leave this critique in the hopes that others, upon reflection, will choose to at least respect this place that we all call home, and those who choose to spend their time and hard-earned money to come and visit us. The greatest act of rebellion is to stand tall with heart and integrity even if no one else is. I take no happiness in saying that I will never return to this location, nor will my family and friends. read more

Go for the beer and stay for the food! Burgers and chicken is excellent, lots of beer choices and friendly staff as well. Great place to watch the game. Highly recommend read more

What a wonderful place! Cold night with the dog. Seated outside with heater on and well taken care of by attentive staff. Drinks were delicious along with a great meal. Had the pull pork and Thai salad. So good! Will be back. read more

We were passing by on our way to Oregon and stopped by to eat. Friendly service, makes you feel at home. Blonde Ale was so good! The ambiance is uplifting and friendly and family oriented. They have sports playing. We tried the chili beans, Ruben sandwich and the tri tip sandwich. They were both delicious. I would recommend this place. The BBQ sauce was more like ketchup. Needs improvement! Oh and I can't believe they took out the Mac and cheese off the menu. read more

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Everything was delicious! The black and blue salad is a hearty meal and so good! It was our first time having salt and vinegar wings but it won't be our last! Insanely yummy! The potato skins are full on potatoes with toppings! So much food! More than enough for two people! read more

Eel River Brewing - Black and blue salad (minus the blue because blue cheese is gross), potato skins, salt and vinegar wings - Pubs Near Me - Fortuna, California

We came here because we took a trip to Humboldt for the 4th of July weekend. Immediately walking in the people who served us were friendly. The beer was really good and the food was very fresh. We had the special which I believe was fried halibut and prawns with fries. The vibe was like any other brewery but we preferred this one than the Lagunitas brewery! We will be coming back read more

Eel River Brewing - Beer flight - Pubs Near Me - Fortuna, California

This was a great find! Service was friendly and efficient and the food ....well my date had an amazing chicken sandwich ---he said it was really great and I had the Thai peanut salad which was also delicious . I also had a strawberry lemonade hard seltzer which was super refreshing. The bar itself is upbeat and has a fun rustic ambiance! I'll be back. read more

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The food and beer was great. Service was even better. Chris is a great waiter. Casual welcoming atmosphere.

Excellent food and even better service! This is a solid place for food. The specials were a great. Our waitress was warm, friendly, professional, and attentive. read more

As promised came back for the fish and chips. Pretty good but different from the traditional fish and chips at an English pub. There was a heaping amount of fish and chips on my plate when it came. The traditional fish and chips has a crispy crunchy light batter. These on the other hand, were just a light coating almost like a pan fried batter. Don't get me wrong, they satisfied my craving, but please be prepared. The chips were very good. Had a delicious Raven's Eye stout and it was impressive. Will be back as I need to try their wings next time. read more

Eel River Brewing - Fish and chips - Pubs Near Me - Fortuna, California

Stopped in for a beer on a road trip. Staff were really friendly, a great spot to watch a game and try some local brews.

Amazing staff, beautiful beer garden!! They are so accommodating, on a slow cold evening they even opened up their outdoor seating area for us and our huge dog. We are just visiting but if we were locals, we'd be regulars here read more

Big hamburger, we split it and were so full. Perfectly cooked, very attentive waitress and good beverages!

We got a beer from Eel River when were in the area a few days ago. The Organic California Blonde Ale is what we had. It was fair but didn't taste quite the same way a typical blonde does. Traits with this beer was a clean, malty and sweet flavors with this beer. Not the most memorable beer I had unfortunately on my recent trip to California along the North Coast. read more

Eel River Brewing - Organic California Blonde Ale by Eel River Brewing. - Pubs Near Me - Fortuna, California

We enjoyed a great lunch and a couple beers. Everyone was very friendly and service was good. Menu isn't very big and some things were unavailable (maybe normal for a small town) but overall a great experience. The sauces are homemade and YUMM. Burger and fish n chips were excellent read more

Eel River Brewing - Burger - Pubs Near Me - Fortuna, California

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We asked for a larger table. The hostess told us that table is reserved for 6 person parties. Soon after we were seated, she seated a party of 2 at the 6 person table. Seriously... read more

Accidentally stumbled on to this restaurant and what a great place! Food and service both excellent. Would highly recommend!

We stopped here as we were passing through to go to Redwood National Park. The beer I got was okay, but I really enjoyed the fish and chips, and my wife was pleasantly surprised by the vegan chicken strips. The fries were really good! read more

Eel River Brewery, Fortuna, CA - August 28 2023 We arrived at Eel River Brewery just a little before noon on a Monday. A brewery open for lunch on a Monday! Not always the case. Of course we verified it ahead of time on their website. Yelp said they were open too, but we always like to double check. We always seem to land at Eel River Brewery when we're passing by. On this day, we were driving from Trinidad, California, on to Westport, California in our motorhome. I've never had a problem getting parking on the street right next to the brewery. The brewery parking lot itself is also pretty expansive. The brewery is housed in what I imagine was an early 1900s building that has been converted into its current state. Tall vaulted ceilings built from sturdy timbers. There are both indoor and covered outdoor seating. Indoors has a very lively and warm feel to it. Outdoors, the music creates a festive atmosphere. Most of the patrons seemed to be locals, and it seem like a lot of people knew each other. There was laughter and joy all about, even at noon. We were greeted immediately by two servers with a smile as we walked in. We got Laura, who proved to be a complete delight. We decided to sit indoors. We got menus and waters, and began to figure out what we wanted. Of course they have lots of great beers. I've always enjoyed their West Coast IPAs, of which they had a few, including the Triple Exultation 80 IBU IPA - 9.7% ABV, and the same beer, bourbon barrel-aged in 2015, same IBU, but 12.5% ABV. I'm wishing now I would have at least done a taste of those, but I knew I still had a two hour road trip in front of us with some pretty twisty, turny, up and down roads, so I think I instinctively knew not to at the time. I got the standard West Coast IPA, called organic IPA - 40 IBUs, 7.5% ABV, and my wife ordered a handcrafted Sequoia Sazerac. I ordered a small basket cheeseburger, which came with a side salad, and my wife ordered the bowl of clam chowder. The drinks and food were very tasty. They do have a nice selection of swag, shirts and the like. Needing more crowler cans for my collection, I ordered a crowler of the West Coast organic IPA! read more

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Service, food and atmosphere were all fantastic!! The seltzers were so good I picked some up to take back to Washington to share with friends. Great parking for an RV. Easy to get to off 101. Beautiful outdoor patio seating and they let the pup come eat / drink with us. Chris and the other staff were so kind! Would 100% come back here again when I'm back visiting!! read more

Eel River Brewing - Pubs Near Me - Fortuna, California