This is a review of a first time experience, but wow what great one! I met up with two friends who I've known for 45 years - they let me pick the restaurant. I chose Pearl because it seemed like they were dancing to the beat of their own delicious drummer. Lunch was great - all upside with not a single flaw. Service was impeccable, friendly and jovial. Food was plated as though it was begging to be photographed - which means nothing if it's not delicious. No worries there: It was yummy as heck. Can't wait to return. read more

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This is my go to lunch place in Petaluma. Tasty and inventive dishes, with many choices for all people. Ambiance is nice, can be busy and bustling at times. The service has been very good, not too intrusive and not too much "hovering". read more

Love the food here! It was all really good. Deducting a star because the lady working there (maybe the owner?) seemed angry... she made my husband and I sort of uncomfortable. But she was really nice to people she seemed to know. It was surprising to us. Probably wouldn't stop us from coming back. read more

Superb middle eastern influenced menu using the freshest local produce. Every sauce and dressing is carefully created and carefully applied to each dish. The owner is creative. The dishes are keto friendly but you can add items a la carte as needed. The restaurant itself is only open as a pass through to the very clean restroom. I am going to include photos of the inside though to show you the owner's excellent taste. I never realized there was food this delicious and of the quality that would be right at home in San Francisco. I often go up to Petaluma and Santa Rosa and will always try to stop here. Additionally, unlike most restaurants, there are no tips. The price has the tips built in like in Australia. So yes, it will seem pricy until you find out that it's a no-tip restaurant. This place attracts many regulars and is pet friendly. I ordered the brisket and the tomato and corn salad and my guest ordered the salmon salad. The tomato and corn salad had tomatoes that were so perfectly ripe that you'd swear the owner had a farm in the back. The portions were large enough for dinner. The brisket had three slices and melted in my mouth. The scrambled eggs were perfect except for 1 bite that had too much salt. That happens to me at home, so I'm not going to deduct any stars. Also I don't use as much salt these days. Any normal eater won't mind. The salmon salad had thinly sliced potatoes and lots of chunks of delicate and tender salmon. My guest just about licked the plate clean. (He loves salmon and orders it everywhere we go). The lemonade was not too sweet which I really appreciated. He had orange juice. For me, the food was perfectly seasoned and beautiful to look at. And the service was superb. I can't recommend this place any higher. read more

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Had a great experience at Pearl. Decided on chicken falafel w/ pouched egg and salad and my partner chose the trout BLT sandwich which also included a arugula spiced roasted carrot salad. Decided to add a ginger inspired mule drink and Turkish coffee. Decided on outside seating just across the street from the restaurant. The location is in a warehouse like district just down the street from the riverfront area. Service was excellent and both dishes were tasty, balanced and well composed. read more

Pearl - Bars Near Me - Petaluma, California

First time trying this gem in Petaluma! On a cool day, the drinks and dishes we chose warmed us from the inside. Party of 4 got sat right away outside -inside was full for our size. Kids got Warm ginger cider which they both liked and the parents finished for them because it was soooo delicious! One kid ordered the ricotta pancakes, the other ordered a Chicken Ragout dish and the adults ordered the Shakshuka to share. Everything was so flavorful! We will absolutely be going back. read more

Came here for the first time today. Couldn't have been happier. I had the lamb burger, husband had the brisket. Both were delicious and my salad was perfectly dressed. The amount of food was exactly right for lunch. Finished our plates without feeling overly full. When we sat down, the lovely women next to us leaned over and suggested the meatballs and the fish. While dessert was offered, we declined today. The ladies next to us had rice pudding. It looked delicious and they seemed to be enjoying it. Next time, I'll opt in for dessert. The service was also just right - not overly attentive and not inattentive. When our water bottle was emptied, it was quickly and quietly replaced. Staff was friendly with everyone coming and going. The place is small, as others have noted. Having said that, while a bit loud, we were able to easily converse and we didn't feel that the women next to us were so close that we could hear their every word. All in all, today was a great experience and we'll definitely be going back and recommending to others! read more

One of the purest and finest expressions of creative and refined food in the north bay. Service was excellent. Wine list was unique and on the edge in spots... staff was well informed and consultative in helping select the right wine. Had the spiced Salmon and a glass of Pinot Gris (Orange- skin soaked for 24hrs) + House-made peach lemonade. Salmon exceeded expectations, my plate was clean. Need I say more. The only downer... why no dinner service Look forward to coming back very soon. Thank you Pearl for an Oasis of culinary adventure in Petaluma read more

Not your typical weekend brunch menu, more like eastern Mediterranean. Both dishes we ordered are the "comfort" type, pretty heavy for a summer lunch. My cassoulet has cabbage in it, tasted kind of like sauerkraut though. Husband ordered the meatballs & finished the whole entree. I like the business model where the menu price already included gratuity, like in Europe! The service is good. The ice tea is refreshing. read more

Pearl - Cassoulet - Bars Near Me - Petaluma, California

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If you're looking for a twist on breakfast, this is your spot. I was meeting friends for breakfast and were having trouble deciding on a spot, after a bit of research we came across this little gem. We each selected a different option so we could share and boy was that a good move. We loved every dish; each was flavorful and different than the average breakfast. This is not where you'll find a traditional bacon, egg, toast plate but rather a bounty of delightful fresh and delicious dishes. We each enjoyed what we ordered and would be happy to visit again. The service was top notch and we were glad to arrive early as it seems many of the neighborhood families were fond of the spot; I have to agree. read more

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This is one of the best spots in Petaluma. The service team was super kind but also efficient and the food was excellent. I also really enjoyed how the silverware and glasses looked. Hard to explain but very cute. I would 100% reccommend to a friend read more

Overpriced for what you get. I thought I was going to be able to order Middle Eastern food and instead I had no idea what I was eating with the shakatut or whatever it's called, except for the fried eggs. But I did know I there was too much tomato used in the prep. A strange custom was no tips allowed, but a $1 surcharge was attached to the bill. read more

Visited here recently for an early Sunday meal and was charmed by the quiet setting, calm vibe, and exquisite food. ***BUT I must note that the menu is small and that I had very few choices as I eat gluten-free and usually vegan (just to set expectations about their offerings if you care about that).*** The one option that I preferred (after we'd sat down and chosen to eat there) wasn't ready yet and wouldn't be available per the kind waitress (the lentil soup). So, disappointed.... I ordered the fish stew and it was indeed very beautifully presented and tasted wonderful, I definitely savored it as I rarely eat meat these days. I can see why this place gets grew reviews. But I'd wished that the menu had another option for me and that the owner wasn't so stressed out when we had a brief interaction with her (looked at the menu before they opened and I asked if they had anything gluten free (since the menu didn't indicate - if the menu showed that it would have been wonderful)). Thankfully, those two negatives did not overrule the oasis of lovely that this place is. I hope they thrive and do well. I'm not sure I'll be back but I will recommend it to friends. read more

Stopped on our way further north. Great lunch, creative, tasty food & nice owner at the bar!

Great imaginative menu that's constantly changing and showing the best of Sonoma county. I especially love all the fusion influences and the long coffee drink menu is very exciting. They've been very serious with their COVID rules which is much appreciated (vaccine card/proof required, masking, etc). Everything is a bit pricey for the serving size but it is fresh and tip is included so that about balances out. The seating arrangements are a bit wonky, mainly cause of changes made to sit most people outside due to COVID etc. I'm only really docking a star since the person who seems to be in charge (I believe the owner?) doesn't seem to have the most welcoming disposition the two times we've gone. It feels like a place that caters more to regulars. The first time we ordered to go and it felt like she was trying to rush us through and then didn't really know what to do with us once we'd ordered. The second time we were meeting with friends and took one of the few tables inside. We took awhile to eat and my friends are a bit older/slower and again she just felt a little rushed. I wouldn't think much of it if I hadn't seen similar stories in other reviews! read more

I had breakfast here for the first time this morning and it was wonderful. I ordered the cassoulet and my friend ordered the waffle. The cassoulet was warm and rustic. It reminded me of something my mom would make on a cold day and was overall wonderful. The waffle was delicious as well, with crabapple compote. Great drink menu and other items as well! I highly recommend. This place can't be duplicated! read more

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Great ambiance, friendly service and unbelievable flavor combinations. Highly recommend this place for brunch!

Superb brunch. Gourmet adaptations of Mediterranean classics at incredibly reasonable price. If you only spend one morning on a patio, spend it here. read more

Pearl - Exterior - Bars Near Me - Petaluma, California

Pretty decent spot. Reminds me of a few rustic hipster places in the Potrero Hill district in SF. Service was alright; not overly friendly, but not too bad either, and a tad on the slow side. I ordered the steak sandwich and the house-made ginger ale. The sandwich was clean and tasted fresh, nice on the bread, and nicely designed on the plate. Nice cook on the steak and the bread had a good enough toast on it. Sandwich pet-peeve - overly hard bread, but they did a decent job with it. The side salad was pretty standard. The ginger ale is definitely different than your statue-quo soda ginger ale. Probably a ginger simple syrup mixed with sparkling water, but definitely a strong ginger flavor with some bite. Although I don't consider myself a big ginger fan, it did pair nicely with the sandwich. read more

Really good coffee, really good food, and straightforward pricing! I'm a fan of their coffee specialties, many of which are really light and frothy. I'm a fan of their pork loin sandwich with simple and fresh ingredients that complement each other very nicely. I'm the biggest fan of their pricing model that factors in the tip to each menu item. What you see is what you pay, and you're always getting a great experience in return. read more

Had a great lunch here a few weeks ago. I'm there was no wait, but we were also relatively late on a Thursday. I ordered cassoulet, because I never pass that up when I see it on a menu. Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed because I didn't get an actual duck leg like the other pictures posted here... there was just some duck meat in it, which kind of ruined it a bit for me. It was tasty, but I wouldn't order it again. We shared a brownie dessert, which came with cardamom ice cream. I wasn't particularly drawn to it, but my friend was. I have to say, it was exceptional! The inside is very cute and homey. A neighborhood gem, although I would say stick to what their menu focuses on, which is Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food... I think you would be happier with those. read more

Pearl - Cassoulet - Bars Near Me - Petaluma, California

The 5 star review plus the menu looked attractive, so our party made a stop here on our road trip. We were met right off the bat with an extremely off-putting vibe and treatment from who we learned later is the owner of the business. We still had a meal there but was met with odd reluctance and hesitations about simple requests and adjustments from the wait staff which was I assume they were following how the restaurant is run. Most of the folks, (not all), in our party was satisfied with the food, but judging from other 1 star reviews it's really hit or miss. Menu prices were fair given that there's a no tipping policy established. Overall leaving the place, we were really unhappy and aghast with the "service" we received. Mainly speaking about the owner/manager -- The bad attitude demonstrated from start to finish was one of the worst I've ever seen. (This is NOT an exaggeration). I'm definitely not returning or recommending anyone to dine at this place. read more

Fantastic food!! I had the Shakshuka and free form cheesecake. Both amazing! I highly recommend this restaurant.

This place is Middle Eastern inspired, not traditional at all, but still has some great flavors. Our group ordered a few different drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, that we felt were watered-down and we would probably not order them again if we went back. We felt that many dishes were criminally overpriced or had portion sizes that did not match their price points. For instance, the Picnic Plate is a vegetarian dish nearly the same price as other dishes that are heavier on the meat/protein, but there was hardly anything on the plate. We felt disappointed, left hungry, and ended up needing to go to another restaurant right after to get more food. read more

We had a wonderful New Years Day Brunch here. Great spot. I had the skillet Frittata, my son had the Lamb burger, my other son the brisket, and coffee and tea drinks were delicious too. They include tips in with the food price, so there's no tipping. Nice touch. Great service, delicious food, and sweet little spot to sit indoors or out. read more

I love the "everything included" dining. (Tipping has some really racist roots.) The food also happens to be really F$#!ing good. Mediterranean with a modern twist. I'd definitely go again! read more

We came for a late lunch on a Saturday and the place was really empty because of the Butter and Eggs Parade going on. The place is quaint with outdoor seating available. Our server was the co-owner of the place and was friendly enough I suppose, a few awkward exchanges at first and I almost actually wanted to get up and go somewhere else but she came back with our waters already so we stayed. She just kept hovering all over us when we first arrived but it was a slow day and they were 30 min from closing so I felt a lot of pressure to order quickly. To drink we had water (actually tasted filtered-- always a plus) and spiced sangria. It was definitely spiced, it tasted like cardamom or allspice flavors. We started with the Fluffy Amaranth Waffle. It was delicious and definitely the right amount of fluffiness. There was no need to add any syrup because it was topped with ricotta and some berries that were pretty sweet already. I especially appreciated that it was brought out first as an appetizer and it was taken away before other dishes come, I really don't like when places bombard you with all the dishes at once and you can't appreciate each flavor of each dish as it comes. My husband ordered bistro steak and eggs-- it was good but very small portion for being on the "bigger" section of the menu. It must've been no more than 3.5 oz of regular flatiron steak with 2 sunny side up eggs and veggies on the side (veggies were also a small portion and underwhelming because some were undercooked). I ordered the Fish Stew that had squid halibut, clams, mussels and oddly enough (in a fish dish) some lamb sausage. It had a pretty good flavor but I thought was too salty for my personal taste. I usually cook at home with little salt so I'm probably more sensitive in general but the dish had a good flavor. Dessert we had a date cake with a coconut flavor topping-- pretty good. The date and coconut crispy topping together really was a great pairing of flavors. The other dessert was the FLOURLESS cookie ice cream sandwich with ice cream on the side (also had a lot of spice like cardamom or allspice). It was really creative to be flourless but because they didn't use flour, the cocoa power flavor really was too overpowering. I was not a huge fan of this dish. NO TIPS here so just the bill itself. Total was $95 which is not bad for food and 2 drinks. The only thing was the tiny potion on the bigger menu, otherwise we had an excellent experience and would highly recommend this place. It is worth it for the different flavors that you wouldn't find at a typical hip brunch spot and if yelp had half stars it was probably more like 4.5 but closer to 5 than 4. read more

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Fantastic and creative food served by friendly folk in a casual/industrial neighborhood.

hunger for an alternative brunch attracted us to this "little gem of a place" (Pearl's words not mine) in the reconditioned warehouse district of downtown Petaluma. as visitors from the Sacramento area this place reminded us of the renewed R St corridor. being a daytime cafe they are open from 9AM-3PM everyday except Tuesdays. what attracted us out of towners were the imaginative menu choices unlike that of the usual greasy spoon places. for drinks we had the minty Black Julep and the French Press coffee. we ordered the Fluffy Amaranth Waffle from the smaller section of the menu and the Cassoulet from the bigger segment. except for the coffee, these items were new to us but exploring novel chow is what i live for. honestly I'd grade the food 4/5 for taste but 5/5 for innovativity of old world flavors. service is topnotch and the place is intimate. as written in so many reviews, tips are included in the published prices so tipping is NOT allowed. another tidbit. there's always something good about joints that have silverware, paper straws and Mrs Meyers hand soap :) read more

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Great selection of middle eastern dishes and they use very good olive oil, and other ingredients.

This is not your typical "lunch spot" so if you're looking for something out of the ordinary, this is the place for you. The menu feels like an adventure- everything sounds exotic/delicious. Annette recommended the shakshuka for the robust flavors..and the persian meatballs. Both were excellent. Everything is perfect down to even the iced tea. Service is impeccable. The attention to detail is apparent. Even their signature "brownie" for dessert was remarkable. It's really nice when you eat somewhere and it all comes together and you have a great meal with great service. I will return to try more of their delicious food!! read more

Pearl - Bars Near Me - Petaluma, California

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The food is top. It is like eating in Europe. A great choice in the menu for vegetarians, meat eaters and pescatarians The location is fantastic away from the center of town and other restaurants like an oasis. The people eating there looked like regulars. It was our first time and I will be back. The only waitress they had was very helpful and knowledgeable. There is nothing worse than a waitress who does not know her menu. She was very sweet. The reason I am not giving five stars to Pearl although I should, it is because the wait to eat there is very very long. They only open five days a week and only for lunch so you must make the time to eat there just like in Europe. I would say it is one of the best restaurants in Petaluma with maybe two others. read more

Great food though service does not match food. Interesting menu combinations and wonderful rice pudding. Sat at the bar and had passable service by the owner, I presume. She was so quick with us the menus disappeared immediately after we ordered and never did she ask how things were. It took time to flag her down to order a pear mimosa, but would not recommend.l it. She can clearly be nice with some customers but we were out-of-towners and her approach to us showed . She had time to chat with others but shwed no attention got us: we will try again but am unsure of our support long-term. All customers should be treated equally. read more

Do yourself a favor, stop by and enjoy great food in this casual restaurant/ cafe. It is tucked away, in an unassuming area in Petaluma, but it is always busy because the food it is really good! We had fish stew, our favorite, and a few glasses of chenin blanc. Just marvelous as always!! We had tried many items on the menu overtime and everything has always been amazing!! read more

Pearl - Fish stew ( mussels, squid, halibut, braised fennel) - Bars Near Me - Petaluma, California

Wow! Very flavorful food! Amazing menu - so many good options! Beautiful decor- love the mix-matches silverware, french press - colors! read more

Pearl - Fresh brewed french press - Bars Near Me - Petaluma, California

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The food is fresh, seasonal and I sense locally sourced. The service is friendly without being too much and the ambiance is great food in a casual, neighborhood comfortable and interesting environment. read more

Awesome food and friendly, obliging service! Brought water for the dog. Bocadillo sandwich with porchetta was so yummy!

Past by this charming place on my way to Vichy hot spring. Ordered chicken hash, duck casserole and finished with Moroccan rice pudding. All are great! It has a great blend of Mediterranean flavor and Western cooking. Rice pudding is the best for summer, very refreshing. read more

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This is a true gem, pearl for sure. It was a gorgeous sunny day and on our way back from Healdsburg, decided to make a stop for brunch. This is a foodie paradise, in that it's no teflon place--instead, they source their ingredients carefully, paying attention to freshness for produce and proteins. We got a definite taste of pedigree both in quality of ingredients but also in their preparations, e.g. their hang town omelet, lamb burger with feta and tzatziki on a potato bun, both beautifully cooked with complex flavors. The omelet was done in the true French way, softly set with ingredients filled redolent and cooked with what tasted like butter. The burger with the lamb cooked almost all the way through and leaving just enough interior warm so that it was tender and not a bit tough. The feta fresh and crumbled on top but melted just enough and anything with yogurt has my name on it. The service was warm and accommodating, with the prices more than fair. I wish we had one of these in my town, for I'd basically live here :-) read more

Pearl is the new gem in Petaluma. The coffee is wonderful, the food is delicious, and the service is great. I have been here three times in the last two weeks and I have tried quite a few things on the menu. This spot offers breakfast, brunch, and lunch style food options that are full of flavor. The space can seem a bit small but they have seating both inside and outside. Along with the coffee they have espresso drinks and have a great wine and beer selection. My only warning is that if you are looking for traditional American Diner style food, this is not your spot. There are plenty of Diners in Petaluma but only one Pearl. Do yourself a favor and give Pearl a try. read more

Pearl - Bars Near Me - Petaluma, California

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