Matilda Restaurant

What can I say... Amazing vibe, amazing service, amazing food. The stars of the show were definitely the paella and the plantain+chorizo tacos. Both are worth every penny. And the elote quemado for desert was just a unique and tasty experience. The ceviche de pescado with the fried calamari is also worth mentioning.

My boyfriend and I stopped by on a Monday for dinner and we weren't disappointed. From the food, to the drinks, to the service everything amazing!!! We recommend "Matilda’s Paella" 10/10!!. At the end they surprise us some desert which was super nice of them!! We're definitely coming back for a a drink or two. Highly recommend

Checked this spot out for brunch and it’s absolutely amazing. The food is so flavorful and the whole vibe is fantastic. The staff is incredibly friendly. Will be back for dinner and cocktails. An excellent addition to the neighborhood.

The atmosphere and attention to detail is superb. The food was exactly was it claims. Unexpected. The service was also excellent. No notes. This was one of the best, most original meals I’ve had in a while. The corn dessert was the highlight for me.

Overall pretty amazing restaurant. The place looks well constructed and well run especially considering they’ve only been open for a few months. From the moment you walk in the staff is very inviting, and our waiter Hernando was great. They also present and tell you about each plate when it comes out which is a nice touch to the experience. My only critique with the atmosphere was that I did get a little hot in there and my only critique with the food is one item we ordered (El Guiso Del Campo) was just too spicy for our taste. It’s definitely on us for not reading the broth is from roasted chile, but a spice warning would be nice to add to the menu for that plate in my opinion. The meals we did get though, were very interesting combinations of flavor especially the Ceviche de Pescado. The Carne Asada and Plantain tacos were absolutely delicious, although I wish they would give 3 instead of only 2 for the taco plates but I really can’t complain. Everything was just top tier, including the Maiz y Agave drink. Every plate was super fast, and the staff is constantly checking/taking care of you. Would definitely recommend this place for a nice evening out.

We’d be back to check out the speakeasy on the weekend. Perfect place for date night. Food was fantastic. Everything was great. We loved Jenny!

New spot so had to check it out. Went on a date here and we got the tasting menu which is a great deal for 5 courses as $75 including desert. Service was spot on as they were very knowledgeable and accessible. The vibes were on point inside and highly recommend you check it out. Down side was speakeasy downstairs was closed when we went but they did offer to give a tour of it.

Had a delicious dinner here while a friend was visiting! The asada taco, especially, was delicious, and the service was top notch. We came quite early, and I imagine the ambiance only improves as the space fills throughout the evening- we’ll definitely be back to check out Clandestino!

Top class food and service. Everything is delicious, our favorite was the carne asada tacos. Don't skip the corn cake dessert either. Fernando and Pablo excellent service. Will be back, very soon. Cheers

This was a super fantastic brunch and I highly recommend it. They are items are well marked for anyone who is gluten-free or celiac like me. I got the breakfast tacos and they were the best breakfast tacos. I think I've ever had. Also, there is a secret door in the place That leads downstairs to a secret bar called clandestine. The people were great, and the Bible was nice too I made a reservation through OpenTable and they made me guarantee the reservation at $20 ahead so for the four of us it would've been $80 had I not showed That is kind of crazy. Just saying. However, right now, as I leave the restaurant, the breakfast tacos were so good and the coffee was too. I would come back here in a heartbeat.

I thought the starters (ceviche and tartare) were very fresh and used high quality ingredients, but perhaps were a bit too strong in flavors for my personal palate. For example, the tartare was a bit too salty. The cheek birria however was delightful--super tender and flavorful, and paired well with the warm corn tortillas. Service was super friendly and attentive, regularly had our water filled, and our waiter was quick to give us his recommendations. The interior of this restaurant is dark, moody, and intimate, a great date spot or if you're wanting to impress someone out of town.

Checked out this restaurant while we were in Chicago since this place was one of the few restaurants that had reservations while we were in town for Labor Day. One of my favorite dish was the paella. We tried all the ceviches and I liked all of them except the ceviche cartetillero. I thought it wasn't flavorful enough. Tuna tartare was a hit. My friends enjoyed the pork belly and carne asada tacos. Drinks here were pretty good too. There is a super cute speakeasy downstairs that has great cocktails. I highly recommend checking that out after dinner. I would skip the dessert.

Made a reservation in advance. There were still plenty of open tables inside. The outside seating was full when we went around 6PM on a Saturday. The interior is very cozy. Felt like you had good privacy. Service was good. They explain the menu and gave recs and suggested portion sizes for each dish. For a table of 4, we ordered one app, on birria taco (makes 5 tacos), one ceviche, and two mains. The dishes felt a bit small when split but we were full by the end. No plate change between apps and mains though so I had a lot of cerviche juices on my plate while eating my paella. All the dishes have strong distinct flavors from each other which was nice. Each had lots of layers of spices and vegetables (peppers, tomatillos, etc). They also had Peruvian corn in their dishes! The colors were bright and fun. And the hot items came out hot and steamy (paella, rice, tortillas). My fav was the paella. I think it had a cheese which added a cozy, creamy flavor, almost cinnamon/nutmeg like. The tartare had a powder on top that added a nice spicy and tanginess I enjoyed.

Super yummy food! 10/10 service and the ambiance is beautiful. Heard there's a speakeasy there too that I'm eager to try the next time I return!

Unassuming little gem on the outside, but once one walks into the establishment, they feel as they are transported to another world that is bustling with patrons enjoying their food and company. The folks that work here are welcoming and knowledgeable of the menu. The food...delicious! A modern twist on Latin foods with emphasis on Peruvian, a good amount of spice that exudes a diverse array of sensations that dance passionately on the taste buds. I would love to patron this establishment again.

Had a wonderful dinner here! The service was warm and friendly, and the space is very family-friendly. The menu isn't huge, but every dish feels thoughtful and creative. We shared the Cheek Birria (10 Hours), Carne Asada, Matilda's Paella, and Elote Quemado between two adults and a toddler, and everyone left happy. Highly recommend everything we tried-- especially the Carne Asada tacos and the Elote Quemado dessert!

Came into Matilda's for cocktails and appetizers, and everything was absolutely delicious! The drinks were expertly crafted, and the appetizers were a fantastic start to the evening. Beyond the great food and drinks, the service was truly outstanding, attentive, friendly, and made the whole experience even better. The space is so well done and has such an inviting atmosphere. *The only thing I would recommend is getting hooks under the bar for purses. The bar seat backs are short and holding a bag while you eat dinner is not the most ideal.

INCREDIBLE FOOD, SERVICE, AND VIBE!! Could not recommend this place more and will definitely be returning soon. Some of the nicest staff in impeccable service while dining for dinner. Highly recommend the Bronzino, beef cheek and chicken tinga tacos, and tuna tartare. Shoutout to David, our incredible waiter. He deserves a raise.

Came here last month when it first opened and it did not let me down! Ambiance is so cute and the service is excellent, frequently checked in on and didn't feel rushed. The drinks were tasty, loved the riff on a pisco sour and they have one of the best espresso martinis in town! The table side guac is a piece of art and my mind is still blown, it's a must! Honestly everything we got was a 10/10, the tuna, ceviche, birria tacos, rice (a must!!). I don't normally get dessert but was so impressed by the creativity of the elote dessert I had to try and let me tell you I will be coming back for that!! Definitely one of the more expensive Mexican / Peruvian restaurants in Chicago but definitely worth checking out!

The ambiance and the vibe were dark and sexy and gosh have we been waiting for this place to open up for awhile now. The service was ok, they were attentive. The food was good, the chicken tinga was delicious and the corn dessert was also superb, I'd say the rest of the stufff we ordered wasn't really all that memorable. We found the food and the drinks to be priced exorbitantly ($500 for 4) and not really worth the hype. I don't think we'll put this on our list of, "must visit again".

I was very excited to try this place because I've been to Kayao and really enjoyed! My favorite dish was definitely the plantains & chorizo tacos! While I understand that this place is still fairly new, I think it is grossly overpriced even considering the area. I personally think the portions are too small to be charging those prices. For example, 2 tacos is equivalent to $18-$19, the endive salad in my attached picture was $18, or the guacamole was $19 for one avocado. The caveat for the guacamole is that they do prepare it for you table side which is very cool to watch.

We were here on a Tuesday night and the restaurant was relatively busy for a Tuesday. Great interiors and everything we ordered was delicious! The guacamole tatemado was served with a whole avocado which was mashed on the table by the server! Great presentation however, it was an extremely small portion. We were three of us and we barely got a couple of bites to eat. The tuna tartare was packed with flavor! The cocktails were delicious and well balanced in flavor! We loved the paella! It tasted like a risotto, so one may argue that it was not authentic but the flavors were incredible! I did think the portion on this one was small too considering the price but it was still a great dish! My friend ordered the tinga de pollo guisos and he seemed to enjoy it a lot! The service was kind of slow. Our server was nice but we had to flag her down a few times because our drinks took a long time and she was missing a few times when we wanted to order more for the table. All in all a good experience!

Excellent food and experience. They've been open less than a week (truthfully I don't know how I even found it, but glad I did!) The chips for the guacamole don't work (they were hard; not crispy) and they only bring you 3 chips at a time. Otherwise two-thumbs-up for everything else! Highly recommend the dessert with corn - unexpected hit with the table! It's pricy so not sure how often we'll go back, but we really enjoyed it.

The food and service were great! We started with Guacamole Tatemado which was delicious (only complaint was that there weren't enough tostadas/chips to eat all of it so we ordered more and they charged us $5). We each had a cocktail and pro tip - ask for minimal ice as there was a lot and it would give more room for alcohol considering the drinks are expensive. Our next courses were shared and included the carne asada and sweet plantain & chorizo tacos, ceviche carretillero, cheek birria, and Matilda's paella. We finished with the elote quemado which was very tasty! It was a little noisy but overall it was a good meal with great service (David had amazing recommendations)! We need to go back when the speakeasy is open!

Food was great, but service was slow and the waiter did not come to refill our water or check on our order until we were ready for the check. We went on a slower weeknight, so perhaps they were understaffed.

Modern minimal interior that makes you feel like you are at a luxury resort restaurant. staff and service was quick and prompt The food was amazing. To start we ordered the tuna tartare which came with tostada chips. The sauce that it came in added a very nice flavor and the fish felt fresh. For our main we shared the paella. Beautifully plated and cooked to perfected. the rice grains were moist and full of flavor. It was topped with mahi mahi, octopus, scallops, shrimp, and clam shells filled with a delicious salsa. since having it i think about it at least once a week

Ahh! This used to be Marchesa, remember that! This is part of the Exodo group, which is behind Ayayay, Kayao and Clandestino. I had the Be Mine Tangerine cocktail. The staff and service are matildariffic.

The atmosphere and attention to detail is superb. The food was exactly was it claims. Unexpected. The service was also excellent. No notes. This was one of the best, most original meals I've had in a while. The corn dessert was the highlight for me.

10/10 food!! So delicious. The carne asada tacos were divine. Will definitely be coming back

I was in town visiting friends from NYC and decided to go there for the first time. Really enjoyed the whole ambiance there and the food was superb! Perfect-sized portions--and really delish. The guacamole was unique and we all loved our dishes. Carne Asada tacos were excellent too! Beautiful presentation and very nice service. If I lived there, I'd be back often.

I went back to Matilda following my first review because their director of hospitality wanted personally reached out to offer me a better experience. David served my party of two and he was very kind and attentive, ensuring we had a better experience than the first time.

Everything we hoped it would be! Loved the ambiance, and the food and service were excellent. The guacamole and paella are not to be missed, and the cocktails are exceptional.

Excellent! This place just opened a few weeks ago and they're already firing on all cylinders. Everything we ordered was fantastic. The carne asada tacos were especially good - so much so that we ordered a second plate after finishing our initial round of food. Wonderful flavors. Our server, Juan, was knowledgeable about the menu and very friendly. The ambiance in the restaurant is also really nice and it wasn't loud, which is a plus. I'll definitely be back.

The food was way overpriced but the wi e was excellent. The noise level in the restaurant was annoying also. I would not go back.

Excellent food, service and cocktails. We were visiting the city and wanted to try it. I would come back every time I'm in Chicago! The ambiance was chic, the food amazing and the cocktails perfect!

The food here is amazing! 5 stars. I ordered the guacamole and the carne tacos and they were delicious - the tortillas were so fresh as well. The service was phenomenal and the ambiance was great. There's also a speak easy downstairs.

Overall Matilda is good food and a cool space , service was great ! My complaint is portion size vs price. The 52$ paella is probably the smallest pallea I have ever seen you get one clam split open , 3 shrimp , couple scraps of octopus and a chicken nugget size piece of mahi mahi (no exaggerating it was one bite) paella is meant to be a large robust dish , this was more of an appetizer. Foods good but you leave here hungry.

Great service, delicious food. Amazing speakeasy. Will definitely return, sooner rather than later!

My colleagues and I had an amazing dinner at Matilda when recently in Chicago! The service was fantastic from start to finish. We had a fairly large party and got to sit in a private room where we were able to watch the chefs which was super fun. The drinks and food were all delicious-- and we appreciated the servers guidance. We ate family style so got to try lots of things and loved the paella, tacos, and especially the dessert, which was truly unique! Definitely recommend checking out this new restaurant!

incredible new spot with a creative menu, expansive cocktail list, great atmosphere- and BEST STAFF! try everything

Everything was incredible --food, service, atmosphere, and drinks. There's a little speakeasy downstairs to grab a cocktail before your reservation that was a vibe. Our server, Fernando, was great!!! 10/10 will be back.

Someone's heart and soul and sofisticación and great taste combination for the senses rolled into one! A great addition to Town. Service and ambiance unique!

Delicious food-- the carne asada tacos are a must try. Beautifully decorated space too.