First of all, I love seafood. My family made it a point to eat fresh fish at least 2x a week for dinner (bah fresh fish is just cheaper in the US). As a result, I am an expert fish eater, and I can definitely taste the difference between a fish that was just killed, and a fish that has been dead for a few days.
Quirky and original idea for a restaurant. Pescheria Mattiucci has chosen to avoid directly competing with the low-cost pizzerias or the high-end Italian bistros on Kensington Park Rd; rather, this restaurant has created its own little niche market----Italian seafood in a casual, relaxed environment. Their menu is handwritten everyday as they serve only the catch-of-the-day.
Decor: very quirky, very small space. The setting tricks me into thinking I'm sitting in a little seafood bar somewhere in southern Italy. Probably one of the only complaints I had was the "table" we were seated at---it was more like an ironing board than a table, and I kept having to scoot my chair in so that people could squeeze by.
Service: very warm staff, very attentive. At some point towards the end of the evening, they were going around chatting to the customers left and taking little bets. The atmosphere was very casual and friendly. Although, it could be that my perception was slightly influenced by the amount of wine consumed....
Food: I'd recommend the octopus and rosemary potatoes as a starter (if they serve it again). It was amazing! So simple, but really tasty. We ended up getting a sharing plate of grilled fish for the main because strong flavours just pollute one's ability to taste fish. Grilled fish is priced by the kilo, so you can choose to have as much as you want. The tuna was slightly overcooked, but I tend to like my tuna a little raw in the middle.
Price: Fresh seafood is especially pricey in Europe. Given that fact, I'd say that Pescheria Mattiucci is relatively good value. It is a bit cheaper than the Italian bistros nearby, and despite what one of the other reviewers wrote, both my boyfriend and I were stuffed by the end of the evening (from a starter, some wine, and 500 grams of fish).
I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who enjoys fresh seafood, but do book beforehand as this tiny little shop fills up quickly in the evenings! read more