Saltwater Oyster Depot — Restaurant in Petaluma

I'm writing this one-star review to help Saltwater with a problem. They seem extremely annoyed that they have customers. I figure they need help reducing the number of customers.

As other recent reviews are stating, the service is awful. Maybe they used to have better staff or management, I don't know.

We arrived to find the restaurant fairly full but an empty table for four. We stood for about 15 minutes while every single person that worked there unanimously ignored us and avoided our gaze. Finally, knowing that the place may fill up on this beautiful day, I gestured for my companion to sit at the table with me. Immediately, a terse and emotionless woman came over and asked us not to sit there, since it was a table for four. The man behind the bar also echoed this wish.

Reluctantly, but without complaint, we got up. I asked if we could look at a menu, the waitress sighed and seemed very put out and hesitantly said "yes". However, no menu was retrieved. After several more minutes, the waitress informed me that there was a menu on the side of the building outside that we could look at.

At this point, I'm bummed out, because people are starting to file in from all entrances. I ask if we can be the next to be seated. Again, sighs, as a serious sadness seemed to come over the waitress. She reluctantly pulled out her pad for waiting list and took our names.

At this point, we had waited nearly 30 minutes. The empty table remained empty, waiting for that lucky, lucky group of four, that none others shall take lest those golden four be inconvenienced.

Did I have the stink of someone not from Inverness? I have no idea. I'm polite, and I understand sometimes people are busy or even having a bad day, so I'm willing to put up with a little bit. But finally, at 45 minutes, with people lined up, surrounded by annoyed and disinterested staff, and that table still empty, we left. We went to the Perry's Deili down the street, that is full of great food and friendly people.

I do hope more people will chime in and help Saltwater alleviate their terrible...

If you have a deep and abiding love for oysters, you are going to feel right at home in the coastal-chic setting of this restaurant. About half of the restaurant's menu consists of these very fresh bivalves, which are obtained straight from Tomales Bay, which is near to the establishment. Raw, grilled with chili-garlic butter, or cooked in a creamy leek stew are the three possible preparations that might be requested for them. If oysters aren't your thing, there is a vast choice of other fresh seafood that is collected locally that you may choose from. For example, you may have steelhead trout with a crispy skin or risotto prepared with clams and uni. Both of these options are delicious. For those who like meat as the primary component of their meal, a roasted pork chop served with collard greens is a delicious option. The country-style mansion that serves as the setting for the popular eatery and bar known as Saltwater is located in a tiny town. It is frequented by couples of varying ages who are looking to have a relaxed evening out because of the local beer and wine that is supplied from taps. Because the menu is often modified to reflect the availability of the most recent and freshest food, you should act quickly to get dishes like spicy gingerbread cake before they are withdrawn...

Way too pricy for what it is. Food was fine (though the portioning was off - I had a pile of rather salty meat left after finishing my sides), service and atmosphere left something to be desired. Their two-tops might be trendy, but they're about six inches too long for any sense of intimacy with your date, or barely conversation. It's freezing in the winter (everyone was still wearing their puffer jacket indoors, even with the space heater) and since their restrooms are shared, you need to go outside to use them.

On top of the mediocre venue, nobody was particularly friendly or attentive. The woman taking our order was brisk, the waiter forgot my boyfriend's beer, and nobody ever refilled our water carafe, even through we finished it halfway through dinner. It just sat there on the long stretch of table between us, empty, the leaf sprigs and lemon slices drooping damply at the bottom. I guess this is the fanciest spot in Inverness, but it's trying too hard at all the wrong things. Just go somewhere casual while you're up at Pointe Reyes, and save the spendy dinner out for when you're somewhere with...