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    Matadora

    3.7 (271 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

    Matadora Photos

    MATADORA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Matadora

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    Hangar steak & Frites
    Jason M.

    You know how after a long day, sometimes the promise of a well prepared and executed meal is the thing that gets you through? That's exactly what Matador delivers, especially if you are the carnivorous type. I really enjoyed sitting at the bar top affording me a clear view of the exhibition kitchen and the open wood fire pit. The radiant heat was especially terrific on a cold winters night. I opted for the hangar steak which was perfectly cooked medium rare. A dollop of compound butter seamlessly coated the meat and formed a wonderful complement to the meat. The accompanying fries were freshly made, tossed in herbs and cheese and was a great counter texture to the tender meat. The chefs take obvious care in their craft and it shows (and tastes). They will take your order until 10:30p most nights - don't miss it especially if you're a guest at the Hilton!

    Brendon W.

    Came here with a friend on a Friday night and it was perfect! The food and drinks were delicious and the service was quick. The restaurant is in the lobby of the Hilton hotel. Would definitely come back and try other things on the menu. It felt very tapas focused but there are large entrees on the menu as well.

    The Bull!
    Velvet G.

    Matadora appears to be one of the few Spanish inspired restaurants in the Greater Boston area, so we decided to give it a shot -- no less on Christmas Eve! TLDR: we weren't disappointed! We got the following items: Wagyu meatballs -- OK, a bit rubbery Charred octopus -- pretty good, nice charry flavor and good sauce to go with it Lamb chops -- OK, nice sauce, but too spicy for some of us; it didn't really need that spicy a sauce Chicken Brochettes -- very good, loved the char on it Shishito peppers -- very good, nice garlic and cheese crunch! Paella Matadora -- very good, the rice was amazing, BUT THEY GIVE LITTLE RICE! Unclear why. The pink onions added a really unexpected dimension to the paella. We would have loved more rice and a crispy bottom at that. The Senorio is nice and pairs with everything. I also got the Fiol Prosecco which was light and delightful. Overall, the paella was the star of the show. Everything else was good, but not amazing -- maybe we went in with high expectations. I give it 3.8 - 4 out of 5. The service was great. The ambiance was very relaxed given it was Christmas eve and given that this is inside the Hilton in Woburn. There is plenty of parking in the underground garage (or so we assumed?). The whole place is filled with a charry fragrance that makes you super hungry.

    Hanna G.

    Matadora has always been on my list of places to try! I've had two opportunities with different friends to explore the tapas during spring and winter. The first time it was only two people so we didn't get to have as many items most recently. I went with a group before and I think we were able to hit all the highlights! Making a reservation was easy on OpenTable for a cold Saturday night. The restaurant is attached to the Hilton hotel in the middle of their courtyard overlooked by all the rooms above. For drinks, I got the bull fighter which was stronger than I anticipated. My SO wanted a drink that required the smoker which they informed us was not available. Some of the standout favorites from the meal was the duck lollipop and the braised short rib (we got two orders). The mushroom asparagus was sadly not as exciting but the egg was a great touch. Of course we got the flaming chorizo just for the spectacle. Tuna tartare was also good but I think we enjoyed the scallops more. My SO also ordered the wood grilled filet mignon and he enjoyed quickly in a few bites. I'd say we ordered with no holds bar, so as expected, we walked away with a hefty bill The service was very attentive given that it was not a very busy evening for both times that I tried the restaurant. Next time I'd be curious about their entrées and paella to compare to some of my other favorite tapas locations!

    Beef empanadas
    Gloria L.

    We came here for Valentine's Day and absolutely loved it. They had a Valentine's specific menu, but most of the dishes we got are from the regular menu. We started off with oysters and jamón serrano. Oysters were very salty and I don't know what the sauce was, wouldn't order again. But the jamón serrano was delicious with crostinis and jam. For tapas we got the beef empanadas, flamingo chorizo, and beef brochette (ranked in the order of what we liked most first). The empanadas are a must order, the sauce was absolutely delicious. Flamingo chorizo had a great snap and kick to it. The pieces that weren't too charred were great for the beef brochette, loved the soft pita and hummus. For the main, we shared steak frites and it was well cooked, but not a huge fan of manchego. And for dessert we got the raspberry heart cake, this is a hard pass, didn't like it at all Also FYI this restaurant is in the Hilton

    Beef Brochette from the tapas menu. DELICIOUS
    Robo T.

    I attended a business dinner with colleagues at Matadora located in the Hilton. Food was very good - great flavors, well prepared. I had a few things off of the tapas menu. Others at the table had full entrees. The wait staff was great - engaging, attentive. I like the vibe. The indoor cavernous space has multiple stories of guestroom balconies overlooking the dining room. It is a little bit weird but it does make the space more interesting. Why only 3 stars you ask? Toward the end of our evening we noticed.... some additional dining room guests that were not seated by the hostess (if you know what i mean). We quietly brought it to our waitress' attention and she did state that management was aware. Not a huge red flag for me because anywhere there is food, you have uninvited guests. Also half of our table were from NYC so they were used to seeing uninvited guests. Would I return? Yes.

    Braised short ribs and the salad that's name has been forgotten
    Ashleigh P.

    On a business trip, and tired from traveling all day. I decided to stay and eat at the hotel the first night. Matadora is a tapas restaurant in the Hilton Boston/Woburn. I was alone so I just ordered a salad and short rib tapas. Both were ok. Nothing to write home about. I can't find the salad on the online menu for some reason so unsure the official naming of it or what it was topped or dressed with. I do remember the dressing being a bit watered down tasting. The braised short rib came with celery root puree and I think I would've preferred mashed potatoes. Anyway, I probably will never be back in this area, but if you find yourself here, try it out. I've definitely had way worse hotel restaurant food.

    The Bull!
    Alexandria L.

    I've been waiting to try this place for a bit, and was thrilled when a friend suggested it. Although I love trying new restaurants, I normally stay within the same food choices. I looked at the menu ahead of time and was salivating at the idea of the Lamb Shank. Sadly, it was no longer on the menu, but after much deliberation, and a VERY patient server, I went with the Seared Scallops. They were cooked to perfection, and the pea purée was the perfect balance. I started with the Beet Salad (which is another dish I always order). It was Divine. The Pistachio/Raspberry brought it to an entirely different level. I wanted a cocktail, but didn't want to get hammered, because I have the tolerance of a toddler. Once again, our server Kenny, came to the rescue by recommending the Tizona. It paired well with my meal and was just the right amount of booze for this broad. *I never take pics of my food because it makes me feel like a creep, but I did get a few pics of the Bull. It's even more spectacular in person.

    Service! Omg! Hello! Is there anybody out there? Food was good and came out fast. Forget about attentive service Service Service Service Service Service Service Service Service Service

    Spirit of San Juan mocktail
    Cindy L.

    First off, this restaurant is inside the Hilton Boston/Woburn which I was staying at. It had pretty convenient hours which I loved and it smelled so good as soon as I checked in so it was very tempting. I love how the ceiling was so high and made of glass, like the rest of the hotel, it felt like being outside while indoors. I got the spirit of San Juan mocktail which was so tasty. I usually don't like mocktails with alcohol "replacements" but this one was as pretty good! The server was so nice and helpful when I asked about the sizes of everything since it was just me in there (I don't go to a lot of tapas places!) I ended up getting three and it was the perfect amount. The meatballs were nice and little, the sauce was sweet and loved the pita that was included that added a lot of balance to the sauce's acidity. The basque street corn was nice and flavorful. My absolute favorite though was the burrata. It was DELICIOUS. The depth of flavor was perfect. Fresh burrata, balsamic drizzle, prosciutto on toast smeared with fig preserves and topped with pistachios. I loved every single bite. I thought everything was really well done and would definitely come back if I stayed at the hotel again! There is something I find a little awkward about going to a restaurant in a hotel when you're not staying there (but that's a me issue lol) but highly recommend if you're staying there!

    The burger and fries - decent enough with a perfect egg.
    Jennifer S.

    The pressure of choosing a dish or dishes is real! There are so many things to choose from, and finding something to tempt the palate should not be too difficult. Ambiance:? Well, it is a sea of tables and it is kind of loud. It is an open kitchen, which is pretty cool. Staying within government per diem can be difficult, for those affected by such things. The food does not disappoint!

    Chard octopus
    James M.

    Great service for a hotel restaurant. Oliver was fantastic. He helped me with the right wine selection and was more than just an order taker. Personable and attentive. This has to be some of the best food I've had in a long time at a hotel restaurant. Focused more on the dishes from Spain it was a refreshing dinner. I had the beet salad... yum! The charred octopus was equally delicious. The flavors of the food complemented my Malbec wine. The ambiance is cool and hip. Not too loud but just right. After dinner I sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful September night air and just unwinded from a long day. Thank you Hilton

    Beet Salad
    Mark T.

    To say I am disappointed would be a gross understatement. To only earn one star from me, an experience has to be hilariously bad. The only thing that went right was that the silverware & plates were clean, and the fries were solid. Otherwise, overpriced, bland, unimaginative* food and some dishes lacked freshness! Even the service was disorganized and, therefore, a miss. Here's a clip from the night that sums up this catastrophe: Mom: "That experience was McDonald's level!" Me: "No, McD's seasons their burger patties." Let me attempt to give you the breakdown based on what I had the opportunity to try: Beet Salad: I appreciate the thought of adding Goat Cheese Mousse, Pistachio, and Raspberry Gastrique. However, these were wholly ineffective at elevating sold slices of beet. If you'll pardon the metaphor: an excellent BBQ sauce paired with an abysmal piece of meat doesn't help much Patatas Bravas: They advertise these as crispy, sorry folks, no crispness in sight (or taste). Up top, they were drizzled too generously with Chipotle Aioli. At the base was an okay tomato sauce that I didn't even know was there until half the potatoes were gone, and I had a mouth full of aïoli. Burrata: Not much to write home about here. An ovaloid of cheese drizzled with oil and vinegar, served on top of the same tomato sauce as under the Patatas Bravas. Next to the cheese was a blend of fruit and cherry tomatoes (not heirloom), which felt entirely out of place. Braised Short Rib: Allow me to digress a little bit. One of the things I learned from HelloFresh and food YouTube videos is the importance of seasoning throughout the cooking process and that fat carries flavor. There may have been some flavors here, but with a decided lack of even salt, they stayed hidden. Exhibit A: Celery Root Purée felt like mashed potatoes made from powder. Exhibit B: the protein tasted bland, and some simple S&P would have done wonders. Oh, and the "Dry fig & Pistachio Gremolata" - nowhere to be found. Flaming Chorizo: This dish has one thing going for it, it looks cool while on fire. Otherwise, it is an okay sausage with either Dijon or Yellow Mustard. I would have loved to try the Piquillo Honey Mustard; I love honey mustard! Yeah, no. Tuna Tartare: Now we're getting into my freshness comment. They'd made the whole thing and stuck it all, plate included, into the fridge. For the app itself, the tuna was good quality, though I was not a fan of vinegar as a sauce/dressing. Further, if there were chiles within, they did not make themselves known. The avocado was fine, though it needed some seasoning. As for seaweed salad, as a matter of personal preference, I was not too fond of it here. Here are some extra notes from my parent's dishes (I didn't personally try anything beyond a nibble): Matadora Burger: Per my second paragraph, the patty needed basic salt. Faroe Island Salmon: A $30 piece of fish, yet previously frozen. The Service: When we placed our order, the food didn't come out shotgun style (brought out when prepared), but the sequence didn't make sense either (nor were we asked). For example: were ordered three tuna tartares. We'd get a single tuna tartare, some more things, then the server brought mom her burger, then a few minutes later a tuna tartare. Was mom to have the burger get cold while she ate the tuna, or eat the main before the app? Another critique is that dirty (empty) plates were not cleared promptly and were allowed to pile up. The final nail in the service coffin is that the server brought someone else's bill, not the check with the itemized order, but the slip with the tip and signature line. We found it weird but wrote the tip, signed it, and attached the card. This time, we were brought out an itemized bill for more money than expected. Slip-ups happen, sure, but it wasn't even acknowledged at any point until we called it out. Finally, there is the question of value. Especially for small plates of subpar quality, the prices were too high. Not a single dish had positive standout characteristics that would justify the cost. Matadora is at least a semi-nice restaurant, not a greasy spoon - and such diners give you a man-sized portion for $9.95 instead of $12 for a small serving of boiled potatoes masquerading as crispy. Fails around the board with service, food quality, and value virtually guarantee a return trip is not in the books. Also, please adjust the menu to reflect the dishes accurately. * Just a quick note on "unimaginative:" Sometimes, a restaurant tries to do something unique with a dish, though it fails in execution. Sometimes, a place will go for simplicity, but done to perfection (like that poutine I had in MTL, which the joint executed brilliantly). If you go for something simple, execution better be on point. If you do creative, there's more leeway available. However, if you go the simple route and flub on it, what are you even doing?!

    Farrow island wood fired grilled salmon

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    4 years ago

    Not willing to accommodate quest requests. The manager was unpleasant to deal with ..

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    3 years ago

    Great atmosphere, unique and unbelievable food. And all around great time. Our server was amazing as well!

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    5 years ago

    Brilliant brilliant brilliant!!! I highly rate this tapas place as one of the best. Great service and just superb tapas

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    3 years ago

    I loved the 2 dishwashéd specials paired with the Costco hotdogs, soooo worth the 80 dollars for 600 calories worth of food

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    Pintxo Pincho Tapas Bar - Wall Mural - Picasso

    Pintxo Pincho Tapas Bar

    4.5(660 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$
    Takes reservations
    Romantic vibe

    Tapas time! Yes Please!…read more Had dinner here on a whim on a cold Saturday night. As soon as we walked in we noticed the place was jammed packed. We were lucky to get seated at the last two spots at the bar since we didn't have a reservation. The bar seating was actually nice because they had a nice display of liquor to show off. The waitress/waiters were very nice. They quickly got waters for us a couple of glasses of wine. We really like Spanish wines and they had a few Tempranillo wines to choose from so that was nice. We decided to share some Tapas and we were overwhelmed with all the options. Everything looked so good! We finally decided on the sautéed mushrooms, grilled shrimp (gambas), honey eggplant which was a nice sweet surprise and roasted potatoes with a yummy sauce. Everything tasted fresh and had great flavors. The service was great and the staff was very attentive and polite. I am curious now to try their Pallela but that's for next time!

    We enjoyed our visit to this cute tapas bar! We were going to a movie in the area and this place…read morepopped up on the map. I'm glad we stopped in. It's a small space and at dinner time, it's packed. I suggest making a reservation if you plan to come at peak time. It's not fancy but it's good. The staff was working very hard, but for a small staff, they were pretty attentive. We enjoyed all of our food. My favorite was the chicken paella and the chorizo sausage. The prices were also affordable for the amount of food provided. I recommend and I'd stop back in!

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    Pintxo Pincho Tapas Bar
    Pintxo Pincho Tapas Bar
    Pintxo Pincho Tapas Bar - Pintxo Pincho Tapas Bar 5/2018

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    Pintxo Pincho Tapas Bar 5/2018

    T'ahpas 529 - Paella Ciega

    T'ahpas 529

    3.9(352 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$

    Took my parents here for a Sunday dinner and it was an absolute home run! We ordered the Pan de…read moreCasa, Pan con Tomate, Dátiles, Albondigas, Croquetas de Jamon, Solomillo, and Churros for dessert and honestly every single dish was a winner. The pacing was perfect. Every 5-10 minutes a new dish would arrive, which made the whole meal feel like a fun, festive experience. No long waits, no awkward gaps, just great food flowing steadily to the table. The Pan de Casa and Albondigas were the clear crowd favorites. My parents are in their 60s and adventurous eaters, and they were absolutely blown away. My dad couldn't stop raving about the meatballs! A huge shoutout to Kayla, our server, who was attentive, warm, and made the whole evening feel special. Sunday is a great night to go, relaxed vibe, great service, and the kitchen is clearly on point. T'ahpas 529 is a gem in Melrose. We will absolutely be back!

    I hate writing this review, its been many years coming, but I honestly thought I wrote it years…read moreago, but somehow it just popped up in my "Please review" section of Yelp, so here I am... So I visited T'ahpas many years ago - date night dinner, left the kids at home & wanted adult food and Tapas were becoming all the rage at the time. Read good reviews, got there, small place, quaint, really good atmosphere, we began ordering food and OMG did we order sooo much, we liked a few things so much we ordered multiple plates, Im talking total fat kid night... Then we are sitting there and it was later at night so the place was empty and instantly I FREEZE - My BF at the time looked at me and noticed panic, he knew exactly what I saw from my reaction - there was a mouse in the dining room, now listen, I GET IT.. All restaurants have them, I wasnt even grossed out like that, THEY ARE MY BIGGEST fear in life, like if someone said Heres a million dollars be in a room with a mouse, I would have to pass! That scared, I dont know why - just am!!! So I exhaled and sat there... it started to run closer, it then disappeared and I slowly was able to unclench and then it came back like 20 mins later, this mouse was ballsy, like there are people walking around in & out and I just couldnt anymore. We got the bill and left, and I told many people and they said I should have complained on the spot but that just isnt me... Im just mad because the Food was GOOOOOOOD... I want to go back but a part of me is just like Nope, Not going to happen! So my take, the food is great, better than great! Hoping it was a one off situation and not a regular occurrence but I would love to come back, Im just a big pussy!

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    T'ahpas 529
    T'ahpas 529
    T'ahpas 529

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    Gourmet Kreyol - 1 Protein + 2 sides = Okap Bowl

    Gourmet Kreyol

    4.1(15 reviews)
    14.8 miMattapan

    We ordered the Port-au-Prince Bowl to go. You get to pick two mains and 4 sides. We got the Halal…read moreStew Chicken and the vegan Legume. For sides, we got Black Rice, Sweet Plantains, Green Plantains, Rice & Beans. Wow, what a superb meal. Everything was delicious. They also go a little light in the salt which I loved. There wasn't a single dish in there that I didn't like. The chicken was tender, the stew and legumes were flavorful, the rice was well cooked, the tostones were crispy, and the sweet plantains were truly ripe. I honestly wish they had a combo where they could do three mains and six sides cuz I would be into that! And a special shout out to the compostable packaging. Loved it.

    I had been eagerly anticipating my visit to this much-talked-about eatery after seeing all the buzz…read moreon social media and television. Unfortunately, my experience fell short of expectations. While the staff was friendly and welcoming, there was a little lack of coordination in the service but not so much that it detracted from the overall service. I decided to order the fried chicken, hoping for a flavorful experience, that Creole food is typical of, but I was sorely disappointed to find that it was completely devoid of seasoning--absolutely none! The taste was bland, and I found myself unable to enjoy it at all. After a few bites, I realized I couldn't force myself to eat it, so I ended up tossing it in the trash. Given that I was already some distance away from the restaurant at my next stop, returning it wasn't an option. I did take the time to call the restaurant and voice my concerns, but they l didn't offer any form of credit or compensation for the issue, so it only reinforced my decision not to return, as I couldn't see myself taking another chance on a meal that fell so flat. Overall, it was a disappointing experience, especially considering the hype surrounding this place.

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    Gourmet Kreyol
    Gourmet Kreyol - Port-au-Prince Bowl

    Port-au-Prince Bowl

    Gourmet Kreyol - Okap Bowl - Griot, fried plantains with rice and beans.

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    Okap Bowl - Griot, fried plantains with rice and beans.

    El Tacuba - Short rib taco

    El Tacuba

    4.3(103 reviews)
    5.4 mi

    We had a show at the Chevalier and wanted to have an early, pre-Valentine's day dinner before the…read moreshow. We are not that far from Medford and it took over 45 minutes to get there (traffic was crazy!) and we were running late. I called and they were super nice and said they could hold the table for 10 minutes (we were running 5 minutes behind our reservation) and not to stress out. When we got there, they were hopping! I am sure they get a lot of pre-show people because before I could even say we had to be out of there by 7, she asked if we were going to the show and assured us we would be out way before then. My hubby and decided to go the tapas route (which is basically the majority of their menu) and it was AWESOME! We started with the Queso Fundido. I am not a chirozo fan but the hubby is so I thought I would give it a try. It worked very well with the cheese and did not over power it. We moved on to the Cheviche Amarillo, Plantano Macho stuffed with beef, and Pollo Mole. All were perfect and just the right amount of food. I think my favorite was the Cheviche which was a white fish with sweet potato. The "sauce" was a citrusy topping and so light - did not detract from other flavors. Really all three were delicious. We also tried the flan because it looked so good coming out. Fair warning that I am not a flan person but it looked so yummy. Again, it was better than I have had but still not a fan - hubby on the other had devoured it with pleasure. It is a great location as well, and the space was very cheery, clean and despite being super busy we were not on top of each other - super worth the trip!

    We were brought in by the surplus of good reviews online…read more First impressions, interior is lovely--you feel like you're outside in this whimsical garden. Waitstaff is very kind as well. I got the margarita de la casa with salt, it was your classic margarita, but I liked it. Smaller size. For food, we started with the tamal with pork mole, which was really tasty, and fresh. Only one per order though, at $12 a piece. The size wasn't huge either. I then ordered the arroz del mar. It was creamy rice mixed with calamari, shrimp, and octopus. I was expecting more of a cream sauce but it was more like a watery broth, with a kick. It was spicy but tolerable. I liked the flavors but it didn't hit my craving. My boyfriend got the pollo con mole which he liked but I don't think he was crazy about it. I was still hungry so we ordered the plantano macho with beef. This stuffed plantain was good, I liked the cheese on it. But again, small size.. I will say I didn't know it was tapas style until we overheard the waitress tell another table. It makes sense in hindsight but we were quite hungry and this might have deterred us from coming. Portions were small even for tapas style. I saw a group and I'm not sure how they managed without ordering a surplus of food. I overheard them order at least 7 tacos...one per order... Strong flavors and fresh ingredients, I would say that. I think this is an elevated experience for food and it was a pleasant experience, but I wouldn't rush back because I don't think the portions were worth it even for tapas style.

    Photos
    El Tacuba - Cool tiles

    Cool tiles

    El Tacuba - Ensalada de betabel

    Ensalada de betabel

    El Tacuba - Plantano macho with beef

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    Plantano macho with beef

    Matadora - spanish - Updated May 2026

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