The Matador

06/22/2008 Posted by rookie_food_critic

I saw several reviews regarding bad service at the Matador, so I decided to write about my good experience there. We went on a Sat night around 9:00 and got seating within 15 minutes. The service was not the best, but we had no complaints either. Our drinks were brought within 5 minutes and appetizers within 15 minutes. The food was also very good. I highly recommend the vegetarian enchiladas... very flavorful and tasty. As the bar got crowded, the drinks were coming a little slower but our waitress apologized for it. Overall, it was a good experience and I wish we had more of such places in Seattle.

Pros: Food, drinks

Cons: Parking... it is rough during weekends

06/01/2008 Posted by MissStacyE

I went to this bar with a group of six people who often frequent local bars with me, and we have never been so disappointed and put off by a place like we were in the Matador. The waitresses were SO miserable, and could not bring themselves to even force a half grin when faced with KINDNESS. We waited patiently for a table in a small, cramped corner, and every waitress who walked by would rudely yell at my friends, such as "Get the hell out of our way!" Literally. Great business, guys! Bartenders - three of them, and each one said they'd be right back to get me a drink, and all three of them failed to remember me as they were too occupied serving the mixture of cougars and half-lidded burnt out frat boys littering the bar. Finally, my friend receives his order of nachos and asks politely for extra napkins, to which the miserable waitress told us to deal. Seriously? It was like the twilight zone. This is coming from a book nerd and a crop of corporate nobodies, it's not like we were wildly and trashing the place. I would not recommend this bar to anyone, unless of course you enjoy being slapped in the face with blatant rudeness.

Pros: Location

Cons: Service in all aspects. Crowd - nauseatingly hollow. Uncomfortable, big wait time, no space to mingle

04/08/2008 Posted by Sasha04

I haven't been recently, but it sounds like the service has gone downhill. It wasn't really that great when I'd been before but I have to say that their happy hour menu was really, really, really good! And cheap! My favorite were the shrimp tacos, they are so good!

03/03/2008 Posted by fishilips

Forget getting anything, service, help from others, food...you name it don't count on it! A group of three went down on a not so busy Sat night, expecting more people to join us. While waiting for a table we ordered drinks at the bar. We moved to the table, and with 5 menus (no food), and half full drinks our idiot of a waitress asked if we wanted more drinks...no mention of food. And don't count on anyone else helping you, you must order from your waitress. Little did we know she would stop by no more than every 20 mins. The rest showed up, and due to the poor service, they had to go to the bar to get drinks. Some other friends happen to be stopping by, the stopped in to say hi...they asked to pay their tab (they never sat at our table, they just stood and said hi), and left. When we got out bill at least $30 of their bill was on ours, when we asked our waitress to fix it, after asking the hostess to get our waitress, she went in to this ridiculous diatribe about how she would have to pay for the mistake if we didn't. EXCUSE ME!?! We didn't make the mistake why should we pay for it. She even asked if we could front the money and get it back from the people that stopped by. I am quite certain she dyed her hair brown, she had to be naturally blonde! THAT THE RESULT OF MAKING MISTAKES! I have worked as a bartender before, and I understand the business and am usually very forgiving of servers/bartenders, but with the exception of the bartender the entire service staff was heck bent on only doing the absolute minimum! Great happy hour portions, but only worth it if you are willing to be exceptionally patient with the service!

Pros: great happy hour portions!

Cons: HORRID SERVICE!

01/27/2008 Posted by JENNERATOR

So I had heard all these wonderful things about the food at The Matador and decided to go there for dinner last week. All the things I heard about the food were right, one word...YUM. I have to say though THE SERVICE COMPLETELY STINKS!!! It took 20 min for chips and water to show up. If the waitress cracked a smile it may have hurt her. My water was never refilled. The kicker was that my partner had to approach a group of employees gossiping in the corner for us to get the check so we could leave. The ONLY reason I went out of my way to give this place 2 stars is because the food is awesome. Unless some major staff overhaul happened I will never eat there again.

12/19/2007 Posted by getfuzzygurl

I took my friend here for a belated birthday celebration. We arrived slightly before 6 pm (Happy Hour is from 3-6) and sat at the bar. The bartender was prompt to serve us and make some recommendations on both drinks and appetizers. We both got margaritas, which were superb, and split plates of calamari and quesadillas. The food was great without too much spice and both bartenders were good about being attentive to us and friendly. Atmosphere was nice and small enough to feel cozy. We managed to get there before the crowd, so if you don't want to wait for a seat you would be wise to arrive before 7 pm, even on a weeknight.

Pros: Attentive staff, great food and drinks, atmosphere

Cons: Parking, crowded with long waits for tables past 7 pm

12/16/2007 Posted by desireedralle

My boyfriend and I went here last night for dinner. There were no tables available, so they let us sit at the bar till we got seated. The bartender was very nice and gave us water and chips and salsa without even having to ask. I got a cosmo and it was nice and stiff. When we were seated, I ordered steak/shrimp fajitas and my boyfriend got steak medallions. If I went again I would get the shrimp fajitas as the steak kind of tasted like it had a teryaki sauce on it. Our dinner was good and I would probably go back for the happy hour, probably not for dinner.

Pros: Happy hour, chips and salsa

Cons: Parking

10/02/2007 Posted by dinner_and_drinks

sometimes a place just goes too far making people happy, and they get fat. ok, seriously. like it's sister "matador west" in west seattle, this restaurant has something beautiful for everyone. i think the happy hour menu is genius, a huge selection of incredible little meals for just a few bucks a piece, and if you're going to judge a bar on it's tequila choices, you're going to fall madly in love with the matador. this is one of those "mexican" food restaurants that specializes in american comfort food style mexican. authenticity is not the point here, pure food bliss is. unfortunately this is the destination for loud stupid kids on weekend nights, so if you have the choice head to matador west on weekends to get away from the amateurs.

Pros: possibly the best happy hour in seattle

Cons: possibly the worst spot to try and enjoy a meal on friday night. (unless you like the zoo)

09/23/2007 Posted by smack28

Besides the best jalapenos ever, the Matador is the first place I think of when I want to be by a fire OR sit outside. Plus, who knew? the tastiest steak around!

09/21/2007 Posted by mc17

I have been to The Matador a few times now and have always enjoyed it. I love the shrimp quesadilla's, and the nacho's. Happy hour is excellent. Great prices. Good service.

Pros: good ambience, good happy hour