Matador Cantina and Tequila Bar
350 Mead Rd, Decatur, GA, 30030
Matador Cantina and Tequila Bar Menu
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Address :
350 Mead Rd
Decatur, GA, 30030 - Phone (404) 377-0808
- Website https://matadorcantina.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Ben Y.
This place has treated me consistently well throughout my undergrad years. Thus, this review has been long overdue. I am writing this because I enjoy coming here and some of these other reviews don't do it justice. If you read the last couple of bad reviews, then you will these jokers are just entitled folks. They claimed that Jason's favorite dip looked gross but didn't even try it? Or the other guy that claimed spending $100 for two but plates are $10 each while margaritas are $20 pitcher. What could they have possibly ordered? If the food and drinks are as terrible as he claimed, then why would you order $100 worth? With that said, this is not a gourmet restaurant. If you are looking for upscale foods and premium, then look elsewhere. However, if you want a nice shack to hangout, relax, have chow, and a margarita, then this is jackpot. I have always ordered the 3 specialty taco plates, and they have always been great margarita food. One complaint is their service being hit or miss. For all the other good reasons, this place has been my official birthday restaurant for the past 4 years. For you other folks bringing people to impress, go elsewhere. There are pretentious places in downtown Decatur, Virginia Highlands, midtown, and other areas around for just those occasions. This place is for real friends because it ain't fancy.
(5)Jan N.
Ugh...why did I not look at the reviews for Matador Cantina before we had lunch from them today? We got Jason's favorite dip. Now, I don't know Jason, but I feel really bad that this mess was named after him. Based on the "dip" that we had, they should change the name to meat & cheese water. (See my photos.) It looked so disgusting, I didn't try it. The chips that came with it weren't bad, but nothing exciting. The jerk chicken taco I had was gross. Zero flavor in the meat, and again, watery! This taco tasted like lettuce. That's about it. Thankfully, I also got a carnitas verde taco. While there was zero verde sauce on it, the meat in it was really well seasoned. So good. I hated the side of bean & rice that came with my meal. I threw them out. My guy had the Burrito Mexicana. He seemed to like it, buuut...his burrito had a really big piece of bone in it! (I thought that kind of thing only ever happened to me!) There is a photo of that below, as well. Two stars for the chips, and one of my tacos. -3 for everything else.
(2)Sean Y.
Oh how sad to see a restaurant in this caliber in this area. We had ok service but food was incredibly bad. Well it gets worse, drinks were undrinkable. I tried two margaritas they both were awful, extremely sweet and no flavor. I actually did not drink neither one and paid for them. $100 for two and no satisfaction at all. Well it was cinco and live music was good and I don't even know if live music only belonged to them or not. This experience explains why we lived so close for 9 years and this was the first time we went there.
(2)Christine D.
My husband and I eat there all the time. Food has NEVER been bad- always tasty and great price. Margaritas are delicious. We actually go not just for the food, but also the friendly and funny staff. I feel comfortable enough to go alone, too. We just LOVE this place! They have trivia, too (fun, fun).
(5)Daniele X.
Normally, this place isn't that bad, but tonight was an exception. We walked in, and the four was really dirty. Mind you, it's a Tuesday night. The first beer my friend for was warm, and the server didn't seem to understand why that was a problem.
(3)Keisha B.
My mama once said, "if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all." I never listened! The hostess was super friendly. I just have to say, frozen popcorn shrimp is what you get when ordering a fried shrimp taco here. Yuck! There are too many restaurants in Decatur, why settle for mediocrity.
(2)Stormtrooper H.
We just moved to the area and have been trying all of the restaurants within walking distance to our house and Matador is definitely out least favorite. From the second you walk in over the awkward threshold and your eyes adjust to see the dark and dingy interior that looks like it could use a good pressure washing you should know what to expect. We love El Myr and were really hoping this place would be like that, but the food was not good, and neither was the service. The "Jason's Favorite Dip" which was a lukewarm tea cup sized cheese dip with ground beef or chorizo (we could not figure out which it was, which isn't good) for $6 was the final straw for me. I'd take El Azteca (or El Ponce as I guess it is now) over this place any day.
(2)Lorilyn H.
Used to enjoy this little spot - visited about once a week for trivia and great "French margaritas" (absinthe). Also had some good taco combinations, pretty good fajitas and at least one fantabulous server (YAY Ashley!!!). Alas, they killed the French Margarita, and some of the other items took a turn for the worse. Sorry to see the reviews dipping here. It was never a beacon of ambience - just a fun, no-frills, laid-back neighborhood watering hole. Hope Matador can catch a second wind!!!
(3)Al N.
This is not good food. The menu is standard Tex-Mex, but the execution is sub-standard. Meats are soggy, cheeses are oily and clumpy, and everything is just meh. The service is inconsistent, ranging from friendly and adequate to apathetic and horrible. I've been a bunch of times because friends like to go in groups, but I would not go on my own. If I want good Mexican, I will make the trip to the Buford Highway.
(2)Kristin D.
I really wish I could give them a better rating. If I could rate just on the food, I'd give them four stars, because the food keeps me coming back for more, even after bad experiences. However, the service has always been pretty awful in the six or seven times I've been there. I've gone both with just my boyfriend, and with family groups, and service has always been really rude and inattentive. There's one blonde waitress we've had several times that tends to just ignore you and give you the stink eye if you need something. She's tried to take away food we weren't finished with/wanted to save without even asking first, and overall has been just really unpleasant to have. Even the other staff seems to drag it's feet and not even bother to do basic duties like refills even at times when it's a nearly empty restaurant. One time, a male waiter refilled my boyfriend's drink, and then didn't even bother asking about my empty glass. There have been times I'd be waiting for the check and I see them just standing behind the counter texting on their phone. Ouch! Matador, I want to love you, but you really need to hire some new wait staff that knows how to do their job without the attitude. :(
(2)Sandra O.
I'm only here in Atlanta visiting friends but last time I was here and again today they took me here for lunch. The shrimp taco was awesome as was the fish taco, the salsa packed a punch and was fantastic. I hope I get to go back as the staff were awesome and friendly and full of chat. Definitely on my list of places in Atlanta and Oakhurst is just a great place in general.
(4)Alyssa D.
Wow, really awful customer service. Don't advertise/say a restaurant is dog friendly and then tell a group that all the dogs must sit outside of the patio -- on black asphalt in the sun in July -- as if that is at all a humane option. Will never go back, with or without my dog.
(1)Evan K.
Today I had the El Cubano Gordo and the Fried Chicken Tacos...amazing flavor and great prices. Dos Equis by the pitchers is pretty great too..
(4)Tripp R.
Great to relax and kick back a few specialty margs. Friendly staff. Great fajitas and endless chips & salsa
(4)James Y.
The chimichangas were so delicious! Too bad I got food poisoning from something on the plate. NEVER AGAIN.
(2)Darrell B.
Matador in Oakhurst was the place I would love to go to on Friday nights but it's so small when I got off work it was way too crowded. The location on Glenwood was a better choice with more room and better service but for some reason their house margarita were awful. I was excited today that I got off early and instead of driving all the way to Decatur we went here. It was around 4:10 p.m. I knew that this location is a seat yourself. The music was blaring so loudly but I ignored it. When we walked in the bartender was talking to a patron and there were 2 people who at a table in front of the bar who had to go bags. We sat in the booth next to the entrance door and waited, and waited. My friend said that we should tell someone that we were there but in principle I said no. We waited until 4:20 when a postman came in to use the restroom. I thought that would bring someone out but it didn't. Finally a female bartender came from somewhere and talked to the patron at the bar and made the person and made him another drink. I made eye contact with her but she never responded. The patron then went to the restroom and at that point we left. I'm so disappointed because the food is ok and the margaritas are great but at some point waiting 20 minutes and no one and I mean no one ever came to our today is unacceptable. Maybe the seat yourself is not a good idea and I know that by 5pm they would have been packed but maybe they should close the restaurant area until 5 or 6 or change the entrance. Truly, truly saddened and will not return.
(1)Bill B.
This joint not to bad food was very good margaritas was ok service was good, it's got a crazy location in the middle of a neighborhood but it's a cool little spot. Check it out yourself.
(3)Kenny N.
Gringo Mexicano indeed. When the tea isn't made fresh, look out. Two table companions ordered tea, but it was such a watered down mess, they returned them, asking for 1 water and 1 coke. The machine wasn't working, I guess. Anyway, the food was sufficient. It nourished and provided calories, but wasn't pleasing to look at. The melted cheese floating atop my sauce was unnerving.
(2)Nikki K.
I remember the first time I went to Matador, I had no idea this little cluster of restaurants existed mere minutes from my house and I felt pretty foolish for not getting here sooner! For a veg this place is pretty solid. They have an appetizing menu for us of different kinds of enchiladas, tacos, fajitas- better than a typical Mexican restaurant. I had the tofu taco, it was simple and delicious. Grilled tofu, onions, and peppers with a few slices of avocado. If you slap avocado anything on my food you get kudos. My friend had the potato enchiladas and cleaned the plate with gusto. The patio is little, but lovely to sit at on a nice day. The restaurant seems to attract families with screeching kids so I try to avoid the early dinner hour. Damn, now I want a tofu taco.
(4)Lawler S.
I just don't get why folks think this place is good....ordered take out once. Got maybe 5 chips, 1/4 cup of rice with my order. The plate cost about $9 so I reasonably expected to get what I paid for. I think that the employees just don't care. I went out to dinner there and a friend of mine ordered a seafood taco....it had fake crab meat in it. What is that all about? If a place is going to charge prices like that I expect real ingredients. That's just lazy.
(2)charles m.
for starters the place is grungy. the cheese dip was the consistency of cream of mushroom soup and actually could have been cream of mushroom soup for all i know. while we're on the subject of soup, i went and ordered the chicken soup which had a thick layer of grease on top and stayed with me for the rest of the day... and not in a good way.
(1)Meg C.
I really really really hate to downgrade them, but the last few times I've gone there the service has gotten progressively worse. There are two servers who are excellent, and I wish I was better with names, but one is a tall guy with short black/brown hair and the other is a shorter woman (5'4'' ish) with black hair usually in a ponytail with a pleasant smile -- if you get one of these two you're set, and for a long time we would get one of them every time we went. Not so much lately. I don't want to air a lot of grievances here, I get annoyed when people do that on Yelp, but tonight was probably the worst tip I've ever given and while I dislike that I did that I told the waitress repeatedly not to worry about making any changes to my dish, she made the changes, and it wasn't right.
(3)M V.
WORST service ever!!! Food is ok...a bit too spicy...definitely not good enough to excuse the terrible, apathetic service. Very disappointing!
(2)Debbie D.
My thoughts on this place has sure changed. The service is friendly and prompt, and the food for a cheap Mexican place is good. Texas Margarita's have improved but still need tinkering.
(4)Adam M.
Just a quick note to say (1) i still love Matador, despite the fact that (2) they figured me out and the aforementioned "Barnkrobber" is no longer allowed. Dangit! I knew i should have never shared my secret!
(4)Megan W.
Yummers! This is my good luck dinner spot. Want that job? Order the carne asada taco! Want a quality date? Order the chili pablano. You can't go wrong. I've been eating here for years and haven't found a "eh that was ok" item on the menu yet.
(4)Nicole G.
There is absolutely nothing bad on this menu. I pretty much salivate whenever I think of the goodness that comes out of the Matador's kitchen. Overall=Not crap.
(5)Jennifer B.
Tasty salsa, warm chips, good margaritas, good service, cheap. What else do you need from a Mexican restaurant? My husband & I tried it on a whim Saturday night about 8 - it was pretty crowded when we got there - at least 2 large parties and all tables full. We got a spot at the bar and enjoyed an excellent chicken soup (my favorite) and shrimp camarones along with 2 perfect margaritas. The chicken soup is a great deal - under $6 - good soup, full of chicken with a side of avocado, rice and seasonings. Despite how busy they were, drinks and food served very quickly and the bartender was attentive and friendly. Good experience. The Oakhurst area is becoming my favorite stop for consistent, affordable, good food and service.
(4)John L.
Years ago, we went to the Matador regularly for trivia. The food was OK and the service was hit or miss... Since then, the food has gotten worse and the service consistently stinks... I've tried to overlook the problems because it's so close, but they've passed the tipping point. I won't be going back.
(2)Reba Jean B.
To think that I ever gave this place 4 stars. What the heck? I know I must have been drunk on their Monday drink offers. The other half and I have decided that by unanimous vote, El Matador gets one star. Come on, this food is terrible. And as far as the cleanliness? Who are they paying off in the Dekalb County government to keep open? Ick. Even the margaritas turned out to be offensive during the last visit. No more. I just can't and won't return to this restaurant...
(1)Tessa F.
Let me say, my appreciation for this place has been thrown in to relief after eating across the square--see other reviews. I've come to fully appreciate the Wednesday $3 margarita special. Yeah, your food isn't fancy, but after eating a dinner here, I've never felt like I didn't get my money's worth.
(4)Dgretttt F.
Nope. Just...nope. The reviews I've read about this place are absolutely true. Service is lazy. Food is gross. You will be asking for things several times. If you're thinking of "Mexican", you're better off defrosting a Stouffer's enchilada entree from Publix. Tastes about the same at Matador Mexican Cantina. Serious. This place is nasty. I've come several times before because I'm passionate about Mexican food. It's close. Maybe we could make a connection. Nope. Erase my number from your phone. Now. I'm pretty sure the cheese was imitation cheese. It had that certain plastic-y quality to it and the ground beef still tasted frozen, with that freezer burn taste. Just ladle on a little more sauce and no one will notice. Who cares, right? The beer's $3. We'll, if you're not drunk you will.
(1)Elisa F.
I have to preface this by saying I am from Southern California. I grew up surrounded by outstanding, authentic Mexican restaurants. So, I am a little picky with Atlanta Mexican fare. Matador's one redeeming quality is that they have a fried plantain and black bean taco that is very tasty. Other dishes are, as stated by other patrons, mediocre at best. The service; however, is some of the most apathetic I have experienced, ever. We were not greeted at the door and it took a while to be seated. We were there during Happy Hour and the restaurant was basically empty. With all of the restaurant choices in Atlanta, I think they should be glad that we stopped in during a slow period. Our presence seemed like a nuisance to the waitress who should probably be in a cubicle rather than a job that requires social interaction. We really need some good restaurants in East Atlanta.
(2)Melissa P.
I've been to this joint a few times, and each time I say to myself, "Hmm, I'm not sure I'll be going there anymore". Then, a decent amount of time passes by, and I forget that I told myself that. I went to Matador the other night in the hopes of enjoying a nice dinner. We got there and were seated immediately, so I thought things were looking good. After sitting down (at 7:20pm), we waited for 13 minutes for someone to come take our order. We had no chips/salsa at this point. There seemed to be a big ol' lack of organization, as people who came in after us already had drinks, chips, etc. Once our order was placed, it was another 5 minutes before we got drinks (7:38... remember, we sat down at 7:20). Our chips and salsa came 5 minutes after the drinks (7:43), but this was after we went to the bar to ask for them. Our food came another 10 minutes after that (7:53). The food is fine. I very much enjoyed my tacos and rice, and perhaps that why I keep going back despite the consistently terrible service. The female server with dreadlocks seems to be the only one there who knows what she's doing. Everyone else seemed bumbling and confused. She was in charge of one table in our section, and they were in and out of there quickly (they were probably there for 30 minutes total, whereas our excursion ended up being an hour). To top if all off, when we received our check, it was wrong, and had to be reprinted. Matador, please come up with a better service system. Like I said, this isn't the first time I've eaten there and spent more time just sitting and waiting for service than actually enjoying my food.
(2)Clancy F.
Come for the drinks. Stay for the drinks. $6 Beer and a tequila shot deal is $4 on Mondays. Food is good but unremarkable. Service is sketchy. But the cheese dip is good and the drinks are reasonably priced, so what more could you expect really?
(2)Leeanna L.
Being a new dog owner, my husband and I went to Matador in Oakhurst because we knew they had an open outdoor seating area. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, that area is now enclosed but they've graciously created a "dog bar" where owners can sit on wooden stools along the outside edge of the patio rail. Not the most comfortable of seating choices but I appreciate the effort and will probably appreciate it a whole lot more once the weather gets warmer. The food is average, the place is casual, and service is extra-friendly. Of the 3 tacos that I got last night, I liked the pork marinated in tomatillo and cinnamon the best. Also, I've had their fish tacos in the past and they're not too shabby IMHO.
(2)Lauren H.
We checked out Matador Mexican Cantina this weekend because we had bought a groupon (actually a few) to it. When we arrived it was extremely packed. The place is quite small with maybe only 10 or 15 tables max - so be prepared to wait. They did have a nice patio tho - I was wishing it was warmer so we could have sat outside. We ended up waiting 45 minutes to an hour for a table for four. While we were waiting the group got some drinks - I didn't have a margarita but I tried my boyfriend's and it was a little salty for my taste. After we were seated we were seated it took a bit for us to get the attention of a server to place our order. I ended up getting the Suizas Enchiladas, while Jeremy got the Carne Asada tacos and others in our group got the Tofu tacos and the Chicken soup. The food was out fairly quickly and was all really tasty. The enchilladas were awsome - they had a green pico sauce that was awesome. The guys raved about the black beans/rice which they said were seasoned perfectly. Kristin's chicken soup looked awesome too - you add the veggies and salsa and everything to the soup once you get it almost making it a tortilla soup. We also got some more drinks with dinner. They have a shot & beer special which one of the guys got, I tried one of their frozen margaritas (which was decent - but a little too too sweet), and others got beers and margaritas. Overall it was a good experience. As one of our friends who has been there before put it - it's run of the mill mexican food but really good.
(3)Jo Jo C.
yes: margarita, carne asada taco, carnita taco, cubano gordita, chorizo fundido no: jerk taco
(2)P S.
Matador is the jam! As good as it gets cheap mexi cantina food which we all love. Justin the manager is amazing and always is around! They make the fresh chips and homemade salsa and for 25 cents which you just can't beat! Guac and cheese dip is all made in house too. All the food is fresh and tasty and the people the servers are super nice. You also can't beat a pitcher of house margarita for under $20!
(5)Richard K.
I have to be honest and say when I stumbled onto this place I was actually looking for another restaurant that had a scoutmob, I'm very glad I came here instead, the drink specials are great, I was asked what I wanted about 10 seconds after I sat down at the bar, less than 30 seconds later I had beer chips silverware and salsa, I moved to the patio after I ordered so I could smoke, the bar tender helped me move all my stuff and recommended I not sit at the table I had chosen because it was on uneven ground " it's the little things that count right!?!" after that I had just enough time to check in on yelp before my food arrived and Jesus Christ it's good! I recommend this to anyone who is looking for good food and good service with great drink specials!
(5)Cathy L.
I would never knew about this restaurant if it wasn't for their recent featured on Groupon. The restaurant is very small compared to other Mexican inspired restaurants that I have been to. Our server was very nice, but she was very occupied most of the time with others customers. It was a shocking to know that their margaritas pincher is $16. This is quite pricey as compared to the $9 dollar margaritas pincher offers at El Toros near Emory, where the bartenders are generous on the tequila shots. The food was so so for me. I ordered a shrimp taco that is actually half the size of a snack wrap at McDonalds. I am shock to see how small it was but I wasn't so bother by it because I ate so much chips and salsa after knowing that the restaurant charges for chips & salsa. *Weird* I'd thought this was free at all Mexican restaurants, but obviously not this one.
(2)Chesya B.
I like The Matador over all. Their food is decent, so are the prices and I love their mango margaritas. I've eaten there a lot. I was a student at Agnes Scott College, which is around the corner, so I'd eat there several times a month. But the service has gotten progressively worse over the years. The last time I went with the friend, we split the bill and both paid with a credit card, and somehow I was charged for the whole bill, although my friend was also charged (I paid the tip with cash). I just realized this happened after going over my bank statement a month later. This hasn't happened before, so I hope this was a mistake.
(3)Chris F.
My favorite Mexican in all Atlanta! The chorizo here is as good as I've had in Mexico, and they have regular drink specials during the week (every day except Saturday I believe). I'm cheap, and the prices are great. One of my two favorite 'weekly' restaurants (the other being Fox Bros BBQ).
(5)Vincent M.
One of the best Mexican restaurants in the neighborhood. Place is definitely not posh or uptight, just your neighborhood hang out joint. All the staff are friendly and down to earth. They have one of the better fish tacos in town and the rest of their tacos are just as imaginative and tasty. You can always go for the traditional mexican fare
(4)Len L.
I like this place a lot. They do a number of vegetarian meals that are tasty. I like the veggie combo a lot and hardly get anything else. Megan likes the chicken soup, it has rice, avocado, and chicken. She says it's quite tasty. How hard is it to make cheese dip? Apparently very. Matador pulls it off, one of the best in town. Beer selection is not so great. Yeah, it's a taco joint, but this is Decatur after all. I expect more.
(4)Tu-van L.
Solid neighborhood hangout some people claim it has the best margaritas in the area. Fish tacos were tasty, steak tacos were well-seasoned, and the plaintain tacos were tasty as an appetizer in a soft taco shell. Prices were alright; 2.95-3.95/taco. Staff was indie-hipster friendly and didn't kick us out when they were closing up around us.
(3)Emily W.
I'm surprised that they don't have a higher rating. I love this place! We are new to the area and have been here 3 times now and have never been disappointed in the food or service. I have tried several different tacos, all have been tasty. I've had their margaritas which have been good as well...chips and salsa are right on too. They have great drink specials throughout the week. You can catch the baseball game or whatever sport as they have a couple of tvs but not an overload...will revisit and recommend.
(4)Sarah T.
Food is ok. But $5 for a corona light? Give me a break!
(2)Tressi J.
Pretty good for a little neighborhood Mexican joint. It is not the most authentic, but the food is good and cheap. My experience with the service was great, everyone was friendly and attentive. The cheese enchilada and the buffalo shrimp taco is what stands out to me.Not my absolute favorite Mexican, but still a nice addition to the neighborhood.
(4)Michael B.
So, I have been to this place three times now. On Wednesday's they have $3 Margaritas. The food there is excellent. Too bad I can't say the same about the wait staff. Went there for the third time last night and walked it. It took a few minutes to be seated. Then, we waited over 15 mins before anyone even acknowledged that we were at the table. The staff wasn't very friendly. As one person previously said, you have one person to bring the chips, one person takes your order and one brings your order to you. If their wait staff was better, I would have given the place 4 stars. **UPDATE** So, I am updating the rating and giving them 3 stars now. They have hired some new people and the last couple times I have been there the service has definitely improved.
(3)Sarah T.
I've had a hard time finding authentic Mexican in and around my little intown neighborhood. Willie's just doesn't cut it. When we rented at the intersection of Buford Highway and North Druid, it wasn't a problem. However, I'm not trying to drive 20 minutes on a Tuesday night for a taco... Anyway - is the Matador the authentic cantina I've been searching for? Not really. Was there some things I really liked about it? Yes. The service was a little off, but not horrible. We actually had one guy bring us chips and salsa, another take our drink orders, another take our food orders and a totally different one running our appetizers and food. None of them were overly friendly, but everything was brought out and the check was delivered in a timely manner; so I can't complain. The salsa and queso were great, and my taco was tasty. However, my husbands chimichanga didn't have that classic chimichanga crunch, and my beans and rice were below average. We weren't drinking last night, but I hear really great things about their bar. According to their drink menu they serve $3 margaritas all day on Wednesdays. My favorite liquor beverage just happens to be the margarita - so I'm anxious to go back and try the Matador's version. The atmosphere was nice: quaint patio in the heart of Oakhurst square. There were quite a few families, several couples, and a some furry four-legged friends. Overall, the atmosphere ranked as the highlight of the Matador. I hear they're opening another in Glenwood Park soon. I suggest you try one of them out. I plan to go back again soon, with a margarita in hand - tequila always makes everything better....
(3)Drew B.
A little surprised by the negative reviews here... yeah the bathrooms aren't great, but I'm used to that... but this we're at this place once every week or two for a lot of good reasons. See a lot of comments on the service... don't get it, we're there all the time and our servers are always quick and attentive, super nice, and never openly display their frustration with our 3-year-old wreaking havoc upon the place. Leaves nothing to be desired. Service is just how I like it here. The food... are you kidding? mediocre? No way. Great tacos, especially for the price. It might be a little inconsistent... I ate one of their pork burritos one day, and it was one of the best flavors that had ever met my mouth. It didn't taste the same the next time, and that was disappointing... but even the burrito that didn't match up was pretty great. When reviewing food, please consider how much you pay for it... because I have loved every dish I've gotten from this place, and it's pretty significantly cheaper than a lot of other mexican places around here. Here's a thing we've noticed... most mexican places here in Atlanta make you pay for chips and salsa. Like, a few bucks. Not the Matador. Twenty-five cents, if they even bother to charge you for it. That's a big deal to me. I've never lived in a city where restaurants so consistently charge for chips and salsa. It's crazy. So I don't know where these other people are eating that they like so much more... but after trying a lot of places around town when we moved here in February, the Matador in Oakhurst became our favorite. We will keep going there.
(5)Ben H.
I really wanted to like this place as it is in nearby Oakhurst. It's great to support local spots and find ones that I really enjoy. So I was pretty disappointed that I didn't enjoy Matador much. My experience was sort of the opposite of most of the reviews here - the service was actually very good, but the food left a lot of room for improvement. Our server was fine and the food came pretty quickly - no problems there at all. The food, however, was slightly below the quality of your standard Mexican chain restaurant. The tacos, rice and beans that I got were all pretty mediocre. The chips, salsa and guacamole were all pretty decent though - better than the real food. The Texas margaritas had too much mix/OJ in them and were too salty - my drink turned into undrinkably salty about halfway through. The food is a little overpriced as well - especially considering that it's actually not as good as a generic Mexican restaurant. Entrees that I'm used to being $7-8 at a typical chain place were $11-12. Tacos seemed to be $3-4 each. I don't mind paying more if the quality (and/or quantity) is a lot better, but I'm not down with it if the food is actually sub-par. I did like the patio and vibe of the place, but I didn't have a good first impression for the aforementioned reasons. However, I'm sure I'll be back to give it another shot since it's so close and I do want to like it. 2.5
(2)Melissa B.
Ok food and drinks. In comparison to other taco places and margaritas this place doesn't quite stand up...but it's still good food. Tofu taco was saved by the fresh avocado...the tofu was a bit bland to me. Fish taco was my favorite. Rice and beans are...well...rice and beans. Nothing special or different. Nice patio though and seems like a nice laid back restaurant. Margaritas weren't that great, not strong enough to me. Think there are probably better options around.
(3)Amanda W.
Mostly a positive experience, but for any Mexican restaurant to earn 4 stars or above from me, it MUST have great margaritas. The margaritas here had very little tequila. The food was pretty good and tasted fresh (had the chicken chimichangas). The guacamole was a bit on the bland side and the service was slow. We had a group of 5 people and they just kept letting the dishes and empty glasses stack up until we barely had an empty spot on the table. I would go back, but wouldn't spend the money on the margaritas.
(3)Jaxxie B.
We used to love coming here, but the last two times were lame-o. Service was so so so so so slow. The food was barely OK. Nothing to get excited about, and sorry, I WANT to be excited about my Mexican food. I'm not giving up hope though, because I live too close. Listen up Matadorians: SHAPE UP and we'll come back! I don't wanna eat at ole U-Jernt anyway. Why do people like that place??
(2)Elaine M.
I really enjoyed my first visit here which happened to be on a $3 Wednesday margarita night. The chips, the salsa, and their pulled pork tacos were deeeeelish. Prices are really reasonable with lots of a la cart taco options and the margarita was one of the smoothest ones I've tasted. Service was a little slow, but they were completely slammed. Our server was very courteous nonetheless.
(3)Theodore L.
You know what can mar an evening out? Hitting a child with a car. I know, "What a way to start, Ted!" But that's exactly what nearly happened while pulling into Matador, a Mexican eatery in what passes for an entertainment district here in Georgia, Oakhurst (I KID!). Some lil' tyke, high on Flintstones chewables, pedaled in front of every car, while his family watched. I kept waiting for them to lift the boy from his deathly game of Frogger, but they gnawed their burritos with nary a concern. Any place that promises food so engrossing that a child might suffer a severe spinal injury MUST be doing a great job. Margaritas that night were two dollars, a paltry sum that explained the horde of scruffy college-aged kids packing the restaurant. I counted four tie-dye shirts and three white people with ghastly dreadlocks, one of which was a server (GASP). Jesus, it was Bonaroo. If someone started hacky-sacking, I would have fled. Once fears a Jack Johnson concert might break out subsided, I squeezed into the only available chair: a tiny, unforgiving implement of torture. Though proud of my bearlike stature, I nonetheless fretted the chair would violently explode beneath me, hurtling shrapnel in every direction, picking that kid clean off his bike. It creaked and buckled, but held my weight...reluctantly. I had read the staff was unbelievably attractive, so I scoped the servers, hoping to be whisked away by the local doppelganger of Tom Colicchio or Uncle Jesse from Full House. No luck. Our server, mustachioed and baseball capped, was pleasant enough, but, alas, no love connection. After a lengthy wait, he returned with our margaritas. Sour and strong, they tasted every centavo of two pesos and not a centavo more. This isn't a complaint per se; they worked fine, but I couldn't stomach a second. The nachos, listless and under-salted, were enlivened exponentially by a fantastic cup of queso. Contrary to appearances, I typically eschew queso. It is, after all, just a vat of cheese and no amount of magical thinking makes it more intriguing. The Matador queso, however, held the perfect amount of heat to keep me engaged. My companion and I polished off two baskets of nachos, stopping only when the queso hardened to the consistency lurking in my arteries. Think of what you hate most. Now times it by a thousand. Add seven. That's how much I hate onions. It took explaining, pleading, and assurance that I would pay extra for an onion free dinner. I always worry at Mexican restaurants; they LOVE the noxious bulbs, but Matador came through in spades. Brimming with delicious untainted chicken, the Enchiladas boasted vibrant flavor, due mostly to a fantastic red sauce. Suggestion: add a little habanero sauce and sour cream to REALLY set the dish off. The Chicken Tacos, plump and juicy (LOOK WHO'S TALKING!), were further abetted by crisp lettuce and fresh tortillas, the kind you will not find at the Taco Bell on Ponce, where the only certainties are panhandlers and dysentery. So, kudos Matador. My meal made me overlook the long wait, stale nachos, and careless children. I'll be back, though probably on a less crowded evening, one when I can score a bigger seat. Another date with queso and I'm gonna need one!
(3)Jena H.
I've eaten here twice now, once inside and once on the patio, and enjoyed it each time. It's laidback and great for a nice lazy Saturday afternoon. Each of the times we went, there were plenty of open tables, so it was not busy at all. I'm a fan of the Super Burrito, and you can never mess up queso. I tried the Plantano Frito Taco (I think that's what it was: Cuban styled taco of rice, beans, and a fried banana) and it was great! A bit pricey for what it was, but a nice add-on to a meal. Service was fine, but I'm not a high maintenance customer. I can see where other reviews talk about it being slow, and can understand their complaint. The decor is simple, with the "art" being upcoming music/concert flyers on the windows. Great for seeing what's going on locally. I'd recommend this for a group of 2-4 people looking for a place to kick back and have conversation during the day. Price is fair.
(4)Deanna J.
So sad. I really (really) wanted to like this place. I'm pretty easy to please, and I'm sad to say that I was so. . . disappointed by the experience here. Ambiance: One of a couple Mexican restaurants in Oakhurst, it's a small space. The larger dining area is all glass, so I'm sure it's lovely during the summer/daylight hours. Decor consists of Mexico related posters, a collection of sombreros and red curtains. There's also a small patio, which I'm sure is prime warm weather seating. Service: You know those Mexican places that get you in and out faster than you can say "Como Esta?" Well that would be the opposite of what happened here. Seems there's no official hostess, and we were asked to wait at the bar. Meantime, two tablefuls of people sat down ahead of us - and the staff cleaned off another (empty) table before getting to the one we ended up hovering over. We went on a night where there's two dollar margaritas (I know, I know, quite the rare drinky drink special here in Atlanta - but we didn't actually get the special, since according to them, we weren't able to get the drink special with the coupon we used - which was not described on the coupon or explained before running the check. . . but whatever. I'm over it. Almost.). All in all, the service was extremely unorganized. Even though they were busy, most restaurants plan accordingly or at the very least, have some sort of better system to handle service and people waiting. Food: I went out of my usual taco/beans/rice box and went with the carnitas, which is huge chunks of fried pork and had a tasty, nice flavor. Otherwise, the sides of beans and rice were fine, and the salsa served with the chips had a nice, spicy flavor. There are also some unique items on the back of the menu, including some cool taco choices. While the neighborhood feel of Matador is pleasant, and the drink specials are even nicer, I'll continue chipping and salsa-ing my way through the city elsewhere, and I won't return unless the service becomes more efficient and less chaotic.
(3)Mary L.
Oh how I love me some cheap, messy, untrendy mexican food. Come if you want to enjoy a fun patio, cheap tacos, and a cervesa or two...stay away if you expect 5 star service
(3)kisha s.
I was listening to a stand-up comedian recently recount the time he spent as a waiter in a Mexican restaurant in the Midwest. He was half-lamenting, half-ridiculing the uncultured patrons who'd come in and ask him to explain each of the 'exotic' menu items. 'What's a burrito?', they'd ask. 'What's a chalupa?' 'What's a chimichanga?' Each time his answer was the same: "It's meat, beans, and cheese." At this cozy Oakhurst eatery, you'll definitely find the standard meat-bean-cheese in all of the familiar configurations. But my favorites here are the tacos. The back page of the menu at Matador features a wide variety that includes, but certainly isn't limited to the basic taco you can get anywhere. Por ejemplo: Tacos de carnitas - filled with crisp-but-tender shredded pork slow-simmered in a cinnamon and spice sauce Texas taco - juicy pulled pork with a smoky BBQ flavor Taco de camarones de diablo - loosely translated as, 'taco of spicy-as-hell shrimp' Fish taco - fresh, seasoned tilapia with pico And even a Tofu taco for the non-carnivore. Each taco is no more than $3 or $4 - so you can sample a few without breaking the bank. They also run a nightly beer special for $1 (tho last time I went it was PBR - which I think is overpriced at $1...LOL). Other Notes: The service here is a little lacking. Friendly, yes. But not the most attentive and a little forgetful. The complimentary chips and salsa are above average. The chips usually come out hot, and the salsa is fresh and plenty spicy. The kind of spicy that's tolerable while you're munching away, but as soon as u stop eating, the burn starts to accumulate. The margaritas are pretty solid, too. Btw - I was beginning to wonder if there was something in the cervezas, because every time I've been here, it was like 'Attack of the Yuppie Babymakers' in the joint. Upon researching the place on the web, I realized it's because kids eat free before 7pm. cheers, k
(4)Robert L.
A perfectly serviceable and dependable local Mexican restaurant. No frills, but this is a great place for a cheap meal out or if you have family in town. Also great for kids.
(3)Megan M.
Love the tacos and chicken soup. I like this place. Kinda grungy, definitely a dive mexican place, but in a cool way and, well, I just like it.
(4)Kim F.
It is what it is. If you must have Mexican, don't really care about quality and are cool with surly wait staff, than this is the place for you. If you live close by it is worth the occasional visit but not worth going out of your way for. The wait staff are all grumpy, I think they are just uncomfortable from too many piercings and tattoos. The one at Glenwood park has better staff with the same mediocre food.
(2)Lisa H.
Tonight was the first night in over 2 years for dining at the Matador. The last time we had such horrible service for 2 families (3 kids) we swore we would never go back. Well the beautiful weather and trying to avoid St Patty's Day crowds made me go back on my word. I am very happy I came back. I met a friend there early (5pm) so we had 3 kids, outside and we were very happy. Andrew was a very attentive server and was very accomadating to 3 very thirsty boys. The texas maragaritas were very reasonably priced and made for a great evening! Well priced kids menu (though I would have buns for the hot dogs, though not a big deal) and good portions for the price value. I am happy I went back and look fwd to the next time. Ask for Andrew, he is great w/ kids! Great family restaurant! One other prop for the Matador, they have been EXTREMELY generous w/ neighborhood benefits. In the last year they have accomadated 2 fundraisers just for the East Lake neighborhood alone. Gotta visit businesses that give back to their neighbrohood!
(4)Stone M.
service is really good too.
(4)David B.
Solid TexMex. Many tequilas. Great drink specials. If you're looking for authentic Mexican food or a patio that's something other than a parking lot, you'll need to go elsewhere. If you're looking for well-executed enchiladas, huevos rancheros, and an inexpensive bar tab, this is your spot.
(4)J J.
The food is really good *if* you dine in. We got take-out and the tacos were so soggy we couldn't eat the shells. Won't try that again.
(3)Phillip N.
I liked the food and cannot really rate the service because I have gone mostly in the early afternoon when there is hardly anyone in and so I get great service. With that said, the folk here come off really nice; again during off-peak hours. The food is fine and the drinks are OK (margs a tad pricey), but 24 oz PBRs was spot on. Good gauc and cheese dips. Enjoy their pork tacos. Will have to try the burrito next time. The only other plus is that its right down the street from home so there is the added benefit of getting wasted without driving.
(4)Lauren D.
Rotten service (can you say ATTITUDE) and only so-so food. Kinda like your standard cheap chain mexican place but it's not cheap and there aren't any mariachis serenading you. Oh, and the patio everyone keeps referring to is literally in the middle of the parking lot so watch out if you bring the kiddies.
(2)Kyle M.
The management here knows how to turn your wonderful day in to a horrible night. We waited an extra 15 min to sit outside. Our waitress, "Raven", clearly had some personal issues she needed to take care of before approaching our table. The entire time she acted like she was doing us a favor by serving us. She was unenthusiastic, rude, and talked down to us. We were planning on hanging out, getting drinks, and lots of food. Unfortunately (for the restaurant), after one round of drinks, we hit the road. Before leaving, we asked to talk to the "manager". The manager that was supposed to be working must have been out because the girl who came to our table was unprofessional and incompetent. She did nothing to solve the problem and confirmed our decision to leave (and never come back!). I couldn't tell you how the food was, but by the look of all the extra food left on neighboring tables, our misfortune with the management may have been a blessing in disguise. My advice, save your money, time, good mood and just avoid this place.
(1)Carole M.
Had dinner at Matador to use a Savvy Shopper coupon and because neither my friend nor I had been here. It was okay. Service was quite nice, atmosphere bar like. The salsa with the chips was good and hot. I tried the chicken soup and a pork taco with salsa verde. My friend had two shrimp tacos with rice and beans. The soup was okay -- the approach is to serve a bowl of broth with chicken in it (a lot of chicken) along with a bowl with the rice, jalapeno, and avocado. Since the soup bowl was full, it wasn't really possible to combine the two, so I at them separately. The pork taco was good but salty. My friend's shrimp tacos were fine but nothing special. All in all, I'd try a new place before going back.
(2)Chris L.
My favorite Mexican combo plate lives here. Number 12 does the job and the fajitas are tasty. Took my friend from the burbs here and he ordered a pitcher of margaritas but wanted a higher end tequila and oh man did we get one plus a 40 dollar tab for it. I know that sounds terribly expensive but there was enough booze in there to put down an elephant. Good thing I can wal...stumble home from here.
(4)Jenn N.
The only positive thing I can say about this place is the 3 dollar margaritas on Wednesday nights. The service was awful. We had 5 people in our party and our waiter did not write anything down while taking our order. That is fine if you actually have a great memory, but he came back to our table twice to ask us what we ordered and still got it wrong. The website said kid friendly, but the looks we got at 6:00 PM when we walked in with our two kids made us feel like we walked in with a virus. My husband's taco salad came out on a plate of juice. I ordered the tamales which were just OK. There are so many great Mexican Cantina restaurants in town. No reason to give this place a second chance.
(1)Jarrod C.
I've been here twice...I've had a 4 star experience (as far as Mexican goes) and a 2 star experience, so 3 stars it is. Service has been pretty average both times I've been, but we weren't in a hurry so it wasn't a big deal. I highly recommend the steak fajita quesadilla...it was fantastic. The cheese dip and margaritas are above average and that always makes me happy. If you've never been to the Oakhurst village, this is a good place to start. Solid Mexican in a nice cozy atmosphere.
(3)Lisa A.
We went to Matador back in January, when we were looking at a house in Oakhurst. The food was good, the service sucked. So, I convinced my husband to give it another try this past Saturday. I told him, maybe we were just stressed out that day, trying to decide what house to buy. Well, Sorry to say that was not the case. The food is decent, but the service sucks here! With so many Mexican restaurants in Atlanta, we won't be back.
(2)Scott L.
Matador is what I like to call a plain-Jane, if that's the right saying. There is nothing special about it. I've been here four times now and always leave feeling a little empty. They charge about $3 per taco (there are about 10 taco choices on the menu, which is fun), but they are the furthest thing from unique. They come wrapped in foil on a plate. It's almost like they have your local high school kid and/or stoner burn-out working the kitchen who has worked in restaurants, but no culinary experience. That might sound snobby, but I know that all of the kitchen staff at Leon's and Fox Bros have culinary degrees or backgrounds. THIS PLACE NEEDS TO IMPROVE FAST. All the stories about the wait staff being disinterested I would say is kind of true. They are not terrible, but just somewhere distant, maybe high, stoned, or drunk. Just a real lazy attitude. Who wants to take bets on how long Matador survives? I give it one year at the current service level and quality of food.
(2)Carrie W.
Went to Matador last night for the first time, the menu is really fun and the waitstaff was very nice and attentive. It's fairly small, like most Decatur restaurants, with a nice patio. We just ordered tacos and sangria. I gotta say everything we got was good but could be better. The sangria tasted like cheap wine with a little lime juice in it (cheap wine is fine in sangria, but there needs to be fruit!). The tacos are so clever, we tried 6 of them between us. The key issue for the most part is to cut the sauce to about 1/3rd. Everything was so slathered in sauce as to detract from the great food in it! And it's not that the sauce was bad, there was just WAY too much of it. Buffalo shrimp tasted mostly like ranch dressing, the lobster taco tasted like thousand island - which was particularly disappointing. They did get one of my tacos wrong (1 out of 6 isn't bad, and I was hungry) - but the carne asada taco that I got instead was actually one of the better ones - well cooked steak and no sauce =) My husband's texas taco (again a sauce problem-bbq this time) was actually my other favorite, it's very cinnamon-ny...so he didn't like it as much. Also the dog bar outside the patio with wooden stools was a cute idea.
(3)Scott T.
This place is nothing special but at the same time, it's great. My wife and I enjoy getting the tacos here and it's super cheap!
(4)Tim N.
The Matador rocks! we go there on Thursday nights for their trivia and always enjoy their cheap tacos and pitcher-sized beer on tap. The food is good, but the service is pretty bad. Slow to refill chips/salsa and I don't think they've ever heard of pre-bussing a table.
(3)Chris G.
Very cool place. Good menu and nice staff. two words - Chorizo Fundido. They sponsored a car in the Atlanta Downhill Challenge so they earn even more bonus points! They are always accommodating of our large groups and have a fun atmosphere.
(4)rox s.
The food is great but the the wait staff if you want to call it that sucks I mean one person bring you chips and salsa someone else takes your order SOMEONE ELSE brings you your drink and SOMEONE ELSE!!!!! bring you your food AND NO ONE ELSE EVER COME BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so get your food togo
(3)