Matilda Restaurant
Matilda Restaurant — high-caliber mexican in River North. Loud in the best way, with real pulse to the room. Drink selection punches above its weight. Tyler J: "The cochinita was served with fresh tortillas and creamy habanero sauce (not pictured)"
What 1,714 diners keep saying
What 1,714 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“Amazing food. We sat on the patio but the inside is absolutely stunning. The food was incredibly fresh and a unique and much welcomed authentic take of Peruvian Mexican cuisine. The guacamole is so special and mashed table side with Amarillo and fresh pico + the steak tacos incredible meat and unique cheesy inner shell. Go! Oh and the mojito mocktail -- a must”

“Amazing fusion of Mexican and Peruvian cuisine. Service was incredible.”

“Pablo was fanatic, explained every dish & made the experience worth while.”

“Pablo is beautiful and fantastic. Amazing vibes, delicious food, incredible service. Don’t miss out on it! (Guac and Tuna Tartare go so hard) 😤🤤”

“It was delicious, perfectly cooked and seasoned with astonishing latin flavors. A little be overpriced the paella 🥘 but tasty. Totally recommended!! Also try the special guacamole but not the regular.”

“We had an excellent date night at Matilda. Each plate was well put together and delicious. our server David was awesome! Favorite dish: tuna tartare”

“This was the best dinner experience that I’ve had in Chicago in a long time. The flavors were so inquire, presentation of food was top tier, and service was impeccable. Get the plantain tacos and the pallela! David took great care of us, he had the best recommendations and was extremely knowledgable on my allergy — he immediately knew what I could eat and what dishes could be adjusted to be gluten free. This is a great place to go on a date, with friends, or family! I will 100% be back!”

“Came for a restaurant week lunch and these dishes seemed very thoughtful. The tuna tartare came beautifully plated and was definitely meant to be shared, but oh so delicious. The cochinita was served with fresh tortillas and creamy habanero sauce (not pictured). This is definitely refined Mexican and you can tell every aspect of the environment from the decor, wall style, and under table acoustic paneling was thought through to have a great experience. So good, would go back. Also the sombra drink was great (if a little strong lol)”

“Matilda is such a cozy spot with beautiful presentation and bold flavors. Recommend -The grilled prawns in creamy sauce were definitely a highlight and perfectly cooked. -The tacos were also amazing, crispy with great texture and well-balanced toppings. -The braised beef was tender and comforting, and the crispy rolls were a perfect way to end the meal. The only is that the tables are a bit too small, and the space feels quite tight. It can be slightly uncomfortable when people are moving in and out because the layout is a bit cramped. Overall, the food is impressive and worth trying (and slightly crowded) dining experience.”

“Finally got around to trying Matilda! Went on a Friday night. The space is beautiful. There was a line for the speakeasy inside of the restaurant but we were able to get by easily to go to the host stand. The hosts were friendly. There was one host that was very obviously chewing gum and popping it loudly so that wasn’t super welcoming. Drinks were good. The food tasted fresh but ultimately fell a bit short during this visit. The cheek birria guiso lacked salt/flavor. It had a great tenderness though. Our server (I believe his name is David) was great! He helped make the experience more enjoyable. I would like to give this spot another chance because of all the great reviews. Ojalá la próxima vez sea una mejor experiencia.”
“Jonny was an amazing server and bartender! All of the cocktails he made for us were fantastic! He's very friendly and helpful at guiding you through the menu. The lunch menu is great. We added an additional appetizer and it was perfect. The corn cake is a must. We enjoyed our experience start to finish.”
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