4. Restaurants

Matt’s in the Market

94 Pike St,Ste 32, Seattle, WA, 98101
  • (206) 467-7909
  • Store is closed

Matt’s in the Market Menu

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  • Paul T.

    I came here with my family, a party of 17, for dinner about two months ago. Thankfully, they were able to accommodate us! We ordered one of every entree and appetizer that was available, and let me say -- hands down, this was the best service and best meal we had during our brief stay in Seattle. Standout dishes included the octopus carpaccio, so delicately balanced between the inherent fattiness of the tentacle and the acidity and saltiness of the sauce drizzled atop. The sous vide halibut was beyond sublime, and, quite frankly, a near religious experience, to eat. And one can never forget the seared foie gras served on a waffle with seasonal sour cherries. Matt's in the Market serves up nuanced yet forward-thinking and fresh dishes in a cozy atmosphere. I will be sure to stop by when I'm in Seattle. Thanks for the delicious and unforgettable meal!

    (5)

  • Kelly C.

    As a Seattle local, I try to avoid touristy-traps. That said, I'm a huge fan of the market -- there's no better place to get local produce and food. My husband and I decided to try out Matt's for some fresh seafood on a weekday evening early in the summer. We made a reservation, so it wasn't hard to get a table. A few things we should have checked before we sat down: the menu and Yelp. There was literally nothing on the menu that didn't have some sort of diary or gluten in it (both of which I'm allergic too) and the vibe was super touristy. Our server didn't really seem to care about us... unlike other restaurants in the area, they probably didn't even expect us to come back again. I had to make several requests to the ONE THING on the menu that I sorta- could eat, and our server seemed really annoyed. And for what it's worth, what I ended up getting was NOT worth it -- a simple piece of fish with a small serving of veggies we could have made at home for 1/10 of the price. The ambiance is loud and crowded, and the view only interesting if you face one way at a table next to a window. If you're visiting town and the menu offers choices you don't usually get at home, it's not a bad option. It's not your best option in Seattle, though. If you're looking for great seafood with a spectacular view, just head down to the real waterfront where you can get more bang for your buck...and much better customer service, too.

    (2)

  • Vana T.

    This place is a little gem right near the pikes market. Had reservations at radiator whiskey bc my gf highly recommended but we walked in it was way too hot and thought that there's no way we can enjoy our food if we eat in this heat! Looked across and there was matts in the market! Went in but they were all booked so we sat the bar I must say the food here looks so pretty that you don't want to eat but when u dig in you will be so impressed that you wished you had more! Must order- Foie gras Watermelon salad Octopus carpaccio Halibut Hostess is nice, bartender has a lil attitude but overall service is ok but since the food is amazing I'll still give it 5 stars!

    (5)

  • Jennifer F.

    Both times that I have been here, there was always a line waiting before the restaurant even opened! I would highly recommend making reservations in advance, as they seem to get pretty booked. On my second visit, I was contemplating between the catfish sandwich (since I enjoyed it the first time), and the braised rabbit sandwich. I've never tried rabbit before, so I was a little hesitant. Luckily, the soup of the day was braised rabbit stew, so I was able to get the catfish, and still get a taste of the rabbit! Our waitress told us that rabbit is gamier, but the stew actually tasted more like chicken. It might have just been because the meat was shredded though. Even so, I thought it tasted fine. Although the sandwich isn't intense on flavor (it's more on the bland side), I enjoyed the catfish. The sandwich does tend to fall apart though. My friend tried the market fish, which was halibut that day, and enjoyed it! Next time, I'll definitely try the rabbit!

    (4)

  • Dembe N.

    Got lunch waited about 40', note to myself " make a reservation:) " Nice, polite, prompt staff. Food is solid 4 stars. Got - Bacon Cheeseburger, Fish of the day Halibut and local Brewery. Beer was - ok Burger - above average Halibut - nicely cooked, above average

    (4)

  • Tiffany T.

    Went here for an early Father's Day lunch with the pops, made a reservation online requesting a table with a view of the Pike Place and they delivered (though my table for 3 seemed like it would more comfortably seat 2) :D The ambiance itself is bright, open, and relaxed (the light from the windows is amazing!). I can only speak for the cornmeal-crusted catfish sandwich with simple salad but it's perfect. The creaminess of the aioli plays well with crunchiness of the fish and the softness of the bread :') I've lived in Seattle for the past few years for school and my dad has lived here even longer, but it's Matt's in the Market that has Pike Place Market really worth venturing to with the expensive parking and sheer amount of people that have deterred us from going in the past.

    (4)

  • Dan S.

    *Went twice in two days, once for dinner and once for lunch, both were really solid *Great oysters and their catfish sando was really really good *Service was prompt and efficient but lacked menu knowledge on a couple items.

    (4)

  • Beth K.

    Go with a reservation or be prepared to be turned away. I was there when they opened for lunch and if you didn't have a reservation you ere out of luck. Amazing food - loved the halibut sandwich with chorizo farro soup. Portions were average, not abundant. Personable bartender Robbie. Knew his stuff and would issue recommendations. Great ambiance. After a glowing review, I only gave it 4 stars for the price and portion ratio.

    (4)

  • Meghan M.

    I am completely shocked at the lack of customer service by such a high-rated place. I called to make a reservation and was told "We're in the middle of a lunch rush right now, you'll need to call back later". This was absolutely unacceptable. I'd rather have been put on hold than given an answer like that. Not looking forward to actually eating here, but have no choice since it's for a business dinner.

    (2)

  • Ashley H.

    King salmon was fresh and excellently prepared! Beets were a nice accompaniment. View is nice although a bit blocked. Otherwise a very nice dinner. Was recommended to me by a local and was not disappointed.

    (4)

  • Karen F.

    We went to Matt's based in the recommendation of several local people. We were very disappointed Overall with the experience. The meal was over priced and under whelming. The salmon was very under cooked - came out very rare like sushi and tasted very fishy. The halibut was average. Service was good.

    (2)

  • Ella M.

    Trying to find is difficult if you are not a local. If you are looking straight at the Pikes Market slowly look right. The building you see will have an indoor market. Walking into the building you'll see the elevator which leads up to this fantastic restaurant) First... the place is on the smaller side but the energy is wonderful! The day I visited was beautiful 81° with a slight breeze. The natural light spilled in to the restaurant with the soft breeze to follow. I couldn't have picked a better day. I chose to sit at the bar. (Far left corner) It allows for a closer interaction with the staff and you can see the entire restaurant. Looking over the menu at all the different options I could tantalize my taste buds I decided to try something basic. I wanted to see what they had to offer. If a restaurant can't get the basics down ... Makes me question... The Bacon cheeseburger is beyond amazing! I love a place that can make something simple taste way beyond fantastic! I wanted to eat the entire burger but I was hurtingly full! Tried a few nibbles of the salad which was bright and refreshing. The staff really make the food and experience that much more when visiting a restaurant. Robbie the bartender was enthusiastic and knowledgable. When you have a great atmosphere, amazing view, and a top notch staff well... The food taste even better! Great overall experience. I can't wait to come back! I will have to come back for dinner and have them surprise me! Also..... The traditional French 75 w/cognac was perfect and for me that is a huge plus!!!

    (5)

  • Robin M.

    We hadn't been to Matt's in many years, but decided to give it a shot when we had visitors in town. Got a reservation for 5 at lunch with no troubles at all and we got a great table by the window overlooking the market. Food was just ok: - clams & mussels with chorizo - on par with other restaurants downtown. Nice flavor, but nothing special - Cobb salad - too creamy, it was a bit too heavily dressed and served decomposed which looks nice, but flavor wise isn't as good - oyster po-boy with corn seafood chowder - there was hardly any corn in the chowder, but TONS of potatoes, sandwich was descent, but not great - Dungeness crab caeser - meh, continuing the ok, not great trend Service was friendly, efficient, and they kept our glasses full, which can be a challenge.

    (3)

  • Ben S.

    Food was good, although the menu was somewhat limited. It was warm out and it was baking up in that restaurant when we were there. Not much of a water view like we expected when we made the reservation either. Our group decided to walk downstairs for ice cream for dessert and our waiter kind of had a little pout about it. We had many drinks, appetizers, etc., no reason for that.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth P.

    I came here with my mom anticipating one of the best restaurant experiences in Seattle and it turned out not to be the case. The service was atrocious and the waiters were very condescending. We ordered an expensive bottle of wine and not once did they return to ask us if we were enjoying it or to even pour more into our glasses. My mom was unsure about the doneness of her Salmon (it was cold in the centre - barely even rare) so we called the waitress over and she took a condescending tone about how they only cook it medium-rare but she could change it for us if we were uncomfortable with that. The wait staff only ever visited our table to take our orders and deliver our food and cheque. Not once did they ask us about our experience with our food or drinks. Overall, a poor experience and would not recommend.

    (2)

  • Anna Z.

    This is such a cute place to have lunch, overlooking the market below and enjoying a beautiful view of Seattle (and some mountains I don't know the names of). I tried the catfish sandwich mostly because it had sambal mayo, which is my favorite hot sauce in my not-so-favorite condiment (but it makes mayo tolerable). The sandwich was awesome, soft potato bread with a perfectly fried piece of catfish, some greens, and perfectly appropriate amount of sambal mayo. I also had a side of seafood chowder, which I really enjoyed because it was not overwhelmingly creamy and buttery. Definitely need to come back and try some of their other sandwiches.

    (4)

  • Jocelynn P.

    If you are only in Seattle for a quick visit, definitely try Matt's for lunch or dinner. It overlooks the market, with big half-moon shaped windows facing the water. Spacious layout. Sometimes hard to get in - try showing up when they open. The salads are divine. The lamb burger with duck egg...

    (5)

  • Tom K.

    Matts in the Market wants to be to the famous Pike Street Public Market what Skycity Restaurant is to the comparable icon, the Space Needle. Overlooking the street that cuts through the market and using the stalls as a source of locally grown fresh produce and fresh caught seafood means different ingredients are featured regularly. The impressive 6' row of well used cookbooks adjacent to the open kitchen are evidence of that infinitely variable menu attitude. That association comes with a price multiplier of about 1.2 which is much less than Skycity for much better food that is more imaginative and presented more artfully. If you want to plan a fine dining meal featuring one of the city's landmark sites, this is your best choice by far. Get a drink at Skycity atop the Space Needle for the unique view but have lunch or dinner at Matts in the Market for the whole package. Try to sit in one of the corners to diminish noise. Stephan, our server was cordial, attentive, well versed in menu options and wine selection and seemed the epitome of young Seattleite hip. Think of who you would cast for a remake of Sleepless in Seattle. It is located on Pike Street and across the street from the historic Public Market neon sign in the southwestern corner of the third floor of the Corner Market building. 80% of the 12 tables for 2-4 are along the outside of the 50' x 30' space with west facing windows for the best close in view of the market backed by Elliot Bay and the Olympic range. The inside half of the room is divided 70:30 between an open kitchen and an L shaped bar with 12 vintage stools. A blackboard lists the oysters, cheeses and charcuterie available that night. We started with our favorite app, a bowl of steamer clams. This version features 40+ 1" clams in a cup of white wine/nettle salsa verde that is pleasingly piquant. It is accented with chunks of pancetta and onion and comes just short of overpowering the subtle clam flavor. I'm not sure the soup spoons were set for this use but we didn't send any salsa back to the kitchen. We had planned on the seafood stew, a spicy blend of mussels, clams, fish fin, scallops and vegetables in green curry and poached halibut but both switched to the black cod special. It was 4-5 oz. seared on the skin and placed with a bed of peas, beans and aromatic vegetables. It was perfectly fresh and lightly cooked, as is the current style. Wines were a Walla Walla Syrah, a Napa cab and a dry rose from a group of 5 options for whites or reds by the glass and 1 rose. All would be worth ordering again and ranged from $11-$15 for a 4 oz. 2 pages of wine by the bottle seemed well balanced for choices. Dessert was a chocolate bread pudding. This was 6 oz of multiple 2"x2" slabs of 1" thick, dense, dark chocolate bread pudding set off by a scoop of premium vanilla ice cream with a drizzle of caramel sauce. Definitely a top 5 entry in the class of chocolate baked goods with vanilla ice cream accent. So 5 stars for location, ambiance, service, food and that certain feeling that you have dined in the midst of old Seattle.

    (5)

  • Dexter D.

    Good spot if you're looking for a fancy lunch. My gf and I stopped in while we were touring Pike's Market. The place wasn't obviously marked from the street (or I completely missed their sign), but I had GPS to get us to the right area. Its tucked away on the 2nd floor. Dining room had a view over Pike's market which was nice. Servers were attentive and alert. Its an open kitchen so we got to see the chefs in their element. We had their albacore tuna and halibut sandwiches with a seafood chowder and carrot/ginger puree on the side. All of it was delicious. I'm not even the biggest fan of ginger but the puree was good.

    (5)

  • Vania K.

    Henry and I attempted to come here a couple weeks ago, only to find (at 11:30am on a Friday) that it was FULLY BOOKED. WTF! I was curious as to what made this place so special, so I made a reservation online for lunch the following week. The catfish sandwich, at first glance, looked like something I could whip together... but within the first bite, I realized it was fantastic! Just the right amount of spicy mayo, just the right balance between the crispy catfish and the soft bread... Mmm... I also really enjoyed my pork belly banh mi (warning: the pork belly is really fatty, which is fine by me). Each lunch sandwich comes with a simple green salad or soup. The ambiance was perfect, down to the lone, delicate flower decorating our rustic little table by the huge windows overlooking the Market. I would definitely recommend this place for lunch. At $15ish per person, it's a great value.

    (4)

  • Susan S.

    Great food, excellent service and nice wine. It's a convenient place to relax in the busy Pike Market.

    (4)

  • WMT W.

    To call this place pretentious would be the understatement of the year Exhibt A one if tonights appetizers specials was a combo of headchease and rabbit liver. We came here because the restaurant next door was too busy. Huge mistake. Their are far too many good and great places in Seattle to waste a meal and your money here.

    (1)

  • Lexie P.

    Seasonal panna cotta was amazing! As was everything else we tried: king salmon, scallops, foie gras, and house-made chocolate ice cream. The meal was expensive but worth it for a special occasion! The view of Pike Place Market on a sunny Seattle evening is picture-perfect!

    (5)

  • Julia C.

    Ambiance is romantic, warm and just fun being right next to the pike place market sign. Staff are extremely kind and helpful. Food is some of the best quality, fresh. Their dishes include all local foods. Worth every bite! Can't wait for our next visit.

    (5)

  • Richard M.

    This was the second time at this restaurant. Our party of three had not made reservations far enough in advance and had to sit at the bar. Nevertheless, it was a wonderful experience. The bartender seemed to be as knowledgeable about the food as any waitstaff would be expected to be. We had black cod and salmon, both of which were done to perfection. The wine selection was excellent. All the staff were very friendly and attentive. This is truly a five star experience in a city with lots of good restaurants.

    (5)

  • Kim H.

    This was my favorite meal during our entire trip to Seattle. My husband had the bacon cheeseburger. It was made with Beecher's cheese and they gave him a side of the the coffee bbq. The burger was juicy and tender. The bbq sauce had a kick and my husband loved it!!! I had the mussels and clams and they were flavorful and juicy. Not even a hint of grittiness that you sometimes get with shellfish. I appreciate the fact that they use ingredients found within the market. I deeply regret not finding this gem sooner because I surely would have enjoyed having dinner here.

    (5)

  • Mojdeh S.

    How I heard of this place: An old friend invited me out to a birthday lunch and suggested Matt's among her list of restaurants she was eager to try. A brief look at the menu, where ingredients and menu are determined by what is available daily at the market below, and I was sold! Type of cuisine: "...loyal clientele, drawn by imaginative cuisine that changed constantly based on what was available from the stalls downstairs." "Being located in the Market is like having the best vegetable garden, the best fruit orchard, the best flower garden, and the best purveyors of fish, meat, cheese, and dairy at your door." Ambiance: "Many say that the Pike Place Market is the heart of Seattle. Located on the third floor of the Corner Market Building, Matt's in the Market is in the center of it all. Offering spectacular views of Elliott Bay, the Olympics, and the Market's famous clock through its charming arched windows, Matt's intimate setting makes you feel you are part of the ceaseless ebb and flow of the Market, witness to the very heartbeat of our beautiful city. Savoring every morsel of this blissfully delicious food, you realize that here in the heart of Seattle, you have discovered its soul." What I ordered: With great difficulty in narrowing down our favorite options, we solicited the advice of our server. To share, we started with the Chips & Dip ($7), house made salt-pepper chips, hot bacon-caramelized onion dip, and the Beet Salad ($10) with Belgian endive, Grana Padano, drizzled with a fine herb champagne vinaigrette. For our main entree, at the suggestion of my friend, we shared the BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich ($15), coffee BBQ sauce, cabbage slaw and aioli on brioche with a warm yukon gold potato salad. What I loved: The flavor sensation of the meal was attributed, in full, to the Chips & Dip! The Dip being the main contender in this culinary competition of flavors. Smoky bacon, gooey cheese and sweet caramelized onions paired with salty, grease-laden, house-made potato chips is more heavenly than a pink cloud on a warm, summer evening. Why I loved it: Friendly service, a bustling atmosphere, sweetly quiet views of the busy market street below and the warmth and coziness of an indoor establishment full of natural light and tantalizing food. Cost: Average ($10 - $16 per lunch entree)

    (4)

  • Michael M.

    Great wait staff, and the food was spectacular, obvious that it was fresh and the kitchen knew how to bring out the favors.

    (5)

  • Tiffany W.

    My food was amazing, make no mistake. However, I will never return here for a meal. The service was bad and the staff all very condescending, especially our waitress Angelique. Also, we were moved from a more desirable table, being told it was to be for parties of five or more, and not even 15 minutes later they seated a party of four there. Once our meal was finished and we were given our checks, it was an additional 45 minutes before they even came back to check and see if we were ready to pay. So terribly disappointed. Over priced for the service, which is sad because the chefs are excellent.

    (2)

  • Jamie A.

    The food is very good and well made. I wish the portion sizes were a bit bigger, but the tastes make up for it. This would be a great place a for a date night or fancy dinner.

    (4)

  • Karen G.

    quaint, neighborhoody feeling, delicious, and attentive service.

    (5)

  • Jeff F.

    Finally got to Matt's this past week after having it on my list for 11 years. The setting is absolutely fantastic, but that's where it ends. I was disappointed that of the few lunches I had while in town, I chose Matt's for one of them. Here's the rundown on the food: - Potato Leek Soup - meh - Chips & Dip - Average; bacon-caramelized onion dip sounded great, it wasn't - Grilled St. Jude's Albacore Tuna Sandwich - huge miss - Don & Joe's Lamb Burger was the best thing I had, but it seemed a bit lazy to not halve the burger in the kitchen versus sending it out with a knife Absolutely worth checking out if you're in a local. If you're visiting from out of town, Matt's doesn't make the shortlist.

    (3)

  • Chryst'l S.

    Matt's is a small, second floor location in the heart of Pike Place where you can overlook the "Public Market" neon sign and the Puget Sound/Elliott Bay while you dine... And there really isn't a bad seat in the house! My group and I went to town on the menu. We first indulged in their specialty cocktails (I got the rotating Barrel Cocktail and it was excellent), and started with the charcuterie, grilled octopus and cheese plate. I highly recommend the charcuterie and grilled octopus for any table. It's a great combination of appetizer dishes paired with your choice of alcohol. For the main course I had the M.P. Halibut with a braised fennel, celery, apple and radish salad. Very fresh tasting and nicely paired with a glass of white wine. To top it off, I had their port flight for dessert, which featured 10, 20 and 30 year old ports aged to perfection! When you're here, along with anywhere else in Seattle, you have to go for their seafood. Matt's is locally sourced right from the market, and their menu even adjusts to often highlight the day's freshest ingredients. Definitely a great spot to wine and dine for any special occasion!

    (5)

  • Rebecca A.

    Trendy, great atmosphere, food was good. Very busy if you want to go here make sure you make a reservation otherwise you will wait about an hour if you have more than 2 people. Window seats are nice because you have a view of the market below.

    (4)

  • Tommy B.

    It was a really cool atmosphere and our table had a view overlooking the market. The food was delicious, no complaints there. I am a dude who likes to eat a fair amount and the portions are what is keeping this from being 5 stars. We paid quite a bit for our meal which was expected, but I left hungry. Some of my coworkers had even smaller portions that I. That being said it was still a good overall experience. Would definitely eat here again.

    (4)

  • Lrwis W.

    Was in there at night, travel alone so I asked for one person seat, than I got it. Even there was so many sound but still fine because who don't like to talk lol. The meal was great either, it just a little bit hard to eat it because the soup bowl is weird for me.

    (4)

  • Lisa D.

    One of my fave spots in Seattle. Try to stop for lunch or dinner if I am near Pike's Place. Delicious food consistently. Great cocktails too.

    (4)

  • Jen L.

    So fresh and so clean! - Deviled Eggs - I amazed every time. Savory selection of beautiful eggs where the seasoning doesn't overpower the actual egg! Such art - Perfect chicken cobb salad. Get the blue cheese on the side! - soup of the day: I've loved the tomato and chowders Entrees: -My classic choice is usually the mussles and clams. Perfect for lunch with a delicious broth that is good for dipping bread in it! - Pan friend crusted catfish sandwich. Eat quickly as the potato bread sometimes falls apart from the mayo. I wish the catfish was a bit thicker compared to the cornmeal crust.. But that's just splitting hairs. - BBQ pulled pork sandwich - like the coffee bbq sauce. Such a great Seattle touch! There was a time it was a bit dry, but another time it was juicy... I guess a bit inconsistent - Lamb burger - juicy and flavorful! For dinner: - clams! I tried the foie gras, and the combo with the fruit (rhubarb and berries) seemed too much for my taste - I love the scallops and the halibut. That's my go to and I've never been disappointed!

    (4)

  • Jordan D.

    First stop in Seattle!(never been here before) Was recommended to us by multiple people back south (ATL)!!! What can I say--Amazing!! Nice wait staff, clean, vibey ambiance and a great view of the water!! Raw oysters had the most beautiful presentation...and they were delicious. The tuna sandwich was to die for and the chowder was GREAT! So much fish and seafood in it. I will 100% be coming back!

    (5)

  • Jason T.

    Came here on a whim for just some happy hour drinks and potentially a quick bite. I love this place! We were trying to hit up Radiator Whiskey, but apparently 5pm on Friday is a prime time for HH. Who would've thought? Anyways, all jokes aside, Radiator was packed and we didn't want to crowd around the bar. So there was Matt's, right across the hall. Matt's also has a small bar for HH, and yes all the spots were taken here as well. Luckily for us, we got to the restaurant right before they opened up for dinner service at 530pm and a couple at the bar would be moving over to their table soon. The host was incredibly nice and let us know that we could have their spot as soon as they moved. He even took our drink orders and brought them to us while we wait there on the bench by the host stand. When the patrons who were supposed to move over at 530pm were lingering a little, finishing up their small bites, he would keep us in the loop on when the spots would be available and was very attentive. His common courtesy and manners were so refreshing. So much so that I felt the need to spend a whole paragraph talking about it! It's the little things in life! As for the experience, we were at the bar, had one drink and an oyster shooter each. All items we ordered were from the happy hour menu. It was everything you would expect from a place like this. I've been here for lunch before (food was amazing and the vibe is just so welcoming and relaxed). I'm looking forward to visiting Matt's for dinner sometime soon, I think it has potential to be one of my favorite food spots in Seattle. We'll have to wait and see though. Updated review to come whenever that happens!

    (5)

  • Kat A.

    On what is sure to be one of the last glorious days of summer in Seattle, a friend and I came here for lunch to celebrate her new found employment. Even though we made plans the night before, I made a reservation because it was super easy to do on their website. It paid off when I heard the wait for lunch for 45 minutes! Definitely worth the rez. And now, onto the food! We ordered the chips and dip and there a bit of miscue - it was ordered as a starter and arrived when we were half way done with our lunch. Kind of a bummer. Minus one star. I ordered the "cobb" salad - butter lettuce with bacon, blue cheese, poached chicken, deviled eggs and avocados with blue cheese dressing. This may be the best salad I've ever eaten. I'll need to come back and eat one again. My friend ordered the Oregon rock shrimp tostadas, which she liked but the tortillas pretty much disintegrated making them difficult to eat. We also enjoyed a few bloody marys which come with a snit - a shot of Miller High Life. They really are quite delightful, especially on a sunny Saturday afternoon. It's 1000000 degrees in this place in the sun, minus half a star, but the view is quite lovely, so they can have the half star back I suppose, since half stars aren't really an option. The food is $$, but the drinks are $$$...such is life in Seattle.

    (4)

  • Cat T.

    Matt's in the Market is quite the romantic spot! If you're seated right by the window, you can get an amazing view of Pike Place Market - especially at sunset. Guys, take note! I dined at Matt's in the Market for a fancy date night with my boyfriend. We first feasted on the oyster platter as our appetizer - mmm, the oysters were so fresh! And for our entrees, I ordered the sea scallop plate, and my boyfriend ordered the seafood stew. The scallops were good, but for $34.00, I guess I was hoping to eat more than 4 scallops. I ended up eating some of my boyfriend's seafood stew because I was still hungry! Now, the seafood stew was DELICIOUS - I'll be sure to order that the next time I dine at Matt's. All-in-all, Matt's in the Market is a solid choice for good seafood; after all, the food is fresh from the market! But good seafood does come at a price - I'd only recommend this place for special occasions.

    (4)

  • Orlene C.

    I can see why people rave about this place for lunch. I thoroughly enjoyed their famous catfish sandwich, and I am not normally a fish person. It comes with either one of their two special of day soups or house salad. I am curious to try their cobb salad next time since it looked delicious and even comes with deviled eggs. Great place to meet with friends for a sit-down lunch downtown in a truly hip, Seattle setting. You should definitely get reservations ahead of time as this place fills up.

    (5)

  • Claire C.

    Having recently moved to Seattle and live in the Pike Place Market area, I had heard great things about Matt's in the market. However, I found my waiter so rude and condescending that I cancelled my order and left before my meal. Shame as I had been really looking forward to dining here.

    (2)

  • Jayna S.

    The RUDEST service I have ever experienced. Never have I gone to a restaurant and been sassed and talked back to by the servers. Incredibly inappropriate. The service was horrible and the food was just okay. Would not recommend.

    (1)

  • Cynthia L.

    Vinne: You know, it's dangerous for you to be here in the frozen food section. Shaldeen: Why is that? Vinnie: Because you could melt all this stuff. First, if you know which movie this is from, then you are awesome. No really. You are. Second, this movie line *literally* played in my mind when I put the first piece of Delicata squash in my mouth. For lunch, I had ordered the quail, served with squash and pine nuts; and after one bite of squash, I pushed over the beautifully placed quail resting on top of the dish like a kid on the playground I didn't like. It was that good to me. The amount of rich butter absorbed into the squash should have changed it on a molecular level to a half stick of butter. I ate slowly, but eventually it ran out and I had to try the main feature: the quail. And WOW was I impressed. It was delicate, succulent and meaty, and seasoned perfectly. I've only had Matt's at lunch hour; once ordering a Po Boy to-go and it's good, but I think that sitting in for lunch is where it's at. The atmosphere is bustling, inviting and had (of course) terrific views. I almost didn't feel like I was in the Market any more. The price was right for the quality of food and being in the Market, and the service was prompt and friendly. I love that it's near everything I hold dear and will be back.

    (5)

  • Jenn N.

    Great option for a quintessential Seattle meal. What is more Seattle than eating Pacific northwest fare right in the middle of the market looking at the sound? I love to bring out of town guests to this restaurant as it really gives them a feel what Seattle is all about. The lamb burger is always an outstanding choice. A meal here feels special without being fussy. The food is always seasonal with perennial favorites. The bartenders always properly poor the drinks and there is little left to be desired from this timeless Seattle classic. That's what makes Matt's in the Market so great, you can re-visit over and over again and still be in awe of it's greatness.

    (4)

  • Jason V.

    So, the 1 star is for service, we did not even get to eat. I called to make a 130 pm reservation for three, we arrived at 1 and asked of anything was available, no, come back at 130, ok no problem. We arrived back promptly at 130 and we're made to wait another 10 minutes, no biggie, we were then taken to a table for 2. Ok.....so we were asked to wait while a table was cleaned. So at 155 we watch as a four person party was seated before us. By 215 we were having lunch elsewhere.

    (1)

  • Paris F.

    Great view of the market, nice setting. The food is good but not for the price they are charging. I do like the little mini cozy bar.

    (3)

  • Jasmine R.

    How have I NOT written a review for this place?!? Great for a special date or anniversary or if you just want to impress guests who come to Seattle. It's worth the money. Angelique was our server and made our already perfect dinner 100% better. She paired our meals perfectly and it was definitely one of the best dinners out.

    (5)

  • Andrea S.

    Great food, friendly and informative waitstaff, good ambience. Prices were higher than we normally spend but the dishes were so tempting we decided we couldn't pass it up. The two of us split a couple of appetizers and an entree then each got a dessert. The waiter was so gracious to bring us individuals plates, laying the entree out as a serving platter. He never made us feel awkward about sharing. Their wine menu was much larger than their food menu but we're not big wine drinkers so we did not partake.

    (5)

  • Yang X.

    I had a lunch there. It was awesome.

    (4)

  • Randy P.

    Still the best lunch & Bloody Mary in town !!

    (5)

  • Brooke L.

    A local recommended this place to us when we were on vacation in Seattle. It didn't disappoint. Offers good views of Pike's Place Market and the food was really good! We had the halibut sandwich, seafood chowder, and chips and dip. Everything was delish! I especially enjoyed the chips and dip!

    (4)

  • Dawn C.

    "A tasty surprise!" As hubby and I walked through the famous Pikes Market I as always..yelped for a good restaurant choice. Came across this one. We didn't realize that getting there would be an adventure in itself. .the twists the turns wrong directions and ultimately upon arrival questioning our decision...Could this tiny doorway off the beaten path all by itself on a lonely 2nd floor lead to food heaven? The answer is YES! We entered and were pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere. Bright and airy with a rustic feel. To the right are bookshelves with cookbooks and wine barrels scattered just enough to make you feel welcome. I admit after the decor I worried that maybe too pricey for our meager budget. A waitress sat us and we began the task of grazing the menu. You can easily be distracted by the wonderful view of the length of the marketplace below and the rows of fresh flowers! Our waiter came and brought us some water and we asked about the specials. As soon as it was said we knew what we were having! A tuna melt on grilled potato bread made with red and green poblano peppers a chive aioli and smothered in swiss cheese...need I say more?? Our side? An amazing seafood chowder in a creamy broth with tons of salmon, halibut, clams, shrimp potatoes and yum. We also ordered a french onion dip appetizer that knocked our socks off served with fresh made chips. The appetizer arrived and was huge! Sooo glad we decided to split our entree because you could literally be full for days just with this appetizer. The entree arrived and it looked soooo good. We split it on two plates and dug in. The halves were huge and it melted in my mouth and we savored every bite of the delicious medley of flavors. The bill under 28 bucks and we left happy full and satisfied. Highly reccomended for locals as well as tourists! Cheers!

    (5)

  • Larry C.

    The place is a little tricky to find but worth the trek. When we got here we looked the menu and wifie looked at me and said this place looks way to fancy, are you sure you want to try this out. Oh I smiled and were we're seated next the window with a view of the pikes place market sign and the famous clock. The lunch menu was fair sized we decided to try homemade salt an pepper potato chips with a French onion and cheese dip hat just melted all over the place. The taste just sent you to a first class ticket to flavor town. We split a tuna melt served on grilled potato bread. The tuna was prepared with poblano peppers both red and green. They mixed it with a chive aioli then smothered in Swiss cheese. Oh the flavors were so good and just a little tease of heat. This place was a treasure chest of yum. I can still imagine the flavors dancing on my tongue. This is a must try if you are in town.

    (5)

  • Cathy H.

    Happy Hour Warning to Tourists/Persons of a Certain Age We are residents of Seattle's Capitol Hill; last night we followed advice of a trusted local source and went to happy hour at Matt's at the Market. According to the Happy Hour Menu, happy hour only applies to those on bar stools; we were lucky enough to score a couple of seats at the bar. Though red and white wine appear on that menu the bar tender said due to recent hot weather the demand for happy hour red wine had declined. In order to prevent unnecessary spoilage red wine was no longer available at the happy hour price of $7. My husband ordered a $14 glass of red wine from the regular menu and, though I usually order only red wine, I ordered a $7 happy hour cocktail. The bartender presented my cocktail, warning one of the ingredients, Campari, is an acquired taste; he offered to bring me something else if I did not like it. We ordered several food items from the happy hour menu; the bartender said, "Just to be clear: you are ordering everything on the menu except . . . " then named off the two or three items we did not order. The food was uniformly delicious. We told the bartender we were ready for the bill, then asked him to call over the manager. The bartender asked if we wanted to wait for the bill in case there was an adjustment; we said no. My husband suggested it might be appropriate to offer red wine, even of a lesser quality despite the potential spoilage, that opened wine might be refrigerated, and that tourists might easily get the wrong idea about sophisticated Seattleites simply wanting no part of red wine in the summer. The manager affirmed the "no red wine on the happy hour menu" policy and offered to adjust the bill. We said no, that was not why we wanted to discuss this. The bill came; they had removed the charge for my husband's red wine. We paid that anyway. It is hard to rate this place, as the food was good, the ambience good, but we felt like we were being handled as either tourists or persons of a certain age. Everything we said was ignored. If we go back we will expect that red wine will be offered on the happy hour menu. If not our business will be lost forever.

    (2)

  • M J.

    Wonderful delicious food with a great view! However, as walk-in's, based on a few comments from the host and how our server attended to us, I almost felt like we didn't order enough wine or alcohol.

    (4)

  • Tom X.

    Fantastic preparation. The Clams are so flavorful and with the addition of ham and okra it was above and beyond any clam dish we had before. Cod was amazing as well, citrus yet rich. Even my 2 year old were downing all the pasta they served up just for her. Great experience.

    (5)

  • Michelle E.

    Last night we went on a mini stay cation in Seattle and tried several restaurants only to end up at Matt's in the Market. Although this venue has been suggested to me many times I had yet to try it. Let me just say, the food was delicious and the service superb. Even the bathrooms were clean and nice. My favorite dish from the evening was the beet salad. This was made of both golden and red beets combined with a light dressing, a version of blue cheese and nuts. It was outstanding. The best beet salad I ever had. It was quite rich so we were able to share and still eat enough. The serving size was generous. We can't wait to go again and we definitely recommend this to both travelers and locals. The venue itself is interesting and right next to the Public Market entrance sign and pig. Great atmosphere and although the restaurant was packed on a Monday night, we were still able to get dinner at the bar without reservations. We loved our bar tender and he was very enthusiastic and seemed to like his job. Don't wait! Go now!

    (5)

  • Meg H.

    You know when you eat so much you feel drunk? No? Just me? At the glowing recommendation of the client I was visiting in Seattle, I made my way to this restaurant. I was walking, and using the GPS on my phone but it was still a challenge to find this place, tucked away on the 3rd floor of one of the buildings making up Pike Place Market. I was graciously seated at a table for 2, but if there had been seats at the small bar I could have eaten there, too. For a small bar I noticed a very lively crowd of what appeared to be regulars. The rest of the restaurant could probably seat about 50 people, with tables surrounding an open kitchen. Very cool decor, with a mixture of steel and wood. The service was top-notch, with my server being tag-teamed by anyone else who saw that I needed water or a plate cleared. The menu contained a mix of salads, small plates, and entrees, and I can't imagine anyone not finding something to love. The difficulty was in decided which thing to order because they all sounded great. I thought I would keep it light by ordering a salad and a small plate. Oh, silly me. The wild mushroom salad came with a heap of mushrooms sauteed just perfectly, caramelized shallots, and a fried duck egg perching on top. Every single bite contained all of the flavors in the dish. As I neared the end I wished I hadn't ordered anything else because it was super rich. But, I had ordered the grilled octopus and was intrigued to see what octopus served with kimchi might taste like. The plate also contained chili vinaigrette, so it's not for the faint of heart. Again, each bite had every single flavor, and I did some pretty good damage, even though I was stuffed. I washed it all down with a very nice Pinot Gris from Tranche winery in Walla Walla. The wine list is unique, with a good variety of Old World and Washington wines by the glass. This was a great dining experience and I will go again, but will most likely share something.

    (4)

  • Mallory F.

    Best seafood dinner I've had in a long time. Granted, I currently live in landlocked Austin, TX, but not long ago I lived near the beach in California and the seafood restaurants there pale in comparison to Matt's. Each dish had a beautiful balance of flavors and was perfectly seasoned. I went early on a Tuesday - 5:45pm - so getting a table was pretty easy. The place filled up quickly, so I do recommend doing an early dinner or booking reservations in advance. The staff was very friendly and attentive. I started with the CLAMS appetizer (pic included) that was to die for - best claims I've ever had!! They tasted like butter....and not just because of the decadent wine and butter sauce they were swimming in. So fresh and so yummy. I followed my app with the HALIBUT and all can say is WOWZER! The fish had a nice crispy crust and a moist, flaky center. The edamame, radish, potato and artichoke heart medley it was accompanied with may have even been better than the fish - I wish I had the recipe. I also wish I hadn't lost the picture of the dish on my phone...sorry folks :( Seeing 'Market Price' next to an entrée always scares me a little, as it typically means you are about to pay a fortune. The halibut, however, was very reasonably priced - similar to the other entrées in the $30's. Definitely worth a try Give Matt's a shot if you're a first time visitor to Seattle - great food, good view, fun crowd and conveniently located in Pike's Place market.

    (5)

  • Hanna C.

    I think Matt's is one of the most iconic pikes place restaurants. They are known for being the best and having the highest standards for their food and service. Only the freshest ingredients from the market and an excellent menu

    (5)

  • Corey S.

    Overall great, and gluten free friendly, but I deducted one star for a few reasons: 1. My mom had the wild boar and it was FANTASTIC- her favorite meal on our trip, but my salmon was just so-so, and the sauce was a bit tangy for me. 2. While most of the waiters seemed friendly, the waitress we had was excessively snooty and made us a bit uncomfortable. We ended up asking the other waiters questions instead of her so we wouldn't get the look of judgement from her. A very important redeeming quality- they have an out of this world chocolate creme brûlée! Don't miss it if it's there. It was insane. Seriously.

    (4)

  • CB W.

    Mostly this place has an awesome view of the market. Definitely recommend it for visitors who want an experience rather than a quick meal. We went for cocktails, which were delicious. Also enjoyed an olive and cheese plate. It made for a lovely evening out.

    (4)

  • Charlie L.

    I've been hearing people rave about Matt's in the Market for... forever, and I finally decided to try it. Whoa mama... they weren't kidding calling it Seattle's best restaurant. It's pretty incredible... one of the best meals I've had in a while. We had the octopus appetizer, and I had the seafood stew and Ryan had the scallops, and seriously, everything makes me just keep on eating. Mere days later, I bring Rebecca N. here for lunch and I am not kidding, some of the best sandwiches around. Seriously... seriously good. A bit spendy, but a nice splurge once in a while.

    (5)

  • Lisa L.

    Locals told us to go here and I'm so glad. The view was amazing but the food was equal! We had the grilled Tuna sandwich. Just awesome! Highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Tony Y.

    This restaurant has just about everything. Location, service, ambience, and delicious food! I went to Matts for their catfish sandwich, which the Seattle Met Magazine listed as one of the best sandwiches in Seattle. Having embarked on a pilgrimage to try the entire list, I have to say they are right. The sandwich is cooked to perfection, moist on the inside and fried in cornmeal. It is served on potato bread with lettuce and a tasty aioli. Add a little hot sauce and you have perfection! I will be back!

    (5)

  • Irina P.

    After trecking up and down alleys in heels that were starting to create quite the painful blisters, on directions from locals, we (my sister and friend) finally found the secret doorway to Matts on the Market. We started with the half dozen oysters, which came from 3 different places and had unique names which I cannot remember now for the life of me, but were quite tasty. Next came the charcuterie (I never know how to pronounce that word) plate. Come to find out, we are not fans of the blood sausage. Foie gras was very buttery and decadent, and the other meats were decent but very salty. Drinks were good. There was some sort of totally potent but delish flower drink that we had to share between two people. Anywhoo, the duck breast was good, but a totes small portion. The dessert was delish, pot de creme was good, but a bit too much salt. The donut holes were cinnamony and deepfried goodness. Can't go wrong with that.

    (4)

  • Joey W.

    Catfish sandwich and Cobb salad are both great. Been here twice and very satisfied both times. Plus, the view is amazing!

    (5)

  • Britt N.

    Braised rabbit sandwich was excellent. In non-tourist season, there was ample seating available at 11:45am on a weekday, but I can see how it there would be long waits during the summers.

    (5)

  • G V.

    Great bartender who knows how to pour a drink and fabulous food. Had the seafood stew - like a religious experience - highly recommend it. Smallish place overlooking the public market. We ate at the bar so can't evaluate waitstaff. Bartender was attentive and food was superior. Open kitchen design to the restaurant - pretty hip. Walked in on a whim. Wow! What luck. Will be back for sure.

    (5)

  • Rick M.

    It's located right at the market entrance in an old brick building. Climb two flights of stairs at the south end. You have to start with their chips & dip and then work into entrees. Everything is exceptional. Come hungry. I love the lamb burger but their special of the day is always a great option.

    (5)

  • Kevin C.

    6 stars. Beautiful views of the market, great natural light on nice days. And did I mention the food? Had the catfish sandwich - breaded in cornbread and served on untoasted artisan bread. PURE DELICIOUS. Had the Mushroom and Cauliflower puree soup with it. It's vegetarian - I don't even miss meat.

    (5)

  • Christine J.

    Good location, great atmosphere, amazing food! The crab salad, halibut, and wine was good. The bread pudding was ok, don't need to order that again. Sal was or waiter at the bar and gave prompt and very efficient service. Make reservations if you want a table:).

    (5)

  • Bill K.

    Our second visit this last weekend was quite disappointing. The starters were delicious: we had the oysters, the beef tartar, and the foie gras. Our two entrees were the black cod and the halibut special. They were ok, but nothing special and frankly a little bland. The service was abysmal. We couldn't find our waitress after entering our drink order until we spotted her having drinks herself and reading her Ipad at the bar. So the host was nice enough to take over for a while until she got back in the rotation later on. Nonetheless, every step took way too long. We even skipped desert because we couldn't handle what we estimated would take another hour. Ugh. I think this place is way overpriced. Normally, this sort of thing doesn't concern me. But when you are sitting there waiting and waiting you start focusing on how expensive things are. I mean I get the view of the Pike Place market sign is romantic and everything. However, the apps were relatively expensive, and both fish entrees were around $38 a piece which I found a bit ironic considering where we were. And the wines were really over priced. I am familiar with many of them, and some of those on our short list that night were basically almost twice what I would pay in other restaurants. Give me a break. I don't think I have ever brought a bottle into a restaurant and paid a corkage fee, but now I get why people would do that. Lesson learned! Based on two dinners, I would rate this place 3 stars. The first dinner a while back was probably a 4.5, but the second was around a 1.5. So, I will average it out to 3 stars with the disclaimer that I will never go back.

    (3)

  • Ian R.

    Everytime I headed over to Radiator Whiskey during the weekdays (yes, I'm a raging alcoholic), Matt's had a sizable crowd, so it seemed like people were fans. The market houses a lot of awesome restaurants, so I assumed Matt's would fall in line. This assumption was spot on - came over for a Saturday brunch, and the view alone immediately bumped Matt's up a few notches in my book. They were full up when we got there at about 12:30 pm, with almost an hour wait to bear. Luckily, we got a couple seats at the bar, and this ended up being the perfect place to sit. Though small, their bar has a good selection of drinks, and I was pretty surprised they had Mezcal. The bartender was cool and witty, but the view and drinks were so good that he could have been a total tool and I'd still be writing a review similar to this. I had the porkstrami, and this was the only reason Matt's didn't get the Five Star treatment. It was a little salty for my taste, but we also had the banh mi and that DEFINITELY saved the day. Sambal mayo oozing off the sides of the sammich?! Go get 'em! Not to mention that the veggies were fresh and the pork belly was tender and hearty. Will return next time for dinner, but if it was anything like our lunch experience, Matt's is definitely a place to return.

    (4)

  • Joelle P.

    First time here ever. The braised rabbit sandwich is possibly the best sandwich I've ever had. In. My. Life.

    (5)

  • Vikéndios N.

    The menu here is very eclectic. ATMOSPHERE: As soon as you walk in it feels like you're in someone's apartment. Old, quaint, dim accent lighting, open air, cinder block walls & varnished wood ceilings with huge windows with a great view of the Public Market. The kitchen is in open view. FOOD: Burrata - Mozzarella pieces with a balsamic fig sauce, fresh figs, rhubarb and toasted bread. This was really good. Nice app to sweeten your palette. Grilled Octopus - Damn this was good! A couple of legs with kimchee & arugula. Yummy! Charcuterie - The selection changes daily. We got steak tartar, rabbit patte, raw scallops with tobiko, and chicken liver mousse. Everything was delish! Raw phoebes beware! Half Roasted Chicken - Crispy & tender chicken over mashed potatoes, with wild mushrooms, pearl onions and sprouts on the side. I almost never order chicken in restaurants because its so boring and common, but our server recommended this and it was delish! He might've changed my discriminative mind! Kurobuta Pork Tenderloin - Super tender pre-cut chunks of pork with a smooth salty flavor, over a bed of mashed potatoes, greens, ham hock, and 2 pieces of chicharone. SERVICE: We had reservations for 9:30 pm. The place was still pretty busy. The host greeted us within a minute. Our server Philip was excellent. So attentive and professional. Our drinks never got below half before they were refilled. Excellent without being overdone. OVERALL: Excellent food and service. A great alternative if you've had enough seafood.

    (5)

  • J V.

    I remember the last time I was at Matt's. It was probably 2006. I took my 85 year old well-travelled grandmother for lunch after a beautiful morning at Pike Market. The waiter placed a bottle of wine on the table which was just under 2/3rds full and said nothing as he left us to look at menus. Acting upon past experience when traveling abroad, I poured each of us a sample (like a fourth of a serving). Just as we each took a sip he ran to our table and berated us loudly in front of the others diners, for pouring some. Matt's is tiny, so not one patron missed out on our humiliating experience. We were both so stung, we were speechless. I wish we had just left a $20 on the table and left for somewhere more pleasant, but we were in shock. I've considered going back (having been there several times prior to that), but every time, I think about it, I lose my appetite. The food is good, but I also appreciate a nice experience when dining out.

    (3)

  • David P.

    Great happy hour, tasty drinks and excellent bartenders. Inconveniently located and a so-so view, but great menu with not-overdone flavors. Just spills class all over the smallish-dining area. The open kitchen is a plus, but make reservations early-on. Very few tables and maybe 8 seats total at the bar.

    (4)

  • Kelly O.

    Food was really good and fresh. Portion size was nice too. Would definitely go back. We had the Kobe steak and poached halibut.

    (4)

  • Anthony B.

    I have always loved this little spot overlooking the market. I came here on the recommendation of The Stranger. They won their homemade potato chip match up ages ago. I was able to nab a reservation for 115 post Super Bowl win Monday. When we got in about 10 min early there was a queue of people waiting. They seemed short staffed... I wonder why. That vein said the sole server got us seated as quickly as she could. Their service was apologetic for the slow pace. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful, open design, high ceilings, wonderful views. We were lucky enough to sit next to the window on a sunny day. If you can make it on for lunch I highly suggest the chips and dip. It's a big dish of melty, oniony, bacony, goodness. Their deviled egg plate is also fantastic. But be aware you will get pickled veggies and or fish on them. My entree was the oyster po' boy (Special) and the carrot & coconut soup. Both were exceedingly delicious, too bad you'll probably never get to try them...

    (4)

  • Michael H.

    Inventive and tasty! Charcuterie platter was very atypical in a great way. Instead of just the usual salami and other cured meats we received a bit of that plus 3 quite unique meat preparations - a special kind of sausage, head cheese (fried) and the most perfectly smooth and clean chicken liver mousse we've ever had. And that was all just one great dish.

    (5)

  • Sara B.

    Had a really really yummy lunch here - - great pulled pork sandwich, great seafood salad, yummy veggies and 2 delicious desserts - can't say enough - GO

    (5)

  • Kristina B.

    A must for any Seattle tourist visit. I recommend the table next to the kitchen prep station for a fun dinner view. We shared a number of appetizers, all of which I cannot remember as it was a few months ago and I am just now getting to writing a review. From what I can recall: The clams were fresh and tasty (not much more to say about that; if you are a fan of clams you will enjoy.) The beet salad was very good with a depth of tastes and textures.

    (4)

  • Shlomi G.

    First this not a $$$ spot. Much more like a $$ (prices are very affordable) Second, the food was close to perfection. Fresh fish, spiced well, great soup. Can't ask for more. We had the halibut and tuna sandwiches with a starter + glass of wine and a beer for a total of $56. Would com back tomorrow !

    (5)

  • Daniel F.

    Need to plan a trip back to this gem of a find, great food, great service, and great owner, try anything on menu and you will be happy...

    (5)

  • Mikey B.

    Went to Matts's and stood at the reception podium as several employees walked past us without any acknowledgment. Then the hostess finally showed up and asked us if we had a reservation for lunch despite the numerous empty tables that we're all over the restaurant there would have been a 45 min wait to sit at one of the empty tables. Seriously. No way would I eat here with this pathetic treatment.

    (2)

  • Tashia F.

    This is one of our most favorite places in Seattle. It is awesome food, fresh from the market. I would eat your food right at the bar and have Robbie make you a bloody Mary best experience ever.

    (5)

  • N H.

    It's nice restaurant over looking the public market. Went there for dinner with friends on our last night in Seattle. The ambiance is classy, upscale without being stuffy.It has open kitchen so you can see your food being prepared which is I am fan of. The services was great. One person in our party had asked an entree that normally came with peanuts to be omitted but when the order came, it had nuts. The waiter apologized made the correction right away. The food was incredible, very fresh. Everyone at our table was happy. The drinks were right on. Over all amazing experience, we will return for more.

    (4)

  • K S.

    Make a reservation. Make a reservation. Make a reservation. If you do make a reservation, you'll likely get a table where you'll have a view of the sound or clock and pig. The bar is fine, too. It's fun to watch the market crowd go by while eating generously portioned salads, fish courses, or falafel. That's right, falafel. I feel a little embarrassed that one of the best falafels I've ever had was at a tourist-priced sit-down restaurant in Seattle, but it's the truth. The pickled beets (or whatever accompaniment) really made it work. The cocktails are yummy. It would be really hard to go wrong with a Valrhona chocolate puddingy dessert and, luckily, they don't. The only miss I've had was a very salty appetizer involving shrimp and a tortilla shell. Also, it would be nice if there were more gluten-free options. Other than those caveats, if you're downtown as a tourist or a regular person, it's a good choice.

    (3)

  • Linda V.

    I had the fish stew with a coconut broth. It had salmon, halibut, mussels, clams, topped with peanuts and cilantro. The appetizer was a variation if cheese with dates, blueberries, shortbred cookie, and jelly----served with toast.

    (5)

  • laura m.

    A beautiful dining experience with amazing food at the front of Pikes Place Market. I would highly recommend this restaurant for anyone who loves a gorgeous dining room, fresh, innovative food and fun cocktails and wine. I loved the octopus, so tender and flavorful. The cheese board was incredible. I can't say enough about how delicious and beautiful this restaurant is and in a perfect location! I love that you get the touristy part of Seattle with a non touristy dining experience.

    (5)

  • Lindsey P.

    Matt's is a long standing, go-to location for excellent food and drinks. Over the long term, I've never had a bad meal. The bar is also top notch - Robbie's Bloody Mary lives up to its reputation.

    (5)

  • Kate B.

    Matt's in the Market is my go-to place to take people visiting from out of town. It is a bit pricey, but the food lives up to the price. The seafood stew is chock-full of clams, mussels, and scallops and is delightfully spicy and rich. All of their salads are wonderfully flavorful, especially their beet salad. Their cocktails are also inventive and tasty. Skip the overpriced, underperforming restaurant at the Space Needle- take your out-of-town guests to Matt's. On top of the great food, you get an awesome view of the market.

    (5)

  • Brandon N.

    An excellent meal from start to finish. We showed up abt 20 minutes early and expected to wait. The host, no joke one of the best hosts, greeted us, continued to be super attentive and offered drinks while we wait. Ordered the halibut in a pesto sauce with fingerlings, fava beans and artichoke. The fish steak was seared to perfection, super moist in the center and even through. The pesto had hints of lemon and spice to compliment the fish nicely. The artichoke, potato and bean soaked up the flavor of the pesto. For dessert was a lime avocado sorbet. Creamy and refreshing. Slughtly sweet but still good. Awesome waiter answered all our questions quickly. An all around great meal.

    (5)

  • Kaelynn A.

    We weren't very impressed. If I'm going to pay $75 for dinner, it better be good and this fell short. --The ambiance is unique, as you feel part of the Market but removed from the hubbub. --Our server was polite but not very attentive; she didn't seem invested. --The food was okay but not the caliber I would expect for the price. My salmon was well cooked but plain. The "potato chips" thy came with it were actually a small garnish of tiny chips. There just wasn't much interest to it. --My partner got the steak with what was supposed to be an olive tampenade but had too much vinegar. The meat was unevenly cooked. Overall not a great value. I've had much better dinners in Seattle for a much more reasonable price.

    (2)

  • Mark F.

    Cozy and bright perched above the market. A welcome reprieve from the streets below. Fantastic service from friendly staff on the floor, behind the bar and in the open kitchen. Reservations made for late lunch in a packed house. Killed time at the bar with a spicy Bloody Mary. Apparently theirs are voted best in Seattle but not by me. The side of Miller High Life was fun but did not make up for the lackluster breakfast cocktail. Not even spicy. Moving to our table on on the glass we watched as the tiny space was well covered by the couple of waiters. The menu is simple but your choice is not. The food looks good on paper and better when glancing at your neighbors. I went with the catfish, $13, and was not disappointed. Flaky and fried it was light and delicious. The lamb burger was the runner up and luckily, I was able to sample a bite at the table. Delicious. Tough to say if I made the right choice. Next time, the lamb. After we ordered a place of Deviled Eggs rolled by. A quick flagging of our server and, Order Up! We loved these eggs topped with crab, anchovies, smoked salmon, pickled onions and a spicy sauce. Not all on one. That would be too much. The food, service and location is great especially when you need to escape the hustle and bustle of the Market. Plan ahead, call for reservations and enjoy the experience.

    (4)

  • B E.

    Food was five stars. Ambience is excellent over looking Seattle market. If you don't order a dessert - shame on you!

    (5)

  • Steve S.

    This is essentially the best seafood dinner, and perhaps the best all around meal I've ever had. Add in the atmosphere, view and service and you have what amounts to be a must visit restaurant while in Seattle. It's a bit hard to find, located inside of a building by the Pike Place Market. Stick with it though, because the flavors that are about to be experienced are well worth it. Reservations are a must, but Open Table makes it easy. We had the Fois Gras, a seafood soup and fresh fish of the moment. It was all excellently prepared with detail you could only expect at the finest restaurants. Ask for a window table and you'll get to see all the activity at the market below. As for a water view, and you'll see the sunset for the Olympics and you might just find love. Enough gushing, this is seriously the place I wake up thinking about. Still. Give it a shot.

    (5)

  • Gina C.

    Had lunch today at matt's - holy smokes. So delicious. Do NOT pass go, go directly to the chips n dip and TRY to have some decorum and not shove your fave into it. It is beyond. I also had the catfish sandwich because why wouldn't I have the catfish sandwich. And the Bloody Mary was remark. So good.

    (5)

  • Matt M.

    Delicious! Very fresh ingredients, a majority of which are procured among the different vendors in the market and prepared fresh daily. That time and care comes through in the food. I had the lamb burger and it was excellent. Everyone else in our party was raving about their dishes as well. I was able to try a bit of the catfish and it was great.

    (5)

  • Jessica C.

    The ambiance and the view really make this place! The food and service was really good too... We had the cheese dip which was very rich but very good, the lamb burger, pulled pork sandwich and the halibut.. All were delicious!

    (4)

  • Susan M.

    Don't walk, run. I could go into details but why- mint, watermelon, gooey duck, avocado...this sort of finely orchestrated dish (and all the others we tried) is what they serve up w exceptional, flawless service, incredibly charming ambiance overlooking the public market. If you are looking for something uniquely Seattle, fun yet really refined with daring, crafted food + a killer wine list, this is it.

    (5)

  • Melanie C.

    It had been 7 years (whoah!) since I was at Matt's last, and even though it's double the size and the hostess was a pretentious "no" girl, we ended up getting seats at the new bar area, and had a great meal with awesome service from a bartender/server who has been there since the beginning. The one thing I miss is the political commentary on the menus from days of yore. Matt: How about bringing that soul back?

    (5)

  • Avital l.

    If you are in Seattle WA go check this place excellent food and service very small restaurant maybe 15 tables great attention to details just by the farmers market as yo yo III can see from the photo I had the sea food stew it was thevright amount of heat very Good. The desert was very Good as Well.

    (5)

  • Kathy A.

    So there were some highs and some lows from dining for dinner at Matt's in the Market. The evening started off on a bad note when we arrived for our 7:30 reservation and were immediately told we would have to wait because they were running behind. Ok that's fine no biggy... Once we were finally seated service seemed to be running ok. We ordered a delicious bottle of wine and were served bread (I do think it's a bit of a bummer that they charge $4 for the bread when there is nothing special about it like serving it with olives or something). Once we ordered our apps, they came out super fast which was nice because we were starving after having to wait before. The beet salad was good, a bit on the small side. The arugula and crab salad was a toss up. I loved it and so did a few others at our table; however, one of the diners in our party really disliked it and almost sent it back. The clam appetizer was pretty tasty and had a nice broth. One of the specials of the night was a sardine app which one of my brothers ordered. He didn't seem too thrilled by it. This is when the evening took another bad turn. I have no idea why, but there was an incredibly long wait in between first and second courses. We keep trying to find out server or frankly anyone to check on the status but were never able to. Once our meals arrived we kind of expected a small apology but there was no mention of the delay. Also, the main courses were only mediocre. I myself had the seafood stew and while the curry broth was quite good, the seafood itself was not well cooked and rather bland. The quail dish was just okay and the special of the night was a whole fish of bass and again this dish was rather bland. We wanted dessert but since we had already been delayed so much we unfortunately needed to get the check and go. I would like to give Matt's in the Market another chance because I've read so many good reviews and I'm hoping this was an off night. Maybe a lunch would be better. I should mention the view and location are impeccable.

    (3)

  • Jon K.

    Since I moved to Seattle two years ago, I've been impressed with the variety and creativity of dining experiences all over in town. Matt's has been one of my favorites. Great food, atmosphere, service. I'd have proudly given them 5 stars until my last visit. While the location is still excellent, we had a disappointing experience with a dismissive, grumpy sommelier who spoiled our meal. I'll spare you the details, but if not for a charming waiter, who stepped in and defused the situation, we would have walked out between courses. After opening their second restaurant across the hall (Radiator Whiskey) Matt's got too big for their britches, and seem to forget their job is to create a memorable experience for their guests, and not the other way around. Seattle doesn't do sassy attitude well -- people here are just too down to earth. I hope Matt's goes back to it's roots ... for the time being I'm not going to recommend them.

    (2)

  • Vi N.

    I'd heard so many good things about Matt's In The Market and excitedly had my birthday lunch there. I was going to get the catfish sandwich that is so lauded, but the special of the day was a fried chicken sandwich and I just can't say no to a fried chicken anything! It was awesome and my fiancé loved the catfish sandwich. Really cool place, will be going back again.

    (5)

  • Danielle C.

    I came here for a business celebratory dinner, and the place is very quaint. The space is not terribly large but you put together lots of tables to form mega tables and accommodate about 20 people or so. The view is really nice, as it overlooks the Pike Place Market sign. This place is super romantic and I highly recommend for a date, although the bar area is a bit small. The people that work here are gorgeous. It is kind of silly to mention this but this is one of the few times that I noticed what the people looked like! There was a Jude Law look-alike, and one of the women waitresses looked like a celebrity as well (name escaped me at the moment). I had this tomato appetizer. They put some sort of foam on top of the tomatoes, which I thought looked like spit (a bit unappetizing). But the actual appetizer was good. Their dessert was this lime chocolate cake. It was not very lime flavored but that's okay. I thought it was decent.

    (4)

  • Monstrillious Q.

    I really wanted to like Matt's. I mean, look at those reviews down there. *points below* They're pretty great and so I came in with fairly high expectations for lunch with a friend on a Saturday afternoon. First, the space is really lovely and the view over the market and into the bay are really quite nice. We started off with some really delicious deviled eggs. And then...we ordered our meals. And then the server brought out our orders and it was wrong. And there was hair in our sandwiches. And the drinks were good, but kind of weak. I would come back just for the atmosphere for drinks, though, and I'm willing to give this another shot for another lunch or maybe dinner.

    (3)

  • Rashid K.

    This food gave me such bad food poisoning... Can't believe such a high priced restaurant would serve bad food. burger Taste was comparable to lunchbox laboratory. Not as good as 8oz. Waitress forgot our drink order and we had to remind her after we already had our food. Forgot the refills too.

    (1)

  • Vanessa L.

    Hands down my favorite restaurant in Seattle. Arrived a few minutes early (for a 12:15 pm reservation) and they kindly accommodated us. The halibut sandwich and mushroom soup were phenomenal. Friendly service, clean and simple space, perfect view of Pike Place with open windows. Couldn't have asked for anything more. Definitely recommend.

    (5)

  • Ashley H.

    You should always make reservations for dinner if you want to try this place. It's very cozy and hidden. We were seated right next to the open kitchen so I could smell and see everything. It is kind of pricey, but I like this place. I had the grilled calamari appetizer and scallops for my main meal. The scallops were so delicious. The Swedish chocolate cake was ok, a little too rich for me. I enjoyed the Nazca Lines cocktail too.

    (5)

  • Chelsea M.

    I REALLY wanted to give this place a five star rating. I love the location, the walk up the stairs to the upper corner of this old building, the nice hostess, the low lights, and romantic feel. But alas, it fell slightly short. Drinks: Long Island and the specialty cocktail made with grapefruit were both amazing. Food: Bread - amazing, so soft and delicious with sea salted-butter. So worth getting. Grilled octopus small plate - Amazing salad accompaniment with such an intense, refreshing, almost-sweet flavor. The octopus was cooked to perfection but there was too much of it and since it came as a steak (I believe that is the right terminology, I apologize if not) it was difficult to share. Seafood Stew: Delicious! This dish had so many different types of seafood and a lot of it. The flavors were amazing. My only complaints are that there was too much broth and the crouton was swimming in aioli. And the sad thing was the aioli had TONS of flavor, it did not need to be lathered on, I ended up scraping half of it off. Chicken and dumplings: My husband had this and he really enjoyed it and ate it all. His only complaint was that the dumplings were too small and too few for how big the chicken was. The flavor was all there but the balance of the components was not. Dessert of Orange Torte - Disappointing. The frosting was warm which gave it an awful texture. The sugared blood oranges were way too sweet for the dish, they were used as garnishment but the sugary sauce they were kept in soaked into the bottom of the torte a little. To top it all off, the torte sat in a "puddle" of some sort of cinnamon sauce that just made everything worse in my opinion. The torte, itself, was delicious. Maybe no frosting, and drizzle the two sauces over the torte upon serving and simplify the garnish. Service: We were in a corner table and I can only imagine how hard it is to wait on a corner table but for such a nice place I really expected better. The waitress was really friendly and knowledgeable but hardly ever came to check on us during our meal. This resulted in the following three things occurring: 1. our appetizer of octopus got cold and started smelling like old fish 2. My water glass was frequently empty 3. The meal felt like it dragged on. Overall: We will probably go back after trying some other places in the Seattle area.

    (4)

  • Anthony L.

    This has become one of my favorite spots in Seattle. I've eaten here now 3 times, and the diversity of the menu makes the ordering challenging but enjoyable. Had the quail egg starter which was fantastic followed by the lamb burger which was spectacular. This is not your typical restaurant, and I'd pay significantly more for this fine cuisine. Did I mention the views over Pike Place out to the Sound? Parking is the only challenge, but that's pretty typical in Seattle...

    (5)

  • Gilad B.

    Great place to show off Seattle. Matts sits above Pike Place market with a great view of the entry way. The service is great and the menu is delicious. I love how classy the atmosphere is and its always a great date spot. enjoy!

    (4)

  • Steven K.

    The food was delicious. The waiter was extremely friendly and helpful. And the atmosphere was really warm and welcoming. We had ordered the oysters, grilled octopus, calimari, and mushroom and egg salad to begin with. The oysters were some of the freshest I've had in Seattle. It's oyster season so it's best to get them now. The octopus was also very fresh and the way they grill it with kimchi made it a taste explosion. I've never had calimari in a chili broth before. Think beef chili, but with calimari. And the mushroom salad was super savory and tasty. Our entrees were also nothing short of delicious. You could taste the care that they took to cook it. I had the seared scallops and they were of the perfect texture. My friend had the black cod, and it was sweet and buttery - as it should be. We had paired all this with two glasses of white wine, per recommendation of our waiter who allowed us a sample beforehand to help us decide. We sad next to the kitchen so we could see them prepare all of our food. The kitchen staff are like machines. While we were eating we watched them churn out dish after dish, dessert after dessert. The result of this, we ended up getting dessert as well! We had the coffee ice cream cake. This is the perfect place for a date or special intimate dinner! But keep in mind it's a $$$ rated place. Our bill totaled over $180 before tip! It was worth it though for the food, and also for the service. Our waiter was extremely helpful in telling us about the menu, the origins of all the seafood, and helping us pair foods together.

    (5)

  • Jacquelyn O.

    Matts In the market was a Perf little spot right in pikes place. I got the clams and mussels and they were amazing! The place was really crowded but we made reservations so we didn't have to wait long. The service was really good too!

    (4)

  • Cecilia V.

    We realllllly like this place. Everything we've ever had has been fabulous. I also realllly like the location and atmosphere. How Seattle! Like to bring visiting friends/relatives here as it never disappoints. Specials are often amazing. Like the open kitchen too.

    (5)

  • A M.

    Whenever my Husband & I go back to our hometown, we walk Pike Place Market and then stop in at Matt's In the Market, and know that we are in for a delicious meal! Highlights have always been their house made salt-pepper chips & hot bacon-caramelized onion dip (so decadent) & we love their fresh Halibut Fishwich.

    (5)

  • Stephanie J.

    Great ambiance and location. The food and service were both excellent. The wine selections are vast. I will return to this restaurant.

    (4)

  • Chris S.

    What a fantastic staff and restaurant. We did not have a reservation but Chris told us that they had a table to squeeze us into for an hour. Thank you Chris. I did not get our waitresses name, but she too was very nice. The ambiance is dark, candlelight, and a nice view of the Public Market clock and sign. My wife had the seafood stew which was phenomenal. Just a wonderful taste of fresh fish in a curry sauce. The flavors just explode in your mouth. I had the market fresh fish which was a piece of Arctic Char with a celery puree, fennel, radish, and apple. This is a must when in Seattle.

    (5)

  • Victoria C.

    My bf brought me here for an anniversary dinner and, though we enjoyed our meals, the service, and the ambiance, we left feeling underwhelmed as well as a little sick in the stomach. PROS: 1. Ambiant. Dim lighting, candles, great view overlooking Pike Place Market. 2. Efficient. We arrived at 5:30 and were outta there by 7pm, having ordered drinks, apps, and entrees. 3. Decent food, for the most part. I ordered the beef tenderloin cooked medium and he ordered the half roast chicken and dumplings. The steak was cooked perfecty, and his chicken was crisp, juicy, and full of flavor. 4. Good, strong, cocktails. CONS: 1. Everything on my plate was pretty salty. And I actually like salty, often complaining of things needing more salt. 2. The dumplings on my bf's plate were bland. Pretty flavorless. Now these could have used salt. 3. Something we both ate left us feeling sickish. I think it was the ceviche. Beware. 4. We didn't get bread before our meals whereas everyone else did. Kind of weird. Maybe b/c we ordered ceviche to start? 5. Our waitress was kind of snooty. She definitely didn't go out of her way to be friendly. When I asked what the sweetest drink was on the short list of cocktails, she gave me a weird look and made me feel silly for asking such a thing. What? I like sweet drinks. Who cares? 6. Kinda pricey. If the meals cost half of what we paid, I would have felt like it was worth it. But not so much. Overall, the place is clearly over-rated.

    (2)

  • Valeria C.

    Location, location, location and of course, amazingly tasty and fresh Pacific Northwest flair.... If you are visiting Seattle and want a nostalgic, trendy local place with great quality, top chef food, this is definitely a great find. Scallops are fantastic, halibut is simply delicious, if you are a clam lover like me, clams are simply to die or. Veggies are fantastic. The wine selection is outstanding and there is no great view of Pike Place Market. Great for a date, but small and noise, so if you don't mind that, your date will most definitely be impressed with the selection. If you are going for a date, ask for a Window when making the reservation. Specially if you are outside Seattle, as you will totally impress him/her with the great Pike Place Market view. The wait staff is very knowledgeable. You will need reservations however, because the place is small, and they are absolutely busy 7 days a week, so do not try to just show up or you will be disappointed. It also has a nice and quaint bar area, but it is also small and once again, has great views of Pike Place. We had our rehearsal dinner there and our visiting guests from outside Seattle simply loved it.

    (5)

  • Kris R.

    On top of my list for recommendations for lunch in Seattle. Matt's virgins should order the catfish sandwich, which is the world's best catfish sandwich.

    (4)

  • Stefan K.

    Unabashedly the truest 5 stars I've given. The best lunch I've ever had I just had here. Their menu is simple, seasonal, and everything tastes delicious. I had the carrot fennel soup and their version of a sloppy joe, which was a special, and my friend had the fishwhich. Phenomenal. Everything was fresh, simple, and delicious. View, friendly staff, great location. No drawbacks. This is a must go if youre visiting Seattle's Pike Place.

    (5)

  • Andrew K.

    Great oysters and artic char. Loved the ambiance. Good service. Great pino noir.

    (4)

  • Madeleine H.

    I came here for a business lunch and ordered the catfish sandwich with a cup of butternut squash soup. I often gripe about butternut squash soup being too sweet, but fortunately this wasn't the case here: it was delicious, though perhaps a hair too spicy. The catfish sandwich was very excellent, right down to that tasty sauce. To finish, I had the panna cotta with huckleberries. A delightful combination! I'm not entirely convinced it was all worth the cost, but it was delicious nonetheless. The service was fine -- not too slow, but we weren't rushed either. When the rain really started pouring and neither of us were inclined to leave, we were allowed to remain. I was too focused on business matters to really take in the atmosphere as much as I'd have liked, but it did seem a little closed-in up there. I appreciated the exposed kitchen and the large windows with the view of the market and the water beyond certainly helps the small space. Seeing the public market clock so close up was an interesting treat! Definitely worth a splurge for a special occasion someday, though with all that western exposure I'm not sure I'd want to be there in the afternoon.

    (4)

  • Mike W.

    Superb food and great setting. I had oysters to start with mussels and clams for entree. Doubt you will find better.

    (5)

  • Kari G.

    An awesome tucked away-ish lunch or dinner spot with a fantastic view overlooking Pike's Place Market. Just be sure to have a reservation as seating seems pretty limited and you'll likely be shoved up against another table (and occasionally forced into a conversation with some tourists yip yapping about their day at the Needle). The natural light and large round windows here complete the experience as you watch the sunset (or whatever) hit your partner's face/the Market/the Sound and think "Damn, this place must have been different 100 years/1 hour ago when ___ was happening". Cocktails are also top notch and, in the Seattle way, all natural created by mixologists imported from some craft-state Steampunk mustache commune. Portions are small at dinner, as some of our hungrier friends will point out. The scallops, chicken and ribs are all quite good...and the beef carpaccio and foie gras are well worth their doll house portions for a taste of the good life. We found the service to be quite accommodating and friendly, even though the place as practically overrun 24/7. All in all, a good meal and we always leave with full bellies.

    (4)

  • Tyler L.

    One of the best places for brunch in the city. They have a fantastic view of the water and great upscale, but not pretentious atmosphere. The beer selection was small, but the tap list was good and the cocktails, especially the bloody Mary looked great. The catfish sandwich was phenomenal and nice and flaky. Staff was pretty friendly and attentive. Loved the Jamaican sauce on the table too.

    (5)

  • Colin S.

    Only stopped in for a drink with some friends. Nice place. The bartender was a really fun guy to chat with. I wouldn't mind going back for some food sometime.

    (4)

  • Jason F.

    Find this a review of the four visits I've had to Matt's for meals, two successful, one not so much. On the first occasion I was looking for a good place with some Seattle flavor to take a group of five to a business dinner. I made reservations and we were treated with a great seat by the window, the meals here tend to take a little bit longer than the typical restaurant, but the service and food were great. My customers were greatly impressed and had a great time. The windows lookout right onto the iconic Pike Place Market sign and the pink glow warms the view. On my second occasion, I took my date and we had made reservations in advance. We were hoping for a seat by the window, but were seated right in front of the kitchen station in and awkward spot between a couple four tops. We opted for the tasting menu, which I cannot recommend. It's unbelievably slow, the portions are about what you'd think, but the experience itself is not good. Third occassion, another work group and it went as well as the first. Fourth trip, walk-in, no reservations, found a spot at the bar and really really wanted to sit down to a full dinner. We could see some tables by the window empty the whole 45-50 minutes we were there, but no luck in getting them as it was a Saturday night. We had some great appetizers and headed across to explore Place Pigalle which is tucked behind the pig in Pike Place Market. I can highly recommend it, they had availability and their french influenced northwest cuisine was a bit better than what we experienced at Matt's. The oysters on the half shell are great, but you cannot pick the quanitities of each, it's set at 3 and 3. Shigoku's are just okay, but Kusshi's rock, in my opinion. They are served only with Kimchi ice, which was just okay, as I'm not that great a cabbage fan. Would've been nice to have some other options or just tabasco. The fois gras was good. Fish is typically good, but they sometimes have grilled halibut which can be a little dry. The staff is always friendly and helpful.

    (3)

  • Min Y.

    Great place if you want to impress your guest or date. I had been here for dinner time only but I'm sure daytime is great to be sitting down looking over the pike place market sign and the ocean. Food was perfect and their lamb burger was delicious ! Service was very good and ambiance is very romantic French country style.

    (5)

  • Meg A.

    Great spot in a hidden location within the market. Everything had attention to detail. Seasonal options. Favorite was the grilled octopus appetizer and extensive wine list. Perfect for dates, corporate dinner, or guests.

    (5)

  • Ruby J.

    Excellent atmosphere and food, drink, dessert. Make reservations online and ask to sit by window. We got here a half hour early and got the best seat!

    (5)

  • Chris G.

    Great meal, great cocktails, great wines! We got lucky and got the last 2 seats at the bar because we didn't have reservations. The bartender recommended a great WA wine that paired well with my meal, then demonstrated exceptional knowledge of the menu with some savvy tips. Be brave and try the charcuterie!

    (5)

  • Jonathan H.

    Loved the sea scallops, halibut fritters, and pot de creme for dessert. Great service on a Tuesday night.

    (4)

  • Matt R.

    I'll be very honest and say that I wrote this place off completely after seeing Rachael Ray eating here on TV- and raving about how good it is. While I'm sure she's a very nice lady- my confidence in what she considers good food certainly isn't there. I've seen her make one too many hamburger-helperesque meals during day time TV to have any faith in her. My wife suggested we take some out of town guests to Matt's because it was closeish to their hotel and because it was close to Pike Place market- which they had not yet visited. I thought the view would be nice with the sunset and the market and all, and it was later so I thought parking would be easy (it was)- & I begrudgingly accepted. Rachael Ray was actually right (I know- kills me to say it). Matt's truly is a really good restaurant. If you have guests in town who are looking for a special dining experience near Pike Place market- this is probably the single best spot to bring them. Be sure to make a reservation (even during the week) and ask for a table by the window. Your guests will be thankful. Go during the summer and catch a sunset. It's killer. Everything we ordered was amazing. Grilled Octopus, Crab and Arugula Salad, Pork Shank with Farro, Ancho Chili and Chocolate ice cream. Wine and cocktails were superb as well. Our dining guests had some funky stuff on their charcuterie plate (blood sausage, head cheese etc- they all tasted great). They also ordered the filet with bone marrow mashed potatoes that were rich and silky and Delicious. 5 Stars for Matt's In the Market.

    (5)

  • Frank S.

    Great food especially the seafood dish, those might be the best mussels ever. Everything else was good with attentive service. I would skip it next time, dinner for four was a bit over priced, 2 apps, 4 drinks, 4 dinners and 1 dessert for $320.

    (3)

  • Kevin O.

    Wow, what great place! in Seattle for 4 days and have gone here twice already for lunch, sat at the bar both times which if Robbie is the bartender is an excellent treat. The food was excellent, the catfish sandwich awesome, the ham sandwich with ham cured on site is terrific. Setting above the fray at Pike Market is scenic and is a cozy, warm place. Make reservations if you go.

    (5)

  • Elise G.

    One of the best meals I've ever had. The bloody mary with a beer back was amazing. The cornmeal crusted catfish sandwich with seafood chowder was amazing. The halibut fishwich, falafel, crab and arugula salad, and lamb burger were also amazing. The venue is upstairs in a loft with wooden beams, a steel open kitchen, and windows all around. Sun pours in and the Pike's Place Market clock stands outside your view. My best friend introduced this place to my boyfriend and I and we were so impressed with the food and service that we went back again.

    (5)

  • A C.

    Cool location. Very nice and accommodating staff. We had to get in and out in a hurry and the host was able to squeeze us in on a Friday night. Food was good but didn't knock my socks off. Portions were on the small side and left me wanting more. I was disappointed the grilled "octopus" plate only had one measly tentilcal. It was delicious but c'mon one skinny tentacal for a $16 dollar plate? Tenderloin was tasty but again seemed small for $44. Overall I felt it was a bit pricey for what you got and probably wouldn't come back for dinner but I might come back to try their lunch menu.

    (3)

  • Robert B.

    Matt's In the Market is a wonderful, lovely little restaurant nestled on the third floor on the corner of 1st and Pike St. This place has an incredible view overlooking the Public Market. Just for reference it is also referred to as Pike Street Market or Pike Place Market (the last being the official name, I believe). Never the less, you are at eye level with the big, one story "Public Market Center" sign that we all know and love. Below that is the famous Pike Place Fish Co. where all passersby should pay attention as there seems to be a lot of flying fish in the air! I introduced Matt's In The Market to my lovely baby girl and her boyfriend this summer and had a chance to spend quality time at the bar at both Matt's and their sister restaurant, Radiator Whiskey, across the hall which I will review on Yelp! really soon. The dining experience is hard to beat with the ambience and the view, not to mention the staff and incredible food. By the way, I had the roasted, half chicken and it was amazing. If you are looking for a never-to-forget evening in Seattle I could not recommend a place more highly for an outstanding experience. Thank you Matt's In the Market for being an outstanding part of our community.

    (5)

  • John O.

    Went here 3 times the past year. Great food and service each time. Lots of tourists but locals also flock here. Well deserved reputation. Price is a bit high but they do pay attention to preparing a great dish and treating you with care. Worth a visit ...

    (5)

  • Derrick V.

    Right above Pike's Place is this quaint restaurant, serving up great new american food. Stick with seafood and you can't go wrong. We had ceviche, crab salad, seafood stew, scallops, and grilled octopus. Service was great and cocktails are nice.

    (4)

  • J T.

    I'm still trying to figure why this place is only 4 stars and not 5. Service is excellent. Food was excellent. I guess the only issue I have with place is that the place was busy.... Is that wrong? Nope hence 5 stars... Call in advance to get a reservation, but the bar is great too.

    (5)

  • Ronnie M.

    This is only a review for today's lunch. I sat at the bar (dined solo) and ordered a glass of Tranche Pinot Grigio (I love this winery!) and the pork belly bahn mi sandwich. I ate the whole thing! Savored every bite. I know that $16 is a bit much for a bahn mi sandwich, but they do give you a nice portion of pork belly (which is juicy and deliciously fatty) and after every bite you just want more!

    (4)

  • Kate M.

    There is something special about the ambiance at Matt's in the Market. This is largely due to the stellar location, tucked away inside a venerable building above Pike Place Market. Often very busy but never seeming too crowded, it has a cozy yet classy feel. To me, it epitomizes what a Seattle restaurant should be. The food is consistently great, the service is always exceptional and the cocktails hit the spot. Matt's has become one of my favorite places in Seattle to spend an evening.

    (5)

  • Hopi W.

    A Seattle must! The staff is amazing, friendly, informative and courteous. We had oysters (WOW) !! Pork belly sandwich (stupid good) seafood chowder, lamb burger and some Delish wine over all fantastic lunch or dinner spot highly recommended!

    (5)

  • Dana R.

    Since my last review, I've eaten here may be 6 or 7 times, with mixed results. Sometimes outstanding (pork belly bahn mi and rock shrimp tostadas), and sometimes not (pork belly bahn mi and the "crispy chicken sandwich). The bahn mi sometimes has too much sauce ... sometimes it's just perfect. Sometimes the pork is overcooked, sometimes it's cooked perfectly. Sometimes the bread is a little dry, sometimes it's perfect. The chicken in my "crispy chicken sandwich" was not crispy at all. And, it's overwrought with ingredients so that you can't even taste the chicken. I actually scrapped off all of the toppings (going from memory ... kale, sauteed onions, shredded pork, and aioli. The chicken was moist and juicy, just not crispy. I would not order this again. The catfish sandwich has, all but one time when it was greasy and drenched in aioli, been fantastic. The baby arugula and Dungeness crab salad with marcona almonds, mixed citrus, avocado and a citrus vinaigrette (ordered with light dressing) is consistently outstanding. I've only had the rock shrimp tostadas once and they were simply outstanding with a dash of the juice from the accompanying fresh lime wedge. Three crisp, deep fried, tortilla bases, a smear of house-made traditional-style guacamole, and then piled high with a fresh (not previously frozen) Oregon rock shrimp ceviche, made with brunoise english cucumber, red onion, fresno chiles, and cilantro (and a dash of Tapatio). The dish is HUGE ... three tostadas ... I took 2 home for dinner. The deviled eggs come with differing toppings, from white anchovy, to pickled onions, to Dungeness crab, to smoked salmon, to peppers, to paprika sitting atop a romesco sauce. Smooth texture to the egg filling, but just a tad too much mustard for my liking. Great views of the market signs and nice atmosphere. Great service. And, I do love that they now take reservations.

    (4)

  • Sterling C.

    Though I've only been twice, this place is definitely one of my top five restaurants in Seattle. The menu is smaller but everything on it is worth considering. This is definitely the type of place where you drink while you eat. Pre-dinner cocktail (preferably a manhattan), wine with dinner, followed with a digestif before espresso. If you like offal, this place has it and prepares it well. The sweetbreads are fabulous and the charcuterie platter (with blood sausage, chicken liver mouse, pork terrine, country sausage) is a great way to begin the feast. The seafood is incredibly fresh and I was blown away by the seafood stew I had at my last visit. It was a coconut curry base with scallops, mussels, clams, salmon and white fish. Unlike any seafood stew I've had before. The only reason I've given it four stars instead of five is that the service is a bit awkward and lacks the professionalism you'd expect from a place that serves food of this caliber. Not to mention, the tables are a little tight together, leaving you feeling rather close to the other guests. Overall, undoubtedly the best restaurant in Pike Place Market (including the Tom Douglas spots), serving classics with a modern take with fresh northwest ingredients.

    (4)

  • Rachel B.

    I really enjoy coming to Matt's. You really can't find a better example of PNW, modern American style seafood. I am always greeted by a friendly host or hostess when I call for reservations. There were only a few things that I noticed last time that were problematic. They really need better seating. The chairs are really tiny, and have no cushion or anything to make them comfortable. I would almost bring my own cushion next time I go for dinner. I ordered the Halibut which was incredible. I was slightly disappointed with the price of the Halibut in relation to the size of the portion. It was $38, and had I not ordered other menu items, I would have left hungry. I would probably opt for the chicken next time. They seem to have an overpriced wine list. Perhaps they are charging more during tourist season? Not sure. I think I will continue to be a repeat customer, but will be more careful when ordering and skip the wine or cocktails.

    (4)

  • Chris K.

    Visited Seattle for the first time in mid September. Made a lunch reservation in advance after reading some great reviews on Yelp. Arrived to a packed restaurant but they seemed to have things under control at check in. We were seated after about 15 minutes at a cozy table for two next to the window. The view of the market below and the trendy atmosphere set a nice tone for the meal. We ordered the king salmon and the catfish sandwich. For the price, the salmon portion was very small and it definitely needed more seasoning in the preparation. The catfish sandwich was also on the bland side and the best part of that dish was the side of salmon chowder. I would have liked to have a bigger bowl of the chowder as my lunch. Overall, somewhat disappointed and probably won't return. Luckily we had some amazing food later in our trip.

    (3)

  • Chuck R.

    Very surprised. Was expecting good but not great, due to Matt's touristy location. But this place rocks for food, wine, service, and atmosphere. Bouillabaisse was outstanding, as were the seared scallop and halibut entrees. Our server was friendly and attentive as was the sommelier. The maître d' even gave us the exact table we'd requested in our reservation and wished us happy anniversary, a nice touch.

    (5)

  • Henry L.

    I'm always shocked when I find a place that I frequent that I have yet to review. This is another one. I remember Matt's before it remodeled. It certainly has lost a lot of that charm from those days, but the new restaurant is thriving regardless. I've always found the staff here to be really nice. This was the first time I tried Lillet courtesy of the bartender and I haven't looked back since. Matt's uses lots of fresh ingredients (most likely found right there in the market). It's a little on the expensive side, but I suspect some of that has to do with it's location right in the market. Really good northwest food. Many American dishes infused with local flavors. My absolute favorite here is the pork belly Banh Mi. OMG. Most expensive Banh Mi ever. And also soooo good. Soooo not healthy either, but soooo good. *drool* I also enjoy the lamb burger here as well. But I only order that when the Banh Mi isn't available or when somebody is already ordering it. Cuz the Banh Mi is where it's at for me.

    (4)

  • kristen m.

    Had dinner at the bar here on a recent visit to Seattle. Great view of the water over the market, as well as a very tasty scallop dinner. I had trouble choosing what to order - everything on the menu looked delicious!

    (4)

  • Mao T.

    Best dinner ever with my family. We went there for a birthday dinner for my mother. The service was top notch. But our bill might be the factor for his great service, when we sit down and order 6 appetizers for 4 people and a 8 year old plus drinks for everyone. He got a good sized tip that night. But he worked for it, providing non stop bread and butter for my little sister, water refills, making sure everything was timed perfectly and de-crumbing our table non stop thanks again to my little sister. I had the whole red snapper with clams and it was divine. I ordered and my brother changed his mind and order the same....good thing he did....because we had to share with my mother and father... Highly recommend it for a romantic night out plus you have a great view of Pike Place, ask for seating by the windows if you make a reservation. But the desserts leave something to be desired. Overall, my favorite restaurant and that says a lot.

    (5)

  • Yu-Keng S.

    The lamb burger is awesome and the bartender's service is also great.

    (5)

  • Juli S.

    Horrible dinner options. Literally, a page of nothingness. Good alcohol to get the job done, though.

    (3)

  • GK O.

    Had dinner with a friend last night. Very friendly service, and delicious food. We started with grilled octopus, and calamari in small plates. We got the salmon for the entree. I have also tried the "compromise" cocktail before the main course, and got a glass of chardonnay together with my salmon. Finish was with a bread pudding and a 20-year port wine. All excellent.

    (5)

  • Joey R.

    Delicious lunch! I had the halibut sandwich. It was incredible--even the bread and the salad dressing were mouth wateringly perfect. Service was good. Not wonderful but the food makes up for it! Love the view into the market. My out of town guests were definitely charmed.

    (4)

  • Robin W.

    If you want a local review and not a manufactured one, read this. I have lived at the market for 3 years and finally decided to give this place a try based on reviews. My experience was less than what I was expecting. The food was mediocre and very small portions considering the price. Although it was plated beautifully. Service was good and bad. The host was accommodating. The bartender acted as if he was doing us a favor by being there. He emptied the bottle of wine when filling my glass. Instead of opening another bottle he said "I shorted you about an ounce, oh well". Really?? The people next to us were visitors and came in specifically for fish and chips which they didn't have on the menu. He could care less that they were disappointed. In my opinion this place is nothing but a tourist trap. There are MUCH better places to dine in and around the market that are truly worth a 4 star rating.

    (2)

  • parviz d.

    food was good. We got there 30min prior to our reservation and even though they had free tables, they made us wait. I guess they want to look "sophisticated". other than it was fine.

    (3)

  • Jennifer M.

    Wonderful Oysters. Awesome View. Hard to find and a little pricey.

    (4)

  • Kris U.

    The place is small and intimate, and overlooks the famous Pike's Place Market and neon sign. The menu did not offer a large selection but all seven main courses sounded tempting. I had the halibut with chickpeas and diced pieces of meaty bacon, adorned with shaved fennel and watercress, and accompanied with a pea puree sauce. My friend chose the interesting duck and churros dish. My halibut was perfectly cooked and the preparation tasted was excellent, with the bacon adding the perfect amount of a savory taste. The bread ($3), came with a side of freshly diced garlic to sprinkle on it, which was a nice touch. Our knowledgeable server, Lara, provided impeccable service, with both wit and flair.

    (4)

  • Daniel J.

    Stopped in for lunch while at the AWP conference, and this was easily the best meal I had all week. Went with the fried catfish sandwich (it came highly recommended) and was no disappointed. Crispy, flavorful, but incredibly simple and just tasty as heck. Had some seafood chowder on the side which was also very good (though not mind blowing) and a nice pint of beer to wash it down. I wished I lived full-time in Seattle, because I would eat here every week.

    (5)

  • Niño M.

    I'm from Los Angeles and we've got great burgers here (eg. Father's office, In-N-Out, etc), but the LAMB BURGER at Matt's is the BEST BURGER i've ever had in my life. i didn't even pay attention to the service. it was probably okay, but i didn't notice bc i was caught up in the deeelishness delight of lamb in front of me. juicy, flavorful, amazing, and amazingful. i believe it was around 12 bucks for the lamb burger. soooo worth it. the only bad thing (from a tourist's point of view) is that i couldn't find the place until i realized there were also commercial spaces in the floors above; Matt's is located in the second floor of the building right across the street from the "Public Market" sign. A++++

    (5)

  • David A.

    Good find in the touristy Pike St Market. Nice dining space and interesting choices. I had the Bah Mi wiyh pork belly and it was excellent. My daughter had the halibut sandwich. Great taste but bread overpowered the fish. My wife had the crab salad which was nice along with sharing the clams and mussels. Nice postion and a great broth. An enjoyable start to a few days with the family in Seattle.

    (4)

  • Calvin Y.

    "Your face looks delicious!" I love this place so much that at one point I made their Stumptown Pulled BBQ Pork sandwich as my default profile picture on Facebook. The BBQ sauce is made with Stumptown Coffee and the pork was so tender that you practically didn't have to chew. When you add the crunch and the sweetness from the cabbage coleslaw, the sandwich just blends smoothly together. To top off a good meal, they have excellent service and are very helpful. I called in to make lunch reservations for four people at 2:00. However, I didn't know that's when they stop seating for lunch, but they did their best to accommodate for us by getting us all set up before they closed for dinner prep. With great service and wonderful food, this is definitely a gem in Seattle dining.

    (5)

  • Lonny L.

    You should not miss this restaurant if you are in Seattle. It is the best in Pike Place (possibly all of Seattle)! I normally eat here for lunch and have tried their dinner once. Both are delicious. For lunch, the lamb burger is a must. It is truly a mouth-watering lunch. Also, I highly recommend their King Salmon and Crab Chowder (but it is seasonal). They are very busy so be sure to make reservations and visit their website to find their exact location because they do not have many signs and may be difficult for first time customers.

    (5)

  • Kevin P.

    This is a great spot in Pike's Place, and great for a cozy dinner. You need to walk up a flight of stairs, and then you will find what is probably the best view of the pier, bay, and mountains in the background. Great for sunset views by the windows. The set up is very nice as well, with a small assortment of intimate seating (I'm guessing no more than 50 people will fit here. The chefs are staged in the middle of the restaurant, so you have a bird's eye view of what's cooking. The menu is definitely upper scale. I had the Cesar salad with Seafood Stew. The stew was OK. Lots of meaty seafood (including oysters still in shell), but too much fennel in my opinion. My desert was good, the flour-less chocolate was thick and yummy. While the presentation is excellent, I'd only give 3 stars on the food alone (lacks a flavor punch for my tastes). However, the experience is great, all the way down to taking a key to use a private rest room down the hall, because you are eating in an old building. I like that, it's just cool. Thanks to Shaman D for showing me this place! It was worth the trip.

    (4)

  • Kathy T.

    Flew into town expecting to have lunch one of my favorite spots...arrived at 2:34 only to be told "the kitchen was closed...at 2;30". We expressed the fact that we came from out of town only to be turned away...come on!

    (2)

  • Laurence K.

    Had lunch Tuesday sat at the bar A pretty cozy spot open kitchen and a nice cocktail and beer/ wine list . I had the grilled halibut sandwich with a little aoli and lettuce It was really good . A carrot fennel soup came with and it was very good I would definatly come back and try dinner

    (4)

  • Melissa L.

    i love stepping into this place. tons of windows and natural light. has a nice warm inviting bustling allure to it. menu changes based on what's fresh in the market. i've never had a bad plate here. they have great wine and a few bar stool places for happy hour. hh is a little pricey, but worth the splurge once in a while.

    (4)

  • Roy H.

    Started off with the grilled octopus and my entree was the braised lamb shank "birria". It was delicious! I think, from my recent trip to Seattle, that this place and Ivar's Acres of Clams tied for the best place I've ever eaten. I came to MITM feeling for some type of seafood, but I read here on yelp that this place has some tasty lamb. I was blown away by it! The tenderness of the meat and the sweet blend of the cotija grits with the lamb made it one of the best food experiences I've ever had.

    (5)

  • Stefanie P.

    My friend and I decided to try Matt's for lunch for the first time last week. The overall theme of the outing was, "It's good, but..." So, we'll start with the good first. Our food was delicious. My friend ordered the special, chicken leg sandwich and lentil soup. I ordered the crab salad. I think the portion sizes were average to large which is nice -- you get what you pay for. Also, the ambiance of the restaurant is great. It sits over Pike Place Market and there are large windows so you get a lot of light, which I really like. Now the bad... First, the service. The server took a while to take our order, then it took a while to receive our food. Once the server dropped our food off, he never checked back in to see how it was and whether we needed anything else. Also, our waters were only filled once, and my friend was sitting with an empty glass for a long time. Second, the food. While it was quite tasty, I found a shell in my crab salad, and my friend burnt the roof of her mouth because the chicken was so hot. Because the food was tasty and the ambiance of the restaurant is cute and quaint, I think we'll give it one more try. But if we have the same experience again, I think we'll be looking for another Seattle lunch spot.

    (3)

  • John K.

    I have been to over 40 happy hours around town and decided to try Matt's a few days ago after work. I've had lunch there once a while back and thought the food was good but overpriced. On to the happy hour...I walked straight in with a co-worker towards the bar, eager to check it out. I was stopped half way and asked if I had a reservation. I told the staff there I'm not here for dinner, just want a drink and happy hour food at the bar. I was informed that I need to check with the host because there might be reservations. Me: You need reservation for a seat at the bar? Staff: *rudely as if I'm retarded" YES, even at the bar. SINCE WHEN THE F**K ONE NEEDS RESERVATION AT A BAR FOR A DRINK??? Are you telling me nobody can walk into Matt's bar and have a beer spur of the moment? Have you ever heard of that?!?! By this time I was a little perturbed but thought I'd give it a chance since I was there already. I had the lamb dish (2 meat balls) which was dry and bland. I took one sip of the house red wine I ordered and almost fell off my chair laughing because I swear it was diluted with water because I couldn't taste anything. I promptly paid for my tab and left for another happy hour nearby. While walking back to the car, I saw a lady I had seen earlier at Matt's dining alone walk out of the building. I couldn't help but ask her how her experience was. She told me she was greatly disappointed with the overpriced mediocre food and the RUDE and stuck up staff there. Two thumbs way way down for me. There are many other better restaurants around town and Pike Place Market. And for heaven's sake PLEASE MAKE A RESERVATION if you are having a drink at the bar. Don't get ridiculed like me, a paying customer.

    (1)

  • Neil Ryan G.

    HATE Nothing. DISLIKE Nothing. LIKE Grapefruit mimosa. The seafood chowder. The location and atmosphere. The friendly service. LOVE The "lunch special of the day" tuna melt.

    (4)

  • Adriana H.

    On April 7, 2012 I had my first orgasmic sensation with Matt in Seattle! No, it's not what you think! I went to "Matts in the Market" restaurant and it was amazing! I had the halibut with fava beans, bacon, an avocado puree, and a fresh arugula salad! Holy smokes, that was so good!!!!!!!!! I also had a red glass of wine, Gardenos Tempranillo. It was meduim-bodied and good! For desert, I ordered the crema catalana, a Spanish (as in Spain) type of creme brulee. It came out with a churro, which they called a mexican donut... I was hoping for something more mexican donuty since they had churros on their menu too... oh well still good. My halibut was 33, the wine was 9 (cheapest on the menu), and the crema catalan was also $9.00. I get my bill and they comped my wine! They said "thank u for waiting so patiently for the table". You see my friends, it works out to be nice! I highly recommend this restaurant! It is beautiful and delicious! But... make a reservation or you will have to wait almost an hour for a table (like me). Happy eating!

    (5)

  • Wayzie C.

    I made a last minute reservation for dinner (at 5:30 for a 6:30 seating) for five people. The Matt's in the Market's host couldn't have been much nicer about it. He had to rearrange tables and pad another reservation to accomodate us. This was my second annual visit to Seattle (same time last year) and to MITM. Needless to say, I was confident enough about MITM's quality to bring five business colleagues. All of our starters were great, but the cheese board was beautifully curated, and stacked with a brilliant mix of cheeses, in addition to odd little savory crackers, a date stuffed with hazelnut butter, and other awesome goodies (three words: CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE SURPRISE). I do wish Matt's would expand the beer offerings, Right now it's just two taps; although they are pouring great locals. Our waiter got hammered with seatings from 7ish on, so our wine was delayed, as was our main courses order. But the starters tided us over just fine and the view over the market out onto the bay is beautiful. All of my dining partners called out the strengths of their dishes. We were too loaded up on starters, wine and entrees for dessert. Perhaps if MITM offered a chocolate trifle on the menu we would have stuck around for more. Overall: Consistently inspired, fresh, local fare. Great space (except for the shared public bathroom in Pike's Place) half of which is large arched windows overlooking the bay. Very gracious, hardworking, accommodating host and staff.

    (4)

  • Jason N.

    I hate to give this place a 3 star review but it was really just average and the portions weren't that large. The cheese plate for $20 was alarmingly small. I had the half chicken which was pretty pedestrian and my wife had the pork tenderloin which was portioned very small. A little disappointed overall. Service was excellent and accomodating.

    (3)

  • Elizabeth B.

    We were in Seattle for five days and ate lunch here twice - it's awesome. Go early/sit at bar/make reservation because it gets packed. Robbie the bartender is great (order the Bloody Mary with a Snit!). We had the Sloppy Jerry (!!), Crab and Arugula Salad and pulled pork. Highly recommend it.

    (5)

  • Sean T.

    Came here on a recommendation from a friend that lives in the area - it's a little tricky to find (being upstairs in what appeared to be a fairly closed building). I had the arugula salad and the halibut - both were great. The fish was seasoned and cooked perfectly. I also tried the whole fish (rock fish at the time) which was great! They have a good wine list and can recommend perfect pairings. I have to give special props to the service - despite the fact that some of the folks we were dining with were loud DBs, the service remained professional. Great spot!

    (5)

  • Ally W.

    One of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. I love it that it is right in Pike Place Market. During the day you can peek at the hustle and bustle of the market and at night you dine under the market neon light. The food is just amazing. Quite simple, fresh and honest food. The preparation is nothing fancy, but the flavor is just unforgettable. I crave their lamb burger! It is my go to spot whenever I have friends visiting from out of town.

    (5)

  • Marcel R.

    Solid restaurant. Had the duck & doughnuts. Good choices of wines by the glass.

    (4)

  • Matthew S.

    Great scene, great location, great people watching, and great food. This was the perfect lunch spot on our Seattle weekend. High recommended! I especially liked the butternut squash-curry soup and the pulled pork sandwich. Delish!

    (4)

  • Carol I.

    On a clear sunny day, this place is in great spot views from large curved windows. Right out the window, you can see the Pike's Place Market sign, cobblestone street below, and the Puget Sound in the distance. If you want to impress a date with a trendy, but small local place tucked away at the Market, this a great place to go. We went there for lunch. I had the BBQ pulled pork sandwich, which was okay. We also had the lamb burger, which was tastier than from other restaurants.

    (3)

  • Jgirl S.

    Hubby and I have been here twice, one of them being on New Year's Eve. I wish I could write a more descriptive review as I normally do, but each visit here was a blur. Why you ask? Because we had so much fun here and had "a little" too much to drink. Service: excellent, top notch Atmosphere: Both times have been romantic. We noticed that if you go after the dinner rush it is much more enjoyable; it is quieter, less crowded, more romantic, no tourists, dimmed lighting. Food: excellent, 5 stars Because we have gone here on special occasions, we planned on not holding back on our choices. Both times we spent $200+ here. You can spend less if you do not get an appetizer, only get 1 or 2 glasses of wine and no dessert. We will definitely go back. It is our SPECIAL SPECIAL occasion place. I will be more descriptive next time....

    (5)

  • Ryan L.

    Oddly, it wasn't until I moved away from the Puget Sound area that I discovered Matt's. Born and raised in the Pacific NW, i grew up eating dungeness crab, wild salmon, clams, and Ivar's fish and chips. I love good NW fare and love Pike Street Market as well. But now I'm a desert rat in Palm Springs, CA, but travel every week to some locale across the globe and whenever I'm in Seattle I make a bee-line directly for Matt's ... which has become one of my all-time favorite restaurants anywhere in the world. No joke, no exaggeration. This place is magical. There's a lot to effuse about with regards to Matt's. First, there's the location. With brick walls, high arched windows, checkerboard floors, and a view of the famous public market neon sign and Elliott Bay, I have a bit of my breath taken away just walking in here. Then there's the bar. Many nights, I've sat at this bar, ordered up a Gibson, ordered something from the kitchen, often recommended by the barkeep, and watched, smelled, listened, and lingered. It's a bar in the midst of everything and totally lends itself to while away the time. By the way, (and I'm horrible with names) each of the guys I've had serve me at the bar have been fantastic ... friendly, but keeping an appropriate distance, too, letting me just enjoy this space. Of course, though, there's the kitchen. Open to the restaurant where you can hear the clank of pots, the sizzle of a fresh piece of king salmon on a hot grill, and the cuisine-focused chatter among the kitchen staff. I love it (or could you tell?). Each and every dish, and this is no exaggeration (just look at my other reviews), I've had at Matt's has been drool worthy. The menu changes, depending on what is fresh in the market and I, for one, love that concept. If there's shellfish on the menu, though, I'm going for it and I've had some fantastic meals that make me miss this area and also love my job which takes me back every now and then. If you're the kind of diner that would be just as happy with Red Lobster, I fear this place will be lost on you. If you come to Seattle and just have to eat at Wild Ginger because you've heard so much about it, do yourself a favor and save at least one night for Matt's. If you're a Puget Sounder, brave the touristy crowds around Pike Street and have faith that Matt's is one of the best dining experiences in the city.

    (5)

  • Alex M.

    Awesome little spot with tons of personality, charm, and a great view of Pike's Place Market. For being so close to the water, Matt's really didn't have much seafood on their menu, which was a little disappointing but they quickly made up for this with their Chips and Dips appetizer. Think homemade potato chips alongside some of the most indulgent bacon/cheese/onion dip you ever had in your life. This was a real game changer. For lunch, my girlfriend and I had a Catfish sandwich and Pork Belly Bahn Mi. Both were awesome and grew progressively harder to eat as the meal went on thanks to disintegrating buns/bread. All in all we were very pleased.

    (4)

  • Debra H.

    We go here about once every two months and Matt's never disappoints. We are always greeted and seated promptly (make a reservation) and the place is always packed. The food and service are both outstanding. We've sat at the bar (Robbie is great), we've sat at tables, it's always been great for us. The food is really good and the drinks aren't bad either. Today we had the Bahn Mi, chips and onion dip and Pork Pozole. Delicious.

    (5)

  • Michael F.

    Matt's is just my favorite place for a meal in Seattle time and time again. I feel lucky haven eaten there several times before the major rennovation. On my most recent trip, I was there for lunch, and had some delicious seafood chowder, and even a better Fishburger, representing fresh, local flavors. Their mussels, when available, are among the best I've ever had.

    (5)

  • Leah K.

    I came here with a friend for the first time and fell in love... with the food. I ordered the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich (breaded chicken, celery-radish salad, blue cheese, red hot aioli on brioche). It was delicious as a sandwich can get! The chicken was cooked perfectly, just slightly steaming as I bit into it, the amount of veggies was on point, and the bread was soft. The thing I love the most about Matt's is the chef's knowledge on utilizing the ingredients and preparing them in a way that is unique and tasty. Every item seems to compliment another item. Cooking here, is an art. The atmosphere is lovely, open windows on sunny days for breezes, window seats, and fresh flowers for decor. Romantic for a date. Not too stuffy or formal but delightful. I plan on going back.

    (5)

  • Elynne G.

    We walked in without reservations on a Friday night. I think we got lucky with that. We sat in the corner for two, closest to the open concept kitchen. The decor is simple, nothing fancy, nothing to take your mind away from good conversation with friends. I think Matt's is good when you're up for good quality food, cooked in a way you know well. The only reason why I wouldn't go out of my way to get there is because the menu is very plain, nothing adventurous or different from the rest of the restaurants down the street. I don't know what Matt wants to be, they don't seem to be famous for anything spectacular, everything seems like it was just picked out of the market and served. I would've given this place a higher rating if my waiter actually knew what he was serving that night. He was fumbling all over the place, looked like he just got out of bed and had to constantly go back to the manager a few times to explain the menu. Maybe a little training? We started off dinner with Matt's meats, it was a nice platter of meats from the market. It was a good shared appetizer, just, very, safe. Nothing changed from meats bought from the deli, just addition of pickles and mustard. I intend to try different appetizers the next time I am there. The lamb shank my hubby had was good, but the tomato sauce it was soaked in was a little too sour for my liking. It was also a very messy dish, served in a bowl like plate which made it quite hard to eat. Maybe a bigger sized plate would help. I was craving beef and the tenderloin was the only thing they had on the menu. Hmm. I always have issues with restaurants serving tenderloin, only because there is not much flavor of beef to that cut of meat. Sure, it's tender, but I think Matt's didn't help much in flavor. Overall, I guess it was an 'ok' meal. Not a place we'd go all the way downtown to eat at. Maybe I'll drop by for a lunch of appetizers.

    (3)

  • Alan G.

    We visited Matt's based on an article in Los Angeles magazine and they were right on target. During our four days on Seattle we visited Matt's twice and it will be our first stop on our next visit. The food was spot on and the service was efficient, knowledgeable and friendly. In fact both our Julianna and owner Dan (Matt sold a few years back) recommeded other places including the place that turned oujt to be our second favorite. The bar small but stocked a wide variety of small batch whiskeys and tequilas and was very busy during both our visits. Opps, I almost forgot to mention the terrific view, but frankly the food and service was so good we hardly noticed it.

    (5)

  • J K.

    Fantastic meals in Pike Place Market - highly recommended for both lunch and dinner. And since they've expanded, you can actually get a table! Still cozy with nice views of the market and an open kitchen, the atmosphere, while not necessarily romantic, is quite nice. The sandwiches at lunch are unfailingly delicious and the lamb burger is a standout. Sandwiches come with soup or salad and every chowder I've had has been tasty and not too heavy. Even after many great lunches, dinner was a pleasant surprise. There's a respect for the ingredients that really comes through in well executed, nicely presented dishes that feel decidedly more upscale than the daytime sandwich menu. My colleague still sings the praises of the Dark and Stormy they make using local Rachel's ginger beer. Service is attentive without being excessive. Overall, it's a bit spendy, but not out of line with other restaurants in the Market area, especially considering how good everything tastes.

    (5)

  • Allison A.

    +4 for bloody mary with beer chaser (nice touch), brisket that fell off the fork, chickpea/chorizo soup, and a chocolate pot that negated all need for chocolate the rest of the day. I don't think that's ever happened before. -1 for the FREEZING COLD. If y

    (4)

  • Steve M.

    As far as I'm concerned, this is a must visit for anyone coming in out of town. It's the quintessential Seattle restaurant with great local ingredients and a flair for something special. Great location, great room and great food! What else can you ask for?

    (5)

  • Stacey M.

    Love Matt's always sure to please.

    (5)

  • Felicia C.

    Average food although organic, bad wine, very very strong cocktails. Not what you expect the prices they are charging.

    (2)

  • Lizabeth M.

    Everything is great... Robbie is one of the best bartenders in Seattle. Sit at the bar or window table with a tasty meal & enjoy the ambience!

    (5)

  • Jonathan M.

    This was long overdue. I had my inlaws in town so we had to visit Pike Place Market. I wanted to find a place that was away from the hustle and other tourists. We found it at Matt's In The Market. It's located in a building across from the main market and up a few flight of stairs. We went for lunch and we all enjoyed each dish. The shrimp starter was yummy, with a cornmeal crust. I had the bay shrimp salad sandwich and made a happy plate. I wasn't alone as everyone cleaned their plates. We enjoyed the meal and being away from the crowds. We will be back.

    (4)

  • Dave L.

    Classic Seattle fare. This small shop, tucked away on the 3rd floor of 1st and Pike, overlooks Pike Place. It's a great place to catch lunch after shopping or to duck out of the market bustle. I ordered a beef brisket sandwich, which was ridiculously tender and washed it down with a kickass mimosa the bartender hooked up. Great ambiance and seasonal menu. Definitely coming back. Tips: Reservations recommended.

    (4)

  • Beini S.

    A winning restaurant all around. The front table where you check in is uncluttered, and they check you in using an iPad. Clean, simple, took less than 30 seconds to get our name down and let us know how long the wait would be. The wait was exactly, if not a little shorter than what we were told (about 15 minutes). The waiting chairs are uncomfortably close together though. Probably the only bad thing about this place. Our water cups were constantly filled, and each time the waiter/waitress had a smile on their face. I got the halibut sandwich, and it was perfection. Perfectly seasoned, cooked just enough that it didn't taste raw but still tender, falling to pieces all over my plate. I didn't mind though! I got the bread pudding with salted caramel ice cream. I walked out rubbing my belly with a goofy smile on my face. I'd definitely go back the next time I'm in Seattle.

    (5)

  • Kim N.

    I actually read in one of the local Seattle magazines, that the chef, Chester Gerl only reads Yelp if he wants a good laugh. Well if it weren't for Yelp I would never have found his establishment. Located directly above the hustle and bustle of what is Pike's market lays this wedge shaped space of good local eats. The braised beef brisket and seafood stew were both excellent. We were there at the tail end of lunch so it seems like they were starting to wrap things up, though the service was friendly nonetheless. Seems like the dinner menu has a larger variety to choose from and I'd definitely love to come back and sample a lot of the other fare. 4.25 stars.

    (4)

  • Mitchell A.

    I asked a friend of mine what place should I NOT miss on my EATventure in Seattle. She immediately said, Matt's in the Market. I was sadly disapointed. We had dinner reservations on a Tuesday evening. The host was friendly and greeted us as he showed us to our table overlooking the Market. Our waiter seemed annoyed at any questions we had regarding the menu (what cheeses are in the cheese plate and what are the accompaniments for example). We ordered: Cheese Plate -after being told there was a bleu cheese included we ordered it but when it was brought out to us there was no bleu...when I asked the waiter about the substitution (which was delicious) he was very flip and said, oh I guess were are out of bleu. The cheeses were incredible but THE HONEY that was served was amazing. After asking the waiter several times what type of honey it was we finally learned that it was a Tuscan Chestnut Honey. Heirloom Tomato, Watermelon, Ricotta Salata salad - it was OK, the watermelon was a bit mealy Chicken and Dumplings - Perfect Chicken, Crispy, Moist and tender with crispy fresh vegetables and soft dumplings Ravioli - Delicious My dining partner in crime ordered a cocktail that had quite a kick to it. Our waiter did not check in with us once our meals were served and we had to request to see a dessert menu and then request our bill. I had very high expectations for Matt's, the food was fresh and incredible but the service we received really was disappointing. We may go back for drinks at the bar, but I'm not sure I'd consider spending over $100 again for dinner for two with such disappointing service.

    (3)

  • Brett L.

    Having lived in L.A. for several years, we've had a lot of experience with small contemporary restaurants that are more style over substance. Finding that "Goldilocks" choice can sometimes be a challenge, but I think we've found one "hiding" two floors above the thousands of visitors that frequent Seattle's Pike Place Market on a daily basis. Matt's is a sparklingly clean contemporary restaurant with a modestly-sized dining area wrapped around a small, but efficiently run open kitchen. I love open kitchens and watching everyone churn out mouth-watering, well-presented dishes in their respective roles. On our visit, the chef responsible for assembling their tasty small plates always had his bowl of olive oil at his side, finishing entrees by drizzling the oil on top with his ladle. This is a very good thing. We tried the grilled octopus as well as the head cheese for our appetizers. The octopus had the perfect amount of char, sitting on top of this flavorful chunky "hummus" of whole garbanzo beans and olives. The head cheese was served warm as a spread with a preparation of figs and chopped beets, and crunchy toasted artisan bread for the spread. A little earthy and sweet, it made me think of head cheese in a different light. In fact, what separates Matt's from other small indie places is they take a modestly-sized menu and make the most of each dish, reminding diners that there's more to eat than N.Y. steak, salmon, and grilled chicken breast. They aren't afraid to throw in some head cheese, foie gras, or duck eggs in and among less "high powered" offerings. Their entrees demonstrate this same boldness. Their fantastic beef tenderloin could have simply come with some nice potatoes, but they included a chunk of bone to scoop out some decadent marrow. I had their pork tenderloin special--a generous portion consisting of two tender pieces of pork with a thin crispy outer edge and the perfect amount of fat. Once again, did they throw in some potatoes or rice to go with it? Nope...how about chorizo bread pudding instead...yum! Rounding out the experience is a full bar and a solid selection of homemade desserts (e.g. chocolate pecan tart with rum ice cream or cinnamon and quince ice cream... who cooks with quince anymore?!). If you're a hungry couple like we were (3 small plates, 2 entrees, 2 desserts, 2 cocktails, tax & tip), expect to pay a total in the $140-$160 range...quite reasonable for the quality and quantity of food. Matt's unique spin on fresh and quality ingredients will have us returning in the very near future.

    (5)

  • Jason P.

    Love the food and love the location. Restaurants with subtle creative and gourmet twists are favs. This place does up northwest cuisine with a little unique flare. The ambiance is of high energy, very open with all the action at Pikes Place below. (I like the window seats) I've come here a couple times for lunch. My fav sandwich is their seared tuna sandwich, very tasty. It came with a soup and the portion was really good. Their special pumpkin souffle and pumpkin icecream was uniquely delicious!

    (4)

  • Ian W.

    The best meal we had in Seattle. I loved the market, and the food there was great but even the seafood around town wasn't as outstanding as I thought it would be, I have had even tastier salmon in Minneapolis, but Matt's in the Market was a true American restaurant, innovative, interesting, and delicious. Great atmosphere too. A must while visiting the market.

    (5)

  • Denise M.

    Delicious, its grown over the years but the signature breadpudding is still on the menu and the great section of ports.

    (4)

  • Larena H.

    One day a few weeks ago, I had a craving for fried catfish. Naturally, this craving led me to Matt's. Unfortunately it took quite some time to find the venue, and they were closed by the time we arrived. Curses. A week or so later, we decided to do take 2 on the catfish excursion. We were seated by the window. It had a pretty nice view of the market and a great angle for people watching! I ordered the Catfish sandwich and seafood chowder lunch special. My dining partner wasn't hungry, so he ordered a bottled Coke. Now, the whole point of ordering a Coke in a bottle is because the bottle holds a certain temperature just right without ice watering it down. I've always considered them to be a real treat. The bottled Coke arrived lukewarm and with a glass of ice. What the heck is that about?! The waiter started pouring the coke in the glass, and left the bottle sitting on the table. I'm pretty sure a can would have sufficed instead if they were planning on pouring it in a glass of ice all along. The catfish sandwich was delicious. The catfish was battered just right, and the aioli sauce tasted just right, and it was just the right amount of it. I wasn't incredibly hungry, so I took half of my sandwich home with me. It toasted well in my toaster oven as leftovers. The seafood chowder left something to be desired - namely, chowder and seafood. I only tasted one bite of some sort of fish in my entire (tiny) bowl. It was one of those "Don't blink or you'll miss it" sort of things. The chowder was incredibly runny too. It was more like seafood soup than chowder. The chunks of potatoes were cubed kind of like those little cubes of ham you find at a salad bar. They were cooked all the way through, but the potato in chowder should be mashed up to make a thick consistency. It had potential in its flavor, but it was a definite fail on the seafood chowder.

    (3)

  • Kimberly M.

    Matt's in the Market is such a great little spot in the Pike Place Market. Came in for lunch yesterday and did not have a reservation. They seated the two of us right away. We let them know that we had a flight pretty soon so that we needed to be out quickly. The waiter provided us some suggestions of menu items that would be fastest. Most of the items would be fine for our short time frame but he let us know of two or three items that tend to take a little longer. Food was fabulous and the service was very good! They had us in and out in less than 40 minutes! Really enjoyed the decor and the location! Cannot wait to come back! ps- the pulled pork is amazing! REALLY LARGE FOR LUNCH... opps I kind of ate the whole thing!

    (4)

  • Brooke F.

    I dont know where to begin. I've been to Seattle twice in the past year and made sure to visit this place at lease once, twice if i have time each visit. First off the view is amazing. Nuzzled in a little building directly above Pike Place Market. I recommend the BBQ pulled pork sandwich. God i miss that baby already!! It's one of the best things ever.

    (5)

  • Nicole E.

    I went here with a party of 4 on a Wednesday night. We arrived about 5 minutes after our reservation but were seated right away. The host and server were extremely helpful, polite, and friendly. Based on suggestion from a friend, we ordered the grilled octopus appetizer which was delicious and perfect on a bed of Israeli couscous. For entrees, we ordered: the scallops, halibut, seafood stew, and arugula crab salad. Everyone raved about their dishes. I ordered the arugula crab salad and it was perfect with marcona almonds tossed in and just a drizzle of citrus dressing. I tried the scallop dish (I think it was their special that night?) and it was divine. I didn't try the halibut or seafood stew, but my other 3 dinner guests agreed that the seafood stew was the clear winner of the evening. You have to walk down a hall to use the restroom, but the host will help you with that. Oh! Did I mention the ambiance?! Upstairs, directly hovering over the entrance to Pike Place Market, Matt's is just the sweetest little place. It really is a small restaurant, but what it lacks in space it totally makes up for in character, romance, and excellent quality of food. I love it and can't wait to go back.

    (4)

  • Becky B.

    I heart Matt's!!! Recently went to Matt's for dinner....ummmm awesome! My boyfriend and I had been there a few times for lunch (usually Saturdays before we do some produce shopping), we've always enjoyed the lunch, dinner was on another playing field all together. We sat at the min bar and had some really great drinks. Robbie the bartender wasn't working this particular night, however the guy who was (don't know the name) was very attentive and makes a mean drink! My boyfriend ordered the Steak with foi gras and cherries.....holy moly. I had the scallops with cilantro puree and asparagus. The scallops were perfectly seared, slightly crunching on the first bite and then it just melts on your tongue. Perfection! The foi gras was a luxurious, but very wise addition to the steak,. It melted over it and added such a depth of flavor. We will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Dee T.

    The food is easily four to five stars. We enjoyed pretty much anything we tasted; the Russian sardines are a-maaaaaaaaaa-zing, and the clams and mussels also stood out. The space is also very lively and well-situated. I like an open kitchen. I loved being at eye level to the neon Public Market sign. The drinks pack a punch. The Sazerac almost killed me, but that's because I'm a lightweight in the hard liquor category. The Mary was eons better for me. Good wine list. What brought our experience here way, way down was the service. Our waitress was bewilderingly, and even worse, unapologetically slow. I observed that she did not have that many tables. I also observed that other tables, with just as many people, got their plates served in a much more timely manner. I am all for a leisurely meal with friends and loved ones, but this was ridiculous. It's a good thing that we weren't starving or else my New Yawker family members would have gone all Strong Island on her. But even I, with my Midwestern taciturnity, was close to losing my shit. We chose to keeps our lips zipped except where the food was concerned, since this was our first meal together of our trip. Caveat emptor!

    (3)

  • Nina N.

    Matt's in the market is a restaurant that is in the same building as the crumpet shop, and I will admit that I have been here several times for a nice view of seattle and drinks; not for their food. I have tried everything, and I must admit that the expensive american fusion is just not my cup of tea. I guess I like a little bit of down homecooking american food that is full of flavor and calories. The quality of food is definitely top notch, but the flavors were so so. However, the drinks are amazing hahaha. Do go for a nice cute luncheon with some friends or a business account luncheon where you can expense it. But again, it wouldn't be my first restaurant of choice when I am in the market.

    (3)

  • Tim H.

    Food was amazing. Perfectly cooked, beautifully plated, great flavor combinations. Couldn't get much better on that front. Service was an experience. Seems like if you're going to be a server, especially one in a fine dining establishment, you should have some social skills. You should be able to interact with the guests, be affable, and make them feel at home. Our server was awkward and mumbled. The wife asked a question about the sparkling rose and was met with absolute confusion followed by "what's the relevance of the question". He forgot the bread we ordered, never came by to ask how things were and if we needed something we had to flag him down. Finished plates were left of the table while he refilled water (never even half empty so kudos for that), dessert was offered only after I made the looking around for you eye contact that drew him over and even after we ordered desert our empty entree plates sat on the table. It was weird to say the least, I don't know that I've ever had an experience where I was so happy with the food but so disappointed with the service.

    (3)

  • Brig M.

    I'll keep this short and sweet. Overall: not impressed. Food was bland, tepid, and overpriced. Came from Austin to try it out and will not be back.

    (3)

  • E E.

    Matt's in the Market is a true Seattle gem located stone throws from Pike's Market. It is quaint and cozy with a beautiful lookout to the market. Steamed clams and chorizo offered perfect balance of sweet, savory and saltiness. The foie gras-lardon sliders.. well, the names says it all. I usually opt for seafood fare for entrees and Matt's has yet to disappoint. I can't wait to return to Seattle for another comforting meal.

    (4)

  • Alice T.

    Wow. Delicious Pork Belly "Banh Mi" Sandwich. Comes with soup of the day. And, we ordered a side of their homemade chips. So scrumptuous. Everyone needs to have lunch here, at least once! I'm definitely coming back again.

    (4)

  • Buddy G.

    Ingredients are incredibly fresh, order their raw food, tartar, oysters, ceviche. Had the scallops, good, but the lardo ontop was rubbery and really ruined the nice bite that makes fresh perfectly cooked scallops so delicious. Additionally, after we left I noticed that all my clothes smelled like cooking oil. 4 hours later the smell still lingers in the room where my coat is currently hung.

    (2)

  • Arnnie S.

    Man, the Market Paella is great. The freshness of the seafood exudes in this dish. You can also tell that they put a plethora of saffron in this dish. The Lamb Burger is also awesome. Like my friend says, "one of the few burgers I didn't feel the need for ketchup." The butter lettuce salad is great. I loved the texture-he crutch from the lettuce, and the chewiness of the pancetta were awesome. They also put the right amount of dressing, which was awesome. Now, mix that with bleu-cheese and tomatoes. I just wish they were open on Sundays, and that I had tried their catfish or oyster sandwich. Matt's is the place to go if you want to eat NW food. All their ingredients taste fresh, and you get a great view of the market down below.

    (5)

  • Todd L.

    Matt's set's a precedent that makes it hard to eat at other places. The freshness, the location, the vibe, creativity and execution are all top notch. This restaurant inspires me to try to duplicate some of the dishes in my own kitchen, they're that good. I would recommend any dish that they have with halibut. This restaurant taught me how versatile and tasty this fish can be. ...counting down the days until I can go back.

    (5)

  • Jake S.

    Went back after a 7 year absence for dinner with friends. I have to say not close to as good as I remembered it. Very pricey for the value, and not super service. I am bummed because I remember this place so fondly. My wife had the whole fish and it had tons of bones throughout, which made it very annoying to eat. Also, it was served in a bowl of delicious sauce, but we had to ask many many times for bread to soak it all up. I will definitely not be back, and I'll choose to spend my big bucks elsewhere. Sorry Matt!

    (2)

  • Jessica S.

    Often disappointed by the food I encounter in restaurants, Matt's in the Market was a pleasant surprise. Delicious halibut, cooked to perfection, in a slighty sweet corn puree-heaven! The bread basket is superb-perfect for noshing on while you admire the amazing view of Puget Sound. The service was friendly and attentive. Pleasant. I'm only giving four stars because they do not list all ingredients on the menu. My fish had flecks of bacon on it, and I don't eat pork. Even with reading the description of the dish-I wouldn't have thought that it was on there. I feel like that is one component of a dish (a fish dish, none the less) that should be mentioned in the description. But if you don't have any dietary restrictions, check it out!

    (4)

  • Paola S.

    This place is a little hard to find, but once you find it it's a hidden gem! We had a lot of amazing food in Seattle, but this is the one place that I can't seem to forget. My husband and I had lunch here a few weeks ago during our trip to Seattle. We started off with the half dozen oysters which were descent. We split the simple greens salad and friend catfish sandwich. AMAZING!! Best sandwich I have ever had! After ordering it, I wished I had the whole sandwich to myself! Definitely a place worth checking out. Adorable place with a great view with the market.

    (5)

  • Hillary H.

    After showing an out of town friend around downtown, we went here for lunch. The service and food were great.... but the prices and menu selection are mainly what make for the 3 star review. My friend has celiac disease and needed gluten free options. She said that most local restaurants were way easier to eat at than chains, so I thought Matt's would be fine. Unfortunately, both the two things she wanted to order had gluten hidden in them (the pulled pork sauce, and pan seared oysters), and the oysters were one of the reasons we came! We settled to start by sharing the steamed clams-- which, to be fair-- were decadent. I had the famed catfish sandwich, and she had the lamb sirloin, sans bread. My sandwich was delicious, if messy, but the extra half pour of white wine the server comped us made me hardly notice. ;) I have heard that they are a great place for happy hour, so that's probably the only other chance I will give this place. Otherwise, I think there are better seafood restaurants, with more accessible locations, around Seattle to patron!

    (3)

  • Edie S.

    Had lunch sitting at the bar on a drizzly day. The service was attentive and the place was a wonderful mix of cozy and bright. The arugula topped with crab, avocado, almonds and fresh orange slices topped with a zesty orange dressing was marvelous, but my friend's clams and mussels with chorizo served in a bowl of delectable broth topped with giant croutons was the best. The lamb burger and fresh halibut sandwich got rave reviews from nearby tables. I would definitely recommend this as a perfect place to take out-of-town guests for the view of the market and the delicious food.

    (5)

  • Rander P.

    After the Savor Seattle food tour, it was time for lunch. I was not really all that hungry after eating sample after sample during the tour, but I was on vacation so I decided to head to Matt's. I had heard many good things about this place. I ordered the pan-fried cornmeal-crusted oyster sandwich (picture added) and tomato soup. The tomato soup has great color no? Usually tomato soup looks like watered down ketchup. It had a robust tomato flavor and a nice acidity to it. The sandwich was just awesome. The cornmeal crust was crunchy, but the oysters were big, fat, briny and just barely warmed through and provided a texture contrast to the cornmeal. It was perfectly seasoned and the bread was crusty enough to stand up to the rest of the sandwich. The Pike XXXXX Stout beer was a little more that I should have. That's a 22 oz bottle not your normal 12 oz. It was a touch sweet/sour and lush. I finished the meal, but went into a food coma and took a nice nap.

    (4)

  • Craig T.

    I can't recommend a restaurant any more than this one. Excellent service, sommelier, appetizers, entrees and desert. We shared the scallops and the seafood stew which might as well be called crack soup it was so addictive. I can't imagine another trip to Seattle without a return visit to Matt's. One of ournfavorites in the entire country.

    (5)

  • Taylor P.

    This is hard...four stars or five? The only reason I hesitate to go 5 is that...well, first that means it was PERFECT in every way and well...I guess it was. FIVE STARS! I had a lunch meeting with someone that goes out a LOT for business. I wasn't sure where to go and was a little worried when he left it up to me to pick a place....well, he didn't love my suggestions so he picked Matt's. Hmmm, I wasn't thrilled. I had been here before on a date for dinner months ago - the food was good and I even remember Dan the owner coming over at that time to talk to us but I just didn't leave in love with the place. Looking back, I think that could have been the DATE and not the restaurant because I loved this spot! There was a wait when we got there but we had no reservations. Oops. Make a note, this place (although I am reading it has been remodeled and expanded) is still fairly small. We went for lunch at 1pm on a Friday. I wish I could remember our servers name but he was so funny! Loved him. I had a huge hang over (imagine that) and ordered a diet coke. Nope, not gonna happen. Apparently there is no diet coke at Matt's.....WHAT? Ok, if I didn't have an open mind - that would start the decline of my stars here. First, I am aware (somewhat) of all the calories I'm taking in (a LOT) so I have to cut where I can. I wasn't excited when I was told no diet soda but I went with the flow. When it came out, it was bottled and from Mexico which I was informed meant real sugar so that was better? Ok cool! For lunch I had a lamb burger with goat cheese and bacon. I got the mixed greens (other choice would be soup). OMG this burger was awesome!! The mixed greens? Really good too - it had pumpkin seeds and blue cheese. Yum, never enough cheese!! So once again Dan came by and said hi and checked on us. I think that is pretty cool - sweet guy! I think that's all I can say....great experience, yummy food, real coke. In closing, have a coke and a smile...I mean, go to Matt's in the Market!

    (5)

  • Amanda K.

    I took my in-laws here after the Picasso exhibit at the SAM for lunch. I was a little worried about the wait staff experience after reading everyone's reviews here. The wait staff were attentive, and very helpful! Food was brought out in a timely fashion and our water glasses were filled several times during our meal. At one point the sun was low enough to get in the eyes of my mother in law and the waitress promptly dropped the shade so she could eat comfortably. We had the Stumptown BBQ sandwich, the banh mi and the roasted lamb sirloin. Generous portions and delicious food. My father in law who has spent time in Vietnam thought that their take on a banh mi was superb. He thought the flavor was amazing and the pork belly tender. The BBQ sandwich and the lamb sirloin were flavorful and juicy. I'll be bringing guests here again!

    (5)

  • Tom S.

    During a 5 day Seattle vacation specifically planned to sample 12 chef owned restaurants, Matt's was one of my favorite places. Bambi & I ate here 2X. Food is lusty in the french bistro sense. All dishes, of course, feature all the good stuff from the Pike Place market downstairs. The wine list is small but well balanced between Europe and Washington / Oregon. Matt was at the stoves on our first visit. We ate at the kitchen counter. I got to ask lots of questions that were answered respectfully. 2nd visit Matt was not cooking and the food was consistent. The place is a zoo. The small room is crowded & noisy. We watched plenty of tourists get turned away because they had no reservations. You need to reserve - This place IS too popular. Foodie Tourist Alert! Put this place on your list.

    (5)

  • Matt W.

    Matt's in the Market is a study in juxtaposition. The best-dressed person on the staff was dressed worse than the worst-dressed patron. That created kind of a weird atmosphere, with the staff all in jeans and sweaters (although VERY high-end jeans and sweaters) and the patrons were all in slacks and collars, without exception. This also put the menu and decor at odds with the staff's presentation. The staff was very courteous and attentive however, so no knocks against them other than it seems like the dress code is trying to make a statement; I'm just not sure what that statement is. My meal was big, sloppy and hearty, with beans, sausage and pork, while my wife's consisted of four average-size scallops, well presented. Another juxtaposition I wasn't expecting. However, both our meals were absolutely fantastic and I have no complaints. All in all, a good meal, despite the price, which I felt was a little on the high side for what we got. I'm sure we were paying for the view, which was as good as everyone else says it is.

    (3)

  • CB G.

    Great afternoon sun- When there is cork in my wine I expect there to be more then a half successful fishing attempt with a spoon to get it out..and then bringing my $11 a glass back to me with cork still visibly floating in it! $4 for bread? Come on! $40 for a small piece of salmon? You have to be kidding. The view is great, the prices are steep and the attitude of the staff is like they are giving you a break by letting you eat here.

    (1)

  • Paul F.

    Dinner was wonderful at Matt's. I had the beef tenderloin and my girlfriend had the halibut. As would be expected at any quality restaurant they were cooked perfectly(which anything less would have been a failure at Matt's prices). I enjoyed the mustard sauce on the bed of potatoes and green beans on which my steak sat. My father always enjoyed mustard on his steak, and while it's not a super common combination it's a good one. They do a good job plating, and the food's fast. Not that steaks and fish really take that long to cook, but still it's nice. Who doesn't like a clean, well run, efficient restaurant? Matt's is a major tourist spot, but you can't knock 'em. The view of the Market sign was great, as was the setting sun over the sound. There isn't much decor, per se, as the windows and the views take precedence. I enjoy eating at a restaurant on an elevated level, with copious windows. It just floats my boat, so Matt's was good for me. I also enjoyed how we just showed up and were able to get the last table, obviously not your best plan but it worked out in our favor. I felt like the whole shop felt very Seattle, in terms of the casual attire of the staff, and the local bistro menu. I think if my relatives were in town an I wanted to show them 'Seattle', Matt's would be a good choice. We shared a bread pudding, and it was huge. I guess it might not have been huge in the eyes of some, but I enjoyed feeling like there was more bread pudding there than we could eat. Stumbling down the stairs out onto the street I think we were both very satisfied. Thank you Matt's!

    (4)

  • Hawker C.

    Have been to dinner here 4 times now, and have always had great food. Nicely prepared; a great, focused menu; fresh food. Last time I deviated away from seafood and had the (amazing) chicken and dumplings, and was very happy that I gave it a try -- just great. My only complaint is the seating. Yes, it's a small busy place, but a few of the tables are very good, and several are pretty crappy. In 4 visits, I've never managed to score one of the better tables. Last time I went in with a party of 3, and even though they had a couple of tables for 4 open they sat us at a table for two with 3 places. It was pretty crowded, and a lot less pleasant experience than we would have otherwise had. I wouldn't go here for a special occasion unless I knew I could secure one of the tables by the window.

    (4)

  • Adriana K.

    Oh Matt's, I have been trying for years to get to you. With your bright airy upstairs windows letting light spill in from all directions. But you were closed during one attempt, and no reservations available on another attempt, so I was pretty excited when we got in for dinner on a hot summer night. Unfortunately, the steep stairs and backless stools were not ideal for my companion, so our dinner turned into cocktails. Delicious refreshing hand crafted cocktails. And a good crowd. We struck up conversations with others at the bar - and when we were craving crab legs that weren't on the menu, the bar tender had several recommendations for other places to try. Menu looked standard for Northwest fare (of course a little spendy, as expected) - my cocktail did not disappoint, nor the service. I suppose I will have to continue the quest for dinner here...

    (4)

  • Alistair F.

    We had lunch here and everything was so totally delicious - including our mocktails. The sandwiches are a must - fresh, beautifully prepared, local & seasonal. And the service is friendly and a bit quirky in a charming way. Love this place!

    (5)

  • Marcos R.

    A true Seattle Gem. You can't miss whether it's for lunch of dinner. For lunch the Catfish sandwhich is amazing as is the pulled pork sandwhich. All the salads are well dressed and wonderful. For dinner, the clams and mussels are a great way to start as are the grilled octopus. The halibut the preperation is always spot on as are the beef short ribs and beef tenderloin. Do yourself a favor and make a reservation and go.

    (4)

  • Gary H.

    Everything about this place was great. From the moment we were running late and they said "no problem" and sat us in a busy lunch right away when we arrived, to the service. It was just a great experience. ...and the food. Spectacular! The portions were plentiful and the lamb sandwich delicious. I had the pulled pork sandwich and it will rival anything I had when in Texas, although a bit neater... but plenty of pulled pork. Others in our part had Halibut and the signature dish, catfish sandwich, was perfectly cooked. The scene is quaint, with a bit of Seattle built into the view of the Pike's Market sign and overlooking Pike's Market. This is a definite return place for us. By the way, we had a baby with us and they were more than accommodating, something rare these days in other restaurants.

    (5)

  • Ashley M.

    Whenever I'm visiting the fam in Seattle (which is quite often) there's a persistent rally cry: lamb burgers at Matt's! But we have always been deterred - by particularly dreary weather, the prospect of an M's game, etc...until today. I hadn't been to Matt's since the remodel, so I walked into an entirely new restaurant. The old Matt's had maybe four tables and an impossibly narrow cooking area behind the bar...rumor had it the chefs cooked on hot plates only, but the quality of the food made that hard to believe. Matt's 2.0 still retains that intimate, word-of-mouth atmosphere, but can finally satisfy it's growing following. I loved the decor - exposed ducts, wood paneling everywhere and huge, arching windows that open up to Pikes Market below. And now for the vaunted lamb burgers. I was tempted by the catfish, but my dad & sis flat out refused to let me order anything but the burger. We started with heirloom tomato gazpacho...perfect on a sunny, 80+ summer day, and I swear I could tell it was made with heirloom rather than regular tomatoes. And then for the main event: a juicy, medium-rare (of course!) lamb patty topped with thick-cut bacon (mmm bacon), mushrooms we decided had been soaked in balsamic vinegar, and a delicious aioli. Perfection. Already counting down to my next Seattle visit so I can make a return trip to Matt's. I'd like to say I'll be exploring the rest of the menu, but I'm going to have a hard time venturing beyond that burger. Nom nom.

    (5)

  • Manuel W.

    I like to go to lunch here when I am on a vacation and playing tourist in my own city. I sit at the bar and talk with the bartender and other locals & tourists. I usually get a sandwich. I've had great tuna melt and pulled pork sandwiches here. The bar stocks intereseting drinks and sodas and the bartender is an interesting guy. It's got a nice atmosphere, a calm place to relax above the bustle of the market.

    (5)

  • Becky N.

    I came here with a few friends for lunch. It's a little difficult to find because you have to walk up the stairs of a building and the restaurant was not clearly advertised from street level. Luckily, it's right across from the information booth at Pike's market, so if you're unsure of where this place is, just ask. I had the special of the day - Tuna melt, which came with a side salad. They used real, not out of the can, tuna. The dish had a fishy taste and smell to it, which fresh fish should not have. The salad was good and fresh, but nothing extraordinary. My friend ordered the pulled pork sandwich topped with a really nice slaw and was served with a side of potato salad. This is what I should have ordered. Lucky for me, my friend and I split the meals so we get to taste everything. The pulled pork was amazing and went perfectly with the cool slaw. Put it in between brioche bread and you have a perfect sandwich! The potato salad was also very good. For dessert, we had their bread pudding. It was delicious! Definitely save room for bread pudding!

    (4)

  • Joey V.

    Came here for lunch(11:30am) last month by accident. No reservations. Sat at the bar. It was a nice sunny day. Good natural lighting. Lamb burger was nice and juicy! It was pricey($16), but well worth it. Service was awesome. Will be back for dinner with reservations next time around.

    (4)

  • Jenny W.

    I started off the morning really wanting an omelet, pancakes, or french coast, but one of the regulars at Cantinetta last night suggested this place for brunch today. We hobble back over to downtown and find Matt's upstairs in the Pike's Place Market. It's definitely not your typical brunch place as there were no eggs, pancakes, or french toast. It's definitely a fancier lunch place (which Brian tried to explain to me that it wasn't fancy, just typical Seattle). He had the special, the soft shall crab BLT and I had the lamb burger (apparently the lamb burger is pretty famous). All of their sandwiches are served with either a "simple salad" or a cup of soup. Brian had the chowder which was delish and I had the simple salad, which definitely was NOT simple. It was on the bigger side with pumpkin seeds, gorgonzola, and an intensely rich dressing. Mmmm! The crab BLT was awesome, crab was fried and bacon was made and cured right in the restaurant. My lamb burger was super juicy and delicious. However, I looked like an @$$ since I asked the waiter for ketchup when he dropped it off (forgetting it was a lamb burger and thinking it was a hamburger) and then remembered and was like oh, yeah nevermind! hahaha! Also came with some of that delicious bacon and other random veggies. Service was good and the blood orange mimosas are delightful!

    (5)

  • Danielle F.

    I really want to LOVE Matt's. Honestly I do! It always gets lots of praise and all my friends love it. I went there long ago for lunch on my birthday. My mom had the lamb burger, it was really good. I had the sloppy joe. It wasn't bad but it wasn't sending me running back. I went with a group of friends for dinner a few weeks back, excited to give it another shot. Between the 4 of us we all had seafood. One had the special ( Halibut or Cod, I can't quite remember) one had salmon and two of us had scallops. I had the scallops. I know Matt's is as much about the ambiance and service as it is the food, I know you pay more for this which is fine. I'm sorry to say my 4 or 5 scallops were not worth their near 30 dollar price tag. I was more excited by what they were served on ( the menu has changed in the last month but I believe it was bacon grits) than the scallops themselves. My friend's salmon wasn't bad but again there was nothing great about it. The one dish that really stood out was the fish special, had I been able to order again I would have had that dish. I will give Matt's credit for having great service. Our server was attentive and clearly knew what he was doing. However as much as I do like the atmosphere in Matt's and the service is top notch in my book it's simply okay. This doesn't mean I wont give them another shot to be great, it simply means there are many other restaurants that I need to try before Matt's will make it in the rotation again.

    (3)

  • Nicholas H.

    Came here for linner whilst shopping in Pike Place Market - really great and fresh seafood and very prompt service! I ordered the sea scallops, they were perfectly cooked and only slightly-fishy tasting (perfectly fresh). Crisp asparagus as well complimented the course nicely. I'd highly recommend it for out-of-towners (such as myself) as the view of the market and the surrounding bay is very beautiful (if you can see out of the window). A full bar and sommelier compliment the joint well. Let me say that this place isn't cheap (mid $30 range per plate for seafood).

    (4)

  • Kimberly W.

    If you ever visit the Public Market on Pike Street, you must stop at this hidden jem! It's located above the floral shop on the corner of Pike Street and 1st Avenue. Although it is a bit pricey, it's well worth it! It's not a very big place so reservations is a must and/or expect a long wait if you go during lunch or dinner. If you get the right table, you can sit close to the windows and sit right above the market and watch the people walk by. This place is well known to the locals only because tourist wouldn't know it was there unless they were told about it. I had the catfish sandwhich. I also had a cup of their seafood chowder! Ahhhhh so yummy!! I was there on a business meeting and my client had a halibut sandwhich on a brioch bun. Our fish was so fresh and tasty! Yum! I would definitely be back! There is a parking garage not too far from Pike Street, it's across from the Hard Rock Cafe. It's only 1 block from the Market. I want to go back already!!

    (4)

  • Cami G.

    So if I weren't treated like I was some foreign tourist, I may give Matt's In The Market another star. I mean, the food is good. I like me some fried sandwiches (I had the fried oyster sammie)! Good clam chowda, but dude, just because I'm awing over the views of the market and am a people watchin', doesn't mean I've never seen fish that flew before or a giant copper pig... and that homeless man playing laundry bucket drums. Don't roll your eyes at me please, I just want some of your food. Clean enough, food is good enough, service is sub par (enough).. everything combined is just not Yay! I'm a Fan! enough.

    (3)

  • David N.

    Per Lunch: so amazing so amazing so amazing its amazing Get ready for some sodium - Catfish sandwich, pulled pork, po boy and the lamb burger. *Cannot afford dinner here.

    (5)

  • Nick L.

    Food was pretty good. Limited menu. Overpriced and small portions.

    (3)

  • Anthony B.

    Have been here a few times and am always pleased with the ambiance, rotating menu view of the sound and market. This is also a great place for lunch and most recently I had the sloppy joe and my friend Sean had the lamb burger. Coupled with a couple beers, this was a great lunch. I uploaded a picture of the sloppy joe with egg on top, served with chips.

    (4)

  • Cindy C.

    The best meal I had in Seattle. Little place, with lots of flavor. Freshest ingredients are literally right at their doorsteps, how can you go wrong with that?... Everything we had was delish, and at night, when the Pike Market Sign lights up, and shines through their windows, it's very romantic. Great pork, clams, steak and desserts. Also offers whole fish, with head and all... bravo to that!!! Bravo! For more reviews visit my blog.

    (5)

  • JK L.

    A very good seafood restaurant. The menu may be small, but food is very good. Seafood is the way to go. We started with a half dozen oysters, excellent. They were very fresh. I had the Halibut, seared and served on top on a wild mushroom and napa cabbage. The halibut was moist and and delicately flavored. Will have to try the seafood stew on my next visit. The chocolate orange torte was excellent. You get a fairly nice view of the sunset if seated near the window.

    (4)

  • Alex R.

    I had a very good experience at Matt's. I took some business clients out for dinner, and this restaurant was just perfect. First, it's in a cool part of town. Right on the water, and if you sit by the window you can see the harbor. The restaurant itself has a lot of character, and the menu has good variety. I love the fact that their ingredients come from the farmers' market downstairs, and their seafood is super fresh. First- service. Stellar. Our waitress was adorable and the perfect combo of professional and friendly. She also made some great recommendations on the wine and food. Second- food. Most important. The food was super yummy. I started off with the arugula with fresh crab. OMG. Soooo good. The dressing was a super light citrus, and the arugula was mixed with fresh avocado and marcona almonds. And the crab...it was fresh! Never frozen. And there was lots of it....enough said. :) I had the fish of the day for my main course. It was black cod, and it was GOOD. Really light and perfectly cooked. My pet peeve is when restaurants make a healthy protein (fish) unhealthy but slathering on butter, oil, etc. Often I feel that it's done to cover up less-than-perfect fish, but there was none of that here. Super fresh and light. Cooked to perfection, and probably just off the boat. Loved it. We finished off with a variety of desserts for the table. The bread pudding with ice cream won hands down. I'm not really a bread pudding fan, but this was almost more like apple cobbler. And it was fabulous! So the only thing that I didn't love is the fact that the bathrooms are out in a shared hallway and you have to get a key. Ick. Totally doesn't mesh with the high-end dining experience. This was really more of a 4-and-a-half star meal, but since there are no half stars I'm sticking with 4. The meal is expensive, but you totally get what you pay for. I left feeling satisfied, and I would definitely go back.

    (4)

  • P W.

    Probably my fourth time at Matt's. Sad to say it has gone downhill from years past. Overpriced, poor range on the menu, and the service has taken a turn for the worse. Won't be going back.

    (2)

  • Jeremiah C.

    This place gets packed so make a reservation! If you like lamb, the lamb burger is the best! I have it every time I go to Matt's!

    (5)

  • Ashley P.

    I adore this place. Wonderful location, amazing service and the food is to die for. Everyone I've ever taken here has said the same thing: "Wow, you can just taste how fresh everything is" So true. I've had their crab salad and it is utter perfection. Some fresh ground pepper and honey, I am in heaven! I wish I could have more on the menu (I'm gluten free) but everything I can have is a-frickin-mazing! Next time you're in the area and get hungry, don't think twice about going here. Just do it. And if you have people coming in from out of town take them here, it never fails to impress! Oh, and for the food, service and location the prices are more than reasonable!

    (5)

  • Nick H.

    Everything was exceptional during our visit. Host was friendly and accommodated our every need. The lamb burger and pork belly sandwich were so delicious and filling no one in our party ate dinner that night after a 12:30 lunch. Great few and hip atmosphere, a perfect stop during our busy day.

    (5)

  • Alex N.

    Dear Matt, You put the fois in my gras. We were hooked up by a mutual friend. She knew I would love you at first sight. As soon as I was able to find you all hidden in your upstairs corner overlooking the Sound Horizon, my heart began to pulse blood a few degrees warmer. Meeting at the bar was a great idea. It really gave me a chance to know you and what you like to cook. Your bar guy was really top notch. You courted me quite effectively with perfectly seared scallops atop fresh sweet peas and finished off with shaved fennel. You paired me quite well with a glass of white. I now wear a t-shirt that says "I left my [heart] in Seattle". Yours, Alex

    (5)

  • Charlie B.

    Really? This is the place I was reading all these raves about? Here I am in Seattle and craving some great seafood in Pike Place Market and I go here. The menu didn't have a ton of seafood choices. I heard raves about that catfish sandwich and that it would make a convert if I didn't like catfish in the past. Guess what, I got it and still don't like catfish. It was for sure a well prepared sandwich and piece of fish, but I wasn't blown away...

    (3)

  • John C.

    I agree this place kicks ass. Wait service and food are of the highest quality in Seattle. Location is sweet, ambience is perfectly Seattle. This is food as an art form, don't need to say much else. Why 4 stars and not 5: The host/ess has never made me feel 'special' + I wish they had an espresso machine. Love me an americano after lunch and dinner, not a large french press. Luv french press coffee, but only when Im ready to drink a serious amount.

    (4)

  • E T.

    After surviving the crush in the fish market area, I needed a drink! (I don't drink much- so that was how agitated I was after the tourist insanity- why do people stand and block the aisles when it is so crowded?) The blood orange mimosa was delightful. Our view overlooking the pig and the "public market" sign was perfection. We sampled two cups of soup- the chowder and the sausage rice. For our main entrees- catfish and tuna sandwiches. We agreed that the catfish was better. Hubby and I found one item to be interesting, but others might find it too pretentious: a $4 organic sugar cane soda. It was a delicious cola- not too biting or overly sugary. I think we found our experience to be improved by the fact that we showed up at 11:25 am on a Saturday. We were seated immediately and the service was still fresh. Not at all crowded.

    (4)

  • Mason M.

    One word to describe my experience: DISAPPOINTED. In all caps, so you know I'm serious. We were looking forward to some of the menu items online--and they weren't offered when we got there. The foie was solid. But my scallops and my date's pasta dish...something was off with both. I can't seem to put my finger on it. Might come back for lunch to give it another shot.

    (2)

  • Laura P.

    Surprisingly a great choice for a family dinner which included our young infant and our almost 2 year old nephew. Usually fine dining and babies don't mix, but the noise level, the lights, and the huge mirror kept fussy baby girl from her usual all-out evening melt down. It also helped that they seated us in a corner spot. Menu highlights include manila clams with chicharrones that were straight from heaven, a perfectly cooked piece of trout, and an amazing beef tenderloin. Menu low lights were a undercooked pork tenderloin which was the special of the day and the child's portion grilled cheese. Our easy going nephew just didn't like his, as his grandma proclaimed the cheese to be a textural disaster. Desserts were tasty and inventive, such as a sticky toffee date cake with pomegranate seeds.

    (4)

  • Iris M.

    Lunch was great! The restaurant was packed so I was glad we made a reservation. I liked the decor or design of the space and how there was an open kitchen with lots of light coming in through the windows. I had the paella, which was featured in the show Rachael's Vacations on the Food Network. The paella was okay, but I wished there was some more seasoning and seafood in the dish. It was a little bit on the pricer side $19. Steve had the Coffee BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich that was $14. He let me have a bite and I almost flipped over backwards because it was so yummy. The dish came with a choice of a side and he had the halibut clam chowder and I almost passed out again because of its tastiness. Although I was not completely satisfied with my dish, Steve's dish was so awesome that we decided to come back to Matt's for another taste soon.

    (4)

  • Nick J.

    Everything about this place is top notch! The space is very cool being in an older Seattle building overlooking Pike Place Market. Almost every other place near the market seems like a tourist trap but this is one of the market's best kept secrets. It seems to be mostly locals. They have a great wine list and generous pours on their cocktails. The food speaks for itself ... wow! The appetizers are great and you have to try a seafood dish for your main entree. Matt's still has the best seared scallops I've ever had! I always say I'm going to try something else on the menu but I can't seem to branch out. You can't help but offer a bite to everyone at the table, they're that good! The desserts were also quite tasty. Overall, a great restaurant with a true taste of Seattle.

    (5)

  • Chrissy r.

    Seriously over priced. On top of it, they seated us at the absolute worst table they had - and the restaurant was empty at the time. Rude much?? We walked out - opted not to over pay for service that poor, and got food for half the cost a block down @ the pike place brewery - where the service and the food are always great!

    (1)

  • Jonas B.

    We got two seats at the bar on short notice on a Saturday night (Memorial Day weekend), which was nice and on the whole "nice" is what it was. Nothing bad, nothing mindblowing but a nice dining experience. As we sat in the bar, the bar tender was our waiter and he did a fine job in keeping the dishes coming at the right pace. The octopus was yummy (and very similar to the octopus we had at Sitka & Spruce not so long ago). The foie gras satisfied my foie gras craving for the foreseeable future, as planned. The pork belly carnitas were awesome, so tender and tasty. We had one more dish but I forget what it was. A minus for the wine, a New Zealand Souvignon Blanc that was not up to par at all. It wasn't very expensive (and our first choice was sold out) but I don't think it belonged on their wine list in the first place. However, the wine faux pas was compensated for by having two good amaros (Averna and Montenegro) so the four stars are secure. Nice view and people into people watching had some interesting sights too. Update 6/4/2009: So we went there again for dinner after a concert and got a table for two right away, which sounds easy on a Thursday night but the place was pretty full so I guess we were in luck after all. We had the octopus again and it was delicious again. We also both liked the crab stuffed pasta blobs (canesomethingletti) but while I thought the ravioli stuffed with pork confit were awesome, the wife did not agree. We were not too thrilled with the clams either as although I thought the chorizo in the broth was delicious, it totally took over and annihilated the clams. The Riesling and Pinot (Syncline) by the glass were nice and of course I had another glass of amaro (Averna). We even had dessert: one scoop each of mint ice cream and chocolate sorbet. Yum. Not a solid four stars for the food this time either but we like the atmosphere enough that they'll get them.

    (4)

  • Kelly D.

    This place has great food but it was a little rich for me. I had the lamb burger with goat cheese and was pretty full after the first bite. Big props for buying all of the ingredients (including the meat) local.

    (3)

  • Leo T.

    I'm with Baby M on this one. $4 for basic artisan bread that most decent restaurants serve gratis. Almost insultingly superficial wine @ $15 a glass. With so many great restaurants in Seattle spare yourself the disappointment of dining at Matt's .

    (1)

  • Steffi R.

    I was totally blown away by this place. My party was lucky enough to get the one unreserved table, which apparently is impossible so make reservations! We started off with a cheese plate appetizer, but we did not know what we were getting ourselves into. It was absolutely phenomenal. Six different kinds of cheese to mix with interesting and unexpected additions such as shortbread, dark chocolate, and candied almonds. It was incredible, really. You could truly stop in solely for wine, cheese plate, and dessert. However...my dinner entree, a pork shank farroto, was always phenomenal. I had never tried farroto (a different, chewier, nuttier take on rissoto) but this was a great introduction. Not only was the food great, but the atmosphere too. City lights through the big windows, great dimmed lighting, hip urban soundtrack, chefs in the middle of the room cooking...perfection. Check it out next time you want to "go big or go home."

    (5)

  • Darth V.

    Catfish? What the Ord Vaxal do I know about Catfish? Catfish is best understood by people from the South. Look at my outfit. It's thick, and it's all black. Christ, there's a cape! Do I LOOK like I come from the South? I'd melt down there. So how the hell am I supposed to be able to judge a good catfish sandwich? Ask me about squid. I've had plenty of Mon Calamari over the years. But catfish? Fortunately, the Lady Vader IS from the South, so I tasked her with judging the quality of this particular dish from the Foodie 100. We got there at about 12:45, and some guy with an iPad told us to come back in 45 minutes. Then he walked off, leaving the iPad behind. A 45 minute wait for lunch on a weekday? Seriously? What part of "I'm Darth Vader, and I'd like a table for 2" don't people get? No respect for the helmet, I tell ya. He's lucky I'm anti-Apple, otherwise he'd be short 1 iPad. Well, not really, but that's seriously trusting leaving a 500 dollar device unattended in a central part of the city like that. But we stuck it out, came back in 45, and took a seat at the window. The view would have been spectacular....if the Pike Place administrative offices weren't blocking the views of the Bay. It did provide a lovely angle by which one could use The Force to redirect flying fish into the faces of passing tourists. That never gets old. Service a bit slow, but they had Mexican Coke. It's impossible to not overlook certain things when you're having a cold one in the glass bottle. Unfortunately, they serve it room temperature. As a result, some 93 year old lady in a Rascal Scooter caught a salmon to the chin. Granny ain't goin' to the Grand Canyon in her scooter from the Scooter Store this year. Anyhow, out comes this catfish sandwich. Obviously cooked perfectly, just the right amount and equality of breading, wrapped in nice quality bread sourced from the bakery downstairs. I took a couple of bites and all I can say is that it seemed OK to me. Again, just not a catfish person. The Lady Vader seemed to enjoy it immensely, so I will defer to her expertise on this and claim this sandwich worthy of the Foodie 100 list. One thing of note is it's served with an aioli. What is it with this city siding absolutely everything with a damned aioli? I like em and all, but come on. You don't see me running around Force Choking everybo...err, you don't see me running around serving cans of whoopass....with a side of aioli, do you? Cost: Excessive. I get that it's right at the market, so there's a tourist tax tacked on to every item, but I think they take it a little further than most around the market. The decor wasn't all that amazing, and aside from the "Look how cool I am, I have an iPad" instance at the front, there was nothing that really stood out about this place as justifying that much of a price hike. And I still can't get past the 45 minute wait for lunch. If lunch hour for the working people is an hour, how the hell will you eat there if you spend 3/4 of it just waiting for a table? Especially when I *know* I saw empty tables when we first went in. 3 Deathstars.

    (3)

  • Wendy M.

    Dang it! After reading the review for their bread pudding - I *knew* I should have ordered it when I was there! Anyway, we took our friends here based on the wonderful reviews. Everyone loved their dishes. I had the brisket with aioli. It was very tender and not overly seasoned. Although it was good, I wish I had ordered the pulled pork. That looked divine. Husband had the other pork stew dish with hominy. It was very delicious. It was a very comforting dish, as if it was made at home. Friend had the fried catfish sandwich and she loved it. Her husband had the pulled pork sandwich and really enjoyed it. Desserts - we tried the lemon cake and the rocky road brownie. Both very heavenly!!!

    (4)

  • Alanna M.

    I was very impressed with the service at this place. I had the opportunity to sample different wines to accompany my dinner (this is when I had no experience with wine). I love the freshness of the ingredients in the food too.

    (5)

  • Alix H.

    I met a friend there for lunch at 11:30, and already there was a long even though they open at 11:30 on weekdays. All the tables by the windows were reserved already but the waiter sat us as close as possible to enjoy a good view. This place had the best sandwich I've had in a long long time! I tried the Catfish sandwich and I don't really know what they put in it but I couldn't stop eating until I was done and wanted more. The seafood chowder was also so delicious. I am definitely going back again and I want to try their dinner menu next time. You won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Justin P.

    Matt's In The Market has been one of my favorite places to eat since I moved to Seattle.....but I've got to admit it's just not the same experience since they expanded. Food: Food is still pretty darn good. Everything is fresh, plated well and tasty. -1 star for price. I never considered Matt's to be inexpensive, but I found myself spending $30+ for lunch (I only had 1 beer). That's all of a sudden pricey in my book. Atmosphere: Casual with hints of upscale. Oh and get ready to wait. Even though they take reservations and expanded the restaurant (it's now double the size), they are pretty bad at flipping tables. Service: Meh. For a $30 lunch, I expect some serious service. Let's just say the service was on par for a $15 lunch. Matt's is still a great place to have a casual meal, but I've got to admit it's quickly loosing it's charm with me.

    (4)

  • Robert B.

    Came here for a late lunch. YUM, absolutely amazing food. Had the steamed mussels and clams, which came with a tasty sauce and great corona beans in amongst the shellfish. The deviled egg appitizer was a bonus. Prices seemed reasonable although we did not keep our tab reasonable thanks to a couple of drinks and appetizer. Still it was worth it for the amazing food and great location.

    (5)

  • Katherine W.

    Very accommodating of my soy allergy. They make everything in house - including the aioli (canola oil) and salad dressings. Food was amazing, staff was great, and you can feel like a "real" person when ordering and enjoying the food! Very romantic setting, would totally recommend.

    (5)

  • Crystal B.

    I had one of the worst experiences I've ever had at a restaurant here. At the time I lived nearby, and I had always heard good things about Matt's, so when a friend and I ended up at the market at lunch, we were excited to try it. We were there right as they opened for lunch, and had a nice table by a window with a view. We really liked the restaurant, although from the very beginning the FOH staff seemed a little on the arrogant side. Whatever, no big deal. This is never a big issue for me. We each ordered a salad and soup. The soup was an heirloom tomato and something, and was absolutely delicious. The salads were also good. If our experience had ended here, this would be a 4 or 5 star review. About halfway through the salad, as soon as I could see the bottom of the plate, I realized there was a colossal amount of dirt in my salad. I'm not talking about a rock, or a little dirt- I'm talking about multiple chunks of earth, some of which were crumbling and coating my salad. I want to make this very clear- I am a server, I understand that things like this happen. If the situation had been handled in a reasonable manner, this would still be a 4 star review. We showed our server, who laughed, (no apology), said "oh, that happens sometimes," and then walked away, apparently to get a manager. The plate of salad and/or dirt was still on our table. At this point, my friend had eaten about half of her salad and maybe a quarter of her soup, and I had only had one spoon of soup to try it. When the manager came, if that was who he was, he didn't introduce himself or anything, he told us "yeah, sorry about that, we don't wash our vegetables. It makes them turn brown" (??? I work in restaurants. They wash their vegetables. Even the organic ones. What??) That's a direct quote. He took the salad, but never offered anything else. At that point the server came back, and said, "do you still want your soup?" We didn't because it was a pureed vegetable soup, thus possibly also full of dirt.... Our uneaten food was taken from the table with no offer of another choice. The next time we saw our server was when we got our check, from which the one salad was removed. They charged us for 1 salad and the 2 soups, even though we didn't eat more than a couple spoons of soup and MAYBE half a salad. It was unreal. We walked out so perplexed and still hungry. Sad. If they had just fixed the problem, or offered us something else, or just let us leave without charging us for food we didn't eat, this review would be a positive one.

    (1)

  • Carly D.

    Great view, great food, great location, try the tuna sandwich!!

    (4)

  • Tina J.

    Food: 4 stars Service: 4 stars Ambiance: 4 stars Overall: 4 stars Matt's was great for saturday lunch-time. Plenty of tables available, so I got a corner one overlooking the fish throwers in the Public Market. The seafood chowder was great with my lamb burger w/ goat cheese and salad filling. The servers were very attentive, peeking around the corner to make sure i didn't need anything. $20 (tip included) for lunch was worth the location and flavors.

    (4)

  • Tammy K.

    Some friends and I went here for Seattle Restaurant week. I heard so many good things about it and always wanted to try it. The deal was going on, so this was our chance. It was horrible, from the service to the food. We had reservations at 8pm and we had to wait 20 minutes for our table. The service was bad, the wait staff gave us attitude when we asked for lemon and we had to ask them for our check. We got the beets with cheese. That's exactly what it tasted like....beets and cheese. I was expecting a sauce or something with more WOW factor, but that was it. For our entree, we had the pork and flank steak. The steak was a long strip only about an inch in width by 6 inches long, the best part about that dish was the potatoes and mushrooms. The pork was a bit better, but not by much. It kind of tasted like bland pork filling from chipotle. We had the apple crumble for dessert and it tasted what I thought potpourri to taste like. It was so bad we couldn't finish it. Do NOT go here, maybe it was an off night for them, but it was REALLY OFF. I will never go back or tell anyone else to go there. I have never posted a yelp review, but this was soooo bad I had to warn people. It was a waste of time and money.

    (1)

  • Sarah B.

    A girlfriend and I came here last night to celebrate Restaurant Week (which in my book should be a national holiday!). We sat at the prime table overlooking the Pike Place Market sign and clock...what a view!! This was both of our first times visiting Matt's so we were in for quite a treat! We both started with the roasted beet salad with baby arugula and hazelnuts resting on a slice of delicious goat cheese. It was nice and light and the slightly hidden slice of cheese at the bottom made for a nice surprise. Next we both had the flank steak with roasted potatoes, mushroom ragout and demi glace. Fantastic!! This dish was absolutely delicious! The perfectly sized piece of flank steak was resting upon the roasted wedges of potatoes and then the ragout of chanterelles was served on top so the sauce drizzled down the steak and soaked up into the potatoes. So good. The dish was perfectly sized where you didn't feel too piggish about finishing the whole thing off! For dessert my dining companion had the chocolate Stumptown pot de crème and I had the apple crumble with chantilly cream. Both were delicious but I must say my apple crumple was so good. Actually one of the best apple desserts I have ever had. Which is saying a lot because I am a dessert person. The apples were cooked down to a wonderful caramel flavor with a nice buttery richness to them. The crumble on top mixed with the melting whipped cream was just heaven. The service was attentive and professional making our dinner very enjoyable. I now have experienced for myself what I have heard from others on how great Matt's is. I can't wait to go back and try some of their other dishes!

    (5)

  • Peter C.

    The catfish sandwich. Super friendly staff. Simple food that's just good. I had the catfish sandwich, which seems simple and unassuming, but everything is just right. Fresh catfish deep fried to a perfect crunch, combined with just the right amount of greens and sauce, all wrapped up in great bread. Never underestimate the importance of bread in a sandwich. It's not just a meat delivery device, it can make or break the sandwich. And at Matt's it definitely makes the sandwich. go there. NOW!

    (5)

  • Anna L.

    We came here for Sunday lunch. I was a little disappointed that I did not have a chance to try their paella and scallops since they had a separate Sunday brunch menu. Nonetheless, I ordered the Alaskan King Salmon sandwich and it was delish! We took the Yelp recommendations and tried the cornmeal crusted catfish sandwich too. This one did not meet the mark unfortunately. The fish was very bland. Let down. Sigh... if it wasn't for the drinks and great service, this would have been a 3.5 star. Really wish I could've tried the paella... :(

    (4)

  • Dirk G.

    Excellent food!

    (5)

  • Tiffany Y.

    This place is small and really nice. It's over Pike's Place market. You could also see the dentist office (which my boyfriend and I found funny). The menu isn't a large selection. I'm not from Seattle but when I came here, it was a restaurant competition thing (I think those of you from Seattle might have an idea of what I'm saying). The 1 week, special menu thing. Anyways, I got the chicken & dumplings. The chicken was dry to my liking but their dumplings is to die for. It's not like your typical dumpling. It's very different (in a good way). It's a must try if you come here. Our waitress was alright. She barely dropped by to check in on us and she took a while to place our orders. When I came here I had to wait for over an hour for my food (which I felt was ridiculous because although they were busy, they weren't that busy. A party who came a while after us got their food roughly the same time as I did.

    (3)

  • Dana S.

    Location is the highlight, though it's a shame a view of the water is obscured. This is a great place if you're eating alone. The service at the bar is very good and it's easy to feel comfortable. For dinner, I had salmon (naturally) and was told it was special night b/c the salmon was albino - a rarity apparently. Maybe my palate isn't sophisticated enough to tell the difference between albino and regular salmon, but this tasted the same as pink salmon. The preparation with the fresh cherries was nice and it was an all around nice dish, but didn't knock my socks off. What did knock my socks off was the raspberry lemon bread pudding with housemade vanilla bean ice cream! And I know from bread pudding! The pastry chef gets 10 stars!!! Many, many people around me were ordering mussels, so I think maybe I should have tried those. Next time!

    (4)

  • James U.

    We stopped here after our walking tour of the Pike Place Market's food offering, and maybe it's better to come after you haven't been eating for the past 2 hours. I ordered the catfish sandwich, which was heaping pile of catfish on some awesome bread with the best spicy mayo sauce that I've had in a long time. Overall it was very good. I had the chowder as my side, and maybe it was because I'd just eating the chowder "Pike Place Chowder", but I feel like it was mostly crap. They would probably be better of just ordering a vat of PPC every morning and serving that instead. I do feel like this place was pretty expensive for what it is (fancy sandwiches), but that could just be my midwestern tightwadness creeping in; people on the coast seem to be willing to pay far more for things than I do.

    (3)

  • Bailey S.

    This place was really fantastic. Though we went right before they closed for lunch, they were still almost full. Even so, we were seated immediately at the bar, where we received excellent, attentive service (Again confirming my belief that the bar is one of the best seats in a restaurant). While we were all tempted by several different dishes from both their standard menu and their specials, we loved what we ordered and I'm sure we'd have liked any of their other dishes. What no one appears to have mentioned so far is their amazing hot sauce selection which stretched from one end of the bar to the other; They're the first restaurant I've ever seen that had my favorite sauce: Marie Sharp's ( mariesharps-bz.com ). It's as small as advertized, but never fear! A sign in the window said they're expanding next door soon.

    (5)

  • Jeff B.

    What more can I say? With hundreds of lunch options in Seattle, on there on consecutive days!

    (5)

  • Andrew B.

    Had lunch here for the first time today. Wow, I can't believe I didn't know. Some how, they take all the cool from dinner, and make it into soup and sandwiches. One of the best sandwiches ever, actually one of those kind of, "I remember ordering food, being happy, now its just 5 minutes later and I'm happy and full, unaware of what has happened." clue? ---empty plat in front of you How do you distill sweetbreads and jazz trios into soup and salad? No idea, but Matt's knows.

    (5)

  • Michael E.

    I love gong to this place on a whim, cause just bounce in when you're in the market for some really good food. A bit expensive, but I imagine the rent is high. We got a whole fish, and split it, and some veggies that were in season. Maybe a sazerac on the side! You just can't beat the "quintessential" Seattle view!

    (4)

  • John S.

    Cozy, even after its recent renovation. Nice ambience, with views to the Pike Place Market. The menu is seasonal and I've never been disappointed. I especially remember the bouillabaisse I had there once, but haven't seen it on the menu since. Last time, I had sea scallops with gnocchi that was also memorable. Great place to meet friends, enjoy food and wine. We were there for around three hours catching up with friends from high school For an old guy like me, that's a lot of catching up. A Seattle delight.

    (4)

  • Casey C.

    had dinner last night with a few friends. had some oysters that were the smallest I've ever seen, six the size of a quarter (the shell). I ate one and didn't bother, it was too small to enjoy. everyone was surprised at how small they were. The calamari was tasty. Service was ok but not attentive, the bread was not memorable. Three of us had the grilled bronzini, European sea bass. I grill this at home frequently so I was anxious to try it. It was really nicely prepared with a cauliflower puree on the side. nice, chunky and creamy. The arugula and Dungeness crab salad was tasty, not much crab to speak of. nice unobtrusive dressing could have used more flavor. Wouldn't drive for 45 min in bad traffic for this again.

    (3)

  • Sandra S.

    Please take me to lunch here (again). And please, stop complaining about the price! Can you tell me where else I will get a sandwich and cup of soup for approx. $13.00 for lunch? Yeah, Red Robin maybe. Not anywhere that the service is going to be divine, the location gorgeous (and convenient), or the quality of the ingredients so high. All "comparable" places to eat lunch (Cafe Campagne, Etta's) are all several dollars more expensive. It's up to you, though. I felt the simplicity of our food was what really won me over. The soup we had was roasted red pepper with citrus creme fraiche - bright flavors and it was whipped to be light, almost cappuccino-like. I had what was essentially a "guacamole sandwich" on a baguette. Yeah, it was messy. But the avocado, tomatoes, salty cotija cheese and cilantro not only complemented each other, but were *thisfresh*. My Maritime IPA.... yes. The perfect lunch. Maybe you are looking for something 'fancy'. But in my book, fancy can lead to some serious disappointment... I am much easier satisfied with SIMPLE recipes and FRESH ingredients. I am a fan of Matt's and hope to experience lunch perfection again.

    (5)

  • Barbara M.

    This is not the old Matts, this is the new Matts - expensive and average at best cuisine with terrible ambiance given the pike place market remodel downstairs in progress. Dan Bugge the new owner doesn't care, take your food dollar somewhere else.

    (2)

  • Methinks S.

    What a find! I have lived in Seattle for years, heard about this place, and never made it until today. I hate the phrase "hidden gem" so I will refer to it instead as an obscure jewel. However you put it, Matt's is amazing!! It is hard to put into words what is so special about this place, the cool location, the laid-back sophisticated vibe, or how the most ordinary food becomes the best thing you've ever tasted. This is the perfect place to bring out of town guests. Go for a leisurely brunch, a relaxing delicious dinner or a mouthwatering lunch-you can't go wrong. Perfection!

    (5)

  • Brian M.

    For a taste of the market Matts is the place. Great seafood, Service and atmosphere with good inventive dishes. Since 94 Stewart just sold this is my new top pick for down at the market and it has a much better view. Loses one star due to price, probably not fair to cost them a star for that since I do not want to know the rent for that location. Not obscenely priced but certainly not a bargain either. Expect to walk away just around $100 a person unless you go heavy on wine.

    (4)

  • Rick R.

    Good food nice service go there and eat! Great location too.

    (5)

  • Jay D.

    What a great cafe! Nice view of the fish market... But on to the food.... Great tasting fare. I had the BBQ pulled pork sandwich and it was fantastic! Very generous portion and the pork ooozed with flavor. Wife's dish was also excellent. She had the halibut sandwich, which was prepared perfectly. All around great place to have an enjoyable casual dining experience.

    (4)

  • Anthony L.

    One of my go to spots for a great meal and market ambience. Even after several years the food is consistent and cohesive. I especially gravitate toward the fresh fish selections and the lamb burger of course. Salads are great as starters and even the non-fish entrees are above average. Could do without the elevated pricing over the years, however, and the occasional snotty server. And yes I remember when it was a lovely tiny place with only 16-20 seats (oh the fond memories). But overall a great Seattle establishment that warrants a visit from time to time.

    (4)

  • angela n.

    Of course, my carnivorous husband loved his tuna entree and chowder, marvelling at the seafood's freshness. But what a nice surprise that Matt also takes care of his vegetarian customers. My sandwich was a delicious blend of fresh greens, smooth avocado, juicy tomato, and salty white crumbled cheese. From our window seats, we could watch the market below and the mountains beyond. And it was fun seeing Matt himself in action, tending bar one minute, bussing tables the next, and chatting with regulars along the way.

    (4)

  • Logovo L.

    Only one visit to this place as a tourist. We sat with a great view of the market and the service was good if a bit hectic. At some point 3 people were waiting on us. The place was busy, so reservations obviously a must. I ordered the fish special and was delighted with the presentation and taste. My husband had the scallops, also quite good. The bill, with drinks, was more than what we usually spend, but as we were doing the tourist thing it wasn't too painful. Would definitely come back!

    (4)

  • Malia F.

    a beautiful location, above the pike place sign... makes it feel like you are out of the movie. Going on here was on a whim... we showed up at 11:25am and people were lined up (mostly regulars whom bombarded the bar area). The location is cute, the food is above average, pricey but worth the splurge. The restaurant filled up in 9 mins, very surreal. Would come here again for lunch or a drink, dinner menu seems pricey.

    (4)

  • Brianna R.

    We had just ordered our food when I noticed that someone had turned up the volume on the music in order that we all might fully enjoy Beck's "I Wanna Get With You (and your sister, Debra). Right then and there I decided that I loved Matt's, even before I tasted any of the food. Luckily for me, the food was just as good as their choice in background music. Everyone I was with also agreed that the food was particularly tasty. I really enjoyed my mozzarella and tomato sandwich, but the big winner was absolutely the carrot and fennel soup...and I don't even like fennel. If I were lucky enough to live in Seattle I would love to go back here to try the dinner menu and hopefully hear some more awesome tracks. One thing that was kind of a bummer was that I didn't notice an elevator for people who couldn't make the trek up the two flights of stairs.

    (5)

  • Carri M.

    Stopped in for drinks and appetizers. Service was A+, as was all of our drinks, bread and cultured butter, cheese plate and oysters.

    (4)

  • Verlee G.

    Since planning a trip to Seattle, I've always heard and read about this place and how much people recommend it. You definitely have to come here! My mouth is starting to water thinking of that beautiful lamb burger. It took some time finding though, as we wandered and tried to follow signs pointing us to go upstairs. (Second floor, Corner Market Building..) My husband and I didn't make reservations, and we totally lucked out on a Tuesday. We got seated at the bar area immediately. My husband ordered the Pan-Fried Cornmeal Crusted Catfish sandwich (on potato bread with spicy mayo and lettuce) with chowder, and I ordered the Don and Jo's Lamb Burger (Columbia city brioche bun, goat cheese, bacon, herb aioli, grilled onions) with lentil/bacon soup. Holy guacamole -- that was the BEST lunch I've ever had, for such a great price!!! I seriously was in heaven eating my lamb burger, savoring every single delicious bite.....It was moist, tender, cooked to a perfect medium pink, and just freakin' unbelievable, and totally craveable. It was an absolutely beautiful burger and probably one of the best I've ever had. I couldn't even talk during lunch -- all you heard from me was "Mmmm". My husband enjoyed his catfish sandwich. He mentioned he did like the light breading on the fish and how fresh it was. Since sitting at the bar, we chatted it up with Robbie, the bartender -- who was very attentive and was very helpful with dining suggestions in Vancouver since we were heading there next. He had the cool, black, round glasses. This had to be one of my favorite meals while visiting. When coming back to Seattle, we'll definitely be hitting this place up again! I want a lamb burger right now.

    (5)

  • Tom K.

    Very good for lunch. Beautiful setting, great food, friendly service. I walked just before closing at lunchtime but had a full meal at the counter. I highly recommend the smoked catfish salad. The pea soup was also great. The lamb burger wasn't a home run but wasn't shabby either - I think it's just hard to produce a juicy lamb burger sometimes. I would definitely go back if given the chance, especially for dinner.

    (4)

  • Jann W.

    I am a big fan of this place. Today I had the catfish sandwich and my better half had the BBQ sandwich, both were good (although the potato salad was a little bland) until I got to the 2 inch hair in my catfish sandwich. It obviously belonged to one if the guys in the kitchen. I discovered this grossness in the last few bites, so I showed it to our server, she apologized and took away my plate. We were done and asked for the check. Nothing was comped, no discount, not even an apology dessert. Nothing. I am very disappointed with Matt's in the Market and will now head somewhere else the next time I am at pike place market.

    (1)

  • Doug D.

    View, cuisine, service demeanor ... Do not hesitate on this experience. Limited dinner menu - they intensley focus on a few select dishes. This is a defined local place in complete contrast to a chain experience like Cheesecake Factory.

    (4)

  • emily r.

    I take back everything I said previously. Went last night and experienced flawless execution. Great waitress (Katie!), every course was scrum-diddly-umptious. Seared foie gras with blackberries nearly brought us to tears. Rabbit Ragout re-appeared in my dreams this morning. We looked like we just finished a full order of bbq ribs after devouring the clams with chorizo because we ravaged the dish into an unrecognizable emptiness. They had a wwwwway off night when I wrote that last review. Now they're totally redeemed. Yay!!!

    (5)

  • L H.

    THE perfect place for the ultimate pike place market/seattle experience. i came here with my bosses for lunch and although it gets busy quick so you should call in advance or expect a wait - i felt like i was in old town seattle, but with a modern day meal. i believe their menu changes frequently so dont always expect the same dish twice. My pork sandwich was great, but i could not take it home for leftovers because it would have become soggy :( The view from the windows is of the giant public market sign which gave me a whole new perspective of pike place - almost like i owned the market. What's cute is that they have a tiny bar on the side - makes me feel like i'm inside an ed hopper painting - only there's more ppl in it.

    (5)

  • Amol P.

    The venue is perfect just overlooking the famous pike place market sign. We went here for lunch on a rainy saturday afternoon .. We ordered the cornmeal crusted catfish on potato bread which was to die for. I think they use macrina breads which i obviously love to death as the bread base for their sandwiches. It also comes with their soup special (was a parsnip and leek soup that day). My wife had the special sandwich of the day which was a chicken breast with oaxaca cheese. We did not like this as much as the catfish sandwich and it was oh-so-heavy after a point. For dessert we had the butternut squash bread pudding with house made ice cream (nutmeg) and caramel sauce. This was a perfect way to end a saturday afternoon lunch.

    (4)

  • Chris B.

    Overrated and expensive. Had the special fish and the steak. The steak was great but fish was way undercooked. After the hype I was disappointed with both food and service. You will pay for hype not food! Bill was well over 100 and still left looking for a place to eat. Drinks were ok but overpriced and nothing to write home about, unless the topic is how you got ripped off expecting a great meal. Service was awesome but that only goes so far. Portions were mediocre at best.

    (2)

  • Tim O.

    Playing the role of typical tourists, my girlfriend and I spent 20 minutes trying to find this place. It was worth it. Sure, I still think about the catfish and pulled pork sandwiches six months after a visit, but it's all about the "snit": bloody Mary with a High Life back. Now that's a brunch.

    (5)

  • Lauren U.

    Nice place for lunch - direct view of the Pike Place Market sign and entrance, so may be fun for those who aren't from the area. I had tomato soup with garbanzo beans, which was just okay, and the seared ahi tuna sandwich. The sandwich had a good amount of spice and a nice flavor, but there could have been more to it. Dad had a seafood chowder which was nice and light, and also the pork sandwhich which was great. All in all it was great, friendly service, a nice atmosphere, and food that was worthwhile but not exceptional.

    (4)

  • Matt P.

    Usually would want something a little hipper but actually feels pretty cool for a touristy area. Good food and really good wine. Nice views. Overall cool vine.

    (5)

  • Me H.

    I have to agree with Michael O, this place was hyped like the second coming of Christ and it didn't live up to its hype for me. I never made it to the old Matt's so I only know the new Matt's and well I kind of expected someone to walk on water while I was there and it didn't happen. Neither time I went, I thought maybe my first visit was just an off day but no everything was pretty much the same the next time I went. Both times reservations were made for right when they open at lunch, my group is on time and ready to be seated but both times they were running late and they wouldn't seat us until 10 minutes later, when you have just an hour for lunch those 10 minutes are precious. Both times the server didn't want to be bothered with any of our questions and the second time our server didn't bother mentioning or pointing out any of the specials of the day, which I heard mention by a different server at another table and it sounded wonderful. The first lunch I tried the pan-fried cornmeal-crusted catfish sandwich and I will say the spicy mayo mentioned on the menu was indeed spicy but not OMG my mouth in on fire spicy for those who are curious. The potato bread was so fresh and soft the sandwich completely fell apart and with all the spicy mayo I was a mess, the flavors were good and the catfish was cooked perfectly but it didn't really WOW me like I expected it too. The second lunch I just went for the soup and salad, the soup was a seafood something I can't remember but I did ask if it had salmon in it, the server said no it didn't so I went for it. When it arrived it had bit chunks of salmon in it, guess what I don't like salmon, I pointed this out and was told oh I'm sorry I didn't realize they put salmon in today, and no it wasn't taken away and I wasn't offered anything else. The salad was good but the soup didn't work for me. I guess if you can get a server who wants to be there and enjoys their job you might have a better experience than I have I don't think I'll be back by choice, I'm sorry I never got to know the old Matt's sounds like it was a much better place. Over all the food was good, minus the soup it was the service that killed it for me.

    (3)

  • Jammypac B.

    A really damn fine place. Fancy but not stuffy in that Seattle way. Be prepared to pay for the experience but also be expected to have your palette pleased. I particularly liked the fois gras appetizer and the cured meats/cheese plate. My god they were little bites of heaven. Entrees were pretty good, but were then upstaged by dessert. It was a maple-cake something or other. To be perfectly honest I'm not sure because by then I'd had a cocktail, half a bottle of wine and was nursing my post-dinner scotch. Which reminds me: The cocktails were pretty poor considering the caliber of the kitchen, though the sommelier was super cool and really knew his stuff. Give that wine dude a raise already!

    (4)

  • Rachel F.

    Apparently this is a most difficult place to get into for lunch so reservations are needed, unless you're like my friend and I and are more than ready to sit at the counter. If I ever get married, my bachelorette party will be at Matt's. Sitting at the counter and watching the (highly attractive) chefs make their magic happen is better than an outing at Chippendale's. Ladies, order a bottle of wine, belly up to the counter, and enjoy the show. And have the catfish sandwich on potato bread. Dang, that sandwich was awesome. Everything about this place made me happy, from the view of the "Public Market" sign (probably an annoyance to locals, but a total welcoming view to this tourist), to the beautiful vista of the Sound. (Luckily for the locals) it's a bit hard to find. If this tourist hadn't been with a local, I definitely would have passed this place up. But instead, I caught the 2:00 show. Meow.

    (5)

  • Adam ..

    A bit pricey, but the food was fabulous and the location was perfect. Romantic, cozy, and a wonderful view of the market. I doubt there's a bad item on the menu, but note that the portion sizes can span a wide range.

    (5)

  • Tony S.

    A five star review should be a rarity, if you hand them out willy nilly then you probably aren't being a true critic. So I want you to know dear readers that when I click five out of five that you know my expectations were met and exceeded. I have a reputation for being the resident foodie amongst my friends so when a co-worker wanted to go out for dinner and asked me to "pick something nice" I went out on a limb and selected Matt's. First off the space is gorgeous, intimate yet not stuffy it is a pretty small restaurant but not at all crowded. The service is polite, professional and unobtrusive and little touches were much appreciated. For example, every time I looked up my wine glass had been subtly topped up The waitress was knowledgeable and friendly and took our orders with a minimum of fuss. I chose the pork belly carnitas as my starter as a chef is often as good as how tasty he or she can make the cheapest parts of the animal. The pork belly was rich yet possessed a delicate sweetness that was beautifully offset by the sharp salsa verde and overall the cohesiveness of the dish showed a maturity of cooking that you often don't see in such a low key establishment. My entree was a wild Atlantic Cod served with roasted potato that reminded me of the Scandinavian peasant dish, pytt y pana. Like all good fish dishes it was incredibly simple, allowing the choice ingredients to showcase the delicate subtleties of the cod. Never did I feel that one ingredient was vying for airtime and this again showed the maturity of the cooking here. We shared a single dessert, a warm chocolate and almond cake and my only niggle (and it is a minor one at that) was the tiny role that the almond played to the chocolate. There was a small blob of marzipan in the middle of the fondant and it was gone in a single bite. The other thing that left a serious impression was the wine list. It was hard to find a decent wine under $50. The care and diligence that went into the selection meant it was very hard to choose because every wine had a provenance that made me want to order it up. So, in short go eat at this place before it gets too famous.

    (5)

  • Michelle Z.

    Can't beat the location. Matt's is literally in Pike Place Market, and definitely takes advantage of their close proximity to fresh ingredients. Inside, Matt's boasts an intimate, loft apartment kind of setting, characterized by expansive windows that overlook the historic Pike Place Market clock and the Puget Sound beyond. Plan to be dining when the sun is setting, it enhances the experience. The cozy setting makes for a lovely, romantic evening, and despite the smallish space of the restaurant, the volume of other restaurant-goers doesn't climb too high. Wouldn't recommend it for a group over 4 people, and honestly it has more of an special occasion, anniversary/first date kind of appeal than a place to catch up with friends. Prices were a little expensive, but the portions were satisfactory and the food was delicious. Parking is tough, factor that into your commuting time.

    (4)

  • Juli M.

    Food professionally prepared and an interesting, seasonally-appropriate menu, much more in touch with itself than most Seattle restaurants. Despite good ingredients and great herbs, etc., a lack of salt makes the Paella thoroughly unremarkable, instead of a bold, bright dish it was overcooked rice in watery broth with a few empty clamshells and a prawn on top. The chorizo was very, very good, and I'd've rather eaten a bunch of it than the Paella. My companion had a similarly-underwhelming experience with his eggplant sandwich, which was bitter to boot. Yes, yes, enjoying bitterness is a sign of refinement, but different people taste the bitterness of eggplant more strongly than others, so why not salt it ahead of time? Perfectly good mimosas and bread, and while there's obviously some spark as evidenced by so many positive reviews, the food I got did not come close to living up to expectations. Maybe it was just a bad day, I don't know, but it was a waste of good ingredients and goodwill.

    (2)

  • Skylar I.

    Food and atmosphere are great! Bloody Mary's are second to none. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

    (5)

  • Becky W.

    As good as I wanted/expected it to be. Seafood stew - fresh and perfect. Tuna sandwich, though too much to eat, was delicious and juicy and flavored just right. The bloody mary + snit was spicy, cool and fabulous. Not a complaint to be had. Excellent service, good people-watching. And a nice respite from the busy streets below. Our walk to the market was rewarded with this delightful lunch!

    (4)

  • Maria C.

    Best. Lunch. Spot. Ever. Oh, the dinner is amazeballs as well, but this is my go to lunch spot. When anyone visits me in town, I take them here. And on my Birthday. And rainy Wednesdays. And I force complete strangers to visit as well. So, you get how much I love it here. I have had a super-crush on this place since my interning days when the boss would take us out for lunches at their small counter-top, pre-renovation. Fast forward 7 years and my love is still true for this Pike Place Market diamond. Matt was always great to suggest a Falanghina for my sipping delights. And now Dan, who is such a doll of an owner...not at all annoying like some rest owners can be. I wine, dine and always enjoy my self here. I am a catfish sandwich person, but have swayed to indulge in other menu items with nary a disappointment. No attitude. Articulate and efficient waitstaff. Views. Light. Food. Ah, logging off and headed there right now!

    (5)

  • MrH H.

    I'm a fan, ...again. They are still one of the best lunch spots in Seattle. No doubt. I really liked the old place before it got too crazy popular, and they seemed to really cap out on attitude about a year ago, but I've had a couple of really great meals here recently and the wait staff was really nice. Nice wine list by the glass, which is important to me. You'll have trouble parking, of course, but its worth making your way in here.

    (4)

  • Sarah B.

    The new Matt's lived up to the hype and offered a delicious lunch at a reasonable price. I had wanted to come here for so long, way before the renovation. But, I never remembered to get reservations. ALWAYS GET RESERVATIONS, EVEN FOR LUNCH. I was informed ahead of time by many people that reservations were a necessity otherwise plan to have a bad experience. I was able to get them same day and get a large table! And yes, even with reservations you will wait. We waited about 10 minutes, which really didn't bother me. And we had a lovely table right near the windows. And it is stairs only so warn people with knee problems and strollers. The view was lovely and the space charming. While I can not compare to its previous space, this space is small but has enough room to move about. I can't imagine the claustrophobic atmosphere it must have been. I'm somewhat shocked that so many reviewers complain about poor service. We had the total opposite. Not only was our waiter quick, he was also chatty and friendly. Hell, he gets bonus points for knowing the Orbital song with the same name as my daughter! The sandwich and soup combo absolutely rules. I had a wonderful turkey sandwich with chowder. Full of salmon pieces and really fresh. And the sandwich was filling and toasted perfectly. And for the price, it was the same as hitting other downtown lunch spots. And with a rotating seasonal menu, why would you not want to visit once in awhile to try something new. Impressive and I understand the hype now.

    (4)

  • Dani B.

    Went for happy hour today - I think pricing should be updated, as they have raised their happy hour prices. Beer - 6$; wine - 7$; small plates from 7$-15$ each. Very, very small portions, do not expect to be remotely full. In other words, I would say as far as happy hour goes, you can find better spots for a better price. Might be better to do a full meal here.

    (2)

  • Tim O.

    Good stuff. Small space, but they're expanding (now up to 30 square feet!). I can't wait to go back in the new place.

    (4)

  • Maria C.

    Catfish sandwich and a cup of gumbo is my new favorite lunch. Well that and the asparagus and goat cheese salad I kept stealing by the forkload from my friend's plate when she was looking out the window at the incredible view. Perfect waitstaff, perfect food, perfect day. I can't wait to go back for dinner.

    (5)

  • Thad W.

    I've experienced Matt's in the Market both in its original format and several times in the expanded version. Recently, I went there with a friend for dinner who was visiting from out of town. Matt's remains one of the handful of places I like taking out of town guests to, for it's proximity to the market and it's overall setting offer a quintessential Seattle dining experience. However, on my more recent visit this past Fall, I found significant price inflation in both the food and the wines. The quality of service remained strong, but the food was a bit lacking. On the Monday evening we ate there, the place was a bit sparse in terms of diners. We started with the Spanish cheese plate, which ended up being the highlight of our meal. Each cheese was laid out on a long board with an accompanying relish, jam, or fresh fruit. It was a great study in contrasts, tasting one of the cheeses counterbalanced by the chosen pairing. My entree was a disappoint and in hindsight I should have sent it back. It was confit prepared chicken leg, that ended up being overcooked, as were the melody of root vegetables underneath it. Overall, the dish was dry, too salty, and rather unappetizing. Even still, I would give Matt's another go, as there have been meals there in the past that exceeded expectations. But I would hope their prices stabilize if not come down, for it appears they are going in a direction that caters to the business expense crowd.

    (4)

  • Amy B.

    I wish so badly that I could rate Matt's just on the view. The view is perfect. A five star view - I'd give it more than that if I could. You could sit and stare out the huge windows and stare at the sound; the ferries going in and out, the pigs on the roof of the market, market patrons, and the huge iconic public market sign. Unfortunately, Matt's has a few issues. See, they serve food here. Northwest inspired food - lots of luscious seafood, local stuff that is organic and wholesome. Beautiful, beautiful food. However there seems to be a huge breakdown somewhere between the service and the actual delivery of the food itself. See, I recently went to Matt's to celebrate a birthday. Matt's is a pretty spendy place that I consider reserved for special occasions only. I expect to have great service and a great meal - considering the size of the place I also expect my server to be pretty attentive; its a cozy intimate place, you see. So. We ordered within twenty minutes or so of sitting down. Then we waited. And waited. And waiting. And then we waited some more. A full 80 minutes of waiting for our meals to arrive. Dinner did arrive. And it was good. But - not an hour and twenty minutes worth of waiting good. On a side note - the bathrooms are really cool.

    (3)

  • Clora Y.

    Great resturant, specially seafood. Love it!

    (4)

  • Victor S.

    My fiancee and I went here on a Saturday night. We were about ten minutes late for our reservation, but that wasn't a problem. Our server was very friendly and gave good advice on what to order. I had the Washington Beef Tenderloin, my fiancee had the Scallops, and they were both great. I'd never been to the old, smaller Matt's, so I can't compare it to that, but I thought the ambience was very cool. Nice view and great atmosphere. Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Joshua F.

    You can't go wrong with a restaurant in the same vicinity as the market. You know the food is going to be fresh, and the menu seasonal. I was very pleased with the service and loved the fact that you can smell what is being cooked in the open air kitchen. The tables boast a great view of the market place, and if it were not November when we visited, I'm sure having the windows open would have been awesome. Starters - Special* Steel-head trout with citrus, greens and fennel. (great clean flavors); Foie gras with cherry foam and a walnut crepe. (Some of the best outside of Quebec City) Entree - Bouillabaisse (incredible flavor and amount of seafood); Special* Pork Shank with tagliatelle pasta. (tasted like a 2 day simmered sauce, so tender); Duck confit with cranberries and squash. (again great flavor and combination) If i lived in the downtown area, this would be "my place". The price is right, the service is great and the food is spot on. With seasonal options and the market supplying great produce a fantastic dinner is always available.

    (4)

  • Emily H.

    Found Matt's in 2003 on accident, and what a happy find it was! Great local food, sarcastic and sweet staff, what more could you ask for? Good food and some verbal abuse - Ferpect! We'd wander in for special occasions during the years or if we happened to be around the market and hungry for lunch. This is one of the few places that I felt like I could just walk in and say, "Feed me" and have no compunctions about eating whatever they put in front of me. It was always simple but amazing, and we'd tell everyone to go when they came to town. We were really stressed out when they remodeled and expanded their space in 2007. I do miss the old lunch counter and the small, intimate affair that was their previous space. It does have a different vibe now, but the food is still very good, if not great, and we've been back twice since the addition. With the new change of ownership this year (read: chefs), Hubby and I will have to go back and see how the menu holds up. BTW, Matt is still around teaching these days, so catch Matt's while you can if you haven't been. Hopefully Matt's continues in the vein that it began in...

    (4)

  • JJ M.

    Chet at Matt's in the Market is a master of food. His ability to bring out flavors provides a feast for the mouth. Dan Bugge has assembled a customer centric team that makes it a joy to walk through the door.

    (5)

  • Casey W.

    My Mom took me to this place after a crazed trip to Pike Place Market. The fish sandwiches were incredible - everything was. The food is carefully crafted and unique. Gracias, Matt.

    (5)

  • Anna B.

    My husband and I shared the catfish sandwich and ahi tuna sandwich for lunch. Food was OK - tuna could have used more seasoning and bread on both was lacking flavor - but overpriced. Much better, cheaper options elsewhere in the market.

    (3)

  • I-Wei F.

    Matt's In the Market has a great location, with a close-up view of the red neon Public Market sign as well as a view of Puget Sound. Since I was dining on my own, the host seated me at the diner-esque bar where I could watch the 3 chefs bust their ass preparing our dinners. The kitchen at Matt's is a well oiled machine. It seems that a large portion of their clientele consist of tourists who demand the typical seared fish dishes, when in Seattle, do as the Seattle-ites do? The dishes I had: Fennel Salad - shaved fennel mixed with some baby greens in a light creamy citrus vinegarette. I really enjoyed this. Foie Gras & Torchon - Goose liver prepared two ways. A stamp sized portion of foie gras is seared and served on top of a piece of toasted brioche, drizzled with pistachio caramel sauce. The torchon is goose liver wrapped in cheese cloth to resemble a log, and steamed. It is drizzled with port gastrique. Both were delicious, you wouldn't even know you were eating liver, the sweet sauces offset the salty flavors very well. Bread pudding - They toast the bread that's been lightly coated with sauce so that it's golden brown and crunchy, then drizzle it with caramel and top it with ice cream. Yummy, but I prefer my bread pudding with more sauce. I'm taking away one star because the service was really slow. Maybe because it was really busy, but it appears that the diner-esque bar was served by the hosts and chefs. Basically they completely forget you if you're sitting at the bar by the chefs.

    (4)

  • Hanafi L.

    What a disappointment! 2 friends had the halibut and I had salmon. My cousin had a NY steak, but he never complains about any piece of meat, so his opinion didn't really matter. I wanted to try the salt cod stuffed peppers as an appetizer.. Can you say "bland"? The only major taste statement was the picante sauce on the halibut, which did manage to startle my date with its hotness. It was the only excitement we had out of the dinner. OK.. its kind of a nice cozy room, and the service was reasonable too. I noticed that I could tell when my waiter was approaching the table because the floor shook a little more than normal. I'm struggling to find anything really notable about this dining experience. As you can see, I'm not being very successful. Don't bother bringing your American Express card.

    (2)

  • Dave G.

    The chicken & dumplings here are awesome. The menu is pricey, but I feel that the quality of the meal that you'll get is worth it. This restaurant is really nice and is a great place to take a group for a great meal!

    (3)

  • Andrew E.

    IT'S BACK! And in no way could I have imagined it would be better than the original, but something about a breezy, open windowed, sunny evening right in front of the quintessential Seattle view with a tower of steamed mussels in chorizo & cava sauce and a nice bottle of Pinot sealed the deal. All of the charm and twice the tables. Welcome back.

    (5)

  • Matt P.

    Matt's in the Market serves up great combinations of flavors in an intimate atmosphere that is simply amazing given the restrictions of the small space. The serve staff was humorous and somewhat irreverent, in a good way. I ordered the roasted pork loin sandwich with a salad for lunch. The salad was served with spicy pumpkin seeds and a light flavorful dressing. The pork loin sandwich was served with caramelized onions, apples and peppers; it was divine!

    (5)

  • Adam d.

    I'd kept hearing good things about this place, and sweetie and I had finally decided to try it when they closed for a remodel that took way longer than expected. I kept up with the progress on Matt's blog (and I've got to say, I was a bit turned off by the tone he initially adopted in that blog: you've all been bothering me with questions, so I've decided to write this blog so I don't have to deal with you). Finally made it for dinner a month or so ago, on a lovely seattle day after almost missing my bus. Really nice food without being overly complex or foody. Just well-prepared food served with wit, in good proportion. Bring a thick wallet (metaphorically or literally) as you're not getting out of here for less than $50/person if you're hoping to get the full experience. But as an occasional treat, it's definitely worth it. Good atmosphere, if you can ignore the people glaring at you waiting for your table (word: chill out, leave work early, and get your a**es down here at 5:30 like I did... did I just say "word"? what the...?), and the loud crashes of bottles being dumped into recycling dumpsters in the market below you.

    (4)

  • Pete M.

    Went here for happy hour on a weekday and took a seat at the bar. The service was awesome. The deal with happy hour is nice because it's the same food as on the regular menu but smaller portions so you can try a bunch of stuff without spending the normal amount for a whole dish. The scallop, clams and ceviche were delightful. Also tried some cheese, which was nice, but was a little surprised that it was served a bit cold. The drinks were well made. The bartender was super friendly. Was waffling between the 4 and 5 but made the decision to go 5 because he offered to give us the happy hour price 15 minutes after it was over if we wanted to order more. Ended up trying a peach cobbler like dessert which was perfectly done. Good service, much appreciated. It will set you back a few bucks but it's not pretentious and the food is worth it. Happy hour is a reasonable start! Awesome views too!

    (5)

  • Johnny P.

    Avoid! Walked in at 12 noon exactly for lunch, walked to host and asked for a table for 4. Host looked us in the eye and said his he was fully booked for 1 pm. Behind him sat a completely empty restaurant not 1 person eating and he said he would not seat us for lunch at noon because we would bump his 1 pm reservations! With the economy the way it is you think they would gladly seat us and take our money , we could have easily been out by 1 and if not i am sure they would have ushered us out to make room . Avoid! One star for what looked like a good meal in other peoples reviews.

    (1)

  • Rommel D.

    Lamb burger was cooked to perfection, great bun, sauce and lamb. Lots of great choices ranging from a hangar steak sloppy joe with an egg on top, a pork banh mi, etc. Awesome place and the bartender had a sick Hulk Hogan shirt on, thats a plus.

    (4)

  • Will S.

    The price of the dishes, and the rudeness of the servers deserve two stars. The food is just okay, but deserves a better rating independent of the above factors. 3 stars is probably about right for the food. And I've had a few decent meals here, but it's a bit of a slap in the face to pay the prices they charge. They may as well say, "dude, you're looking over the market, we're totally going to rip you off." But the service pushed me over the edge. Last time I was in, I went for lunch. We had a rude server - dude with a beard - who seemed annoyed by food and wine questions; as if these weren't core facets of his job. I ordered a meatball sandwich at his rec and not only was it totally mediocre, it was cold in the middle. He replaced the dish but never apologized. When I mentioned it, he picked it up, said "okay" and took it away. Didn't say he'd replace it, didn't say when he'd be back. He finally did come back with the dish and said "that should be hot enough now." Again, no simple "sorry about that" nothing. My uncle, who I was with, asked him for a follow-up wine recommendation and the dude said "You have to give me more information to go on if I'm going to help you out." It was really preposterously bad. And, that's ultimately why I give this joint 2 stars and will never, ever go back. Too bad, really. Great space and a lot of potential.

    (2)

  • Stephen J.

    Disappointment in the Market A day with the parents culminated with dinner at Matt's. We arrived at out reservation time to a nearly empty dining room and were seated immediately. The waitress dropped off some tasty olive bread, took our drink orders and left us to peruse the menu. She returned shortly with drinks and took our food orders. She then performed that famous waitstaff disappearing act. We did not see her again until she brought our food - almost an hour later. Never checking to see if we needed another drink or more bread. We were alone, in the corner but at least the company was great. If the dining room had been full and the cooks busting their asses trying to get meals out I could understand the delay but neither of these appeared to be the case. The food. The parents each ordered the halibut. After tasting it I think we all wish we had ordered the halibut. Trish had the beet salad, complete with what appeared to be beets fresh from a can. And I, against my own better judgment, ordered the scallops. See, I love scallops, but I have a hard time paying $25+ for four or five scallops. Still I had read such great things about the food at Matt's I prepared myself and took the plunge. I will say they were tasty, however, for $27 I receive THREE sea scallops, SIX green beans and a teaspoon of pickled cabbage. Maybe this is normal and I am not the foodie I thought I was, I can accept that. While the food was tasty, I felt it was overpriced, averaging around $30 for entrees, and the waitstaff seemed indifferent. At those prices I expected more. Sadly, we all left underwhelmed.

    (3)

  • Amanda K.

    Went here for lunch and loved the atmosphere!! Big, beautiful arched windows, that were open on the day we went for fresh air.... We sat at the bar, and seemed to have a great vantage point. The bartender was awesome!! Great service with a sarcastic joking twist. He was funny. The food was also awesome! They don't serve a ton - just right for what you might want to eat - and the fishwich - wow - so good!! We also got a butternut squash bread pudding for dessert. More sarcasm came from the bartender, as he set it down, and when he next looked, it was completely GONE. We LOVED it. :) Can't wait to go back next time!

    (5)

  • Mary P.

    Ate here for lunch. Catfish sandwich was excellent! For $13, I would much rather have lunch here with a beautiful view & friendly service rather than pay $13 at the restaurants in the main market. Looks like reservations are a must. We had no reservations but luckily arrived right when they opened. As we were eating I noticed the place filled up right away & there were a good amount of people waiting to be seated.

    (5)

  • Mike N.

    Great ambiance, friendly service, fantastic menu. The farm egg salad was unreal and my gin old fashioned was delightful.

    (5)

  • Brian G.

    It's not common that a meal that you had at a restaurant two years ago would continue to haunt you. Well this one has and I've cherished every moment that I've been able to relive it in my memories. I brought my parents up to Seattle for a family vacation around the peninsula. Our last stop was in Seattle and I decided on Matt's based on some of the glowing reviews I had read. After touring Pike's Place, we headed up a set of non-descript stairs where we found a small, elegant casual restaurant. The place has a long bar and a dozen or so tables on the side and back of the room. We were seated at the table by the window and as the evening progressed, we dined by the red glow of the Pike Place sign - very nice. I love hidden finds and Matt's is certainly one of my all time favorite finds. The food is spectacular. It's an homage to fresh ingredients and is cooked in a way to bring out the natural flavors. The skate wing was incredible. As Laura P indicates, the manila clams and chicarrones are truly heavenly. A bottle and a half later, my parents and I were having the time of our lives. And then my absolute favorite dish - the bread pudding. Matt's makes my top three list of best bread puddings I've tried. After nearly swooning while trying a bread pudding from a street vendor on the island of Dominica, I didn't think it could get better until I tried Matt's. Creamy, just the right level of sweetness - we were scraping from the bottom of the dish as if more would magically appear on the plate. My parents and I still fondly talk about that dinner - it was one of the best family dinners we ever had. The food was amazing, service was wonderful, ambience was perfect. For helping make a wonderful memory for a family, I give my heartfelt thanks to Matt's.

    (5)

  • Karen N.

    All the reviews about their Catfish sandwich is true. It's amazingly delicious. Perfectly fried catfish filet, light crunch, spicy sauce, potato bread. You take on bite, and the filet is so tender and juicy inside. I can eat that everyday for lunch. We also ordered the clams with chorizo and beans. Very yummy too, but the catfish sandwich is the bomb. The restaurant atmosphere is cozy, but roomy enough. Service is good and it seemed to be a busy Saturday afternoon. We didn't like our original table and spotted a better one becoming available. They were very accommodating and let us switch. I used to live in Seattle but never had the pleasure to go to Matt's. I would say if you haven't, just do yourself a favor and plan a visit. We ended up with a great table overlooking at the Pike Place Market sign. You won't regret it.

    (5)

  • Thomas M.

    There is no better view! And when the food is as good as it is, defintely a great date place!

    (4)

  • Jonny J.

    Really hip spot right in the middle of all the action. Like most have said, the place is hard to find so definitely ask somebody if need be. The Lamb Burger was very tasty, but if I had to give it one critique, I would say that the bacon overshadowed the lamb just a bit. But overall a very satisfying burger that I would get again. It came with a very fresh garbonzo bean - raisin salad. Much better than fries. The Halibut Sandwich was awesome. Super fresh with a memorable sauce to go with. I would definitely suggest the Halibut sandwich and then the Lamb Burger.

    (4)

  • K S.

    It's good but I was expecting more for the money and fame.

    (4)

  • Farrah F.

    One night in Seattle means only one dinner! With so many well recommended options, I was already nervous that I may have picked the wrong one before I even arrived. Since the restaurant is at the top of a good set of stairs I felt like I was sucked in before I really had a chance to scope it out. The dining room is quaint and cozy...small and loud. If you are a loud laugher like the lady with the pink scarf, be aware. Your cackle carries. I've read that there is a lovely view of Pike Pace Market, but per the norm for ye old party of one, I was seated at the bar. That was fine, but I was pretty urked when, after I was settled in, I was asked to scooch over into the corner of the bar. If you want to put Baby in the corner, put her in the corner. Don't seat her and ask her to move later! The menu is itty bitty albeit very upscale and sophisticated. I was hoping for more seafood options and landed on the arctic char....which was more than pleasing. The fish was perfectly prepared, the salad was simple but bitterly delicious, the fingerling potatoes were great as well. If I ever return and it's an option again I will order the arctic char. Mmmm...mmmm.... I understand why people like this place the food is really good. The service was okay despite the musical chairs. I realized half way into dinner that they forgot to bring the lady in the corner bread. Its okay about the bread, but it's the thoughtlessness that counts. I shouldn't be too harsh, the bartender/waiter was stretched thin. Staffing problem? Possibly? He was kind and had a nice smile and filled my glass when I asked. Should I have to ask? I realize a table for one doesn't tip as well as a table for two, but come on! As for the price, it's about right for the quality of the food. I could justify the price better if the quality of the service matched. Again, I'm not bashing the waiter. I really liked him, but he was too busy. This is a management issue.

    (2)

  • Lana G.

    We went for lunch. On the whole, the food was consistently good, as follows: beef brisket sandwich: excellent tuna melt sandwich: good seafood chowder: good bread pudding: good ice cream cake: good beer selection: not good; quite limited; no dark beers; one beer was pretty bad and sent back; the house beer was drinkable French press coffee: good margarita: good The service: very good The restrooms: locked, busy, distant, hard to find and not very clean; the maitre d' has the key Atmosphere: crowded and noisy with patrons packed in elbow to elbow Value: In light of the bad atmosphere and restrooms, we could not justify the high prices for food that was, on the whole, good but not great.

    (3)

  • Dan C.

    I had an excellent lunch here but I think it was a bit overpriced probably because of its location on the second (third?) floor across from "The Market" as locals call it. It's good but there are places elsewhere that offer a better value.

    (3)

  • Ric M.

    Easily one of the best lunch spots downtown. Chairs are a little uncomfortable, but I have nothing else to complain about. Really creative menu. Homemade potato chips are really great for a starter, as are the Deviled Eggs. The Halibut sandwich, the lamb burger, and the fried chicken sandwich are all amazing. Good salads as well. I liked it better before it expanded, but it's still a great spot.

    (5)

  • Rosia P.

    took my parents here-- had a great time :) The best part was the pink and orange sunset and watching the crowds at Pike Place Market. Best windows ever!

    (4)

  • Sheila L.

    Finally!! It's been almost 4 years that I finally get to try Matt's! Each year my fiance tries to make reservations for v-day and somehow they're always booked solid. Even calling a few months ahead doesn't work. Which is a good sign for how good the restaurant is but bad for me since it prolongs how long I get to try their food! Funny how it's taken me this long to try but it finally occur to me when my fiance asked me where I wanted to go for my birthday dinner, I said Matt's!!! Don't need to be v-day in order to enjoy Matt's! Lol.. So this past Saturday we went down to Pike Place and walked up the steps to the 'famous' Matt's overlooking above the whole market. The atmosphere of the restaurant was nice, it was kinda noisey but overall I liked it alot. My fiance and I were the youngest ones there from what we observed but we got one of the best tables right in the center of the restaurant so we got to see the kitchen to the bar. Their menu is smaller than their wine menu but the selection isn't tiny. All of the entrees sounded good to me and I finalized my decision on the seafood stew and my fiance chose the lamb shank. We also ordered the dungeness crab and argula salad with mixed citrus and chopped marcona almonds. The salad came out pretty fast and they were nice enough to split it onto two plates for us which was still plenty. Our entrees came out pretty soon after we finished our salad and 'wow' did it look good. My seafood stew had tons of clams with a big sweet scallop, prawn, and chunk of halibut sprinkled with fresh flat-leaf parsley and taragon. It also came with a slender long piece of crouton with a yummy spread on top. I couldn't tell what the spread was but it was damn good. The stew itself had a clear broth that was made out of seafood which had a great flavor to it. I tried a piece of the lamb shank and it was nice and tender. It came as a mediterranean style dish with roasted eggplant and grilled lemons topped with a yogurt sauce. Mmm.... At the end of the night, I was stuffed but I still made room for dessert and ordered the butternut squash bread pudding with caramel and ice cream. It totally reminded me of Thanksgiving! It was served nice and warm and practically melted in my mouth. Delicious. :) Definitely would recommend coming here and make reservations early!

    (4)

  • Vas S.

    4 star for lunch. 3 star for dinner because of the prices. The beef brisket sandwich is excellent.

    (4)

  • Lynn V.

    We came here for lunch on a Tuesday afternoon and it was busy. Definitely make reservations! It's a beautiful restaurant inconspicuously located in Pike's Place. He made reservations, so we got a lovely table next to the window. The sun was shining in which was such a treat for Seattle and we had nice views of the water. I had the dungeness crab and arugula salad and it had tart tangerine and grapefruit slices mixed with slithered almonds. It was refreshing and perfect for a light lunch. Service was great! What I liked best about this place is that you can tell the ingredients were fresh. They even have a big chalk board upon entrance that tells you what fruits and vegetables are in season.

    (4)

  • Angela C.

    My three stars does not mean I did not love this place. I had the beef brisket burger, that sat about 6-7 inches high. When they brought the burger, I remembered thinking not knowing exactly how to start. I wasn't sure if I should try to cut it in half, and stuff my face, or if I should be civil, and cut the burger into much smaller pieces to attempt at being ladylike. Of course, I chose the easier of the two, and tried to stuff my face. The bun that sat on the plate was soaked of oil, and the beef brisket was super, super delicious, melt-in-your-mouth-give-you-a-heart-attack delicious - plus all of the fatty goodness that comes with that, in all of this talk about stuffing my face, I only managed half of my 6 inch high burger. I've definitely seen leaner cuts of brisket, but I'm almost certain that detracts from the ultimate experience. I also had the clam chowder, and the coffee... no, not together!! The clam chowder was definitely not as thick as other places I've been, seemed slightly watered down, if chowder could do that. Same goes for the coffee. It was suppose to be plain roast, but for some odd reason tasted like they added a whole lot of water to the pot. Of the 4-5 cups of coffee I had in the 2-3 days I was in Seattle, this was by far the worst cup. I loved the location, regardless.

    (3)

  • Anne S.

    I have been waiting to yelp about my experience, hoping that time and distance would numb the pain and disappointment, but for you, fellow yelpers, I will relive the pain, if only to dissuade you from going to this place. My mom came to town and I wanted to treat her to a nice Seattle-ish dinner. When we arrived for our 5:30 reservation (early, yes, but we also had tickets to the Rep), we were seated promptly. A tall guy in a ponytail asked us if we'd like some wine. Why yes, we responded, we'd love a glass. What do you have. Ah, dear readers, here it all began. His response: "red, white or pink?" Now I don't know about you-all, but I often choose which glass to partake in based on the wine itself, the vintner, the year, my mood, etc. NOT on the color choice. So, we asked what wines did they have by the glass. To which tall and now rude ponytail man responds, abruptly, "red white or pink?" To which my mother, now scanning the table for a wine list, asks, appropriately, do you have a list of the wines by the glass? I'd like to see a list." To which our gracious host says, to my momma, of all people to get rude to: "I am trying to tell you that, but first, red, white or pink?! You won't even look at me in the eye, and I'm trying to tell you!" After which he flung the wine list on the table. Okay, first. Nobody talks to my momma like that. She changed my diapers and raised me right. Plus she is polite and gracious. So I asked the waiter if he intended to be that rude all night, realized that my food and drink were now at huge risk exposure for spittle, and left the joint. I have lived and dined in NYC, SF, Paris and LA and have NEVER been treated so rudely. Who cares about the food: look how they treated me and mom. Please take your business to another more deserving restaurant. I will never return.

    (1)

  • Maria Cristina B.

    So sad... I was really hoping for a fabulous experience. They sat us by the front door, due to no reservation on a Thursday lunch. The kitchen had music blaring so loud we could hardly talk. (although, if I were in the kitchen cooking I would have liked the selection) The service rocked! (not the hostess though) But the food was so so, nothing to write home about. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but just not fantastic for all I had heard about the place.

    (3)

  • Thomas P.

    Terrific food. Not kidding when I say It was the best Beef Tenderloins, I have ever had. They melted in my mouth. Can beef do that? Anyway, the host.....I think he's the owner or something, was a little less than to be desired.HELLO IT'S SEATTLE, WE AREN'T IN LA ANYMORE..ANYWAY..... Not very friendly and made us wait 15 minutes to sit at the counter top. But trust me ...blow him off...get seated and the food was phenomenal! The dessert was awesome. Bread pudding...who would have thought. The three chef's that we watched were true professionals. The wait staff were great, attractive and very prompt and got a big tip at the end......so we recommend this place....It is what it is...Probably the best food in SEATTLE.

    (5)

  • Chinook H.

    Still a Seattle classic, just a bit more polished, upscale, and pricey.

    (5)

  • Ted N.

    This is an outstanding restaurant for lunch. The service is freindly and attentive. What makes this restaurant five stars is the food. Nothing is badly prepared, everything is seasoned in a way that complements the main ingrediants and allows the taste of the ingrediants to come through. Even something as simple as a mixed green salad is prepared with attention to detail and the greens are some of the freshest I've eaten short of picking them out of my own garden. The selection of sandwiches and salads for lunch isn't that extensive but it affords any patron plenty of options. The prices are fair, especially given the location of the restaurant. I can only imagine how good the food must be off the dinner menu and I plan to find out soon. You won't go wrong eating at Matt's.

    (4)

  • Brett L.

    Having only been in Seattle for a few months, Matts has quickly made it to a fall back spot. Food is great, service is friendly portions are just right. The Cobb Salad is enough for as a stand alone meal. Every sandwich we have had has been great. We have only been for lunch, but plan on going for dinner soon. The only complaints that I have are, I'd love to be able to get a diet coke, but am ok with that. It's also stopped me from exploring more of seattle restaurants.

    (5)

  • Austin W.

    My girlfriend dragged me here one day and I thank her for it! The small intimate space is cause for a small (worth-it) wait during lunch hours. The loft like space has a beautiful bay window with a view of the market and puget sound. There are probably 7 tables max and 12 bar seats. The menu is small, but almost everything on there is amazing. My favorite was the Catfish sandwhich and butternut/pumkin soup (de jour). The wasabi tuna was good but pretty hot and the gumbo tasted more like spanish mole sauce than traditional gumbo. The wine selection is great (I know bc the chef had a few glasses too while we ate). The staff is amazing, you'll feel like you've known them your whole life. Don't let the grits and catfish fool you though, Matt is from Spokane, not South Carolina. (not good for large parties unless you are willing to wait a while or split up)

    (5)

  • LOJIE W.

    Traveled up to Seattle for a good friend's wedding and needed some ideas for places to eat. My friend found Matt's through Yelp and we decided to make it our first stop for lunch. Matt's is much smaller than we anticipated, but very quaint...and somewhat hidden. It's located upstairs in a building on one of the corner's of Pike's Place Market. When we arrived, there wasn't a line, but the inside was packed. We were able to snag some seats at the bar. The bartender was great! He was making wonderful conversation and was very funny. I ordered the lamb burger which came with a garbanzo bean salad. Both were DELISH!! My friend had one of their daily specials which was a pork loin sandwich and ordered a side of their seafood chowder. The pork was tender and seafood chowder tasted so FRESH! We both tried their in-house beer and it was crisp and very tasty. Overall, the food was well priced, the service was great (even on such a busy day) and the atmosphere was very cozy. Worth checking out if you're in the area.

    (4)

  • Vinita D.

    This was an absolute surprise - and a very pleasant one that too. Was around Pike Place doing some food shopping and rememberd being recommended this place. We went to the bar and ordered an appetizer from the HH menu - the sea scallop with a onion puree which was perfectly done - just not enough :-(. I have to admit that i wasnt particularly impressed to start with - it seemed expensive for HH and portions were teeny-tiny. But after the rest of the meal -we saw that it was worth it. For the main course we got the seafood stew, which was divine. The clams, fish and scallops were very fresh and the broth was yummy - flavored with fennel and chives (i think). It was a fairly large portion too. We got some bread to finish up all the broth. Dessert was the butternut squash cheescake with a oat pie crust accompanied with fruit compote. All-in-all a great meal. The host seemed a litle snooty when we tried to move to one of the tables but our server was great. In general the service was excellent food came out quickly and hot. I only wish it was a little less expensive so i could go back all the time. This is going to have to be a special occassion place!!

    (4)

  • Forrest D.

    Amazing! Delicious, inventive without being weird, and none of the ridiculously tiny portions I see at other upscale places. Highly recommended

    (5)

  • Ryan J.

    When there are so many mixed reviews, my hunch is that there is *something* interesting going on, rather than the experience being totally bland. The food was great, the service was fine, and the price was appropriate ($50 for lunch for two including a drink and a tip) given how great the atmosphere and food were. It did have a certain uppity air to it, but it was a cold Monday afternoon and I didn't have to wait a minute for a table. If I had to fight for a table for an hour I probably wouldn't have given it as many stars.

    (4)

  • James B.

    What's up with the tightwads in this boomtown? Matt's is a reasonably priced restaurant in both its food and wine. The dinner I had their recently was quality: the seafood and vegetables were fresh and were plated nicely. I expected to pay between $20-$35 for an entree at any non-chain restaurant in a downtown setting: especially one resting atop the famed Pike Place Market! The ambiance was pleasant and the service was outstanding (I think her name was Kate or Katie?). I will readily recommend it to others.

    (4)

  • Marcel B.

    I checked this place out on a recommendation from a friend of mine while visiting seattle recently and I'm glad I went. I had the catfish sandwich and seafood chowder. Both were really good. This place is great because its not a another tourist trap in Pike's market.

    (4)

  • Porfirio R.

    With all of the commotion on the street level, it is hard to imagine there is more stacked above and below the main drag of Pike Street. Across from the main markets roof tops rests a converted coffee shop which operates under the original name of Matt's at the Market. The catch and picks of the day are gathered in the day and served into the night in the recently expanded restaurant kitty-corner from the iron pig. I came on the eve of market arrival of steelhead trout coupled with seasonal potatoes and greens. It was delicious and a wonderful shift from the buttery foie gras.

    (5)

  • Nicole P.

    i'm a seattle native, and when ever my friends from out of town come to visit, i always insist on going to the market. "but isn't the market a tourist thing?" whines my friend from new york. to which i reply "yeah, but one that we locals enjoy, too..." and no visit to pike place is compleate with out a lunch at matt's, looking over the market sign on to puget sound with the ferries and saliboats traversing the water- it's always honored with a "wow" from my visiting pals (even the hard to empress ones) and for good reason. it's breathtaking view, amazing food, and casual friendly service makes matt's memorable... plus, it's exactly what people think of when they picture dining out in seattle, weather they know it or not. i love this restaurant. i've been coming here a long time and will continue to do so into the future. the renovation of this lovely seattle staple has simply inhanced all of it's previous charm and allowed more people to be able to enjoy the space than ever before. thanx for the memories :)

    (5)

  • J L.

    I live in New York, I frequent restaurants, bars, fast food places, anything you name it. Matt's in the Market is my favorite restaurant of all time EVER. I go to Seattle maybe 6 times a year and 4 of those trips is an excuse just to go to Matt's in the Pike Place market. The seafood is superb - fresh and delicious. Not only is the texture and mix of ingredients the way it should be, but the sauce is the sucker punch that hits you right in the mouth. I don't know where or how they get they're recipes to make the sauces to combine with their dishes, but however they do it, it's golden. The drinks at the bar never let me down either. And I can not stress enough, start off with the caramelized french onion dip and chips. I think you'll love it. Check it out, its tucked away upstairs across from the sign and clock. I know I cry in Sea/Tac airport when it's time to leave; this place is why.

    (5)

  • Mariani A.

    I miss the old Matt's in the Market! It used to be this small, intimate place, where you would consider yourself lucky to get one of the few precious tables. Yes, I'm feeling nostalgic over the old place. First of all, I had a wonderful and funny experience dining here before catching my first Seattle Symphony show. Secondly, this is where bread pudding finally trumped cheesecake as my favorite dessert. Sure, the new Matt's in the Market still has the nice view and the good food, but the ambiance has definitely changed. It is still a good bet, though, for great seafood in uniquely Seattle setting.

    (4)

  • Katie C.

    Went to dinner at Matt's around 8pm on Friday. Check out the octopus with pesto - wonderful.

    (4)

  • brent v.

    I decided to look up Matt's at the Market and was surprised to see that there were already 29 reviews. First off i have to say that you people suck, this place is supposed to be a secret since it is the best lunch downtown. Have fun waiting in line and never getting in now that you have blown it for everyone. You people make me sick! Shame on you.

    (5)

  • Maus Y.

    They re-opened and the catfish sandwich was still amazing. I also heard the lamb burger is becoming a new favorite. I've only gone there for lunch.... Actually, attempted to go for dinner because I was so eager to check the renovations out. I was put off because the hostess/waittress came off a bit judgemental. I had gone over right after work with my backpack. I was looked at and replied with like a hobo browsing in a Gucci store in Beverly HIlls... as if i could not afford the dinner. I still went back because the catfish was so good and would choose that over the dinner and elite crowd anyways.

    (5)

  • r. david p.

    Matt's is fantastic. It now seems that they will be selling catfish again in the beginning may. I loved the old space, but wonder what amazing things they will be able to do with more than 4 burners and a convection oven. Matt's is my favourite place to get a randomly tasty meal or have a decent po-boy for lunch.

    (4)

  • E V.

    Excellent dinner I hosted recently for friends. Terrific tastes, ingredients. Great service. Good wine selection, sommelier suggestions.

    (4)

  • JoKr M.

    Two words- catfish sandwich. It was so good that I can never have a catfish sandwich anywhere else. It is panfried and I think finished in the oven, so it has this perfect crispy outside and tender warm inside fillet. They may also use panko breadcrumbs so you don't get that cafeteria filet o fish texture and flavor. We also had the seared ahi tuna sandwich which was good, but not as good as the catfish. Should have ordered two catfish sandwiches. Their food is super fresh and that also means there are limited servings of some dishes. Nice and cozy spot with good beer and wine selection. Seattle was a wrap after Matt's.

    (5)

  • margaret t.

    just returned from trip to Seattle & dined at Matt's the first nite. Food WAS tasty but our entree was WAYYY overpriced......we ordered the salmon special for nite ($50 for the entree). Piece of salmon was tiny (smaller than a credit card!!!)...had good flavor & served with nice risotto, but felt ripped off price & portion size.

    (3)

  • Tazzy M.

    this place is solid. another sure bet place to take somebody that it into good, simple, well prepared fresh food. cant say much else. i am a big fan.

    (4)

  • Matt P.

    A catfish sandwich and gumbo in this small intimate place is what Seattle is all about. Good food, no attitude and a friendly atmosphere. AND, with a name like "Matt's in the Market"- you can't lose. The bread pudding with a great cup of coffee is a great way to end the day. I'm heading back as soon as I can.

    (5)

  • Michelle B.

    The atmosphere is cool, and it is fun to go to the market, but honestly the food isn't all that great. For the prices your tastebuds should be on a sensory overload but that wasn't the case. The food's presentation was nice, but the quality and taste of the food was a let down.

    (3)

  • amanda g.

    Love it - packed with the flavors of the open kitchen, the bustling sound of Pike's Place Market across the street, the market freshness of the menu, and the perfect tiny bistro size which makes you feel like you have happened upon a true gem. And you have.

    (5)

  • Guy h.

    I had an atrocious "single diner" experience at this restaurant. When Matt's was Matt's, I used to come here on my frequent visits to Seattle, and it was a charming, not to mention delicious, place. It's been yuppified in the worst way. Another poster comments favorably on how accommodating the host was for a party of five who arrived without reservation. I can well believe it, because I must have been on the other end of a similarly self-entitled party on my recent visit. I had made an online table reservation a couple of weeks in advance. When I arrived, the host said, "Uh, are you okay with the bar?" The bar was entirely empty. I went with it, as I don't usually mind eating at bars. I did mind, though, when, very much in the middle of my meal, the host again asked me to move down a couple of seats, to accommodate a party of three at the bar! I had been spending plenty of money--the new Matt's isn't cheap--but clearly not so much as a party of three; the host might as well just have said "Can't you just disappear, so we can do business?" and have done with it. The party of three was perhaps delighted at his eager hospitality. Unfortunately, I am afraid that I have disappeared for good.

    (1)

  • Andrew F.

    Yeah. Matt's pretty much is one of the only truly enjoyable restaurants in Seattle. It's small, the staff is all fantastic, the food is great - all the things that the larger big-name restaurants may have, but not many have the great feeling that Matt's has developed over the years.

    (5)

  • A. M.

    The view is amazing and I love the decor/atmosphere of this place. This is one of my all time favorite restaurants. The only reason I docked it a star is because the food can be mediocre. Otherwise, can't complain. I love you, Matt's in the Market!

    (4)

  • Gillian M.

    Great food, great service, beautiful view...what more could I ask for?

    (5)

  • Emily W.

    Go for lunch, it's a great experience. The lamb burger is unbelievable. I'm salivating just thinking about it.

    (5)

  • Sean M.

    If you want mediocre food at very high prices this is your place! I'd heard that this is a Seattle "must do"...after speaking to some locals I learned that the restaurant was sold to a new owner, made larger and lost it's charm. Service was great and it was a nice atmosphere but I was very disappointed in the food. There are plenty of other good places to eat in Seattle. I wouldn't waste your time at this one.

    (2)

  • David R.

    My favorite restaurant in Seattle, bar none. It's tiny, lovely, friendly, excellenty, awesomey. Really great food, fresh fish all the time, creative, simply prepared and, did I say awesome??? Really a must visit. Did you hear me??? A MUST VISIT. Call for reservations... it's worth it. 5++++ Stars. No baby necessary...

    (5)

  • Claire T.

    Matt's in the Market did a wonderful job putting on a rehearsal dinner for some close friends of mine last fall. Delicious food, cozy/classy environment, friendly and helpful service. Last week I went back for a meal the first time since that initial good experience and was not disappointed. My boyfriend I started with well made cocktails, shared a delicious meat and cheese plate, and then I ate some seriously good scallops. The waitress and I shared some laughs about the inordinately grumpy people seated next to us, and she offered good advice about which bottle of wine to order. For dessert, a flourless chocolate cake with a sauce so delicious that after a cocktail and half a bottle of wine it was a challenge to be restrained and well-behaved enough to not lick the plate. The food might be slightly overpriced for what it is, but with a beautiful view of Elliott Bay and shimmery sunlight coming in the huge windows, I assume that prime location is somewhat built into the price.

    (4)

  • Kimby T.

    great service, the team worked together seamlessly. this was my last meal in seattle. we already ate before coming here, but wanted an excuse to drink and i wanted summo seafood. so enter the meat board (which had the most delicious house made pate - headcheese without the brain, and nicely warm and crispy! deeelish!) to start and the seared scallops (which the kitchen graciously split onto 2 plates, without the server telling them to). the host presented our sparkling rose quite nicely and had a nice view of the public market from our table. yummers!

    (5)

  • Thaya K.

    We called on a weekday afternoon to get a reservation for 8:30 that night for two people and had no trouble getting it. We arrived about half an hour early and were told that if we'd be willing to wait at the bar, we could get a table by the window shortly. At the bar, the bar tender was just the right amount of friendly (willing to chat and very knowledgeable, but not at all overbearing). My fiance ordered a Belgian beer that was so good, we took down the name immediately to see if we could find it again when we got home. We were seated in the promised window seat shortly after. Before we'd even ordered, the waitress came by with an amuse bouche from the kitchen -- pate on crostini. Very tasty, and such a nice touch. We started with the pizzetta. The crust was so thin, it melted in our mouths, and the sausage was just the right amount of spiciness, plus there was some extra, slightly floral flavor to the whole thing that just made it delicious. We wanted to save room for dinner, so we had half the pizzetta boxed up to go. My fiance had the lamb shank for dinner and I had the scallops. My scallops were excellent, but it's pretty hard to mess up seared sea scallops. The lamb shank was absolutely perfect. It was so tender, it completely fell apart in your mouth and it had a wonderful flavor. We had some of our dinner boxed up to go, too, and we were so excited to eat our leftovers that we ate them for breakfast the next day! I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a special place for dinner, especially a romantic dinner such as an anniversary. Top notch all around.

    (5)

  • Jason F.

    So let me just start by saying that , as much as I have typically loved Matt's, its amazing how one person in a restaurant can ruin every good experience I have had there in the past. Let's refer to this person, as "Tall Pony Tail Guy". And I have seen a couple references to him already, so this is no surprise. First, this is a neighborhood place, that I usually really enjoy, and last night I was going to have dinner there with someone who had never been, but was excited to see how the food was, since he valued my opinion in food. Our reservation was at 8, and we arrived a couple minutes before. There was a flood of people sipping wine waiting outside of Matt's. So I was relieved we had reservations. Well not so fast. We went in and stood at the door for about 5 minutes, before "Ponytail", came over, and stood about 1 foot away from us, and just looked at us, no lie, he didn't say "good evening", or "do you have a reservation"? My guest, just said "we have a reservation". He then asked for our name, and said "OK", and walked away, so we stood there for about 10 more minutes, and I finally stopped him and said "how long do you think it will be" he rather rudely and smugly said "14 minutes", I mean he might as well said 14:23.01. I mean he was rude. So my guest and I just looked at each other baffled. So, he never offered us a glass of wine at the bar, or anything, so we took it upon ourselves to stand at the bar to have a glass of red wine. About 25 minutes later, my guest and I were wondering if he just snubbed us, so we asked the bartender if he could possibly sit at the bar because we thought we were forgotten about. He said kindly "let me check your reservation". He came back and said "it shouldn't be long" in which we were both grateful. Finally "Ponytail guy" sat us. Now let me remind you, I worked and managed high end restaurants, for years, and know whats it like to be "slammed", but these people that run the door,leave first impressions, and I was completely put off, by this guy. On to the meal. Our server, who was quite pleasant, and witty, made some great suggestions, and was well re-hearsed on his food knowledge. We started with the Pork Belly, which had a nice smoky sweetness to it, and was quite nice. My companion ordered the Lamb Shank, which was falling off the bone good, but the mint overwhelmed the dish, and the vegetables tasted a bit dirty. I ordered the Halibut topped with crab, and I have to say it was quite wonderful. It had great balance, and no one ingredient, overwhelmed the other. We finished up dinner, and paid our $142.00(not including tip) tab, and left. It was a bit of a letdown, and am really contemplating whether I will ever go back. I think a little more focus should go into the customer, and making them feel welcome. This isn't Le Cirque in NYC, I mean Matt's has a great track record overall, but maybe with the expansion, they seem to be getting a little big for their britches. I hope not, just enter with caution!

    (3)

  • Pieter A.

    love love love this place... have not checked out the new space yet, but hear they have managed to keep the same cozy charm they had before. one of my favorite places in seattle and the catfish sandwich is off the hook. ;)

    (5)

  • Adrian G.

    The best little restarurant in Seattle. Food amazing. Staff amazing. This is top of my list for dining out. You always need to book ahead. You can't just turn up a the door unless you are really lucky. They are closed for renovations and I believe they open really soon. March or April of 2007. They will have a much bigger restaurant soon. Can't wait. COme on Matt's re-open we've missed you!

    (5)

  • C A.

    I think Matt's success has gone to their head; it's the inevitable curse of success breeding arrogance and complacency. I don't take pleasure in writing this because I've been a long time fan of Matt's since they were literally just a hole in the wall. But this has been a long time coming...in the last year or so, I've noticed that service, food quality, and value for the money has declined and I continued to go there. But today was my tipping point to abandoning them for good. Had lunch there and ordered the Boccadillo sandwich. I know and accept that they are not cheap but for $14, I was served a small cup of seafood chowder, and a stark-looking sandwich that's about 6" long! No attempt at presentation! BUT what sucked is, while we were having our tea towards the end, they rudely asked us to move to another table!! They wanted to move us to a really teeny, lonely corner table. They arrogantly slapped me with the lame excuse that they're "a busy restaurant and we need tables for people who have reservations"!!! We refused to move because we were there with reservations too! Besides, we were almost done dining anyway! But what made us defiant was simply the way we were asked; it wasn't even close to polite!!! I've experienced other lapses and missteps in their service before but have been forgiving about it. But after this incident, I can not earnestly recommend a place that has lost focus on quality of food and positive customer experience.

    (1)

  • megan d.

    the poor boy sandwiches are very popular but something about cooked oysters grosses me out so ive never eaten them. but the bread pudding w/ whisky carmel sauce is amazing the other seafood selections are top notch. the prices ranges here go from around $20 person to more like 80$ depending on what you order or rather you come in for dinner for or lunch.

    (4)

  • Tammy N.

    this place is a riot. as i waited outside the closed door just before they opened for lunch...a giant dog pushed the door open and then exited the restaurant. he looked at me as if to say, "good choice, you'll like it." shortly thereafter a guy with dreadlocks followed the dog and took him into the space next door which apparently will be the new Matt's in the Market. the one i ate at in late november, had no stove which i found extra entertaining. the food was perfect and the fact that my friend had arranged for one of the few tables and one at the window no less made the meal extra special. i had the gumbo with the house salad. the pumpkin seeds were a nice touch. the gumbo was perfect in the seafood dept. as well as the "hot" factor. then i had pumpkin cheesecake which was out of this world. super nice staff and great vibe. would definitely return the next time i'm in seattle.

    (5)

  • Andres D.

    Ok, this place was recommended to me by one of the fish market employees. The atmosphere is really cool and lively. A bunch of hipster waiters, but good service. As for the food, it's really good, but I wouldn't say it's the best seafood I've ever had. I ordered the fish of the day, which were scallops with turnips. They were pan seared, and the kale salad with pistachios and raisins was a good addition. The only reason I'm giving it 3 stars instead of 4 is because of the price. I know it has to be higher than normal because of location and all, but 4 scallops a $24 meal does not make! It's more along the lines of $17, but that doesn't mean they weren't tasty. They're really good! Just not enough to justify price. Other than that, food was good, as was the service. Waiter also made a good local beer suggestion.

    (3)

  • Lindsay M.

    Our entrees were mediocre and extremely overpriced, my husband ordered the $48 steak and it was accompanied with braised greens which were all stalk and inedible. We saw the table next to us had bread so we asked for some as well. We were shocked when our bill came to us with a $4 charge for bread & butter. When I politely inquired why were were being charged, the server took offense and said "it's because we put pink salt on the butter, and lots of restaurants are now charging". Oh wow, salt on the butter, whoop-de-do! I wish he would have said "oh I'm so sorry you didn't realize there was a charge, I'll remove that right away for you" ..... like a nice restaurant should.

    (1)

  • Debra B.

    If you are looking for amazing food - this is the place! Located on the 3rd floor of the Cornerstone Bldg at the corner of 1st and Pike, across from the Pike Place Market clock sign. Get a reservation for one of the window tables so you can see the Market and Elliott Bay. The food is fresh, full of flavor and memorable. Our group sampled several menu items & specials, including the homemade potato chips & dip, deviled eggs, a Cobb salad, the steamed mussels & clams, pork belly confit "bánh mì" (to die for!), halibut sandwich and pulled pork tacos. Everyone was simultaneously smug and envious over our choices - we all loved our meals while coveting the others! Skip the tourist spots and head upstairs for a meal you will be talking (and dreaming) about for days to come!

    (5)

  • Kristen J.

    Meh. We were excited to have a girls night out before a show tonight, and called several days ahead to make a reservation. The host at the front door was incredibly rude to my friend who arrived early, then was terrible to other patrons as they arrived prior to the 5:30pm door opening - and same as another reviewer wrote, there were staff standing around chatting, however, he made us feel like we were inferior humans for daring to ask him about when we could be seated, how dare we. The food was nicely flavored, however, again they made us feel inferior when we inquired about a second slice of bread to go with our clam appetizer and we wanted to order a bottle wine, felt like we were inconveniencing them. We continued on our nice night, and enjoyed the clam appetizer and 1/2 dozen oysters were fantastic. Waited quite a bit for the entrees, and when arrived the 1/2 chicken entree was barely warm, however, my friend liked the flavors, and we didn't have time to wait for a replacement, so she ate it - thanks to the server for comp'ing the meal, however, the evening's tone was really set from the dismissive host at the front and trickled through the dinner. I have eaten at Matt's multiple times over the years, often with large groups from work spending decent money, however, this experience really will make me go other places in town first, which is too bad.

    (3)

  • Rich T.

    What a perch looking right at the Pike Place Market sign. It is lovely for happy hour and the bar is wonderful. Grab a place by the bar on those wintry nights, but the fun tables are looking out the window watching the world go by. Food is inventive and a new take on traditional classics. The Lamb burger is a great classic, but in the times we've been there, just seeing what the chef has come up with is the fun part!

    (4)

  • Stephanie B.

    With over 350 reviews I don't know what more I can bring to the table that hasn't been said, but YUM! Great location for popping in after walking around the market. the service was top notch and they were very polite regarding the wait for our larger party. We came back at the suggested time and our table was there waiting for us. You MUST order the chips and dip! The house made salt-pepper chips are divine and the hot bacon caramelized onion dip made me an onion convert. I would have eaten it by the spoonful if I wasn't around company. It was truly that good. From our table there were rave reviews for the banh mi sandwich and the braised beef brisket. Both were messy because of the perfect sauce to sandwich ratio. The only less than impressed was with the fried oyster po boy. Wine list was slightly limited, but the server was quick with suggestions.

    (5)

  • D B.

    I absolutely loved this place. What a find! I heard a foodie talking about it on the train one day on the way home from work. I was in Seattle this weekend for the Oprah Tour and took a friend from out of town here with my mom. Delicious food, great server (man with glasses and salt and pepper hair...not sure of his name but he was fabulous), and a great view of the market which my friend really enjoyed. Thank you so much!

    (5)

  • Jewelyn T.

    I'm a fan of Matt's! If you're in Seattle... you have to have lunch here! Score window seating and people watch the crowd at the Pikes place. If I ever visit Seattle again... Matt's will see my face again and feed me :) soup and sandwiches are amazing! My favorite lunch spot in the city! I'm so jealous Seattle! -Miss Yelp 2012

    (5)

  • Marc H.

    Went there with some friends and we all shared some small plates including oysters, burrata, beet salad, scalops and then we all shared the wild boar chop. All of the dishes were great, and the wine recommendations were above average too. Finally the atmosphere of the restaurant was vibrant, and everyone seemed to be having a great time.

    (4)

  • Vy D.

    Just came back from Matt for dinner and guess what? Food is way too awesome. Dishes are kinda pricey with the amount on the plate tho :( The seared foie gras was okay, what wow me is the garnish come along with it: 2 LITTLE CUTIE CHOCO DONUT-they are bombed (: Also, their homemade Kimchee in the grilled octopus & pork belly confit is so fine and this is not a Korean restaurant at all! Bravoooo :) Forgot to mention, if you ever have enough for dessert, don't forget to try the vanilla bean panna cotta with the rhubarb compote. Super light and a perfect ending for your meal. The orange peel candied is a light touch for the dish. This is a memorial weekend so they are kinda busy. However, most likely you need make reservation for weekend. Last time I was 20 mins late for lunch [They closed at 2:30 and we came around 2:50] My friend asked for a table for dinner but unfortunately they are all booked. P/s: remember to ask for validation for your Valet parking lot :(. We had to pay extra 5$ because they didn't give us the validation :(

    (5)

  • Janette B.

    Came here for lunch after a morning of shopping at the market. I had high hopes after reading all the great reviews. Made a reservation & still had to wait an additional 20 min. The hostess was nice enough to offer water. My boyfriend & I ordered the clams & mussels entree & tuna melt special. I wasn't wowed by the food. Certainly a lot better than Joe's Crab Shack, but for the price you pay, you expect more. Maybe we should've tried the dinner menu?!?

    (3)

  • Oink A.

    beautiful view, fantastic service, short wait to be seated, lamb burger was awesome, the food my cohorts got appeared to be equally awesome, really great restaurant and if looking for a classy lunch at pike market, matt's is a great choice

    (5)

  • Stan L.

    i came here for lunch recently because i was craving a fish sandwich.. they had 3 on the menu and i opted the halibut sandwich.. the portion of fish could have been a bit larger but it was nevertheless quite flavorful.. the winter root vegetable soup was also a nice tasty flavorful puree of goodness.. i'll be back for dinner

    (4)

  • Jessica G.

    We had a late lunch here and is was defiantly the best meal we had in Seattle. The lunch special was a salmon cake and it was unbelievable. Even after a 10 mile run that am we wear not able to finish lunch and took half home with us that we ate for dinner the next night. I will go back next time I am in Seattle.

    (5)

  • Clint W.

    i'm not sure why, but i seem to miss all the classics in seattle. i've not been to the space needle. i've never been to rover's or the herbfarm. matt's was also on that list. we came here for a birthday event and it was wonderful. on a nasty night, with the wind kicking up and the rain beating me like a healthy egg white omelette, i dashed up the steps to meet my friends. the staff was wonderfully patient and managed just the right level of engagement. they were always available for questions and help, but not intrusive and disruptive to our experience. we opened up with clams and a spectacular crab seviche. the seviche was more like a crab salad with avocado and cilantro. we divided our entrees amongst roast chicken, seafood stew and the pork farrotto. my chicken, which i adored, came with very light dumplings and sat in a sweet jus. the farrotto was al dente and had wisps of pulled pork nestled in it. it was savory and the only knock was the presentation, which looked sort of clumpy. the twist on the stew was the black cod chunks buried within. honestly, i thought it might overpower the overall taste and wasn't sure it would hold up in the broth. all in all, it did a fine job and added another layer of flavor that was a bit of a surprise. since it was a bday, they brought out some extra donut holes and a candle, along with a free drink! that, along with a hearty birthday wish or two made this a great evening. you can bet i'll be back. y'all let me know when anybody wants to go there!

    (5)

  • Adrienne D.

    Love this restaurant! The seafood is unreal. Best view in the city. Perfect place for a special dinner with out of towners.

    (5)

  • Seth L.

    The food here is always excellent. Fresh ingredients, expertly prepared, great flavor. Tried various dishes and appetizers, and have never been disappointed. The atmosphere is open floor plan, which can get a little loud, but never too bad. Window seats have easier time looking down to market crowds. Service is pretty good, not over bearing. The only down side is it can be difficult to get in without a reservation.

    (5)

  • Nicholas P.

    Showed up with no reservation for lunch with two colleagues; they found a window table for us. Started with the homemade chips and bacon onion dip. Damn, top notch. I had the ham sandwich... Finally a sandwich that isn't two loaves of bread with something in between. This was so delicious... juicy ham, melted Swiss cheese... I'm sad it's gone three hours later.

    (5)

  • Tina E.

    We loved every course! From the cheese plate to the main course (pork loin), they were delicious. The service staff was very professional and the view of the market was lovely. It's a great place for a low-key special occasion or pre-theater. Will return.

    (4)

  • Emily E.

    Excellent spot. The food was great, as was the atmosphere. I thought the entrees were fairly priced (they were a bit expensive, but the food made up for it); however, I thought the alcoholic drinks were over-priced. For two people, we got there around 7 PM on a Friday. They were booked, but said we could wait for a spot at the bar. After about 10 minutes, they said that they had a reservation cancel and could seat us at a table. We thoroughly enjoyed every bit of food. The only downside was the price of the alcohol.

    (4)

  • Thomas J.

    The new chef is doing some pretty great things with Head Cheese. If you are so inclined, give it a shot. My thinking was that if a chef is putting Head Cheese on the menu, it's gotta be some pretty good Head Cheese. It was. I like that the place feels like it is evolving with Seattle - changing for the better, and each visit meets or exceeds the high expectations of my memories. I couldn't think of a better place in Seattle to bring out of town guests who'd like a Market experience that was unique and memorable.

    (5)

  • Alland B.

    Absolutely brilliant. The food was amazing. I had the Chard and it was just perfect. There's nothing else to really say. It was perfect. Done. Sal is an amazing bar tender. He makes some amazing cocktails. I highly recommend sitting at the bar and letting him take you on a ride. Ask him about his barrel-aged concoctions! wow. Top notch food. Not cheap, but definitely worth the price. One of my favorite Seattle restaurants.

    (5)

  • Amy B.

    Really enjoyed lunch here! I had their amazing Lamb burger that was very flavorful and filling. Craft cocktails were very well made, and overall I loved the feel of the place.

    (4)

  • Jean Y.

    After two visits to Matt's, I think Matt's is getting classified into my bucket of restaurants where (1) the ambience outshines the food (2) the menu descriptions are yummier than the food. Cute location up three levels across the street from the main Pike Place Market building, facing the "Public Market Center" sign. Pleasant interior, good friendly service, nice view of Pike Place. There always seems to be a wait here. On my most recent visit, we started with the house made salt-pepper chips with hot bacon-caramelized onion dip. Yummy, generous portions with very large chips. We finished it so quickly that our waitress actually thought she forgot to place the order when she saw us facing an empty table. :) My bf and I shared the crisp skin chicken torta and the braised beef brisket sandwich. The sandwiches were a good, healthy size. However, although I had excitedly anticipated some very delicious sandwiches based on the ingredient lists, I found the flavors too strong and the condiments too rich for them to be enjoyable. The brioche buns were very dense. I was a bit disapppointed and didn't finish the last few bites of either sandwich. Some of the sandwiches on the menu come with a choice of soup or salad. The waitress was very nice and let us substitute the side of salt-pepper chips that normally come with the beef brisket sandwich for soup, free of charge, since we already had an order of chips and dip. The seafood chowder was fine but nothing special.

    (3)

  • Peace-team L.

    Best meals I had lately with my wife as our weekend lunch dates. She loves the devil eggs :) . The bloody Mary in here is unique. Menu is great, rich, seasonal, great variety. Place is comfortable and great location, in Pike's.

    (5)

  • M Karina R.

    Pretty awesome for ambience. We walked in at 9pm on a Friday night and there wasn't a table available, but two spots at the bar were. Yay! Great location. Love the open concept kitchen so you see what's going on. Husband had halibut and loved it. I had salmon and it was slightly undercooked for my liking, but was still good. Service great from the bartender. Recommended a local gin for my husband's gin and tonic and he loved. Would definitely go again.

    (5)

  • Steve L.

    Revisit @ skosh after 2 pm today - spot on, again. Great to be able to sit at the bar/countertop, hob-nob with Robbie. Today's selection: new england chowder and halibut sandwich! Top it off with a great IPA. Menu specials every day - hope I really become a repeat stalwart.

    (5)

  • Julie A.

    We had lunch reservation and arrived early - they were very accommodating and seated us right away. The food was good but not fantastic. We started with the homemade chips and onion dip. Crispy and warm, but a bit salty. Cobb salad would have been 5 stars if not overdressed! With the creamy deviled eggs and avocado they just didn't need as much dressing and it overwhelmed the salad. Would recommend for the great service, views, and hidden away feel (it's tough to find tucked in a walkway on the upper level of the market - you will most likely miss the sign at least once)!

    (4)

  • Tonya P.

    Matt's in the Market has many things going for it. Let's start with the fancy, handcrafted cocktails and the perfectly selected wine list. Need I even mention the absolute gorgeous view of the infamous Pike's neon sign and the water and those magnificent windows? It looks like a movie set. Service was genuine and pleasant, food was spectacular, I guess no matter how pretty the restaurant is and how nice the servers are, it really comes down to the food. Food is fantastic, our waiter told us his favorite starter was the beef tartar with quail egg. It was delicious. Perfect texture, the toast points and quail egg matched perfectly. We shared a whole fish snapper entree in a simple herb broth with potatoes, tomatoes and mussels. It was pretty funny, I asked my husband did he want to share it, I held the menu up and showed him five fingers, I said this is how much it will be.. We giggled when we got the bill it was $42. Whew, what a bargain. I thought it would be $50! I read on their website, you can sit at their bar from 5p to 7p and they have seven items for seven dollars. Next time, you can believe I will park myself at the bar at 505p. Matt, I'm coming to get you. Watch out.

    (5)

  • Martha T.

    Came here for lunch for the first time with a group of four. I had always wanted to try this place and we made reservations online. We wanted to eat when they open at 11:30 am but the online reservations only had 12:15 available. Either way, we got there at 11:30 am and saw plenty of open tables. When I told the host I had made reservations for 12:15, he made this sound that was like I was a horrible person for trying to get an earlier table. Either way, we were seated and there were plenty of four person tables open. We ordered the catfish sandwich, po boy, lamb burger and sloppy jerry burger. I would definitely recommend the catfish and lamb burger. Both were very flavorful and filling! I would not recommend the sloppy jerry or the po boy. I was disappointed to see the po boy was shrimp and not oyster. The sloppy jerry was nothing special. In the end, I am glad I was able to finally try this place and our waiter looked like Benedict Cumberbatch from the BBC Sherlock Holmes.

    (3)

  • Maria W.

    One of my favorite restaurants. Perfect location.. every food/drink i've had there was really good. Great service and the people who work there are pretty cool. Depending on your price range, it's probably not a place you go to all the time but it's definitely worth going to at least once. It is a little on the pricier side, but you're partially paying for the location too. The whole restaurant takes advantage of the view because most of the restaurant is windows. The octopus dish they have is the most amazing, I promise the texture isn't strange like you'd imagine; everyone who has tried it loves it.

    (5)

  • Bec P.

    Far better than I had expected... A very small dining room but great, enormous windows overlooking the market. Gorgeous views at sunset. We sat at the bar and had great service. We ordered the scallops, foie Gras, adobo salmon, olives. The salmon was cooked perfectly with a crispy crust and a great balance of textures with the chick peas below it. All around, an excellent meal.

    (5)

  • Tanya J.

    Matt's In The Market is a quaint and sophisticated little hideaway overlooking Pike Place Market and specializes in Northwest fare. You'll find a variety of seafood options and meat specialties prepared in such a lovely way. At first I was disappointed that there was only ONE vegetarian option on the menu for lunch. Then I ordered the only vegetarian option on the menu and was quite pleased with it. It is also rare that I will order an Indian-based dish if that is not the specialty of a restaurant but Matt's has pulled off this Indian spice infused meal with absolute competency. The Ragda (see photo) actually comes out looking vaguely similar to that of crab cakes but once the fork meets the lightly coated breaded garbanzo bean patties, you quickly realize this is going to be scrumptious! The cucumber and onion yogurt on top provides a nice refreshing addition, along with the fresh cilantro and eggplant puree which accents it perfectly. It is quite DELICIOUS. Here's what's good by testimony: The lamb burger is said to be one of the best in Seattle, the pulled pork sandwich and the pork belly confit sandwich also have high marks. We are regulars here since my boss just loves this place. Definitely check Matt's out for some fresh, organic and quality eats with a gorgeous view above the market! As for my vegetarians friends out there, I'm making an exception and adding this to my vegelicious list because while Matt's makes it difficult to find vegetarian options here, the one you will find (the Ragda) is worth it! If they added a second vegetarian option I would have to raise this to 5 stars with out a doubt.

    (4)

  • Amy Z.

    Really nice lunch spot in an iconic Seattle location--Pike Place! Semi-questionable service as our waitress forgot our order and messed things up, but the delicious food made up for that. If you're in a gluttonous mood, start your meal off with their "chips and dip"--you won't be disappointed. I ordered an ahi tuna sandwich and was quite impressed by their fish quality. Apparently they stock their kitchen with fresh seafood from Pike Place market, so I'd err on the side of ordering seafood dishes vs. other meats to take advantage of this special perk. Although, even with that said, I had a bite of my friend's lamb burger and it was GOOD.

    (5)

  • J C.

    The chicken was tasty but RAW in the center. I sent it back and received another raw piece. The waiter was very nice, didn't charge us for it and comped our drinks but I still wouldn't go back.

    (1)

  • Linds L.

    Love, Love, Love! We came here for dinner before the opera and it was amazing. Had a great table where we could watch the sunset and then watch the market light up. The wait staff was kind and curteous - they asked as soon as we sat down if we had an event and what time we would need to leave by so they could make sure to help us keep our schedule. We started simple with artisan bakery bread - with olives baked in - fantastic. For main dishes, my boyfriend had the braised lamb with gnocchi and a glass of pinot noir - the lamb was so good it just fell apart at the touch of the fork. I had the seafood stew that was perfection. The broth was just spicy enough. Paired perfectly with a glass of pinot gris. Or two glasses. We ended the meal with a coffee pot de creme dessert served with two chocolate sugared donuts and some french press coffee. Overall, superb. I'd love to try it for happy hour sometime, but I will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • D J.

    This seems like a decent place for a cocktail, if you're in the market and want to sit indoors. Not sure that I would return for much more. Based on a single lunch experience May 2013, I would assume that dinner must be good here. Earlier in the day this turns into a "fuck you" dining experience-- $16 banh mi,$30+ lunch fish, salad composition of everything from quinoa to root vegetables, no pommes frites with the lunch sandies. Kitchen staff, appearing to be up to the eyeballs on animal tranquilizer, would occasionally walk by with a pound of butter or two. Service was good, but air quality was somewhat deep-fried. Kinda spendy for what it was-- would skip it unless you're planning to drink heavily on someone else's tab.

    (3)

  • Mike L.

    Nice location across from the Market entrance. Servers are very knowledgable and attentive. Atmosphere is sparse and casual, but prices are high. Must be the location. We tried their happy hour after work. It's limited to 8 barstools. Quite uncomfortable and a bit awkward. Prices were $6-10 for small appetizers, so not too bad compared to their dinner menu. The entire menu is a little quirky with some interesting combinations. Some worked, some didn't. We ended up supplementing the appetizers with the cheese plate off the dinner menu, as well as a shared dessert. The key lime bread pudding was cooked to order, so took almost half an hour, but was worth the wait. But the thought of chocolate ice cream on it gave us pause, so we asked for the rhubarb ice cream. It was a fantastic decision. Might try them again for lunch.

    (3)

  • Maple C.

    I have three choice words for the baby argula and dungeness crab salad: Best salad eveeeeeeeer. I've never been a huge fan of salads, but holy smokes, this was so good! There was a generous portion of crab, and the dressing was nice and light. I came for lunch/brunch and I was still raving about the salad when I was going out for dinner! Finding this place can be a little tricky... you walk down Pike (towards 1st), basically towards the huge "Public Market" sign in Pike's Place. Look for The Crumpet Shop on the right side. Matt's is next door, you just have to take the stairs up. It's the same entryway as if you were going to CanCan, but again, you need to take the stairs up. Enjoy!!!

    (5)

  • Sandra O.

    Matt's is one of my most favorite places. My boyfriend and I go at least 1-2 times per month. The food is consistently excellent. Must haves: Robbie's Blood Mary, chips and dip (imagine gourmet bacon french onion dip-- to die for) and the bahn mi. Their tenderloin burger is fantastic when on special.

    (5)

  • Eamon K.

    Great lunch spot. Someone mentioned fancy and it is far from that but certainly a little high on the price side for lunch but well worth it. We had the porkstrami sandwich and halibut fishwich with the roasted garlic and corn purée. All were great and highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Gregg M.

    According to plan, the girlfriend and I walked down to Pike Place Market late morning on a Wednesday to have lunch at Matt's in the Market. Matt's is on the second floor of the building overlooking the heart of the market, the landmark Pike Place Market sign and clock. It's one of the best views of the market! We got there a little before they opened for business. Matt's opens up promptly at 11:30am. We didn't have reservations, but since we were the first to arrive, we were seated immediately and had the restaurant to ourselves for a very short while. The restaurant and bar filled up quickly with lunchtime diners who seemed to consist mainly of locals who worked downtown doing power lunches along with a smattering of tourists filling out the dining room. The lunch menu was filled with a bunch of tempting options. I opted for the Pork Belly Confit "Bánh mì" with pickled daikon and radish, fresno chilies, hoisin sauce, cilantro, and sambal aioli on a fresh baguette ($16). The bánh mì, while a bit pricey for a sandwich, was filled with a generous portion of juicy pork belly. The pickled veggies, fresh chilies and cilantro, and hoisin and aioli contrasted with and complimented the savory pork in a pleasing way. It was large enough to share. I highly recommend the Pork Belly Confit "Bánh mì". It's one of the best sandwiches I've ever tasted and is easily an equal peer with Salumi's Porchetta! The bánh mì also came with a choice of a salad or a cup of Seafood Chowder. I chose the chowder which, in all honesty, was on par with if not better than the nearby Pike Place Chowder's award-winning Seafood Chowder. The girlfriend had the Clams with house made chorizo, corona beans, piquillo peppers, cava and croutons ($16). It was a heaping bowl of perfectly steamed Manila clams bathed in a tasty, spicy broth. We enjoyed eating the broth even after the clams were long gone! Service throughout our meal was attentive without being intrusive. Matt's in the Market is not the cheapest place to go for lunch in Pike Place Market, let alone Seattle. However, sometimes you get what you pay for. Matt's serves up skillfully prepared, fresh, flavorful, wholly satisfying food and is the kind of place you'd want to bring your wife, girlfriend, or significant other for a meal.

    (5)

  • Theresa V.

    Right in Pikes market - beautiful ambiance and delicious food! In addition to their sunday brunch cocktails, we all partook in their famous lamb-burger. I was a little sketchy about a lamburger, but as the restaurant is known for this - we got it. It was a wonderful surprise. There was a pugnant cheese that tied together the burger, salad, and bread that made it perfect. The lamb was very played down in the burger which was perfect for me. The lamb taste was there, but it wasn't overpowering to take away from the idea that it was still a burger. It was a delicious burger - moist and flavorfull.

    (5)

  • Trisha P.

    Has the most amazing blackened catfish sandwhich. Have been going for years and even with the remodel and change in ownership it's awesome.

    (5)

  • Angel V.

    My other half and I thought it would be so great to try this restaurant! We saw it on Food Network and thought next time we go to Seattle (We are from Portland, Or) it would be on our to do list. We walk into the restaurant and the Host just ignored us. We were confused? Thought maybe we entered the wrong door so we left. Asked someone nearby where the front door was to the restaurant. We realized we went through the right door. The second time we walked in the Host just stared at us like why are you back here? Awkwardly we asked him if their was a table available. He grabbed two menus didn't even take a look at any tables available and seats us at the empty table right next to him which happens to be the absolute worst table in the restaurant. We might as well just welcomed every patron that walked in because we were constantly having to move our chairs because anyone that walked in had to go around our table. I saw three or four tables near the back but was never even offered where we preferred to sit. The waitress was very cold. I asked her if she had any specials and she pointed to the chalk board. I was having trouble reading the board so I told my boyfriend to order first because I was having trouble reading that far. I was thinking the waitress could help me by just telling me what the specials were but she seemed like she was irritated that it took me a little longer to order. We got our food and it was very good! I watched our waitress serve every customer with a smile and was so attentive to others. The table across from us had four men dressed in business attire and the waitress who took our order starts out by saying welcome! Our specials today are blah blah and is prepared blah blah. I looked at my boyfriend and just started laughing! She never once filled our water until I had to stop her and ask for water. Then she spilled it all over our table and didn't bother to clean it up. I have no idea why we were treated so badly. I can honestly say the moment we walked in we felt like poor second class citizens. We weren't dressed in business attire but we weren't bums either. I have no idea why we were treated so poorly but by the time we were almost done with our food we just wanted to leave. I have never felt so unwelcome in a restaurant in my life.

    (2)

  • Paula L.

    Delicious and classy. Make sure you have a reservation if you want to get in for lunch. I chose the falafel knowing it probably had gluten. Best falafel ever. Worth it.

    (5)

  • Cindy T.

    We walked in once during lunch time and wait was over one hour. So we left and decided to make reservations for another day. And I'm so glad we did. The food here was fantastic. Pair that with amazing views of the market and and open style kitchen, that easily makes a perfect lunch. I had the pork belly baguette with a cup of crab/salmon chowder. The pork belly, oh, the pork belly. Juicy, tasty, fatty...you name it. The toppings were perfect. They included carrots & daikon mix for a crunch, cilantro for freshness and red peppers for a nice kick. Just writing this is making me drool. My bf had a pulled pork sammie and that was also amazingly tender, juicy and just plain tasty!!!

    (5)

  • Jenn W.

    My dad recommended that my friend and I came here to catch up. He offered to get the bill, so why wouldn't I? When we sat, I wasn't interested in any of the menu items at all. None of them really jumped out at me, which was strange since I read good things on yelp. None of the things I had planned on getting were even on the menu! Alas, this is the folly of a rotating menu... Lame that you have to order the bread to get fancy salt and butter. But it was good. The grilled octoput small plate was also good. The sauce and potatoes on the dish were also well flavored and they all went well together. I was unhappy with my entree, which was the special, porchetta. It tasted just average, the greens it came with (I don't know what it's called) were SUPER bitter and way too strong to eat with the pork. The only part I really enjoyed was the potatoes. It's not like you can go wrong with potatoes... My favorite thing the entire night was probably the flourless chocolate cake. They added cinnamon which gave the cake a nice smooth kick (smooth? kick? Ok...) and made in unique. But the cake didn't make up for the unexciting rest of the meal. Total price for two of us, ordering two small plates, two entrees, and a dessert was around $160. Too expensive for how it tasted.

    (2)

  • D C.

    This is my favorite place for a weekday foodie lunch. The best time to go is either on the early side of the lunch hour or at 1:30 - but always make a reservation. This place hops at lunch, no matter the season. I typically start off with the bartender's special Bloody Mary "with a snit" (side glass of beer). Spicy and good! The fresh sheet entrees are always great, but one of my favorite lunches involves starting with a round of housemade chips and their bacon cheese dip (even if you split it 3 or 4 ways, it curbs your appetite considerably!) and then enjoying whatever seasonal salad that have that incorporates a poached egg (usually a duck egg) on top. Sometimes it's frisee, sometimes asparagus--whatever is seasonal, really, but it's always delicious. Great by-the-glass wine list, too. Friendly staff, in that quiet, unassuming (unpretentious, not pushy) Seattle way. Price is moderate to spendy for lunch (likely "spendy" for dinner). Very very worth it!

    (5)

  • Kathleen H.

    Hands down, one of my favorite places. Make a reservation around sunset, hope for a window table, enjoy the view and indulge in a fantastic menu of delightful things. Go for the whole fish - it is great to share along with some small plates. Save room for dessert - they never disappoint. If you drive here, the $10 Pike Place Market validated valet parking is the way to go - super convenient.

    (5)

  • Rob C.

    hard to find. look to the right for the stairway to the third floor when facing the pike place sign. the seafood was great. seafood stew: mussels, clams, fin fish, scallop, linguiça, fennel, yukon gold potatoes, piri-piri, harissa aioli crouton (awesome): great product, lightly prepared and showcased, tasty broth beef carpaccio with black garlic cream, olsen farms potato chips, parsley oil. grilled octopus, kimchi, daikon radish salad, chile vinaigrette oysters on half shell, cheese plate and pate. solid.

    (5)

  • Opal D.

    Had a wonderful lunch here! The service was attentive. The halibut sandwich and the bread pudding - were both delicious! It doesn't hurt that the company was great also!

    (5)

  • Jamie J.

    Stop #3... restaurant week. Time to get serious. This was a good third stop. I got a little warmed up on days 1&2, and then really got the treatment at Matt's. I was mentally prepared; I don't know if I could have been, without an adequate warm-up. It's just that good. For starters, the salads are great. They are not skimpy here with their greens, nor their cheese. The pile it on! Thank you, Matty. They also serve up a little bread tray (3 or 4 bucks) with two types of bread, cultured butter (I believe) and grey salt. Yum. The entrees were delectable. I ordered the fish that night, I want to say snappers - I've been to 2 other restaurants since - but, it literally fell apart once I touched it. Maybe the best pieced of cooked fish I have every had. Light, crispy, flakey, and served over a nice tart tomato sauce. The other entree I ordered was the meat dish on the RW menu. I want to say it was beef, but RW has got me so turned around - eating out every night is hard (rough life, he he). It was pulled, and tender, with a lot of fat for extra flavor. Served over a bead of grits with cheese, hmm can't really go wrong. RW has been nice. What I have noticed, though, is that most restaurants are serving these entrees: fish dish with a sauce, veggie dish for the vegetarians, and then a meat dish served over either polenta or grits. It has been the same at every stop. It's like they all called each other so the could match - like two 14 yr old school girls. Matty really distinguished himself with the dessert course. The single best two dessert dishes I have had all year. 1. Ginger bread pudding with salted caramel ice cream (i'm a little obsessed with this new trend; I even have a list!). I can't even explain in words how good it is. 2. A cultured mixture of yumminess served with Chantilly. This was so unexpected and unique. Sort of like a grainy mouse, but heavier. It was cheesy, yet tart. I just couldn't wrap my mind around this one. I need to study it a little bit more. What a great experience. I can't wait to come back. The waiters could be a little more talkative, like com'on, it's RW ... aren't you jumping out of your pants?! The location is amazing, see if you can get by the window. If you haven't been, I'm sure you've heard of it, and for good reason. They were on Throw Down with Bobby Flaw, umm cool. Now is the time to go, $28 for 3 courses can't be beat.

    (5)

  • Jenn B.

    I love Matt's in the Market--it's definitely on my top 3 list of Seattle restaurants. Their banh mi is phenomenal. I normally sit at the bar, and the bartender is friendly and personable. Located in the Corner Market building on the second floor. The dining area overlooks the Market area and it's great for people watching.

    (5)

  • John M.

    We visited here for lunch. Wow! What a hidden treasure. A small, quaint location above the market, serves up ridiculously delicious food! Found it on Yelp....and now paying it forward! Did I mention the food was off the chain?

    (5)

  • Sarah M.

    My goodness, this place was hard to find! The parking was difficult, and on top of that, I was roaming around the market for a good 10 minutes before I finally found it. Thankfully my friend stuck his hand out the window to show me where he was, but otherwise I would've roamed around for God knows how long! Since it's called Matt's in the market, I thought it was actually in the market... anyway, It's on the second floor of the building across from the market. The view was great, as you can people watch and see the outside market action from up above. I don't know if the food was AMAZING (although it was GOOOD, or maybe even great) but I just liked the somewhat casualness of it, the view, and the delicious bloody mary. The Pork BahnMi was pretty good. Savory, crunchy vegies, well seasoned meat. Oh, and of course, the bread pudding. I was kind of full to enjoy it competely, but it was nice with the ice cream. excellent balance of creamy, smooth, cold, and hot. Great for weekend dining!

    (4)

  • Richard G.

    I really am a big fan of Matt's even though Matt Janke is no longer the current proprietor and Dan Bugge is now carrying the torch. It is still a gem of a restaurant in the Pike Market. I still return for sentimental reasons as my previous gf personally introduced me to Matt Janke back in the day when he had 26 seats and Matt himself would wait on us! It was soo cool finding this wonderful hideaway restaurant and much more of an intimate setting back then. Almost like Matt was serving you out of his home. It still is a "go to" place as their menu continues to deliver great selections of local fish fowl pork and beef. I took my client's there for dinner and they did not even know about Matt's in the Market. We started by sharing a bowl of Manila Clams cooked in fennel, absinthe, clam stock and home made croutons. My guests were suddenly impressed and helped me devour the whole bowl and even asking for extra bread to sop up the wonderful broth. They brought out small serving bowls with a small fork so all could share which was a real nice touch. Out waitstaff was very attentive but did not "hover" over us and timed our service perfectly. I ordered the heirloom tomato "caprese" which was very good. Then the best was the main entrees as I ordered the Wild King Salmon with corn gnocchi, corona beans and grilled corn salsa. My guests both ordered the Alaskan Halibut with sweet corn chowder, cipollini onions, and new potatoes. All were cooked to perfection! One of my client's remarked that it was the best piece of Halibut that he ever had eaten in his whole life! Talk about an endorsement. I let my client's wife pick out the dessert of chevere cheesecake with bing cherries and almond croquant which we all shared. I really highly recommend Matt's if you plan on a visit to Pike Market.

    (5)

  • Maureen M.

    We are long time Seattle residents and have been to Matt's many times!!! We love their food. Tonight was our Anniversary which they knew, and wished us Happy Anniversary. But... it would have been nice if they comped us a glass of Prosecco (which we ordered) or a dessert or something... In addition, we got charged $6.50 for bread. Not much good will. Makes us think again about returning or recommending your restaurant to friends.

    (2)

  • Tom D.

    We had lunch here. I had been wanting to come here for a number of years -- and admit I had expectations that it would be good (expectations can be tough). Love the atmosphere and overall vibe of the place. Service was very friendly and attentive -- but never crossed over the line of being too much....it all just felt very natural. We had an awesome table in the corner with a great view of the market. Deviled egg app was good. The catfish sandwich was delicious as was the soup. I was quite surprised by how good the Falafel was as well. All of the sandwiches looked great. The sorbet was a bit of a miss. Very good wine list and reasonable prices. My only regret is that we didn't come here for dinner as well. Would return.

    (4)

  • Jonathan N.

    Wish I had half stars to give it 4.5, I came for the lunch and had the ham sandwich and porchetta tacos, they were very well executed. The ambience is awesome. Good layered flavors, definitely coming back.

    (4)

  • Steve M.

    if you go... the grilled octopus and pork belly $16 was our best buy, the crab scallop guacamole ceviche $18 was just ok not really traditional (or even close) and the blue prawns and grits $18(for 3 prawns) was very good but way over priced. We were not impressed at all with the cassoulet.The yellow snapper special ($$ ?) was good not great. And the seafood stew $35 again good just not great. Great picks for wine by the glass selections. Strawberry shortcake and the mixed berry panecotta were excellent dessert choices. The service Why are good wait staffs so hard to find in this town. Honey check that attitude at the door. And don't ruin our dining experience because we make a joke about getting our first drinks at the bar before sitting down to take advantage of happy hour pricing. Come on we're going to drop 3 to 4 bills easy for wine/apps/dinner/desert. At 6:45pm we should be able to get our first round of drinks at happy hour pricing. Try paying attention to us when going over specials of the day. And someone teach you when it's proper to clear. When ALL are finished or have pushed their plate away. Oh and yes, I would have liked a second glass of wine had you asked when you swept away my glass. We felt rushed through every course. This is the type of service you expect at a fast food place. Over all assessment. Needs to improve in to many areas for us to drop that kind of change down for a second try. We'll keep searching.

    (2)

  • Marie Y.

    I have been coming here for years, and I like the way it has evolved over time, including the remodel. If you have never been here before, I suggest making a lunch reservation so you can enjoy a smaller crowd in the restaurant and the view down into the bustling market outside. Very good portion size, a little pricey, but fresh and delectible meals to be had at Matt's time and again. Order one of their many innovative cocktails, and make sure you visit Left Bank Books for a laugh when you leave the stairway on your way to the market after lunch!

    (4)

  • Steffen W.

    Fantastic. Small and friendly sitting on top of the Market... Nice place to walk off an amazing meal.

    (5)

  • Alan M.

    We landed in Seattle at eight in the evening, and although it was a relatively short flight, we left in the late afternoon and were tired. Luckily, the adrenaline for us to explore still in our bodies, we veered outside and meandered through the Downtown streets to see what evening activities laid out before us. We immediately went down to Pike Place, and as touristy as it is, it was wonderful to walk around and venture the closed stalls. It was here that a small restaurant called Matt's in the Market is located and after circling the block a couple of times. we found the hidden entrance to this second floor venue... Matt's is a beautiful, cosy restaurant with a warmth that emanates comfort and familiarity in a nice romantic setting. Checkerboard floors, open kitchen, huge mezzaluna windows and the fact it's a hidden really adds to the experience of finding a personalized venue within such a touristy area. Well it was definitely time to start our Seattle culinary adventure, so we ordered some House blend Olives and Artisan bread. I was a little surprised that the bread was a chargeable plate, (which wasn't explained to us by our waitress beforehand) and upon coming to the table, it looked rather sparse for four bucks... it looks like the amenity creep has finally reached F&B (add 'Artisan' and you can double your price)...And on top of that, the bread wasn't even all that! Olives were delicious tho... So it being late in the evening, we decided not to overload our stomach with heavy entrees, and ordered some lighter appetizers (a lot of the entrees looked really good, so we'll be back another time for that)! So, we started with the Dungeness Crab and Scallop Ceviche: with a Fried Tortilla, Guacamole, Red Peppers all in an Ancho Chile Vinaigrette. To be upfront; I was disappointed in this dish. Coming to Seattle, I really wanted to enjoy great quality seafood, and maybe this dish had the best, but I would never have been able to tell because the chile and the side condiments overpowered the dish to the point that the ceviche tasted like filler. The Guacamole, the Red Peppers had a heat from the vinaigrette that neutralized any individual flavor profile, and unfortunately the Dungeness Crab and Scallops are too delicate and subtle in flavor to ever compete with them. So we ordered the House Made Sausage Plate: Boudin Noir, Chorizo Sausage, Head Cheese, and a Foie Gras Torchon. It was a delightful dish, some we liked more than others: the Chorizo Sausage was amazing and with the pickled vegetables it disappeared from the plate in lightening speed. The Head Cheese (made from the flesh of calf or pig's head) was wonderfully savory with pickled onions it was subtle and exquisite. The Boudin Noir was relatively light and righteous, and the Foie Gras Torchon was the least favorite-it was incredibly salty and with a bourbon sauce, it left a complex flavor profile in my mouth that I can't really forget, (and I love Foie Gras so it's really a shame)... But all in all, the experience of dining near Pike Place Market was well worth the trails and errors of menu ordering, and it certainly doesn't dissuade us from coming here again, we know now to venture upon the other items. It was a fantastic restaurant to start our exploration and I have fond memories of it's interior.....the food.....not so much!!! Ratings (Out of Five Stars) Food: 2 Ambience: 3.75 Service: 2

    (2)

  • Asashoryu S.

    I don't like to give out my favorite restaurants because they usually don't even need the extra hype but.... This is probably the one of the best restaurants in Seattle overall. I only give it a 4 star because I have been all over the world and the restaurant level in Seattle is just very low in comparison and I don't want them to get a big head. They ain't that great!! I really want to give it a 3 star for the price but again this is Seattle. My favorite is the Tuna Ahi sandwich, oysters and catfish sandwich. Also the older bartenders bloody marry is kind of cool to with a side of beer. There are some things on the menu like the Cesar salad that is just blah. Don't get me wrong I don't mean that a Cesar salad itself is bad just their rendition of it. I've had Cesar salads that can blow your mind. I love this place for keeping some face for Seattle restaurant community.

    (4)

  • Sarah A.

    For lunch I went out with a few people from my office to celebrate a co-workers birthday at a restaurant I had not been to or even heard of before, Matt's in the Market. Located on the third floor of the Corner Market Building, the restaurant is a fun little hideaway. We arrived just in time for our 12:15 reservation, which we were lucky to have made in advance because the restaurant was jam packed with tourists and local lunch-breakers. Our table had a fantastic view of the Market's famous clock through gorgeous arched windows. We savored every bite of the delicious food and it was the perfect lunch outing to break up a very long and stressful day. At $15 - $25 per entrée your bill can add up quickly, but luckily my manger picked up the tab this time. My meal was absolutely FANTASTIC. I had the Don & Joe's lamb burger with goat cheese, bacon, herb aioli and onion jam on brioche with a garbanzo bean-sultana salad. Being right in Pike Place Market means the restaurant has tons of fresh food right at its fingertips, and each day the chef creates a menu based on the best ingredients the market has to offer that day. I would definitely recommend Matt's in the Market to anyone working or visiting downtown, but call to make a reservation first!

    (3)

  • Sonia C.

    The food here isn't original or interesting but it just tastes really good. They use extremely fresh ingredients and the quality shines through the uncomplicated preparations. I ordered my halibut extra rare and it was soooo good. The fish was extremely fresh, meaty, and seasoned simply. My boyfriend ordered the scallops and they were seared enough to give it a perfect crunch on outside, but were sweet and rare inside. We ordered the bread pudding for dessert. It was good, especially with the salted caramel ice cream, but not as wonderful as their entrees.

    (5)

  • Heather S.

    We were worried this place would be a tourist trap, but it wasn't. This restaurant was amazing and exactly what we wanted-- the service and food were impeccable. It was our first night in Seattle and we got to start it off with a bang. The oysters and champagne were great and the octopus has changed our opinion of kimchi. We followed our waitresses recommendation and ended the meal with the fish stew-- so good! This meal was definitely worth the price point, and we'd go back in a heart beat. Ask for a table near the windows for the best view. They're a bit cold so bring a scarf.

    (5)

  • Steph C.

    When your boyfriend has the eating habits of a five-year-old, once in a while you come across a restaurant that doesn't stock ketchup, and you cry. In my experience, anyway. Matt B. wanted a burger, and after driving to Lunchbox Laboratory only to find that it was closed, we made a last-minute reservation for the last seating at Matt's. On my first visit, I was astounded by the juicy goodness of the lamb burger and figured that Matt would enjoy the flavorful patty, even if we took out most of the fixings. Instead, this is what happened. We asked for the lamb burger plain, with ketchup and mustard if possible. Our waiter practically sighed in our faces and said something along the lines of, "See, our chef really puts a lot of thought into the combination of ingredients and flavors in each dish..." Do you know who else does that? Every chef ever. We just wanted a plain burger with some ketchup and mustard. I didn't even stop to consider that a place with a burger on the menu would refuse to carry condiments. As it turned out, they had mustard, but when we asked about ketchup? Waiter was all, "I don't even know if we HAVE ketchup," and you could tell he was very proud of this. The lamb burger arrived in its abbreviated form, and contrary to my expectation, the lamb patty was significantly drier than your standard hamburger patty. That said, I know from experience that combined with the other intended ingredients, it's a mouthwatering piece of work. That is not my gripe. I just didn't like that the waiter treated Matt like he was a second-class citizen because of his pickiness. Had he been vegan, the waiter informed us, he would have been accommodated, but the fact that he gags on onions was on him. Incidentally, picky eating will be in the DSM V. There are dozens of them! Dozens! Matt was embarrassed, and oh yeah, I cried. Even the guy who doesn't eat soup was all, "You're being crazy." As for me, I eat soup, and since I had already eaten a sizable lunch, I ordered the heirloom tomato and fennel soup. It was pretty tasty, smooth and well seasoned. I have no issue with the food or cooking at this restaurant. I even know that sitting down at a nice place and saying can I has cheeseburger is not the best idea. I just think that sometimes you try a little to treat customers with a healthy amount of respect. Still, I do think Matt's has great food and would probably come back again. Hence the deduction of just the one star.

    (4)

  • Scott And Leah H.

    Service is good, food is excellent. Their ceviche is amazing. Honestly, everything we ordered was fantastic. Matt's is the quintessential Seattle dining experience. I called a week in advance and was limited on the choices available for Saturday night dining -- 6 pm or 8 pm were the only times left. The restaurant has a relaxed but classy vibe, and the F&B is superb. I highly recommend Matt's for a casual night out, or a special celebration. A great place to entertain ppl from out of town. You will not be disappointed!

    (4)

  • Maria G.

    Came here for lunch yesterday. I had the steamed clams and it was filling and delicious. The lunch time was very crowded for a weekday. We had a reservation so waited no time when we got there. PLENTY of wine/well drinks/beer selections. The meals are fairly pricey. Otherwise I would give it a well-deserved 5-star.

    (4)

  • Mark H.

    Matt's in the Market = Tasty in the Tummy Someone should check my math on that though. Matt's rookies, make reservations. If you are open to it, sitting at the bar is a great option. It was very comfortable and you get to pester the bartender (Sal? when we were there) about what's going on. It was Seattle SuperSonics night when we visited. Apparently, if you wear your SS gear on certain nights, you get hooked up. Dinner was excellent from beginning to end. We weren't sure what we wanted so we eased into it with a dozen oysters (fantastic). The beef tartare followed which was rich, fresh, and accompanied by what I think was an ancho chili smear which was an unexpectedly great compliment! This dish is on par with the Gilt Bar (Chicago) which is still a favorite. For the main course, the arugula and crab salad was ok but the salmon was over-the-top-good ($39). We were either in the mood for salmon or it was just that good. If you can handle dessert and it is still on the menu, you must try the peach bread pudding. Oh, and the wine list and bar drinks are good but you already know that.

    (4)

  • Shane S.

    One of the best locations overlooking the Famous Pikes Place Market sign! Came in to try the salmon chowder 2 times after seeing the owners battle Bobby Flay on "Throwdown" Both times they said it was not on the menu at the time.......bummers. Well I tried the oyster po boy and the pork belly banh mi sandwich. Both had a gourmet fusion twist, little pricey, they were good not great. This is a place for a quaint gourmet meal that really does not exist at too many places in the market. Great for a date or to try some unique cuisine! I will go there to try some other dishes, but I think I may prefer comfort food if I'm visiting the Market.

    (3)

  • R. C.

    Really fine establishment...with one of the best views in Seattle (provided you get a window seat--which isn't hard since it seemed that most seats were window seats). The service was impeccable, sincere and friendly; and the food is incredibly high quality and very simply produced. We thought we'd be bored by the preparation since a lot of the main dishes weren't particularly experimental, but they were as good as they come. We rank this up there with Lecosho (also downtown) and other super satisfying places for people who really appreciate good food and environs. Bravo, Matts In The Market. We're regulars now.

    (4)

  • Cameron M.

    Sit at the bar and Robbie has you taken care of. Great food, good wine specials and fast service. Again, ask for Robbie. This guy knows what's up.

    (5)

  • Derek S.

    My girlfriend and I came here and really enjoyed the food and atmosphere. It overlooks the market and Puget Sound so on a clear day you can see all the way out to the Cascades. I had the Halibut fishwhich which was excellent - fresh and light. My girlfriend had the falafel which was also very good. Definitely should make a reservation as the wait cam be close to an hour at times.

    (4)

  • Diggins J.

    After hearing about Matt's for years and finally being persuaded by friends to check it out, I decided to make my first visit for lunch. I was really excited to have some great food in a sweet space above the market. Walking in, I couldn't believe that after living in Seattle for over 10 years I hadn't been there yet. It seems like the perfect spot for some fresh-from-the-market food and a great Seattle view through the large windows. I had heard good things about the catfish sandwich, so I didn't hesitate when ordering. It came with a cup of bacon lentil soup, and since I love trying some new lentil soup I couldn't wait for my lunch to arrive. The catfish came on potato bread. I was expecting it to be on a nice crusty potato roll from Macrina, which is some of my favorite bread in Seattle. Instead, it was sliced bread that could have come from a larger loaf of the Macrina bread. The problem is that it was not toasted, and what you have is a greasy piece of fish with some ordinary aioli on soggy white bread. It was terrible. Had the bread been toasted, it would have at least been edible. I mainly just ate the catfish, which was seriously bland, and my lentil soup (the worst that I have had in quite a while.) It tasted like it was canned Progresso. My girlfriend had the daily special, which was a meatloaf sandwich with cheese and bacon. It was better, but it was way too much. It's kind of hard to mess up meatloaf with cheese and bacon. It was just overly done, but at least her bread was crispy and toasted, so it could almost hold the excessive ingredients. Maybe Matt's is much better for dinner, or maybe I just ordered the wrong thing. It is too bad that with their high prices and many other great restaurants in Seattle, I probably will never find out. Afterwards, I walked across the street to DeLaurenti for a dark chocolate, hazelnut cookie. That was by far the highlight of my lunch.

    (2)

  • Robyn W.

    I like the location and view from the windows, but thought the sandwich I got for Brunch one Sunday was overpriced and just not all that tasty. I'd go back to try other things though. I got there right at opening, and had no problems getting a table, but it definitely got busy shortly after and people were waiting.

    (3)

  • Madison L.

    Great sandwiches and burgers. Lamb burger was a little dry but overall pretty good. Brisket was delicious and very moist. Lots of flavors. The chips that came with it are very crunchy and tasty! Highly recommend this one. Vietnamese style sub was packed full of flavors!!!! This was a very original take on the classic banh mi. Delicious as well. Wasn't a big fan of the lentil soup and chickpea salad. Great view of the pike place area!

    (4)

  • Maria G.

    The food and drinks are really good... The food is super fresh and high quality, having said that, the menu is kind of limited. I think it's a great place for lunch.

    (4)

  • Karen S.

    Forgot I have been here for dinner years ago but this place was awesome for lunch. Chips & dip to start and tried the pancetta sandwich special & pork banh mi sandwich (shared of course). Awesome service - try the lunch wine $32 (red). Well worth it. My only complaint was the lunch menu was very heavy and fattening - but hey, I knew what I was getting into :)

    (5)

  • Neil W.

    We brought my in-laws here for a Seattle treat (they picked up the tab, so thanks W & M). This is a place I think of when I want a truely Seattle/NW restaurant. We had a great seat against the window with a nice view of the Pike Place sign. It would have been better if we had timed it with the tree lighting down there. The food was great. I started with a Rye Manhattan (perfect) and Pork 2 Ways. A Pork Belly mini banh mi and pork belly pate. I had a version of this before, but not with the banh mi. It was excellent. I then had the poached egg and frisse salad. Between the velvety texture of the egg and the hog gowl flavor, I was oh-so happy. My main course was braised oxtail and gnocchi. It was good not great. The ragu had a great beef flavor and well executed. The gnocchi, however, a little too dense and doughy. My wife enjoyed her beet salad. Her entree, which was really a starter, was the pizzette and it was a bit of a let down in her mind. My in-laws had the crab salad, butternut squash pasta and beef tenderloin. They did not talk much while eating and licked their plates clean, well not licked, but they asked if it would be appropriate to do so then decided against it. A big let down was our server. He was blah. Either he was having a bad night or doesn't get the food. Both my wife and I were unhappy with him and his service. Still a great place to good for good food.

    (4)

  • Rebekah K.

    The lamb burger is not only the best lamb burger we've ever tasted, but it's probably the best BURGER we've ever had. We had to share it because I couldn't let my boyfriend have it all to himself! We also had the falafel which was great, but the burger was on a whole 'nother level. Great environment with amazing service.

    (5)

  • Wendy G.

    On of the best meals I have ever had....Skip the dessert I was in Seattle on business and found Matt's via yelp. I made a reservation online and walked to Matts from my nearby hotel. Upon my arrival I was offered a spot at the bar or a small table next to the open air kitchen. I reviewed the menu and decided to start with the bread and better and order the halibut special. The selection of artisan breads was great and included a bread with olives that was delicious. The halibut was cooked to perfection and the best I have had. It was accompanied by a avacado salsa and was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Since my meal was so delicious I decided to order the desert special which was a pear tart with vanilla ice cream. I took one star off my review for Matt's because my desert definately under performed. The pear tart was flavorless and seemed as though it may have been made the day before. That being said, the vanilla ice cream was outstanding. If I am in Seattle agagi

    (4)

  • Cash M.

    Its all about location location location and that is the case with this place. Very romantic feel and cozy inside. Beyond that food was not very filling and they charge for bread to make it worse. To start we also ordered oysters from the bar(good). Highlight of the night. As for the food it kinda went down hill from there, quality was good overall, I had steak and the wife had Stergion (almost great) it was on the dry side. Service at the bar and at our table was great!!! No issues with the staff. I would love to go back however for a bill of $120 before tax, I would expect bread or at least larger portions or sides. I left and ended up stopping to get a pint of ice cream to bury my sorrow deep inside Chocolate Cookie Dough.

    (2)

  • Peter C.

    I say 4.5 stars. The meal was surprisingly simple: whole fish served in a broth with fennel and potatoes. The broth had really clear rich flavors and the fish tasted like it was right out of the sea (which it was). Execution was really good and you could tell from how good the food was. Great, local wine selection: I had a white Rhone ranger from Walla Walla. If I lived here I would go more often.

    (4)

  • Angela B.

    I came here for a private party so I can't say anything about their prices or the regular menu. They had a nice spread put out for us of really scrumptous foods. I tried almost all of it, lots of seafood and meats. Probably not great for a vegetarian, but for the rest of it, it was fabulous. I also got to try out a few of their signature drinks which were great. Wonderful bartender! The view of the Pike Place Market is really phenomal and a great place to take out of town guests. The bathroom is just down the hall, but one of the servers showed me the way, which I thought was really nice.

    (4)

  • Michael K.

    I've been waiting to make this place my 100th review for a long time. Not because I've been here 100 times, but because I've been here five times, and each time was a mind-blowing experience. Matt's is perched on the third floor of a building that shares the same view of the Sound as the Public Market Center sign. Reservations are highly recommended, especially on weekends. This place fills up fast, and for good reason. The entire staff is incredibly helpful, friendly, and unpretentious. I always imagine really good restaurants having secret laboratories in the back that hold the secrets to their deliciously addictive food. But Matt's kitchen is not only open, but also indicative of the homey atmosphere. Every time I go, it feels like Matt's having me over for dinner with a couple of friends. The first time I went to Matt's, Daniel D. and I went for dinner to seek out a lamb burger that his sister praised as the best lamb burger she's ever had. We sat down and soon found out that the lamb burger is only on the lunch menu. Disappointed, we decided to drown our sorrows in the Grilled Beef Tenderloin. Sorrow quickly became sin with each bite. The Grilled Beef Tenderloin comes stacked with savory bread pudding, foie gras torchon, braised greens, and a mushroom demi-glace. Overall, the dish was pretty awesome, but sweet braise, fatty foie, and saturated bread pudding made for a very heavy dish. Don't get me wrong, this dish was really flavorful and delicious, but make sure to get a good acidic wine to help flush down the meat. Daniel D., his sister, and I didn't want his visit to Seattle to go to waste, so we went again the next day for lunch just to get Don & Joe's Lamb Burger. If I were a lamb, this is how I'd want to die, sitting on a brioche bun next to my best friends: bacon, herb mayo, goat cheese, and sweet onion jam. Normally, I find goat cheese to be a bit of an attention hog, but not this time. The goat cheese melts beautifully with the herb mayo, bringing out the best of the bacon and lamb. And don't even get me started on the sweet onion jam. That jam is to die for. The sweet onion jam helps balance out the savory nature of a bacon and lamb burger. All this comes next to a refreshing side of chickpea-sultana salad, which I'm pretty sure is just there to make you feel like you ate something healthy for lunch. The next two times I went, that's all I got. I was addicted. This last time I went with Steph C., we were determined to just split a lamb burger and carry on with our Seattle food binge. What a silly plan that was. We still got tag-teamed by Don & Joe, but we returned the favor and tag-teamed the menu by adding on the Grilled Albacore Tuna and venturing into the land of desserts. This might have been the best decision we've ever made together, and I'm proud to call Steph C. my partner in crime. The Grilled Albacore Tuna comes on potato bread with bibb lettuce, red onion, lemon aioli, and a kick-ass tomato jam. The tuna was grilled to perfection, and the delicious tomato jam really hit it off with the lemon aioli. Each bite went down faster than the last, and before we knew it, both the burger and sandwich disappeared behind our smacking lips. The Grilled Albacore Tuna comes with a choice of soup or salad, so we got the Scallop Chowder. This was probably one of the better chowder's I've had in Seattle. It was the perfect medium between being too thin and being too thick. So we said we'd just take a look at the dessert menu, but planned to just leave to eat other desserts around downtown. Again, a silly plan. The Apple Cinnamon Bread Pudding changed my life. I was never really a fan of bread pudding. I don't know why, but it just never did it for me. This, on the other hand, had the perfect blend of sweetness and spice, all supported by a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. The pudding literally melted in my mouth and left me begging for more. The Lemon Semifreddo was the perfect way to end a heavy lunch. It was light, creamy, and refreshing all at the same time. The lemon zest was a great way to play off of the sweet huckleberry sauce and creamy semifreddo. I could eat this forever and never feel like I'm getting fat. I hope it's obvious that I'm a huge fan of this place. Matt. Will you still let me eat here if I ask you to lamb my burger, bread my pudding, and semi my freddo? GET: Don & Joe's Lamb Burger, Apple Cinnamon Bread Pudding, Lemon Semifreddo

    (5)

  • Christy Z.

    We ordered the Lamb burger, Halibut sandwich, and the Albacore Tuna sandwich and couldn't decide which one was the best. All were amazing. The service we received was great. Seattle has the best restaurants

    (5)

  • Henry S.

    The best lamb burger in all of Seattle! Order it the house way. Comes with a garbanzo bean salad but wasn't my thing, instead, I always ask for the house chips. Perfect, fresh cut potatoes with sea salt and better. My mouth is watering just thinking about this

    (5)

  • Tina S.

    Enjoyed a fabulous lunch here while visiting a friend. Great location, right in front of the main entrance to Pike's Market. Food was wonderful. We had fried oysters, Po boy, pulled pork, and brisket between the three of us... All delicious! Service was outstanding! After dining here it's obvious why so many locals were enjoying lunch here as well

    (5)

  • Kat F.

    Came here for lunch to celebrate my mother's birthday. I had the pork belly bahn mi, which was a little too fatty, but the pickled veggies and the sauce were fantastic. My father had the lamb burger, which he says was amazing aside from a poor bread choice in brioche. My mothere thoroughly enjoyed her sea scallops, the fish special of the day. Even though the food wasn't perfect, Matt's gets five stars because the service was truly wonderful, and the location was sublime.

    (5)

  • joe t.

    Overrated.....overrated.....overrated..... Me and the ol lady stopped in for lunch on Friday. Place was packed. Waited for 45 minutes for piss poor food. I ordered the bahn ami with pork belly. Wasnt bad, the sauce overwhelmed the whole sandwich tho. My wife had the catfish sammy... Gross. The catfish was under done and not good. The bread fell apart and was garbage. We bothe had the seafood chowder... Not horrible. Not good. Wow! This place was on my Restaraunt Bucket List. What a dissappointment.

    (2)

  • Conrad C.

    Stop #2 on the Seattle Sandwich Bucket List! Who will come away the winner from these great eateries? Paseo? Matt's? My waist line? We came here for lunch and each got the catfish sandwich, so skip this review unless you're interested in the singular focus of that sandwich. The sandwich itself was amazing and (almost) every bit as good as at Stop #1 (aka Paseo). They give you a hulking chunk of catfish between two slices of fresh potato bread, along with a bit of kick in the sambal aioli. The catfish itself was lightly fried, which is important because catfish doesn't have a strong enough flavor for it to shine through a turn in the deep fryer. It also came out piping hot - another plus. At $13 it's on the pricey side for a sandwich, but Matt's affords a great view onto the market, plus it's a trendy-looking place. Sometimes that costs a few bucks. The sandwich came with an option of salad or soup. Wifey got the salad - it was fresh greens with pumpkin seeds and bleu cheese. I can't stand bleu cheese so I didn't find it very appealing but she liked it. I got the leek and potato puree. It was definitely good but didn't blow me away. It was a nice complement to the dish. In all the sandwich deserved five stars. But I can't give it five stars because the service was downright indifferent. I am pretty low maintenance when it comes to service when eating out, and I rarely take it into account when writing reviews. I should also say that Matt's was certainly busy but not completely full. But when our waitress heard we were just having sandwiches with no drinks or anything else, it was immediately apparent we had slid down the list of her priorities. As far as I know, she didn't look at us once after that until she came to clear away our plates. She definitely gave other tables attention. Fortunately other servers were around for us to flag down for more water, etc., but ours wasn't interested. When it came time for the bill, of course then she tried to be a bit more engaging. Anyway it was just off-putting enough to knock Matt's down to four stars.

    (4)

  • Kelly T.

    Love it! Amazing sea food!

    (5)

  • Rachel S.

    I've eaten here 3 times and I'm not even from Seattle. Matt's is boss. Everything here is amazing, just close your eyes and throw a dart at the menu and that thing will be the best thing you've ever eaten. Believe me. Although they broke my heart by not having oysters on the menu last time... :(

    (5)

  • LeeLee C.

    3.5 star. The view of the restaurant is excellent; from the window we can see the Pike Place top down. And lunch choices are abundant. The place is not easy to find as it has a small entrance through some stairwells. Our three delicious choices are steamed manila clams, don & joe's lamb burger and the daily special of Alaskan halibut salad sandwich. The halibut is absolutely delightful, fresh in flavor and light in texture, which pairs perfectly with the baby arugula. The lamb burger is hearty, juicy and soft on the patty, one of the best burgers I've had for a long time. The clams are fresh, tasty and generous in portion. The only pull back may be the cubano pork sandwich. The pork is not marinated and lacks flavor or texture.

    (3)

  • Karen W.

    My Boyfriend and Mother had an exceptional meal here last night! I was so excited to go since I had heard so much about Matt's. I was not let down at all. Everything was exceptional. The vibe, the scenery, the cuisine, the wine, the fabulous service - wonderful! Not to be missed! To munch on while we waited for mom: Matt's Olives To munch on while catching up: Crab & Tenderloin carpaccio and Pork Belly 2 ways (WOW!) To Munch on over a bottle of nice french burgundy: Me: A 'lil perfect flank steak and prawns over cotija grits and pickled cabbage Mother: Hearty Ribeye with braised greens, cherry demi-glace, and fois gras torchon with Olsen Farms taters My Man: The Chicken and Dumplings those in the know rave about ...skipped dessert - just an "excuse" to go back and try their infamous Bread Puddin'...(YES!)

    (5)

  • Sin-Yaw W.

    From the entrance at Pike St. climb two flights of stairs and you are puzzled. Where's this restaurant? In front of you is the Chez Shea, there is this door on the left. You approach and read the small sign on the wall. Oh, this is it. Open kitchen, small table, windows over-looking the big Pike Place Market sign. This should be a standard tourist's attraction. But I guess the 3rd floor location thin out the walk-ins. I sat at the bar and ordered Paella ($20) and a beer. The oldish lady next was finishing her extra-large cup of coffee and she couldn't stop praising it (off a French press). We chatted on the fine points of coffee appreciation. My Paella arrived in a small iron dish. Clearly it was cooked in the dish that was served. Cool. It was delicious. Saffron was just right. I hope there was more seafood, but the menu said only Manila clams. The sausage was intensely flavorful, but the chicken was a bit dry. Overall, the portion is just right and it was an excellent dish. The Paella is a bit pricy though.

    (4)

  • Brent K.

    Some of the BEST food I have had the experience of enjoying. Loved the friendly staff and Robbie the bartender is as classy as they come. Would recommend to anyone and usually do.

    (5)

  • Katie D.

    Dinner there was enjoyable but not anything remarkable. Went back for lunch and ordered their version of a sloppy joe. Amazing!

    (4)

  • McKenzie M.

    Loved it! The food was terrific. Nice variety on the menu without being too large. I was most impressed with the host. It's amazing how many restaurants fail to do a good job at hosting. We arrived and the host explained that while it looked like they had a lot of open tables, they were about to fill up with a ton of reservations. He said if we came back in about 20-30 minutes he'd be able to get us in. He didn't take our name or anything and that always makes me nervous (again...due to so many restaurants failing at doing a good job at hosting and table turn management) but when we got back, he spotted us back in the line and called us up and had a table for us :)

    (4)

  • Brooke S.

    You can't go wrong with: Lunch - Lamb Burger Small plates - Oysters, cheese board Dinner - Pork Chop. The most amazing pork chop in Seattle. Massive, juicy - my whole table was in love. Drink - Dark and Stormy Great views, service. I love Matt's.

    (5)

  • Randy C.

    Good experience. Close to Pike's market but hard to find until you figure out it is in the second floor of the building. We walked around the building trying to find the place and how to get to it. We were promptly seated without reservations but the place is small and busy so I would recommend getting reservations. There is a nice view along the back wall. Service was efficient (perhaps she could have been friendlier). We ordered the carpaccio with dungenes crab and the crab with avocado on arugula salad as starters. They also brought out a plate of bread which worked well since the carpaccio bread was quickly devoured. The crab was very good. We enjoyed both dishes. We were not that hungry so we decided to split the halibut. It was brought out pre-split. A nice touch. Accompanied with some amazing falafel. The fish was excellent, though the serving portions were on the small side (not a complaint, we were not that hungry so it was perfect). For desert I went with the bread pudding. Oh my God. Incredible. Really the best part of the meal and one I would make sure you save room for. Very pleased and I would recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Chris M.

    Fun place with Great Food. Have to say it was a difficult to find, but worth the hassle. Food inventive and delicious. Atmosphere was wonderful. Would go again when in Seattle. Had lunch with business associates from Japan... they loved it.

    (5)

  • Sara B.

    Location, Ambiance, Food, Wine, Service - Can't get better than Matt's in the Market. The menu is amazing and changes often, but they always seem to keep a variation of the favorites. Top 3 for me: Cheese plate & accompaniments (promise it's worth the $20); sea scallops and always leave room for the bread budding!

    (5)

  • Stacy Y.

    Went there for dinner couple weeks ago - the restaurant is located on the 2nd floor of a Pike Place market building. Great view of market from above if you get to sit by the window. Service was good and food is interesting - it's like a makeover of the old classics. For appetizer, we ordered thinly sliced geoduck 'sashimi' with beets. Entree - I had Chicken dumpling (it was a rainy day and that sounds really comforting) and Frank had Seafood stew. Chicken was not chopped into cube and it was more like pan fried chicken breast and the dumpling part was gnoochi... both floating in a soup - sounds weird but let me tell you, there's nothing wrong with this at all and it was delicious and comforting, just like how I imgained. Seafood stew was also a good dish (kind of a small bowl though) it comes with fresh clams, mussels, and super sized jumbo shrimp...(love!) and Frank said the stew base has a heavy fennel/butter taste which is different than what he had anywhere else. The only thing I have to complain is their price - which we think they are about 10.00 overpriced on everything. If you want to go try this place, have sure you have a reservation. I think I will only come back here to try their lunch menu... for the price of the dinner, I heart Tilikum Cafe Place.

    (4)

  • Chelsea J.

    Let me just say the salmon melted in my mouth along with the creme fraiche served on the side. Best salmon dish I have ever had and I love salmon. Potatoes accompanying the fish were salty and satisfying. My friend had the chicken dumpling dish and liked it a lot. The view and location make Matt's the ideal place to take visitors who want to see Seattle as long as you're not concerned with spending $50+ per head. The food is worth the money for a special occasion. Service is good and attentive. Strong drinks, I was feeling it after one margarita and I am not normally a lightweight. Maybe I was just really hungry. All in all Matt's has it going on. I'd like to return and try another fish dish. How can their ingredients not be top-notch when they are located in Pike Place Market?

    (5)

  • S P.

    I have been to Matt's In the Market twice in two years, both during the Christmas season. This is absolutely one of my favorite places to take out of town guests, the food is remarkable and the atmosphere is even better. The fifty person dinning room looks out to the market through huge old-fashioned windows. The first time I went our table was not quite ready (we had to wait like 5 minutes) and they brought us a glass of wine while we waited--very nice touch! Also, that same night there was a small dinner party that was semi-loud at best and the maitre'd gave us complimentary dessert due to the noise that we hadn't even noticed. The dinner we ordered last Wednesday night consisted of Seared Sea Scallops and the most delicious Beef Tenderloin topped with Foie gras I have ever had! The prices are a little steep but it is worth it. It was a fabulous dinner and I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for good food and atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Durk P.

    Walked in and saw the salmon chowder. Had to order it. It was fantastic!

    (5)

  • Zachary Sam Z.

    A friend came to visit and said, "We have to try Matt's in the Market." I hadn't heard of it, but with the overwhelmingly positive reviews on here, I was excited to go. When I went (back in November) it was tiny but expanding. Even still, it's smart to put your name in, wander around the market, then come back an hour later or so. That way we didn't have to worry about waiting. The food was great. I got the wasabi tuna sandwich, and it was *extremely* hot but very tasty. The black bean soup was delicious too. Really, you can't go wrong eating here - a great place to bring family / friends when they visit from out of town.

    (5)

  • Jacqueline B.

    Went here on a friends recommendation. Found it way overpriced and our server was not really interested in serving a table of 6 I guess because she basically ignored us and we had to ask whoever walked by for our check while she folded napkins. We left and went somewhere else for dinner.

    (2)

  • Bob M.

    Below is my review from last July. Here's my March 2008 update. We tried Matt's again last week to celebrate a friend's "milestone" birthday. I called a couple weeks ahead and let them know this was a special occasion. So, the food was OK but they did nothing to acknowledge the birthday. I even mentioned it to the waiter early on. Nothing! How about a candle on a cupcake pr something? Or at least ask me if they can do anything to help us celebrate. Good grief. Oh, and I REALLY love the way they cram 4 people on a table that is a little small for two. Food is pretty good but at $240 for 4 people not including wine I think the value just ain't there. Anyway, not going back, I promise! ================================= People, people, people - this place is not that great. What's with all the 5 star reviews? Why all the hype? We get there at 5:30 one evening last week, the place is empty and the hostess asks if we have reservations. We say no but we'd be happy to sit at the counter. She says OK, but you need to sit around the far side. Huh? OK, no problem. Not a problem, that is, until a party of 10 sits right behind us, and I mean RIGHT behind us, like no room for the waitress to get between us and them, making it VERY awkward to serve and very uncomfortable to sit and relax. Onto the food. We had the smoked trout salad and mussels, among other things. Food was either just OK or maybe we were just in a snarly mood based on where they sat us. Maybe too we just had much higher expectations based on all the Yelpers reviews. I liked the chorizo added to the steamed mussels, though the mussels were a bit dry, but the smoked trout salad was an idea that must have sounded better than it tasted. The trout was overpowering and had an unpleasant texture to boot. I don't know, it just didn't do it for us. So, to cap it off, we leave and the place is still almost empty. Three or four tables right by the window. Next time put us in a closet, we'd probably have more room. Not going back anytime soon. Damn! And it sounded so good.

    (1)

  • E D.

    $100 for lunch for three people, no appetizers, one glass of wine each... Pretty expensive, food was good, not great... Service was understaffed and overlooked several items. The views are nice not great. Unfortunately, just too much money for what we actually received unless my expense account was in use...

    (2)

  • k e.

    I had a wonderful lunch here with my boyfriend on a recent trip to Seattle. It seemed to fill out really quick, so I would make a reservation if you can. We had the homemade chips with the bacon-carmelized onion dip to start. Probably a bit too heavy for the hot day we had, but I could not resist. Amazing. I got the mussels for my lunch which came with even more chips to dip. Great atmosphere, friendly staff, easy to get to for a tourist. I would definitely recommend.

    (4)

  • Laura L.

    What an elegant meal! Started with the cheese plate and then the hubby had the organic pork with ricotta gnocchi. I had the seafood stew. Both dishes were delicious, but the seafood stew was outstanding. It had a delicately balanced flavors and all the seafood and fish were cooked to perfection. I wanted to lift the bowl and slurp the broth. The service was great as well from the sommelier's suggestions to the wonderful service throughout the meal. Lived in Seattle for 8 years and just now made it to Matt's. Gonna go back real soon. Thank you!

    (5)

  • Amy M.

    Wow... I was just in Seattle visiting friends and they took me to Matt's. It was one of the best meals I've had in a very long time. I read through some of the reviews and am surprised that other people didn't find the service satisfactory... I was very pleased with how friendly and helpful the wait staff was and especially the host. He helped us select an excellent bottle from the wine list. Our waitress was also very nice and helpful. We made a reservation though and were seated very promptly so I guess the rule with this place is to make a reservation. I had the scallops and shrimp and they were cooked and seasoned perfectly. We also had some foie gras... yum. And mussels... also delicious. For dessert I had the key lime pie and it was very good but not the best in the world. My friends got the ribeye and I think a halibut and both were delicious. I will definitely come here whenever I come back to Seattle and highly recommend this place for people entertaining guests from out of town. Particularly those guests from other large cities who have grown tired of the chain restaurant fare or huge steak house treatment. This place seemed really special and impressed me a lot.

    (5)

  • Brent S.

    A great place to grab a sandwich for lunch, but you might need a reservation. If you get in, try their bloody mary. I've never had a bad meal at either lunch or dinner. The atmosphere, staff, and NW cuisine make Matt's one of my favorite spots in Seattle.

    (5)

  • Dana A.

    $50 for three sandwiches at lunch time. That's all I'm saying. I don't know what happened to this place but it used to be pleasant and the food simple but tasty and reasonably priced. All I saw on the menu was a bunch of overpriced sandwiches, a $15 cobb salad and the specials were sandwiches too. I had some good food here in the past but I can't get over the fact that 3 sandwiches ended up costing me 50 freaking dollars. Really? I have rarely felt ripped off like I did today. I gave it one star because they still have a view of the market but they can go out of business for all I care.

    (1)

  • Laura P.

    Beautiful view out the window of the Pike Market Sign and a great little space! We went for Seattle Restaurant Week and their country pate was my favorite part. Filled with crunchy pistachios and porky goodness, it was the highlight of the meal.

    (3)

  • Alissa G.

    This is the only restaurant in the market that is worth braving the tourist crowds for at lunchtime. You won't be disappointed!

    (4)

  • Andy K.

    Wow* *no, seriously. This is the only place to ever leave me speechless.

    (5)

  • Laurel B.

    Another delightful meal at Matt's that started with a blood-orange-juice mimosa with a fast-on-its-heels omelette of the day (today, tomatoes from the chef's garden, goat cheese, and argula, paired with a side salad with toasted sunflower seeds and a bit of bleu cheese). Very delicious.

    (4)

  • Budala M.

    This place was good. We had dinner there on a Saturday evening. We came there about 7 or 8pm and they seated us right away. It's very tiny and cute. My fiance had steak and I had fish. The steak was super good (and I'm not usually a fan of steak).

    (4)

  • Michelle J.

    We chose Matt's in the Market for a dinner birthday celebration. Having never been before, we had pretty high expectations given the positive reviews this restaurant has gotten over the years. We were a bit disappointed. We had an 8:15 pm reservation but had to wait about 20 minutes for our table. This wasn't a big deal because we were offered two seats at the bar to enjoy a beverage while we waited. We got a great seat by the windows with a view of the Pike Place Market sign and clock. The atmosphere was nice and cozy. Having read the reviews on Yelp and looked over the sample menu online, I was terribly let down that the Chicken and Dumplings were not on that night's menu. I thought this was one of their standard items as so many people have raved about the dish. No halibut on the menu either. Recommend calling ahead if you've got your heart set on any particular dish. I settled for the oxtail and gnocchi and my companion had the scallops. We felt both dishes were overpriced for the quality and quantity. There's really no entree options for under $30. Service was lackluster and impersonal. Our meals were delivered much too quick to have been made to order and we felt rushed through our entire dining experience. Two entrees and two cocktails plus tip ran us nearly $100 in the span of 45 minutes. We love dining in the market but we probably won't return to Matt's as there are more affordable options nearby with better customer service.

    (3)

  • Catherine S.

    OMG yep as good as it gets. We came looking for the best fish the northwest could provide and we weren't disappointed !,, Our wait staff Willow was kind, attentive, patient, and efficient. Our beer and wine glasses were never empty.. The sour dough bread and butter was kept full. Now to the food.. We had the cheese plate, salads, halibut. And salmon.. My husband who isn't a fish eater said it was the best prepared fish he had ever eaten. I had the salmon and it was perfect. We didn't have reservations and we showed up at 5 pm on a Thursday nite. No one was there and they didn't have dinner till 5:30. They seated us and we had drinks till dinner service started. The place did start filling up so I would make reservation for the next time we come to Seattle If you want some well prepared fish and you don't mind paying for it. Matt's in the market is the place.

    (5)

  • anne w.

    At this particular restaurant, I never sit at a table--only the bar. It's the way to go here. Also, take the bartender's recommendations about the dishes and the wine. Each time I've been to Matt's, I've subscribed to this method and have never been let down. You meet people at the bar, get some great insight into the specials of the day and, if open, get to try some amazing Italian wines that go great with the seafood dishes. If--as some of the reviewers have posted here--you judge a restaurant's service by whether they fill your water glasses in a timely fashion. OR...complain about no ketchup, then this is likely not the spot for you.

    (4)

  • Robert L.

    everything you expect in a fine dining restaurant. reasonably priced for the quality they dish out. would definitely come here whenever i visit Seattle again. i dont know if this place only gets traffic from out-of-towners but its damn good food, and fresh! nice view of the harbor/bay too. the catfish sammich and seafood soup was excellent! the gf's beef brisket melts in the mouth but also had a lot of fat. is that normal of beef brisket? should have tried one of their signature cocktails!

    (5)

  • Jennifer S.

    Brilliant. Quite Honestly, as good as it gets. I've only been to dinner here, but went on a suggestion after a cousin had lunch and couldn't stop talking about his salmon sandwich. And I must say, there is nothing finer than going to a place with: a) seriously fabulous food, and sommeliers who are attitude-less (is that even a reality-apparently so!) b) incredible wine that is matched up by fabulous service. The waitstaff is lovely, and seem genuinely happy to be there. No surly hipsters who make tipping painful. c) an open kitchen that you can watch the magic happen in, from a bar that has one of the loveliest views of Seattle It's got bustle of an old-school French bistro, mixed with the casualness that Seattlites are known for. It may be in tourist hell, but it's worth wading through the crowds to get to. They've just got it right, in every way. Happiness is: the chicken and dumplings, the shrimp and hanger steak with cheese grits, the house-cured olives, and seriously fabulous bread pudding. In a day and age where prices for this kind of food and service are sky-high (ok, this place is pricey, but WORTH IT!), there's no foams, no gelee, no offal, and no strange-smelling sauce to contend with. Just genius food, done well. Well done. Matt's (I mean Chet, and crew)

    (5)

  • King L.

    Review of visit on 11/2/2006, pre-remodeling. Shocked to find out that they're closed, but glad to hear that the place is expanding and reopening in June 2007 (as told by Matt's blog, thanks for the link Scott N.!)... I will miss the coziness of this hard-to-find restaurant overlooking Pike Place market, yet looking forward to the new 'renovation' during my next visit up to Seattle. Food was great as others will tell you, but the service and atmosphere is what stood out and impressed this out-of-towner the most. We made reservations for a party of four at 6pm on a Thurs, but didn't arrive til almost 7pm due to some atrocious traffic. We were sure they were gonna give our table away, but thought ahead and called to let them know we were simply stuck on the freeway. For such a small place like this, I couldn't believe how accommodating they were to save our window seat table overlooking the Market while being an HOUR late. There sure were people at the bar looking like they were having a drink while waiting to sit. Our group settled down after the chaos getting there to find a candlelit table with a bird's eye view of the market. Felt like all the trouble was worth the effort. This place is definitely a unique Seattle experience. Thanks Matt, look forward to seeing the new place! Food: 4.5/5 Decor: 4.5/5 Service: 5/5 Value: 4/5

    (5)

  • Steve D.

    A $20 sandwich and a view of the market. Even if you're a tourist it's not worth it. Maybe it's better at dinner, but there are so many better lunch options. This place is coasting by on their name.

    (2)

  • Jonathan B.

    The lamb burger at Matt's is blindingly delicious- it is cooked perfectly to a nice medium rare, still juicy and robust. They then put a nice topping of goat cheese on top, place it on a bed of arugula, which is itself sitting on top of an onion preserve. The brioche bun has some sort of sauce on it- maybe a house mayo? Not sure, but the combination of flavors and textures is amazing. By far, Matt's has best gourmet burger I've ever tasted. However, I'm not the only one who knows this and it's not a large space, so make reservations. You won't be dissapointed

    (5)

  • Mairead R.

    Yelp and Chowhound have given Matt's more than its fair share of blogger praise. So why add my tiny voice to this tower of compliments? Catfish. Perhaps its a trick of the light as the sun sets over Elliot Bay that lights up the catfish like crown jewels? Perhaps its the surprising delicacy of the meat, the perfume of the smoke and flash of the spices? Whatever the case, Matt's catfish will seduce you regardless of its plating. Sandwiched in a crusty roll, lolling on a bed of fresh greens, or encrusted with golden cornmeal atop a steaming plate of rice and gumbo, this catfish will get you hook, line, and sinker. Service, as mentioned before, is friendly and sweet. Matt is a rare chef in his own right, as a cook and as a host personality. Their current expansion is good news. And the bread pudding, while quite tasty, is not the main event. Catfish indeed.

    (5)

  • Jessie R.

    Because I have been living in this city with my head in the sand, I was unaware of the hype, or even of the existence of Matt's. But I'm glad that I didn't have any preconceived expectations before my visit, and was able to enjoy my evening there for what it was: Great food, great atmosphere, and great company. Our server was pleasant and attentive. He helped my brother's girlfriend navigate the wine list with ease. We started with red curried spotted prawns, which were alright. Not fantastic, but good, if a bit overpowering, flavor. And then the surprise: the prawn shells were stuffed with roe. Hmmm...they didn't really add anything to the dish. Our waiter asked if we would like to put our dinner orders in when he brought our prawns, and I'm glad he did. The wait between the app and main course was a little long. We didn't mind so much, as we were having a great time catching up. I had the halibut with dugeness crab sauce and a potato cake. The halibut was perfectly cooked and had a wonderful pan seared crust. The potato cake and crab sauce were creamy and oh so perfect for a fall evening. My brother ordered the lamb shank which was also cooked just as he asked and tasted fabulous. His girlfriend had the "surf and surf", or prawns and scallops with a trio of sauces. The presentation was beautiful, with the two prawns intertwined on top of the scallops. I almost lost whatever dinner I'd already eaten when my brother exclaimed to his girlfriend, "Look, they are hugging, like you and me!" I'm not sure what the sauces were, but she cleaned her plate well enough to make any mamma proud. The dessert menu was pretty typical: warm molten chocolate cake, banana bread pudding, some sort of sorbet, and a cheesecake option. We were all feeling pretty fallish, so we narrowed down our options to the banana caramel bread pudding, or the pumpkin frangelico cheesecake. We asked for input from our server, and he said, and I quote "well, do you want to wait 15 minutes for the bread pudding, or do you want the cheesecake right now". Hmm, well, there is honesty for you. I guess I appreciate that, but between the emptying restaurant and the big clock on the Pike Place Market sign visible through the window telling us that it was past closing, I got the feeling that HE would rather that we order the cheesecake. So we did. And it was good. Not memorable, but good. If only the live music wasn't a Bob Marley-James Taylor-Marvin Gaye cover band, I could have squeezed out one more star.

    (4)

  • Matt B.

    We ate here several Tuesday's ago after playing tourist in Seattle all day. It was earlier than our normal dinner time, but we had a full day planned for Wed. so a couple of small plates was the perfect thing for our dinner. The service was outstanding, what you would expect in a much fussier restaurant. We really enjoyed the prawn and scallop ceviche, and the pork belly two ways; both beautifully presented. For our second plates my wife had the winner-the crab and arugula salad, while I had an albacore and potato 'salad' plate which while tasty, wasn't as outstanding as the other three. The salad was simply a few sliced anchovies draped over cooked halved potatoes, with little dressing or binder. And the tuna was seared, but a bit plain also. I'll certainly return here next time we are in town. Fun vibe, great location, and interesting and mostly delicious food.

    (4)

  • jamie d.

    Planned on having a very special lunch here last monday with my Mom and Day before my big move out of the country. I searched around a lot and finally ended on this restaurant after much decision. I had heard good things. Well...when we arrived at 1:45 the hostess told us we'd have to "order quick cause they were closing". In reality they closed at 2:30 so that was a little annoying. Anyway, so we sat down and they seemed not too thrilled to see us even though we looked like a nice lil group and all. We dressed up for the occasion and everything. It was supposed to be a special lunch for me. No one introduced themselves, asked if we'd been there before. No one went over the menu or reccommended anything. I actually had to ask a lot of questions to get any info from the rude waitress. Her name was, RACHEL. She informed my father that "she had OTHER tables" when he inquired about the whereabouts of his beer. My mother had her beer but my father didn't yet. Ya know....he wanted his beer before he moved onto the order and all. Over all the food was good but they ran out of the special and in the end our waitress never smiled, never talked to us, never THANKED us for coming in. I'm a waitress and I pride myself on getting to know my tables and building regulars. I enjoy myself. Maybe she had a bad day but she was a jerk and kinda ruined our experience. Food was good and fresh, pulled pork sandwich was good catfish sandwich was OKAY seafood chowder was pretty good scallop special was fresh tasting. over all.....annoyed by arrogance of waiters/waitresses.

    (3)

  • Tap Sum B.

    This place has the best lunch in Seattle. Every damn thing on their menu is so good. Beef brisket sandwich and the chowder should be tried by every one, especially if you have some out-of-towners with you. It's a bit hard to find but won't forget it once you get there.

    (5)

  • Stephen P.

    On a recent work trip to the Seattle area, I stumbled upon Matt's (via Yelp mobile) around lunch time. Maybe it was the fact I had previously spent 5 hours in an airplane, but what an amazing lunch! I had the lamb burger with a cup of chowder and it was as amazing as the other Yelpers will tell you. In fact it was so good, I went back for lunch again two days later (I had to try the catfish sandwich, which was good, but not as great as the meal two days earlier).

    (5)

  • Jennifer L.

    We were in Seattle recently for a family reunion, and had 1 day to see the city on our own. Of course we had to go to Pike Place Market! I did some research in multiple local guides before we arrived and had seen some recommendations for Matt's in the Market, so this was our lunch spot of choice. And boy were we happy! We started off with a lovely glass of pinot gris from Oregon, which was on the specials menu. It went perfectly with the gorgeous summer day we were lucky enough to experience. For lunch we shared the oft-mentioned pan-fried catfish sandwich, with a cup of seafood soup. This really hit the spot! The catfish was moist, the bread was sliced and soft, and the spicy aioli gave it a subtle kick. We also shared an order of the pan-seared scallops special, which was served with green beans over a little potato cake. It was delicious! We sat at the bar, and could see the chefs at work in the kitchen. It was nice and bright inside because of all the windows and the perfectly sunny day. I recommend Matt's to everyone living in or visiting Seattle!

    (4)

  • Eric W.

    Really good for lunch. One time I had their special of the day reuben sandwich--amazing. Today I had their pulled pork sandwich--also great.

    (4)

  • Carl L.

    My new favorite special lunch spot. Have been here for dinner too, it's great. Wonderful atmosphere, well thought out food and reasonable. Located in the market, if you can get a window seat you are over looking the market and a slight water view. It's a smallish retaurant, and I like that. The lamb burger is amazing, I swear I will have to try something else for lunch there, but this is tops. A+ for food, atmosphere and potential date quality location.

    (5)

  • Lori G.

    I heart Matt's In The Market. A foodies food heaven. They do Northwest and modern fusion like they invented it. If you've wondered what 'slow' food is look no further: this is the place to sample locally grown and in season delights all exquisitely prepared. Nothing is ever over done or fussy- just full of flavor and freshness. The place is tiny and feels like a well-kept secret even when you must wait for a table... so eat at the bar and watch the chefs create culinary orgasms for your mouth. The staff is low-key and pro, they KNOW the food, they're good with the wine pairings and after some banter and perhaps a few rounds of jokes (Matt's a big fan of hearing people's best told joke) they leave you to do what you're there to- enjoy the food. Sunset is a beautiful time to go - the orange glow off the Bay fills the room and lends to a perfect Seattle dining experience. Oh, and as someone with a friend who opened and closed a restaurant in Seattle (a damn fine one too) - I have a small entreaty- do Matt's and ALL small restaurants a favor- pay the entire bill, or as much as you can (and ALWAYS the tip) in cash. Why? The evil empire,errrr CC companies, bite out huge percentages of credit transactions- therefore really reducing profit. And considering the food industry's extremely low profit margin- this hits the small players hardest. So have a heart if you heart Matt's too - pay it in cash (or as much as you can!). Let's together ensure the longevity of these worthy establishments!

    (5)

  • Allie S.

    It took a few attempts to find Matts in the Market, I work near the market and had quite a few people ask me where it was which is how I first found out about it. When we showed up for lunch we didn't have reservations but they were able to seat us at the counter which is great so we could watch the kitchen in action. They really put a lot of time and attention into their food and were proud to tell us how they worked with a whole pig that week and created their specials from that. On our second visit I tried their Salmon BLT which was the best ever. We were seated at the bar on our second visit and learned a lot about wine and the history of the restaurant from their sommelier.

    (5)

  • Noel J.

    As I said in my earlier review, if I had a few more good experiences here I would up my rating. I've been here a few times in the past 6 weeks, and they are consistently great. I dare say I love this place.

    (5)

  • kelly k.

    I debated between four and five stars on this. If I could figure out how to do a 4.5 I would. Absolutely love this place. It feels like a neighborhood place even though it's right in the middle of the most touristy place in the city. And while the feel is real laid back the food was exceptional. We started with the grilled octopus which was my least favorite dish. Good but not perfect. The cheese plate had some of the most amazing flat cracker with it I've ever had and was incredibly well put together. But my entree... the chicken and dumplings...OMG...brilliant. Really unique. It comes out with about a 1/4 chicken that's was incredibly tender inside with perfect crispy lightly breaded skin. I'm not a good enough cook to desribe the broth and the dumplings but they were unique and to die for. I'm going to dream about this dish! The service was either a tad slow or just right depending on if you're a "diner" or an "eater". I tend to fall into the eater category. But the server was friendly and knowledgeable.

    (4)

  • Maila C.

    Had my birthday dinner here and it was so amazing! Sweet view and wonderful service. We had about 4 of the small plates and it totally knocked my socks off. Our server Adam was so friendly and helpful with the food and wine.

    (5)

  • Catalina C.

    Made a reservation here and they made us wait waaaay too long. Not so friendly and a little too dark in the inside and no where to sit. So after 30 minutes waiting in the cold bench outside the door, my friend and I finally gave up and went to Chez Shea right next door!!! The service was phenominal and they were able to accomodate us immediately on a corner table. The food was soooooo delicious at Chez Shea. I have yet to eat at Matt's though, because the service left little to be desired.

    (2)

  • Dana D.

    I only wish I lived in Seattle so I could visit this restaurant on a more frequent basis! The food is incredibly fresh and delicious and the staff is very friendly (especially the owners). My favorite menu items are the soups (you can't go wrong with whatever they have as the "soup of the day"), the pork sandwich and the lamb burger. ONE WORD: Yuuuuummmmmm! Maybe they'll open a sister restaurant here in the Bay Area!

    (5)

  • Scott N.

    This is an update (April 2, 2007) to my Yelp of Matt's in the Market. Matt's has been closed for expansion since just before New Years. If you haven't already, please observe a moment of silence in memory of Matt's 1.0. Seattle is now licking its chops in anticipation of Matt's 2.0 which is due to open in a month-ish. I had the privilege of hanging out with Matt recently in the magnificent expanded space and I have to say I'm positively GIDDY. The place is taking shape BEAUTIfully. It is clear that the food, spirit, charm and snark of Matt's will live on, less secretly perhaps but no less magically. Check out Matt's blog at makingmatts.blogspot.com for news and photos of the progress. Original review: Matt's never fails to deliver casually epic dining but this place is SO much more than the food. Of course, the food is always fanTAStic but it's as much about the fiercely authentic bohemian vibe, the rapid-fire, witty, sarcastic banter and the ability of this tiny restaurant to attract the city's most fascinating cast of characters. It's difficult to imagine a better lunch than the cornmeal crusted catfish sandwich accompanied by a glass or three of the beautiful wines Matt's serves... AND serves. On Wednesday evenings, live musicians replace one of the precious few tables which, especially around sunset, only amplifies the magic of this true Seattle gem. If you haven't gone, go. If you have gone, go back but remember, the word is out so make reservations... yes, even for lunch.

    (5)

  • Kelly H.

    matt's is one of the BEST restaurants in seattle hands down! they have a new shrimp po'boy on the lunch menu and it's so good! i couldn't believe i ate the whole thing! the celery roots in the sandwich is a real nice touch, it's chrisp and refreshing! this is one of my favorite places for both lunch and dinner! their scallops are awesome for dinner! but what i really miss is the summer menu ingredients... but either way, matt does an EXCELLENT job with in season ingredients!

    (5)

  • T C.

    First time to Seattle and a friend recommended this place so I thought I'd give it a try. At 6:30 on a Tuesday, they accomodated us without a reservation but we heard them give attitude over the phone when others tried to make a same day reservation. So on service, I didnt fell all that welcomed with the staff. Perhaps the only real friendly guy was the wine director. But reviewing strictly on food, the menu is pretty limited to only a few items and i wasnt really in the mood for anything on there so I decided to go with two of their small plates: the clams and the pork belly. The clams were filling though I didnt find anything spectacular about the taste. Clams with chorizo was a first for me but it lacked the extra something. My second plate was the pork belly with kimchee. Again, the pork was crispy but lacked flavor. The kimchee was nothing to rave about. It tasted like they boiled the veggies and added the picking as an afterthought. I couldnt even cut my kimchee with my knife. It was rubbery. I like to review my whole experience with food, the ambiance and the wait staff as a whole. With the thousands of other restaurants to try, I'm not sure I would be coming back to this place but its always good to try new places.

    (3)

  • alan b.

    After visiting the Seattle Aquarium, this morning we found ourselves at the Pike Place Market and we were hungry - but not for octopus! we had been to Matts once before 3 years ago and decided to go back. It is larger now and may have a new owner but it is just as good. After a nice aperitif of pink cremant, we enjoyed clam chowder with a touch of bacon, fennel mushroom bisque and tomato soup. my daughter had a delicious grilled cheese sandwich with tomato marmalade, grilled catfish sandwich, and grilled chicken sandwich. My daughter said the tomato soup wasn't inspiring but everything else including the pint of Elysian IPA that I had was top notch. It definitely is a place to eat the market in Seattle.

    (5)

  • Peter L.

    I finally had a chance to try Matt's last Friday, when I took a day off to show my cousin and her husband from Chicago around town. Working in Bothell, I relish every opportunity to try lunch in downtown, so I decided it would be a good chance to try Matt's and it definitely lived up to expectations. Our group ordered three sandwiches and also some steamed manila clams. The pulled pork was very flavorful and the slaw inside the sandwich was a nice touch. The seared tuna was very fresh and tasty. But the winner was the brisket with aioli, which just melted in your mouth. The sandwiches all come with soup, and the seafood chowder was my favorite and not as heavy as many places. The manila clams with chorizo was also very good but here is one of the mysteries in life: if you go to the market, manila clams are all pretty good sized, but at restaurants such as Matt's and Ivar's, they are the size of a dime or nickel. Anyway, I haven't tried Matt's for dinner, but would highly recommend for lunch...there is a good reason why there is a line in front of Matt's while Chez Shea is empty during lunch.

    (5)

  • Caroline S.

    My friend and I agree that this was the best place we tried on our weekend in Seattle. We had lunch at the bar, and the bartender was friendly, and refilled our house-made lemonade several times. I had the sock-eye salmon BLT, which was possibly the best sandwich of my life, and got me over my cooked-salmon-phobia (caused by farmed salmon cooked beyond recognition by countless caterers), and my friend had superb catfish sandwich. Both were made with this potato bread so perfect and fluffy that I swear it must have been made from angels' wings. We both had the seafood chowder, which was incredible as well. They also made a personal French press of coffee for me, which was one of the best cups of coffee I've had in a long time. All in all, a wonderful meal.

    (5)

  • Scott G.

    Food is absolutely amazing. You would think a thing like Grilled Cheese can't be done any different and then they give you this taste explosion that will only make you think you went to heaven. The wait staff was the best I could ask for and even wrote down things to see and do around the Seattle area. Couldn't ask for more

    (5)

  • Lisa M.

    Service was wonderful. Halibut sandwich melted in your mouth. Deviled eggs as an app was the best decision we made!

    (5)

  • Craig H.

    Okay, I'll tell you straight off that this review is not based on the food. I have no idea what the food's like, and here's why. I called my Honey up one day when she was working from home and said "Let's meet for lunch, I read about this place on Yelp." So we meet down there at the Market, around 12:30ish, and go upstairs. There's plenty of seats, both at the counter and at one or two tables, so we make to sit down when the guy behind the counter says "Do you have a reservation?" Excuse me? Reservation? For lunch? WTF? But wait, it gets better, because when we say "No," he says "We have something available at 2:00." Well, naturally since not only are we both hungry "now" but we also both have lives which means we have jobs to get back to (yes, yes, she was "working from home", but for her that actually means that she gets more work done when not being constantly interrupted by her co-workers), we politely laugh in his face, turn around, and walk out. We weren't too disappointed -- on top of the absurdity of "reservations for lunch", the place smelled like bad fish.

    (3)

  • Damon D.

    The boy is gone and all that he left behind was a fantastic restaurant recommendation. See ya, playa! Matt's has become one of my all time favorite Seattle finds. Intimate, local and food beyond words. A low-key yet spendy date night doesn't get any better than this. Finding parking and the upstairs entrance is half the fun!

    (5)

  • Jen S.

    This place is divine. Everything I have ever eaten has been superb, including wine pairings. The service is good. It's a splurge, for sure, but you won't be disappointed. Whatever the special fish dish is, is always spot on. The whole durn place is spot on.

    (5)

  • Iris T.

    This place was pretty good - i got the lamb burger, a friend got the ahi tuna sandwich and my husband got the catfish sandwich. Everything was really good - EXCEPT - it was a bit over priced for sandwiches, my burger didn't come with fries and they can improve their soda menu (no coke or pepsi products and they ran out of orange sode) - we had to result to expensive ass Thomas Kemper root beer. We thought that was a tad bit on the wierd side.

    (3)

  • Joy S.

    Went for lunch. I had roasted fig sandwich, which was excellent! I would definitely go back to this place and try different dishes. Their sandwiches come with a choice of soup or salad. Open bustling atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Ali Z.

    This place is a gem. Great food using lots of local produce and seafood, extremely friendly and knowledgeable service, beautiful atmosphere with a great view of the famous neon market sign. Terrific spot for a business lunch, a romantic dinner, or a meal with good friends. We ate wild salmon, wild halibut and scallops. The scallops were the best, followed by the halibut, then the salmon. Definitely want to try it for lunch next time I'm in town.

    (4)

  • Retired B.

    I threw my friend a bridal shower here and they were able to accommodate 18 girls which I was happy about. Our service wasn't exceptional, but decent for a large party. I tried the pulled pork sandwich and it was excellent. Ambiance was nice and sunny. It's in the building right across from the pig.

    (4)

  • Dani C.

    My husband and I moved to Seattle about 6months ago and have been looking forward to a nice dinner at Matt's since we rolled into town. We finally got there last night and it was totally worth the anticipation! I had gone on their website and made a reservation the night before which was super easy. We went early and got a seat at the bar. Since we are new in town, we always order a local wine when we go out. So the bartender sent Chris over to review the wine menu with us, he was very knowledgeable, and recommended the perfect bottle for us! Ryan arranged a great little table by the window for us, overlooking the market and the huge lit up Public Market Center sign across the way. The food was excellent! We kept seeing all these great desserts go by to other tables, so we decided to forgo appetizers to ensure room for dessert. I did get the house salad though, and it was tossed in this amazing dressing, a flavor that I've never experienced before. And my eyes went right to the scallops on the menu, which were outstanding! My husband enjoyed the halibut, which was gone in about 3minutes flat, so my guess is that it was really good! Bread pudding and coffee via french press was a nice end to our Matt's experience. We will definitely go back, hopefully sooner rather than later. Next I's like to try lunch and happy hour there.... plans are in the works:)

    (5)

  • Brian S.

    Good food, service, value, all over-looking the pig at the entrance to the market. Just remember that catfish is an "acquired" taste.

    (4)

  • CK Dexter H.

    Keep it simple here. They do. The least complicated dishes are the best. And their best can be some of this city's best. I spent a meal at the counter watching the kitchen and their amazing line cook (I heard she left and opened a place of her own), really remarkable work given the crappy hot line. The ventilation sucks, wear disposable clothes. UPDATE: New Matt's apparently irritating the fuck out of everybody. I haven't been. CAN'T WAIT!!!

    (4)

  • Mike W.

    I'll admit, the food was pretty good, but far short of spectacular And yes, it's cool to look right at the sign in the market. But what killed it was the staff. They were disinterested at best. Never rude, just detached. Lucky for us it was restaurant week, so the prices were good. And perhaps, frankly, that was the problem. But shouldn't you treat your customers as welcome guests even if they are getting a deal? After all, Matt's signed up to be a part of it. I won't be going back, lots of great food out there.

    (2)

  • Bob M.

    Wonderful food and service BUT there was a a customer with a screaming, braying laugh that could be heard over the entire restaurant. The laughter was loud, inappropriate, and incessant. When I finally asked to speak to the manager, he informed me Matt's was a casual place and they wanted their customers to have a good time. I told him I wasn't having a good time because of the weird screaming laughter and although he agreed it was obnoxious he said there really wasn't anything he could do about it. I responded that since he was the manager he certainly could do something about it but he apologized and did nothing further. I will be glad to forget this place and patronize restaurants where the manager is actually in control of their environment.

    (2)

  • Natalie W.

    I bit the bullet. I dined solo and Matt's ended up being perfect for the first experience. I brought a book- thought I quickly learned that it wasn't really needed. I did my research and planned a lunch trip to the Pike just to hit up Matt's in the Market for the catfish sandwich. As I wandered around waiting for it to open for lunch my nerves were getting to me and I almost ditched my plan to try a sandwich at Sister's- thank God they didn't have their salmon sandwich or I really would have ditched. I walked into Matt's at 11:30 and inquired about a solo dining spot at the bar- I was given a menu by a very attractive man and told to pick my seat. The bartender was quite different then I expected. Purple dress shirt, Orval popcorn guy black glasses, and excellent silver white hair. I was served bread and oil before the lunch and asked if the bread was sourced- yes... from Macrina. My eyes did not like what the bread looked like but my mouth sure did and the dipping oil was unique in that it seemed to be infused with vegetable- A new taste for me.I ordered the catfish right away due to time constraints and he asked if I wanted my salad before or after- My answer was whatever and he repeated himself to make me be decisive- like a stern grandpa guiding a youngin'. I choose before and it was a good call. The salad was fresh spring greens with Gorgonzola and a balsamic dressing. I was thrilled with the toasted seeds on top and noted that there was a seasoning to them as well as the cheese. It was lovely and a great start. While waiting for the main event I had a chance to interact with the bartender more and take in the ambiance and scene. I felt relaxed, at home, and settled. The sun started streaming in and the market was bustling below. The tables of early lunch diners were situated to stare down at the market and I made a note to return to sit in those very tables next time. Before the catfish came I had a nice little chat with the bartender about my camel like water behaviors and he started calling me his camel. Very cute. He also gave guidance on the temperature of the catfish and prepped me on how to eat it. Very needed it turned out. But then again when I was following his advice he gently teased me about leaving the sandwich alone to much. The sandwich was on ever so tender white bread and the catfish was lightly seasoned and breaded. It came with an aoili that was tangy and hot... perfection. A perfectly cooked catfish fillet, a few lettuce leafs. and and cut down the middle facilitated an amazing sandwich. The sandwich was steaming hot when it came out and by the time I conquered it I was full for hours. Service was kind and enjoyable. The food a highlight. The restaurant space inviting and lovely. The location perfect. and... Ps- There is eye candy*

    (5)

  • James J.

    always have had a good meal. a bit $ for what you get. one of my favs in sseattle

    (4)

  • Dave A.

    Many time diners at Matt's and first big time disappointment at lunch today. (Was also there about a month ago, with great experience sitting at the bar with their outstanding bartender). Food that day was great, and lunch a hoot). Bigger menu today lacks coherance and several new menu items over-sauced and ordinary. Lemon curd dessert was right out of the fridge. They have lost direction since Matt left I am afraid. A sad, sad day and experience for loyal clients. We might try one more time but the signs are ominous. It was great while it lasted. We miss you Matt! Will ye no come back again? as Robert Burns would say...

    (2)

  • C. S.

    Christ Almighty, where to begin.... My folks live in Montana so when they come to Seattle, I always try to find some really great place to eat, especially for seafood which is hard to come by over there (fresh stuff, anyway). They'd heard great things about Matt's, as had I, so they emailed prior to their trip and asked if we could go there. I had tried to go to Matt's three times prior to this and have never gotten a table (maybe I should have just taken the hint). I knew that reservations were in order, so I called and made a reservation when I got the email from my parents, about a week in advance. The only table they had available was at 9pm, which was a little late but that's where they wanted to go so I accepted. When we arrived, they did NOT have our reservation written down, but told us they'd "try to squeeze us in"...arg! Incidentally, they called me a week later to "confirm" my reservation, so someone had obviously written it down on the following week. We ordered clams as an appetizer...very bland. I was thrilled to see roasted brussel sprouts on the menu, as most restaurants don't bother with brussels sprouts because not many people are fond of them. I ordered the lamb entree with a side of the roasted brussel sprouts. My dad ordered the fish which came with the brussel sprouts. Unfortunately, when the meal arrived, his plate did not have a single brussel sprout on it, and my side of brussel sprouts was nowhere in sight. I asked our server about it, and she got a funny look on her face and disappeared for upwards of 10 minutes, finally returning with a saucer of boiled brussel sprouts, swimming in a pool of hot water. wtf? We finished our entrees (three stars on the food; nothing to write home about) at about 10:45, at which point I noticed we were the last table in the restaurant. So, how do they deal with bad, evil stragglers such as ourselves? Well, they punish us by inserting a Led Zeppelin cd and blasting it up to a screaming 100 decibals. That oughta get rid of us right quick! Uh, nope. My dad was so pissed he decidedly ordered three desserts, coffee and port, and we lingered another 45 minutes. Our server was great throughout, but it did not make up for the whole lousy affair. So rude! If they don't wish to serve people all the way up until the end of their meal, they should just quit accepting reservations earlier in the evening. We will NOT be back!

    (1)

  • Jacqueline E.

    So my husband and I went here because of the review in seattle magazine. We went for lunch. So please someone tell me how 2 sandwiches, 2 beers, and a desert was 70 dollars? The sandwiches were good, but nothing better than I can make at home. And the desert which was described as being a uber chocolate cake with vanilla gellato was instead a chocolate muffin with mint chocolate chip ice cream. I will never ever go back .erg.

    (1)

  • Nicole F.

    Good food. Nicely located. Came here for lunch on a Saturday. We had reservations and were seated right away next to a window which had a nice view of the market below. I ordered the cornmeal crusted catfish sandwich and a cup of the chorizo corn chowder. Yummy. The bloody mary I ordered was pretty good (but the one I had for brunch the next day at Cafe Campagne was better) and it even comes with a little glass of beer! All the dished I watched go by looked delicious.

    (4)

  • Ashley M.

    Would love to give this place a good review because the food actually tasted good. Unfortunately there was a little mishap and it was handled worse than I have ever seen a restaurant handle something like this. My friend and I were in for lunch today and both ordered the Simple Green Salad and the soup of the day which was an Heirloom tomato and sweet onion puree. We both had said how good everything tasted until she got to the last few bites of her salad, where she found an abnormally large piece of dirt. We both stopped eating immediately because it was off putting. When the waitress came back over, my friend told her what happened and she started laughing. She then took the salad away without apologizing or even offering something else for her to eat. We were both only two or three bites into our soups but couldnt seem to finish them considering the circumstances. Then another gentleman comes over and says to us "Oh, sorry about that, our greens are pre washed so we cant wash them here because they will turn brown" (not true). Then he said "Well, at least its not a bug, we have had that happened several times". We both looked at each other like what is this guy doing? We understand that things like this do happen (we are both servers and have experienced similar situations in our own restaurants) but you DONT TELL your guest something like that. Then he proceeded to say "Well are you going to eat your soup? There is no dirt in it!" AHHH? REALLY? We could barely believe this had just happened. We then were presented with our check which still had everything on it except the one salad, even though we didn't eat anything else on the table. Dont get me wrong, I do understand that lettuce comes from the earth, yes it does happen, but the way they handled it was almost comical. For this reason, I regret to say they will not be getting a second chance from me. I know since working in a restaurant that it is always possible to remove something from a check. If doing so is going to make up for something that is wrong with the meal, YOU JUST DO IT! Period. At the very very least, they could have taken it seriously and genuinely apologized for the situation. Hopefully someone who works there will read this and re-think the way the handle a situation like this in the future.

    (1)

  • Lucy K.

    A dreaded three-star review. I made week-in-advance tgiving weekend rezzies from out of state for this much-praised restaurant. I don't know what the big whoop is about this place. Seattle has plenty of good-to great food in comfortable, often lovely surroundings. But this is a tiny coffee shop, it's cold (though perhaps that will be adjusted now that daytime temps have headed way down), and it sports a tiny view of Pikes Place Market. On the plus side, it has a very friendly staff. As far as I'm concerned, that's all it offers. Which coffee shops deserve five stars? I ASK you? OK, so the food: My catfish salad was a yawn with catfish that was too smoky, slightly raw, and accompanied by WAY too much frisse (am I the only person who hates its flavor?). On the other hand, my sister's catfish sandwich was a SCREAMING O, which I am a fan of. She shared. We were both satisfied, which clues you in if you're taking a date there. But the brother; well, he was mildly entertained by the Gumbo. Nothing more, nothing less. I wasn't impressed either. Salt seems to be a favored addition here. And it just ain't Zen to over-salt the seafood. Then there's the fact that this was a small bowl of soup for a big $9. We were not amused. Hence, three stars. Sorry, but I really feel this place is getting a lot of undo admiration for solicitous service (which is indeed super fab but needs a little backup) and a decent location.

    (3)

  • Betsey S.

    Matt's in the Market is everything wonderful and progressive about Seattle! The location is top notch, upstairs in Pike Place Market, a little tough to find but just ask someone who looks like a local. You'll probably get to meet Matt himself during your meal, as he tries to get around to the tables when there's a lull in the kitchen (which, by the way, is not hidden at all and just tucked behind the bar). There's a fabulous, short wine list, and you can trust every selection on it. I love the steamed clams - you will want to chug the broth but they bring you plenty of bread for soaking it up so check your manners, mister. Matt gets all his ingredients from the Market, and the salmon I had there was some of the best I've ever wrapped my lips around. They don't take reservations but you could always call to let them know you're coming... I'm just saying... My husband surprised me with dinner at Matt's and they helped by getting a bouquet of flowers from the Market and having them waiting on our table. You absolutely are not allowed to leave Matt's without having some of his bread pudding (if you can't fit it in your stomach after the meal, for pete's sake get some to go!). It would be a crime against humanity and unfair to everyone who didn't have the opportunity to get some of their own that day (like me... ahem!). There is a lot of bourbon in the caramel sauce and you might find yourself just a bit tipsy after eating it. I love you and your delicious food, Matt, but know that you have ruined bread pudding for me forever. For that, I'm grateful.

    (5)

  • Jen C.

    With beautifully executed dishes such as the Grilled Octopus with Israeli couscous and the foie gras prepared two ways, Matt's in the Market is a splendid lunch or dinner option. The remodel from a couple of years ago rejuvenated Matt's in the Market menu and catapulted them to a whole new level. All done seamlessly without removing the charm and easygoing nature which are what made Matt's a Seattle favorite from the beginning.

    (4)

  • A. B.

    Its one of my fav lunch spots on a nice sunny Saturday in Seattle - food is amazing, location can't be beat & if you get a window table, you can enjoy all the Pike Place Market action while gorging into one of their amazing sandwiches

    (4)

  • Sara M.

    Dinner was an A+ but dessert was an F. Excellent mussels, we had the halibut and the beef tenderloin - amazing. None of the dessert items sounded like what we wanted which was chocolate. We ordered vanilla ice cream and pineapple sorbet neither were very good. Would have been better to accross the street to Starbucks and get a cookie - which isn't saying much.

    (4)

  • Heather C.

    OMG...I hate that too, but when we decided to have lunch here one afternoon, that is what I was left thinking...the scallops, the wine, the wonderful and charming bartender...oh yes, this is the stuff dreams are made of. I hope to find myself back in pike place market, hungry again...

    (5)

  • Landon H.

    Truly one of Seattle's finest hidden treasures that's not-so-hidden anymore. The small space creates the most intimate ambiance. The chefs give each plate personal attention, creating a meal that rivals any five star restaurant. GET RESERVATIONS, even for lunch. Matt's only has space for 16-20 people.

    (5)

  • Calen K.

    Fine dining in a casual atmosphere, the location in Pike Place is great, but most of the view is obscured by buildings unfortunately. The food was well thought out, northwest cuisine, but the execution was lacking. The sea scallops and halibut were slightly overcooked, or left sitting too long, so was the beef. The Pork con fit was simply lacking in flavor, possibly due to having eaten the abundantly flavorful scallops right beforehand. The manila clams were good but that's it, they were clams. The highlights for me were the painted hills beef which was cool, not sure if intentionally, but was melting tender with perfect fingerling potatoes, and the halibut, overcooked but delicious anyway. I don't mind that the menu was tiny, but it should have led to better food, especially considering the price, ~$30-40/entree. The service was marginal, not there when wanted, there when not. Overall I enjoyed my meal but wouldn't go back, there are simply better deals on better food, service and atmosphere.

    (3)

  • Sam H.

    Even though it's not strictly a seafood place, Matt's is my favorite place for Seafood in seattle. Consider that a little... Seattle has a LOT of seafood places and many of them are quite good. Matt's so good it's almost cruel to make me go to those other places. Once again, this is a Jan recommedation turned obsession. I wish he'd yelp. But I digress. My advices for the adventurous is to try the Smoked Catfish and Necatarine salad. Now I thought this was gonna be pretty messed up, but it is actually one of the best salads I've ever had. Smokey, tart, sweet, salty, cruchy... all in one. Everything I've had there is suprising and wonderful like that. Additionally, I love the genuine kitsch of the location... relatively hard to find upstairs in Pike Place. But once you find it, WHAT a view. I love the music there too. They have nightly music on some weeknights? Wednesday, thursday? Last time I went it was mellow, but still cool...a couple of guys sitting in the corner singing and playing jazzy/folksy accoustic guitar. It was nice that it's not too loud so you could still have a conversation if you want. Really I can't say enough, so why don't you just go and find out for yourself?

    (5)

  • Stacy M.

    YUM this place was REALLY good. I went for the comfort food Chicken & Dumplings and I was not disappointed. Loved the views and service. Drinks were really fresh and good too even though I didn't care for the gin fiz drink I had, probably the egg they put in it to make it fizz - not sure what I was thinking when I ordered it! Old romantic euro feel was a bonus.

    (5)

  • Josephine J.

    One can only go to so many restaurants while traveling for the weekend, and of all the places I went to in Seattle, this place was hands-down my favorite. Every single item was excellent--from the mussels for appetizers to my duck! oh dear, the duck--and our server was simply awesome. (He also happened to be the owner, but I would've never guessed that. I mean...how could I? He didn't have a sign hanging from his neck that said "Owner.") He was super friendly and was great with the timing and our orders, always kept our bread plate filled up. The good-looking chefs also add to the loveliness that is Matt's. :) I definitely have to go back when I'm in Seattle again.

    (5)

  • Sheila Y.

    This is a first time review and will be updated accordingly. I went in on a Saturday for lunch and was promptly seated w/in ten minutes. I was seated at the bar which is exactly where I wanted to be. Service was more than helpful and friendly. I don't know why I always have to write reviews that refute bad service, but yet again I find myself on the other side of the service divide. The staff even comped my beer indicating they were impressed by my lunch order...so as follows: One Butter Lettuce Wedge Salad...Loved the vinaigrette, however it didn't really hit most of the greens so by the middle I was a bit underwhelmed. The avocado and pancetta were nice, but I am more of a thick chunks of fatty meat kind of girl....make those little bits bigger! Next I ordered the tenderloin medallions. Perfection...they are not afraid to keep some of the fat on the medallions and I really appreciated that. I also loved the chard addition and the cambozola butter. Please folks...you must try butter melted over your steak...its the only way to go. This was not the end however. I ordered the bread pudding with vanilla gelato. Perfectly crunchy on top with that soft, buttery, bread inside. I could almost go without the ice cream and just have it topped with some kind of whiskey caramel goodness. All in all this place was awesome. I even struck up an engaging conversation with my bar-mate and the guys working across the table from me. Matt's is alright by me. ***Update Have been back multiple times...both for lunch and dinner...since I am leaving so soon this place and Sitka have become my regular haunts...love the waitstaff and the amazing food being turned out by the kitchen...loved my spot prawns today over a romesco sauce with cannelloni beans....loved the halibut cheeks i had at dinner last time...basically just straight up in love Also...if you happen to be there on a weekend for brunch you must order their aquavit bloody mary with a "snit"...and no i'm not disclosing what that is....;)

    (4)

  • Missi V.

    I've travaled to L.A., San Francisco, New York City, Miami etc just to eat something fresh and different or exotic. My dinner at Matt's was the best meal I've ever had. There was very little salt and no heavy seasonings or sauces. They have access to the freshest of ingredients and know how to pair certain foods that accentuate one another. Have the shrimp with grits appetizer or the peanut butter and jelly with chocolate dessert. I left with a 'happy food buzz'!

    (5)

  • gary g.

    damn! frigging awesome chow! very cool location, with big windows looking out on the market. the kitchen is right there, behind the bar. we had bouillabase, which was so outstanding! super yummy. also the seared scallops were to die for. definitely awesome

    (5)

  • Jeb S.

    Not that this place needs any more reviews, but after the lunch I had there with my wife yesterday, I had to throw another 5 stars behind this place. I've been here three times over the last month, twice for lunch and once for dinner. I had the chicken cordon bleu sandwich (my wife had my favorite, the pulled pork sandwich)...both were superb, as were the cocktails. This is easily the first place I recommend to out-of-town guests.

    (5)

  • Starla S.

    I'm shocked to read the recent reviews in relation to service. I come here often for business lunches and finally had the chance to take my husband for dinner. We had reservations for 7:45 on a very busy Friday and were seated promptly despite the place seeming full. We started with the foie which tickled our buds the minute it was fired... a complimentary muscat accompanied. The pistachio duck salad came next and was fine... I could have gone sans pistachios. My salmon and his lamb arrived right on queue and were of perfect temp and portion size. Our server offered to move us to a quieter table for desert and coffee but we were enjoying the scene so we declined. The night out could not have been more satisfying and would not have been complete without Matt's.

    (5)

  • Mark G.

    Good for lunch, nothing out of the ordinary as far as quality or ambiance, the homemade chips and onion dip was very good, won't visit again.

    (3)

  • Corvi Z.

    Matt's sells sandwiches, seafood, and salads. The dining room is open and full of natural light, and overwhelming cheerful noise. The menu is full of seasonal produce and fresh seafood that vividly evokes Pike Place market below. The bread and butter are both of excellent quality, and cut fresh whenever you want more. There were about a million people there, with the obvious drawbacks - waiters who couldn't see you waving and too much noise for conversation. Every single item we ordered - a sandwich, the potato-leek soup, and the paella - was underseasoned and tasted flat. A real pity with such a bold, inspired menu. The grilled eggplant sandwich was the worst - I expected grilled eggplant, but the bread had been grilled too, and was oily and falling apart. I ate less than half of it. The bread and salted butter was actually the best part of the meal. If it had a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere, I might be willing to go back and see if I just caught them on a bad day, but it's not worth braving high prices and terrible noise for bland oily food.

    (2)

  • Pamela L.

    I miss the old Matt's. This is a nice space, and can handle more people..but is that always good? It was like a cool Euro-bistro before, the one burner, fresh menu.... now it's a trendy place for housewives, businessmen and tourists. We had they lamb burger, cooked perfectly, and a blue cheese wedge salad. Our waitress hated us because we asked her to explain a couple of the wines to us, ouch. It was a nice lunch, but, sadly, I probably won't return, I will keep old Matt's as a happy place in my mind instead.

    (3)

  • Shyam H.

    Yet another place in SEattle that used to be small, and served great food with friendly service - Now expanded and lost some of that personal touch. This in-fact used to be my fav place for anniversaries and birthdays (which I typically celebrate one-on-one :-).

    (3)

  • Yuxiang Z.

    a little pricy, but the food was great. open kitchen, nice market atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Chas G.

    A tourist, I read about Matt's in the tourist literature, and checked it out on Yelp and UrbanSpoon. Good reviews. My experience was not so great. First, the good: the food here is excellent. The chef knows what he's doing, especially where the bread pudding is concerned--that was really good. The atmosphere is nice as well, big arched windows looking over the Pike's Place Market. Now the not-so-good: I found Matt's to be over-priced and pretentious. The service was perfunctory and borderline unfriendly at times. Perhaps that's because I sent my wife's rum & coke back and asked them to add some rum, since it tasted like they left it out the first time. Rather than an appropriate response, such as "I'm sorry, let me take care of that," the waitress seemed suspicious. She left the distinct impression she thought we were taking advantage somehow. At their prices, they could have served the little glass we got full of rum and they would have still come out ahead. Since I could see her take the drink back to the bar, I watched as the bartender got out a bottle and started to add to the glass. The waitress jerked it out from under the bottle while he was still pouring. Did I mention attitude? The thing is, if I'm going to pay high prices, I expect top-notch service. We didn't get that. Our waitress looked like she strolled in off the street, wearing old jeans and a top that had seen better days. Not what I expect for $100 a couple in an evening that included only one cocktail. When she first ordered that drink, my wife asked for a rum and diet coke. We were informed that the only soft drinks they offered were mexican cola, "because they use cane sugar." That symbolizes this place to me: really good food, done their way. Take it or leave it.

    (2)

  • Courtney B.

    This was my favorite restaurant during my week-long stay in Seattle. I went for lunch and had the seafood chowder and salad, a bargain at $9 and the perfect amount of food (they give you bread while you're waiting so it's easy to fill up). Plus the ingredients were superfresh--I like to think they were from the market just below but I'm not quite sure (doesn't the name imply it though?). Glass of rose (or two) made it perfect! Casual ambiance and very busy--definitely make a reservation.

    (5)

  • Dae Y.

    wow, that flank steak taco salad was EXCELLENT. i would give it probably more like 4.5 stars, but it's at least twice as expensive as i would normally like to pay for lunch. lucky i was there for a business lunch. the flavoring is done just right with the marinade, but be aware there is cilantro. it's not mentioned on the item description and one of the guys had to pick it out. but for me, it was really, really good. under the pile of salad i found several pieces of flank steak. i thought there would be only a couple of strips, but there were more and more as i continued to wear down the veggies. the place is a little hard to find. the restaurant is a bit loud, but it had a great vibe at lunch. it's basically one big open square room. really good salad i had. i saw their version of the sloppy joe go by to another table and i want to try it next time. it's got a fried sunny side egg up on top of it!

    (4)

  • Katy M.

    My goodness this place is amazing. My boyfriend and I came here for a random dinner and I'm so gald that we did. First, the service was excellent. Our glasses never even neared the bottom. I was very impressed with how nice these people were and how helpful they were. Second, the most important part, the food. Top notch. We ordered the beef tartare and the ceviche for appetizers. The beef and seafood were so fresh it was practically crawling off the plate and so flavorful that it was hard not to lick the plate clean (kidding...not really actually). For dinner we ordered the scallops and seafood stew. The seafood was excellently cooked...I've never tasted better scallops and the seafood in my stew was so fresh and tasty I was practically salivating. And the dessert was just as good as the rest of the food. The ice cream was homemade and the bread pudding (which I normally can't stand even the sight of) was so, so good. Really, the food here was some of the best I've had and I've had 3 Michelin star rated food before. Third, the ambiance. It was quaint and romantic and also good for big groups of people. There was an open kitchen which I appreciated since I love to cook and I am a culinary student. It was really fun to watch. The only problem (which wasn't even their fault) was the lady that sat behind me during my dinner. I swear she was on the cast of the Jersey Shore. Cussing and yelling...It was quite distracting but funny. I mentioned this to the server and she even offered to move us (another point for them). I would absolutely reccomend this place to anyone...It's a little on the pricey side but it was so good that I'm sure we will be going back soon.

    (5)

  • Nicole W.

    This is more of a 3.5 rating but I pushed it up to 4 because they gave us a dessert for free when they messed up and made the wrong thing! :) Came here for dinner on a Wednesday night. We had to change our reservation time and didn't call it in until the day-of but they were really flexible about it. First plus. Overall, the food was wonderful. Some of the highlights of what we ordered: APPS: - grilled octopus appetizer. It wasn't chewy or tough and they served it with a caper and tomato sauce. I normally hate capers. I ate every last bite of this on my plate. - Half a dozen oysters. - Olives. Surprisingly well-done, although I think the ones at Anchovies & Olives still might win for me. MAIN COURSE: - seafood stew. It was a salty tomato broth stuffed with seafood. It's not served with bread or anything but I actually found that to be a plus because I was able to fill up on the actual seafood. There were scallops, clams, mussels, fish (both salmon and a white fish), and calamari. I wasn't the biggest fan of the salmon in the stew, I just felt it didn't really fit with the rest of the flavors. The broth was SPOT ON. I finished most of it (and probably exceeded my sodium intake by about 200% for the day) but it was worth it. - the rest of my party got the scallops (all 7 of them) and everyone raved about them. Didn't try them though. DESSERTS: - hands down, the best dessert was the bread pudding. I swear they put crack in it. It was slightly crunchy but the middle was soft and had absorbed the cinnamon and vanilla flavors. I could have eaten that all night and been in heaven. - flourless chocolate cake. SO DENSE BUT SO GOOD. And it's served with an extremely well-done berry compote. Not too sweet and goes perfectly with the denseness of the cake. - We also got the churros, quince tart, and flan to share. All were okay, but those two stood out for me. The only complaint I have is that we were sitting right by an open window and there was a draft all night. Any other table in the restaurant probably would have been fine (probably even hot), it was just unfortunate table placement. Also, the food took FOREVER. I don't know if it was because we were such a large party (9) and they weren't prepared for us or what, but we had a 7:30 dinner reservation and didn't get our main courses until after 9pm. I like to take my time and enjoy my food as much as the next person but please...a 3.5 hour dinner is pushing it.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch, Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : No
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Intimate
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Matt’s in the Market

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