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River Front Cafe

4.1 (272 reviews)
Closed 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

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RIVER FRONT CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - River Front Cafe

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Linguica and egg scramble
Sandi I.

Breakfast was delicious although a bit pricey. Service was helpful. I love that the inside has works from local artists displayed. Appears to be a local favorite. The view is beautiful . The service was Prompt. Definitely worth a visit, especially if you're in town visiting!

Wendy A.

First of all the service was excellent. The owner, Elias, is personable and warm. My companion and I had a lovely chat with him as he took our order. The wait staff is sweet and attentive. The ambiance is lovely. It's a wide-open main room with plenty of outdoor seating. The lettering on the overhead menu is lovely to even just admire the artistry. See photos I included. Plenty of room at 1pm; they close at 3pm. My companion enjoyed the Shish Kebab Plate. She made a sandwich from the pita, hummus (very mild flavor), warmed tomato wedge, and long sausage-length beef pieces. The menu says beef cubes, but I thought the texture was ground beef. I felt the kebab had delicious spices, but was dry; I might have enjoyed a tzatziki-like sauce over it except I felt it was a bit tough. I wonder if the mixture was mixed for too long? I also felt the hummus was bland. My companion enjoyed a glass of the Lake Sonoma Cabernet. I chose a breakfast item of the Great Mill Benediction (it's a Benedict). He gladly substituted the English Muffin for a gluten-free bread, which had a wonderful texture like non-GF bread. The eggs were absolutely perfect. I pierced the top of both eggs, and a slight trickle of bright egg yolk streamed out. The bottom of each egg was more like a soft- to hard-boiled yoke--I appreciated the mastery involved to create this great texture contrast! Also included were grilled onions, avocado slices, tomatoes, and a delicious medium-spiced, scrambled chorizo sausage. The hollandaise was very mild; even after using 2 lemon slices, I still didn't get the tang my palette generally enjoys. He mentioned that his patrons usually don't like strong lemony hollandaise. I enjoyed the ginger lemon Heath-ade bottled kombucha. We both enjoyed our salads. I believe they were a spring mix with tomatoes and cucumbers. The balsamic vinaigrette was outstanding.

River Front Skillet
Gene D.

They say location is everything, right? Well, one has to offer good tasting food at fair pricing. RFC delivers this and more. The staff there is friendly and helpful. The portions are more than fair. They offer both indoor and outdoor dining.

I ordered a Greek omelette with one gluten-free pancake instead of potatoes and gluten-free toast. $17.95.

My boyfriend and I had a really great breakfast here this morning. We walked by two other breakfast places closer to the house, but they both had long waits. We were very excited to walk right up and order here. I ordered gluten-free pancakes and gluten-free toast. It was very nice that the chef, owner,came out to confirm my order since he wanted to make sure he got it correct for my dietary needs. The meal came out on two plates and had a terrific presentation. My boyfriend really enjoyed his French toast also. It's a great family restaurant with a lot of personal touches.

Petaluma Skillet
Sabrina K.

This place is one of my favorite spots on the Petaluma river, for food and ambiance. There is not allot of service, as you go to order, take a number and they bring to you. It gets busy but this family run joint makes it happen. Hubby and I had and shared delicious crab Benedict and the Northbay Benedict (all kinds of delicious veggies), both with real deal addictive hollandaise sauce. Normally they come with hash browns or home fries, but it was a breeze to simply sub for organic greens salad. My son got the Petaluma skillet, an array of sautéed onion, bell pepper, fried breaded chicken, potatoes, 3 scrambled eggs, a biscuit cut in half with sausage herb gravy smothered all over it. It's lovely to sit outside on a nice day enjoying river views and people walking by the river board walk. Breakfast served all day and they also serve dinner / lunch food like salads, burgers, etc, along with beer, wine, and all kinds of coffee drinks. Oh, they also have a pastry cabinet full of high quality stuff. Coffee is good. Btw, they say starting in May they'll have live music fri and sat starting 5:30 in eve.

cesar salad
Jamie C.

I can't believe I had never been here before! Stopped in for a quick lunch, and I was pleasantly surprised by this spot. It was such a beautiful day, we decided to sit outside in their great river side patio seating area. Can't beat a great view of the Petaluma River! I ordered the cesar salad and added grilled chicken, and it was delicious. The chicken was flavorful and wasn't bland at all. The freshly grated parmesan cheese was also a lovely touch! The dressing came on the side, which is nice because I like controlling how much I put on my salad, because I feel like most places salads are way overdressed. I will definitely have to come back and try their Greek food!

Kale apple salad
Dayna R.

After a fun girls weekend in Wine Country, we had our last hooray was at the River Front Cafe. It's street parking but lots of spots as long as you're willing to walk. It's in a little downtown areas so it was fun to window shop to and from the restaurant. You order at the register then are giving a number for your table. I got the River Front Skillet. It was good. Fresh veggies and potatoes with two eggs on top served with a sourdough muffin. Came out hot which a big plus. Everyone was happy with their orders: tuna melt (good but cheese wasn't melted all the way), cheeseburger and the two in the photos. The salad in photo was the kale, apple quinoa saladand the other photo is the Chicken Shawarma Wrap. Service was good but nothing special. Decor was good and location was lovely. Thumbs up. Verdict: I would return and recommend to people for a fastish, good, relaxing meal.

Bacon and avocado breakfast burrito (just half of this burrito is the size of my hand!)
Sierra S.

Best breakfast burritos in all of Petaluma. I would give more than 5 stars if I could, these burritos are so big, packed evenly with ingredients, amazing house made salsa on the side, priced amazingly, creamy and perfectly sized potato chunks, every protein option is incredible- chorizo is so tasty but my go-to is a bacon with avocado! These puppies are pretty big so it's a shareable size for me, just ask for an extra salsa!! Owner and staff are so wonderful, always a pleasant experience here, I recommend this pla regularly! Photo depicted is just HALF of the burrito!

North Bay Eggs Benedict with spinach, mushrooms, tomato, avocado and onions with fresh fruit side

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13 days ago

First of all the view was great. The hot chocolate tasted like they used real cacao beans but if they didn't it was really yum

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10 months ago

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8 days ago

Great food. Generous portions. Friendly staff. Tons of menu options. Great outside views of the river.

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5 months ago

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4 months ago

Food ok, service much the same - great location. We were the last ones showing up before closing, but they accommodated us any way

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4 months ago

Great lunch or breakfast place overlooking Petaluma River.lots of selections, fresh tasty food and ample portions.

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1 year ago

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10 months ago

The food is delicious and the patio by the river is delightful! Friendly service as well :)

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11 months ago

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3 years ago

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Ask the Community - River Front Cafe

Is the patio dog friendly?

Very dog-friendly, at least outside on the spacious boardwalk patio. We always see people eating out there with their dogs.

What are the hours? We want to have lunch around 2 pm, but I can't see if they close between lunch and dinner service.

I do believe they're open all day! Enjoy! It's great

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The Grove - We tried everything on Happy Hour! Bang bang shrimp, Mac n Cheese, and beef skewers for the win

The Grove

(77 reviews)

We tucked into The Grove (with reservations) on a rainy Friday for an early dinner. Despite having…read morethree menus - drinks, dinner, and happy hour - choosing what to order didn't feel overwhelming, and we quickly landed on the anchovy toast, beet salad, shrimp & grits, and mushroom risotto. Our server was incredibly friendly, and the entire room shared the same warm, easygoing vibe. The small, speakeasy themed space was already packed at 5 PM, so reservations seem like a must. Everything we ordered was well-prepared and delicious, but the standout dishes were the beet salad and the shrimp & grits. The beet salad had a perfect mix of textures; chopped pistachios, tender beets, and crunchy radishes over a pillowy ricotta. I finished the salad wishing there was more. The shrimp & grits featured a potlikker sauce that absolutely lived up to the hype; it made the dish. I wish the shrimp & grits were served in a bowl rather than a shallow dish. I found myself chasing the sauce and polenta around the plate, trying not to push it over the edge. That said, if it were in a bowl, I might have just drank the sauce, so perhaps this is the restaurant's way of preserving a bit of dignity for its guests. Next time, I'm hoping to visit when oyster po' boys and fried green tomatoes are on the menu.

I've been meaning to check this place out since they opened, and finally made it in today--worth…read morethe wait. It absolutely lives up to the hype. The vibe is effortlessly chill, with whimsical decor--think antique lamps, an old record player, and lots of little details that make you want to look around. The whole place felt alive in the best way--buzzing with conversation, laughter, and people clearly having a great time. We didn't have a reservation, but lucked out with seats at the community table. Bonus: the other guests were super welcoming, which just added to the fun, communal feel. We hit happy hour, and wow--it's a good one. Tons of interesting bites and a solid drink lineup. I went with a whiskey sour, my friend had the ginger beer on draft (very refreshing), and we shared the prawns, Brussels sprouts, and creamy mac & cheese. Everything was seriously delicious. Shoutout to our server, Melanie--friendly, attentive, and totally on it, even with the place packed. A couple things to note: it does get loud, so maybe not your spot if you're after a quiet, intimate dinner. Also, the happy hour menu listed Brussels sprouts but didn't mention bacon--I'm vegetarian, so that was a bit of a surprise. (It is noted on the regular dinner menu, which I admittedly didn't check.) All in all, such a fun, lively spot. I'll definitely be back for more bites and cocktails.

Seared - Heirloom tomato salad with filet mignon

Seared

(1.2k reviews)

$$$

Seared has really become a place we look forward to enjoying meals together. They have improved…read moretheir menu (and their staff) and their charming rustic dining area set up through the years and the food and cocktails are literally phenomenal and their servers are kind and engaging and attentive. Their happy hour is amazing and they currently offer $4 off their regularly $13 cocktails (the cucumber martini is delightful)! You have to try the Kung pao shrimp happy hour dish. You might order three more and never have dinner, but if you do and it's in season, you definitely want the halibut and of course their filet mignon is always perfection. GO! You will love your experience at seared. Five stars all the way - !

From the moment you walk in, Seared makes a statement. The dining room is anchored by exposed brick…read morewalls, vintage Petaluma photographs, and crystal chandeliers -- a combination that somehow manages to feel both elevated and completely unpretentious. The all-black staff uniform drives that point home: this place knows what it is, and it's confident about it. They run a happy hour Tuesday through Sunday, 3:30 to 6 pm, and judging by the crowd, Petaluma has figured this out. The happy hour menu and drink specials looked seriously tempting -- tempting enough that we're already plotting a return trip specifically to dive into that world. But we came for dinner, and dinner delivered. The French fries arrived as an appetizer and set the tone immediately: hot, shatteringly crispy, perfectly seasoned, and served alongside a house-made ranch that deserves its own moment of silence. If you judge a kitchen by its fries -- and honestly, you should -- Seared passes with flying colors. The akaushi hanger steak was, without exaggeration, the most flavorful I've ever had. The Pacific line-caught halibut was the kind of fish dish that makes you question every other fish dish you've ever eaten. The service throughout was impeccable -- attentive without hovering, warm without being performative. We didn't make it to dessert this time, but that's not a loss -- it's a reservation.

Torches Petaluma - Classic pot pie

Torches Petaluma

(125 reviews)

$$

This is a cool bar and restaurant that offers live music, though we arrived after the set ended on…read morea Saturday evening. The music-themed decor on the walls added a bit of character to the space. We sat ourselves at a table, grabbed a menu we saw sitting near the bar at the center of the venue, and found an employee walking around to place our food order. He was friendly and helpful and provided excellent service. It took about 25 minutes for our food to be ready which was kinda long, but after trying our dishes, it was totally worth the wait. The potato skins were like mini loaded baked potatoes, but fluffier and easier to eat. It was super cheesy and tastier than I expected, especially with the ranch and sour cream that came on the side. The classic pot pie was a large dish and quite filling, with plenty of sizable chunks of chicken and veggies mixed together nicely in a thick and flavorful roux. Not to mention the flaky buttery crust on top. Wow, I really liked this. And my bf finished every last bite of his grilled salmon dish, no complaints. The lemon drop cocktail was yummy, just the right sweetness and a good amount of alcohol without ruining the flavor. All in all, we had a 5-star experience at Torches and wouldn't hesitate to return.

I love this restaurant! The owner and staff always make me feel at home whether dining solo at the…read morebar, in an intimate alcove for a special dinner, a private party (wow was that fun!) or a large community fundraising banquet. The cocktails are delicious and many prepared with a special flair, and the beer taps are exceptional. The chowder hits in all the good ways. The most recent soup I had was the butternut squash which was excellent. My favorite lunches are the French Dip with killer fries, and the grilled chicken salad. Dinner, wowza that prime rib! The portions are huge. It's not easy running a restaurant these days, I know the owner works her tail off. Staffing is difficult everywhere but Torches manages and even opens for lunches! The prices are more than fair for the generous portions. I hope the community continues to support this family owned restaurant as much as this restaurant continues supporting the community. I know I'll be back!

Central Market - Beef shortrib with gratin potatoes.

Central Market

(827 reviews)

$$$

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!

Wow - this was one of most forgettable meals of my life. My wife and I got the fried chicken -…read moreawful. I have never had fried chicken that had zero taste and absolutely no seasoning. The blandest most dull fried chicken ever. Zero seasoning at all. Like none period. Zip My Mother in Law had the pork shop and she said it had no seasoning either. Also no salt or pepper on our table. This restaurant doesn't seem to believe in seasoning food. Also so dirty in there - you walk in and are greeted by the curtains around the front door - filthy . Seriously nasty to see as you walk into a restaurant. I also noticed the booth benches were so so dirty and stained - gross. Just avoid! Awful and expensive experience. Craving good food? Do not go here. Truly forgettable and a very poor experience.

River Front Cafe - cafes - Updated May 2026

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