Evening fog rolls in from the Humboldt Bay Marina onto First and F streets in Old Town, Eureka. Streetlamps flicker on, a foghorn sounds across the water and a cool breeze carries the salty scent of the sea. Tinkling glasses and a warm glow usher you inside the doors of Café Waterfront as the sky darkens outside. It’s time for dinner, and this must be the place. For decades, the restaurant has served up classic dishes, a healthy portion of old-fashioned charm and a deep connection to the local community.
In its earliest chapter, the Weaver Building, which houses Café Waterfront and bears a plaque noting its place on the National Register of Historic places, was far from refined. In the 1890s, a saloon occupied the ground floor while a brothel operated upstairs, catering to loggers and gold miners, and earning the building a less than sterling reputation. Its occupants and its identity softened over the years, and after restoration in the late 1970s, the first iteration of Café Waterfront opened its doors. Today, the ambiance is unmistakably cozy. Warm wood accents and artistic touches give the restaurant a welcoming, but upscale feel — a perfect balance of tavern and bistro.
At the Waterfront’s helm is owner Paige MacDonald, who started as a server at Café Waterfront and worked her way through nearly every role in the building, from bartending to working the line. When the restaurant came up for sale, it wasn’t ambition that drove her decision but a genuine fondness for the space, its staff, and its loyal clientele. Taking the leap, she officially became the owner in June of 2024. Her humility speaks to the heart and authenticity that overflows from Café Waterfront.
While the restaurant has long since shed the building’s raucous legacy, it still serves as a lively gathering place for locals and visitors alike. During happy hour, the space fills with a friendly, regular clientele, who come for the drink specials and small bites, and stay for the company. The full bar offers a thoughtful mix of seasonal craft cocktails, well-executed classics, a comprehensive wine menu and a host of local beers on tap. And true to the “Oyster Bar & Grill” on the sign out front, oysters on the half shell come by the half or full dozen, raw or broiled, from the Humboldt Bay to your table ($20/$36). Get them at any hour that the restaurant doors are open. An equally delicious but perhaps less obvious starter are the steamer clams ($22). Tender clams bathed in a buttery garlic sauce are served with fresh bread to soak up the rich broth. It’s a dish that feels both indulgent and comforting, and undeniably too easy to eat. It’s OK to be shellfish — order both.
Seafood takes center stage on the dinner menu, supported by other seasonal ingredients sourced from the surrounding region. The sautéed scallops offer a lighter though thoroughly satisfying main, prepared in a butter, garlic and white wine sauce that’s brightened by the addition of tomato and green onion ($32). For those looking for heartier fare, there is no better choice than an old-fashioned fish fry. While halibut and chips are a beloved favorite, the combination plate delivers a little bit of everything under the sea ($30). Golden-fried clam strips, snapper, prawns, oysters and scallops are piled atop crispy fries — a satisfying showcase of the restaurant’s seafood offerings, and one that feels particularly appropriate for the location.
Not to be overlooked, the New York steak dinner will please landlubbers and seafarers alike ($33). Local, grass-fed beef is chargrilled to order and served alongside a baked potato and steamed vegetables. Classic. Entrees are served with bread, and your choice of soup or salad. We won’t blame you if you go for the clam chowder, but the house-made blueberry vinaigrette is delightful, too.
Don’t pass up the changing dessert specials. Those, too, are homemade and often locally sourced. The menu as of late features a hearty carrot cake, a decadent German chocolate cake and a delicately executed almond crème brûlée.
Café Waterfront succeeds by simply being what it is: a gathering place where sea meets land, and where history, community and good food endure.
Café Waterfront
102 F Street,
Old Town, Eureka
Phone: (707) 443-9190
@cafewaterfront
This article appears in My Humboldt Life April 2026.