What's Good

In Humboldt spring, if the patio is dry, much less sunny, take advantage. Not all the benches were dry at Eureka's branch of Redwood Curtain Brewery when the rain let up at last, but enough for a burger and fries framed in a patch of sun in front of the attached Cookin' Nook truck. 

The Myrtle Burger with Cheese is a top seller at the craft beer spot for good reason ($15). The two pinky-thick ground wagyu patties grilled with salt and pepper on a flat-top come draped in melted cheddar and stacked atop planks of dill pickle, tomato, lettuce and red onion. It's a generous, classic burger without fuss. (Fancy though the Japanese cattle breed may sound, it's not the pampered and massaged variety, and the flavor is decidedly American beef.) An added half-order of firm and starchy hand-cut, skin-on fries will run you an easy $3, with the bonus of hunting the bottom of the pile for the bits that verge on thick potato chips. 
Another opportunity to seize comes in the form of warm malasadas ($5), Portuguese yeast doughnuts that Henry Palomares, who manages the brewery's truck, says were a menu must-have for owner Amanda Mollberg. This iteration is bready and springy, and thoroughly rolled in crunchy table sugar that provides the sweetness. Order the Bavarian and a dollop of vanilla custard is not piped, but spooned into a cut sides of the pair of malasadas. The monthly special comes with blueberries but Palomares says it'll be strawberries in a couple of days. Get them while you can.