TORO TORO

Place: Grosvenor House
Price:
Ladies – AED 333
Gents – AED 433
*Book and pay by Thursday to get your 20% Early Bird discount.

Timings: 3pm-6pm

“You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm.” -Colette.

 

Toro Toro offers Pan-Lain American cuisine headed by Chef Richard Sandoval and Chef de Cuisine Alfredo Lazo Vidaurre. The venue has recently undergone a major refurbishment and now boasts beautiful interiors incorporating flashy colors, tribal patterns, Palm leaves alongside chic leather furniture.

The menu changes every week, which is a clever way to encourage repeat visits. The food is served sharing style, giving guests the opportunity to samples all the dishes. Another positive is the fact that mains courses are not restricted to one serving per person, unlike many other venues in Dubai- so I recommend a quick CrossFit session before going to ensure you arrive hungry!

Additionally this is the first brunch I have witnessed that offers dual pricing based on male/female. I am a supporter of this approach, as I believe there is no debate that the average female guests consumes less than the average male guest- so why are we charging them the same???

I ended up brunching here twice in the space of 1 month, so I got to sample two different menus:

Selection of Cold Appetizers:

• Guacamole
• Salmon Tiradito
• Quinoa Salad

2^nd Visit:

• Guacamole
• Tuna Tataki
• Burrata

Selection of Hot Appetizers:

• Cachapas
• Veal Back Ribs
• Conchitas A La Parmesana
• Crab Tacos

2^nd Visit:

• Chicken tacos
• Beef anticucho
• Papa Rellana
• Crispy Prawns

Main Course:

• Rib eye steak
• Arroz Con Mariscos
• Sweet potato fries
• Crab Salad

2^nd Visit:

• Grilled Picanha
• Arroz Negro
• Garlic Fries

Drinks:

• Cocktails: Sangria, Moscow Mule, Rum & Coke, Caiprinha, Mojito
• Spirits: Gin, Vodka, Rum, Tequila
• Wine: Red & White (Anakena- Chile)
• Beer: Stella, Brahma

Overall the food on both occasions was excellent. A few dishes miss the mark, but everybody on the table went home happy & full.

A few of the standout dishes were: Cachapas, tacos, Beef anticucho, Papa Rellana, and the Rib eye steak.

Where the Toro Toro team really excels is the service department. Service is friendly, efficient and generous. The staff insisted to serve us more food. Our glasses were never empty. Shots were served on demand- and even encouraged!

The major let down was the quality of cocktails:

• Some of the cocktails were partially pre-prepared. This alone is not necessarily a bad thing, as I have been served pre-pared cocktails at other brunches that were still good. However the end product here was a disappointment.
• Caiprinhas were composed of cachaça (a Brazilian distilled spirit made from sugarcane juice) + juice concentrate sugar syrup + ice. A proper caiprinhas should be made by smashing fresh pieces of fruit with granulated sugar, followed by adding the cachaça and ice.

Toro Toro definitely put in effort to create a lively atmosphere, encouraging the customers to engage in singing, dancing, and games.

Taking into the consideration the 20% discount for early booking, this brunch offers delicious high-quality food, good vibes, and exemplary service for a reasonable price.

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Rating:
Ambiance: 17/20.
Beverages: 10/20.
Food: 18/20.
Service: 20/20
Value for Money: 15/20.
Total: 80%