It’s a Matador! (Been wanting to throw in that obscure reference.)
Seeing the detail and craftsmanship develop on the exterior and entryway over the last several weeks, I figured this place was going to raise the bar, so to speak. I’ll have to check out the innards, before it becomes the next “in” place. I hope its opening will help float the other nearby establishments that have been hanging on.

Hopefully, now that the Matador has expanded OUTSIDE Seattle, they’ll change their URL. No Tacoman wants to be part of Seattle. Despite the owners’ hard work renovating that space, I still think a one-story building is out of place downtown. Bring in the wrecking balls!

If the Matador isn’t a hit, I don’t know what would be. A few quick personal observations from an opening night visit: Noise hit me right when I walked in the door – I personally would like some more work on controlling the acoustics but that’s totally just me. The hostess and wait staff seemed pleasant and competent. One server at the next table did something baffling and completely wrong. However the good part is that the manager had a constant watchful eye, and corrected it right now. After we finished, the manager came by later and asked how we liked everything and if anything could be better – and she meant it. So they really seem to have a conscious desire to do everything right. There’s no dumbing down because “it’s just Tacoma.” Perhaps this will help Tacomans feel that it’s O.K. – we can expect quality dining, and I get a sense from the manager that they expect to deliver it. The décor was very nicely done. (I’m tired of the grinder-distresses metal surfaces that seem to be the trend in restrooms, but I wasn’t in there for the décor.) Coffee weak, but they know, and are working on it. The coconut ice-cream-thing was to die for. Those are going to be a couple killer blocks of downtown. Let’s move bocce to Fireman’s Park next year.

WE STILL NEED A GROCERY STORE downtown though, I think that is impeeding things

I think they will come once the perceive there is a demand.

A little late on this thread, but wanted to share my experiences anyway…

I stopped by with a large group for the early happy hour on a Friday. Plenty of people looking after our table, but the waitress was pretty new to waiting tables and had some minor overlooks/mistakes (spilled/forgotten drinks, poor timing).

Separately, five of us stopped in for another drink & some bites. Again plenty of staff, though our waitress was decidely anti-social and didn’t seem that happy to have us. We had fun anyway.

Food (from happy hour menu): Good soup & tacos. Hearty portion of nachos for the price. Quesadilla was a bit bland w/ flavorless chicken. (I guess I’m used to the PWay’s overloaded quesadilla.)

Overall, good atmosphere, decent food, good drinks, average service. I’d go back, but might wait a couple more weeks for the staff to get everything sorted.