The Eight Ball

Great waterhole, atmosphere very lively on Saturday nights drinks are very good,Star is a great…read morebartender, and knows her drinks

We walked in at lunchtime with our 6 year old grandson. The woman behind the bar immediately told…read moreus that no kids were allowed because it was a "bar." Make up your minds, folks. Are you a "pub & cafe" or not?

Cozy Bar!

Cool decor!

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Sky

2.3(19 reviews)

2.7 mi

This will be somewhat of a multi review, as I will be comparing the Sky Bar to the other bars…read morewithin Graton Casino. The Sky Bar itself is an okay experience, the drinks can be a little pricey ($12-$15) for both volume and what alcohols are used, and the drinks aren't really well made either. The bar is located in the middle of the casino, so it's pretty loud. I have some hearing issues, so it was sometimes difficult for me to communicate to the bartenders, unfortunately. The bartenders themselves were nice, not the communicable type, the "just make the drink and ignore you" type which I have no issue with, but others might. (To clarify, I don't think they ignored me because of the hearing issue, I noticed that most of them did not speak to any of the patrons other than to ask if they wanted another drink) Compared to the other bars in the casino... There's infinitely better options. The G-Bar has a better selection of drinks, is a little quieter, and larger screens (to watch the World Cup!). The Pool/Lobby Bar is a little cheaper, has a wider selection of alcohols AND has arguably the best bartender in the entire casino, David, who is incredibly skilled and has made the best drinks I've had in the casino. The 8-Bar has a quieter atmosphere and some Asian alcohols (which most of the bars here do not have), but is a little pricier. The Boathouse Bar also has a wider selection of alcohols, and the bartenders are flashier when making drinks (not my thing, but can be a positive for some). I think you could go to any other bar and get a better experience.

David Ferguson was the best bartender. So kind so helpful and made me the best lemon drop! Such a…read moregood soul! If you go to sky bar ask for David

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Hooters

2.9(279 reviews)

1.5 mi

This is my favorite place I love it so much. Great service and great hooters. I love the chicken…read morewings.

One of the last Hooters somewhat drivable from the Bay Area. Still irked that some people tend to…read morehate on this place. Frequented the Dublin one for years and was sad to see it go. Amazing spot to watch sports/fights. The original breaded wings are so different than any other wings from any other place. Love these wings. Tasty, meaty, spicy enough to be yum. Ya'll stop hating on good food. Customer service is always really good. Come for the good as hell wings, don't come to hate on what anyone's wearing. It's a fun place. Stop the hate.

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No fries left :)

Bistro 101

3.8(131 reviews)

2.7 mi

I have a new favorite salad: MIZUNA STEAK SALAD. A soy-marinated flat iron steak, napa cabbage,…read moremixed greens, watermelon radishes, edamame, pickled cucumbers, ginger, carrot miso dressing. Highly recommend. I got it as Room Service so I can't comment on ambiance. Room Service was expedicious.

Man the chips and dip they serve here are so good. We ended up ordering an extra bowl of it because…read morewe devoured it! The steak and fries fell short of my expectations and ended up liking my double burger with an egg on it. Our server took our order and ended up having to serve the bar and make drinks so we were kid of left on our own. Had to hunt someone down to get some to go boxes. With all the places to eat at Graton, probably won't be back to this one.

Complimentary house chips with dip... very yummy

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Monster Smash burger

Mike's at the Crossroads

3.8(424 reviews)

0.6 mi

What can I say walked into Mike's crossroads place was clean and you could smell the burgers that…read morewere being cooked. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that their burgers are made out of brisket, and that their chips that they serve are homemade and deep-fried there so when they come to you they're very hot, the burger was exceptional. The service was amazing. Thank you guys keep up the great service

Horrible service! The owner/server always been rude…read more If you're not a regular, she won't serve you until after her.Regulars even though we sat first. It's always been like that. That's why I haven't came for 6 years. Still, the same old s***. And then...... Our food sat at the counter for 5 min while she was talking to her more important customers. I got up asked the assistant if we can get our food. next, The bun is cold. "They don't toast the top, noone does". Ugh. NOPE UR WRONG! a good burger joint SHOULD toast the bun, on BOTH SIDES and NOT SERVE a cold bun. COLD BUN. EW!!!! Also, I had to wave and stand up to get her attention because she never looks at our table, to get more dressing for my salad. I tipped the assistant. She doesn't deserve anything!!

Interior with 3 TVs

Cotati Jam burger

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Drink menu

Lagunitas Brewing Company & Beer Sanctuary

4.3(2.5k reviews)

4.3 mi

We were on our way back from our Saturday trip north when we reached Petaluma and decided to stop…read moreat Lagunitas for a cold beer and some food. It had been a while since we had last come here, so it was fun to be back and enjoy some of our favorite beers. It was a beautiful day, and they had live music. They also had a couple of large-screen TVs set up showing the World Cup game. Our server was very helpful, answering our questions about beer and bringing us a couple of samples before deciding what to order. I asked for my favorite light beer, DayTime, and we decided to share an order of chicken wings, fries, and their P-Town Chop Salad. The beer was as good as I remembered, and the food was well-made and delicious, especially the wings (with Buffalo sauce). They allow dogs, as long as they are well-behaved and on a leash, so our little guy had fun saying hello to a couple of dogs that were sitting nearby in between his breaks from begging for treats from the table. We spent a couple of hours there before heading home.

We were there on a Sunday at open as a FAREWELL after a friend's wedding. The pitchers the groom…read moreordered were delicious -- but I am a massive IPA fan. The giant pretzel and potatoes were really delightful after a night of drinking and dancing, and the perfect amount to share before a drive back south to LA. I would love to come back and enjoy the patio area more -- there are so many gorgeous plants and it feels like a little slice of heaven.

Interior Bar

Fried Chicken Sando ($18 + $3/garlic fry upgrade)

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Lagunitas Burger ($18 + $3/garlic fry upgrade)

Beyond The Glory

3.5(397 reviews)

4.1 mi

Good burgers. Onion rings are spectacular! Love that they have so many TVs for sports. The staff is…read moreso friendly. Good prices.

A friend and I decided to grab dinner at Beyond the Glory in Petaluma since we hadn't been out in a…read morewhile. We waited at the podium at the front door for about 3 minutes since there was a signed that said "please wait to be seated." We were then told to sit wherever we liked, but unfortunately, it turned out our server was also the bartender so she was stretch thin and wasn't able to give customers who sat at tables the attention that most servers would provide. When my friend asked if they had bottled sparkling water, she said no, but offered San Pellegrino. We had to laugh, since that is exactly what we had just asked for! When our food arrived, my friend ordered the French dip with au jus and a side salad. Well the au jus was extremely salty. I ordered the hot pastrami sandwich on focaccia with sweet potato fries. Honestly, the pastrami was so bland that I had to peel back the bread off just to make sure there was actually meat in it, it literally had no flavor whatsoever. To make it worse, nearly a quarter of my sweet potato fries were undercooked and raw in the middle. To say this was a let down is an understatement since we were both looking forward to our meals. We might give it another try but not anytime soon.

California Burger

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Redwood Cafe

3.9(653 reviews)

0.0 mi

Stopped in for lunch. The menu is very expansive with something for everyone and yummy looking…read moredesserts. I ordered the Vegetarian sandwich with portobello mushrooms, grilled red peppers. Some type of cheese and pesto sauce served on focaccia bread. It was very good. It came with soup, salad or fries. I ordered the white bean soup, which was extremely good. I could've eaten a huge bowl of it. I will definitely stop back by and try something else when I'm over at this location. The service was wonderful. They have indoor and outdoor seating.

Fun place with good food. You order at the counter and they'll bring out the food. The staff were…read morefriendly and attentive. I had the Salmon Niçoise salad and it was quite good. Salmon nicely seasoned and the veggies all fresh. We were there mid-afternoon, and it had the vibe of a bar that was just waiting for the action to start. A mix of indoor and outdoor seating, and the place was clean. Lots of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options.

Inside

Turkey Chili was spicy and hardy

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More secluded shaded seats.

Art's Place

3.8(460 reviews)

1.9 mi

Art's is one of our favorite places to eat! The food is always delicious, the service is friendly,…read moreand the atmosphere is great. Every time my family comes to visit from out of town, they always ask to go back to Art's for dinner. Lately, I've been obsessed with their Chipotle Lobster Linguini special, it's so good! We've also tried several appetizers, pizzas, pastas, and drinks over the years, and honestly, everything has been consistently great. The prices are reasonable too, especially for the quality of the food. It's definitely a popular spot, and after eating here so many times, I completely understand why. We always leave happy and already looking forward to our next visit.

Family came to eat here. We had shared a pizza, lasagna and…read morea ravioli. We did not even eat half of each entree. The Vibe was off in the place also. Service was just ok. We got the feeling as if we were intruding on something.

View from bar w/ prosecco.

Caesar salad

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Outside view - window is facing the bar, entrance around the corner on the right.

Waterhawk Lake Club

3.7(174 reviews)

2.8 mi

We had our son's rehearsal dinner at Waterhawk, and we couldn't have been happier with our…read moreexperience! From the very beginning, Sammy, the event coordinator, was absolutely wonderful to work with. She was so helpful in choosing the perfect area for our group and guiding me through the menu options. She was incredibly accommodating and made the entire planning process so easy and stress-free. One of the things that meant so much to me was that Sammy allowed me to drop off all of my decorations ahead of time and even took the time to set everything out for us--including the table decorations and welcome sign. That extra effort truly went above and beyond and made the evening feel so special. Our server, Ben, was fantastic as well. He was attentive to everyone throughout the evening, making sure everyone had their food and drinks and that everything was taken care of. He was also very personable and helped make the night even more enjoyable for our family and guests. Waterhawk was the perfect place for such an important family celebration. The combination of the beautiful setting, wonderful staff, and exceptional service made our son's rehearsal dinner a night we will always remember. A huge thank you to Sammy, Ben, and the entire Waterhawk team for helping make it such a special evening!

Pub food at best. If you like alcohol and a view, then this is your spot. However, I don't drink…read moreand the food isn't something I'd go out of my way to come back to. The lake view is great. The bathrooms are very clean and charmed with audio birds of the rainforest. We ordered spinach dip, wings and a falafel burger with garlic fries well done. Spinach dip was whole spinach and not chopped. Resulting in large chewie and stringy spinach globs. My falafel burger was a dry well done puck. And my not so garlic fries came out regular and soft. My hubby had 2 wings and left the rest of the wings. Patio is pet friendly. Great view. Our waitress was sweet. The food didn't do it for hubby and me.

Inside

Valley Ford Vanilla Ice Cream with Sprinkles

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Patio seating

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14 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Jake R.

18 years ago

Honestly its 2008 can we get a damn credit card machine. This place is full of duesche bags that have probably lived in this town since their whore of a mom had sex for money. This place is a complete dump. Weak drinks and it smells like a used diaper filled with indian food. read more

Brock S.

12 years ago

Been by a few times ;) , great place to catch a game of your choice, plenty of tv's, good people, great ownership. They do a ton of charity events. Best bloody Mary's in the area, cheapest drinks, happy hour or not. read more

Ann F.

3 years ago

I've never been here, but after reading the reviews, I am reluctant to even try the place. I've been dying to shoot some pool, so if somebody can post a new review from a recent visit, I'd appreciate that. read more

Kevin M.

5 years ago

Their staff are very unprofessional there head security I believe her name is Sammy is there a drunk all the time their bar manager Jesse has personallyWith customers and staff during hour not a good look read more

yotam P.

17 years ago

Kinda dumpy. Did hook up with this coked out bar slut Alysse Walton though! I guess doing blow in the bathroom with me was the high point of her life! read more

Shiree P.

10 years ago

8 ball is always reliable for making memories. Well, the memories you can remember lol Cotati wouldn't be Cotati without Cotati.

Connel C.

4 years ago

The bouncers are so mean. They so weak that they have to use there numbers to intimidate us racially without any reason.

Daniela E.

4 years ago

Racist, inconsiderate, and careless bar tenders and security. No other words to describe the people that work here.

Elyse S.

10 years ago

It feels like home or cheers every time I go in there it's a very friendly and fun experience

Sy H.

3 years ago

Id Rather Them Be Shut down Permanently Due to service And Personal Crowds Im serious Sorry ‍ read more

Stacey S.

17 years ago

Who doesn't love the 8 ball?? One of my fav college memories... Great Bar!

Anthony M.

15 years ago

Great bar!!! Bartenders remember your drinks and your name. Go there

Sandi P.

14 years ago

Your quote uh quote bouncers do a shitty ass job FYI

Bridget M.

15 years ago

Great dive bar! Bartender was super nice.

The Eight Ball - sportsbars - Updated October 2026

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Fiorino's

4.3

(26 reviews)

The shots are huge for the price of one. And the bartender is super sweet! Good parking, and they…read morehave free popcorn! A cute little joint to get yourselves into to play some pool or whateva :)

Absolutely love this bar, I've been coming off and on for over 20 years, definitely a more regular…read morenow, especially since I introduced my mom and her husband to this bar. The bartenders are great. The drinks are strong great price, great jukebox. They have fun events and the regulars who frequent here are almost all awesome.

Old Main Street Saloon

3.4

(31 reviews)

Great vibes. No frills. Played pool and shuffleboard. Locals were nice. Strong drinks. Cash only so…read morebe prepared.

I was visiting from out of state when I spent an evening at Old Main Street Saloon. Fantastic…read moreatmosphere, above average bartenders who were friendly and attentive. I met a lot of people, made some new friends and had a few fantastic drinks (Kimmikazie) and enjoyed my time there. Wish I lived closer so I could patronize Old Main Street Saloon more frequently. Highly recommend you pay them a visit.

Gale's Central Club

4.2

(40 reviews)

We attended the NASCAR race in Sonoma over the weekend which was really fun…read more We decided to go up to Petaluma and went to Gale's Central Club and enjoyed really good food and outstanding drinks at a reasonable price. The bartenders not sure if they were the owners were incredibly nice and welcoming. Just like out of an episode from Cheers "Where everybody knows your name" at least it felt like that for a first time visitor! Great place!

We had friends visiting from out of state and we always find a dive bar to enjoy…read more I have been to downtown Petaluma, and in the general area a million times and I've never even seen Gale's. Julie the most fabulous, engaging and hilarious bartender, kept us entertained. There's a couple pool tables and modern juke box, the expected regulars and eclectic decor. PBR on tap, which the menfolk really liked. Always Tito's and soda for my friend and I. We spent way more time in there than we planned it was a great all around experience. Cheers to Julie!

Ausiello's 5th Street Bar and Grill

4.1

(354 reviews)

Watching some football with the fam and i love all the team work and energy and food is good and…read moreshout out to Ryan for going the extra mile and making sure we got the full game experience and turned the surround system on for us!!! Go Ausiello's!!!!

I'm in town visiting my dad and I decided to grab a bite after getting my nails done nearby. Found…read morethis place and they had nice outdoor seating so I decided to eat here. The menu is pretty is simple American bar food; burgers, sandwiches, steak, and salads. They have a lot of options though and you can even build a burger/ sandwich. I ended up ordering the spicy chicken melt with grilled chicken, cheese and grilled peppers. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality ingredients and how yummy it was. Sometimes bar food can be pretty basic and cheap, but the peppers were nicely grilled and the chicken was juicy. I had their sweet potato fries which were really good too! They have a condiments bar with different sauces. I got the DTF sauce for my fries which was fire and some green salsa to put on my sandwich which gave it an extra kick. I had one of their summer menu cocktails and I enjoyed it. Service was great! The server/ bartender was attentive, and friendly. My dad and step mom who live here now want to try it out!

Beer Baron Bar & Kitchen

3.6

(506 reviews)

I love Beer Baron for their outdoor patio on the square, and their happy hour…read more The drinks are always good and their Paloma is very refreshing and tastes high-quality. The fries are my favorite thing to get here. They're always perfectly cooked. I also tend to order the guacamole and chips every time I come here, but every single time I also say it always needs a little bit more lime as the smoky flavor is very prominent. Sometimes they have live music, and they also have a back room that's more private if you want a quieter scene.

Came here for their happy hour drinks and food! Good options and fast service! I was lucky to come…read morewhen it wasn't busy but I do know it can get pretty crowded on a weekend night

Enology Lounge

3.4

(9 reviews)

If you're going to name your wine bar Enology you better deliver the goods when it comes to wine…read more Enology doesn't. The wine selection is very limited and unimaginative. They had exactly zero Rhone varietals and just one or two Pinots when we visited last week. The red wines were mostly big jammy Bordeaux varietals and blends from conglomerates like Jackson. I'm guessing one distributor was supplying all the wine. Given the proximity to Sonoma wineries, this is criminal and a real head-scratcher. They need a better wine curator - heck, I could whip up a vastly superior wine list in half an hour. Our server, while extremely friendly and attentive, was not well versed in wine. He proudly brought a blend to our table that wasn't on the menu, stating "I don't know what this is a blend of, it's new" as he looked at the back label. I asked to see the bottle, and in black and white on the back label it clearly listed the varietals of the blend. It was another pseudo-Bordeaux blend and was very jammy. In a nutshell, lively bar (in a hotel lobby), friendly but not wine-versed service, lame wine list that doesn't live up to the name.

Cute lounge with friendly service. We got a happy hour zinfandel and it tasted old and expired…read more We enjoyed the vibe of the lounge and the trivia song event they had going on~

Penngrove Pub

4.4

(35 reviews)

Penngrove Pub is exactly the kind of place I hope to find when someone says, "Wanna go where the…read morelocals go?" My friend hit me with that line and I was immediately in. Uhhh yes... absolutely. I'm always down for a community spot that feels like home, and after the other two places we had already stopped at, I was thinking, "Alright... this one better be special." Spoiler alert: it was. We walked in, ordered our drinks, and with the weather being way too good to waste indoors, we posted up outside on the patio like two people who clearly had nowhere better to be. And that's when this place really started to show its character. Let me tell you... this place was exactly what I hoped it would be. Locals rolling in, saying hi to each other, swapping stories, laughing like they've all known each other since cassette tapes and landlines were still a thing. Hearing people talk about folks who've been coming here for 20+ years honestly felt like I had accidentally wandered into a 90's sitcom--but in the best possible way. Just good people, good laughs, and that rare kind of atmosphere you can't manufacture. It had that "everybody knows somebody" energy... and somehow even as a first-timer, it still felt welcoming instead of cliquey. Now let's talk drinks. We ordered tequila doubles and I'm already mentally preparing for younger-me behavior... and my friend hits me with, "We don't shoot tequila, we sip on it." Excuse me? Sip it? I looked at her like she had just introduced tequila to me for the first time in my life. I was like, "Whaaaaat?" because somebody really should've told younger me that years ago. Would've saved me a few poor life decisions and at least two questionable mornings. But honestly? She was right. Sipping tequila on that patio, soaking up the weather, listening to the local stories and laughter around us... it just fit. That's the kind of moment this place gives you. It slows you down in the best way. The vibe here is relaxed, unpretentious, and full of personality. No fake polish, no trying too hard--just a true local gem doing exactly what it's supposed to do. In all, Penngrove Pub isn't just a place to grab a drink. It's a front-row seat to community. It's storytelling with tequila. It's the kind of spot that reminds you local places still matter. And honestly... I'd go back just to sip tequila properly this time.

We went to see a fantastic band playing last Friday. We've been to hear other bands at Penngrove…read morepub before and really enjoyed our experience. I don't know what was going on with the bartender, but she must have had a really bad day. She was rude and obnoxious, drinking while working, being boisterous and loudly telling a guy, "Don't F*CK WITH ME!" She refused to serve any other man at the bar. My husband stood there for over 20 minutes to get our drink while she walked past him, even when he moved to other spots. We had just gotten there for the show, and she was busy, but it was apparent she was not happy with men. She served women and called them sweetie, repeatedly. I don't make these assumptions lightly, it was blatantly obvious! We only ordered one round of drinks in 4 hours, because it proved too difficult and unpleasant. Despite the poor service and her rude behavior, we had a great time watching one of our favorite local bands.

1892

5.0

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Such a wonderful experience! We were walking through Chinatown for the first time tonight and…read morestopped by around 9:30 PM. Even though it was late and completely last minute, they welcomed my friend and me so warmly and made us feel genuinely welcome from the moment we walked in. The service was incredibly fast and efficient, and the food was flavorful, and great. We ordered Stick Pork Shrimp Dumpling, Stramed BBQ pork bun, crispy vegetarian springrolls, sesame chicken, rice and everything was amazing. What stood out the most was the hospitality. Everyone was so kind, and you could really see how hardworking the staff is. Nothing but respect for the people working here. Great food, great atmosphere, and wonderful service. Definitely a place I'd recommend!

An absolute must when you're in town…read more The bar is located inside of the Hampton Inn Petaluma. They have a great local selection of wine and a bartender who is super knowledgeable. Carole told us all about the town, and places to go, she is the sweetest. We ended up booking the space to host a baby shower and cannot be more excited!

The Front Room Bar & Lounge

3.3

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The worst happy hour ever, should be ashamed to call it a happy hour. Prices are ridiculous. Menu…read moresucked. Service was ok. Only thing they have is a beautiful property. Not anything like it used to be. Very disappointed!

Usually like to come here . Cozy place for a rainy day. 4 of…read moreus arrived and there was an empty table near the fireplace. Perfect . BUT , tho it's open seating, we were not allowed to sit there. We were told it was saved for 5-6 people. We were ushered to the "sun room" which was cold with no sun. We stayed 1.5 hours and when we left the table near the fire remained empty. Our service was poor. We were ignored and had to flag down the server for everything.

El Verano Inn

3.8

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