Ardella's Kitchen

Ardella's is a shiny, bright, beloved diner full of locals and friendly faces. Relocated from their tiny original quarters to a larger space surrounded by windows and flowers, they offer breakfast and lunch only; get there by 11:00 for breakfast, and by 2:00 for lunch. Sunday is breakfast only until 2:00.

The weekend breakfast menu features several variations on Eggs Benedict (Florentine, smoked salmon, portobello) with a divine hollandaise sauce "lovingly made in house." But you can always get pancakes loaded with blueberries, omelets, apple smoked bacon, or eggs any way you want them. My favorite is the carbonara scramble, but my favorite changes every week.

For lunch, you'll want to ask about their house-made soup for the week, reflecting seasonal ingredients (creamy cool gazpacho; roasted cauliflower with apple; chicken with wild rice, to name a few past offerings). Burgers can be beef, chicken, or vegetarian, or you may want to try the several grilled panini sandwiches. If you like it simple and nostalgic, go for a tuna melt or the BLT. (I like my old-fashioned grilled cheese with a slice of tomato). All the salads bear house-made dressings, with my favorite being the cesear (yes! anchovies!), or the potato with goat cheese on mixed greens.

Their coffee is supplied by Thanksgiving Coffee of Ft Bragg, and flows forth abundantly. I recommend sitting at the counter for the best opportunities to chat with the "regulars", or just to grab a local paper to read while the friendly greetings swirl around you.

They accept cash or checks only, no credit/debit cards. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Absolutely everything is mouth-watering delicious. One of the best restaurants ever. The are few of great places like this: Dishner's in North Bend/Coos Bay Oregon, Ted's in Yuma, Az (now closed), Sutter Street Grill in Folsom, CA, the House of Schezwan, Redding, CA.

Generally you have to wander deep into a downtown area to find an eatery that serves up food as great as Ardella's. The wait staff is very friendly, eager to please and they possibly belong to a biker gang--no matter--we enjoyed an all-time great breakfast (I had an amazing omelet with smoked chicken apple sausage). Oh my. The coffee was worthy or several refills and they didn't skimp on the thick slices of crunchy, buttered wheat toast served with my omelet. Next time we're in Northern California we may have to drive through Willits just for an excuse to drop into Ardella's.