Matteo's Ristorante

After a soccer game at Youngs in Welland, my grandson and I were craving Italian and decided to try Matteo’s Ristorante. Even though they were quite busy and we didn’t have a reservation, a gentleman greeted us and graciously made a table for two work. ​That gentleman turned out to be the owner, Matteo. He personally introduced himself and took the time to walk us through the menu, explaining the high quality of their ingredients and their beverage selection. It’s rare to see that level of personal touch these days; usually, you're just handed off to a server. ​The Food ​Everything we ordered was perfect and authentic: ​Appetizers: Two orders of calamari and a Caprese salad (the fior di latte cheese was exceptional). ​Mains: Veal Parmigiana with homemade pasta and a perfectly prepared rack of lamb. ​Finish: Delicious dessert and espresso. ​The Atmosphere ​The service was top-notch. Our waitress was incredibly friendly and kept a smile on her face the whole night. Both she and Matteo checked in on us frequently to ensure we were enjoying our meal. ​If you are looking for traditional Italian cuisine and genuine hospitality, I cannot recommend Matteo’s enough. We will definitely be back! Only regret is i forgot our waitress name i usually don't . ​— Joseph D’Andrea, Stoney Creek, ON

Absolutely amazing experience. My sister and I are from out of town and did not realize we should of made a reservation. The host greeted us and was able to squeeze us in. The owner came to the waiting area and gave us a glass of wine while we waited.. the food was out of this world.. we had archinini balls and garlic bread for apps.. both of us had chicken parmesan for our main... all freshly made in house..and the desert.. wow.. phyllo wrapped cheesecake, never had anything better.. the service was outstanding and the all staff were super friendly and spoke to everyone.. I'd give more stars if I could... WAY TO GO

A group of is decided to try something new. Matteo's had a great review and all love a good Italian. (Especially me) The atmosphere is very cozy and cute. Tables are slightly close together, but we didn't feel crowded once seated. Lisa was great. Attentive and kept our drinks filled. The food was authentic and very flavourful. Unfortunately there was no gelato, so we settled for some amazing cappuccinos. Highly recommend for a date night, or nice dinner out. Erin, END Adventures

Oct 9 - Update to reply to owner's response. Thank you for your reply, Matteo. Just to clarify, when I mentioned portion size, I wasn’t asking to be ‘fattened’ — as I said in my review, we simply expected a meal that could satisfy a normal appetite. I understand that authentic Italian food can sometimes come in smaller portions, but the expectation is that the flavor and quality will make up for it. Unfortunately, the pasta we had lacked the taste and depth I would expect from Italian cuisine. As for your comment about showcasing my own culinary skills — I don’t claim to be a chef. I go to restaurants like yours because I appreciate good food and want to try something enjoyable. If a customer points out that the food didn’t meet expectations, it’s not an invitation to be challenged — it’s a chance to reflect and improve. If these aspects are addressed, we’d be open to giving your restaurant another try. __________ We decided to try this restaurant after seeing the good reviews, but it turned out to be a big mistake. We ordered two pastas to go — the Pescatore and the Carbonara. When we arrived for pickup, we noticed most people were ordering pizzas, and we soon understood why. The pasta portions were far too small for an average appetite, and the dishes were completely bland, lacking flavor or any sign of cooking skill. The Carbonara was especially disappointing — you could literally count fewer than 10 tiny pieces of bacon on the whole plate. Like, really? On top of that, the total came to over $80 for just two meals, and the food didn’t even keep us full for more than two hours. Very disappointing overall.

It was our first time at Matteo's with our family, and we were absolutely impressed and satisfied with the entire experience. For a Tuesday, it was packed but the food came out promptly. The kids especially liked seeing their pizza being made. The food was phenomenal!! So much so that we have already picked out what we are going to order next time. The house-made pasta, pizza dough and sauces, along with the quality and customer service is what brings this restaurant to a whole different level. Thank you for an amazing dining experience and for the warm hospitality!