Cantina Lounge - Review #1

Cantina Lounge 2736 East Nutwood Fullerton, CA 92832 (714) 879-8094 Listing on Google Maps Listing at The Guide (LA Times) Official Site

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(SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Cantina Lounge is doing ½ OFF everything Mondays open to close.)

Part Javier's, part Yardhouse, and part Sutra Lounge and in the spot of the former Off-Campus Pub the recently opened Cantina Lounge in Fullerton, right near CSUF, is serving up some good Mexican food, drinks, and nightlife. Here are some pictures I took on a recent visit to Cantina Lounge where I met up with frequent guest reviewer "Johnny Automatic" for lunch and some of his thoughts:

I had a house margarita on the rocks and was pleased with the flavor and strength of the drink. Given that this place is a lounge, bar, and nightclub, as well as a restaurant, it is good to know the drinks are good. I had the surf n turf quesadilla filled with shrimp and carne asada. It was a very filling and flavorful lunch. They offer black or pinto beans on the side. I went with the black beans and was pleasantly surprised to find them made with bacon and onion. On top of the hummus appetizers I was stuffed and couldn't even finish the quesadilla.

Exterior

Chips and Salsa

Drinks

When I go to a restaurant and peruse its menu one of the first things I look for is any unique item. I have to admit I wasn't expecting Cantina Lounge to have any item I hadn't heard of before but their appetizer menu had a hummus trio. Doesn't sound very Mexican so I almost didn't order it except that it included a jalapeño-flavored hummus and a salsa-flavored hummus. Once this came we largely ignored the chips and salsa we had been working on. And while we were eating it the manager came over and said that the hummus was made using his wife's recipe.

Hummus Trio

Surf and Turf Quesadilla

My Carne Asada Torta was one of the best I've had in a while where every bite was a perfect blend of perfectly cooked steak, perfectly toasted bread, and fresh lettuce, tomato, and avocado:

Carne Asada Torta

Chocolate Malt Cake

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And here is their official press release:

Cantina Lounge is now open for Business, Introducing a Unique Hot Spot for Modern Mexican Cuisine, Sports and Nightlife in Fullerton, California

Great Food and Entertainment under One Roof in a State-of-the-Art Venue for Lunch, Dinner, Sport, and Nightlife

FULLERTON, CA – July 2, 2008 – Cantina Lounge is pleased to announce that it is now open for business, introducing a new experience in modern Mexican cuisine for lunch or dinner that blends fine dining, sports and entertainment for Fullerton and the surrounding areas.

Cantina Lounge rivals the finest restaurants in the area with an experience in dining unlike any other. The relaxing décor at Cantina Lounge features rusted steel, dark woods, rich leathers, candles and a 20-person communal table for an exotic and casual ambiance-that is perfect for spending time with friends and family. The restaurant also features two patios with communal fire pits for mingling late into the night.

"Our goal was to create a lush environment with outstanding food and entertainment all in one place, where people can come and have a great time with family and friends," said Bassel Salloum, co-owner of the restaurant with business partner Jeff Walker. "We have an excellent chef who has created an outstanding menu for lunch and dinner."

The menu features contemporary Mexican fusion mixed with the flavors of traditional Mexican cuisine. Head Chef Felipe Serna brings his culinary expertise to creating an extensive menu including an Ahi tuna appetizer, jalapeno hummus and every imaginable taco from carne asada to shrimp and lobster in an affordable price range from $8-16. Specialty dishes such as baby-back ribs, grilled salmon and other exquisite seafood items are also available. An extensive list of margaritas and specialty cocktails complement this fabulous menu.

"In the evening, most people go out for a great dinner at one place but have to leave and go to another location for entertainment and dancing," said Bassel. “Cantina Lounge offers both in one beautiful venue." For entertainment, Cantina Lounge features 48 50-inch plasma screens, along with intimate booth seating equipped with personal TVs that can be adjusted to whatever each guest prefers to watch. In addition, an 8-foot drop-down HD screen creates the ultimate sports restaurant atmosphere to watch the big game. With the MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL tickets, Cantina Lounge's sport bar will feature all professional and college sporting events. Any PPV event such as UFC events will also be displayed at Cantina Lounge, making this the ultimate location for sports watching.

After 10 p.m., Cantina Lounge's Resident DJ Ruffnek rocks the crowd with his eclectic music selection and LIVE mixes and mash-ups that include top 40 hits, hip hop, dance, electro, Reggae, and a large selection of classics from the 80's, 90's and rock party anthems. DJ Ruffnek is a triple threat (Remixer, Producer and Performing Artist) that has toured and played alongside artists such as Parliament, The Gap Band, The Time, Digital Underground, Xzibit and Snoop Dogg. Club Nights at Cantina Lounge will be held every Tuesday and Thursday-Saturday night.

Cantina Lounge's food and entertainment features make this restaurant a grand social scene. Happy hour is from 3 to 6 p.m. weekdays and Taco Tuesdays feature $2 tacos and drink specials all night.

Cantina Lounge has several great private rooms for special events including birthday parties, corporate events and all other celebrations. Large booths can also be reserved for that special night out with a more intimate group of friends.

The restaurant is located at 2736 East Nutwood, Fullerton, CA 92831, site of the former Off-Campus Pub. "We know how attached the community and especially Cal State Fullerton was to Off-Campus Pub, and we focused on improving the customer experience when designing Cantina Lounge," said Salloum. "It's designed to offer an all-inclusive restaurant with excellent food and entertainment for a great lunch or evening out."

Cantina Lounge will be open for lunch and dinner Monday through Sunday from 11:00 am to 2:00 am. For more information, please call 714-879-8094 or visit www.cantinalounge.com

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UPDATE (September 5, 2012): Wow, it's been four years since I've been to Cantina Lounge. Just went back today and they have revamped their whole menu and use more fresh (as opposed to canned) ingredients now and even grow some of their own produce on the lot. What I had for dinner today was chips and salsa, quesadilla fritas (made in a more authentic style using masa rather than flour tortillas), the Enchiladas Montadas with carnitas and sunny-side up egg, and the pineapple sorbet with a strawberry flauta on the side. And I was able to find a seat with better lighting so the pictures turned out better this time:

Click here to see the entire album (23 photos so far) at flickr.

And here's some info they sent me about different deals they have each day of the week:

MONDAY:
	HAPPY HOUR 3PM-7PM
	FOOTBALL MUGS:  DURING FOOTBALL GAMES ONLY
TUESDAY:
	HAPPY HOUR 3PM-7PM
	$1 TACOS 3PM-11PM
	$2.50 HOUSE MARGARITAS 3PM-11PM
	$5 FLAVORED MARGARITAS 3PM-11PM
	$2.50 TEQUILA SHOTS 3PM-11PM
	$5 LOADED CORONAS  3PM-11PM
	$6 TITAN BOMBS 3PM-11PM
WEDNESDAY:
	HAPPY HOUR 3PM-7PM
	WEENIE WEDNESDAY  3PM-9PM
		$6 PBR TALL BOY / STREET DOG COMBO
		$4 STREET DOGS
		$4 PBR TALL BOYS
THURSDAY:
	HAPPY HOUR 3PM-7PM
	FOOTBALL MUGS:  DURING FOOTBALL GAMES ONLY
FRIDAY:
	HAPPY HOUR 3PM-7PM
	$10 OPEN BAR 10PM-11PM
SATURDAY:
	FOOTBALL MUGS:  DURING FOOTBALL GAMES ONLY
	$10 OPEN BAR 10PM-11PM
SUNDAY:
	BRUNCH 9AM-2PM
	BYO BREAKFAST 9A-2P
	BOTTOMLESS MIMOSA / CHAMPAGNE (W BUFFET) 9A-2PM
	FOOTBALL MUGS:  DURING FOOTBALL GAMES ONLY
	$5 BLOODY MARYS
	BYO BLOODY MARY BAR $6 CALL  $8 PREM  9AM-2PM

Matador Cantina

Date of First Visit: June 2, 2009

Matador Cantina 111 N Harbor Blvd Fullerton, CA 92832 (714) 871-8226 Listing on Yahoo! Local Listing on Ask.com's Citysearch Official Site

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Matador Cantina Voted Best Mexican Restaurant. Honored at 2013 Golden Foodie Awards

Fullerton, CA (October8, 2013) – Matador Cantina is honored to be the recipient of the 2013 Golden Foodie Award for Best Mexican Restaurant. Held Sunday, September 29^th at the Fairmont Newport Beach hotel, the program honored some of Orange County’s most inventive culinary minds.

“This was certainly a team effort, and one I’m very proud of,” said Matador Cantina Executive Chef David Dennis. “It’s such an honor to be able to bring this award back to Fullerton and share it with our guests. We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them.”

Known for its inventive Latin-inspired dishes, Matador Cantina has previously garnered “Best of” honors from a variety of other organizations, including Orange County Register, OC Weekly, and Orange County HotList among others.

About The Golden Foodie Awards
The Golden Foodie Awards were created to honor extraordinary culinary talent. The GFA’s harness the collective power of the entire community to recognize local excellence and celebrates with a lavish red carpet gala. This event embodies the spirit of food and community in a way that has never been done. Food lovers around the county vote in this people’s choice style award during the month of August with winners announced at The Golden Foodie Awards. The event illuminates the local Orange County food scene and celebrates Independent and/or Chef driven Restaurants.

About Matador Cantina

Founded in 2009, Matador Cantina is nestled in the heart of historic downtown Fullerton within the city’s oldest commercial building, built in 1899. The restaurant features modern Mexican cuisine by executive chef David Dennis, available for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Also, known for its libations, Matador Cantina offers a full menu of crafted cocktails, including an assortment of award-winning margaritas, full selection of Mexican and craft beer, as well as over 50 types of premium Tequilas and Mezcals. Lunch is served daily from 11am, dinner from 4pm, and brunch from 9am Saturday and Sunday. Matador Cantina features its award-winning Taco Tuesday every Tuesday from 2pm with fresh-grilled tacos and featured drink specials. Happy Hour is offered 2pm-6pm Monday – Friday. Open daily ‘til 2am. Matador Cantina is located at 111 North Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, CA. For reservations and info on special events and private bookings, call 714.871.8226 or visit www.thematador.com

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Interview with Chef David Dennis

Q: Best part of being a chef?

A: Creating in the kitchen, and making people happy.

Q: Name a kitchen utensil you couldn't do without.

A: A good knife.

Q: What's more important, food or service?

A: They're equal, and good food and service must go hand in hand.

Q: What Matador menu item is requested most?

A: Our specialty Chile Relleno.

Q: What is Matador known most for?

A: Great food and drinks.

Q: Name something no one knows about you.

A: I lived in Haiti.

Q: What would you be doing if not a chef?

A: I would enjoy being a SCUBA instructor.

Q: You were appointed as Matador GM, in addition to your role as head chef. How does this change your outlook of the business?

A: I've always worked both front and back of house so I would know everything about the business. I like being involved in every aspect.

Q: Favorite restaurant?

A: Changes every month, but now it's Olivia's Bistro.

Q: Favorite chef?

A: Thomas Keller.

Q: Chocolate or berry parfait?

A: Chocolate any day.

Q: Two or four wheels?

A: Two. I enjoy riding my bike every chance I get.

Thanks to Chef Dave for answering the questions and to Rob Hallstrom for facilitating the interview and helping with a couple questions. Read the other half of the interview by going to the OC Menus blog.

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Matador Cantina Introduces New Signature Cocktails for the Spring Season

Fullerton, CA. (March 28, 2011) - Matador Cantina is pleased to announce today's launch of its specialty seasonal cocktail menu for spring.

Matador’s penchant for quality, handcrafted cocktails using premium liquors fused with fresh-squeezed fruits, bitters, and house-made mixers makes it a popular destination for uniquely crafted cocktails.

Designed by mixologist Ricky Yarnall, each new drink brings the freshness of spring in taste and presentation. The spring season lineup includes six new drinks such as the Alimony, made with strawberries, cucumber and Right Gin; Señor 75, a mix of Ilegal Joven Mescal, fresh house-made sweet and sour, and Champagne; and Lime & Honey, with Sagatiba Cachaça, raw sugar, limes, and Bärenjäger.

The Mañana Mañana combines Sauza Tequila, fresh grapefruit juice and Orgeat syrup to create a drink that is a unique twist on traditional Mexican Tequila. The Jack of Diamonds is made with fresh green grapes with Hendrick’s Gin and Yellow Chartreuse; and Vic’s Mai Tai is made with Trader Vic's Original Mai Tai recipe, aged rum, Orgeat, lime juice and topped with mint.

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New Vegan Selections

Fullerton, CA. (February 15, 2011) - Matador Cantina, Fullerton's premier destination for authentic Mexican food and drinks, now offers vegan and vegetarian menu items.

Acknowledging the popularity in health food trends and a growing number of vegetarians, Executive Chef David Dennis has created specialty dishes with meat alternatives, like Vegetarian Fajitas, Vegan Street Tacos, and Roasted Shallot and Portobello Tacos.

The fajitas, regularly served with a choice of fresh-grilled meats, are now available with Portobello mushrooms, grilled peppers and onions, guacamole, and sour cream, with the option of house-made flour or gluten-free corn tortillas.

Roasted Shallot and Portobello Tacos are made with Pico de Gallo, Cotija Cheese and topped with lettuce with choice of soft or hard shell gluten-free tortillas.

The Vegan Street Tacos are made with seasoned soyrizo, a house-made meat alternative with sautéed Poblano peppers and grilled onions. This offering is also available as a meat substitute for any menu items at no additional cost.

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Click to enlarge drink special info

If you remember Fullerton's old Rockin' Taco that was mostly a bar and a little bit of a restaurant, well, now Matador Cantina is in its place and is mostly a restaurant and a little bit of a bar.

I found out about them quite some time ago but didn't get a chance to go until last Tuesday. It is similar to Gabbi's in that it was built into an 1899 brick building then refurnished with elegant handmade decor (even the bar stools were individually handcrafted).

On this strip of Harbor Boulevard in historic Downtown Fullerton there is no parking so park behind the restaurant and enter through the back:

Or enter through the front if arriving by foot:

They still have the Fullerton's original Taco Tuesday carried over from Rockin' Taco's legacy but with their own gourmet twist:

Start with tri-colored chips and salsa:

The tri-colored chips also form the outer crust of their unique spin on the chile relleno, which is also stuffed with creamy, dreamy, steamy Oaxacan cheese:

Chile verde

Dessert platter

Click here to see the complete album (84 photos so far) at .

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Here's a press release I was sent about the executive chef at Matador Cantina

The Matador Cantina Announces Appointment of Executive Chef Dave Dennis

Fullerton, CA (March 4, 2009) – The Matador Cantina, today announced the appointment of Executive Chef Dave Dennis. Dennis brings to the position over 10 years of diverse experience having led the culinary teams at such notable restaurants as Ruth's Chris in Phoenix, Arizona, Keegan's in Chandler, Ariz. and most recently King's Fish House in Orange, California, where he served as Executive Chef for five years and helped the restaurant earn "Best of" Orange County honors two years in a row.

A graduate of Scottsdale Culinary Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona, the Southern California native expanded his culinary repertoire to include a wide range of Mexican cuisines while living in Mexico near Puerto Vallarta and while working as a private chef on a chartered yacht in Panama.

"Living in Mexico afforded me the pleasure and incredible firsthand experience of authentic Mexican cooking at its best," said Dennis. "What I now apply to my own recipes was initially developed from generations of cooking methods straight out of a Mexican kitchen."

In response to his appointment, Matador managing partner Mario Marovic stated, "Chef Dennis is an extraordinary talent and we are extremely pleased to have him onboard. We believe that with his help, the Matador will raise the bar for great Mexican food in Fullerton and throughout North County."

The cuisine will be a fusion of native and contemporary Mexican favorites with a hint of other cultural flavors. The result: traditional items such as Tres Enchiladas using varied sauces made from robust peppers and garden fresh ingredients to unique and mouth-watering dishes such as Chorizo Ravioli served with a cilantro cream sauce.

The Matador Cantina is located at 111 North Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, CA. Lunch will be served daily from 11am, 365 days a year. Brunch will be served from 11am Saturday and Sunday. Dinner reservations, as well as private party information prior to opening can be obtained by calling 714.871.8226 or visit www.thematador.com for updated info.

Media Contact: Rob Hallstrom, 714.473.7033, rob@714media.com

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And here's some photos they sent me:

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UPDATE: And here's some photos of my own from a subsequent visit I made where I tried the excellent queso fundido and chorizo ravioli:

House salad w/ pepitas & tequila-lime dressing

Carnitas platter w/ sweet potato fries and grilled vegetables

El Tarasco - Review #1

Date of Visit: May 26, 2008

El Tarasco 2931 Nutwood Ave Fullerton, CA 92831 (714) 996-6260 Listing on Yahoo! Local Listing on Ask.com's Citysearch No known official website.

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Appetizer: Chips and Salsa
Entree: Enchilada/Tamale Combo
Drink: Root Beer
Cost: $12

I found El Tarasco late in the afternoon on Memorial Day when I went out attempting to follow up on a recommendation that had been made to me recently. After having woken up early to participate in a Memorial Day Pancake Breakfast I was pretty tired later on but wanted to use my day off to try to get a region that's normally hard for me to get to. So I went out to the North County area to go to eat with James and Lori. Lori was asleep but James and Thomas and I piled into the car to chase down my lead but when we got to that restaurant we found it closed for the day so we drove around looking for another place to go but every place was closed.

Nice Patio Area

Finally we stumbled on El Tarasco in Fullerton and I remembered that it had been recommended to me before. The place seemed almost abandoned but it didn't have the CLOSED sign that all the other places had so we stepped inside and actually found a waitress. We picked a table that had nice long benches and Thomas sprawled out on one and was out like a light for the remainder of the meal (sleepiness being the sub-theme of this writeup).

I'd heard of El Tarasco before and there are some in LA County but I think there are two or three separate chains and that some are good and some not so good. I don't know which one is the original, or if it matters, but if you have any information please leave a comment.

One inescapable facet of this El Tarasco is the many colorful and comical paintings on its walls. They even have a painting of this familiar character:

Their chips and salsa are much like Super Mex's: fried corn tortillas served whole and that you chip apart yourself (it's no accident that the term "chip" is used here) and dip into the salsa.

James ordered the Monday special: the Jr. Super Deluxe Burrito with chicken. I'm not sure if the terms "Jr." and "Super Deluxe" describing the same item constitutes an oxymoron but James said the burrito was good apart from the fact that some of the chicken in it looked gray.

I ordered the #33 combo: an enchilada and a tamale. No choice of meat was specified for either but I saw elsewhere on their menu that they served potato tacos and potato enchiladas so I asked if my enchilada could be a potato one. The waitress didn't have a problem with that. I was so sleepy I can't even remember if my tamale was stuffed with beef or pork but I do remember the tamale being the best part of the meal. The potato enchilada made a nice change from the norm and the rice was decent but the beans were kind of thinned out. The sauce covering both main items was rather bland so I kept mixing in some of the salsa intended for the chips.

To further the "sleepy" theme, one of the paintings was of a Mexican hiding under his sombrero taking what appeared to be a very long nap:

The food here was not bad but didn't really inspire. It was more from the "Take a tortilla, put some meat in it, and put some sauce on it" school of thought. A tad better than neutral El Tarasco earns a three Speedy Gonzales rating:

Umm . . . no comment