Matisse Tavern & Grill — Restaurant in Lake View Township

We visited Matisse Tavern and Grill on a Saturday evening and chose to sit outside. Even though it was a bit chilly, the outdoor heaters did a good job of keeping us comfortable, which made sitting on the patio enjoyable. The atmosphere outside felt relaxed and welcoming, and it was nice to watch the neighborhood go by while waiting for our food.

We placed our order around 7:25 in the evening. Unfortunately, the wait for the food was much longer than expected. Our meals finally arrived at about 8:30, so it took around sixty five minutes for everything to come out. That is a long time to wait, even on a busy Saturday night. The one thing that softened the frustration was that the manager came outside, apologized, and explained that the kitchen was very busy. That personal touch was appreciated and showed good hospitality.

For the food itself, I ordered the Masterpiece Burger. It was juicy, flavorful, and cooked very well. The toppings worked nicely together and made it a satisfying choice. My friend ordered the Bistro Steak Sandwich on ciabatta. The steak was fine but did not stand out. The meat could have been more flavorful, and overall it was just okay compared to the burger.

I paired my meal with an Allagash White beer, which reminded me of Blue Moon but lighter and easier to drink. My friend had the Whiskey Business cocktail and enjoyed it a lot, calling it smooth and well balanced.

Overall, the long wait for food was disappointing, but the burger and drinks helped redeem the experience. Matisse Tavern and Grill has a nice atmosphere and friendly service, but the timing and consistency of the kitchen could...

Matisse is the definition of a hidden gem on Chicago’s North Side. From the moment we walked in, the vibe was warm and welcoming, and the service was spot-on and attentive without being overbearing.

The food? Incredible. We started with the garlic parm wings and quesadillas, and I’m not exaggerating when I say those wings are some of the best I’ve had in Chicago! They were perfectly crispy with a garlicky kick.

For mains, my friend ordered the beef tenderloin (melt-in-your-mouth good) and I went for the Devil’s Chicken. The chicken was juicy and bathed in a tomato sauce with olives, capers, white wine, and garlic…… an absolute flavor bomb.

Drinks were another highlight. They make their own syrups and juices, and you can taste the creativity in every cocktail. Dessert sealed the deal: the bread pudding and mango crème brûlée were both outstanding.

Bonus points for the heated outdoor patio that stays open until November and their late night hours which is perfect for lingering after a night out.

Matisse has been holding it down in the neighborhood for 24 years, and it’s easy to see why. This place deserves...

It's been awhile since I've had a meal worth posting about and I really do try to balance the raves and ruts.

Matisse in Chicago? Rut. I arrived at around 5PM just as the sun was perfect on the terrace: plenty of room but the door dweeb said things were getting crowded so no room sunny four-top for me. No big thing - I'm a good sport - so I stepped into the cozy interior.

The menu was posted on a pole by the entry and it was the Wild Horse Burger that drew me in. I sat down and ordered the object of my desire: rare. After a bit of back and forth about medium rare versus rare, we all got our bearings and after a short wait my prize arrived: burger was good as advertised but the brioche bun came straight out of the cooler which basically is a deal killer, isn't it?

The beer taps were varied which is nice. That said, the home-brewed ginger beer was flatter than a skillet.

This place could be okay: toast those little brioche buns, put some fizz on that ginger beer and get some staff that can...