It took me 45-60 minutes to eat the steak & frites. It was simply so good that I felt the need to cut the smallest bites possible to make sure it would last. I legitimately felt sad when it was gone. I don't know that everything else we ordered would have merited 5 stars, but the steak frites was incredible.
(5)
Joni K.
The food at Mateo is absolutely incredible... ambiance is stunning and the restaurant sits at a perfect East Pearl location. They also have a wonderful patio for events and are extremely accommodating to groups. Also - one of the best Boulder happy hours! They do an excellent job of selecting beautiful wines by the glass... yummm!
(4)
Mary Beth S.
A disappointing experience at best. The pretentious environment described as one of Boulder's foodie gems failed our expectations. Our server was amateur in her delivery, and informed us that the kitchen was out of several entree menu items including duck, lamb, steak, and lobster ravioli. She then encouraged us to order a burger. We ordered our appetizers, salads, entrees, and wine (the items that were available). Our conversation was difficult; the acoustics in the room were unable to absorb sound, so our conversation consisted of , "what?," and "can you please repeat that?" After having a hard time talking to one another, our salads arrived. Not two bites into it, our server asked if we were ready for our entrees. We declined and requested we finish our salads first. We then spoke with the sommelier to ask his advice on some French wines. He was generally grumpy and his advice was, " try this one." While our food was tasty, the experience was sub par. If you are looking for a fine dining experience in Boulder, there are many other options that will be far more satisfying.
(2)
Kio K.
One of many amazing Boulder restaurants. Staff was polite and accommodating, though a little over the top in trying to appear "fancy." I'd rather that than bad service any day, though. We ate here on a snowy night, and the whole place was very cozy. Food was amazing. I had the butternut squash risotto. It was the only vegetarian item on the menu, but it was really remarkable. I make risotto and butternut squash dishes at home, but never together because the prep time would really be a pain in the ass. So I really felt like I was going to get my money's worth in prep time alone, even if the dish ended up being mediocre (which is definitely wasn't!). The staff was also awesome accommodating an allergy I had to one of the ingredients. As others have said, we also found the butter to be very sweet. I never use salted butter at home, so its not just a "oh this isn't salted butter" thing; their butter is very sweet. It was good, but surprising still. Finished off the night splitting the pot de chocolat, which was spectacular. Very flavorful and not overly sweet. Way to go Mateo!
(5)
Renee B.
The new menu is amazing, the staff is attentive and the ambiance is comfortably sophisticated. The moules and frites are a traditional favorite, but we wanted to try some of the new offerings this time. The new tuna selection and the lamb dish are out of this world! Nice job Mateo :-)
(5)
Doni W.
I've been to Mateo twice now and have excellent experiences both times. The first time I went in there was because I'd seen some of their Tweets about happy hour. After a few questions/answers back and forth on Twitter, I decided to show up and see what they were raving about. Alex, our bartender, was as friendly and knowledgable as he was adorable. I had the house red wine - great cocktail wine and paired well with the apps we had. We had the pomme frites which were tasty and well-cooked, the cheese plate with grilled bread (I love that it came with grilled bread - lots of cheese plates are served with crostinis, which are also great, but I liked this different approach). I had the pot du chocolat for dessert with a tawny port and it was decadent. The second time I was in, I tried the gratin (brussels sprouts drenched in a cheese bath and topped with bread crumbs) and fell in love. I love sprouts and I love baked cheese and this was perfection. Recommendations? Definitely try the gratin, and if you're looking for a lower-cal version, they offer a grilled sprouts with other flavors instead.
(5)
Evan T.
Had dinner here on 1/18/10, at the expense of the department I work for. Mateo is a small, intimate restaurant on Pearl Street, though not directly in the busier downtown area. The food is somewhat rustic french inspired, though it deviates from this concept at times. The bar was crowded for a Tuesday, but the small main dining area was fairly empty. While waiting for the last of our party to arrive, I had a drink, the Root Cellar, from their cocktail menu. It was well balanced and prepared with good attention to detail. We also had a small olive plate as an appetizer - all was good there, though, granted, you can't really screw that up. I ordered two specials for dinner. I started with an arugula salad with grapefruit and candied pistachios, dressed with an Italian vinaigrette. The salad worked very well. For my entree, I had a pork belly special. The pork belly was cooked to just the right texture, and the accompanying sides were delicious. Unfortunately, the pork belly was a bit over-salted, which was perhaps the only negative in the meal. The server did, however, choose me a wine that cut through the salt fairly well. I finished off my meal with their profiteroles dessert. It was delicious and well executed though somewhat forgettable. Throughout our meal the service was impeccable. Our server was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. I certainly intend to return to Mateo. Our meal had a few imperfections, but was still thoroughly enjoyable.
(4)
Scott M.
Had dinner with a friend here and I had high expectations as she is a foodie. It was busy for a Monday evening. My first thought for a French restaurant it was loud and the place could use some sound dampening materials on the ceiling and or walls. Our appetizer the delice de bourgogne was not very good. Presentation was colorless and the cheese was overpowering. I ordered the duck a l'Orange which was very flavor-able and cook perfectly. My friend order the chicken frites which was so great and will be the dish I order next time here. The desert, profiteroles was a disappointment as they were americanized, meaning they were large in size and the filing was not very flavorful. Their cappuccino was very good but outshines the desert. I will return for another experience, but I will be careful in what I order for my appetizer and desert, I think the chicken frites is a no brainer.
(4)
matt b.
Overall a good place to eat. I thought the food was four star and the snooty service two star so I split the difference. I had the chicken w/frites and both were cooked well and tasted good. My wine was okay but I've had many better wine for much less than $12 per glass. The wine, like most things here, are a bit pricy for what they give you.
(3)
Mark D.
Evidently some restaurants close between lunch and dinner. Mateo Restaurant Provencal is no exception; however, the proprietor of this fine establishment has educated his staff to be of the utmost hospitality to weary travelers like myself. When offered the chance to dine during the "in between zone" I was reluctant to accept the invittation....for the obvious reasons. Oh contraire! The experience and food were off the frigging charts. Besides the amazing meal I had the opportunity to experience the behind the scenes logistics of rolling out a new drink menu. Britt, the bartender was show casing the bevies. OMG! I don't normally drink distilled spirits (wine snob), but Britt's elixirs will keep me coming back for more. Mateo is an absolute "best in class" for any local or out-of-towner!
We went to Mateo last night for my sister's birthday. We started off with some appetizers. We had a great tartin with peach marmalade, onions and prosciutto on top. Great sweet and savory combination. Good house made olives. Our server recommended a great bottle of wine, which was a new Cote de Rhone they had. I had the lobster ravioli. It had giant lobster claws in it, and it is prepared differently than I have ever seen lobster ravioli. It was a sheet of pasta that was sitting up with the lobster claws underneath. Presentation was cool, and the lobster ravioli was really good. My husband had the lamb, and it came in a nice cream sauce with these really good pickled cherries. My sister had the steak, which was thin (which was okay, not great) but it came with a Bearnaise sauce that made it all up. The food was good, but the service was bad. Our server was great when we first got there, and there were not many tables, but then we got essentially ignored when a couple of big tables came in. It took forever for our bill to come, and we had to track him down to order the entrees. So that knocked it down a notch. Overall good food, but they need to work on the service so one waiter is not slammed.
(4)
Louise P.
Awesome food. Great art. Yes it is loud when crowded, but the food is fabulous.
(5)
Nick W.
Every time I come back here, I wonder why I waited so long. The place is attractive and the food is good. But not great. And that's what I keep rediscovering. Last time i had the rabbit. It was presented shredded, mixed with artichoke, and the immediate effect on my palate was to make me think of canned tuna. Other's meals were more successful. I like this place and hope it does well when I go back in 6 to 12 months. Maybe then I'll pick a better selection.
(3)
Alden G.
Mateo is one of my favorites in Boulder. The food is prepared with care and the menu was inspiring, in that it offered some unusual treats. Great.
(4)
Giovanni V.
I've only been here for happy hour. Great good, my favourite in happy hour in boulder, but unlucky the service has always been poor and really slow... People seating later then us were getting the chance to order before us. I somehow got a feeling that we got treated like unwanted guests, maybe because we come just for happy hour, maybe we look too scruffy for their target clientele...
(3)
Cynthia S.
Amazing food, and stellar service. This place is truly a shining star for Boulder. Using every available local purveyor possible, they are constantly raising the standard on local, fine dining. The happy-hour is not to be missed!!!
(5)
Shawn R.
Mateo is turning out to be a favorite for business lunches. We ate there this past Friday I had chicken frites and Christina had steak frites and Susan had the gnocchi all the food was prepared very well. The restaurant has a nice decor and outside patio seating. The wine list is good but some of the wines by the glass are unremarkable. I had a Bordeaux that was so tight it was nearly undrinkable (it did open up a bit by the end of the meal). The service is solid at Mateo's and the menu offers interesting choices. It's quieter than Ten Ten a competing french restaurant here in Boulder. Many of the menu items include organic ingredients.
(4)
Jen A.
The man and I went back to Mateo last night and I can safely say this visit was 100 times better than our last. Food was fantastic and great service. We got the Beer du jour (Hoegarden), the Plateu Provencal and the Mateo burger - oh my. Will be frequenting Mateo on a regular basis.
(4)
Michael F.
Great food...wow very loud
(4)
Fernando R.
Pretty awesome wines and good appetizers. Been there a few times, has never disappointed.
Mateo is one of my absolute favorite restaurants. The frites are the best any where outside of France. A great deal is to have them with the mussels, simple inexpensive meal. Or the chicken with frites. Perfectly crispy on the outside and so tender on the inside. Save some calories and don't have it served on the butter sauce, not necessary, deliciious without it. Great bar too.
(5)
James R.
We ate at Mateo a couple nights ago for the first time. Very disappointing experience after reading some of the good reviews. The food was our main problem. Menu looked okay but not very creative. They served olive bread with sugary butter?! We both ordered french onion soup, which was okay, but it was also sweet and the bread in the soup was burned. My wife ordered beef bourguignon and the glaze was so strong and sweet that it overpowered the dish. It was also presented more as a dry pot roast than a traditional beef bourguignon and did really taste like a crockpot pot roast. Not bad, just not what she expected. I ordered the burger at the waiter's recommendation. It came out well done despite having ordered it medium. The bun was burned, the caramelized onions were also burned and the aioli sauce was sweet and unappetizing. The fries were cold and overcooked. I complained about the dish and the waiter offered to bring me something else. I requested the chicken and he said it would take 6 minutes. 20 minutes later, after my wife was finished, the chicken still had not arrived so we asked for the bill. They did not charge me for the entree, which was nice, but we still spent $80 for the rest of the F&B, which stinks when you have such a bad all around experience. Waitstaff was very nice for the most part, but there were a couple loud broken plates right next to us as well as a spilled drink. The boy filling the water looked appalled when we asked for ice with our water. I explained that the bottle on the table was filled with warm tap water but he still gave us a look like we were asking for a free bottle of vodka or something. (note the vodka is not free. 2 oz martini is $10) Bottom line- seemed to be a place that if things go well you might have a good meal, but things did not go well for us. There are several other good restaurants in Boulder with similar style and food, only better.
(1)
Jon W.
Good, not great but worth another visit for sure. With a few tweaks, I could see revising this to a four star rating in the future. Two of us showed up on a Friday night around 7:15PM and got a table immediately which was an unexpected surprise. Maybe a sign of the economy and Boulder's love of all things Bistro-ish. After being handed the menu and wine list, we realized that deciphering them was going to be our challenge for the evening - had to get a cocktail to lubricate the brain. Unfortunately they were out of Jameson so I had to get Bushmills, which the server took upon herself to upgrade me to Bushmills Black (and charged me accordingly). The menu is disorganized and confusing IMO. Starters, small plates, soups all over the menu and written so you can't quite figure it all out without asking your server. Thankfully our server was able to help us get organized. Rayme, one of the owners did a great job with some wine recommendations. The food was hit or miss - overall things weren't as flavorful as we would have liked. My mussels were bland, the broth could have been a bit fuller, the accompanying frites were ordinary, perhaps to thick of a cut. The salad was well balanced and fresh. My wife's lobster bisque was so good she wolfed it down without offering me a taste. Gnoochi was disappointing but thankfully the scallops were out of this world. It just didn't seem like the Sous Chef or expediter was tasting dishes before they went out of the kitchen. So could have been easily improved with a bit more attention. So, we'll go back and sit on the wonderful looking patio next time. Hoping that we find more good stuff and avoid the not so good.
(3)
Thomas T.
Was recently there for a large (20+) business dinner; considering the size of this place. Coming from silicon valley/SF bay area, I'm a bit of a foodie, though Boulder/CO in general has some of the country's talented chefs....i digress...The food was okay at best; it was a business dinner, so our menu was limited so perhaps if Alex (read below) gives me a call to come back for other apps.... The salade maison was overly salty; way too much vinegar! The salad verte looked and tasted really plain. I had the lamb ragout, while my co-workers (throughout the U.S) had the steak frites; those who had this enjoyed the fries more than the steak....says something about the beef quality. Dessert was very ordinary! Can't comment on the wine, since our selection was financially limited. They could really work on food presentation! We eat with our eyes as much as our palate!!!! Perhaps it was a large group for this restaurant, but our food was a bit cold. The servers could really need some training; felt like they're a new crew and trying to gel together; not very attentive, nor were they eager or enthusiastic or hospitable. Service was very slow!!! Establishment was geared towards the younger (read under 30) crowd. It kinda felt like the employees were there more to show than to host or work; Alex, the bartender was quite the eye candy. Was pleasantly surprised that she knew how to make a vesper martini!
(3)
Cindy C.
I couldn't agree with Kim more. Mateo is the perfect place for Dinner, Lunch and Happy Hour! I meet friends there every Tuesday and Mateo rocks it!
(5)
Amanda C.
Best happy hour in town - top notch wine and food at reasonable prices. The atmosphere is great and the community table at the front is fun. The wait staff is extremely polite and knowlegable and make you feel like you're at a 5 star restaurant even if you've just ordered the house wine and some cheese! The burger is the best in town and a great deal for happy hour! The hostess(es) are a little flaky and look like they have nothing to do and the bartenders are a bit pretentious but the food and wait staff make up for it.
(4)
Wendy G.
I can't believe Mateo's isn't ranked higher. It's our favorite restaurant in Boulder. Nice staff, good wine and great food. The frites themselves would make this #1 but add the mussels or the perfectly crisp chicken and it's heaven! I've never had a bad meal here and could easily eat here once a week.
(5)
Kristin B.
solid place on east pearl. most weeknights you can walk in without a reservation. weekends are harder. just a simple french-american menu with good service. my only complaint is that they got rid of their bread warmer so the bread they serve you is cold. however, they make up for it with their amazing butter that they serve with the bread! unsalted butter, sea salt, honey, and herbs de provence mixed together into deliciousness!
(4)
aubrey b.
Haven't been here in a while but it is one of my favorites in Boulder. LOVE the chef salad with perfectly charred grilled chicken. Yum. Matthew is awesome and almost always there to say hello to.
(4)
SUSAN T.
Burnt hockey puck. Promise. They said it was a hamburger, but i know it couldn't be.That's what I got in between a huge bun (I would think they would be embarrassed to put such a tiny Sysco burger on such a big Sysco bun). Charred. Surprised the fire alarm didn't go off but then it was so small burning it probably didn't make much smoke. After being in DC and having great hamburgers at BGR and Five Guys in Bethesda I thought I would try a Boulder Burger. Big mistake. Did I say, Big Mistake? Indeed. No flavor. Who screws up a burger? Well, that would be Mateo at lunch. The service was impeccable, though.
(1)
Kristn K.
Overall, I thought this place was perfect for a birthday dinner. The appetizer we chose had artichoke hearts and goat cheese, and grilled bread and was delicious-- the menu description wasn't very descriptive, but i'm very glad we ordered it. The entrees were excellent also-- beef and tuna. I really liked the way the tuna was prepared and the flavours. The wine list was long, and we had the opportunity to try a few until we found one we liked. The service was excellent and the prices seemed reasonable. We had the chocolate torte type thing for dessert. It was good, but I think that in itself would have only gotten a 3 star rating (the wine list and tuna and service would have gotten a 5). It wasn't very cozy inside, and a little loud, but the atmosphere was nice otherwise. Thank you "Mateo" for an amazing birthday evening.
(4)
j w.
Steak frites for $20! Bouillabaisse for $23! And both were very delicious as was the duck confit. It's just that dinner at The Kitchen two nights before was more memorable for its creativity and flavors. Service was good but not quite up to the level we experienced at The Kitchen.
(4)
Jim B.
Charcuterie plate was decent. Pot au chocolate is well balanced. But, the entrees are lacking. I felt sorry for my friend who ordered the gnocchi and was presented with the most pitiful portion I have ever seen. My $11 croque monsieur was burnt and surprisingly bland. Also, the waitress pronounced the dish wrong. It is not "Crock Mon Sewer." I'm very glad I wasn't paying the bill.
(2)
Mark M.
I am writing this while still savoring the flavors of this great restaurant. I have to take exception to the other reviews "another bistro - good food" etc... This place is one of the few that really deserve a 5 star rating. I(I think Yelp has a little problem with grade inflation.) More than another bistro, Mateo combines local with French, organic with surprising, elegant with simple. I have eaten more consistently great meals at Mateo than any other Boulder restaurant. Using tonight as an example: Fresh figs with duck, potato and frisse - great mix of sweet, earthy, and verdant. Next - golden beets, watercress, and some sort of light cheese crumbles - same-same only different. Little bites of heaven. We sat at the bar and shared our entree: house made gnochi with lobster in cream. Wow! A little salty like the ocean, rich with lobster and plenty of lobster too, combined with cream and a little garlic. So rich without being oily/buttery. So rich though it was perfect for sharing. Finally the panna cotta custard with orange sauce and vanilla. Mateo seems to care much more about the food and less about press releases (in contrast to Frasca). This is the real deal in Boulder. What's the down side? A little loud due to high ceilings and hard surfaces, good looking hostesses distract from the food at hand, and not much else.
(5)
B-ro S.
Okay, Mateo! I can't believe everyone raves about this place so much. I will be in line at a grocery store and some moron is talking about how great Mateo is. I just assume they are from Kentucky and the only restaurant within 100 miles of them was a Waffle House. I used to go to Mateo years ago, whenever I was forced. It was mediocre then and might not even be that now. I moved to a place that was less than 100 yards from its front door and wanted to make it my new place to have dinner and drinks close to home. My roommate and I walked over and ate at the bar and had two of the most disappointing meals we had ever had in our lives. I had the chicken frites. It was no good. The flavor was okay, but the meat was terrible. The presentation sucked and I felt it was extremely overpriced for what it was. My roommate had the lamb, I think? Or was it veal? Either way, it was tough. Really tough. So tough I had to spit it out after chewing several hundred times and having my jaw go too sore to continue. I am a carnivore, and have no problem if meat is sometimes a little gamey, but it was veal/lamb, whatever it was. It was supposed to be extremely tender. It was horrible. I felt bad for my buddy who was trying to eat it. On the other hand, the atmosphere is decent. Nice decor and the wine list is good. If you want to go for drinks, not such a bad place. If you want to eat.... Good luck! I will say their other restaurant Radda is one of my favorite places to dine in town. Why can't they get it right with Mateo? And why do so many people like that crap?
(1)
Mark C.
Excellent every time. I've had nice New Years Dinner and great lunches. Service is always crisp and neat. French dishes are authentic and don't disappoint. Must say the price is competitive and they support local businesses and farmers. Details Steak Frittes and french fries, mussels, gnocchi all great.
(5)
Mona P.
Went here recently and loved it. The atmosphere very chic without trying. Food was fabulous - prices reasonable - outstanding quality. Try the Mac-n-Cheese, believe it or not, and the Lobster Ravioli. The server had to be a Sommelier too. He suggested outstanding bottles and didn't pick the most expensive ones. It appeared people of sorts were just hanging out here and having great time. I will absolutely be back next time I am in Boulder!
(5)
Kevin G.
Another Boulder Bistro. Aren't there enough of these? The food, wine and service are good. I have trouble understaning the menu sometimes due to overuse of culinary/foreign words. Gives me a good excuse to flirt with the servers though. Consider sitting at the bar. There are all sorts of delicious things to drink beyond the whole French wine thing. The bartenders are well trained and give good service for a whole meal. My wife declares that the chicken confeit is better here than at Brasserie Ten-Ten
(4)
J B.
A favorite! Great bar/martinis/wine list. Delicious menu. The fish special is always a winner. Nice salads, soups and vegetable sides. Uses only quality organic, local ingredients. Had the nicest waiter. Cozy and hip setting.
(5)
Doug K.
Excellent food, incredible wines and glassware, and friendly knowledgeable staff make this one excellent. Pricing is very reasonable for the amount and quality of the food.
(5)
H Y.
Love the duck and the steak here. It's been consistently good and the prices aren't as high as the decor might have you believe. Probably the most understated and under-rated places in town.
(4)
Arjun C.
I haven't lived in Boulder in several years and when I returned I Was really pleased to see some of the new restaurant additions to the Pearl/Walnut/Canyon scene. Ambiance was great, but my party of 5 was asked to wait 30 mins AFTER having made a reservation. The chicken was quite good, but it's chicken...I could have recreated something similar using Campbells soup as a base. ... And the wild boar was a complete waste. The taste reminded me of $2 instant packs of curry-stew that one gets from a Japanese curry store. We all hated it. Verdict: Come in for an excellet glass of wine with wonderful ambiance. It also maybe good for entertaining business people as the food won't offend. That said, Don't come for the food unless you're looking to delude yourself.
(3)
Jenni J.
I've wanted to try Mateo for awhile now, so I thought First Bite Boulder would be the perfect time... a 3 course meal for $26. I started off with the honeycrisp apple & chestnut bisque. The bisque had a great consistency with thin slices of applies and small chestnut pieces for crunch; although the soup was lukewarm at best, the taste made up for it. We're off to a pretty good start. The 2nd course was grilled lamb tenderloin over lentils. Four small slices of lamb the size of a quarter were served over lentils. The lamb was good but I thought the lentils were the star of the this course, as the sauce they were served in was a thyme jus. Next up, dessert and I went with the pumpkin creme brulee. The pumpkin puree tasted like a whipped pumpkin pie filling, again, nothing all the amazing. The ambiance and service at mateo is nice, but the food was just "good" in my book. I was really hoping to be wowed and I wasn't.
(3)
sandy c.
this is a nice space with trendy decor. we went for lunch and there were only two other parties eating. the food was excellent. the parpadelle lamb ragu was fantastic and i could have eating three more portions of it. the service was patchy and slow, weird because there were only two other tables in the restaurant. the waiter was also a little weird.
(4)
R R.
this place was good. we got a lot of things but what really stuck out to me was the lobster ravioli. delicious. great service and atmosphere. we stayed there for at least 2 hours drinking and talking and did not feel rushed. then again...maybe that's an "out west" thing. i definitely will go back.
(4)
Max W.
My first visit to Mateo was overall rated as "good." My guest and I showed up early around 5:45 or so on a Thursday evening and originally decided to start at the bar but ended up moving to the large egg shaped "community" bar/dining high table in the front window for a better view with dinner, which I must say turned out to be a good decision. The service was very friendly and accommodating (misheard wine order and comped the first glasses as well as comped an appetizer which came out w/o the goat cheese listed on the menu...no biggie because it was great anyways...). We had the house red which was a Merlot, Cab, Syrah blend which was a nice cheap option and went well with our main courses. I ordered the Duck Confit and my guest the Lamb both of which were elegantly preprepared in the French tradition and were pleasing to the palate. The duck could have used some sort of sauce to complement the brussel sprouts and carrots but in the end didn't take away from the fall off the bone tenderness of the meat. All in all for one of the fancier restaurants in Boulder it was good but both of us agreed that if I were to treat myself again I probably would look for something new and not return in the immediate future. Good service, good food and great seating at the window but nothing to write home about...
(3)
Steve M.
Mateo has a nice atmosphere, good food, and a good wine list and it's not too pricey. My wife loves the lobster ravioli. I think I usually get a steak with fries. Their fries are delicious as well.
(4)
Nory B.
Haven't been here for a while; came last night for a celebratory dinner. There were only a couple of open tables at 7:15; we had a reservation and were seated right away. Service was friendly, prompt and solicitous throughout our meal. The menu is small but they have something for everyone in each part of the menu, which is perfect--I'd rather have a small menu done well than a ton of choices executed poorly. The ratatouille with its grilled bread was so fresh and flavorful! We shared it as an appetizer and agreed it was the best part of our meal! The cheese plate was beautiful and my son enjoyed it; the corn chowder had a lot of flavor and the salad with baby lettuces and beets was the perfect size with a vibrant lemon vinaigrette. My son devoured his lobster ravioli; my husband and I both had the salmon. The portion was very generous, and mine was cooked perfectly. My husband said his was a little salty(probably because of the bacon in the grains--I know bacon is "in" but I find a little goes a long way and there's usually too much for my taste), and unfortunately his was undercooked for his taste--he likes it cooked through. He could have sent it back, but he ate around the edges and that was enough for him--he didn't want to interrupt the pace of the meal--we were really enjoying ourselves. I read other reviews faulting the noise level; while we were there the place was full for a while and there was a noticeable increase in noise, but it was the sound of people enjoying themselves. I guess if there were tipsy people their voices get louder and maybe that might be too loud; I didn't have a problem with the noise level. The chocolate cake was yummy--the perfect end to a nice experience! Will definitely go back soon!
(4)
Steven W.
Mateo is really a great place to fine dine affordably and we have enjoyed the eats many times... We dined there last night and although the service was outstanding the kitchen was off there game. We love their burgers and shrimp app however this time around the shrimp was great as always but the burger was done incorrectly twice... Very well done instead of medium rare.... quite the difference for us bloody burger lovers and the second burger was medium and not up to their regular burger status. The restaurant did comp the food after all the issues which keeps them in my good graces and certainly will have me visiting again. In the end the preference is to get the food done right which is usually their game. Overall experience was great and I will be there again soon.
(4)
Samantha M.
What a great find! I ended up at Mateo for lunch a couple of weeks ago with a small group of folks from work. I'd never been there before, but believe me, I'll be a repeat customer. I ordered the poulet frites - pan-roasted chicken with a small side salad and a serving of fries so impressive that I couldn't even finish them all. The chicken was superb, cooked perfectly, and the sauce that accompanied it was to die for. The fries reminded me of the ones I found while vacationing in Europe - absolutely delicious. I couldn't finish the portion, but I definitely gave it a good try. The servers were incredibly professional, polite, and knowledgeable. Our glasses remained filled through the course of the meal, and the restaurant was quiet enough that our group could easily carry on a conversation. My only complaint was the fact that the six of us were seated at what felt like a very small table. Then again, if they're truly going for the ambiance of a French restaurant, they've got that down.
(4)
Megan M.
This place is legit. We tried it out while staying in Boulder for a wedding. We sat outside on a quiet patio, but the atmosphere is equally as great inside. Between the table we ordered a burger, the quiche, Cobb salad and steak frites. All were delicious. Good cocktail and wine menu as well. I would definitely come back here.
(4)
Ally S.
It was so yummy!!!! The only thing was everything I tried was a little heavy! The scramble was very good and I would certainly recommend it! I love that they have options of sparkling water or still! The service is so great also and it's a very very lovely place
(5)
Linda G.
Fabulous happy hour here. Wonderful food and ambiance. Very friendly staff, great wine selection and dinner entrees. The shrimp is the best appetizer.. Enjoy!
(4)
Annie M.
I went to Mateo for the first time last Sunday. We were a little concerned there would be a wait, but we got right in. I ordered the breakfast marg, which was delicious but not as amazing as the asperol spritz. Oh my goodness, that drink can get you into trouble bc it is so darn delectable that I wanted to stay there all day and drink as many as possible. Alas, my judgement intervened and I only had one. The bartenders here are real mixologists, and know their craft. It was refreshing! I ordered the classic bene. An absolute hit! The hollandaise is perfect, and they cooked my eggs just the way I like them. The only drawback was the brioche, I tend to lean towards the english muffin for the "sopping up" factor. I understand there a plenty of people that would prefer the brioche, but not me. The bene came with diced/cubed little potatoes that were cooked perfectly. Absolutely divine. Great service, great staff, great food. I will be back for more. I'd love to try dinner.
(4)
Justin L.
I ordered the burger and of course added an egg after seeing all the photos on yelp. The burger was decent but nothing special. It's a nice place to grab drinks or a quick snack.
Service: two stars Food: 4 or 5 stars I have visited Mateo multiple times, and usually love the food. But service seems to always be a problem. Waiter nonexistent (even when the place is almost empty), service very, very slow.
(3)
Marisa K.
I had been meaning to try this place for years and once I did we loved it so much we ate here twice in the last few weeks. The first time my boyfriend had their chicken dish and I had the special salad, both excellent. In fact, my bf says it is THE best chicken he has ever had. We ate here again last night for NYE and had a fabulous meal with great live music and yummy prosecco. Unfortunately, they ran out of the trout dish I wanted however, the waitress offered to have the chef make me a butternut squash risotto since I do not eat meat. The risotto was perfectly cooked, not too heavy and just the right portion size. The bf got the chicken again and fell in love with it all over again. The dining room was festive, filled with balloons and whoever the musician/singer was he was amazing!
(4)
Andreena S.
5 stars for the food; 1 star for the service. After weeks of convincing, my boyfriend finally agreed to take me to Mateo for date night. See, I've had my heart set on trying this place for months but was waiting for an occasion. It was early, Thursday evening. There were about 6 tables dining when we arrived and we were immediately brought to a table. A few moments later, a young man inquired about our water preference and promptly brought out two glasses of still water. It took a while for someone to take our drink order but eventually a lady saw us looking around, trying to figure out who out server was and asked if we had been helped and when we told her that we had not, she gladly helped. At this time we ordered drinks as well as appetizers. More time passes and a different lady asks if we're doing okay. I tell her we are waiting to place our order and she reassures me that our server was on his way. Finally, a tall, skinny, dark haired man approaches us. In a voice that is barley audible he says "hello" and takes our order. Our appetizers come and go and we don't hear a peep from him until he drops off the mains. We see him serving other tables; checking in with them and bringing them drinks but he never checked on us once during the meal. In fact, even when we were finished, we still waited so long for the check that I just asked the young man who brought the waters to is for it. Again, another long wait. Finally, "our server" brings out the check. It is only at this time, that I find out his name is Adam according to what was printed on the check....Also, he was in such a hurry to dump the check on us that he didn't even offer us dessert. The food (which was served in adequate portions) is great and the atmosphere is quite pleasant but there are plenty of other great restaurants in the same price range that have the service aspect spot on. I know it may seem a bit harsh to give a restaurant 2 stars based solely on service but let me explain: I'm an avid home cook who is perfectly capable of making a restaurant quality meal, any day of the week. It is for this reason that good service is such a big deal for me. It's like a treat! Anyway, I don't think we will be returning to Mateo and we surly will not be recommending it either.
(2)
guy b.
Hands down my favorite place in Boulder!! Kim is my favorite bartender in town!! Best dish are the mussels and a amazing wine list!!
(5)
Ashley M.
Went here for dinner the day after thanksgiving around 7:30. It was very quiet, only about 3 other tables and some people at the bar. Our waiter was well educated about the menu and especially the wine, which is very important in a server because my parents are in the wine business. He was very nice and understanding in explaining things on the menu that I didn't know what they were, which is usually uncommon in a french restaurant. I settled with a cider beer because all of their cocktails either had bourbon or gin in them, which was the only thing out of the night that was disappointing to me. For appetizers we had some ahi tuna and a meat plate that was delicious. For dinner we had the rabbit, duck, steak frites, the chicken and the seafood risotto. All were exceptional, everything was cooked perfectly and had amazing flavor. I see some people complaining about service, and we had a great experience. Our reservation was at 7:30 and we got out of there around 9:30, which is very typical for a french restaurant. There was about a 25 minute gap between the appetizer and our main course because my parents ordered a bottle of wine that needed to be decanted, but I believe that's also typical for a french restaurant. Overall a great place and a wonderful meal.
(5)
Jennifer C.
This is my absolutely favorite brunch spot in Boulder. Every dish is very good. The Croque Madame and French toast are my faves. Mateo uses only high quality ingredients, the best bacon from Tender Belly and even the coffee and lattes are really great which isn't the case for most brunch restaurants. Bloodies too. Liv, one the hostesses, gets a special shout out for excellent customer service!
(5)
Andrew H.
What a fantastic place in Boulder. Often overshadowed by other seriously great restaurants nearby it has taken me a while to learn that Mateo just delivers. Celiac friendly. Their head chef is celiac and their staff knows their stuff about cross contamination. Best hidden spot for weekend brunch. Buckwheat pancakes were phenomenal (not good, but phenomenal). Deconstructed frittata was also a hit at our table. Great coffee and at 9am we were the only table (compare that with a 50 minute wait at Snooze).
(5)
Ladie G.
Went to mateos for the first time last friday. We were in Boulder for a late night event at CU, looked for a restaurant and spotted a cute patio dining area, so we stopped in for dinner. My husband had the sirloin burger and I had the flat iron steak, he ordered his medium well and I ordered mine well done. His burger came to him well done and mine was still bloody in the center. I asked to have it recooked, they recooked it to temp but didn't give me the portion I had cut off. It's only a 9 Oz steak to begin with and for 26$ a plate, I was less than impressed. I've been to many fine dining restaurants and never have they taken a steak I've ate off of or cut into and thrown it back on the grill (unsanitary), they would make me a brand new steak correctly. With that being said, the server was nice and the food tasted good, their frites poullet very good and petite salad good. The water needed to be chilled or have ice, and there was no mention of drinks other than alcoholic beverages offered on their menu. Overall I give them 3 stars. Will I be back probably not.
(3)
Taylor D.
A little pricy but so worth it! The eggplant quesadilla is incredible, I would strongly suggest getting that! Great atmosphere, and when we went in we told them we had to be done with dinner in 45 minutes, and we were out in 40! Definitely worth a try
(4)
Michael B.
I would give this place 3.5 if I could. It was good, but not excellent. I had the butternut squash gnocchi, but it did not impress me that much. I was definitely expecting better, but it certainly wasn't bad either. Drinks were good. Service was excellent! I would probably try this place again.
(3)
Brc P.
An excellent restaurant. Fine food, good service in an interesting and attractive setting. I'd give it 4 stars but for the noise. We can't remember ever being unable to hear each other across a table for 2. On our 1st visit with another couple we had to wait until we were back in the car to discuss our meals, etc. Best place to go with boring people with whom you have nothing in common.
(3)
Abby Q.
We came in here on a Thursday night for First Bite Boulder with my aunt and uncle. I was excited to eat here, because I love French food and their First Bite Boulder menu was one of the few that looked really delicious to me. We were seated and our waiter was reeeeeally awkward. My boyfriend and I had arrived before my aunt and uncle, and we simply wanted to get some waters while we waited. I got the impression that the waiter didn't want to waste any time on us at all until our full party arrived, which I didn't much appreciate. The server is the only reason this isn't a five star review, though. The food was absolutely wonderful. Everyone started with the pork belly with lentils, which was yuuuuummy! My aunt and I had the mushroom risotto and the boys had the lamb bolognese dish, which they both enjoyed. We all had the vanilla pot du creme for dessert, which we all agreed was just a bit like melted vanilla ice cream, but came in an adorable little ball jar. I truly enjoyed the meal here at Mateo, though the service was a bit awkward. If I'm ever around Pearl Street for dinner again, I wouldn't mind stopping back in.
(4)
michael y.
Visited Mateo last night for the first time and wished I had tried it well before this, experiencing an overall well above average Boulder dining experience. The interior is light, tastefully decorated with art work and all the staff had a genuine welcoming attitude. Warren at the bar was great, serving up a very tasteful martini called a Mateo Sunrise and they have Upslope on tap. We started with the mussels appetizer, fresh and spiced perfectly, happy that we took Warrens suggestion to get the frites with it. My unassuming chicken dish was perfectly crisp, with a nice little sauce that came with it, surprising me on how well we enjoyed it, I highly recommend it. The butternut squash gnocchi was also good, but not a dish that would bring us back there. Overall we enjoyed Mateo for the service, the great atmosphere, creative martini's and solid French cooking.
(4)
Eric R.
Met a group of about eight friends for brunch at Mateo and had a delicious meal. If judging on the food alone, it was 4 stars+, but we all know it isn't just the food that makes the restaurant. The servers were very, very nice, but the service was very slow. And after paying $15 for brunch, I went and had lunch about 30 minutes later because I left hungry. I felt like I had a small appetizer, not brunch. Based on the post meal hunger, I don't think I would go back. If the portions were a bit bigger, the taste and quality was right on.
(3)
Salem M.
They have amazing staff and the best kept secret brunch in town...shhh don't tell anyone!
(5)
Michael J.
We went to brunch last Saturday. We were the second table seated for the morning. Our server was friendly and attentive. She recommended the breakfast burrito with pork belly and the poached eggs with spinach. Both were excellent recommendations. Two small hiccups: The burrito was made with sausage vs the pork belly. Our server apologized and brought a sample of the bacon to try. We also ordered the buckwheat pancakes which ended up being burnt. Our server took those off of the total without a hassle. We will definitely return and try dinner.
(4)
Leanne G.
Mateo is someplace that I frequent for lunch. It's large windows allow for gracious amounts of light, which is nice when sitting inside. If weather permits they have a nice patio too. I've eaten the quiche, which is good. It was a bit slathered in butter for my taste and a bit darker crust then I'm accustomed too. And I would like to mention I would like to mention that they have the nicest nicoise salad I've seen around town. That is because the tuna is so fresh. The color is almost purple! All of the other ingredients are so fresh, too. It's really lovely. Prices are also great. Lunch is not a long wait and you are sure to bump into somebody that you know.
(4)
Larkin B.
The food was delicious, and the service was fantastic, but for the quality of taste it felt quite overpriced.
(3)
R R.
Uninspired pork entree & dull pear desert very disappointing for such a highly rated place. Yelp you let me down!
(3)
Rocky F.
Had high expectations. They were not met, and in fact, I would say this was a rather mediocre dining experience. Let's start with the waiter, who was swarmy. He was trying (way too hard) to be charming and glib. He seemed uncomfortable. He kept moving from one side of our table to the other for no reason. He was nice, but he was attempting to be entertaining, and we didn't need to be entertained. He primped a lot too, looking at his reflection in the windows. His style of service made my partner and I uncomfortable. We started with the butternut squash soup. It was very good. However, portion was tiny. It took a long time for our main course to arrive. There were three of us at dinner. Two in our party received their plates, the third had to wait. (and the waiter made a joke about it) You would think with very few other diners in the restaurant and an abundance of staff standing around, a second waiter could have brought out that third plate. One in our party had the chicken and said it was excellent. I had the steak frites. The steak arrived luke warm and it was tough, which might explain why it arrived at the table pre-cut. The frites were too thick for my liking. It was disappointing and I did not finish what was on the plate. The pacing of the meal was really bad. Long waits between courses. Dessert took quite awhile to arrive and was just not that great. Honestly, there were not that many people in the restaurant all during our meal, so I'm not sure why the service was so slow. I suppose I would try Mateo one more time, just to see if we just hit them on an off night. However, reading these other Yelp reviews, it sounds like the service issues are chronic. It's a shame.
(2)
Gabriela G.
Mateo's was a great brunch place with friends. Twelve of us filled the patio on a Saturday afternoon. Though beautiful to sit out in the sun it got a little too hot by noon. I recommend sitting inside where the air conditioner breezes freely. Josh was our server and he was great. Waters and coffee cups were always filled. The fries were delicious, butter lettuce salad also looked amazing as did the steak and eggs. Buckwheat pancakes were worth the extra calories and the orange-infused butter slabbed on top was a perfect addition to the fullness of flavors of the dish. Bacon Bloody Mary's were visually striking. Menu was simple but everything sounded great. The breakfast potatoes don't taste like much and the salad dressings are heavy and creamy but everything else was delicious. Skip or substitute the breakfast potatoes and ask for a side of oil and vinegar for your fresh salad. Everything else is delish!
(4)
Dennis U.
I kind of liked Mateo. Four of us came here on the recommendation of one of our party and every one of us left satiated and happy. Our table split into two camps. The lobster ravioli camp and the lamb bolognese camp. (I wished we weren't such herd animals so I could have sampled more!). I was in the lamb camp. It was a spicy ground lamb sauce over handmade tagliatelle. I was surprised by the spiciness but it was fabulous. The lobster was also surprising. Not unexpected, it was rich and lobstery, but instead of being three or four pockets it was more of a noodle burrito with excellent flavor. If I had to choose today I'm not sure which camp I'd wind up in. Deserts were excellent... pick any one! I had the cheese plate which was enough for the four of us. The wine list was interesting and a bit pricey, the decor was lovely, the service was fine. If you're in Boulder and decide to go here you won't go wrong.
(4)
Benson S.
Wife and I are new to the area and decided to give this place a whirl around 9:00pm on a Saturday night. Inside dining was absolutely packed, as in jammed, and absolutely loud, almost screaming level. Ok, let's face it, the white, upper-middle-class, elitist types who patronize these trendy restaurants, are extremely loud and obnoxious. Whatever, I am part of that demographic so I know it all too well. Fortunately, there was outside seating, the weather was perfect, and the outside area was much, much quieter/intimate. Service was reasonable, considering how slammed they were. I thought the food there was good. We had duck sausage, mussels, verte salad, risotto, and some other things. I had two glasses of their $7 Cabernet. Entire bill came to $84, which is cheap for us, as we are used to California and NYC prices. In those places, the bill would be double that price, for the same extract food and dining experience. Anyway, will go back.
(4)
JC R.
I had a fantastic evening here. This is a smaller intimate place, friendly staff, good food and above all, Michael at the bar knows one or two things about wine and cocktails :-)
(5)
Jason S.
A quaint place though I was surprised to see laptop-diners (is nowhere sacred in Boulder). Probably the best service I've had in the entire state. Great wines & happy hour menu. The brunch is delicious as well. Sorry, I really don't have a bad thing to say about Mateo (aside from the laptop diners).
(4)
Sly M.
BEST BURGER I've had in Boulder hands down. Flavorful meat, thick, juicy and cooked perfectly. Fries and Aioli were delicious as well. Bravo Mateo's chefs, bravo!
(5)
Lou P.
I've eaten dinner here a few times and can take it or leave it. One word: hamburger. I recently discovered lunch at Mateo. It's not crowded and service is better as the diner/wait staff ration is considerably improved. They have a great, great hamburger which is prepared perfectly and reasonably priced. I'm not sure I;d have dinner here agin, unless under duress; but make a point of have lunch here every couple of weeks.
(3)
MaryBeth R.
I really want to like Mateo. This visit was only the second over many years for my husband and me, and while this was off to a much better start than our first, the restaurant simply didn't impress me. Yes, it is in a great location, just steps off of the Pear Street Mall, surrounded by fun shops, and with good parking. Yes, the atmosphere is cozy and warm and the building wonderfully "turn of the century". Yes, the wait staff were friendly and inviting. But...for me, the package is not complete without food that knocks my socks off! My husband and I both started with the Salad Lyonnaise. Which I have to say was out of this world! It certainly had me prepared for culinary excellence! Since both of us were in the mood for some "comfort food" on this particularly cold night, I ordered the lobster raviolo and my husband ordered his standard lamb shank. That's where everything fell apart. The raviolo is a simple dish consisting of a single pasta sheet that wraps around a filling and a sauce. In this case, I expected that the filling would be succulent lobster and a light sauce. In all, I think I tasted about 5-10 very small-diced bits of lobster. There could have actually been more in the dish, but it was entirely overwhelmed by carrot, onion, and celery - at least 20:1 mirepoix: lobster. And the whole thing was drenched in a rather bland white sauce. Now, I understand that most chefs believe that all ingredients must be at the same dice-size in a dish like this, but in this case there was absolutely no way for the main ingredient (lobster) to shine, particularly since there didn't seem to be much lobster in the first place. My husband's lamb was a bit better, but not much. While well-cooked, the heavy-on-the-chinese-spices sauce was a bit too sweet, and too salty, for our tastes. Kind of ordinary. My conclusion? Probably a great place to go for happy hour or a light dinner, but if I am going to spend serious dollars to dine, I'll go elsewhere.
(2)
Katy S.
We went on a Wednesday night, and it was obnoxiously loud. Not ideal for a business dinner, but would be ok going with a couple of dinner companions. Verte salad was excellent as was the chocolate gelato. The fish was good, but overall bland dish. Would go back with a smaller group of people.
(4)
Lynn H.
Disappointing.. Scallop dinner came with 3 scallops, yes, 3. We asked for pate appetizer and was talked into a cheese plate. Very very skimpy. There were 5 of us. We then asked for the pate and it came as a teaspoon of pate, not a tablespoon but teaspoon... Again, for 5 of us! Frites are amazing and the poulet was excellent, but overall not worth it.. Too many other great restaurants in Boulder .
(2)
Amy M.
A solid 4.5 stars. Only deducting half a star for lack of vegetarian options on the menu (come on, it's boulder...). That said, I'm sure they would not have any problem crafting up something that wasn't on the menu already. The food is great - I'm a huge fan of their desserts and I'm not much of a dessert/sweets fan. They have an exceptional wine menu and the staff are impressively versed on the wines and can offer plenty of great descriptions and recommendations. Service is stellar; nothing needs to be improved as far as I'm concerned. I've never been disappointed when I've been here. I've been for happy hour, dinner, after dinner drinks and their new brunch (highly recommend!). Definitely a local favorite!
(5)
K. G.
I have to start out by saying that Mateo's comes almost between "Yay I'm a fan" to "A-ok". Only because each time I have been here the food is overly salty. My husbands the same. Having said that some people don't mind this. You can tell the Chef takes pride in what comes out of the kitchen, plating presentation and for that I always give credit where credit is due. The service was fine but just fine does not compete with some of the other restaurants near by that give impeccable service not mentioning names. But if you follow me you know which ones I am talking about. The experience overall is nice. And the atmosphere is nice. I do recommend trying Mateo and also recommend a reservation to guarantee a good table.
(4)
Annie Z.
Good chips and beer
(3)
Kat C.
Mateo as a restaurant I thought I would love. It gets rave reviews from snobby foodies, people dear to my heart. Perhaps it was overhyped, but I liked, and did not love my dinner here. I thought it was good yes, but nothing inspiring. What made it less than pleasant ambiance was the group of 4 children making a ton of noise in the middle of the room. With the hard surfaces echoing the plate spoon amateur band it felt like I was in Chuck E. Cheese. This did not lend itself to the "foodie" atmosphere. However, Mateo redeemed itself with a great brunch I had with a close girlfriend. We had the brunch special (2 courses and wine) for a great price and were totally impressed. Had I not had the brunch, I would definitely have given Mateo 2-3 stars, but brunch saved my rating. In the future if I notice a table of 4 loud kids, I'll skip eating here for the evening. Lesson learned.
(4)
Loan T.
Having been living in Boulder for a long time last night was the first time I ate at this restaurant. Their service was fine. Their food was safe, unexciting and unimaginative.
(3)
Ty F.
Went here for the first time on a Friday night and the restaurant was predictably crowded. I joined a group of friends and was under-whelmed by the menu -- chicken, beef, pork, burger. Blah. The menu offerings seemed overly simple, staple, ordinary. The wines we ordered were good, and the food was good, okay, fine, not great. I was expecting something better, more inspired, but didn't get it here. I am kind of a foodie, so if you're more into popular restaurants that serve decent food, you may enjoy Mateo, a lot of people seem to.
(2)
Diane K.
I came here with a girlfriend for happy hour and had such a wonderful time that I reserved a table for my graduation dinner. We shared a couple appetizers and were pleased with the soup of the day and the cheese plate. I had around 13 people for my graduation dinner and they coordinated the service rather well. Though I must say I enjoyed my experience better the first time around, but perhaps that's just how it goes with big groups.
(4)
Fred H.
We had our company holiday party at Mateo and they were great! Thanks for making our evening special!
(5)
Nadia H.
Been once for happy hour - I'd give it about 4 stars for that.. great house wine, great deals for appetizers, but the appetizers aren't spectacular, just good. Now dinner was a whole other story. We tried the special which was a duck confit with brussel sprouts, cauliflower and a cherry/cranberry sauce and it was *spectacular*. The flavor profile was out of this world. Sour, sweet, bitter, perfectly seasoned. The duck melted off the bone. On par with the best dishes I've had at Jax and leagues above Flagstaff house. I gotta disagree with people on the fries which we ordered specifically because of all the raving.. they were ok. Dry, not well seasoned. I kept craving *ketchup* and that's not a good sign. Again, the appetizer charcuterie plate was only ok, as was the salad verte. The lemon curd dessert was good, espresso was lovely. All in all an absolutely satisfying, wonderful meal, and didn't break the bank for a four or so course meal because we went during happy hour and all the appetizers and drinks were discounted. Will be back for sure. Hopefully they don't pull a Radda.
(5)
Amy F.
My grandmother and I stopped in for lunch after getting our hair cut at Twig, and were very pleased. The servers were attentive, and all willing to chat a moment with my overly-friendly grandmother. We shared the white bean and chicken soup and chopped vegetable salad, both specials that day, and the salad with roasted beets (I forget the name). The salads were both dressed nicely, if a bit heavily for my tastes. The dressings were also amazingly flavorful, and well matched to the other salad components. The soup was really different, bursting with great flavors. We also both really enjoyed the basil/honey butter and warm rustic bread. My only issue would be that it was a bit expensive for a couple salads and a bowl of soup, but living in Golden/Arvada has made me both more appreciative of the wonderful restaurant options in Boulder and less tolerate of Boulder pricing.
(4)
Amy F.
Mateo is a long-standing Boulder restaurant - a pretty classy place yet still with the casual Boulder vibe. The decor is nice and the service is very good. But the best thing this restaurant offers is the food. The poulet frites is the best chicken I've ever had in my life, bar none! It's juicy and flavorful, with the skin on it really melts in your mouth. If I could make chicken like this at home I'd never leave the house! The fries are excellent as well (particularly with their homemade mayo on the side). I've also had the lobster ravioli here (on special) and the pate - both also quite excellent. I'll keep coming back as long as the food stays this amazing!
(5)
Craig S.
Mateo is an excellent place for a romantic evening, especially on the patio. Of course we were there with friends and found out that voices travel. The food is very good (great fries, duck was succulent, can't remember the rest) and the wine is delicious. If you don't want to choose your own wine their sommelier is one of the best I've worked with as well.
(4)
Dawna E.
My hubby and I found this place while walking by, and decided to give it a try. It was hopping for a Monday night - a nice sign! The decor is really cool - an urban contemporary minimalist look. The restaurant was filled with beautiful, polished, pretentious foodie-intellectual-types, a good sign when looking for good food. Everyone on the staff was knowledgeable, friendly, or both. The wine list by the bottle was extensive with a focus on old world varieties, although only 3 reds were offered by the glass. When I ordered a glass of the Bourgogne, the waiter asked if I meant pinot noir. Kind of a strange question for a French restaurant, but I didn't mind, especially since the wine was good. For an app we shared the mussels. They are on special all night on Mondays - $6 for a full order with frites. Not bad. They were super delicious in a tomato-ey broth. After we finished the mussels I proceeded to use the remaining broth to soak up all of the bread and fries. Hey, I can start that low-carb diet tomorrow. I had the tuna nicoise salad for dinner. It was huge! A generous portion of tuna (cooked to order), along with more veggies than I could have hoped for overloaded the plate. Delish. My hubby ordered the seabass, which was fantastic as well. I think my favorite part of the evening came when we ordered our after dinner drinks. Hillary (the manager?) helped answer our various questions about the many digestifs on the menu. When we settled on one, she also brought out tastes of 2 others so that we could do a sampling! I now know more than I could have ever hoped about eau de vie, lillet, and fernet, but my personal favorite was the Montenegro amaro. Drink it in... it goes down smooth, every time. Anyway, I highly recommend this spot and will definitely be back the next time I'm in Boulder!
(5)
Alex M.
I went to Mateo's last night for their happy hour for the first time. It blew me away! I loved the atmosphere, the waiters are very attentive, and the food is incredible. Also, the portions are quite large considering it is happy hour appetizers. They are by far the largest portions I have had at any happy hour before. There is a pretty broad range of options there. I went with a group of friends and we ordered two Mateo burgers, which were incredible. They also had an amazing cheese plate with olives, nuts, fruit, and different kinds of meats. We also ordered their frites, pate, and their gnocchi, which was out of this world!! Very delicious. Their wine is only $4 a glass, and was very good as well. I also really like how late their happy hour goes until. (5-6:30) Most happy hours I have been to end at either 5:30 or 6. The extra time really helps. I highly recommend this restaurant for happy hour, and I am sure their lunch and dinner are just as delicious, if not better! I definitely plan on returning very soon.
(5)
Christie V.
Super yummy, great atmosphere, and they were really excellent when our happy hour reservation for 6 became a res for 8. Would definitely come back!
(4)
david s.
I reviewed Mateo's here before and gave it 5 stars. Now, after three disastrous experiences, we will not be back. Visit #1 was during First Bite week. Very mediocre food from start to finish. Appetizer had barely cooked lentils, entrees had no seasonings and the pot au cream for desert was a wet mess at the bottom. Visit #2 we were served two salads that were salt licks. I spent 5 minutes rinsing my mouth so I could taste the rest of my meal. Yes we did send them back. All these missteps were just a warm up for what was one of the worst dining experiences we have had. My wife ordered the Mateo burger, always the best in Boulder. Last night, not so much. First, we waited 45 minutes for our dinner while we could see other meals going out for people who had sat down well after we arrived. Finally it came along with my other favorite, their mussels. My mussels had lots of grit, a big no no that made it difficult to enjoy. The burger experience was truly astounding in its failures. My wife ordered her burger medium but when she bit into it, it was mushy and raw in the middle. OK, these things can happen, even in the best of restaurants. What followed was astounding. Burger cooking 101 says you never put a burger back on a grill after it has been served and sat for several minutes. No matter what you do to recook it, it is going to be dry. Not only was it dry but it was still raw on the inside. We sent it back again and on the third try they brought her a hockey puck. In addition, when her burger came out the first time after waiting 45 minutes, there were no fries on the plate????? We had to tell the waiter. He did not even notice. A few minutes later he came back with about a half sized portion of dried little pieces of potatoes, obviously from the bottom of the frier as a disgusting offering of spuds. The total lack of care for food on a plate tells me that there is something seriously wrong in Mateo's kitchen. As a finishing insult, the waiter did apologize but the manager never made an appearance. And finally, the waiter informed us that he was able to take the burger and mussels off the check but was still going to charge us for our salads. It was only $10 and I happily paid it, BUT, if you serve your diners a shitty meal, the least you could do is comp it! Sorry Mateo's, we won't ever be back, and surely won't recommend you to anyone ever again.
(1)
Lauren H.
Dined for Boulder's first bite. Cocktails, service, and food were all exceptional.
(5)
JT S.
Right off the bat I just want to say -- ditto to Ryan C's review. Except nobody in my group ordered pork. Great-looking yet inept waitstaff, except for the gal who religiously kept coming to the table to refill our water glasses with the bottle of filtered tap water that was already on the table. Great gal. How can a restaurant charge 13 dollars for a salad that just barely sits in a pile in the middle part of a serving plate? It was one of their specials, it was high quality, from local farm, tasty, and all that good stuff, but ridiculously priced. Someone else in the family was paying but I think they were paying too much for all of it. The french onion soup was perfect. It is the only reason for any stars at all. I don't know what else to say. It seems like lots of Boulder people like this joint. They can have it.
(2)
Ailea J.
Of all of meals my lovely dinner companion has had, he listed our venture to Mateo as one of his top ten. This may be a testament to his rather humble upbringing in rural Montana, but that's neither here or there, as it truly was an enjoyable dinner that we shared for an early Valentine's Day celebration. To begin, the vibe that greeted us was upbeat and almost noisy--a somewhat startling juxtaposition to the fresh, quasi-pretentious French fare that is served here. That being said, we started our meal with the papardelle (and a robust meaty ragu to accompany it) and the moules (sans frites, regrettably; next time, I will be sure to try them in their paper bag platter) which were flavorful, filling, and fantastically spicy kick at the end that left me sopping up the sauce with my crusty artisan bread. My partner ordered the lamb leg which fell graciously off of the bone onto its parmesean risotto throne. I think he might've gnawed a little bit at the bone to suck the last marrow out, but I was too busy enjoying my raviolo with a carrot mascarpone filling atop dungeon crab and dressed with a creamy butter sauce and shaved asparagus. My favorite aspect of this dish was the added texture and flavor of the hazelnut garnish. The waitstaff was attentive and young'n'pretty (aren't most people in this town?), and rather eager to fill our diminutive water glasses (see every other review that refers to the water waiters) but I have to admit that the noise level made it a little difficult to hear the staff whenever they asked how we were doing or when they answered some of my questions about the menu. Our dessert, a flourless chocolate torte included a painted swath of passion fruit coulis (I think?) across the plate and some vanilla ice cream with pistachios sprinkled on top. The torte itself wasn't my favorite torte ever; the texture wasn't exactly that smooth, creamy texture that I'm used to with my flourless tortes. Regardless, expectations are usually foolish when it comes to food; disappointment doesn't help anyone. The torte had a raspberry sugar crust at the top that overpowered the flavor of the cocoa; coupled with the passion fruit paint, there was a lot more fruit flavor than chocolate. Overall, Mateo, you did a great job with our special occasion. What would've made this a five-star experience? A little less noise and maybe a different dessert. We will be back, though.
(4)
Zachary L.
Staff was pleasant. Seating was awkwardly close. One couple declined to sit at the table next to us, then a different party sat at the table next to us and I had to move my chair to make room for a guy to sit down. I could not sit straight in my chair, but I didn't complain because I was eating dessert and about to leave. We enjoyed the cocktails. Food was good, but I was hoping for great.
(3)
Joe B.
Had lunch at Mateo this week. Had not been there for a while and I just dont know why because we had a great meal. Service was good and I certainly look forward to going back very soon.
(4)
Robert K.
Love this place, especially their happy hour. Great wine, great food, and a sophisticated but never stuffy vibe. TIP: get the muscles and house red at HH, you won't be disappointed. Oh, and don't be afraid of their "Perfect Martini" -- which includes both vodka AND gin. Maybe not appropriate for the purist, but perfect for the rest of us.
(5)
Nicole B.
Never disappointed with a meal here. Amazing food.
(5)
Hannah E.
I always worry, in places like this - places with seasonal menus divided into five courses, with offbeat chandeliers everywhere, with wine lists outlined in more detail than the menus themselves - that everyone I encounter will smirk vaguely when I mispronounce French dishes, disdain to look me in the eye when I don't order wine, and snobbishly act like everyone in the world knows what haricots verts are. At Mateo, I was pleasantly surprised. Everything on the menu looked so good that before we knew it, my date and I had a sizable list of things we wanted to order, but it was our first time there, so we didn't know the first thing about the food. To my infinite surprise, the waiter did not sniff, nor did he beat around the bush, when we asked him all our stupid questions. He joked with us, he gently corrected our French, he explained every ingredient we weren't intimately familiar with. And when we declined to order wine, his friendly expression did not change. So we ordered everything we had planned. It was a good thing that we did. Though the impeccable quality of all of Mateo's ingredients cannot be denied - they use fresh seasonal ingredients, which is why their menu changes monthly - the dishes swung wildly from incredible, amazing, the best I'd ever tasted, to dull, with surprisingly flat sauces. Luckily, we ordered two of each course, and entirely by accident, we balanced the good with the mediocre on each one. On the great side: Charcuterie with salami, prosciutto, and rillette of duck: Literally breathtaking; the mixture melted into the bread, which melted into my tongue, leaving only the wildness of the duck behind. Maine diver scallops with Napa cabbage and apple and smoked bacon vinaigrette: This turned out to be the best scallops I've ever tasted, literally, and I've tasted lots of scallops in my life. Barely seared, they were translucent in the middle and possessed a smooth, almost citrusy taste, with that non-oceany flavor that's particular to scallops. The little chunks of salty bacon and apple added tiny explosions of flavor to the cleanness of the scallops without being overwhelming. The lamb: Like the scallops before it, was the best of its kind that I can remember tasting. Thinly sliced and practically rare, it had that distinctly wild flavor that only comes through when the animal you're eating was grazing on a pasture not a week before. It tasted like the mountains, and the sun, and the grass. And the bed of beans and tomatoes below it, thankfully protected from the meat by a green leaf, tasted like we were eating them straight from the ground. The had an earthy quality any hippie would get behind. On the all right side: Moules frites: The mussels themselves were fresh and tasty, but the sauce was a bland tomato sauce that could have come out of a can. The fries were thick and tasted freshly made, with a sprinkling of something elusive that we discussed for a matter of minutes before coming to the conclusion that it was just garlic and herbs, but mixed in such a way that they tasted quite complex. Russet potato gnocchi in basil tomato sauce: Didn't stand up to the test. Though it was perfectly acceptable, the sauce tasted nearly identical to that of the mussels, and the gnocchi, though expertly made, had little taste. The bad: Lobster raviolo: The menu said it was in peppercress sauce; what it tasted like, in all honesty, was melted butter. The raviolo was all slightly undercooked pasta and, under it all, a lump of passable lobster meat, hardly noticeable among the pasta layers. A nice sauce would have made this dish bearable, but the melted butter just drove home the child's-dinner-on-babysitter-night feel. Overall: I'm going back, because their good dishes were breathtaking and I'd like to find more of them.
Very poor food at that price point. Overcooked, flavorless mussels, undercooked (raw) peas, overcooked and undercooked poached eggs (on different plates). Pork belly that seemed more like pork shoulder to me - stringy pulled pork. Some of the fries were undercooked as well. It was amateur hour in the kitchen. Very long waits for drinks. Weird waitstaff - very good looking, but not so good at waiting tables. One guy described a salumi as "unctuous". Really??? Plates sat for a long time in between courses. I was really ready to get out of there. Can't see myself returning.
(2)
Marty D.
"My wife and I love the food, atmosphere, wine and genuine concern the owners have for making each visit as good as the last. The consistency of the food is spot on and as you all know, this is one of the hardest things to repeat and master in the restaurant business. We also enjoy their sister restaurant, RADDA".
(5)
Bob L.
My wife and I have eaten here 3 times now, twice for lunch and once for dinner. We find the staff to be outstanding, and the food to be among the best in Boulder. Portions are quite ample and well prepared. Our only sour note is the wine list. It's a bit pricey and not particularly creative or diverse. We ordered one of the pricier burgundies ($60) and thought it was mediocre at best, not much more than table wine that should cost about $5 a glass. Won't stop us from going back though!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Very Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Stephen M.
It took me 45-60 minutes to eat the steak & frites. It was simply so good that I felt the need to cut the smallest bites possible to make sure it would last. I legitimately felt sad when it was gone. I don't know that everything else we ordered would have merited 5 stars, but the steak frites was incredible.
(5)Joni K.
The food at Mateo is absolutely incredible... ambiance is stunning and the restaurant sits at a perfect East Pearl location. They also have a wonderful patio for events and are extremely accommodating to groups. Also - one of the best Boulder happy hours! They do an excellent job of selecting beautiful wines by the glass... yummm!
(4)Mary Beth S.
A disappointing experience at best. The pretentious environment described as one of Boulder's foodie gems failed our expectations. Our server was amateur in her delivery, and informed us that the kitchen was out of several entree menu items including duck, lamb, steak, and lobster ravioli. She then encouraged us to order a burger. We ordered our appetizers, salads, entrees, and wine (the items that were available). Our conversation was difficult; the acoustics in the room were unable to absorb sound, so our conversation consisted of , "what?," and "can you please repeat that?" After having a hard time talking to one another, our salads arrived. Not two bites into it, our server asked if we were ready for our entrees. We declined and requested we finish our salads first. We then spoke with the sommelier to ask his advice on some French wines. He was generally grumpy and his advice was, " try this one." While our food was tasty, the experience was sub par. If you are looking for a fine dining experience in Boulder, there are many other options that will be far more satisfying.
(2)Kio K.
One of many amazing Boulder restaurants. Staff was polite and accommodating, though a little over the top in trying to appear "fancy." I'd rather that than bad service any day, though. We ate here on a snowy night, and the whole place was very cozy. Food was amazing. I had the butternut squash risotto. It was the only vegetarian item on the menu, but it was really remarkable. I make risotto and butternut squash dishes at home, but never together because the prep time would really be a pain in the ass. So I really felt like I was going to get my money's worth in prep time alone, even if the dish ended up being mediocre (which is definitely wasn't!). The staff was also awesome accommodating an allergy I had to one of the ingredients. As others have said, we also found the butter to be very sweet. I never use salted butter at home, so its not just a "oh this isn't salted butter" thing; their butter is very sweet. It was good, but surprising still. Finished off the night splitting the pot de chocolat, which was spectacular. Very flavorful and not overly sweet. Way to go Mateo!
(5)Renee B.
The new menu is amazing, the staff is attentive and the ambiance is comfortably sophisticated. The moules and frites are a traditional favorite, but we wanted to try some of the new offerings this time. The new tuna selection and the lamb dish are out of this world! Nice job Mateo :-)
(5)Doni W.
I've been to Mateo twice now and have excellent experiences both times. The first time I went in there was because I'd seen some of their Tweets about happy hour. After a few questions/answers back and forth on Twitter, I decided to show up and see what they were raving about. Alex, our bartender, was as friendly and knowledgable as he was adorable. I had the house red wine - great cocktail wine and paired well with the apps we had. We had the pomme frites which were tasty and well-cooked, the cheese plate with grilled bread (I love that it came with grilled bread - lots of cheese plates are served with crostinis, which are also great, but I liked this different approach). I had the pot du chocolat for dessert with a tawny port and it was decadent. The second time I was in, I tried the gratin (brussels sprouts drenched in a cheese bath and topped with bread crumbs) and fell in love. I love sprouts and I love baked cheese and this was perfection. Recommendations? Definitely try the gratin, and if you're looking for a lower-cal version, they offer a grilled sprouts with other flavors instead.
(5)Evan T.
Had dinner here on 1/18/10, at the expense of the department I work for. Mateo is a small, intimate restaurant on Pearl Street, though not directly in the busier downtown area. The food is somewhat rustic french inspired, though it deviates from this concept at times. The bar was crowded for a Tuesday, but the small main dining area was fairly empty. While waiting for the last of our party to arrive, I had a drink, the Root Cellar, from their cocktail menu. It was well balanced and prepared with good attention to detail. We also had a small olive plate as an appetizer - all was good there, though, granted, you can't really screw that up. I ordered two specials for dinner. I started with an arugula salad with grapefruit and candied pistachios, dressed with an Italian vinaigrette. The salad worked very well. For my entree, I had a pork belly special. The pork belly was cooked to just the right texture, and the accompanying sides were delicious. Unfortunately, the pork belly was a bit over-salted, which was perhaps the only negative in the meal. The server did, however, choose me a wine that cut through the salt fairly well. I finished off my meal with their profiteroles dessert. It was delicious and well executed though somewhat forgettable. Throughout our meal the service was impeccable. Our server was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. I certainly intend to return to Mateo. Our meal had a few imperfections, but was still thoroughly enjoyable.
(4)Scott M.
Had dinner with a friend here and I had high expectations as she is a foodie. It was busy for a Monday evening. My first thought for a French restaurant it was loud and the place could use some sound dampening materials on the ceiling and or walls. Our appetizer the delice de bourgogne was not very good. Presentation was colorless and the cheese was overpowering. I ordered the duck a l'Orange which was very flavor-able and cook perfectly. My friend order the chicken frites which was so great and will be the dish I order next time here. The desert, profiteroles was a disappointment as they were americanized, meaning they were large in size and the filing was not very flavorful. Their cappuccino was very good but outshines the desert. I will return for another experience, but I will be careful in what I order for my appetizer and desert, I think the chicken frites is a no brainer.
(4)matt b.
Overall a good place to eat. I thought the food was four star and the snooty service two star so I split the difference. I had the chicken w/frites and both were cooked well and tasted good. My wine was okay but I've had many better wine for much less than $12 per glass. The wine, like most things here, are a bit pricy for what they give you.
(3)Mark D.
Evidently some restaurants close between lunch and dinner. Mateo Restaurant Provencal is no exception; however, the proprietor of this fine establishment has educated his staff to be of the utmost hospitality to weary travelers like myself. When offered the chance to dine during the "in between zone" I was reluctant to accept the invittation....for the obvious reasons. Oh contraire! The experience and food were off the frigging charts. Besides the amazing meal I had the opportunity to experience the behind the scenes logistics of rolling out a new drink menu. Britt, the bartender was show casing the bevies. OMG! I don't normally drink distilled spirits (wine snob), but Britt's elixirs will keep me coming back for more. Mateo is an absolute "best in class" for any local or out-of-towner!
(5)KIM T.
Mateo's is the perfect place to go for food and atmosphere , so I easily loved when my friends chose to celebrate my birthday luncheon there--service was attentive and spot on, the food was incredible from the beginning (an artisan cheese platter) to the birthday ending of warm chocolate truffle cake with crème fraiche and berries. Mateo's serves a variety of French cuisine, and I'm thankful my friends order from the array of choices, because I can't stop ordering my standard: the Croque Madame...mmmmm, just talking about it makes me crave that delicious rosemary ham and parmesan crusted bread. One of my friends also has her standby favorite--the chopped chicken salad with seasonal vegetables and truffle goat cheese vinaigrette (of course she orders a salad, but she can't keep her hands off my order of house made frites). The indoor dining is quaint and cozy and the lunch buzz is classy, not clanky. Furthermore, when the weather is lovely, the patio dining offers a fun atmosphere for lunch or dinner. Dinner at Mateo's is another ideal experience. I've been so impressed with their menu, but even more impressed with how accommodating their servers and chefs are when I take my teenage daughter and her friends. My husband's dinner favorite is the Colorado steak with béarnaise sauce, but the girls always have special orders and there is no stress in that because any particular thing they ask for is provided attitude-free. Thank you Mateo's!
(5)Leslie W.
We went to Mateo last night for my sister's birthday. We started off with some appetizers. We had a great tartin with peach marmalade, onions and prosciutto on top. Great sweet and savory combination. Good house made olives. Our server recommended a great bottle of wine, which was a new Cote de Rhone they had. I had the lobster ravioli. It had giant lobster claws in it, and it is prepared differently than I have ever seen lobster ravioli. It was a sheet of pasta that was sitting up with the lobster claws underneath. Presentation was cool, and the lobster ravioli was really good. My husband had the lamb, and it came in a nice cream sauce with these really good pickled cherries. My sister had the steak, which was thin (which was okay, not great) but it came with a Bearnaise sauce that made it all up. The food was good, but the service was bad. Our server was great when we first got there, and there were not many tables, but then we got essentially ignored when a couple of big tables came in. It took forever for our bill to come, and we had to track him down to order the entrees. So that knocked it down a notch. Overall good food, but they need to work on the service so one waiter is not slammed.
(4)Louise P.
Awesome food. Great art. Yes it is loud when crowded, but the food is fabulous.
(5)Nick W.
Every time I come back here, I wonder why I waited so long. The place is attractive and the food is good. But not great. And that's what I keep rediscovering. Last time i had the rabbit. It was presented shredded, mixed with artichoke, and the immediate effect on my palate was to make me think of canned tuna. Other's meals were more successful. I like this place and hope it does well when I go back in 6 to 12 months. Maybe then I'll pick a better selection.
(3)Alden G.
Mateo is one of my favorites in Boulder. The food is prepared with care and the menu was inspiring, in that it offered some unusual treats. Great.
(4)Giovanni V.
I've only been here for happy hour. Great good, my favourite in happy hour in boulder, but unlucky the service has always been poor and really slow... People seating later then us were getting the chance to order before us. I somehow got a feeling that we got treated like unwanted guests, maybe because we come just for happy hour, maybe we look too scruffy for their target clientele...
(3)Cynthia S.
Amazing food, and stellar service. This place is truly a shining star for Boulder. Using every available local purveyor possible, they are constantly raising the standard on local, fine dining. The happy-hour is not to be missed!!!
(5)Shawn R.
Mateo is turning out to be a favorite for business lunches. We ate there this past Friday I had chicken frites and Christina had steak frites and Susan had the gnocchi all the food was prepared very well. The restaurant has a nice decor and outside patio seating. The wine list is good but some of the wines by the glass are unremarkable. I had a Bordeaux that was so tight it was nearly undrinkable (it did open up a bit by the end of the meal). The service is solid at Mateo's and the menu offers interesting choices. It's quieter than Ten Ten a competing french restaurant here in Boulder. Many of the menu items include organic ingredients.
(4)Jen A.
The man and I went back to Mateo last night and I can safely say this visit was 100 times better than our last. Food was fantastic and great service. We got the Beer du jour (Hoegarden), the Plateu Provencal and the Mateo burger - oh my. Will be frequenting Mateo on a regular basis.
(4)Michael F.
Great food...wow very loud
(4)Fernando R.
Pretty awesome wines and good appetizers. Been there a few times, has never disappointed.
(4)Virginia D.
I'm pretty surprised to find this place ranked so low. We had a fantastic experience there: Great service (even though our waiter came out with drinks and out of 3 of us, 2 are ladies, yet he served the gentleman first) The martinis were almost perfect! We picked on a few mini-tizers, nuts, olives, fries (OMG-BEST fries I've ever had...REALLY!!!) and tepenade-all very good. Dinner: Me-chèvre chaud goat cheese croquette, mixed greens, pipérade, marinated olives-tiny but delicious, nicely plated, well balanced. Hubby-steak frites grilled colorado flat-iron, house cut frites, sauce béarnaise , he nearly licked his plate. Steak was cooked perfectly and the best part-more FRIES! MIL-tuesday coq-au-vin (it was the special) very nice wine sauce, not too *winey*, soft flaky chicken, I think it came over some creamy polenta and it was awesome. I really want to try this place for the moules and frites on Monday nights. Also, these guys get their stuff from the Boulder Farmer's Market, so I definitely love supporting restaurants that support our farmers! Can't wait for more Mateo!
(5)lola w.
Mateo is one of my absolute favorite restaurants. The frites are the best any where outside of France. A great deal is to have them with the mussels, simple inexpensive meal. Or the chicken with frites. Perfectly crispy on the outside and so tender on the inside. Save some calories and don't have it served on the butter sauce, not necessary, deliciious without it. Great bar too.
(5)James R.
We ate at Mateo a couple nights ago for the first time. Very disappointing experience after reading some of the good reviews. The food was our main problem. Menu looked okay but not very creative. They served olive bread with sugary butter?! We both ordered french onion soup, which was okay, but it was also sweet and the bread in the soup was burned. My wife ordered beef bourguignon and the glaze was so strong and sweet that it overpowered the dish. It was also presented more as a dry pot roast than a traditional beef bourguignon and did really taste like a crockpot pot roast. Not bad, just not what she expected. I ordered the burger at the waiter's recommendation. It came out well done despite having ordered it medium. The bun was burned, the caramelized onions were also burned and the aioli sauce was sweet and unappetizing. The fries were cold and overcooked. I complained about the dish and the waiter offered to bring me something else. I requested the chicken and he said it would take 6 minutes. 20 minutes later, after my wife was finished, the chicken still had not arrived so we asked for the bill. They did not charge me for the entree, which was nice, but we still spent $80 for the rest of the F&B, which stinks when you have such a bad all around experience. Waitstaff was very nice for the most part, but there were a couple loud broken plates right next to us as well as a spilled drink. The boy filling the water looked appalled when we asked for ice with our water. I explained that the bottle on the table was filled with warm tap water but he still gave us a look like we were asking for a free bottle of vodka or something. (note the vodka is not free. 2 oz martini is $10) Bottom line- seemed to be a place that if things go well you might have a good meal, but things did not go well for us. There are several other good restaurants in Boulder with similar style and food, only better.
(1)Jon W.
Good, not great but worth another visit for sure. With a few tweaks, I could see revising this to a four star rating in the future. Two of us showed up on a Friday night around 7:15PM and got a table immediately which was an unexpected surprise. Maybe a sign of the economy and Boulder's love of all things Bistro-ish. After being handed the menu and wine list, we realized that deciphering them was going to be our challenge for the evening - had to get a cocktail to lubricate the brain. Unfortunately they were out of Jameson so I had to get Bushmills, which the server took upon herself to upgrade me to Bushmills Black (and charged me accordingly). The menu is disorganized and confusing IMO. Starters, small plates, soups all over the menu and written so you can't quite figure it all out without asking your server. Thankfully our server was able to help us get organized. Rayme, one of the owners did a great job with some wine recommendations. The food was hit or miss - overall things weren't as flavorful as we would have liked. My mussels were bland, the broth could have been a bit fuller, the accompanying frites were ordinary, perhaps to thick of a cut. The salad was well balanced and fresh. My wife's lobster bisque was so good she wolfed it down without offering me a taste. Gnoochi was disappointing but thankfully the scallops were out of this world. It just didn't seem like the Sous Chef or expediter was tasting dishes before they went out of the kitchen. So could have been easily improved with a bit more attention. So, we'll go back and sit on the wonderful looking patio next time. Hoping that we find more good stuff and avoid the not so good.
(3)Thomas T.
Was recently there for a large (20+) business dinner; considering the size of this place. Coming from silicon valley/SF bay area, I'm a bit of a foodie, though Boulder/CO in general has some of the country's talented chefs....i digress...The food was okay at best; it was a business dinner, so our menu was limited so perhaps if Alex (read below) gives me a call to come back for other apps.... The salade maison was overly salty; way too much vinegar! The salad verte looked and tasted really plain. I had the lamb ragout, while my co-workers (throughout the U.S) had the steak frites; those who had this enjoyed the fries more than the steak....says something about the beef quality. Dessert was very ordinary! Can't comment on the wine, since our selection was financially limited. They could really work on food presentation! We eat with our eyes as much as our palate!!!! Perhaps it was a large group for this restaurant, but our food was a bit cold. The servers could really need some training; felt like they're a new crew and trying to gel together; not very attentive, nor were they eager or enthusiastic or hospitable. Service was very slow!!! Establishment was geared towards the younger (read under 30) crowd. It kinda felt like the employees were there more to show than to host or work; Alex, the bartender was quite the eye candy. Was pleasantly surprised that she knew how to make a vesper martini!
(3)Cindy C.
I couldn't agree with Kim more. Mateo is the perfect place for Dinner, Lunch and Happy Hour! I meet friends there every Tuesday and Mateo rocks it!
(5)Amanda C.
Best happy hour in town - top notch wine and food at reasonable prices. The atmosphere is great and the community table at the front is fun. The wait staff is extremely polite and knowlegable and make you feel like you're at a 5 star restaurant even if you've just ordered the house wine and some cheese! The burger is the best in town and a great deal for happy hour! The hostess(es) are a little flaky and look like they have nothing to do and the bartenders are a bit pretentious but the food and wait staff make up for it.
(4)Wendy G.
I can't believe Mateo's isn't ranked higher. It's our favorite restaurant in Boulder. Nice staff, good wine and great food. The frites themselves would make this #1 but add the mussels or the perfectly crisp chicken and it's heaven! I've never had a bad meal here and could easily eat here once a week.
(5)Kristin B.
solid place on east pearl. most weeknights you can walk in without a reservation. weekends are harder. just a simple french-american menu with good service. my only complaint is that they got rid of their bread warmer so the bread they serve you is cold. however, they make up for it with their amazing butter that they serve with the bread! unsalted butter, sea salt, honey, and herbs de provence mixed together into deliciousness!
(4)aubrey b.
Haven't been here in a while but it is one of my favorites in Boulder. LOVE the chef salad with perfectly charred grilled chicken. Yum. Matthew is awesome and almost always there to say hello to.
(4)SUSAN T.
Burnt hockey puck. Promise. They said it was a hamburger, but i know it couldn't be.That's what I got in between a huge bun (I would think they would be embarrassed to put such a tiny Sysco burger on such a big Sysco bun). Charred. Surprised the fire alarm didn't go off but then it was so small burning it probably didn't make much smoke. After being in DC and having great hamburgers at BGR and Five Guys in Bethesda I thought I would try a Boulder Burger. Big mistake. Did I say, Big Mistake? Indeed. No flavor. Who screws up a burger? Well, that would be Mateo at lunch. The service was impeccable, though.
(1)Kristn K.
Overall, I thought this place was perfect for a birthday dinner. The appetizer we chose had artichoke hearts and goat cheese, and grilled bread and was delicious-- the menu description wasn't very descriptive, but i'm very glad we ordered it. The entrees were excellent also-- beef and tuna. I really liked the way the tuna was prepared and the flavours. The wine list was long, and we had the opportunity to try a few until we found one we liked. The service was excellent and the prices seemed reasonable. We had the chocolate torte type thing for dessert. It was good, but I think that in itself would have only gotten a 3 star rating (the wine list and tuna and service would have gotten a 5). It wasn't very cozy inside, and a little loud, but the atmosphere was nice otherwise. Thank you "Mateo" for an amazing birthday evening.
(4)j w.
Steak frites for $20! Bouillabaisse for $23! And both were very delicious as was the duck confit. It's just that dinner at The Kitchen two nights before was more memorable for its creativity and flavors. Service was good but not quite up to the level we experienced at The Kitchen.
(4)Jim B.
Charcuterie plate was decent. Pot au chocolate is well balanced. But, the entrees are lacking. I felt sorry for my friend who ordered the gnocchi and was presented with the most pitiful portion I have ever seen. My $11 croque monsieur was burnt and surprisingly bland. Also, the waitress pronounced the dish wrong. It is not "Crock Mon Sewer." I'm very glad I wasn't paying the bill.
(2)Mark M.
I am writing this while still savoring the flavors of this great restaurant. I have to take exception to the other reviews "another bistro - good food" etc... This place is one of the few that really deserve a 5 star rating. I(I think Yelp has a little problem with grade inflation.) More than another bistro, Mateo combines local with French, organic with surprising, elegant with simple. I have eaten more consistently great meals at Mateo than any other Boulder restaurant. Using tonight as an example: Fresh figs with duck, potato and frisse - great mix of sweet, earthy, and verdant. Next - golden beets, watercress, and some sort of light cheese crumbles - same-same only different. Little bites of heaven. We sat at the bar and shared our entree: house made gnochi with lobster in cream. Wow! A little salty like the ocean, rich with lobster and plenty of lobster too, combined with cream and a little garlic. So rich without being oily/buttery. So rich though it was perfect for sharing. Finally the panna cotta custard with orange sauce and vanilla. Mateo seems to care much more about the food and less about press releases (in contrast to Frasca). This is the real deal in Boulder. What's the down side? A little loud due to high ceilings and hard surfaces, good looking hostesses distract from the food at hand, and not much else.
(5)B-ro S.
Okay, Mateo! I can't believe everyone raves about this place so much. I will be in line at a grocery store and some moron is talking about how great Mateo is. I just assume they are from Kentucky and the only restaurant within 100 miles of them was a Waffle House. I used to go to Mateo years ago, whenever I was forced. It was mediocre then and might not even be that now. I moved to a place that was less than 100 yards from its front door and wanted to make it my new place to have dinner and drinks close to home. My roommate and I walked over and ate at the bar and had two of the most disappointing meals we had ever had in our lives. I had the chicken frites. It was no good. The flavor was okay, but the meat was terrible. The presentation sucked and I felt it was extremely overpriced for what it was. My roommate had the lamb, I think? Or was it veal? Either way, it was tough. Really tough. So tough I had to spit it out after chewing several hundred times and having my jaw go too sore to continue. I am a carnivore, and have no problem if meat is sometimes a little gamey, but it was veal/lamb, whatever it was. It was supposed to be extremely tender. It was horrible. I felt bad for my buddy who was trying to eat it. On the other hand, the atmosphere is decent. Nice decor and the wine list is good. If you want to go for drinks, not such a bad place. If you want to eat.... Good luck! I will say their other restaurant Radda is one of my favorite places to dine in town. Why can't they get it right with Mateo? And why do so many people like that crap?
(1)Mark C.
Excellent every time. I've had nice New Years Dinner and great lunches. Service is always crisp and neat. French dishes are authentic and don't disappoint. Must say the price is competitive and they support local businesses and farmers. Details Steak Frittes and french fries, mussels, gnocchi all great.
(5)Mona P.
Went here recently and loved it. The atmosphere very chic without trying. Food was fabulous - prices reasonable - outstanding quality. Try the Mac-n-Cheese, believe it or not, and the Lobster Ravioli. The server had to be a Sommelier too. He suggested outstanding bottles and didn't pick the most expensive ones. It appeared people of sorts were just hanging out here and having great time. I will absolutely be back next time I am in Boulder!
(5)Kevin G.
Another Boulder Bistro. Aren't there enough of these? The food, wine and service are good. I have trouble understaning the menu sometimes due to overuse of culinary/foreign words. Gives me a good excuse to flirt with the servers though. Consider sitting at the bar. There are all sorts of delicious things to drink beyond the whole French wine thing. The bartenders are well trained and give good service for a whole meal. My wife declares that the chicken confeit is better here than at Brasserie Ten-Ten
(4)J B.
A favorite! Great bar/martinis/wine list. Delicious menu. The fish special is always a winner. Nice salads, soups and vegetable sides. Uses only quality organic, local ingredients. Had the nicest waiter. Cozy and hip setting.
(5)Doug K.
Excellent food, incredible wines and glassware, and friendly knowledgeable staff make this one excellent. Pricing is very reasonable for the amount and quality of the food.
(5)H Y.
Love the duck and the steak here. It's been consistently good and the prices aren't as high as the decor might have you believe. Probably the most understated and under-rated places in town.
(4)Arjun C.
I haven't lived in Boulder in several years and when I returned I Was really pleased to see some of the new restaurant additions to the Pearl/Walnut/Canyon scene. Ambiance was great, but my party of 5 was asked to wait 30 mins AFTER having made a reservation. The chicken was quite good, but it's chicken...I could have recreated something similar using Campbells soup as a base. ... And the wild boar was a complete waste. The taste reminded me of $2 instant packs of curry-stew that one gets from a Japanese curry store. We all hated it. Verdict: Come in for an excellet glass of wine with wonderful ambiance. It also maybe good for entertaining business people as the food won't offend. That said, Don't come for the food unless you're looking to delude yourself.
(3)Jenni J.
I've wanted to try Mateo for awhile now, so I thought First Bite Boulder would be the perfect time... a 3 course meal for $26. I started off with the honeycrisp apple & chestnut bisque. The bisque had a great consistency with thin slices of applies and small chestnut pieces for crunch; although the soup was lukewarm at best, the taste made up for it. We're off to a pretty good start. The 2nd course was grilled lamb tenderloin over lentils. Four small slices of lamb the size of a quarter were served over lentils. The lamb was good but I thought the lentils were the star of the this course, as the sauce they were served in was a thyme jus. Next up, dessert and I went with the pumpkin creme brulee. The pumpkin puree tasted like a whipped pumpkin pie filling, again, nothing all the amazing. The ambiance and service at mateo is nice, but the food was just "good" in my book. I was really hoping to be wowed and I wasn't.
(3)sandy c.
this is a nice space with trendy decor. we went for lunch and there were only two other parties eating. the food was excellent. the parpadelle lamb ragu was fantastic and i could have eating three more portions of it. the service was patchy and slow, weird because there were only two other tables in the restaurant. the waiter was also a little weird.
(4)R R.
this place was good. we got a lot of things but what really stuck out to me was the lobster ravioli. delicious. great service and atmosphere. we stayed there for at least 2 hours drinking and talking and did not feel rushed. then again...maybe that's an "out west" thing. i definitely will go back.
(4)Max W.
My first visit to Mateo was overall rated as "good." My guest and I showed up early around 5:45 or so on a Thursday evening and originally decided to start at the bar but ended up moving to the large egg shaped "community" bar/dining high table in the front window for a better view with dinner, which I must say turned out to be a good decision. The service was very friendly and accommodating (misheard wine order and comped the first glasses as well as comped an appetizer which came out w/o the goat cheese listed on the menu...no biggie because it was great anyways...). We had the house red which was a Merlot, Cab, Syrah blend which was a nice cheap option and went well with our main courses. I ordered the Duck Confit and my guest the Lamb both of which were elegantly preprepared in the French tradition and were pleasing to the palate. The duck could have used some sort of sauce to complement the brussel sprouts and carrots but in the end didn't take away from the fall off the bone tenderness of the meat. All in all for one of the fancier restaurants in Boulder it was good but both of us agreed that if I were to treat myself again I probably would look for something new and not return in the immediate future. Good service, good food and great seating at the window but nothing to write home about...
(3)Steve M.
Mateo has a nice atmosphere, good food, and a good wine list and it's not too pricey. My wife loves the lobster ravioli. I think I usually get a steak with fries. Their fries are delicious as well.
(4)Nory B.
Haven't been here for a while; came last night for a celebratory dinner. There were only a couple of open tables at 7:15; we had a reservation and were seated right away. Service was friendly, prompt and solicitous throughout our meal. The menu is small but they have something for everyone in each part of the menu, which is perfect--I'd rather have a small menu done well than a ton of choices executed poorly. The ratatouille with its grilled bread was so fresh and flavorful! We shared it as an appetizer and agreed it was the best part of our meal! The cheese plate was beautiful and my son enjoyed it; the corn chowder had a lot of flavor and the salad with baby lettuces and beets was the perfect size with a vibrant lemon vinaigrette. My son devoured his lobster ravioli; my husband and I both had the salmon. The portion was very generous, and mine was cooked perfectly. My husband said his was a little salty(probably because of the bacon in the grains--I know bacon is "in" but I find a little goes a long way and there's usually too much for my taste), and unfortunately his was undercooked for his taste--he likes it cooked through. He could have sent it back, but he ate around the edges and that was enough for him--he didn't want to interrupt the pace of the meal--we were really enjoying ourselves. I read other reviews faulting the noise level; while we were there the place was full for a while and there was a noticeable increase in noise, but it was the sound of people enjoying themselves. I guess if there were tipsy people their voices get louder and maybe that might be too loud; I didn't have a problem with the noise level. The chocolate cake was yummy--the perfect end to a nice experience! Will definitely go back soon!
(4)Steven W.
Mateo is really a great place to fine dine affordably and we have enjoyed the eats many times... We dined there last night and although the service was outstanding the kitchen was off there game. We love their burgers and shrimp app however this time around the shrimp was great as always but the burger was done incorrectly twice... Very well done instead of medium rare.... quite the difference for us bloody burger lovers and the second burger was medium and not up to their regular burger status. The restaurant did comp the food after all the issues which keeps them in my good graces and certainly will have me visiting again. In the end the preference is to get the food done right which is usually their game. Overall experience was great and I will be there again soon.
(4)Samantha M.
What a great find! I ended up at Mateo for lunch a couple of weeks ago with a small group of folks from work. I'd never been there before, but believe me, I'll be a repeat customer. I ordered the poulet frites - pan-roasted chicken with a small side salad and a serving of fries so impressive that I couldn't even finish them all. The chicken was superb, cooked perfectly, and the sauce that accompanied it was to die for. The fries reminded me of the ones I found while vacationing in Europe - absolutely delicious. I couldn't finish the portion, but I definitely gave it a good try. The servers were incredibly professional, polite, and knowledgeable. Our glasses remained filled through the course of the meal, and the restaurant was quiet enough that our group could easily carry on a conversation. My only complaint was the fact that the six of us were seated at what felt like a very small table. Then again, if they're truly going for the ambiance of a French restaurant, they've got that down.
(4)Megan M.
This place is legit. We tried it out while staying in Boulder for a wedding. We sat outside on a quiet patio, but the atmosphere is equally as great inside. Between the table we ordered a burger, the quiche, Cobb salad and steak frites. All were delicious. Good cocktail and wine menu as well. I would definitely come back here.
(4)Ally S.
It was so yummy!!!! The only thing was everything I tried was a little heavy! The scramble was very good and I would certainly recommend it! I love that they have options of sparkling water or still! The service is so great also and it's a very very lovely place
(5)Linda G.
Fabulous happy hour here. Wonderful food and ambiance. Very friendly staff, great wine selection and dinner entrees. The shrimp is the best appetizer.. Enjoy!
(4)Annie M.
I went to Mateo for the first time last Sunday. We were a little concerned there would be a wait, but we got right in. I ordered the breakfast marg, which was delicious but not as amazing as the asperol spritz. Oh my goodness, that drink can get you into trouble bc it is so darn delectable that I wanted to stay there all day and drink as many as possible. Alas, my judgement intervened and I only had one. The bartenders here are real mixologists, and know their craft. It was refreshing! I ordered the classic bene. An absolute hit! The hollandaise is perfect, and they cooked my eggs just the way I like them. The only drawback was the brioche, I tend to lean towards the english muffin for the "sopping up" factor. I understand there a plenty of people that would prefer the brioche, but not me. The bene came with diced/cubed little potatoes that were cooked perfectly. Absolutely divine. Great service, great staff, great food. I will be back for more. I'd love to try dinner.
(4)Justin L.
I ordered the burger and of course added an egg after seeing all the photos on yelp. The burger was decent but nothing special. It's a nice place to grab drinks or a quick snack.
(4)Mr. M.
The salad was good. The burger and fries pretty good. The chocolate soufflé was incredibly good.
(4)Veronique C.
Service: two stars Food: 4 or 5 stars I have visited Mateo multiple times, and usually love the food. But service seems to always be a problem. Waiter nonexistent (even when the place is almost empty), service very, very slow.
(3)Marisa K.
I had been meaning to try this place for years and once I did we loved it so much we ate here twice in the last few weeks. The first time my boyfriend had their chicken dish and I had the special salad, both excellent. In fact, my bf says it is THE best chicken he has ever had. We ate here again last night for NYE and had a fabulous meal with great live music and yummy prosecco. Unfortunately, they ran out of the trout dish I wanted however, the waitress offered to have the chef make me a butternut squash risotto since I do not eat meat. The risotto was perfectly cooked, not too heavy and just the right portion size. The bf got the chicken again and fell in love with it all over again. The dining room was festive, filled with balloons and whoever the musician/singer was he was amazing!
(4)Andreena S.
5 stars for the food; 1 star for the service. After weeks of convincing, my boyfriend finally agreed to take me to Mateo for date night. See, I've had my heart set on trying this place for months but was waiting for an occasion. It was early, Thursday evening. There were about 6 tables dining when we arrived and we were immediately brought to a table. A few moments later, a young man inquired about our water preference and promptly brought out two glasses of still water. It took a while for someone to take our drink order but eventually a lady saw us looking around, trying to figure out who out server was and asked if we had been helped and when we told her that we had not, she gladly helped. At this time we ordered drinks as well as appetizers. More time passes and a different lady asks if we're doing okay. I tell her we are waiting to place our order and she reassures me that our server was on his way. Finally, a tall, skinny, dark haired man approaches us. In a voice that is barley audible he says "hello" and takes our order. Our appetizers come and go and we don't hear a peep from him until he drops off the mains. We see him serving other tables; checking in with them and bringing them drinks but he never checked on us once during the meal. In fact, even when we were finished, we still waited so long for the check that I just asked the young man who brought the waters to is for it. Again, another long wait. Finally, "our server" brings out the check. It is only at this time, that I find out his name is Adam according to what was printed on the check....Also, he was in such a hurry to dump the check on us that he didn't even offer us dessert. The food (which was served in adequate portions) is great and the atmosphere is quite pleasant but there are plenty of other great restaurants in the same price range that have the service aspect spot on. I know it may seem a bit harsh to give a restaurant 2 stars based solely on service but let me explain: I'm an avid home cook who is perfectly capable of making a restaurant quality meal, any day of the week. It is for this reason that good service is such a big deal for me. It's like a treat! Anyway, I don't think we will be returning to Mateo and we surly will not be recommending it either.
(2)guy b.
Hands down my favorite place in Boulder!! Kim is my favorite bartender in town!! Best dish are the mussels and a amazing wine list!!
(5)Ashley M.
Went here for dinner the day after thanksgiving around 7:30. It was very quiet, only about 3 other tables and some people at the bar. Our waiter was well educated about the menu and especially the wine, which is very important in a server because my parents are in the wine business. He was very nice and understanding in explaining things on the menu that I didn't know what they were, which is usually uncommon in a french restaurant. I settled with a cider beer because all of their cocktails either had bourbon or gin in them, which was the only thing out of the night that was disappointing to me. For appetizers we had some ahi tuna and a meat plate that was delicious. For dinner we had the rabbit, duck, steak frites, the chicken and the seafood risotto. All were exceptional, everything was cooked perfectly and had amazing flavor. I see some people complaining about service, and we had a great experience. Our reservation was at 7:30 and we got out of there around 9:30, which is very typical for a french restaurant. There was about a 25 minute gap between the appetizer and our main course because my parents ordered a bottle of wine that needed to be decanted, but I believe that's also typical for a french restaurant. Overall a great place and a wonderful meal.
(5)Jennifer C.
This is my absolutely favorite brunch spot in Boulder. Every dish is very good. The Croque Madame and French toast are my faves. Mateo uses only high quality ingredients, the best bacon from Tender Belly and even the coffee and lattes are really great which isn't the case for most brunch restaurants. Bloodies too. Liv, one the hostesses, gets a special shout out for excellent customer service!
(5)Andrew H.
What a fantastic place in Boulder. Often overshadowed by other seriously great restaurants nearby it has taken me a while to learn that Mateo just delivers. Celiac friendly. Their head chef is celiac and their staff knows their stuff about cross contamination. Best hidden spot for weekend brunch. Buckwheat pancakes were phenomenal (not good, but phenomenal). Deconstructed frittata was also a hit at our table. Great coffee and at 9am we were the only table (compare that with a 50 minute wait at Snooze).
(5)Ladie G.
Went to mateos for the first time last friday. We were in Boulder for a late night event at CU, looked for a restaurant and spotted a cute patio dining area, so we stopped in for dinner. My husband had the sirloin burger and I had the flat iron steak, he ordered his medium well and I ordered mine well done. His burger came to him well done and mine was still bloody in the center. I asked to have it recooked, they recooked it to temp but didn't give me the portion I had cut off. It's only a 9 Oz steak to begin with and for 26$ a plate, I was less than impressed. I've been to many fine dining restaurants and never have they taken a steak I've ate off of or cut into and thrown it back on the grill (unsanitary), they would make me a brand new steak correctly. With that being said, the server was nice and the food tasted good, their frites poullet very good and petite salad good. The water needed to be chilled or have ice, and there was no mention of drinks other than alcoholic beverages offered on their menu. Overall I give them 3 stars. Will I be back probably not.
(3)Taylor D.
A little pricy but so worth it! The eggplant quesadilla is incredible, I would strongly suggest getting that! Great atmosphere, and when we went in we told them we had to be done with dinner in 45 minutes, and we were out in 40! Definitely worth a try
(4)Michael B.
I would give this place 3.5 if I could. It was good, but not excellent. I had the butternut squash gnocchi, but it did not impress me that much. I was definitely expecting better, but it certainly wasn't bad either. Drinks were good. Service was excellent! I would probably try this place again.
(3)Brc P.
An excellent restaurant. Fine food, good service in an interesting and attractive setting. I'd give it 4 stars but for the noise. We can't remember ever being unable to hear each other across a table for 2. On our 1st visit with another couple we had to wait until we were back in the car to discuss our meals, etc. Best place to go with boring people with whom you have nothing in common.
(3)Abby Q.
We came in here on a Thursday night for First Bite Boulder with my aunt and uncle. I was excited to eat here, because I love French food and their First Bite Boulder menu was one of the few that looked really delicious to me. We were seated and our waiter was reeeeeally awkward. My boyfriend and I had arrived before my aunt and uncle, and we simply wanted to get some waters while we waited. I got the impression that the waiter didn't want to waste any time on us at all until our full party arrived, which I didn't much appreciate. The server is the only reason this isn't a five star review, though. The food was absolutely wonderful. Everyone started with the pork belly with lentils, which was yuuuuummy! My aunt and I had the mushroom risotto and the boys had the lamb bolognese dish, which they both enjoyed. We all had the vanilla pot du creme for dessert, which we all agreed was just a bit like melted vanilla ice cream, but came in an adorable little ball jar. I truly enjoyed the meal here at Mateo, though the service was a bit awkward. If I'm ever around Pearl Street for dinner again, I wouldn't mind stopping back in.
(4)michael y.
Visited Mateo last night for the first time and wished I had tried it well before this, experiencing an overall well above average Boulder dining experience. The interior is light, tastefully decorated with art work and all the staff had a genuine welcoming attitude. Warren at the bar was great, serving up a very tasteful martini called a Mateo Sunrise and they have Upslope on tap. We started with the mussels appetizer, fresh and spiced perfectly, happy that we took Warrens suggestion to get the frites with it. My unassuming chicken dish was perfectly crisp, with a nice little sauce that came with it, surprising me on how well we enjoyed it, I highly recommend it. The butternut squash gnocchi was also good, but not a dish that would bring us back there. Overall we enjoyed Mateo for the service, the great atmosphere, creative martini's and solid French cooking.
(4)Eric R.
Met a group of about eight friends for brunch at Mateo and had a delicious meal. If judging on the food alone, it was 4 stars+, but we all know it isn't just the food that makes the restaurant. The servers were very, very nice, but the service was very slow. And after paying $15 for brunch, I went and had lunch about 30 minutes later because I left hungry. I felt like I had a small appetizer, not brunch. Based on the post meal hunger, I don't think I would go back. If the portions were a bit bigger, the taste and quality was right on.
(3)Salem M.
They have amazing staff and the best kept secret brunch in town...shhh don't tell anyone!
(5)Michael J.
We went to brunch last Saturday. We were the second table seated for the morning. Our server was friendly and attentive. She recommended the breakfast burrito with pork belly and the poached eggs with spinach. Both were excellent recommendations. Two small hiccups: The burrito was made with sausage vs the pork belly. Our server apologized and brought a sample of the bacon to try. We also ordered the buckwheat pancakes which ended up being burnt. Our server took those off of the total without a hassle. We will definitely return and try dinner.
(4)Leanne G.
Mateo is someplace that I frequent for lunch. It's large windows allow for gracious amounts of light, which is nice when sitting inside. If weather permits they have a nice patio too. I've eaten the quiche, which is good. It was a bit slathered in butter for my taste and a bit darker crust then I'm accustomed too. And I would like to mention I would like to mention that they have the nicest nicoise salad I've seen around town. That is because the tuna is so fresh. The color is almost purple! All of the other ingredients are so fresh, too. It's really lovely. Prices are also great. Lunch is not a long wait and you are sure to bump into somebody that you know.
(4)Larkin B.
The food was delicious, and the service was fantastic, but for the quality of taste it felt quite overpriced.
(3)R R.
Uninspired pork entree & dull pear desert very disappointing for such a highly rated place. Yelp you let me down!
(3)Rocky F.
Had high expectations. They were not met, and in fact, I would say this was a rather mediocre dining experience. Let's start with the waiter, who was swarmy. He was trying (way too hard) to be charming and glib. He seemed uncomfortable. He kept moving from one side of our table to the other for no reason. He was nice, but he was attempting to be entertaining, and we didn't need to be entertained. He primped a lot too, looking at his reflection in the windows. His style of service made my partner and I uncomfortable. We started with the butternut squash soup. It was very good. However, portion was tiny. It took a long time for our main course to arrive. There were three of us at dinner. Two in our party received their plates, the third had to wait. (and the waiter made a joke about it) You would think with very few other diners in the restaurant and an abundance of staff standing around, a second waiter could have brought out that third plate. One in our party had the chicken and said it was excellent. I had the steak frites. The steak arrived luke warm and it was tough, which might explain why it arrived at the table pre-cut. The frites were too thick for my liking. It was disappointing and I did not finish what was on the plate. The pacing of the meal was really bad. Long waits between courses. Dessert took quite awhile to arrive and was just not that great. Honestly, there were not that many people in the restaurant all during our meal, so I'm not sure why the service was so slow. I suppose I would try Mateo one more time, just to see if we just hit them on an off night. However, reading these other Yelp reviews, it sounds like the service issues are chronic. It's a shame.
(2)Gabriela G.
Mateo's was a great brunch place with friends. Twelve of us filled the patio on a Saturday afternoon. Though beautiful to sit out in the sun it got a little too hot by noon. I recommend sitting inside where the air conditioner breezes freely. Josh was our server and he was great. Waters and coffee cups were always filled. The fries were delicious, butter lettuce salad also looked amazing as did the steak and eggs. Buckwheat pancakes were worth the extra calories and the orange-infused butter slabbed on top was a perfect addition to the fullness of flavors of the dish. Bacon Bloody Mary's were visually striking. Menu was simple but everything sounded great. The breakfast potatoes don't taste like much and the salad dressings are heavy and creamy but everything else was delicious. Skip or substitute the breakfast potatoes and ask for a side of oil and vinegar for your fresh salad. Everything else is delish!
(4)Dennis U.
I kind of liked Mateo. Four of us came here on the recommendation of one of our party and every one of us left satiated and happy. Our table split into two camps. The lobster ravioli camp and the lamb bolognese camp. (I wished we weren't such herd animals so I could have sampled more!). I was in the lamb camp. It was a spicy ground lamb sauce over handmade tagliatelle. I was surprised by the spiciness but it was fabulous. The lobster was also surprising. Not unexpected, it was rich and lobstery, but instead of being three or four pockets it was more of a noodle burrito with excellent flavor. If I had to choose today I'm not sure which camp I'd wind up in. Deserts were excellent... pick any one! I had the cheese plate which was enough for the four of us. The wine list was interesting and a bit pricey, the decor was lovely, the service was fine. If you're in Boulder and decide to go here you won't go wrong.
(4)Benson S.
Wife and I are new to the area and decided to give this place a whirl around 9:00pm on a Saturday night. Inside dining was absolutely packed, as in jammed, and absolutely loud, almost screaming level. Ok, let's face it, the white, upper-middle-class, elitist types who patronize these trendy restaurants, are extremely loud and obnoxious. Whatever, I am part of that demographic so I know it all too well. Fortunately, there was outside seating, the weather was perfect, and the outside area was much, much quieter/intimate. Service was reasonable, considering how slammed they were. I thought the food there was good. We had duck sausage, mussels, verte salad, risotto, and some other things. I had two glasses of their $7 Cabernet. Entire bill came to $84, which is cheap for us, as we are used to California and NYC prices. In those places, the bill would be double that price, for the same extract food and dining experience. Anyway, will go back.
(4)JC R.
I had a fantastic evening here. This is a smaller intimate place, friendly staff, good food and above all, Michael at the bar knows one or two things about wine and cocktails :-)
(5)Jason S.
A quaint place though I was surprised to see laptop-diners (is nowhere sacred in Boulder). Probably the best service I've had in the entire state. Great wines & happy hour menu. The brunch is delicious as well. Sorry, I really don't have a bad thing to say about Mateo (aside from the laptop diners).
(4)Sly M.
BEST BURGER I've had in Boulder hands down. Flavorful meat, thick, juicy and cooked perfectly. Fries and Aioli were delicious as well. Bravo Mateo's chefs, bravo!
(5)Lou P.
I've eaten dinner here a few times and can take it or leave it. One word: hamburger. I recently discovered lunch at Mateo. It's not crowded and service is better as the diner/wait staff ration is considerably improved. They have a great, great hamburger which is prepared perfectly and reasonably priced. I'm not sure I;d have dinner here agin, unless under duress; but make a point of have lunch here every couple of weeks.
(3)MaryBeth R.
I really want to like Mateo. This visit was only the second over many years for my husband and me, and while this was off to a much better start than our first, the restaurant simply didn't impress me. Yes, it is in a great location, just steps off of the Pear Street Mall, surrounded by fun shops, and with good parking. Yes, the atmosphere is cozy and warm and the building wonderfully "turn of the century". Yes, the wait staff were friendly and inviting. But...for me, the package is not complete without food that knocks my socks off! My husband and I both started with the Salad Lyonnaise. Which I have to say was out of this world! It certainly had me prepared for culinary excellence! Since both of us were in the mood for some "comfort food" on this particularly cold night, I ordered the lobster raviolo and my husband ordered his standard lamb shank. That's where everything fell apart. The raviolo is a simple dish consisting of a single pasta sheet that wraps around a filling and a sauce. In this case, I expected that the filling would be succulent lobster and a light sauce. In all, I think I tasted about 5-10 very small-diced bits of lobster. There could have actually been more in the dish, but it was entirely overwhelmed by carrot, onion, and celery - at least 20:1 mirepoix: lobster. And the whole thing was drenched in a rather bland white sauce. Now, I understand that most chefs believe that all ingredients must be at the same dice-size in a dish like this, but in this case there was absolutely no way for the main ingredient (lobster) to shine, particularly since there didn't seem to be much lobster in the first place. My husband's lamb was a bit better, but not much. While well-cooked, the heavy-on-the-chinese-spices sauce was a bit too sweet, and too salty, for our tastes. Kind of ordinary. My conclusion? Probably a great place to go for happy hour or a light dinner, but if I am going to spend serious dollars to dine, I'll go elsewhere.
(2)Katy S.
We went on a Wednesday night, and it was obnoxiously loud. Not ideal for a business dinner, but would be ok going with a couple of dinner companions. Verte salad was excellent as was the chocolate gelato. The fish was good, but overall bland dish. Would go back with a smaller group of people.
(4)Lynn H.
Disappointing.. Scallop dinner came with 3 scallops, yes, 3. We asked for pate appetizer and was talked into a cheese plate. Very very skimpy. There were 5 of us. We then asked for the pate and it came as a teaspoon of pate, not a tablespoon but teaspoon... Again, for 5 of us! Frites are amazing and the poulet was excellent, but overall not worth it.. Too many other great restaurants in Boulder .
(2)Amy M.
A solid 4.5 stars. Only deducting half a star for lack of vegetarian options on the menu (come on, it's boulder...). That said, I'm sure they would not have any problem crafting up something that wasn't on the menu already. The food is great - I'm a huge fan of their desserts and I'm not much of a dessert/sweets fan. They have an exceptional wine menu and the staff are impressively versed on the wines and can offer plenty of great descriptions and recommendations. Service is stellar; nothing needs to be improved as far as I'm concerned. I've never been disappointed when I've been here. I've been for happy hour, dinner, after dinner drinks and their new brunch (highly recommend!). Definitely a local favorite!
(5)K. G.
I have to start out by saying that Mateo's comes almost between "Yay I'm a fan" to "A-ok". Only because each time I have been here the food is overly salty. My husbands the same. Having said that some people don't mind this. You can tell the Chef takes pride in what comes out of the kitchen, plating presentation and for that I always give credit where credit is due. The service was fine but just fine does not compete with some of the other restaurants near by that give impeccable service not mentioning names. But if you follow me you know which ones I am talking about. The experience overall is nice. And the atmosphere is nice. I do recommend trying Mateo and also recommend a reservation to guarantee a good table.
(4)Annie Z.
Good chips and beer
(3)Kat C.
Mateo as a restaurant I thought I would love. It gets rave reviews from snobby foodies, people dear to my heart. Perhaps it was overhyped, but I liked, and did not love my dinner here. I thought it was good yes, but nothing inspiring. What made it less than pleasant ambiance was the group of 4 children making a ton of noise in the middle of the room. With the hard surfaces echoing the plate spoon amateur band it felt like I was in Chuck E. Cheese. This did not lend itself to the "foodie" atmosphere. However, Mateo redeemed itself with a great brunch I had with a close girlfriend. We had the brunch special (2 courses and wine) for a great price and were totally impressed. Had I not had the brunch, I would definitely have given Mateo 2-3 stars, but brunch saved my rating. In the future if I notice a table of 4 loud kids, I'll skip eating here for the evening. Lesson learned.
(4)Loan T.
Having been living in Boulder for a long time last night was the first time I ate at this restaurant. Their service was fine. Their food was safe, unexciting and unimaginative.
(3)Ty F.
Went here for the first time on a Friday night and the restaurant was predictably crowded. I joined a group of friends and was under-whelmed by the menu -- chicken, beef, pork, burger. Blah. The menu offerings seemed overly simple, staple, ordinary. The wines we ordered were good, and the food was good, okay, fine, not great. I was expecting something better, more inspired, but didn't get it here. I am kind of a foodie, so if you're more into popular restaurants that serve decent food, you may enjoy Mateo, a lot of people seem to.
(2)Diane K.
I came here with a girlfriend for happy hour and had such a wonderful time that I reserved a table for my graduation dinner. We shared a couple appetizers and were pleased with the soup of the day and the cheese plate. I had around 13 people for my graduation dinner and they coordinated the service rather well. Though I must say I enjoyed my experience better the first time around, but perhaps that's just how it goes with big groups.
(4)Fred H.
We had our company holiday party at Mateo and they were great! Thanks for making our evening special!
(5)Nadia H.
Been once for happy hour - I'd give it about 4 stars for that.. great house wine, great deals for appetizers, but the appetizers aren't spectacular, just good. Now dinner was a whole other story. We tried the special which was a duck confit with brussel sprouts, cauliflower and a cherry/cranberry sauce and it was *spectacular*. The flavor profile was out of this world. Sour, sweet, bitter, perfectly seasoned. The duck melted off the bone. On par with the best dishes I've had at Jax and leagues above Flagstaff house. I gotta disagree with people on the fries which we ordered specifically because of all the raving.. they were ok. Dry, not well seasoned. I kept craving *ketchup* and that's not a good sign. Again, the appetizer charcuterie plate was only ok, as was the salad verte. The lemon curd dessert was good, espresso was lovely. All in all an absolutely satisfying, wonderful meal, and didn't break the bank for a four or so course meal because we went during happy hour and all the appetizers and drinks were discounted. Will be back for sure. Hopefully they don't pull a Radda.
(5)Amy F.
My grandmother and I stopped in for lunch after getting our hair cut at Twig, and were very pleased. The servers were attentive, and all willing to chat a moment with my overly-friendly grandmother. We shared the white bean and chicken soup and chopped vegetable salad, both specials that day, and the salad with roasted beets (I forget the name). The salads were both dressed nicely, if a bit heavily for my tastes. The dressings were also amazingly flavorful, and well matched to the other salad components. The soup was really different, bursting with great flavors. We also both really enjoyed the basil/honey butter and warm rustic bread. My only issue would be that it was a bit expensive for a couple salads and a bowl of soup, but living in Golden/Arvada has made me both more appreciative of the wonderful restaurant options in Boulder and less tolerate of Boulder pricing.
(4)Amy F.
Mateo is a long-standing Boulder restaurant - a pretty classy place yet still with the casual Boulder vibe. The decor is nice and the service is very good. But the best thing this restaurant offers is the food. The poulet frites is the best chicken I've ever had in my life, bar none! It's juicy and flavorful, with the skin on it really melts in your mouth. If I could make chicken like this at home I'd never leave the house! The fries are excellent as well (particularly with their homemade mayo on the side). I've also had the lobster ravioli here (on special) and the pate - both also quite excellent. I'll keep coming back as long as the food stays this amazing!
(5)Craig S.
Mateo is an excellent place for a romantic evening, especially on the patio. Of course we were there with friends and found out that voices travel. The food is very good (great fries, duck was succulent, can't remember the rest) and the wine is delicious. If you don't want to choose your own wine their sommelier is one of the best I've worked with as well.
(4)Dawna E.
My hubby and I found this place while walking by, and decided to give it a try. It was hopping for a Monday night - a nice sign! The decor is really cool - an urban contemporary minimalist look. The restaurant was filled with beautiful, polished, pretentious foodie-intellectual-types, a good sign when looking for good food. Everyone on the staff was knowledgeable, friendly, or both. The wine list by the bottle was extensive with a focus on old world varieties, although only 3 reds were offered by the glass. When I ordered a glass of the Bourgogne, the waiter asked if I meant pinot noir. Kind of a strange question for a French restaurant, but I didn't mind, especially since the wine was good. For an app we shared the mussels. They are on special all night on Mondays - $6 for a full order with frites. Not bad. They were super delicious in a tomato-ey broth. After we finished the mussels I proceeded to use the remaining broth to soak up all of the bread and fries. Hey, I can start that low-carb diet tomorrow. I had the tuna nicoise salad for dinner. It was huge! A generous portion of tuna (cooked to order), along with more veggies than I could have hoped for overloaded the plate. Delish. My hubby ordered the seabass, which was fantastic as well. I think my favorite part of the evening came when we ordered our after dinner drinks. Hillary (the manager?) helped answer our various questions about the many digestifs on the menu. When we settled on one, she also brought out tastes of 2 others so that we could do a sampling! I now know more than I could have ever hoped about eau de vie, lillet, and fernet, but my personal favorite was the Montenegro amaro. Drink it in... it goes down smooth, every time. Anyway, I highly recommend this spot and will definitely be back the next time I'm in Boulder!
(5)Alex M.
I went to Mateo's last night for their happy hour for the first time. It blew me away! I loved the atmosphere, the waiters are very attentive, and the food is incredible. Also, the portions are quite large considering it is happy hour appetizers. They are by far the largest portions I have had at any happy hour before. There is a pretty broad range of options there. I went with a group of friends and we ordered two Mateo burgers, which were incredible. They also had an amazing cheese plate with olives, nuts, fruit, and different kinds of meats. We also ordered their frites, pate, and their gnocchi, which was out of this world!! Very delicious. Their wine is only $4 a glass, and was very good as well. I also really like how late their happy hour goes until. (5-6:30) Most happy hours I have been to end at either 5:30 or 6. The extra time really helps. I highly recommend this restaurant for happy hour, and I am sure their lunch and dinner are just as delicious, if not better! I definitely plan on returning very soon.
(5)Christie V.
Super yummy, great atmosphere, and they were really excellent when our happy hour reservation for 6 became a res for 8. Would definitely come back!
(4)david s.
I reviewed Mateo's here before and gave it 5 stars. Now, after three disastrous experiences, we will not be back. Visit #1 was during First Bite week. Very mediocre food from start to finish. Appetizer had barely cooked lentils, entrees had no seasonings and the pot au cream for desert was a wet mess at the bottom. Visit #2 we were served two salads that were salt licks. I spent 5 minutes rinsing my mouth so I could taste the rest of my meal. Yes we did send them back. All these missteps were just a warm up for what was one of the worst dining experiences we have had. My wife ordered the Mateo burger, always the best in Boulder. Last night, not so much. First, we waited 45 minutes for our dinner while we could see other meals going out for people who had sat down well after we arrived. Finally it came along with my other favorite, their mussels. My mussels had lots of grit, a big no no that made it difficult to enjoy. The burger experience was truly astounding in its failures. My wife ordered her burger medium but when she bit into it, it was mushy and raw in the middle. OK, these things can happen, even in the best of restaurants. What followed was astounding. Burger cooking 101 says you never put a burger back on a grill after it has been served and sat for several minutes. No matter what you do to recook it, it is going to be dry. Not only was it dry but it was still raw on the inside. We sent it back again and on the third try they brought her a hockey puck. In addition, when her burger came out the first time after waiting 45 minutes, there were no fries on the plate????? We had to tell the waiter. He did not even notice. A few minutes later he came back with about a half sized portion of dried little pieces of potatoes, obviously from the bottom of the frier as a disgusting offering of spuds. The total lack of care for food on a plate tells me that there is something seriously wrong in Mateo's kitchen. As a finishing insult, the waiter did apologize but the manager never made an appearance. And finally, the waiter informed us that he was able to take the burger and mussels off the check but was still going to charge us for our salads. It was only $10 and I happily paid it, BUT, if you serve your diners a shitty meal, the least you could do is comp it! Sorry Mateo's, we won't ever be back, and surely won't recommend you to anyone ever again.
(1)Lauren H.
Dined for Boulder's first bite. Cocktails, service, and food were all exceptional.
(5)JT S.
Right off the bat I just want to say -- ditto to Ryan C's review. Except nobody in my group ordered pork. Great-looking yet inept waitstaff, except for the gal who religiously kept coming to the table to refill our water glasses with the bottle of filtered tap water that was already on the table. Great gal. How can a restaurant charge 13 dollars for a salad that just barely sits in a pile in the middle part of a serving plate? It was one of their specials, it was high quality, from local farm, tasty, and all that good stuff, but ridiculously priced. Someone else in the family was paying but I think they were paying too much for all of it. The french onion soup was perfect. It is the only reason for any stars at all. I don't know what else to say. It seems like lots of Boulder people like this joint. They can have it.
(2)Ailea J.
Of all of meals my lovely dinner companion has had, he listed our venture to Mateo as one of his top ten. This may be a testament to his rather humble upbringing in rural Montana, but that's neither here or there, as it truly was an enjoyable dinner that we shared for an early Valentine's Day celebration. To begin, the vibe that greeted us was upbeat and almost noisy--a somewhat startling juxtaposition to the fresh, quasi-pretentious French fare that is served here. That being said, we started our meal with the papardelle (and a robust meaty ragu to accompany it) and the moules (sans frites, regrettably; next time, I will be sure to try them in their paper bag platter) which were flavorful, filling, and fantastically spicy kick at the end that left me sopping up the sauce with my crusty artisan bread. My partner ordered the lamb leg which fell graciously off of the bone onto its parmesean risotto throne. I think he might've gnawed a little bit at the bone to suck the last marrow out, but I was too busy enjoying my raviolo with a carrot mascarpone filling atop dungeon crab and dressed with a creamy butter sauce and shaved asparagus. My favorite aspect of this dish was the added texture and flavor of the hazelnut garnish. The waitstaff was attentive and young'n'pretty (aren't most people in this town?), and rather eager to fill our diminutive water glasses (see every other review that refers to the water waiters) but I have to admit that the noise level made it a little difficult to hear the staff whenever they asked how we were doing or when they answered some of my questions about the menu. Our dessert, a flourless chocolate torte included a painted swath of passion fruit coulis (I think?) across the plate and some vanilla ice cream with pistachios sprinkled on top. The torte itself wasn't my favorite torte ever; the texture wasn't exactly that smooth, creamy texture that I'm used to with my flourless tortes. Regardless, expectations are usually foolish when it comes to food; disappointment doesn't help anyone. The torte had a raspberry sugar crust at the top that overpowered the flavor of the cocoa; coupled with the passion fruit paint, there was a lot more fruit flavor than chocolate. Overall, Mateo, you did a great job with our special occasion. What would've made this a five-star experience? A little less noise and maybe a different dessert. We will be back, though.
(4)Zachary L.
Staff was pleasant. Seating was awkwardly close. One couple declined to sit at the table next to us, then a different party sat at the table next to us and I had to move my chair to make room for a guy to sit down. I could not sit straight in my chair, but I didn't complain because I was eating dessert and about to leave. We enjoyed the cocktails. Food was good, but I was hoping for great.
(3)Joe B.
Had lunch at Mateo this week. Had not been there for a while and I just dont know why because we had a great meal. Service was good and I certainly look forward to going back very soon.
(4)Robert K.
Love this place, especially their happy hour. Great wine, great food, and a sophisticated but never stuffy vibe. TIP: get the muscles and house red at HH, you won't be disappointed. Oh, and don't be afraid of their "Perfect Martini" -- which includes both vodka AND gin. Maybe not appropriate for the purist, but perfect for the rest of us.
(5)Nicole B.
Never disappointed with a meal here. Amazing food.
(5)Hannah E.
I always worry, in places like this - places with seasonal menus divided into five courses, with offbeat chandeliers everywhere, with wine lists outlined in more detail than the menus themselves - that everyone I encounter will smirk vaguely when I mispronounce French dishes, disdain to look me in the eye when I don't order wine, and snobbishly act like everyone in the world knows what haricots verts are. At Mateo, I was pleasantly surprised. Everything on the menu looked so good that before we knew it, my date and I had a sizable list of things we wanted to order, but it was our first time there, so we didn't know the first thing about the food. To my infinite surprise, the waiter did not sniff, nor did he beat around the bush, when we asked him all our stupid questions. He joked with us, he gently corrected our French, he explained every ingredient we weren't intimately familiar with. And when we declined to order wine, his friendly expression did not change. So we ordered everything we had planned. It was a good thing that we did. Though the impeccable quality of all of Mateo's ingredients cannot be denied - they use fresh seasonal ingredients, which is why their menu changes monthly - the dishes swung wildly from incredible, amazing, the best I'd ever tasted, to dull, with surprisingly flat sauces. Luckily, we ordered two of each course, and entirely by accident, we balanced the good with the mediocre on each one. On the great side: Charcuterie with salami, prosciutto, and rillette of duck: Literally breathtaking; the mixture melted into the bread, which melted into my tongue, leaving only the wildness of the duck behind. Maine diver scallops with Napa cabbage and apple and smoked bacon vinaigrette: This turned out to be the best scallops I've ever tasted, literally, and I've tasted lots of scallops in my life. Barely seared, they were translucent in the middle and possessed a smooth, almost citrusy taste, with that non-oceany flavor that's particular to scallops. The little chunks of salty bacon and apple added tiny explosions of flavor to the cleanness of the scallops without being overwhelming. The lamb: Like the scallops before it, was the best of its kind that I can remember tasting. Thinly sliced and practically rare, it had that distinctly wild flavor that only comes through when the animal you're eating was grazing on a pasture not a week before. It tasted like the mountains, and the sun, and the grass. And the bed of beans and tomatoes below it, thankfully protected from the meat by a green leaf, tasted like we were eating them straight from the ground. The had an earthy quality any hippie would get behind. On the all right side: Moules frites: The mussels themselves were fresh and tasty, but the sauce was a bland tomato sauce that could have come out of a can. The fries were thick and tasted freshly made, with a sprinkling of something elusive that we discussed for a matter of minutes before coming to the conclusion that it was just garlic and herbs, but mixed in such a way that they tasted quite complex. Russet potato gnocchi in basil tomato sauce: Didn't stand up to the test. Though it was perfectly acceptable, the sauce tasted nearly identical to that of the mussels, and the gnocchi, though expertly made, had little taste. The bad: Lobster raviolo: The menu said it was in peppercress sauce; what it tasted like, in all honesty, was melted butter. The raviolo was all slightly undercooked pasta and, under it all, a lump of passable lobster meat, hardly noticeable among the pasta layers. A nice sauce would have made this dish bearable, but the melted butter just drove home the child's-dinner-on-babysitter-night feel. Overall: I'm going back, because their good dishes were breathtaking and I'd like to find more of them.
(4)Grace B.
I absolutely love Mateo! The atmosphere is trendy, clean and upscale but the family can also come in for a great dinner. In the summer, head to their outside patio with vines hanging from the pergola! My favorite pieces about Mateo: -Their specialized drinks, cocktails and extensive wine list (great bartenders, they can whip anything up). -Their cheese plate, absolutely incredible and the best cheese plate I can find in Boulder FOR their great price. Check out my post on cheese plates featuring Mateo's ( nomadicfoodie.com/2010/0… ). Here is what you might find on your plate: cypress grove humboldt fog (from California), petit basque (from France), petit frére [wi, usa], bleu d'auvergne [france], confiture, spiced nuts, fruit (local and in season) and country toast. -Their happy hour (après) is fantastic (included is cheese plate). It's a fun atmosphere to be in and you can usually grab a seat instead of waiting an hour like some places right on the Pearl Street Mall. It is from 5:00-6:30 PM. -Their pomme frites - they have champagne gastrique and herbs de provençe. Very tasty and unique. Megan and Matthew (owners) are so accommodating and kind and they know good food. You won't be let down.
(5)Ryan C.
Very poor food at that price point. Overcooked, flavorless mussels, undercooked (raw) peas, overcooked and undercooked poached eggs (on different plates). Pork belly that seemed more like pork shoulder to me - stringy pulled pork. Some of the fries were undercooked as well. It was amateur hour in the kitchen. Very long waits for drinks. Weird waitstaff - very good looking, but not so good at waiting tables. One guy described a salumi as "unctuous". Really??? Plates sat for a long time in between courses. I was really ready to get out of there. Can't see myself returning.
(2)Marty D.
"My wife and I love the food, atmosphere, wine and genuine concern the owners have for making each visit as good as the last. The consistency of the food is spot on and as you all know, this is one of the hardest things to repeat and master in the restaurant business. We also enjoy their sister restaurant, RADDA".
(5)Bob L.
My wife and I have eaten here 3 times now, twice for lunch and once for dinner. We find the staff to be outstanding, and the food to be among the best in Boulder. Portions are quite ample and well prepared. Our only sour note is the wine list. It's a bit pricey and not particularly creative or diverse. We ordered one of the pricier burgundies ($60) and thought it was mediocre at best, not much more than table wine that should cost about $5 a glass. Won't stop us from going back though!
(4)