Mateo

We just had drinks and appetizers here but what we had was great. We had the muscles and french fries and they were the best muscles I’ve ever had. I look forward to going back for a full meal soon.

For $ 250 for 4 adults, this restaurant was extremely disappointing as far as food goes and as far as service goes. With an un-​descriptive menu, it’s hard to pick something that you know you’re going to like and with servers that are rude it’s pretty hard to enjoy your evening. With cramped tables this is not a baby friendly restaurant (a car seat is not an option here.)
Food was bland and service was rude.

Mateo has had a hilly existence over the years. It was excellent if the first 5 years or so of being on the Boulder foodies scene. The food, service and ambience were top notch. However, it became too popular, making it almost impossible to get a reservation or a walk-​in table, even for regulars, as I was then. The bar crowd often packed in and didn’t leave, making it loud inside, and difficult to move at all.
Then, it went downhill, even closing for a while, but it has come back to be as good as it originally was. A sure sign of how good a restaurant is, is the coffee. I’m not kidding here, folks. Ok, so I’m a coffee snob, I can’t deny it, but this measurement seems to stand up, at least for me.
The last time I came was the summer of 2015. My sister chose it for her birhtday celebration brunch. Everything was very good. It’s expensive though, so beware. They have also remodeled it, making the bar area smaller — which I’m happy about, but it’s again, a lovely place to go for high quality food and service.
My only complaint is how loud it gets inside when they are busy. If you go at off times, or are out on the patio (in good weather), it’s better for conversations.
I do not recommend taking young children here, meaning under 10. It’s very close quarters inside, and they really don’t cater to the taste of younger people. Also, if it’s busy, the service can slow to the point of making children antsy, and in a place this small, that can be difficult for them.

Food deserves 4 stars. Service 3. Atmosphere 2. Very loud and crowded. People waiting for tables hovering at yours.
Food was very good. Large portions, fresh, presented well.
Croque Madame was a highlight. Overall we would return. Ask for a table along the back wall.

As good as I was hoping for! My main highlight for this review, that I just can’t stop thinking about, is the mussels though! We got them as our appetizer and they were so amazingly delicious that I wish they had an entrée of them. The appetizer is certainly a very generous helping, easy to share… but do I have too! The sauce they are cooked and served in has so much flavor we even asked for bread to continue soaking it up! For dinner we tried the fish dish (the name of the type was to long to remember) and the lobster ravioli. The fish was the perfect texture nicely complimented by the beans. The lobster ravioli a very generous helping of lobster in one large pasta pocket. My only comment is that I thought it a bit to citrus for my taste.
The old fashion as many others have mentioned was extremely well balanced and their wine list out of this world. I look forward to going back, what I really wanted was the duck which must be as good as it sounds since they were all out :(

Great brunch spot! They have indoor and outdoor seating options. The food was a little slow but tasted great. Service was friendly.

Pretty good. Nothing too memorable to deserve more than 3 stars. Service was ok. Just mehh.

Pretty good meal. Mussels were tasty but did not come with bread for dipping into the sauce, which I feel should be standard. Huge points off when our main entrees came out before my wife and I were done with our appetizers. Service was friendly but seemed inexperienced.

I always have a great experience here and I love, love, LOVE their Old Fashioned. It’s the way it should be made!
The staff have always been amazing and they’re genuinely nice people. I often go here to sit, enjoy a book, and relax in the early evening. I feel welcomed and at home. No one rushes you and they take know when to leave you be.
The food is superb, although I often just enjoy their cocktails and wine. Highly recommend this unpretentious gem.

It was so yummy!!! The only thing was everything I tried was a little heavy! The scramble was very good and I would certainly recommend it! I love that they have options of sparkling water or still! The service is so great also and it’s a very very lovely place

Haven’t been here for a while; came last night for a celebratory dinner. There were only a couple of open tables at 7:15; we had a reservation and were seated right away. Service was friendly, prompt and solicitous throughout our meal.
The menu is small but they have something for everyone in each part of the menu, which is perfect – I’d rather have a small menu done well than a ton of choices executed poorly.
The ratatouille with its grilled bread was so fresh and flavorful! We shared it as an appetizer and agreed it was the best part of our meal!
The cheese plate was beautiful and my son enjoyed it; the corn chowder had a lot of flavor and the salad with baby lettuces and beets was the perfect size with a vibrant lemon vinaigrette.
My son devoured his lobster ravioli; my husband and I both had the salmon. The portion was very generous, and mine was cooked perfectly. My husband said his was a little salty (probably because of the bacon in the grains – I know bacon is «in» but I find a little goes a long way and there’s usually too much for my taste), and unfortunately his was undercooked for his taste – he likes it cooked through. He could have sent it back, but he ate around the edges and that was enough for him – he didn’t want to interrupt the pace of the meal – we were really enjoying ourselves.
I read other reviews faulting the noise level; while we were there the place was full for a while and there was a noticeable increase in noise, but it was the sound of people enjoying themselves. I guess if there were tipsy people their voices get louder and maybe that might be too loud; I didn’t have a problem with the noise level.
The chocolate cake was yummy – the perfect end to a nice experience!
Will definitely go back soon!

This place is legit. We tried it out while staying in Boulder for a wedding. We sat outside on a quiet patio, but the atmosphere is equally as great inside. Between the table we ordered a burger, the quiche, Cobb salad and steak frites. All were delicious. Good cocktail and wine menu as well. I would definitely come back here.

Mateo is really a great place to fine dine affordably and we have enjoyed the eats many times…
We dined there last night and although the service was outstanding the kitchen was off there game.
We love their burgers and shrimp app however this time around the shrimp was great as always but the burger was done incorrectly twice… Very well done instead of medium rare… quite the difference for us bloody burger lovers and the second burger was medium and not up to their regular burger status.
The restaurant did comp the food after all the issues which keeps them in my good graces and certainly will have me visiting again. In the end the preference is to get the food done right which is usually their game.
Overall experience was great and I will be there again soon.

I went to Mateo for the first time last Sunday. We were a little concerned there would be a wait, but we got right in. I ordered the breakfast marg, which was delicious but not as amazing as the asperol spritz. Oh my goodness, that drink can get you into trouble bc it is so darn delectable that I wanted to stay there all day and drink as many as possible. Alas, my judgement intervened and I only had one. The bartenders here are real mixologists, and know their craft. It was refreshing! I ordered the classic bene. An absolute hit! The hollandaise is perfect, and they cooked my eggs just the way I like them. The only drawback was the brioche, I tend to lean towards the english muffin for the «sopping up» factor. I understand there a plenty of people that would prefer the brioche, but not me. The bene came with diced/​cubed little potatoes that were cooked perfectly. Absolutely divine. Great service, great staff, great food. I will be back for more. I’d love to try dinner.
Now I have tried dinner! Lobster ravioli and the cheese platter. Loved it, and the staff always makes me feel at home. Amy, Josh, Mickey and Colin make this an enjoyable experience every time we visit (which is clearly a lot). The more I explore the menu, the more I fall in love with Mateo.

5 stars for the food; 1 star for the service.
After weeks of convincing, my boyfriend finally agreed to take me to Mateo for date night. See, I’ve had my heart set on trying this place for months but was waiting for an occasion. It was early, Thursday evening. There were about 6 tables dining when we arrived and we were immediately brought to a table. A few moments later, a young man inquired about our water preference and promptly brought out two glasses of still water. It took a while for someone to take our drink order but eventually a lady saw us looking around, trying to figure out who out server was and asked if we had been helped and when we told her that we had not, she gladly helped. At this time we ordered drinks as well as appetizers. More time passes and a different lady asks if we’re doing okay. I tell her we are waiting to place our order and she reassures me that our server was on his way. Finally, a tall, skinny, dark haired man approaches us. In a voice that is barley audible he says «hello» and takes our order. Our appetizers come and go and we don’t hear a peep from him until he drops off the mains. We see him serving other tables; checking in with them and bringing them drinks but he never checked on us once during the meal. In fact, even when we were finished, we still waited so long for the check that I just asked the young man who brought the waters to is for it. Again, another long wait. Finally, «our server» brings out the check. It is only at this time, that I find out his name is Adam according to what was printed on the check… Also, he was in such a hurry to dump the check on us that he didn’t even offer us dessert. The food (which was served in adequate portions) is great and the atmosphere is quite pleasant but there are plenty of other great restaurants in the same price range that have the service aspect spot on. I know it may seem a bit harsh to give a restaurant 2 stars based solely on service but let me explain: I’m an avid home cook who is perfectly capable of making a restaurant quality meal, any day of the week. It is for this reason that good service is such a big deal for me. It’s like a treat! Anyway, I don’t think we will be returning to Mateo and we surly will not be recommending it either.

What a great find! I ended up at Mateo for lunch a couple of weeks ago with a small group of folks from work. I’d never been there before, but believe me, I’ll be a repeat customer.
I ordered the poulet frites — pan-​roasted chicken with a small side salad and a serving of fries so impressive that I couldn’t even finish them all. The chicken was superb, cooked perfectly, and the sauce that accompanied it was to die for. The fries reminded me of the ones I found while vacationing in Europe — absolutely delicious. I couldn’t finish the portion, but I definitely gave it a good try.
The servers were incredibly professional, polite, and knowledgeable. Our glasses remained filled through the course of the meal, and the restaurant was quiet enough that our group could easily carry on a conversation. My only complaint was the fact that the six of us were seated at what felt like a very small table. Then again, if they’re truly going for the ambiance of a French restaurant, they’ve got that down.

I ordered the burger and of course added an egg after seeing all the photos on Unilocal.The burger was decent but nothing special. It’s a nice place to grab drinks or a quick snack.

I had been meaning to try this place for years and once I did we loved it so much we ate here twice in the last few weeks. The first time my boyfriend had their chicken dish and I had the special salad, both excellent. In fact, my bf says it is THE best chicken he has ever had. We ate here again last night for NYE and had a fabulous meal with great live music and yummy prosecco. Unfortunately, they ran out of the trout dish I wanted however, the waitress offered to have the chef make me a butternut squash risotto since I do not eat meat. The risotto was perfectly cooked, not too heavy and just the right portion size. The bf got the chicken again and fell in love with it all over again.
The dining room was festive, filled with balloons and whoever the musician/​singer was he was amazing!

Went here for dinner the day after thanksgiving around 7:30. It was very quiet, only about 3 other tables and some people at the bar. Our waiter was well educated about the menu and especially the wine, which is very important in a server because my parents are in the wine business. He was very nice and understanding in explaining things on the menu that I didn’t know what they were, which is usually uncommon in a french restaurant.
I settled with a cider beer because all of their cocktails either had bourbon or gin in them, which was the only thing out of the night that was disappointing to me.
For appetizers we had some ahi tuna and a meat plate that was delicious. For dinner we had the rabbit, duck, steak frites, the chicken and the seafood risotto. All were exceptional, everything was cooked perfectly and had amazing flavor.
I see some people complaining about service, and we had a great experience. Our reservation was at 7:30 and we got out of there around 9:30, which is very typical for a french restaurant. There was about a 25 minute gap between the appetizer and our main course because my parents ordered a bottle of wine that needed to be decanted, but I believe that’s also typical for a french restaurant. Overall a great place and a wonderful meal.

Service: two stars
Food: 4 or 5 stars
I have visited Mateo multiple times, and usually love the food. But service seems to always be a problem. Waiter nonexistent (even when the place is almost empty), service very, very slow.