The bread (and food) are incredible, but did I mention the bread?? Always a great time. Good service, ambiance and of course the bread

I came here on Good Friday to have seafood. The staff was super friendly, and the place was very nicely decorated. They do not fully understand what gluten-free means. This pasta cannot be made gluten-free, and when I asked for the risotto, they asked if I was okay with cornstarch. My wife asked for the octopus only to find out they had run out. Still, what we ate was very good. If it wasn't for the lack of gluten-free awareness and the missing octopus, this could easily be five stars, but with these limitations, I want to say 3.5 stars. If you are not gluten-free, this is worth trying. If you are, just be careful and ask a million questions. read more

Very good! The atmosphere was cozy and the food very good - not 5 star, mind you, but solid 4 star quality. Pricey, yes, probably a bit more expensive than it's worth, but I enjoyed it. Excellent service. Would return. read more

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Matisse is the go-to place of people who desire a good meal in a restaurant-with-a-buzz without having to go all the way downtown. It has been around for a long time and has earned many loyal fans. It wouldn't be a surprise to see TV news personalities engaged in lively conversation at one of the tables. Always packed, the cozy dining room can get a tad too noisy and it can be a problem hearing your table mates. Service is always superb! The staff--always helpful and pleasant. The menu rarely changes. The night we were there, our group ordered Caesar salad, octopus and Asian gazpacho to start, followed by 3 orders of fettuccine with mushrooms and lamb burger. Everyone enjoyed their meal although for this diner nothing was a stand out. read more

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Food were great even in small portions but you have to wait awhile for serving time. Server was nice and accommodating. Wine selection available. Formal setting, business casual attire. Hourly street parking in a quiet, not so busy street. read more

I stopped by for dessert and coffee. This was a quaint place with pleasant staff. I highly recommend! read more

Matisse - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

That was, my husband and I, our 1st time at Matisse. The décor was quite elegant. The menu offered a nice variety of dishes. We all like the meals that we ordered. It would have bee perfect if: -the $15 blueberry mojito had a little bit more rum. I could feel that it was super light, since after two sips of any alcoholic beverage, I already feel tipsy, feeling I did not get with it. - If we could have had more bread. Once piece was only served at the beginning of the meal. - If the music could have been less loud. Almost a perfect evening! read more

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This was our first dine in meal since covid. We took one of two tables by the open front door. All the staff wore masks and gloves. No one else was in the restaurant. We felt safe. My pinot grigio was very nice, and reasonably priced at $9. We shared a kale salad, with feta, and a nice balsamic dressing. The kale had a fine chiffonade which made the leaves easy to chew. I had the branzino with a side of roasted root vegetables. The fish was cooked perfectly and accompanied with a butter caper sauce. My wife had shrimp puttanesca. With olives, artichokes, and a tomato sauce. The shrimp were large, the pasta was al dente, and it paired well with her Chardonnay. We finished with the apple tart. Flaky crust, caramel sauce, vanilla gelato. The meal was excellent from beginning to end. I understand carrying out to be safe, but there is nothing quite like food just out of the kitchen. With their precautions in place, I feel our decision to eat in was reasonable. read more

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This is a hidden gem ... I will be back for a romantic evening, the menu has plenty of options

Excellent service. The food was delicious. We started with the mussels, which were very good, and I had the branzino, which was excellent. My date claimed that her pork chop was a bit difficult to cut, but later said that it was tender, and had great flavor. The atmosphere is very nice; we dined in the winter, and there was a fire going in the room where we sat. The only reason that I withhold the 5-star is that it is expensive, though, it gets a strong 4-star, as it was worth the price. read more

Best intimate, casual French Restaurant. Exquisite soft shell crab, wine pairing, dessert, and atmosphere. Only thing missing is Matisse art! You like Le Diplomat? Come here instead. read more

Matisse - Soft shell crab - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

When I went there at 2 PM on Sunday of the labor weekend it was only one table of three persons and then it was just a table with one person who was me - then around 2 o'clock they had two more tables of two people - that mean the restaurant was not busy at all - the restaurant had four people staff working there. The service was not good at all. Having obviously more time they did not bother to attend me like asking what I wanted, and/or If everything was fine etc, just the courteous and restaurant professionals questions - I had to wait a long time. I got a duck leg leg And a fist of mini potatoes cut in half - no sauce just dull and dry served in a large plate which looked almost empty and not appealing - because I did not want to have the eggs nothing else (like a color veggies) was replaced to fill the plate - It was not really pleasant to see that - also at the beginning they served me 2 slices of bread which was reheated and dry, because it was overcooked then I had to wait to get fresh bread to replace the one who has already been on the table of somebody else before and served again - The service was inexistant, they were busy talking among themselves or having their head reading they phone messages- but, the bill came faster than the service without asking me if I wanted something else. I would have liked to get a coffee, but because I was so annoyed and they did not ask me, I paid and left.This is not acceptable when it was nobody in the restaurant and they were not busy at all, except talking to the people in the kitchen downstairs which was no need for the customers to hear!Very disappointing The apple tarte was delicious - the dough (la pâte feuilletée) very nice, but the slim slices of cut apples were almost raw -they should have been little bit more cooked to melt in the mouth. But this time the tarte was lukewarm and much better and not cold like I had another time For the service ordeal and lack of attention and no-attending customer I give a 3 read more

Food is great but came for a big birthday with elderly parents. They brought drinks out but not for the whole table with a 15 minute lag. Many missed items throughout the meal with reminders, polite requests. The meal took over two hours. Restaurant closed. Then, they forgot to bring the birthday desert but remembered the check. So disappointing! Was a special birthday that meant a lot to us. The manager said he would check to see what happened and never returned. I just don't know what happened. And we got a ticket for being parked too long. Too much money for such poor attention. They are apparently working off reputation or maybe we weren't important enough. read more

Atmosphere was good and so was the service. Food was okay and lacking flavor. The place was filled with a more senior crowd and the food is indicative why. read more

Excellent dinner! They have specials of the day and then the regular menu. I had a shrimp & pasta dish that was so delicious. The bar area has a brick exposed wall so it really cozy. There is a more formal area in the back too. read more

Matisse - French Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We had a wonderful dinner here. The service was good, the food excellent, and the owner Fritz was a delight. The atmosphere was quiet and intimate. A great place to spend a leisurely dinner with friends. We started with the kale salad and duck spring rolls which were both excellent. My entree was the pan-seared duck which was very good. read more

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Good food... but my partner got food poisoning from the muscles. Also the manager is incredibly rude, and provided some of the most shockingly terrible service we have ever received. I'd leave this place and go to La kavacha (amazing service), or le chat noir (much better food than matisse). This place gets one star for the horrible service. Definitely consider the other French restaurants in the area if you want to avoid bad food hygiene and disrespect. read more

I ate at Matisse last night, seated outside. As I was walking there, I was talking to my wife on the phone, and she reminded me we had eaten there several times when we lived in that neighborhood more than a decade ago. So it is reliable. It is more upscale than I would expect. I sat outside. It was very hot. Most patrons were inside. Between 6 and 7:30, I'd say I saw nobody who was a customer younger than me, which would be 55. That is an indication of the demographic the place appeals to. Nothing wrong with it. I ate the squash blossoms, battered in tempura and fried, with a bit of goat cheese, with marinara sauce; then I had the soft shell crab for a main course. Both dishes were good and together just the right amount. The service was friendly but not intrusive. They were awaiting a big party that would have taken a very long table. The whole meal was a leisurely ninety minutes and then some. I probably got into the car at 7:45. This could be considered a great date night destination you could walk to if you're in upper northwest DC. It's too nice, I.e. expensive, for casual dining. It is good enough to warrant driving to. An advantage of the neighborhood, relative to closer to downtown, is easy parking. read more

The food is so delicious here, the service outstanding, and the ambiance is elegant but relaxing. Matisse deserves a higher rating in the DC culinary scene. The service is consistently outstanding along with the food, from appetizers to dessert. After 20 years, I still walk out very happy and satisfied each and every time. I cant' say that about many restaurants! read more

Thanks for being open during these challenging times. Hubby & I wanted to treat ourselves to a nice dinner we didn't have to cook ourselves, so we ordered delivery from Matisse. Excellent! Our dinners came at the requested time and were even warm. Hubby's duck breast dinner was delish, as was my chicken dinner which was nicely flavored & came with a large portion of yummy fries. They included a baguette which was a welcome surprise addition. Stay safe and healthy, and we'll try to keep you going, Matisse. We appreciate you! read more

Fine dining in Northwest DC. A lovely array of delicious, but not too heavy options. On a recent evening, I enjoyed the snapper. Wife had the artic char with lump crab. Excellent service as well. Will be back. read more

We ate here for the first time last week and it will not be our last. What a lovely restaurant! White tablecloths, handsome decor, delightful service and though the place was full we could hear one another talk! Just as importantly, the cocktails were good and the food was delicious and VERY fairly priced!!!! We can not wait to go back and sit outside this summer or go back and eat inside. It's not necessarily a young person's "hot spot" BUT if parents are in town or you want a wonderful dinner for a date night I highly recommend Matisse. read more

Matisse was a wonderful place to celebrate my mom's birthday. The quality of the food and attentiveness of the servers we experience definitely deserves a five star review! The owner was present, as it seems from other reviews that may make a difference? We were a party of 6, dining early at 5:30 am. The hostess and servers were extremely warm towards my 2.5 year old niece (well behaved, but a fine dining experience could still be tricky!) Ambiance was upscale but intimate, with soft acoustic music in the background. Appetizers of Caesar salad and calamari were delicious. Slivers of anchovies in the salad made a very authentic flavor. Calamari was perfectly spiced and delicious. My entree was the halibut with buerre blanc, but I sampled the gnocchi, duck breast (again, perfectly spiced and cooked), and the rib eye. Each dish was executed to perfection and delicious. We were not able to enjoy dessert as my parents are diabetic, but the menu was full of delectable options -- hazelnut gelato, creme brulee, apple tart, etc. A restaurant above its star rating. Highly recommend. read more

The service here is horrible. First, it was a good 10 - 15 minutes before we got our waters. The water wasn't automatically given out either, I had to ask for it. Second, Matisse gives out bread for your meal. However, my friend and I were the only people who didn't automatically get bread; everyone around us got bread. I had to actually stop a waiter and ask for bread, and this was towards the end of our meal. Additionally, the staff seems very disorganized. I overheard a conversation in which they forgot to give some customers their menus - so we weren't the only ones forgotten about. Despite the horrific service, the food here is very good, as is the ambiance. These two positive qualities save this place from being a complete failure. read more

Usually a good pick. My dinner partner had an extreme adverse reaction....maybe an MSG allergy? Brought her home and followimg massive amounts of barfs she came close to passing out. We only shared one bottle of wine and a flute of champagne. read more

How has this restaurant not gotten more attention? I hadn't heard of this restaurant, but I am really glad that I went. The dimly lit ambiance with the simple, elegant decor is great for a date or a night out with friends. There is additional seating upstairs and looked to be a good spot for larger groups. The food was excellent. To start, apart from the good bread and olive oil the provide, we ordered the tuna tartar and calamari, both excellent; for the main dish I ordered the lamb shank and it did not disappoint one bit. The rest of the table had a few fish dishes and the scallops, and everyone enjoyed theirs as well. The presentation of the dishes was simple and very well done. The service here was top notch; I really have nothing negative to say about Matisse. read more

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Went here for the first time and this place is great. Super friendly staff, effective heat lamps, and a festive patio. Every dish I had was great, including a lovely dessert. Overall a great place. Will definitely return. read more

It was 88 degrees in the restaurant tonight. We had requested to be seated elsewhere but they said no. We later learned that one room had air conditioning. It was a horrible experience. We have been long standing patrons of the restaurant and will never go back. There's one thing about Matisse -- if you want to be treated with an attitude and want to be treated poorly, it's definitely place. If you want to experience fine dining without that, you are better off going to the many other wonderful restaurants in DC. We were very loyal patrons of the restaurant during the pandemic providing extremely generous gratuities for our take out or delivery. What a mistake. We will for sure share our experience tonight with friends. read more

My daughter and I had Tuna and the seafood risotto as main dishes and the chocolate mousse for desert. The tuna was fine, but the risotto skimped on the seafood (two shrimps, 1.5 scallops and some calamari) and was made in a tasteless tomato sauce. At $32, it was disappointing. The service was patchy. read more

First class food. Been going here for many years. Fritz is owner chef. Family restaurant with upscale quality food

A dinner out with friends while visiting the D.C. area and they recommended Matisse. I'm really glad they did! It is an incredibly friendly restaurant where everyone seems to know each other, the wine list is fantastic and the food flavors rich & intense. Not a lot of vegetarian options (they could improve in this area). I selected the hawaiian heart of palm salad and the gnocchi with mushrooms. Both had unique flavors that were complex and bright. All around an enjoyable place to dine with friends. read more

Not going back. They forgot my dinner entree. 4 people for dinner, three entrees come out, and I'm staring at a blank space of tablecloth while my family is awkwardly waiting to eat. 5 minutes pass, including a full round refill of water (you'd think they might notice at that point), then a couple of minutes later, we have to ask. After then being told "Your dinner will arrive shortly" the plate finally arrived a few minutes later, obviously rushed (way more rare than medium rare!!). Sorry, but when you're serving a table for four, how do you forget an entree? Appetizers I can understand, but the main course? For a place that charges that much, no thank you. read more

Matisse is so delicious, they deserve many more stars. Go here quite a lot and have never disliked anything. Really hope they are able to be supported right now! Best things are definitely the octopus, the duck breast and all the desserts. read more

So completely unassuming on the outside however, once we entered we were embraces by a warmth felt from a lit fireplace and an ambiance unmatched from other French restaurants in the area. The service was fantastic! Wine list exquisite and food to match. Can't wait for our next visit. read more

This restaurant has been in the neighborhood for many years, but I had a bad experience early on and didn't return till this past summer. What drew me back was the outdoor dining, which addressed concerns in the age of Covid. I have truly enjoyed rediscovering Matisse. They have first rate cuisine, including salads and seafood appetizers; duck, lamb, chicken, fish and pasta man courses, and a wide range of delicious desserts. I have particularly enjoyed their Bouillabaisse. My only concern is that although there are some changes from day to day, their menu is somewhat limited on any given evening. read more

My friend and I were here on Nov 3, 2012 to celebrate my birthday. We'd been waiting for about 18 months to come to this place since we first spotted it, but travel and work schedules had prevented it up until. I wish we had waited longer - I know most of the reviews here are positive, so clearly I was in an alternate reality whilst dining here. The hostess left us waiting at the bar to be seated for a good 15 minutes. Awkward because the bar area abuts a high traffic area and patrons had to step around us to get to their tables. We were seated upstairs (I believe at table 37) - right at the top of the stairs and next to what we initially thought was a fire door (ok fine) but later found out was a utility closet (not fine) as staff kept entering and exiting from it - interrupting our meal to do so. Did I mention table 37 is in the direct sight line to the bathroom? Now I'd understand if the place had been packed when we arrived, but it wasn't, and the restaurant knew we were there for a special occasion. How hard would it have been to move us one table over (identical set up)? The wait staff were inattentive at best. Bread was served only after the appetizer course was finished - we didn't even know bread was being served. It would have been ok had we not known, but once it was served late - hmmm - it only went downhill from there. We ordered a bottle of champagne, no chiller was provided (despite a direct offer from staff later in the meal), no one ever returned to refill our glasses. After we received dessert, our waiter went home for the evening without letting us know. Leaving us to sit in the cold room (all other tables had been cleared and reset by this time) for 45 minutes until we finally had to shout across the room to get someone's attention in order to pay the bill. The food was hit and miss. The appetizers were really good - I had the panko crusted veal and my friend had the foie gras. The entrees were 50/50 - my friend had the ribeye - which was 30% fat - and not the yummy marbled kind - just ill cut. To their credit, the waiter did switch her entree out for the filet immediately. I had the scallops, which were quite lovely. Dessert was a cheese plate (good) and the apple tart - which was yummy too. Alas there was no coffee because no one asked us if we wanted any and our waiter had disappeared by then. Given all of the slights over the course of the evening, we decided to chat with the manager before leaving. We received a series of excuses, all prefaced with "that's not how we usually do things," and "I'm not trying to make excuses but..." I am not one to have these sorts of conversations as I find them painful; however, given the price of the meal, there was no way I could not say something. The manager said she'd wished she'd known earlier so she could address the issue - but we had yet to leave the premises, so the offer would have been more sincere in my mind if she had done something before we left. We have sent a letter off to the owner, hopefully we'll hear back soon. It's very disappointing to have looked forward to something for so long and have the experience tainted with things that could be addressed with better training and communication. read more

I took my fiancee to Matisse for Valentines Day after reading Yelp reviews and was very disappointed. The service was very poor. It took forever to get our drinks. He wasn't super friendly. The food was pretty good, but the serving sizes were small. I like the ambiance, but that was about it. I don't think I will be going back. read more

Delicious cesar salad, perfectly balanced flavors. The beef tenderloin medallions were cooked to a perfect medium rare, and tender while being juicy. read more

Elegant design makes for a refreshingly cool dinner experience. Easy to find, with free parking nearby. My martini was not as chilled as it should have been; otherwise everything was great. Crab cakes especially were superb. Wild Alaskan halibut with mango salsa and wild rice -- scrumptious. Rockfish special -- tasty. I can't remember exactly what kind of chocolate concoction I devoured for dessert, but it was incredible. ...Especially with their Killer espresso. Our waiter humored our curiosity and asked around until he found out their bean source: a local roaster whose name I could not pick out through the French accent... read more

I've been to Matisse four times now. The first three occasions impressed me enough to come back for a fourth. Now I'm not so sure. This time, the owner was conspicuously absent, and though I'm loathe to assume cause and effect on so little evidence, my guess is that, as they say in French, "Quand le chat n'est pas là, les souris dansent." (Don't we say, "When the cat's away, the mice will play"?) In any case, I dropped Dianne off in front of the restaurant, and joined her maybe six minutes later as I had a bit of trouble finding a parking spot. She had ordered the water, which was served shortly after my arrival. Minutes passed before a waiter asked if we wanted drinks, then noticed we hadn't even been given menus yet. I'll stop detailing here, but suffice it to say the service was poor the entire evening with chasms of time between events. Once we had finished our entrées (mine was sub-mediocre, Dianne loved her soft-shelled crabs), we sat for an eternity waiting for our plates to be cleared. We had intended to order dessert, coffee, and a digestif, but given the pace of the service we asked for the check and beat as hasty a retreat as we could manage. Ice cream, espresso, and a fine cognac at home were both cheaper and more readily available. I notice that this review is far from the first to comment on the less-than-stellar service at Matisse. That this issue has apparently gone unaddressed in spite of so many red flags is a real cause for concern. It may be time to give Le Chat Noir, across the street, another try. read more