What a gem! I was hanging with some friends who live in the area, and they wanted to check out Stillwater. So happy we came here, as everything was phenomenal, and they're dog-friendly. The restaurant is quite big. They have a parklet out front which is popping, colder, but great to gather at. Inside is more intimate and well spaced, perfect for dates or hanging out with friends. They also have a patio outside, which is where we sat. It's super casual, relaxing, and quaint. We appreciate how dog-friendly they are and how kind the service is! Everyone who helped us was courteous and friendly, plus our food and drinks came out super fast. I got the Fish Tacos, and honestly they exceeded my expectations. I love how the tortilla was nice and crispy. The fish was well fried, and the taco had ample flavor. The portion was pretty solid for the price, and I left full. My friends enjoyed their appetizers and mains. We also got some drinks which were so delicious! I would love to come back here. Stillwater is a wonderful watering hole in Fairfax. Find them off the main stretch, Broadway Blvd. Parking is free but limited during busy times. It's worth a visit if you live in the area, like food and good drinks, and bonus if you have pups! read more

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I think Stillwater has been my favorite meal this year. Thanks to the incredible service, especially the amazing Keita, who kept the drinks coming all night, and the OUTSTANDING food (I think we tried 1 of everything on the menu) we were sending friends there for the rest of our weekend up north. It's a great place to chill, good energy with the sound levels low enough to have conversation. 10/10 would drive 8 hours to eat here again. read more

We just stumbled into this place as it was open late which is a pleasant surprise in Marin! Cocktails were imaginative and delicious. Menu had unusual choices. All three meals were beautifully presented and delicious. The wait staff were excellent. In a county where most restaurants are ho hum this one is and absolute stand out and a real winner! read more

Stopped here for after dinner cocktails! They were absolutely packed but we managed to snag two seats by the bar. The bartender was very friendly and gave us great suggestions based on our preferences and the drinks were delicious! I tried a gin based cocktails and my husband tried the two whiskey based ones and both of us really enjoyed them! The vibe is chill and everyone seemed to be having a great time! read more

Salmon dish cane with only rice and the worst sauce that over powerd the dish .... I look down and it just looked like someone poured a bunch of ketchup over the rice... can you not afford to actually hire a real chef???? I went to go leave a polite message for the owner on your voicemail.But you've rigged it, so no one can leave messages.So unfortunately, your guest have to go to platforms like these and go public instead of just privately letting you know that your food is really hurting, I would be so embarrassed.If a chef tried to come to fairfax at this time , I would just point them to la ginestera near the park read more

Really enjoyed our experience here from the aromatic drinks to the thoughtful background music and delicious food. If we are ever back in Fairfax again, we will definitely return here! read more

This restaurant is consistently delicious, from the old bay fries to the fried chicken sandwich to the cocktails. It is a wonderful place for a large group with the huge table on the heated back patio next to the fireplace and the picnic tables out front. Love the vide, the food, and the super friendly staff! read more

Bomb late night food, friendliest server you can ask for and super talented bartender. Must stop when in Marin. Came in late around 11PM a few weeks ago on a Saturday after a show nearby and the lone server gentleman and bartender were so welcoming and accommodating to all our annoying requests. Will most definitely be back. Stillwater you ROCK!!! read more

Ate at Stillwater for the first time last night, and it was pretty darned good. I'd like to go there a few times before giving them five stars, but it was a fun place, and the drinks and food were good. Great service; our waiter was pleasant and attentive. I recommend the avocado and whatever salad. Butter lettuce, cuc, avocado, radish, sesame seeds and a sesame dressing. Excellent. Also had the cheeseburger, which was yummy and duck fat fries, which were good. I ordered a corpse reviver, which a lot of places don't make or don't make well, and it was just right. Place was slightly noisy, but the ambiance is fun, and the music is good. I will definitely go back. read more

To preface, I'm a professional food writer by trade, and I almost never leave bad reviews on Yelp. But tonight's dining experience was so abysmal, I felt obligated to warn Marin's diners by recounting my truly terrible experience at Stillwater. I don't even know where to begin...perhaps with the absolutely appalling customer service courtesy of the lead waitress (the one in chunky heels, jeans, and the short black top). Or maybe I should start instead with the dirty shell-filled oysters. No, I know -- with the culturally misappropriated, health hazard of a "poke bowl" that missed the mark so hard that the only way I can describe its taste is "offensive to the tuna that gave its life only to be turned into a culinary disaster of such epic proportions that its fish friends and family would weep to know what became of such a high-quality, potential-filled ahi." To start, our actual server was lovely, as were the cocktails and fries. But that's where the pleasantries ended. Perhaps I ordered poorly, but at a good restaurant, ordering so poorly that you leave without having eaten shouldn't be possible. But here we are. So, here we go: 1) I got half a dozen oysters as my appetizer. They were filled with shell and grit, and many were still attached to the shell, having not been separated properly. Half were entirely devoid of brine. And, as a personal preference thing, there was only hot sauce, lemon, and horseradish with not a mignonette in sight (which was surprising to me, as most all the Tomales Bay oysters are served with a mignonette as the vinegar is an essential complement to the Pacific Oyster's sweet, deep flavor notes). But that's splitting hairs. The problem really was the shell and grit. When I sent them back, the oysters were comped. 2) My main was the "poke bowl," which I put in quotations because it feels offensive to poke and the culture it came from to call what Stillwater served by that name. The...thing I was served was comprised of steaming hot, non-sticky, unseasoned rice of a medium to long grain with mayo and unagi-coated tuna, which I couldn't even taste under all the heavy-handed sweet, fatty sauces. And you'd think, with such richness blocking out the flavor of the fish, that there would at least be a decent acidity or salt level to balance it out...but alas, the tiny serving of cucumbers on the side was barely capable of washing the culturally tone-deaf taste from my tongue. Truly disgusting in a way I didn't think was possible with poke...almost impressively so. ESPECIALLY concerning this: serving raw fish over hot rice is a serious health hazard. Though it's been a while since I had my California food handler's certification, one simply does not serve hot rice under raw fish, as it places the fish in the bacteria danger zone (between 41°F and 135°F). This negligence risks foodborne illness or food poisoning -- something someone in this kitchen should have caught. I mean...seriously? 3) When I tried to talk to the head server about my experience, kindly so as to let the chef know and to possibly prevent other diners from going home hungry as I did, she was so dismissive it felt like I was talking to a teenage server working at a fast food establishment for their first summer job. She was immediately on the offensive, suggesting I stir the "poke" like other customers (as if that would make it taste better or prevent foodborne illness from the improperly prepared fish somehow?) and then telling me the "poke" is a popular item while offering no apologies or offers to remove it from our tab, despite it being less than halfway eaten. She left, and we eventually found out she removed a round of drinks from the tab, but that felt rather lackluster without an apology or a modicum of sincerity/care for a customer who effectively ate nothing due to poor food quality. All in all...my review is YIKES. I loved Stillwater the first time I tried it, and was even considering highlighting the establishment at some point. But I'm glad I did not, because the second time around was truly one of the worst meals I've had this decade, and I'd hate to put my thumbs up behind a place that's so removed, dismissive, and unreliable in quality. What a shame... read more

Ate there a couple days ago. I guess the place is mainly a bar, so shouldn't have expected too much. Very uncomfortable place to sit and eat since most tables have hard bench seats without backs. No vegetarian options so our veg eater had a grilled cabbage salad with bean puree. Not bad but not great either and a pretty small serving. Grilled chicken sandwich was cooked to death and only cheese option was American cheese. Spicy sauce on top would have been + $2, and at $18 for the sandwich it seemed like a ripoff. French fries were good. We also had the carnitas tacos but they are served on some kind of asian bread. Caeser salad was ok. We'll probably pass on this place next time. read more

I love Stillwater. Is it expensive? Sure - but the menu is always evolving and consistently satisfying. Love the Asian undertone in many of the dishes. Cocktails are great and they have a strong bar program. Vibes are strong inside and out. Great to drop in after a hike, for a midweek cocktail, or a late night hang. Everyone working here is very friendly. read more

Saddened to see the negativity in reviews for this place! We've been many times over the past few years, both for meals and for some cocktails and snacks, and have never had poor service or anything but delicious food and drinks. Yep, prices are a tad higher than some, but the ambiance is awesome (especially the outdoor patio in the back), recommendations from the staff on food and drinks have always been on point, and we'll gladly pay a bit more to be somewhere we really enjoy. Hope those who've written it off due to one bad experience will give it a second chance! read more

I hate to write this, but my friend and I came here as we were driving through Fairfax, and we would not go back. It was a really cute place but the prices were just way too high for food that was average, at best. The front door wouldn't shut all the way without someone physically going to shut it, so the restaurant was freezing and everyone was wearing their winter coats and hats while eating. Overall, I got too much of a pretentious vibe for a below average experience. The menu isn't that large, and mains are essentially a la carte, so you'll have to order $9 fries if you want a side, and you get the equivalent of 1 potato. The fish tacos didn't have much flavor. They were just really spicy lightly fried fish with cabbage and cotija. read more

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Really helpful and friendly service. Delicious food. The salad was sooo good - simple, perfect dressing flavor, and lots of avocado! Great N/A drinks, really yummy food. Simple, laid back ambiance. read more

It was time to check out the new addition to the Fairfax area. Let me first start off by saying that I love their menu. It is food that we need more of in Marin- a fun blend of different cultures. From oysters on the half shell to Korean BBQ to fried chicken it encompasses a fun variety that would satisfy any palate. With that said, the execution and flavors missed the mark on most of the dishes I tried. Let's talk ambiance first. They have 2 outside areas; the front parklet and a back patio which are both nice spaces. The inside of the restaurant has been updated but it is lacking an identity. There are no pictures or art on any of the walls. So it creates a sterile environment with no personality or warmth. Get some art please! Let us know what this restaurant represents, create a mood ..... speak! The menu as I have said is a lovely collection of food options. My only suggestion is they should add prices to the drinks, especially when they range from $11-16.... I have to say, the drinks that I tried were good. But the new 19th and Broadway now called Mac's has incredible drinks and honestly blows this place out of the water. The food has promise but needs some editing. The first are the oysters. They had some shell here and there, and the salsa Fresca was bland and did nothing for the oysters. I would suggest a fun mignonette with ginger or if they want to go the mexican route then a kicked up salsa. Maybe even a mango salsa would be fun. FYI these are $2 each on Tuesdays! If they had a better sauce I would be here all the time. The next dish we tried was the ahi poke. This dish was incredible. It was perfectly seasoned, the wonton chips were crisp, the ahi fresh. The only edit I would make would kick up the Wasabi shmear on the side of the plate. It was bland and had no heat. Following that was the Korean shortribs. The sauce was yummy and the meat was cooked nicely. The only problem with this dish is the vessel. As we all know this meat has lots of small bones. Placing it in a wooden bowl while cutting is truly an annoying task... this dish is a team effort; one person holding the other side of of bowl while the other cuts... just put it on a plate! The price for this dish is also high for what you get. The Bahn mi tacos were sad. First off I think it is great to introduce something like spam. I don't think I have ever seen it on a menu in Marin so go you! The spam was perfectly seasoned and the light breading was delightful. The problem with this is a bahn mi needs pickled vegetables and a tangy sauce. Unfortunately they just plopped on raw vegetables and the same bland shmear from the ahi dish and called it a day. Throw some pickled vegetables, make a Sriracha or jalapeño cilantro sauce and get it to that 5 stars. With so many bumps in the road, the prices are not justified. They are expensive for small dishes... so bring your $$$ when you come here. If they smooth out the bumps I would be willing to give it another shot. read more

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Super cute spot with tasty food and comfy patios. Highly recommend the fried chicken, which I had on a little gem salad with avocado. Delish! However: $21. A bit pricey. Also tried the fish tacos. Perfect mix of slaw, sauce, and fried fish. Again, a bit more than I've paid at other spots for similar fare. Checked out the cocktail list, which looked amazing. Would love to come back in the evening and an enjoy a Manhattan inside. read more

Stillwater - Fish tacos - New American Near Me - Fairfax, California

Absolutely love the ambiance and energy of this restaurant! The hosts and staff are incredibly friendly and personable. We saw them all hustle hard to make the visit a great one for the customers. The menu options were creative. We ordered the banh mi spam tacos, chicken sandwich and a side of fries. I completely agree with other yelpers that the chicken sandwich is absolutely delicious! I also agree with other yelpers that the fries were just OK, particularly for the price. But I do think this restaurant was very lively and a great option if you're in the area. We would definitely return for the great customer service. They had really well constructed, thoughtful and nicely designed outside seating options....in front of the restaurant as well as a patio in the back... and peeking inside, I really liked the aesthetic as well. There's plenty of parking across the street from the restaurant. Overall plenty to like and will return to try other menu options and the fantastic drinks menu! read more

Stillwater - Banh Mi Spam Tacos, Chicken Sandwich and side Fries - New American Near Me - Fairfax, California

Love love love this place! It's always reliable for a "late night" dinner (by Marin standards). While other Marin restaurants close at 8 or 9 during the week, Stillwater is always open until 10pm and they won't rush you to order if you come in at 9:30. Food is consistently great and the staff are super friendly. We have been here 5-6 times now and it never fails. The menu is also varied so you can try lots of different and unique dishes. It's one of the gems of Fairfax!! read more

Great service and great burger! Come here a lot of the past year and the burger is always the best I've had. Corndogs are amazing. Great ambience. read more

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Stillwater is one of the best spots in Marin for drinks and good food. I see a lot of the reviews taking issue with the service, but we always have a great experience. It is a bit of a "vibe" but we enjoy the ambiance of the place. The fried chicken sandwich is world class. read more

With sadness I write this review. Oh dear sweet Stillwater, we used to visit weekly all the way from San Francisco. We loved the tables outside on the sidewalk and the food was always so tasty. Our server (tall joyous blond young woman) always took such good care of us. She left and then things got a little too much. Once we ate inside and the music was so loud you couldn't have a conversation and to add insult to injury, it was incredibly bad music. Note to ownership, you can turn away customers real quickly with the wrong music. Then the service just went way down hill. Like they could care less whether you were there or not, and it felt like we just weren't worth their time. Well between the bad service and the awful music we just decided we weren't hip enough for Stillwater and haven't returned since. Maybe Stillwater is a private club for those kool enough for dismissive service and offensive music. read more

Still so much attitude. I live in the neighborhood and have been coming on and off since it opened. On a recent visit I was surprised that the host & server were actually sweet & nice. I wanted to give this feedback to the owner who was also there. When I told him that I've noticed an improvement in how friendly his staff is (after past visits and despite their reputation of having attitude). He shrugged this off saying that they're not doing anything new or different and was super dicky about it. He only heard the negative but I now know that the attitude starts with him. He then launched into promoting his other neighborhood businesses which; A, I never asked about and B, I have zero interest in. Drinks were good; fries used to be better, now seem to be from frozen out of bag. Also very little for vegetarians but I get the feeling that they don't give a poop. read more

A cool new addition to Fairfax with a city vibe. The drinks were good but I'll have to go back and try more food. The ceviche was a little too much for me but lots of things looked great on the menu. read more

Stillwater - Custom drinks by expert mixologist - New American Near Me - Fairfax, California

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Best burger and margarita in Marin! We recently moved to San Anselmo and can't get enough of this place. The service is ok. The vibe is great! We love Stillwater !!! read more

Love this place every time I go there. Great food - today we had ceviche w rice, and excellent fries. Cocktails are among the best in Marin and even SF, with lots of whisky choices, our faves, and nice gin & tequila/mezcal cocktails too. They know their way around veggies and also meat/fish - we once had the best roasted broccolini ever there. read more

Lovely spot at the edge of downtown Fairfax. We had a group of 6 on a busy Sunday afternoon. The host was welcoming and accommodating and l accurately estimated the time to be seated. Their chicken sandwich and fish tacos were recommended by our waitress and it was tasty! We also ordered Bahn Mi tacos to share from the "small plates" menu and it was a yummy surprise as well! Their beer menu didn't disappoint either and seemed to have a balanced variety of beers to cater for different beer lover! read more

Stillwater - Fish Tacos with Avocado (ask for lime, it goes well together) - New American Near Me - Fairfax, California

Wow. This is a gem of a place! The cocktails are incredible. We tried three of them - I had the Amalfi Spritz and it was SO delicious that I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I can't recall which two my friend had, but they were both good. Something Chief? And a stronger bourbon or rye one after we ate. We started with the poke to share and then we both had the fried chicken sandwich. It had a bit too much mayonnaise-y sauce for me and I could have used some spice, but that CHICKEN!!! So perfect. The sandwich is enormous. I could only eat about half of it. Next time I might get the kids tenders if they are made the same way as I don't need anything that large. But it is SO GOOD. I wish they had maybe three more food menu options to choose from but I can't wait to come back here. read more

Excellent. Simply fantastic! I need to revisit to try more on the menu! Thank you for an inviting and enjoyable experience. Can't wait to come back with more family and friends! read more

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What a great place that has seating in front of the restaurant, inside and in the back. I ordered the squid and oysters which were excellent and my kiddo swallowed his cheeseburger so he was definitely a fan. My gf enjoyed the fish tacos and her cocktails. The food was delicious and the service was friendly and patient with our kiddos. We love the food here and will be regular customers. read more

Absolutely love this place! It's new and it's great especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Service, drinks and food was very good, social distancing enforced and outdoor seating right now. We will be back read more

Stillwater - New American Near Me - Fairfax, California

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Sorry, You get two stars for great atmosphere, and what I assume are great drinks. But since I don't drink, I just went and ordered half your menu. It was gnarly. Fake cheese on fried chicken sandwich, everything covered in oil and mayo of some kind. I'm cool. Those prices, I need my food to taste a lot better. I had shrimp tacos (so much oil or butter made you sick) nice tortillas though. The spam (now that one isn't even hard to make so...) it is already cooked and I paid way to much Chicken sandwich: go to Flybird in tiburon if you want a good fried chicken sandwich in marin ca read more

I've eaten here twice with my family and have enjoyed it both times. We've had the fish tacos and fried chicken sandwiches, both of which were excellent. Great live music as well. read more

Food was of great quality. I ordered the chicken sandwich with a side of pickles and an order of fries (not pictured). Chicken was very flavorful and had a good crunch. The chicken to veggies were very proportional. All and all and very solid fried chicken sandwich. The fries were awesome! Perfectly made with a yummy crunch and a delicious aioli to pair. We came in for a quick bite after a nice hike. It was a perfect day to sit in there outdoor seating area. read more

Stillwater - Friend chicken sandwich with a side of pickles. - New American Near Me - Fairfax, California

Great place for lunch. All the ingredients are fresh. Stopped by after a mini hike at Cascade Falls. Ordered the fries. Those are great. The fish tacos were excellent and the cheeseburger. read more

Stillwater - New American Near Me - Fairfax, California

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We were looking for a late night place to grab some food that wasn't "bar food", came across this on Yelp and went. It was So Good! We had the bao buns and each got the burger. We were actually speechless at first bc we really expected it to be mediocre late night food, it was was truly one of the best burgers I've ever had. Our waitress was super attentive and incredibly sweet. The whole staff was smiling and genuinely looked like they were having a good time , which is So rare. If I'm ever in the area again, I'll definitely be back! read more

Great Palomas and great food!! The bartender and servers are so wonderful every time I come in. The place itself is such a nice vibe and ambiance. Everything on the menu is so well crafted and executed, albeit the menu is small but the quality and thought into it is so good. Clay was so kind and welcoming even with me coming in towards the end of his night. read more

Great neighborhood spot. Love the food, great music in the background, very nice folks provide excellent service, and the best burger-and-fry combo in Marin. read more

This may be a controversial review. It's hard for me to write this given we're all recovering from the pandemic. Pros, ambiance was 5 stars. It's a great venue. Drinks were tasty too. They have an interesting lighting effect that adds character to the space. Cons, the food is ok, it's not terribly tasting but not memorable either. When we're taking about value and quality, it's an average place that's way overpriced. Main dish portions are small and $$$ and food comes out super, super quick. This makes me think they don't make everything fresh-fresh (this is the moment I flash back to kitchen nightmares - Gordon Ramsay's mantra "people will wait for good food"). We had their burger, poke, brussel sprouts and fries. The burger was meh and looked like 2 skinny, mini patties that they also use for kids burgers. They don't ask you how you want your burger done because it's hard to cook a burger that skinny medium or less cooked. I'm not knocking any points off for screwing up order bc they were quite under staffed and were trying their best, it's hard work being a server! My verdict, go for the interesting drinks. read more

The food here is AMAZING! The margaritas are AMAZING! The owner and his staff are AMAZING! I would highly recommend this little Fairfax gem! There's food items for my children AND there's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. I love this place. It's my go-to for family nights out, girls nights out, and/or a snack for the road. Still Water is my favorite restaurant in Fairfax! read more

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