In the historic Great Petaluma Mill, the Wild Goat Bistro offers a casual dining experience in a rustic and inviting atmosphere. The charming space reflects a European style bistro with intimate dining tables, a reclaimed copper-top counter with a birds-eye view of the open kitchen and additional seating is available at a community farm table for larger groups.

The Wild Goat Bistro offers up a menu of honest food that uses local fresh ingredients in a variety of culinary traditions. From their specialty Neopolitan style 10″ pizzas, to innovative salads, to scrumptious main dishes, to sharable small plates – it is a seasonally changing menu that has something for different appetites anytime of the day. The wood-fired oven and open kitchen setup mean you can watch the cooks work while you wait for your food, which adds to the relaxed vibe of the place.

What really sets this spot apart is the serious attention given to making nearly the entire menu gluten-free options available, including the homemade desserts. That level of thoughtfulness extends to their wine program too. The carefully curated wine list includes wines from hand crafted, small production local vintners as well as wines of interest from around the world. If wine pairing feels intimidating, the staff here is genuinely helpful about suggesting matches without being condescending about it.

The Great Petaluma Mill location puts you near the downtown waterfront area, so you could easily walk off lunch along the Petaluma River before or after eating. Dogs are welcome on the outdoor patio seating, which overlooks the mill’s historic grounds. The whole setup—the food quality, the casual-but-thoughtful service, and the actual interesting surroundings—makes this feel like a local spot people return to regularly rather than somewhere you visit once.