Brothers’ Restaurant At Mattei’s Tavern

Great location. Excellent food — particularly great tuna tartare, filet, salmon and soufle. Fantastic service; very friendly staff. A must try if you are in the area.

Great food in quaint locale.
We ordered:
filet mignon — tasty, tender
pork chops — surprisingly juicy and well seasoned
corkage fee $ 15/​bottle
We had dined at the Ballard Inn the night before, we would highly recommend this restaurant over the latter.

Came here for my birthday on a Sunday evening in January. We had reservations but it was not too busy. When we walked into the restaurant the fire place and couches surrounding it was warm and inviting. It was rustic and cozy meets fine dining.
I had the rack of lamb and it was perfectly cooked medium rare. It’s one of the best I’ve every had. My bf had the huge prime rib and it was pretty good; it did not melt in your mouth like others have described it.
The service was excellent. She even brought out a free ice cream drizzled in chocolate dessert for my birthday and it was delicious.

So sad that the brothers are losing their lease on the restaurant here and having to reopen in another location. I hope this historic landmark is not ripped to shreds by the remodel. The owners want to turn it into a resort.
Brothers Restaurant has been a happy place for me to go for a number of years. I have many fond memories of eating on «the porch», and enjoying the bar with a fireplace, which is beautiful. Last time I was here had the small portion of the prime rib, which was huge, and the butternut squash soup, which is a must-​have. My boyfriend enjoyed his steak as well and said it was cooked perfectly. I can only hope that they continue with their wonderful recipes in the new location in Los Olivos in the former Patrick’s Café. The old stagecoach inn won’t be the same after the remodel, which I guess starts in April of 2012.

I have been here many times and have only been disappointed once. The chicken with goat cheese, the kobe burgers in the bar, the trout with butter sauce, the calamari are all extraordinary and it is hard to decide what to order when I visit. One late spring they had a strawberry shortcake with sour cream ice cream which sounds weird but is seriously one of the best desserts I ever had!
The only meal I didn’t like was when I ordered the lamb chops. They were awkward to cut so maybe it was my fault of not having good knife skills, not theirs. I remember the sauce that came with the chops to be yummy.
Also, they serve this bread plate before the meal which is super good. It is hard not to fill up on bread before the meal.
Look for the art by Cheryl Ladd, it is a cow in the room that was the enclosed porch.

Wonderful steakhouse in Santa Ynez area! Great service & great food! This place was recommended by Santa Ynez Inn staff. GREAT recommendation. Quality of food and service were both excellent! We had some steak there.
(Written on 6÷6÷2011 — Posted later)

What can you say about this place! Wow! Amazing
Food, outstanding service, the prime rib perfect
The calamari delicious. We brought our own wine
Thank you Daniel ghers, Grenache ! Everyone should
Have dinner here! If you had a bad experience tell
In this place you must have been drunk, they
Took care of everything ! We w

«Dessert is probably the most important stage of the meal, since it will be the last thing your guests remember before they pass out all over the table» — William Powell
After an afternoon of wine tasting, dinner at the Ballard Inn with four bottles of wine… it was time to head over to Brother’s for dessert before passing out :) Two mudpies, one sundae and one molten chocolate cake later. we all agreed in spite of the sometimes mediocre food at dinner, this was a very, very enjoyable night.
Based on the desserts alone, I’l have to come back and try the food. Loved the dark chocolate flavor and decadence of the molten cake. Well done…

Expensive, world-​class cuisine in an historic tavern in the charming little village of Los Olivos. At a fun winetasting, our host recommended this delightful restaurant/​tavern. We sat next to the kitchen, schmoozed with one of the chefs, one of the brother’s. The steak was delicious and done to perfection. The waitstaff was attentive and gracious.
A Zagat-​reviewed restaurant in Santa Ynez? A must if you have the time and money. If you’re disappointed by anything on the menu, you have killed your taste buds on inferior food. Best meal I’ve had in California in a year of dining out.

Great, Great, Great Food!!! I’m from Washington, D.C. and traveled to Los Olivos for a quick winery trip and this tavern was delicious for dinner. I had the chicken with stuff feta and it was seasoned perfectly, with mash potatoes and vegetables.
The food was excellent, but the service was even better. My waitress was Jamie (female), she was friendly, personable and knowledgeable. I would 100% recommend this place to a friend and go back again.
Check out my pic of the 100% homemade strawberry shortcake… delectable.

I really like the vibe in this restaurant. I like to have my dinner in the bar area where during the winter you can look at the fireplace. During the summer, it’s just a little darker and moodier than the dining room. Service here is always good and although the food isn’t anything special, it’s pretty good. Brothers knows a secret: It’s called Butter. And lots of it. Makes the meal a little heavy but in a town where everything closes early, who really cares about the butter induced food coma that awaits after a meal here. Good wines by the glass too! Oh and if you are coming here on the later side of dinner, there seems to be a damn good burger you can order off menu.

A truly charming place and a fabulous experience from start to finish.
We came in after wine tasting with a fairly «lively» group of six people. We were very pleased with our waitress and her sense of humor.
The food was to-die-for…the best meal I’ve had in ages. The dessert was phenomenal… a chocolate, caramel, salted slice of heaven. Yum. Yum… yum!!!

I should start by saying that this story in entirely true…
We stopped by after a long weekend in Cambria. We have heard so many good things about Mattei’s and were looking forward to an amazing meal.
What we got was an unbelievable show and a very nice bill.
Arrived a little bit early and decided to sit at the bar for a cocktail before our meal. The bartender wasn’t exactly the friendliest but the drinks were poured nicely.
After being shown to our table we noticed what a lovely view of the OPEN KITCHEN we had… this will come into play in a few.
I had my heart set on the french onion soup but apparently the menu outside hadn’t been changed to match that nights dinner service. I settled on a traditional cesar salad while my boyfriend had the tuna tartare. Both were good, but nothing too impressive. I’m sure its because I really wanted the soup.
Moving on to the main course. I chose the Oven Roasted Rack of Lamb with sauteed spinach (instead of mash) and Red Wine-​Tomato Sauce. I ordered this medium rare. My boyfriend had the special New York steak with a cherry syrah sauce also ordered medium rare.
When the food arrived I immediately sliced into my lamb and was disappointed to see that it was over cooked. I sliced into the other three chops to see if maybe they were a little less done but they were not. That’s when the server walked up and asked how everything was. I mentioned about my lamb being over cooked and she insisted that she would take it back. I HATE sending back food but agreed to let her since it was an open kitchen and I could watch what was happening to my rejected plate.
My boyfriend started in on his steak and let me tell you it was amazing. The seasoning was perfect and the cherry syrah sauce was to die for! I was a little jealous, but mostly because he had food.
We watched the server take lamb back to the Chef who then nodded as he took the plate. The next thing you know he has thrown the plate (possibly on the floor, counter, or trash) and an echoing of shattered glass fills the dining room. We were sitting a few feet away and saw the entire show. I do not believe I have ever made a chef have a temper tantrum before… It was probably one of my best restaurant experiences.
My boyfriend finished his steak a few minutes before my plate was brought out. I had noticed the chef glancing over at our table looking rather unhappy. My lamb was brought back by a very apologetic server who mentioned the Chef would be taking care of my meal since we were not able to eat together. I thanked her and started in on my plate.
The lamb was amazing! It was perfectly seasoned. The tomato wine sauce was unbelievably tasty. I loved the spinach and the tang of the lemon juice that was added. I polished off every last bit of lamb, and even started in on the meaty bones. I am still not sure what the proper etiquette is for rack of lamb, but I am content with eating them like popsicles.
When the check arrived we were beyond surprised to see that the Chef had comped everything but the alcohol… everything! I questioned the server and had mentioned that I thought only my plate would be taken care of… she said that since we didn’t get to eat together the Chef had taken care of the entire bill. I actually told the server that the food was so good I would have paid for it.
I highly recommend Mattei’s if you are in the Los Olivos area. I can guarantee you a spectacular meal and the possibility of making a memory that will last a lifetime.

When I go to Solvang, I leave it up to my family to decide where we eat. They’re part-​time locals in this idyllic wino-​foodie town with great taste and a knack for enjoying the moment. So when they started telling me about this old stage coach depot with great food, naturally I was surprised. Kitchy historical gimmicks? Really? Apparently not.
Brother’s Restaurant at Mattei’s Tavern is a Los Olivos landmark for the history of the building and the perfectly prepared, locally sourced California cuisine that is unsurpassed.
The décor is rustically deluxe. Imagine what ornate design and travel comfort might have looked like in the early 1900’s and add in some modern touches in the form of homages to the Brother Chefs on the walls coming together in a ranch world-​farm country aesthetic. Sound too frenetic to make sense? It fits in perfectly with the feel of Central Coast Wine Country. In fact, many weddings have been held on the property, a particular favorite venue for the locals. That really says something when these are the same locals who have access to winery venues like Fess Parker’s expansive estate.
Onto the food:
Every meal starts with a plate of 4 different bread options: rosemary focaccia, jalapeño cornbread, cheddar onion biscuit and multi-​grain wheat. Each sublime, made in house and generously portioned. They even give out the recipes in their Brother’s Cookbook sold at the front desk.
The champagne, if you’re so inclined to order it, is properly served with a tableside chilling stand. I love that kind of attention to detail. Your glasses, water or not, will never go empty since, despite it’s down to earth décor, Brother’s restaurant is committed to most attentive of service.
The menu is short, concise, focusing on 2 pages of the very best the Nichols have to offer, supplemented by mouthwatering daily specials. I ordered the Roasted Chicken stuffed with Goat Cheese with Mashed Potatoes and an Herb Au Jus. DH had the Prime Rib with Garlic Mashed Potatoes.
A Chef’s Au Jus says a lot about their attitude towards food. For some, it is just a requisite tossed together sauce to accompany Prime Rib. For the best, it is a declaration of their understanding of the cooking arts. It’s an ode to the fundamentals of cuisine. The Brother’s Au Jus would make Escoffier tear up in pride. It’s that good.
The mashed potatoes, fluffy, smooth and perfectly salted were transcendent. The chicken? Deboned, perfectly herbed and roasted with the oozing goat cheese gilding the lily rather than overpowering the bird. And the accompanying side of squash and baby carrots? So divine I’m on a personal search now for locally grown vegetables that can compare.
As the meal settled in, it was easy to understand why the restaurant was so crowded: simple food and an unrelenting dedication to doing every little detail perfectly no matter how small it seems. A dining experience where the whole experience is exponentially larger than the sum of it’s parts.
Of course, Alan Richman would be pleased to know that the Nichols’ Bros are there every night cooking and ensuring their vision, taking a minute to happily sign cookbooks for the patrons that have the nerve to interrupt dinner service to ask.

The Brothers’ is our favorite restaurant on the Central Coast! Whether you’re eating in the bar area or one of the dining rooms, you will receive great food and good service.
PROS: wine menu may be one of the best in the area; the soups are superb, as is the Chinese Chicken Salad; excellent beef and potato combinations, and they’ll substitute for you; rack of lamb is wonderful; service is very friendly and staff are professional; Jim runs the bar area with aplomb, making for a warm and comfortable atmosphere. BTW, the Kobe Beef Burger in the bar? Yummy!
CONS: Poor accoustics, so on a busy night, bring your hearing aid; would love to see them expand the menu by about 2 or 3 entrees
NOTE: The Brothers’ can be pricey — but it’s not overbearing. It’s a great restaurant, and IMHO, worth the price. No more than you would pay at a nice restaurant in a major city…
Thanks, Matt and Jeff, for a great restaurant! Hope you guys stay in the area for years to come!
RS

The Santa Ynez Vally is one of the prettiest places in California. When given the chance to photograph a wedding at Matteis Tavern in the valley I was pumped.
A stellar little spot with beautiful scenery close to many unique attractions.
The staff at Matteis certainly delivered and made the entire day a wonderful experience. I can easily give this spot 5 stars!
The food was fantastic, the deco was awesome and the day went smooth.
What more can you ask for!

**GOOD ALL-​AMERICAN CUISINE IN LOS OLIVOS**
July 4^th weekend meant that we had to celebrate it in style.
Ordered the special of the evening, corn soup with lobster ($ 14) which was incredibly good. Fresh, warm, and tasty. The lobster chunks were a great touch to the corn soup.
What is more American than a juicy prime rib steak (12 oz $ 32)? Add mashed potato and some greens on the side and it was a classic All-​American meal.
One of the better prime rib steaks I’ve had in awhile. Nice cut and was juicy medium rare.
Ended the evening with their home made banana and vanilla ice cream which were good, but can use a bit more cream.
Ambiance was a bit dark and dingy and the tablecloths can be updated even though everything else looked *antique*. Service was decent.
RECOMMEND if you are craving steaks, pork chops, or lamb chops in Los Olivos.

We came to Brothers’ Restaurant for a 35^th anniversary dinner — and we were not disappointed!
We were seated in the patio area, and gets really loud in there, but I don’t think it helped that we had a later reservation. The bread was brought out and it was delicious! The rosemary garlic bread was my favorite — I could just eat that for dinner.
We ordered a round of appetizers, and I think the veggie spring rolls were the best, followed by the green salad with all the trimmings. And then for entrée I had the petite filet with potatoes and caramelized onions. It was really rich. the filet was cooked perfectly and the potatoes were heavenly, all cheesy and onion-​y.
The desserts were great too. We had the lemon cheesecake and the trio of sorbets. We also had the mud pie, which I didn’t try since I was so full from all the food!

Just a short drive from Solvang, I would rate this restaurant on par with any in the same class from Los Angeles. Service was friendly, attentive & knowledgeable. ¹⁄₁₀^th of a star bonus for our waiter being a fellow Gaucho. We called at 6:15 for a reservation on a Friday night, and were seated promptly at the time of our 7:15 reservation.
We split the mixed baby greens salad for a starter. As is apparently the norm for this region, all vegetables are extremely fresh & just brimming with wonderfulness. For my entrée, I had Mattei’s Tavern Slow Roasted Prime Rib. This is not a dish I would normally order, but paired with the garlic mashed potatoes & creamed horseradish, it was outstanding. The 12oz serving was more than I personally can eat, but it also comes in a 16oz & 20oz variety for you larger carnivores.
Dinner was paired with a lovely 2007 chardonnay from Lucas & Lewellen. There’s a tasting room in Solvang if you’re staying downtown.

For my 600^th review * insert trumpets here *
Accompanied by my lovely girlfriend and her wonderful parents I went to a local establishment that had rave reviews from Unilocal and locals alike.
It has a simple country feel to it, but the food is elegant American done REALLY well. I went for the pork chop and was blown away by the size. See:
I loved that it came with mashed potatoes and bacon along with some apple sauce. Amazingly delicious.
While I was going to get a Stella I was advised to get a local beer which I was really happy with (though I forgot the name).
The service was friendly and non-​pretentious as were the patrons.
If I lived in the area this would be my destination for a quality special occasion meal.
Thanks, Mattei’s!