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Mattei's Tavern
American · Los Olivos
Restaurant in Los Olivos, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Live-Fire Shared Plates
Price
$$$$
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
A Michelin Plate-recognised dining room operating inside a restored 19th-century stagecoach stop, Mattei's Tavern brings Auberge Resorts' California hospitality to Los Olivos wine country. Chef Rhoda Magbitang's shared-plates menu draws from an on-site garden and a live-fire kitchen, with dishes that sit comfortably in the California farm-to-table tradition while reaching toward more ambitious technique.
About Mattei's Tavern
Is Mattei's Tavern worth booking for dinner?
Yes; with the right expectations. Mattei's Tavern is a Michelin Plate-recognised restaurant operating inside a historic property reimagined by Auberge Resorts in Los Olivos, California. Chef Rhoda Magbitang runs a shared-plates, live-fire Californian menu that draws on an on-site garden. The price point is $$$$ and the setting is genuine: a stagecoach stop from the late 1880s that later became a Prohibition-era hangout, now restored without stripping the character out. If you are visiting Santa Ynez wine country and want one serious dinner on the trip, this is the booking to make.
What to expect on your first visit
The atmosphere at Mattei's leans unhurried and warm rather than hushed and formal. The room carries the weight of its history; exposed wood, the kind of ambient energy you get from a space that has hosted generations of travellers, but it does not feel museum-like. Noise levels are conversational rather than loud, which makes it well-suited to dinners where the company matters as much as the food. First-timers should arrive expecting a relaxed pace; this is wine-country dining, not a city restaurant running two sittings.
Service here is where the Auberge ownership becomes relevant. Auberge properties are known for attentive, polished hospitality, Mattei's benefits from that infrastructure without tipping into the stiffness you sometimes get at hotel dining rooms. The staff understand the menu and the garden sourcing behind it, which matters when you are eating shared plates and trying to sequence the meal correctly. At this price point, that level of guidance earns its place.
What to order
The braised abalone finished with abalone liver mousse over mushroom confit in white miso butter is the dish to start, technically precise and a strong signal of what the kitchen can do. Among the wood-fired sides, grilled wedges of cabbage over tomato stew with spiced chickpea and salsa macha is worth ordering even if it sounds incidental; it is not. Finish with the dark chocolate soufflé with crème anglaise and butterscotch. Large main dishes are built for sharing, so resist the urge to over-order on mains and use that budget on the sides and a dessert instead.
Ideal time to visit
Los Olivos is leading visited between late spring and early autumn when the garden sourcing is at its most productive and the Santa Ynez Valley is drawing visitors for wine weekends. Weekday evenings are the easiest booking window; Friday and Saturday dinners fill quickly given the limited restaurant options in the area and the draw of Auberge guests. If you are travelling specifically for this meal, a Thursday or Sunday dinner gives you the most relaxed service rhythm. Book well in advance, this is rated Hard for booking difficulty, the combination of a small-town location and a recognised name means availability tightens fast.
How It Compares
Know Before You Go
Address2350 Railway Ave, Los Olivos, CA 93441Price range$$$$ (shared plates format)AwardsMichelin Plate (2024)Booking difficultyHard, reserve well in advance, especially for weekendsLeading forWine-country dinner, special occasions, couples, small groupsDress codeSmart casual is a safe assumption at this price point and under Auberge managementDietary restrictionsContact the restaurant directly before visiting; menu not confirmed onlineExplore more in Los Olivos
- Bar Le Côte, Seafood with a Spanish-California angle, a strong alternative for a lighter meal
- Stolpman Vineyards Los Olivos Tasting Room, worth pairing with a Mattei's dinner on the same trip
- Our full Los Olivos restaurants guide
- Our full Los Olivos hotels guide
- Our full Los Olivos bars guide
- Our full Los Olivos wineries guide
- Our full Los Olivos experiences guide
Pearl Picks, if Mattei's is not right for your trip
- The French Laundry, Napa, if you want the definitive California fine dining benchmark
- Single Thread Farm, Healdsburg, farm-to-table at a higher technical level, also wine country
- Addison, San Diego, Southern California's Michelin-starred alternative for a formal occasion
- Providence, Los Angeles, if seafood-forward California cooking is the priority
- Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Tarrytown, the closest national comparison for garden-driven live-fire dining
Planning details
- Location
- 2350 Railway Ave, Los Olivos, CA 93441
- Website
- auberge.com/matteis-tavern//dine/tavern
- Phone
- (888) 218-4941
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Mattei's Tavern foregrounds its history: a two-story, 1880s stagecoach stop that keeps its aged timber, wide porch and original bones front and center. The Auberge Resorts renovation polishes rather than replaces that provenance, inserting a garden-driven, live-fire kitchen and contemporary technique into a building that already carries authority. The result reads as considered and sophisticated rather than trendy — a dining room where place and time shape the experience. Michelin Plate recognition in 2024 underscores a quietly confident approach: the restaurant leans on heritage and craft, delivering refined, seasonal cooking in a setting that feels both welcoming and substantial.
Best For
Mattei's suits diners who value history-driven fine dining and a restrained, seasonally focused meal. The shared-plates format encourages conversation and communal tasting, making it a smart pick for groups who want to linger and compare dishes as well as couples seeking a special night out. The porch and intimate dining rooms emphasize a sense of occasion, and the property's hospitality lineage — now stewarded by Auberge Resorts — supports both celebratory meals and thoughtful weekend brunches. The tone is upscale but unforced, with an emphasis on provenance and live-fire cooking rather than theatrical presentation.
Ordering Tips
Ordering here follows the table: opt for multiple shared plates so everyone can sample the garden-driven, live-fire preparations and return to favorites. Because the menu is seasonal and ingredient-led, expect dishes to change and to lean on produce and fire-driven techniques; ask servers about the freshest or most notable items of the day. Pace the meal to allow lingering — the format rewards returning to dishes — and consider starting with a couple of lighter vegetable plates before moving to heartier, flame-cooked selections. Reservations are sensible for prime times given the intimate rooms.
Planning details
Location
2350 Railway Ave, Los Olivos, CA 93441 · Directions
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- Le Bernardin; French, Seafood, $$$$
- Lazy Bear; Progressive American, Contemporary, $$$$
- Atomix; Modern Korean, Korean, $$$$
- Atelier Crenn; Modern French, Contemporary, $$$$
- Benu; French - Chinese, Asian, $$$$
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Mattei's Tavern guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Mattei's Tavern
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Booking Difficulty | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mattei's Tavern | American | $$$$ | Hard | 2026 Michelin Plate2025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate |
| Le Bernardin | French, Seafood | $$$$ | Unknown | 2026 Eater NY 38 Best Restaurants in New York City · #82026 North America's 50 Best Restaurants · #132026 New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City · #212026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #342026 Forbes 5-Star2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2026 Wine Spectator Grand Award2026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2025 New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City · #3 |
| Lazy Bear | Progressive American, Contemporary | $$$$ | Unknown | 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants · #100Star Wine Lists 20262026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Highly Recommended2026 Wine Spectator Grand Award2026 Michelin 2 Stars2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 World's 50 North America's Best Restaurants · #252025 Robb Report 100 Greatest American Restaurants of the 21st Century · #852025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #176 |
| Atomix | Modern Korean, Korean | $$$$ | Unknown | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #62026 New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City · #72026 North America's 50 Best Restaurants · #7Star Wine Lists 20262026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 World's 50 North America's Best Restaurants · #12025 James Beard Awards · #12025 New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City · #2 |
| Atelier Crenn | Modern French, Contemporary | $$$$ | Unknown | 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants · #292026 North America's 50 Best Restaurants · #442026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #672026 Forbes 5-Star2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2026 Michelin 3 Stars2026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2025 Robb Report 100 Greatest American Restaurants of the 21st Century · #312025 World's 50 North America's Best Restaurants · #46 |
| Benu | French - Chinese, Asian | $$$$ | Unknown | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #122026 San Francisco Chronicle Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants · #172026 North America's 50 Best Restaurants · #33Star Wine Lists 20262026 Forbes 5-Star2026 Michelin 3 Stars2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 Robb Report 100 Greatest American Restaurants of the 21st Century · #62025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #7 |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at Mattei's Tavern?
Start with the braised abalone finished with abalone liver mousse over mushroom confit in white miso butter; it's the dish that signals what Chef Rhoda Magbitang is doing here. On the wood-fired side, grilled cabbage wedges over tomato stew with spiced chickpea and salsa macha are worth ordering even if you're not usually a sides person. Close with the dark chocolate soufflé with crème anglaise and butterscotch.
Is the tasting menu worth it at Mattei's Tavern?
Mattei's operates a shared plates format rather than a traditional tasting menu, so the experience is more flexible than a locked-in omakase or chef's progression. At $$$$ pricing, the live fire cooking and garden-sourced ingredients justify the spend if you order across the full menu; starters, mains, sides. If you're looking for a strict tasting menu format in wine country, that's a different category of restaurant.
What should I wear to Mattei's Tavern?
The setting is a reimagined 1880s stagecoach stop operated by Auberge Resorts, which signals a step above casual without requiring formal dress. Los Olivos is a small wine country town, so the local register tends toward relaxed but considered; think polished resort wear rather than a blazer-required room. The atmosphere leans warm and unhurried rather than hushed and formal.
Is Mattei's Tavern worth the price?
At $$$$ for a shared plates dinner in Los Olivos, Mattei's is positioned at the high end of Santa Ynez Valley dining; and the Michelin Plate recognition (2024) confirms the cooking merits the price point. The on-site garden, live fire program, technically precise dishes like the braised abalone give you clear reasons for the spend. If you're looking for $$$$ value in a tasting menu format, this isn't that; if you want a well-executed Californian meal in a property with real history, it holds up.
What are alternatives to Mattei's Tavern in Los Olivos?
Los Olivos is a small town, so the restaurant options at this price tier are limited. For a comparable wine country dining experience in the broader Santa Barbara region, the choice usually comes down to Mattei's or driving into Santa Barbara proper. Mattei's is the clearest case for staying in Los Olivos if you're already in the Santa Ynez Valley and want a full dinner rather than a tasting room snack.
Is Mattei's Tavern good for a special occasion?
Yes; the combination of a historically significant property, Auberge Resorts' hospitality standard, Chef Rhoda Magbitang's Michelin Plate-recognised cooking gives it the weight a special occasion needs. The shared plates format makes the table feel social rather than ceremonial, which works better for celebrations than a strict tasting menu progression. Book ahead; at $$$$ in a small town, this is not a walk-in option for groups.
