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Papa's Taverna
Categories: Restaurants Greek Restaurants Mediterranean Greek, Mediterranean [Edit]
5688 Lakeville HighwayPetaluma, CA 94954
(707) 769-8545
- Hours:
Wed 11:30 am - 3:30 pm
Thu-Fri 11:30 am - 9 pm
Sat-Sun 11:30 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
42 reviews for Papa's Taverna
Review Highlights
"Don't forget to tip the belly dancer."
(in 5 reviews)
"Upstairs is quieter with views of the Petaluma River."
(in 15 reviews)
"Nice little drive off down Lakeville Road but well worth it."
(in 3 reviews)
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42 reviews in English
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Review from Tiffany R.
Santa Rosa, CA
2/4/2012
I live this place, great food and great people. I go to the belly dancing competitions that happen here. Love the event, awesome dancers, awesome food on there nights. They have a doc outside so when I am sailing back from being on the bay all day, we can stop here for dinner before we finish sailing into the marina.
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Review from Kindra S.
Penngrove, CA
8/26/2011
Here's the deal...the location alone deserves 5 stars. Right on the water, funky decor, live music, strong drinks - awesome, right?? YES - as long as you don't eat or ONLY stick to verrry safe options on the food menu.
We've been there multiple times - Saturday nights when there's a rockin' band and the dancefloor is hoppin' are really fun. Our last visit was a few weeks ago to enjoy the sunset from the restaurant upstairs. I decided to order the cioppino - a dish I know is easy to screw up but I honestly had faith they would get it right. WRONG! It was literally shrimp, scallops, crab legs in a bowl of tomato paste and water. It was SO gross! For some reason I wimped out on telling my server - although he didn't quite catch the hint when I pushed it to the end of the table UNTOUCHED! (PS Volpi's is the place for amazing ciopinno!)
The falafel there is fantastic. Stick to appetizers and drinks and you'll be just fine. -
Review from Constanza P.
San Rafael, CA
9/22/2011
Really good place to go after a day of kayaking in the Petaluma River and watch the sunset as you have a bite to eat. They dance zorbas and give lessons too on Sundays.
Looks like you are in another world. I like Pappa's Taverna. -
Review from Barbara S.
Sacramento, CA
8/2/2011
For me: a 5-star location, 5-star staff, and 5-star views just off the Lakeville Road! This is California funk and I mean that in a good way. And clearly everyone who piled into Papa's this past Sunday agreed with this California Travel Insider. In the world of reviews I would say 3- or 4-star food. The food is all about comfort (not gourmet) and I have to commend Papa's for holding on in an economy when so many others have failed. I love to sit and look out on the Petaluma River and wetlands and hillsides of Sonoma. Prices are reasonable....remember people, this is not a mainstream location with lots of foot traffic. I had driven past Papa's for years before I finally stopped one day. And I'm glad I did. This time we shared the Greek salad and Moussaka and were quite happy. Don't miss the house Greek tea infused with spices and perfect on a warm day.
They also have room for special events/groups and if you're a boating adventurer you can arrive by boat and tie-up at their landing. -
Review from Tom F.
Novato, CA
9/20/2011 1 photo
A hidden gem! Nice little drive off down Lakeville Road but well worth it. Everything is really good. My favorites are the pork and chicken kabobs, and their greek salad is delicious too.
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Review from Ben G.
Rohnert Park, CA
Updated - 11/7/2010
I received a reply from the owner, but I stand by my previous review. She said I should have asked them to turn down the music and they would have. Problem is, I did ask, and it didn't get turned down.
For the prices that this place charges, the quality of the food (no better than a chain restaurant) and the atmosphere (old seafood restaurant) do not stack up.
For comparison, Papa's charges $15 for a cheese burger with fries. The burger is nothing special. Generic bun, conventional produce (unripe tomato, iceberg lettuce or pale green leaf), conventional grain-fed beef, with frozen (I'm certain) steak fries. Boring, boring, boring. For $5 it would be about right, but $15? What a joke.
Now, I recently had a hamburger and fries and another Sonoma county restaurant. The burger was grass-fed, organic beef. The bun was homemade. The tomato was ripe and bursting with flavor, the lettuce was spring mix of several different colors. The cheese was local. The fries were fresh hand-cut potatoes (skin and all). Plus every ingredient was organic! And the decor of the restaurant was charming. The price? NINE DOLLARS.
There is no reason for Papa's Taverna to charge what they do for their unimpressive, generic food and dingy restaurant atmosphere. Especially when they blast you with crappy, cheesy synthesizer and drum machine music that is so loud that you cannot have a conversation with your friends. AVOID THIS PLACE LIKE THE PLAGUE if you value your money. It can be better spent at a variety of other local restaurants where you will spend LESS and get much higher quality food and an atmosphere where you will not be afraid to take a date!!!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/31/2010
Wow, this was one my worst restaurant experiences ever. I went there with some friends to see… Read more »
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Review from Shelley C.
San Rafael, CA
2/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ask Glynnis the owner to sing you the Naughty Birthday Song. This is her singing it: http://www.youtube.com...
A quick list of what's coming up there: http://localmusicvibe.... -
Review from Ana K.
Petaluma, CA
7/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Keller Estate is right across from Papa's Taverna so we have been eating here for the past 20 years! I love the Athenian Pita, the dolmas and the octopus. Enjoy!
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Review from Brian M.
Marina Bay, CA
9/10/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Good, but not amazing. Went for lunch... pita bread was the highlight... (and the ice cold beer on tap).
This place is in the boonies so be prepared for a bit of a drive. Service could have been better (there were only two tables) and the portions were on the small side. Our server (older lady) was surprised that we ate our lunch so quickly. I almost said to her-- "Well, if the portions were a bit bigger it may have taken us longer!"
Would I go back? Maybe. Been there a few years back with the previous owners and it was much better. -
Review from Michel D.
Windsor, CA
1/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
It was great, music was loud tough, lot's a Greek ladies dancing, then there was a belly dancer too. Sunday nite is when they have this Greek band from LA and the belly dancer.
I had the Mousaka which was fantastic! -
Review from Randell S.
Sonoma, CA
11/2/2011
Much better menu and great food. Give this place a try. Upstairs has the best views
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Review from Jeff M.
Petaluma, CA
8/5/2010
Papa's Taverna is located in Lakeville, a small colony of houses clustered along the river about 5 miles south of Petaluma. The restaurant overlooks Gilardi's Landing which amounts to a boat ramp and a few docks. Lunch is served upstairs and offers a great view of the river with the hills in the background.
We are not very experienced with greek food and can't distinguish whether the food is authentic and representative of food from Greece, only whether we enjoy it! For example, the Dolmas at Papa's taste like the Dolmas we have tasted elsewhere: all of them taste boring!
I really enjoy all their pita wraps but particularly the Athenian Pita, a meatless affair featuring chick peas, artichoke hearts, lettuce, and onion smothered in chunky feta dressing and wrapped in pita bread. Eating a pita cleanly, especially during lunch with clients, takes some training as the feta dressing tends want to ooze out and cover you. But the flavors are fantastic and worth mastering the skill of avoiding drippage!
The Pork and Chicken Svoulaki (skewer) are also very tasty. Most of their lunch meals come with very good steak fries or a salad with feta dressing; I usually opt for the salad because I love the dressing! They offer lunch specials worthy of trying, our experience with the specials has been good.
We enjoy the Tiropita and Spanakopita appetizers. Their Dolmas are good but we order Tzatziki to use as dipping sauce to liven them up. The Loukaniko Greek Sausage tasted like breakfast sausage to me, but it tasted quite yummy perched atop a piece of Pita. Not to be missed in the greek tea, a spicy beverage that is unique to our experience.
On Friday nights they feature live music, on Saturday and Sunday nights greek music and belly dancing. These all take place downstairs in the "Music Room." They used to serve dinners downstairs on those nights but we have not visited it since this spring's remodeling and are not sure about current practices.
We have been going to Papa's for lunch since it opened, so you know we like the food! New owners have recently taken over and they completely refurbished the kitchen upstairs. Also, the menu has been tweaked, and one casualty was the Zorba Pita made with a very nicely seasoned thin cut of beef. Too bad, the Zorba had awesome flavors. *hint hint* -
Review from David P.
4/11/2009
Moussaka perfection. Just the right balance among textures and sprices with each layer cooked just right into a cohesive whole. Thinly sliced potatoes at the bottom, thick layer of round beef in a rich tomato sauce topped with an equally thick layer of bechamel with a golden baked sheen..
Decor is very simple with a little stage and dance floor overlooking a lake. Service is very friendly and accommodating.
Looks like the whole place recently got a major face lift with a fresh coat of paint on the walls, fuller menu, new point-of-sales systems and such within the last few days. They still seem to be ironing out some of the kinks. A big plus is that moussaka is now always on the menu as opposed to being an occasional special. Downside is that taramosalata and melitzanosalata are off the appetizer menu.
Drink menu is limited but well thought out. There are four beers on tap (the Anchor Steam caught my eye) and several by the bottle (including a Greek one). A few choice wine selections including a pinot noir by Castle Rock (recently rated by the SF Chronicle as a top bargain pinot) and champaign from Gloria Ferrer (relatively close by).
Apparently they have live entertainment on weekends. I bet its a real hoot. But one of its biggest selling points is its biggest drawback: its in the middle of no place. The need for a designated driver means one person in your party can't have much fun. -
Review from desiree n.
Petaluma, CA
5/12/2008
Althought it's pretty deep I used to drive out here all the time just for the iced tea (best in petaluma at least). They also got some great food, and friendly family service.
if i didn't live in Santa Rosa and gas wasn't a million dollars a gallon I would drive there now to get some iced tea and falafels. -
Review from Cyndy P.
Glen Ellen, CA
8/7/2009
Ate here the other night. The food was good, nice warm pita bread, the tsazki (however you spell it) was yummy. We got the mini meze.
It was good, but holy yikes! The wines by the glass were SCAREY!!!!
I think the bottles were open for about a month. There were three different ones we tried or I should say smelled, OMG! That was frightening. The calamari was good, and the saganaka was ok.
Food was descent, but watch out if you get a glass of red wine!
I should focus more on the food, which I said was good, but man, pouring old oxidized and corked wines to your guests is a huge no no for me. -
Review from samanta v.
Healdsburg, CA
6/27/2008
I love Papas. I love the Lamb Chops and the Rack of Lamb, and everything greek there is on the menu (I am in agreement with the one reviewer who said she would go there JUST for the ice tea ... although if I'm getting Tea, I'm gonna get some baklava, and some dolmas.. and oh well, I might as well get everything!)
The tasting app platter that includes all the items is one of my favorites, as well as the greek combination meal. I love going with a big group of people, sitting downstairs when they have life music and dancing, and taking part in all of it.
If you are a fan of eggplant their mousaka is not to be missed!Listed in: Local Yumminess.., Greek & Russian
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Review from Lance B.
San Jose, CA
5/16/2011
The food here is not even fit for animals. I am also pretty sure the wine was rancid. Add to that the broken table and overall filth I encountered on my visit and 1 star is still waaaaay too nice a rating. From some of the other reviews here I know that I am not alone in seriously questioning whether or not this establishment should be allowed to operate. Hands down THE worst meal out in my entire life.
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Review from Ann L.
5/8/2006 7 photos
We went here for dinner 5/7/06 after sightseeing Petaluma. It's a nice Greek-Greek American place with either upstairs or downstairs eating. Upstairs is quieter with views of the Petaluma River. Downstairs is where there is a bar, live Greek music on the weekends (it's loud!), Greek dancing, and belly dancer.
If you eat downstairs there is a $10 minimum per person. We ate downstairs to see all the entertainment.
Service can be slow, but then you can just relax and enjoy the music-which can be loud. Don't forget to tip the belly dancer.
We had:
octopus as an appetizer-kinda pricey at $12-pretty tasty.
pork soulavki pita sandwich-around $10.50-comes w/ salad-I choose creamy feta sauce--not enough flavor for me. sandwich was good. Comes w/ a side-I picked vegetables-just ok.
friend had Greek sausage pita sandwich-around $10.50-he choice the rice pilaf as side..he ate it all.
dessert-we shared the buaatsa-a filo pastry w/ custard inside, served warm w/ a side of whipped cream. $3.95--pretty good.
A nice place to eat, Recommended.
Website: http://home.earthlink.... -
Review from Ahna P.
Novato, CA
7/17/2006
Downstairs was a lot of fun, but very hot! Oh well, just keep eating and drinking.
It was great to see so many familys. This looks like a regular Sunday dinner spot for a lot of people.
Food was good, stick to the true Greek aspects of the menu. -
Review from Ian A.
San Francisco, CA
11/23/2009 1 photo
A few weekends back, we took a last minute detour from our expected trip to brunch in Berkeley and instead decided to try a little place on the river in Petaluma. Much to my surprise, Papa's Taverna was on the river - but not anywhere I would have expected to see one. This place may only be 10-15 minutes from downtown Petaluma but it feels seriously out in the cuts.
I'll admit, upon seeing the exterior I had serious doubts about the wisdom of our choice. Shouldn't I have been sitting at an Armenian spot in Berkeley for 35 minutes now - watching the sun go by and sipping down a carafe of vino?
Given the odd hour on a Sunday, Papa's was deserted but we were there and, dammit, we had to know if the various reviews of this place were on the mark.
They were.
The dolmas were soft and flavorful; incredibly fresh. A number of times in other venues I've gotten way too much leaf and - let's be honest - while the grape leaf is novel it's not the highlight of the dish. These delicacies were close to perfect.
For my main course I had a meal-sized Spumikosa. When done right, this lunch pastry masters the Greek art of making spinach, dough, and cheese light. Once again, I was impressed with the quality of the food. It practically melted in my mouth and didn't have any stale or congealed spots like one might find in a lesser dish. Honestly, if Papa's wasn't so damn far off my well beaten path in San Francisco, I might go order another one right now.
The service was slow but very friendly. It wasn't noted on any of the literature but we were able to get an inexpensive carafe of house the wine; a typical table wine but a great value for 2 hours of lounging about on a Sunday afternoon. That alone was worth a half-star on this review.
Finally, the tiramisu was an unexpected treat so far from Italy but as heavy as a chocolate mousse. In this case I would say delicious but almost too much for two of us, let alone an individual. You will want a drink to wash this one down. It's delicious but sticks like peanut butter.
Would I visit Papa's Taverna again? Based on the food, yes. Based on the ambiance, compared to other (closer) options? Not so much - but if you want to mix it up and have a great Greek brunch before heading out to the Carneros region in the afternoon and you happen to be on 101 already, this is a gem of a place to eat. -
Review from Cara N.
San Diego, CA
9/15/2010
Noisy downstairs where the music is. We chose to eat upstairs. Service was really good server was very friendly. Lots of food. Five of us shared the Greek salad, pita plate & mixed grill. View of the river at sunset was nice. Outside of the building looks like a storage shed but don't let that deter you from going in.
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Review from Susan S.
Mill Valley, CA
9/6/2011
We had a great time! The food was really good. My Greek friend said it was just like his grandmother's food. We enjoyed the live band - actually got up and tried the traditional line dancing - what a hoot. The belly dancing was superb; I only wish there was more. GO, GO, GO!
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Review from Kathy K.
Petaluma, CA
9/2/2009
These people know what they are doing. I love the food here and the new owners have really stepped up the look and feel of the joint. The bathroom alone used to be this insane color. They got rid of that and now its normal and lovely.
They have live music and tap beer. The servers are very nice- albeit sometimes a tad on the slow side.
I'm a big fan and go all the time. They are new owners and the service has gotten significantly better each time I've been- there was a really snippy waitress that I think has since been axed. I didn't have he same experience with the wine as some viewer had.
Overall very good with a little room for improvement so, 4 stars. -
Review from Molly M.
Nevada City, CA
1/29/2010
I've driven by this place many dozens of times and have always wondered how it was. The location there on Lakeville Highway seems really remote, but it's only 5 minutes from in town Petaluma.
I had a great dinner and spent under $20. They gave yummy Greek olive oil and bread and I ordered the Falafel which was served in homemade pita with fresh lettuce, onion and tomato and drowned in an amazing garlic tzatziki. On the side, I chose the lemon baked potatoes which were really flavorful. To start, had the greek salad - cucumbers, tomato, feta, red onion, kalamata with an amazing herb Greek dressing.
I will be returning and trying some of the other yummy dishes on the menu. -
Review from Ariel K.
Concord, CA
Updated - 1/14/2011
Went in recently for more good greek food and dove right into a super tender lamb shank. No knife needed! I don't know how long they cook these but it takes me 8 hours to get meat this tender in my slow cooker. The spices on it are amazing too. Oh and I've also had their gyro and chicken pitas-great lunches (or casual dinner). Fluffy pita bread, meat is spiced just right, awesome sauce...always hits the spot.
As for people knocking the atmosphere, I love it. People will always find something to complain about, but for me, I'd rather go to a place that has good food than fancy floors or a special paint job. And really, a Greek taverna should be a nautical theme...hello Greece is surrounded by water and known for seafood! Really, do we need another Greek restaurant with faux temple columns? No. How kitsch.
Considering how recently the new owners took over, and the state of the economy they took over in, I think they're doing what they can and when they can to make it better. It's already come a long way and they haven't sacrificed the food for it--that's the most important thing.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/16/2010
WOW...just WOW! I can't tell you how many times (like everyone else) I've driven thru Petaluma and… Read more »
Comment from Glynnis P. of Papa's Taverna 1/14/2011
Thanks you so much for your review! I just wanted to let… More » -
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Review from P. S.
Santa Rosa, CA
2/14/2011
Long story short - the food is OK, pricing is a little high, the lamb shank is good-great, the pita bread is good. The great thing about this place is the live music and the dancing. Even if you don't want to dance, the people are nice and the atmosphere is warm. It feels like you're a part of a big Greek family's Sunday night dinner.
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Review from Cybele B.
Santa Rosa, CA
6/11/2009
Amazing Greek food extremely fresh and very very tasty. Their mixed grill plate is huge and a great tasting dinner you can even share it it is large enough. I also really enjoyed the the sauce and pita appetizer. The pita bread was the best I ever had, warm and fresh and soooo delicious we had to order a second round for our group because it disapeared quickly. Another really delicious item is their mashed potatoes, I have never in my life had such tasty potatoes before...I wanted to order just a plate of those.
Services was good and very courteous and professional. This is a place to keep coming back too even my extremely fussy eater husband loved them! -
Review from Laila P.
5/2/2009
I always came to this place as a kid with my parents so tonight when Boyfriend suggested we go by Ernie's Tin Bar and eat greek food for our date (Papa's is in the Ernie's neighborhood) I gladly obliged.
The upstairs of this place closes at 7, but part of the main reason we chose this spot is because of the live music and belly dancing downstairs on the weekends until 10. "Dinner AND a show" we thought. We even made a reservation! Which wasn't on the books when we got there. The place was packed but they did find us a nice table in this weird indoor canopy area with fake crabs all over it.
The service was slow, slow, slow, slow. EVERY other able around us was snacking on bread and butter during the LONG wait for their meal. We were never offered such a thing. Our drinks were never refilled, EVER, nor was our water. It's like nobody even seemed to notice. Even though the guy with the water pitcher walked by us a million times. The couple at the table next to us got up and left. It really was that bad.
The belly dancer was totally an old cougar who was trying to get up on my boyfriend. Sorry honey, we were sitting in the back for a reason. We were putting things on plastic tonight, no cash, no tip, sweetheart.
Our server was pretty much an idiot. She had no idea what she was talking about. I was asking her to describe the meat for the gyro and she was looking at me like I was speaking a different language. Turns out the meat was totally questionable, which is what I suspected would be the case. I'm not sure why I ordered it anyway. The menu very clearly says ALL entrees include either rice or potato with veggies. We ordered the gyros which were in the entree sections and the veggies never came. I finally said something and she was like "I'm not sure if the gyros come with veggies" When I pointed out what the menu said she was like "Oh, I'll see what I can do" Then I watched her do nothing for about 7 minutes just chatting with her coworkers until she caught me looking at her and then slinked off and about 5 more minutes after she'd finally disappeared into the kitchen she came back with burned veggies.
I'm not quite sure why I ended up leaving a tip but I did. This place is for tacky tourists and people who want to take their screaming babies out to eat. -
Review from Charles J.
11/20/2009
The food was really good and the location is special. The dining room is facing the water and it's nice to watch the sunset.
I had a bad experience with the waitstaff, however. There was only one other family dining that night, and when I went to retrieve my debit card from the waitress, she explained that she had accidentally charged the other table to my card, in addition to charging me for my own ticket. She then said that she had voided the charge and that it wouldn't show up on my card. She handed me a pile of receipts as some sort of proof, and I believed her, and forgot about it until about a week later when I checked my balance to my account online. It was then that I noticed that I had been charged for my table and the other table and there was no credit to my account. I called the restaurant to clear this up, and it was not resolved immediately. I was told that it could take up to a month for a credit to appear. When I insisted that this was not acceptable, the credit finally happened about two days later. I was really uncomfortable with this transaction and I don't think that I would return because of it. -
Review from Gail M.
Santa Rosa, CA
4/4/2008
My friends took me to Papa's when a trip to Greece fell through. So instead of lounging on the beach at Mykonos, I was in this funky blue place overlooking the Petaluma river on Lakeville Hwy - not Greece, but not so bad. I must say the food was not all that special - the moussaka was a bit heavy, the appetizers (dolmas, hummus etc) OK. The pita bread, though, was outstanding, warm and buttery (if that is possible) - nothing like the cardboard rounds you find at the grocery. I returned on a Sunday for the dancing lessons in the downstairs, and that's where the action is. In addition to dancing lessons, they have belly dancing on Saturday nights. The owners are warm and gracious and the Taverna is a local magnet for Greeks all over the area - sort of a community center. So, while the food gets a 3 star I give another for the community aspects. Go on the weekend for the most fun.
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Review from Dana D.
Petaluma, CA
The pita melts are fantastic and the service very friendly. Great for sunsets overlooking the river. My girlfriend and I have been lunching here for at least 15 years. We have our favorite server, Alisa, who knows what we want and pre-orders our Pita Melts when we pull into the parking lot - she greets us with the fabulous Greek iced tea and treats us like old friends :)
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Review from Latham W.
San Anselmo, CA
5/4/2010
I have driven past Papa's Taverna for over 25 years and never stopped in before, but I always wanted to, it just has that kind of road-side appeal. Well I finally did it, but this time I went by boat with a number of family and friends, and it was well worth the trip up the river.
For those of you who want to get there by boat head North out of the Bay and travel up the Petaluma River until you get to Gilardi's Marina, and put yourself ashore. Calling Gilardi's a Marina is kind of a stretch, but you can tie up there, it's cheap, and the restaurant is right in front of you.
The restaurant ambiance is so-so, and probably presents itself better at night. The interior is kind of downtrodden, but looks well used and comfortable. They have a full bar, big plus! And the food we had was GREAT! Not a complaint at the table, which for this group was unusual! I had the lamb chops, and they were delicious, as was the hummous plate we got beforehand. The deserts, which we shared were all really good, and a little more upscale than I thought they would be.
All in all, a great meal, really nice service, and well worth the stop whether by boat or car. -
Review from Anna H.
Mill Valley, CA
7/11/2006
A great place to party with friends. Upbeat music, interesting and tasty food. A good value. I brought 15 friends and family and reserved a large table -- ages from 3 to 90! The 3 yo danced along with the 90 yo Italian gent.
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Review from Jarett S.
Rohnert Park, CA
9/6/2008
GREAT GREEK FOOD!! I love this place. Too bad its not too close to my house anymore. I loved this place when i was local. Always had great food, service and atmosphere. Their iced tea was the bomb too! If you get a chance to go to this place, do it. you wont be disappointed at all!
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Review from OffToRio B.
San Francisco, CA
1/11/2009 2 photos
I had been searching for a place that had an unusual xmas tree made from wine bottles outside a Greek restaurant. The tree is gone but Papa's Taverna still thrives. Unusually good for a place that doesn't have to compete with other Greek restaurants. Red Snapper pitas with tzatziki - yumm. Have the specials instead of the menu regulars. Fantastic river view, lovely enclosed veranda, picnic spot closer to the river, lots of parking and beautiful loos. Then hit Ernie's Tin Bar on the way into Petaluma.
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Review from Dyann E.
Vineburg, CA
8/2/2009 3 photos
An authentic Greek roadhouse located in the rural reaches of the Petaluma River, off Lakeville Hwy (not far from Infineon). Two levels of dining-upper one for quiet dinners overlooking the river and wetlands. Lower level is for entertainment--watch theirs or make your own. Everybody dances! The owner brings people out of the audience (mostly women, but not all) and then there are group dances. A small Greek combo plays music and the owner's wife is a singer.
A Belly dancer performs during the meals and patrons all stuff $$$'s in her outfit.
Had the moussaka (there goes the waistline-oh, well), greek salad and the lamb shank (tender and rich).
Small wine list but found drinkable Kenwood chard and brought one bottle (no corkage?). Neighbors tried a "Greek Island Iced Tea."
Great service from personable staff, chef came out to check on food and owners work the room.
A unique experience--low key, unpretentious and a really fun time. -
Review from Melissa K.
Rohnert Park, CA
11/22/2009
Best Greek/Mediterranean food in Sonoma county. Most authentic in Sonoma County. Food's amazing, dessert amazing. Try the feta salad dressing on your side salad. Try the Bagotsta dessert (not sure that's spelled right). Baked to order phyllo dough stuffed with cheesy almond paste topped with orange zest sauce. Sometimes they have banana! Overall excellent!
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Review from Barry R.
San Francisco, CA
7/11/2009
There are two rooms, the upstairs dining area and the downstairs bar area where there is also live music and belly dancing, at least on Saturday night. With a bit more wine--if I had not been driving--I might have tried the Greek dancing that goes on between belly dancing sets. That might have made this a more positive review and overcome the mediocrity of the food. It is worth researching when the entertainment is on, as without the entertainment, the experience is not as good. The food is, I guess, a B, our server was charming though the food was quite slow to arrive; however, who knew you could listen to Greek music and see a belly dancer on the shores of the Petaluma River? Am I glad we went--absolutely; am I in a hurry to go back--maybe not, but I'd go if someone else really wanted to. Judging by the number of cars in the parking lot, lots of people do want to.
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Review from George B.
Sonoma, CA
3/18/2010
This is a treasure, well worth the short drive out of Petaluma.
It's a beautiful spot on the Petaluma "River," with dining in a windowed room looking out onto a small marina and the river.
The food is good - I especially like the fried calamari and three-dip appetizers. Any of the pitas is a good bet as well.
I've been there twice when there was live music and dancing. That's not my thing, but everyone else seemed to enjoy it. I go for the food.
And it's the only place in town I know of where I can get a glass of retsina! -
Review from L F.
Berkeley, CA
9/4/2007
One-half star for delicious tiropitas (cheese pastry) and another half for good pita bread.
We're always on the lookout for good Greek places. Coming from Chicago where there are so many places to get great Greek food - we really feel this is one thing the Bay Area lacks. Sure there's Kokari and Evia - but we're talking a comfy neighborhood joint where you don't need reservations months in advance and two week's pay.
Since we were up that way anyway - we decided to check out Papas. My hubby had read about it and we figured, what the heck.
We pull up and hubby comments that it actually looks something like a Greek taverna. We are greeted warmly at the door by a woman who we later find out takes orders, busses tables, bartends, plates salads and who knows what else. She's very friendly but definitely scattered.
We ordered fried zucchini, taramosalata, gyros and felafel and 2 beers. We don't get the salad that comes with the sandwiches - but instead we get tiropitas. "ayaya - my mistake, eat them anyways - on the house" the waitress says. And they are delicious! The tarama comes and is so salty we can't stomach more than one bite (plus it was a weird consistency). The zucchini is average - you can definitely see and taste the vegetable (a good thing) but less batter - more green would've been my preference.
The sandwiches are also so-so - just nothing special.
The service was very sporadic. We weren't in a hurry but it got a little annoying. And I hate to sound like a wench but the waitresses' pronounciation of some of the dishes made us wince.
The setting is decent - on the river, pretty watching the sun set and the boats float by. On the "indoor patio" there was tons of plastic stuff (flowers, plants, parakeets). We heard there was belly dancing downstairs and indeed we saw several performers come through.
So unfortunately, I can't recommend the place although if you're in the neighborhood - you could stop by for the tiropitas (to go)!
