MatysonAnniversary DinnerWe were given a gift certificate for Matyson by a friend who visits there very frequently. The food was excellent! Service was good and I love the setting. Very intimate. Will definitely return!5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMWorth the WalkHad tickets for the Kimmel but were eager to revisit Matyson. Parking and distance were issues but dinner was well worth the inconvenience. The menu is created with whimsy and thoughtfulness. This is not your "run of the mill" preparation. Asparagus fettuccine. Yum! Veal 2 ways: roasted breast and sweetbreads. My husband raved. An old fashioned coconut cream pie shared by the two of us was lovingly devoured. Great dinner. We will return as it was worth the walk.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways a winnerInventive, delicious, fair value....in a word: a winner every time. The best ramen (served at lunch only) I've ever had.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMThe first time I visited wasThe first time I visited was for my birthday with a group of friends and we all LOVED it! I went back for brunch and was not disappointed. Great BYOB!!!!5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMI tell everyone that MatysonI tell everyone that Matyson is consistently the best BYOB in Philadelphia, and this meal (Lancaster County Chicken-inspired) only reinforced that belief. Another terrific tasting menu, each a great course (chilled avocado soup; the salad with frisée and crispy chicken liver; the roasted chicken; and strawberry ice cream cake). And perfect combination of textures (silk-smooth soup, crisp chicken liver, delectable roasted chicken).5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMMost well rounded meal everyMost well rounded meal every start to finish. Have never had a bad meal.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMTasting MenuFour of us went for the Cinco de Mayo tasting menu, and it was absolutely great.
The tortilla crusted halibut and Carne Asada especially stood out. This restaurant continues to impress with its creativity and consistency, and as always the service was terrific.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMCame for an early SaturdayCame for an early Saturday dinner before another event in Center City. The food absolutely lived up to the high ratings. My wife drinks, I don't, so we like byo's. The mussel special appetizer, rock octopus--which was extremely tender- a rarity in America, and the veal breast and hamachi entrees were all suberbly done. We especially liked the broths for both the mussels and the hamachi. Service was delightful and we would highly recommend for a married couple date night.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food and service!We were traveling from New York to Philly for an epicurean weekend, and Matyson was one of our stops. We had researched restaurants on Chowhound, and Matyson came highly recommended. We were not dissapointed. From the moment we walked in the door, to the time we left, the service was impeccable. My husband had the halibut, which was delightful, and I had the special, a Hawaiian fish that was outstanding. For our appetizer we had the mussels on the special menu, the sauce was to die for! If you're in Philadelphia, do stop in, it's well worth it, make sure you have a reservation, they do go quickly.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMA very good experience. TheA very good experience. The food was excellent, service commendable and the price was fair. Noise level is somewhat high nevertheless our party of four was able to carry on a conversation. I will look forward to another visit soon and will recommend Matyson to my friends.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat place for a businessGreat place for a business lunch. The calamari was delicious!!4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMBeautfilly conceived and preapredBeautfilly conceived and preapred food; Sunday dinner is a steal; BYOB (and no corkage) makes this an incredible find.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMMatyson lives up to its stellarMatyson lives up to its stellar reputation. What a great prix fixe menu on Sundays. Great place to take guests who don't know Matyson or out-of-town guests.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was delicious and fresh.Food was delicious and fresh. loved the recipes... fish was a little overdone and not crazy about veal sweetbreads.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMAs a San Franciscan, and foodie,As a San Franciscan, and foodie, I highly recommend Matyson. They are incredibly accommodating and friendly, and the food preparation and thought behind each dish is evident with each bite. I truly appreciated the rock octopus dish, and never had a duck entree prepared so intricately and delicious. This dinner was a surprise for my brother (who's birthday it was) and the restaurant went out of their way to make it special. Absolutely not to be missed for those looking for fine dining in Philly, and certainly appropriate for special occasions. Bravo!4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMmy favoritewithout question - my favorite restaurant in the city. we go for the tasting menus but always stray and hit the menu too. weekly variety, themed, killer stuff...every single time4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMA great BYOB for Philadelphia.A great BYOB for Philadelphia. The savory items were spectacular and delicious. The desserts, not so much. Foie gras and duck breast were exemplary. Super service, the waiter was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Host friendly and welcoming. Excellent restaurant.4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMAt a recent lunch, we enjoyedAt a recent lunch, we enjoyed the cauliflower soup, burger and salads. The quality (and temperature) and presentation of the food was outstanding. Ditto for service. They need a larger venue to fit all the foodies who want to dine here.4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMThe price/quality ratio isThe price/quality ratio is amazingly good with intensely flavored beautifully prepared food at bargain prices. BYO wine makes for a restaurant that is not to be missed.4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMYummy!We ate dinner very early so it was very quiet with only a few others
dining. The prix-fix selections were delectable!4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMDining Pre-theater on a Sat nightOne of the best dining experiences we have had in town! The bad thing about trying different restaurants all the time is you are never considered a regular at any. I could see becoming a regular at Matyson. There is convenient parking across the street and a liquor store around the corner at 19th & Chestnut. Our server, Tracy, was very helpful, gave us great recommendations, was very attentive and very personable! And the food!! The foie gras is a must and both the striped bass and snapper entrees were delicious. We can't wait to go back to try the other seafood entrees and the duck! Desserts were good too. It's a little bit of a walk to the Academy but well worth it! I've read a lot about the tasting menu but ordering a la carte was great!4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMI have never walked away fromI have never walked away from Matyson without a great big smile on my face.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMFoie gras appetizer was delicious.Foie gras appetizer was delicious. We enjoyed our entrees of hangar steak and striped bass. The flavors were interesting and fresh. Banana nut bread pudding with bourbon ice cream topped off the great meal. GREAT BYO - you must try at least once if you're in Philadelphia.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMSurviving the test of time.Matyson Continues to be our favorite BYOB since its opening. The creative menu is continually changing, but the quality remains excellent.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous little restaurant,Fabulous little restaurant, really enjoyed the meal, Foie gras was outstanding as were the sweetbreads, we will return!3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, imaginative tastingGreat food, imaginative tasting menus every week, attentive service3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMReally enjoyed the tastingReally enjoyed the tasting menu. Every dish was delicious. Would definitely try it again. Only drawback was portion size. Some of the heartier eaters in our group may have enjoyed more generous portions.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMHome Run!Never had a bad experience here. the staff is awesome, the food excellent.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMThis restaurant has a focusThis restaurant has a focus on innovative food. It has a limited menu, six or seven quite varied dishes. A tasting menu is offered that was very good on our visit.3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent meal all aroundI hadn't been to Matyson for a few years so was looking forward to a return visit. I was not disappointed. Everything was delicious, especially the cavatelli appetizer and both fish entrees -- red snapper and striped bass. I wish I remembered our waiter's name because he was wonderful. Very friendly, good service and excellent in giving his opinion about dishes when asked. I'd want him again when I return, which I undoubtedly will. One of the best meals I've had recently.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect spot for date night.Perfect spot for date night. The menu is small but the food is delicious.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMThey're doing a great jobThey're doing a great job serving the best food in the best ways.3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMFood fantastic, a little tooFood fantastic, a little too noisy for my taste. Will definitely go back though.2/12/2013 12:00:00 AM1st time at Matyson for a1st time at Matyson for a quick lunch. Had the Brussels Sprouts appetizer and the Steak Frites. Both were prepared expertly, loved the duck-fat fried truffled French Fries. Service was professional and courteous. Will return.2/7/2013 12:00:00 AMLast meal of the Philly visitLast meal of the Philly visit was lunch at Matyson. On a bone-chilling day, what could be more appealing than Spicy Chicken Ramen - truly delicious. Of course the cod sandwich with coleslaw got major points, too. And as a final note, the apple crisp hot out of the oven topped with a perfect sphere of ice cream was delicious. Just sorry our trip ended before the "cheese" tasting menu - maybe next time!2/4/2013 12:00:00 AMOur second visit to MatysonOur second visit to Matyson in as many days was just as memorable as the first. This dinner found us enjoying perfectly cooked chicken with spaetzle and cabbage and an amazing dish of pepita risotto with chunks of lobster. Of course the kale salad we love started the meal perfectly. Dessert to share came down to the special which was lovely chocolate chip pound cake so beautifully topped with ice cream and more! If we lived in Philadelphia, we would probably be at Matyson once a week.2/2/2013 12:00:00 AMHadn't been to Matyson forHadn't been to Matyson for quite a while, and forgot how wonderful it is. The shaved Tuscan kale was outstanding, as was the Ahi Tuna. Definitely will be returning sooner rather than later.2/1/2013 12:00:00 AMWe discovered Matyson on aWe discovered Matyson on a trip to Philadelphia several years ago and it remains a favorite with the constantly changing and always creative menu and the wonderful service. The kale salad with roasted butternut squash and pumpkin seeds is addictive but in such a healthy way... This meal came down to decisions in favor of the duck breast and and the striped bass with gnocchi and mushrooms. The shared almond crepe was a perfect finale.2/1/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food and service!Excellent food and service! Will definitely go back again...!1/11/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful place. Cozy ambiance,Wonderful place. Cozy ambiance, interesting creative and delicious food, nice professional service, BYOB and a great value for all the above. Definitely return any chance we get.12/26/2012 12:00:00 AMVery enjoyableDelicious food. Almost perfect service. Surely will return.12/12/2012 12:00:00 AM