El Matador Chichester — Restaurant in Chichester

Very disappointed. We have been going to this restaurant for many years (including under the previous ownership before they moved back to Madrid). I booked a table online for a wedding anniversary and mentioned this again when I received a call back to confirm the booking. My exact words were 'please could I have a quiet romantic table for 2'. I wanted to book for 7pm but was told that nothing was available until 8pm so we agreed to the later booking. We turned up just before 8pm and as soon as we walked in we were 'hit' with the volume of noise from a table of around 14-16 young girls. They weren't just talking, they were shouting! The waitress tried to sit us at a table directly behind this group of girls and we had to ask to be moved further towards the corner of the restaurant. Obviously my request for a quiet romantic table was totally ignored. We decide to 'tough it out' and ordered drinks but within minutes, the noise level had reached a point where we couldn't hear ourselves speak. We left our table and told the waitress we were leaving (and could we have our £20 deposit back - oh yes, they ask you to pay this when booking!). Rather than receiving an apology, the staff really didn't care at all - we even paid for our drinks we had barely touched! Note to the owner - 1. if you're going to book in large noisy groups then please put them on the back wall of the restaurant away from other diners. 2. When people make bookings and ask for a 'quiet table' at least let them know that there are 'large groups' booked in and that it could get noisy. 3. Tell your staff that without customers, you don't have a business! Treat customers with a bit more respect!!! Having recently returned from Andalucia and having experienced great service and fabulous food from all the restaurants we visited, it's a shame that this restaurant can't look after customers in the same way. No more referrals to friends from me I'm afraid. You need...

I can not recommend this restaurant. Having visited on May 5th this year, I realised that the prepaid deposit of £140 had not been subtracted from the final bill. Sadly the full receipt has not been kept. I contacted the restaurant in the following week and twice subsequently. Each time I have been assured that they will get back to me after checking their records. This has still not happened😤. As our total bill for 14 people was £530 which was paid on the night £38/ head which seems reasonable. I feel sure that the deposit was not subtracted. (£48/ head seems a bit steep for tapas especially as we did not consume a lot of alcohol). I am extremely frustrated by the complete lack of communication from the owner (Taya) and staff (Ali) who assure me each time that the matter will be dealt with. There has also been no answer to a Facebook message. You have my details so please get in touch. I do not intend to let this matter rest. Hence my need to bring this matter up as part of a negative review.

Further to the review above

I am pleased to report that this matter was concluded satisfactorily on 17th July when the deposit was finally refunded. We did not have a problem with the food or the service on the day, it was purely the way the matter was dealt...

Can't belive our luck that we stumbled on such an exceptional but unassuming gem! Having visited Chichester for the weekend my husband and I were looking for a place to stop for lunch. As tapas is a favourite we Googled for a local spot and Viento De Levante popped up. A little out of the centre of the town (about a 5-10 min walk) we found the restaurant tucked away on a multiuse commercial site. Located in the basement, the restaurant itself is situated in a small but wonderfully decorated, vaulted ceilinged hideaway. You can imagine it being like a Speakeasy in 1930s America. Not big but certainly big enough the restaurant offered both indoor and outside tables. Service was impeccable and we were shown to our table on arrival. Water was brought to the table and drinks order taken. The menu is a lovely mix of authentic tapas and Mediterranean dishes. As lunch, we were conservative with our order. When the food arrived the flavours were magnificent - so many layers and textures. Really amazing lunchtime treat at a reasonable price. Would...