YES, IT'S WORTH YOUR VISIT!! It's officially my FAVOURITE spot in Ottawa. I've been to many restaurants over the last couple years I've moved to Ottawa, but coming from the GTA, my taste buds have been spoiled from the other side. We visited for our anniversary dinner just from googling our way through, called couple hours in advance and got a slot for 9:15PM. When we got there it was packed, I got a little impatient waiting until just after 9:45 to be seated, we ended up getting the couch table in the patio. Super warm and cozy, I forgot all about the wait by the time we sat down. My other half is usually picky, but this place has my heart, we loved every part of the seafood tower, even the sushi & sashimi was prepared perfectly. Don't even get me started on the hamachi sashimi in that tower... For a Mediterranean place, I am IMPRESSED!! The scallop was nicely done, just seared enough and not cooked through so you can taste the sweetness. The lobster was also on point, . We ordered the Arancini because we saw the photos online, it's average. We also got the dessert. Now... I'm not a fan of s'mores or sweets, but we could not stop digging into that plate! We've already booked a 2nd visit for another celebration tonight, simply because I couldn't stop talking about trying their Tomahawk steak that I saw the next table eat. Yes, pricy, but this time we got another friend to join so we can get some help on sharing that bill . All in all, even though it's expensive, it's WORTH IT. Highly recommend! read more

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Delicious food, beautiful interior & lovely customer service! We ordered the calamari, seafood pasta & chocolate torte. It was nice of them to exclude clams for the seafood pasta upon request. Calamari was delicious, seafood pasta was creamy and delicious, chocolate torte was delicious I love how cherry reduction cut out richness as it was very rich! read more

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Everything was PERFECT. One of the best restaurant experiences I have had in a long time. Service was amazing, how the whole staff works as a team to insure your every need is taken care of is spectacular and appreciated. Food was prepared so well and I and my wife enjoyed every bite. A special shout out to the bartender and our server( Vero) I mentioned to the her that I enjoyed my Martini and wondered how it was slightly different in a pleasant way. She mentioned my comment to the bartender and he visited our table to explain that it was probably the Vermouth used (from Spain) and poured me a small glass to taste o its own - delicious ! Great evening, will return. read more

This was my first time in the location. We were serve by Cameron. We started with sparkling water ($6.50). My boyfriend ordered the Cababogie beer ($9) I got myself The Branch cocktail. Cameron told me that it won the 10 place in a cocktail competition/contest. The ambiance is loud, I don't know if people need to speak loud. However it is hard to have a conversation, you hear everything. We were eating inside might be different on the patio. We ordered the Burrata Cheese ($24) so worth it. It has so many mix of flavours, this has to be my favourite plate of the night. I will need to have it again. It comes with Burrata cheese, Prosciutto, tomatoes and pickled onions. I had it with the chips (I totally forgot the name). I made all kind of different combinations fig and prosciutto are my favourite one. For the main I choses the charcoal chicken ($34) and my boyfriend the ribeye steak ($58). I am a chicken lover, I loved how juicy it was however it was missing a little something for me. I could taste the charcoal, but missing a little kick. It came with a side of carrot salade and duck fat fries. The fries were great, happy I got to try them with my dish! My boyfriend loved his steak it came with potatoes and a dip. We did not know if it was for the fries or the steak so tried it with both. We did not order dessert this time. Too full, the appetizer was a very good size for two. We will be coming back we have a reservation already booked. Keep in mind that it's a few weeks waiting time. read more

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We loved this place. The decor, the service, the food, it is a very nice place. We had 3 appetizers, the lobster tacos, the tuna tartar and tuna crudo. All super yummy and fresh. For the main dish we had the fish also awesome. For the desserts we ordered the crumble, it was ok but doesnt stand out like the rest of the dishes. Definitely recommend and we will for sure be back. read more

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As a family we went out to celebrate Mother's Day and our mother's birthday. We were greeted with such kindness and professionalism when we asked about the items on the menu. The fresh flavorful seafood is phenomenal. Our waitress Max was extremely kind and helpful. We had the pleasure of meeting the owner Elias who took the time to speak with us and other clients. It feels like a place where you want to keep visiting because you feel like family. As a person who doesn't like feta, it was exceptionally flavorful in the lobster tacos and Greek salad. Thank you. It is our new favorite restaurant in Ottawa. read more

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A nice casual restaurant for great steaks! The service is good, the servers are attentive and prompt. The place is not that big, thus might feel a bit crowded, but that's expected in most of the downtown restaurants. The food is really good. The Porterhouse steak I ordered was prepared perfect, tender, juicy and flavourful. The baked potatoes as side was delicious as well. We enjoyed! Parking might be difficult as the premises has limited space. But there is a public parking lot one block north of the street for $7 for the evening. read more

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We went for my birthday and the service was exceptional. They were very welcoming and attentive. The ambiance was fine dining. The food was beyond what we expected and the portions are on par withh the prices. The only thing that I would improve is the seating. The tables are quite close together so not very private when it's busy and the chairs are not very comfortable. Otherwise it is phenomenal. I would most definitely go back and plan to. The seafood tower is really good and the waygu! So good! read more

Terrible experience. Our server brought cocktails and basically disappeared. More interested in flirting with the girls at the bar. 45 minutes to get our main course. 2 hour dinner for an appetizer and entree with a cocktail and glass of wine. $315 plus tip. One of the worst experiences in Ottawa I have had. Will not go back. Management and owners should be ashamed of this experience. read more

Excellent spot for food in Little Italy! We had only been for brunch previously which had been delicious, but received some recommendations to try dinner as well. Definitely a little on the pricey food, but the food was WORTH it for a special night out! We had the arrincini balls to start which were excellent and the tomahawk steak started. Their parmesan potatoes that come on the side were delicious and it was definitely enough food to split between two people. They have a heated outdoor patio that did fluctuate in temperature a lot, we weren't that close to the heat lamps but it would often alternate and run either too cold or too hot during our stay. But overall, was a great spot and will definitely be back to try one of their other delicious looking steaks! read more

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Mati is the epitome of an Instagram-worthy restaurant. With gorgeous décor, large windows and unique finishings; beautifully plated food; and not to mention a PATIO (#patioseason), it makes sense why it's everywhere I look on social media. I'll admit it definitely made it on my list of "Places To Try" for one (or all) of those reasons. And I wasn't wrong. The place was indeed very Instagram-worthy and I saw plenty of potential influencers taking photos inside and outside the restaurant. The food (we ordered Braised Beef Cheek, Steak & Eggs, and Lobster Grilled Cheese) was well-executed at a reasonable-for-a-fancy-brunch-place price. The damper came from the service. When we were trying to walk into the restaurant, the door was somehow locked on the outside. We went around to the patio side to ask a waitress and she told us it shouldn't be locked and to try again, continuing with what she was doing. We tried it again for another minute (having had 3 people try it) before a departing guest let us in. When we finally got into the restaurant, we found a hostess standing at the door smirking at us. It would seem as if she'd seen our struggle? We let her know about the door and she said it shouldn't be locked. Ok, sure. She led us to our table where it took a while before we were offered water. When one of my friends asked for a new glass due to the large particles floating in his water, she ROLLED HER EYES, and said it was probably just due to it being hard water [unlikely since nobody else had the same problem], did he still want to change the glass? Yes, yes, he did. The rest of the meal was, for the most part, uneventful. She did once come to ask us how the food was but also left before we could even finish our sentence. We did not see her again until we asked for our check, having to flag down another waitress to go find her. Unfortunately, while picture-perfect, the service at Mati made the entire experience very disappointing for me. It is unlikely I will return. read more

Mati - Steak & Eggs (front) and Braised Beef Cheek (back) - Mediterranean Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Mati took over for black dog (or black cat??) which had one of the best Ottawa burgers, if you can remember. It's location is a bit obscure and not obvious where it is on Preston. A few of My table mates walked by it like an old man looking for his glasses in the middle of the night. A few things to rave about: The yellowfin crudo, the tartar, the gnocchi, the borratta. Wow. Superb. The calamari was the only thing I wasn't crazy about but it was decent. I ordered the pork chop with polenta which was a legendary dish - brilliantly cooked and an amazing salty cheesy side to go along with it. Absolute perfection. Wife had a lovely chicken dish with a great chimmichurri. Also at our table was the trout, the steak and shrimp, and the Tomahawk. Some of the best in Ottawa are in the open kitchen. Bra-Fucking-Vo A few things to bitch about: It was fucking LOUD! I like loud restaurants but I know some people don't. Eat here later (after 9) if you want a more relaxed atmosphere. I saw a bunch of old jiggers in what appeared to be deep consternation. I hated my gin martini. Not sure why it tasted so wrong. Maybe too much vermouth? But I want to taste the gin, not much else, and I couldn't. I NEVER send things back (just my rule of thumb) and so I kept it and traded it at my table for a Campari drink which was excellent. Wifey loved her 2 cocktails. Maybe was a fluke. It was really slow. Food and drink took time to make its way to our table. It was busy...packed....and our server was kind and attentive (he was also training a new waitress). But, in the end, they TOOK CARE OF US! This is a pro place that I hope will thrive for years to come. 100% will return again. read more

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Good food! The seafood pasta is definitely worth it! However the burger was a bit dry and unflavoured. read more

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Excellent food and atmosphere. Absolutely a must visit when in Ottawa and need a great evening out.

Overall, I love the interiors, atmosphere, and service, and presentation of the food, but the food itself was lacking in flavour/interest for the price point. 1) First time I came for dinner and tried: Cocktails: negroni fraise, norman st.sour, buffalo soldier, jungle out there, jimadors café. These were all really well-made and strong. I sat at the bar and was able to watch the bartender make all the drinks, which was entertaining. He was attentive and quick to make drinks. Tuna crudo - there were about 5 cube shaped pieces of crudo; the fish went well with Dakos - deliciously savoury and rich, but easily replicable at home. The toast was crispy, there was a lot of olive oil and balsamic, and cheese. Each bite was a nice mix of flavours. Prime ribeye - although presentation was beautiful, the meat quality was lacking somewhat. It was cooked correctly, but there was quite some gristle. Chimchurri was excellent, however. 2) Second time I came with my work colleagues for lunch! Making a reservation was easy, and you get a reminder on Yelp the day of. Everyone loved the atmosphere and interiors, although it took quite a long time (about an hour) for everyone to receive their food. We were a group of 14 people, and most of us ordered the big crunch (crunchy chicken sandwich), so I'm not sure why it took so long. We did enjoy the sandwich, as it was crispy and flavored enough, but it was too oily; not the light batter I was expecting. At the end of the meal, it felt heavy. If they could find a way to make it less oily, it would be amazing! One colleague really enjoyed her seared tuna salad, and another really liked the mussels. One colleague who ordered the sirloin steak was not very impressed, as it was not cooked to their liking and had a lot of gristle. He was the last one still eating since he had to discard many pieces of the steak and cut it thoroughly before chewing. However, the shoestring fries in general are great (not too oily), and the garlic aioli is always a great accompaniment. The restaurant is a good choice, but there are others which are better for the price point. It's a gorgeous place to relax with friends though, the atmosphere is amazing (good mixed crowd, lots going on, celebrations). read more

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I had reservations for 5:30 and called in to tell them I would be 5 minutes late. I got called back yo be told they would now seat us at the bar because we are running too late! The food was good but the waitress showed up at 7:15 to tell us NO dessert for you and your time has run out. $350 dinner for 3, glasses of wine and booted out. I would have given 1 star but the food was good. Will not go back. read more

Fabulous as always at Mati! Always the best Oysters in town! Everything here is fantastic from service to ambiance to food itself!! read more

Mati - Oysters - Mediterranean Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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Favourite restaurant in Ottawa. Steaks, appetizers (especially the tartare), and the seafood tower are all awesome. The lobster tacos though, are unreal. Great drink menu and bartender service as well. Nice patio and great Little Italy location. Love this place. read more

This is a "go to" place on Preston. The food is amazing. Great flavour and great quality. We love to go here with friends and share plates. Start with the seafood tower and then go from there. Items that stand out (other than the seafood tower) is the Grilled Calamari and Steak & Crudo. Wine selection is very good. They have friendly staff and the owner is there to make sure your evening is great. read more

The food was very ordinary. I got the tuna tartar and it was just alright. The taro chips on the side tough like they were stale. The hi tea mocktail was filled with ice, the actual drink tasted like sprite with a syrup. Definitely overpriced. The atmosphere was ruined by how loud the music and other customers were. Everyone at every table was absolutely screaming. The service was alright, they tried their best, although the kitchen did not fully understand how to cater to a dairy allergy. We sent a plate back and when it returned it still had cheese on it meaning it was just scraped off, not prepared again. read more

We are regulars at this place and like the vibe and the food. I had booked online and had noted that it was for my son's Birthday. But, todays experience was unfortunately not good. We were seated all the way to the back ,on the street side,which we know from experience, is the the worst seating location.I did notice it was the same hostess who gave us this table today and 2 prior occasions(we asked previously to be moved)....not a very attentive hostess. The waiter was the worst we have every had at Mati. (the better team, serve the customers on the other side). He made a mistake with an appetizer...did not ask us how we wanted our Tomohawk steak done.. brought the wine for the meal first and then, the cocktail..when it should of been vice versa... We were 4 people and he brought 2 chopsticks instead of 4..etc.I needed to ask for tongs for the meat..etc The appetizers and Hamburger were good. The Tomohawk steak was room temperature, not warm and was 40% fat...We were very disappointed. It seems when the owners are not around,the quality slips and certain staff are not as attentive. read more

My girlfriend and I visited Mati last night to have a late dinner. We have nothing but compliments with regards to the meal and service. We shared several first bites dishes. The ingredients were fresh and well-balanced. We particularly enjoyed the burrata and gnocchi- amazing! Our server was very kind, friendly and very attentive. It was the lovely evening we had hoped for -thank you for making it such an enjoyable one! read more

Had an office function here last night. Approximately 30 people. We were seated in the upstairs room all together. It was very loud. As for food, it was fantastic! We had shared plates that arrived throughout the evening. Oysters, calamari, chicken, meat balls, steak, cheese....all food was very good. read more

My husband and I made a reservation at Mati for our wedding anniversary. When we arrived, we were sat at a table for two located beside the window with a nice street view and a 'Happy Anniversary' card placed on the table signed by all of the staff! We were then approached by our server who provided us each with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine! And that was only the beginning of what ended up being an amazing experience at this restaurant. For appetizers, we ordered the scallops and burrata. We both thoroughly enjoyed them! The burrata dish was beautifully plated and had a great salty and sweet taste to it. The baguette that came with it was perfectly toasted with olive oil and so soft and fresh! For our main course, my hubby ordered the short rib and I ordered the grilled chicken. Again, the food was so tasty!! The portion sizes were just right and all items on the plate perfectly complimented each other. Last but not least, the restaurant had a great ambiance and our server was extremely friendly, knowledgeable and on point all night! I would have to say that this was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had in Ottawa! read more

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Some of the best dining in Ottawa, hands down. Great for a special night out with your SO and the food is extremely visually appealing. It tastes just as good. You should definitely check this place out if you havent already. I will be back for sure. read more

Mati is a must in Ottawa! Excelent drinks, food and service. Tuna tartare was delicious! We spent a beautiful and different night. read more

they offered us a coffee table for dinner...and so many tables were available. I said exchange or waiting for next available table. The manager said no and without any options. My friends seated on the coffee table for 20mins, they didn't even bring a glass of water . And on the reservation web, no information showed it was a coach. Tonight is new year eve, this restaurant ruined our night! read more

Really cool spot and nice decor. Great addition to the Preston food scene. Food and drinks are on the pricey side. Wife and I shared 3 apps, a main and dessert. 4 drinks - $170 + tip Order it: half chicken cooked on charcoal - smokey, juicy and very tender. Serves with crispy potatoes and a grain mustard slaw. $28 Leave it: beef tartare. My issue with tartare is how little beef you actually get at restaurants in general. I would have preferred to taste more harissa and beef, the sweetness from the beets overpowered the dish. $19 Service: great service, our waitress was attentive and pleasant. My friends all enjoyed their meals, I'm sure we will go back. Next time, gonna get that 48oz tomahawk chop. read more

I went to this restaurant on my first anniversary with my girlfriend. It was a terrible experience. Because there was no parking space, the girl at the reception desk tell me to park in the customer parking lot of scotia bank across the street and there is no one check because is late of the day, which resulted in my car being towed and ticketed. Not only did the restaurant owner refuse to take any responsibility after the incident, and the owner also hung up on me when I was talking. That's how they treat their customers, so mean and disrespectful. Will never go again. read more

Mati - ticket for the towing car - Mediterranean Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Not impressed with the service and their food is not the best i have tasted. Our second time and never again! They kill the taste with a great amount of salt. The service lacks efficiency and it is not consistent. The servers also appear to have received zero customer service training. I give them 2 star for just existing past a year with this poor business model. Not impressed! read more

The Best Steak & Seafood in OTown bar none! This based on food quality, creative, preparation and professional service - All this and still at very competitive pricing. Keep your focus Mati ! read more

Great ambience, service and food! Pleasantly surprised my visit.. I enjoyed the Bennies here, especially the hollandaise sauce. I had my eggs medium poached, not too runny. The French Toast was pretty good too. I also got the "Peaches Be Crazy" cocktail - so good! Looking forward to visiting again. read more

food tasted only O.K. definitely not worth the $. however, environment is cool if that means anything. there are many other pricey restaurants that are much more worthwhile. read more

Delicious cocktails, delicious food, friendly service with a gorgeous décor... right in the heart of Little Italy. I always look forward to girls night out at Mati, because it's a guaranteed great experience! read more

Love this place. Service is great. Food is great. Aesthetic is cool. I've been here 3 times and each time I'm left wanting to come back ASAP! read more

Seafood tower was fresh and good presentation. The ribeye steak was great! Good service and atmosphere.

The food was delicious and the atmosphere is quite lovely, but it is very pricey. Will be back but might save as a "special occasion" spot only, simply because of cost. read more

Place looks great, waitstaff was very kind, but the food was not as expected. These were the orders and the reviews of those who ate them. Since there is no menu on the website, I am trying to write this using my memory of the dishes ordered: The swordfish (I think): person said they enjoyed it. The surf and turf: which included 2 pieces of jumbo shrimp and steak-he was not asked how he would like his steak so when it arrived (cold) we found out that it's cooked medium, which is fine- but cold. The two pieces of jumbo shrimp tasted great. The short rib, which was forgettable, took a couple of bites, never finished it, flavorless. The zucchini and eggplant fritters (I think) deep fried and piled on each other which made them a complete soggy pile. Our waiter was kind enough to remove it from our bill because we openly complained about. Hummus- grainy??? Why is the hummus watery/ grainy?? I had emailed the manager the night before asking about vegan options for myself, with the correct date and time of my reservation- I was assured there were vegan options. Basically hummus (which was ALMOST sold out for some reason?) and fries were offered. (There are also random vegetables but I don't really order them in non-vegan places because it is likely cooked in "herbed butter.") Apparently they forgot I had requested vegan options ahead of time, which can happen, we are all human right?? But my main concern was that I ensured the waiter knew I was only ordering fries because of the slim vegan options, and as I was finishing my big bowl of shoestring fries, there was a broken off piece of fried halloumi cheese mixed in, which shows me one thing- everything is likely cooked in the same oil/grill, and there is really no consideration for people who openly have a dietary restriction. Please do not claim a specific food is vegan or say you definitely provide vegan options; or at least kindly make an attempt to not cook it alongside something that is not vegan. If these requests cannot be met, then at least be honest enough to a guest who is spending money on your promise to deliver. Thank you Derek for your attention, and keeping our glasses filled, and removing the sucky item from our bill, you were very kind. TL:DR - nice waitstaff, nice decor, forgettable food, definitely not vegan. read more

Unbelievable dinner with 8! Seafood tower was excellent, everyone of our main courses was fantastic, steak, tuna, grilled calamari. Sorel was a great host, welcoming, sincere! I would rank Mati as one of the best restaurants in Canada! I live in Toronto but I may make a special visit soon! Milonas Family read more

Outstanding dinner! The steak was perfectly cooked. The owner explained their state of the art charcoal grill and it has definitely paid off! I come from NYC which has tons of top notch steakhouses and this place was on par with top NYC restaurants. Will definitely be back! read more