Pearl truly is a hidden gem in Petaluma. They are only open for lunch/brunch. No tipping allowed! Sometimes you go to a restaurant and they just do everything right, so it is with Pearl. Our neighbors had mentioned them and their bangin' cassoulet and that being one of my favorite dishes I knew I had to go. The restaurant is super cute with maybe 10 tables inside and 5 out in an out of the way, industrial-ish area of Petaluma. They are beer and wine only but they do cool things with them and have a great draft and bottle selection. They also do cool looking coffees but we weren't feeling that. Drinks- Old Caz Porter (amazing) and Henhouse Saison. Better half got the Moroccan Mary, a beer based riff on the traditional Bloody Mary. I was suspicious but it turned out to be amazing, refresh and flavorful but lighter than the original. We also got the spiced sangria, which was basically a Sangria made with mulled wine, interesting but not my fave. Food - might as well start with the cassoulet. Incredible, just simply incredible! It's one of those things that requires time and expertise to get just right. Ranch Gordo white beans that were still whole but totally creamy, Toulouse sausage, sauerkraut, confit duck leg and a poached egg. The flavors were so deep, I couldn't see bottom. Oyster sando - Nice sized fresh oysters, fried to perfection, slaw and fixins on a baguette. Yum! Lamb burger - didn't get to try it but the consumer said it was amazing, Fish stew - With any stew it's all about the stock and clearly they had put in the work. Flavor was complex and rich with ample seafood and a nice whole grain toast on top. Dessert - Usually an Achilles heel of most restaurants, Pearl delivered here too. Buckwheat donuts with a bittersweet chocolate sauce, yes please. The donuts were fresh and hot, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The chocolate sauce was only slightly sweet with hints of coffee, espresso maybe. Wood roasted peaches with granola, hazelnuts and yogurt, plate licking good! The peaches were slightly smoky and lightly caramelized sprinkled with house made granola and blobs of Greek yogurt. One of the bests desserts I have ever had. Service was very friendly and a large jar of water on our table made sure we never ran out. In summary, Pearl is the real deal, in the running for best restaurant in the Northbay. Their menu changes every day so check out their website for the latest but no matter what is on for the day you won't be disappointed. I can't wait to return and probably won't be able to make it more than a couple weeks without their stellar cuisine! read more

My husband and I stumbled on this restaurant and are so happy that we were able to get a table. Everything was perfect, the food, the drinks, the wine list, the service. Highly recommend! read more

What a great little place! This little restaurant is a couple of blocks from the busy part of the business district. They serve vegetarian and vegan dishes. The owner is super friendly and an amazing chef. One does not need to be a vegetarian to go to this restaurant, and for me not being a vegetarian, I did not feel anything was missing from the meal. Everything was delicious and memorable, including the desserts. And the service was great! read more

If you haven't been to Pearl in Petaluma you have to go! The Lamb burger with feta-studded patties, fennel tzatziki and lil' salad is fantastic! Finish with one of their "craft" coffees - I had the Cold Fashioned - cold brew, muddled cherry and orange bitters! You won't be taking a nap after you consume this incredible tincture. Super friendly staff always makes it a pleasure to pop in for a casual lunch! read more

Pearl - Bars Near Me - Petaluma, California

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The food was delicious, limited menu, but the all looked amazing (as they were served to others)

Ambiance is cozy and the food was superb! A bit pricey but all worth it. I wish the portions are bigger though. We will definitely go back once we're in town again. read more

5/5. The food was amazing and the ambiance was perfect. We dined with our two small children and our server was accommodating and friendly. Bonus: prices include tip! So even though it's rated $$ it wasn't too bad. read more

Let's start by saying Pearl deserves a 5-star, they just didn't earn one. The food was fresh, unique and enjoyed loads of flavor. Lots of fresh ingredients, fresh vegetables, curated sauces all topped with creativity. The setting is warehouse chic. Killer indoor/outdoor vibe. We sat outside in the sun on a Friday late morning. Babbs had the brisket and eggs. Her initial comment was - " I need to learn how to make a brisket like this." Yummy. I had the French omelet with leaks and cheese. They even made a plate of plain eggs for Thor. Now the 3-star part. We were the first guests to arrive. When my wife asked if we could sit inside the owner responded with "if you can prove you've been vaccinated" in a harsh tone. Excuse me. We are Vax'd and carry proof. Never the less, it was clear we were not welcome inside so we sat outside. Good with me. I love the sun. The owner was super cordial with several of the guests, which was great to see and gives us hope for Pearl. However we were greeted with a sharp edge, and we felt uncomfortable from the start. I know the owner can be nice as she showed some personality to other guests. One older lady and the owner had a great conversation. Note however that particular patron was served and done well before we received our food. And mind you, at that time they had just opened and there were only two tables with guests. A deliver truck then pulled up and kept his engine running next to us for 15 min while he unloaded. No thought for the guests sucking up the exhaust. The owner and waitress must have been used to this as neither noticed or asked the delivery driver to turn off the engine. The owner never visited to say hi or ask where we were from or how the meal went. Simple gesture would have gone a long way. We loved the food and are hoping we had a uncommon experience with the friendliness issue. Providing 4-star even though we had a very poor 3-star social experience here. read more

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Stopped here for lunch on our way up north. The place also has a small outside seating area with heat lamps. The inside is small and seating is pretty tight inside. The food was good well flavored and decent portion size. And what do you know this place does not accept tips! read more

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Everything was delicious and the staff were so sweet and friendly! Truly unique menu and coffees, it's a must in Petaluma!

Reliably high-quality, delicious Mediterranean inspired food, very good service, casual, fairly unremarkable ambience, but comfortable...

A real "gem"! The food was delicious! Our server so friendly and attentive! So loved our brunch!

We randomly selected this spot because I am newly sober, and I was craving a replacement for my standard wedding pregame. Lucky for me Pearl was open and has *delicious* coffee mocktails/creations! I came for coffee drinks and stayed for the excellent service and bomb food that's Eastern Mediterranean-inspired. Here's a rundown of my experience @ Pearl: Pros: * The coffee: My God...their coffee is so good and innovative. My hubby and I have high standards because he's a coffee snob. We tried the minty Black Julep, the Mediterranean Fizz, the creamy Turkish Coffee and Cupp du Monde. Each drink was delectable. * The brunch items: We ordered the fluffy amaranth waffle with fresh ricotta and plum strawberry jam. I thought the ingredients altogether would result in a waffle that was saturated in sugar. I was wrong! The chef knows how to balance delicate ingredients well. We also ordered the french omelet, which has goat cheese, fresh fig and thyme compote. Every single component of this dish -- included the lightly dressed salad and sourdough bread -- are incredible. * All of the food is made onsite (as confirmed by the delightful owner), and most of the ingredients are super fresh and locally sourced. * Tipping is not encouraged because it's already included in pricing. * owned by a woman of color! Cons: * It's located in downtown Petaluma and that's sadly many, many miles away from me! read more

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Before I was able to make it to Pearl, I failed miserably like seven or eight times trying to get there at the right time. For some reason I kept thinking they were a breakfast place and I would get my hopes up and then would end up getting there and would remember it was lunch or dinner. Finally the stars aligned and we were able to eat outside at the restaurant before sheltering place. On our first visit, we ate on the deck across from the restaurant on a gorgeous fall afternoon. The weather was a little bit chilly but sunny and we warmed up quickly. The view from the deck overlooked the area including a gorgeous redwood and ended up being nice ambiance despite anything else that could have challenged that. I started off with a mug of the warm ginger cider $6 and he ordered the bittersweet iced coffee drink $6 while we looked over the menu. For our entrees, he ordered the pan fried chicken falafel $20 and I ordered the shakshuka with pita $20. After looking at the photos online we knew we also couldn't make it out there without having a dessert, so we ordered a slice of the cardamom cake $10 for the end of the meal. The warm ginger cider was absolutely decadent. It came out frothy like it was steamed and it was the perfect cup of fall deliciousness that I needed. He loved his coffee drink with a twist and I appreciated their ingenious takes on a crossover between coffee and day cocktails. His entree was beautifully plated with exceptionally spiced falafel patties and a bitter greens salad that nicely complemented the egg and sauce over the top of the falafel patties. My shakshuka was a ton of food but well seasoned and obviously made with a lot of attention to detail and was packed with flavor. The best part of our meal however was the cardamom cake, topped with pistachios and served alongside poached fruit. Initially I thought the cake was going to be too dry but it was a close texture with a wonderful orange/honey/rose/pistachio combo that just rocked my world. On our second time eating at Pearl, we ordered our meals to go and he tried the trout sando $21, I had the falafel $20, and we ordered the rice pudding $10 for dessert. The falafel was as good the first time as it was the second, but the trout sandwich definitely was the winner on this meal with its Moroccan carrot salad packing a punch with immense flavor. The Moroccan rice pudding with poached cranberries and cookie crumbles was deliciously heavy and immersive, and I couldn't eat it fast enough. Initially I thought maybe the prices were too high, however after eating more than one meal here I discovered that everything they charge for they deliver in terms of quality of their food and attention to detail and seasoning. I thought it was interesting that the menu prices also include service and tips are not allowed so that's an interesting way to reflect pricing on menus. All the people that I have had exposure to in terms of over the phone or in person at the restaurant have been friendly and helpful, and before shelter in place, I was there in person and despite not being able to dine indoors I was still able to get a look at the interior. The decor was warm and friendly and I definitely would love to dine indoors with them in the future. In the meantime, I will continue to order to go and support this very delicious and authentic take on Mediterranean food and beyond! read more

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I love this sandwich * . I am all for the thick bacon and fish combo. Bonus! There's a tasty Brussel sprout coleslaw hiding behind the sandwich. Have it for brunch, lunch, save the other half for dinner. Feeling depressed? Have a Turkish coffee or two, feel powerful, take those adult chores by the horns! #pearlpetaluma read more

Pearl - Trout Sandwich for the win! - Bars Near Me - Petaluma, California

Creative menu, interesting flavors. The coffee is FANTASTIC. Not much here for kids but not every place needs to serve chicken tenders and fries. Leave the kids with a sitter, come for brunch, get the Turkish coffee! read more

Every bite packs a ton of flavor. Every bite probably costs $5. Every bite was delicious. Came here for lunch when I debated whether or not to stay in Petaluma. Definitely recommend you stop by. They're located on a quiet street, nice shade outside, and if you have time to walk around after (I didn't) it seems they're close to the water. Menu was mediterranean. Shakshuka was such a great interpretation of the dish with all sorts of extra goodies like halloumi cheese. The picnic lunch is a great sampler and everything was in season and it showed. I felt like the manager/owner? hated us, so that was mildly uncomfortable - I had 3 kids under 5 with me and my very dependent and confused mother, so it was definitely a circus. But that's why I asked to sit outside as far from everyone else as possible. And somehow most of the food stayed on the table. Waitress was sweet. In short, not sure it is a family oriented place at all but I'm glad I dragged the brood over so at least I got to taste some real, good food. read more

Delicious, comfortable, vibrant, and friendly! I can't believe I waited so long to try this gem of a restaurant! Amazingly flavorful, filling, and creative menu! I ordered the shakshuka which unfortunately I cannot spell, but I can guarantee it tasted out of this world. Love this place! Friendly owners and wait staff. read more

Went there for Juneteenth. Five of us with 3 different dishes. Wait was about an hour before food arrived, place was busy. I don't really like frittata's but I can say that this frittata was the best I've ever tasted. If you like frittata's then put this on your list. The other 2 dishes were even better. The Turkish flatbread was better but the Cassoulet was the winner. Just Wow. Read the menu and you will see a delightful variety of dishes. Going back for more! read more

Fantastic food, middle eastern influenced. I had the best shakshuka I have ever had in the States. The service was excellent. Our server was knowledgable and made excellent recommendations and no tipping. They pay their staff a decent wage. We loved our meal. read more

This place was phenomenal. The food was absolutely delectable. The drinks were perfectly and carefully crafted. Quaint little place. It appears to be a very intimate staff with a direct connection to the area and a history of the foods. Can't wait to go back when I'm in town again. read more

Great spot with a nice outdoor area too. They very nicely squeezed our large group in before a reservation. I had the zhuog trout BLT and while I didn't taste much zhuog, the sandwich was pretty good. The bread does a lot of the work here. I also tried a bit of the waffle and this pork shoulder dish and liked both. I'd initially planned on getting the cassoulet but it just seemed to heavy for a warm august brunch. read more

Pearl is a real treasure for Petaluma. Cozy atmosphere and s good location. Walking distance to town but easy parking. Food was terrific and excellent service. Owners were on site when we were there. We had the creamed broccoli soup, bocadillo and the persian meatball tagine. We ended with warm brioche doughnuts. The whole experience was an absolute delight! read more

Hangtown Fry with oysters and lamb sausage. OMG. Good!! And today lemonade was peach. I don't think I've had a daily lemonade that want killer. My bride was two thumbs up on The Picnic Plate. Ahhhh.... read more

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Food was excellent. Brisket is heaven on earth. Can't go wrong with anything really. You have to appreciate what goes into these dishes and a foodie to know good food ! Passing thru Petaluma for brunch hit the spot !!! Just what I was looking for.. exotic ethnic brunch read more

Pearl - Bars Near Me - Petaluma, California

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Sadly, we did not enjoy our experience. We came based on a recommendation, so asked quite a few questions about the menu items. Specifically about the Halibut Brandade. Never were we told it is traditionally a very SALTY dish. Once tasted, it was unedible. We informed our server, and that is when he told us about that aspect. He said he should have mentioned that aspect of the dish to us. We asked if we could get the omelet instead, and quickly since the rest of our table had been served. He was A., clearly reluctant to take away the Halibut dish saying he would have to speak with someone and B., it would take the same amount of time to order something else. At this point, it was obvious our complaint was not being received well, so we decided to share one of the other existing dishes on the table. We asked for a second plate to do so. Our server never returned with a second plate. Never came back to check on us for the remainder of our meal. When we were clearly finished, another member of the staff came over with three menus for the table with no explanation as to why and made comment that she understood the Halibut Brandade was not to our taste. When we tried to explain what occurred with the lack of explanation of the didh. she basically shut down the conversation. This restaurant includes TIP, so as a customer, you have no way to acknowledge good or bad service. Menu may be interesting, but for the service alone, I would never recommend going here, when there are so many other places that make you feel that your input is valued and appreciated. read more

I have been reading about this place for a while and they're only open 11 to 3 so we had to find a day when we could go for lunch. Everything was delicious. I had an omelette with greens and pistachio oil and my partner had a mushroom salad. Service was nice. Lovely place. read more

Last Friday I was walking with my partner and we stumbled upon this brunch spot. The service was great and the food and coffee were delicious. Highly recommend their speciality coffee and any of their food items! They also have a lovely outdoor space right out front in case you want to enjoy the beautiful Petaluma weather while you dine. read more

Returning to Pearl for lunch after a year's hiatus following a mediocre lunch, our disappointment with the food today - frittata and seafood salad - was greater than last time. Vegetarian frittata was insipid; salad had what appeared to be a couple canned sardines and decent-sized shrimps, no "local halibut" as claimed and tasty lettuce. $23-25 per course was exorbitant. Local draft IPA was the high point of the meal. The menu offers little for vegans or even vegetarians. Server was pleasant and competent, although an extended wait for a three-dish order food in nearly empty restaurant was inexplicable. read more

Fabulous in every way! The wine list is totally off the hook... Annette has a knack for picking incredible international wines that pair perfectly with all of her dishes! We started with the mom's Meyer lemon Mimosa and the French grenache/Syrah rosé - plus cold brew and 2-cup French press ... perfection! My husband has a flat iron steak and eggs with asparagus Sunnyside eggs and chimichurri: again perfection! I had the chopped salad with perfectly cooked beef and avocado and amazing local radishes with vinaigrette & dukkah: delicious! We ended with the beet & sour cream cake and a "bittersweet" (Cold brew, Coco and bergamot with candied orange peel)! The perfect end to the perfect Mother's Day meal at the bar - or you can watch all the action... Annette is a master bartender! Get IN HERE and check it out! They have a great power and wonderful patio seating and the service is excellent and professional! Yay Pearl!!!!! You had us at hello (and Corsican red!!) Cheers! read more

Everything was 5*. Our server was very friendly and actually gave opinions when asked. The coffee drinks were all spectacular and very different one fro the other. The shakshuka was the best i've had in recent memory--full of umami and a great mix of veggies. I nibbled a bite of each of my friends' dishes and they were great. Only the cassoulet (reportedly) was not superlative (just good--but I don't eat pork, so couldn't see for myself!). Dessert was huge, luckily, as we split it four ways. It was a fantastic moist cake full of ginger and maybe molasses? ... not too sweet and lovely whipped cream accented perfectly. Can't wait to go back! read more

We drove through Petaluma last weekend, and were looking for something to eat. When it comes to food places, I tend to follow Yelp reviews, because I don't want to be disappointed. I need the food to be good, and the atmosphere to be nice. I'd rather pay a little more for a really good meal than getting cheap and crappy food. Even if that means going out less often. So, seeing 5 Yelp stars for Pearl was a no brainer. And we were not disappointed! The food was great; the restaurant is cute; the street really cool; and the staff is super nice and friendly. read more

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Attractive place to sit outside. Cool breeze in shade. Bring a sweater. Pricey for brunch but that's ok. Too much herb on frittata, so scraped off the top crust. Suggest adding Schramsberg as an additional and familiar bubbly. Lamb burger looked good but too rich for my mood. Might try on next visit. I would give another visit. Desserts are meh. The rice pudding could use a touch of honey. Tasted like cold oatmeal with raspberry mash on top. A no tip policy! Good on them. In Europe this is a good job. read more

There's a pearl of a restaurant located along the Petaluma River, just south of downtown Petaluma, and it just happens to be named Pearl. Pearl is just one of many new businesses that are opening along this burgeoning area of the city that not only had repurposed warehouses that are being used for cafes and wine tasting rooms among other things in which people can spend a day walking around to take in or experience and new modern apartment and condominium complexes have opened up all around the area where people can live, work and eat all in one place. One of those new multiple living complexes that was built in this wharf area of Petaluma houses Pearl restaurant. We came on a warm Saturday afternoon after a couple of hours of wine tasting and although we didn't have a reservation, they were easily able to accommodate us thanks to the fact they created their own makeshift outdoor dining area complete with curtains, heating lamps and bistro tables set up on an elevated patio across the street alongside some warehouses that were not in use at this time. The menu at Pearl is super compact with sections names such as Savory for entrees, Sweet for desserts, and Dinner for Two. Since we arrived well after the traditional lunch hour, the brunch dishes were no longer appealing to me, but it was nice to see that they still offered them even this late in the day, but it was three sandwiches that really piqued my interest this afternoon. Their steak sandwich, trout sandwich and their bocadillo, which is their pork loin sandwich were all deliciously described, but I decided to order their Flatiron Steak Sandwich made with a Romesco marinade, topped with charred red peppers, and served with a mustardy potato salad on the side. While my friend ordered their Persian Meatball Tagine served on a bed of Adassi rice, served with pumpkin, tamarind & green chili broth, and topped with a herbed yogurt. To wash down our meal, we both ordered their Turkish Coffee which was made with cinnamon & cardamom spices and a splash milk and topped with a cinnamon sprinkle. Our coffees came out in no time and our meal soon followed and I am happy to report, everything was prepared with such detail and care with just the right amount of seasoning and accoutrements, that this was tandem to a perfectly composed afternoon meal. The coffees, as expected were especially strong, which nicely balanced the sweetness of the overall flavor of the drink, and it turns out that it really carried a punch, as it kept me awake among all of the drinking I was doing that afternoon, so it was the perfect pick me up! The best thing about our meal is how affordable everything was as they don't expect additional tip at Pearl as it is already priced into your total bill and the service is another top selling point. Pearl restaurant represents what is so good about experiencing a quite lunch at a small independently-owned restaurant that is tucked away on a cozy corner off the beaten path of downtown Petaluma. Owners Annette & Brian have created a memorable daytime café and a weekend brunch destination that serves exceptionally crafted dishes that remind me as if I were dining on a outdoor patio along the shores of Greece, Turkey or Israel. In today's chaotic world, it's nice to experience a restaurant that is serving quality Eastern Mediterranean-inspired food with dishes that are comprised with unique touches and fine details, not to mention old-world charm in a relaxed outdoor setting. read more

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Stopped in for brunch on a chilly January day with my mom and my pup and had the most wonderful experience. The outdoor heater kept us nice and toasty, alongside some delicious warm ginger cider. The staff was friendly and had great recommendations. I ordered the shakshuka (tasty) and my mom ordered the seafood salad (also great). We shared the rice pudding for dessert, which had interesting flavors and wasn't too sweet or heavy. Will definitely return! read more

Wow! This was a lovely treat for brunch with my friend. I had heard of the spot but this was my first time here and while I don't usually like to review after one visit I was enchanted with this sweet restaurant and simply have to share. The menu is clever without being too inventive to the point of trying too hard or being off-putting. It's a combination of unique and familiar flavors that pack some umami punches to please the palate. I shared the stuffed bodega bay sardines and also had the buckwheat polenta. Both were stunning dishes; flavors popping and beautiful presentation. The sardines were stuffed with crumbled feta, and a mint gremolata with the citrus salad for a pop of freshness that really brought a freshness to the lovely sardines that were fresh and so tender. The polenta for today was an umami bomb with those mushrooms and the beautiful egg. To be honest I didn't taste the lemon from the cottage cheese because the buckwheat was definitely the shining flavor but it was a savory and delicious breakfast. I washed it all down with the Persian mug coffee that could have been 3x as large and I wouldn't have complained! Truly delicious top to the meal. I'm excited to go back and try it again and dive into new dishes. Everyone was crazy nice; maybe the pressure of good service that equates to a good tip takes away something that ultimately makes for a better service experience. Overall, a lovely and delicious experience. read more

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We love Pearl! The food is unique - a blend of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors - that you simply can't find anywhere else in Petaluma. The menu is constantly rotating and highly seasonal - it's always a surprise every time we stop in to see what's new and what "classics" are back. They also have some killer desserts, also rotating, but always delicious, which is problematic for us because we always pop in for brunch after hitting the gym :D The service is also extremely friendly and the restaurant disallows tips, opting instead to make sure menu prices can cover living wages for their staff. I absolutely love this and I feel restaurants that do this always have better service. This is by far the best breakfast/brunch place in town. It's reasonably priced given the high quality products, so if you're in the area (or even if you're not), stop by and check out Pearl. You won't regret it! read more

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They make the most delicious trout sandwich and interesting drinks. The service was quick and friendly.

This was my second visit for lunch. Absolutely delicious, inventive cuisine, with innovative flavors. The missing (5th) star is due to the brusque service. No matter. This is one of the best restaurants in the North Bay, and we'll be back. read more

My brother and sister and I drove 30 mins to come visit Pearl at recommendations of friends in the area. I was so excited to try them out,because the coffee's seemed unusual and inventive! The lady who made our coffee was so incredibly rude that we are still talking about it 5 mins later. It ruined our day. We spent $15.40 for two coffee's that were half filled. I wouldn't recommend for taste, portion, or service. read more