Santé - Matthews, North Carolina

Kaleb C.

Ate dinner here with my wife tonight for the first time. Overall our waitress was fine and the ambience was quaint.

The escargot and bread were good. I also enjoyed my scallops, although I didn't think that they paired well with the other flavors on the plate that were earthy, yet with a hint of seemingly cinnamon? My wife's filet mignon had good flavor, but the size was not advertised on the menu and it seemed almost half as thick as filets we have eaten at other restaurants for a similar price. I also thought the truffle macaroni and cheese was lacking flavor, including the flavor of truffles. Had to ask for salt and pepper to make it more enjoyable to eat. For what it's worth, we did eat all of our food though.

The one significant issue we noticed was someone working behind the bar and eating handfuls (hand to the mouth) of what appeared to be mixed nuts, and then proceeding to make drinks and take plates to tables without washing his hands first. All of this was right in front of presumably the owner who was eating dinner at the bar as well.

I'm giving 4 stars as opposed to 3 stars because I want to be supportive of small business and I trust that overall this restaurant is better than our individual experience was.

Aarti

This is a hidden gem. The food was incredible. We ordered two specials as starters - a mushroom truffle soup and a beet salad, both were great as was the house bread. The potato gnocchi and shrimp pasta dish were also very flavorful. Both of us cleaned our plates. Enjoyed the cocktails as well, especially the Bombay Bramble. Dessert was good but the starters and entrees are really the showstoppers. We had great service from Zack and look forward to returning.

Lalitha M.

My husband and I were there for the Mother’s Day brunch. We were seated, as requested, in the outdoor patio in the back with a view of a charming, slightly wild garden area. Service was prompt. We were able to choose from a thoughtfully prepared pre-set menu. I ordered the asparagus soup and my husband ordered the French country salad. Both were delicious, though I thought the soup was way under seasoned. For the second course I had the crab and shrimp stuffed crepes and my husband had the orange honey bourbon glazed ham. Both dishes were beyond reproach. Both deserved 5 stars. The meal ended with a chocolate mouse cake for him and the strawberry almond cake with toasted meringue for me. This was a wonderful end to an altogether good brunch. The strawberry almond cake with the meringue and the toasted almonds was the best dessert I’ve ever had. Kudos to the chef!

Lauren G.

Amazing meal and sweet, cozy ambiance! Will definitely be back. The evening started a little hectic because we weren't aware there was a holiday festival downtown and parking was hard to find. We called the restaurant to let them know we were running late since we couldn't find anything and the owner actually went outside to look for us & let us squeeze in a spot behind their place. She then waited for us and walked us in herself. Above & beyond. Our waitress was lovely, the drinks were superb. The Santé Signature hit the spot. Started with the Potato Croquettes. Super creamy and the bacon jam...oh my goodness. We chose the chicken and the duck for our entrees. Every bite was delicious!! The desserts all sounded incredible, but we were stuffed. Love finding another gem in our area. Will happily return soon and may start with dessert!!

Ebony R.

One of the most amazing culinary experiences in all of Charlotte. We had the Summer zucchini cakes to start. They came out hot and delicious. My husband had the chicken and mashed potatoes. He's still talking about how delicious it was. I had the potato gnocchi with sausage and peppers...amazing! The staff and atmosphere are both warm and welcoming. I can't wait to go back!

Vespa G.

Tight seating arrangements with such a small space. The food was very good and who knew I’d love a watermelon salad. Shrimp were overcooked but tasty. Server was excellent. The place is small enough to hear conversations at each table. Not sure if we will be back, but I’d have a watermelon salad if we did.

Nick A.

Santé was an excellent experience.

Reservations were simple and the server we had really made it a personable experience. We did some research before going, and realized the menu varied slightly depending on the week and season, but I would trust anything they have on menu to be a 10/10 experience.

For my personal experience I ordered the Brussel sprouts & arugula salad appetizer. The Brussel sprouts were out of this world and definitely worth the visit alone.

For Entrees we received a shrimp tagliatelle and honey bourbon glazed salmon dish which were light and flavorful. The pasta was made in house, super fresh, and shrimp was probably the best i’ve had in awhile.

Both entrees complimented the chardonnay very well, leaving us satisfied & full without it being “too much”.

To finish we ended with a crème brûlée & raspberry chocolate cake for dessert.

If you are looking for a fine dining experience with excellent food & service within the downtown Matthews area, this should be up top in your list.

Kudos to the cooks & servers, and I will definitely be back to see what else they have to offer!

Peeran B.

We were celebrating Navroz! Sante did not disappoint. We arrived on time at the restaurant which truly has a rustic decor.. it was full to capacity. We ordered champagne 🍾 , arugula salad.. then for entree we had Pan Seared Springer Mountain Farms Chicken & an entree of perfectly prepared Scallops. They both hit the mark. Finally, the dessert 🍮 was an orange cheesecake. All plated perfect and made to perfection. Will be back.