Chez Matilda rest.

[taxidriver]

I read the newspaper today and i saw that they are going to close.

[Andrea J.]

that is sad :-(

Originally Posted by taxidriver

I read the newspaper today and i saw that they are going to close.

[Arubalisa]

Another sad sign of a horrific economy.

[Randi]

I would say part bad economy and part...

there are many more restaurants and good ones in Aruba now that if you want to stay in business you got to be on top. Not saying Mathilde wasn't just making a comment.

From my own personal experience we used to go there and enjoyed it. Then we started to feel that the restaurant was getting a bit stale and dated which coincided with the renovation and total change of menu. We hadn't gone and just started to look at it again last year when they went back to the Chez in Mathilde. The latest menu looked very nice but not anything that DH would eat as items were a little too exotic for his liking.

Many of the good restaurants that have had business slip are still trying to rely on past reputations and not enough on continued customer service and just keeping menus fresh and good. With competition you need to always be on your toes. Again, not saying this about Chez Mathilde as I haven't/hadn't been in a few years. Just my comments on the situation.

[Andrea J.]

economy, other terrific restaurants, downtown location (so sad that many downtown places have closed) and the fact that the restaurant was quite formal.

re: my formal statement, the restaurant is quite elegant. going there in a culotte set for women and men in docker shorts and a golf shirt is not an option. it does require dressing up a bit more. some folks love to dress up for dinner. many do not.

so, adding in the miserable economy, the lack of downtown activity and the formality of the place all were contributing factors.
CM was the premier elegant restaurant in years past.
it is sad to hear that it is going to close.

[Randi]

It is sad!! Although we are in the Palm Beach area we do still love coming downtown to shop and eat. Hopefully, with some of the new stores and improvements to the street-scape this will help bring people downtown.

[Sean V]

Hello,
We are very sorry to hear this news. This was one of the highlights of our trip every year in Oct. I have to disagree with the notion it was dated and stale. We found it interesting and eclectic. Food was fanatastic and service was impeccable, including the bartender. And I say this as a regular customer.
Yes, the ambience is very formal and price is high.
It isn't the food and service that caused closure but the plethora of restaurants on the Island that offer fare at reasoanble prices and have a relaxed dress code, which is to be expected while on vacation.
CM is/was a diamond and I hope it reopens for business in the future.

[Andrea J.]

yes imo the "deliciousness" of the food has never waivered.
always gets a high rating for excellent food and service.

if the downtown "invigoration" was complete and the economy was thriving the business
would thrive.

[Randi]

Originally Posted by Sean V

Hello,
I have to disagree with the notion it was dated and stale

Hi, that may have been me that you might be referring to so I am sorry if my post came across that way. What I said or I thought I had implied was a number of years ago (5+ years ago) we felt that CM was due for a "facelift" and some new energy as the influx of new restaurants were starting and to stay competitive that was what was needed, in our opinion. Coincidently, they did do a renovation and a brand new menu. They called it just Mathilde.

Then they went back to Chez Mathilde.

Yes, it was a wonderful restaurant and all the good things you describe...no question there. My point is that with competition and lots more options any and every business needs to always been on their toes regardless of whether its a restaurant, jewelry store, clothing store, etc. if they want to keep their business alive.

[~Amy~®]

Originally Posted by taxidriver

I read the newspaper today and i saw that they are going to close.

Do you know when they're closing?

I'll be in Aruba on Saturday and have always loved Chez Matilde. If it's still open I'd like to stop in for one last dinner.