Mattei's Tavern

Sort by

Filters

1. MC

   MallyC

   Los Angeles

   1 review

   vip
   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 1 day ago

   overall5food5service4ambience4

   The lights in the main dining area are too bright. Feels like a cafeteria. Otherwise gorgeous.

   Report
2. M

   Mark

   Los Angeles

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on January 13, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Warm inviting space with excellent knowledgable staff. Diverse wine selection and interesting food. Definitely more of a special occasion place with the high price point although they do have a more casual bar area with more affordable options. Will definitely return again to try more of the menu and interesting international wine list.

   Report
3. CW

   CandyW

   San Diego

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on January 8, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience4

   Being in wine country the corkage fee is too high! Nice with decanting but have 2 prices … my wine didn’t need decanting! Or have a corkage price for SB wines! Menu too limited! Service from Amy and Suz was great!

   Report
4. S

   Soni22

   Central Coast

   7 reviews

   5.0

   7 reviews

   Dined on January 8, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Loved it!!! Amazing food, drinks and and service!

   Report
5. RK

   RKLA

   Los Angeles

   34 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   34 reviews

   Dined on January 7, 2023

   overall5food4service5ambience5

   Great ambiance -- they stayed true to the historic nature of the building while giving it a modern flair. The service was great -- really welcoming. The food was generally tasty but lacked the "wow" factor we expected for the price.

   Report
6. R

   Rsibb

   Central Coast

   7 reviews

   5.0

   7 reviews

   Dined on January 7, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   So great to have Mattei’s back! Great experience, food and service. Can’t wait to go back.

   Report
7. DA

   DorothyA

   New York Area

   1 review

   vip
   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on January 5, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Fantastic food and service in a beautifully renovated space. A terrific addition to an already amazing food scene in the Santa Ynez Valley.

   Report
8. TB

   ToniB

   Orange County

   5 reviews

   5.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on January 1, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   The entire experience was stellar:) Every dish was fantastic, service was exceptional, table was sweet. Thanks for ending 2022 with greatness.

   Report
9. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   San Francisco

   3 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on December 31, 2022

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Great ambience & history of this Tavern! A place to go even to just check it out & have a drink in the bar. It’s gorgeous. The food was amazing. Incredibly prepared & delicious. Highly recommend ❤️

   Report
10. DE

    DaveE

    Las Vegas

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 29, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Food was phenomenal

    Report
11. A

    Andrea

    Los Angeles

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 29, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Open Table recommend Matteo’s Tavern to us for dinner and I am so happy the my did! The place is absolutely beautiful, the bar has such a cool vibe, the restaurant was gorgeous and the staff was friendly, knowledgeable and fun! The food and drinks were fantastic! And make sure you order the dark chocolate soufflé ahead of time! Believe me, it’s worth it!

    Report
12. SK

    StuartK

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 24, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Perfect blend of history, atmosphere, service and food!

    Report
13. HB

    HBDiner

    Los Angeles

    71 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    71 reviews

    Dined on December 23, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Magical evening of unsurpassed fine dining! Highly recommend the bread for all, spinach savoy, sweet potato, wagyu tomahawk, Hope Ranch mussels and the chocolate souffle. Impressive diverse wine list spanning a wide range of prices. With the encouragement of the excellent Danish sommelier, we selected a Patagonian Malbec, which offered exceptionally high value for the price. We look forward to continuing our decades long enjoyment of Mattei's in possibly its best incarnation.

    Report
14. AG

    ArtG

    Central Coast

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 23, 2022

    overall4food5service4ambience5

    Excellent food and interior design. But it has the feel of a big corporation catering to rich tourists and not endeavoring to bond with the locals, who fondly remember the old Mattei's and are hoping to recapture that. I didn't. Two related comments: First, as a local winemaker, I brought a bottle of my own wine to drink. I offered a taste to our server, but she took no interest. Local restaurants also don't charge local winemakers corkage (even if they don't bring their own wine), but they charged me $35 corkage to drink my own wine! Unbelievable. Must be some inflexible and tone deaf corporate policy. I should ask for a refund. Then the beverage manager (sommelier?) dropped by to ask how it is going. He asked how the wine is (without looking at it). I said fine (showing it to him), and that it is my own that I made. He said, "Oh nice" and then strode off. Again, no effort to relate to locals, even those in the wine community, which should be his bread and butter. We could have had at least a short conversation there, but no sensitivity at all.

    Report
15. S

    Shelley

    London

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 22, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Back for our 5th time in 2 weeks! Food is amazing and we love the decor and bar area!

    Report
16. B

    Barbara

    Los Angeles

    15 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on December 22, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience4

    Tavern menu was quite limited. We preferred the menu before the restaurant was closed and sold to Auberge. Next visit we will try the bar area as it has a different menu.

    Report
17. T

    Teressa

    Central Coast

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 17, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience5

    The renovation is beautiful the service is absolutely the best and the food is good. However, the prices are high for what you get, and it's a limited menu.

    Report
18. LR

    LoriR

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 15, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Wonderful meal. Only complaint was the noise level. Really delicious food. Lovley decor. Next time we are trying the bar so we can actually talk.

    Report
19. LD

    LDLD

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 10, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Wonderful service, delicious food, gorgeous bar/lounge. Only improvement would be to lower the lighting and soften the feeling of the main dining room to match the exceptional ambience of the lounge.

    Report
20. S

    Shelley

    London

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 10, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Amazing food, amazing atmosphere. Just 5 star all around. Can’t wait to go back!

    Report
21. F

    Fediay

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 9, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Such an incredible restaurant! Fantastic food, incredible design, and wonderful service. My family absolutely loved it!

    Report
22. MC

    MichelleC

    Portland

    24 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    24 reviews

    Dined on December 9, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    LOVE New Auberge Ownership! We have lived in valley for 16 years and were very saddened when previous owners (now Red Barn) lease expired. The following owners... failed miserably. But new Auberge owners have really knocked it out of the park. First the renovation is stunning. This is a resort, with a few dining options. There is a beautiful restaurant combining old and new design, a fabulous outdoor area (with new asian themed cafe coming), a separate coffee shop and then of course the old style Bar (my fav place) has been made even more cozy, with original fireplace & lovely comfy furniture, but expanded room for low top comfy tables. The bar menu is delicious... I had chicken sandwich (yummy fries), hubby had venison chili & iceberg wedge. Wine list and new Somalia is very good. Excellent interesting drink menu (I had margarita - excellent) They have abundance of local wine and old world wine to chose from, and some really interesting things to try. We haven't tried dinning menu yet, but it looks great and we'll be back. Only one thing to note, it is expensive - so be prepared for $45 burger. But location, location, location :)

    Report
23. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 4, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We had a great experience from start to finish. The food was great and the service was terrific. We got the porterhouse and we weren’t disappointed. Well worth the price. We will be back.

    Report
24. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Los Angeles

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 4, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Premium food with very friendly and attentive staff

    Report
25. IS

    IShaw

    Los Angeles

    13 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on December 3, 2022

    overall3food5service4ambience5

    Really enjoyed the food and service at the restaurant. A little unusual how closed off it was when checking in for our reservation. For instance, we weren’t offered to sit at the bar for a drink while we waited for our table to be ready. When we asked it seemed like we were out of line. That said once inside we had a splendid time. Needs a bit more relaxed atmosphere on a whole.

    Report
26. M

    Miscellaneousguest

    Los Angeles

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 3, 2022

    overall2food1service1ambience5

    From being seduced immediately by the ambience and perfect aesthetic curation to completely disenchanted by the robotic disconnected service to heady food that lacked any yum factor for a return visit. Maybe the bar experience where food and service isn’t as important would compensate next time for the brightly lit dining room; which killed the mood.

    Report
27. LJ

    LexiJ

    New York Area

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 1, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Incredible dining experience! Service was great, food & wine was delicious, and can't wait to come back!

    Report
28. RW

    RWS48

    Central Coast

    46 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    46 reviews

    Dined on December 1, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We had a wonderful evening. The dishes are designed to share. The flavors were unusual and delicious. Local produce and seasonal menu. Just what the Valley needed. Chef Rhoda is a find. We will be back.

    Report

29. The reviews below were submitted before January 1, 2021, when this restaurant changed management.

30. j

    jorlowski

    Oklahoma City

    62 reviews

    vip
    62 reviews

    Dined on January 4, 2016

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    This was my second visit to Mattei's. Was here last year about this time on business. This time I was in Los Olivos on a vacation and brought my wife here to celebrate our anniversary. The meal, beginning with the grilled avocado appetizer (a must have) was excellent. Service was over the top good as we enjoyed dinner at the chef's bar. Would highly recommend and we will be back!

    Report
31. P

    Phillygirl

    Central Coast

    3 reviews

    3 reviews

    Dined on January 1, 2016

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We received a warm greeting and prompt seating (a reserved table) with consideration paid to our needs in regard to the dining room's lighting and temperature. Our server was well-informed and attentive, helpful with suggestions or recommendations. Every selection we ordered from the menu was uniquely prepared, delightful to the taste buds. From the dry-aged beef tartar and arugula salad to our entrees, each bite did not disappoint. The piece de resistance was the beignet dessert. Look out Cafe Du Monde! Such a perfect ending to a perfect meal. (Oh, how we wish the restaurant could remain open during renovation.) The historical importance of Mattei's alongside the ambiance may be a reason to make an initial stop, but the food is the draw that solicits a return trip. It was the perfect way to ring out the old year and ring in the new.

    Report
32. N

    Nikpen64

    Orange County

    2 reviews

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 31, 2015

    overall1food1service2ambience2

    We have been to Mattei's many times over the years and it has always been a fine dining experience. This year the menu has changed to many very different odd options that didn't make much sense. Everything had a hint of BBQ sauce on it and the food was not very good. I personally had a fried chicken dish that was dripping in whatever it was fried in. For the prices on this menu it was very very disappointing. I loved this place but what it has evolved into was not good. The menu was overly creative trying way to hard to be upscale without the quality.

    Report
33. JC

    JCad

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    1 review

    Dined on December 28, 2015

    overall5food4service5ambience5

    We had an excellent meal with an attentive waiter in a wonderful ambience. The head chef, Drew, came out to chat a bit and after the meal gave us a lengthy and very passionate tour of the kitchen and various new dishes he was planning. Overall, a truly great night for all 4 of us.

    Report
34. l

    localdiner

    New England

    229 reviews

    vip
    229 reviews

    Dined on December 19, 2015

    overall4food4service5ambience4

    very creative menu. the appetizers are particularly tasty (entrees were good but not as good as appetizers). our server James made great recommendations. location is nice and quiet if you want an enjoyable meal.

    Report
35. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Denver

    8 reviews

    8 reviews

    Dined on December 5, 2015

    overall3food2service3ambience5

    Took our grandson and friends there. sat in bar as it is me casual and it was perfect for them. The food was not good. The boys were looking forward to the fried chicken as they love it at Sides but they just picked at it. Didn't even look like fried chicken. My husband had the steak --grisly. I had the rotisserie chicken which was so tough I could hardly cut it. I would try restaurant again but it was a $180 dinneer we didn't like so probably won"t.

    Report
36. S

    Scrubjay

    Central Coast

    1 review

    1 review

    Dined on November 21, 2015

    overall2food3service1ambience3

    I was unable to have my first choice of reservation time. I thought it was because they were very busy. But in reality, there were only 2 dinning tables being served. From the ordering of the meal until we got up to find the wait person to ask when we would actually get our dinner it was one solid hour. The wait person then got snippy at us because we were feeling unhappy about the long wait. She gave us a bit of a lecture instead of an apology. During our dinner we were rarely checked on, no water refill. The food was good, though minimal and over priced considering the experience. I missed the old Mattei's class and professionalism.

    Report
37. BM

    BlueMoon

    San Francisco

    146 reviews

    vip
    146 reviews

    Dined on October 29, 2015

    overall3food3service3ambience3

    After getting past all the pretension of the menu and the server, and thinking surely it would all add up to a great meal--well, not so much! The salads were fine but nothing special; the halibut was mushy and only room temp, whereas the olives that garnished it were warmer and had far more flavor (the fish really had none); the cocktails were weak; and, why would Brussels sprouts need an egg over them? And even they weren't well-roasted. The check was far too pricey for what we received.

    Report
38. SP

    SPORCHER

    New York Area

    18 reviews

    vip
    18 reviews

    Dined on October 18, 2015

    overall4food3service5ambience5

    Went here for our anniversary thinking it would be some great food in the Santa Ynez valley. The service was great, especially the waiter's assistant who was a kind older gentleman. Gave much better attention than the server and actually made some nice recommendations from the menu. The starters were great, we had the arugula salad, grilled avocado and the bread. All were amazing. For the entrees we chose the Halibut and a Steak. The Halibut was served rare, which was not very appetizing, created a slimy and chewy experience. The steak was ordered medium rare and was also served rare. While normally that would be fine with me, the texture of the steak was such that made it very tough and chewy. Not what you want out of a fine piece of beef! For the sides we ordered the brussel sprouts and the steak fries. Both were under cooked to our liking. Flavors were good, but could have been better had they been cooked more thoroughly. The desserts were fabulous. We had the bourbon ice cream and the ice box pie. Both were delicious. The coffee was great as well - a local roast from Handlebar Roasters served in a cool chemists Chemex contraption :-). I highly recommend the dessert and coffee!

    Report
39. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Central Coast

    1 review

    1 review

    Dined on September 20, 2015

    overall4food4service5ambience4

    Adam was our server. He did a fantastic job. We met some friends here who we hadn't been able to see for awhile. We may have been a little noisy and obnoxious, but Adam was patience and attentive.

    Report
40. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Central Coast

    1 review

    1 review

    Dined on September 18, 2015

    overall5food5service4ambience4

    I have eaten at the NEW Mattei's Tavern twice since it changed ownership & let me say that now Los Olivos has a reason for people to come and eat. Years before when the Brothers owned it...I would find guilt in serving their food to my dog, much less pay for it. Pretty much my sentiments for all the food in this Valley. So people, if you want to eat in a relevant restaurant......this is it! I couldn't eat this well in NYC or LA for that matter. Perhaps a couple of spots in SF...but thats a whole 'nother story. But Mattei's really is the REAL DEAL. The mashed potato crowd often scoffs at this place, but I can tell you based on the amazing service, these peeps use only local & mostly organic products. Furthermore, the flavors are strong and meaningful. I woke up the next morning wanting that damn avocado & cabana steak. Five stars. Five stars. Five stars. GO!!!!!

    Report
41. FB

    FBRK

    San Francisco

    11 reviews

    vip
    11 reviews

    Dined on September 13, 2015

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    This place was a hidden find. We went with friend each dish was amazing! Attention to detail incredible. Wait staff fabulous, Rick our waiter nailed the wine choice. Can't say enough good about this place. A must go!

    Report