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Bucktown hidden gem serves up satisfying, traditional French fare in a cozy setting.
(773) 360-5760
1846 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago,
IL
60647
41.915067
-87.684704
Neighborhoods: North Side, Bucktown
Hours:
Tue-Thu 5pm-10pm
Fri-Sat 5pm-11pm
Sun 5pm-9pm
Price:
$$$
Cafe Matou
Last updated 11.20.09
What People Are Saying About Cafe Matou
The Owner
Cafe Matou
Owner
Since Cafe Matou's inception in late 1997, Chef Charlie Socher's menu has embodied a respect for traditional French cuisine, updating classics with simple twists to reflect current tastes and trends. Cafe Matou in Chicago occupies two storefronts and is cozy and inviting. Patrons may sit in the full-service bar or the smoke-free dining room that accommodates 54 diners. Both rooms have rustic brick walls, warm woods, high ceilings, comfy green leather chairs, colorful, original artwork by local artists and full-length windows that overlook the street. Cat-themed chandeliers adorn Cafe…
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene – A quiet, charming find on a gritty stretch of Milwaukee Avenue. Step through tied curtains from the front bar into the main dining room, where welcoming green leather chairs, hardwood floors and exposed brick set a relaxed, comfortable tone. Service is efficient, unhurried, and genuinely French, complete with charming accent. – – The Food – Matou offers simple presentations of timeless country French fare on an ever-changing menu. Creamy, flavorful pâtés of the day (chicken liver and country pork terrine on one visit) are served with cornichons…
09/26/08
Chicago's best French bistro/cafe.
by ChicagoMauiDWS at Citysearch
We moved to Chicago from NY in 2006, and have settled into Cafe Matou as our favorite bistro in the city. It's a 20 minute drive for us from Gold Coast, but worth it. Charlie is fabulous at matching ingredients, creating new combinations, and always has the perfectly complimentary sauces. The menu has enough variety to be interesting, but small enough so that everything is fresh. And James always comes up with a perfect matching, reasonably priced, wine. Service is bistro service - not perfect, but fine and knowledgable. Over 20 visits in last two years, never disappointed.
09/24/08
Cafe Matou- good fresh ingredients used with care, but not with great flair
by MankindisBlind at Citysearch
Cafe Matou is a charming little spot in Chicago. The food we ordered was delicately prepared and thoughtfully executed. The dishes, however, did not dazzle. The shrimp an crab beignet with saffron sauce that evening was refined and balanced in flavor, but lacked expression and depth. The entrees we ordered included a walleye with spaghetti squash and a very bland sauce- once again, a dish that was fresh and serviceable, but NOTHING EXTRAORDINARY. The chicken stuffed with chanterelles was only slightly better, but was by no means tantalizing. For desert we had a very rich chocolate cake that was loaded with walnuts- too rich and not enough balance or flavor. The best thing, by far, in terms of taste, though, was the corn cake desert which came with a creme fraiche (I think) and caramel sauce. This was indeed very tasty and stole the show that evening. If food is fresh or presented well, or both, that is indeed a good thing- but that doesn't make a great meal... there has to be a keen use of flavor and balance to creat a truly memorable dish- in this respect, cafe matou did not entirely succeed that evening.
- Pros: Fresh ingredients, reasonably balanced flavors
- Cons: Fell short of excellence.
06/26/08
Easily the best french food in Chicago.
by RosePants at Citysearch
This romantic French spot has a personalized wine list and friendly knowledgeable staff. My husband and I both have high standards for service, and the staff at Cafe Matou are friendly professionals who accommodated both the wine snob and the novice at my table. It is so nice to go to a restaurant where the staff has tasted all the food and most of the wine! The food is so delicious it actually occurred to me to order another entree for dessert. We have been several times and feel like it is a great date night and wonderful place to take friends. We love the Cellar Raid, which is an awesome deal; it happens the fourth Wednesday of every month, 17-dollar bottles of wine! We love this place and recommend it to anyone, make a reservation for sure.
The Details on Cafe Matou
Save Money:
From Sunday through Thursday nights, Cafe Matou offers a three-course prix fixe dinner for $22 per person.
The Extras:
On the second Tuesday of each month, the restaurant hosts a regional wine dinner featuring a six-course meal paired with French wines ($70-$80 per person, tax and tip included).
What to Drink:
The wine list features 10 by-the-glass selections for less than $10; a list of champagne cocktails features concoctions flavored with berries, chocolate and more, all created by one of the restaurant's bartenders.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Diners Club, Visa, Discover, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Local Favorite, Romantic Dining, Special Occasion Dining, Private Rooms, People Watching, Date Spot, Notable Wine List, Prix Fixe Menu
Cuisine:
Smoking Permitted:
Bar; Front section
Message from Cafe Matou
- Traditional French dining
- Eclectic wine list
- Instant online reservations
Since Cafe Matou's inception in late 1997, Chef Charlie Socher's menu has embodied a respect for traditional French cuisine, updating classics with simple twists to reflect current tastes and trends.
Cafe Matou in Chicago occupies two storefronts and is cozy and inviting. Patrons may sit in the full-service bar or the smoke-free dining room that accommodates 54 diners. Both rooms have rustic brick walls, warm woods, high ceilings, comfy green leather chairs, colorful, original artwork by local artists and full-length windows that overlook the street.
Cat-themed chandeliers adorn Cafe Matou's dining room and align with this Chicago French restaurant's name which means "tom-cat" in French. Call Cafe Matou and ask about the monthly regional wine dinner package, the second Tuesday of every month. Come visit this unique French cafe today.
