Michael J.

Excellent brunch. The steak and eggs are small pieces of carne asada with the eggs put on top. It's a good dish but not a giant portion. The beans and tortillas are good and the small side of chorizo is tasty. Put it on the tortilla with the steak. The sauce is super spicy - be careful. The breakfast tacos are very, very good but again, a small portion. Two small tacos. Same for the huevos rancheros, but my wife loves that dish. Perfect eggs over easy. We'd get all three dishes again for the two of us. I liked the pisco sour but once again, it is a tiny portion. Filling up here is expensive but if you got the cashes it's absolutely worth it.

Christy K.

Went here on a weekday night upon recommendation from a friend. The wait situation was frustrating. We were first told an hour, then forty five minutes, but after waiting we never received a text or call. When we checked back in, there was still no table ready, and we were finally seated about ten minutes later. The hosts really need to do a better job estimating wait times and communicating. Once seated though, the place was a total vibe. I loved the concrete concept mixed with plants, and the speakeasy downstairs is a must. It feels like a cave with red lighting and a completely different energy. The food was pretty good overall. The ceviche was fine but not memorable. My favorites were the lomo saltado and the sweet plantain and chorizo tacos. The lomo had amazing flavor with a citrusy kick, and the chorizo and plantain combo was so unique and delicious. The paella had good flavor but the texture was more risotto-like, and I was hoping for that classic crispy paella finish.

Neha A.

Mexican meets Peruvian! Really good, albeit expensive. Shared the tuna tartar, chicken tinga guiso, and ceviche pescado. It was the perfect order for two people and everything was delicious! Love the blue corn tostadas that came with the tartare and ceviche. The guiso came with fresh tortillas and beans and some sort of sauces. Everything was super tasty. Would love to try the paella next time. For drinks I ordered the secret garden which was refreshing and super tasty. Our server was so sweet and friendly, and helpful picking out dishes from the menu. The ambience is just delightful and I love that there is a speakeasy beneath the restaurant. Highly recommend!

Andre W.

Loved my recent experience @ Matilda! Love the look of the place as its such a modern mexican/peruvian joint with some flare to it. Walked in and the door and was greeted by the lovely hostess staff. I was a bit early for my reservation and the bar was pretty full, so they told me I could go downstairs to their speakeasy Clandestine (see review later). The door next to the hostess stand is the entrance to this very chill speakeasy. Had one and came back upstairs at my time. The main parts of the place is well lit, but dining table area near the wall is a little intimately lit, the way I like it. Once seated, we were introduced to the lovely Jenny, who wound up being our server. She was awesome...you are lucky if you get her as she is really good with breaking down the menu and teliing you whats what. We started with the tuna tartare and it was very damn good! For my main dish, I went with the Conchinita Pibil and it was pretty good. Its basically pork shoulder marinated in sour orange and achiote, wrapped in a banana leaf with tortillas on the side...yum! Black beans and salsas come with...one was really spicy. My friend had the Sweet Plantain & Chorizo Tacos and they were really good! 2 tacos is the dish. Washed it all down with a spiced pear old fashioned (delicious) and a mezcal drink by the name of Jalician which was ok. So many things on this menu I would like to come back and try...guess Im gonna have to come back over soon. Love this place

Katie L.

Incredible. The food is so delicious, service was wonderful, and the space is beautiful! Highlights: -the elote quemado dessert is easily my top 3 favorite bites I've had in Chicago. It's a sweet (not too sweet) corn cake with a brûléed crust, crowned with an airy cajeta foam, corn ashes. SO yummy. I wish I could have this every day. -the guacamole tatemado. Hear me out, yes it's guacamole, but the presentation was a showstopper. It looks like an avocado but they mash it up tableside. Servicing size may be for just two people so note that if you're with a bigger group They have an extensive drink menu. I got a mocktail and it was quite delicious!

Harden K.

Matilda Restaurant delivers a standout Mexican-Peruvian fusion experience, pairing an electric atmosphere with genuinely exceptional service. The Guacamole Tatemado, fire-roasted and prepared tableside, sets the tone--fresh, smoky, and deeply flavorful. The ceviche de pescado is bright and refreshing, with a clean balance that highlights the quality of the fish. The Pescado Zarandeado is the clear centerpiece--perfectly char-grilled, well-seasoned, and presented with intention. It's a dish that feels both refined and rooted in tradition. Desserts seal the experience. The Elote Quemado, a sweet corn cake with a brûléed crust, is light yet indulgent, while the Tejuino ice cream with chocolate tastes unmistakably homemade--comforting, nostalgic, and easily among the most memorable desserts in recent memory.

Nazia C.

I came here with a group for a birthday celebration. We were seated in the private dining space right next to the kitchen so we had a fun view. We went with the waiter's recommendation for food items. We had fresh guacamole prepared at the table, ceviche, and tomato salad for starters. Then we had the asada and plaintain tacos - both were phenomenal. We also tried the paella and their version of the lomo saltado. There were two fantastic desserts as well but the corn dessert was my favorite. The food is amazing. Definitely worth a try.

Christen R.

Okay yall, buckle up because this is fixing to be a long review. A LARGE part of me wants to gatekeep this place because we were able to get a reservation the day before (I say this as I have an alarm set on my phone for Sunday morning trying to get a dinner reservation at another restaurant for April 25 -_-) -but I do want to highlight my experience. Location and restaurant - easy to get to in my opinion but I live in West Loop. We took a cab and arrived about 15 minutes before our 6:45 reservation. There were a couple seats open in the bar that we opted to sit in because we're just taller people and prefer bar seats. The ambiance was beautiful, giving modern elevated Tulum vibes without the bachelorette parties ;) neutral tones, sexy candles, music loud enough to create a vibe but soft enough to hear the person across from you. Everyone in the restaurant looked like they were having a sophisticated cocktail and dinner after work with friends. Anyways - we sat at the bar and were immediately greeted by MARLENE! our beautiful bartender and culinary conductor. She was sweet as could be and bonus points for laughing at my boyfriend's dad jokes! She gave us some great recommendations on food and drinks, she was incredibly knowledgeable on options and things she enjoyed and why she liked them. The food: Here's the order: Started with oysters (which was a random order by my boyfriend but fine). They had some sort of potion on top of them that was a flavor explosion in your mouth. I love oysters but will never be able to enjoy them again now knowing the peak they can reach. Tuna tartare - a classic dish done a million times but this was a culinary JOURNEY. Each ingredient was selected with purpose. Hit all of the 5 senses - taste, sight, touch, smell, I think at one point I heard it even. Tuna. Avacado. Seaweed and onion crisps. I'm currently cultivating a way to remake and eat as my hyper fixation meal for the next 3 months. Then we went to the tacos (pictured) Steak - perfect cut of meat, grilled not a SECOND too long or too short. ON A HOMEMADE CORN TORTILLA WITH CHEESE GRILLED ONTO IT. My personal favorite and the star of the show - the chorizo and sweet plantain taco. I don't even like chorizo. And I lived in TEXAS for 8 years. When I give this taco the title for the BEST taco I have ever had - I say that with my WHOLE CHEST. Sweet. Savory. A sauce. A whole thing. I'll lowkey carry this taco in my heart forever. Then we did a beef cheek birra. I will not describe this because it's just something everyone has to experience on their own. Rounded out with an ELOTE QUEMADO: Sweet corn cake with a brûléed crust, cajeta foam, corn ashes. Another experience everyone has to try. Unique, creative, and perfectly executed. A STANDING ovation to the staff. Service. And everyone involved. the only negative I have are the two top tables in the dining area did LOOK very close together, but I did not sit at one so I don't know for certain.

Rachael S.

I read up quite a bit on Matilda before dining there on a Wednesday evening, and perhaps my expectations were too high, but I left feeling somewhat deflated by the experience. The food was creatively presented but was overall lacking flavor. The drinks were mediocre; the service was excellent. Sweet plantain and chorizo tacos: Recommended by our server, mostly plantains on a cold, blue corn tortilla with a small crumble of chorizo. The honey truffle adds a little hit of flavor but overall unimpressed for nearly $20 for two tiny street tacos with minimal filling. Guacamole: Creative presentation - I won't spoil the surprise. The blue and yellow corn tortillas are fried and serve as a bland dipping vehicle. The guacamole is served table side and has a vibrant yellow sauce (yellow pepper our waiter told us) which again lacked any depth. Lomo saltado: I did not try this dish, but for over $40 a few pieces of meat, veggies and a small side of white rice, the hot dish did not seem to be worth it. The bar was lively and you can tell that the team wants you to have a great experience. I was just surprised by the lack of flavor in the food for the prices. I think it would be a great spot to come just for cocktails. If you have anyone in your group who is hard of hearing, this would not be the place.

Denyce M.

When The Doctor, Queen and I were walking down the street to locate Matilda, I had a sense of déjà vu. I had a little bit of trouble locating the door, but we found it. As I walked inside, I was immediately struck again with a sense of déjà vu, but I had never been here before. Once we sat down at the table with the other folks we met, I saw a gentleman come out of a door next to the hostess stand and then it hit me! This was the location of one of my favorite restaurants, Marchesa, with that wonderful Champagne Cave in the basement. Loved that place, but what a shock to see how Matilda had transform that space into something very different, but still lovely. Instead of the open area concept, Matilda transformed the space into a cool cavern above ground. The room was split into several of these cavern section, with the appearance of an arch opening, with seating in under the arch. It reminded me of The Summer Cave a restaurant I had the pleasure of eating at back in 2012 in the hotel Grotta Palasezze in Italy. Not that Matilda was in an underground cave, but the sense of eating in an intimate cave like setting is what the decor reminded me of. Or I could have just had the Champagne Cave of old on my mind. Ok enough of that, let's get to the food. We started with the Guacamole Tatemado (fire-roasted avocado, Ají amarillo, acevichada sauce, pico de gallo, herb ash, warm house chips). It is prepped at the table. The presentation was nice and the gentleman preparing it described the preparation of the avocado prior to be brought out to the table. I am a fan of guacamole and this was a different way of prepping it as I had never had a fire-roasted avocado before...quite interesting. As another starter we each got the tuna tartare. This was a lovey appetizer, fresh in flavor and the addition of the furikake was an interesting flavor, giving a Mexican version of the dish a little bit of Asian flare. Our dinner guests and The Doctor got the carne asada tacos (grilled beef tenderloin, cheese crust, tomatillo salsa verde). These were two to an order and served open-faced instead of folded over. The layer of the cheese crust over the tortilla was an interesting touch. For my entrée I got the Tinga de Pollo Adobada (shredded chicken, chipotle-tomato braise, hints of clove and piloncillo). This was a very good dish, I just wished the portion had been a little bigger. This came with beans and tortillas on the side. As good as the dish was that I got, the pièce de résistance or the pedazo de resistencia (since we are talking about Mexican food) was the Matilda's Paella (Mahi-mahi, scallops, octopus, chorizo and shrimp over risotto style rice, Peruvian-Mexican chile salsa madre and Manchego) that The Queen got. This was truly an impressive looking dish and could definitely be shared between two people. There was plenty of seafood and the way it was prepared, the rice was mist definitely al dente, which was nice. There was plenty to take home for lunch the next day. The combination of seafood, mahi-mahi and the chorizo definitely took the flavor profile from Spain to Mexico and I was here for it. Honestly I was too bushy sampling The Queen's dish to see if had Socarrat, which is the slightly burnt rice at the bottom of the paella pan. There are those that require this in the pan for a true paella. Me , I am not married to that concept and if it is there and tastes good, we are good. If it isn't there, and it is tasty, I am good. I would have to come back and order this dish to very the presence of Socarrat, but this was very yummy. And I have to say the next day I thought it was better, with the flavor profile mellowing out becoming smoother on the palate. For dessert I got the Elote Quemado (sweet corn cake with a brûléed crust, crowned with an airy cajeta foam, corn ashes) and The Queen got the Tejuino Ice Cream and Chocolate - House fermented masa ice cream, piloncillo syrup and Chocolate Abuelita. The Elote Quemado was an interesting concept, being a literal corn dessert. I just didn't know what to make of it, it was good, but it took a bit for my brain to wrap around the idea of a corn dessert. Full transparency, I am not a big dessert person, so this is not a reflection on the preparation. I will say the presentation looked pretty and I enjoyed the foam, which made me chuckle because of the line from the movie "The Menu" when Judith Light says "I don't usually enjoy foam, but this is delicious"...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Service was very good and attentive and I loved that there was a coat check as I am not a fan of sitting on my coat. I definitely need to come back for the paella and to see what is downstairs. I was told that the Champagne Cave is now a speak easy, so I have to check that out. The Cave made me feel like I was in Morocco again or in the tent of the Elder, the "one who sits above the Table" in John Wick 4. So I need to see what this speak easy is all about.

Blue A.

Amazing service. Really great atmosphere. The food that hit was amazing - a few fell flat. They have a speakeasy cocktail bar under the restaurant that you enter through the door next to the hostess. The charred avocado/guacamole was a miss. It's super cool that they char it to make it seem like it has the skin still, but that's it. The flavor was just lacking. The lomo saltado was the standout. I rarely eat beef and this was an occasion I'm glad I dabbled. I could have drank the juice. The serving of rice is tiny though. We had to get an extra rice, which was the same size and we had to pay extra for. The rice was really good tho. The tinga tacos were excellent as well. SWEET PLANTAIN & CHORIZO!!! I'd go back for these. 2 per order. You'll want to eat both yourself. Everyone should get their own order. Ceviche was good, but not the best I've ever had. Middle of the road. Servers were super on point and personable. Offered some recommendations and checked in on us. All of the cocktails were phenomenal.

Rie U.

TLDR: Service was great, but the food didn't blow my mind; Good but not amazing. Also, it's very loud. Our server really pushed the guacamole--and I get it, the avocado comes out charred, and it looks like it's a whole unpeeled avocado. They chop/mix it up table-side, which is all very fun to watch, but it just tasted like a regular guacamole. It lacked any wow flavors. The Cheek Birria was very tender, but the cinnamon was a little too overpowering and off-putting for me. The Cochinita Pibil was very tasty with the sour orange and achiote pepperiness. The Carne Asada taco was tasty but very soggy. Juicy is good, but there was too much juice, which made the cheese crust very soggy. Pork Belly taco was tasty, but could've used a little more salt? I'm usually not a salty person (haha) but my first bite could've used more salt. Overall, it was a good experience but I'm not in a hurry to come back.

Jacqueline L.

Hands down my favorite restaurant this year. The tasting menu was exquisite. All the plates were delicious. I recommend the tasting menu because we wouldn't have ordered half of the things that came and they were absolutely AMAZING. It is kind of intimate and small but beautiful. Service was perfect. Will be back soon!!!