(matadorrestaurants.com) – Ballard
How I heard of this place: My friend Hilary and I decided to stop in for late-night happy hour after walking past the dark, mysterious, yet always bustling and crowded space one evening several years back. This was my second time at the Ballard location. I enjoyed the Redmond location about 18 months ago with Fahdad and Yasi for happy hour.
Type of cuisine: Gourmet Tex-Mex in a tequila bar.
Ambiance: A place to go with friends to watch the game while you have a bite to eat, to soak up the bustling atmosphere, where you find unique woodworking, antique light fixtures, custom ironwork, and the warmth of an open fireplace. The space is large and open, with booth and bar seating available. The lighting is very dim (at night) so food and friends are hard to see clearly, but the ambiance is very much geared toward the young professionals looking for a fun, late-night venue to eat and talk.
What I ordered: On this trip, there were three of us who all ordered from the happy hour menu (4:00 – 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.). Between the three of us, we had one order of nachos ($4), one order of chicken quesadillas ($4) and one order of the Tex-Mex spring rolls ($4).
What I loved: My favorite of the three was the nachos with black beans, cheese, jalapenos, pico de gallo, herbed sour cream and guacamole. The layers of chips and cheese piled high into a mountain on the plate and then baked in the oven giving it a smoky flavor and crispy chips.
Why I loved it: The space feels like a go-to venue for a decent late-night snack, large portions at a very reasonable cost and no need to feel like you have to get dressed up or dress down to enter.
Cost: Low ($4-$5 for each happy hour item)