McNear’s Saloon & Dining House

Just what you would expect– very decent, hearty pub food with lots of local atmosphere, and great drinks! Plus is they have a world-​class music venue right next door that holds true to the small town vibe, while serving up great headlines and the best sound system in around!

I have always passed by this place while passing through Petaluma, so my friends and I decided to try it out. We got sat in the upstairs portion of the restaurant and had our drink order taken. After the drinks came out, we waited for about 10 minutes before anyone came to take our order. Our waitress came over and we ordered the Volcano drink. After that, she came back with the drink, dropped it off, tried lighting the top shot on fire, as it’s supposed to be, and her lighter wasn’t working so instead of maybe trying to get another one, all she said was «no fire I guess.» and left. She proceeded to talk to a bartender, then looked at our table and said to the bartender, «wait I totally forgot to take that tables order…» We proceeded to wait another 10 minutes to have our order taken. Once the time came, our order was taken and then we waited another ⁴⁰⁄₄₅ minutes for our food. During the time of waiting for the food, there was no offer for refills on drinks, no checking to see if we had silverware, not even letting us know that our food would be out soon. I had overheard her speaking to another employee about how she was quadruple-​sat and was very behind, even though I was watching everyone get sat and they were all seated 10 minutes apart, which is plenty of time to attend to each table (I work at a restaurant so I’m aware). Once the food came out, she just put each plate down and attempted to walk away without wanting to see if we needed any extra dressings, napkins, refills, or silverware. We asked for a to-​go box for one of our friends who had to leave while waiting and she just kind of threw the box on the table. That was the last we saw her until she wanted to bring the check.
When we asked for the checks to be separated, she rolled her eyes and heavy signed and just walked away. Granted, we should have said it to begin with but the attitude was unnecessary.
Overall, this was a horrible experience. The service was terrible, especially since she openly admitted to forget our table, the food was subpar for the price, and I don’t think I would return.

A great place place without pretensions. You’ve got daily happy hours, you’ve got great draft pints of beer, you’ve got sports on the TV and an always lively atmosphere. It’s not trying to be everything to everybody, it’s just a great neighborhood spot that every town should be so lucky to have.
The food is generally very good, reasonably priced, and you’ll never leave hungry. Best bets are the tried and true burgers, sandwiches, and pub grub. Sometimes the more exotic menu choices are a little hit and miss.
Sunday brunch is superb. Kids are welcome and there are enough distractions (a couple pool tables and a few video games upstairs) to keep everyone happy while you watch football or read the paper.
Service is always excellent and cheerful. If only we had something even remotely similar in West Marin!

I have been to McNears many times over the years but recently have been going more for the pool tables. Christmas eve was pretty slow and the upstairs was empty so my friend and I decided to take advantage of the open tables. There was no charge for pool at the time so we ended up playing six games with the last two being rounds of speed pool. There was plenty of room to run around the table without hitting each other and the beers were a decent price. Normally I go for dinner before the concerts at the Mystic Theater which is right next door. The food is really awesome. I have tried just about everything on the menu and have never been disappointed. We also bring our own champagne for dinner and the corking fee is very fair. I will keep going to McNears for years to come!

This is a hit and miss for me. Bartenders and waitstaff alike. I find myself here if I am going to a show next door, which is convenient but sometimes quality overrides convenience and I find myself elsewhere. Good for large groups which is nice if you have more than 8 in your party.

We come here at least once a week. A great casual place to enjoy good food. I have yet to try something that i dont like. Service is good as well.

Charming restaurant in a historic building was the perfect setting for our group lunch. The kids were able to entertain themselves upstairs with video games while the adults indulged in tasty beers.
I had the BLAT (that’s bacon, lettuce, avocado, and tomato) topped with an egg and it was good. Next time I’d try a burger.
The historic building smelled entirely of beer. Take that as you will.

Had lunch today at this restaurant! I had ordered the fish and chips and the portion was generous with 3 pieces of fish and loaded with fries! The fish was excellent and not oily at all. Plus a cup
Of minestrone soup which also was very good. The service sometimes enhances the meal and that they did.
If in Petaluma, will eat at this establishment again!

Awesome old school unpretentious atmosphere. Great First Class selection of beer and great food menu. The bartender Christopher made a great Manhattan for my lady and we had a great time.
I would come back here and highly recommend this local establishment.

The turkey, brie and apple sandwich is delish! Best sweet potato fries anywhere! I love this place!

I have been to McNear’s several times for lunch while driving through Petaluma. The food and service had always been decent but never spectacular.
However, I think I encountered some of the worst service I have ever experienced when I was there a few weeks ago. I don’t eat any meat and the menu is not particularly vegetarian friendly, but there are some options. I ordered the spinach salad and asked the waiter to hold the bacon.
When he returned with my salad, there were very visible bacon bits sprinkled on top. I reminded him that I had asked for no bacon and he proceeded to try to convince me that there was in fact no bacon on the salad. It wasn’t until I scooped a piece of bacon off the plate and presented it to him that he acknowledged that someone must have made a mistake in the kitchen. He took the plate and returned minutes later, ostensibly with a bacon free version.
I was satisfied until I moved a piece of lettuce on top and realized that although it appeared, he had picked the bacon off the top, there was still quite a bit that had settled into the salad. The waiter had placed the plate down and disappeared, and I had to wander the restaurant to finally locate him. I handed him the plate and asked him to please have a new salad made, since there was still bacon on it. He sighed as if I were a tremendous nuisance and took the plate back.
By the time I finally received my bacon free salad, everyone else in my party was finished eating. After delivering it, the waiter returned to present me with the bill. I expected he was going to show that he had taken off the charge for the salad, as restaurants often do when there is some kind of mistake with the order. Apparently not. In an apparent effort to salvage his tip, he only wanted to show me that he had put «no bacon» on the order and that it was a mistake on the chef’s part.

Love stopping at McNear’s when visiting Petaluma, on the way to Calistoga or going to Mendocino. Always the place to stop for great food, great drinks at reasonable prices. An extensive beer list and the best Bloody Marys!

Attention Raider fans, don’t ever go here, I come here for dinner about twice a month for the last 5 years. Last night while the Raider and Whiner preseason games were on, they had 6 TV’s on for the Giants, and the other 6 for the Santa Clara Niners. They refused to put on the Raider game, and said the owner is a hater. Hey owner, how about becoming a fan of football, and by the way the Raider games are going to be way more exciting this year and for many years to come, because your team sucks and needs new ownership.
You just lost $ 1,000 a year by the way because of your arrogance.

This is your average bar and grill. The restaurant itself has fun décor and a première location downtown with lots of great outdoor seating! We were seated immediately which was a nice surprise at lunch on a holiday weekend. However, it is very loud inside.
The food itself is average. The prices are what you would expect at a restaurant like this (about $ 15 a person w/​o alcohol) but the food is only okay. I had a lettuce wrapped burger it was filling but not very satisfying. The staff got their job done but seemed distracted and inattentive.
This place has a history in Petaluma and that is the reason we went. Aside from having guest that really want to go here I don’t see a reason for us to return.

When we walked in we got a seat right away. It was really loud which is great for my husband and I. We have two young loud sons! We ordered the chicken spring rolls as a starter. They were delicious!
Then for dinner i got the pork Mac n cheese (bacon, asparagus, sun dried tomatoes) it was the best I’ve had. And for desert apple crisp with vanilla ice cream !!!
Oh p. s. Mango Mahito spell check. Best drink ever

I decided to try something new and different, so I ordered the butternut squash ravioli with walnuts and asparagus bits. It was absolutely to die for!!! It was the best dish I had had in a while! Well played! Compliments to the chef!!!

Been here a few times. Yes, it’s old, yes, it’s dusty, but you know what??? That’s the charm, and it’s next door to the Mystic Theater. Go and have a drink and some food before you attend a show. If you’re in the area, walk around the town and see all the different speciality shops and see Petaluma Pete play the piano on the corner.
The food here is great! I’ve had burgers, fish & chips, and all have been great. I had a special last night and it was fantastic. Sesame crusted ahi with a pecan chili sauce, jasmine rice, with asparagus. Absolutely, hands down, delicious.
This place can get crowded and loud, but it has an old school feel, the service is good and they’re drinks… let’s just say, «they aren’t watered down»…so, they definitely don’t skimp.
I love it, haven’t had any horribly, disgusting food. I recommend this place to everyone I can. Keep up the great work!

I must admit — Petaluma is just chalk full of surprises. After doing a recent 2-​week Unilocal promo here, I was blown away by the charm of the downtown area — the restaurants, the quaint boutiques, the cleanliness of the streets, the friendliness of the people. This town’s like from another era. I felt like I traveled back in my time in my DeLorean to 1955. Petaluma just has this Norman Rockwell vibe to it. I can’t believe this town is just 40 miles from San Francisco. It feels like it belongs in the Mid-​West.
One of the great surprises of Petaluma was the number of cool bars they have in town. One such bar is McNear’s Saloon. Located next door to the famous Mystic Theater, McNear’s is an old-​school watering hole and restaurant — serving American diner classics. It seems to be the go-​to spot for a number of locals (of all ages and types). Everyone seems to know each other here by first-​name. This place is definitely the «Cheers» of P-​Town. I saddled up at the bar one night for a quick pop. I was sandwiched between an older couple talking about their recent massage experience and a few tattoo-​loving 20-​somethings chatting about sports.
The bartender saw me sit down and immediately offered to take my drink order. I got to say, it’s refreshing when you can come in to a busy place and not have to flag a bartender down or do a jig to attract his/​her attention. I wound up ordering a shot of Fernet (my go-​to shot at the beginning and/​or end of the night). And as luck would have it, McNear’s was selling Fernet on special for just $ 4/​shot. That’s insane. Most other places around the Bay Area sell Fernet for double the price. Hell, I went to a bar recently in Marin that sold me a skimpy Fernet shot for $ 12! In any case, I ordered two generous pours of Fernet over the course of the evening. After tip — I had only spent $ 11. That’s a freakin’ steal!
The next time I return (and yes, there will def be a next time), I plan on ordering up some of their delicious-​looking pub grub.

I’d like to give 3.5 stars if only it were possible ~ I don’t think 3 is enough but 4 is a bit too much.
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I love the local/​sporty feel inside. Jerseys, photos, moose heads! The décor is pretty awesome. They have sports playing up on the TVs by the bar.
The food is great! I like their grilled cheeseburger which is presented like a sandwich and so delicious but I LOVE their calamari! I could eat it all day!
I also tried some drink that was like minty alcoholic hot chocolate. It was good but not great.
The staff here are nice but not super friendly. I also think their uniforms are kind of weird — how they all seem to wear yoga pants, but I guess it goes with the sports vibe?
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The seating is slightly cramped. The first time I went we sat in the middle area where the mirrors are — not outside, but not inside. I felt kind of stuffed in the corner and it was a little chilly. The second time I are here we sat inside and it was around lunch so it wasn’t very busy. They sat someone right next to us where there were tons of empty seats around. I felt really uncomfortable. It’s like when someone parks right next to you in an empty parking lot. Like, can you not?!
Anyway, this guy just kept clearing his throat over and over. I don’t know if he was trying to tell us to stop talking or what but in a restaurant of empty tables it would have been nice to have at least more than 3ft of privacy.
The restrooms are dim and one of the toilets shift when you sit on it. It’s kind of scary since it’s not just the seat, but the whole thing :0 I’m only 120lbs :/​
Overall, I do like the food and it’s a fun location so I would recommend and return. There’s just a few things I don’t like about this place.

Hit McNear’s Saloon before a show & have to say the timing was perfect
Mr & I both got burgers & subbed veggie patties — liking how they offered to sub a Gardenburger patty for any of their regular burger lineups!
Mr chose the El Diablo & it lived up to its namesake. Pepper jack cheese, avocado, lettuce, pico de gallo, jalapenos, & tortilla strips, topped w/​spicy sauce. His nose was running & he was loving it every bite of the way
I opted for the Pretzel Burger — I’m telling you, put anything on a pretzel bun & I’m gonna love it…& I loved this burger combo! Included Belgium beer infused cheddar cheese, crispy shallots, tomatoes, & mustard aioli. Are you drooling yet?
Drinkys were the Gingerbread Cookie — this was an adult version of this famous holiday staple. Had Gingerbeer, ginger-​infused vodka & something else w/​a brown sugar /​cookie rim. It was extremely sweet but was the perfect dessert after our burgers were demolished
Lots of happy people, who all seemed to know each other as they’re saying hi & giving hugs… made for a very warm, welcoming atmosphere & a fab way to begin a musical night of fun