Petaluma is awash with great restaurants but there are some that stand head and shoulders above the rest.
Table Culture Provisions: Table Culture Provisions started quietly, popping up a night or two a week at Petaluma’s Wishbone restaurant. It's become one of the hottest dining tickets in Sonoma County as owners Stephane Saint Louis and Steven Vargas upped the ante with a Michelin-worthy multi-course tasting menu. From 4 to 6 p.m., TCP offers an a la carte menu of snacks and larger dishes. Reservations recommended. 312 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma, 707-559-5739, tcprovision.com. (Table Culture Provisions)
Delicata Squash Rings with Truffle Caviar Dip; and Gaufrette Chips at Table Culture Provisions in Petaluma. (Table Culture Provisions)
Street Social: With just six tables and 300 feet of dining space, Street Social feels like the most logical extension of the buzzy underground pop-ups that owners Jevon Martin and Marjorie Pier have hosted up and down the California coast for years. With just over a dozen diners in the restaurant at its busiest, it’s unavoidably intimate and makes you feel like you’ve stumbled across a secret culinary hideout. You have. But with a reservation, anyone’s welcome. 29F Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707-774-6185, streetsocial.social (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Beet Tartare with sweet potato chips from Street Social in Petaluma. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Lunchette: We love the carefully-sourced, healthy and delicious lunch options at this tiny downtown walk-up. The smoked trout salad with preserved lemon vinaigrette, roasted beets, pickled raisins and cashews is our favorite, along with a warm grain bowl with roasted sweet potatoes and chickpeas. Slices of fresh pizza are also available to pair with your salad. 25 Fourth St., Petaluma, 707-241-7443, lunchettepetaluma.com. (Sam T./Yelp)
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Central Market: Dressed in his chef’s coat, Tony Najiola looms large over the dining room — watching every dish go out, visiting every table to ensure his patrons are happy — but he never imposes. The open kitchen, dining room and bar feel airy, with full views of the wood-fired oven and the line. But it’s the food, frequently sourced from Najiiola’s Muleheart Farm, that really does the talking here. Instead of foams and potions and powders, the food is just, well, food. 42 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707-778-9900, centralmarketpetaluma.com. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
The Butchers Board served at Central Market in Petaluma. (Crista Jeremiason/The Press Democrat)
Red Pizza served at Central Market in Petaluma. (Crista Jeremiason/The Press Democrat)
Pearl: Inspired by the flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa (with a little Southern French and Spanish thrown in for good measure), chef/owners Brian Leitner and Annette Yang continue to impress with their sunny interpretations of shakshuka, fresh pita, fattoush salad and braised meats including brisket and lamb. 500 First St., Petaluma, 707-559-5187, pearlpetaluma.com. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Persian fish stew from Pearl restaurant in Petaluma. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
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Stockhome: A neighborhood hub for unfussy family-friendly Turkish and Mediterranean street food found in the larger cities of Sweden with homey classics like Swedish meatballs, pickled herring and Swedish pancakes on the menu — all of it with a few nods to California as well. Consider it the United Nations of local dining. 220 Western Ave., Petaluma, 707-981-8511, stockhomerestaurant.com. (newrevmedia.com)
Kebab plate with garlic yogurt from Stockhome restaurant in Petaluma. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Swedish pancake with berries and whipped cream at Stockhome Restaurant in Petaluma. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Sake 107: Chef Eiji Ando, a Hana Japanese alum, has dedicated his life to the craft. It’s awe-inspiring to watch the flicking of his hands as he shapes the seasoned rice and fish into a single perfect bite, and perfect isn’t a word we use lightly when it comes to nigiri. This is seriously awesome sushi and izayaki in downtown Petaluma that reminds us of what great Japanese food can really taste like. 107 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 241-7580, sake107.com. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Miso katsu, pank fried kurobuta pork with owari style sauce at Sake 107 in Petaluma. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
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Melts in your mouth roll at Sake 107 in Petaluma. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Brewsters Beer Garden: This 350-seat outdoor beer garden in the heart of downtown Petaluma would be packed no matter what the menu looked like — it's a great place to have a beer. But the food continues to impress, with smoked brisket, my favorite buttermilk fried chicken sando (it's the goat cheddar) and seasonal salads. Great for a night out with friends or family. 229 Water St. N., Petaluma, 707-981-8330, brewstersbeergarden.com. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Fried chicken sandwich with goat cheddar, romaine, garlic mayo, bacon, Della Fattoria bun at Brewsters Beer Garden in Petaluma. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
At Brewsters Beer Garden in Petaluma. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Brownie with vanilla ice cream at Brewsters Beer Garden in Petaluma. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
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The Shuckery: Raw oysters are a Sonoma County staple, and I always forget how much I love the small, unassuming Kumamotos at The Shuckery. Dedicated to the humbler oyster, this cozy cafe is a shucker's dream. Try the Bingos, grilled oysters with Cognac, mayonnaise, Parmesan and garlic. Plus a full bar and outdoor seating. 100 Washington St., Petaluma, 707-981-7891, theshuckeryca.com. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Zoe Kimberly shucks oysters at The Shuckery in Petaluma. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Wild Goat Bistro: A waterfront classic with insanely good Neapolitan pizzas (like the four cheese fig and pig with prosciutto and fig spread), polenta fries, Early Girl Dip with heirloom tomatoes and pancetta and dinner entrees including Shepherd's pie, and wild salmon with roasted artichokes. 6 Petaluma Blvd. N., Suite A5, Petaluma, 707-658-1156, wildgoatbistro.com. (Christopher Chung/The Press Democrat)
A chocolate hazelnut cake at Wild Goat Bistro in Petaluma. (Christopher Chung/The Press Democrat)
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Petaluma is awash with great restaurants, from simple sandwiches to luxurious farm-to-table experiences. It’s never easy to pick favorites, but there are some menus that stand head and shoulders above the rest. Click through the gallery for our favorite Petaluma restaurants of the moment.
