Great Italian food and a friendly staff Marta is a gracious lady. Always welcoming. if you want good homemade food this is the restaurant for you. read more

We went for early dinner (with reservations) and it was VERY busy for a Tuesday evening. Maybe because mask restrictions were lifted. Anyway we had a very enjoyable evening. We both had Salmon Picatta and it was done perfectly. Service was a little slow, but again they were very busy with dine in and take out orders. There was a young high school boy helping and it was his first night. Glad to see they hire the young. We will definately be going back, so many yummy items on the menu to check out. read more

this is a nice Italian restaurant it is small so I wouldn't come with a large group unless you call first and it is better just to make reservations. I think they make one of the best bruschetta in town and I like their chicken piccata. They have a nice variety of wine and a traditional Italian menu. read more

I love this restaurant in Petaluma the food and the service are always excellent . We went there to celebrate my sisters birthday. She had the salmon and I had the rib eye steak the portions are very generous. We did make reservations for lunch knowing they are very busy it is a must see in Petaluma tucked away by the old Orchard Supply. read more

Caffe Giostra - Italian Near Me - Petaluma, California

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Unreal DELICIOUS!! We started with the prawn appetizer (Giambina Daviola) and were floored at how delicious it was. The sauce, a tangy tomato basil sauce really brought the flavors home. Heaven continued with the Minestrone soup, the best my husband has had in "thirty years!" My Caesar salad was almost as good (La Ginestra in Mill Valley ca 1990 is still my Gold Standard). Next came the capellini add prawns for my husband and the calamari dore for me. O.M.G.!!!!!!! Words fail. Both were outstanding! Capellini is pretty generic but the sauce makes or breaks it. In this case, the sauce was fabulous and made the meal. The calamari dore... The Best Ever!! Tender, flavorful, 100% amazing. We haven't even left after our first meal and we're already planning our next visit. Tomorrow, maybe?? Do arrive early (before 6:00) or make reservations. You won't regret it! read more

A favorite for 20 years. Authentic Italian food - cooked to order - and professional classic service. Our favorite waiter is Santo but entire staff works together. read more

I went here for lunch with coworkers and it was so good, I had to bring my husband back the next week to try it. We both agreed it's the best Italian restaurant in Sonoma County. I had the risotto and then came back to try the prawns. Every time I go someone at a nearby table is eating something that looks amazing, and now I'll need to go back to try the salmon, the veal and the big lunch salads. Needless to say, we will be frequenting this restaurant a LOT. read more

Bambie & I had an extended & relaxed Monday lunch, (my usual day off). At 1:00pm all 17 tables were full, but a 4-top exited 30 seconds after we entered. We got to sit down in a minute. Servers & owners at this small place are friendly, efficient & smart. Handed us the menus, wine list & asked us what we wanted to eat. Then the waitress made specific recommendations to suit our stated expectations. Bambie had the petrale sole with lemon capers. I had the linguine with 2 big veal meatballs. We split a mesclun starter salad. Good feta cheese on the greens. Main courses were filling, fine flavored, satisfying. Wine by the glass is mostly Californian.. Typical big goblet of Chardonnay costs $7.5. House made Tiramisu is excellent. Cake & cream in it are heavier than most others, but the not-too-sweet coffee flavor is just right. The espresso here is acidic and 2 cups have enough caffeine to blow the hair off your skull. The big surprise was the $80 lunch bill, before tip! Server was better than usual, so I gave her a $20. So lunch in a little, modest storefront cafe for $100? That's way too high, but I did order the best of everything. You can eat here much cheaper. Order a Panini with salad for $7. Recommended for the food, not for the ambience. This storefront in an ugly strip mall has zero romance factor. read more

Truly a hidden gem in Petaluma! In the far back of the OSH shopping plaza, one block north of the Cost Plus World Market. You would never think to look for an outstanding restaurant here! But in fact, there are TWO! One is Caffe Giostra and the other is an East Indian restaurant called Namaste Kitchen. Of all the Italian restaurants from Rohnert Park through Petaluma, our choice for 15 years has been Caffe Giostra. Their pastas and sauces are excellent, and their calamari is fabulous! Generous portions of food, wine and bread are served and the atmosphere is friendly and authentically Italian! In fact, this is where many local Italian families go regularly to catch up with other Italian friends and families, and it can get downright noisy, but in a fun, convivial way. Here's why we give it 4 stars vs 5 stars: The staff give preference to people they know and make 'outsiders' (like us) WAIT! At the time, we didn't mind, but it wasn't cool. In Italy, it's common to give seating preference to those the owner knows--but no so here. We consider it rude and yes, it's not fair. Check out the other ratings here and you'll see this is fairly common practice at this restaurant. They're open M-F with a large lunch menu and generous hours--till 3pm. Dinner is from 5-9 every day of the week. read more

We are so disappointed with this former local gem. We have eaten at this restaurant for years and use to love to bring families and friends. Unfortunately over the last year or so we have experienced a significant decline in the quality of food. Last week we ordered a tortellini with meat sauce. They served us a pre-made tri-colored tortellini that tasted like a bad batch of pre packaged pasta from Trader Joe's. When we ordered this dish they didn't mention it was tri-colored pasta, nor was it indicated on the menu. If they had, we would have selected another dish. We have ordered this dish many times and it used to taste homemade and consist of traditional tortellini. Again unfortunately we have noticed the decline in just about every dish we order now. The salads have been wilted not fresh, the minestrone soup has no flavor and taste more like water. The breading on the chicken Parma is soggy and the chicken picata tends to be too dry. The specials always stay the same and there is a complete lack of innovation. But last week's meal was so awful it was the last straw. We tried and tried again but it is time to move on. We won't be back. read more

This was my first time here and I don't know what too me so long! The Shrimp Diavola appetizer was so good I wanted that sauce on some pasta! The veal piccata is some of the best I've ever had. We also had pork Milanese that was also delicious! Can't wait to go back, we had great service read more

A cozy Italian restaurant filled with a load of cowboys-- literally half the customers had cowboy hats on. Love. The small space is utilized and decorated nicely, and offers your traditional Italian favorites. That all to say, you get exactly what you would expect of the meal. The wine was superb, but the desserts have room for improvement. Staff was friendly and service was speedy. read more

Marta, Hector, their superb chefs, and their wait staff serve exquisite dishes. Caffe Giostra is one of my most favorite Italian restaurants. Every meal there is special, and I enjoyed many meals there with my parents. Sadly. my Dad passed away in 2020 but I will always recall his delight when we dined there. It will always remain a place that provided treasured memories of delicious food shared with my family. read more

I've wanted to try this restaurant for quite some time - but it's in kind of a weird location, and I usually forget it's there. This evening, after a really long day at work, I decided to try it. My sister and I walked in, and the place was super crowded. Yay!! That means it's a great restaurant, right? It smelled fabulous, and all the patrons looked quite happy. Looking forward to a great meal, I approached the counter. Unfortunately, the maître d', dressed in a blue shirt amongst the white-shirted staff, absolutely refused to acknowledge that I was there at the counter. He walked by several times, studiously averting his eyes as he passed me. This is a very small and crowded restaurant -- there is NO way he didn't know I was standing there. He was never more than five feet away from me at any time. No acknowledgment, no "I'll be right with you." Not even "you don't meet our dress code." (I was in my work clothes, clean overalls). After five minutes, we left. They've lost two potential customers for good. My sister and I have both worked in restaurants (hell she even OWNED one), and we are pretty tolerant and understanding and patient. And are great tippers. But Mr Snooty-Pants didn't even flick his eyes in my direction. The food may be great, but I won't be back. read more

The food was very good. I had a luscious spinach salad and the capellini. The service was good, too.

Went here with a friend for dinner casual but nicer than a diner. Everything was soo good!!!!! Service good atmosphere price. Can't wait to go back. read more

I had heard good things about this place so we went for my wife's birthday. The service was good at first but then we felt like we were forgotten about towards the end. So not terrible service but not great. The food was ok but I was expecting better based on my friends reviews and the price. The place is a little to cramped for my taste too. I think a solid 3 stars is fair. read more

I had high expectations based on all of the wonderful feedback people have left for this establishment. My boyfriend also noticed that they are very busy for lunch. So maybe we caught them at an off time, but overall, our experience was mediocre and I wouldn't go back. We had a $25.00 restaurant.com gift certificate. Coupons are readily available online. The atmosphere was nice enough, it seems very clean. We got in about 5 past 5:00 when they opened and it was just us and a party of 4. We were given fresh bread and water. It took about 10 minutes for our server to take our order. An older couple came in, and with the whole empty restaurant to seat people, they put them at the very next table. This wouldn't have been so bad if they weren't so close to us that we had to physically move our table to get out. It was just uncomfortable having someone's back as a dinner guest. It is an understatement to say that the kitchen was slow. We couldn't think of a reason because the restaurant was empty. Our APPETIZER of bruschetta came 25 minutes after we ordered it. We had forgotten about it entirely. It was actually very good. We thought, well maybe the food will make up for the wait. 45 minutes after ordering, our main course came. I will say that the plate was full of food, I can't complain about portion size. But I was really disappointed overall. I ordered chicken marsala and it was served in a puddle of water. It was very, very sweet and otherwise flavorless and without character. The pasta was alright. My boyfriend ordered the chicken parmesan, again, it was alright...nothing special. The busboy was very attentive and kept our water glasses full and plates cleared., but our server only came to our table when our food was done to ask how it was. The food wasn't bad. It just wasn't anything to write home about and certainly not worth $15-$22. We were fine paying what we did, but would've felt cheated if we didn't have a coupon. I imagine we would've had a better experience for lunch, but unfortunately, first impressions have a strong standing for me. read more

Ordered the Carbonara, all that I could taste was wine. I don't know how the richness of carbonara can be masked, but it didn't taste anything like a true carbonara. The cannoli were flavorless. Way over priced for what we got. read more

What a great find. Unassuming from the parking lot, but inside a little piece of Italy. Servers were attentive and informative. Owner present and visiting tables to say thank you. Great wine list and abundant menu options in addition to daily specials, at least 4. Generous portions and reasonable prices read more

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Nice cozy Italian restaurant. The spinach salad with grilled chicken was superb. The entree with large shrimp was incredibly beautiful and flaming delicious. The service was friendly and you felt like you were family. read more

Caffe Giostra - Italian Near Me - Petaluma, California

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If you want great Italian food in Petaluma, this is your spot! I went there for lunch on a work day and the service was fast, friendly and together with the familiar atmosphere, made for a warm, cozy dining experience. Also they made the grilled veggie sandwich vegan for me with roasted bell peppers, zucchini, sundried tomatoes, and served with a very fresh side salad, including unseasonably sweet cantelope. I'm planning on going back soon for dinner. read more

Did this place get closed down on 6/5/21? This restaurant is a favorite. But they had a chain and padlock on the door Saturday night 6/5 with no lights, nor explanation. And their phone seems out of commission, as well. read more

I love this little hole in the wall restaurant and I have never had a bad meal, however, last night we took visiting family and before we were allowed to enter, (we were "required"') to have our hands sprayed with what appears to be some sort of hand sanitizer...we were not given the option to say no. A few minutes after we were seated, my hands began to itch and it was obvious why. I agree, hand washing is important, but does this business understand that COVID is an aerosol and is transmitted in the air? Unfortunately, I won't be going back because they are requiring me to do something that I am obviously sensitive or allergic to and I'm not sure if it is actually even legal for them to force (I know I could have left without complying) anyone to use their products. This restaurant has amazing food, extremely friendly and attentive staff and I am very sad I won't be able to return to this restaurant, at least not until they discontinue this particular practice. read more

They kindly sat us without a reservation....order was taken, salad and drinks were served and then "crickets" when it came to our entree. After asking numerous times we finally got up to ask where our food was...it took them 45 minutes to serve entree...I had a simple cappillini pomodora....the food was mediocre...one waiter was furious with a fellow waiter and made no effort to hide his fury (I wouldn't blame him). They seem overwhelmed and in this day and age I get it but at least apologize or take some responsibility for terrible service! read more

If you want some good, fresh Italian food then this is the spot. The office I work for frequently has lunches here and I'm amazed every time. I usually get the chicken fettuccine Alfredo and it always comes out piping hot and perfectly seasoned! It's a huge portion too and I'm never able to finish it so it's like two meals in one. The atmosphere is great. It's a tiny restaurant but it has a very homey vibe. Not to mention they have super yummy desserts! You won't be disappointed by this place at all. read more

Good service & great food. Limited seating. :( Tip & note to myself: Make a reservation. :) read more

The only reason it didn't get five stars is that busy or not, several of the waitstaff walked past us while we waited for a table with frowns on their faces. It would have been nice to have been acknowledged even by eye contact and a smile. Otherwise, it was quite busy on a Sunday night. I haven't been out of the hospital for that long, and so was still using a walker. Maybe that was a point against me. Still, it was a cheerful place and the woman who seated us was very friendly. The food was excellent. We almost never drink, and had water with our meal. No one gave us "the look" we have gotten before over water with a meal. (I don't like soda, either.) I'm still eating more simple food, and smaller portions, so I had fettucine alfredo (plain; no meat) and a house salad. My husband had the surf and turf special. Both were EXCELLENT. I had a small bit of steak and some of his vegetables and the steak was tender and the vegetables were al dente and flavorful. I only ate maybe half my pasta (which was rich and succulent) and no one turned a hair when I asked for a box. (I'm still eating small portions; NOTHING was wrong with the food.) We'll definitely be back. It was a nice place and the food was great. read more

The best Italian food in petaluma. Small place. Bruschetta is great. Love the carbonara read more

Wait time is ridiculous for average italian food. The staff is not friendly either on phone.

If you are looking for southern Italian red sauce than you made a wrong turn as this place is what I refer to as a cucina/trattoria style eatery which is stronger with seafood dishes and white and pesto sauces. The server was a seasoned professional, the support staff was late with the bread, water refills and we had to snatch the olive oil from an adjacent table. No seconds on bread offered which was too bad since it took over two hours to get through the meal and there were long gaps between courses. The pasta was homemade and was very good albeit overcooked to my al dente taste. The red sauce was weak and light by design (refer to first paragraph). The fettuccine carbonara was just good and the tortellini was very good. Overall this place is cute and friendly and the prices were about right. There was plenty of parking and reservations are wise since when we were there during the week it was at full capacity. read more

I had the worst experience and I am a regular at this café Saturday at 6 o'clock they over booked they rush the customers to get the hell out of their place I've never been treated so poorly in the entire time that I've dealt with these people Marta hast to start recognizing her customers and stop pushing her customers away while Héctor does his best to make sure everybody's comfortable this was the worst time and I won't be back read more

Great service, our server was able to answer all of our questions and offer recommendations. Restaurant is really making the outdoor seating situation work by implementing proper sanitation and safety methods while still keeping a cozy atmosphere. Oh, and the food, wine, AND dessert were delicious. Sorry no pics, next time! read more

The pasta was the worst Italian food I've ever had. Olive Garden would have more authentic cooking than here. Never going back.

I'm never disappointed with my service or food here. The comfortable and family environment with elevated at Italian food. It's freshly made and served hot . The wine selection is good as well. But the best part of Giostra is it's heart ,Marta. If you get a chance to meet her ,you can tell why the food is so good,it's made with love. I would definitely recommend train this place if you like authentic Italian food that will definitely leave you wanting to come back for more. Try it,you will not be disappointed. read more

It's always a pleasure dining here. The food is always delicious. I would highly recommend it!

I had dinner there last night, my sweetheart suggested we go there. It is a small place that is very popular. I highly suggest reservations. They have about as many tables that will fit, all were full. The service and staff are very friendly and do a fantastic job The food was just incredible with fantastic flavor. The presentation beautiful . I highly recommend eating here as I also plan on returning many times read more

We had a wonderful dinner and experience. The staff is so attentive and the food is amazing. I really enjoyed the new outdoor seating setup, they really made this all work out well. Loved it! read more

Had a quick lunch. Lasagne was my choice for lunch. It was very fresh and hit. The pasta was tinder and delicate and the meat sauce was very tasty. read more

Always great. Bruschetta yum. Tortellini with peas is a favorite. Calamari Dore is great. Always happy with everything we order.