California's wine country has made its presence known in the heart of California's cheese country!…read moreLocated in the heart of downtown Petaluma, the Montagne Russe tasting room is the newest tasting room in Petaluma taking over from where Black Knight Vineyards recently had a tasting room. Montagne Russe's full name is Montagne Russe Winery and Record Lounge, and it is exactly what it is, as it is part wine tasting room and part vinyl record store with hundreds of new and pre-used classic record albums for sale. What a perfect place to sip great wine while enjoying hit tracks from the past. Montagne Russe pours some of the nicest wines sourced from across Sonoma County, especially the nearby Petaluma Gap, making this newest tasting venue an ideal spot to soak in the atmosphere while supporting a local business. We've visited Montagne Russe before when their tasting room was at Bacchus Landing in Healdsburg, and while it was a beautiful space, it wasn't always busy. So it's no surprise they made the move to downtown Petaluma this past year. We'd been wanting to check out their new location since they opened over the summer, and finally got the chance during a recent weekend afternoon. With lively crowds outside, parking was harder to come by, as the recommended Keller Street Garage was completely full, but a short walk from the River Plaza parking lot did the trick. Even though we had reservations, we didn't end up needing them when we arrived, but the tasting room was full by the time we left. Winemaker and owner Kevin Bersofsky greeted us with a complimentary splash of their 2022 Sparkling Brut Rosé which had subtle hints of citrus throughout. From there, I enjoyed their Library tasting while my friend enjoyed their Signature tasting, both of which were offered at 35 dollars a person. For our second tasting, I enjoyed their 2019 Silver and Gold Chardonnay while my friend enjoyed their 2023 Roberts Road Chardonnay. My tasting of the Chardonnay tasted as it it was lower in alcohol, but higher in acid than my friend's Chardonnay, but both tasted wonderful. For our third pour, we enjoyed their signature Pinot Noirs, we me enjoying their vintage from 2019 and my friend sipped on their 2022 vintage, which were both sourced from Black Knight Vineyard, of which their wine tasting room they replaced in downtown Petaluma. For our fourth pour, I enjoyed their 2021 Terra De Promissio Pinot Noir, while my friend enjoyed their 2022 "Quatre Cinq Un" Pinot Noir, for both of these wines, the tannins were not too overpowering but you could definitely taste them. For our fifth and final pour, I enjoyed their 2018 Robert's Road Pinot Noir, which had hints of baking spices and cherries, while my friend enjoyed their 2021 Alder Springs Syrah, which was lush and silky smooth. For 70 dollars, not including gratuity, we enjoyed a lovely afternoon of wine tasting. When we made our reservation, there was a note about being able to bring in takeout from nearby restaurants, though it never came up once we began our tasting and honestly, we were too focused on the wines to think about food. As the afternoon went on, the crowd grew significantly, and at times it felt like we got a bit lost in the shuffle when it came to service. Still, we made the most of our visit and thoroughly enjoyed both the wines and the people-watching. With Montagne Russe still relatively new to the downtown Petaluma community, I can easily see them thriving here for a long time to come.

New wine tasting room in Petaluma, with a spin, they spin records as well. They had a grand…read moreopening on July 12th. They served their sparkling brut Rose and plenty of Pinot Noir, all from Sonoma County, Sonoma Coastal, & Petaluma Gap appellation. One that stood out to us was the 2022 Dragons Back Pinot Noir. A classic tasty Pinot. They went all out and offered tasty bites that really enhanced their wines. They used to be in Healdsburg at Bacchus Landing a much larger location but not centrally located so moving to historical downtown Petaluma gives them an opportunity to attract a larger audience especially since their wines are sourced from the cooler Sonoma county region. What a fine job of remodeling the tasting room. I don't know how they did it but somehow the place seems wider and larger than the previous tasting room at this location. They opened the back with some large gathering tables and their vast selection of records is housed in the back as well. They added some small tables throughout the space. It's easy to maneuver. They also allow guests to bring food inside, so you can sip, sit, nosh & listen to some tunes. There are plenty of eateries around so it's any easy stop. As I write this review I'm reminiscing how well their Sparkling Brut Rose and Dragons Back Pinot Noir went so well with a prosciutto sandwich they offered at their grand opening. A great match, and good representation of Sonoma Coast, Petaluma Gap wines.

La Dolce Vita Wine Bar has been one of our go-to spots for years, and it never disappoints…read more We've been here for everything--date nights, birthday celebrations, pre-movie drinks, post-movie wind-downs--and it somehow fits every occasion perfectly. It's one of those rare places that always feels like the right choice. Over time we've gotten to know the owner a bit, which just adds to the welcoming, personal feel of the place. The service is consistently great--friendly, attentive, and never overbearing. The wine selection is fantastic and really well curated. What I appreciate most is how they meet you where you are--if you just want a great glass of wine, they've got you. If you want to learn a little more, they're happy to guide you. And if you feel like geeking out on wine, they can absolutely go there too. They also sometimes project old movies on the wall, which adds a really fun, laid-back vibe and makes the whole experience even more memorable. It's comfortable, unpretentious, and always a good time. Hard to ask for more in a neighborhood wine bar. We'll keep coming back.

I love this place for a date night or out with friends. The owners are your servers and they are…read moreextremely knowledgeable and attentive. I personally can't get enough of the cheese plate but the other menu items look amazing as well.

Great tasting food. Hidden Gem…read more Very clean, robot serves food. Price in average and food appears to give more than other local Sushi locations.

We met for lunch on a Sunday afternoon. I had warned my fellow diners that we are going for the…read morefood and not the service due to some of the warnings on Yelp, but from the time we arrived until we left, I am happy to say, it was quite the contrary! Service was immediate and attentive. A very nice young man delivered menus, tea, water and a carafe of water to our table. You have a choice of ordering on a tablet at the table or the server also came by to ask if he could take our order. Ordering on the tablet was super easy and straight forward. We ordered gyoza as an appetizer, one chirashi (sushi rice with fresh fish on top), and three of us ordered the 2-item bento: Teriyaki salmon & tempura Chicken katsu & shio saba Bulgogi & spicy tuna roll The bentos come with a nice miso soup and salad. They do offer a wide variety of rolls as well as an assortment of side dishes and salads. There is a robot that comes around to deliver food to the tables. Our server delivered the soup and salad to us personally. The robot delivered our main meals but our nice server walked to our table and took them from the robot and delivered them to each of us. Again, a very thoughtful touch. Our food was paced well and our server came to replace our carafe of water with a full one without having to ask. I heard the bulgogi was a bit on the sweeter side and the chirashi had a beautiful assortment of seafood. We enjoyed trying a new place and would definitely come back. There is a beautiful huge screen with an ocean channel playing on the far wall. I loved watching all the sea life in their natural habitat. Parking is easy shared with other businesses. This restaurant is easy to find right off of Lakeville.

Sublime..... Insane in the membrane!…read moreAn explosion of titillating flavours on your taste buds. The eggplant dish is bonkers, alone worth the trip! Super European vibe in the old LANMART building with seating in the hallway. Excellent service, scrumptious grub!

Holy yum! What a meal! We shared the Cesar salad, the potato churros, the hamachi collar, and the…read morered snapper lettuce cups. Everything was delicious and gluten free! We were going to order only 1 churro but the server offered that the churros are gluten free so we ordered two orders! The menu doesn't say this, so FYI. They were one of the best potato preparations I've ever had. Shockingly fluffy and light inside literally like a potato cloud. Maybe the cheese helps with this? I don't know but get them. Salad was good, nice mix of greens. A little wet for my taste if I'm choosing but I'm also not complaining, it was yummy. The potatoes were a perfect dish to come with the salad since otherwise it didn't have a crunch element. This is the first time I've gotten the collar and it was as meaty as it is. I've ordered at other restaurants before and it was not as successful of a dish as here. Loved the sauce and flavors on it. It was kinda sticky due to the sauce but I mean that in a good way, to add to the flavor and overall balance of texture and flavor The snapper lettuce wraps were also yummy! Kind of laborious to get the fish to eat ready but worth the effort, same with the collar too, but also worth the "work" to get the meat off the bones. The snapper has a lot of pin bones but otherwise really yummy bite. The rock wall in the alley creates a whole vibe with the lights and such. It is also one of the oldest walls in Petaluma, which is pretty cool. Slim menu but excellent. The restaurant is tiny, like 6 tables. Being on the patio was nice, more room. Our meal split 4 ways was delicious and filling but also light and sat well in our bellies. I'd absolutely come back again.

Great selection of wine and friendly vibe! It's a plus that many customers drop by with their dog!…read moreFun!

Great selection of tasty wines, and better company! Relaxing place for easy chats, locals and fun…read more Service is quick and knowledgeable and it is where I go to pick up amazing wines from good people!

Four of us went here last night; a great little restaurant that it seems Santa Rosans have yet to…read morefall in love with as there were only three tables out of perhaps twenty occupied at Friday Night dinner. A bright and clean space with understated decor. Portions are good so you might want to skip appetizers though we tried the Calamari which was good and the Yuca Frita was sublime. Small wine list with good choices from South America and if you order by the glass you will be amazed at the size of the pours; double what one would normally get! Two of us had the Paella which was very good, a third ordered the excellent Lamb Shank and the fourth had the top notch Pork Rib platter which completely disappeared very quickly. Perhaps next time we'll try the Ceviche as we will return if they can remain in business with such little traffic. While not inexpensive the value is solid as you would pay far more in any other good Sonoma County restaurants for similar dishes. Polite if a bit shy service but man did she light up when we went head over heels over her family home made hot sauces which are a "must try" if you have an appropriate appetizer. Ask for them as they bring you tasty but not too spicy standard condiments. Oh, and very clean restrooms and well paced food serving times. Keep this place open, try it sooner vs later.

Good food and service. I especially like the breading they use on the Jalea dish. The empanadas…read morewere good, and the chicken was the best of the three. They need to work on the green sauce as it is more like salsa verde than aji verde, could be spicier too. I will return. I need to try the Chaufa.

Our recent visit to Old Chicago Pizza in Petaluma. Its been on my list of must trys…read more Last Saturday was the day, its upstairs in a building, nice little restaurant. We were greeted and seated pretty quickly. The server got us drinks as soon as we sat down. It was quaint, and clean. Friendly atmosphere. We ordered a large Italian salad to share, and a large combination pizza. The salad was fresh and it was good. I love salad. Our pizza came pretty quickly and was delicious. The crust is thick. I knew it would be. I think I prefer a thin crust. Other than my preference the pizza was delicious from the stuffed crust to the delicious toppings and the sauce was perfect, not too much not too little. Thankyou so much for the awesome lunch and great service.

Dropped in recently on a Saturday night (pie day - 3/14!) when nothing else in Petaluma sounded…read moreinteresting. So glad we did! Short wait - but service was on point. We had the Italian salad, garlic bread, and a medium deep dish pizza. Everything was super fresh! Salad was great - their blue cheese dressing was killer! Garlic bread was so hot we'd had to wait to divide it - and had enough garlic to keep the vampires at bay. Pizza was incredible and melty cheesy delight! Come hungry! I tub that medium pizza could have fed five! Overall a delight! Do glad we stopped in - I certainly won't wait ten years before coming back!

Really Yummy Supper on the Water - Awesome waiter, food was…read moreincredible - go here for dinner - you will no regret it!

Every time I go to Central Market I realize that I need to visit more often. It was one of the most…read moresatisfying meals I've had in quite a while. From the starters (we arrived before 6 pm, in time for their happy hour menu) to dessert, there's little room for anything but the highest praise. Their Thick Cut Onion Rings were some of the most divine I've ever tasted. Part of me wanted to order another round as my main! Crisp and flavorful, salty, but balanced. The wood fired carrots that came at the same time were also tasty, but had a hard time competing with their fried companion dish. For our mains, I've gotten the Sweet Gems Salad more times than I care to admit - and love it every time. My friend enjoyed the Funghi pizza with foraged mushrooms. For my son's fried chicken, we should probably have asked for more gravy. It seemed a little dry, but still tasty. Then, since we almost never skip dessert, the strawberry pies were flavorful without being at all oversweetened. And their bittersweet chocolate torte is rich and always served warm. Our server, Christine, wasn't wrong to tease us about hoping we'd be back next week. She was thoughtful and attentive, without hovering, throughout the meal. In fact, the whole team did an excellent job of guiding us through our dinner, start to finish, from the greeting at the door as soon as we stepped in, to the speedy kitchen and expediter that got everything to the table at the perfect temperature. Central Market is probably my favorite culinary balance between comfort food, quality ingredients, approachable dining, with enough options and inventiveness to avoid anything from feeling pedantic or tired. The space is beautiful and open, without being too noisy to hold a conversation. I'm not sure we'll be back next week, but soon!

My family had a wonderful dinner at Hank's the other night. This place does really well catering to…read morefamilies and my daughter loves the food here. I am also really into their home style Italian meals. First, I love the staff here. They were so helpful and accomodating of our special needs child. The servers are really great and take good care of their tables. Also, I really like the classy, kind of old fashioned look of the place. It's kind of classy, but also totally casual. The food here is the main reason I come. The happy hour is great for a little lower costs on a few of their food items. We love ordering some meatballs, a salad, and one of their pizzas. The pizza we had was their Green Goddess and it was delicious! I also ordered their fresh baked sourdough with butter and it's one of the most comforting foods to me. I also got their Seafood Pasta, which reminds me of my East coast, Italian roots. The Italian sausage in the dish works beautifully with the assortment of perfectly cooked seafood and pasta. Hanks is definitely a place I will return to anytime I get the chance. It's a great place!

Great food and great Happy Hour selections!…read more I love the fresh taste of each dishes and not over seasoned. Staff is friendly and the vibe is cozy! Definitely another gem in Petaluma!

Service was great, the pacing was relaxed. We were there after 6:15 and most tables stayed the…read morenight put enjoying their dinner and wine. Food here was outstanding. After seeing the menu, my number one choice was the beef Wellington, second choice would have been the Bijou Burger. My SO wanted the Oxtail, but was thinking of an appetizer that would be just right. so the Trout Dip was chosen. This was a half processed fish and half avacado packed into a bowl. Scooping both halves was the best of both worlds. The dip was smooth and great flavors, I would get this again. Then when the entrees came out, and we started eating, half way throught both items were quite heavy and we started to feeling full. The beef Wellington was cooked to a medium consistency, the crust as still firm and mushroom filing great. The oxtail was so tender, it falls off the bone. A different flavoring but fantastic. We ended up taking the oxtail home as it would be diffcult to reheat beef Wellington. No room for dessert. It felt like mostly repeat locals dining here as they chatted with the wait staff a lot, but feel this deserve the hour drive to get here. Parking is avalaible street parking but there is a multi level parking garage near by. After that big meal, we walked around downtown and there was moderate activing and late night dining still going on. I will have to check out other near by areas in the future

March 20th 2026 we made a trip from the Bay Area to Petaluma to dine at Bijou, and it was…read moreabsolutely worth it. From the moment we walked in, we were welcomed like guests into someone's home. The atmosphere is calm, inviting, and thoughtfully arranged, with well-spaced tables and a comfortable bar area that makes it an ideal spot for happy hour cocktail--something I especially appreciated since they honor happy hour at the tables as well. Bijou is led by Co-Chefs and Co-Owners Stéphane Saint Louis and Steven Vargas, who have created a truly memorable, approachable French-inspired dining experience. Chef Vargas was present during our visit and took the time to speak with us, which always elevates an evening. He and the entire Bijou team are personable, genuine, and down to earth--you can feel the care they bring to both the food and the hospitality. The menu and décor are understated, but don't mistake that for simplicity. Every dish we had was thoughtfully composed, beautifully plated, and perfectly executed. Flavors were balanced, seasonal, and never overworked--nothing was over-sauced or overthought. Each plate stood confidently on its own, and everything arrived at the proper temperature, which speaks to the kitchen's attention to detail. Our female server was knowledgeable and offered excellent recommendations that enhanced the experience. A special shoutout to Dan who clearly takes pride in ensuring guests enjoy their time. His knowledge of spirits and willingness to share his favorites added an extra personal touch. I've seen some comments about pricing, but I found it to be very reasonable given the quality of the food, Crafted Cocktails, service, and overall experience--especially for this level of execution in the Bay Area. I'll let the photos speak for themselves, but Bijou left a lasting impression. It's a place that proves you don't need an elaborate menu or flashy décor to deliver something truly special--just passion, balance, and genuine hospitality. Give the Bijou a visit, be present and enjoy what Chef Vargas and his team have to offer. Bravo Chef Vargas and Bijou Family well done and see you soon. Special note if you are a Chartreuse fan you definitely want to visit Bijou as they have a respectable selection which is rare to find.