The Warehouse Cafe

"If you’re looking for a dive bar with a bit of quirk, Warehouse Cafe has quirk to spare. Located at the end of a twisty-turny road in Port Costa, the front of this dive features views of the Carquinez Strait, while the cavernous inside features plenty of drinks and knick-knacks — including, famously, an upright polar bear in a glass display case. There’s a pool table, prime rib on the weekends, cocktails, and a lengthy beer selection to get the night rolling." - Dianne de Guzman

"Warehouse Cafe is a biker bar in Port Costa known for its selection of 250-plus different beers and a prime rib dinner. The cafe, owned by Ivana Domansky, faced challenges during the pandemic but managed to survive by offering outdoor dining and a limited menu. The prime rib dinner, available only on Friday and Saturday nights, has been a popular offering, now priced at $20. Domansky continues to hope for better days ahead despite the financial difficulties brought on by the pandemic." - Luke Tsai

"Before I wrote about it a few weeks ago, it had probably been two years since I’d been to Warehouse Cafe, the remote Port Costa biker bar known for the bargain-priced (and delicious) prime rib dinner that it serves on weekends — a feature it brought back recently after staying closed for much of the pandemic. Having filed my story on a Friday afternoon, I couldn’t get that dang prime rib out of my head, so out to Port Costa I headed that very night, zooming back home with my $20 (!!) takeout box in time to dig in while everything was still warm. It was as spectacular as I remembered. The meat was cooked to a pristine medium rare, with luxuriously jiggly streaks of fat; garlicky mushrooms and a baked potato made for the ideal, no-nonsense sides. Look: I love House of Prime Rib as much as anyone, but if you’re jonesing for some red meat this weekend and don’t want to break the budget (or make a reservation months in advance), Warehouse Cafe is where it’s at. Call ahead to confirm availability, and remember to bring cash." - Eater Staff

"In a building dating back to 1889, often surrounded by a boisterous crowd and numerous motorcycles, the Warehouse Cafe in Port Costa is a legend unto itself. The cavernous, dimly-lit interior space was once a storage warehouse for the grains that were delivered by train ferry to the once bustling railroad town. When the local bridges were built, the heyday for this quirky area was over and the population dwindled to a tenth of its size as all the businesses closed and its workers fled for better days. Sometime in the 1970s the Warehouse was reopened as a bar and restaurant. It is the largest building in the tiny town and as one of only a few businesses left, it has become a not-so-secret secret getaway drinking spot. One of the main draws of the bar is its massive area for outdoor seating and decks. Since it is also right on the Carquinez Strait, the outdoor seating is a huge hit during the days of summer and the area is a magnet for motorcycle and car clubs. The Warehouse celebrates this by serving barbeque and hiring a blues band that plays outside on Sundays. The dimly lit interior is filled with a plethora of mismatched furniture, video games, and pool tables, all of which are lorded over by a truly enormous taxidermy polar bear who stands triumphantly over a decomposing sea lion. Taxidermy is a popular thing in the Warehouse and there are many other stuffed beasts lining the ceilings and walls, along with crazy sculptures and old signs. Toward the back of the bar, a gift shop called Baron’s Boardwalk serves up oddities, antiques and other odds and ends for the tipsy visitors who stumble in. Speaking of tipsy, the bar comes well stocked with more than 250 beers from around the world, and all cocktails are doubles unless specifically ordered otherwise. Come prepared to spend the day - time flies in this rowdy and strange bar, and the drinks and atmosphere are distracting enough to keep you coming back again and again. Know Before You Go there is no public transportation into Port Costa. Port Costa but the Warehouse Cafe can be reached by car from I-80 through the town of Crockett or from Highway 4 via McEwen Road. It can also be reached through the back roads of the canyons by car, bike, or motorcycle. They are cash only and do not accept any form of credit card, Apple Pay, etc. There is an ATM available there, but just be sure to either arrive cash in hand or with your debit card in your wallet." - hklees, Sydney Rose, Shannon Ohaire, Annetta Black, Martin, Rachel