Matador!
November 15th, 2009Well, the long-rumored Mexican replacement for Wayne’s The Freehouse has a name: Matador, and it’s actually a Spanish-Mexican hybrid.
The owners are the team behind Crazy Cactus/La Taverna in Phoenixville. They plan to do a “Spanish-Mexican” menu, specialize in wines from Spain and Chile and feature 40 to 50 kinds of Tequila.
Commenter thedogatemyhomework adds: “The focus sounds more Spanish than Mexican. The chef describes the Spanish cuisine as having a French-Italian influence, with a kind of Mediterranean touch. (editor note: huh?) Owners say they’re aiming for upscale casual but family-friendly and a special occasion restaurant, at the same time. (editor note: huh?) Covering every possible base with the type of food and atmosphere, I guess.”
There have been many production delays, so don’t expect to see Matador’s doors open before October 2010.
UPDATE (8/11/10): Matador’s owners are now saying mid-September for the opening.
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The construction of the Matdor was just shut down by Radnor Township. There is a STOP WORK ORDER posted on the building.
That place is cursed.
I was told that the brick building across the street which has been for lease is going unfilled as a restaurant site because there is no natural gas line on that side of the street. No chef would chose to cook with on an electric stove and propane’s cost is prohibitive. That would certainly explain why all of the restaurants are on the other side on North Wayne Avenue. The paper posters showing pictures of food that are plastered on the windows of that brick place may be the closest it gets to being associated with eating. Couldn’t happen to a nicer landlord: who does he think he is putting up that black fence that gives pedestrians about 6 inches to walk on the sidewalk.
There’s now a “coming soon Matador” sign on the old Freehouse sign.
Does anyone have an update on Matador? I see a banner on the building.
what are the ‘owners’ of the freehouse suing over?
I’m tired of the number of “dash” and “slash” restaurants around here that try to please everybody:
Spanish-Mexican/Mediterranean/French/Italian influences, in a
child-friendly/special occasion/upscale-casual setting.
I certainly don’t have a problem with the fusion of two disparate concepts, but you are right in that many places are trying to do too much. Whenever I look at a menu that has no focus, I automatically assume everything must be average, because no kitchen can do everything well at the same time.
Take this new restaurant in WC – Side Bar, for example: http://sidebarandrestaurant.com/?page_id=33. The menu is all over the place!
let’s hope not. Verdad is terrible.
The people behind Matador own La Taverna in Phoenixville.
They plan to do a “Spanish-Mexican” menu, specialize in wines from Spain and Chile and feature 40 to 50 kinds of Tequila. The focus sounds more Spanish than Mexican. The chef describes the Spanish cuisine as having a French-Italian influence, with a kind of Mediterranean touch. Owners say they’re aiming for upscale casual but family friendly and a special occasion restaurant, at the same time. Covering every possible base with the type of food and atmosphere, I guess. Matador is supposed to open after the first of the year, however, the Freehouse owners are suing over the validity of the lease. Freehouse folks say because of that, the liquor license may be in question. One thing I do know, if Matador does open, it won’t be the good old basic (almost dumpy) Mexican so many of us want to see on the Main Line.
so basically it is Verdad, in Wayne
Almost dumpy Mexican I’ve been looking for in the entire Northeast, for that matter. Good Mexican food is just hard to find this far north.
Definitely sounds like it’s trying to be too much though. Do one or two things and do them well, don’t try to be something as disparate as “family friendly, special occasion, upscale casual”. It’s no long upscale casual and special occasion when you’ve got the the ten screaming kids in the corner with balloons tied to their chairs that the parents refuse to keep quiet (*cough*Christophers*cough*).
try going to norristown. great mexican there
*cough*????*cough* Did Christopher’s ever sell itself as upscale casual and or special occasion???
For good mexican try La Tolteca. Several area locations, but we like the one on West Chester Pike in West Chester. Gets approval from my San Diegan wife, she knows Mexican. BYOB.