Westport Hotel’s superb seafood dinner was perfect capper to our wedding anniversary..

Plus, what are those giant rocks going by? And Fort Bragg Safeway workers to walk at midnight if contract not signed by then

LInda’s mom Anne bought Linda and I an anniversary dinner Thursday night. We had originally planned to go to Mendocino and enjoy the film festival and dinner but both ladies have been under the weather lately, Linda with her very painful broken leg. She has been commanded by the doctor to take it easy for another month!  We had a walker, crutches, but no wheelchair this time. Plus two dogs waiting to play and the stairway to the beach is a great place to work on Caesar’s recall.

So we chose the Westport Hotel & Old Abalone Pub and were very glad we did.  We were all thrilled we got a 5 star dinner at a 2-3 star price. Some of this food, like the special fresh tomato appetizer on crisp toast was the kind of food you want to jump up and say Halleluja when you eat it. We are going to try to copy this one at home and have only that for dinner.We also got the yam fries, which conquered the soggy problem of yams and sweet potatoes with a crispness that made me go wow!  I mean this food was terrific. I do have to say we have been on a very strict diet since January, losing 125 lbs between us. But when we do try rich food, its usually a yuck factor now. After all this kale and salad and light dinners, I put a piece of pizza in my mouth and couldn’t eat it, it was like a mouthful of grease.

Nothing like that here, every bite was a reward.

We had planned one night off for our 4th anniversary and 15th together. But this food was surprisingly light and healthy for what we ordered.  The crabcakes were rich as crabcakes always are, but much lighter and made delicious by one zinger spice., and I have rarely met a crabcake I didnt like .

So done with the appetizers  and onto dinner, Linda ordered the Prawns and said they were the best prawns she had ever eaten and we both love prawns. I have trouble making comparisons to like some amazing Cajun ones I had in the 80s or ones on the beach, but I had one and really wanted two, but didn’t ask. These were truly A+. And grandma had the shrimp scampi. The biggest problem with Scampi is they usually give tiny portions and scampi can be too powerful, especially Florida or NYC style. Here they gave her a  lot and it was right on target. 

I had a Humboldt cherry cider and will be getting that again. My entree, Cioppino, wasnt as fantastic as the rest. The fish was very fresh and there were more of the delicious prawns, but it came with pasta, which seemed to be a spaghetti, not my top choice and the sauce was OK. I would have been happy with it totally, but the rest was so fantastic..I mean really.

We left thrilled with our choice.

The restored 1890 hotel is worth the trip even without the dinner.  Check out the ruby red restored antique lights. There is a display of great old rock and roll posters on display, loaned by the Fort Bragg library.

When we went in we saw Art headed out to fish with his pole. When we came out, having finished dinner in about an hour, he was coming back with this ling cod he caught. Wowza. Art and Leslie from Westport know how to fish!!

So enjoy a photo tour and check it out. Some of my favorite Coast restaurants have not returned to prepandemic glory when i tried them (rarely) but this one has. We eat out about once every three months and I think Flow will be next.

Anne Bobincheck here said the trip to Westport Inn was really like going in back in time, to elegance, quiet and slow food so delicious. Here is an awesome travel site review of the whole operation

The big rocks are part of the biggest construction project Caltrans has had in decades at Blues Beach. Read about it ONLY here.

Huge construction project, tribal acquistion at Blues Beach

And Safeway and its union have not been able to reach a deal. The TV news all over California is saying a strike is likely at midnight, with pickets to go up in Fort Bragg. LIKELY? We shall see, neither the union nor Albertson’s have updated their websites.

If it happens we won’t know here in Fort Bragg till Saturday morning, as the store closes at midnight.

Safeway likely to strike tonight?