101 – 2nd Street / Petaluma / 765-4567
Daily: L – D
Mon – Thu 11:30am – 12am
Fri – Sat 11:30am – 1:00am
Sun 11am – 10pm
Full Bar
Outdoor Patio / Kid & Dog Friendly
*** 3/4/12 $$-$$$
In the Basin Street Landing development, adjacent to Boulevard Cinemas and the Great Petaluma Mill in the new downtown Petaluma “Theater District” and alongside the Petaluma River, Graffiti offers a large, horseshoe-shaped bar with lounge area for cocktails or wine sipping, a main dining room that is cozy-sized and expansive outdoor patio areas looking out on the river.
Great looking place. An ultra-modern space, yet still warm and inviting thanks to the rich woods and flattering lighting in the evenings. I like to see what I’m ordering as well as eating, but I don’t like harsh, bright lights.
What about the food? Well, we have been visiting this restaurant for several years; since it opened in 2005 and I have to say it’s kinda hit and miss. Our last visit was for lunch and it was a hit. Dinners have been a miss for the most part. But that does not stop us from frequently popping in to the bar/lounge for drinks and small plates in the evening. Actually, I think it’s the better alternative as dining room service can be slow.
On our recent lunchtime visit, we choose a patio table across from a local street band performing. On this glorious day of sunshine with the temperature just south of 70 degrees, a lot of folks had the same idea and the place was almost full. We ordered a Warm Spinach Salad ($8**** small; $13 large) tossed with smoked bacon, wild mushrooms, caramelized cipollini onions, feta, toasted almonds and red grapes; Roasted Lamb Flatbread Pizzetta ($15***) pears, Gorgonzola & Asiago cheeses, caramelized onions, candied walnuts and port balsamic reduction.
The spinach salad was very good. I especially liked the addition of the red grapes. The small size is fine if you are not very hungry. Perfect “girl’s” portion! The flatbread was also very tasty. A nice pairing of sweet pears, candied walnuts and port reduction went well with the lamb.
I suggest this place for lunch on the patio, weather permitting or, drinks and small or large plates in the bar/lounge anytime.
Wine Notes: Extensive list of offerings from Sonoma and Napa valleys with many selections by the glass or, half-bottle.
The Good, The Bad and The Inedible 