Toro Toro

Less a brunch, more a long lunch 23 Reviews

Meal Deal

Hola Hola brunch

Offers Latin American favourites, including Toro Toro’s signature churrasco grill. It features great mixed drinks, and is a good way to sample some of the restaurants best dishes. Dhs300 (soft drinks), Dhs400 (selected house beverages) Timings: 12.30pm-4pm (Friday)

1

© ITP Images

 

• 
• Picture 1 of 2
• 

A brunch review and a restaurant review are, in my opinion, two very different beasts. If anything, the former is a microcosm of the latter – a four-hour window in which a venue can showcase its food, service and drinks selection, and basically pull out every possible stop to lure customers back.

In this respect, I was interested to find out what Toro Toro had in store at its new Friday feast. The Richard Sandoval restaurant has already impressed with its oh-so-fashionable Latin American fare, not to mention giving Dubai’s preeners and pouters a place to convene. What more could it possibly offer? I was worried that it might try to broaden its appeal by offering atypical buffet stations, such as sushi and a carvery, thus diluting its distinct appeal in the process.

On arrival, this didn’t appear to be the case. There was evidence of a kids’ corner in the non-smoking section, which I suppose is a necessity for such daytime dining events, but no live cooking stations, ice sculptures or chocolate fountains in sight. Food is served in the true tradition of Brazilian churrasco-style dining: guests are issued with a special table mat – green on one side (‘keep it coming’) and red on the other (‘back off’). We were very much in a ‘green-side-up’ state of mind and were soon being lavished with guacamole and tortilla chips, tangy tuna ceviche with sweet potato and quinoa, and heirloom and tomato salad. These were washed down with wonderfully refreshing, well-made Latin American mixed drinks, before our table was further crowded with tortilla de papas, chilaquiles (tortilla chips with cheese, white onion and tomato sauce), smoked salmon flatbread embellished with horseradish and capers, and (our favourite) beef chorizo empanada.

The only downside thus far was that we were full before the main course, during which achiote chicken, lamb sausage, lamb chops and sirloin Brazilian beef were marched over to our table and served rodizio-style. The onslaught didn’t stop there – side dishes including potato tostones, yucca fries, fried rice, yet more salad and frejoles con carne (black beans, braised beef and avocado cream) arrived and we began to wish there was a buffet station that we could escape to. As it was, we were eventually overwhelmed, and with some reluctance we turned our mats red-side up.

As far as four-hour showcases go, Toro Toro couldn’t have presented itself better: the food was exquisite and the service was so polite it verged on affectionate. But a quintessential Dubai brunch Toro Toro is not – it’s more of a long, lazy and extremely luxurious lunch. It’ll be interesting to see how the efficiency of the table service fares when it gets busier (which it will), and we can only hope that the restaurant doesn’t raise its prices when it becomes more popular, as with so many other brunches in town. Yet for now, Toro Toro’s Hola Hola brunch is a treat for gourmands and gluttons alike.
Brunch served Fri 12.30pm-4pm. Dhs300 per person with soft drinks; Dhs400 with selected beverages. Grosvenor House, Tower 2, Dubai Marina (04 399 8888).

By Oliver Robinson
Time Out Dubai, 28 February 2012

• Previous reviews
  • 22 March,2012- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 11 October,2011- reviewed by Oliver Robinson

• Share | |
• E-mail:
• 
• Print:
• 

Time Out reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.

User reviews:

Posted by: Stefan on 17 Jan ' 13 at 05:43

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Really not a Rodizio service... A shame !! Absolutely not GENEROUS.... tiny skewers of sausages cutlets beef...... 420AED per person..... NOTworth the money. They need to give a lot more or charge a lot less.
SHOCKING!!!
But nice design......

Posted by: Nasser on 26 Oct ' 12 at 03:04

Not worth the Money. Very poor, tasteless

Posted by: Blue on 07 Sep ' 12 at 14:51

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Had brunch there, in short, not worth the price. Overall I wouldn't pay more than 200 aed for such food & service, it's mainly a snobby place that has nothing to offer. Apart from some of the staff, nothing was really brazilian in that place!

It's best for nothing as it is noisy with loud music (not even brazilian), overpriced and definitely not family friendly with a 150 aed charge for a 6 years old kid's meal!

Who ever had the chance to go to a real churrascaria would tell you that it's a rip off, not even half of the meat selection was offered in toro toro, the beef and chicken were ok but you clearly see from the beginning an attempt to get you full with everything but meat. We had to wait for 20 minutes to get the first meat after asking for it, looks like they are waiting for everybody to finish their appetizer before offering meat! After that it was us asking again and again for someone to come around with food. Service is so slow that you are actually not eating that much at the end!

Posted by: Nancy on 25 Aug ' 12 at 14:01

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

It was wonderful experience over all. The food was excellent the service was smart. All the waiters and managers were quite knowledgeable with regards to the menu and our requirements. I am highly impressed with the service and ambience.

Posted by: Mark Astor on 11 Jul ' 12 at 14:26

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

You pay a fortune for canapes.

Really not worth the money. They need to give a lot more or charge a lot less.

Posted by: Madam COCO on 12 Jun ' 12 at 13:09

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

First of all, Its not a Mexican cuisine TIME OUT. It's Spanish. *Sigh*
It's a beautiful place to start an evening for Tapas and wine. Delicious dishes. The bar on the second floor is fun and has a great atmosphere. Its best to start by dinner. It's quiet pricey and if you are planning to hit the bar only come early and dress to impress. Like most of Dubai they do select who enters.

Posted by: Moudud on 28 May ' 12 at 07:54

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Edited by TimeOutDubai.com

We used to go to Toro Toro specially for drinks, it was really awesome but last Saturday nigh (26th of may) I called some of my friends along with my girlfriend in Toro Toro to have some drinks with me. We sat on bar counter, the terrible thing is- The drink we had that night was disaster. I felt shame to my friends, they order some special drinks from menu & the bartenders made our drinks was really not like before we had. There is no consistency. I always order from other Bartender who used to work in same place but that night i didn't see him he is a good Bartender. My Suggesion is you should these Bartenders who just started their Career, otherwise you may loose your customer like us

Posted by: Carlos bonante on 26 Dec ' 11 at 10:34

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Good food, exelent music and the decor is really nice.

Posted by: Markos muller on 23 Dec ' 11 at 17:21

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Expensive?? Yes, but the food and the music is very well! Churrasco is amazing

Posted by: Zayed Ron on 10 Dec ' 11 at 20:50

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

The staff are amazing. I went there having dinner with my wife and we loved the place. For sure we will come back just to have the great experience in this restaurant again. The best thing for me was the treatment provided by the lovely staff. Food are amazing aswell. And prices is on average of any good restaurant in Dubai

Posted by: John on 01 Dec ' 11 at 06:20

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

We have been there 3 times. Once for dinner, twice for drinks. The decor is impressive and the lay-out is very comfortable. The tapas were trying too hard to be original and vastly over priced. The main course of grilled meat was good, but also over-priced.
The bar is much better than the restaurant. The ambience is relaxing and the Latin music is great. However, the only original Latin drink on the menu, Orchata, is never available. It takes 24 hours to prepare, therefore they seem to have stopped making it. When I complained to the manager I was rudely told they had run out....at 8:00 pm on a Thursday night!?

Posted by: Nathan Rempel on 28 Nov ' 11 at 16:28

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Had dinner here last week. Fantastic location, Grosvenor House has positioned itself as the place to be at this end of town. The service was reasonable and the food was actually very good, particularly the steak which was on par with anything available in Dubai - but the prices are simply unjustifiable. Disappointing as this restaurant has potential, but I for one will not return to a restaurant with these kind of prices. Dhs 100 for a two bite size portions? This restaurant is not on par with the likes of Zuma and should have recognized this when formulating the pricing.

Posted by: Kelly P on 22 Nov ' 11 at 08:22

Will I return to this restaurant... no. Why is that restaurants in Dubai think they can open up in a great location and just hammer customers on the price. This restaurant has been open for a matter of months and the reviews are unanimous - it is too expensive for whats on offer. Nobu and Zuma, for instance, are well run operations where the customer knows the food will not disappoint, therefore they can justify the price.

Posted by: irwin on 20 Nov ' 11 at 12:19

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Oh man, I wish I'd read these reader's reviews before going - they're right. It's waaaaay overpriced for tiny portions.

And the food itself it pretty hit and miss.

Won't be going back.

Posted by: lenny on 20 Nov ' 11 at 11:47

A tapas restaurant should not be this expensive. The food was delicious but simply too expensive. Good atmosphere, friendly enough staff but just too pricey for a tapas restaurant. Would only return if someone else was footing the bill. The owner should be embarrased also to serve such bad sangria.

Posted by: lenny on 20 Nov ' 11 at 10:02

A tapas restaurant should not be this expensive. The food was delicious but simply too expensive. Good atmosphere, friendly enough staff but just too pricey for a tapas restaurant. Would only return if someone else was footing the bill. The owner should be embarrased also to serve such bad sangria.

Posted by: raj gopal on 09 Nov ' 11 at 18:45

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

fantastic evening, everything went the waiter had very good knowledege of the food, great place to be

Posted by: Richard Kimble on 30 Oct ' 11 at 13:12

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Vastly overpriced for tiny canape-sized portions.

It just feels like a huge rip off.

Posted by: Jo on 19 Oct ' 11 at 09:53

Agree with the above; might like the dishes more if being charged HALF the price! For this much $$ you want something very special. Dhs80 for two very average meat pastries is a rip-off. The shrimp skewer was mediocre, the Chilean Sea Bass and the fillet steak were good but small portions for Dhs100+ each. I'd rather go to Asado and pay a bit more and actually get some food on the plate for my money! Service was good on the night we went and didn't experience any problems. Appreciate the smoking tables, the beautiful decor and the atmosphere, but the overpriced food does not live up to the hype.

Posted by: Jamed Jordan on 18 Oct ' 11 at 11:54

• Best for: Romantic

The worst service ever. Waiters dont speak english, they are not trained and worst of all they are rude and are very unapologetic for mistakes. While having drinks, one commented that the management is disorganized and treat them badly. This is a very poor show for the Grosvenoe House. Classy? I think not. The management really need to re-think the whole approach to service. A manager came over and spoke in a very fake italian/indian/english accent trying to explain the concept. It seems the operation manager for fired before the opening. Bad start. Bad service. Overpriced food.

Posted by: John on 09 Oct ' 11 at 08:50

Vastly overpriced.

It idea is tapas sharing so you have to order around six dishes to share between two. One dish consisted or two tiny little pasties - Dhs80.

The beef was just a few slithers of meat in sauce - Dhs115

It's just a massive rip off and even ignoring the price and tiny portions, half the dishes were not even very good.

I would NOT go back here.

Posted by: R. Anter on 07 Oct ' 11 at 14:58

I concur with AS above. I've been to toro toro twice. Once for dinner and a second time For drinks hoping the experience would be better. Wrong! Despite the fact its a great looking venue, the service is shockingly bad, and the food is crazy over priced for the tiniest portions, these guys are nowhere close to zuma's level, so they shouldn't try to charge the same!

When is it that new places in dubai will try to impress rather than use the excuse they are new to justify incredibly inexperienced staff, slow service and average food. I'm all for paying the cash for a great night, but toro toro is pretensions ripoff. Hopefully the barmen won't have to read the menu to figure out how to make a drink and a simple order won't take 45mins if I were to ever am obliged to go there again.

Posted by: AS on 06 Oct ' 11 at 12:41

We went there 2 weeks after the opening. Will I come back? NO

The waitresses barely understand English which makes the order quite unpleasant. Food was average. Barman does not understand a simple cocktail: litchi martini. Neither did the waitress. It is not because your replace olives with litchis that it is a litchi martini!
Cocktails took 40 minutes to reach our table.
We received the wrong bill. And then again. Even lower. We decided that we waited long enough and we decided to pay a bill much lower than what we ordered for... Waiting another 30 minutes was not an option.
On my way out I run into clients who were struggling at keeping ladies away from them. In an ideal world it would be great It seem that the night ladies moved from Buddha Bar to Toro Toro...