Amid miles of wild forestland and meandering river valleys lie hidden pockets with must-eat restaurants that evade most people’s radars — those “if you know, you know” kind of places. Those of us with a wanderer’s spirit are constantly in search of something novel, something exceptional, something worth the journey it takes to get there — any excuse to get us out of town and on an adventure with something delicious waiting at the finish line. Up here in the rural north, excellence comes with a toned-down vibe compared to restaurants in the city. We trade extravagance, white glove service and delicate portions for rustic, hearty, no-frills beauty on a plate with the flavor to match.
Redwood Palace is situated along the main drag of Miranda, behind the old-timey facade of a historic building adjacent to the post office. MaryJo Drews, owner of the building since 2017, designed a space filled with the warmth of polished redwood, soft lighting, indoor and outdoor seating, and a long bar to cozy up to with a luscious slice of her homemade carrot cake. Drews’ original aspirations were to create a wine bar, but those plans quickly evolved out of necessity. While the building was used as a gift shop for a decade by the previous owners, it was a pizza parlor prior to that. “We decided to turn it back into a restaurant; it needed to be one because of the space. I had originally wanted to do a wine bar with small plates, not a full-on restaurant, but it just kind of happened this way. We added a bunch of taps, and people wanted more food,” she recalls.
Starting with 16 taps featuring local beer and cider, and a selection of local wines to boot, they developed the first iteration of their menu, consisting of pub fare — like wings and burgers — to complement the beer. But the current menu has turned into something quite different, with upscale apps and entrees, generously portioned and simply plated. Drews took a hands-on approach to the menu expansion, adding what would become their flagship entree: the Redwood Palace ribeye.
The ribeye rivals any steak in the county ($48). It’s a thick-cut slab that dares you to try to finish it in one sitting, a bet most of us would lose. In a team effort, Drews hand-cuts all the ribeyes, and the chef seasons and diamond-grills each one to precise temp, topping them with an herby compound butter before they leave the kitchen. Mashers and broccolini (or another seasonal vegetable) come on the side, creamy and crisp, respectively. On the chance you’re not in the mood for a massive steak, other meaty options include a local grass-fed beef burger ($18, double $26) or a half rack of St. Louis-style pork ribs, smoked in-house over applewood ($32). But if you’re ready for a departure from meat altogether, go for the shrimp scampi pasta, a truly buttery and garlicky experience with jumbo shrimp over linguine, served with crusty garlic bread on the side ($30).
Along with variously sized charcuterie boards, fried bites and wings, Humboldt Bay oysters round out the appetizer menu. The oysters come raw in a classic mignonette style or broiled with garlic butter or buffalo sauce, served three or six to an order ($10-$22). Every one of the staff is trained to shuck oysters to order, so each half-shell is served fresh with care. The salads are visual treats, with fresh, crisp produce — be warned, the small size is still a heaping portion. The goat cheese and golden beet salad is hard to pass up, with its tangy balsamic vinaigrette, bright and succulent beets, dollops of chevre and the satisfying crunch and sweetness of candied walnuts ($10, $16).
On a given night, Redwood Palace is filled with locals, from couples dining on oysters and wine, to families and solo diners treating themselves to a post-work steak fit for a king. Drews says, “There’s something here for everyone. It’s a nice, relaxing, come-as-you-are space. You can be fancy or not — it’s laid back and elevated here.” The restaurant’s rustic charm retains a feeling of refinement while remaining accessible and comfortable, just like its menu of honest to goodness food. It’s a nice surprise in the middle of the forest.
Redwood Palace
6735 Avenue of the Giants, Miranda
(707) 223-5749
redwoodpalacemiranda.com
This article appears in Humboldt Insider Spring/Summer 2026.