Matts in the Market

The pastrami sandwich initially caught my eye. There was an hour wait for lunch Saturday. I’d recommend open table for reservations so that you don’t have to sit around and wait. The menu is seasonal so what you see in the photos might not be available when you come visit. That happened to me. I ended up ordering the BBQ pork sandwich. It was good but not worth the hour wait. Prices are on the higher end.

Always a must visit when I’m in the area at Pike Place. A mean Moscow mule… Delicious seafood… Great service… scenic views. Why wouldn’t you want to come? Make a reservation for a window seat or if you are able to, sit at the bar and experience great service as well.

Pricey place, but OH MY GOSH THE SCALLOPS. The food is really good and you do get your money’s worth with the quality of the food. We started with the clam appetizer, and the sauce they were served with was incredible — we ordered a side of bread just so we could finish the sauce. Then I ordered the scallops for my main meal and they just melted in my mouth.
The staff is also very friendly. I made a reservation through Open Table and requested a window seat. They not only acknowledged my request, but they also tried their best to accommodate it.

You really can’t beat Matt’s in the Market. I’ve been at least five times (and I live in Chicago, if that tells you anything) for lunch. It’s my favorite place (including famous landmarks!) to take out-​of-​town guests or anyone who wants a great meal in an iconic location. The best part about Matt’s, aside from the food and service, is that it’s right in the heart of the market, but not touristy at all or fussy in the least bit. I think it flies slightly under the radar because it’s upstairs (on the third floor) in the public market center. Everytime I visit I eat the catfish sandwich with a simple green salad. It’s to die for– incredibly fresh and impeccably breaded and seasoned. The menu varies slightly by season and always impresses me, but I can’t bring myself to order anything aside from this standout dish. The prices are standard Seattle, although if you’re drinking (which I am) you’ll likely spend at least $ 50 for a party of two. I can’t compliment Dan Bugge and his staff enough.
Tip: Make a reservation. I’ve heard the wait time quoted up to an hour, even during lunch.

Why does an establishment deserve 5 stars?
Simple.
–They have unparalleled service. You will feel special.
–Their food and beverages are exceptional and/​or unique.
–The location is prime, and adds to the whole experience.
–The interior makes you want to look around, gives off an established vibe, and is above the average décor.
–Extra memories and thoughtful touches– like, say, holding a bouquet up front for you so you may dine with ease.
–Availability of hours, are they open often enough?
–You’ll want to return immediately.
Nice work. I was impressed. I am bragging at this point. The bar tender was attentive, charming, funny and gave excellent service. The hostess was a doll, and took care of my things for me.
Best flavor of Bloody Mary I’ve had to date. You will lose it over their halibut sandwich and any fish dish. Probably everything else too.
The falafel plate is also heavenly. Perfect flavor.
Iconic views of Pike Place and stunning interior décor.
In love.

When the tourists leave you have Pike Place Market to yourself at Matt’s in the Market — restaurant is on the top floor (2^nd) in the building catercorner to the famous sign. It’s continues to keep its place as one of the top 38 restaurants in Seattle. All tables are good viewing but the window tables are the best. Menu changes often and the open kitchen makes it fun to watch them put it all together. We started out with what was possibly he best cheese board we’ve ever had ($ 20). 5 types of cheeses (2 cow, raw cow, sheep & goat) with great flavors like jam, candied brittle, date, candied almonds and brownie (was perfect with the cow bayley haven blue cheese).The entrees were huge portion so we split a pork cheek with lentils and sausage with rhubarb and arugula side ($ 30). The pork cheek was so good and tender and the sausage was too but we were both so full we each only had a couple of small bites of the sausage. For dessert we had the rhubarb (can you guess what’s in season?) panna cotta– Delish. Each dish was beautifully presented and I’ve never had rhubarb cut so thinly yet still retain just enough of the sweet/​sour taste. Everything was delicious and great service. Bar is separate and across from the restaurant.

Matts and I have a very funny relationship as I frequent Seattle very often for business. The last three times I have been here I have asked my clients to pick a restaurant a guess what we always end up at Matts.
Given the variety and quality of restaurants in Seattle one would think I would want to try another spot but honestly I don’t mind going back one bit. Last night I dined there with two friends and had a wonderful dinner. Two of us had the catch of the day, a Halibut, and the other person had scallops. Both dishes were superb.
Along with high quality food the service is fantastic and the view is as good as you are going to get. This time of year you don’t get to see Pike’s Market lit up like you do in the winter but the view of Elliot Bay is first rate.
I will be back in a few weeks and not sure where my guest will pick but if it’s Matts I am not going to complain one bit.

In town on business and our host selected this restaurant. The area is the Pike Place Market, so it has that vibe. If you are touring it certainly is convenient. The service was excellent. The server was happy to offer suggestions in response to requests for guidance. The food was imaginative, and fresh. My scallops were perfectly cooked. Same for the folks who ordered halibut. Craft beers reign supreme here. Do not ask if they have a «light beer.» The only reason for a 4 rather than a 5 star review is the noise level. It was loud, and that results in everyone talking louder, which brings the sound up to a cacophony. Not the place for an intimate conversation!

I’m going to go straight to the negative hence giving it 3 stars. Cleanliness is the problem. My boyfriend’s first plate had cake stains. The second food stain came from our spoon entrée. The spoon never touched our dish. It was disgusting and i felt disappointed as we expected good service which includes having clean utensils.
My boyfriend ordered Arctic Char and it only had 1 clam. This dish is not cheap so he should at least have 2 clams. We spoke with the server and they were apologetic with what just happened. So they provided him additional clams for his Arctic Char dish.
Positive Feedback
Foie Gras ($ 25) pineapple upside down cake, coconut, kumquat, curried cashews — This dish was wonderful. I love foie gras and just simply loved the combination with foie gras and fruits. It was sweet but perfect. Right amount of sweetness. My boyfriend and I loved this dish.
Grilled Octopus ($ 16) baba ganoush, falafel, tentacle, grilled eggplant, preserved lemon yogurt, aleppo chile — Our second dish from the appetizer section. This was a complete different flavor. Foie gras was sweet and yummy, this one was fresh and had lots of flavor. The grilled octopus was cooked perfectly.
Seafood Stew ($ 34) mussels, clams, fin fish, scallop, green coconut curry, yukon gold potato, long bean, basil, mint, cilantro, eggplant chips and peanuts. I love seafood so they had everything I loved in this dish, mussels, clams, fin fish, scallops, and even arctic char! At first I thought it was salmon but it was not. This dish was sooo good. Though it can be spicy but overall, I was very satisfied.
Arctic Char ($ 33) smoked clams, cippolini onions, grilled cauliflower, celery, preserved meyer lemons, sultana raisins. This was the dish that only had one clam. Based on the description it stated smoked «clams». Anyways, besides disappointing us with the amount of clams on this dish, it was overall good. My boyfriend liked his dish. And the arctic char was just delicious.
Overall, we had the best food experience, customer service was just okay, the cleanliness was terrible. I seriously want to give this place five stars but having food stains on one of the plates and spoon… is just a no no.
I will come back because the food is delicious.

We had a disappointing experience at Matt’s last Friday night. My local friend chose this restaurant based on reviews and word of mouth. One cool thing about it is that it’s located in Pike Place Market and has a really great view of the market entrance and signage lit up at night. The cheese board was also a big thumbs up.
Our first server was bizarre and apathetic. He sporadically visited our table and gave vague descriptions of food and drink. After our appetizers were served, he informed us that they were really slow, he was cut and is «super happy about it». He then introduced us to our new server.
With two bottles of wine, a few cocktails, two appetizers, four entrees and dessert, we spent nearly $ 500 here. It’s money I wish I had back because the food just wasn’t that great. Two of us ordered the halibut and thought it was nearly tasteless. The fish apparently came with asparagus, chickpeas, fava beans, blistered snap peas, shitakes, radish and mushroom dashi (I had to go back and look because the sides were not memorable). The plate was beautiful, but all those ingredients added almost no flavor. With all the delicious food in Seattle, I wouldn’t recommend visiting this restaurant.

Matts in the Market has been my go to recommendation for anyone who wants a nice lunch near Pike’s Market. If your lucky, or early enough to receive a window seat the views of the Pikes Market are priceless seeing the hustle and bustle down below. As much as I approve of the classy décor I will have to say it’s the creativity with the cuisine that has this place near the top of my list for best eats in Seattle.
I personally have tried the catfish sandwich and the steak sandwich both of which were spot on with their seasonings. The freshness of their vegetables makes you wonder if they ran across the street to make your meal. The food is good, location is great and the price is right. Matts in the Market is a must eat Seattle!

We had a delightful date night at Matt’s this past Thursday night. We’d actually tried to eat at Matt’s a couple of times over the past few months, but finally got smart and secured reservations. We loved it.
The restaurant itself is quite small and sits on the second floor of the building directly across the street from Pike Place Market and there are some really good views of the giant neon sign and clock. There’s a line of tables against the window, and the other few restaurants offer a pretty nice view of the kitchen, which is open and kind of merged into the bar area. The atmosphere is warm and open.
Our service during the entire meal was excellent. we had a single waiter, but were served by various other folks and all of them were very friendly and helpful. Excellent service.
Matt’s doesn’t have a huge wine list, but it’s surprising good and full of local wines as well as Californian and European favorites. We loved our Columbia Valley red blend.
For dinner, we shared a mixed green salad which was delightful, and then my wife had a scallops plate while I had the American «kobe» steak. Both plates were full of surprising textures and tastes — all surprisingly good textures and tastes. I ordered my steak medium, and it was perfectly medium, and the meat just melted in my mouth. I did have a bite of my wife’s scallops, and they were quite good, though I’m pretty sure I had the better meal of the evening.
We loved the toffee bread pudding that we had for dessert. It was the perfect cap to a wonderful meal.
We will definitely be heading back to Matt’s!

A very special lunch while on travel. My friend who lives here said it’s the quintessential Seattle spot to dine & for very good reason!
Three of us had lunch here overlooking the famous Pike Place Market sign. There were rooftop spring daffodils for our viewing pleasure, too.
Started with some raw oysters most beautifully plated & delicious. The deviled eggs were perfect. My friends shared a steelhead salmon sandwich, while I tried the Guinea Hen Leg Salad with Scottish Egg & various micro greens. This is a dish I would get again on a return visit — it was truly outstanding!
We were too full to try dessert, but next time …

I came here a few weeks ago for Sunday brunch. I’ve only been here once before a while back for a friend’s birthday dinner and don’t remember too much about it except thinking that dinner was pretty expensive for what it was. I wanted to try out their brunch menu since Unilocalers rave a lot about their sandwiches.
We ordered the deviled eggs as an appetizer. I ordered the panfried cornmeal catfish sandwich and my friends ordered the scallops (fresh seafood of the day) and the steamed muscles and clams. The deviled eggs came in a portion of 6 half eggs topped with an assortment of things such as bacon bites and sardines. We were really impressed with the creaminess of the deviled eggs, definitely recommend!
I absolutely loved my catfish sandwich! It was a little bit messy to eat but the sauce in the sandwich was so delicious. I would literally go back to this place just to eat this sandwich. I tried a bite of the other two dishes and they were also very good and flavorful.
I was hoping we would be seated by the window to have a nice view of the market but we ended up sitting next to the kitchen which was also great that we could watch them prepare our food. I definitely recommend this place for brunch (may have to give dinner another chance)!

Definitely an awesome experience at Matt’s and had a lovely time, especially since I’m just visiting Seattle! The place overlooks the Pike Market sign and that’s visible from every table. I was also able to sit next to the kitchen and see them make some dishes. The chef even accidentally dropped his knife at the end of the service and gave us a thumbs up to make sure he was okay!
Anyways, onto the food! Everything is fresh, you’d expect nothing less when you’re located above a beautiful market teeming with fresh veggies/​fruit and seafood. For a party of 2, we got four dishes. Two appetizers and two entrees. I also ordered the nazca lines cocktail, which was so good I ordered two.
For the appetizers we got foie gras and grilled octopus. I love a good octopus that’s cooked well. The octopus had an excellent bite and the falafel was so crunchy. I have nothing bad to say about the foie gras, it’s my all time favorite ingredient and they did a good sear on it. Just the way I like it!
My boyfriend got the duck and I got the market fish which was an Ono that night. The black chowder sauce is UNBELIEVABLE and super addicting. The duck was cooked well and the fat was rendered nicely. I appreciate the technical skills in all their dishes that shines nicely when devoured.
For dessert we got the bread pudding with the brown butter ice cream. So rich and decadent leaving you warm and happy!
Matt’s is definitely some place you should eat when visiting Seattle. Combined with the great food and awesome ambience, it was my favorite restaurant the entire trip!

The good:
— Tasty food
— Great location
The bad:
— Inconsistent service
— Expensive
After hearing so many great things about Matts, the wife and I decided to give it a try. Located on the third floor of a building right across from Pike Place Market. We walked in without reservations, so understandably we had a wait. What was unfortunate, however, was the fact that many other couples didn’t have reservations, but kept being taken ahead of us. I don’t want to make any accusations, but we were the only asians on the waitlist (and in the restaurant), and the hostess that took our names down made someone else seat us. Overall we waited about an hour on a 30-​minute quoted time. We nearly walked off.
Once seated, though, our server was as friendly as can be. We also got a pretty good table near the window. The restaurant itself is pretty tight, though the large windows help give it an airy feel. Props for serving Rachel’s Ginger Beer as well!
To start, the wife and I decided to give the Deviled Eggs with Chef’s Choice of Accompaniments ($ 11). On this day the accompaniments were Old Bay, sardine, octopus, pimento, pickled onion, and smoked tomato. They were all rich and delicious, though my favorite was the smoked tomato.
For her meal, the wife decided to order the Pork Belly Confit Bahn Mi ($ 16). Pork Belly, yum! But the wife love spicy, so the other contents of the sandwich sold her as well. Besides the pork belly, it was stuffed with pickled daikon radish & carrot, fresno chilies, hoisin, cilantro, and sambal mayonnaise on a fresh baguette. All sandwiches come with a choice of salad or soup, and of course the wife chose the salad.
For my meal, I ordered the Dungeness Crab & Oregon Bay Shrimp Sandwich ($ 23). The shellfish was slathered with 1000 island dressing with iceberg lettuce and tomato on a brioche bun. The filling was fresh, but the crab was skimpy and there was quite a bit of filler like celery. It was difficult to eat too. Not really worth it’s high price tag in my opinion. I did choose the soup, though, which was a pear + mushroom soup, which was really tasty!
Though dessert sounded excellent with options like Maple Chocolate Crème Brûlée and Banana Bread Pudding, we were too full. Would I come again? I’m not sure. Of course the issue with the hostess left a bad taste in our mouths, but the prices were also really high for what we got. Honestly, I thought Goldfinch Tavern at the Four Season was a much better value with as good, if not better quality.

I thought it was well executed but being from San Francisco… It’s really hard to be wow’d. Hubby and I got the beet salad, bread (cold, which was disappointing… They should really toast or heat the bread for charging), Ono and scallops, and a couple drinks. Good food, just nothing to write home about. Maybe the other meatier stuff would’ve been more memorable.

You really can’t beat Matt’s when it comes to location. Almost every seat inside has a killer view of the Market sign, which alone is worth checking out once.
We came with a group of six. Service was great, except one dark haired girl who was super snotty about being asked about the cheese plate we ordered and weren’t told anything about. I guess maybe you should know what your restaurant is serving or find out since guests are dropping about $ 100 per person, huh?
Aside from that our main waiters were great (probably why this girl was a busser/​expo and not in charge of actual service). We had to switch mid dinner for a shift change, I guess, but the new guy was funny and even gave our birthday girl ice cream when we decided we wouldn’t stay for dessert.
Apps were the mystery cheese plate with mystery garnishes and mystery crisps, white and olive breads with butter and grey salt, and the apple and squash salad with chicarone, which was amazing.
I ordered the venison special, but friends got seafood stew and scallops across the board. The venison came with two steaks and two small pieces of venison sausage, a parsnip purée that was rich and delicious, some sort of fruit syrup that complimented it all perfectly, tiny and well cooked Brussels, diced roasted potatoes, and slices of parsnip. The venison was so rare I couldn’t eat more than a bite of the browned edge, but the flavor was good and it wasn’t gamy at all, which I was really worried about. The seafood stew seemed like a great value– so full of scallops, clams, mussels, and even a sizable chunk of salmon. Scallops were ok– I’m really glad I didn’t order them since I cook them better at home, and their accompaniment didn’t seem as filling or good as my dish.
The cocktails were tasty with cute names– I really enjoyed the Bourbon Sprawl.

The food was good, but the menu was a little too limited for me. The online menu listed more options that I was interested in, but upon arriving, those items weren’t available. I had the market fish, but I didn’t realize it would be seared and not cooked through. I wouldn’t have ordered it had I known that ahead of time so that was a little disappointing. The banana bread pudding was absolutely delicious and by far the highlight of the meal.

Was referred to the place by a Seattle native and it didn’t disappoint. Not a ton on the menu, and it’s seasonal– but the food was full of flavor and savory!
A cool view of pike market place with Windows all around.
Not to mention we received 5 star service from our waitress, Ana.

I lived in Seattle three years before I visited this classic establishment, but I am so happy I can add it to my list of food experiences here.
Something about the effort it takes to get to this tucked away gem makes it seem even more special. The climb up the old stairs… The views of the market and water are wonderful– on a sunny day the natural light shines through the giant old windows that blanket the west wall to add that special touch of rustic feel.
We sat at the bar during lunch and ordered a variety of dishes. The mussels and clams were probably my favorite but I thoroughly enjoyed everything. Great place to visit when you want a classic market experience with thoughtful food and a seasonal menu.

When visiting from out of town, I searched Unilocal for a lunch spot for my coworkers and I. It met all our criteria: great view, great food, and serves alcohol… at least according to Unilocal.I would highly recommend reservations, we somehow snuck in between reservations, but we got very lucky.
Vibe:
It’s a small restaurant with an even smaller bar. We were lucky to grab a window seat overlooking the iconic Pikes Place Market.
Food:
Grilled St Jude’s Albacore Tuna sandwich: it is amazing. The fish is fresh and the condiments complimented it well.
Steelhead Fishwich-​outstanding. Fresh fish, thick bacon and I loved the avocado/​aoili combo.
Shrimp and grits were on point according to my colleague
Pastrami sandwich was great according to my boss
Service:
Our waiter was good, not great. However, the place was packed and he seemed to have a lot of the tables.
I can’t wait to come back and get either of the fish sandwiches. I split mine so I got to try ½ of both fish sandwiches and they were both amazing for different reasons. I will be back.

Awesome window view of the market. Very clean and roomy tables and environment. I had the albacore tuna sandwich and the andouille stew. Excellent.

Food is consistent and more like a 3 ½. My hang up was the service, very slow for lunch and our tall waiter acted like he was the problem, boring, slow and not into his job. The catfish sand is still awesome, place is great and we love it, but get some life into the serving group.

The meal completely captures my attention as if I am experiencing the focus of Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan, and Elon Musk combined. I am completely enthralled– time slows. The hum of Enya, the buzz of symphonies rings in my ears with each bite. Compassion for others permeates through me like a smiling hungry Buddha for the gratitude I feel for the meal overwhelms me in the gentlest way.
The Kobe steak, the venison sausage, the scallops and the falafel with grilled octopus each lead to a humble utterance of «wow.» Intricate and masterfully planned flavor pounds my eyes out of their sockets. My temple throbs as flavor bulges through my face. The vegetables are so elevated, they must have been grown and prepared in Eden. Tantric Dining.

Ordered fish and duck, recommended by the server, this place is over-​rated, nothing special about this place and the food was bland and we felt like we wasted 150 dollars on a very mediocre food.
Not going to recommend this to anyone!

Such a lovely spot at Pike Place Market after a long day of walking Seattle. We went there for a quick bite and luckily Happy Hour was starting. The bar is tiny roughly about six seats. The host that had let come in was kind enough grab an extra seat to let my husband sit at the bar even though there were not enough seats. Happy Hour menu at Matt’s was worth it. Oysters for 2 dollars a piece? Yes, please.
Drink specials were delish, and the food was top notch. Even in fall the place is adorable.

We went here for a group dinner. I enjoyed the ambiance. The food is prepared fresh in an open kitchen. The chefs do an amazing job with presentation although I felt the portions were not adequate for the price and the flavor was just so-​so. Our waiter did an amazing job and was great at up-​selling us on drinks, appetizers and desserts. Have to give him props. I was disappointed as there is only one restroom to be shared with both men and women. The bathroom was dirty and the toilet was clogged so I had to notify the staff. Fortunately they had another option but you had to leave the restaurant and go down a hall with a key to another lackluster bathroom.

Salty food. I ordered the deviled eggs and the Halibut Fishwich with clam chowder. The chowder was watery. I had left over eggs and half of the sandwich so decided to share it with my colleague when I got back to the office. He said that if he had high blood pressure he wouldn’t have been able to eat it. It had a great atmosphere though and I was lucky to have a window table. I probably won’t be back though. I’m glad I tried it but I’d rather go to Ivar’s or Anthony’s for my seafood needs.

Came in for lunch today with my boyfriend and his mother and enjoyed our meal!
The menu is unique with a lot of seafood. You’ll see a ton of sandwiches. As I’m not a huge fan of both seafood and sandwiches, I found the menu to be a little limited for my tastes.
I ordered the falafel, which was really good! Loved the pickled beets.
We were beyond excited to encounter Sarah here! She has been our serve before at Spinasse, and is great at what she does. She’s extremely thoughtful and remembered us immediately. She even sent us a surprise dessert after our meal!

Can’t beat this view of the iconic Pike Place Market sign. We lucked out and got the corner table on my last night in Seattle, and it is no doubt the best seat in the house. Try to time a dinner visit around the sunset — you’ll be treated by an unforgettable view of the mountains, waterfront scenery, and of course the Pike Place Market sign that is close it feels like you could reach out of the window at Matt’s and touch it.
Matt’s in the Market probably gets at least 3 stars for location alone, and is tucked far enough away that it doesn’t feel like a tourist gimmick. I’ve lived in Seattle for many years, and Matt’s is a restaurant I would recommend to tourists and locals alike.
The food is delicious, local, and seasonal. My boyfriend had the salmon and I had the half chicken (this was part of their early summer menu). The charcuterie plate was also excellent, and showcased some flavorful cheeses from the region. Seeing as the restaurant is literally perched right above Pike Place Market, it stands to reason that their ingredients are unparalleled in freshness. Eating at Matt’s in the Market is like embarking on a tasting tour of Seattle — and who could say no to that, whether you’ve lived here all your life or if it’s your first night in the Emerald City?

We hadn’t been to Matt’s in many years, but decided to give it a shot when we had visitors in town. Got a reservation for 5 at lunch with no troubles at all and we got a great table by the window overlooking the market.
Food was just ok:
— clams & mussels with chorizo — on par with other restaurants downtown. Nice flavor, but nothing special
— Cobb salad — too creamy, it was a bit too heavily dressed and served decomposed which looks nice, but flavor wise isn’t as good
— oyster po-​boy with corn seafood chowder — there was hardly any corn in the chowder, but TONS of potatoes, sandwich was descent, but not great
— Dungeness crab caeser — meh, continuing the ok, not great trend
Service was friendly, efficient, and they kept our glasses full, which can be a challenge.

Go with a reservation or be prepared to be turned away. I was there when they opened for lunch
and if you didn’t have a reservation you ere out of luck.
Amazing food — loved the halibut sandwich with chorizo farro soup. Portions were average, not abundant.
Personable bartender Robbie. Knew his stuff and would issue recommendations. Great ambiance.
After a glowing review, I only gave it 4 stars for the price and portion ratio.

Got lunch waited about 40′, note to myself «make a reservation:) «
Nice, polite, prompt staff. Food is solid 4 stars. Got — Bacon Cheeseburger, Fish of the day Halibut and local
Brewery.
Beer was — ok
Burger — above average
Halibut — nicely cooked, above average

Both times that I have been here, there was always a line waiting before the restaurant even opened! I would highly recommend making reservations in advance, as they seem to get pretty booked.
On my second visit, I was contemplating between the catfish sandwich (since I enjoyed it the first time), and the braised rabbit sandwich. I’ve never tried rabbit before, so I was a little hesitant. Luckily, the soup of the day was braised rabbit stew, so I was able to get the catfish, and still get a taste of the rabbit! Our waitress told us that rabbit is gamier, but the stew actually tasted more like chicken. It might have just been because the meat was shredded though. Even so, I thought it tasted fine. Although the sandwich isn’t intense on flavor (it’s more on the bland side), I enjoyed the catfish. The sandwich does tend to fall apart though. My friend tried the market fish, which was halibut that day, and enjoyed it! Next time, I’ll definitely try the rabbit!