Eel River Brewing Company

We were having an afternoon lunch . Menu terrific , Service outstanding , lunch delicious . We had fish and chips and oh so tastee and ordered a Pilsner for lunch! A live Band was playing outside on the patio. Outstanding environment for fun times.

A few buddies and I go on a 400 mile dual sport ride every year and stay the night in Fortuna. We tried this place out last year, and the service was okay but the food was not good! We all got the surf and turf it had no flavor and it was cold. We decided to give it another shot this year. It didn't get better, maybe even worse. The Pretzels and cheese came out 1st, the cheese had no flavor and the Pretzels were rock hard from being overly microwaved! WTF? I got the cup of clam chowder next, it was okay then the French dip and fries that were cold 🥺 and not much flavor. The portion size was average could have used a little more fries. The waitress was very nice but had to many tables and the bar so it was hard to get service.

The food was great. Friendly service. My only (relatively minor) complaint was the atmosphere ... The doors were open and it was cold. I ate with my coat on. It was also pretty loud. I'll definitely go back in the summer and use the outdoor seating area.

My husband and I stopped by for lunch and have been back a handful of times since. The beers are great the hazy is our favorite at the moment. They have outdoor seating and allow you to bring your dog which is nice. ChrisD was our server and was very attentive and polite. Especially for being seated outside. Marci is the bartender and is very friendly and accommodating. We love their salt and vinegar wings 😋 it's a wet sauce and is covered in it (update it is not a wet sauce anymore. It's a dry rub so we switched to Buffalo wings.) We have also enjoyed the smoked wings, in-house made pork rinds, tri-tip sandwich, clam chowder and onion rings. The only thing we would not order again is the chili. Kitty is a server as well and is very friendly even if you're not one of her tables. We enjoy this place and will continue to come back.

Chill place with a great beer garden to enjoy a tasty drink and meal. The smoked tri tip was great. My dining partner had the burger and a stout beer and said both were delicious. We've been here a few other times and had a good experience as well. We've only eaten outside when we have been here.

Was not personally impressed with the food (got the Westerner burger and the Cali burger) and the type of bread didn't work very well with the burgers. No really big issues with the food, just not my personal taste. The rest of my group however seemed very happy with their food, especially the fish & chips and the chicken sandwhich. They wouldn't sit us inside due to our large group (10 people) and put us outside away from the heaters, which was pretty uncomfortable. Service was amazing.

Our family was camping at Humbolt-Burlington and we stopped here for some food. Our servers were very attentive, the food was good and we really enjoyed the beer! The menu had plenty of options so we all had something we enjoyed. We all loved the wings!

Organic beer, amazing AND a dog friendly patio all in one place?!?! I think I died and went to heaven. Burgers are fantastic-and we love burgers. The Ruben was so good. And the fries with the works is a must.

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

Be wary, 5 blonde ales is not the same as 5 coors lights. This kinda thought process will have you swaying on your way out the door. That being said, the menu here is top tier. Everything I ordered over the last month (I was part of a production team staying in the hotel across the street) was so damn good. From the burger basket to the surf and turf, I found no flaws. The tri tip chili is something that my brain will be wandering to in my dreams for years to come. Also the onion rings, holy shit, the onion rings... if I could eat those every day without physical consequence I absolutely would. Whoever is manning the grill deserves all of life's riches.

Fish and chips, shrimp and chips, and burger is what my coworkers and I got and everything was amazing. I've been here before and the food is the most consistent around this area. Love the amber ale, so I bought a case to take home with me. I'd highly recommend the food and beer here.

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.

We enjoyed a Saturday evening out for dinner. We chose to sit at the bar because it is more intimate when a big facility like this is busy. You can get lost in the shuffle. Katie was the bartender and is amazing!! We shared the fish & chips along with the Thai salad. The fish was very good and the batter crispy. I likes the unique season on the fries, possibly nutmeg but my husband didn't. They could do better with the salad, the main portion of the salad was definitely out of a bag mixed with cabbage. The dressing was very good, so overall not disappointed. Great selection of taps, the hazy IPA might be a new favorite. Enjoyable evening out and the prices are fair.

This is an excellent place to eat and have a cold beer. Madison was our fantastic waitress and did a phenomenal job making sure we had a great dining experience. The food was delicious and came out quickly. Shrimp and chips were perfect. They have a fantastic side salad with excellent 1000 island dressing. I just wish we lived closer. 500. Mi is too far to drive for a good meal haha

Good food and good beer. That's the net of our experience. Our group had a range of lunch dishes from a cheeseburger, to the thai peanut salad, to the tri-tip sandwich. All the dishes were good and the service was 5 star. Note: the burger has to be cooked medium per their policies. The thai salad was good, perhaps a little more heat could be added and the tri-tip sandwich was probably the hit of the group. We sat inside but there is plenty of outdoor seating as well. Great vibe in the place. I went with the Eel River Amber Ale which was a very nice, smooth ale.

My wife and I don't get to come this far north as often as we would like and the last time we were, we went to Eel River Brewing. I couldn't wait to come back and today we did. First, they had a Bloody Mary and it was AMAZING!!!!! We also had a great beer and my wife had a wonderful cider. All first class!! My wife got a pastrami Reuben and I had the clam chowder. The clam chowder is no joke-it's one of the best bowls I've had and my wife said her Reuben was great. Our server Chris was helpful, personable, and attentive. The restaurant is well kept and we ate outside and it was a nice spot for a lunch. I cannot wait to come back. This place is epic!

Came here on Mother's Day. Great atmosphere for lunch. Love the outside seating. Service was very slow but friendly. We ordered a bunch of items to share. Chili, clam chowder, fish and chips, crab sandwich, chicken salad. Most items were brought to the table cold. The clam chowder was thick like paste. So, I recommend coming for the drinks and atmosphere!

We always love coming here while in Fortuna. Usually a hamburger or fish and chips. Their clam chowder is great. Today we had clam chowder and split a pulled pork sandwich. I will not order that again. The pork wasn't pulled, more like small slabs and not much in it. A hint of coleslaw and the sauce tasted and looked like ketchup. It was smothered in a mess of melted cheese which doesn't belong on that sandwich. It had a piece of bacon on it, why I don't know.

We had a long wait due to the fact the restaurant was packed. A running race was taking place this weekend. So I respect the fact things take longer. The server was kind enough to move our table from outside seating to indoor seating due to the long wait. Good size portions, come hungry! Setting was enjoyable. Thank you!

We're visiting from out of town and this place was so cool and the portions are AMAZING! Def coming back!

Great place with great food and drinks at a reasonable price. They were dog friendly on the patio although none were present. Love this place!

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!

Good Food. Wait times are long. Sometimes staff is not attentive to those who enter the door. Good fries and music on certain days. Peanut night is fun!

The food here is great and the ambiance is relaxed and welcoming. You don't have to play the games but the gaming atmosphere is fun either way.

Have been here a few times it is very easy to get to close to hotels freeway and not far from beaches and trails. The food and vibes are outstanding. Tri tip, fish and chips, burgers and beer are all good. They have pizzas and sandwiches too. The outdoor patio is cute and comfortable. The staff is friendly and so are the people eating and drinking here everyone was having a good time! And the merch is cute too! Highly recommend!

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.

My son and I have stopped here a couple of times recently while traveling on 101; we live in Arcata. Ambiance better than most brewery pubs in area; not so cavernous and noisy/echoey. Service was fine. You can actually have a conversation without shouting! The beer is wonderful, if you're lucky enough not to be driving, and the food (meat -heavy pub fare, duh!) is excellent. We'll be back.

Service was great. The brew was tasty. I had a dark porter... very good. Our group ordered fish and chips, Smashburger, special, and a Cali sandwich. The Smashburger was fantastic. We just had a single burger and it was plenty. They offer a double but that was too much. Next time we're definitely going to get the Cali sandwich. Our sides were tater tots, french fries and a salad. All of it was generous portions, and excellent. I look forward to visiting again.

Great beers and a good cobb salad and tri-tip french dip prices are like the bay area though

I've been here dozens of times, but i swear this place gets better and better each visit. Not only does it get better but the fresh beer is soooo much better than from the store. if your passing by and need some lunch: the Redwood Philly with a side of au jus. Thank me later. great service when its slow before quitting time because it gets busy, ok service when its busy. dog friendly with outside seating.

Definitely a good stop along coast highway. Got amazing service. Had stopped by a couple days earlier and saw a salad on special I wanted but when we went back the special had changed. The server and kitchen came through and still got me the blackened chicken salad I thought I'd missed out on. Also got chili and some wings and it was all delicious. Cool outdoor spot to hangout at. Indoor was a little noisy, but it's a brew pub so nothing surprising about that. Decent beer selection as well.

Came here on a Saturday night and the place was pretty dead. That should have been a red flag... After waiting several minutes, the food came out barely lukewarm and not as described on the menu. It was almost as if they scraped the pot to give us the last of what was there even though it was a couple hours before closing. The mixed drink was ok but definitely not worth the $12 price tag. The hostess and server were personable but hands down, do NOT recommend.

Staff is always very friendly and welcoming here. Having great beer is a plus. Decent food makes for a perfect trifecta.

Lots of choices to pick from. Very crowded on a Wednesday night. I ordered the tritip sandwich with swiss cheese and bbq sauce - served with sweet potato fries. The meat was a little tough and the flavor average. Even tho I didn't order mayo, but they put it on the roll along with bbq sauce - it didn't go well together. Fries were ok, but not great. I'll try something else next time I am in the area, but I would not order the tritip sandwich again.

Amazing food, couldn't ask for better service. 10 stars. Staying at hotel across the street. Just a online order and short walk and amazing food

Stopped to rest I Fortuna and was looking for a place to have dinner when I saw this place literally next to the hotel I was staying. I walked over and went to relaxed myself with some beers before having my dinner. Let me tell you I regret not buying some of their bottle blonde ale beer one of the best I have tasted. I really enjoyed their blonde beer I give them props on it well crafted. They don't have much of variety on their menu but I notice they had some clam chowder which I'm a big fan of and I was not disappointed it was so good highly recommend this plate. On the other hand I didn't enjoyed the burger as much it was to dry not much flavor in it. Burger had no sauce or ketchup in it just meat cheese and bun topping on the side but still something was missing. Place had a great vibe going on you could tell it's a place where locals go hang out everyone knew each other which was nice.

The server is Laura, and she is amazing. The food is great. A man usually serves me, I'm sorry I forgot his name. The food is great. If you don't like something, they will change it . I love it here. Best bar food and I don't even drink alcohol lol

Great food at good prices! Lovely atmosphere out on the patio. The sun was shining, and it was a fun to eat out there.

First thing first: dogs are permitted. Our non-service dog sat with us in the outdoor eating area. It was very comfortable within a large tent with music, propane heater etc. Second: ambiance was very casual and friendly. Staff was very friendly and cheerful. Finally the food and beer: they have a good selection of their own beers. We both had big salads with chicken. All in all it was a solid meal and experience.

A recent visit to the area and Eel River was just down the street from where I was staying and within a short walking distance. There was a 25 minute wait upon my arrival for a table, I was told by the hostess or immediate seating at the bar, so the bar is where I headed... I found a stool on the end by as it turns out, next to one of the original long time locals. That played well to my afternoon and dining. Its a brewery so first things first, the brews - Eel River is known for Good beer and they also have pretty decent bar food too. I ordered a traditional style English ale, true to type and style it was a good brew. For my meal, the classic Pastrami Reuben with seasoned fries and a side of their house chili. This is a good sandwich and a very filing meal. The pastrami thin sliced, piled high on grilled marble rye with sour kraut and thousand island - a classic that was worth the effort for sure. After getting my lunch, I started to go check on my little buddy waiting outside for me in the car. My barmate informed me that, in fact, ERB was a "dog friendly" establishment and that he could join me outside in their interior courtyard area in certain areas out there. So, I retrieved my little buddy from his car post position and to the interior pup paradise we went. The interior courtyard area is very comfortable, spreadout and relaxing. I snagged a table area and my little friend had an entire area to himself while I finished my lunch and beer. Cold libations, decent pub food and dog friendly areas to enjoy both. Worth a visit and I would return if in the area. 3.5 Stars - rounded up for being "little old dog" friendly and letting my fur buddy hangout with me during my visit. 00756

A stellar brewery restaurant!! Of course, they have all their selections of beers, seltzers and ciders. They have burgers, bbq, desserts and etc. Beautiful backyard beer garden with sculptures, water fall and picnic tables. Lots of parking

I like this place, been here a couple times, the beer is great, the staff is super friendly. The food however has in a few cases become offensively bad. The burger, have not had a worse burger in can't remember how long. Full of gristle small, the kind of burger you might buy for $0.50 in a 7-Eleven case and heat up in the microwave. The rest of the food this last visit was forgettable at best. Again, I really like this place, or want to like everything about it, I hope someone reads this and straightens out the food to get it up to the level of the rest of the place.

I don't know where to start, I love small local businesses, Eel River Brewing is a brewery and restaurant in Fortuna south of Eureka in Humboldt county. We went in for lunch with a reservation for a larger party. The weather outside was raining and cold. The staff completely ignored us when we walked in the door. After finally getting someone's attention they put us out on the patio under a large tent, with space heaters that were out of propane. We asked for the staff to change the tanks, they ignored us and left shivering out in the cold. We looked at the tent the locals were in, the propane heaters going strong with a nice warmth and even sides on the tent. This should have been our first clue to get up and walk out. This place has the vibe where they take care of their locals and completely ignore the visitors. All of us ordered beers, either IPA's or samplers. The sampler is generous, but also runs north of $18. We all ordered food from their pub style menu. Our party ordered: Burgers, Calamari, Onion Rings, Fish & Chips, Pastrami Sandwich, Clam Chowder x 2, Chicken Wings. The food was mediocre, with the burger coming out cold and without condiments. The salad came without dressing. It's laughable and sad that they up charged us for Mayonnaise for a burger that is listed as coming with mayo, they charged for Ranch when the menu lists the Onion Rings coming with Ranch. I hate businesses that Nickel and dime the customer on a total bill that was north of $300. Please do yourself a favor, keep driving north into Eureka where there are many better choices The beer was just okay, with the IPA's being better than the other beer types. The Seltzers were a little different, the Stout was decent. I usually like to let staff or management know when they fall short, in this case we were completely ignored by the staff and server after she gave herself an 18% tip on our check. Overall a thumbs down for this place located right off 101. I hope the local crew sustains them, because if they keep treating visitors this way, they won't have many...

We purposely did not eat a full meal because of previous reviews that the foods are fried, so we just had The Works. It wasn't bad but I started feeling sick from the grease before we left the restaurant. Not their fault, it is a my stomach issue. Just a warning to the sensitive stomachs like me, that there probably isn't much food wise here. Now, while we were waiting, we decided to have a drink, since that is the primary reason we came here. I am a fan of the beer, but since I planned on getting Triple Exultation to go, I decided to try the Old Fashioned. I wanted Brandy and the waitress, who was very nice, suggested an Apple Brandy. I thought, why not! It was very tasty, but clarity on what the "special" was would have helped. I was expecting an Old Fashioned which starts with muddied sugar and cherries and orange peel or orange liquid and bitters. The menu said they used Luxardo cherries, which are my favorite. When I got the drink, there weren't any cherries, so I assume this drink "special" was not really an Old Fashioned. I pointed this out to the very accommodating waitress, but she didn't know the difference between Maraschino and Luxardo cherries, so it took two tries. The drink was good, but it would have been much better with the cherries muddled. Overall, the experience was alright. The beer is really good, but not as much on the food side for us sensitive stomached folk. As far as ambience, I totally understand that not every place is well versed on service dogs, but they are allowed inside under the table by ADA law, as long as they don't cause any issues, like barking, toileting or biting. My dog is well trained and we were not even given the option to sit inside. I didn't bother to mention it because I understand there is a lack of information out there regarding service dogs, but please look up ADA law and at least offer the option in the future.

Sickening that we paid $11.99 for 12 dime size "cheese curds" that were round and tasted like they were frozen before. The chicken sandwiches weren't too bad but were bitter. The chicken was decent in them. The mac n cheese was a disgrace and should be called watery soup with a dash of cheese. Was very under-seasoned and not appetizing at all. The waitress was nice and very tending. Unfortunately the food was way overpriced and not good at all. Every other brewery ive gone to has been delicious. Definitely never coming here again and will not recommend to anyone. Next time i will make the drive to Seaquake. Their cheese curds were actually fresh and had the proper shape. Not cheese marbles.

It's lackluster, for the most part. The food, in taste, was subpar and lacking in seasoning and presentation, the portions were all wack: either being too small or too big. The experience left much more to be desired and was very expensive for what we paid, especially as several add-ons were put on our tab unexpectedly as the waitress asked us and-so we expected them to be apart of the standard order.

Good food, very tasty and yummy as well. I was here recently ago and purchased the fish and chips and let me tell you, it was very delicious.

This was a hidden gem in our northern travels. Our waitress Sarah was very knowledgeable and considerate of my dietary gluten free needs due to Celiac's disease. I had a Bluecheese burger on gluten free bun that was soooo DELICIOUS My hubby had a most excellent crispy chicken sandwich! Portions were large and the service was great. Don't miss out if you're passing through!

Eel River Brewing Company provided an excellent experience for our extended family and friends. The outdoor area was spacious and accommodating, making it a perfect spot for our large party. The service on a Sunday morning/afternoon was top-notch, making us feel welcome and attended to throughout our visit. As for the food, it was decent and satisfying, but the real highlight was the fantastic selection of great beer options they had to offer. If you're looking for a place to gather with loved ones, enjoy good food, and indulge in some top-tier brews, Eel River Brewing Company is a must-visit. Cheers to a memorable time spent with friends and family!

This place is great! The place was quite busy but we managed to get our food in a reasonable amount of time, sooner than I expected, considering how busy they were. I have gluten allergy, the server was knowledgable to make some helpful suggestions. What's really nice is everyone who works there seemed very pleasant and helpful to one another. You can tell when there's friction in the house, its not a good feeling. I did not get that feeling here. Good food, good beer and good ambience!

Comfortable true Nor Cal environment with friendly service, great beer, fish and chips and burgers! Much more on the menu that we did not try. Indoor seating is cozy and comfortable. Outdoor is garden like patio-terrace. Nice selection of souvenir T's, hoodies, tanks and more. We will return as often as we are in the area.

Six years since I visited and the Tri tip sandwich is still something to aspire to. Amazing thin Sliced beef on a great roll. I passed on the fries so I could eat the whole thing. Their amber ale is the perfect drink to accompany the meal. Hope I can come back soon!

We went to the Eel River Brewing for an early dinner, on a recent trip to the coast with out pet (miniature pig). They have an outside patio area that is pet friendly, but you do have to bring your pet through the entire length of the restaurant to access it. Hamlet loved the attention, and everyone loved seeing him, he brings so much joy and happiness to everyone. The food was amazing, as was their beers. My partner ordered a flight of everything, and nothing disappointed. I really enjoyed this local produced hard cider. The service was prompt, efficient and friendly. The food was delicious and freshly prepared to order.

Stopped for lunch on our way home from a short vacation. Made the choice because I knew they offered organic beers and therefore would likely have some decent salad options for thr health-minded individual and after three days of road trip carb-and-grease loading, I needed something crisp and fresh, but also had a toddler demanding French fries in the back seat. The menu had wins for us all. :) I had a caesar salad with grilled chicken. The salad was crisp and cold and dressed perfectly. The chicken was underseasoned and dry, so next time I would skip it. Hubby had fish and chips and the portion wad HUGE!!!! Even the "Smaller Bites" chicken and fries we got our daughter could satiate a junior lumberjack! Both of those were average in taste, but a serious bang for your buck in volume. The beers we tried were delicious. We ordered samples of the blonde, organic IPA, Emerald Triangle IPA, Octoberfest, Mocha Stout (using local coffee and Dick Taylor chocolate). The first two were floral and perfumy which is hard to find these glory days of hazy, body-odor, "tropical" brews. The Emerald Triangle was more citrusy. The last two were roasty, malty, sweetness but not overwhelmingly so. All good. All I would order again. Service was friendly and fast, as well. The only criticism I would have is the place could be cleaner. There were a lot of flies near us and the tables and window sills had that sticky paint syndrome you find in older buildings that have a fryer. But the place had ample seating, inside and outside, and very laid back and friendly vibe.

We came on a busy Saturday. I'm not sure if that had anything to do with the food. I've been wanting to stop in for awhile, reviews are good. We went for the awarding winning fish and chips. We ordered some pints as well. The beer is top-notch. It came out looking golden and delicious. However, we ended up digging through the greasy beer batter looking for some fish. We did see some other dishes come out that looked better. Hard pass on the fish unfortunately.

Pleasant location with good beer and decent sandwiches/burgers. Lots of space and not too crowded on a Sunday evening, unlike during the summer.

Always a cool place to go when in Nor Cal!! Great food, service and atmosphere! The have some of the best wings!!! Always a go to spot when visiting my brother and nephew. Very dog friendly!!!

Great location. Clean restaurant. This was my second time coming here. Food was decent but not great on this visit. However, the service was excellent - very friendly. Beer was a good as I remembered. The Porter especially was really good. I'll definitely be back next time I am in the area.