Introducing: Mata, the South American restaurant that replaced Keriwa in Parkdale
Introducing: Mata, the South American restaurant that replaced Keriwa in Parkdale
Name: Mata
Neighbourhood: Parkdale
Contact Info: 1690 Queen St W., 647-691-0234, matabar.ca, @MataBarTO
Owners: Sharath Dwakarnathan, Steve Fernandes, Felipe Faccioli, Patrick Fraser and Tulio Lessa
Chefs: Felipe Faccioli, Patrick Fraser and Tulio Lessa
The Food: South American ceviches and sandwiches, plus some North American dishes with Latin twists, like beef-cheek poutine with Cassava frites instead of traditional Yukon Golds. Chicken hearts are smoked, deep-fried and served on a bed of cauliflower purée. For less adventurous eaters, there are burgers and barbecue, although the ribs are dressed in a guava-based sauce and the sliders use a Brazilian top cut called picanha, smothered in a creamy South American cheese that has the consistency of thick béchamel.
The Drinks: The cocktail list is heavy on cachaça, a popular Brazilian spirit, including a spicy Caesar laced with bode vermelha, a South American hot pepper. Wine and beer are also available.
The Place: Mata is the fourth restaurant since January to open on the strip of Queen West between Lansdowne and Roncesvalles. The bones of what was formerly Keriwa have remained the same, but the decor is new. The space has been designed to resemble a casual South American cantina (albeit one with a very large design budget). A backlit mural of vintage cerveza labels is a bold statement against all the dark wooden surfaces.
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- <strong>Mata</strong> is located on Queen West between Sorauren and Roncesvalles, in the old <strong>Keriwa</strong> space
- (Image: Jackie Pal)
- Introducing: Mata
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- The décor was overhauled by <strong>Ian Rydberg</strong> of <strong>Solid Design and Build,</strong> the same firm that designed <strong>La Carnita</strong> and <strong>Valdez</strong>
- (Image: Jackie Pal)
- Introducing: Mata
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- The bar shelves are made from old wine crates
- (Image: Jackie Pal)
- Introducing: Mata
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- Bar manager <strong>Leah McMurtry</strong> infuses her cocktails with unconventional ingredients, like lemongrass crystals in the Pisco Sour ($12)
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- The Caesar (spiked with <em>cachaça,</em> a popular Brazilian spirit) blends muddled <em>bode vermelha</em> pepper with lime and Worcestershire. It’s served with a spiced cumin rim and a crackling garnish ($12)
- (Image: Jackie Pal)
- Introducing: Mata
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- The smoked chicken hearts are deep-fried and piled high on a pool of cauliflower purée ($8)
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- The summery <em>corvina</em> (sea-bass) ceviche incorporates celery juice and candied sweet potato ($11)
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- Introducing: Mata
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- A very pretty tuna-watermelon tartare is mixed with coconut water, lime and mint and then topped with parsnip crisps and pea shoots ($13)
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- Introducing: Mata
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- Sliders are made using a Brazilian top cut of meat called <em>picanha,</em> which is smothered in <em>cachaça-</em>spiked caramelized onions, as well as creamy cheese and <em>malagueta-</em>pepper aiolo ($12)
- (Image: Jackie Pal)
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- Three house-made hot sauces feature native South American peppers like the <em>malagueta</em> pepper, the <em>cumari</em> pepper and the <em>bode vermelha</em>
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- Introducing: Mata
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- The <em>choripan</em> is one of the most traditional offerings; grilled chorizo on a French baguette with a <em>malagueta-</em>pepper aioli
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- Guava panna cotta is served with a topping of compressed and cubed guava paste ($7)
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Name: Mata
Neighbourhood: Parkdale
Contact Info: 1690 Queen St W., 647-691-0234, matabar.ca, @MataBarTO
Owners: Sharath Dwakarnathan, Steve Fernandes, Felipe Faccioli, Patrick Fraser and Tulio Lessa
Chefs: Felipe Faccioli, Patrick Fraser and Tulio Lessa
The Food: South American ceviches and sandwiches, plus some North American dishes with Latin twists, like beef-cheek poutine with Cassava frites instead of traditional Yukon Golds. Chicken hearts are smoked, deep-fried and served on a bed of cauliflower purée. For less adventurous eaters, there are burgers and barbecue, although the ribs are dressed in a guava-based sauce and the sliders use a Brazilian top cut called picanha, smothered in a creamy South American cheese that has the consistency of thick béchamel.
The Drinks: The cocktail list is heavy on cachaça, a popular Brazilian spirit, including a spicy Caesar laced with bode vermelha, a South American hot pepper. Wine and beer are also available.
The Place: Mata is the fourth restaurant since January to open on the strip of Queen West between Lansdowne and Roncesvalles. The bones of what was formerly Keriwa have remained the same, but the decor is new. The space has been designed to resemble a casual South American cantina (albeit one with a very large design budget). A backlit mural of vintage cerveza labels is a bold statement against all the dark wooden surfaces.
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