Can anyone recommend a good breakfast/brunch restaurant in Petaluma?
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Can anyone recommend a good breakfast/brunch restaurant in Petaluma?
Tea Room Cafe (https://www.tearoomcafe.com/)
hugh
Hallie's Diner, 125 Keller St, Petaluma 773-114 It is a great breakfast spot, I especially love their plantain with 2 salsa, black beans, eggs, and tortillas - feels like I'm back to Costa Rica. Check them out on Yelp, lots of pictures of different breakfasts. It does get busy, so either get there early or be prepared for a little wait.
The very best place for breakfast in Petaluma is Water Street Bistro, just over the foot bridge from Dempsey's. The owner/chef, Stephanie, has a delicate yet robust style and is one of the finest unknown chefs in the Bay Area (she was Daniel Patterson's right hand when he had Babette's in Sonoma). Plus, the place is adorable, like a little French jewel box. Stephanie buys a lot of her ingredients from local (i.e., Petaluma) farmers and ranchers.
Della Fattoria is also quite good, with a sophisticated sensibility. Eggs and many other ingredients come from the cafe's own farm.
Hallie's is pretty good but it doesn't rise to the level of quality (of ingredients, of preparation) of either of these locations, though it may be exactly what someone is looking for.
Aqus Cafe may not be the best breakfast, foodwise, as their cooking space is limited, but it totally overflows with good vibes and community spirit.. they have free music on Saturday morning, 10-1 or so.. organic fair-trade coffee and a variety of tasty foods for breakfast, lunch or dinner. I'd say that being a community gathering spot is it's main forte, but I've had some yummy food, very good coffee and sometimes great musical experiences there.. they have a full calendar of local music, trivia night, comedy, movie night, etc.. so if you like entertainment and community good-vibes with your breakfast you really should check it out. My other fave is the Tea Room Cafe.. but it tends to be more crowded and more expensive.
I want to put in a plug for a wonderful West County band, called Festival of Friends.. all of the people can sing and play, really well.. well worth checking out.. they are playing at Aqus in September.. Their music is sort of rootsy/America.. but very danceable, and uplifting, hardly any downer songs! They have a young fiddle player named Karl Kummerle who will blow your mind.. he is for sure going places.. an amazingly talented young man, and smart as a whip! : )
I got this info from Susan Ballinger, one of the main singers and a very good fiddle player, (former violinist ; ) .
Susan: We play Aqus Sept. 10th, (10:30-11am or so), Healdsburg farmers market 9-12 on Sat, sept 17, and October 8th
Please try to catch one of their great shows and tell them Scott told you about it! ; )
Scott.
Okay. Not in Petaluma, but if you venture out. Don't miss HALF DAY CAFE. Is airy, light, beautiful decor, kind and attentive service people, outstanding food (breakfasts are delicious although lunches are good too). Is located directly across from College of Marin -- they have parking lot. Also outside seating, but the bees, etc. keep me inside most of the time. My recommendation: Unless you want eggs/omettle (sp?), I usually order a fruit PLATE to share or not . . . and a fresh made bran muffin - which tastes more like coffee cake. Scones, etc. all fresh baked daily and accompany all breakfast dishes. Gena
Thanks, Gena, for the Half Day Cafe suggestion. I don't know about everyone else, but I'm happy to get recommendations for any great breakfast place in Marin, Sonoma, San Francisco, or Mendocino counties, if you want to send me a private suggestion, or just open this discussion of great breakfast places? I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.. : )
Thanks!
Scott.
Since you opened up the breakfast place recommendations to severaly counties (& not just Petaluma), I'd like to chime in about the Piner Cafe in Santa Rosa on Piner Rd. If you love pancakes, you probably won't be able to eat more than one - they are so big! But not just big, very light & fluffy. Everything else there is wonderful too. Not too fancy - just delicious & huge portions (you may have to share a plate).
Oh no they diin! Santa Rosa, here we go.
Best American Breakfast I've had in my fourteen years in the area: Su Casa, Safeway Shopping Center at Calistoga and 12, East Santa Rosa. Tucked back in the elbow of that L shaped strip mall. Jose and family would even let me substitute fresh fruit for toast. Nobody else does that. Ate there a lot when I lived in Rincon Valley, '01-'04. Have only been back two or three times cause it's a bit of a hike from the West County. Last time I was there a year or so ago, the food was consistent and the people just as sweet and hospitable.
Sam's 4 Play, north of Coddingtown on Cleveland Ave. is great as well. And they have those cast iron teapots that hold at least two cups. For a Black Tea for first cuppa' guy like me, that's primo. But they won't substitute toast with fruit. And their country style potatoes don't come close to Jose's at Su Casa.
Mac's on 4th is consistent. And they have the advantage of having the beautiful, talented and powerful chanteuse Callie Watts waiting there. Unfortunately she doesn't sing at work, you'll have to go to one of her gigs for that.
Then there was the Sneak Bar at The Q. But you need CDCR ID to get in there, prices are really cheap though! But driving down to the last exit in east Marin is a bit of a hike these days, even if I hadn't had to turn in my ID on the last day. It always was a bit of a hike, but at least it paid well.
I once got a warning of a write-up for the next time I was caught eating in the Sneak Bar, rather than walking it down through the lower yard in styrofoam, and eating it in my pod. Hence the name. You wouldn't belief the amount of styrofoam trash SQSP generates daily. Or maybe you would...Even if you eat in the Snack/Sneak Bar, it's served in the foam clamshell.
But that incredible view to the east, across the bay and with the San Rafael Bridge, with the sun coming up over the hills at dawn. Pretty spectacular, in spite of it being on the grounds, outside the walls, of Castle Frankenstein, Disneyland, The Q, Program Prison.
The Sneak Bar is just across the upper road from the old Death Chamber. Something I never failed to mark.