Matteo’s Restaurant (Boca Raton, Hallandale)
Boca Raton
***** Matteo’s Restaurant, 233 South Federal Highway, Boca Raton Florida 33432, (561) 392-0773—&—1825 East Hallandale Boulevard, Hallandale, Florida 33009, (954) 455-4050.
Certain things in life bear repeating…
Matteo’s with locations in Boca Raton, Hallandale is one of the best Italian restaurants in South Florida.
If you check…Back on March 19, 2008, I did a writeup on Matteo’s. I absolutely love this joint.You can check Matteo’s menu/prices at www.matteosristorante.com.
Matteo’s has 2 South Florida locations…Boca Raton, Hallandale…on average, I am probably in either the Boca or Hallandale joints at least once a month.
Matteo’s food is delicious. Matteo’s service is outstanding. Matteo’s prices are not-exactly “cheap,” but if you’re sensible when ordering, you won’t need a second job to pay the bill…Matteo’s features both family-style and individual portions. Matteo’s is a “white-tablecloth” joint, but your tee shirt/shorts ensemble will work.
Matteo’s started out as a Long Island joint…check the website for NY locations etc…Not exactly sure when its first S. Florida location (Boca Raton) opened, but from day-one Matteo’s has been a “homerun”…its enormous NY following, translated into an enormous South Florida following.
Look…I could go on and on about this joint…
I am telling you, that if you want terrific Italian food, served by a professional staff…with a management team that makes you feel like you are family…then you want to absolutely positively eat at Matteo’s.
You now know “again” about a sensational Italian joint that is not to be missed.
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Matteo’s Restaurant (Boca Raton & Hallandale)
Posted on March 19th, 2008 · Boca Raton Hallandale Beach Italian · [edit]
matt
***** Matteo’s Restaurant, 233 South Federal Highway, Boca Raton Florida 33432, (561) 392-0773—&—1825 East Hallandale Boulevard, Hallandale, Florida 33009, (954) 455-4050.
Matteo’s is a Southern Italian Restaurant. Matteo’s has 2 South Florida locations. Matteo’s is not cheap, but you won’t go to the poor-house, if you order sensibly. Matteo’s serves both family-style and individual sized portions. Matteo’s food is absolutely sensational. Matteo’s wait-staff is probably the best in all of South Florida. Matteo’s is always jammed.
Check Matteo’s website www.matteosrestaurants.com for menu/pricing/details.
Matteo’s is one of my favorite Italian Restaurants.
End of story.
You hit this one right on the head. I live in Woodmere NY. I also have a home in Boca Raton. My wife and I have eaten at Matteo’s for over 20 years.
Matteo’s is one of the most successful Italian restaurants in Long island.
The food is not good, it is incredibly good. We have never had a bad meal.
Matteo’s makes a minestrone soup that is great. It’s baked clams are stupendous. The list is endless of great dishes.
One of the other terrific things is that the mgrs and waiters are top notch. The waiters are as friendly as can be and tell you when you have ordered too much or too little. They know every dish and how it is prepared. As for mgrs. in boca you got Peter running the show and Mike In Hallandale. These guys are great. They know the regulars by name and even if it is your first outing they make you feel like you been coming for 20 years.
Jeff, you are so right with this pick.
Just writing about Matteo’s makes me hungry.
Matteo’s Ristorante is a well known small chain on Long Island. This has to be one of the most successful restaurant businesses going. I think it was modeled after Don Pepe’s in Howard Beach as the family style dining and baked clams are almost identical. Don pepe’s is famous. By the way, Don Pepe’s son Joey runs the Jupiter location, so my facts maybe correct here.
Matteo’s food is sensational.
The waiters are excellent and you will find that periodically they rotate from store to store. I have seen Howie the waiter in Boca, Hallandale and in several of the LI stores. Same goes for many others.
When you eat at a Matteo’s notice how the mgrs roam the dining room. helping to serve and always checking with customers at tables.
When you come into a Matteo’s there is a great vibe. Think the Sopranos when they entered Artie Buco’s restaurant and you’ll appreciate the atmosphere. Lots of kissing of cheeks and hugs. Just a great vibe whether or not you are a steady customer or newcomer.
You have to try a Matteo’s. You will be glad you did.
This is Italian food for non-Italians…
The Chowfather:
Maybe you could explain your “This is Italian food for non-Italians” comment for me. I’m Italian, my husband is Italian, our 21 year old daughter is Italian, our 19 year old son is Italian, my parents are Italian, my in laws are Italian, my sister and two brothers are Italian, my sister in law and two brothers in law are Italian and we all have been eating at Matteo’s here and up north for the past 15 years or so and we all love the food.
I tell you straight up, you obviously don’t know crap about what good Italian food is.
dinner last night for 11 at matteo’s in boca. chowfather, wrong, we had a great meal and we are all italians.
Jeff Eats, really enjoy your review. unlike many, you call it like you really see it, or is it eat it?
Just read the ridiculous comment by this blogger The Chowfather about Matteo’s being a restaurant for non-Italians. Never heard of this guy before so I checked his site out. Not too good.
Matteo’s hands down is one of the best Italian restaurants in Florida.
I was there on Saturday night in Boca and at 9pm had to wait 35 minutes to get a table.
The food is great. Same goes for the service.
By the way Chowfather, I’m Italian.
Chowfather you are a loser.
D. Taddonio, bd, JA: Just had a chance to read your posts.
I really have no idea who The Chowfather is. The guy is entitled to his opinion.
Personally, a comment like “This is Italian food for non-Italians” tells me that the guy doesn’t know what he is talking about. It really is just that simple.
Thanks for reading…
The Chowfather: Just had a chance to read your comment.
A number of readers took great offense at your comment.
Of course, you are entitled to your opinion.
Why don’t you tell the folks, which restaurant(s) in South Florida serves Italian food for Italians?
Thanks for reading…
jeff, been down here in ft lauderdale for over 25 years. originally from the bx. my wife and i have eaten in tons of italian joints which many consider top shelf. pelligrino’s, il mulino’s, il gabiano’s, renzo’s, arturo’s, matarono’s, the list goes on. matteo’s is right up there with the best.
Jeff, I apologize if I offended any of your readers for my comment. That was not my intent. Just looking to bring another objective opinion to the table. I’m very familiar with Matteo’s, their locations, and clientele. The food is fine and I will go back again soon. Nevertheless, I would recommend trying Sardinia, Scarpetta, Valentino’s and for good red sauce American-Italian, Cafe Martorano.
This past Saturday night my wife and I and another couple had dinner at Matteo’s in Boca Raton. We arrived around 8:30pm and waited about 35 minutes for a table. The restaurant was jammed with people. Obviously the recession hasn’t hit Matteo’s.
We have been to this particular Matteo’s once before as we eat mostly at the Hallandale Beach location most of the time. The Boca store is maybe 3 times as big as the other spot.
Same great food and same great service.
What really is amazing is the amount of food that comes out of the kitchen. Literally tons of great dishes.
We highly recommend this restaurant.
I have to say that Matteo’s is a unique place. It’s pretty simple, really good fresh food, great service and Management and a genuine committment to exceed customers expections. How could you ask for more?
I had the best meal of my life the other day, Incredible Don Peppe style NY Baked Clams, a sweet savory Insalata Gabriela with goat cheese and dried cranberries in a raspberry Vinagrette and Rigatoni with Broc Rabe, Cannelli Beans and Roasted Sausage in Garlic and oil.
I gonna go again and have the samething tonight!
Happy Holidays!!! Buono Natale!!
Matteo’s is one of the best Italian restaurants in Florida. The food is wonderful, same goes for the professional waitstaff.
Anyone who tells you differently has not even a clue as to what a great restaurant is all about.
You can dress fancy or wear shorts, either way, Matteo’s works for you.
When you go into either the Boca or Hallandale spots, you are greeted like you are a long lost cousin. From walkin to end of meal, you really enjoy the ambiance and easy going atmsphere.
Easyyyy sammy don’t get carried away now. I have a clue not sure you do
hey Chowfather, wsnt even talking about you, but now that you mentioned it, i took a look at your website and you really dont know too much about anything including restaurants and football. if you dont consider Matteo’s one of the best you know sh&t about italian food. now go write your blog and stay away.
christmas dinner at matteo’s. jammmmed. great food and service. first time for me and the wife. loved it.
Got one big problem with Matteo’s. Do we eat at the Hallandale or Boca location. Both are great. Big problem.
Love the food here.
Best baked clams anywhere.
the 2 best italian joints are il gabbiano and matteo’s
outrageously good food
Another great pick Jeff…for my bday we were there (16 of us)…it amazed me how the service/food was as good as if we were a party of 4…There is nothing like their baked clams, shrimp oreganata (with hot toasted bread for dipping), chopped salad (with salami/provolone), pasta w/ pomodoro sauce..dont need anything else beyond that but of course we keep going with the delicous entrees..but to top if off you have to finish with a tartufo and a cappuccino FINI
how they turn out so much great food night after night is a mystery to me. have been eating in fl and ny stores for years and never had anything less than a great meal.
jeff, I know from reading your blog that you really like Matteo’s. I also think that it is one of the best Italian restaurants in Florida. I have been in all three Florida restaurants and they are consistenly good.
I just got back from eating in the Boca location and I challenge anyone to make better minestrone, baked clams, penne ala vodka, fried zucchini, chopped salad, veal valdastano, shrimp parmigiana. The food is outstanding.
hands down tthe best italian food in boca.
Jeff Eats,
Tonight, I and my wife and teenage son ate at Matteo’s in Boca Raton for the first time.
Our meal was outstanding. The service was excellent. The prices quite reasonable for the amount of food that you get. This is a very professionally run operation with the GM all over the place keeping a close eye on everything going on.
We enjoyed chopped salad, pasta with broccoli and grilled chicken, grilled pork chops and chicken matteo which is a roast chicken, peppers, sausage and onions entree. We also had an apple crumb cake with vanilla ice cream for dessert.
All I can say is that we highly recommend this wonderful restaurant and suggest that everyone give it a go.
Last night headed over to FAU for fireworks. The rain was coming down so my wife and I decided to skip the fire watching and head over to Matteo’s for dinner. Got there about 8pm and the restaurant was quite busy. After a 10 minute wait we got a table. We had never eaten at Matteo’s but had it on our list to try. Have to say that the food was really good same goes for the service. We have eaten in a load of Italian restaurants in the area and this was by far and away the best of them.
If you recall, my wife and I and her two sisters met you and your wife the other day while shopping in the Festival Flea Market. We really appreciated your “picks” as we are new to the area. We decided to try Matteo’s in Boca Raton.
Last night the four of us had dinner in Matteo’s. We got there about 6:30pm and the restaurant wasn’t very busy. Then again, it was a Monday night.
We ordered chopped salad, veal valdastano, penne alla vodka, chicken matteo, cannolis for dessert. Boy, did we get a ton of food for our money. The four of us wanted to tell you that the food and service were great. This restaurant really is as good as you told us it was and as good as you have written about it.
Thanks again for the tip.
KG
My husband and I have eaten in loads of Italian restaurants. We find Matteo’s to be the most consistent of all of them. We have always enjoyed the food and professional service. We have never had a bad meal and that’s saying a lot in that we have probably eaten in the Boca spot something like 40 times over the years.
maybe there are 5 decent italian joints in the boca delray area. matteo’s, casa d angelo are 2 of them.
Jeff, by far and away the best Italian food in Boca. Love the vibe and service.
food in hallandale loc. is awesome.
love the food.
Moved here (Miami) over 47 years ago from Queens.
Have tried tons of Italian restaurants.
Matteo’s is excellent.
That said my favorite is Valentino’s Cucina Italiano in Ft Lauderdale is the best around.
Jeff, check it out.
top shelf grilled pork chops.
good food in both hallandale and boca. i like hallandale service better. it is smaller and i love the gm mikey’s personal touch on everything.
Jeff, this has to be one of your best picks. Enjoyed the food and service. The baked clams were the best I and my wife have ever had.
Some of the best food I’ve eaten in a very long time. Really good service.
you are right, great food and service
Matteo’s is food is very commercial tatsting. Nothing special about it.
Matteo’s is what my wife and I call a “go to” restaurant. What that means, that when we want a good meal with good service with no slip ups, we go to Matteo’s, We have been eating at the Boca and Hallandale location and to their credit I nor my wife can recall even one bad meal. One final item, Matteo’s serves a broiled pork chop that is amazingly delicious. same for its baked clams, and veal valdastano.
The food is always good at Matteo’s. I have been a customer here and on LI for over 15 years.
Things have changed at Matteos. The table service is unfortunate at best. Unless you are a regular, forget about any great anything. Our waiter spilled red wine all over my Mother, the back waiter kept hitting the backs of our heads with plates, and when our food was wrapped up, we were missing half of it.
Our group of people (which had a reservation) were told to wait for a long period of time for them to “get the table ready”. After almost and hour, they gave us a poor table and the man that sat us was obnoxious and nasty to his staff. I asked the hostess who he was and was told that he was the GM. He yells and screams over the dining room and has a bad attitude. I watched him all night.
Since we had to wait for our reservation we went for a drink. The bar service is 50% great and 50% horrible. There is an older short blond man that is not friendly at all. I asked for his name and think he said Jim. He seems to only take care of regulars. His foul language embarrassed me in front of my guests and when I asked for Grey Goose, I did not get what I asked for. My Mother, a Dewars drinker for many many years, also did not get real Dewars. Not sure what goes on there, but I can say that there is a lot of cash going from hand to pocket if you know what I mean. Just sit and watch him.
The 50% that is great is due to a girl behind the bar. I didn’t catch her name, but she is very sweet and quick to correct and apologize for any mistakes that her “partner” makes. My wife says that she is the only reason we would even think about going back. Yet, I am not sure we ever will.
I will be honest and tell you that the exception of the fact that they use A LOT of oil and sooo much whole garlic, food was good. There are so many other restaurants in the area where people treat you with respect and make you feel welcomed. Why spend so much money to be treated poorly and watch employees be treated like trash. No thank you.
not sure which one you were in. no matter, my family and i have been customers for years here and on LI. we have never had anything less than great food and great service. we have had groups as large as 20 and as small as 2 and all of the time everything was perfect. one other thought, the waiters and managers seem to always bend over backwrads to make things just right.
I have been feeding my face at Matteo’s here in Florida and on Long Island for years. The food has always been great, same for the service. Your story doesn’t make any sense to me.
terrific food and service. i split my time between boca and hallandale, they both are excellent
Matteo certainly among the best Italian restaurants anywhere. Food,service and atmosphere all terrific. My favorite Italian restaurant used to be Patsy’s on 56th. Now it’s Matteo’s
I seriously doubt that you can find a better Italian restaurant in Florida. Excellent food and service. All priced right.
Jeff, I am a huge and I do mean HUGE fan of Matteo’s. I love their food. I love their service.
I think that the Hallandale store is better than the Boca store. Now don’t get me wrong, they both are super, but Hallandale is cozier and I think because it is smaller that you get a more hands approach by the managers.
By the way, I have eaten at Aquolino which is right down the street and it’s okay but not in the same league as Matteo’s. Similar but not as good.
Dinner last night at Matteo’s in Hallandale Beach. Very busy. Outrageously good food. Probabbly the best penne ala vodak I’ve had. Also great baked clams.
The front desk of our hotel recommended Matteo’s the night before we left on a cruise. Gave it a try and the whole family all 6 of us loved it. Huge family style portions and very reasonable prices. Wish they had a Matteo’s in Dallas.
We highly recommend.
Excellent food and service.
My family and I enjoy both the Boca and Hallandale Beach locations.
The food and service has always been consistently terrific.
Hey Jeff,
This evening I and my extended family of 17 had dinner at Matteo’s in Boca Raton. To say that Matteo’s was busy would be an understatement. We got there at 6pm and every table was taken. Our reservation was honored. When we left at 9:15pm every table was taken and there must have been 30 -40 people outside waiting to get in.
I was a guest of my nephew and niece who have lived in Boca for over 25 years. They have raved about Matteo’s for years, but although I have lived in nearby Delray for over 10 years this was my first time at the restaurant.
I just wanted to tell you and your readers that the service and food were absolutely wonderful. Every dish that we had was excellent. The waiter handling our table couldn’t have been more professional even if he tried and the bus people kept the water glasses always filled.
Something that I noticed was that at least 4 times during the evening the table was visited by 3 different managers who checked to make sure that everything was just right. That’s what I call keeping your finger on the pulse of the business.
Merry Christmas to everyone and a Happy New Year!
I highly recommend Matteo’s. It was perfect meal with family. Now I know why my niece and nephew rave about this restaurant.
peter, the boca gm runs one of best operations going. he is all over the floor making sure that everything runs perfectly.
Linda S, my family and i were also at matteo’s boca on christmas night. you are so right about the food being great and the service being professional. how with the huge crowd matteo’s got all of the orders right is a miracle in of itself. we have been to matteo’s several times before and always enjoy ourselves. the management sure does a great job in keeping everyone rolling.
To you folks not familar with Matteo’s here and in NY, the food is incredible, same goes for the service.
Family style portions at reasonable prices.
I have been a fan of Matteo’s for over 17 years. I have eaten in a number of their stores here in Florida and in NY. What has always impresed me is that every time I have gone there the food is consistently good, same goes for the service. Every so often, one or two dishes may not have been as good as the previous outing, but all in all, I know that when my wife and I eat there, we will have a very good meal.
What also sticks out is how well these stores are run. It seems to me that every location that I have been to, always has a top notch gm running the show.
The 2 guys running the Boca and Hallandale stores look like they could be players in the Sopranos show. They give off a really cool professional vibe from the way you are greeted and the way they are constanly on the floor making the rounds of seemingly every table.
My family and I have been in Delray for close to 13 years. We started out in Howard Beach years ago. I think I know good Italian food, actually I know that I know good Italian food and Matteo’s has got some real good Italian food.
Before you think I’m a shill for them, check Matteo’s out for yourself and decide for yourself.
joe z:
You are so right in your Matteo’s call.
CONSISTENLY GOOD FOOD AND SERVICE.
By the way I agree that Peter in Boca and Mike in Hallandale are the perfect GMs. I have been a customer for years at both restaurants and these guys keep a close eye on everything going on. Quick example, awhile back my favorite baked clams didn’t come out right, Peter immediately took them off the bill and replaced /comped us shrimp oreganato which were great. That’s how you keep people coming back time and time again.