Right now some of the most exciting food coming out of Dubai has a Pan Latin American influence and, with Toro Toro’s recently launched new menu, they may well be the forerunners in this field for foodies, says Lyndsey Steven.
Décor
With its coyote coloured walls, gleaming polished tables and burnt orange leather chairs, Toro Toro has all the masculinity of a Peruvian bullfighter complimented by the elegance and finesse of an Argentinian polo player. Curvaceous white antler lights and Birds of Paradise flowers, meanwhile, provide a feminine touch.
Ambience
With two large separate rooms, we wondered at first how on earth they were going to fill the space. We needn’t have worried. While we may have been one of the firsts to arrive, within half an hour the whole place was packed with animated clientele. And they were clearly there for the duration of the night. Toro Toro may be slick and sophisticated, but the emphasis is on fun – the spirited, informed staff is testament to this.
Food
With a menu conceptualised by internationally acclaimed, celebrity Chef Richard Sandoval – who is also the brains behind Maya – the experience is all about sharing. So there’s no chance of you getting food envy as you tuck into a selection of small dishes, each one packing an even bigger punch than the last. We highly recommend that you put all your trust in the staff as each of our waiter’s recommendations came up trumps. Highlights include a zesty sea bass tartare with a tropical infusion of mango, coconut and lime, the fat, crispy prawns coated in Japanese crumbs and the wild mushroom flatbread with tangy goats cheese and sticky caramelised onions. And those are just the starters. For mains the melt-in-the-mouth Chilean Sea Bass and the beautifully marbled Australian tenderloin will soon have you grinning from ear to ear. Be sure to round off your meal with Torro Torro Tres leches, an unusual, yet scarily addictive concoction of cake soaked in three types of milk. We’ll be returning to revisit this dessert as soon as our expanded waistlines allow.
Why bother
For a night of out-and-out Latino loveliness.
Go for
The top-notch food and the sassy service. And don’t even get us started on the drinks trolley…
Details
Toro Toro | Grosvenor House | (04) 3176000.
