Inexpensive -- You'd be surprised what $7 will get you for lunch if you know where to go. Garden Bakery (tel. 707/937-3140), at the corner of Albion and Lansing streets, has a carryout booth serving gourmet sandwiches, pizzas, focaccia, and pastries. Eat at the stand-up counter or pack a picnic for the headlands down the street.
Mendo Burgers (tel. 707/937-1111) is arguably the best burger joint on the Northern Coast, with patties of all stripes -- beef, chicken, turkey, or veggie. A side of thick, fresh-cut fries is mandatory, as is a pile of napkins. Hidden behind the Mendocino Bakery and Café at 10483 Lansing St., it's a little hard to find, but well worth searching out.
In the back of the Little River Market (tel. 707/937-5133), directly across from the Little River Inn on Highway 1, a trio of small tables overlooks the beautiful Mendocino coastline. Order a tamale, sandwich, hamburger, or whatever else is on the menu at the tiny deli inside the market, or buy a loaf of Café Beaujolais bread sold at the front counter and your favorite spread.
