Matilda — Restaurant in Lake View Township

Matilda's stole from me and showed me that they don't care. Here's what happened:

I went to Matilda's on a Friday night. I got in one drink order at the bar: 2 shots totaling $12. I handed the bartender my debit card and he informed me that there is a $20 minimum. I thought it was absurd, but figured I'd be buying at least 1 more round so I told him to keep it open. After that round, the bar filled up so much so that me and my large group of friends found ourselves everywhere else but the bar on that side. I never ordered another drink and I forgot to close my tab at the bar.

Normally, bars will close your tab, charging you some preset amount of gratuity, and wait until your forgetful self comes to pick up your card and sign the receipt.

Matilda's is closed on Sundays so I had to wait until Monday to pick up my card. When I went to pick it up, I was informed that my tab was, in fact, closed out at the minimum of $20. A little steep considering I'd only purchased $12 of drinks, but my fault all the same.

When I checked my bank account, I saw a charge for $23.60: the $20 minimum PLUS 18% gratuity! I called Matilda's and spoke to someone named "Will" who, after I brought him up to speed on the situation, informed me that this was out of the ordinary. He said I should've been charged either my total plus gratuity OR the $20 minimum. He assured me that "Kevin", the man in charge of these situations, would return my call as soon as possible.

I never heard from them again.

The moral of the story is, do not trust Matilda's with your credit card. They apparently do whatever they...

Great place to drink alone, just don't bring any friends or expect to make any here. It gets way too loud in here, impossible to have a conversation. They really need to install acoustic ceiling tiles and other soft surfaces to absorb sound. Right now the ceilings, walls, and floors are all solid so sound just bounces around. Not very friendly to designated drivers. Limited soft drink and food menus. Soft drink cups are laughably small. They don't even have root beer. I wouldn't have minded paying for a frosty IBC or Goose Island or something, but that's not even an option here. No desserts. I wouldn't have expected anything fancy (they aren't a restaurant after all), but even vanilla ice cream would have been nice. Anything sweet to balance out the salty. $10 minimum purchase to pay with plastic. Always a line for the restroom. No parking lot. There is some free on street parking, but beware that the paid on-street parking has a two hour maximum. $18 to park in the garage a block north. They do not use an app for your tab, they hold on to your credit card until you leave. I bumped up my rating by 2 stars because the owner replied on here. Nice to see that they actually care. It would have been nice if the bartender had mentioned their non-alcoholic cocktails when I asked about soft drinks, especially after I expressed my displeasure with their...

This bar is great on so many different levels. It's in a neighborhood that is generally known for the popped collar, fresh out of college crowd. So this is a welcomed reprieve from the madness. It's special in the fact that you have to be 23 to enter - GENIUS!!!

Inside the dark bar is adorned by the most eclectic and absurd collection of art and artifacts. It's so much fun to look at while having a nice chat with friends at a surfboard shaped table. It's a great place to have a mellow drink and gather with a friend. The music is good, but not too loud. Upstairs at the main bar is a decent jukebox, pool table, and two separate rooms so it's not so cramped.

Downstairs is a whole other story! It's an entirely different bar downstairs, set up like an intimate lounge while a few of the patrons who have perhaps consumed a bit more than the drinkers upstairs can be found dancing around the dj booth or on the pole. It's got something for everyone!

Two minor issues: never any drink specials :( and beware of the woman's bathroom. The stalls don't have doors; rather they have curtains which don't ever seem to keep intruders out. It makes for some awkward interactions, but don't let that keep you from enjoying all this bar...