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Matisse
Category: Restaurants French French [Edit]
924 2nd Ave(between 49th St & 50th St)
Manhattan, NY 10022
Neighborhood: Midtown East
(212) 546-9300
- Nearest Transit:
-
Lexington Av/53 St (E, M)
51 St (4, 6, 6X)
Grand Central - 42 St (7, 7X)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 12 pm - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 12 pm - 1 am
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
74 reviews for Matisse
Review Highlights
"...I had Duck Confit, Ribeye steak, and Beef Bourguignon."
(in 12 reviews)
"This foie gras is amazing" "Whaaat."
(in 10 reviews)
"RIB EYE STEAK-FRITES: Though the steak was very tasty and..."
(in 2 reviews)
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74 reviews in English
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Review from Lisa Y.
New York, NY
10/1/2011
Came here with my fiance before our first trip to France, and wow, we are loving French cuisine! Bonus that we came with a Savored 30% coupon!
The place is very charming. We were seated outdoors on a warm fall evening and started off with a Bordeaux and a beer-Sprite-grenadine. Both nice welcoming beverages into the weekend.
SEARED FRESH FOIE GRAS: love! very flavorful with a bit of crunch factor. May have been the salt sprinkled on top. The flavors melded very nicely together with the caramelized apple and gastric calvados sauce.
"JULIA CHILD" BEEF BOURGUIGNON: To be able to swirl that butter linguini around in that sauce is just heaven! The beef was also quite tender.
RIB EYE STEAK-FRITES: Though the steak was very tasty and perfectly medium, the star of the dish was the frites. Good size fries always make the meal more hearty and delicious.
Overall, the food, drinks, and service were spot on. We cannot wait to come back to Matisse (and go to France!) -
Review from Angela K.
1/19/2012
I had an early dinner at home the other night but was hungry for a second dinner around 10ish and decided on trying Matisse right down the street from me rather than creating more dishes by cooking or trash by ordering in.
The roomie got a steak-y creation that was much larger than typical french proportions and seemed satisfied. I had some of the fries.. they were good, a little thick but still lightly crispy crunchy on the outside.
The first batch of bread seemed homemade and was sooo tasty!!
This place has to be good because they got me eating vegetables!! The beet salad was great, perfectly cooked and lightly seasoned beet cubes, nothing like the funky canned stuff. They have something called 'eggplant caviar' its almost like a thick eggplant salsa/dip. A little spicy, and super tasty a top the bread.
The second batch of bread was slices of soft baguette. Not the same homemade goodness of the first batch of bread, but still very tasty, seemed more 'french' and paired perfectly with the veggie sides.
The salade matisse *gasp.. yes I actually ate a salad! (because I ate so much freaking bread lol)* was actually really good.. I loved the dressing, a vinaigrette was really good and tasted like it had a little mayo or something creamy in it.
oo I forgot the service is freakishly attendant.. I couldn't take a sip of my water without them refilling it. haha. (that is the sweet Hispanic bussers.. not the french waiter, but he was actually nice and less snooty that most :)) -
Review from Benson Y.
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
It had been a while since I tried a French restaurant, but a Savored reservation provided the perfect way to give Matisse a shot without having to worry about being (totally) ripped off if I didn't enjoy the experience. It was a cold night so as my girlfriend and I ran into this cute restaurant on a corner of Midtown East.
The interior of the restaurant was mostly candlelit, nice wood furniture and a small bar in the front. There were some cushioned seats against the walls and a back area led to the kitchen to the right and bathroom to the left. It was a lovely setting and very inviting. I wish I could say the same for the host however. The guy basically ignored us when we first walked in and continued to do so until we stared at him like puppies starving for food. I'm not sure what his issue was, but he was directly responsible for me knocking this review down a star.
When we were finally seated, the rest of the service was fantastic. All the wait staff were incredibly attentive (as evidenced by my water glass never being empty *and* him asking us if we wanted more bread - not something that happens often). They were very gracious and I really appreciated their professionalism.
Here's the rundown of what we had:
SEARED FRESH FOIE GRAS (with Caramelized Apples, Gastric-Calvados Sauce)
The sear on the foie gras was fantastic and we both enjoyed it greatly. Having the apples with it really gave it a nice extra bit of flavor. My only wish is that the dish had come with some type of cracker or bread because the flavors were SUPER intense. We used the bread given to us at the beginning of the meal which balanced out the flavors perfectly.
BOUILLABAISSE (Assorted Fish in Broth, Mussels, Calamari, Croutons & Rouille)
The broth portion of this dish was delicious, with a deep flavor that really stayed with me after I had a spoonful. It was also quite thick, not watery at all. The seafood was wonderfully chewy but not rubbery at all. They gave plenty of seafood, allowing my girlfriend and I both to pick at it and be satisfied.
FILET OF SOLE "MEUNIÈRE" (Asparagus, Peas, Carrots, Lemon-Brown Butter Sauce)
This was the winner of the night. The fish was cooked perfectly, tender and juicy with a bit of a crisp outside. The butter sauce was amazing and the lemon gave it a brightness that kept it from drowning in the butter flavor. The vegetables were cooked very nicely, with a nice bite.
Aside from the gruff host, everything else about my experience at Matisse was excellent. I'd happily go back to try some of their other dishes. -
Review from Anita C.
1/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
We shared the seared fresh foie gras which was really nice. And I got the rib eye medium rare with fries. You can't go wrong with this dish! My brother ordered one of their "signature" dishes and neither of us liked it more than the steak. I think the name of the dish was "JULIA CHILD" BEEF BOURGUIGNO," but it was similar to a beef stew and the beef was overcooked and a bit dry. Please don't quote me on the name of the dish.
I hate to recommend a rib eye from a French restaurant because I think they probably make other dishes that they are well known for. So if you want a rib eye, I'd go elsewhere. I'd come here again and try something more traditional, but for right now, I'd have to give it only 3 stars because the one French dish we did order wasn't that great. -
Review from Chris D.
New York, NY
1/29/2012
Great little French restaurant, the food is excellent and the service very good... Anytime again!
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Review from Li Y.
11/14/2011
Hmm this is a very cute place. It is more like a 3.5. They had live music player on the weekend that just went so well with the ambiance.
Foodwise, I had the foie gras which was a bit overcooked/burnt, not a good combo for foie gras. Also had the steak tartare with French fries. Man oh man French fries were damn good. Steak tartare was decent too.
Also there were little bugs on the wall in the corner, which didn't particularly bother me but still they shouldn't be there.
I know my friends are regulars here and they love it, which is why I went. For me, it is a okay. She suggests the skirt steak. -
Review from Giovanni F.
ASTORIA, NY
2/1/2012
It was amazing place to visit. I had the opportunity to have a dinner last Sunday (recommended by a friend of mine), and let me tell you Food, Service and Atmosphere were absolutely AMAZING!!!! Raviolis....delicious; Snails. ...wow what a flavor; Veal..... super; Julia Child Beef B...... unique. my girlfriend was so happy and she enjoyed absolutely everything. Good place to come back for Valentines Day. The Staff so friendly and attentive since we were in.
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Review from Ange l.
ASTORIA, NY
1/8/2012
Took my sister here when she visited and loved it. We started with the fromage appetizer which was excellent and I definitely recommend if you're a cheese lover (and why wouldn't you be?!). I got filet of sole which was incroyable! Got a sacrebleu martini which had blue cheese stuffed olives. So good... Service is excellent and ambiance very relaxing and pretty.
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Review from Puja L.
11/16/2011
I should qualify this review with the statement that I am not a new yorker...so prices here are not what I'm used to.
We dropped a lot of cash at this place, and I won't say I was happy about a lot of it. The mini ravioli appetizer is cute and yummy (but nothing to write home about). The escargot, on the other hand, was delicious...especially on their bread. That was a good choice. The seared foie gras was quite tasty, but isn't it always?
My husband ordered Julia Child's beef bourginoin and did not particularly like it. I got the truffled mac and cheese and enjoyed it, but didn't really think it's was worth the $14/side price tag. But again, I'm not necessarily the best judge of value in new york. The lamb leg was quite spectacular looking, but very very fatty. My friend really enjoyed her enormous pot of mussels.
The thing that bothered me most about this place was that despite being upscale, pricey, French...there was nothing great about the service or the experience. I would have felt just as welcomed and special at the olive garden. Oh, that was perhaps a bit mean...but kind of how I felt.
I did enjoy the singing, and the chocolate cake was a nice dessert (although my friend had inquired, and was told it was a spongy cake which it is decidedly not...it's mostly ganache). The creme brulee had a terrible custard. They should have their French badge taken away for that eggy mess. -
Review from Emma C.
10/4/2011
The food was definitely forgettable and is now just a lost figment of my dining experiences - right after I write this review.
Service is attentive for dinner, however, the entrees were not impressive. The special of the day was Pork Loin with Fingerling potatoes and a side of red cabbage for $25. To my disappointment, the meat lacked juice, flavor, body - and the potatoes were served on the cold side. Since my protein truly proved to be both unexciting and unimpressive, I asked for a bit of extra cabbage and they charged me extra. $27 for an entree and I could head to a joint that can really blow me away.
Pass for next time and will not be coming back. -
Review from Amandeep K.
Seattle, WA
9/19/2011
I was in NYC for a weekend and happened to check this place out. I must say, it was hands down one of the best dining experiences I've had. Everything from the food to the service was excellent. I had the lamb shank and my friend had the catch of the day. The lamb shank was very tender and flavorful. I would say the preparation was perfect. Before that we had tried the mini ravioli, which was very good too! The owner was managing everything on his own and recommended us the dishes we ordered. He was really nice and offered us hors d'oeuvre on the house. He served us the shrimp cocktail with avocado and the eggplant cavier. Both the dishes were perfect. We topped off the meal with some cognac. The service provided was excellent too and I would definitely come back to this place when I'm in NYC next. The entire experience was top class and we really enjoyed it.
Overall: Highly recommended. -
Review from Jasmine G.
Bay Area
9/6/2011
The only reason why I rated the restaurant 3-stars instead of 4 is because the price of the meal is not worth the quality (and quantity) of what you're getting. We ordered the Croque Madame & Beef Bourgognon, and both were delicious. We also tried the Freshly Seared Foie Gras (with caramelized apple slices). The Foie Gras was great, and tasted a little like fried tofu, but the meal in general met my French dining standards as well as lovely ambiance. The service is nice and the location is convenient.
However, next time I want to drop $25 for a Croque Monsieur, I definitely know of other legitimate French cafes/bistros with just as tasty entries.
Overall, very pleasurable experience and food quality though. -
Review from Sarah L.
Paramus, NJ
9/1/2011
Definitely did justice to my favorite artist's namesake. I'm a starry-eyed sucker for all things French, but this place is seriously golden. No reservations, walked right up, and then chose to sit outside since the weather was warm and breezy. Perfect summer night, much? Started off with a rose sangria, which I was relieved to find light and crisp and super tasty. FINALLY!!! (I've been on a personal mission to scout the best sangrias in the city and this one makes the cut.)
Got one of the entree specials, linguine with seared salmon AND salmon sashimi (no complaints here on the pink fish overload) along with some asparagus and other veggies that I cannot presently recall. Sauce was creamy and piquant, though it dried up pretty fast toward the end while the noodles also hardened. I guess that just means you have to scarf it all down!
I highly recommend this lovely little gem to others aaaand myself for a return visit, especially now that I've read everyone's rave reviews about their live jazz Saturdays. But what really makes this restaurant is its impossibly charming Frenchman of a host. Oh bonsoir, I would like to drown in your accent, s'il vous plait. Is that option available on the menu? -
Review from Janel Y.
9/4/2011 4 photos
Headed here for dinner since it was close to where we were and there was outside seating.
Here's what we ordered:
-Mussels "Marinieres" ($18): plenty of mussels and plenty of thyme! Didn't get a chance to taste the white wine sauce, but it smelled yum
-10 oz rib eye steak - frites ($27): standard steak, salad and fries
-La Merguez - frites ($17): 2 lamb sausage links which were okay. A bit salty and chewy. Salad was standard and the fries were cooked perfectly.
Overall, average meal. Service was good and inside there was live Jazz music being played. We could hear some of it from the outside seating area. A nice, cozy place for dinner without the frills or snootiness. -
Review from Mila L.
New York, NY
10/14/2011
Awesome!!!
For 40$ i was able to get a special pork tenderloin, a cocktail and hot chocolate for desert! Great deal and the food was AMAZING.
Living in New York you can get pretty spoiled when it comes to food. Luckily last night was a complete success!
I will be back for more. -
Review from Jonathan S.
Las Vegas, NV
10/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
There are only four words necessary for this review but since I generally can't shut up I'll obviously go well over that. Those four words are: Julia Child's Beef Bourguignon. It's a classic dish but they truly do it right here at Matisse.
The dining room itself is quite cramped and we chose to eat outside which, aside from an unpleasant encounter with a homeless man, was a rather charming place to eat dinner. Great French cuisine, inexpensive yet delicious wine, and deserts that were out of this world.
I'll definitely make it a habit to check this place out next time I'm in the area. Oui Oui! -
Review from Lisa K.
Batesville, IN
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Food was great! The staff was wonderful and answered our every question. Place was small and intimate. I would def suggest this as a place to go on a date night.
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Review from Daniel E.
New York, NY
8/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very surprised at how good this place is - especially since it's just a block from my apartment. Had an early dinner there and it was a great experience. Healthy food, but tasty... salad and veggies as appetizers, followed by a simple fish dish.
Excellent experience. -
Review from Samuel M.
New York, NY
9/25/2011
A good Bistro in the area. The hostess is friendly and attentive, a beautiful girl with blue eyes. A good host is the image of a place. She sat us next to the bathroom, the odor wasn't that nice, so we moved to another table.
The croque monsieur for a lunch is a perfect classic. Lots of yelpers reviewed the french fries ant they are right, they look incredible. The pinot noir wine was consistent.
The black and white photographs of Alain Dellon, Mastroianni were cool. Good music was played, electro swing, chill out. i felt in France. No rush here. It's a small, neighborhood french bistro, the owner is making a good job in this uninspired corner. It could have more ambience.
Next time i'll try the Julia Child's Beef Bourguignon. -
Review from Tia A.
Manhattan, NY
8/28/2011
Ok, so I love jazz and I love French food... Matisse! perfect.
I went there for the Saturday live music night and let me tell you these Parisian cats are swinging it old school style. It was so good I bought a CD. It was mentioned by other reviewers and it's no joke, the singer is stunning. An elderly gentleman next to me was tearing a little because of this old song she sang in French... The top quality of the music was seriously unexpected!
Now the food. We had the seared foie gras, I didn't know that existed, it was really tasty, and the onion tatin, very original I loved it. Then the tartare, like the ones I had in Paris, and the lamb shank, perfectly cooked. My salad was a little salty... but I am nitpicking.
The staff was real nice, we had a good experience, we'll be back. -
Review from Nova A.
Manhattan, NY
6/11/2011
Amazing. Really. My husband is French and when he says food is good, believe me, he knows his stuff. The "ravioles" are the greatest little pasta thingies I've tasted in my life. I hate fish and yet I tasted some and adored it, which means it had to be damn well prepared. The chef is a youngish handsome guy with a thick French accent, so friendly, like all the staff. They made us feel at home!
We went there on a Saturday and it was live French jazz night. Again, amazing! You've got yet another handsome frenchman playing the violin like a freakin god, and a singer who just takes you for a ride in a time machine. All of a sudden you are in 1930's Paris. She is fabulous.
The restaurant got a little loud at times, but you've got to know that you're coming for the music and the experience of a typical jazzy Parisian bistro. And it's worth it!!!
Everything I tasted was delicious, we had a great time and I will definitely be back... with my girlfriends! -
Review from Paul C.
New York, NY
7/21/2011
Full of potential but could be a lot better.
We've dined at Matisse several times and our experiences have been erratic. Once we went just for drinks and the bartender made us some delicious dirty martinis.
Most recently we went after work for an early dinner and it typified our past experiences. I was craving some red meat so I order Le Burger with a glass of red Rhone while the GF ordered the lamb sausage. The burger was juicy and an ideal medium rare. And the fries were delish - I could seriously make just of a meal of them. However, the GF's lamb sausages while tasty were a rather small portion for the price (I think you can probably get the same amount from a hot dog cart for 1/3 the price). She left hungry and we ended up getting a snack later that night.
The service alternates between warm and attentive to outright neglect sometimes, which is maddening. -
Review from Eric L.
New York, NY
6/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is a home run!
Our party of three each went with the $17.50 brunch special, which includes a drink, an appetizer, and an entree. Portions were generous and it was all delicious!
For drinks, we had a bloody mary and two bellinis.
For apps, we had a fruit salad -- good variety of fruits, such as mango, apple, and berries served diced; eggplant caviar, which was delicious though heavy on the garlic; and a unique celery-green apple soup.
For the main, which really secured the 5-star rating, we had eggs benedicte (with prosciutto!); croque monsieur, a perfect balance of cheese, ham, and bread beside a leafy salad; and crepes stuffed with spinach and mushrooms. All three were excellent, but if I had to choose a favorite, it'd definitely be the crepe.
We'll be coming back here again! -
Review from Craig G.
New York, NY
6/21/2011
This was our first time at Matisse. My gf and I are always trying new bistros. Service was very attentive and friendly. We started off with the Matisse Salad, which was an interesting blend of lettuce, apples, grapes, a couple of different cheeses, walnuts, and a touch of anise. I generally don't go for this type of salad, but I couldn't get enough of this one. The onion soup was outstanding, not too salty, complex herbal overtones, with a nice layer of emmental on top.
Mains were mussels and bourguignon. The mussels were serviceable, nice and fresh, and they brought a ton of them. The bourguignon was among the best I've had in New York.
Drink prices were reasonable, lots of outdoor seating and not too cramped. -
Review from Justin S.
5/7/2011
It's Midtown East, and we've got our fair share of French restaurants to choose from. Well, our favorite old standby is undergoing the renovation of a lifetime (we've noticed). We're eagerly awaiting its "grand" re-opening. Our other standby is gorgeous, but we don't feel like wearing suits tonight. So it's off to Matisse. Someone said it was "so good the last time," and the other said "Meh..." but we pulled through and made it without too much of an argument (I've never been, so what do I know?)...
I had walked by Matisse earlier in the day and it was (pleasantly) devoid of people, French doors open to Second Avenue and its lovely Spring warmth, but Saturday night means "live music" (noise), a short (five minute) wait and a number of "B&T-type" patrons with iPhones on the table, ordering white wine by the glass (cute, but not funny).
The courteous and attentive wait staff seated us as soon as they could, and the first thing I noticed was the noise. Yes, there is live music, but there is also a packed dining room constructed from bare wood and exposed brick which means "loud, loud, loud" aka "What!? Huh!? Whaaaat?" Sure, old dining companions, I'll sit between you and relay your comments/questions/bitching to one another.
OK, this is becoming enough of a narrative. Let's get to the point: The food here is EXCELLENT. Cocktails to start could be lovely, and the Monaco (beer, Sprite, grenadine) was sure to please. When in doubt, start with the good, old fashioned mixed salad with shallot dressing for a salty, flavorful offering of mesclun greens and tomatoes. The "Matisse salad" (a pleasantly diverse mix of lots of things) also looked great. The ribeye steak frites was superb (a bit fatty, but we cut it off, and surivived). N.B. "medium rare," means "rare." The fries are battered to perfection. The blood sausage platter comes presented beautifully in its true, fully ethnic form (apples, bacon, mashed potatoes). More beauty, more love. Perhaps the zenith of this is when the young-ish, French chef comes out to shake our hands and thank us for thanking him for such a great meal.
The wait staff is pleasant, friendly and attentive and the restaurant itself (the late Smörgås Chef) is charmingly dim, if a bit (ridiculously) loud. ("This foie gras is amazing" "Whaaat!?") Overall, a super-solid Beekman/Sutton/Turtle Bay/Midtown East choice and looking forward to future visits to explore the authentic offerings. -
Review from Anna K.
Brooklyn, NY
4/29/2011
Went here with a group of 6 the other night. Had the following:
-French onion soup (without bread because it was passover) - delicious!!!!!
-Steak tartare - friends said it was good
-Foie gras - friends said it was good
-Mussels - not great. The broth was not flavorful enough and the mussels seemed a bit blahh
-leg of lamb got a rave review
-saturday night special red snapper was cooked to Perfection. Highlight of the evening.
- creme brulee was not good. Not warm enough and the consistency was not ideal.
Overall, i would go back again and order the soup and a fish dish. -
Review from Liana K.
New York, NY
9/26/2011
I can't believe I've never set foot in this place until now. My sister and I had an early dinner the other day and we decided to find a restaurant in close proximity to our apt. Maybe it was the fact that we were the only customers at Matisse at the time, but the customer service was on point. I ordered their version of a dirty martini to start off. While I do love the tang of olives, I felt the drink was a little bit too much on the salty side. Not a big complaint, but it would have gone down better had it been toned down a bit in the olive juice. The mushroom risotto and boullabaise were amazing... dipping their bread in the boullabaise soup was perfectly combined with the rich flavor of the risotto. I will definitely come back to try the mussels.
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Review from Leonor W.
Manhattan, NY
11/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great food, and great ambience. The restaurant is small and packed but the food is delicious. Really has the french spirit going and brings you straight back to Paris. Saturdays are great at Matisse, they have a live french jazz bar playing and really makes the ambience going.
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Review from Palak K.
Stanford, CA
11/8/2011
Went with the pre fixe menu here for lunch and was not disappointed. Walking in It seemed like a small bistro at first, and the server and owner were very friendly as such, but I was actually slightly impressed by their culinary quality. Though I felt a bit shortchanged opting for the healthier appetizer and desert options, the generous portion of well-seasoned trout delivered. Plus, there was hardly any wait for the food, making Matisse a convenient and casual lunch spot in Turtle Bay.
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Review from Michael F.
Fair Lawn, NJ
9/16/2011
The snails are extremely good!
We ordered them twice at the same dinner. -
Review from Lisa L.
Durham, NC
5/10/2011
I came here with a few friends after simultaneously combing through the Village Vines 30%-off coupons and the Yelp reviews. I hate to be repetitive, but this is how much I liked the beef bourguignon -- I absolutely HATE mushrooms and I STILL liked this dish. The beef chunks were so tender that...oh! You just have to try it.
My friends' other dishes looked pretty good -- the sole, the bouillabaisse, and the braised lamb shank -- but honestly, I probably had the best dish of the night (for once).
If you can somehow manage to find room for dessert, I recommend the frangipane -- a very light dessert that counters the heaviness of the beef bourguignon. -
Review from lynn f.
New York, NY
8/24/2011
I wasn't going to review this , but saw so many out of towners giving it 4 or 5 and thought it a bit misleading . Unless its improved alot over the last 6 months I am surprised. We dont have that many good Bistros in our neighborhood, but I'm a bit spoiled because there are so many better downtown. I went twice and everything was fine , but nothing made me want to come back except for the convenience that it is down the block It also has a nice atmosphere and the the service was good.
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Review from Christina M.
New York, NY
3/24/2011
We walked in on a Friday night and lucked out on a table at his cute French bistro. I had Julia Child's Beef Stroganoff. My companion's salmon was cooked nicely, with a crispy skin.
The French onion soup was probably my favorite part of the meal, with toasted bread and cheese on top - the broth was delicious and flavorful. The waitstaff was decently attentive and navigated the small aisles well.
Lovely, artful, comforting. We shared a glass of white wine and it felt like...home. -
Review from Lisa C.
1/5/2011
I was lucky enough to find Matisse on the first night of my business trip to NYC. It was the first cold week in town this winter and I was trying to not go far from the hotel on 3rd. I went over to 2nd and there they were. The place looked warm and cozy from across the street, so in I went. And then I returned every night I was free during my week long trip.
After taking my coat, the hostess/bartender took me to my seat. I have to say that the ambiance got me right away. I recently travelled again to Paris for a holiday and made a point to find bistros full of Parisians to get a feel for life there. Matisse made me feel a bit like I was in Paris. The small dining room with low light and minimal fuss in the decor really did the trick.
Service: If you are in an all fired hurry, let the staff know in advance. If you are not in a hurry, be prepared to dine at a civilized pace. That being said, the staff is attentive and more than happy to help you make a selection from their menu or select a good wine from their list. The list is not large, but does contain a good selection. There is a week day 19.99 prix fix menu as well, so watch for that. Everyone I spoke to or was served by were very nice and very accommodationg. A+
Food: YUM. Really. The chicken liver mousse is lovely. I had the appetizer all to myself and consumed the whole thing. I was hungry after my flight, but this was so good. The little cornichon were perfect for cutting the richness of the mousse. For dinner on the different nights, I had Duck Confit, Ribeye steak, and Beef Bourguignon. The duck and beef bourg. were truly delightful. I ate every bite. The ribeye steak arrived perfectly done and the red wine sauce was silky and delicious. I'm salavating thinking about these dishes. A+
So, do I recommend Matisse? In a word "ABSOLUTELY".
http://www.matissenyc..... -
Review from Aleah P.
Long Beach, CA
4/25/2011
Thanks to the yelp recommendations, we decided to try this restaurant for our last night in NY. We were not let down, the ambiance, food and service couldn't be any better!
We shared the French Onion Soup, an appetizer size of the Mussels, Beef Bourguignon, and Hanger Steak, rounding out the meal with a Creme Brulee.
The soup was delicious and the mussels were absolutely perfect- not too chewy and the garlic/herb juice (or sauce) was amazing.
The Bourguignon was tender and very tasty, though the Hanger Steak was my favorite- the pepper flavor and crunchy fries made it a flavorful and satisfying meal.
We waited until our dessert wines (Port for Rory and Jaquiline champagne for me) arrived to eat the Creme Brulee, so it was a bit cold- but still fantastic. The consistency was more pudding-ish and I found that to be much more agreeable than a firm Flan-style texture.
The service was quick and very polite. We didn't run out of wine or water in our glasses and settings were cleared as soon as we were finished.
The cozy ambiance and friendly staff definitely compliment the delicious food to make the whole experience delightful. We will definitely dine there on our next NY trip. -
Review from Mike P.
1/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Matisse was a shot in the dark, only affirmed by checking some review on my phone before deciding to come here. It was easy enough to get to and there is a parking garage around the corner.
When we sat down we had our choice and decided to sit against the bad wall on one of the slightly larger tables. The staff was very friendly from the get go, offering some suggestions on the menu and making sure our water never ran dry. I ordered a glass of the Saint Emilion which I thought was ok. I don't know how long that bottle was open for, but that a problem when ordering a glass from any restaurant.
The food was absolutely delicious. I ordered the onion soup and it was just amazing. I really enjoyed every bite of it. I think it larger enough for 2 to share, for dinner I had ordered the Beef Bourguignon, It was highly recommended by the server so I figured it should be good. When it came out I was undecided if I like the presentation but as soon as I took the first bite I knew I had made an excellent choice. The meat was so tender and the sauce was divine, by the time I finished I used a little of the bread brought to the table to get one last taste before I finished. For dessert I split a crème brulee. It was a decent size and it was you could tell it was freshly prepared, as the molten sugar was still a little soft and the first tap had some stick to the spoon.
This place was well worth the stop, the food and service was fantastic and the prices were reasonable. The only thing is that I would defiantly say this is $$$. For 2 people splitting an app and a desert with a glass of wine each it came to about $100. This might be if we each ordered an app and a dessert it or had a second round it could have easily been 125 for a couple. -
Review from Hak bin A.
Forest Hills, NY
8/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very good service and food was very tasty... I came with my wife and she ordered strawberry basil margaritas I order a beer... Bread and olive oil came quick... It was good start... I ordered the seared foie gras which was perfectly seared and seasoned... And wife ordered the snails with bacon, which was cooked perfectly as well. She has the seafood bouliabase soup which was seasoned right as well as the seafood cooked just right... Tender and not dry... I had the blood sausage which was great but only one piece... Wish they gave more sausage as one wasn't enough... Portion wise it was on the smaller end but the taste and the technique was up to par on higher end restaurant... Will come qgain!!!
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Review from amanda v.
Vallejo, CA
9/25/2011
It was a good french restaurant. I liked the french onion and potato leek soup.My steak was dry and they had to cook it over again.
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Review from Jacqueline Y.
New York, NY
11/10/2010
I want to give it a 3.5 but its not quite a 4 star restaurant. the server and host were attentive enough and polite.
we ordered a bottle of the malbec which was surprisingly decent.
we also ordered the salted snails, the endive salad and hanger steak. the 2nd best part of the meal was the salted snails, it was cooked with bacon, YUM! and it was great to eat with the bread. the endive salad wasn't as good as expected, there were large amounts of dressing and blue cheese without enough walnuts to counter balance the heaviness of it. the hanger steak (cooked medium) was surprisingly good. but the BEST part of the meal.... the FRIES that came with the steak. they were crispy on the outside with what seemed like cajun breading but without the cajun spice. overall good place to have wine and appetizers/sides. -
Review from mark l.
Bergen County, NJ
9/27/2011
We had brunch here with a couple of friends last Sunday. A great spot to sit outside and people-watch. Their prix-fixe brunch includes unlimited cocktails (my choice was Bloody Mary) which made people-watching even more enjoyable. I had the Eggs Benedict and my friends had various omelettes. The food was very fresh and tasty. Service was fast, no complaints there. The only reason I am not giving this place 5 stars, is that they had a B rating from the NYC Health Department. I personally did not see anything to be concerned about. We probably will go back in the next couple of weeks.
