“One of my favorite places in Novato. Its small, quiet and dark and it has a piano!The selections and service are top notch! I've been coming here since it opened and surprised that you can get such a high quality dining experience in the shopping plaza location that it's in.This is a testament to its owner/founder, Munther. You can tell he sweats the details and it all pays off. The ambiance is what you'd expect of a boutique steakhouse. It features icons of yesteryear and backs it up with top notch service that you don't find anymore. The soft piano in the background is a really nice touch and makes you forget that you are in a chaotic shopping plaza.The quality of meal is really top notch. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I've had their pork chop (amazing), Tomahawk (amazing as well but bring a date) and of course the ribeye are, you guessed it, AMAZING!I love their sides too. The creamed spinach is a wonderful treat, truffle fries, whipped potatoes and the roasted Yukon potatoes are killer. Dont forget the side of green beans!Anyhoo, if your in the South Novato area and want an unexpected fine dining experience, dont hesitate to look up the Board Room!Parking: This shopping plaza is chaotic at times lol“
“A dive bar in downtown Novato, with all the ambience you'd expect of such an establishment. The host of characters at the bar certainly contributed. We were more interested in having beers than cocktails, but the draught beer selection was pretty dismal (5 beers on tap, and one of the taps was broken). They did have Lagunitas, which we all opted for. Okay, the name of the place does say "Cocktail Lounge," so I guess we can't get too uppity about the beer selection. The place was really quiet for a Saturday night. The bartender even commented that it was slow for a Saturday. What that meant for us was that we had the pool tables to ourselves and had a blast playing multiple rounds. (At $1 a game, no complaints!) The bartender was really nice, but would sometimes disappear for a while to go grab a smoke outside (with some of the other patrons). We were pretty chill, so didn't mind waiting, but I could see others might be cranky about it. All and all, a bar reminiscent of establishments you might have oft seen in the 70s and 80s. We were feeling a little nostalgic, I suppose. We're likely to go back.“
“I have been a faithful customer of Maya Palenque for 20+ years. I almost always order the chicken/rice soup which is beyond delicious. Big hunks of ripe avocados, glob of Mexican cheese, wonderful white meat chicken all in a very flavorful tomato base, not too spicy, broth. My husband swears by their chimichangas and the mole enchiladas also top notch. Always good, friendly service, never too crowded to feel comfortable. For those looking for a generous margarita, nice small bar area to sit after work. Their prices have gone up over the years, but then whose haven't? If you're looking for great Mexican food in a relaxed atmosphere, this is the place.“
“We arrived a little late, maybe that's why they didn't give a good service as they have a bar in that place and one of the employees was drunk, the burritos were cold, we ordered a casserole and it came with very little meat, we asked for a box to take the person away. He picked up the food and threw it away, totally bad service.“
“Atmosphere: Solid and funBar Service: Kind, interesting, professionalsDrinks: Costly (but craft cocktails can be, so expected), my drink was cloyingly sweet, my friend's drink was more of a savory thing, and one of the rum drinks was great.UPDATE:Within 1 hour the owner of the bar contacted me about the experience with the drink I had ordered. He offered an apology, which I appreciated but was unnecessary, as I should have been better about saying something during my visit, rather than in a public review. This was customer service at its best, and that I appreciate. Upon reflection my drink may have just been a bartender error, and everybody has an off day.As the atmosphere and employees are amazing, and the vibe a solid 100, and now management reacting in a meaningful way to a petty complaint, I am boosting to 5 stars across the board.Go see for yourself what caring about your customers, and their experience is all about. Cheers!“
“The food here is excellent and worth going for. We had the scallop appetizer, which was quite pricey, but heavenly, and the raw oysters recommended by our server, also heavenly. We also chose a delicious greens salad, and for our entrees we had the clams and mussels which were fresh and delicious, the cioppino, and the fettucine with clams. For dessert, we had one of the best creme brulees we have ever had. So the food was excellent and worth the price. It took us a while to get our drinks, although we arrived at the end of Happy Hour and that could be why. The oysters were served before the drinks. That shouldn't happen. The atmosphere was okay - very loud, so that we could barely hear one another, and we sat on the Kentucky Street side and cars were pulling into parking spots next to the restaurant and shining into our eyes. You'd think they could put something in the windows to handle that. As for the service, it was not great for a pricey restaurant. Our server warmed up to us over time, but the other person who was circulating (maybe one of the owners?) was not friendly at all. Not what you'd expect. Also, a $25 deposit to make a reservation? Really? Overall, we enjoyed our food but will probably not go back. Too loud, and just not worth the hassle.“
“We've been to Ayawaska several times and it has been a bit inconsistent.... however the food was always compelling enough to return.This visit was the best ever.The service, cocktails (a new, wider selection) and food all hit high notes.Every dish was balanced and well present, but above all it was delicious.I suspect maybe a new GM or new focus on operations!“
“Two words: Fancy. Toast. Girlies, hear me out, we love having our little treats that are fantastic flavor and a balance between sweet/savory. The fancy toast is all of that. They come bite sized, and you can get four for $29. The leek fritters and steak fries were a great appetizer and especially delicious during happy hour. I definitely would come back here again on gorgeous weather days. The seating/furniture is inviting for groups who want a casual hangout.“
“Great happy hour! Nice food bites and affordable prices. Always friendly service. Critique is for the odd layout for host stand. When busy, not an easy place to stand and wait for a table. Sort of first come first serve when it comes to bar area, which led to others hovering over tables and jumping ahead to snag a table when others were waiting patiently for their turn. Besides that and it being a bit noisy, still is one of our favorite spots to visit whenever we're in Petaluma.“
“I just had brunch at Easy Rider in Petaluma, and had an amazing brunch!!! Not only was our brunch, delicious, I had the fried chicken and waffle dish, but our server, whose name was Benjamin, was outstanding. What a pleasant fellow, and an excellent accommodating server. What an overall pleasant dining experience!“
“Great handcrafted cocktails, kind personable service, and relaxing ambiance.I visited with a friend pretty close to closing time and felt welcome. The Petaluma Boulevardier was refreshing and delicious. The spirits are made in house and are very high quality.“
“My wife and I decided to check this place out after we heard great things about their prime rib. We went in for lunch and were fortunate enough to be able to order it even though it was only on the dinner menu. Our waitress Kendra and the chef worked their magic and we're lucky they did because it was our last day in town. It was delicious and the portion size was a great value for the asking price. Plus it came with sides which increasingly seems like a rarity these days with something like a steak or prime rib. We don't drink but they had a nice bar next to the dining room, and some TVs with sports on if you're looking for that. The restaurant is within walking distance of a lot of great things to see and do as well. We'll definitely be back the next time we are in town and I look forward to it. Needless to say I highly recommend checking out Torches for yourself.“
“Went here for the night last Thursday, the DJ was awesome!! Playing some classics I hadnt heard in awhile and really got the room going. Got a moscow mule that was perfectly made as well. The outdoor area is a nice place to hangout and talk as well, with heaters and everything. Would recommend if you are looking for a place to chill and have a great time! Great music!!“
“I recently took some friends out for Sunday dinner at Giaco's. We had a cozy table right next to the fireplace, delicious food and great service. Recommend the Osso Bucco, the Papardelle pasta and the Blackened black cod. So, so delicious. Wonderful warm ambiance. And...if you like Bloody Marys, theirs cannot be beat.“
“Neighborhood bars are not necessarily friendly if you are not local. This one is an exception. I have probably been here maybe four times and enjoyed it every time. Considering my expectations, I found the back shelf very well stocked. If you are watching where your money goes, it not going to go further than this place. BTW, to get to the parking lot go around the block by taking the street to the North. The only bad thing about it is that I don't get in to Volpi's enough now, which is another Petaluma bar well worth visiting.“
“I met one of my girlfriends here for happy hour and we were certainly not disappointed. We had great service. Of course I didn't catch the fellow's name, but he was awesome and then we enjoyed a plate of the beef nachos, calamari and margarita flatbread pizza, the crust was superb. All of our choices were delicious and presented beautifully. Cocktails were tasty after a long week. It was particularly crowded but a steady flow of folks. I recommend coming for happy hour or if you want a full meal, that menu was quite extensive. Bon appetit!“
“This is the best bar in Petaluma if you ask me! They make an amazing gin gimlet! The ambiance is amazing! It's like a fancy yet casual neighborhood spot. A sexy cheers if you will. My favorite thing after a work day is to head over, grab a drink, and play shuffle board for a while!“
“We've been back to Kapu a few times and whatever issues they had on opening have been resolved. Additions like happy hour, the drink of the week, the Thursday family meal, and now live music on Fridays have made this a fantastic destination.“
“We had a great time here. It was a busy Saturday evening. We didn’t make reservations so we were glad to get standing room near the bar. We had heard the cocktails are great and they are. We started with the Alpine Sour and a non-alcoholic drink. Absolutely delicious. The bar tender Manny was excellent. Manny also made us a fantastic paper plane (not on the menu) and another cocktail.“
“My husband & I used to be regulars at this restaurant until we moved out of Fairfax and further north so it's been a while since I have been here. I went last night for dinner with my sister and we had a fantastic meal. The server was very attentive and patient. He was great answering our questions and held one of the appetizers she had ordered to keep it warm until I arrived. Very nice. The only thing is that now that I'm vegetarian, there weren't a lot of pasta options and I ended up with a margarita pizza. It was yummy so no complaints, but I would love it if some restaurants in Marin would start to make more of an effort for vegetarians and vegans, especially since more and more people are going at least partially plant based. I have to say that it is the running joke for me with my friends that when we go out to eat, I have the choice of a mushroom dish as an entree unless I decide to do salads or apps. There are so many other things to do for plant based appetites than mushrooms and butternut squash. And I feel like Italian should be one of those restaurants that can really do a nice job with non-meat dishes. Okay, that being said, we had a great time, the apps and wine were delicious and the dessert, Tartuffo, was as delicious as I had remembered.“
“My husband and I went to The Speakeasy for the first time tonight. From the moment we arrived until we left -- almost two hours -- Daniell took care of us and made us feel so welcome. Incredible cocktails, and delicious food. Really fun atmosphere and a great vibe. We plan on becoming regulars for happy hour and can't wait to have dinner at The Boardroom next door.“