Michael Klein: Matador in Wayne pairs Spanish, Mexican cuisines

Downtown Wayne is getting a burst of Latin excitement from the new Matador (110 N. Wayne Ave., 610-688-6282).

Matt Pressler, a Culinary Institute of America grad who worked in Scottsdale, Ariz. (La Hacienda, Marquesa) before coming home to open La Taverna and Crazy Cactus in Phoenixville, is pairing Spanish and Mexican cuisines at the former Freehouse. There are street-level and upper-level bars, and its low-lit, wood-and-wrought-iron environs have more bullfighting paintings than you can shake a red cape at.

Pressler says he became enthralled with "earthy" Spanish cuisine at CIA. He decided to offer Mexican dishes (quesadillas and carne asada, for example) as more of a "comfort." (He's since sold his Phoenixville restaurants.)

He says Spanish and Mexican dishes are selling equally well; though dinner entrées are $17 to $27, you can choose a few tapas and get out for less than $30 a head, plus alcohol.

Dessert includes "Spanish coffee," a concoction of flaming alcohol served tableside. Dinner menu is at http://go.philly.com/matadormenu. It's open for dinner daily and lunch Mondays through Saturdays. Free tapas are part of the weekday "siesta" (happy hour) from 4 to 6 p.m.

Gavin Pennock, who trained at the French Culinary Institute in Manhattan and worked the line at Le Bec-Fin and Bouley and Bar Blanc in New York City, is behind Piatto Grille, a casual Italian-Euro BYOB at 410 W. Ridge Pike, Conshohocken (610-825-1300). It's open daily for lunch and dinner. Lunch menu includes pizzas, burgers, poutine, and French onion soup cooked for two days and served with Gruyere and puff-pastry crouton. Dinner menu ($10 to $12 for pastas, $15 to $19 for meats and seafood) expands for dishes such as wild mushroom ravioli, roasted sweet potato gnocchi, and New York strip steak Portuguese.

Makiman, a Japanese BYO from the Five Points intersection in Northeast Philly, has opened a Center City branch at 1326 Spruce St. (215-546-0180). It's open for lunch and dinner Mondays through Saturdays, 3 to 10 p.m. Sundays.

Serafina, the Italian celeb haunt with several locations in its home base of Manhattan, is less than 90 days from its scheduled opening at 10 Rittenhouse (18th and Sansom Streets).

Construction should begin within two weeks on Tashan, the Indian restaurant from Tiffin's Munish Narula and chef Sylva Senat at 777 S. Broad St. Narula is aiming at late April for the opening.

How they make Spanish coffee at Matador. Video: http://go.philly.com/matador.EndText