Matthew Kammerer

Harbor House Restaurant, Elk, CA., 8/7/26

~ hsnixon ~ 6 Comments
den area – 5600 South Highway 1, Elk, CA 95432

Harbor House Inn and Restaurant has a beautiful setting overlooking the ocean.  Elk is not a big town by any means but it does have a couple stores and a market and is close to Ft. Bragg and Medocino, where there are tons of art galleries.  I encourage all to try and go, but urge you to get a room or cottage to stay in where you can walk to dinner and then enjoy their complimentary breakfast the next morning.  You can read about other meals in the blog by clicking here for one in 2025, 2024, 2023 or 2022.  I’ve written this place up many times but can’t resist continuing as the meals evolve.  Chef Matthew Kammerer is driven to providing you with the freshest and most sustainably-made meal possible and meanwhile all the other staff are also a delight to be around.  They make Frankie feel special and you will too, so go and tell them Frankie sent you (no I don’t make anything off of it, it’s just that I’m willing to share my secret fave with you, my readers). Continue reading →

Harbor House Restaurant, Elk, CA., 8/6/26

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
dining room – 5600 South Highway 1, Elk, CA 95432

Frankie, my husband and I are regulars here.  You can see numerous meals at Harbor House Inn’s 2 Michelin stars restaurant by clicking here for one in 2025, 2024, 2023 or 2022.   Our last visit I didn’t write up since we were there with friends but this time I found some changes to the dining plan and a lot of new dishes, so I’ll have another post in a few days picturing our second fabulous meal with great Chef Matt Kammerer and his entire team.  I was cautious as there were several new staff members but rest assured they were all first rate and the food was hitting an all time high.  The ranch/farm that is associated with the restaurant is responsible for wonderful produce on the menu and Chef Kammerer has made connections with several local fishermen who bring them seafood.  It can be a creative scramble when what they planned for is not available but the team is up for the challenge and the diner would never know the difference.   Honestly if you haven’t been you really need to get there.  It’s hands down my favorite spot in this country with the small 25 seat dining room overlooking the ocean and the purest of flavors being served for some exquisite eating.  I don’t usually glow so much and I am not on their payroll but these past two meals varied greatly with each being tremendous.  Hope it you go you’ll tell them Frankie sent you – they are all fans of hers, even making a bed of fresh flowers for her each night. Continue reading →

Harbor House Restaurant (update), Elk, CA., 5/9&10/24

~ hsnixon ~ 8 Comments
view

Harbor House Restaurant was last visited here in Nov. 2023 but there are many other write ups if you search in my posts and with good reason – it’s a fabulous place to eat and stay.  We were lucky to be able to eat in the small dining room 2 nights this trip and enjoy the spectacular cuisine prepared by Chef Matthew Kammerer and his all star staff.  From the moment you check in you are pampered with first rate service that more importantly feels like friendship with everyone there.  The facility and kitchen continue to make additions which you’ll also see in the expanding wine list.  While they offer wine pairings for the tasting menu Sommeliers Kelly Eckel and Jason Chin will assist you in selecting a wonderful wine in your price range.   They’ve also added electric shades to the dining room which allow you to still enjoy the fabulous view without the glare of the sun.  Chef Kammerer works to make differences in the tastings if you spend 2 consecutive nights but some items need repeating.  Rather than repeating I’ll post the photo from the first night and then post the different options only from the second meal.   I urge you, if you get the opportunity to go! Do it! Continue reading →

Harbor House Restaurant (update part 2), Elk, CA., 11/28/22

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Back for our second dinner and I can’t believe this place just gets better and better.  Check it out on <https://www.theharborhouseinn.com

Frankie admired the Michelin Man and abalone shells
wine
menu

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Harbor House Restaurant (update), Elk, CA, 7/7 & 8/22

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exterior –5600 CA-1, Elk, 95432

Frankie and I have visited Harbor House Restaurant before and it is on this site numerous times.   Every time I go back I think I’ll just eat there and not do another write-up but the food is so good I really hate not to share the photos.  We were lucky enough to dine there 2 consecutive nights so Chef Matthew Kammerer was kind to vary the menu some but other courses just need to be repeated – and you don’t mind.  He continues to win awards for his culinary talents with the restaurant now having 2 Michelin stars.  Their ranch is also now producing some incredible produce which he includes in the dishes.  The wine program continues to evolve under the capable leadership of Wine and Beverage Director, John Miller.  Both nights he managed to delight us with interesting choices from the area.  The final component of the experience is the staff, which are all terrific.  Friendly and knowledgeable (many of our other dining choices came from their suggestions) they make a 2-star Michelin meal feel like you’re dining in a friend’s home.  The hotel it’s in, is a lovely place to stay, if you get the chance.  My highest recommendation here – I’ll go again and Frankie hopes to see you there too. Continue reading →

Harbor House Restaurant (second visit), Elk, 3/13/22

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exterior – 5600 CA-1, Elk, CA 95432

Harbor House Restaurant had made a couple changes since our visit last summer.   Most importantly the wine list has really ramped up to include lots of French and Italian along with the large selection of Califorinia ones.   It’s an exciting list and Beverage director John Miller will lend wonderful help if you need it.  They also have added a pack of information cards to the table for you to take with you  and learn about the details of the place.  They cover the philosphy of the meal from Chef Matt Kammerer, a little history on the inn where it’s housed, about their new garden and ranch, their sustainability, cooking techniques and plateware and ceramics.  For their efforts to sustainability they’ve been awarded a Michelin Green Clover designation.  I can’t urge you enough to visit and enjoy a meal here! Continue reading →

Harbor House Restaurant, Elk, CA., 3/12/22

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Harbor House building – 5600 CA-1, Elk, CA 95432

Frankie and I last visited the Harbor House Restaurant in Aug of 2021 and they were as pleased to welcome us back as we were to be there.  The 2 star Michelin Restaurant is run by Chef Matthew Kammerer in an inn built in 1916 by the Goodyear Lumber Company, to showcase their redwood empire.  They offer a tasting menu only that is determined by what is seasonally and sustainably available.  They have started a ranch/garden from which that bounty is now adding to their quality offerings.  Courses are thought out in detail but not overwrought with tweezer and squirt bottle decorating.  Many of their serving pieces are made by local artisans that add plenty of visual enhancements.  Service is top quality as is the view of the coast from the dining room.  This place is surely destined for a third star so book your reservation while you can still get in and if you can splurge for a room at the inn.  The breakfast the kitchen puts out for you the morning after is icing on the cake. We were lucky enough to get 2 nights there, so look for another array of lovely dishes from Chef Kammerer in a few days. Continue reading →

Harbor House Inn Restaurant (update), Elk, CA., 7/22 & 23/21

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
exterior (5600 CA-1, Elk, CA, 95432 / (707)-877-3203)

The  Harbor House Restaurant is the Michelin starred restaurant in the Harbor House Inn in Elk, CA (Mendocino County).  Super talented Chef Matt Kammerer and his excellent staff continue to turn out innovative and delicious tasting menus and thus Frankie chose to re-visit.  The Inn is still lovely and they are now able to seat guests inside as well as outside, all over-looking the beautiful coast line.  We were lucky to eat there 2 consecutive nights and Chef Kammerer was kind enough to make changes for the second night’s dining.  They have a small kitchen so some dishes were repeated but there were a number of different dishes.  I’ll present the two night’s meals but may omit photos for repeats, depending on which night I got the better photo.  Frankie and I highly recommend visiting and if you can even stay at the Inn.  The staff will make you feel very welcome and do allow several hours for the meal. Continue reading →

Harbor House Restaurant, Elk, CA., 8/13/20

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
IMG_8072
exterior

Harbor House Restaurant had a 25 seat dining room but now offers seating on its back deck overlooking the Pacific coastline.  The Inn is in a 1916 logger’s retreat that has 9 rooms which were restored in 2018 by a 5 year remodeling.  Chef Matthew Kammerer uses exceptional local products based on the season to produce a seafood based tasting menu that is cooked with fire and steam.  The restaurant has one Michelin star and Chef Kammerer was named as a Best New Chef in 2019 Food & Wine Magazine.  They serve only a tasting menu of 9 savory and 2 sweet courses, with wine pairings available.  It is a pre-paid menu and not available on Tuesday and Wednesday.  There is plenty of parking out front and a selection of accommodations if you wish to stay there also.  The view is as magnificent as the food and they have a couple large awnings to provide some shade when the sun is up.  Later in the evening they roll those back and turn on the lights that are strung above and the portable heaters.   Staff were all friendly, helpful, masked and gloved and I noticed even during prep time in the kitchen the staff all wore masks.  Chef Kammerer does come out to serve some of the courses and visit with guests.  It appeared to have only one seating and the pacing was good but plan to spend about 4 hours, although it never lagged it was a nice relaxed pace.  Portion control was good.

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