El Matador - East Patchogue

Our new favorite Spanish place. Literally delicious food. I get the pollo Madrid= heavenly. And let me warn you, their red sangria is no joke. One glass and I was bombed. Also the sweet plantain so good. Oh and the fried ice cream. 10/10

So where do I start when I went to a restaurant and actually had an absolute perfect meal. Tonight my family and I went to El Matador in Patchogue. It's been a few months since I've been there and whenever I go I like to try different things tonight was no exception. Let's start with alcohol, it was good tonight. I had something called a Michelada... I hope I'm spelling that correctly. It is a Mexican beer mixed with spicy hot sauce I'm guessing Mexican seasonings and tomato juice. I had absolutely never heard of it but asked the waitress what she recommended and that was her go-to. After she brought it and I drank most of it I said I hope it was a little bit spicier and she said that normally it is but they don't like to make things too spicy not knowing people can handle it. She said next time order it with spicy and she will make it spicier. My wife had not one but two strawberry margaritas. Again the waitress recommended half sugar half salt rim and it was out of this world she said. We started the meal with an appetizer. This appetizer was a stuffed plantain filled with cheese and chicken and it was just so good. Kenny stepped outside of his comfort zone tonight. We are very proud of him because on his own he ordered a chicken fajita. It came in the sizzling plate and he actually put like real ingredients in it. I half expected him to dig through and just put chicken but there was a little bit of everything in it and it was absolutely beautiful. Gabby got chicken Mexican street tacos. The tortillas look fresh and homemade and Gabby said they were on the thinner side so they were a little messy. My daughter does not care about getting messy so she thoroughly enjoyed them. A lot of times you worry about the chicken being dry but it was moist and flavorful and so good. My wife ordered besito salvadoreno. Is it traditional Latin dish, grilled top sirloin steak served with a fried egg avocado chorizo sweet plantains and a side of rice and beans. The steak was cooked perfectly and the treat so had enough spice to be comfortable but not bland at all. And my dish I left mine to last because there are so many things I want to tell you about this dish. Visually it was not the most colorful dish but taste wise the flavors exploded in my mouth. I had chuleta frita. Boneless pork chop 3 pan seared boneless pork chops sauteed and onions and a light brown sauce. I got a side salad and sweet plantains. Next time I order this dish I would probably forgo the salad and ask for double plantains. They are out of this world good. The light brown sauce I'm going to be honest and say I wish a loaf of crusty Italian bread came with. I would have stopped up every ounce of that sauce. It was so tasty. I don't know if that's an Italian thing alone or if people of Spanish heritage would do the same but oh my God it was amazing I had to restrain myself from picking up the bowl and drinking the sauce. It was honestly that good.

Been here a couple times, the food is alright. I had the New York strip steak that came with the pico de Gallo. The combination is not it. The plates look very pleasing to the eye, but they are alright. 2nd time I ate the sol, mar, plate. Shrimp, chicken and steak on the same plate. Weird combo too and not very tasty. 3rd time I tried the paella Valenciana. The flavor was good but there was no rice at all. It was over killed with all the sea food and meats. I think they should work on portions and variety in flavor. It all tastes the same.

A definite hidden gem! This small restaurant features friendly staff and, during our visit, it was calm and not crowded at all. If you're seeking a pleasant, relaxed experience, I recommend going during the week, before dinner time. The owner is very welcoming and pleasant. The food is packed with flavor, and the juice drinks are fantastic. Don’t worry if you don’t speak Spanish; everyone there speaks English. Give it a try—I'm sure you'll love it!

El Matador is a delight, and the food is amazing! We visit often, and I have to say that the service is excellent! Emily and her team are very accommodating and attentive. The drinks are robust and flavorful. The food is consistently delicious; we've never had a bad meal here. This place is our top choice for dining out! If you haven’t been here yet, make sure to add it to your list—you won’t regret it!