Folie Douce on H Street has been Arcata's most interesting restaurant for years — a place that takes food seriously without taking itself too seriously. The menu centers on wood-fired pizzas with well-sourced toppings and a changing list of Cal-French small plates that reflect whatever is good from local farms and the sea. The room is small and warm, and the wine list is better than you'd expect for a town this size.
This is the right place for a proper dinner in Arcata. Reservations are a good idea on weekends, particularly in summer when the town fills with visitors and parents during university season. Prices are moderate by coastal California standards.