We walked into Matilda's tonight for some food and drinks. Our waitress brought us water and menus when we came in. We then looked at the menu and decided on drinks. She never came back to our table so we picked all our food orders. We waited for another 25 minutes and our waitress never came back to our table. They were not busy at all. We made eye contact with her and attempted to get her attention several times but she always turned the other way. We ended up getting up and leaving. Very disappointing. read more

First dAte spot. Trust me. Great lighting and solid food. You will absolutely feel comfy for a date. -Yale Reardon read more

Had a great time here! I love the relaxed vibe upstairs and the dance floor in the basement. Ass sign is a huge plus. A small but good selection of beers on tap, and the nachos were quite tasty as well! Bartender was incredibly attentive, friendly, and quick! read more

Matilda - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Me and my tinder date enjoying the lovely atmosphere at matilda's. maddie our server was an absolute angel of a human!! hoping to be cool regulars here. the Truffle Waffle Fries were heavenly. that's all. read more

Matilda - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A little bit more than just a neighborhood bar. There's two floors, top floor for more of the socializing lounge area, and downstairs for a small, chill, and crowded old school hip hop/top 40 dance area. Kinda reminds of the Cellar in SF. The stairs down are pretty steep, it was pretty funny watching these three buzzed girls come down in a group, it was like they were scaling Mt Kilimanjaro. The vibe is relaxed and it's always good times when people are just hanging out. The crowd was mid-late 20's. early 30's since it was a Friday night, some were still dressed from work. I gotta give them that 4th star since the bartender gave us shots on the house for being from out of town. Congrats to you and your newborn son Mr bartender. read more

Matilda - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great neighborhood bar, friendly service and good crowd. Roxy is an awesome bartender and makes the best drinks especially the lemon drop martin! read more

Matilda - Roxy makes the best lemon drop martinis in town!!! - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been here twice. Neither time was it crazy crowded but there were enough people that it felt alive. Drinks aren't pretty well priced. There is a "dance floor" downstairs which is basically like a dance corner-it is TINY. Even so, my friends and I had room to dance since there weren't really a lot of people down there haha. Not the best place to go if you want something really hopping. Nothing wrong with it though if you want to go chat with a friend or two and grab a drink. read more

Nothing stands out about this place whatsoever. Besides some of my misplaced nostalgia for the former UNION space (yes, that was me on the dance floor in the 80s with the Madonna hair and fingerless gloves, shut up.), there's nothing to recommend this place. They even still have the scary steep stairs leading down to the still-awkward restrooms. Loud, smoky (in a city now mostly smoke free), chaotic, poorly designed, dirty. The drinks are tiny and expensive, and I can't figure out the decor. Is it somehow an Australian bar? Bomb shelter? Sports bar? Pass this one up. read more

Went to Matilda for the first time in 4 years and really enjoyed the food. I think people get caught up in being too critical and grading each restaurant like it's a "James Beard Award Finalist". I put this in the bar food category and they nailed it. I award it the coveted 5 out 5. Service was extra good. Highly recommend to start with their famous nachos ask for extra jalapeño cheese if you dare! Also heavily recommend their bar pizzas. Their BBQ Chicken and Margherita Pizza were awesome and unique enough creations on those classic pizza pies. All the cocktails and beer selection were good but we really enjoyed the "Frose" Rose. We will be back. Great spot to check out before heading to The Vic Theater. read more

Matilda - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The service you get here is top notch! We went there for football Sunday and Jamie killed it. The drinks were ice cold and the wings were crisp and meaty! I will definitely return and enjoy myself another round! read more

I'm crushing on Matilda a little bit, I just wish I was a little more sober, I would've enjoyed it more. The decor is really cool, funky shaped tables and stands, retro chairs and side tables. I also liked the crowd, pretty diverse and very laid back. On the negative side 2 main things: (1) the suicide stairs, these are the steepest stairs I have every seen/used. I almost took a spill in my flats. (2) no a/c, since it was so hot all day we agreed that the place had a slight locker room smell going on inside. Musty locker room smell aside, I will definitely come back here in the future. read more

Stopped in based on reviews before a show at the Vic...and it was perfect! The pina colodas were the best I've ever had, and the food was great as well! We had the shroom pizza, pretzel knots, and sweet potato fries...all perfectly done and delicious! It's got a great neighborhood vibe with just enough funk in it...stop by and try them out...you will be glad you did...we sure are! read more

Super low key restaurant with very good food and an amazing spectrum of alcoholic beverages. I was here for a special tap takeover and all of the drafts I had were excellent. All styles of beer were delicious and the mixed drinks look good though I didn't order any. All of the food was very good and came out quick. We had the short and sprout pizza, bacon cheese fries, and chicken nachos with guacamole. I would happily order all of those again. read more

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This bar is great on so many different levels. It's in a neighborhood that is generally known for the popped collar, fresh out of college crowd. So this is a welcomed reprieve from the madness. It's special in the fact that you have to be 23 to enter - GENIUS!!! Inside the dark bar is adorned by the most eclectic and absurd collection of art and artifacts. It's so much fun to look at while having a nice chat with friends at a surfboard shaped table. It's a great place to have a mellow drink and gather with a friend. The music is good, but not too loud. Upstairs at the main bar is a decent jukebox, pool table, and two separate rooms so it's not so cramped. Downstairs is a whole other story! It's an entirely different bar downstairs, set up like an intimate lounge while a few of the patrons who have perhaps consumed a bit more than the drinkers upstairs can be found dancing around the dj booth or on the pole. It's got something for everyone! Two minor issues: never any drink specials :( and beware of the woman's bathroom. The stalls don't have doors; rather they have curtains which don't ever seem to keep intruders out. It makes for some awkward interactions, but don't let that keep you from enjoying all this bar has to offer. read more

Poor customer service, rude staff, owner was dismissive to our concerns - do not support this establishment.

Okay I really enjoy going to Matilda's. I like going at off hours because the staff is just all kinds of awesome. What's also great is how it's 23 and up. In the words of one of the people who work there (who will remain nameless) "it's to keep out all the douche bags." Which is all fine by me, however they don't take a hard line with this rule. They usually have a good selection of beer on tap and the food is great too. read more

Matilda - Outdoor seating when the weather is good. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I had the Fancy mixed greens and a 312 beer along with the warmed goat cheese as an app. The salad was ok, I wish i asked for dressing on the side. The warmed goat cheese was delicious. my friends had the bbq chicken wrap and fries, which was also pretty tasty. Pros -many beers on tap $5-7 -lots of wine ~$35-45/bottle -decent food -Outdoor seating Cons -they advertise as a 23 plus bar AND restaurant -the waitress indicated if you sit outside everyone must order something. -i hear the stairs to the bathroom are a death trap. Don't drink and step. read more

This is my neighborhood bar and I love it! The beer selection is incredible and they have some really classy, unique food options. The whole atmosphere here is really classy and clearly for a more adult crowd than the neighboring Wrigley crowd. The minimum age to enter is 23 after all! They have a downstairs club called baby atlas that plays 80s rap I think. I'm not a huge fan but it can still be fun. The bar though is always a great time! I rated it four because some of the things on their menu are just stupidly expensive. For example, they have a half off wine night on Wednesday and it brings your atrociously expensive $14 glass of wine down to the normal price of seven. But $4 beer night on Monday is amazing for their craft selection! read more

Matilda - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love that this place has an age entrance requirement of 23 and older. I think this was my first time ever seeing an establishment that has a higher age group restriction. When you walk into this bar, the people look young, but just look and act more mature. However, our female bartender was rude to us. She did not acknowledge our presence while we were waiting for our drink. The 312 draft I ordered was luke warm. It was pretty nasty. Also, if you ordered a regular mixed drink, the portions are tiny and drinks are pricier than other bars in the area. There was a male bartender that then walked by and he was a much better bartender so that was redeeming. I guess the lesson learned here is not to order stuff on tap because it is not really cold....a faux pas for beer. When our friends arrived, we proceeded downstairs to baby atlas. Those metal stairs are extremely steep. I would not want to be drunk and have to walk those steps. Baby Atlas downstairs was pretty fun. I drank a few PBR's. The DJ was really good at the time playing all the great Hip Hop classics like OPP, etc. There is a mini stripper pole for those of you to like to show your assets. read more

I was tempted to give 2-stars because the "Meh. I've experienced better" attitude was pretty on the money, but really this place wasn't exactly bad enough to warrant only two stars. It was just nothing to write home about and really not my style. I was invited to Matilda for a Halloween "masque" a friend was throwing. I thought it was nice that you can reserve an area for a gathering, although I don't know if it cost extra or anything. Let's talk atmosphere: The first thing I thought was peculiar was that you have to be 23 to enter. I suppose that's to keep out the newly legal rabble, which is understandable, but I also get a vague feeling like that's just one more thing that makes this place more uppity than I care to patronize. I'm 30, by the way, so the age limit really doesn't affect me one way or another. According to the other reviews there's a place to dance downstairs, but unfortunately I was wearing killer heels and was not in the mood to traverse the rather intimidating staircase. Not to mention this place was so DARK I was afraid I was going to break an ankle just trying to move around the main floor. Ok, we get it, you're trying to be an upscale, kind of swanky yet still "casual" and relaxing place, but turn some lights on already! Dinky dimly lit candles just ain't enough! I could barely read the menu! Speaking of the menu: I had a "prime ribeye" steak wrap, or at least I think that's what they called it, which came with some chips and salsa. The chips were hearty and had an interesting flavor. While the wrap itself was tasty, again, nothing to write home about (although, apparently my blase experience was, at least, enough to write YELP about. Har. Har.) And at $13, I was really hoping for something more fantastic. I can go to a greasy spoon on the South side where I can read the menu and NOT feel awkward around all the yuppies talking about their stock exchange picks and get a slammin' meal for less than that. I guess if you want to pay for swank, talk about yuppie things and get mediocre food, this might be the place for you. But this place is really not my style. read more

Foods alright and trivia night is fun but the service is the slowest I've ever seen. Waitress refused to let us pay our bill despite the table asking multiple times and getting her attention. She also ignored us when we tried to flag her down for food or drink throughout the night. Not worth the wait. read more

Before going to a show at the Vic, we grabbed dinner and drinks at Matilda. I was thankful that they food came out fast and that the server was attentive enough that we got in and out quickly, and were on time for the show. The first thing I noticed was the space themed decor. It is kind of different and a welcome change from the standard bar decor. I ordered a portobello sandwich. It was the best, but it wasn't the worst either, just kind of so-so. The bread was super soggy by the time it came out, but that's pretty standard for portobello sandwiches. We ordered the rice crispy fondue. I wouldn't get it again. The rice crispy treats seemed store bought and none of the sauces were even warmed. read more

Matilda - Mushrooms!!! - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Amazing atmosphere. Great music. A warm greeting from the jump. A fantastic drink made by Misael, thank you for suggesting the CBD menu! Thank you Roxy & Misael for an amazing experience, I will be back :) read more

I LOVE MISAEL AND ROXY!!! Wowowowowow! The drinks were on point, the service was speedy, and I literally could not stop laughing all night long. If you haven't, please make this place a regular stop read more

Food wasnt what i expected the staff didnt attend well the table Not somewhere i would return read more

How have I never reviewed this place before? I used to live down the street from here a few years ago and this was my go to bar, on a weekday or a weekend. The clientele is not as young and Wrigleyville-y as other places in the neighborhood - more on the 25-35 side than a bunch of college kids still proud that they recently retired their fake ID. This place is 3 bars in one - when you first walk in it's the standard neighborhood bar feel, more brightly lit and more people milling around and checking out the scene. Around the corner on the same level is a slightly quieter, darkly lit area where people are more apt to spend time focused on the people they came in with - and there is more table service on this end. Finally, downstairs (yes, the treacherous stairs that you can't believe haven't caused numerous fatalities among the inebriated) you'll find a small dance club that is often rocking to random 80's/90's hits - it has that easygoing, unself-conscious vibe of dancing in your friend's basement. I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5 for two reasons - first, while they have a lot of beers on tap this seems to be one of those places where I don't get along with their selections. When 8 of your 12 beers are IPA's, it's hard to say that you're offering variety if you aren't an IPA fan like myself. Second, I have to admit that their food is underwhelming. Granted, I only come here for drinks, but they are open for dinner hours and the couple of times I did eat here I didn't feel like I got my money's worth, in terms of food quality or the price for comparable dishes in the area. Regardless of the above, if you're looking for a fun bar in this area without too much of a Wrigleyville vibe, this is the spot for you! read more

Went there last Friday night. Good: great beer selection, decent cocktails, nicely built out space. I like this place! Bad: The bartenders upstairs. Sometimes, they were nowhere to be seen and we waited a long time for drinks even though there weren't many people at the bar. We would have bought more drinks if they were more available. One of them was drinking behind the bar, unprofessional. Are you working or partying? How will you be able to tell if a customer is overserved if you're overserved yourself? Another one was sitting at the bar talking to a customer or boyfriend instead of being behind the bar working. They also had a stack of paperwork on the bar, looked like their paychecks, although I couldn't be sure. Not a professional group, which is too bad, given everything this place has going for it. read more

LOVED THE MATILDA SALAD!!! Not skimpy, very fresh, flavourful and satisfying. The marinated beef tenderloin was perfectly cooked. The big bartender seemed aloof and impersonal but my server, Teddy lived up to his name... I'll be back. It's a nice space. read more

Nachos with park to die for. Hot, very filling. Wine pretty good; reasonably priced. Chewy the bartender is very personable. One to this place. Nice lighting; good time here. read more

Matilda - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

"Toby, Toby...who the f is Toby?" I feel like Joe at the beginning of Reservior Dogs. When he finds her number in an old jacket and I found this on my bookmarks. "Matilda, Matilda..?" Not very memorable but the details are coming back. First things f-ing last. We went since we had a deal and it was close to home plus they have a dance fest in the basement "Baby Atlas." We ordered bottled beers so that's straight forward. The chips and which come salsa and pico and we added guacamole. I think she forgot the pico and it was all very typical and bland. We both got burgers too and those were mundane. My dining partner eats as much as me and didn't really tackle the food with enthusiasm, barely ate a couple bites. The basement is down steep rickety stairs and the vibe was just ok; but to be fair maybe it livens up later. The website is not very user friendly and the posted warnings of the caveats of cooking food and time regarding service are a touch different. I don't get why they even added that. I give Matilda a 3 since I would try other menu items and Baby Atlas then update my review accordingly. Ok ramblers, get rambling. read more

IF YOU'RE SINGLE AND ABOUT 30, READ THIS. this bar is for our people. finally, a bar in lakeview/wrigley that's not swarming with babies. and it's not totally obnoxious. my blonde friend and i came for another friend's fundraiser thing-a-ma-jig. we weren't able actually get into the private room downstairs (the stairs are RIDICULOUSLY steep, fyi) bc the drink deal was almost over, so we went back up and sat at the bar. the 'tender was awesome and let us order one app as the kitchen was closing. the goat cheese thing in the red sauce on the bread pieces were delish. would definitely get that again. we looked around and saw that there were a plethora of men for us to choose from. i was pleasantly surprised. i will definitely be back since blonde friend lives down the street. yay, menwhoarentbabies! read more

I'm too old for this. Prior to last night, the last time I was here was a few years ago and my friends and I sold a half eaten burrito to 2 drunk guys. Matilda is "that" kind of place. This bar advertises as ages 23+ only, so some may be under the incorrect assumption that this is a hangout for older, civilized folk of Lakeview. It's not. Here are more reasons why: -The kids hanging out here look and act no older than 21--baby faces all around. -The floor had puddles everywhere. -Chivalry is dead. Dudes will push or elbow you to get by. -There are steep-ass metal bleacher type stairs which lead you to a basement club-like dungeon (and the bathrooms). -That god awful "Shots" song, reminiscent of Jersey Shore, was blasting in the downstairs dungeon. This may be a great bar for University of Michigan bro types watching a game or doin' other bro type stuff, but I'll take a pass, thank you very much. read more

Matilda's stole from me and showed me that they don't care. Here's what happened: I went to Matilda's on a Friday night. I got in one drink order at the bar: 2 shots totaling $12. I handed the bartender my debit card and he informed me that there is a $20 minimum. I thought it was absurd, but figured I'd be buying at least 1 more round so I told him to keep it open. After that round, the bar filled up so much so that me and my large group of friends found ourselves everywhere else but the bar on that side. I never ordered another drink and I forgot to close my tab at the bar. Normally, bars will close your tab, charging you some preset amount of gratuity, and wait until your forgetful self comes to pick up your card and sign the receipt. Matilda's is closed on Sundays so I had to wait until Monday to pick up my card. When I went to pick it up, I was informed that my tab was, in fact, closed out at the minimum of $20. A little steep considering I'd only purchased $12 of drinks, but my fault all the same. When I checked my bank account, I saw a charge for $23.60: the $20 minimum PLUS 18% gratuity! I called Matilda's and spoke to someone named "Will" who, after I brought him up to speed on the situation, informed me that this was out of the ordinary. He said I should've been charged either my total plus gratuity OR the $20 minimum. He assured me that "Kevin", the man in charge of these situations, would return my call as soon as possible. I never heard from them again. The moral of the story is, do not trust Matilda's with your credit card. They apparently do whatever they want with it. I hope it was worth it. read more

Oh, how the mighty fall. Matilda, Matilda, Matilda. My memory served me wrong. I was so nostalgic, I overlooked the lackluster food. Or maybe it just used to be better? Stopped in tonight and enjoyed the patio. Nice option on a cool August evening in good company. Started with a Strongbow, but it came in a can. I looked like I was drinking a Rockstar Energy drink. Hmmmph. For $7, I do not want to drink out of can. The food? Average at best. The burger with gouda was ok, but the gouda was not melty, at all. Just sort of tepid. And, I think they put water in the ketchup, and so I therefore dropped a river of if into my sort of clammy french fries. Yes, clammy. I don't know how else to describe them. Ok, yes I do. Not good. Service was a bit standoffish, but adequate. The real kicker was dessert. A brownie with a mini scoop of ice cream. Tasted very Betty Crocker, and was drowned in choco syrup. Not so good. I never met a brownie I didn't like, so this was pushing my limits... Bummer, but really...this place is for drinking, so I'm only knocking off one star. I still dig the vibe and the 23+ rule on weekends. It's a nice little spot, and I'll be back. I'll just eat somewhere else before I come... Oh, and $1 tilapia taco Tuesdays, are now $1.50. Doesn't have quite the same ring... read more

Matilda's has a pretty cool atmosphere and makes a really crummy whisky sour. It seems to attract a relatively hip but not hipper-than-thou crowd. Which for me, makes them a little bit more hip. That said, I prefer Rose's, Matilda's harder cousin down the street. This is a good place to go if... you're on a date with someone you don't know that well. read more

Oh man, I'm so glad I found this place. A few friends and I came here for a small get-together to help support a comedy group. I had never heard of this place and was a bit wary of the "over 23" atmosphere that the bar is trying to uphold. We had an awesome time. Beers were $3 (Point special), cocktails were pretty cheap (and well made) and those cheese fries were delicious. It was like several types of cheese melted on fries with more cheese for dipping. Mmmmm cheese fries. Our bartender, Kayla, was super awesome. She was super nice and fun the entire evening. She will also take your iPod if you have a pre-made playlist and she'll put it on so you can dance the night away to your favorite music - now that's awesome! She let us make playlists on her iPod so that we could have a crazy dance party right there in Baby Atlas. I will definitely come back as long as Kayla is working - she was seriously one of the best bartenders ever. We ordered a few shots and she just kind of made up some concoctions and they were delicious! We told her that we wanted a summer-y shot and she totally made something that tasted like the beach. We told her we wanted a sweet shot to take while listening to "Word Up" by Cameo and she totally came through. How awesome is that?! You can guarantee I'll be back. I don't care what other people say about this place - the prices are great and the bartenders are super awesome. What's not to love? read more

$1 fish tacos on Tuesdays! Yep, believe it. We checked out Matilda before the Frames show at the neighboring Vic for a few beers and some grub. I assumed that tacos for $1 would be scrappy little things, but three more than filled me up! Surprisingly good, too. The beer list is pretty impressive - of course, they feature Goose Island's 'Matilda' along with drafts by Half Acre, Point, and Bell's as well as a few bottled shining stars. Prices are a bit higher than average, but that didn't keep me away from downing two delicious Half Acre drafts. I dig the jukebox selections and overall, this is a cozy spot to get your drink on. Get there early on Tuesdays for the taco deal - they do run out! read more

Oh Hai! I love fish tacos and on Tuesdays their fish tacos are a buck each. Now, $1 fish does seem like it could get a little, well, fishy- but trust me when I tell you they're good enough to be $5 fish tacos. Okay, that doesn't sound like much of a compliment, but take into account their size and $5 would be kind of a high end price for one single fish taco--- but they're so good it'd be worth it is my point. Quick tip- get there fast because they tend to run out of the delish $1 fish tacos early in the night... especially if I get there first and order 9 of them. I like the interior, great for a liquid fueled date or meeting up with friends before a show at the Vic (my M.O.). The service was good but the draft beer prices were a little high, even for the city. I'm just not happy to pay $7 for a pint that costs $4 or $5 everywhere else. Don't be greedy, I know how much that keg actually cost. Kthxbai! read more

This review is for the basement 'club' at Matilda. My GF brought me here this past Saturday night because her co-worker was going and said they played good music. We arrived at around 11:30 pm. Plenty of time to hear a variety of hits from Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync. Golly gee whiz! The most basic women were in attendance with guys who wear sport coats, jeans and Jordan's. Girls may enjoy this establishment if they are from Michigan and like bad music from the late 90's. Guys may enjoy it if they are from the suburbs or like woman from Michigan who like bad music from the late 90's. read more

Amish S and I headed in on Tues to take advantage of their $1.50 fish tacos. We also ordered bruschetta and beer so we didn't look like such tight bastards. I asked for a glass of water as well and our waitress totally forgot. The second time I asked, she said she was sick that day and her mind was not all there. Fish tacos were not bad, but I wish I didn't order the bruschetta and ordered more tacos. Yes, bruschetta is toasted but the bread was way too hard, worse than biting into biscotti or doggy biscuit. Yeah, I can say it without exaggeration because I have tried a doggy biscuit out of a dare. Anyway that reminds me of a funny story. One of my friend's relatives immigrated to Chicago from Korea many years ago. They hardly had any money and couldn't speak any English. Since they were poor, they usually went to the grocery store to buy rice and the cheapest potted meat. Apparently, for 3 months, they were eating canned dog food until someone broke the bad news. They couldn't read the label and thought the dog on the can was just a company mascot, similar to Tony the Tiger. In parallel to this story, I have made cat food fried rice as a prank and my friend thought it was good (refer to Petsmart review). So, the moral of the story is if you're tight on money, you can totally survive on canned dog food. read more