Toro is a steakhouse located in the Laurales / Belen area of Medellin, Colombia. Their food is a fusion of Argentinian and Colombian influences, from the flavors to the way they cut and prepare the meat. They’ve been open since July 2017 and they pride themselves on delivering the best cuts of steak, cooked and seasoned to perfection. Notably, it’s one of the highest rated steakhouses on Trip Advisor in Medellin so we decided to go and find out why.
The Vibe
We decided to dine at night and made our way over to their location. They’re located on a corner and all of their seating is located outside, on a covered patio. I personally love the open atmosphere and street views. They have eight tables in total and all but ours were occupied when we arrived. There were also a few groups waiting to be seated, usually a sure sign that food here is good.
We were greeted by Robin Mesa, one of the owners and Chef’s at Toro. After chatting a bit about the restaurant and cuisine, he headed back to the kitchen to get back to work. The vibe has more of an Argentinian feel than Colombian, with tango music playing in the background. The music is just loud enough to hear, but not overshadow any conversation you want to have with your group.
The Food
The Menu
Toro is known for their steaks but also serve hamburger’s , veggies, and desserts as well. For an appetizer you can elect to dine on grilled sausages, grilled cheeses, a bacon and rib combination, or ceasar salad. These range from $12,000 pesos ($3.67 USD) to $16,500 pesos ($5.00).
They have plenty of entrees to choose from. Their premium cuts of steak include T-Bone at $41,500 pesos ($12 USD), Cowboy Rib-Eye $43,500 pesos ($13.30 USD) and Tomahawk Steak $44,500 pesos ($13.62 USD). Not bad pricing for prime cuts of steak.
They also have several pork, chicken, fish, and sirloin (solomito) entrees to choose from as well. Some dishes are prepared Argentinean style while others are prepared with a Paisa and/or Costal Colombian sytle. Additionally, there are several specialty hamburgers available as well as a kids menu. The bottom line is there’s a lot to choose from.
Our Order
For our entree, we decided to try the “costichip” dish. This dish contains cuts of bacon and rib tips served with an arepa and lemon. Simply put, it was PACKED with flavor.
With so many options it was hard to choose what I wanted. When I arrived the table beside me was eating a huge burger which I immediately wanted. But then I thought about all of you all reading this and said I can’t come to a steakhouse and write a good review without actually having the steak!
For the main course we ultimately went with a couple of their grilled dishes. First up was the churrasco argentino, which is the loin of the cow. I had this cooked medium rare. This dish was also cooked with a piece of the fat on the side. I personally enjoy the fat as it adds additional flavor and texture. The meat itself was cooked to perfection. It was seasoned perfectly and not tough or chewy at all.
We also tried out the tomahawk steak which I had this prepared medium rare as well. This is a beef steak as well, served with the rib bone. The name actually comes from its resemblance to the war axes used by the indegenious Americans. The portion they served us was HUGE. This dish is served with two sides as well. We went with potatoes and bacon wrapped asparagus. Once again, this cut didn’t fail to deliver in flavor and texture.
and “tomahawk steak” both are meats, and we decided to eat it in three quarters, the end result is a meat with a completely delicious flavor, where you can feel the flavor of the meat and dressings, also with thin and accompanying cuts such as potatoes or mashed potato salad and house sauce. If you are a lover of this type of food you will really love it! In our selection of desserts we decided to try the brownie with ice cream, in a hot and cold term, the fusion of flavors was completely great.
Drinks
Toro doesn’t have an extensive drink list but they do offer a few good choices of red and rosé wines. The also offer a tasty sangrias and a few local beers as well. Just our luck, they were debuting a new lemonade wine to their menu, which we of course tried. It was rather tasty!
Service
The entire restaurant is run by the three friends. This means chef, waiter, host etc. I felt like this added more of an intimate feel when they were interacting you. Our waiter was Angel, who was from Argentina. His attention to detail and knowledge of the menu was phenomenal. From the time of our arrival they were very attentive. As an added bonus, they spoke both Spanish and English, allowing for even more interaction with a variety of patrons.
Final Thoughts
The food and the service here are excellent. The three owners make an excellent team and are very personable and attentive. I thought all their offerings were reasonably priced, especially for the amount of food you get. Their steak was delicious and I would definitely recommend stopping by if you’re in Medellin. I know the next time I come, I’ll be having a big juicy burger!
Hours:
Tuesday to Wednesday: 12pm to 9 pm
Thursday: 12pm to 10 pm
Friday and Saturday: Noon to 11 pm
Sunday: 12pm to 5pm
Monday: Closed
Address: Carrera 80 # 32ee 4, Medellín, Antioquía
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ToroRestauranteMedellin/
Instagram: @toro_restaurante
Geron is an avid traveler, entreprenuer and mens style aficionado. He love’s mac and cheese, getting discounts, his momma, and a good whiskey, not particularly in that order. It’s alleged he lives in Miami, but no one really knows anymore.
Follow him on instagram at @geronp
