Toro Bravo
Portland, OR 97212
Phone: (503) 281-4464
- Price:
- $$
- Cross Street:
- Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
- Hours:
- Sun-Thu 5pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-11pm
Editorial Review for Toro Bravo – by Elizabeth Lopeman
In Short
Fried chickpeas are served for guests to nibble on while they peruse the extensive selection of tapas. The menu features both traditional and fusion-inspired dishes, creating a confluence of fresh Oregon and Spanish flavors. Fried anchovies with fennel and lemon and tortillas, and paella are common Spanish items, but this northeast spot also has hamburgers for the less adventurous. Dessert ranges from traditional cheese plates to chocolate molten cake.
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Insider Tips
What to DrinkTry the house recipe sangria, which mixes red wine and seasonal fresh fruit.
Where to SitCouples should try sitting at the kitchen bar for an authentic experience; big parties take a long table.
User Reviews for Toro Bravo
04/03/2008 Posted by BuddingFoodie
After reading the article in Portland Monthly about Toro Bravo, I had to try it. Anyone who complained about the food or service is crazy! Everything was excellent (sherried chicken liver mousse, squid ink pasta, chorizo, manchego and bread plate, etc.) and I loved the way the service is set up. It may not be terribly personable but it is very efficient. The way I observed it running is that all the waitstaff pretty much wait on all the customers. So if an order is up, anyone who is available will bring it to you and if there are empty plates on your table, whoever happens to be walking by empty handed will clear them for you. We were also able to very easily add to our order as we went along. Nothing in our orders were missed or wrong. We were in and out so quickly but still felt very satisfied and not rushed in anyway. We were too full to order dessert but next time we will leave room since they all sounded fabulous (and the last thing we ate were the stuffed wrapped dates which were a sweet delight that I could have ordered about 3 plates of had I not already been so full). And since we don't drink any alcohol our bill for 2 people was only around $30! And we were very full, not all all still hungry. I didn't care at all that I didn't get to know my waitress or waiter personally; they took care of our table in a very effective and relatively friendly manner. And watching the kitchen and how quickly they turned out food in such a masterly organized way was interesting and entertaining. Lucky for us, we arrived about 10 minutes before opening. There was a line already waiting but we were able to make it in with the first wave of people (and this was on a Friday night). Even if we had to wait a bit to get in, I would not have minded. Considering that these days you could wait up to an hour for a table at places such as the Olive Garden, TGI Fridays or Applebees, who would mind waiting 30 minutes for a meal at a wonderful restaurant such as Toro Bravo?
Pros: Food, Service
Cons: Tables a little too close for comfort (although it's more "authentic" that way)
03/26/2008 Posted by jimmieboyer
Last night my son and I sat in front of the kitchen and experienced some of the best service I've ever had anywhere. We were promptly seated by one young lady, then served with aplomb by another, who cheerfully answered all questions I had about the menu. But the coup de grace was when I was turning my empty wine glass slowly on the table while looking for our waitress. Across the room walked another waitnress, gliding up to me to ask if I wanted another glass. Yes, I did. That doesn't happen at most places. Nor does it happen at most places that wait staff clear your emplty plates immediately, which happened last night. And the food was awesome too. Keep it up, Toro Bravo! We want you around for a long time!
Pros: Food, service, vibe
Cons: Crowded during peak hours
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