I remember downtown Fullerton when it was abandoned buildings awaiting the wrecking ball. I remember downtown Fullerton when antique shops brought in nothing but coffin dodgers, and the only cool place for young adults was Black Hole Records, the Hub, and the Reagan Years. I remember downtown Fullerton as it gradually transformed into the county's second vomitorium after HB's Main Steet, a place where graduates from Anaheim and Fullerton high schools who never did anything with their lives relived their prep yours by pounding shots and Coronas.
That was about a decade ago; ever since, the downtown scene has calmed a bit, and quality places have sneaked in between the douche bars and lounges that shall remain nameless. This is a post, after all, devoted to praising Matador Cantina, which started off on good footing and seems to improve every month, not just in its elegant Bro-Mex cuisine, but with magnificent cocktails pushing frat boys and sorority girls past the margarita and into daring terrain–like the hilariously named Eso Es Todo Amigo.
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I was skeptical upon spotting it on Matador's cocktail menu–although I like elderflower liqueur and tequila, I can't stand grapefruit juice. But placed together in a shaker under Matador's expert bartenders, the Eso Es Todo Amigos (“That's All, Folks” for the three of you who still don't habla–and what's wrong with you?!), it turned into something approximating the one grapefruit product I do enjoy: Squirt. The syrupy nature of the Asombroso reposado and the flowery allure of elderflower anchored the sweet part; cutting that into two wonderful halves was the grapefruit juice squeezed fresh in front of you. It's as light as the soda, but much more potent–a grand elixir to staying classy once you step out into the Fullerton night.
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