Cafe Matou: User Reviews
Food is authentic, well prepared, and most importantly full of the subtle flavors of the French style of cooking. Wine list is extensive and excellent, and augmented by a knowledgeable staff. The prices are very reasonable given the excellence of the food and wine. Great ambiance as well--good for a date or special occasion--without pretentiousness. I wish I had known about Cafe Matou years ago. If you love real, proper French cooking, you owe it to yourself to give Cafe Matou a try.
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We arrived on a Sunday night without a reservation after seating problems at a nearby restaurant. We were seated and served promptly. We hadn't been to Cafe Matou for about a year and had passed it up because on the previous visit it seemed to have slipped. No More. We were pleasantly surprised by the food. It is French influenced with careful preparation and service. The ambience is very pleasant in a bistro style. The sound level was lively but not oppressively loud. It's not cheap eats, but is a good value for the quality. We'll definitely put Cafe Matou back on our list.
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The food was great! But what really impressed me was the wine knowledge and service of the wine guy. He knew exactly what to pair with our meal and made the whole wine thing less intimidating. I like wine, but do not know much about it. I told him what my preferences were and he brought us a beautiful french savignon blanc. We had a great experience and will be back soon!!!!!
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very good french food BUT poor service; not good value
By foodie from chicago, July 9, 2008
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food: very good food, but small portions. and chef is inflexible on making slight changes to the dishes. for the price, he needs to be more cooperative.
ambiance: quaint; romantic setting.
service: rude, not cooperative.
value: expensive, given the small portions.
overall, there is a certain amount of arrogance permeating through the employees from the host, to the waitress, to the chef. this was exhibited by inflexibilty on all levels. also, it is expensive and portions are small. BUT the food is really good. if you can overlook all aspects of the restaurant and focus ONLY on the food, you should try it. otherwise try other great french restaurants in the area.
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What a great evening we all 4 had! Excellent food and wine served at the right pace. Low music and noise levels allowed for descent conversations. Service was pleasantly and well executed. Food was delicious and very rich in flavors; we all agreed that the pheasant was the best dish. Chapeau, we'll be back!
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Matou is great, but the room needs work
By Chris Raytus from Hyde Park, March 14, 2008
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We love Cafe Matou and always enjoy the food -- but something needs to be done about the heat -- or lack of -- in the main dining room. Two times this winter we have been freezing while dining, and other couples were wearing their coats. A question about the heat didn't do anything to change the situation. Also the chairs are pretty lame in the dining room - very high off the ground and bad cushions. Finally, salad and soup prices breach 10 dollars and the portions are very small for any price.
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I hadn't been to Cafe Matou since it opened 10 years ago and I guess I will have to wait that long before I head back (if I go back at all).The Maitre'D/Host/Snob behind the bar was enough to drive us away for 10 more years! WOW..how does someone like that still have a job? Clearly, this restaurant does not want return business.We were the only guests at the bar and were not made to feel welcome in anyway. Yes, French wines are fabulous but they aren't the ONLY good wines out there..yes, other countries produce many fine wines! Stop looking down your nose at our reference to California wines. You are, afterall, working in the U.S. And we had a little chuckle when we were asked to be seated (before we finished our glasses of wine at the bar) because "I am about to get slammed with customers." We walked in the dining room which had 4 tables occupied and during out time there the dining room was only half-full. Slammed?
The dinner was wonderful, as well as our waitress. The Host came by and served us water and I made a reference to the waitress helping with your wine selection and he said, while looking down his nose at us...well "my staff" is well versed in the wine list. What a condescending comment. We ordered the scallop/octoups dish, the roasted chicken dish and the steak entree. All very tastey and complex in flavors. Unfortunately, the excellent food and the informative waitress weren't enough incentive to get us back into Cafe Matou as long as the Host is working there. As I recently read in an article, we should never have to question our worthiness to be treated well.
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The waiter told us the chef prefers winter fare because it's far more challenging to come up with interesting dishes. Well, we just went in December 2007, and we couldn't have asked for a better meal. My venison was outstanding, and oh wow - if you can get the white chocolate mousse - GET IT!!! It was BY FAR the BEST desert I have EVER had! It wasn't in pie mode, more like two scoops, and thinking about it now makes me salivate - I would have taken a bucket of that stuff home if I could have.
The service is great, and they are very knowledgeable of what pairs well. My husband had a raspberry martini, and he felt it was the best in Chicago. For his entree, he had quail with sausage, and he practically licked the plate clean.
Matou has gotten some bad press, but I can guarantee you things have improved.
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First let me begin by stating the cuisine at Cafe Matou was excellent. The unique, delicate flavors of the appetizers and entrees were a perfect complement to the low-key elegance of the dining room. Our server was quite knowledgeable, and helped us to select a wine that pleased our entire party's palate. However, an otherwise pleasant experience was tarnished by the unbelievably arrogant and scornful behavior of Cafe Matou's maitre'd.
We arrived at the restaurant on a slow Wednesday night with only a handful of patrons in the dining room. Upon entering the front door, the maitre'd literally looked down his nose at our party, and when we asked if we may have a table for four, he replied derisively, "Were we expecting you?" This unwelcoming demeanor unfortunately set the tone for the rest of the evening. Any time he passed our table to inquire about our meal, he was arrogant and curt. When we asked specific questions about the restaurant and the featured artwork on the walls, he replied to our questions as if we were a rag tag group of children, instead of educated adults. Our party was offended by this treatment, and it sorely detracted from a dining experience that should have instead been focused on the delicious cuisine. I doubt I will return to Cafe Matou after this incident with the maitre'd; rudeness and derision are never appetizing.
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no attitude ,just good bistro and kind of romantic
By logan kutie from logan, December 28, 2007
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wonderful food , great prices and good wine selection. very comfortable and nice without bieng too fancy!great date place or cocktail/appetizer place
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Review Summary
The following scores represent the average rating submitted by 61 users:
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