Black Lightning Motorcycle Cafe

Rude ass people work here. Walked in with intent to have food and buy some needed gear, three people working behind the counter all looked me up and down and turned away without so much as saying a word or even a smile. So I thought well fuck you too. And walked out. You lost a customer before I even bought anything. I also heard from a friend that they went in to get coffee and the lady didn’t smile or say hi or anything just said «what do you want». Not a good way to get word of mouth in the community by being so damn rude.

When we first moved to Humboldt, I was really excited to find this place. Really cool vibe with a ton of motorcycle memorabilia, great hand-​crafted design of the bar area, and easy to get to (on the 101). But, I was continually disappointed by the coffee — I usually get a latte. It was bitter, or the foam was over-​heated, or it was just not tasty. Disappointed, I talked to the owner and he said «Sorry to hear that, I’ll work on it. Come back in a few weeks.» I waited about a month and finally risked another cup after I ran out of coffee filters at home. The owner was right! Fabulous latte! Perfect foam, delicious coffee. I went back again today, a different barista was working and I ordered another latte. Again, Delicious! Better than the latte earlier in the week. I am SO glad that Black Lightning has stepped up their game and is making great coffee now. Downtown Eureka definitely needs some good coffee shops and Black Lightning is now one of them. I will be coming back often, and I hope they don’t disappoint again. I am giving 5 stars for my two great lattes, and the great customer attention by the owner.

Really cool place — great concept and food is fresh and delish. These guys are really working to make a statement in the motorcycle industry! Keep it up, support them and check out this great stop.

We had an excellent breakfast here over the holidays. Food and service was outstanding! I had the breakfast quesadilla which was very good — the German pancakes were excellent too. Though we are not motorcyclists we still enjoyed the vibe of the motorcycle gear and pictures around the café. The café and store very clean despite a few motorcycles out on the floor for sale. This should be a must stop for any motorcyclist touring the area, but it is not just for motorcyclists — anyone looking for a nice breakfast or lunch in a unique atmosphere would enjoy this. They are also open in the evenings on Fridays and Saturdays and have some nice beers on tap.

The service was great, very polite and I received my coffee very quick! I ordered a mocha and it was pretty tasty. I will definitely stop here again.
All of the motorcycle stuff was really cool, when my family and friends come to visit I will also bring them by here just to check it all out.

I have been the owner of my own restaurant in Tahoe City Ca. And find some of the reviews unfortunate to say the least! Jeff and his wife have brought to Eureka a very fine tuned and extremely clean and unique experience as far as I’m concerned. Not everyday and every way is always perfect no matter how hard we try, but I for one find my experiences at this establishment to be extremely satisfied mainly due to the staff and the food… The décor and ambiance make for a one of a kind fairly priced experience
Jonathan Woods
Eureka, Ca.

Amazing food! Very well crafted paninis and quesadillas! Food that’s art! The drinks are also delicious, and can be enjoyed in a comfortable, relaxing atmosphere. They sell merchandise, have free wifi, and there’s big glass windows to see out onto 4^th Street.

I’ve had many of my friends stop by here and I finally made it. Now I can’t yet comment on the food I can comment on the coffee and the rest of the shop.
An americano and a latte were our drinks. The coffee was slightly bitter but not to the point I would send it back. I’ve had far worse and some better… I’m just glad it isn’t the star place.
Reading a previous review I’m trying to figure out what a biker looks like. I guess I need some schooling as to the proper attire to be in a motorcycle café. I’m a rider, not a biker. I’ve got several motorcycles of various types but today the wife and I took the car so our look was far off.
If you have any motorcycle interest at all once you stsrt looking around you will see new and very unique things throughout. Look at the fork lowers that support the counter or the various parts in the homemade tables. Now look around at the excellent photography of bike related items. Yes I’m sure that is a surprise to some.
Jeff and Cassandra were so enjoyable to talk with and obviously share the passion. There are vintage pictures, retro signage and custom made items all over.
I look forward to trying the food and following up on that as well. I will be back and will encourage my friends to check it out as well.

Great food but poor customer service. Just waited my entire lunch break (an hour) for a sandwich, watched all my coworkers get served and they ate, still no food. Asked that they refund my money, they did but didn’t even care to ask why… Won’t be returning anytime soon.

Vrrrroooommmm — VROOM!!!
Yea, we are FANS of BLMC!!!
What a great themed restaurant — it has a Motorcycle Theme that is so complete that you can actually BUY any of the Motorcycles (or accessories) which are on display in the restaurant! Very COOL!!!
But, don’t think this restaurant is just leather, chains, and grease!
They friggin’ cook up some amazing chow — their pulled pork was AWESOME!
The fresh baked muffins (for desert) were just amazing!
I am ready to drive back up to Eureka! just to go get another one of those Pecan nut muffins! There were chopped pecan nuts all through the muffin — a LOT of them — not just a few tossed on the top like so many other places will do.
Do yourself a favor, drop everything you are doing now, unless you are driving, and go up to Eureka! California and have a meal at the BLMC!!! (and can you bring me back one of those Pecan nut muffins?)
Bön Appetite!
~ Eric

Have driven by this place a lot … wondering. Then got ivited there for a b’day lunch. Lunch in a motorcycle museum & store … lots to look at!
I had a turkey pesto sandwich, and my friend had a beef pasty … both were very good. Coffee was good too.
Don’t have to wonder anymore!

I don’t know what place everyone else who has reviewed this place is eating, but it cannot be the same shitty, slow, overpriced café that I’ve been to.
I went here when they first opened and it was an extremely disappointing experience. It took 45 minutes to get a few paninis and a cup of soup. I ended up being late coming back from lunch and the food was basically just glorified grilled cheese sandwiches, which weren’t even cooked all the way through.
I didn’t go back for about a year and a half. Second time, figured maybe they had lined out their issues, I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt. Nope, exact same problem, food took way too long (I’ve had faster service for a 4 course meal at a notoriously slow upscale restaurant), and wasn’t good. I wrote them off completely.
That brings us to today, in a moment of hunger driven weakness and a distinct boredom with other lunch options in the area, I found myself here.
It’s just not good. This is 3 strikes Black Lightning. Your food isn’t good, it takes too long and your staff is rude. You know your food takes too long because you’re always apologizing for the wait. How about fix the problem instead? As for me, I won’t be coming back.

Cleanliness: A+ I really like this place and it passes my cleanliness test, the most important thing for a restaurant.
Menu: B+ It’s obviously not a dive bar so those who complain that it’s not a burgers/​chips/​beer joint must be blind walking in, and narrow-​minded to think that if a person likes motorcycles they are gastronomically handicapped.
Staff: A Very friendly and accomodating. The owner’s around a lot, a very good sign. Another plus is that the owner answers negative Unilocal with a healthy attitude.
Atmosphere: A+ There’s usually people hanging around who love to talk about bikes. I took in some old family photos from the 30s and they identified the motorcycles for me. Lots of fun.

This is regular lunch spot for us. Love it. Love the atmosphere. Food is great.
I always have fun reading the bad reviews about how people ‘don’t get it’. You might want to sit down first before you read what I’m about to say but not all bikers are in a biker gang, ride Harley’s, watch sons of anarchy, and traffic guns. It’s true.
FYI– It’s a Euro themed café. And complaining that there were no bikes parked out front is like complaining that there were no Tour Buses in front of the Hard Rock.

Great décor and furniture, high prices and incompetent staff. I ventured through for a meal and the prices were way too high. I guess you have to be an outlaw biker/​dope dealer to frequent this place. The wifi was garbage. Not one single motorcycle parked outside. Inside? Not one person even looked like an enthusiast let alone a biker. This place is all style and no substance.

Located downtown and quite honestly, had it not been for Unilocal,I would have just assumed it was a bike shop since I was not familiar with the area. A very spacious café/​biker shop? Don’t quite get it but the sandwiches (mostly wraps and paninis) were good as was the coffee. Plenty of seating around, saw folks chatting and some just doing work. Clean spot and friendly staff.

I have been meaning to stop by here for a while now, and finally had the change a few days ago. The café is in interesting mix; of café, coffee house, roadhouse, motorcycle racing museum collection, retail shop and parts store.
A breakfast served all day place, though we were there at lunch time. It is walk up counter service with a menu board overhead. There are several breakfast dishes and Paninis mostly, along with some daily specials. Most sounded good, and I settled on a grilled turkey and cheese with a chipotle sauce, as I did not want breakfast so late in the day, it was served with kettle chips. We got canned drinks from the chill box at the counter.
While waiting for our lunch, I took a look around. They now have a few micro brews on tap at 4.5 $ a draw, which I would have most likely picked over my canned drink had I been told at the counter that they offered it or could have seen the taps in the far corner from the counter. There is a lot of cool old motorcycle memorabilia around and a few choice older bikes up in the front window. Some standard issue «bike shop» gear on retail racks, clothing, leathers, etc. A couple really cool pieces of wall art — a nice mural and a panel relief piece — both are neat pieces of motorcycle artwork.
Our sandwiches came in about 15 minutes give or take and they were just okay, nothing great or spectacular about them. My wife did not finish hers. Not bad, but not great — just average. That, combined with what is basically bus yourself service, its alright but I do not believe I would go out of my way to repeat for lunch again. Maybe a take it and go, but to sit and dine in again — most likely not for lunch. I do intend to revisit soon for breakfast as there were several interesting choices on the board I felt worth a look, and I will update as to my breakfast experience when it comes.
Anyway, its better than some, but definitely not as good as others — just average — and for the non motorcycle enthusiast, most likely a let down.
2 ½ Stars — rounded up for the cool motorcycle related artwork and memorabilia.
203

Nice atmosphere… great place to shop for gear BUT I was not impressed by the menu, lack of vegan/​vegetarian choices for my friend (have a salad we were told).ordered a overpriced panini… barely any meat/​fillers. Presentation was terrible, ive seen better on a school lunch tray.
So unsatisfied with the whole visit, I would not by give it another try.
Gave 2 stars for atmosphere.

Excellent food, great coffee, and a very cool café that showcases the passion and talent of it’s proprietor.
Right alongside 101 downtown, the spacious café lives up to the adage of «do a few things and do them well». Coffees, teas, pastries and a handful of freshly prepared breakfast and lunch foods. The Black Lightning breakfast sandwich is a surprise, a spicy chipotle lights up an otherwise ‘standard’ breakfast sandwich. And the Humboldt breakfast quesadilla is creative and delicious.
Eureka is a bit of a @&)!-hole, but the BLMC makes stopping here on your way through a delight.

Cool atmosphere being half coffee shop/​café and half bike shop. I’m a fan of this type of thing in general but I think Deus Ex Machina does it better in Venice, CA.
Food was nothing to write home about. I got the Black Lightening breakfast quesadilla and the menu description was more exciting than the actual food. The sauce was a bit spicy but the eggs were not good and little bits of bacon meant that you couldn’t taste the «locally smoked Wild Oats Grill» flavor. I can make better at home.
Latte was good and served in a large cup for sipping and people watching in the café. Tables were cool with tools & gears recessed in the cement.
Nice that they have free wifi for you to use while you are noshing and hanging out but I’d try other new places before I would go back.