Benbow Historic Inn

Name: Benbow Historic Inn
Address: 445 Lake Benbow Dr, Garberville, CA, United States, 95542-3616
Telephone: (707) 923-2124 ext. 246
Price range: $50 and over
Rating: 4.5

4.5

263 Reviews

$50 and over

French American

Top Tags:

Welcome to the Benbow Historic Inn, a premiere North Coast Hotel, Golf Course and KOA RV resort located in Benbow near Garberville – a small town in the heart of California Redwood Country near the Avenue of the Giants. Nestled on the banks of the Eel River in Humboldt County, California. Our resort offers something for everyone seeking a California Redwoods vacation.

Historic Hotels Awards of Excellence
Each year, the Historic Hotels Awards of Excellence honor, encourage, and recognize the most exemplary historic hotels, hoteliers, and leadership practices. The Historic Hotels Awards of Excellence are presented to historic hotels and hoteliers demonstrating innovative leadership, stewardship, and contribution to furthering the recognition, preservation, and celebration of these preeminent historic hotels and their histories.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Sep 26, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 1 time today

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Cuisines
French American, Tapas / Small Plates, Farm-to-table
Hours of operation
Brunch Daily 8:00 am–1:00 pm Afternoon Tea Mon–Fri 3:00 pm–4:00 pm Bar Daily 3:00 pm–10:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(707) 923-2124 ext. 246
Website
http://www.benbowinn.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Resort Casual
Executive chef
Ethan Brown
Catering
Depending on your special occasion, Chef Ethan Brown has prepared several different menus and menu options, and is happy to accommodate special requests and dietary needs.
Private party facilities
We offer multiple private party settings, from our outdoor lawn down by the river, to our beautiful back terrace over looking the lawn and the river, to a private room for 40 to 50 people.
Private party contact
Doreen Kaplan - catering@benbowinn.com: (707) 923-2124 ext. 175

Location
445 Lake Benbow Dr, Garberville, CA 95542-3616
Neighborhood
Garberville
Parking details
Public Lot
Entertainment
Live music during the summer on Tuesday night through Friday night.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, High Tea, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

Mixed Olives$8.00
Citrus, Humboldt Bay Leaf, Aleppo Pepper, Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Korean Fried Chicken Wings$18.00
Gochujang Honey Sauce, Green Onions, Sesame Seeds, and Sesame Cucumber Salad
Truffle Fries$8.00
Battered Fries tossed in Truffle Oil, Parmesan, and Herbs
Cheese Plate$26.00
Assortment of Cheeses and Seasonal Fruit
Fish Tacos$19.00
Grilled Fish, Pico de Gallo, Avocado, Soft Corn Tortilla, Lemon Crema, Fresh Lime
British Pub Style Fish and Chips$21.00
Served with House Made Cole Slaw, French Fries or Sweet Potato Fries and Classic Tartar Sauce

Soup and Salad

Soup du Jour
Chefs Daily Offering
- Market Price
Young Lettuces$16.00
Fresh Garden Greens with Toasted Almonds, Shaved Manchego, and Sherry Vinaigrette
Caesar Salad$17.00
Organic Romaine Lettuce, Parmesan Crisp, and French Baguette Croutons, w/ House made Dressing

Entrees

Catch of the Day
Current Catch from our Northern California Coastline with highlights from Local Farms
- Market Price
Chef's Cut
- Market Price
Chicken Piccata$38.00
Pan Seared Chicken Breast in a Lemon Caper White Wine Sauce, Rice Pilaf, and Seasonal Vegetables
Harris Ranch Angus Beef Burger$19.00
8oz Char Grilled Angus Beef Patty Served with Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, French Fries or Sweet Potato Fries
Stuffed Poblano Chili$28.00
Fire Roasted Poblano Chili stuffed with Chipotle Sweet Potato, Quinoa, Goat Cheese on a bed of Cumin Black Beans, topped with Salsa Roja, Sour Cream and Avocado

What 263 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.4Food
4.3Service
4.7Ambience
4Value

Noise • Moderate

263 Reviews

ER
EileenR
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on September 14, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Only issue for one of us is that the Chef’s Choice pork medallions sauce was way too salty. Everything else about Benbow was wonderful!
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LF
LauraF
San Francisco
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on September 9, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We are two friends (since 1970!) who had wanted to stay at Benbow Inn for decades; we finally did it. The hotel is gorgeous and the restaurant, while expensive, was fantastic. There is a focus on local, organic and sustainable foods, and we were happy with everything we ordered (Vegetarian gratin, ribeye, pork tenderloin and trout almondine, plus the salad with the sherry vinaigrette (both nights) and truffle fries (also both nights). The chef here is good. Good cocktails. Nice people, both employees and guests. Breakfast was good but terribly understaffed. Not the fault of the workers. Maybe a breakfast buffet would work better until staffing is improved. It is almost an hour wait for breakfast--not cool. Overall, we loved our stay here, though.
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WS
WelshSkittles
London
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 7, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience4
Lovely dining room , food good with generous sharing plat started
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Dinner was especially delicious! We stay when we can. The ambience is great and the inn is quite comfortable
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B
Bonanza
Los Angeles
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on September 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Great meal, Rebecca was our server and did a great job!
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M
Michele
San Francisco
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on August 24, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We ate out on the patio and it was beautiful sitting in the middle of the redwood trees. The food was great and the wait staff was attentive and friendly. We really enjoyed the live music during dinner.
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DW
DonaW
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 20, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
Excellent meal, drinks were very good! Breakfast was great..morning staff very polite and kind... the Benbow Historic Inn is awesome!!! Already recommended to different friends...very old school classy
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Orlando
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Absolutely wonderful meal on the terrace. Great service by Joey. Makes me want to stay in the area longer just to eat here again! BTW... If you are staying at the Benbow KOA, you can walk under 101 via a paved path to get to the restaurant.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
22 reviews
vip
5.0
22 reviews
Dined on August 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a wonderful time at BenBow Inn. The people were great, the Hotel is spectacular. The food was very good and the waitstaff attentive.
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W
Wunderfolk
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Really fine, delicious meal enjoyed by all, in perfect setting in patio. Dietary needs attended to. Great local wine!
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TB
ThomasB
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
BenBow Inn dining experience was fantastic. The ambiance was unbelievable. The food and service was excellent. We are definitely going back for our anniversary.
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JM
JamesM
Los Angeles
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on August 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great place to relax. Great food. Great accommodations ..where you still get a real key to the door of your room!!! Great lounge and deck area for afternoon "toddy." Great deck for dinner al fresco. Nice people - could spend a bunch more time there.........
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h
hollys
Tahoe
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 30, 2023
overall5food5service3ambience4
Wonderful great food Service a little slow but kind
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AW
ArianeW
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on July 30, 2023
overall2food2service1ambience3
Service was slow and not professional. Table was dirty, asked waitress if anyone can clean it and she said it will be me, she was mad. She poured my wine in my glass like she was mad. Then served my salad and it had a worm on the leaf. I showed it to her and she said that is what happens when you pick from a garden, it is just a worm and walked away. Very interesting. Did not comp my salad. Very expensive, limited menu and not very good. I suggest you go to the bar and just order an appetizer instead of having dinner at the restaurant.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on July 29, 2023
overall3food5service2ambience4
First the Benbow Inn is absolutely beautiful. We made reservations for 7:15 to sit outside on the terrace and when we got there they knew we had a reservation but didn’t know where we were supposed to be dining so our table wasn’t ready. After being seated it took 10 minutes or so for someone to bring us water and another 20 minutes for our server to come take our drink and food order. We didn’t see our server again until about 9:00 when we asked if we could move inside after the sun had set and it cooled down a bit. Our food arrived around 9:15. The food itself was amazing, the 2 hour wait to get it and complete lack of service during dinner and failure to prepare for the reservation was not in keeping with the quality expected at such an establishment.
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c
carmrc
San Francisco
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on July 29, 2023
overall3food3service1ambience4
Arrive d a T 630 ordered drinks and dinner dinner ca Me atv8:30 ⁷
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P
Paul
Washington DC
22 reviews
5.0
22 reviews
Dined on July 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great service helped accommodate our large group of 11 adults and five children. They let us rearrange the tables to our liking and remained cheerful and attentive even though we put them through their paces.
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SD
SusanD
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a wonderful dining experience at Bennie historic inn. If we are ever in the vicinity we will certainly go back again.
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CS
ChrisS
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on July 23, 2023
overall4food3service5ambience5
Service and atmosphere were pretty good, meals and drinks are pricey but it’s a historic inn so go figure. Had the 42$ salmon which again, historic inn prices so was expected. Got the thinnest end piece of a filet that was extremely over cooked. Was very hungry so ate it anyway but would expect premium food for a premium price.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
8 reviews
vip
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on July 22, 2023
overall5food3service4ambience5
Great location and beautiful on the outdoor terrace. Food was decent
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Toronto
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on July 22, 2023
overall3food4service1ambience5
The Benbow is a very nice place with a historic vibe and great location so close to the beautiful Redwoods forests. Personal were adequate, however they did not seem too happy and very stressed with occupancy less than full. The pool area is nice, however we were not aware it being connected to the trailer park, which made it very overcrowded.
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Y
Yosemite
Sacramento
16 reviews
vip
3.0
16 reviews
Dined on July 21, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience4
Limited menu with two items not available. What we ordered was good. Love eating on the terrace.
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DH
DebraH
Palm Springs
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on July 17, 2023
overall5food3service5ambience5
The food overall is very good; the magic of the glorious architecture and ambiance of one of America's most important historic hotels would make tacos seems like Michelin starred food, though. Not to mention eating outside amidst the mature and exquisitely gorgeous landscaping situated above a trout filled river. Great wine list! Trust me-eat dinner here and if you can, stay for a day or two!!!!!
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Z
Zootekkie
Washington DC
4 reviews
3.0
4 reviews
Dined on July 16, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience3
Overrated and overpriced for what it's trying to be. Hotel is beautiful food and staff are mediocre. Management is arrogant.
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CJ
CarolynJ
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 12, 2023
overall5food3service5ambience5
Lovely evening on the terrace. The music was great!
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CY
ChristinaY
Sacramento
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on July 9, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I found this hotel by accident and it is now my annual accident. Who knew there would be a tail to nose/ farm to table five star restaurant. The food is creative and delicious. Tonight I had their hangar steak special. This steak was so tender I could cut it with my butter knife. The bar has fresh craft cocktails and their wine list is nothing to sneeze at. Come here for a fantastic hotel and restaurant.
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D
Disappointed
San Francisco
52 reviews
vip
5.0
52 reviews
Dined on July 3, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The most delicious and beautiful nicoise salad I’ve ever had around the world. Excellent cheeseburger and sweet potato fries also. Service from Varina was attentive and thoughtful. A little pricey, but it is the only nice restaurant in town.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful meal in a beautiful setting amongst the majestic Redwoods with quality live entertainment making a fantastic experience. We couldn’t have asked for more!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Orlando
18 reviews
vip
5.0
18 reviews
Dined on June 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Good food - waiting for Cecil to transform the menu to incorporate stuff from his restaurant
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G
Garey
San Francisco
2 reviews
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 19, 2023
overall2food2service1ambience3
Hotel is great but restaurant food was subpar…service was absolutely terrible
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JR
JoeR
Portland
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We enjoyed a fine anniversary dinner there. Food was great, the service fine. I’d love to go again!
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GP
GerriP
San Francisco
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on June 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fabulous!!! Always loved it here. The grounds are spectacular and well kept… ice ambiance. Our waitress (from lost coast - and her sons work there) was fantastic and personable. Only complaint was the skirt steak was wonderfully seasoned (and charred pea pod’s awesome) but steak too tough. The trout was great!
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AR
AshleyR
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 17, 2023
overall5food3service5ambience5
Service was great awesome waiter amazing view, food was good, one meal the fish was alittle undercooked but they were quick to fix it and it turned out great.
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MC
MichelleC
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 7, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was so memorable. Very quaint, historic building with beautiful landscaping. The people were very kind and thoughtful. We were well taken care of. The meals were delicious as well.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food in one of the best historic hotels on the coast.
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T
Toby
San Francisco
40 reviews
vip
5.0
40 reviews
Dined on June 5, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
We have been eating here for over 30 years and in that time it has had many ups and downs. It has always been a beautiful place to dine and the outside patio is great. This time the food matched the ambiance. They have simplified the menu which I think is a good thing, quality over quantity. Our server also did a fantastic job. Now looking forward to coming back.
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RP
RichardP
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 2, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent service outstanding dinner. Will return.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Portland
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wasn’t our first time here. We came back to stay at the inn in part because we were excited to dine here again. Relaxing, quiet, beautiful, and delicious food. It was the perfect way to spend our anniversary.
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TP
TonyP
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was fresh and delicious, service was friendly and attentive. Couldn’t have been better.
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LQ
LaurenceQ
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on May 17, 2023
overall1food3service1ambience2
Poor service, rude server. Food ok but pricey. Very disappointing experience
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Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Sealed or wrapped utensils used
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
- Contactless payment available
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas

Protective equipment
- Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Benbow Historic Inn offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (707) 923-2124 ext. 246.

Benbow Historic Inn is rated 4.5 stars by 263 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Sep 26, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 1 time today

Order delivery or takeout

445 Lake Benbow Dr, Garberville, CA 95542-3616

Dining areas

Additional information

Neighborhood
Garberville
Hours of operation
Brunch Daily 8:00 am–1:00 pm Afternoon Tea Mon–Fri 3:00 pm–4:00 pm Bar Daily 3:00 pm–10:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Cuisines
French American, Tapas / Small Plates, Farm-to-table
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Resort Casual
Parking details
Public Lot
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Ethan Brown
Entertainment
Live music during the summer on Tuesday night through Friday night.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, High Tea, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.benbowinn.com/
Phone number
(707) 923-2124 ext. 246
Catering
Depending on your special occasion, Chef Ethan Brown has prepared several different menus and menu options, and is happy to accommodate special requests and dietary needs.
Private party facilities
We offer multiple private party settings, from our outdoor lawn down by the river, to our beautiful back terrace over looking the lawn and the river, to a private room for 40 to 50 people.
Private party contact
Doreen Kaplan - catering@benbowinn.com: (707) 923-2124 ext. 175

Benbow Historic Inn

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

Ribeye Steak

Caesar Salad

Fish Tacos

Snacks and Shareables

Mixed Olives$8.00

Korean Fried Chicken Wings$18.00

Truffle Fries$8.00

Cheese Plate$26.00

Fish Tacos$19.00

British Pub Style Fish and Chips$21.00

Soup and Salad

Soup du Jour

Young Lettuces$16.00

Caesar Salad$17.00

Entrees

Catch of the Day

Chef's Cut

Chicken Piccata$38.00

Harris Ranch Angus Beef Burger$19.00

Stuffed Poblano Chili$28.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Protective equipment

Screening

FAQs

Does Benbow Historic Inn offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Benbow Historic Inn restaurant rated?

Is Benbow Historic Inn currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information