Food, drinks, and music were all good! Went on a Friday night and had a really great time. The creme brulee is to die for! For some reaon there are homeless people lying on the floor right across the street. I am not sure what the restaurant can do about this legally but I would give them a free meal and ask them to leave so it does not weird out the customers.
(4)
Lynne S.
I went here for drinks on one of my last nights in Sarasota. Although this place looks really fun from the outside, with live music and tiki torch lamps, it is very loud and difficult to talk, even on the opposite side of the patio. The service was so so and my Yellin' melon martini was far too sweet. I'd skip this place next time I'm back in town.
(2)
Dan d.
I was drawn in by the live music. The food was good, but it didn't really matter. Nothing beats hot blues and cold beer in an outdoor cafe on a magnificent Sarasota night.
(4)
Taz S.
Feels dirty but a great place to meet downtown and head out for some great food at another restaurant.
(3)
P L.
Mattison's place in the city was pretty good taste wise, but was it really worth the expensive prices ($25+ per entree, even chicken!)? The pizza was pretty good with a house salad, but I wasn't feeling the whole menu at all. I liked the live band and wished that there were more places like the City Grille all around... open-air and a big bar.
(3)
Rommie J.
With its covered outdoor dining area, tiki torches, live music and faux-thatched umbrellas over some tables, Mattison's maintains a casual, fun atmosphere that doesn't necessarily detract from its high-end menu, but might make its price range a bit of a surprise. I stopped by last night for dinner and had a buttery sea bass fillet with a light truffle crust served over tomato and lobster risotto. The fish was maybe a bit small for its $27 price tag and the risotto was light on the lobster, but the dish was still delicious and paired nicely with a Merryvale Chardonnay (speaking of which, their wine list is pretty mediocre). Still, as good as the food was, the service was terribly lacking. Once seated, it took 10 minutes before someone cleaned the table and I didn't get silverware until well after my salad had arrived. That lack of attention to detail wouldn't seem out of place at any other kick-back-and-relax outdoor venue, but when you offer upscale cuisine at upscale prices, I expect the service and atmosphere to match. Apparently it's just me, though, because Mattison's is wildly popular -- and it was packed again last night. Certainly the crowd could certainly have picked a worse spot, and even though I think Mattison's is a bit overpriced, I'd still go back. The kitchen, at least, seems to know exactly what they're doing. (3/16/2009)
(3)
Chris K.
If you're looking for a romantic, quiet place, this is not it. Loads of fun, great choices of food. Can't forget there's music, a 'dog' & smoking area as well as clean bathrooms. (Yeah, I like to prioritize) Our first time & we had the Petite Filet Mignon, crispy artichokes and crab cakes. All pretty tasty although the filet was overcooked. Each had great presentation. The real kicker was the lobster Chowder which was outrageously good. The atmosphere is a mix of Savannah, Key West w/ a touch of honky tonk that really made it interesting. The staff is friendly and welcoming. So, if you want to rip up the floor, have a tasty meal with a good selection of beers, go & tell them I sent you. Here for a SECOND nite to hear The Lisa Ridings Band. Danced with the 'Italian Gigilo' who happens to b a regular. He's an awesome. But we love the open vibe here w/ street lookers enjoying music and getting into the magic of this place!
(4)
Joey D.
With no where else serving breakfast fare on an early Sunday afternoon, Mattison's seemed like an obvious choice; as the brunch menu was still available. So I went ahead & ordered the Tuscan omelette. On paper, it sounds like a great place to start, the realisation: Eggs were under-seasoned & rubbery. I have never met an unfluffy frittata or omelette until I decided to try brunch. The home fries seemed half way done, I like al-dente vegetables, but there is a fine line to achieving this goal & in the personification of the home fries, they were a few marks short. The melons were too green, toast came out burnt, copious amounts of table salt was required to make it palatable. The location is fantastic, outdoor seating ideal & cozy, but in all honesty, if brunch is the representation of the kitchen's repertoire, I am at a loss for words as to why Mattisons always seems full, or that Sarasota is populated with undiscerning palettes.
(2)
Jake M.
Mussels and a black angus burger. Mattson's has great food, but service can be spotty at times.
(4)
Henry H.
One of our favorite spots in Sarasota! Good real food and always good service. The live band and the outdoor restaurant makes this perfect for a fun evening
(4)
Patty L.
Mattison's, one of our favorite restaurants in Sarasota! Food is great! I ordered veggie Panini and Jeff ordered a Greek salad with lamb chops. Outside seating feels good on the bones.
(4)
Bryant S.
Extremely delicious.. highly recommended the weekend brunch.. stuffed french toast is to die for.. great location outdoors. Fast service & very reasonable prices.. would dwf. Come back...
(5)
Michael H.
Great place for food outdoors. One of my favorite spots during the cooler season. Love their calimari, burger, and meat loaf sandwich.
(4)
Frank T.
Great downtown location on a corner with outdoor covered patio. Service was excellent and the food was very good. I had the chicken saltimboca and we also had a pizza with artichoke and cheese, both were very good and nice size portions. They have a good selections of wines.
I first tried this place about 10 years ago when I was passing by Sarasota. I loved their Greek salad with lamb chops. 10 years later, as we were driving by Sarasota, I wanted to stop by and eat it again. The salad still tastes great! The calamari and artichokes were also very good. Enjoyed the food, while sipping our drinks on the patio and watching the rain.
(4)
John N.
Been here 100 times so that should say something. Food here is very good and very consistent. Just had breakfast here again on Saturday and was great again. The biggest need is for gluten free bread. Hate saying skip the toast. Can't enjoy any sandwiches or have any toast with breakfast. Should just use "GF food services "gluten free bread they supply to other restaurants locally or any of the local bakeries that do great Gluten free bread in Sarasota and then this place would be complete.
(4)
Wendy C.
The atmosphere is cozy and certainly provides that downtown vibe. Their bruschetta is the best I have eaten so far in Sarasota, but I haven't eaten at an authentic Italian restaurant yet, either. The food was fresh and perfectly put together. You can tell when the cooks hearts are in it. I do think that their prices are a little high for what they offer.
(4)
Lauren C.
While bopping around downtown sarasota (on vacation) on a saturday evening, Mattison's looked like the most hopping place around town by far. We spotted a live band out on the patio and tons of people dancing, so we decided we had to check it out and see what we were missing out on. When we arrived, it was a bit past dinner time, so we just ordered some drinks and checked out the environment for a bit. The live band was fun and the crowd was enjoying themselves, but being that we fall into the 20s/30s age category, my boyfriend and i were by far the youngest people in here. Definitely a spot for the middle aged and up crowd. Nothing wrong with that by any means, as it looked like everyone was enjoying themselves, but just a heads up to those looking for a college aged hangout spot. The service took a while at the bar as they were really crowded and a bit understaffed. We just ordered beers, so can't comment on the cocktail making skills of the bartenders, but they were friendly and the drink prices were decent for the area, so can't complain too much. Since they have a full menu and a nice patio space, I'd likely come back here to try out the food and see how they do in that regard. For now, I'll say its an "A-OK" spot to hang on the weekend and do some people watching & beer drinking.
(3)
Katie F.
Only reason Mattison's gets 4 stars instead of 5 is because I was the youngest person there by at least 15 years, no exaggeration. Now, older crowds are typical around the area, but this was unlike anything I've ever seen. Also, the live music was great but just too loud to have any sort of conversation. The atmosphere is great, food was outstanding, good value, and our server Jenny was seriously amazing. Overall, if you're over 40, I definitely recommend the place. Such a nice outdoor spot in beautiful downtown Sarasota.
(4)
Shy A.
Star for the patio which was awesome! A little shade..A little sun. It was perfect. Star Two for the server who was fast and friendly. Star Three for the Grouper sandwich which was fresh and delicious. We had a good time here and I could see it being a fun spot to hit up to just hang out and have a few drinks with friends. Really laid back and unpretentious which is a nice find in the area.
(3)
Linda Ann R.
The band playing weekly is smoking! The casual outdoor atmosphere is relaxing and so pleasant to dance or listen or even talk to interesting locals! Tapas are always my favorite dining choice and the selection here is good! The full menu offers several good choices. The staff works really hard to make sure everyone is satisfied with food and drink!
(4)
Jessicca K.
Love this place! Best goat cheese bruschetta ever! Great atmosphere - eating at outside patio with fantastic music! This place is hopping! Love the salmon too!! Staff is polite & friendly & manager Brian is awesome! He goes above & beyond!
(5)
Verónica O.
Saturday - Quick stop for a drink. I didnt eat there but the place was full (Brunch time). Nice environment and live music. The Bloody Marys are good.
(3)
Rick B.
Pizza didn't have any flavor! We ordered the taco pizza, the white pizza, and wings. The wings were meaty, but not spicy hot. The pizzas were bland, the dough and sauce had no flavor. The positive thought was they both had plenty of cheese! And the deliver person was cheerful and on time! We definitely want to try another pizza joint in Sarasota.
(2)
Helmut B.
I'm usually not that hip to patios that border two streets and are across from the bus station. However, whenever I am in town seem to end up out for lunch and mostly chose the grouper sandwich. After sampling many grouper (and mystery fish) sandwiches in the Sarasota area I believe that Mattison's has the best. Why? 1) it is grouper 2) the tarter sauce is freshly made and is a bit tangy. Friendly service in a New Jersey sort of way. I will be back.
So, I arrived here with my family at 5:45 and asked if we could order appetizers but the hostess said the kitchen what closed until 7. Now I'm looking around and I see that people have food on their tables, so my family sits down and since the kitchen is "closed" I went to go get a pizza slice at a cart and brought it back to eat. My father bought us drinks and we were fine until the waiter came over and said we couldn't eat here and we said "well the kitchen is closed and there are people with food at the other tables" the waiter leaves then returns with the manager then we told him the same thing then they leave. The waiter comes back and asks if we want food it is now 6:00 I said "I thought the kitchen was closed" then he said that the kitchen has been open all night. So now, I'm thinking, what the f***. So we get up and leave without getting food.
(1)
Edward O.
Showed up at 5:45 pm for apps and drinks. I was totally disappointed because the kitchen was closed until 7 pm. I ordered drinks and grabbed pizza from the street vendor. Then the manager came over and told me we couldn't eat at the table with the drinks I had purchased inside the restaurant. We didn't move. The table next to us was given menus and there order was taken, it seems the kitchen was miraculously open for them. I finished my drinks slowly and left for the restaurant I had a 8 pm reservation with. I will never return.
(1)
Sara S.
MMM, Mattison's! Outdoor seating (bit hot in the summer but fans blowing), tiki torches at night, live music, good food, tables for large parties...good as it gets in downtown Sarasota. Service is always attentive too. They have the best artichoke appetizer, ever, ever. The filet app is great too. Calamari is perfectly crispy and tender inside with two dipping sauces, lunch sandwiches are fair and tasty....no complaints with this place at all.
(5)
Christine T.
When traveling, I'm always searching for yummy food, but also aware of how I can feel badly if I make bad choices with overindulging in sweets, fried foods, etc. I was very pleased with my Tablouleh Salad with Blackened Chicken. The grain was already flavored with a tart dressing and was complemented well by the roasted vegetables that came with it. The waiter was very attentive and offered me olive oil and herbs in place of butter for my bread rolls when I made requests to remove any potential dairy. Their flavored iced tea was also very refreshing and satisfying. The only downside was when I initially walked into the patio up front, the woman and the man standing at the hostess podium just watched me walk up to them and made no acknowledgement with their eyes, hands, or voice. (I made sure they were not guests there, they were management, or employees at the very least.) They were very uninviting. If I recall correctly, a third person came up and seated me instead. I'm glad my server was a different and better person.
(4)
Cello K.
This outdoor patio restaurant and bar has a great ambiance. Live music the night we were there but not intrusive on the far side of the patio. An upright piano was rolled up on the sidewalk (!!) and a man played along and put out his hat. Never before have I seen such a gimmick. The food was good, a little pricey, so we split an entree and a salad. Total bill was about $50. Delicious and enjoyable
(4)
Paul H.
Overall 3.5 stars. Draft beers range from $2.75 (12oz) to $5.25 (20oz) Happy Hour Special Daily 3p-7p $4 Martinis and $5 Apps including Steamed Mussels to Cuban Pulled Pork Sliders to Crispy Sesame Shrimp Decor: 3/5 -all seating is outdoors -plenty of heaters scattered about. The New Yorker in me was sweating in the 60F weather. They did turn off some of the heating which made the dining experience a bit more pleasant -tables are placed slightly too close to the next. My chair was continuously bumped by the server. Service: 3.5/5 -We had a reservation at 7p and got seated before that Food: 4/5 -the fresh hot bread and spread were delicious & addicting. We just had to get a second loaf -Mussels & Clams ($12) tapas came with 9 mussels and 8 clams from Prince Edward Island. The sauce consisted of tomatoes, garlic, white wine which was had a slight tangy/sour taste. -Pork Loin Medallions ($20) sauce tasted like it had a ketchup tomato base. The two pan seared pork was great with the apple brandy broth though it was slightly on the salty side. That's where the apple-walnut risotto came in to help balance it out. The green beans were cooked well with a slightly crunch. -Spinach & Ricotta Ravioli was light in flavor and not really worth $19. However the mushroom and roasted garlic cream sauce was fairly rich
(4)
Danny B.
Service was good and the flank steak was tasty. We were probably the youngest ones in there.
(4)
Rachel M.
I can only give my visit to Mattison's 3 stars since the service was awful. What a shame since the food was great.
(3)
Brenda L.
Our waitress was super friendly and smiley. We ordered a chicken salad sandwich on a crossaint with a side of field greens and it was delicious. The salad was fresh and had a light and tasty vinagrete. We also ordered a sandwich that came with fries. The fries had an orange seasoning on it. There is plenty of outdoor dining space with cute grass hut umbrellas and fans. I feel like the prices for lunch are a bit expensive but the ambience made it worthwhile.
(4)
Julian A.
Fellow yelpers this restaurant is great. The ambience and live entertainment set the tone for a beautiful night. The food was incredible. I had the fried calamari appetizer which was a lot of calamari. For dinner I had the chicken salad with all types of things such as nuts, strawberries, cheese, berries and it was incredible. But the champion of the night was the tempura crab vegetable roll which was to die for. Guys this was incredible. We loved it so much we did not want the seared salmon sashimi we asked to substitute that and we were so happy with our order. The waiter: Drew was a great host and always very attentive to our needs. He was awesome and made our dining experience great. Yelpers don't waste too much time in the appetizers the food is plentiful and bountiful. Hope you love your experience as we loved ours. Drinks were correctly priced. With a huge appetizer of calamari, lobster soup, huge chicken salad, sushi platter, caprese salad, margarita, and cognac total came out to $77. It was well worth it.
(5)
Jaime M.
We ate here last night. The food was amazing. I had the chicken quesadilla and my husband had the burger. Very unique flavors. The outdoor atmosphere is cozy and relaxing and the staff was very nice. Great corner location downtown. Will definitely visit next time I'm in Sarasota.
(4)
Bill W.
They had a kiosk set up at The Van Wezel outdoor concert. It looked like a Ringling Bros clown act. They could not produce food for a line of about 10 people. We asked for our money back afraid that when (if) we did get our food it would be under cooked. By that time other vendors had sd out so we had a hot dog for diner. Come on guys, amateurs could have done better. At least you could have offered your customers a free bag of chips or a bottle of water for the ridiculously long long wait. PS Yelp makes you pick at least one star.
(1)
Corinne L.
(From early January 2013 visit - clearing out drafts.) Came with family after visiting Ringling Museum of Art. Ordered off bar menu as we came after 3 pm. Family consensus on dishes: Bruschetta was voted excellent as was the crispy artichokes Tabbouleh salad was okay House salad with chicken added was great - love the vinaigrette dressing House veggies were nicely steamed Mac & cheese was five stars per person who ordered it Angus burger was a little dry Chowder was very good Like the covered patio and the lunch/dinner menus look pretty good. If I hadn't been with 2 teetotalers who get all weird & judge-y about drinking, I would have gotten a cocktail of some sort. Service good, a little slow but that's only because there was one server handling the section during that no-mans-land between lunch and dinner. I would definitely come back to Mattison's during meal time - and I would get a cocktail. Boom.
(4)
Valarie W.
I love going to Mattison's for a casual fun night out. The music is fun.. The food is fun and I feel at home. The wait staff is friendly. I have been dining at Mattison's since they opened in 2003. The owner Paul is also a friendly and kind nice person....!!!!
(5)
Katie M.
Great happy hour drink and food specials. Goat cheese bruschetta is my favorite. Good salads,pizza, and burgers. Nice people watching area. Sometimes the service can be a bit slow/ nonexistent but it depends on who your waiter/waitress is. Happy hour is the best time to go there and then you can go watch the sunset. Older crowd during the live music.
(4)
Cole O.
Locals, live music, fabulous people watching, dancing, Ron White randomly hangs there, homeless people outside jamming, cigar-friendly.
(4)
T J.
Unless you like your shrimp over-breaded with some cream-cheese concoction and balsamic vinegar mixed with thai red chili sauce (what were they thinking?) - oh, I forgot about the cigar and cigarette smoke from across the bar - then this is NOT your place. The calamari were okay. The soup was filling, but lacking any discernible lobster that was supposed to be in it. This was a sucky meal, and more than I like to pay for suckiness. (btw: I am not young)
(1)
Melly S.
Early Saturday night dinner found the following: Rushed service throughout by our pushy server Pork Chop - not center cut, small bones, and served on bed of polenta - very difficult to cut the meat with this presentation. Scallops - Two scallops appeared to be appetizer size, but no, it was my entree Desserts - overdone options, with emphasis on visual rather than the taste Atmosphere later in the evening is very good, if you enjoy dancing and live music - mature crowd, so interesting people watching! Overall, disappointed after two so-so dinners where food didn't hit the right note.
(2)
Vero B.
It was late on Sunday evening and not many restaurants where open. We tried this place and were disappointed. The menu items are overpriced and food is poor quality. There's other better places to eat in Sarasota.
(2)
Anjali K.
Outdoor seating for a great lunch on a beautiful day? Yes, please!! I absolutely love the unique setup of Mattison's. Located on Main Street in Sarasota, FL, Mattison's is perfect for lunch, happy hour, or dinner. While I've only been for lunch, I was so impressed with the service, food, and menu that I would love to go back again. Reasons why: 1 - Location: Mattison's forces you to enjoy its beautiful surroundings. Granted they do have fans to prevent the heat from attacking you. The location is beautiful and you really do want to enjoy eating outside. 2 - Service: We were greeted by a series of hosts/waitresses who frequented our table to ensure we had everything we needed. 3 - Food: I had the lunch special: Potato soup and a half ham sandwich panini. Soup = excellent, and the panini was served at just the right temperature -- not at all soggy. Overall, I really enjoyed my dining experience. I also noted their HH specials looked great. I would love to go back here again!
(4)
Becky S.
Absolutely delicious!!! A little to hot to sit outside in Florida in July, but food was excellent!!
(5)
Jada G.
Really good selection of food and appetizers. Awesome happy hour specials. I had the burger (only one on menu). It was perfectly cooked. The meat was so moist and well seasoned. It came loaded with everything on it. Great size. But the best thing is the patio. The fans keep you cool, the people keep you interested and the live band keeps you entertained. Next time I'm in sarasota, I'll definitely come back!
(4)
Keith H.
Great food, great service, great tunes! We had steaks grouper and pizza. All excellent! Cool outdoor spot. Can't miss here. I'd come back in a heartbeat!
(5)
Live Life L.
We went here recently with friends. The outdoor environment is average in terms of decor. The music was better than average. The food was lacking. I was expecting better quality in the service and food. It is a good place to listen to music, people watch, and have drinks. I think eating a great meal is better somewhere else. Come here for drinks before or after dinner.
(3)
Andrew K.
Meh. Table was sticky. Lamb on the Mediterranean salad was small. Second salad order came with chicken instead of grouper. Drink pours were healthy. Stick to pizza and alcohol here.
(2)
Jennifer K.
live music every weekend! typical age is 65 & older which is normal for sarasota. cosmos are good. the bianca pizza has amazing ingredients but crust is mediocre. meatloaf, filet of beef, salads are also good. avoid the grouper florentine and calamari... one word, yuk!
(3)
cheese w.
Had a blue cheese burger with fries and salad, and a beer. The exact same meal that I had at Patrick's 3 days earlier. Mattison's was a better experience all around - the burger, cheese and fries were all much better as was the service. Don't bother with Patrick's - just turn the corner and go to Mattison's.
(4)
Deserae C.
The best service, food, and live music in downtown. We've been dining here since 04 and have never been disappointed.
(4)
Gail L.
Four diners, four five star meals. Nice ambiance and excellent service. Mattison's is becoming one of our favorites. All positive on every visit. See photos I posted of the Salmon, Greek salad w lamb chops, fettucini Frutti de mar, and my favorite- pan seared grouper with shrimp and crab. My husband kept stealing the potato pancakes. Delicious. We love this place. Unusual dishes perfectly prepared. We have never had a bad anything here and the staff is fabulous. We had brunch a few saturdays ago and our waiter came to the table with cold water and a dish for our dog. Talk about great customer service.
(5)
Jenny B.
Very loud when then band is playing. Great place for a drink... Happy hr menu is a good deal. Not the best place for a large party or if you want an intimate conversation. Food is decent, but they overcook the steaks every time we go. Service can be a little slow as well, so make sure you have plenty of time!
(3)
Michelle M.
One of my favorite restaurants in Sarasota. The outdoor restaurant is the place to be on a Friday or Saturday night. Great live music is always playing and the food is fantastic. The dinner prices are a little expensive. We normally get salads and then split one of their incredible brick oven pizzas. The meat-lovers and the margherrita pizza are both out of this world! Mattison's is always packed on the weekend so call in for a table or be prepared for a 30-45 minute wait. While you are waiting for a table you can explore the shops along downtown Sarasota.
(5)
Fill H.
Service was great, in fact we had 2 extra people show up and they were able to switch our table even being crowded. Now the reason I give a 3 star is for the food. The food is only ok. Nothing unique about the food spices or anything. My wife got a flat bread pizza which the dough seemed like it was from a box not homemade. The environment is cool and great live music. Really if you want to stop by stop for the environment and company don't stop for the food.
(3)
Adrian M.
We walked in on the strength of the Yelp rating and a good looking menu. We loved it. Great setting on Main Street with huge outdoor patio seating. Fresh ingredients and high quality. Right off the bat very nice rosemary bread. We ordered crab cakes and goat cheese bruschetta for starters. Crab cakes were glorious and full of lump crb, with two very good sauces and nice greens. The bruschetta had an outstanding balsamic vinegar on it, I had the crispy grouper sandwich, and it was cooked to perfection with moist grouper inside a crispy thin breeding shell on a soft bun. My only complaint is that given how mild grouper is the jalapeño mayo on the sandwich was not enough. It needs a chutney or something on it. Veggie panini made my wife soooooo happy. It was really ver very good. Pizza by the slice was thin crispy crust with excellent toppings and flavors. Lemon chicken was covered in fresh shiitakes, lemony and almost ridiculously moist for a Chicken breast. Dessert was fabulous. Bailey's cheesecake, über yum. Xango (?) was Carmel and banana wrapped in pastry and flash fried and ala mode, and cinnamon sauce. Just heavenly. Chocolate espresso tort was meltingly good.
(5)
Bree G.
I don't normally order spaghetti with a marina sauce out mostly because I'm Italian and whenever I order that i feel like I can do it better but this restaurant has an awesome sauce would def go and get it again.
(4)
Michael B.
Fantastic atmosphere, great service, and the food was amazing. Definitely a great place to go to if you are from out of town.
(5)
Alicia C.
Best artichokes in the entire world. Almost went back for them a second time. Covered in this lemon sauce and are unbelievable. Make sure you stop by
(5)
Anna W.
So impressed! That's all I can say. Myself and a couple friends just drove into Sarasota. We took a walk around the square and came across Mattison's. It was packed and there was some great live music, so we went in to check it out. A man who must have been the manager greeted us and apologized that he couldn't seat us immediately but the wait would only be ten minutes. We walked to the bar and the bartender walked around and greeted us, then took our order. The manager kept coming over the keep us posted on our table. We were seated and our server was so friendly and attentive. The food came out about 15 minutes after we ordered and it was delicious! We had the calamari, crab cakes, artichokes and a couple salads. Definitely recommend!
(5)
Liz D.
Great food - my favorite is the grouper sandwich. I get it blackened - yumo. Served with that jalapeño tarter sauce...mmm hmm. And the house salad that comes on the side with blue cheese and pine nuts.. yes please. And if you don't come for the food, come for the drinks, and the great line up of live music..you will stay for the dance floor. It's really hard to stay off of it.
(5)
Tami B.
Mattison's was a great place to visit. My boyfriend took me there when I was in town. It was so romantic on the open patio with a light breeze blowing. There was a live band playing music which was nice to listen to. The food was out of this world. We ordered the Shrimp Rangoon to go with our drinks. The server was great and made sure we had everything we needed. This will be a place we plan on visiting over and over...thank you for being such a great place and making our visit such a good memory for us.
(4)
Craig S.
Had a great Sunday lunch. Beautiful sidewalk eating, good food, awesome live music and our server Drew was sharp and attentive. Thanks
(4)
Gary H.
Best happy hour in town. Pizzas are good and the Greek salad is a tasty healthy choice. I go for the VIP treatment. Drinks are good and Dean always has a drink ready for me when needed, not sure how there could be a better server in SRQ.
(5)
Susie F.
We went there today for the lunch , I really like their food, I order shrimp ragoon as appt and it was fantastic, then we got spegatti , pizza and hamberger, My husband told me he wasn't hungry but he end up finish the whole medium pizza, We will go back again next time when we visit Sarasota !!
(5)
Lydia L.
I KNOW I AM SUPPOSE TO LIKE THIS PLACE!!! But I have been here like 20 times, and I just DON'T!!! It's too cold in the winter time, Its too hot in the summer time. Their martinis are gross, happy hour food is OK... I have tried to like it... But with that said, I am sure I will be back, cause all my friends seems to like it, may be I will figure out why one of these days....
(2)
J B.
I love coming to Mattison's City Grille for lunch after checking out the farmers market on Saturday mornings. The outdoor seating is great and right in the center of the action. I'll agree with other reviewers that it can be a little tight if they're busy, but I've never felt like other tables are on top of us. I prefer coming here for lunch instead of dinner because the lunch menu has a lot of sandwich options that are reasonably priced for downtown at around $9-11. Also, brunch is served Saturday and Sunday until 2 which gives even more options. Service has always been quick and efficient. Definitely a favorite of mine!
(5)
Matthew V.
I have eaten here 4 times since moving down from NYC. I HAVE NEVER EVER been let down by the quality of food that comes out of Paul's kitchen. Wait staff is great and not yet have I encountered an attitude with anyone of them. This place is great for lunch on an off season Saturday and Sunday. Try everything there.
(5)
Francesco C.
The Mattison's City Grille, nestled in the heart of downtown Sarasota. It is somewhat small yet romantic especially with during sunset to dark to set the mood and if you are there with a special someone. The live music encourages you to head swing or brings you up to dance with your partner. The food all looks great the menu is not very big but the taste is awesome! My friend and I had a few drinks and a perfect size appetizer for the both of us. We had the Shrimp Rangoon and it is to die for, on a hot plate there are five fried Gulf shrimp with fresh herb cream cheese, Thai chili sauce, and a sweet soy sauce oozing over the toasty shrimps wakes up your taste buds craving for more as you wash it down with your favorite adult beverage! On seasonal evenings it can be pretty packed with people, best to come in before the sunsets and stay there for a while. If you are sitting at the bar, it could get pretty crowded and you need to watch for the people bumping into you while sipping on a beverage!! I don't know why, but their bar is rather small. So if you are there to mingle, keep in mind, you might get closer than you thought. The live bands are surprisingly good. The music is loud but it will get you in the mood for it. It's also a great place to people watch. Being in it's location at the center of the downtown nightlife. People come and go. It's especially fun when there is an event going on the Main Street, where it will be closed and people are all over the place. Just the parking can be trick during those days. I give it a two thumbs up for fun, good food and great service!
(4)
Mario C.
VERY GOOD! The ambiance is a definite contrast of all types. They had a band playing soulful music and some crazy homeless looking dude doing pretty well on the mic. Very loud and the fact that they can smoke was annoying. They told me they had a new menu.. Ordered Pork Medallions on an apple walnut risotto. The risotto had an amazing texture and the brandy reduction was a nice touch. Also order the Sirachi chilli sauce wings and drumsticks with a side of Asian Mustard dip. Everything was more than I expected. Staff (Joe and Rod? or something..was friendly and helpful. I will definitely go back
(4)
Gigi L.
Great spot for happy hour and outside dining on a warm night. I had the blackened grouper sandwich for lunch and it was quite tasty with fries I couldn't stop eating. My man enjoyed the burger with swiss. Happy hour is from 3-7! But, stick to the martinis or beers as the wine offerings were not that great. Live music too!
(3)
Vince O.
Heard great things about this place. What a Disappointment! Ordered one of their specialty Burgers...Medium with side of Well-done Fries and a Salad. The Salad was the only thing that came out OK. The Burger was burned to a crisp and the fries were raw. Our waiter never seemed to notice that the food was uneaten. Others had a salad which was OK. Nice atmosphere, but Bad food!
(2)
Carey Y.
As you may or may not know, Gabriel and I donate blood regularly every 8 weeks. When we moved to FL and continued the tradition we'd started in NYC, we found that the donation center here gives a restaurant gift card after every 3 donations. Score! Everyone wins! We decided to go to Mattison's City Grille. On our first attempt, a loud, not-very-good, cover band was playing and we decided to change our plans. We tried again a couple of weeks later and found a great jazz band playing and we asked to be seated. We sat at a corner table on the outside edge of the dining area (and didn't realize until later that the smell of gasoline from the torches would repeatedly waft over to us). The waiter came over and took our order, and at that time we also asked for bread, water, and utensils. We did not see our waiter again until almost 30 minutes later, when he showed up with our bread and entrees all together at the same time. We still had no water or utensils. We requested them. More than 5 minutes later, another waiter walked by and we asked HIM to bring us water and utensils, which he gladly did immediately. Our food was actually pretty good, and had the service not completely ruined it, my opinion on Mattison's would be quite different. The bread and butter were both delicious, with touches of rosemary and garlic. The salmon that topped the dinner salad was fresh, and cooked exactly right. The mushrooms that came with the ravioli were meaty and probably my favorite part of the meal. The ravioli and sauce were also excellent. Overall, well, I'm not really sure. Did we just get one really bad waiter but maybe the others are all good? We still have another gift certificate so I guess we'll go back eventually. I'll let you know! About these ads
(2)
Christopher B.
I love Chef Paul! Anything Paul Mattison touches, is a success and a great experience IMO! I remember the Summerhouse, that was another one of his great restaurants.
(5)
Nicholas C.
Great staff and decent food. Waiter was very helpful with working around food allergies. Thank you!
(4)
Tom M.
This is a great local spot. I almost always bring guests from out of town here as well. Laid back atmosphere, outside dining and music. Can't beat it. Pizzas are good!
(4)
Lexi C.
It seems like a fun place but the seats were very close and it was hard to move. Plus it was really loud. The food is very expensive for what you get. I don't mind the high price if I am getting something special. Maybe what I chose wasn't what I should've had. I got the Bruschetta appetizer and it was the price of a Pizza with only tomatoes, a bit of cheese and some spices. It did taste good but I was hungry afterwards. There were no prices on the drink menu and it was so loud in there I lost interest in asking the waiter how much everything was. I got a beer since it was a special and the card on our table said $4 or something. **Which somehow annoyed my friend since her boyfriend also chose the beer special. Apparently this is as about as bad as having an affair with the guy. Who knew? He isn't even that cute nor my type; but could I really say that in front of him? "Um, get over yourself girl cause your guy isn't that hot!" Girls can be really silly sometimes - Awkward. Nevertheless thanks to Mattison's I avoid going out with these people now :) I will try them again when I am better prepared. I would prefer to go with a pocket full of cash so I don't have to inquire about drink prices but when you are splitting a tab you need to know. I will also have my man with me next time.
(3)
Sabrina B.
Seems like your mostly paying for their location, the food is over priced for what you get. The food tasted low quality to me. Not so great.
(2)
Pamela M.
Consistently good and a regular lunch stop for me since I work downtown. Lunch is generally quickly served with fresh ingredients and good taste. I had lunch here just a couple days ago and at least 4 other colleagues from my office were also here. Very popular with the locals and that is a lot to say considering the plethora of choices we have in Downtown Sarasota and the greater area overall. My husband and I have come here on many weekend evenings as well. There us always good live music, attentive bar service and a great Sarasota and out-of-town crowd. Everyone having a good time! A young Sarasota institution!
(4)
Sarah R.
Really great happy hour with $4 martinis and $5 apps (every day 3-7) Got the sushi and the artichokes and both were delicious! Loved the patio (no apparent indoor seating) although the fabulous weather definitely helped
(4)
Kristi P.
This is the place that I bring all my out of town friends. Something for everyone on the menu, everything is so good. They always have live music and the atmosphere is electrifying. I love the outdoor seating. I have tried a lot of the foods here but here are my fav's: lobster chowder, petit fillet and the sushi/ sashimi dish. Flavorific!!!
(5)
Heather S.
To the reviewers complaining about the price: youre in downtown Sarasota at a restaurant/bar that the wealthy SRQ elite have as their playground to pick up sugar babies. Of course its gonna be more expensive. Go to Applebees if you cant handle it. Also, complaining that the drink menu doesnt have prices is just plain ignorant. Drink menus never do have prices. If you cant afford to drink at the restaurant just stick to what the rest of the cheap people have: water with lemon. (I'm sorry, but I am a server and there's nothing more annoying than a cheap-ass who asks how much everything is. And by no means am I loaded with cash, either. I just know that if I cant afford to go out to eat then I better just stay in an have mac and cheese for the night.) What you might pay for your tab here covers more than just the food. Its a great atmosphere, with live music and if the old people are up dancing to the band that is also fantastic entertainment. Why do old people always look so silly when they dance? That being said, yes, it is an older crowd. But youre in Florida so.... I've been here many, many times and I have not had a bad experience yet. I kind of stick to a few routine dishes: the bruschetta is delicious. Also the ravioli in a mushroom sauce. Both the caprese and caesar salad are fresh and yummy. My boyfriend likes the meatloaf wrapped in bacon or something like that. I dont eat meat so I dont know how it tastes but he always has a smile while he is eating it. The side by the band is the smoking section I guess, so if you dont like that then make sure to let the hostess know. Although if you are here in season or on a weekend night you may have to wait a bit. I most recently came here on a Saturday night and had very polite and attentive service from Bobby. He was cordial and prompt even though it seemed like he could have been very busy. I really respect servers like that, who are good under pressure and never make it known that they really could be running around like a crazy person. Food was great, as usual and we had an especially great time listening to the band and watching people dance. And yes, the noise level can get a bit loud so if that type of thing bothers you then you might want to try somewhere else. The only thing that kind of sucks about this place is all the homeless people hanging around it. Not that they bother me, but it really makes you feel like a shithead out enjoying a nice meal while they dont even have a bed to sleep on.
(4)
Marianne M.
Great atmosphere, so-so service, very disappointing food. Went for lunch with friends, I had the chicken salad sandwich which was very skimpy and not tasty. Went away very hungry. Husband had the pulled pork sandwich and felt the same. Go for drinks if you want the atmosphere, go somewhere else if you want good food.
(2)
Mike G.
Loved the place brought in by friends who live in the hood. Great outdoor location, party of 5 we ordered 8 different apps and loved everything. Very busy place and service was a little slow to start,but got better. Manager & owner stopped by to speak with our hosts as they are regulars. Nice to see owner/chef out talking with customers. Loved the place would go back again & again if we lived in this hood.
(4)
Jolely M.
YUMMY martini's!!! We went there on a Sunday night, and it was gorgeous outside. They had a live band playing. We had the Orange Crush & Expresso Martini's....delishhhhhh!!!! I'll def. be back soon! They close at 10pm on Sunday (FYI). =) Happy Hour = 3-7pm
The burger was meh. Chicken wings far to greasy and the salmon was cooked with fennel??
(2)
Jacqueline C.
We were seated promptly and served by a very friendly waiter. We ordered a chicken and a steak - both were beautifully presented and tasted as good as they looked. Prices were fair. All in all, a good experience and worth a second visit.
(4)
A Yelp U.
Great atmosphere. Live music and all covered outdoor seating. Great food selection, good food, excellent service.
(4)
Ashley B.
This place is pretty great. So great I might just have to call it my favorite downtown spot. I used to go to Ringling for college and my family would come here when they'd visit. It's got a nice atmosphere, great outdoor seating, and I think the service was pretty spot on. As I recall, the food is pretty legit. They have a nice array of options on the menu. Of course, if you're not hungry, this place also makes for a great spot for happy hour!
(5)
Elsa H.
So we went here for some good old music, the grandrents-in-law love this place and wanted to show it off. Well it was worth it. Their happy hour is awesome and cheap and the live music was so much fun. Food was delish (I had these wings for an app as well as shrimp, and then we got a large pizza). I would go here again but make sure to make reservations, it was packed tight. Otherwise, lots of fun.
(4)
Kristin N.
I can't rate this place on food, we only went for the drinks. The drinks were average we ordered a Glenlevit which you could never go wrong with. We sat outside where they had the warm lamps that sit outside, that was nice since it was about 40 degrees outside. But a few drinks and that should warm you up. If that's not enough they had a great band playing and they were just great. I love places like this with live bands, people dancing, eating and drinking. Couldn't get better. Just wish we had got there sooner to enjoy the band more before they left. They finished around 11-11:30 Other then that the people in front of us had ordered a pizza and it looked good (maybe we'll try this next time we are in town) FYI - If you have pets this is a pet friendly restaurant, you can bring your pooch with you.
(4)
Paula D.
The Xango dessert is amazing. Service is great. Atmosphere is relaxing. Live band on Saturdays.
(4)
Bob V.
Went in here to try it ordered a draft beer and glass on wine, asked the waiter for a menu. It took for ever to get our drinks, waiter never brought us a menu, he never came back to the table had to flag him down and ask for a bill to get out of this place that let's people smoke cigars and cigs. Around the bar..they were not that busy worst service I have every had. Needless to say we didn't eat dinner and won't be back.
(1)
Willy L.
Excellent Rack of Lamb! Great location too. Live music after dinner was a nice treat too. I plan on coming back and trying some other menu items and doing a follow up review.
(4)
Jen S.
Food was good and fairly priced. Nice outdoor seating.
(4)
Brian S.
The food was average: goat cheese bruschetta had good flavor but was way over-toasted; the chipotle steak salad was ok, as was the meatloaf. We were there for happy hour and got a good deal on drinks. The jazz quartet playing was pretty good and not overwhelmingly loud. Overall, this place was kinda cool.
(3)
Barbara B.
I go to Sarasota yearly and Mattison's is a MUST for every visit. My mom and I usually have lunch there. So beautiful sitting outside and watching the city pass by. Excellent salad and pizza options and endless iced tea refills. What could be better?
(5)
Rahel K.
Four of us were lured by the outdoor music last Friday night and decided to have some drinks on the patio. The atmosphere is great - all outdoor with a decent live music (ok, I'm from Nashville so I'm a little spoiled!) There happened to be another band playing on the street nearby with no one there, and the band at the Gator Club completely sucked (we stayed for only 1 1/2 songs; but that is for a different review). So out of the 3 bands within a few hundred feet of each other - Mattisons was the best. Our drinks were good and strong and our server Jeff was great and very funny. The crowd is mature and it is fun to watch.
(4)
Jerry S.
We have never ate here but always seem to stop in when we are in Sarasota for a cocktail and to listen to the live music.
(4)
Moraima D.
I did not like this place :-/ It looked really nice from the street. It's outside patio seating is very cozy and they have live music which was nice. We went there while on vacation in Sarasota and by our experience I would say this is a place to go and have drinks with your friends and listen to the music, not for the food. The crowd was a little older for us, but it was a Monday night so it wasn't busy at all. For appetizers we had the goat cheese bruschetta and the crispy wings, didn't like either one. The wings were not really crispy and too sweet, and the bruschetta....just no..plain bad. When you see food way to adorned and with sauces all over, you know it's not good food :-/ For dinner my husband had the NY strip, bad bad...with a lot of sauce on top????? it tasted like a Ponderosa steak, bad quality. I had the spinach and ricotta ravioli and they were just ok. For dessert, we had the "Xangos- banana-carmel cheese cake wrapped in pastry served warm à la mode", I do have to say I did not hear him mention the banana part, I wish it would've been only the cheese cake cream inside and no bananas. I don't love bananas on desserts, but still this was the best thing of the whole dinner. And I have to say, this place is pretty expensive considering the quality of the food. Would not go back at all or recommend it. :-/
(1)
Kevin R.
Great location, friendly service, decent food, but overpriced. Try the goat cheese bruschetta - very good!
(4)
Pamela M.
Always a great time and great food. Outdoor dining, downtown, live music, and they allow dogs (Wally loved it). Staff is always nice and the menu is responsible for my addiction to coos coos. I've never had a bad meal here and also enjoyed the old Siesta Key locaion before it closed but love the newer location closer to home on S 41 (The Old Lone Star building). Went Friday evening and enjoyed the entertainment of oldies and many were dancing. I had a light meal of the steak salad, which was wonderful. I sat at the bar and the staff behind the bar was very nice. The very energetic waiters also would stop by and ask if everything was fine and if they could get me anything. This was a treat, considering I was not in their stations but great servcie goes a long way!
(4)
Lindsey H.
They have a nice big, inviting patio. My waiter was very nice and the food came out fast. I had the salmon salad and it was simple, but good. I'd have to try it again to give it a higher rating, but I'll go back. It gets a a-ok today.
(3)
Shelly J.
Our dinner was ok but the reality is this place is more bar/nightclub than restaurant. Great for a drink and to listen to live music.
(3)
matt m.
comfortable outdoor seating (completely covered or umbrella-only if you like) with a diverse menu selection- something for everyone! I had the chicken parm sandwich and would get it again.
(4)
Peter S.
very slow in service , plus not the quality of food I thought they served. and its all outside with no beach view just a dirty old buildings.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch, Dinner, Late Night Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Mimi K.
Food, drinks, and music were all good! Went on a Friday night and had a really great time. The creme brulee is to die for! For some reaon there are homeless people lying on the floor right across the street. I am not sure what the restaurant can do about this legally but I would give them a free meal and ask them to leave so it does not weird out the customers.
(4)Lynne S.
I went here for drinks on one of my last nights in Sarasota. Although this place looks really fun from the outside, with live music and tiki torch lamps, it is very loud and difficult to talk, even on the opposite side of the patio. The service was so so and my Yellin' melon martini was far too sweet. I'd skip this place next time I'm back in town.
(2)Dan d.
I was drawn in by the live music. The food was good, but it didn't really matter. Nothing beats hot blues and cold beer in an outdoor cafe on a magnificent Sarasota night.
(4)Taz S.
Feels dirty but a great place to meet downtown and head out for some great food at another restaurant.
(3)P L.
Mattison's place in the city was pretty good taste wise, but was it really worth the expensive prices ($25+ per entree, even chicken!)? The pizza was pretty good with a house salad, but I wasn't feeling the whole menu at all. I liked the live band and wished that there were more places like the City Grille all around... open-air and a big bar.
(3)Rommie J.
With its covered outdoor dining area, tiki torches, live music and faux-thatched umbrellas over some tables, Mattison's maintains a casual, fun atmosphere that doesn't necessarily detract from its high-end menu, but might make its price range a bit of a surprise. I stopped by last night for dinner and had a buttery sea bass fillet with a light truffle crust served over tomato and lobster risotto. The fish was maybe a bit small for its $27 price tag and the risotto was light on the lobster, but the dish was still delicious and paired nicely with a Merryvale Chardonnay (speaking of which, their wine list is pretty mediocre). Still, as good as the food was, the service was terribly lacking. Once seated, it took 10 minutes before someone cleaned the table and I didn't get silverware until well after my salad had arrived. That lack of attention to detail wouldn't seem out of place at any other kick-back-and-relax outdoor venue, but when you offer upscale cuisine at upscale prices, I expect the service and atmosphere to match. Apparently it's just me, though, because Mattison's is wildly popular -- and it was packed again last night. Certainly the crowd could certainly have picked a worse spot, and even though I think Mattison's is a bit overpriced, I'd still go back. The kitchen, at least, seems to know exactly what they're doing. (3/16/2009)
(3)Chris K.
If you're looking for a romantic, quiet place, this is not it. Loads of fun, great choices of food. Can't forget there's music, a 'dog' & smoking area as well as clean bathrooms. (Yeah, I like to prioritize) Our first time & we had the Petite Filet Mignon, crispy artichokes and crab cakes. All pretty tasty although the filet was overcooked. Each had great presentation. The real kicker was the lobster Chowder which was outrageously good. The atmosphere is a mix of Savannah, Key West w/ a touch of honky tonk that really made it interesting. The staff is friendly and welcoming. So, if you want to rip up the floor, have a tasty meal with a good selection of beers, go & tell them I sent you. Here for a SECOND nite to hear The Lisa Ridings Band. Danced with the 'Italian Gigilo' who happens to b a regular. He's an awesome. But we love the open vibe here w/ street lookers enjoying music and getting into the magic of this place!
(4)Joey D.
With no where else serving breakfast fare on an early Sunday afternoon, Mattison's seemed like an obvious choice; as the brunch menu was still available. So I went ahead & ordered the Tuscan omelette. On paper, it sounds like a great place to start, the realisation: Eggs were under-seasoned & rubbery. I have never met an unfluffy frittata or omelette until I decided to try brunch. The home fries seemed half way done, I like al-dente vegetables, but there is a fine line to achieving this goal & in the personification of the home fries, they were a few marks short. The melons were too green, toast came out burnt, copious amounts of table salt was required to make it palatable. The location is fantastic, outdoor seating ideal & cozy, but in all honesty, if brunch is the representation of the kitchen's repertoire, I am at a loss for words as to why Mattisons always seems full, or that Sarasota is populated with undiscerning palettes.
(2)Jake M.
Mussels and a black angus burger. Mattson's has great food, but service can be spotty at times.
(4)Henry H.
One of our favorite spots in Sarasota! Good real food and always good service. The live band and the outdoor restaurant makes this perfect for a fun evening
(4)Patty L.
Mattison's, one of our favorite restaurants in Sarasota! Food is great! I ordered veggie Panini and Jeff ordered a Greek salad with lamb chops. Outside seating feels good on the bones.
(4)Bryant S.
Extremely delicious.. highly recommended the weekend brunch.. stuffed french toast is to die for.. great location outdoors. Fast service & very reasonable prices.. would dwf. Come back...
(5)Michael H.
Great place for food outdoors. One of my favorite spots during the cooler season. Love their calimari, burger, and meat loaf sandwich.
(4)Frank T.
Great downtown location on a corner with outdoor covered patio. Service was excellent and the food was very good. I had the chicken saltimboca and we also had a pizza with artichoke and cheese, both were very good and nice size portions. They have a good selections of wines.
(4)Claire M.
Had the most delicious dinner. Drew is an awesome waiter. Great fillet and amazing presentation. Caprese salad was fantastic. Great drinks and prices. Highly recommend, and ask for Drew. Oh and definitely order the creme brûlée!
(5)Olga V.
I first tried this place about 10 years ago when I was passing by Sarasota. I loved their Greek salad with lamb chops. 10 years later, as we were driving by Sarasota, I wanted to stop by and eat it again. The salad still tastes great! The calamari and artichokes were also very good. Enjoyed the food, while sipping our drinks on the patio and watching the rain.
(4)John N.
Been here 100 times so that should say something. Food here is very good and very consistent. Just had breakfast here again on Saturday and was great again. The biggest need is for gluten free bread. Hate saying skip the toast. Can't enjoy any sandwiches or have any toast with breakfast. Should just use "GF food services "gluten free bread they supply to other restaurants locally or any of the local bakeries that do great Gluten free bread in Sarasota and then this place would be complete.
(4)Wendy C.
The atmosphere is cozy and certainly provides that downtown vibe. Their bruschetta is the best I have eaten so far in Sarasota, but I haven't eaten at an authentic Italian restaurant yet, either. The food was fresh and perfectly put together. You can tell when the cooks hearts are in it. I do think that their prices are a little high for what they offer.
(4)Lauren C.
While bopping around downtown sarasota (on vacation) on a saturday evening, Mattison's looked like the most hopping place around town by far. We spotted a live band out on the patio and tons of people dancing, so we decided we had to check it out and see what we were missing out on. When we arrived, it was a bit past dinner time, so we just ordered some drinks and checked out the environment for a bit. The live band was fun and the crowd was enjoying themselves, but being that we fall into the 20s/30s age category, my boyfriend and i were by far the youngest people in here. Definitely a spot for the middle aged and up crowd. Nothing wrong with that by any means, as it looked like everyone was enjoying themselves, but just a heads up to those looking for a college aged hangout spot. The service took a while at the bar as they were really crowded and a bit understaffed. We just ordered beers, so can't comment on the cocktail making skills of the bartenders, but they were friendly and the drink prices were decent for the area, so can't complain too much. Since they have a full menu and a nice patio space, I'd likely come back here to try out the food and see how they do in that regard. For now, I'll say its an "A-OK" spot to hang on the weekend and do some people watching & beer drinking.
(3)Katie F.
Only reason Mattison's gets 4 stars instead of 5 is because I was the youngest person there by at least 15 years, no exaggeration. Now, older crowds are typical around the area, but this was unlike anything I've ever seen. Also, the live music was great but just too loud to have any sort of conversation. The atmosphere is great, food was outstanding, good value, and our server Jenny was seriously amazing. Overall, if you're over 40, I definitely recommend the place. Such a nice outdoor spot in beautiful downtown Sarasota.
(4)Shy A.
Star for the patio which was awesome! A little shade..A little sun. It was perfect. Star Two for the server who was fast and friendly. Star Three for the Grouper sandwich which was fresh and delicious. We had a good time here and I could see it being a fun spot to hit up to just hang out and have a few drinks with friends. Really laid back and unpretentious which is a nice find in the area.
(3)Linda Ann R.
The band playing weekly is smoking! The casual outdoor atmosphere is relaxing and so pleasant to dance or listen or even talk to interesting locals! Tapas are always my favorite dining choice and the selection here is good! The full menu offers several good choices. The staff works really hard to make sure everyone is satisfied with food and drink!
(4)Jessicca K.
Love this place! Best goat cheese bruschetta ever! Great atmosphere - eating at outside patio with fantastic music! This place is hopping! Love the salmon too!! Staff is polite & friendly & manager Brian is awesome! He goes above & beyond!
(5)Verónica O.
Saturday - Quick stop for a drink. I didnt eat there but the place was full (Brunch time). Nice environment and live music. The Bloody Marys are good.
(3)Rick B.
Pizza didn't have any flavor! We ordered the taco pizza, the white pizza, and wings. The wings were meaty, but not spicy hot. The pizzas were bland, the dough and sauce had no flavor. The positive thought was they both had plenty of cheese! And the deliver person was cheerful and on time! We definitely want to try another pizza joint in Sarasota.
(2)Helmut B.
I'm usually not that hip to patios that border two streets and are across from the bus station. However, whenever I am in town seem to end up out for lunch and mostly chose the grouper sandwich. After sampling many grouper (and mystery fish) sandwiches in the Sarasota area I believe that Mattison's has the best. Why? 1) it is grouper 2) the tarter sauce is freshly made and is a bit tangy. Friendly service in a New Jersey sort of way. I will be back.
(3)Ayla Z.
You go to Mattison's City Grille for the outdoor seating in downtown and live music. Cocktails are average quality, and the food is decent. I do enjoy their Mexican Monday and happy hour specials. Unfortunately, service is consistently slow. Each time I've gone the server doesn't come over to the table for at least 10 minutes. Definitely get the artichoke appetizer and the Creme brûlée for dessert!
(3)Tristan O.
So, I arrived here with my family at 5:45 and asked if we could order appetizers but the hostess said the kitchen what closed until 7. Now I'm looking around and I see that people have food on their tables, so my family sits down and since the kitchen is "closed" I went to go get a pizza slice at a cart and brought it back to eat. My father bought us drinks and we were fine until the waiter came over and said we couldn't eat here and we said "well the kitchen is closed and there are people with food at the other tables" the waiter leaves then returns with the manager then we told him the same thing then they leave. The waiter comes back and asks if we want food it is now 6:00 I said "I thought the kitchen was closed" then he said that the kitchen has been open all night. So now, I'm thinking, what the f***. So we get up and leave without getting food.
(1)Edward O.
Showed up at 5:45 pm for apps and drinks. I was totally disappointed because the kitchen was closed until 7 pm. I ordered drinks and grabbed pizza from the street vendor. Then the manager came over and told me we couldn't eat at the table with the drinks I had purchased inside the restaurant. We didn't move. The table next to us was given menus and there order was taken, it seems the kitchen was miraculously open for them. I finished my drinks slowly and left for the restaurant I had a 8 pm reservation with. I will never return.
(1)Sara S.
MMM, Mattison's! Outdoor seating (bit hot in the summer but fans blowing), tiki torches at night, live music, good food, tables for large parties...good as it gets in downtown Sarasota. Service is always attentive too. They have the best artichoke appetizer, ever, ever. The filet app is great too. Calamari is perfectly crispy and tender inside with two dipping sauces, lunch sandwiches are fair and tasty....no complaints with this place at all.
(5)Christine T.
When traveling, I'm always searching for yummy food, but also aware of how I can feel badly if I make bad choices with overindulging in sweets, fried foods, etc. I was very pleased with my Tablouleh Salad with Blackened Chicken. The grain was already flavored with a tart dressing and was complemented well by the roasted vegetables that came with it. The waiter was very attentive and offered me olive oil and herbs in place of butter for my bread rolls when I made requests to remove any potential dairy. Their flavored iced tea was also very refreshing and satisfying. The only downside was when I initially walked into the patio up front, the woman and the man standing at the hostess podium just watched me walk up to them and made no acknowledgement with their eyes, hands, or voice. (I made sure they were not guests there, they were management, or employees at the very least.) They were very uninviting. If I recall correctly, a third person came up and seated me instead. I'm glad my server was a different and better person.
(4)Cello K.
This outdoor patio restaurant and bar has a great ambiance. Live music the night we were there but not intrusive on the far side of the patio. An upright piano was rolled up on the sidewalk (!!) and a man played along and put out his hat. Never before have I seen such a gimmick. The food was good, a little pricey, so we split an entree and a salad. Total bill was about $50. Delicious and enjoyable
(4)Paul H.
Overall 3.5 stars. Draft beers range from $2.75 (12oz) to $5.25 (20oz) Happy Hour Special Daily 3p-7p $4 Martinis and $5 Apps including Steamed Mussels to Cuban Pulled Pork Sliders to Crispy Sesame Shrimp Decor: 3/5 -all seating is outdoors -plenty of heaters scattered about. The New Yorker in me was sweating in the 60F weather. They did turn off some of the heating which made the dining experience a bit more pleasant -tables are placed slightly too close to the next. My chair was continuously bumped by the server. Service: 3.5/5 -We had a reservation at 7p and got seated before that Food: 4/5 -the fresh hot bread and spread were delicious & addicting. We just had to get a second loaf -Mussels & Clams ($12) tapas came with 9 mussels and 8 clams from Prince Edward Island. The sauce consisted of tomatoes, garlic, white wine which was had a slight tangy/sour taste. -Pork Loin Medallions ($20) sauce tasted like it had a ketchup tomato base. The two pan seared pork was great with the apple brandy broth though it was slightly on the salty side. That's where the apple-walnut risotto came in to help balance it out. The green beans were cooked well with a slightly crunch. -Spinach & Ricotta Ravioli was light in flavor and not really worth $19. However the mushroom and roasted garlic cream sauce was fairly rich
(4)Danny B.
Service was good and the flank steak was tasty. We were probably the youngest ones in there.
(4)Rachel M.
I can only give my visit to Mattison's 3 stars since the service was awful. What a shame since the food was great.
(3)Brenda L.
Our waitress was super friendly and smiley. We ordered a chicken salad sandwich on a crossaint with a side of field greens and it was delicious. The salad was fresh and had a light and tasty vinagrete. We also ordered a sandwich that came with fries. The fries had an orange seasoning on it. There is plenty of outdoor dining space with cute grass hut umbrellas and fans. I feel like the prices for lunch are a bit expensive but the ambience made it worthwhile.
(4)Julian A.
Fellow yelpers this restaurant is great. The ambience and live entertainment set the tone for a beautiful night. The food was incredible. I had the fried calamari appetizer which was a lot of calamari. For dinner I had the chicken salad with all types of things such as nuts, strawberries, cheese, berries and it was incredible. But the champion of the night was the tempura crab vegetable roll which was to die for. Guys this was incredible. We loved it so much we did not want the seared salmon sashimi we asked to substitute that and we were so happy with our order. The waiter: Drew was a great host and always very attentive to our needs. He was awesome and made our dining experience great. Yelpers don't waste too much time in the appetizers the food is plentiful and bountiful. Hope you love your experience as we loved ours. Drinks were correctly priced. With a huge appetizer of calamari, lobster soup, huge chicken salad, sushi platter, caprese salad, margarita, and cognac total came out to $77. It was well worth it.
(5)Jaime M.
We ate here last night. The food was amazing. I had the chicken quesadilla and my husband had the burger. Very unique flavors. The outdoor atmosphere is cozy and relaxing and the staff was very nice. Great corner location downtown. Will definitely visit next time I'm in Sarasota.
(4)Bill W.
They had a kiosk set up at The Van Wezel outdoor concert. It looked like a Ringling Bros clown act. They could not produce food for a line of about 10 people. We asked for our money back afraid that when (if) we did get our food it would be under cooked. By that time other vendors had sd out so we had a hot dog for diner. Come on guys, amateurs could have done better. At least you could have offered your customers a free bag of chips or a bottle of water for the ridiculously long long wait. PS Yelp makes you pick at least one star.
(1)Corinne L.
(From early January 2013 visit - clearing out drafts.) Came with family after visiting Ringling Museum of Art. Ordered off bar menu as we came after 3 pm. Family consensus on dishes: Bruschetta was voted excellent as was the crispy artichokes Tabbouleh salad was okay House salad with chicken added was great - love the vinaigrette dressing House veggies were nicely steamed Mac & cheese was five stars per person who ordered it Angus burger was a little dry Chowder was very good Like the covered patio and the lunch/dinner menus look pretty good. If I hadn't been with 2 teetotalers who get all weird & judge-y about drinking, I would have gotten a cocktail of some sort. Service good, a little slow but that's only because there was one server handling the section during that no-mans-land between lunch and dinner. I would definitely come back to Mattison's during meal time - and I would get a cocktail. Boom.
(4)Valarie W.
I love going to Mattison's for a casual fun night out. The music is fun.. The food is fun and I feel at home. The wait staff is friendly. I have been dining at Mattison's since they opened in 2003. The owner Paul is also a friendly and kind nice person....!!!!
(5)Katie M.
Great happy hour drink and food specials. Goat cheese bruschetta is my favorite. Good salads,pizza, and burgers. Nice people watching area. Sometimes the service can be a bit slow/ nonexistent but it depends on who your waiter/waitress is. Happy hour is the best time to go there and then you can go watch the sunset. Older crowd during the live music.
(4)Cole O.
Locals, live music, fabulous people watching, dancing, Ron White randomly hangs there, homeless people outside jamming, cigar-friendly.
(4)T J.
Unless you like your shrimp over-breaded with some cream-cheese concoction and balsamic vinegar mixed with thai red chili sauce (what were they thinking?) - oh, I forgot about the cigar and cigarette smoke from across the bar - then this is NOT your place. The calamari were okay. The soup was filling, but lacking any discernible lobster that was supposed to be in it. This was a sucky meal, and more than I like to pay for suckiness. (btw: I am not young)
(1)Melly S.
Early Saturday night dinner found the following: Rushed service throughout by our pushy server Pork Chop - not center cut, small bones, and served on bed of polenta - very difficult to cut the meat with this presentation. Scallops - Two scallops appeared to be appetizer size, but no, it was my entree Desserts - overdone options, with emphasis on visual rather than the taste Atmosphere later in the evening is very good, if you enjoy dancing and live music - mature crowd, so interesting people watching! Overall, disappointed after two so-so dinners where food didn't hit the right note.
(2)Vero B.
It was late on Sunday evening and not many restaurants where open. We tried this place and were disappointed. The menu items are overpriced and food is poor quality. There's other better places to eat in Sarasota.
(2)Anjali K.
Outdoor seating for a great lunch on a beautiful day? Yes, please!! I absolutely love the unique setup of Mattison's. Located on Main Street in Sarasota, FL, Mattison's is perfect for lunch, happy hour, or dinner. While I've only been for lunch, I was so impressed with the service, food, and menu that I would love to go back again. Reasons why: 1 - Location: Mattison's forces you to enjoy its beautiful surroundings. Granted they do have fans to prevent the heat from attacking you. The location is beautiful and you really do want to enjoy eating outside. 2 - Service: We were greeted by a series of hosts/waitresses who frequented our table to ensure we had everything we needed. 3 - Food: I had the lunch special: Potato soup and a half ham sandwich panini. Soup = excellent, and the panini was served at just the right temperature -- not at all soggy. Overall, I really enjoyed my dining experience. I also noted their HH specials looked great. I would love to go back here again!
(4)Becky S.
Absolutely delicious!!! A little to hot to sit outside in Florida in July, but food was excellent!!
(5)Jada G.
Really good selection of food and appetizers. Awesome happy hour specials. I had the burger (only one on menu). It was perfectly cooked. The meat was so moist and well seasoned. It came loaded with everything on it. Great size. But the best thing is the patio. The fans keep you cool, the people keep you interested and the live band keeps you entertained. Next time I'm in sarasota, I'll definitely come back!
(4)Keith H.
Great food, great service, great tunes! We had steaks grouper and pizza. All excellent! Cool outdoor spot. Can't miss here. I'd come back in a heartbeat!
(5)Live Life L.
We went here recently with friends. The outdoor environment is average in terms of decor. The music was better than average. The food was lacking. I was expecting better quality in the service and food. It is a good place to listen to music, people watch, and have drinks. I think eating a great meal is better somewhere else. Come here for drinks before or after dinner.
(3)Andrew K.
Meh. Table was sticky. Lamb on the Mediterranean salad was small. Second salad order came with chicken instead of grouper. Drink pours were healthy. Stick to pizza and alcohol here.
(2)Jennifer K.
live music every weekend! typical age is 65 & older which is normal for sarasota. cosmos are good. the bianca pizza has amazing ingredients but crust is mediocre. meatloaf, filet of beef, salads are also good. avoid the grouper florentine and calamari... one word, yuk!
(3)cheese w.
Had a blue cheese burger with fries and salad, and a beer. The exact same meal that I had at Patrick's 3 days earlier. Mattison's was a better experience all around - the burger, cheese and fries were all much better as was the service. Don't bother with Patrick's - just turn the corner and go to Mattison's.
(4)Deserae C.
The best service, food, and live music in downtown. We've been dining here since 04 and have never been disappointed.
(4)Gail L.
Four diners, four five star meals. Nice ambiance and excellent service. Mattison's is becoming one of our favorites. All positive on every visit. See photos I posted of the Salmon, Greek salad w lamb chops, fettucini Frutti de mar, and my favorite- pan seared grouper with shrimp and crab. My husband kept stealing the potato pancakes. Delicious. We love this place. Unusual dishes perfectly prepared. We have never had a bad anything here and the staff is fabulous. We had brunch a few saturdays ago and our waiter came to the table with cold water and a dish for our dog. Talk about great customer service.
(5)Jenny B.
Very loud when then band is playing. Great place for a drink... Happy hr menu is a good deal. Not the best place for a large party or if you want an intimate conversation. Food is decent, but they overcook the steaks every time we go. Service can be a little slow as well, so make sure you have plenty of time!
(3)Michelle M.
One of my favorite restaurants in Sarasota. The outdoor restaurant is the place to be on a Friday or Saturday night. Great live music is always playing and the food is fantastic. The dinner prices are a little expensive. We normally get salads and then split one of their incredible brick oven pizzas. The meat-lovers and the margherrita pizza are both out of this world! Mattison's is always packed on the weekend so call in for a table or be prepared for a 30-45 minute wait. While you are waiting for a table you can explore the shops along downtown Sarasota.
(5)Fill H.
Service was great, in fact we had 2 extra people show up and they were able to switch our table even being crowded. Now the reason I give a 3 star is for the food. The food is only ok. Nothing unique about the food spices or anything. My wife got a flat bread pizza which the dough seemed like it was from a box not homemade. The environment is cool and great live music. Really if you want to stop by stop for the environment and company don't stop for the food.
(3)Adrian M.
We walked in on the strength of the Yelp rating and a good looking menu. We loved it. Great setting on Main Street with huge outdoor patio seating. Fresh ingredients and high quality. Right off the bat very nice rosemary bread. We ordered crab cakes and goat cheese bruschetta for starters. Crab cakes were glorious and full of lump crb, with two very good sauces and nice greens. The bruschetta had an outstanding balsamic vinegar on it, I had the crispy grouper sandwich, and it was cooked to perfection with moist grouper inside a crispy thin breeding shell on a soft bun. My only complaint is that given how mild grouper is the jalapeño mayo on the sandwich was not enough. It needs a chutney or something on it. Veggie panini made my wife soooooo happy. It was really ver very good. Pizza by the slice was thin crispy crust with excellent toppings and flavors. Lemon chicken was covered in fresh shiitakes, lemony and almost ridiculously moist for a Chicken breast. Dessert was fabulous. Bailey's cheesecake, über yum. Xango (?) was Carmel and banana wrapped in pastry and flash fried and ala mode, and cinnamon sauce. Just heavenly. Chocolate espresso tort was meltingly good.
(5)Bree G.
I don't normally order spaghetti with a marina sauce out mostly because I'm Italian and whenever I order that i feel like I can do it better but this restaurant has an awesome sauce would def go and get it again.
(4)Michael B.
Fantastic atmosphere, great service, and the food was amazing. Definitely a great place to go to if you are from out of town.
(5)Alicia C.
Best artichokes in the entire world. Almost went back for them a second time. Covered in this lemon sauce and are unbelievable. Make sure you stop by
(5)Anna W.
So impressed! That's all I can say. Myself and a couple friends just drove into Sarasota. We took a walk around the square and came across Mattison's. It was packed and there was some great live music, so we went in to check it out. A man who must have been the manager greeted us and apologized that he couldn't seat us immediately but the wait would only be ten minutes. We walked to the bar and the bartender walked around and greeted us, then took our order. The manager kept coming over the keep us posted on our table. We were seated and our server was so friendly and attentive. The food came out about 15 minutes after we ordered and it was delicious! We had the calamari, crab cakes, artichokes and a couple salads. Definitely recommend!
(5)Liz D.
Great food - my favorite is the grouper sandwich. I get it blackened - yumo. Served with that jalapeño tarter sauce...mmm hmm. And the house salad that comes on the side with blue cheese and pine nuts.. yes please. And if you don't come for the food, come for the drinks, and the great line up of live music..you will stay for the dance floor. It's really hard to stay off of it.
(5)Tami B.
Mattison's was a great place to visit. My boyfriend took me there when I was in town. It was so romantic on the open patio with a light breeze blowing. There was a live band playing music which was nice to listen to. The food was out of this world. We ordered the Shrimp Rangoon to go with our drinks. The server was great and made sure we had everything we needed. This will be a place we plan on visiting over and over...thank you for being such a great place and making our visit such a good memory for us.
(4)Craig S.
Had a great Sunday lunch. Beautiful sidewalk eating, good food, awesome live music and our server Drew was sharp and attentive. Thanks
(4)Gary H.
Best happy hour in town. Pizzas are good and the Greek salad is a tasty healthy choice. I go for the VIP treatment. Drinks are good and Dean always has a drink ready for me when needed, not sure how there could be a better server in SRQ.
(5)Susie F.
We went there today for the lunch , I really like their food, I order shrimp ragoon as appt and it was fantastic, then we got spegatti , pizza and hamberger, My husband told me he wasn't hungry but he end up finish the whole medium pizza, We will go back again next time when we visit Sarasota !!
(5)Lydia L.
I KNOW I AM SUPPOSE TO LIKE THIS PLACE!!! But I have been here like 20 times, and I just DON'T!!! It's too cold in the winter time, Its too hot in the summer time. Their martinis are gross, happy hour food is OK... I have tried to like it... But with that said, I am sure I will be back, cause all my friends seems to like it, may be I will figure out why one of these days....
(2)J B.
I love coming to Mattison's City Grille for lunch after checking out the farmers market on Saturday mornings. The outdoor seating is great and right in the center of the action. I'll agree with other reviewers that it can be a little tight if they're busy, but I've never felt like other tables are on top of us. I prefer coming here for lunch instead of dinner because the lunch menu has a lot of sandwich options that are reasonably priced for downtown at around $9-11. Also, brunch is served Saturday and Sunday until 2 which gives even more options. Service has always been quick and efficient. Definitely a favorite of mine!
(5)Matthew V.
I have eaten here 4 times since moving down from NYC. I HAVE NEVER EVER been let down by the quality of food that comes out of Paul's kitchen. Wait staff is great and not yet have I encountered an attitude with anyone of them. This place is great for lunch on an off season Saturday and Sunday. Try everything there.
(5)Francesco C.
The Mattison's City Grille, nestled in the heart of downtown Sarasota. It is somewhat small yet romantic especially with during sunset to dark to set the mood and if you are there with a special someone. The live music encourages you to head swing or brings you up to dance with your partner. The food all looks great the menu is not very big but the taste is awesome! My friend and I had a few drinks and a perfect size appetizer for the both of us. We had the Shrimp Rangoon and it is to die for, on a hot plate there are five fried Gulf shrimp with fresh herb cream cheese, Thai chili sauce, and a sweet soy sauce oozing over the toasty shrimps wakes up your taste buds craving for more as you wash it down with your favorite adult beverage! On seasonal evenings it can be pretty packed with people, best to come in before the sunsets and stay there for a while. If you are sitting at the bar, it could get pretty crowded and you need to watch for the people bumping into you while sipping on a beverage!! I don't know why, but their bar is rather small. So if you are there to mingle, keep in mind, you might get closer than you thought. The live bands are surprisingly good. The music is loud but it will get you in the mood for it. It's also a great place to people watch. Being in it's location at the center of the downtown nightlife. People come and go. It's especially fun when there is an event going on the Main Street, where it will be closed and people are all over the place. Just the parking can be trick during those days. I give it a two thumbs up for fun, good food and great service!
(4)Mario C.
VERY GOOD! The ambiance is a definite contrast of all types. They had a band playing soulful music and some crazy homeless looking dude doing pretty well on the mic. Very loud and the fact that they can smoke was annoying. They told me they had a new menu.. Ordered Pork Medallions on an apple walnut risotto. The risotto had an amazing texture and the brandy reduction was a nice touch. Also order the Sirachi chilli sauce wings and drumsticks with a side of Asian Mustard dip. Everything was more than I expected. Staff (Joe and Rod? or something..was friendly and helpful. I will definitely go back
(4)Gigi L.
Great spot for happy hour and outside dining on a warm night. I had the blackened grouper sandwich for lunch and it was quite tasty with fries I couldn't stop eating. My man enjoyed the burger with swiss. Happy hour is from 3-7! But, stick to the martinis or beers as the wine offerings were not that great. Live music too!
(3)Vince O.
Heard great things about this place. What a Disappointment! Ordered one of their specialty Burgers...Medium with side of Well-done Fries and a Salad. The Salad was the only thing that came out OK. The Burger was burned to a crisp and the fries were raw. Our waiter never seemed to notice that the food was uneaten. Others had a salad which was OK. Nice atmosphere, but Bad food!
(2)Carey Y.
As you may or may not know, Gabriel and I donate blood regularly every 8 weeks. When we moved to FL and continued the tradition we'd started in NYC, we found that the donation center here gives a restaurant gift card after every 3 donations. Score! Everyone wins! We decided to go to Mattison's City Grille. On our first attempt, a loud, not-very-good, cover band was playing and we decided to change our plans. We tried again a couple of weeks later and found a great jazz band playing and we asked to be seated. We sat at a corner table on the outside edge of the dining area (and didn't realize until later that the smell of gasoline from the torches would repeatedly waft over to us). The waiter came over and took our order, and at that time we also asked for bread, water, and utensils. We did not see our waiter again until almost 30 minutes later, when he showed up with our bread and entrees all together at the same time. We still had no water or utensils. We requested them. More than 5 minutes later, another waiter walked by and we asked HIM to bring us water and utensils, which he gladly did immediately. Our food was actually pretty good, and had the service not completely ruined it, my opinion on Mattison's would be quite different. The bread and butter were both delicious, with touches of rosemary and garlic. The salmon that topped the dinner salad was fresh, and cooked exactly right. The mushrooms that came with the ravioli were meaty and probably my favorite part of the meal. The ravioli and sauce were also excellent. Overall, well, I'm not really sure. Did we just get one really bad waiter but maybe the others are all good? We still have another gift certificate so I guess we'll go back eventually. I'll let you know! About these ads
(2)Christopher B.
I love Chef Paul! Anything Paul Mattison touches, is a success and a great experience IMO! I remember the Summerhouse, that was another one of his great restaurants.
(5)Nicholas C.
Great staff and decent food. Waiter was very helpful with working around food allergies. Thank you!
(4)Tom M.
This is a great local spot. I almost always bring guests from out of town here as well. Laid back atmosphere, outside dining and music. Can't beat it. Pizzas are good!
(4)Lexi C.
It seems like a fun place but the seats were very close and it was hard to move. Plus it was really loud. The food is very expensive for what you get. I don't mind the high price if I am getting something special. Maybe what I chose wasn't what I should've had. I got the Bruschetta appetizer and it was the price of a Pizza with only tomatoes, a bit of cheese and some spices. It did taste good but I was hungry afterwards. There were no prices on the drink menu and it was so loud in there I lost interest in asking the waiter how much everything was. I got a beer since it was a special and the card on our table said $4 or something. **Which somehow annoyed my friend since her boyfriend also chose the beer special. Apparently this is as about as bad as having an affair with the guy. Who knew? He isn't even that cute nor my type; but could I really say that in front of him? "Um, get over yourself girl cause your guy isn't that hot!" Girls can be really silly sometimes - Awkward. Nevertheless thanks to Mattison's I avoid going out with these people now :) I will try them again when I am better prepared. I would prefer to go with a pocket full of cash so I don't have to inquire about drink prices but when you are splitting a tab you need to know. I will also have my man with me next time.
(3)Sabrina B.
Seems like your mostly paying for their location, the food is over priced for what you get. The food tasted low quality to me. Not so great.
(2)Pamela M.
Consistently good and a regular lunch stop for me since I work downtown. Lunch is generally quickly served with fresh ingredients and good taste. I had lunch here just a couple days ago and at least 4 other colleagues from my office were also here. Very popular with the locals and that is a lot to say considering the plethora of choices we have in Downtown Sarasota and the greater area overall. My husband and I have come here on many weekend evenings as well. There us always good live music, attentive bar service and a great Sarasota and out-of-town crowd. Everyone having a good time! A young Sarasota institution!
(4)Sarah R.
Really great happy hour with $4 martinis and $5 apps (every day 3-7) Got the sushi and the artichokes and both were delicious! Loved the patio (no apparent indoor seating) although the fabulous weather definitely helped
(4)Kristi P.
This is the place that I bring all my out of town friends. Something for everyone on the menu, everything is so good. They always have live music and the atmosphere is electrifying. I love the outdoor seating. I have tried a lot of the foods here but here are my fav's: lobster chowder, petit fillet and the sushi/ sashimi dish. Flavorific!!!
(5)Heather S.
To the reviewers complaining about the price: youre in downtown Sarasota at a restaurant/bar that the wealthy SRQ elite have as their playground to pick up sugar babies. Of course its gonna be more expensive. Go to Applebees if you cant handle it. Also, complaining that the drink menu doesnt have prices is just plain ignorant. Drink menus never do have prices. If you cant afford to drink at the restaurant just stick to what the rest of the cheap people have: water with lemon. (I'm sorry, but I am a server and there's nothing more annoying than a cheap-ass who asks how much everything is. And by no means am I loaded with cash, either. I just know that if I cant afford to go out to eat then I better just stay in an have mac and cheese for the night.) What you might pay for your tab here covers more than just the food. Its a great atmosphere, with live music and if the old people are up dancing to the band that is also fantastic entertainment. Why do old people always look so silly when they dance? That being said, yes, it is an older crowd. But youre in Florida so.... I've been here many, many times and I have not had a bad experience yet. I kind of stick to a few routine dishes: the bruschetta is delicious. Also the ravioli in a mushroom sauce. Both the caprese and caesar salad are fresh and yummy. My boyfriend likes the meatloaf wrapped in bacon or something like that. I dont eat meat so I dont know how it tastes but he always has a smile while he is eating it. The side by the band is the smoking section I guess, so if you dont like that then make sure to let the hostess know. Although if you are here in season or on a weekend night you may have to wait a bit. I most recently came here on a Saturday night and had very polite and attentive service from Bobby. He was cordial and prompt even though it seemed like he could have been very busy. I really respect servers like that, who are good under pressure and never make it known that they really could be running around like a crazy person. Food was great, as usual and we had an especially great time listening to the band and watching people dance. And yes, the noise level can get a bit loud so if that type of thing bothers you then you might want to try somewhere else. The only thing that kind of sucks about this place is all the homeless people hanging around it. Not that they bother me, but it really makes you feel like a shithead out enjoying a nice meal while they dont even have a bed to sleep on.
(4)Marianne M.
Great atmosphere, so-so service, very disappointing food. Went for lunch with friends, I had the chicken salad sandwich which was very skimpy and not tasty. Went away very hungry. Husband had the pulled pork sandwich and felt the same. Go for drinks if you want the atmosphere, go somewhere else if you want good food.
(2)Mike G.
Loved the place brought in by friends who live in the hood. Great outdoor location, party of 5 we ordered 8 different apps and loved everything. Very busy place and service was a little slow to start,but got better. Manager & owner stopped by to speak with our hosts as they are regulars. Nice to see owner/chef out talking with customers. Loved the place would go back again & again if we lived in this hood.
(4)Jolely M.
YUMMY martini's!!! We went there on a Sunday night, and it was gorgeous outside. They had a live band playing. We had the Orange Crush & Expresso Martini's....delishhhhhh!!!! I'll def. be back soon! They close at 10pm on Sunday (FYI). =) Happy Hour = 3-7pm
(5)Errynne B.
This place has a good vibe... Outdoor seating area, bar, live band. I visited this restaurant in June, and let me say that I think this restaurant is meant for nicer times of the year. It was very warm and there were flies flying around and landing on the food. I find that extremely unappetizing. My beer was warm before I had a chance to drink it. Don't go in the hot summer months for dinner. It'd be a better place to go in the evening for just drinks and music. The food... It was pretty good. I highly recommend the Shrimp Wonton appetizer... delicious!! The sushi and seared tuna appetizer is also very good. I had the filet mignon entrée. It was good, but I would expect a better piece of meat for the price. The creme brulee desert is also pretty good. The service... everyone was very friendly. Though we were a large group and ordered a lot of food, we were served quickly. The waiters were attentive, but not overly so. Overall, I would say that Mattison's has a good vibe (given an appropriate time of the year) but that the quality of the food doesn't represent the price. I believe that there are other locations, maybe check out one of those!
(3)Ryan W.
The burger was meh. Chicken wings far to greasy and the salmon was cooked with fennel??
(2)Jacqueline C.
We were seated promptly and served by a very friendly waiter. We ordered a chicken and a steak - both were beautifully presented and tasted as good as they looked. Prices were fair. All in all, a good experience and worth a second visit.
(4)A Yelp U.
Great atmosphere. Live music and all covered outdoor seating. Great food selection, good food, excellent service.
(4)Ashley B.
This place is pretty great. So great I might just have to call it my favorite downtown spot. I used to go to Ringling for college and my family would come here when they'd visit. It's got a nice atmosphere, great outdoor seating, and I think the service was pretty spot on. As I recall, the food is pretty legit. They have a nice array of options on the menu. Of course, if you're not hungry, this place also makes for a great spot for happy hour!
(5)Elsa H.
So we went here for some good old music, the grandrents-in-law love this place and wanted to show it off. Well it was worth it. Their happy hour is awesome and cheap and the live music was so much fun. Food was delish (I had these wings for an app as well as shrimp, and then we got a large pizza). I would go here again but make sure to make reservations, it was packed tight. Otherwise, lots of fun.
(4)Kristin N.
I can't rate this place on food, we only went for the drinks. The drinks were average we ordered a Glenlevit which you could never go wrong with. We sat outside where they had the warm lamps that sit outside, that was nice since it was about 40 degrees outside. But a few drinks and that should warm you up. If that's not enough they had a great band playing and they were just great. I love places like this with live bands, people dancing, eating and drinking. Couldn't get better. Just wish we had got there sooner to enjoy the band more before they left. They finished around 11-11:30 Other then that the people in front of us had ordered a pizza and it looked good (maybe we'll try this next time we are in town) FYI - If you have pets this is a pet friendly restaurant, you can bring your pooch with you.
(4)Paula D.
The Xango dessert is amazing. Service is great. Atmosphere is relaxing. Live band on Saturdays.
(4)Bob V.
Went in here to try it ordered a draft beer and glass on wine, asked the waiter for a menu. It took for ever to get our drinks, waiter never brought us a menu, he never came back to the table had to flag him down and ask for a bill to get out of this place that let's people smoke cigars and cigs. Around the bar..they were not that busy worst service I have every had. Needless to say we didn't eat dinner and won't be back.
(1)Willy L.
Excellent Rack of Lamb! Great location too. Live music after dinner was a nice treat too. I plan on coming back and trying some other menu items and doing a follow up review.
(4)Jen S.
Food was good and fairly priced. Nice outdoor seating.
(4)Brian S.
The food was average: goat cheese bruschetta had good flavor but was way over-toasted; the chipotle steak salad was ok, as was the meatloaf. We were there for happy hour and got a good deal on drinks. The jazz quartet playing was pretty good and not overwhelmingly loud. Overall, this place was kinda cool.
(3)Barbara B.
I go to Sarasota yearly and Mattison's is a MUST for every visit. My mom and I usually have lunch there. So beautiful sitting outside and watching the city pass by. Excellent salad and pizza options and endless iced tea refills. What could be better?
(5)Rahel K.
Four of us were lured by the outdoor music last Friday night and decided to have some drinks on the patio. The atmosphere is great - all outdoor with a decent live music (ok, I'm from Nashville so I'm a little spoiled!) There happened to be another band playing on the street nearby with no one there, and the band at the Gator Club completely sucked (we stayed for only 1 1/2 songs; but that is for a different review). So out of the 3 bands within a few hundred feet of each other - Mattisons was the best. Our drinks were good and strong and our server Jeff was great and very funny. The crowd is mature and it is fun to watch.
(4)Jerry S.
We have never ate here but always seem to stop in when we are in Sarasota for a cocktail and to listen to the live music.
(4)Moraima D.
I did not like this place :-/ It looked really nice from the street. It's outside patio seating is very cozy and they have live music which was nice. We went there while on vacation in Sarasota and by our experience I would say this is a place to go and have drinks with your friends and listen to the music, not for the food. The crowd was a little older for us, but it was a Monday night so it wasn't busy at all. For appetizers we had the goat cheese bruschetta and the crispy wings, didn't like either one. The wings were not really crispy and too sweet, and the bruschetta....just no..plain bad. When you see food way to adorned and with sauces all over, you know it's not good food :-/ For dinner my husband had the NY strip, bad bad...with a lot of sauce on top????? it tasted like a Ponderosa steak, bad quality. I had the spinach and ricotta ravioli and they were just ok. For dessert, we had the "Xangos- banana-carmel cheese cake wrapped in pastry served warm à la mode", I do have to say I did not hear him mention the banana part, I wish it would've been only the cheese cake cream inside and no bananas. I don't love bananas on desserts, but still this was the best thing of the whole dinner. And I have to say, this place is pretty expensive considering the quality of the food. Would not go back at all or recommend it. :-/
(1)Kevin R.
Great location, friendly service, decent food, but overpriced. Try the goat cheese bruschetta - very good!
(4)Pamela M.
Always a great time and great food. Outdoor dining, downtown, live music, and they allow dogs (Wally loved it). Staff is always nice and the menu is responsible for my addiction to coos coos. I've never had a bad meal here and also enjoyed the old Siesta Key locaion before it closed but love the newer location closer to home on S 41 (The Old Lone Star building). Went Friday evening and enjoyed the entertainment of oldies and many were dancing. I had a light meal of the steak salad, which was wonderful. I sat at the bar and the staff behind the bar was very nice. The very energetic waiters also would stop by and ask if everything was fine and if they could get me anything. This was a treat, considering I was not in their stations but great servcie goes a long way!
(4)Lindsey H.
They have a nice big, inviting patio. My waiter was very nice and the food came out fast. I had the salmon salad and it was simple, but good. I'd have to try it again to give it a higher rating, but I'll go back. It gets a a-ok today.
(3)Shelly J.
Our dinner was ok but the reality is this place is more bar/nightclub than restaurant. Great for a drink and to listen to live music.
(3)matt m.
comfortable outdoor seating (completely covered or umbrella-only if you like) with a diverse menu selection- something for everyone! I had the chicken parm sandwich and would get it again.
(4)Peter S.
very slow in service , plus not the quality of food I thought they served. and its all outside with no beach view just a dirty old buildings.
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