What started out as a tiny counter perched above the Pike Place Market has nearly tripled in size after a lengthy remodel. But Matt's in the Market has maintained the integrity it's held for the past 12 years.

"We are still using the original bar stools, but at the bar, not at the counter," says owner Matt Janke. "We have a floor that looks like the original floor. The original mirror is hanging on the wall. The very original counter is hanging on the wall above the bar. The lighting system is similar."

He says he had no idea what he was getting into when he bought the former home of Cafe Counter Intelligence back in 1996.

"When I asked them how long they had been here and they said 12 years. And I laughed and said there's just no way I'm going to be there that long."

Before the six-month remodel, which started in January of last year, Matt and his staff were working in a 475-square-foot space, with only two butane burners and an electric oven to cook on.

"Now, we operate like a restaurant. We're like a restaurant, only smaller. We're really not that big -- 50 seats or so. We actually have people who have job categories like dishwasher and waiter and that sort of thing."

But they're still turning out the same great food.

"At lunchtime, definitely catfish sandwiches. Also, a really cool thing we keep on the menu year round but is best in the summertime is the smoked catfish salad.

"It's great in the summertime because peaches are out and the peaches are the best fruit to serve in that salad. We're doing paella on the lunch menu. We took the old tuna sandwich which had ahi originally; that became too expensive so we switched to albacore, now we put ahi back on," Janke says.

"Dinnertime we still have duck confit. It's not something I tend to eat, but everyone talks about our foie all the time -- we have a really nice appetizer foie gras. We've got a really unusual calamari that's sauteed with white beans. And there's always fresh scallops and halibut and salmon."

There's even a few new surprises on the menu.

"We have a grill now, so one of our best things at lunch is the lamb burger. We never could have done that before."

You don't need a GPS to find Matt's (it's on the second floor of the Corner Market Building), but other than the giant neon Market clock, you won't get a lot of signage leading the way.

"We're full of people, what's it matter?"

Places Matt likes to Go Eat!: La Medusa, Moxie, Madoka, Columbia City Bakery, Cremant, Virginia Inn.

For More Information:

http://www.mattsinthemarket.com/