• Photo by Andrew Goff
• 3 Foods Cafe chefs Jessica Lovelady and Koki Atsumi

For the second year running the unpretentious little joint hidden behind the Arcata Co-op, 3 Foods Café, is the readers’ pick as “Best Restaurant.” Why do we love it so? Start with the whimsical, adventurous, eclectic menu, drawing on foods and cooking methods from many cultures, everything from Korean bulgogi (“Hurts So Good”) to an all-American mac ‘n’ cheese with a blue cheese twist (“What the ...?”). Bring your vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free friends; they have something for everyone. The funky chic ambience and the attentive staff both welcome you in.

 No, it’s not a cult, but the staff has an articulated mission: “In a nutshell, there is a lot of sadness and hate in the world. We are destroying our environment and each other and there is no clear line as to where this will end. With our technology being far more evolved than our morality, we feel one of the only true cures is the cultivation of love. So, what does this have to do with a restaurant? Well, we are also strong proponents of the philosophy ‘think globally, act locally.’ If we can try to take care of the people and places around us then we are able to play a small part in the positive direction of the whole. So, love is the message, and food is the medium.”

 They love you. You love them and their food. Sounds like a match.

 -- Bob Doran

The Breakdown: 3 Foods Cafe 7.9%, Brick & Fire Bistro 6.4%, Folie Douce 4.0%, Renata’s Creperie 3.8%, Larrupin 3.5%, Voter Turnout: Fourth.