Matador Charlotte — Restaurant in Charlotte

A Tequila Lover's Paradise and an unforgettable dining experience at The Matador

From the moment I walked into The Matador, I was enveloped in a vibrant atmosphere that immediately transported me to the heart of Mexico. The Matador's passion for tequila and fresh Mexican flavors is palpable in every detail, from the carefully curated decor to the warm, welcoming staff. The menu at The Matador is a celebration of all-natural, fresh ingredients, showcasing the best of Mexican cuisine with a creative twist. My meal began with the Dip Flight—a delightful trio of creamy three-cheese queso, fresh guacamole, and hearty black bean dip. Each dip was a perfect blend of flavors, setting the stage for the culinary adventure that followed. For the main course, my daughter had the Matador Quesadilla, which was a perfect combination of Monterey Jack cheese, guacamole, garlic crema, toasted pepitas, pico de gallo, and cilantro-lime sour cream. My wife enjoyed the Mango Steak Tacos, featuring grilled choice carne asada, mango-pineapple salsa, arugula, and guajillo-chile sauce. I opted for the Chile-Seasoned Ribeye Fajitas, which were accompanied by Mexican black beans, Jack & cheddar cheeses, romaine, pico de gallo, guacamole, and cilantro-lime sour cream. Each of our dishes was expertly prepared and absolutely delicious. We concluded our meal with the Salted Caramel Brownie, a decadent treat that perfectly balanced sweet and salty flavors. It was the perfect ending to an unforgettable dining experience. As a tequila enthusiast, I couldn't resist exploring The Matador's extensive selection of over 150 tequilas. Their dedication to tequila craftsmanship shines through in every sip. My wife opted for the Cucumber Jalapeño Margarita, a refreshing and slightly spicy cocktail that perfectly balanced the fresh, cool taste of cucumber with a hint of jalapeño heat. I chose the Bartender's Margarita, which was expertly crafted and highlighted the best of what a margarita can offer—perfectly balanced flavors with a delightful citrus kick. We also savored a Blood Orange Margarita, each one a testament to The Matador's mastery in mixology. The ambiance at The Matador is both cozy and eclectic, with furnishings inspired by the founders' travels and crafted by their own hands. The custom-built bar, with its amazing woodwork and craftsmanship, adds a unique touch to the dining experience. It’s a space that invites you to linger and savor every moment. The service was impeccable, with our servers Addie and Sydney providing excellent recommendations and attending to our every need. They were knowledgeable about the menu and made our dining experience truly enjoyable. The General Manager, Brooke, also ensured that we were well taken care of, adding a personal touch to the evening. One unique feature of The Matador is their dedication to the culture and people of Mexico. They forge friendships with tequila makers and bring their stories to life in the restaurant. This commitment to authenticity and storytelling adds a rich layer of enjoyment to the dining experience. The Matador is not just a restaurant—it’s a journey through the flavors, spirits, and culture of Mexico. Whether you're a tequila aficionado or simply someone who appreciates fresh, creative Mexican cuisine, The Matador is a must-visit. I left with my taste buds dancing and a newfound appreciation for the art of tequila making. I can't wait to return and continue exploring this...

Worst dining experience I’ve ever had in Charlotte. As soon as I got to the table, there was not enough space for me to even scoot my chair out to sit down so I was head to head with another customer. When we asked the host to move, she was not accommodating at all, although there were empty tables right next to us that were unattended to for an hour. Waited ten minutes for water & to be greeted. Another ten minutes for cocktails that were served in regular water glasses (classy). Our server waited another TWENTY minutes to take our food order. We had to flag him down & ask for him to take our order. When he got to the table he said “what can I get you”. No apologies, nothing. Then proceeded to RUSH US to order, didn’t help w the menu or recommendations. McDonald’s gives better service than this place. When I got my food, the order was completely wrong. My friend had to wait 10 minutes for a side. I ordered one singular taco with no rice or beans, i received the entire entree and told that it would take several more minutes for it made correctly. Then I ordered fried tacos with regular queso instead of black bean queso. I got the tacos w black bean queso & a side of regular queso?? I DONT EAT BEANS & made it very clear to my server. Shrimp tacos only had 3 pieces of shrimp, a ton of veggies, & cold tortillas (yum). Jalapeño’s felt like I was eating a bucket of grease. One of the sauces were so spicy that one of my tastebuds just died. Friend & I went to the bathroom and were in there a while just talking & taking pics. One of the employees came & in a yelled “GIRLS!!” as signaling for us to leave. I’m a grown woman & no employee that I’m supporting w my money should yell at a customer like that. We then had to flag down our server to pay our bill. Overall, I blame management for this because our server was working two different sections that were across the room from each other and had the most tables. I only saw two or three servers on a Friday night so when you overwork servers, they have no choice but to be stressed and frazzled. No hospitality, no accommodations, wrong food, & bad service. Overall just another cheaply made restaurant in south end that won’t last. Do...

I really want to give this place 5 stars I will be back to update. Service was excellent I seen a few bad reviews about service all I can say is ask for Jeremiah!! He kept our drink full gave a thorough breakdown on the menu. Also gave some good recommendations. The atmosphere is beautiful it’s very relaxed with calm lightings they also have a nice outdoor seating available if inside to to cold for you. The food was hit and miss. There are some really good options and some options I did not really care for on top of all of that. I thought it was very cool for them to have a happy hour menu 10pm- close . The tacos were good had both the fish and shrimp from the happy hour menu as well as the mahi-mahi with the pineapple mango salsa . The fish was good and rice was flavorful not like your typical restaurant side of rice this is worth having. However the Birria enchilada was more on a 6.5 / 10 for me after the first bite it wasn’t as rich in flavor compared to the fish or the tacos. Second the meet was more on the dry side I decided to open and try a single piece of beef and was just overall lacking it was flavorless. The bites with the cheese did make it better in each bite which I would say is a 7 the Brussels I give a 8 out 10 cooked perfectly decent I will get again. Drinks were great . Last I will leave on a great note the chips in salsa hands down one of the best in charlotte .

When I come back I look forward to exploring the menu a bit more

Edit* September 20th* this visit I took advantage of the happy hour menu. The food is good I’m looking at the reviews. I worry that maybe because the restaurant is so new they have some inconsistencies in the kitchen. The best part about my steak nachos was the chips steak was cooked well nothing too special about the guac a very large portion for the money I ordered the brussels sprouts again. I wish they had just a little bit more sauce on them. They were not as good as I remember. The haba prawns were amazing they were the highlight of the night following the Baja fish tacos then nachos following with the Brussels. If you come check out the...