In 2010, The Wild Garlic received a review from Jasper Gerard in The Telegraph giving it a score of 9/10, followed by an AA rosette and a mention in The Good Food Guide. Mat introduced 'Foraging Days' for those wanting a gentle stroll around the seashore learning about wild plants; and for those just wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle, a beautifully renovated apartment above the restaurant ... the perfect escape.

In 2009, Mat focussed on leaving his corporate job and finding a way to open his own Restaurant. It wasn't  easy (especially with the recession in full swing) to leave a well paid, secure job, for one that pays considerably less and in an industry that is already hard hit. Never the less, on the 20th June 2009, Mat held a launch party to celebrate the opening of his Restaurant.