Café California ala Silverlake best describes this grunge style corner diner owned by a patisserie chef named Deborah. Kinda moody~ This chef guy named Olivier used to own and operate the joint. By the way …It’s not French food.
A little love and fresh ingredients will indeed take M Matisse a grade higher on the scale of good wholesome comfort food, even if it’s not French.
We had a rather late lunch around 2:30 and departed about 3:20pm. So the service is fast and to the point. Our waiter most hospitable and chef Derrick earnestly and busily cooking behind the grille made positive impressions.
We ordered up the Veggie Panini and Multi Grain salad while mildly being verbally pounced on for taking pics without asking. It was a harsh introduction, but we recovered, from the initial blast. Heck, we were hoping to make new friends, and felt sorry for ourselves for a split second or two. Put your dukes up was the Matisse hospitality greeting.
First impression of the food—fresh looking, simple ingredients, imaginative recipe concepts. Flavor was above average, but lacking a bit of love. Can’t quite put my taste buds on it.
For Example-The Lemon vinaigrette used on the multigrain salad lacked the taste of natural lemon juice. It had a bitter tin-like flavor likened to that of the fake stuff. The dressing overshadowed the family of grains, beans, and veggies prepared. A brilliant recipe concept for the optimal health foodie in search of healthy fair.
The Panini pressed Veggie Sandwich was a fresh cool concept. It arrived warm, grilled and thin—as it should be. By the way Panini is Italian. The tomatoes appeared randomly picked, because they were not ripe; the goat cheese was flat and lacking flavor; the pesto was present and visible and lacking gusto. The arugula was overpowering and overly bitter for this recipe, watercress could have been a better compliment. Overall the ingredients were a bit below good wholesome quality ingredients. Almost $10 for a panini and $10 for a salad certainly calls for above average ingredients.
Stay tuned for the breakfast review ,,, we anticipate better results. Chef Derrick recommended the pancakes explaining everything is made from scratch.
In closing, Matisse is an ok food joint for hanging with eastsider pals in Silverlake fringe style. The Sidewalk café flair keeps it casual and who needs great food when you’re the whole point really is to catch up with friends.
Madame Matisse
3536 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 662-4862
