"Harbor House was promoted to two stars in 2022, thanks to its fine-dining farm-to-table fare in a gorgeous natural setting on the Mendocino coastline. The restaurant also received a Green Star. (2 stars)" - Eater Staff
"Veering off into the wilds of Mendocino County is certainly a most delightful detour—one that culminates in the dining room of the Harbor House Inn.Driven by impeccable technique and devotion to sustainability, the cooking is highly original. Chef Matthew Kammerer is devout when it comes to hyper-local and foraged ingredients, elevating not only delicacies like sea urchin, but also more humble items like seaweed harvested from the nearby coastline, or lace lichen plucked from overhanging trees. Compelling, Japanese-accented creations have included a sake-poached abalone paired with a luscious sauce made from its liver. Fantastic sourdough is flecked with sea lettuce, and kombu flavors a silky ice cream with coffee, lavender and honey—an ingenious union of sweet and savory tastes." - Michelin Inspector
"Set dramatically on seaside cliffs in a former lumber-company lodge, the intimate inn centers on a high-end, 20-seat tasting menu that celebrates North Coast terrain and elemental techniques—steam and fire. Expect preparations like abalone poached in sake or black cod smoked over Bay laurel alongside produce from the on-site farm and greenhouse, paired with selections from a 1,600-bottle cellar. Accommodations include a handful of main-house rooms and standalone cottages with access to a private cove, and limited cell reception encourages full immersion in the rugged coastal setting." - Corina Quinn
"Housed in a 1916 redwood home on the coast near Elk, this inn-and-restaurant emphasizes hyperlocal ingredients under chef Matthew Kammerer, who forages and even harvests seaweed offshore. The kitchen turns out memorable dishes such as tempura maitake with lace lichen, black cod smoked over bay laurel, and a playful marigold ice cream, while produce often comes from a small nearby farm on fault-driven soils praised for producing straight, flavorful carrots. The porch is a serene spot to sip Champagne and take in Pacific views, with the San Andreas running under the ocean in the distance." - Ray Isle
"Harbor House Inn is not a casual, spontaneous stop on a drive up the coast. A reservation and a budget — a five-course lunch starts at $150, dinner at $325 — is a prerequisite at this two-Michelin-starred destination restaurant in Elk, an unincorporated community of 200 people. The restaurant, guided by chef Matthew Kammerer (formerly of San Francisco’s Saison), focuses heavily on foraged, fermented, and Pacific Rim-inspired flavors and techniques, with a hyper-focus on detail. Even the bread here, a sourdough flecked with seaweed from nearby rocks, is likely to be some of the most extraordinary and complex bread you’ve ever tasted. The beverage pairing, while a significant additional splurge, adds considerably to the experience with wines that all but the most enthusiastic connoisseurs are unlikely to have tried." - Freda Moon