Maximilien

Best french restaurant for me. more

I've only been to Matt's once, and I don't remember how to find it again in the market! It is well-hidden, but well worth looking for---and obviously many people have, because it is always very crowded! I had an asparagus salad that was divine, and the catfish sandwich, both of which are highly recommended! more

Matt's always has imaginative dishes. Everything I have had there has been excellent, and everyone I have taken there has loved it. The beer and wine selection is fantastic. The staff is friendly, entertaining and offers great suggestions. I love to eat there, and when I want to give somebody a gift certificate to a great restaurant, I always think of Matt's. Everyone is always appreciative and tells me how delighted they are to learn about Matt's. It is a great lunch place, too. more

One of my favorite places to bring out-of-town friends for dinner. A quintessential Seattle experience. The freshest fish, and Matt is a wonderful host. They don't take reservations- get there early for dinner. Or, go for lunch- sit at the counter and try the catfish sandwich. Hard to beat. more

Matt's is delicious and it's always a treat to hide out there with a catfish sandwich at lunch. Matt is a welcoming and honest presence amongst the few tables and bar seats available. And did I mention the food is delectable? more

Matt's in the Market is one of those places that Seattle foodies love but given its size is not the first restaurant recommended. Or maybe everyone would love to keep this gem for themselves. Either way, Matt's is splendid! Food, excellent. Wine selection, outstanding. Service, top-notch. Atmosphere, cozy (but never feels cramped). You'll need reservations, so call ahead. more

One of the well-concealed gems tucked away in the ever-touristy Pike Place Market is my favorite bistro-style eatery - Matts. The dining area is very small and the bar area serves as their kitchen where the charming chef whips up mouthwatering concoctions over portable gas burners. A little cramped, you might say, but this just adds to the unique charm of this spot. Their continental cuisine favors simplicity and freshness of ingredients (which are all sourced from the neighboring market and thus guaranteed to be exceedingly fresh, especially the seafood). It was here that I was able to savor the most tender, juicy king salmon ever. The delectable fillet literally melted in my mouth. The chocolate pot de creme that I had as a follow-up was lusciously smooth and rich with strong hints of dark chocolate. The popularity of this bistro is evidenced by the long lines that form outside the door whenever it deigns to open, so if you would like to have a decent chance at getting a table, go early! more

I've been debating whether to write this one up because every time I tell anyone about this place I think I'll have a harder time getting a table. But I am such a fan I can't help myself. My favorite spot in Pike's Place Market is Matt's in the Market. It's a small, out of the way place that has great food, an excellent wine list, and a fantastic atmosphere. Located on the second floor on the South end of the "sanitary market" building Matt's seats maybe 24 people between it's 5 tables and counter. If you go sit at the counter. You can't look out the window at the Market and Sound, but you get to watch them work the kitchen and chat freely with the staff. If you're like me you'll be blown away that they can turn out the quality and quantity they do using only 2 portable propane burners and an oven. The food has a bit of a Southern feel, and includes fresh stuff from the Market. There's always a fish dish and some type of fowl. The past few times I've gone in for dinner there's been a great pork dish. At lunch they have a regular menu that consists of 4 sandwiches (I recommend the catfish), 2 salads, and 2 soups (gumbo and a soup of the day). They have a daily special sheet that includes a couple entrees. Sandwiches are $10 each and come with soup or salad. Specials range from $10-14. Dinner brings a different menu, still limited to about half dozen dishes. Plus soup and salad. Matt likes to experiment, and his dishes are always unique and flavorful. And well balanced. Add that his wine list is nearly always perfectly pairs and you get a great meal. And don't forget dessert. If bread pudding is on the menu, order it. Same goes for the pot de cream....or anything else for that matter. Reservations are required, even for lunch. So plan ahead, call ahead, then go enjoy. more

I'm reluctant to tell others how great this place is because it's so good (and fairly small). The service is attentive, and is done with a bit of edge...the people who work there are funny and clever, and that makes for a fun experience. The food is always fresh from the market. This is a place where you can ask what's best, including the wines, and they will give you a great recommendation. Only doesn't: it's not easy to get in. more

One of the best, highly recommended. It was a delightful dinner, our manila clams and halibut were the best we had in Seattle. Small restaurant, just two burners - make reservations. more

Matt's in the Market is in the space that once housed Cafe CounterIntelligence, located in the Sanitary Market building (the same building as the Crumpet Shop) on the upper floor overlooking the Market and the water. Call for a reservation, as this is a small space with a few counter seats and about a half-dozen tables. It is perfect for a date if you can manage to get a table. The excellent lunch and dinner menus feature regional and seasonal bistro-style fare, and everything is worth a taste. The white anchovy salad is much better than it might sound. more

Matt's in the Market isn't easy to find (it's on the second floor of one of the Pike Place Market buildings) and isn't easy to get a seat in (it seats 23 at a time), but it's worth the effort. This tiny, cozy restaurant serves ultra-fresh, made to order food from a little open kitchen, and it's just great. Expect local ingredients, usually right from the Market, combines in creative ways. The salmon cakes on potato-arugula salad and the pork and hominy soup were particularly memorable. Share a dessert; they're massive but delicious. It's not terribly expensive for the level of detail and attention they bring to the meal. more

Matt's in the Market is a great find for those who like steakhouse-quality food and wine without the steakhouse-level pretension, or, for that matter, without the steak. That's not to say that they don't serve meat (or that its clientele isn't entirely without pretension) but they tend to focus on fish, although they do have very good vegetarian food. And as for the snootiness, well, a little sophistication now and again can always be fun. The menu changes with the seasons, but is generally short and quite tasty. The deserts change nightly, and are always amazing. more

If you know the Pike Place Market, you know that there are many twists and turns to it's interior. It's like a childhood adventure discovering all its surprises. That's what you'll find way up on the second floor of the Sanitary Building of the Market: a hidden gourmet jewel. At first appearance Matt's appears to be just a lunch counter. Squeeze past all the lunch and dinner crowds anxiously awaiting a seat and you'll find a few tables also set by the window with a view of the Market and the sparkling waters of the Puget Sound. Like Matt, who cooks behind the counter, the place is unpretentious. Matt serves up exquisite gourmet versions of Northwest cuisine along with a fine wine list to match. Never has a lunch counter dining experience been so satisfying! One wonders how so much talent can be squeezed into the narrow restaurant space. Despite this they also feature a live jazz band squeezed in a corner one night a week! Dining at Matt's feels like gourmet dining in Matt's home! PS They do take reservations now. more