What a find. We spent the day exploring Petaluma and decided to have dinner at Central Market. It was a complete home run. The service was outstanding from start to finish, but what really impressed me was seeing Chef/Owner Tony Najiola actively overseeing every aspect of the operation. He visited tables, checked on guests, and was clearly involved in every detail of the dining experience. That's something you rarely see anymore, especially from a restaurant owner who has been doing this for more than two decades, and it deserves to be applauded. Everything we ordered was fantastic. The shoestring zucchini was a great starter, the lobster risotto was rich and perfectly prepared, and the Testarossa pizza was absolutely outstanding. Pairing it all with a Pliny the Elder made for a perfect Sonoma County dinner. Central Market isn't just a great restaurant, it's the kind of place that reminds you why locally owned restaurants matter. We will definitely be back the next time we're in Petaluma. read more

This review reflects my experience with the restaurant's gift card process and, more specifically, the lack of communication, follow-through, and accountability from owner Tony Najiola over the course of several months. This review is not a reflection of the restaurant's food, service, or dining experience. In November 2025 I purchased a $150 gift card through Central Market's website via Toast. The gift card was never received. I first reached out in February 2026 to inquire about the missing gift card. Tony responded the following day suggesting that I may have been scammed. After I clarified that the purchase was made directly through Central Market's website, he acknowledged that he had misunderstood, stated that this was a known issue, and told me he would contact Toast to investigate. March 2026: A month passed with no update whatsoever. I called the restaurant and spoke with Tony directly. He told me that I would need to contact Toast myself--a completely different answer from what had previously been discussed. April 2026: I informed Tony via email that Toast's customer service system specifically states that support is intended for restaurant businesses, not customers. I followed up again by email on 4/30 asking if he had received my message and whether there was any update. I have received no response since. What is most disappointing is the lack of clarity and consistency throughout this process. At various points, I was told I may have been scammed, then told it was a known issue that would be investigated, and finally told to resolve it myself through a company that does not provide support to customers in this situation. Not once was there a proactive update, clear explanation, or meaningful attempt to resolve the issue. More than five months after paying $150, I still do not have the gift card (which was intended as a Christmas present for a close friend), a refund, or even the courtesy of a response to my follow-up emails. When a business takes a customer's money, there should be some level of accountability when something goes wrong. At this point, I can only conclude that customer service is not a priority. The complete lack of communication and follow-through has left me feeling that my concerns--and my business--simply do not matter. Based on my experience, I would strongly caution others against purchasing gift cards through their website. read more

Really Yummy Supper on the Water - Awesome waiter, food was incredible - go here for dinner - you will no regret it! read more

Every time I go to Central Market I realize that I need to visit more often. It was one of the most satisfying meals I've had in quite a while. From the starters (we arrived before 6 pm, in time for their happy hour menu) to dessert, there's little room for anything but the highest praise. Their Thick Cut Onion Rings were some of the most divine I've ever tasted. Part of me wanted to order another round as my main! Crisp and flavorful, salty, but balanced. The wood fired carrots that came at the same time were also tasty, but had a hard time competing with their fried companion dish. For our mains, I've gotten the Sweet Gems Salad more times than I care to admit - and love it every time. My friend enjoyed the Funghi pizza with foraged mushrooms. For my son's fried chicken, we should probably have asked for more gravy. It seemed a little dry, but still tasty. Then, since we almost never skip dessert, the strawberry pies were flavorful without being at all oversweetened. And their bittersweet chocolate torte is rich and always served warm. Our server, Christine, wasn't wrong to tease us about hoping we'd be back next week. She was thoughtful and attentive, without hovering, throughout the meal. In fact, the whole team did an excellent job of guiding us through our dinner, start to finish, from the greeting at the door as soon as we stepped in, to the speedy kitchen and expediter that got everything to the table at the perfect temperature. Central Market is probably my favorite culinary balance between comfort food, quality ingredients, approachable dining, with enough options and inventiveness to avoid anything from feeling pedantic or tired. The space is beautiful and open, without being too noisy to hold a conversation. I'm not sure we'll be back next week, but soon! read more

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Yummy, yummy, yummy. It's been some time but it was a Monday, early evening & Central Market had their board outside reminding peeps they are open for business. They have a weekday happy hour and it's just 1 hour. So we walked in and sunshine greeted us, we sat at the bar, my favorite spot, that's where the action is, they have a large wood burning oven where many of their dishes are cooked. So cool to watch Felipe & other staff feeding the wood burning beast of an oven. The bar is cool, long and made of metal. Alex was our waitress and she brought our selection in a snap. We had, roasted carrots, por-boy sandwich, onion wings and a couple of beverages. All were outstanding. My only thought was the tomato dip they gave with onion rings it had an interesting flavor and we couldn't pinpoint it, but I think it was curry. Not my favorite spice. I'd be content with catchup with a splash of Tabasco or an aioli. But it's the chefs choice. Central Market is one of the longest standing restaurant in Petaluma and there is a reason why, Good consistent food, joyful employees, great atmosphere and location. read more

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We ordered quite a lot of appetizers and let me say none of them disappoint. The ambience was perfect with and the service was amazing! read more

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Overdue review. My most recent visit to Central Market was a lovely dining experience with friends. We started with the shoestring zucchini which was delicious & refreshing! My friends loved the halibut cheek appetizer. It was good, but I get put off my dill, so I didn't enjoy it as much as they did. Their housemade focaccia was delicious (even the next day)! I had a delicious sweet corn & scallop risotto which my husband would have loved had he been with us! My companions had the short rib and the steak fries - neither of them left anything on the plate! We were too full to consider dessert - next time, I'll have to save room! read more

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We have dined at Central Market a few times, and finally had the chance to use a gift certificate that was graciously given to us. Last night's experience was outstanding. We really enjoy the vibe of downtown Petaluma, and the ambiance of the restaurant was nicely set with fresh cut flowers in the dinning room. The service was impeccable (shout out to Alex and Rita); they were very knowledgeable about the food (ingredients and preparation) and service was prompt without ever rushing us through the dining experience. We started with the meatball appetizer, and the gem salad. The Blue Ribbon Meatball was fantastic. The gem salad was mind blowingly good; every ingredient, from the eggs, the blue cheese, and the pork belly was over the top The pork belly was cooked in the wood fired oven and the smoke flavor was just amazing. For dinner we split the mushroom pizza and then finished with the Valrhona chocolate tart. Everything was cooked to perfection, the presentation and flavors were sublime. It was evident that a tremendous amount of care and attention to detail goes into the preparation and service of the meal. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and will be back soon. read more

Central Market - New American Near Me - Petaluma, California

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Wow - this was one of most forgettable meals of my life. My wife and I got the fried chicken - awful. I have never had fried chicken that had zero taste and absolutely no seasoning. The blandest most dull fried chicken ever. Zero seasoning at all. Like none period. Zip My Mother in Law had the pork shop and she said it had no seasoning either. Also no salt or pepper on our table. This restaurant doesn't seem to believe in seasoning food. Also so dirty in there - you walk in and are greeted by the curtains around the front door - filthy . Seriously nasty to see as you walk into a restaurant. I also noticed the booth benches were so so dirty and stained - gross. Just avoid! Awful and expensive experience. Craving good food? Do not go here. Truly forgettable and a very poor experience. read more

This is a very nice little restaurant on the corner. The interior is a mix of modern and homey. I like the open kitchen concept. I was greeted and sat immediately. I started with the chantrelle mushroom blintzes, that were filled with fresh harvested chantrelle mushrooms, seasonal vegetables and a light cheesey sauce. So good. Next the greens salad with fennel & a sherry vinaigrette. It was tasty, though large. My entree was the Snake River pork chop in a flavorful sauce, served with greens, grilled onions and corn bread. Beautifully prepared and very flavorful. The staff is friendly and the head chef came out & talked to his guests. I appreciate that. read more

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We had a big group. The service was very good, and the ambiance was fine, but, I hate to say, we weren't particularly impressed by the food. I mean, it was okay, but nothing special. Some of us drove fairly long distances to eat here. Perhaps we had our hopes up too high because of the great reviews. Anyway, considering the high prices vs the so-so flavors I wouldn't really recommend them. read more

Excellent local menu and wine list. Pizzas, pastas, and proteins. Good service, casual atmosphere. The Wygu beef was incredible. The texture of that perfectly cooked beef was outstanding. The diablo butter that came on top was rich, salty, and zesty. My only gripe, the house made chipotle ketchup that came with the fries was not great. I ordered the pork mid rare, but it came out closer to mid well. In this case the meat was still very juicy and flavorful, so it was fine. Nothing worse than a dried out chop. The Focaccia appetizer with tosca cheese was all the things. Crispy, chewy, creamy, salty. Delicious to share. We also had the beef skewers with chimichuri sauce app. It was gone in 2 mins. They can do a cheese pizza or buttered pasta for kids. Check out Central Market for farm to table style quality in a casual atmosphere. read more

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Honestly - the people here made our experience very special. We were celebrating my wife's first Mother's Day!! We made an early reservation with our 10 month old son. They gave us the booth by the window which my son lived with all the pillow. He did t make a peep for the whole 2 hour dinner. The hostess was super friendly. Our server was awesome and helpful and the chef / owner came to our table to check on us a couple times and made us a special dish since I had an allergy to one of the dishes ordered. Super special and all the food was delicious. For sure a great spot. read more

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Fun fact: after we moved to Petaluma almost 13 years ago, Central Market was the first place we ate at. Since then, we've been in several dozen times over the years and the food has remained fresh and seasonal, creative, and always delicious. There are some staples on the menu that haven't changed much throughout the years, but I'd say at least half of the menu changes regularly. Chef Tony loves to experiment and draw from the flavors of his many travel experiences abroad. The restaurant has a beautiful wood-fired oven that is producing one of the best pizzas in the city (and we have a LOT of places making pizza here). As with the rest of the menu, the pizzas constantly rotate and can be customized with the addition of things like bacon, sausage, or even a fried egg. The rest of the menu is awesome, but don't sleep on the pizza. When they're on the menu, the Boquerones are absolutely delicious and such a great way to start a meal. Same with the crispy shoestring zucchini - simply dressed with some lemon and parmesan - absolutely killer dish. All of the mains we've had were always delicious but the standouts for us are anything pork or steak. Once upon a time, he used to offer a bone-in ribeye for two that was easily the best steak in town. The wagyu steak frites is also amazing, but don't shy away from some of the lesser known cuts. Chef always does a fantastic job transforming these into culinary masterpieces. For example, the lamb neck is out of this world - so tender, rich, and flavorful! If you're into dessert, you'll absolutely love Central Market. Like the rest of the menu, the desserts will change based on what's seasonal, however every fruit-based pie/tart on the menu has been off the charts. The crust is always tender and buttery and the filling is not to sweet. If you're looking for something a bit more decadent, you must get the chocolate tartlet. I am not a huge fan of chocolate, but this is easily one of my favorite desserts of all time. Lastly, they have one of the best and most reasonably priced wine lists in the area, including on occasion, very old vintages (think 80s and 90s) of Ravenswood, which in any other setting, would be impossible to find. There's a good selection of European wines, primarily from France and Italy, as well as a very good selection of domestic wines - easily something for every palate and most importantly, that won't break the bank. Reservations are recommended and probably essential for larger parties but we love sitting at the bar, which is first come first served. They do have a happy hour from 5-6pm, which offers tremendous value. Parking can be a bit difficult, but you can find street parking on Western Ave between Keller St and Petaluma Blvd, plus there a big garage at Keller St/Western Ave as well so don't let that deter you. Overall, there's a reason Central Market is among the oldest dining establishments in town - it is consistently great and constantly experimenting with the best seasonal ingredients. read more

Went to the restaurant 25 minutes before closing and they wouldn't take an order even to go. Very disappointing.

The risotto with scallops is a huge winner. Their in house macaroons are enough for me to dream about for a lifetime. The salad was lame - don't recommend. read more

The food was fine, but the service was really obnoxious and up tight. All of them. And the chef Tony is very arrogant. I went with a food writer and they were rude and very unaccomodating. Thought it was good but now I am in no rush to go back. Plenty of other good places in Petaluma, who needs this rude pushy uptight treatment. Yuck. read more

This has been a favorite dinner spot of mine for years. Came back again last night and was not disappointed. Managed to score reservations just a few hours before dinner at 7pm, yay! Staff is lovely and accommodating. I adore the inside of this restaurant, with its brick walls and high ceilings. Bright, beautiful light coming in from giant windows. It can get loud, but the whole vibe is fun. Crown is mixed - families out celebrating and you'll also spy a few new dates. The bar is a great place to crash and eat. Santa-during-the-off-season spotted at the bar last night (wink), enjoying a meal on his own. Let's talk about the menu. While I do not consume a lot of meat - the main courses of this eatery are meat-centric. BUT. The sides and salads are quite delicious and you won't leave hungry. Pastas also look well-appointed. We each ordered a salad to start, which were very generous portions. Huge salads, I would say. Tasty fresh greens and dressed well. Then we shared a pizzetta. Crispy and predictable. But the real gem was the chickpea farinata. OMG the flavors - and the texture! Kind of a thin, pancake-type flatbread that is crusted with fresh rosemary and sea salt. I literally could have eaten eight of those and called it a night. Great wine list offered as well. Because who eats Italian flatbread without a delicious red? Not these people. You will see a man walking around in an apron. That's Tony, the chef. He's wonderful to chat with, and open to sharing a recipe. Tony is a staple, as he is there every time I visit. Say hi, he's delicious. read more

Central Market - Summer (June 2024) menu. - New American Near Me - Petaluma, California

It's been 4 years since I've been here. The food is solid along with service and ambiance. We had the carrots and stuffed focaccia as starters along with the little gem salad. The pork chop was outstanding, seared scallops with risotto good and the mushroom pizza with added bacon excellent. I remember the gem salad being better 4 years ago but it was still good. They need to clean the cobwebs - so don't look up when you're there. read more

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Great little place. To be honest, we had intended to go to another place down the street, but could not get in. Turned out to be a win for us! The service was great. We all liked the diverse menu. I had a great pasta a with local mushrooms. My wife had the salmon that was just outstanding. The other couple we were with had the ribs and the pizza. Both were great and the pizza was made in a wood fired oven. They also have a diverse wine menu. Great find. read more

What a delicious meal. My husband and I just had a wonderful experience at Central Market. Service was lovely and the food was even better. We got a number of appetizers, the stuffed focaccia and roasted carrots were exceptional. My husband got the pizza (I might have nibbled on a slice as well) and loved it. The crust was thin but still chewy- my absolute favorite. I ordered the striped sea bass- it was incredible. Everything paired beautifully and was cooked perfectly. We were excited to get a visit from the chef as well- overall we had a fantastic time and are incredibly full. read more

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Fantastic service very attentive; ambiance Hip Chic but tad warm due to heatwave; food was excellent read more

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This used to be my favorite restaurant in Petaluma, probably still is, but I haven't eaten at many new spots since I used to work downtown years ago. I love that the food is farm to table, so the menu usually changes often based on the season. Ate here for dinner with my family on a rainy Friday night. The place was still pretty packed! We made a reservation but got seated at a high top by the bar. No complaints, my mom just sometimes has trouble getting into high seats because of her back and she's just older now. The bartender/our server Laura is the best. She gets 5 stars in my opinion. She is super friendly, and she is super attentive even though she covers the bar and 3 high tops. She explained everything on the menu we had questions about and was extremely helpful. We shared the ocean trout crudo which was flavorful but definitely the "busiest" crudo I've had. It was on top of guacamole which is an interesting twist. Only complaint is that it comes with 3 pieces. Seems kind of small in my opinion. But it was fine since my mom doesn't like raw fish. 4/5. The winter salad was delicious with salami, pecorino, provolone, anchovy, and a lighter dressing. Super good mix of flavor. 5/5. The testarossa pizza was good but nothing crazy. 4/5. The pork chop is as tasty as I remember it years ago!! 5/5. The sea bass was cooked perfectly and so tasty. 5/5. My wagyu sirloin steak was a little tough, but it's a sirloin. Not exactly as good as I remember it but still good. The fries were lightly crispy but mostly soft...overall 4/5 dish. We were too full so skipped dessert this time. But Laura took time to explain almost every dessert they had that night. I can't express how great she was that night!! Also, they used to serve complimentary bread years ago and it was SO good. They charge $3 now for a basic baguette-still good but the bread isn't the same as what I remember. I think it used to be sourdough loaf style bread...but the butter is delicious. The bread wasn't served warm though. The place can get very loud since it's not a huge dining room. Something to look out for if you come with older people who have a harder time hearing. Overall, I'd say this place hasn't changed much, and I'm glad! read more

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Central Market continues to be my go to restaurant for dinner and special occasions . Bit anything like it in Marin County. The Chefs creativity and wonderful staff are a plus. Their homemade bread and desserts are an addition to the main courses and wonderful wine list. read more

Central Market is still a wonderful place to come to for delicious, local food for the family. The service here is incredible, especially since Christine started working here! It's located conveniently on the corner and the best seats are in the window so try to request if you're able to in advance! read more

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GET THE CARROTS! GET THE SHORT RIB! Now since I got this out of the way, I am forever coming back again to one of my newly found local Sonoma County eateries. The staff is super awesome friendly and the wine list filled with super delicious varieties. And a big bonus on the waitstaff having an intimate knowledge on every single bottle on the menu and having strong opinions on each and every one. The service here is polished yet casual, the ambiance modern yet comfortable. It's quiet enough to have a normal conversation wtihout having to yell at your dinner-mates. Parking can be a challenge on the weekends, so allow a few extra minutes before your reservation time. read more

So I was invited to pick a restaurant for an early birthday dinner with my friends Robert and Emily so I picked one that wasn't open on Sundays so I went with the next best French restaurant in the area and we met up here at Central Market for dinner! We started with a bottle of French White Burgundy that wasn't a Chardonnay it was an Aligote grape varietal and really good!! Plus the mark up wasn't as bad as some of the rest of the wines on the list!! We then started with some apps, the homemade seafood sausage, one for the table it contains scallops, petrole sole, fennel and an orange salad, then we had the Waygu Beef Skewer which was so Bomb it was Lit!! Haha the delicious sauce and the beef was so tender and delicious yum!! Then we had the Homemade Mortadella plate which was substantial in its offering served with organic kumquats and chunks of Pecorino cheese on it!! Went well with the wine! The service was excellent and the whole staff did an excellent job!! Then onto the entrees to which Emily and I had the Artic Char which was a nice chunk of fish done medium rare on a sauce I don't remember what the sauce was because I took most of it home! Way too much food for me! Then Robert and Mike had the long slow cooked Angus Short Rib served with Lyonnaise potatoes and served with a Horseradish gremolata with that we ordered wine btg to which Robert had the reserve Zinfandel and I had the Pinot Noir because I tasted the Charbono and it was too light in flavors. The service felt spot on to me and to the table as well! We got out of here for around 250 bucks which is great for a table of four with a bottle and at least 3 glasses of wine, plus apps and entrees! I highly recommend Central Market for anyone!! read more

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This is going to be my absolute go to when I'm in Petaluma. I'd even drive an hour to get here. The food the service and ambience was perfect. We had a group of nine and they accommodated us with no issue. Now for the food. Starter was the calamari and oh my goodness it was sooo delicious. Calamari was grilled and stuffed with a shrimp mixture, in a Smoked paprika sauce and chickpeas. The duck wings were phenomenal. I'm going back just for those. They were extra crispy with a Smokey bbq sauce. The salad was delicious as well. It was fresh and crispy with chunks of blue cheese. Everyone enjoyed their dish/s ; pork chop/ short ribs and scallops. You know the food is good when 9 people are quiet because everyone is enjoying their meal. read more

We loved our dinner! Perhaps the best part was our server, David R. He was so personable and professional! If there was a "Best in Petaluma", David would come in first. The Wagu beef skewers were such a delicious appetizer. Perfect! The Ling Cod was a delicious main, and the other main, short ribs with scallop potatoes, is so deliciously good! The ambience is very nice, cozy but roomy at the same time. All in all, we really enjoyed our dining experience. Highly recommended! read more

Hello Yelpers , went here for a late night dinner. To be honest I found the menu to be very limited. There was only a few items on the menu and none really struck out at me. I ate the pork chop with onion rings, it was ok, nothing special about it. I will say the service and ambiance was good. Food fell a little short , but wouldn't mind giving it another try. read more

My sister and I received gift certs for our birthdays and what a wonderful Surprise! The service was great! We ordered their house made focaccia, hot olives, and the wagu kabobs for appetizers.. all were fantastic! Focaccia had little pockets of cheese inside with a flavorful herb on top.. wow!! I could have eaten that all night! Hot olives! What is there not to love. The beef kabobs were so tender and were served with a delicious chimichurri and a slaw!! I ordered the wagu beef with fries for my main dish - incredible!!! My sister had the sea scallops with the risotto- perfection! The prices were very reasonable And the Quality of food and service Are top notch!! Oh, and the wine selection was equally elevated. Thanks so much! We'll be back!! read more

It's been my morning coffee stop off and on fir 10 years. Great Italian roast coffees and scones. The barista always dies a great job when I have a desire for a foamy coffee and they seem to be genuinely happy, not bothered as some other coffee house servers. And the pastries are great! read more

Recently we attended a Ravenswood-Once and Future wine dinner hosted by a true Icon of California wine, Joel Peterson who once made the Ravenswood wines before being sold and now has the Once and future wine label. The dinner consisted of several courses of food each paired with one or more wines. One of the courses was Striped Bass with fava Shoots, fava pods and fava beans. Delicious and served with two wines.. Another course was Liberty Farm Duck Cabbage Roll which was a bit unusual but tasted awesome. This was paired with two more wines. Another course was Black Angus Ribeye prepared a perfect medium rare and was delicious paired with two more wines. It was a great dinner, excellent food, 30-35 year old wines, great service. Chef-owner Tony Najiola made it all happen. It was a night to remember. Check the Central Market Website as Tony has started these wine dinners on Tuesday evenings. read more

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My sister and I went to Central Market tonight for the first time and it was amazing! The Ocean Trout Crudo was out of this world with the fresh guacamole, spicy jalapeño, tangy pickled radish, and crisp cucumber. The Duck Breast was cooked to perfection with a honey glaze, roasted apples and grapes, and a potato puree- perfection!! And don't even get me started on the braised short ribs with au gratin potatoes and roasted carrots - so flavorful! We can't wait to try more. Definitely try it if you're in the area! Service was excellent as well! read more

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Just perfect service. Attentive but not overbearing. Friendly. Delicious farm to table. It's one of those placed where they know exactly which farm and purveyor everything comes from. We had oysters and mussels. The oysters were tiny but flavorful. I had their famous short ribs which were piping hot, delicious and rich. My friend had the catfish which looked lovely. Wine recommendations were perfect. read more

Central Market - Catfish wrapped in Bacon - New American Near Me - Petaluma, California

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Everything is really so good . Its employees and the ambiance were also legendary. I can't appreciate eating. The degree of cooking of the meat was very good. read more

Central Market is a fan favorite of ours. The ever changing farm to table menu is always fantastic, from seafood to meat to salads and pizza they continue to be inventive and the service is always great. Whenever we think about going to dinner in town Central Market is a top choice. read more

Location and the environment seem to be inviting. Staff might be a little bit tired. Happy hour from 5 to 6 and the price for raw oysters is very good. Food in general is fine but not a place that I will remember the restaurant by the quality or the food that I had. One time experience is ok. Okay w me to come back. read more

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Great food with a chill atmosphere. Staff are great and attentive and the chef/owner came out and talked with us several times to check in.

The food the atmosphere and the staff are incredible. I have eaten at Central market maybe 12 or 13 times. When I am in Petaluma it is one of my go to restaurants. The portions are just right. Very generous but not too much. I see great value in high quality ingredients cooked with skill. Love love love! read more