Hello, Damas y Caballeros, or for those of you not fluent in awesome, “ladies and gentlemen.” What if I were to tell you that there was a restaurant that had a great rustic Spanish look, plays great alternative music, serves amazing authentic cuisine, and makes you want to make love to the person next to you? Is that something you’d be interested in?

Well allow me to introduce to you Cobras and Matadors, a traditional Spanish tapas restaurant. What are tapas, you ask, my little tight-pants wearing bull fighters? Tapas are, in essence, small dishes traditionally served in bars and small restaurants prior to dinner in Spain. Cobras and Matadors has incorporated this concept and has created a unique dining experience. Once you enter your world is transformed into this small Spanish tavern. There are hundreds of wine corks surrounding and decorating the walls. A small wood burning oven illuminates the corner of the restaurant, and the smell of deliciousness fills the air. But the one characteristic that I appreciate the most is the crowd. Once a restaurant gets popular in Los Angeles it is suddenly mutated into this fake-breasted, I want to be an actor/actress, I drive a Ferrari kind of place. But not Cobras and Matadors. The crowd is down to earth and warm. The tables are situated very close together and it’s not uncommon for two tables to strike up a conversation. The people who come to Cobras and Matadors are people who are there to have a good time and enjoy a great meal. So if you have a shitty personality or are a douche, go to P.F. Changs instead and call it a night. Cobras and Matadors has been able to maintain its cool appeal without selling out to the Hollywood lifestyle.

I do warn you though, the restaurant is small. It probably only seats 25 people, so reservations would be a good idea. There are about four tables situated outside in front of the restaurant, and those are given out on a first come, first serve basis. I wouldn’t recommend sitting out there unless you want a view of another man’s balls in your face. In other words, on a busy night the street is packed full of people waiting to be seated, and they tend to huddle around the outside tables.

There are roughly 17-18 traditional tapas dishes. Typically you would order anywhere from 6 to 8 dishes for a party of two. The dishes range from flatbread with figs and cheese to citrus-flavored skirt steak. Their potatas fritas (potato wedges, for the Americanos) is simple and tasty and their paella is rich and flavorful. One of my favorite dishes there was the bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with walnuts and goat cheese…it was like my mouth was invited to a surprise party hosted by awesomeness. I also liked the grilled octopus, and the asparagus with machego cheese and walnuts was a success

One of the unique aspects about Cobras and Matadors, on Beverly, is that they do not serve any alcohol, but what you can do is go to the store next door, which does serve wine and beers, and purchase yourself something and then bring it over to your table. Or you can bring your own beer or wine from home and just pay a corkage fee.

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But the arc de triomphe of this restaurant is their signature dessert, the French toast. That’s right, I said French toast. It’s mind-blowingly (yes I made that word up) good. It’s served with strawberries, maple syrup, whipped cream and warm chocolate syrup. It’s as if Angelina Jolie and Scarlett Johanson are making out in your mouth – that sounded better in my head. What I’m trying to say is the French toast is sexy and sultry.

I love the fact that this restaurant is comfortable, low-key and has a home-like feel. It’s a terrific place to have great conversations over a glass of wine and food. You leave the restaurant feeling satisfied but not overly stuffed.

So take it from JohnnyD, if you’re looking for a restaurant that looks sexy, tastes sexy, and makes sex to you, then Cobra and Matadors is your place.

 

Buen apetito!

I give it 4 out of 5 Neaves

 

Cobras and Matadors

7615 W Beverly Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90036

(323) 932-6178