BAR: Nice local bar. The bartenders know the regulars well, and are friendly with newcomers. One we know from another local bar in Sebastopol. The bar has a warm and comfortable ambience. We enjoyed the bar.
RESTAURANT: We were hungry and had bought a gift certificate on <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Frestaurant.com&s=c5fe485af4df376130bee54f875814d79c4d7913e1258123b1206d2bdbf4873b" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://restaurant.com</a> and decided to drive out to use it. The owner Marcos would not accept it!!! Very rude. We decided to go ahead and stay anyway until they told us they did not have any rare prime rib... who doesn't have rare prime rib??? Â So we decided to leave and ended up at the place up the street.
Overall, I can't speak to highly of the food, but the staff is friendly, and the bar is great.
BAR: This is a very good local bar. The bartenders clearly know most of the regulars well, but are very friendly with newcomers. The bar has a warm and comfortable ambience. There are TVs playing at both ends of the bar with the sound off, so customers can watch whatever game is on, but there is no sound to bother those that aren't interested. Several beers on tap and lots of wines available by the glass. Free popcorn, which is fun, and keeps you ordering beer. :)
RESTAURANT: We weren't very hungry, so we ordered appetizers for dinner. They weren't anything to get excited about. I had fish and chips, and the fish were overly breaded and soggy. Fortunately the fries were good. Hubby had the shrimp and fries, and he had about the same report. The service was excellent, though. Friendly and quick.
Overall, I can't speak to highly of the food, but the atmosphere is so friendly, and the bar is great, so my rating is 3.5 stars, and I'll round up to 4.
Let me start by saying this is a long review but worth reading. I would have given it 0 stars if I could. Â My husband and I and our friends came up to go camping at dillons beach and saw this place on the way there and got really excited! BBQ oysters. Why not! Â We'll we all got there at 11:55am on Sunday and there was only one other couple there. Â They offered a brunch menu and lunch menu. Not bad prices for where you are. My friend and my husband ordered chicken strips an fries and a bowl of clam chowder and her husband and myself ordered fish and chips. Nothing crazy for the area, should have it ready to order. It took the waitress over 15 minutes to tell us they were out of chicken strips so they then waiting a good 10 minutes after that til they got their clam chowder. The clam chowder was the best part. Amazing. Meanwhile it's lunch hour and they are getting busier and there were 5 other couples that have gotten their food before us. It is now 12:50 and no apologies for the wait. No nothing. So we ask to just pay for our drinks and soup and leave. The waitress was irritated that we didn't wait and wanted to leave. Â We paid our bill and left. We got to our car and the owner had the audacity to come and confront us to make sure we paid our bill and told us his restaurant wasn't McDonald's and good food takes time. If you still choose to go to this place. Make sure you aren't young and are not from out of town.
Review Source:I really WANT to love the William Tell. I've been going there for over 30 years, and it's in an awesome spot that is very convenient - and personally meaningful - for me.
Unfortunately, the food these days is really quite terrible, and the service (as recently as this past Sunday) is spotty at best (an over 40 minute wait for appetizers with no one there, really?). The calamari was fried to the point of complete tastelessness...like cardboard that had been submerged for several hours in a deep fat fryer. There was actually no taste of calamari in the calamari. :( It's a great location with a ton of history but the execution is just completely geared towards maximizing income and ignoring any semblance of good food/welcoming environment. Cannot recommend it, as much as I wish otherwise.
What a find! We had a really delicious meal in this old somewhat run-down feeling establishment. Despite the size of the place, it felt intimate. We had great service from the one waitress who managed to cheerily wait on everyone. My salmon was perfect, the vegetables nicely seasoned, and the chocolate torte very very good. Yes, we ate a lot!
Review Source:just got back from spending a few days in the tomales area.. We have enjoyed  going to the william tell house..the new owners are marcos and doris pareas.. marcos was there every time we went. and we went often!  the food was delicious and the waitresses were friendly and attentive...when we stepped inside the saloon, it was going back in time.. the fire place was so inviting and the atmosphere was welcoming... we loved the  bartenders ...the drinks were great!  I cannot wait to go back and bring more friends...
Review Source:My wife and I had been talking about going here for awhile and finally went.
Got a break from the kids and went for New Years Eve.
We had a WONDERFUL dinner (stuffed pork chops with savory spices/chicken cordon bleu  , roasted veggies and baked potato, and salad with home made buttermilk  ranch dressing). The food was amazing. I really can't believe anyone would write a bad review about the food, it was beautifully presented also, and was a nice portion- we had leftovers.
The service was average to good. We did have to ask for bread and ice water 2x before our waitress brought it. They weren't super busy when we arrived (after 730pm).
Wait staff was very friendly and personable.
We retreated to the bar/saloon for some cocktails and had a great time joking with the bartender. (Sweet girl!)
She made delish drinks and was very very friendly and attentive.
Locals were great, we met a lot of new friends there.
There was a band called Little Sister that got the NYE party started and the music was great- oldies from Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, etc., plus new tunes from Miranda Lambert and some other new folks.
Everyone was dancing and singing along.
There wasn't much space at the bar, but it didn't really matter being that everyone was in a joyful mood.
We look forward to making the William Tell House our new date night destination!
Can't wait for the summertime- we heard locals talking about the patio music and food and good times there...can't wait.
One of my favorite stops on my day-cations in Tomales. The "oldest saloon in Marin" is so inviting, thanks to barkeeper Maria. Her creative spin on drinks and entertaining personality keep us coming back and staying longer than intended. Her Rum Relaxers do exactly that. Everyone friend that's come with me loves it. The small attention to detail from adding a cherry to a drink or serving up some fresh spicy popcorn make this saloon standout. Their blackened ribeye is a thin cut, but generous portion. Do it!
Review Source:It has been a year since my review and time for an update.
The renovation is complete and has kept the charm of the Oldest Saloon in Marin, yet with the upgrades, especially the new patio it is much more a destination.
Weekends they now offer brunch and after eating the spicy shrimp eggs Benedict I can only say I've never had better. It was a meal that made me want to ask the chef what he used that created such a special blend of flavors.
Also, the nightly specials are truly special. Usually a fresh fish, often on a bed of spinach or other fresh vegetable, and polenta. Weekends the prime rib has one of the best rubs or if it is a week day the rib eye is excellent.
Don't forget the deserts. If the brownie is on the menu, it is a definite must have. Yes, you'll regret having eaten too much.... but get over it.... it's worth being mad at yourself.
Anyway, I'll probably wait another year to review again, unless something changes significantly.
This is a historic place, being the oldest saloon in Marin County. The restaurant has been nicely remodeled with good taste. We had very good raw oysters and rib-eye steak cooked to perfection. Our waitress was nice and professional. I would advice to avoid ordering pasta here, as the fettuccine Alfredo were overcooked and the sauce was tasteless (I am an Italian chef). But I admit it was my mistake to order pasta in a Western saloon/restaurant! We will definitely be back.
Review Source:after a walk in neighboring Dillon Beach I enjoyed my dinner of fresh caught halibut and clam chowder.  The dining room has a welcoming atmosphere, very conducive to conversation, and the service  was excellent.  The following week my husband dined on the calamari appetizer and lambchops: he hasn't stopped raving about them.  I would give  William Tell  5 stars except that on principle I don't  award anything 5 stars.  Ever.  Except maybe for Stamatis' restaurant on Sifnos.
Review Source:Dropped in one afternoon while camping at Dillon beach. Â Here's how it went:
Beer is cold, but expensive.
Oysters were the absolute worst I have ever had. Â Sucked royally. Â $28 bucks for 12 oysters to worsen matters.
Bartender was cool and provided us some nice information about the area. Â
Check came out to be $80 for ten beers (original coors and some local bullshit my buddy was drinking) and twelve gawd awful oysters. Â
Locals are chatty and welcoming. Â
The men's shitter in this place is tiny. Â Know this if you are over 5'7 and 140lbs.
I hear the other food offerings are good. Â Perhaps I'll try something else besides the shitty oysters next time.
WOW
A new chef started last weekend!!
It may have only been 5 days since the new chef started but I have managed to try:
The Pulled Pork - best I have had since North Carolina, complimented by delicious home-made coleslaw.
The Barbequed Oysters have risen to a new level - delicious and perfectly cooked with subtle sauces.
Lastly the excellent hamburger was complimented by ciabatta bread and crisp twice cooked french fires!
After the early issues, I believe the William Tell is now well on its way to achieving excellent cusine to go with its new look and outdoor terrace.
I love this place. Â The food is reliable and delicious, and the service is superb--friendly and attentive. Â The new owner is putting in a patio for outdoor dining, which will be a welcome addition come summer. Â The wine list is just fine. Â It's not fancy or extensive, but the selections are well-chosen, and the prices are terrific. Â C'mon, let's face it--this is Tomales. Â It's the country. Â If you want a menu worthy of Gary Danko or a wine list worthy of the late Rubicon, go to a big city and pay big city prices. Â
As one of the waitstaff told me, the chef is a sauce-and-soup kinda guy. Â It's true: Â his lentil soup and minestrone are delicious and deeply satisfying. Â Oh, yes--he's also a creme caramel kinda guy. Â VVSP and I always end our meals here with it--we can't get enough. Â Another thing about the chef: Â VVSP is rather picky about his steak, and the chef gets it perfect every time--BIG kudos for that.
If you want to see Tomales locals and be treated like family and fed like royalty, try William Tell House. Â Tell 'em I sent you.
I've had better food in lousy coffee shops. Â A "new owner and new chef" sign should have warned me. Â The soups were awful, salty and tasting reheated. Â The salads were inedible, the dressings tasted terrible. Â The "Prime Rib", really a standing rib roast of lower quality, was OK, but the potato was tiny and the veggies mediocre. Â
I've been to bars that had cheap, giveaway prime rib dinners that were better for less than half the price($23.95) Â Enjoy one of the nearby restaurants on Tomales Bay or in Pt. Reyes instead.
The William Tell Saloon is fun, especially being the oldest saloon in Marin. Â The dinner we had was a disappointment. Â The Ribeye was ordered medium rare but was well done, and my potatoes were so hard it was hard to cut them with a fork. Â Also, they appeared boiled, rather than roasted. Â My friend had the supposedly house special. Â His raviolis were soggy with an awful sauce that tasted as though it came out of a can. Â The service was extremely slow even though there were only a few diners.
Review Source:OK I admit I'm prejudice because I live next door. But for steaks, pasta, lamb and good drinks in a friendly real small town, this is down home. And if you are looking to rub with the locals, we've got 'em, characters in spades. Burger night on Mondays, various events throughout the year such as the Testicle Festival in early April and Founder's Day Labor Day weekend (with town parade to boot). Check their web site at <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.williamtellhouse.com&s=4e6429b599303d4ad2f1e338364d9f1b3457b2398cfb1b7f8bcc21f0c73eaf71" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.williamtellho…</a>. And if you find yourself in Petaluma, check out Jen and Noel's other place, Brixx Pizza, <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbrixxpetaluma.com&s=b85bd540c3db1853ceb6873cd707ee7f8c69b1b7987de791d61cdd54545cd925" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://brixxpetaluma.com</a>. If for some reason I move away, I will always come back to the Tell.
Review Source:My wife and I have been going to the William Tell House over Valentine's weekend for the past 5 years.
We took a wrong turn on our way to Hog Island Oyster Company on our first trip and what a wonderful discovery did we ever find!
This is the oldest saloon in Marin County, straight out of the wild west. The owner's, Noel and Jen, are very gracious and the locals are warm and welcoming.
They have a restaurant attached to the pub which offers very good food at reasonable prices. Enjoy a few drinks at the bar, have a yummy dinner at the restaurant, and then return to the bar for great conversations and healthy pours. It works for us. :)
We happened to arrive in Tomales for their 1st annual Testical Festival this year. Â If you aren't brave enough to partake in the feast, the cast of characters that came out of the woodwork was worth the price of admission, free.
Oh, if you take a left after the bar, the scenic winding road will bring you to Dillon Beach in 10 minutes. Its the mouth of Tomales Bay. The houses and cottages which line the hills reminds me of what Santa Cruz may have looked like in the 50's. Its a great place to eat the oysters you can purchase at one of the many oyster farms south of Tomales on the coast.
We may have to make this trip more than once a year. Or buy a house and make the commitment.
I've only eaten here once. Â The food was good. Â The clam chowder was amazing! Â I would have been happy to eat just that. Â The single tomato in the mixed green salad was clearly vine ripened heriloom quality. Â I wish there were more of them. Â The french dip was decadent without being overly salty. Â My husband loved the fish in his fish & chips, though I was not as impressed with it as he was.
We missed a children's menu, though the waitress offered to make any pasta a "child's" pasta. Â We ended up just sharing our dinners with her, which worked out fine.
The highlight of the whole meal was french fries! Â Although ever so slightly fishy (they were probably fried with the fish in the fish & chips) they were possibly the best french fries I have ever eaten. Â They were extra crispy and just perfect.
When we came in (about 5pm) the place was not surprisingly empty. Â The waitress was very attentive and seemed to enjoy her work. Â As the evening went on and the restaurant filled with a couple large parties, the service became much less attentive and the 2 waitresses seemed to enjoy themselves much less and thus became somewhat less enjoyable.
If I had this same experience several times, and learned what they meant by a "child's" pasta so we could easily order for our daughter, I might be able to up them to 5 stars.
CRAVING: French Fries!
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