Cristina M.
Yelp
TLDR/
Food: 5/5 Delicious
Price: 4/5 $$$ Slightly expensive
Service: 5/5 Stellar
Ambiance: 5/5 Moody and rich, like the tequila they serve.
This place really hits all the right notes. I and my husband went for an early dinner on our anniversary. This was a great choice. I don't think we have enjoyed the food, service, and atmosphere more at any other restaurant we have gone to on any previous anniversary. It was just perfect. The slightly dark atmosphere with warm lighting from colored glass lamps, a myriad of candles arrayed about, and a centralized circular fire pit (surrounded by bar seating), made for a romantic and moody meal. It matched the heady scent of the grill and the sharp notes of quality tequila floating over from the bar and up from my specialty drink (a blood orange margarita), perfectly.
The meal was flavorful from start to finish. We ordered
appetizers as we had been out all day exploring and were excited to see it was happy hour. The steak quesadilla and romaine salad were both great choices. We also ordered the chorizo queso and the bacon-wrapped jalapeños. Normally I don't go into detail but for this great of a meal I will.
The quesadilla was a good size, filled with cheese and had a reasonable amount of meat for an appetizer. There was dipping sauce and a nice sprinkle of fresh greens to complement and contrast the cheese.
The chorizo queso came to the table in a cast iron skillet and was piled with charred bits of chorizo, and crumbled cheese the added depth to the already flavorful molten cheese bath.
The bacon-wrapped jalapeños were wonderful. There was a slight char on the jalapeños and the bacon was cooked well. The dipping sauce was flavorful but not overpowering and the goat cheese filling was a nice departure from the norm of cream cheese and gave each bite a bit more texture and elevation than any similar app I have had in the past. I couldn't have made them better and that is high praise.
The star of the appetizers was completely unexpected. The romaine salad, which I was expecting to be just ok was maybe the best salad I have ever eaten in my life and certainly the best appetizer salad (and on happy hour as well). The salad came with a cilantro pepita dressing but I asked for a side of ranch as well (just in case the vinaigrette was not to my taste). I didn't need to, as the dressing was a wonderful blend of complex flavors that combined perfectly with the toasted pepitas and fresh chopped vegetables that cascaded across the crisp romaine hearts and made my tastebuds dance in jubilant exhortation. Seriously folks, this salad kept me coming back, wanting another bite, until it was completely gone -- A salad -- Not a steak, not a gooey cheese sandwich, a salad did this. I was floored, I still am, as I write this review. I would drive back tomorrow even though we are not Tacoma natives, just for this salad alone.
We ended up ordering a Cali-style burrito and a 3 shredded beef enchilada plate but took the majority home, as the appetizers filled us up. My only complaints are that the chips were a bit crispy and salsa was slightly sweet (not as cilantro or onion forward as I would have liked), and the enchiladas came made with flour tortillas (which isn't my jam, but I was so dazzled by the appetizers, I honestly didn't even notice it was listed on the menu that way), also, the rice had too much tomato flavor for me, but again, that's a preference really, not a complaint.
For dessert, what a surprise that they had revived the Chocolate Taco of my youth, their take on the now extinct choco-taco was simple and flavorful. I would recommend it highly as it brought back memories of childhood in the best way. I enjoyed every single bite.
I would go here again, I would have a large party come with me. I would bring my Mom. I would invite my pastor and his family. I would literally come here with my worst enemy and we would leave friends because the service and the food would remind us both of what is right with humanity and make us want to be our best selves. If there was an equivalent Dr. Seuss book like "green eggs and ham" for Mexican food, then I would be Sam, and would be singing its praises from a box, a train, a car, and in the rain, that was gentle pattering on the long panes of tinted glass as my anniversary was made better by our server Justin and his wonderful counterparts. Come, enjoy, relax, and bask in the perfectly pleasant experience that awaits you here, at El Matador. Its name is apt because you will be dying to come back.