Café Marina & Woodley's Bar — Restaurant in Eureka

A Hidden Gem on the Waterfront - Woodley Island Café and Marina Delivers an Unforgettable Experience

Tucked away on the serene shores of Woodley Island, the Woodley Island Café and Marina is an absolute treasure that offers an unparalleled dining experience. With its breathtaking views, delectable cuisine, and warm, welcoming atmosphere, this is a place where both locals and visitors can unwind, savor, and soak in the beauty of Humboldt Bay.

From the moment you arrive, you are greeted by the stunning waterfront setting, where the café and marina blend seamlessly into the natural landscape. The views alone are worth the visit – expansive vistas of the bay, boats gently bobbing in the marina, and the iconic Eureka waterfront skyline in the distance. It’s a perfect spot for a leisurely meal, whether you’re catching the sunrise over breakfast or enjoying a sunset dinner.

The Woodley Island Café impresses with its commitment to fresh, locally-sourced ingredients and a menu that caters to all tastes. The seafood, as you might expect, is exceptional. The clam chowder is a must-try – rich, creamy, and brimming with tender clams, it’s comfort in a bowl. The fish and chips are another standout, with perfectly crispy batter and fish that is flaky and full of flavor. For those who prefer lighter fare, the grilled salmon salad is a revelation, combining fresh greens, tangy citrus, and a beautifully cooked piece of salmon that melts in your mouth.

But the culinary delights don’t stop there. The café’s menu is thoughtfully curated to include vegetarian options, like the vibrant vegetable stir-fry and the hearty quinoa salad, ensuring that everyone finds something to love. The portions are generous, and the presentation is as delightful as the flavors.

The service at Woodley Island Café is top-notch. The staff is not only attentive and friendly but also genuinely passionate about providing an exceptional dining experience. Whether you’re a regular or a first-time visitor, you’re made to feel like part of the family. The team goes above and beyond to accommodate dietary restrictions, make personalized recommendations, and ensure that every detail of your meal is just right.

Adjacent to the café, the Woodley Bar offers an intimate, cozy spot to enjoy a handcrafted cocktail or a local craft beer. The bar's atmosphere is relaxed yet refined, with a great selection of beverages that perfectly complement the café’s menu. The bartenders are skilled and creative, always ready to mix up something special based on your preferences.

Beyond the food and drinks, the overall ambiance of Woodley Island Café and Marina is what truly sets it apart. It’s a place where time seems to slow down, where you can lose yourself in the tranquility of the bay and the simple pleasures of great food, good company, and stunning views. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, enjoying a casual meal with friends, or simply seeking a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle, Woodley Island Café and Marina delivers in every way.

In a region known for its natural beauty and culinary talent, Woodley Island Café and Marina stands out as a shining example of both. It’s more than just a place to eat – it’s an experience that leaves a lasting impression, one that you’ll find yourself coming back to time and time again. Without a doubt, this is one of Eureka’s finest hidden gems.

Come check out...

The only reason they didn't get 1 star was the service. Our waitress was amazing.

The scene: Easter Sunday, 2016. My partner and I, after spending a wonderful holiday walking through redwood forests and driving along the coast to Crescent City, arrived back in Eureka to find not much open for lunch/dinner. We find this place open.

The positive: staff, cleanliness, view, etc. All great. Large drinks were basic, but decently strong.

The clam chowder is ok. Had better the day before in Trinidad at The Eatery, but it wasn't Campbell's Chunky style.

The bad:

Holy hell, can food be any more bland? My partner got the Fried Oysters and they were inedible. The sign said they were fresh, not frozen. If this is actually true, the restaurant should be brought up on war crimes for what they did to them. Bland grease from a coating of cheap Italian style bread crumbs, ala an electric skillet from my bachelor pad in college. The green beans were flavorless and mushy. Everything had the vague sense their normal clientel are old people with burnt out tastebuds. I don't think the cook understands what butter or spices are and learned how to prepare meals while in prison.

My meal was the Calamari Steak, which I was told was frozen. The waitress went on to say they breaded it there themselves and the coating was great! Again, Italian style breadcrumbs and grease. Have you not heard of panko or perhaps tempura? Fresh garlic with butter and creme? Both meals came with a rice pilaf that had the saddest mix of wilted, faded color veggies. Oh, and a super classy bed of wilted, shredded iceburg lettace under the steak, a sure sign they haven't changed the plate presentation since 1982. Going for that "retro cool" and failing as badly as I did keeping my meal down once we got back to the hotel.

Avoid this restaurant unless you really like grease or are over 60 with no love of flavor. When visions of Red Lobster come to mind as a graceful alternative to what I'm eating in a seafood restaurant you know you've found a veritable waiting room to hell for clinging-to-the-waning-years types, to be sure. Boiling a can of tuna in the hotel room coffee maker would have saved me a lot of money and had a...

Tired to get a table twice in about and hour and a half, with no luck, seems like the restaurant doesn’t know how to operate. I called before we left our hotel to see if we needed reservations but was told first come first serve basis and there was no wait. Ok I thought, no problem. Then we get to the restaurant maybe 15 minutes later to have the locals who walked in front of me get a table for two, after waiting maybe 3 minutes. Then my turns comes for a table of 3… i was told my wait would be 45 minutes and the hostess girl just laughed at me. Annoying. So I left. We then tried back after a nice ride around the area, my husband goes back in to get a table. The party of 5 was sat but told since that they had a large party, they wouldnt get food for at least 45 minutes, but they at least got offered a table to be able to order drinks at … The restaurant can’t handle a group of 45? Poorly managed it sounds like and inexperience . Then my husbands turn, he was told we couldn’t get a table for 50 minutes now, although there were open tables to sit at. He then had some choice words for the host. Found a much nicer restaurant with friendly capable staff in the Coast Guard plaza area right on the water with great food.

In response to the cafes response- if management has been there for 20+ then staff should be fully aware of what’s on the books for the night and have enough experience to train people properly . My husband’s ‘choice words’ for her was that each person got a different story, or reason. Not professional. I’ve worked in hotel catering industry and your restaurant should be able to handle an extra 50 people. I enjoyed the other local restaurants and will never recommend your restaurant, seems like I’m not the only comment about that too. Best of...