Cafe Matou

Visited Cafe Mattou this past Saturday as the snow began to fall heavily.

Very nice space in this low-key location on Milwaukee. It was full and lively when we sat down around 9:30pm.

Menu is simple, perhaps even boring (chicken breast, duck breast, flank steak) considering the price. I asked about Oysters, and the waiter told me "they aren't in season, so I wouldn't order them." Problematic on a few fronts- Oysters are in season in winter, as far as I know, and secondly, why are they on the menu if the esteemed waiter thinks they are out of season? Anyway, I let it pass and ordered the cream of mushroom soup, which was quite tasty. Others split the goat cheese app.

Entrees were all very well executed, which must be why this place remains crowded at its price point. I ordered the lamb shank, which was gorgeous, falling off the bone and served with some roasted brussle sprouts and potatoes. Others ordered the flank steak ($20!) and pork tenderloin. I'd probably won't return quickly, but it a very pleasant space fairly close to the house and manhattan's and martini's were well made... so maybe I'll be back to try the oysters, when they're in season.


Cafe Matou
1848 N Milwaukee Ave

I was there last fall and had a good time. My wife was pregnant at the time and we called ahead and they were more than willing to make a special meal to fit her dietary needs. We were also with a person who did not eat meat and they customized a meal for her.

The manager was really friendly and brought over tastings of new Rum and Vodka that he bought for the bar for us to taste....

Its good, not great, but definitely a place that I would go back to.

I went there on Thursday for a low key birthday celebration. It was solid French fare. I had the goose with cepe pasta, pretty good.
The cheese in a skillet, which is melted cheese with pork products. You can't really mess that up. Pork tenderloin, which was unremarkable.. My lady had the tuna, which she loved (says the best she's had in a while.) Dessert however, was great. The white chocolate mousse was over the top. I would go back just for that dish. It was a little slow on Thursday, but the snow had just begun to fall. Overall, for the price, I think it was a above average meal. The dessert list is huge and intriguing, and I am not really a sweets kind of guy.

Let me bump this thread to seek more recent experience(s). We're taking my folks who (pace another poster whose parents are...sigh...in their late 50s) are in their 80s. They're pretty spry (though they'd probably shoot me for using that particular word), but noise level would be a concern. On the other hand, we'd be there early, say 6:30 or so on a Sunday. My dad used to do quite a bit of business in France and so I'm looking for a somewhat more...traditional...kinda place. I've somehow never made it here in all my years in Chicago but I have had Charlie Socher's food elsewhere and enjoyed it.

I've only been there once -- last year -- but I don't remember noise being a problem at all. It is somewhat dark, if I recall correctly.

"Solid French fare" just about sums it up. Prices seemed a bit high for the small portions and simple preparations you get (and you don't even get bread), but everything was pretty good.

I haven't been there for two years but I recall that all the sides that came with the entrees were the same--white rice and grilled vegetables. At this price point, that's not acceptable. I don't plan on going back. I think Le Bouchon is much much better.

I have been to Cafe Matou dozens of times though not in the past year since I relocated. I have never seen the same sides for all of the entrees, so perhaps you caught them on an off night.

I always preferred Matou to Le Bouchon because I found it to be far less crowded in terms of table spacing, they actually seat you reasonably close to your reservation time, and they have a comfortable bar area. I find the noise levels at Matou to be reasonable and the service terriffic. I have friends who prefer Le Bouchon and I often go there with them, but if I am choosing I much prefer Cafe Matou.

I agree with atomicman on the atmosphere issue. Le Bouchon is crowded and the bar is tiny. The atmosphere at Matou is much more comfortable.

We go there regularly and I have NEVER seen grilled veggies and white rice as sides! (were there last week again)

It can be noisy if it's crowded, some areas are noiser than others (the back corner toward the bathrooms seems to have an odd accoustic resonance). I would say that Bouchon is more traditional, but in a "menu never changes" kind of way. Matou's chef Charlie changes the menu daily depending on what looks good at the market.

We have brought all our parents there (in their 60's and 70's) and all seemed to like it very much (the LA contingent were underwhelmed, but unless we had taken them to Alinia - and for the same price - nothing would have satisfied)

Just caught this entry by Phil Vettel on the Chicago Tribune website:

http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/thestew/2008/10/why-chicago-che.html

cilantro wrote:Prices seemed a bit high for the small portions and simple preparations you get (and you don't even get bread), but everything was pretty good.

If you didn't get bread, someone was definitely off their game. It is normal to get a paper cone with 1/2 a loaf of some crusty bread and a small plate of butter.

I posted elsewhere but wanted to post here too that we had a really great meal tonight at Cafe Matou and were planning when we could go back even before we left. The seafood crepe was outstanding. Nothing disappointed. Excellent service.

cafe matou is one of my favorite chicago restaurants, and i had an outstanding experience there sunday night. for those who've never eaten here, let me say that the smallish dining room is beautiful and serene. even when full there is no problem hearing your dining companion's conversation. there is no 'scene' here, just consistently delicious french food and drink, with excellent service.
we started our meal with cocktails. my friend, visiting from new york, is a traditional martini kind of guy, but the bartender and i persuaded him to try one made with local north shore distillery's vodka. he was very impressed, and the next day bought a bottle to bring home with him. i asked the bartender for suggestions for a new drink; requesting he use templeton rye, he made me a Ward 8, which was a perfectly balanced drink consisting of rye, lemon and orange juice and a splash of grenadine. if i hadnt liked it, i wouldnt have blamed the bartender, but i give him full credit for the successful choice.
for dinner i had the house made charcuterie plate. that night it was an ethereally light slab of chicken liver pate and a coarse duck pate. both delicious. my friend's bowl of mussels was equally good, providing plenty of fragrant broth for sopping up with bread.
i was paying more attention to the conversation than the menu, so i confess to being a little vague about specifics of our meal.... my entree was grilled duck breast and leg in a merlot reduction. the meat was tender and rosy with a thin crispy layer of skin and fat surrounding each. one of the many things i love about this place is that the entrees come with starch and vegetable- in my case, melt in the mouth green cabbage and an amazing, crisp disk of pureed potato. my friend had the chicken with peppers and lots of garlic- something i'd find too boring to order, but it, too, was juicy and flavorful.
for dessert he had chocolate sorbet with strawberries and a crisp wafer, which was fine. but my warm rhubarb cake with dense, creamy, rhubarb ice cream was really memorable. the cake had the moistness and weight of a bread pudding, with crisp edges. a little drizzle of maple syrup surrounded it.
the service was unobtrusive and attentive- though i must admit i know our particular waiter that night through a mutual friend. but i've never had less than professional service on other visits.
cafe matou offers a quiet refuge from the city in gracious surroundings, with classic french food perfectly seasoned and cooked. you probably won't eat anything you've never heard of before, but you'll eat well. i had a duck breast sandwich for breakfast the next day, as the portions are very generous. justjoan

CAFE MATOU
1846 N. MILWAUKEE
773-384-8911

Hi,

In addition to their wonderful food, the people at Cafe Matou are exceedingly generous and kind. I was part of a group of 10 people who showed up on the wrong evening. The dining room was fully booked and they graciously rearranged tables at the from of the front room and went out of their way to make us comfortable and welcomed.

This was some years ago and I have never eaten leaks; they had a braised leak appetizer that was ethereal. Our group were all into the food and ingredients and we received special attention. When they served the main courses, my lamb dish had a custard timbale on the plate. The waiter asked if I knew what it was and yes I am old enough recognize parsnips.

It took me a few years of playing around to duplicate their lovely parsnip flan timbale and it has become a hit at my dining table.

Tim

We were at Cafe Matou the night before justjoan and had an equally delicious experience. Like her, I started with the charcuterie plate and then had a duck entree. (The duck our night was a little different than her night, but had wonderfulness in common.) For openers I had a martini made with Teton Glacier Potato Vodka (I think it was called) since I like potato vodkas, and that was terrific, too. Add in excellent service and you have a restaurant that people should probably think about more often than they do.

According to an email from Cafe Matou, their last day of service will be Sunday, November 14th. I am saddened to see this place close, this was one of my favorite date spots in Chicago. Had many nice meals here.

jeez, i love this place. i hope i can get in one last meal. thanks for the heads up. justjoan

i'd love to have one last meal at cafe matou, as it's one of my favorite chicago restaurants. i was wondering if there would be any interest on the board in joining me for dinner. i don't have a date in mind, i'm completely open to suggestion. i'm posting this in the events board as well.
this isn't a small plates kind of place, so i don't envision a lot of sharing (though i'm always up for tasting everything), but was thinking a good plan would be a smallish group where we would order what we wanted and pay for what we ordered. weeknights offer a less expensive prix fixe menu option so that might be a reason to go then. if there is any interest, please post here. matou closes on the 14th of november. justjoan

http://www.cafematou.com

The only free evening I have between now and closing is next Tues., 11/9. But if anyone was interested in an after-work dinner that night, Mrs. B. and I would love to do it. I've read about Matou and Socher all these years but never been. Menu looks lovely.

mrbarolo wrote:The only free evening I have between now and closing is next Tues., 11/9. But if anyone was interested in an after-work dinner that night, Mrs. B. and I would love to do it. I've read about Matou and Socher all these years but never been. Menu looks lovely.

(oops, let's move the discussion to the events board where i posting the identical post)
i'm free on the 9th, so let's do it. what time would be convenient for you and mrs.B? i'll wait till tomorrow to make a reservation in case others want to join us. thanks for your interest; i hope you like it as much as i do. my last meal was in may and it was everything i love about french cooking. cafe matou is about 2 blocks SE of the western stop on the blue line, if you are coming by train. and there is plenty of free parking on the side streets. joan

i had my last dinner at cafe matou, which is closing on 11/14, last night with 4 friends. it was a leisurely, delicious dinner. i had a house cocktail of local potato vodka and creme de cassis, and it was hard not to fill up on the perfectly crusty french bread and butter which followed. then 2 of us shared the charcuterie plate/ i can never resist the housemade liver mousse and country pate here. i had the prix fixe dinner. the first course was an unusual (to me, anyway) tomato soup, with a very peppery broth, and big chunks of tomato and a poached egg. my entree was lake superior whitefish, lightly and crisply breaded and fried. it was served with rutabaga, which i had forgotten i liked. 2 of my friends had the grilled sturgeon with a ugni(grape) basil cream. they loved it ,and so did i. for dessert i had the chocolate/banana bread pudding which isn't sickeningly sweet as it is in many restaurants. we also shared the almond/pear tart with raspberry sauce which was dreamy. but the best dish of the evening was the napolean of phyllo dough layered with chocolate/bourbon/molasses ice cream. we were all stunned by it's explosive flavor.
i will be sad to see the end of this fine restaurant. if it had been located just 2 blocks closer to north avenue and the madness at the 6 corners, i think it would have been packed every night. justjoan

Any news on Mr. Socher's plans from here?

charlie socher(chef) and his co-owner, his sister susan, are moving to mineral point, WI. they have links through the restaurant with farmers up there, and they hope at some point to open a farm-to-table kind of restaurant. they have no concrete plans yet, as far as i know. you can get on their email list if you want them to notify you of their future plans. cafe matou will be a thai restaurant next. use the link below. justjoan

http://www.cafematou.com/contact.asp

justjoan wrote:charlie socher(chef) and his co-owner, his sister susan, are moving to mineral point, WI. they have links through the restaurant with farmers up there, and they hope at some point to open a farm-to-table kind of restaurant. they have no concrete plans yet, as far as i know. you can get on their email list if you want them to notify you of their future plans. cafe matou will be a thai restaurant next. use the link below. justjoan

http://www.cafematou.com/contact.asp

Thanks for sharing that info...and glad to hear--he's a talented guy and this new venture sounds interesting.