The best part of this meal was the wait staff. The young lady serving us and talking us through the menu was friendly and helpful. The food was fantastic. On the expensive side but worth it. My favorite was the scallop crudo and the steamed clams. Oh and they make a mean cocktail. read more

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Having just arrived in Orcas Island, we heard many rave reviews about Matia. I would say I wasn't too impressed, but I liked the food. We ordered the Birria Foccacia and Scallop Crudo. We came here thinking they would have actual meals, but the stuff we ordered, especially the Scallop Crudo, left us still hungry. The Birria Foccacia looked and tasted good, but not so reminiscent of actual Birria, as the consommé served with it tasted just like taco seasoning broth, no tanginess, such as lime or cilantro, added to it. With the Scallop Crudo, I would say they called it Vietnamese Nuoc Cham sauce, but I think they were actually thinking of the Lao Jeow Som. Sauce for the Scallop Crudo was delicious, though. I loved how fresh the ingredients were. For drinks, I got a mocktail of their Amaretto, I think. I liked the drink, it tasted very cozy for the weather. Overall, dishes are all farm to table here. That's why it is priced the way it is, but perhaps I wish there were just more to eat. read more

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Sadly, Matia missed the mark for us. We were really excited to try the 6-course dinner for a special occasion, and while the restaurant itself is beautiful, the experience just didn't live up to expectations. The lounge also looked great from what I could see. The food simply wasn't to my taste. At other fine dining restaurants, I've usually enjoyed almost every course, but here the only standout was the salmon, which was delicious but very small in portion. The other dishes felt overcomplicated, with too many ingredients that didn't balance well together. They were beautifully presented, as you can see in the photos, but I honestly didn't enjoy them. The tomato cake in particular had an awful texture and flavor. Service was also underwhelming for the price point. Our server did the bare minimum but wasn't warm or engaging, and even the host didn't acknowledge us as we left. That was surprising for a restaurant of this level. Maybe it was just an off night, but I really wish my partner hadn't paid so much for a meal we ended up not enjoying. read more

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Love this place!! The food was amazing the service is superb. Highly recommend doing the chef's counter!! Our new place to come to when we visit Orcas island. read more

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After a leisurely walk around town we found this great lounge. Cozy, warm, relaxed - just the right vibe to enjoy conversation and recap our adventures. The bar menu has a nice assortment of options to share and nibble on. The drink menu is packed with great ideas; including nonalcoholic cocktails. My wife loved her drink called " My First Crush" ( I'm sure there is a story behind that one). Service was attentive without being interruptive. Bread service was tasty but a tad overpriced for 2 slices. That said it is yummy sourdough with amazing butter. We also shared the tempura fried nettles. OMG, so good and the aioli is delicious. Put this on your list for a nice adult evening. read more

Matia Kitchen - Tempura fried nettles with house made aioli - soooo good! - New American Near Me - Eastsound, Washington

We had the Venetian prawn toast, clams in pho broth and bread pudding dessert and it was all phenomenal. Delicious! Awesome service as well! Will be back for tasting menu! read more

Pros- Very kind staff. Offered to take our coats and in general were very warm and attentive. Nice ambiance. very dietary restriction- friendly. Cons- the food was just okay. Definitely did not meet our expectations due to the price point. In particular the breaded pork chop on a bed of applesauce .. so sad. my mom's shake n' bake pork chop has more flavor. read more

I booked Matia Kitchen's 6-course dining experience for a babymoon staycation in the period between Christmas and NYE, and it went along with our theme perfectly. The dining room was quiet, warm, and intimate. The dishes comprised of seasonal ingredients thoughtfully combined and presented. Because of my pregnancy the chefs also made sure that anything with cooking temperature requirements were met. Our server always made sure our water glasses were filled and explained each dish to us as it came out. I spent a good amount of time during the meal indulgently rubbing my belly as I ate and digested everything. I guess I wouldn't have noticed anyway if people nearby were staring, but I felt safe and okay enough to do it, plus I think it helped give the baby the right vibes! A lot of places on Orcas Island shut down in the winter but I'm really glad Matia Kitchen stayed open. It was the highlight of our trip to Orcas, I highly recommend it for a cozy, memorable, and luxurious meal! read more

5 star hospitality precedes and compliments 5 star cuisine. Drew, your host, and Avery, your chef, are a dynamic duo!! Each perfecting their respective contributions to a unique and exceptional dining and social experience. And atmosphere, damn!! Well thought out and executed. Complimented by beautifully trained staff that obviously care about their craft and take pride in their restaurant. ... I'll always return. And, always recommend. read more

I'll start off my saying my fiancé and I frequent coursed and high end restaurants on an almost weekly basis. This was by far one of the most disappointing experiences we've had and it hurts to me leave a one star review but I truly think this restaurant deserves it. On the positives. Beautiful interior space with a nice open kitchen concept, they also had an amazing bar (which the cocktail was probably the best thing from the whole meal but more on that later). On the not so positives. Service was just ok, something you wouldn't expect from a $160 a person menu. For me this was really the downfall of the meal. It was my fiancés birthday and I specifically came up to our server mid meal and requested a candle or something at the end of the meal. Which never came, a goodbye or thank you for dining with us was also never there and we felt kind of abandoned at the end of the meal. The food itself was severely overcomplicated and had way too many ingredients per dish, felt like they were trying too hard. Portion sizes were also quite small for the price range, and the steelhead was a pretty hilariously small portion (although this was probably the best dish we had). It was also a bit annoying that I specifically requested specific proteins for my fiancé, and they still didn't fully follow those requests. The cocktails were probably the best part of the whole meal, although even those were brought out closer to our second course and took almost twenty minutes. Same thing for the second round, and the server even said something along the lines of "oh you're thinking ahead" instead of offering them to us before time and apologizing for the delay. On another note, there was never a price indicated for the meal anywhere, which I found quite weird having never experienced that before. There was also no printed menu the day of. To me this is crucial since sometimes you'd like to reference back on your bites and see what an ingredient was. I'd say that they lacked overall on the whole experience and as a whole it was underwhelming. The best parts being presentation, stone and dish ware choices, and drinks truly speak to them not focusing on the food and service itself, for me that being the most critical part of a dining experience. I truly hope this place can do better, as it is a beautiful place to dine. read more

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From the moment we walked in, to the end of the 10 course chef's tasting menu, every single element was wonderful. The sommelier was quirky, genuine, and explained things so well it was the international adventure she promised it would be along with the best local ingredients, expertly crafted dishes, and flavor combinations I would never even dream of but now will. This was the most unexpected fantastic dinner in late November. Highly recommend. This place is worth traveling to. read more

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Glorious. Quirky, elegant yet unexpected food in a dark modern space punctuated by the occasional grandma-esque goose trinket. It's ironic, they are hinting at not taking themselves too seriously--and that's why it works. It all does: from a trip directly to Japan in an egg custard with pickled vegetables and umami bomb broth, to in house sourdough and simple butter quenelle hit with sea salt, and my god a poached albacore tuna course that says see? We got wicked mad skills in this food game, and we will unleash a plate that will come around the corner and make you wanna lick it clean, dammit. But we don't wanna brag. See? We are just wearing tees and ball-caps and it can't be that serious...Or can it? Pay attention. This is one of the top five meals I've had. The details are nailed. The sommelier is effortless, self effacing and charming. They hear you, they anticipate, they deliver. It's a perfect combination. Call way, way ahead and reserve the chef's table pole position. Worth every penny and moment. read more

Waiter unshaven and in Birkenstocks. Food def mediocre. Had nothing to drink but water...Food Bill was $370.00 pre-tip. What a waste. read more

Great food and better service. They were busy on a January weekend (day before MLK jr day) so I recommend a reservation. You probably can't go wrong with anything you order here. We had the shrimp toast, bread with butter and marmalade, potato mochi, and chicken roulade and it was all fantastic. Highly recommend the bread and chicken roulade if it's available. Chicken roulade is the some of the best I've had in my life. read more

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This review is for Matia Lounge. Husband and I were in town celebrating a birthday and wanted to enjoy a higher end meal. They have a long list of beverages to choose from as well as NA offerings for the pregnant ladies out there. I really enjoyed my mocktail which was neither too sweet nor too elaborate. The name at this time is eluding me but it's the first one on the list of mocktails. We were absolutely floored by the starter of sourdough bread, seasonal preserves, and cultured butter. What a way to start a meal. Generous portion of butter and quince preserve complimented the warm, meaty sourdough beautifully. Next we enjoyed a chicory salad with a beautiful miso dressing and smoked Gouda shaved on top. Absolutely recommend as this salad shone and even my husband who isn't usually a fan of ordering salads remarked he enjoyed every bite. We both decided to order one of the handmade pastas. The flavours were unique and the pasta was tender as only handmade pasta can be. Know that the menu here changes on a daily basis per seasonal produce available, so what is posted online is just an example, but if you're open minded and like the general vibe, highly recommend. Seating at the Matia Lounge is walk up only, and as we came for an early dinner we had no problem snagging a table right away on a Saturday night in November. Bar seating was available all night if you're open to that. read more

So, I found this place as a location to have a nice meal, as a anniversary celebration with my wife. There was no indication of the cost for dinner, but the food looked good on the pictures and I went ahead and booked a reservation. Upon arrival, the dining room room is spacious, but pleasant. We were met by the hostess, who is gracious and generally appeared, pleased to have us there.. We were quickly escorted to our table, which was a nice window table for two. The whole process of introduction to the food and the menu was mildly ambiguous because they wanted to keep it a "secret". They did offer to show us what the menu would look like, but we decided to go ahead and have it be a secret. The five courses throughout the meal were outstanding, but the best was the dessert which was sublime. When we received the bill, it was over $400 and with the tip it was over $500. This was very surprising as we generally don't pay for any meal for two when we know it would cost that much, because in my opinion, no dine out meal is worth that much (imo) fully understanding that some people may pay substantially more than that. That being said, the food was delicious and the dining experience was good. I would not book another reservation at this location due to the cost. The food portions were small, but we were satisfied at the end of the meal and did not feel like we did not get enough (We are both big eaters as we do exercise quite a bit). Overall, great experience, but the cost definitely did bring us down a little bit. We were not expecting this from a restaurant on Orcas Island. read more

I did an original review and took it down as I I was worried I was being too harsh. But after a week of contemplation, I've decided to add another review as my conscious won't allow another option. Here's the positives: - Amazingly passionate staff and ownership. - Gorgeous restaurant and bar. What needs to improve: - Food seems contrived (for the vegetarian chefs tasting menu).....a slice of cantaloupe with salmon roe on top? - Pricing. For two chefs table vegetarian with wine pairings? Our bill was over $700. ....my sister called it an overly priced "Ethiopian" dinner.... Recommendations to improve your experience? - don't order the chefs tasting menu at the bar. - maybe try to avoid vegetarian options. - don't make a 5pm reservation as the door won't yet be open. - make SURE you get the bread. It's awesome. I wish this restaurant much success. I hope they figure it out. read more

We went to Matia last night for their summer 6 course meal. The service was excellent, and the ambiance was lovely--but paying $360 for two 6 course meals, one glass of wine, and two soft drinks that was merely fine, unfortunately, is where the experience fell short. As food lovers who have enjoyed many multi-course meals at standout restaurants , we found Matia to be average overall--and in some ways, overly complicated. While we liked the initial dish (a delicious oyster and Japanese-inspired potato dish) the rest of the meal was just okay. The fish in one of the courses, for example, lacked seasoning, and the skin, instead of being crisp, was disappointingly soft and soggy. The fresh greens on the plate were vibrant and delicious, but the addition of both currants and strawberries felt like one berry too many--less would have been more. The dessert had a similar issue. While the components--salted caramel ice cream, cherry preserves, and peppery cacao--were intriguing on their own, together they clashed. Instead of harmonizing, the flavors competed for attention, overwhelming the palate. Both dishes could have benefitted from more restraint. A bit of thoughtful editing--paring things down and sharpening the execution--might have brought out the kind of balance, texture, and clarity that make tasting menus memorable. We went to Houlme the night before and they hit each dish out of the park. I wanted to sing Matia's praises as well, but it ended up being our most disappointing meal during our weekend away in Orcas. read more

The food was phenomenal at Matia Kitchen. My husband and I enjoy fine dining, and this was an absolutely gem find on Orcas Island. We had the late fall menu and several of the dishes were in my "best ever" category. Standouts include the fried green tomato, pumpkin/squash dish, beef course, and the dessert blew my mind. My husband got the wine pairing and it was one of the best he's had to date! read more

We experienced the 6 course chef's dinner and the food was amazing. The waiter had a remarkable memory for remembering all the ingredients for every course. The ambience and vibe were very cool. The only disappointment was being charged $20 each for having dietary restrictions that we informed them about a week prior. There was also a $17 charge for "staff healthcare", which was odd. read more

After making our reservation, we were really excited to eat at Matia Kitchen. The experience... well, wasn't as great as we had hoped. It started off with something small. We had a 5:00 reservation at the restaurant and arrived a couple of minutes early, only to find the door locked with a deadbolt. Staff were inside, but they didn't unlock the door until 5:00. Small, I know, but not very welcoming. Unlocking the door a couple of minutes early, or unlocking the door at 5:00 and starting reservations at 5:15 would be a little more guest-friendly. The menu wasn't very descriptive with portions. The bread and salad could easily feed more than two people, but this wasn't noted, making it a bit confusing on how much to order. Now for the positive - The bread, salad, and wine were DEVINE! If we would had stopped there, we would have walked away very happy. The ambiance of the restaurant was nice. It was nothing fancy, but the seating was comfortable. From there, it went downhill - a fried greens tempura dish I ordered was full of grease, with a very salty sauce. The duck egg dish was just okay, and the fish dish I had was very, very, salty. The food quality wasn't worth the price tag. The bread, wine, and salad were FANTASTIC! The rest was disappointing. read more

Went for dinner and ordered 4 small plates: the bread which was probably the best part of the meal. It comes w lots of cultured butter and a delicious marmalade. The menu changes every day. it was about $125 w tip, no drinks, so not so bad for a james beard nominated dinner. We decided to forego entree and focus on variety of the small dishes. Salad was delicious and the roasted cabbage was also very tasty. The only disappointment was the halibut head doughnuts--you couldn't really tell there was fish in there. Service was supreme. They were down to earth, knowledgeable. read more

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I was pretty excited to try this restaurant as I'd heard good things. But I would describe this restaurant as overdressed and overpriced. I don't mind paying for food but this restaurant was trying too hard. I love that they use local ingredients . However they put so many strange toppings on each dish that you can barely taste the core dish. I hope they scale this back. read more

Just wow. I've dined at Matia a handful of times since it opened (once this year at the new location), and have to say it's gotten better and better each visit! Although I was sad to see Roses go, I was happy to have Matia Kitchen take over the lovely space (after Monti, which is now located in Roses's old cheese/pantry corner). During my most recent visit with my family I enjoyed a glass of cider. It was refreshing and not too sweet. (The serving size was that of wine, not a traditional full-glass.) One of my favorite menu items has been the fresh sourdough bread. Mostly due to the cultured butter, which is beyond superb, and quite frankly, I could inhale it straight off of a spoon (since licking the plate is probably not socially acceptable). I normally eat plant-based, although I always make an exception for that butter. The seasonal preserves served alongside are always phenomenal as well--I believe the summer selection was strawberry. They typically offer greens with a maple-miso vinaigrette and seeds, which my sister and I always enjoy. If you omit the cheese, it's vegan. Hooray! I really appreciate how they've had more vegan options during recent visits. My sister and I split two more vegan-friendly dishes, which I'm trying to recall. They were both very unique and flavorful--two wins in my book! I believe one dish included beets and seasonal fruit, and the other is completely escaping my memory at the moment. Were mushrooms involved? Probably some sort of veggie. Regardless, it was scrumptious! I tried to book a table for my most recent Orcas trip this fall, although they were temporarily closed for the weekend--a bummer indeed. Hoping Matia can stick around! Their food is thoughtfully crafted, beautiful, and flavorful. A must-try for a memorable experience on the island. read more

Easy parking in Orcas Island's main town. Recent James Beard nods are well deserved. The wine list was internationally focused. After meeting the beverage director the next day, I found out his focus is on natural yeast wines. The menu needed a bit better explanation as we were full before the main courses. Lamb tartare was delicious as were the Judd Bay oysters. Wonderful presentation and sharp service. read more

Easily some of the best food we have ever had, especially for bar food. Not the same menu as the dining room, but a culinary delight. The bartender was a wealth of information regarding the wine menu and guiding us to the cocktails that exceeded our expectations. Would make the trip just to eat here again! read more

I think Inn at Ship Bay and Matia are best on island dining. We took our soon to be full time resident cousins there for a mind-blowing evening of absolutely spectacular food and wine. I will say I'm old school and when paying $1,000 for 4 people, I don't appreciate the server coming up in a beat up Yankees hat and baggy past-prime pants and talking like a skater kid, but the guy was incredibly knowledgeable and pretty well liked by my guests. We did the full tasting menu with full wine pairing, and hooleeey cow do I recommend that. You know the food is exceptional when table conversation switches to how amazing the course is with people repeatedly saying "oh my god" which we did. Just amazing, we got 3 "oh my god" courses, and two more that were just amazing as well, and I'm often a critic of wine pairings not truly enhancing the food, but I gotta fully give it up to Matia, that pairing set absolutely could not have been better. The ambiance and particular table we got (big one) created such an amazing, intimate atmosphere that we left closer as a family in my opinion. The owner made something of a perfunctory visit, and he's rightfully very proud of what they are doing .. but a little of that goes a long way in conversation. So overall, despite the odd or a bit elitist experience with the people, the food and ambience created an absolutely memorable, meaningful evening for my family, and I felt the gratuity earned was 35%, Yankees hat or not, and taking the total bill to just over $1k. Had the experience been less amazing I might have been irked - but were coming back in a couple weeks for our anniversary. Amazing food. read more

Each time I dine at Matia I'm amazed by the fresh, local ingredients they combine. The service is pronto, the drinks yummy & the courses are always spot-on. It's where my mouth goes to play! ^_^ read more

We had an incredible experience at Matia Kitchen celebrating our engagement. Contrary to what another reviewer said, this is the same chef and general manager of the former Matia (google the Seattle Times article from March of this year if you want to learn more). It lived up to all of the hype for me and my now fiancé. The staff was incredibly kind (they toasted us with some complementary champagne that was better than any I had ever had). I loved the décor as well. Every bite of food was like nothing I have ever had before. It was exactly what I want in fine dining...it was locally grown and prepared with amazing skill...there was nothing that I felt like I could even remotely replicate in my own home. We didn't have time for the full tasting menu, but I'm incredibly excited to go back at some point in the future. I couldn't recommend more highly. read more

Matia Kitchen - a paper bag with the name matia on it - New American Near Me - Eastsound, Washington

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A friend of ours who has family on Orcas Island told us about Matia so I made a reservation as soon as we knew we would be on Orcas for Spring Break (before the James Beard nomination was announced). After we got seated, Maître d' shared that while they don't have a kid's menu, they do have a chicken tender and salad option. We jokingly said that our 7-year old daughter had pretty sophisticated palette and politely declined. :) But it's always nice to see a fine dining restaurant making an effort to be more family friendly! We ordered 5 dishes in total. The ingredients were farm to table and the flavors were inventive. But I did feel that a couple dishes were overly complicated and didn't give those fresh ingredients a chance to shine. It's worth mentioning that the adjacent bar Monti has a cool vibe and the cocktails were delicious. It has a separate bar menu. I would like to check it out next time when we don't have our daughter in tow. read more

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We lucked out and went there when they were opened at 5 pm on Friday and got the last seating at the bar lounge. The bartender was great. The chicory salad with maple miso vinaigrette was one of the best salad we've ever had. It was dressed just right and very appetizing. Pastas were delicious, and dessert (fancy doughnuts) was yumm!!! Lots of options for vegetarians, no need to compromise. This is a vegetable forward place, which is so refreshing and hard to find. Serving size was generous. We had leftover but forgot to take it with us when we left. Sad face. Service was impeccable. read more

The food what great. Why 2 stars? Our table wasn't ready at our reservation time and the hostess kept pushing us to grab drinks at the lounge. The cocktails we were served were overpriced and bad. $18 for a mojito that tasted like a flat sprite. A house cocktail that was super sweet. Oh and we were automatically charged an optional 4% healthcare surcharge for the meal. The whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth. read more

Warning - This is not the same James Beard award winning restaurant by the similar name "Matia". They claim this business is no relation. I'm taking off one star because it is deceptive advertising. The meal was impeccably prepared and presented but honestly it was not a standout taste wise. My lamb wasn't even visible beneath a mountain of apples and mushrooms. Lamb was dry and overpowered by the apple. Sockeye was also overdone and presentation in a bowl was surprising both for its small size and not looking that great. It was a good meal but not one I'd return for. Pricey but seems in the same ballpark as everything full service on Orcas now. read more

Matia Kitchen - Lamb and sockeye - New American Near Me - Eastsound, Washington

We did the 9 course tasting menu. The food and service were fabulous A must stop if you're on Orcas Island

Incredible food, wine, and experience. Truly excellent. Would recommend anywhere; fact that it's on Orcas is an extra treat.

We had a phenomenal experience. The menu (which changes) is incredibly inventive (see sample menu posted). We were treated very well by our sever and all the staff. Our server had a masterful knowledge of the menu and answered our questions in a friendly and down to earth manner. The best way to enjoy the food is to order a number of plates and share. This is a high-end establishment best suited for couples or small groups of adults. We didn't drink, but the bar is super cool looking. Great menu, great atmosphere, great staff, great service. read more

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super creative ! cozy charming! had dinner in September and still have all the flavors dancing around in my head- each dish was unique flavorful and plating beautiful! enjoyed a new wine and appreciated the knowledgeable introduction. truly savored a very special! read more

Beautiful and amazing. Best meal I've ever had. Wait staff was attentive and the chef even took time to talk to us.

I am reviewing the Matia Lounge (previously known as Monti). What a fun place. My husband and I ate and drank there two nights during our three night visit to Orcas Island. Their menu changes daily, however I was fortunate to have some vegan gluten-free dishes to enjoy (which was not easy to find on the Island). My omnivore husband had many delicious dishes to choose from. We split the fresh greens salad each night (he enjoyed the cheese on the side). My husband tried two of the pasta dishes--they were generous and delicious (according to him) dishes. Both nights I had the watermelon gazpacho that had all sorts of yummy accouterments, including a dollop of rice milk sorbet. It was so unique and yummy the first time, I had to have it again! Then, there are the mixologists who create a list of creative craft cocktails (along with the standards). The night we sat at the bar, we had a pleasant time chatting with them and learning about their drinks. The second night we sat at a comfy lounge table. The vibe in the Lounge is just right--cool enough but welcoming. (Outdoor patio seating is available also). Matia's is on our list of Orcas favorites! PS We were disappointed to see that instead of just raising prices, a 4% service charge was added to help pay for health benefits for their staff. That was a turn off...please, just pay your staff appropriately and provide benefits and charge accordingly. For a restaurant of this quality and price level, your customers won't even notice. read more

Food was great, and the tasting menu paired with the different wines were on point! Great service too! read more

Matia Kitchen - a plate of fish and vegetables - New American Near Me - Eastsound, Washington