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  • Central Market

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Central Market
Central Market

Central Market Details

  • Dining Style: Casual Elegant
  • Website: http://www.centralmarketpetaluma.com
  • Email: info@centralmarketpetaluma.com
  • Phone: (707) 778-9900
  • Hours of Operation: Happy Hour Sunday - Thursday 5:00 - 6:00 pm: $1 Oysters, $4 Beers, $5 Wines.
  • Payment Options: AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
  • Cuisine: Organic, Californian, Contemporary American
  • Executive Chef: Tony Najiola
  • Dress Code: Casual Dress
  • Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
  • Additional Details: Beer, Counter Seating, Farm to Table, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Catering: By special request only.
  • Private Party Facilities: Restaurant dining room available for buy-out by special request.
  • Private Party Contact: Victoria Makol, General Manager (707) 778-9900
  • Entertainment: Chef Tony Najiola is very entertaining. Join our mailing list to be notified of upcoming events.
  • Special Events & Promotions: Happy Hour Sunday - Thursday 5:00 - 6:00 pm: $1 Oysters, $4 Beers, $5 Wines.

Getting there

  • Cross Street: Western Avenue
  • Public Transit: Nearest bus stop is at 4th Street & "C" Street
  • Parking: Street Parking
  • Parking Details: Street parking and public lots available. Nearest public lot is on Keller Street at Western Avenue, two blocks West of our location.
A word from Central Market
Farm to Table Cuisine. We offer fine dining in a casual atmosphere with a seasonal menu featuring local produce, sustainable seafood & all natural meats.

We are unable to reserve seats at the counter.

We support Slow Food.
Foodspotting photos
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Awards voted by OpenTable diners
  • Diners' Choice WinnerFit for Foodies
Diner Reviews
  • "We had the awesome crudo with sea trout and avocado and the pork chop which was divine. Sea scallops with basil mashed potatoes. Wow. Butterscotch crème brulee was beautiful. Have eaten at Central Market many, many times and it's consistently excellent."
    Dined on 3/7/2014
  • "Great little restaurant with a forward thinking menu. Lots of local fresh foods and a decent wine by the glass list. Don't get up to Petaluma very often....however I would take the time to drive up from SF for dinner!"
    Dined on 3/7/2014
  • "Love this place. Thoughtful, creative dishes on the menu; organic, locally sourced produce; great atmosphere (it's a treat, but its not too stuffy); good wine list. If you're having a romantic night then ask if you can book the cosy seat with throw pillows that's tucked away in the front window."
    Dined on 3/6/2014
  • "Tucked away unobtrusively in the quiet square of a quiet, still largely rural Northern California town, Central Market is a hidden gem that offers a first class dining experience the equal or the superior of many of the region's restaurants that charge twice the price."
    Dined on 3/7/2014
  • "I go to Central Market regularly with my husband and with my girlfriends. I love their fresh local dishes, always done with such creativity and a kind of simple flair. It's my favorite. Barbara"
    Dined on 3/6/2014
  • "Wonderful meal and service at the always top-notch Central Market. Fat Tuesday means a special menu in addition to the usual for Chef Tony. We had a great dinner of seafood hush puppies and gumbo. Dessert included a meyer lemon pie a la mode (Three Twins vanilla). Yum! During dinner a motley parade of musicians and revelers made their way from the streets through the middle of restaurant to celebrate Mardi Gras. Use Open Table to reserve your table next year. Not to be missed!"
    Dined on 3/4/2014
  • "Consistently a go to in Sonoma County, Chef Tony's approach to localIy sourced food prepared thoughtfully always stands out."
    Dined on 3/5/2014
  • "Foodies love it. Much of the menu comes from their own farm. And the fare reflects what you have to do when you produce your own food. You have to use ALL of it - not just what comes in packages. Example - shoe string pig's ear (the animal - not the mushroom). You raise pigs - you use pigs - not just the loin and chops. Fava leaves in a dish. Preparation was imaginative - little things like slicing along the edge of asparagus to give a flatter surface when oven roasting to get a bit more "fond". The wait-lady was a rare combination of an enjoyable presence occasionally at the table yet not intruding into our party. Very pleasant. The place really fit the old-town part of Petaluma. Great for dinner before a concert at McNears."
    Dined on 3/1/2014
  • "Had dinner Sunday night and it was wonderful as usual. The food is so consistent and service is friendly and prompt."
    Dined on 2/23/2014
  • "It was my son's 33 B-Day, he wanted to try CM and on short notice, we got best table in house and seated promptly then....nothing! No drinks, no sign of our waitress. Finally, "Are you 3 waiting for a fourth?" "No, may we order?" It went like that all night. I guessed she was deaf and I was required to "sign" her across the room, or at the next table. During one of our waits, I was telling my son a story, "You know what's weird...besides that woman in the window..." there was a nutty old broad in a tutu and Lennon glasses staring in from the outside; fab local color! I guess?! I died! Son got pizza, burnt, I would have sent back, he ate and pronounced greasy. Mother knows best, my pick in Larkspur was more "healthy", but I had fun @ CM!"
    Dined on 2/21/2014
  • "This was my first time to this restaurant. It has been well known locally for years and now I see why it is so popular, My guest and I arrived a little early for our reservation and was seated by what appeared to be the chef. He welcomed and seated us and checked back periodically to check on our table as we were served. The salads, truffle topped raviolis, and entrees (scallops and oxtails) were outstanding. I really liked this place. It is obvious why this restaurant has remained so popular in Petaluma. They had a fire this last year....when that happened, I made commitment to myself, when they reopened, I would not put off trying this place. It's great, and we will return. Thanks chef for a great evening."
    Dined on 2/21/2014
  • "A friend and I decided to splurge and went to Central Market for dinner. Everything was 5 star. My friend who has a very restricted diet had enough dishes to choose from that fit her diet. Waiter explained what was in each dish so she could decide what to eat. He never rushed us and was a polite and great waiter. All the food was delicious. Pricey, but worth it for a splurge."
    Dined on 2/18/2014
  • "My boyfriend and I went to Central Market to celebrate Valentine's Day. We were excited to try a new restaurant with locally grown food. We ordered the French onion soup & a roasted root vegetable plate as our starters, and were both disappointed by the one-dimensional flavor. Both were bland and we expected more. Luckily, we both ordered the same entree- a chicken breast with fried polenta that was very flavorful! Portions were appropriate size for the cost. And our waitress, along with the rest of the staff were very attentive and enjoyable. We never felt rushed or ignored even though all of the tables were full."
    Dined on 2/15/2014
  • "We recently moved to Sonoma County and are delighted by the number of incredible restaurants. Yet even amidst these riches, a few gems stand out, Central Market among them. The food is uniquely delicious, even on the appetizer list--who knew that olives could be served hot and that doing so would take the flavor to another level???--and the wine list is wonderful--and personalized, as the chef graciously recommended a bottle the last time we were there and said he'd take it off our hands and drink it himself if we didn't like it. Can't get a stronger recommendation that that. We love this place so much we've gone three weeks in a row!"
    Dined on 2/13/2014
  • "Arriving at 5PM we were seated in the very middle of a noisy room, despite my asking for a quiet table. We were able to move to a table along the edge although at a high table with stools. The food was good, the service was earnest. I appreciated the wine in 1/4 liters. I thought the bill was a little high."
    Dined on 2/16/2014
  • "Yes, bacon! It comes in the Sweet Gems salad, but I just get a side of bacon instead as my appetizer. Best bacon I've ever had in the universe! Food is excellent. We've have been there a few times now, as have a number of friends, and no one has ever had a bad dish. For the second time now, my wife and I have had to share 3 desserts because we couldn't decide on just one or two."
    Dined on 2/15/2014
  • "We love Central Market. However, when we were in for Valentine's Day, during which we were in the middle of a 21-day vegan challenge, the waitress was good at finding things for us to eat, but I really think the time has come that EVERY self-respecting restaurant should have MARKED vegan options. Risi Bisi does, and it just makes it easier. So many people are going vegan but still want to eat at their favorite restaurants.... "V" is for vegan or can be made vegan. It's as simple as that. Also, we think the days of those pressboard floors are over. Invest already."
    Dined on 2/14/2014
  • "Second time there. Just as great as the first. Diverse menu. We'll go back again. Highly recommended."
    Dined on 2/14/2014
  • "Our table's different starters (3) and entrees (4) were outstanding and desserts .....just the right dolce. Our server (Sandy), was spot on cordial, knowledgable, professional and efficient. You have lightning in a bottle.....congrats!"
    Dined on 2/11/2014
  • "Great locally sourced products served in creative dishes and an extensive list of organic and sustainable wines."
    Dined on 2/11/2014
  • "Central Market is back open and I couldn't be happier. My favorite restaurant hands down in Petaluma. Happy surprise that small plates are half off before 6pm. And the short ribs, mmmmmm. End it with the butterscotch pot and life is good."
    Dined on 2/9/2014
  • "The evening started out great. Nice wine, crab appetizer to die for! Promptly served salad. Then we wait for an hour for our entrees! No explanation, nothing! When we finally asked our waitress "don't you think our food should be out by now??" She was nice, but unconcerned and said it should be out shortly. Another ten to fifteen minutes later, finally our food arrives. It was delicious, however after waiting so long we really were not hungry anymore. Hope it was just a fluke. We'll try them again to see."
    Dined on 2/8/2014
  • "Whether planning a romantic dinner or just an everyday treat, CM is a great place to eat. The menu always has something new and tasty to try plus some standard favorites."
    Dined on 2/6/2014
  • "It's one of Petaluma's finest, but in my opinion, the food was just good, a bit bland and slightly overcooked, so that the natural taste got lost a bit."
    Dined on 2/6/2014
  • "6 of us had dinner to celebrate my birthday and everything was perfect. Our server was there just when we needed her and all the food was scrumptious. I rarely eat meat but hey it's my birthday, so I had the lamb which was perfectly cooked and mouth watering. Tasted hubby's swordfish with heirloom beans - fabulous. Their homemade bread was irresistable. Okay, the apple pie was only so-so but the pots-de-creme was superb. Good wine list."
    Dined on 2/1/2014
  • "This was our first time dining at Central Market based on friends' recommendations. We were impressed with the menu offerings and how most items were organically grown and local. The wait staff was helpful in recommending wine pairings with our meal. The restaurant was small and filled quickly yet we did not feel rushed. At the end of the meal the owner/chef came to our table and asked about our meal and thanked us for dining. All in all,we had a wonderful experience."
    Dined on 1/31/2014
  • "Four of us had short ribs, The other three raved over them but I thought they weren't up to the chef's normal excellent cooking. In fact they tasted as if they had been refrigerated after cooking and then reheated. This restaurant is normally excellent and this one average meal will not deter me from another visit."
    Dined on 1/29/2014
  • "Have dined here on numerous occasions. For business and pleasure. Never had a bad meal here, always outstanding with excellent service and wine list. A local favorite. The raw oyster bar is superb, and the old Petaluma ambience is warm and welcoming."
    Dined on 1/28/2014
  • "We had the crab and the cabbage lamb appetizers. Delicious and generous portions. I had the scallops which were perfect, well seasoned and generous. Highly recommendI"
    Dined on 1/28/2014
  • "I'm so glad this place reopened !!! everything is back to normal! great food and great service! See you soon!"
    Dined on 1/20/2014
  • "Excellent choice for special evening. Celebrated daughter-in-laws' birthday which included a two year old. Staff was very helpful and supportive of special needs. French onion soup was the best I've ever had. Excellent rich broth and the onions were superb. Beef short ribs were as described on menu. Succulent and served with an array of vegetables. Would order both again without hesitation. One of our party was a vegetarian and two eat paleo diets. All were satisfied with choices available. Put this on your "must do" list for Petaluma. It's on mine!"
    Dined on 1/26/2014
  • "Went here for the first time this past weekend. my husband is from Manhattan and we have lived in SF and the East Bay so we have dined at some pretty darn good places over the years. Central Market.....wow! i was impressed. service was so attentive, patient (when i couldn't figure out which wine to order and sampled 4 different ones...), informed, friendly, seamless. we ordered the carrots over tahini (best carrots ever), the lamb cabbage rolls, the sea scallops and brussel sprouts + chicken bomba. each bite was exquisite. portions were perfect. dessert was coffee and butterscotch creme/pudding - to die for. this is such a lovely spot with fantastic food and great service. i really had zero complaints. going back soon!"
    Dined on 1/25/2014
  • "A good waiter can save a bad meal, but a bad waiter can never save a good meal. What makes this note so hard to write is that I really love this place, see review from 8/24/13. Our waitress was aloof and seemed interested in being elsewhere. The pace the food came out was odd (slammed with salad and a small plate) then a long time until the entree. Worst of all was the wine service - brought the wrong bottle, tore the cork apart and then poured a full serving into a dirty glass. When we asked for a clean glass, the manager(?) took the full serving and dumped the wine and returned with a clean empty glass. No apology, no check adjustment. It's not cool to spend $60 on a bottle of wine & lose 1 of the 5 glasses to a lazy mistake."
    Dined on 1/24/2014
  • "Central Market has great food, friendly attentive staff, and an extensive (but pricey) wine list. The variety of high and low, round and square tables gives the place greater ambiance, and the high acoustic ceiling cuts down on excessive noise. The blue cheese salad was delicious with an exquisite delicate dressing and crunchy chunks of bacon. I enjoyed the lamb, perfectly prepared. My partner loved the chicken ball. A minor disappointment: there was no aioli to replace a side of ketchup with the wonderful Kennebuck fries."
    Dined on 1/24/2014
  • "Dined at Central Market with seven guests (all Petaluma residents) for the first time last Friday evening. A really wonderful experience in every possible way. The buzz, thoughtful, delicious entrees, variety, great service all made for a most enjoyable evening. And believe me, it was an experience I truly enjoyed and appreciated: I live in Moraga (East Bay shire) where fine dining means dining at home! To coin a phrase from Gen. Douglas MacArthur: "I shall return!""
    Dined on 1/17/2014
  • "I love this neighborhood restaurant. The wait staff is excellent, the ambience beautiful (my NY friends LOVED it!)."
    Dined on 1/20/2014
  • "This great restaurant has reopened after a fire. Glad to have it back. My husband and I and our adult son enjoyed my birthday dinner here on a Sunday evening. Our waitperson, Loren, was engaging and knowledgeable about the menu and was comfortable making excellent recommendations on food items and portions. His service was impeccable and seamless. The food was excellent. All three in our party were completely satisfied with our choices. The food is locally sourced and creatively prepared. We will not wait for a special occasion to return. Check out the Sun-Thu tasting menu."
    Dined on 1/19/2014
  • "Friends and I had a delightful dinner that capped off a lovely weekend visit. Couldn't get a reservation for Saturday night, but Sunday was worth the wait. The food was fresh, innovative and delicious. Staff were knowledgeable about the menu and accommodating of food allergies/restrictions. The atmosphere was friendly and welcoming. All of my guests agreed that they would love a return visit."
    Dined on 1/19/2014
  • "So glad they are back up and running! We love going there!"
    Dined on 1/16/2014
  • "Excellent food!! Great place to celebrate an event."
    Dined on 1/15/2014
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Diners' Choice Awards
  • Wine Country Winners
  • Fit for Foodies
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