Matty Matheson has a talent for finding food that feels big-hearted, satisfying, and completely unpretentious. His picks span neighborhood spots and destination restaurants, all tied together by one simple idea: the food hits hard and sticks in your memory.
These eight dishes come from 8it’s curated map of Matty’s recommendations, pulled from interviews, social clips, and trusted food coverage. 8it tracks tips from critics at places like Eater, The New York Times, and The Infatuation, then cross-checks them with chefs and known food lovers. The result is a focused list of dishes that real experts talk about, not a random collection of crowd ratings.
8 Dishes Worth Eating from Matty Matheson’s 8it Map 2026
1. Pork Chops at Swett’s
8it Recommendation: Eat that then instantly recline on a La-Z-Boy.
2. Cacio E Pepe at Rolf and Daughters
8it Recommendation: The greatest cacio e pepe of all time.
3. Baloney Sandwich at Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint
8it Recommendation: Thick cut baloney sandwich, absolutely my favorite thing.
4. Eggplant Marinara at Frankies 925 Spuntino
8it Recommendation: Tuna sandwich is one of my favorite sandwiches.
5. Crab Omelette at Locust
8it Recommendation: Some of the best seafood in Music City.
6. Hot Pot at Shabu-Shabu
8it Recommendation: We get Szechuan broth for our hot pot.
7. Tasting Menu at The Catbird Seat
8it Recommendation: Throughout the tasting, they are changing so much.
8. Panna Cotta at Frankies 457 Spuntino
8it Recommendation: I think it’s the best dessert in NYC.
These eight dishes show how wide Matty’s taste runs, from thick-cut baloney to a changing tasting menu and a simple panna cotta. The mix covers comfort food, seafood, pasta, and desserts, so you can build a full day or weekend of eating around his picks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the spots still open?
All eight locations were confirmed active at the time this article was published in May 2026. Restaurant availability can change, and hours shift seasonally. The 8it app displays real-time filtering options including “open now” so you can check before you go. For reservations at spots that require them, 8it links directly to Resy, OpenTable, and Tock from each dish card.
How does the app help locate similar vetted dishes?
8it uses a map-based interface that plots dish-level recommendations from trusted critics and chefs across the city. To narrow your search, the “I Want” wheel filters by dish category, while the “Eat Like” wheel surfaces curated maps tied to specific tastemakers, including celebrity chefs like Matty Matheson. This curation approach means every dish shown has been positively recommended by a vetted source, with no ratings, crowdsourced noise, or filler. If a dish is in the app, it has been flagged as worth seeking out.
What is the best time to visit busy locations?
High-demand spots tied to well-known recommendations tend to see peak traffic on Friday and Saturday evenings and during weekend brunch hours. Visiting on a weekday, particularly for lunch, usually means shorter waits. For restaurants that take reservations, booking two to three weeks in advance is a reliable approach for weekend slots. 8it integrates directly with reservation platforms so you can book from the dish card without switching apps.
Can the recommendations be added to a shared list?
Yes. Every dish card in 8it includes a bookmark button that saves the item to a personal list. Those lists are shareable, which makes it easy to send a set of picks to a friend or plan a group outing around a specific set of recommendations. This replaces the common workaround of screenshotting posts or copying links into notes apps.
Does the map update when new Matty Matheson picks appear?
8it’s curation team actively monitors trusted sources for new recommendations from chefs and food media figures, including Matty Matheson. When a new pick is verified and meets the curation standard, it is added to the app. Users who have saved a chef’s existing picks can see new additions as they surface without tracking separate social channels or media outlets.
Matty Matheson’s Picks, All in One Place
Matty Matheson’s influence on how people eat continues to grow, driven by recommendations that feel honest, specific, and experience-based. The eight dishes listed here turn that perspective into clear moves you can actually plan around. 8it keeps his full map of picks in a single app and updates it as new dishes appear, so you do not have to juggle screenshots or scattered links.
