Reviews of Mati (Restaurant)

Qi Helen Yang

New Year Eve dinner at Mati! Our experience couldn’t be any better! Food was great!! Our server is super sweet and lovely, tho I didn’t get her …

K BUI

When you lick your plate … you know it’s good ????. The service is also 10/10. Great place, amazing food and even better service! You MUST have the sea food tower. I’m not a see food fanatic but it’s a must. Enjoy your night! Don’t worry about how much you are spending… it’s worth every penny

Call Betty!

The California chic decor is so stylish it almost outshines the food. However, the menu did not disappoint. The veggie dish for brunch (on Sunday’s only) was delicious and filling. We arrived for brunch at 1:30pm and were promptly seated, and greeted by our friendly server. Of note, the website states that they are open for brunch until 3 pm, but it the last call for food was at 1:45 pm. Not an issue for us, but I’m glad we didn’t arrive at 2 pm only to be disappointed. We ordered, and our meals came in a decent time so that we not only enjoyed them but were able to stay to enjoy a glass of wine after our meal. Excellent wine list too btw. I look forward to coming back for brunch as well as for dinner.

Lucky Kard

Meal type

Mag nolia

Beautiful place. Food was tasty and beautiful as well. The server seamed a bit upset when I didn't order alcohol, which i understand is socially expected unfortunately. I don't drink though. After that small bump the evening righted itself and all was terrific. Get the seafood tower

Dana Nicole O

Meal type

Amanda I

The seafood tower tasted fresh and my group had a hard time deciding what was the best item. We were very impressed with every component of it. We ended up ordering a few extra dishes as we were still hungry after polishing off the Double tower - the gnocchi and lobster ravioli were perfectly cooked. Reminder to self - always order the skillet dessert. I've had a couple at Mati and they were both so decadent. The perfect way to round out the meal!

Jack Yang

Came to Mati to celebrate my dad’s birthday and everyone loved the food! The seafood tower is a must get and has so much hot/cold variety. Scallops were probably my favorite as they were made so tender and juicy. Burrata was delicious and paired perfectly with the fresh bread. Unfortunately our first batch of bread was a bit cold but the second batch was fresh and warm. The wagyu ribeye was cooked well and tasted delicious. Glad I tried it but personally, I would probably get the normal ribeye steak next time at 1/3 the price.

John Woods

Service

Stuart Seemungal

Dine in

Noor

Dinner

Joel Baxter

We had heard a lot of positive comments about Mati and were excited to try it along with another couple. We made a reservation a week in advance and when we arrived we were ushered into a tent that had heaters and were seated near the tent wall which had a small opening along the floor. I was shocked that given our early reservation we were not seated inside the restaurant. No one warned us when we made the reservation we would be seated outside and had they, I would not have reserved. I later learned they plan to keep the tent open all winter so consider yourself warned. We were there on a relatively mild November night but the draft was still uncomfortable. Also keep in mind this restaurant is expensive so the experience is just as important as the food and service and being cold is not a good experience nor is listening to overly loud music. Our friends had the seafood tower which looked padded with tacos and sushi We ordered oysters that came late with the main. The Cloud Nine cocktail was really nice and the porterhouse was just perfect. After 2 hours we were asked to leave - I guess to be expected given how trendy Mati is. Overall I felt short changed by the experience and won't return.

Leanne Nguyen

We came here with my boyfriend’s parents for their birthday and honestly, great service and food definitely met our expectations. The seafood tower was super tasty- we ordered the double amongst 4 of us and they added in an extra lobster taco so we could each have one and the tower was the perfect amount of us as an appetizer. We also had the waygu burger and their two salads Caesar and boccacini and everything was delicious. Our server was really kind and attentive, offering to swap out one of our drinks when it didn’t hit the spot. Would recommend this place- just know you should expect to pay a bit of money like any other higher end quality food/service experience you visit.

brooks steele

Really wanted to like this place as I’d heard amazing things from others but unfortunately the service ruined the experience for me. After finishing our bottle of wine we were never offered any other beverages and it was too hard to get the attention of our server to ask for something else. The food was delicious but over shadowed. Also, completely under the need for seating time limits but after being ignored except for a “first bites” check-in when we were then rudely rushed out at the end of our dining time it definitely didn’t leave a good taste in my mouth.

Matthew Parker-Jones

If there is 0 star I would have put 0 , worst customer service , The waiter was beyond rude I spoke with the manager and she apologized on her behalf but after it was too late, she was throwing the menu on the table with no respect, whenever we asked her a question she was answering without looking at me or at my husband. Change your staff ! Needless to say we won’t be back here again. Doesn’t deserve the hype AT ALL! Not up to par with the amount of $ you are spending. I would not recommend this place, as Preston street has many other wonderful places to dine. At least a place with a respectful waiters whom her chest is not out and her brain is fully functioning!

Namalee Salem

I always wait a few times before I write a review for a restaurant. And, after 4-5 visits - I wanted to take the time to let everyone know how great this addition is to Little Italy! For me it's not just about the food, it's about the whole experience. Atmosphere and Service: It is such a beautiful and stylish space yet comfortable - not too posh. The staff is great - owners, hostess and servers. They know the menu and can make recommendations. BONUS: When they are out of something - they tell you when they give you the menus. There is nothing worse than getting told that when you are ready to order - especially when you have your heart set on something. I think I have had half of the menu - except the meat dishes - I am a vegetarian. I have so many favorites! Yellowfin Tuna Tartare, Smelts, Arancini, Dakos, P.E.I Mussels, Seafood pasta They have this smore-brownie like dessert with vanilla ice cream - it is heavenly. (I pretend it doesn't have any calories.) NOTE: They have the best french fries I have EVER tasted.

Fabian Canas

Great atmosphere, good service, food was delicious. We ordered various appetizers was pleased with presentation. The oysters were delicious. For the main dish, definitely the lamb was good. If you go, do order the brown dessert, very tasty.

Angela Alvarado

I have been dying to Mati for months. Finally made it on a beautiful Sunday morning. First of all, it’s beautiful inside. Very modern. A lot of natural light brightens up the rooms. Our waitress was a lovely ting lady who’s name I do not recall. She made is feel very welcome, she was very attentive to us, and answered all of our question - she knew the menu and made great suggestions. The vibe of the restaurant was quite lovely, R&B music playing and it was enough that you could hear the music and carry a conversation. Now let’s talk about the FOOD!!!! I ordered the Braised Lamb cheek (they did not have the beef cheeks that day) and my friend ordered the Grilled Brioche and Mushrooms. Both dishes were spectacular. The dishes were beautiful on the plate and well portioned. The reasons that I am giving this place a 4 out of 5 starts are because 1) the food was a bit on the salty side and 2) my beef cheek piece was a bit weird. It as if it was way more fat than meat. Others than those two issues, I will definitely return to Mati for brunch.

A. A.

I will rate this place according to the service we had with my family; for starters the waiter was shockingly rude and unprofessional, the place we sat the tables was wiggling , the area they put us in was either very cold or over heated, We didn’t expect this kind of service from a place like this, the manager or the owner was extremely disrespectful when we committed to him what happened! Will never come back again!

habon assoweh

We went for brunch that is only on sunday’s . If you plan to go for sure make a reservation. I called 3 days before and they were already full and only had time at 1:30pm, unless you don’t mind seating at the bar. Place is very nice, well decorated and beautiful inside. Tables were very close to each other so we got to hear people conversations. Place was very loud and very hard to talk. I wasn’t expecting to be quiet but it was insane how loud it gets, we stoped talking after a while we couldn’t understand each other at all. It was very annoying . Food it’s amazing, very delicious and presentation it’s great . I’ll def come back for the food . Service was average, we had to get the attention of 4 people to get water and we got ignored. I asked for an OJ at the beggining and got all our plates and the OJ still missing. It was very hard to get the bill. What was worst is seeing people around get great service and left on the side like your table was invisible.

Yasha Sinitski

Best seafood I've had outside of Italy. Mind bogglingly, earth shattering deliciousness. The seafood tower and lobster pasta were both to die for. My wife and I had a great time celebrating a birthday. The restaurant even gave us a free cheesecake slice as a gift. Pricey, but absolutely worth it.

Dahlia H

We had a wonderful experience at Mati’s last night. We were a group of four and ordered several plates to share. Everything we tried was nothing less than magnificent. Their seafood tower was absolutely delicious and even though we are not big seafood lovers, every item on the tower tasted delicious that we wiped it clean. Then we shared their tomahawk wagyu steak which was so juicy and mouth-wateringly delicious. We had ordered the seafood pasta for two to share as well and the pasta was cooked to perfection- we were so full at this point but we still enjoyed a few bites. Their raspberry cheesecake was too beautiful to eat and equally tasty. It’s true it takes time for your food to come (took an hour for the seafood tower and then another hour for the steak n pasta), but that is because they take their time to cook your food to perfection and present it beautifully too. All in all we had a spectacular evening and would love to visit this place again soon. 10/10 for you guys - Well done!

Brianna Dowsley

A little surprised to be seated in the tent outside, given we had made reservations a few weeks in advance. To be fair...the tent was 'just' warm enough, due to the large number of propane heaters spread out around the space. I do feel they should specify during the reservation that you will essentially be seated outside....in mid-November....not sure how long they will be able to keep this going....it is drafty, and certainly did start our evening off on the wrong foot. That being said, the service was great, and the food and cocktails were spectacular. By the time we received our first course, we completely forgot about the questionable seating. The food is really great and we will certainly be back....just hoping to snag an inside seat next time. I thought of removing a star or two for the 'tent' experience...but the food and service were 'that' good. Thanks for a great birthday dinner!

Sener Nazim

Overpriced, below average quality food. I got a burnt, not edible octopus, and the pasta with scallops and shrimps in which, without asking me, the scallops were replaced with shrimps.

Miss Qadri

Wow! Very happy with our choice for an anniversary dinner. Our bilingual server, Veronica, did an excellent job ensuring a superb experience with great timing. The seafood tower was amazing (+ burrata cheese), my favourite part was the giant scallop. Would highly recommend for a nice seafood dinner.

Natasha Bernardi

Mati has been talk about why my circle of friends for a few months now, so I’ll we decided to bite the bullet and take mom out for Mother’s Day. We did not regret our decision. The food was rustic yet refined. All the meats we had were charcoal grilled, a rarity in Ottawa. The Tomahawk steak was a showstopper, Best I’ve had in Canada. Appetizers were nice, we ended up splitting a seafood pasta dish as one the appetizers and it was great. The chicken was good, but don’t be tempted by the cheaper price, the steaks were the way to go. We weren’t going to have dessert but it was offered on the house due to minor mistakes in the service, and thank goodness we had the brownies (picture speaks for itself) The food was amazing and the service was even better. I would definite go back.

Angel Le (hiAngelBytes)

Beautiful venue with a very solid menu, including a couple of truly standout dishes. Loses a star for service as the front house staff seems hellbent on setting new personal bests for flipping tables. Not somewhere that I'd recommend as a result.

Erin McGeachie

Don’t miss the brunch on Sundays. Fresh food, delicious coffee. Staff are nice. One of my favorite places in Ottawa.

Natalie Irwin

We made a reservation for noon and sat in the enclosed tent exterior area that runs along the back. It is very warm, don't worry about being cold at all. If anything it gets a little too warm! Physical distancing protocols are in place, sanitisation upon arrival. Check in required, masks required. At the time of my visit the City of Ottawa has a restriction of four people per table. Food was great, service was fast and friendly.

Celine Toth

I've been to Mati several times for numerous reasons. 1. The food! Ive been for both their brunch and their dinner menus and both are sooooo good! I personally love their brunch menu a bit more, but that's just me being obsessed wit their fresh baked croissants as a starter! It comes with two freshly baked croissants along with three in house made spreads. Each one of the spreads compliment each other and are a great way to start your meal! Another great brunch option is their steak and eggs...the potatoes that comes along with it DELICIOUS! Also love the plating and overall presentation of the dish (photo below) 2. The aesthetic and ambiance of the restaurant is fantastic, very chic and trendy. It almost makes you feel like your in another time period. Highly recommend, especially for special occasions. 3. Service. What Ive noticed from the many times I've visited this restaurant is the CONSISTENT and excellent service their team provides. The waitstaff are always friendly, welcoming and most importantly knowledgeable about the menus. I do love this spot and could go on and on, however in the effort of being completely transparent their prices are on the higher end so that's something to consider. Overall love!

Francois D'Aoust

Service

Zaina A

I don’s usually leave comments but this time, I feel like I had to after what we experienced at Mati. The server was extremely RUDE to us , she was wearing a shirt with her chest is literally out in a very cheap way, felt like I am in a low level place . I was shocked that this happen at as I assumed it is a nice place but NOT at all! ! The entire time we were there, we felt very uncomfortable and not welcomed. Save your money please and spend it at a place where the good service is with better food ! #overpriced # horrible service!

Marie-Eve Giguère

The brunch was delicious and pure indulgence… Maple Bacon: grilled, house cured, real maple syrup, green onion… need I say more?!? • The outdoor patio beautifully set up, tasty cocktails, delicious food and friendly service. • Mati Ottawa has been a wonderful discovery. Looking forward to another great brunch.

Juwana A

We had such an amazing experience! We got served by the most down to earth beautiful waitress named Max! She was so nice & helpful, and made sure we got the best serve ever! We thank team “Mati” and the other staff members for giving us this awesome experience. If you are looking for an awesome elegant date with your friend, I definitely recommend it.???? FIVE STAR NEWYORK CHEESECAKE & The chicken signature dish????????????

Michael Smith

We visited this restaurant for the first time and we were not disappointed. Service is really really good. Rare to find such service in Ottawa. A few things that could improve. 1-airflow and temperature was not the best where we were sitting. The other 2 tables next to us thought the same. 2-plate choice was not the best as the plates would slip and slide on the table when using a knife (little details count). 3-although a fantastic spot and delicious food, the prices are little too expensive. However we will definitely go back to try all types of towers they have. Overall we are very satisfied and loved how the owner and the manager engaged with their customers. Keep it up ????

Alison Janes

Cute chic spot. Good seafood tower too (they just need to work on their sushi skills or eliminate it from the seafood tower and add more shrimp instead as the sushi is not that good and you get sick). Nevertheless, it's one of the rare restaurants that actually look good and has a nice social setting to catch up with the ladies in Ottawa

Christopher Castonguay

Maxime served us for my friend’s birthday dinner. We had the seafood tower, appetizers & a tomahawk steak. Service was excellent & food was delicious. A birthday card with staff signatures was a welcoming touch. One of the best restaurants in Ottawa. Highly recommend. Thank you Mati for never disappointing my wife & I. See you soon

Mohamed Eldery

I made reservations specifically for their heated patio given the most recent restrictions only to show up and have the location be closed. I made my reservations online and even received a message to confirm my reservation. Their answering machine also wasn’t changed to reflect this, instead stating that they are open for patio dining. A ginormous waste of our time.

Samuelle Pelletier Jean

Worst customer service, Very Rude staff , overpriced, bellow average, waiters are dressed like they are in a nightclub, when you speak with them they either don’t answer or they answer in a very rude way! Paid over 400$ half of the food was cold . Very bad awful experience will NEVER return to this place! Eww

Eric Yang

Nice environment .. food and drinks are the best … do not forget to try the tower, it’s speciality and devious I ordered the sushi this time, and I can tell it is above average for Ottawa …

Michael B

Dinner

Bari-Leigh Myers

Dine in

Valerie Jean-Gilles

We’ve eaten at Mati quite a few times. Tonight was our first time out on a patio for a meal in the new normal of Covid. We made a reservation for 4 people at 6:30, were checked for temperature and then seated as soon as we arrived. The staff were all friendly, smiling under their masks and making sure that our needs were attended too, in 30 degree heat. Cocktails were delivered quickly and were delicious. We had the seafood tower, burrata, watermelon salad and the porterhouse. The food was amazing, as usual. It’s nice to see a place that has the same high standards, even when dealing with the limitations imposed by COVID-19. Mati is consistently one of the best restaurants in Ottawa.

Nadia Boucher

Mati is great! I love their burrata and the seafood platter. I did find the brunch portion a bit small. We had the big chicken (forgot the name) one time and it was so salty that we couldn't eat it. However, we reached out and were reimbursed which was nice. Good service!

Tausha Michaud

Every single thing about MATI screams "old school class".Hospitality and vibe are on point and the menu is 100% some of the best food you will eat.Next level dining..Do Not miss out.Oh! and cocktails are outta' control jaw droppers!!!! Server Cameron was 5 stars.

Anfal Baden

We dined at this restaurant last night and absolutely loved the food and atmosphere! The food was delicious!! My husband and I couldn't believe we haven't come until now. The service was also very good. What we particularly were pleased with was the fact the owner was walking around the tables and talking to all the guests. He came to ours and asked how our main dishes were (which he already knew ahead what we had). That to us was exceptional service. We can see why it's so successful. We will definitely be back!

Kassandra Seetho

Every experience I have had at Mati has been nothing less than spectacular. I love that they use sustainable ocean wise seafood that focuses on ensuring the ocean remains abundant. The service is always impeccable. Shout out to Chelsea who was so thorough, friendly and funny! We couldn't stop saying good things about her. Drinks are gorgeous and pack a punch and the food is some of the best in Ottawa. My personal favourites are their seafood tower, the seafood pasta for two and their lobster grilled cheese for brunch. A great spot for drinks with your favourite ladies or a romantic date!

Andy P

Service

Laleh Y

Best arancini I've ever had. Food was a little cold when we got it but the service was so amazing, it made up for it. Ppl saying prices are high - yes they def are high but that's what you get for these restaurants lol go somewhere cheaper if that's an issue but this is fine dining. Our server, Tamara, was phenomenal - so sweet and friendly and actually, every single staff member was fantastic. She even brought complimentary champagne when she noticed we were celebrating an engagement - these little details are huge. The restaurant itself is gorgeous and such a great ambiance and on top of that, the food is so delicious. All the staff, including bartenders, thank you on your way out for coming etc.. Places don't have this level of service anymore and it's a shame because it makes a huge difference. Mati is def a new favourite!

Jack Webber

A Greek island in the heart of Little Italy on Preston Street, Mati is one sophisticated yet unassuming boutique restaurant. The place is popular and not very big so reservation is a must, especially on the weekend. The menu is intelligently designed and just big enough to accommodate most tastes. Depending on what you order, it may take some time to get the food to the table but the service overall is top notch with a lot of attention to detail. Most items on the menu require solid presentation and Mati excels at that. The food is not only appealing visually, but also great tasting.

Michelle Lee

I enjoyed Mati very well. The servers were friendly and accommodating, the drinks were nice, and the food was excellent. I personally think Mati Spritz could’ve been better, it didn’t have a strong taste. I got the Seafood Tower Double - and the flavour and quality of the food was exquisite. We thoroughly enjoyed the food, except the oysters; they were a bit too salty for us. The only disappointing part was them not practicing social distance. All tables were very close of each others, only apart by roughly less than 1m/3ft I hope they install better safety when indoor dining opens along with phase 3.

André T

Mati! My go to place for a seafood fix. The seafood tower is a must if you are looking for a delicious variety of seafood, it will not disappoint. Endulge in one of their delicious creative cocktails as a start to your meal. You'll be glad you did. Service is excellent. Mati has done a wonderful job at turning their patio into a comfortable dining area and at ensuring their customers are safe. Thanks Mati! Can't wait to get back.

Mark Damiani

Great experience! Top notch service and the food is delicious. I had the lobster wonton tacos and the striploin medium rare. Absolutely wonderful. I highly recommend a glass of red wine... Amarone della Valpolicella.

Sara Awija

Dine in

Megan L

Went for brunch a couple weekends ago and the food was delicious. Our service was a bit hit and a miss. Our server was fantastic but We ordered Caesars they were terrible had to send it back for new ones which were okay and the kitchen sent out one of our tables meals 10 minutes earlier than the other two so eventually she started eating before it got cold. Would have been nice to eat together … but the food was so good we didn’t mind too much.

Thaer Abdeen

Came here for Sunday Brunch and everything we ordered was fantastic. The food was beautifully presented, our server was friendly, and efficient. The atmosphere was not your typical quiet Sunday brunch, as they had a live DJ there and it was quite loud - most likely due to a birthday celebration that was being celebrated. I really enjoyed everything about this place, minus my last plate - the Braised Beef, was a too salty for my preference. Regardless, I’d definitely come back again to try other items on their menu.

Adam B

The tomohawk is amazing!! It is very big so you can share between 2-4 ppl depending how many other items you are ordering! It comes with various sauces that are super interesting to try, this is not your average steak. The cocktails are so unique and delicious,and they do change out for new drinks from time to time. They also have special sauces made in-house for their oysters! I’ve tried a lot of their dishes and it was very delicious ! The atmosphere is modern and fun .. great for casual dinner and great for dinner date and family friendly as well! The servers and bartenders are super friendly, nice and welcoming! I enjoyed both the service and food here and frequent it often! Sometimes just to even have a drink, one of my top cocktail places in town! There is street parking available. There is a lunch menu and dinner menu.

Julie N

Another amazing meal at Mati! Probably the best restaurant in the city. Service and food is on point.

Bushra Al

Cool interior decoration and atmosphere. Seafood tower was fresh and tasty. The meatballs were the highlight of the night. The cocktails were well made and the bartenders are happy to make something new and off the menu for you.

belinda kwan

Booked several weeks in advance to celebrate 5 year anniversary. We were seated in a very cramped area, it was uncomfortable getting in and out of the booth seat. The food was impeccable but the overall vibe was very overwhelming and claustrophobic.