Restaurant Review – Matadora: A Bit of Spain in Woburn, Massachusetts

On a recent business trip I found myself dining at Matadora,  inside the Hilton Boston/Woburn Hotel in Woburn, MA.

This is a Spanish Tapas restaurant with a comfortable, open and modern vibe.   The night I was there a solo performer playing guitar and singing Spanish songs added to the authentic atmosphere.  The restaurant is located in the large, open, six story atrium of the hotel, but has an intimate feel.  I sat at the bar, settled in and immediately felt at home.

On the menu a large number of enticing options greets you.   I tried the fried Calamari, which was light and not greasy at all, both rings

Calamari

and tentacles on top of a lemon aioli.    That was accompanied by the Basque Street Corn, which consisted of

Fantastic Basque Street Corn

four pieces of grilled corn on the cob, with a roasted garlic aioli, idiazabal cheese and espelette pepper.   The Calamari was very good, but the corn was out of this world.  You get the smokiness of the grill and garlic, offset by some heat from the spice and some richness from the cheese.

For wine, I had the 2015 Vargas Rioja Crianza by the glass.  This is dark cherry red in color, with berry and cherry flavors.  Good body, medium tannins and excellent balance are part of what is really a great value wine.  It has a smooth, persistent finish.   The Vargas drinks well above its price point.   After the entrees a glass of Gramona La Cuvée – Gran Reserva Brut, 2013 provided a perfect way to end a good meal.  This is an excellent cava here, with bright fruit and tropical notes, as well as pear.  There was also a tiny touch of anise,  cleansing acid which remains in balance, and nice texture too.  The Gramona is an excellent sparkling wine.

The Excellent Gramona Cava

Their bottle list features many Spanish producers and has a good cross section in both white and red.  You can find almost every region

Great Value Rioja

of the country represented, with selected offerings from other parts of the world rounding out the list.

I will definitely come back to Matadora the next time I stay in the area, which tends to be fairly frequently.  It is relatively new, and setting a high standard.  My server, Lori, was very attentive and cheerful, contributing to a very enjoyable dining experience.  Matadora is highly recommended.

The particulars are available on the hotel’s website – which you can visit by clicking here.

A votre santé!

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