I booked Mati over a month in advance as a surprise anniversary dinner, but the experience was far from the fine-dining standard we expected. Two nights before, they called after 5 PM to confirm—completely spoiling the surprise. When I called back, they said our Oval Room booking didn’t exist, even though I’d selected it online and confirmed earlier. After some confusion and waiting for “manager approval,” it was finally sorted out, but the process felt disorganized and unprofessional.
At dinner, the lobster tacos weren’t fresh and lacked any presentation—just four tacos on a rack. The burger was dry, the fries nearly burnt, and the steak plate was messy, with the meat placed directly on a potato. We also asked for bread and butter, assuming it was complimentary; instead, we were charged $16 for three small fingers of butter and a single toast—without any prior notice.
Our server, Decio, was genuinely kind and welcoming, and the complimentary sparkling wine and L’Arrivée bottle were excellent. Unfortunately, the Oval Room lacked ambiance—the door to the kitchen was open, the room felt empty, and no one was present when we left, which made the experience feel forgotten rather than private.
The chocolate tart dessert arrived frozen solid and nearly impossible to cut. Overall, for a $288 bill for two, the experience felt overrated and unrefined. Despite the kind service, we left disappointed and would not return.
