Illustrations by Ben Engle
Kirsten and I often stop in Weaverville when traveling back and forth from the coast and we had a great time researching new places and visiting our favorites for this installment of “The Foraging Angler.”
I have many barometers when judging if a joint is worthy of including in this column. First and foremost, it must have polite people and a clean atmosphere (including bathrooms). Second is the food. It must be excellent. There are certain dishes I use as a benchmark, depending on the establishment. For example, if it is a breakfast joint, it must have good gravy. Kirsten rates breakfast joints on their pancakes. If it’s a hamburger joint, I like homemade hamburger patties rather than mass-production, frozen patties. And at Mexican joints, a good red and green sauce for their enchiladas is a must.
There are many good places, but I am looking for great restaurants!

TANGLE BLUE SALOON – $$
60 NUGGET LANE
WEAVERVILLE
530-623-4436
Open Monday – Sunday from 11 a.m-2 a.m.
The Tangle Blue is a newer joint for me. I saw it on the way into Weaverville but only spotted it one day when returning from Trinidad, CA, and wanted to stretch the old back out. I stopped there on the recommendation of a fellow I met in Eureka while on a fishing charter for rockfish. He said they had great pizza.
I walked in, and the place was busy. I found a small two-person table, and the staff took my drink order as I looked over the menu. I ordered once the waitress returned with my drink, aka a cocktail. I chose the cowboy ranch pizza that combines roasted chicken, bacon, ranch dressing, marinara sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese. The pizza came out within 10 minutes, and it was fantastic. Wood-oven cooked! I even had leftovers, and Kirsten had a slice when we got home. She loved it.
Fast forward a couple of months (almost six months to be exact), and Kirsten and I were heading to the coast again. We stopped at The Fly Shop in Redding to grab some materials that the manager, Zack Thurman, had put aside for me. We all started to talk about the coast, and Zack mentioned we should stop at the Tangle Blue for lunch. He had stopped there on a recent trip to the beach, and his girlfriend ordered the ribs. He said the ribs were excellent.
Kirsten and I took Zack’s recommendation and lunched at Tangle Blue. This time, I ordered the Trinity Classic Burger with pepper jack cheese and fries. It was perfect. Everything that was supposed to be hot was hot, and everything that was supposed to be cold was ice cold. The fries were fresh, and the homemade ranch I dipped them in was fantastic. Kirsten went back and forth on what to order. She was torn between the pastrami sandwich and the Tangle Blue house salad. Her choice was the salad. The Tangle Blue house salad, also known as “The Red Barn Salad,” is comprised of fresh lettuce, shredded beets, carrots, chickpeas, sweet cherry tomatoes, and sunflower seeds with the Tangle Blue homemade zesty vinaigrette. She loved her salad. She also mentioned that next time, she will order the Pastrami Sandwich.

PAPA DOGS TAPHOUSE & DELI – $$
1121 MAIN STREET
WEAVERVILLE
530-623-3690
Open Monday – Wednesday, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Thursday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Papa Dogs Taphouse and Deli was named the Corner Market in Weaverville for decades. The Corner Market was my go-to place when I consistently fished the Trinity. With a change of name and a little cleaning up, the new owners are doing a great job. I like places like this because you don’t have to wait for your food; if you do, you can have a beer while waiting.
I usually order the Papa Dog, their standard hot dog, with your choice of condiments. But on my last visit, I ordered the Portland slammer sandwich. It’s a work of art. They place some ham and salami with provolone cheese on a French roll. The toppings are red onion, pepperoncini, lettuce, spicy mayo, oil, and vinegar. I wash it down with an ice-cold Mountain Dew—a lunch of champions.
Kirsten usually leans towards the panini sandwiches. Her favorite is the pastrami panini. It is huge. I like it also. I typically get the other half of it for lunch or a snack later at camp or at the house in Trinidad. It is loaded with a ton of pastrami. Provolone cheese (she doesn’t like the Swiss that it comes with), Russian sauce, sauerkraut, and spicy mustard.
Bottom line, Papa Dogs has great food for a very reasonable price, and you can get it to go just as quickly or even quicker than a fast-food place.
CAFÉ ON MAIN – $$$
520 MAIN STREET
WEAVERVILLE
530-623-1951
Open Tuesday – Saturday, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
I must admit that Chef Scott Boone and his staff had issues when they first opened but have since worked things out. The Café is in a historical building right in downtown Weaverville. The staff is excellent, and the food is amazing.
The first time Kirsten and I were here, we waited 20 minutes to get a table. The place was packed. I recommend making reservations and being at the door on time. It was worth the wait. The café’s menu can fit on one piece of paper. The food is fresh and cooked to perfection. There is no frozen food here. By the time we ordered they were out of shrimp and lamb.
Since then, we have made reservations and have had a great experience. I even asked the waitress if they were out of anything, and she replied no, not yet. She asked if we needed time to order, and both Kirsten and I laughed and answered no. I ordered the “Frenchy.” The Frenchy is slow-roasted lamb with caramelized onions, fresh herbs, gruyere, brie, and a side of fries. I am a lamb lover. Most restaurants have dropped lamb from their menus. If you like lamb and are in Weaverville, you must get to the café.
Kirsten always looks at the menu, sits in her seat, and plays devil’s advocate when it comes to her entrée. She always orders the surf-n-turf. It consists of a huge ribeye steak cooked to medium rare, garlic shrimp, roasted red potatoes, and sauteed fresh veggies. She usually finishes everything except the steak. I get that for leftovers. It’s good. All the Café’s food is good.

THE NUGGET RESTAURANT – $$
790 MAIN STREET, BLDG 622
WEAVERVILLE
530-623-6749
Open seven days a week, 6 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
The Nugget Restaurant is the original greasy spoon, mom-and-pop establishment. I have listed it as a great place to eat because I have a long history with this joint, and they have great food for an excellent price.
My history isn’t just my many trips to the Trinity River to fish and stop for breakfast. I have a family history here. About 15 years ago, Kirsten and I took the kids on vacation to Trinidad, CA. We had a place that we rented up there for four nights. On our fifth night, we played it by ear to find a place to stay on our way back home. In the Gray household, we call this the “Gray’s Adventure.” We found a cabin located right on the river in a run-down RV park. It had a swimming pool, and the kids loved that. Well, that fifth night was hell. Cockroaches were running on the floor, something was scratching in the attic, and God knows what else. At 5 a.m., Kirsten and I woke the kids, placed them in the old Suburban, and hurried off. We pulled into Weaverville and sat down to eat at The Nugget. The kids were hungry, and the food was hot and comforting. The kids still chat about that trip and mention The Nugget’s fantastic hot chocolate. Since then, Kirsten and I have been there many times. We sometimes plan on being at The Nugget for breakfast before we head out on Hwy 299 west towards the river or the coast.
My favorite dish at the restaurant is the chicken fried steak and eggs. This is one of my benchmark dishes. Their chicken fried steak is big, crispy, and well-seasoned. Their gravy is to die for—rich and creamy sausage gravy. I order it with two eggs over medium, hash browns, and an English muffin. It’s always perfect. Kirsten’s favorite here is the veggie omelet. The omelet has three eggs, mushrooms, spinach, onions, and tomatoes with Monterey jack cheese. She skips the hashbrowns for fresh fruit and sourdough toast. She likes their fresh fruit because it sometimes includes blueberries and raspberries.
TRINITY COUNTY BREWING COMPANY – $$
301 MAIN STREET
WEAVERVILLE
530-423-4114
Open Wednesday – Sunday, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
The Trinity County Brewing Company is another of the newer establishments in Weaverville. Neil Peterson and Jacob Corella have only been in business for the last year or so, and they are making a splash. They have great beer and food.
Many of my fly-fishing guests (clients) have told me about this place and how they love it. It reminds them of a corner bar where everyone knows your name. Is it the new Cheers? Kirsten and I had to try it out. When we did a drift on the Trinity a couple of months ago, we stopped at the brewery and had dinner. It was busy, and live music was playing. I had a beer, which most folks who know me know I am not a big beer drinker, but when I do, I like IPAs.
They have a great selection of beers on tap, but my favorite is the “Cold Hearted Woman-Cold.” It’s a crisp IPA with a pleasant aftertaste. I wouldn’t be doing this place justice if I didn’t mention the fried pickles. They’re the bomb! They come with ranch and blue cheese dressing. It’s a great way to start the meal off.
For the food, I fell in love with the fried chicken sandwich. It is huge. A large fried chicken breast on a toasted bun with hot honey sauce, pickled red onions, and dill pickle chips. I ordered it with fries as my side. It was spicy, sweet, and tart all in one bit. The chicken is seasoned great, and I am a believer in it. The Cold Hearted Woman IPA rounded the meal out.
Kirsten ordered the grilled chicken salad. She loved it with their homemade ranch dressing. The salad includes mixed greens, carrots, cabbage, tomato, red onion, garbanzo beans, and a boiled egg. Kirsten loved the butterfly-filled chicken breast strips and finished the whole salad. Either she was hungry, or she loved it. I vote for both.
LEWISTON HOTEL BAR AND GRILL – $$$
125 DEADWOOD ROAD
LEWISTON
530-778-3823
Open Wednesday – Saturday, 3 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
I have been going to The Lewiston Hotel Bar and Grill for decades, and many of my close friends love it dearly. Great memories and stories have started at this joint. They also make a mean cocktail!
The first time I was in the joint was in high school, and I tried to stop in as much as I could. I usually stopped on my way back from Lewiston Lake. Kirsten and I have talked about spending a long weekend here. It’s a step back into history. It has been standing in the same spot since 1863. The Grahams bought the property five or so years ago. They have made many upgrades and brought the property back to life. It’s nice to see this place rocking again.
As for the food, well, I like it all. I honestly haven’t had anything on the menu in the last five years that I haven’t liked. On our last visit, Kirsten and I ordered the beer-battered artichoke hearts as a starter. They were fried to perfection, golden brown, and served with a chipotle aioli sauce. We also ordered a side of the homemade ranch with these. Just think about it—a deep-fried thistle. My Grandpa Gray would have laughed. They’re great.
For our entrees, I ordered the fish tacos. Breaded and deep-fried pieces of cod served on a corn tortilla with ice-cold coleslaw, tartar sauce, and a couple of wedges of lime to squeeze over them. They’re super generous with these tacos. They’re big, and you get four for 14 bucks. A super great deal. Kirsten got the fish and chips. Three big filets of cod breaded and deep fried to perfection served with tartar sauce and fries. Kirsten always, as mentioned before, gets the homemade ranch dressing for dipping her fries.