WOAP2015: El Matador
Where? El Matador (Wellington CBD, Wellington, New Zealand) Map Menu
When? Sunday August 23, 2015
Who With? Reuben, Shereen, Sam, Julia, Andrew
Food Style? Argentinian Asador Grill
One of Reuben's requests for Wellington was to go somewhere that served steak. Naturally, the first place that came to mind was El Matador, with its mountains of meat on platters that will feed even the hungriest of meat eaters. Their burger this year was a vegetarian one, so I wasn't too keen on that, but their Dine Wellington menu sounded good. The others ordered off the regular menu but had struggles eating everything!
Entree: Sweetcorn croquetas
With Cuba St Fruit Mart lime and chipotle aioli
Fantastic start to the meal. The sauce is spicy and zesty, the lime bringing a wonderful acidity. The corn croquettes are crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside, and they're warm and hearty to eat. Three is a pretty generous serving, they're quite filling (especially since the mains are massive)
Mains: Wood-fired Harringtons pork loin
With chilli apple, crumbed cauliflower fleurons, warm lentils and walnuts
You really can't go wrong with pork and apple. Succulent and juicy, full of flavour, though the lentils felt a bit out of place and didn't fit - it was though it was added just to bulk out the meal. The salad should have been dressed, but the cauliflower was very well done. Very enjoyable, and this was a lot of food - even for me!
Dessert: Panqueques
With dulce de leche, Carello del Gelato ice cream and praline
The dulce de leche here has never disappointed me, and today they're as good as ever. The pancakes are pretty standard and this dessert delivered exactly what I expected. Good way to end the meal - and boy was I stuffed after all of that!
Though the dishes themselves were not tremendously strong, I thought El Matador had the best overall dining experience so far. Always a good time here.
Posted by Jeremy at 11:15am on Thursday September 3, 2015 :: 0 comments :: 
El Matador
Where? El Matador (Wellington CBD, Wellington, New Zealand) Map Menu
When? Thursday November 20, 2014
Who With? Bobby, Angela and Kenny
Food Style? Argentinian Asador Grill
Bobby and Angela had finally made the trip to Wellington to visit, so Kenny and I took them to El Matador. I always have a good time at El Matador; there's a wonderful smokey aroma from the burning wood just in the corner of the kitchen, visible as you enter the restaurant. It's intoxicatingly good and lingers even as you leave the restaurant. You walk home smelling delicious, so if this doesn't suit you, dress appropriately.
There's no doubt that South Americans are good with steak, and if the smell of the premises isn't an indication of how appetising the food is, the presentation of a huge platter of meat covered in their famous chimichurri is sure to get you salivating. We decided to share their steak plate and some tapas dishes on the side.
Cauliflower, red pepper and egg bake with pecorino and paprika
A good, hearty dish full of flavour. The egg in the description may make it seem like a quiche; it's more like a cheesy oven bake with boiled egg on the inside.
Broad beans with cream, bacon and cos lettuce
Grilled beetroot with watercress and preserved lemon and mint vinaigrette
Probably the healthiest option of the four plates we chose. The beetroot was naturally sweet and the vinaigrette balanced that with the sourness so well. It was a fresh, zesty interlude from the cheese, carbs and meat on the table.
Baby potatoes, olives and baby spinach with salsa verde
Steak plate: parrilla-grilled flank, rump, sirloin and ribeye with chimichurri
We ordered ours medium-rare - perhaps could have asked for medium as the meat is quite thick and wouldn't have minded it being a little bit more cooked. Nevertheless, the meat is incredibly aromatic and succulent, and the chimichurri is simply delicious and accompanies the steak so well. It provides that extra tang when your tastebuds become saturated with the taste of meat. The recommendation is to share between two or three people, but this fed the four of us quite well with all our sides. Well satisfied with the meal, and always a pleasure eating here. Steak just simply makes me happy.
Posted by Jeremy at 7:31am on Tuesday November 25, 2014 :: 0 comments ::