MATTINA Restaurant — Restaurant in San Francisco

I must say my entire dining experience was extremely disappointing. First, when I entered the restaurant, the staff did not greet me. Even after I smiled and said, “Hi, how are you?” they simply looked down at their iPad without responding. I thought this might be the standard service at Mattina, but when other guests entered after me, the male host warmly greeted them. It was hard not to feel that I was ignored because I am an Asian woman.

I had reserved a table for three in the Dining Room at Mattina. However, after checking my reservation, the male host led me directly to the Chef’s Counter at the back of the room and insisted that this was the table I had booked. It wasn’t until I showed him my reservation email that he admitted there were no available seats in the Dining Room. So, what was the point of making a reservation three days in advance?

In the end, the host seated us at a makeshift table near the entrance, where two smaller tables had been pushed together. My friends and I had to stand at the doorway and wait while they prepared the table, which had not yet been cleaned. Up to this point, no one had offered any apologies.

From the moment we were seated to the time we ordered, no staff members came over to introduce the menu or ask if we needed drinks. In fact, all the staff seemed to ignore us, to the point where I had to approach the host, who was clearing tables nearby, and say, “Hi, we are ready to order.”

In this seemingly busy restaurant, other guests were receiving attentive service, with staff checking if they needed additional drinks. Meanwhile, we had to pour our own water. No one introduced the menu to us. The only service we received was being asked whether we wanted still or sparkling water. When the food was served, the dishes were placed at the very edge of the table, almost falling off. When I tried to move one plate to the center of the table, my fingers were burned because the plate was so hot.

I do not want to jump to conclusions about discrimination at this restaurant, especially since it is run by a Michelin-starred chef. However, it’s hard to believe that in 2025, Asian individuals could still experience this kind of treatment, especially in a restaurant of this caliber.

This sums up my terrible dining experience, for your reference.

updated from Feb 8. 2025

Two Weeks Without a Response – Clear Disregard from MATTINA

It has now been two weeks, and I have yet to receive any response from MATTINA—not even a simple phone call to inquire about the issue.

It is clear that the response left on my Google review was merely for show, and it is equally obvious that the restaurant’s management has chosen to ignore my email entirely. This further proves that MATTINA is an arrogant establishment with blatant discrimination against Asians.

If you had no intention of apologizing or providing an explanation, then your initial response two weeks ago was completely meaningless and...

For lunch, we ordered Potato and Octopus, Bean and Kale side dish, Peppers and Cippolini side dish, Pork Chop, and Branzino. The Potato and Octopus was comprised of mostly potatoes with some 11/2" pieces of octopus sprinkled around that were hard to find and smelled a little of fishy. The dish would have benefited from a dash of salt and pepper. Next, the bean dish came. It was unevenly cooked with some beans being hard -- not firm, but hard. The beans were bland and needed more seĥĥasoning. It definitely could have used salt. This $13 side dish was not impressive nor worth the price. Neither was the bowl of oily peppers and four limp and hacked-up cippolini halves. The branzino was accompanied by a lot of potato halves and was nicely deboned. The pork chop took some time to be served. When it was came, I saw a lot of potatoes with five cut-up pieces of pork chop on top. The pork was not juicy or succulent but dry and overcooked. With an Italian lemon soda -- and no alcohol, the bill for this lunch was over $165 for the two of us.

If someone were to ask me what I remembered about my lunch at Mattina, I would say unevenly cooked food, underseasoning, lukewarm temperature of food, and lots of potatoes. I would caution people against ordering potatoes if they're ordering entrees because potatoes are abundant entree accompaniments. Disappointingly, the food I had did not bear any resemblance to the quality of food at SPQR in the least. I hope this was an off day for Mattina.

For me, given the prices Mattina charges, I expect good food that is professionally executed. I would be hesitant to take a chance on another meal there when I can spend similarly at Zuni Cafe and am guaranteed a delicious meal that is both beautifully prepared and presented. I hope for the best for Mattina...

Mattina absolutely nails the modern pasta bar concept, delivering refined, flavorful plates in a relaxed and stylish space. For a date night, it checked all the boxes—and then some.

We grabbed seats at the chef’s counter (highly recommended), where watching the team work was almost as enjoyable as the food itself. Not a single miss on the table. We started with the arancini—crisp, golden, and paired with an incredible peppery-sweet sauce that we couldn’t stop dipping into. The Brussels sprouts were right there with it—charred just enough and punched up by a maple chili glaze.

Now, the pastas. I went with the lumache, and honestly, I’d go back tomorrow just for that. It was perfectly cooked, with rich tomato flavor, a creamy burrata topping that brought a gorgeous temp contrast, and breadcrumbs that gave each bite a perfect crunch. It’s the kind of simple, elegant dish that doesn’t need any tricks to impress. My wife had the tagliatelle with mushrooms, and she was equally floored. She swore she wouldn’t order anything else next time—though I’m eager to explore more of the menu.

Service was genuinely lovely—warm, knowledgeable, and attentive without hovering. Every recommendation hit, and the pacing was just right.

All in all, Mattina brings thoughtful food, skilled execution, and great energy at a price point that feels more than fair. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to become a regular. We’ll...