Pizzeria Toro
| Address: | 105 E Chapel Hill St, Durham, NC 27701, USA |
| Phone: | +1 919-908-6936 |
| Site: | pizzeriatoro.com |
| Rating: | 4.5 |
| Working: | 11AM–11PM 11AM–11PM 11AM–11PM 11AM–11PM 11AM–11PM 11AM–11PM 11AM–11PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 9
BE
Beth Mandel
While I can definitely get behind some of the inventive and tasty pizza topping combos theyve come up with at Toro, you need more than that to be a top quality pizzeria in my book. I think they have a few issues that need sorting out before they really become a contender in our contentious foodie town. Atmosphere - Theyve got a good start on decor with their wrought iron accessories and native wood tables, but it is loud as all get-out in here because of the high ceilings. They may want to look into some kind of soundproofing on the walls to absorb that loudness. In addition, I really believe they should rethink the communal seating and put in some two-tops. Not everyone wants to hear every word of their neighbors conversation while trying to chat with whomever they came out to dinner with. The loudness and communal tables combined make it a pretty terrible date spot. Crust - My experiences with the crust at Toro has been at best inconsistent. Ive received pizzas a few times now where the crust was pretty burnt. If youre going to master thin crust pizza your attention to it in the oven must be laser-like focused. When theyre slammed, this just doesnt happen, and pizzas get taken out too soon or too late, and a thin crust is not forgiving. If its overdone, every bite tastes like "burn" not like good toppings, and if its underdone, it collapses under the weight of its toppings, turning into a soggy mess. Service - Inattentive. Especially when theyre busy. Could take 5 minutes for the first greeting and glass of water. Conclusion: Inventive recipes and cool decor could make it a contender if atmosphere, service, and quality are addressed.
LO
lori james
If youre looking for a savory slice of wood-fire baked pizza pie in Bull City, youve found your place! Conveniently placed in Five Points, this little gem will leave your Italian cravings satisfied. The seating is overly communal and intimate, so you wont find much privacy at any of the two-seater tables that line the supply-stocked walls. The large oven is smack-dab in the back, and you can literally watch them make your pizza fresh. My husband and I ordered a red pizza to split: the Sweet Fennel Sausage, Roasted Peppers, and Provolone ($14). It was absolutely delicious! The restaurant space is a bit tight, so dont be surprised if people are pushing by you. If youre coming to just snack with a friend/boo, simply split a pizza. If youre coming to *seriously* eat, order two pies. This pizzeria is the perfect intimate spot to split a pie with your boo. Im anxious to try the Spicy Lamb Meatball pie! Do keep in mind that Pizzeria Toro shares a hallway and bathrooms with a neighboring joint,
MA
Matthew Clobridge
Im writing this review as Pizzeria Toro is closed for the second time in a year due to a fire. (Whats going on there?) But when they are open and if youre looking for a gourmet pizza, you cant do any better that Pizzeria Toro. Weve tried many of their pies and my favorite is the soft egg white pizza. It may be the best pizza I have ever had. Another favorite is the lamb meatballs pizza. Prior to enjoying your pie, make sure to try the Tuscan Kale salad and for desert the olive oil cake is very good. During this time that they are closed for repairs, they are hosting a "Toro Dreams" series of events at The Cookery. Every few weeks they setup shop in The Cookery for a themed night (Oysters, Mexican, and spaghetti are recent events) with all proceeds going to a local charity. Its a great way for the owners and staff of Pizzeria Toro to keep cooking while helping the community at the same time.
AB
Abby Clobridge
Not a typical pizza place. The menu changes often and features in-season vegetables and unusual pairings. Eating at the restaurant is always fun, but call ahead or make a reservation in advance as seats fill up quickly. But take-out is just as good as eating at the restaurant, and it gives you a good excuse to order too much and have plenty of leftovers for the next day! A few highlights: eggplant with spicy sausage (red); mushroom and arugula with a fried egg (white); olive oil cake; spicy kale salad; in summer, the corn and ricotta dumplings were delicious too. I cant wait for Pizzeria Toro to re-open. In the meantime, their "Toro Dreams..." series of dinners has been a great way to stay connected to the Durham community.
TE
Terra Spero
If the Judges of Americas Best Pizza are listening...I am encouraging them to start here! Holy holy holy cow! This place is great for pizza! We went for dinner a few weeks ago and got there just in time, apparently this place is no secret to the locals, because there was a 45 minute wait at 5:30! I wouldnt waste your money of some of the appetizers, we had ordered the Burrata and it was almost one bite for (I think) $14 or $16. That is just ridiculous...it was a delicious bite, but still not worth it. Go for the pizza - and go for any kind of pizza. We had 10 people in our party, so we ordered 6 pizzas and they were all amazing! So, yes, 5-stars, and enjoy every one of them!
EL
Eladio Bobadilla
This is probably the best pizza Ive ever had. It is cooked to perfection, with fresh, savory ingredients. Toros pizzas are sophisticated and inventive, yet also classically delicious. Their menu is small, but their minimal selection is clearly a point of pride, and rightly so. Pick your favorite pizza, pair it with a Mexican Coke, and you will have a delicious meal. The cost is reasonable, though not cheap. My only complaint is the rather limited and public seating (you can expect to share a table with strangers). All in all, this is Durhams best pizza place and one of the areas best restaurants (and thats saying something in such a foodie region).
AM
Amanda Damon
Decent pizza but overall found the food to be overpriced. The brusselsprout pizza is amazing and has a very balanced flavor. The venison sausage pizza was a miss for me because entire peppercorns were embedded in the cheese. The peppercorns overpowered the flavor of the pizza and I found the flavor to be unbalanced. I would not recommend the cannolis. My table and I were surprised that lemon zest was mixed in with the cheese mixture and we found that the lemon overpowered the flavor of the cannoli. The food is pretty expensive for what it is. Overall, I dont think that I will return. The service and ambiance are both very nice.
RY
Ryan Lipscomb
Pizzeria Toro is pizza perfected. I cant state that strongly enough. Their crust is one of the most delicious things that I have ever eaten. I lived in Rome for a brief period, and Ive eaten pizza all over the US. While Toro isnt strictly traditional, its the spirit of what pizza should be. I feel its in the same vein as how good Italian IGT wine isnt made in line with strict standards, but allows the creativity of the wine maker to work with the grapes as he/she sees best. Toros pizza just might be the one thing I am going to miss most about moving away from Durham. I just wish they had opened back up before I left.
SA
Sadie Jordan
We are secretly food critics, my career started when I turned 13. I found it easy and enjoyable to pick apart flavors and trying new things. I took my mother here, and at first, she was a bit weary about trying the pizza, because the crust was a bit charged. Let me make this clear, it was amazing! The crust was enjoyable and delicious, it had a blackening that made it taste woody and fresh. The chili oil made it very enjoyable. The great thing was, they brought out a brand new pizza, that was blonde (not charred by the oven) we had an amazing lunch here, highly recommended.
