Amid a whirlwind year of restaurant openings, everything’s coming up roses for the city of Petaluma. And national publications are taking note. In a recent article, food review site Mashed named the Gold Rush-era town a “must-visit food destination.”
Of course, this is no news to Sonoma County residents, who have enjoyed Petaluma’s farm-fresh cuisine since it gained the designation as the World’s Egg Basket 100 years ago — resulting in an annual Egg Day Parade that still marches on to this day.
But lately, it seems the rest of the nation has finally embraced the charming wonders of Sonoma County’s historic gem of a town. In June, CNN named Petaluma among the best towns to visit in the U.S., describing it as “a riverfront farm-to-table paradise.”
Petaluma restaurants to try


It’s no wonder Petaluma is getting its flowers as the foodie hotspot we all know it to be. A handful of notable dining establishments have opened in town in the past year alone, including Hog Island Oyster Company’s pickup window last September; L’Oro Di Napoli’s second location in February; Mr. Stroopwafel in March; chef Stéphane Saint Louis’s Bijou restaurant in June; and Middle Eastern restaurant Levant in July. Oh, and another new restaurant on the way.
The Mashed article cited a number of essential Petaluma restaurants to try, from historic community staples to beloved modern fusion eateries.


For breakfast, it recommended the stone-milled sourdough bagels from The Bagel Mill (212 Western Ave.) and the cornmeal-based johnnycakes from the Tea Room Cafe (316 Western Ave.). The locally sourced fried chicken sandwich at family-friendly Brewsters Beer Garden (229 Water St.) got a shout-out, as well as the housemade pasta at Volpi’s Ristorante & Bar (124 Washington St.), a former Prohibition-era speakeasy and then grocery store.
Those looking for a more unique dining experience should try the Swedish and Middle Eastern cuisine at Stockhome (220 Western Ave.), where Mashed recommended dishes like fried halloumi and wiener schnitzel. Among Petaluma’s newcomers, L’Oro Di Napoli (208 Petaluma Blvd. N.) was named for providing a high-end dining experience with “exquisitely crafted dishes” like risotto and grilled seabass.
For more favorite restaurants in the foodie haven of Petaluma, check here.