Cafe Matou

User Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

délicieux... off the beaten path French: I had driven past this resturant several times on my way to Wicker Park before I was taken there for dinner on my birhtday. Too bad it took so long! The food was excellent and the service is great. Our waiter was very attentive and his recommendations were spot on. We started with the steamed mussles in white wine sauce. I then had the prime top sirloin. It came thinly sliced and almost rare. I usually like my meats medium but, I've now been converted. I have been there several times now and recommend it to our friends. The $25 three course meal special on weekdays makes it even more appealing.

Comment on Review

Y! Updates An Update about your review will be shared via Yahoo! Updates Manage who sees your Updates

Post CommentCancel

User Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

After dinner, my date asked for a Cigarette?: "I am very serious when I say this. Hands down, the Best French food I've had in Chicago in many years! I was taken to a really good French restaurant some time ago by an acquaintance which knocked my socks off. I never forgot the experience, however, I was getting close forgetting since the best I could seem to find anywhere was "French bistro." And there menus entailed steak over good french fries in addition to other gamey dishes. This to me was just settling.

Because the reviews for Matou looked similar to the reviews for my 'used to be favorite' place, I almost canceled my reservation to stick with what I know, since that was good and consistent. I am glad I didn't. After several years of hoping that I would one day find the place that rivaled the original place I was taken to... Matou!!!
This is amazing food. The flavors of every dishes ordered at my table were amazing. Great complex flavors and sauces with every dish. Even the escargot and that is usually the about the same anywhere you go. There were some unnecessary comments from a slightly annoying host but thankfully, this did not deter me from getting there and again, once I was there from sitting down.

Some things to note, the web site menu was not completely updated. I went there for the bouillabaisse which no longer on the menu.
Second, the actual restaurant menu is not written well, I seriously did not know what to order because everything sounded blah or unexciting. I commented to the wait staff, who were in total agreement. Not to be over technical in my description here, but the food is the ##BOMB##,
Great place for a romantic date, Everyone loved what they ordered. My wife ordered a breaded grouper fish with a spinach and white rice, which I tasted, everything was perfect. My son ordered a linguine with veggies like eggplant, and it may not sound like much. Seriously, you had to be there, also delicious.
Because nothing on the menu sounded good, (at least the way the menu explained it), I ordered the Pre-fixe menu which started me with portobello mushroom soup for appetizer, Braised pork loin and potatoes served in a tomato-mushroom sauce for entree. The Dessert was Banana-chocolate bread pudding drizzled with caramel. The pre-fixe was a good value.

When my waitress came by and asked "how is everything," I looked up and said, "this is horrible!" The waitress looked at my face and everyone else enjoying their dinner responded with a smile as she walked by, "Well, I would get the chef for you, but he's already gone for the day."
Again, the menu doesn't do the food justice, so if it sounds half good, just trust and order it, these people know what they are doing.
The menu changes frequently I understand.
Last, regarding the pricey-ness that has been mentioned in other reviews, Matou's prices were the same as other French places I have reviewed, but several notches better which to me, makes it worth it.
Matou aires on the side of snootiness to it, or of being a bit on the
not-so-relaxed side, but the waiters were all nice.
Highly recommended!"

Comment on Review

Y! Updates An Update about your review will be shared via Yahoo! Updates Manage who sees your Updates

Post CommentCancel

User Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

French peasant food done right!: This is our first time at Matou and couldn't have asked for a better total experience. Everyone was delighted with the food and even more impressed with the service.

A few things not to be missed.....
1. Pate. Pate. Pate.....mmmmmm
2. Great wine list but ask for James to recommend something off the list. He has more off-list than on. He has done a great job developing diverse and affordable wine selections.
3. Menu changes weekly but don't miss the beef with marrow in the winter. It's a classic!! Stick with the French country classics, others lack a fully developed flavor palate.
4. Traditional French country dessert of fresh figs in honey and port is divine. Skip the chocolate gateau....not worth the calories

Comment on Review

Y! Updates An Update about your review will be shared via Yahoo! Updates Manage who sees your Updates

Post CommentCancel