Rising to restaurant’s defense

In a county that reinvents itself on a weekly basis, tearing down

what might be considered historical -- albeit 1950 -- buildings and

constructing McMansions, and with a populace served by a steady

stream of chain restaurants and food markets, the very fact that an

authentic family restaurant survives makes it a worthy location.

It is a pleasure to enter a restaurant that hasn’t been “designed”

and fitted with inauthentic memorabilia a la Subway or TGI Friday’s.

El Matador is genuine, warts and all.

Let’s try to maintain the authentic rather than replace and

rebuild more of the plastic and formulaic.

JUNE WARREN

Newport Beach

I have visited El Matador restaurant for more than 20 years. The

food and service are both wonderful. It is an institution on Newport

Boulevard. It is such a shame that we do not do more to protect

individually owned businesses. Orange County has lost so many

wonderful, unique restaurants and has made way for too many chain

restaurants.

Too many strip malls have the same chain restaurants. (I think you

know which one I am referring to.) We need more restaurants that can

offer charm, individuality and variety to our area and need to

support mom-and-pop businesses.

BOBBIE BRUCE

Irvine

We started eating at the El Matador when it first opened in 1966

and continued to be regulars for several years. However, since we

lived up near South Coast Plaza we fell out of the El Matador habit.

Then, when we moved to Newport Beach in 2000, I started eating at El

Matador again, and it was like I had just rejoined an old friend. I

was so glad that the good Mexican food of the restaurant was still as

it had been, and I would see Marcial Gallardo Sr. often sitting at

the back booth. It was great to be able to go back and get my El

Matador fix after so many years. I am now back into the habit.

Back in the early years, I used to see a well-known singer eating

in there, and, lo and behold, there he was, still coming in there to

eat after all these years. I think it is very good for some of the

longtime restaurants to survive and do well in the long haul. Then we

get to know them well also.

I wish the new owner well, and I’m looking forward to many more

years of eating in El Matador.

FRANK COLVER

Newport Beach

Yes, it’s important that it be saved. I have been eating weekly at

El Matador since 1968. Most Sundays I am there after church. I would

bring a girlfriend when I was in high school, and I am now 53 years

old. They were family to me. I am glad to see that it has been saved.

ANGELA HAMEL

Irvine

I feel that it is extremely important that we try to save El

Matador and allow the family to continue running it. It has been a

landmark, and they have the best food. We are losing too many of our

old-time restaurants and places to go. I hope that we can save the El

Matador restaurant.

JUDIE HOWELL

Costa Mesa

Is it important that the restaurant be saved? I say yes, only from

a selfish standpoint, because I enjoy the food and dining there. It’s

been there since 1966, and it’s just a good, old, family restaurant.

We have enough chrome and glitter restaurants in Newport Beach.

I’d sure like to see some of these old-time family ones saved.

DAVID GASH

Newport Beach