Go to Samoa Cookhouse for the history, not the food. It is “the last lumber camp–style cookhouse in operation in North America,” and the food is what you’d expect from a cookhouse in a company town: all-you-can-eat homestyle cooking that is designed to sustain you during a long day of manual labor.last lumber camp–style cookhouse in North America, Arcata attractions

It’s pleasant drive from Arcata, where we are staying. We arrived at Samoa Cookhouse early on a fall day, and it wasn’t very busy. I’m sure many more people stop by during the summer.

The grounds of the old company town themselves are interesting. Arcata photos, Arcata attractions, lumber camp cookhousesWe walked around for a bit, admiring the building, Beth Partin's photos, Samoa Cookhouse, Arcata restaurantsand then went inside, where this basic menu greeted us.Beth Partin's photos, California restaurants, Northern California attractions

From the foyer, we walked into this large dining room, decorated with logging paraphernalia and prints.Samoa Cookhouse, lumber camp, Beth Partin's photos

The seating is communal. When this restaurant served only employees, I’m sure it was a bit like eating at a college dorm: the diners walk in and know everyone there. They sit down with their friends. The only difference is that they don’t have to fetch their own food. Northern California restaurants, Arcata attractions

First the waitress brought beef and vegetable soup and green salad and bread. The bread is baked there and is available for takeout, if you like white loaves with a soft brown crust.  cookhouse restaurant, Samoa Cookhouse

Then she brought ham and short ribs and sides, which included rice and potatoes.Beth Partin's photos

My favorite part was the dessert.

After dinner we browsed the museum at the back of the building. I’ve never been to a logging museum, so it was pretty interesting. I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry at the pictures of redwood stumps wide enough to hold 10 people.  

My apologies for the blurriness of these photos: they were all taken on my BlackBerry.

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  1. Arcata | Beth at Home and Abroad June 14, 2015 at 2:21 pm - Reply

    […] A photographer I met in Seattle urged us to go to the Samoa Cookhouse south of Eureka. He said it’s the last of its kind and it’s really good. To read about our visit, go to  Samoa Cookhouse: Last of Its Kind. […]