Matador Cantina

The restaurant, offering "traditional and contemporary Mexican inspired cuisine," opened in April. A narrow space with hardwood floors, brick walls and big roomy booths that run parallel to a long bar, the place has an old-school Chicago neighborhood pub feel. (There are some flat screen TVs, with the sound low the night I was there, on the wall behind the bar). But the warm glow of pillar candles on the walls, framed paintings of matadors and some serious steel cut chandeliers lend an old-world Spanish vibe. (BY LORI BASHEDA, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER)