Mateus Place - Ludlow

The atmosphere was a bit creepy and the food was alright. I don't think this is a place I'd return to.

Great Portuguese food! I took my Mom out for Sunday dinner at Mateus Place Restaurant, which is tucked away in a quiet neighborhood in Ludlow. Mateus was highly recommended by a coworker who grew up in Ludlow. This restaurant is divided with a separate lounge area with Keno, TVs, and pool table and a casual dining room with 2 TVs. The parking lot was quite full when we arrived, but upon entering, the dining room was empty, everyone was in the lounge area watching the Pats game. We could sit anywhere we wanted in the dining room. We looked over the menu which offers a good variety of Portuguese dishes including fish/seafood, chicken, steaks, prime rib, soups, appetizers, and desserts. A children menu is available and during dinner only, the Mateus Promotion is offered, which is a full course dinner for $20 which includes bread, soup, appetizer, entree, and dessert! See the menu offerings and pricing at [hidden link] We started out with a Coffee and Diet Coke $1.50 each) and the coffee was very strong. We were given fresh bread with olive oil and fresh garlic to dip in. Both of us decided to go with the Mateus Promotion, which is a great deal if you like to try a lot of things. The soup of the day was a kale soup, which was served hot with a light tasting creamy potato broth, Portuguese sausage and lots of green kale. APPETIZERS: We had the Ameijoas a Bulhao Pato clams stewed in white garlic sauce) and the Chourica Assada em Aguardente flaming Portuguese sausage) which were both very good. I had to be careful putting out the big flame from the really chargrilled sausage, which had a salty taste. ENTREES: Espadarte Grelhado grilled swordfish topped with Mozambique sauce served with fries and rice) was excellent, a nicely chargrilled swordfish, very firm texture. Bife a Ana tender sirloin steak stuffed with ham, cheese, peppers served with fries and rice) was cooked medium well, a good tender and chewy piece of lean steak, with some fat and gristle to cut off along the edges. The fries cubed) were very lightly fried and crispy outside and soft inside. The rice pilaf had a good fluffy texture. DESSERTS: We ordered some chilled desserts to end the meal. The Flan custard pudding) had a good soft texture and not too sweet and topped with plenty of a robust not-so sweet caramel sauce. The Graham Cracker Pie was very similar to having tiramisu, which had layers of cookies, cool cream fillings, chocolate, and whipped cream. Two thumbs up! Overall, we were very impressed with the food and had a very enjoyable dinner at a great price. The check came out to around $45 with tax and before tip. I've spent almost that much on one person at another Portuguese restaurant in Lowell and the food at Mateus Place was still way better! The waitress was very good to us through the meal and turned on the TVs in the dining room to the Pats game. I would highly recommend Mateus Place for great Portuguese food! WEBSITE: [hidden link] CLOSED on Mondays

Mateus is a solid Portuguese restaurant in Ludlow that also serves as a sports bar during the European soccer season; outside of that, it features baseball, basketball, and football. For those seeking a quieter and more comfortable dining experience, there's a separate dining area away from the bar. The menu offers delicious soups, stews, and a variety of entrees including pork, chicken, beef, and seafood. The service is attentive, prices are reasonable, and portion sizes are generous. I've always been satisfied with everything I've ordered at Mateus, and it will remain one of my go-to spots for lunch.

I visited this restaurant for lunch after seeing all the positive reviews, and it certainly lives up to the hype. Even though I'm not from the area, I felt very welcomed—this place has a real community vibe. I opted for the lunch special, which included dry-rubbed BBQ chicken and ribs, rice, fries, and some pickled veggies like carrots and celery. Everything was fantastic, and the BBQ sauce that accompanied the meal was outstanding. The lunch was around $10, which I thought was a great value for the quality of the food.

This fantastic neighborhood spot is simple yet enjoyable, charming, and above all, authentic!