It was the sign you couldn’t miss. If you were driving down Cicero Avenue in Burbank, that giant neon cowboy swinging his lasso was basically a North Star for hungry families. For over 50 years, Mattson's Steakhouse Burbank IL sat at 8150 S. Cicero Ave., serving as a time capsule of 1970s dining culture.
Then, everything just... stopped.
In early 2025, a simple note appeared on the door. No fanfare. No big farewell party. Just a "thank you" to the community and a locked entrance. Honestly, for a place that had been around since 1968, the silence was deafening. If you grew up in the area, Mattson’s wasn’t just a place to get a New York Strip; it was where you went for your 10th birthday, your grandparents' anniversary, or that specific Friday night when nobody felt like cooking but everyone wanted a sundae.
The Sudden Closure of Mattson's Steakhouse Burbank IL
The news hit the local Facebook groups like a ton of bricks in January 2025. People were genuinely shocked. Why would a place that reportedly pulled in over $2 million in gross sales a year—and had a gambling room bringing in another $200,000—just vanish?
The truth is less about a failing business and more about a life transition. The longtime owner decided it was time to retire. The building, a massive 7,200-square-foot space with room for 352 people, was put on the market for $1.59 million.
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It’s kinda wild to think about.
One day you're grabbing a tray for the hot food bar, and the next, the whole era is listed on LoopNet. For many, it felt like a piece of Burbank’s identity was being sold off. The restaurant had survived the transition from being a Bonanza Steakhouse decades ago into the independent Western-themed staple it became. It even survived the brutal 2020 lockdowns, though court records show they had to fight their insurance company (Cincinnati Insurance) just to stay afloat during the "physical alterations" required for COVID-19 compliance.
What Made the Experience So Specific?
Mattson’s wasn’t trying to be a fancy downtown Chicago spot with $100 wagyu. It was a "Western Steak House and Saloon." The vibe was pure nostalgia—think wood paneling, cowboy motifs, and a gun collection that had kids and history nerds trying to guess which revolvers belonged to Billy the Kid or Wyatt Earp.
The menu was a marathon, not a sprint.
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- The Famous Bar System: You didn't just get a side; you got "The Bars." This included the soup bar, the salad bar, the hot food bar (hello, mac and cheese and cornbread), and the legendary sundae bar.
- The Steaks: You could get a 12oz Mattson’s Strip for under twenty bucks. The 18oz Porterhouse was the go-to for the "hearty appetite."
- The Bread: Ask anyone who ate there—the Texas Toast was basically its own food group. Thick, buttery, and perfectly grilled.
- The Oddballs: They served everything. Crab legs, BBQ ribs, broasted chicken, and even a "Seafood Sampler" with Cajun nuggets.
There was a certain ritual to it. You’d pay at the front, maybe wait 15 minutes if it was a Friday night, and then unleash your kids on the ice cream machine. It was loud, it was busy, and it was unapologetically old-school.
The Quality Debate: Was it Actually Good?
If we’re being real, the reviews toward the end were a mixed bag. Some people swore by the 21-day aged ribeyes, while others complained that the salad bar was getting a bit "minimal" or that the carpet seen better days.
You’ve probably seen the polarizing Yelp or TripAdvisor rants. One person would rave about the "best baked potato in Illinois," and the next would complain that their steak had a "weird smell" and the soup tasted like water.
But here’s the thing: most people didn't go to Mattson's Steakhouse Burbank IL for Michelin-star precision. They went for the connection. They went because they’d been going since 1974 and they knew exactly what the mushroom soup was going to taste like. It was comfort food in the most literal sense—comfort in the predictability of it all.
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A Legacy Left on Cicero Avenue
The closure marks more than just a vacant building. It’s the end of that specific type of "dinner and a show" (if you count the slot machines and the cowboy sign as the show) that defined suburban life for Baby Boomers and Gen X-ers.
The building is still there, for now. 7,200 square feet of memories. It’s got a full lower level and that massive parking lot that used to be packed every Sunday morning. Whether it becomes a new restaurant or gets leveled for a car wash is the big question hanging over Burbank right now.
If you’re looking for a similar vibe today, you’re mostly stuck with the big chains. You could drive ten minutes to Longhorn, or head into the city for Morton’s, but it’s not the same. You won't find a local owner retiring after 50 years at a Darden-owned restaurant. You won't find a hand-picked gun collection or a neon cowboy who’s seen five decades of traffic pass by.
What to do if you’re missing the Mattson’s vibe:
- Check out the local "Supper Club" style spots: There are still a few independent gems in the surrounding suburbs like Bridgeview or Oak Lawn that haven't quite updated their decor since 1985.
- Support the "Mom and Pop" survivors: The closure of Mattson's is a reminder that these places don't last forever. If there’s a local diner or steakhouse you love, go there now.
- Keep an eye on the 8150 S. Cicero address: Development in Burbank moves fast. Whatever replaces that cowboy will tell us a lot about where the neighborhood is heading next.
Basically, the era of the $15 steak dinner with a four-part buffet is closing out. Mattson’s was one of the last ones standing, and its departure leaves a big, Texas-toast-shaped hole in the community.
Next Steps for Locals:
If you have old gift certificates or unredeemed vouchers, check with your bank or the Illinois Department of Financial Professional Regulation, though with a retirement-based closure, the window for refunds is usually narrow. For those interested in the real estate or the fate of the iconic sign, monitoring the Burbank city council meeting notes is the best way to see what developers are planning for that corner of Cicero.