My boyfriend and I dined here on February 12, 2026, and while the evening was pleasant enough, the overall experience fell short of expectations.
We began with the soup du jour, a cream of mushroom (4/5). The soup itself was well-seasoned and comforting, but its flavor leaned far too heavily on the truffle oil and shavings, which ultimately overshadowed the mushroom base rather than complementing it.
The spicy tuna on crispy rice (3.5/5) showcased a well-prepared tuna, fresh and nicely seasoned. Unfortunately, the crispy rice dominated the dish both texturally and structurally, with oversized, puffy kernels that were distracting and lingered uncomfortably after each bite.
For the main course, the pan-seared branzino (3/5) arrived with an attractive sear, but that initial promise quickly faded. Despite being paired with a red wine reduction and a lemon caper sauce, the fish itself was surprisingly bland, lacking the depth or balance one would expect from such accompaniments.
Dessert was a mixed bag. The chocolate banana peanut butter bomb (3.5/5) featured a high-quality chocolate shell and a well-executed raspberry purée. However, the dessert suffered from poor proportioning: the peanut butter banana mousse—denser than a typical mousse—overwhelmed the sponge cake layer, and the crispy white chocolate garnishes added texture without contributing meaningful flavor.
The cheesecake (2/5) was the most disappointing course. The graham cracker crust tasted almost entirely of raw sugar granules, with little of the expected graham nuance, and the candied pecans actively detracted from the dish rather than enhancing it.
At $125 per person, the experience simply did not justify the price point. We both agreed by the end of the evening that we would not be interested in returning to sample other seasonal menu offerings. While there were moments of technical competence, the meal lacked the cohesion, balance, and refinement one expects at this level.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Marti Mar
Recommend to reserve a table of large groups.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Joe Lesser
The food was ok. The dessert was good, but otherwise nothing special. Definitely not worth the hefty price. Disappointing.
Mike Wang
Wife and I have been coming here for years. When we heard it had been sold, we were a little wary because 'under new management/ownership' sometimes means the place takes a turn for the worse. Thankfully, that's not the case here. Chef Greg even came by the tables to meet the patrons. Food was excellent and service was top notch. So glad we didn't have to cross this off our go-to list!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jose Rodriguez JR1
If your looking for an out of this world experience and want your taste buds to explode this is the place. And it's BYOB. It can't get any better than that. Reservations and recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
L
I have to say we loved our meals and the service was excellent. And give them lots of credit for that. It was a four-course meal including dessert and we had three choices for each course. I would have preferred different or more choices but we enjoyed everything we ordered. In particular, the venison Wellington and crab cake was outstanding. We had an issue with the table because it was drafty where they sat . They have outdoor seating even in the winter in private igloos, and our indoor table was right by the door that the wait staff used to go in and out. they quickly responded to our request for a table change. I do think it is an extremely pricey dinner at 125 per person, but we enjoyed it immensely
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Larry
Dinner was excellent service was excellent. Would have liked to have had a few more options for this four course dinner but we did enjoy everything we had. In particular the venison Wellington was excellent. Have to say it is an extremely pricey meal
Juan
My wife and I celebrated her birthday at Matisse, and the experience was outstanding from start to finish. We parked directly in front and were seated in a private igloo in the back garden for the four-course tasting menu. The space was cozy, perfectly lit, and truly private. Service was exceptional - attentive without hovering. They even surprised my wife with a candle on her dessert. Effortless, thoughtful hospitality. First course: The octopus wasn't available, but the beef French onion soup was the best I've ever had - deep, rich, and perfectly balanced. The beet carpaccio with burrata was equally impressive and beautifully composed. Second course: The bone marrow and beef tongue dish was phenomenal, with crispy potatoes and pickled onions adding contrast. The crab cake was clean and fresh. Third course: The highlight. We had the short rib cavatelli with mushrooms and truffle, plus an off-menu filet mignon with foie gras and creamed spinach. The filet was superb, possibly resting on crispy polenta, and the creamed spinach was the best I've ever had - balanced, silky, and flavorful without bitterness. The cavatelli was so good we ordered a second to go. Massive depth of beef flavor, earthy truffles, parmesan richness, cremini mushrooms, chive oil - each cube of short rib a perfect bite. Truly unforgettable. Dessert: Blueberry lavender crème brûlée and caramel cheesecake. I dislike lavender and expected to hate it - yet it was incredible. Subtle, harmonious, and beautifully paired with blueberry. The cheesecake was playful, not overly sweet, with homemade dulce de leche and a balanced caramel profile. Matisse excels at turning unexpected combinations into something magical. From service to food, this was a memorable night and an easy place to recommend. Matisse excels at making unlikely combinations feel inevitable. From the setting to the service to the food, this was a remarkable experience - and one we're already planning to repeat.
Roberto Gutierrez-Parrilla
When I read the reviews given to Matisse 167, I am truly shocked how we have lost the ability to enjoy and savior the amazing cuisines that were given such coveted excellent evaluations in the past. Places like Bouley, Chanterelle, and The Quilted Giraffe were truly worthy of the reviews afforded to Matisse 167. Are we experiencing real evaluations or unwarranted comments of praise that fool others like they fooled me to spend a small fortune on a non-gastronomic or even edible experience.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 3
Paola
My husband and I went to dinner this passed Sunday. The restaurant is beautiful and the ambiance is nice, quiet where you can have a conversation. However, we felt rushed to finish our food. Different servers kept coming to our table every 2 minutes to ask if we were done. It was a constant rush. The food was ok not my favorite. Will not come back! Beautiful restaurant but I don't like to feel rushed when I am having dinner with my spouse. The menu does not have many options. I think that the value of the service and food was not worth the $350 we spent.
We have dined here many times and last night was a big disappointment. The food was so so, the wait staff are all kids and they decided to offer outside dining in these stupid pods so the door outside was constantly opened letting in the cold air. It seems like the chef and/or ownership has changed for the worse. Not likely to return for a long time.
Jenna Gervasio
Service was great. But almost too much, for me at least. Food was great. I was by myself. For my 4-course dinner and 2 cups of espresso, bill came to $177.00 - doesn’t include alcohol, luckily it’s BYOB. There was also a $30 up charge for the filet mignon special. I had the bone marrow, steak tartar; filet mignon special and the peanut butter bomb dessert (this was awesome, I highly recommend this dessert).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Opentable Diner
Delicious dinner and the igloo experience was amazing. The staff was attentive and made the experience even better.
Yessie Camano
The food was cold , old , hard and over priced . Actually I’m not sure it’s biodegradable , therefore price is not a factor . The tongue was not eatable , the crème brûlée was a super market plastic container pudding quality . Service was an effective assembly line with a constant emotionless smile but respectful . It was a worst meal I have ever had
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 2
Robert Gutierrez
I hope Matisse 167 never gets a lease for one year in Manhattan because they would not last 60 days at that location for the quality, taste, and complexity of their food. Matisse, the artist was celebrated for his fauvism. Our meal during the the 31st of December cost $500. In my palettes opinion, it is not worth that extra zero. Unlike its’ namesake there is no complexity of taste, radicalism of textures, and the only breaking of traditional expression is that from first course to last including dessert , every thing was either extremely bland or to powerful in salt and pepper. The octopus first course was soft, but tasteless, flavor was not consistent, not in one dish, but in all three we ordered as a first course. The crab came second and there were packets of heavy pepper and salt which deadened the taste buds for anything else to be experienced. The bone marrow was overcooked and the tongue was so dry, it may have been part of a bovine road kill on an Arizona highway. My venison had more salt than the pacific, and the bronzino lacked any resemblance of its’ European bass cousin. The banana bomb was better for combat than my taste buds There was nothing about this restaurant remotely Ok, except for the service. They are well trained and are on top of doing a good job. It’s too bad they are first class staff on a ship, the Titanic, serving a meal after it sunk. There are so many places you can get your moneys worth and they are not at Matisse 167 in Rutherford NJ.
My boyfriend and I dined here on February 12, 2026, and while the evening was pleasant enough, the overall experience fell short of expectations.
We began with the soup du jour, a cream of mushroom (4/5). The soup itself was well-seasoned and comforting, but its flavor leaned far too heavily on the truffle oil and shavings, which ultimately overshadowed the mushroom base rather than complementing it.
The spicy tuna on crispy rice (3.5/5) showcased a well-prepared tuna, fresh and nicely seasoned. Unfortunately, the crispy rice dominated the dish both texturally and structurally, with oversized, puffy kernels that were distracting and lingered uncomfortably after each bite.
For the main course, the pan-seared branzino (3/5) arrived with an attractive sear, but that initial promise quickly faded. Despite being paired with a red wine reduction and a lemon caper sauce, the fish itself was surprisingly bland, lacking the depth or balance one would expect from such accompaniments.
Dessert was a mixed bag. The chocolate banana peanut butter bomb (3.5/5) featured a high-quality chocolate shell and a well-executed raspberry purée. However, the dessert suffered from poor proportioning: the peanut butter banana mousse—denser than a typical mousse—overwhelmed the sponge cake layer, and the crispy white chocolate garnishes added texture without contributing meaningful flavor.
The cheesecake (2/5) was the most disappointing course. The graham cracker crust tasted almost entirely of raw sugar granules, with little of the expected graham nuance, and the candied pecans actively detracted from the dish rather than enhancing it.
At $125 per person, the experience simply did not justify the price point. We both agreed by the end of the evening that we would not be interested in returning to sample other seasonal menu offerings. While there were moments of technical competence, the meal lacked the cohesion, balance, and refinement one expects at this level.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommend to reserve a table of large groups.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food was ok. The dessert was good, but otherwise nothing special. Definitely not worth the hefty price. Disappointing.
Wife and I have been coming here for years. When we heard it had been sold, we were a little wary because 'under new management/ownership' sometimes means the place takes a turn for the worse. Thankfully, that's not the case here. Chef Greg even came by the tables to meet the patrons. Food was excellent and service was top notch. So glad we didn't have to cross this off our go-to list!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
If your looking for an out of this world experience and want your taste buds to explode this is the place. And it's BYOB. It can't get any better than that. Reservations and recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I have to say we loved our meals and the service was excellent. And give them lots of credit for that. It was a four-course meal including dessert and we had three choices for each course. I would have preferred different or more choices but we enjoyed everything we ordered. In particular, the venison Wellington and crab cake was outstanding. We had an issue with the table because it was drafty where they sat . They have outdoor seating even in the winter in private igloos, and our indoor table was right by the door that the wait staff used to go in and out. they quickly responded to our request for a table change. I do think it is an extremely pricey dinner at 125 per person, but we enjoyed it immensely
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dinner was excellent service was excellent. Would have liked to have had a few more options for this four course dinner but we did enjoy everything we had. In particular the venison Wellington was excellent. Have to say it is an extremely pricey meal
My wife and I celebrated her birthday at Matisse, and the experience was outstanding from start to finish. We parked directly in front and were seated in a private igloo in the back garden for the four-course tasting menu. The space was cozy, perfectly lit, and truly private. Service was exceptional - attentive without hovering. They even surprised my wife with a candle on her dessert. Effortless, thoughtful hospitality. First course: The octopus wasn't available, but the beef French onion soup was the best I've ever had - deep, rich, and perfectly balanced. The beet carpaccio with burrata was equally impressive and beautifully composed. Second course: The bone marrow and beef tongue dish was phenomenal, with crispy potatoes and pickled onions adding contrast. The crab cake was clean and fresh. Third course: The highlight. We had the short rib cavatelli with mushrooms and truffle, plus an off-menu filet mignon with foie gras and creamed spinach. The filet was superb, possibly resting on crispy polenta, and the creamed spinach was the best I've ever had - balanced, silky, and flavorful without bitterness. The cavatelli was so good we ordered a second to go. Massive depth of beef flavor, earthy truffles, parmesan richness, cremini mushrooms, chive oil - each cube of short rib a perfect bite. Truly unforgettable. Dessert: Blueberry lavender crème brûlée and caramel cheesecake. I dislike lavender and expected to hate it - yet it was incredible. Subtle, harmonious, and beautifully paired with blueberry. The cheesecake was playful, not overly sweet, with homemade dulce de leche and a balanced caramel profile. Matisse excels at turning unexpected combinations into something magical. From service to food, this was a memorable night and an easy place to recommend. Matisse excels at making unlikely combinations feel inevitable. From the setting to the service to the food, this was a remarkable experience - and one we're already planning to repeat.
When I read the reviews given to Matisse 167, I am truly shocked how we have lost the ability to enjoy and savior the amazing cuisines that were given such coveted excellent evaluations in the past. Places like Bouley, Chanterelle, and The Quilted Giraffe were truly worthy of the reviews afforded to Matisse 167. Are we experiencing real evaluations or unwarranted comments of praise that fool others like they fooled me to spend a small fortune on a non-gastronomic or even edible experience.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 3
My husband and I went to dinner this passed Sunday. The restaurant is beautiful and the ambiance is nice, quiet where you can have a conversation. However, we felt rushed to finish our food. Different servers kept coming to our table every 2 minutes to ask if we were done. It was a constant rush. The food was ok not my favorite. Will not come back! Beautiful restaurant but I don't like to feel rushed when I am having dinner with my spouse. The menu does not have many options. I think that the value of the service and food was not worth the $350 we spent.
Restaurantji Recommends
We have dined here many times and last night was a big disappointment. The food was so so, the wait staff are all kids and they decided to offer outside dining in these stupid pods so the door outside was constantly opened letting in the cold air. It seems like the chef and/or ownership has changed for the worse. Not likely to return for a long time.
Service was great. But almost too much, for me at least. Food was great. I was by myself. For my 4-course dinner and 2 cups of espresso, bill came to $177.00 - doesn’t include alcohol, luckily it’s BYOB. There was also a $30 up charge for the filet mignon special. I had the bone marrow, steak tartar; filet mignon special and the peanut butter bomb dessert (this was awesome, I highly recommend this dessert).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Delicious dinner and the igloo experience was amazing. The staff was attentive and made the experience even better.
The food was cold , old , hard and over priced . Actually I’m not sure it’s biodegradable , therefore price is not a factor . The tongue was not eatable , the crème brûlée was a super market plastic container pudding quality . Service was an effective assembly line with a constant emotionless smile but respectful . It was a worst meal I have ever had
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 2
I hope Matisse 167 never gets a lease for one year in Manhattan because they would not last 60 days at that location for the quality, taste, and complexity of their food. Matisse, the artist was celebrated for his fauvism. Our meal during the the 31st of December cost $500. In my palettes opinion, it is not worth that extra zero.
Unlike its’ namesake there is no complexity of taste, radicalism of textures, and the only breaking of traditional expression is that from first course to last including dessert , every thing was either extremely bland or to powerful in salt and pepper. The octopus first course was soft, but tasteless, flavor was not consistent, not in one dish, but in all three we ordered as a first course. The crab came second and there were packets of heavy pepper and salt which deadened the taste buds for anything else to be experienced. The bone marrow was overcooked and the tongue was so dry, it may have been part of a bovine road kill on an Arizona highway. My venison had more salt than the pacific, and the bronzino lacked any resemblance of its’ European bass cousin. The banana bomb was better for combat than my taste buds There was nothing about this restaurant remotely Ok, except for the service. They are well trained and are on top of doing a good job. It’s too bad they are first class staff on a ship, the Titanic, serving a meal after it sunk. There are so many places you can get your moneys worth and they are not at Matisse 167 in Rutherford NJ.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 4
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