Toro Bar

Toro and El Camino are mates, which means that if you want El Camino food but can’t squeeze you and your group into the tiny restaurant, you can order and have your food brought up the road. Thankfully Toro makes the same delicious margaritas that El Camino is known for, so you can have the same experience without worrying about getting a table initially. You can also order food straight from Toro — their tapas are awesome. I’ve seen my meaty friends chow down on chorizo with mushroom and the buffalo rings, while I stuck to the seafood and enjoyed it thoroughly!

A little scungy but a really lively place. Always seems pumping and the drinks are a good price and quite nice. I’m not 100% convinced about the food… and some of things on their menu definitely should not cost as much as they are charging, but they have deals on basically everyday that they’re open so lust go for that option if you ant to be eating there. You go here for the company and atmosphere anyway; if you want food, go to Canton Café, Sake Bar 601 or Winehot (which are in the Kingsland area also). Because they do get so busy, don’t be surprised if they make you wait a while for food (and might I add, this is very typical westernized Mexican food. Lots of cheese, deep-​fried crap and greasy, greasy grease. Gag)

El Camino has become one of those places that cool people are starting to talk about, so in a couple of months’ time it’ll be obnoxious. I’m not that cool so I’ve never been, but I have been to Toro and I have to say I enjoyed it. As far as I can tell the two places have some familial connection but I won’t let my praise for Toro spill over onto its hipster neighbour.
Toro does a good balance between bar and restaurant. You know how at some bars you feel stupid sitting down to eat, and at some restaurants you feel like a lush if you just want to drink? Well Toro doesn’t have either of those problems. I went for a friend’s birthday and we transitioned smoothly from food to beers to mojitos over the course of the evening, and all of it seemed comfortable and relaxed. The food and mojitos were nice too, and the beers were bottled so their quality was uniform. I’d come here again.

I would probably visit here more frequently than approximately once a month if it were not for the $ 12 Sundays, due to the distance from my own locale.
There is the option of a burrito, chimachunga or quesadilla and choice of meat — chicken or beef, at the discounted rate. Full price is around the high teen dollar mark.
Service is usually pretty relaxed, excusable as it is a Sunday, with cocktail specials also on. The marguerita is particularly nice. I have not tried that many others, as there is a high chance I have been hungover when visiting in the past.
The meals are a great size, with the amount just right to fill you right up. The meals come with an array of salad with sour cream and guacamole also. There is a enormous selection of hot sauces hiding around the bar, of all variations of chili and brand.
I believe Toro is an extremely close relation of the neighbouring and popular El Camino bar, with an almost identical menu and special deal. We ultimately ended up at Toro after frequently being rejected by El Camino, as it was too full — only to discover that next door do the identical deal. I actually end up enjoying Toro more, as it has a more relaxed atmosphere (if that is possible) with slightly more space, as it can sometimes become crammed next door.