Looking for something a little more laid back and affordable, without sacrificing ambiance or flavor? Dine Petaluma style with these delicious, river town options!

17 Tasty, Affordable Petaluma Restaurants

On the Waterfront

Make the most of the only Sonoma County town with a river running through it. When it comes to riverfront dining, you can take your pick of Mediterranean, Ecuadorian, or French bistro cuisine.

Riverfront Café, at Petaluma Boulevard and B Street, offers a wide selection of California and Mediterranean cuisine. Sit on the deck for a tasty lunch with a river view or watch the sunset and hear live local music on Friday nights (during the warmer months). The café is open for breakfast and lunch 7 days a week and till 8 pm on weekends. Come as you are and leave sated and delighted.

If a bistro that uses local, fresh ingredients is more your thing, you can choose from croissants, savory quiches, gourmet sandwiches, flavorful soups, and more at Water Street Bistro.

If you’re just looking for a light meal with an organic fair-trade cuppa with a river view, Grand Central has Ecuadorian organic coffee, cacao, and empanadas.

History Meets Hipster

If you’re looking for historic architecture meets new twists on California cuisine, visit Wild Goat Bistro, located in the Great Petaluma Mill. At this bistro, gluten free is the norm, with nearly everything on the menu having that distinction. Menu options include Neopolitan-style pizzas, salads, small plates, and mains, all made from fresh, local ingredients.

McNear’s Saloon & Dining House is a sports bar with a large menu of American cuisine situated in a historic building that maintains its old-world feel without getting old fashioned about fun. With its late hours (till 11 pm every day), it’s a great place for a bite after a movie in the theater district just down the road or a pre-show dinner before a Mystic show next door.

Pizza Please!

Petaluma is a pizza lover’s dream come true, with so many options to choose from. In addition to pizza being on the menu at many restaurants with wood-fired, brick ovens, you can find a pizzeria on nearly every corner.  

Old Chicago Pizza offers deep dish pizza and calzones that you wish you could finish, but are great the next day for lunch. Whether you deck it out with all your favorite toppings or go minimal, you’ll be over the moon with the flavorful sauces and generous amounts of cheese.

The New Yorker Pizza & Restaurant has a wide array of cheesy menu items to choose from, like a Philly cheese steak sub and a chicken parmesan sandwich, if you’re sharing a table with folks who feel the need to deviate from that favorite American dinner pie.

Acre Pizza has you covered for Detroit style pizza, for those who like their pizza tall and mighty.  

Brixx Pizzeria, a family-owned pizzeria in Petaluma’s historic downtown, includes a full bar and pizzas made with fresh ingredients.  

Stonework Pizza & Tap offers 25 of the county’s best craft beers to compliment its stone-fired pizzas.

Even an Italian bakery, Stellina Pronto, joins the party with its own mouth-watering pizza.

Fast Food without the Chain

When you’re in a hurry, but don’t want to default to a fast-food chain, Petaluma has many alternatives from market delis to outdoor food parks and taco trucks.

Petaluma Market is a locally owned, independent grocery store featuring a full deli with a well-stocked salad bar.

The Block is home to a rotating array of food trucks in a cozy, family- and dog-friendly setting. This outdoor food court has a variety of cuisines made onsite with fresh ingredients.   

El Roy’s is a local taco truck forced to expand (locally) by popular demand. It’s  the locals’ choice for Mexican food on the go. In fact, it’s been voted best Sonoma County food truck by The Press Democrat’s Reader’s Choice Awards for 10 years.  

Comfort Food

Torches is the place to go for some comfort food like twice baked potatoes, chicken pot pie, brick-oven pizza. They have everything from fish & chips and burgers to prime rib or shrimp scampi. With an open bar in the middle, the bustling bartenders take centerstage as they craft tempting cocktails. 

Sol Food does comfort food Puerto Rican style. It’s a favorite lunch spot for locals and visitors alike. It offers authentic Puerto Rican favorites with delicious California combinations you didn’t see coming that might become your new go-tos.

Mi Pueblo El Centro serves up all the usual suspects with fresh ingredients and a smile. When you’re in the mood for Mexican comfort food, make it Mi Pueblo.

Get a Taste of Petaluma’s Casual Cuisine Scene

When you’re hungry and not into dressing for dinner or fussing over lunch, Petaluma has a plethora of quality dining experiences that will excite your mouth and fill your tummy without breaking your piggy bank. California knows casual and Petaluma does it in its own inimitable way, with farm-to-table freshness and dishes that dare to be different. Learn more about Petaluma cuisine on our Restaurant page, where you can also download printable lists to pack with your road maps, if you like to do it old-school. Bon appetite!