"Pizzeria Toro: Don't Walk, RUN!" If you're on the hunt for a memorable evening with exceptional service and mouthwatering cuisine, Pizzeria Toro is the ultimate destination! Let's dive right in. **FOOD**: Pizzeria Toro doesn't disappoint when it comes to their culinary offerings. Seated right by the mesmerizing fire brick pizza oven, we were treated to a tantalizing view of the kitchen's artistry. Every dish that emerged was a feast for the senses. **Tuscan Kale Salad**: A solid 5/5 stars! Prepare to be pleasantly surprised by your newfound love for kale. Fresh and vibrant, it's adorned with roasted pine nuts and generous shavings of Parmesan, making it an absolute must-try. **Spicy Lamb Meatballs Pizza**: Another 5/5 stars! The flavor-packed meatballs might not be super spicy, but they more than make up for it with their rich taste. The only regret? Not having more of those delectable meatballs on the pizza. **Atmosphere**: An easy 5/5 stars! Pizzeria Toro boasts a diverse and friendly crowd. The welcoming waitstaff and hostess elevate the dining experience. The music selection, a blend of old-school classics and contemporary beats, creates a fantastic ambiance, making it an ideal spot for casual hangouts with friends or even romantic dates. In conclusion, my visit to Pizzeria Toro left me brimming with happiness and contentment, not to mention a satisfied stomach. I'm already counting down the days until my next visit. read more

I read all the reviews here on yelp and had pretty high expectations for this restaurant. First off, the decor is minimal if not completely lacking. Seating is shared amongst patrons so the large table seats many tables at once. So if your not a fan of bumping elbows with a complete stranger, you will most likely have to wait on of the few smaller tables open up. The chairs are very old school type, definitely uncomfortable after 20 minutes. We ordered the suppli as our appetizer. Simple, presentation in a paper cone, 3 in a order. They were flavorful yet two had a cool center where you would be expecting a melty cheese core. The pizzas we ordered where the sweet sausage, roasted peppers and provolone, the tomato and mozzarella, and the spicy lamb meatball with kale. Now, I am a huge fan of wood fired pizza, I love the crust it provides and the overall flavor it gives the pizza. But all three of our pizzas had a very burnt crust. It was truly inedible and defeats the purpose of cooking it in a wood fire oven. The crust is the best part! Why burn it?? They also seemed to put some sort of seasoning over all the pizza, like a salt of some sort? It didn't allow the flavor of the pizza shine through. For dessert, we had the zeppole. Perhaps it depends on preference but we expected a much denser zeppole. They were too light, if all four combined it would have equaled one single denser zeppole. Not a fan. Huge let down. read more

I recently visited Pizzeria Toro, a gem renowned for its wood-fired pizzas. Despite the packed house on a weeknight, we were seated immediately. The atmosphere was lively, with an expansive open kitchen that invites diners to watch the magic happen. However, this also meant that the dining space felt a bit cramped, and the noise level escalated quickly. I found it challenging at times to hear my friends, but the friendly and fast service made up for it. We decided to share two pizzas: the Sweet Fennel Sausage (red sauce base) and the New School Pepperoni (olive oil base). Both arrived piping hot, showcasing a beautifully crispy crust and a perfect balance of toppings and cheese. The Sweet Fennel Sausage was delightfully savory with a hint of sweetness, while the New School Pepperoni offered a bold, zesty kick that elevated the overall experience. Each bite was a testament to the quality ingredients and skillful preparation. I left with a satisfied palate and a craving for more, eager to return and explore the menu further. Next time, I'll aim for a quieter evening to fully enjoy the vibrant flavors and delightful company. Overall, Pizzeria Toro is a must-visit for pizza enthusiasts! read more

I rarely write reviews, but needed to for Pizzeria Toro. We were in town visiting family and stopped in the night before Thanksgiving, and before seeing a show at DPAC. We were rushing to make sure we'd have time to eat, anticipating a wait, and fortunately were able to be seated right away. The entire table (four adults) appreciated the drink options available, and 3 shared and enjoyed the Brussels sprouts appetizer. All enjoyed their pizzas as well, but I'll just expound on mine. I got the soft egg pizza, and I didn't regret it for a moment, and it's really what has me writing this review. I *did* think the amount of arugula was a tad much, but I just ate some of it with a fork until it was down to an amount I could manage on a slice. I definitely recommend utilizing the chili oil they bring to the table, starting with just a little at first - I'm a bit of a wimp, but was still able to enjoy a bit drizzled over the top! The soft egg pizza was the perfect amount of crunch and chew from the crust, the tang of the arugula, the richness and softness (as is implied) from the egg, and then the (smokiness?) quality that the mushrooms bring. It just all comes together wonderfully. read more

Had a great experience at Pizzeria Toro, and it's the kind of place you leave already planning your return. From the moment you walk in, there's a welcoming energy. The wood-fired oven sets the tone, and you can tell they take pride in doing things the traditional way. Started with the Tuscan Kale salad, which was fresh, well-balanced, and honestly a standout. I could eat this every day and won't get tired. It had just the right mix of texture and flavor without trying too hard. We then tried the Pizza Margherita and the mushroom garlic pizza. The Margherita was classic in the best way: simple, clean, and executed with care. The mushroom garlic pizza had a deeper, richer flavor profile, with the mushrooms bringing a nice earthiness that paired perfectly with the garlic. You can tell there's real attention to detail here, from the quality of ingredients to how everything comes together. Service was smooth, and the atmosphere had that lively, welcoming energy that makes you want to stay a little longer. All in all, a solid spot that delivers on both flavor and experience. Worth the visit. read more

I ordered a pizza from Toro tonight and I must say it was a truly disappointing experience. The pizza was completely burnt, which not only ruined the taste but also left an unpleasant charred smell lingering in the air. To add insult to injury, I paid an extra $2 for extra arugula as a topping, but what I received was barely a sprinkling. It was such a negligible amount that I could hardly taste or see it on the pizza. It felt like a complete rip-off! Furthermore, the pizza itself was paper-thin. I understand that some people prefer thin crust, but this was excessive. There was hardly any substance to the pizza; it felt like I was eating a cracker with a hint of tomato sauce. Overall, this pizza was a huge disappointment. The burnt taste, the meager amount of extra arugula despite paying extra, and the unsatisfying thin crust all contributed to a truly awful experience. Save your money and avoid this place if you're looking for quality pizza. read more

Pizzeria Toro is one of the best pizza places on Durham. They have both red and white pizza options and all the pizzas are wood grilled. I have tried the spicy lamb meatball and cremini mushroom pizza. Cremini mushroom was good but spicy lamb meatball was breathtaking! They also have great antipasti and desserts. From antipasti's, I have tried the ricotta dumplings and the suppli al telefono. Dumplings were delicious but suppli al telefono was not the best. From desserts I pretty much tried all. The tiramisu was okay. The orange pieces on the cannoli were a great touch to the dessert however the best was gianduja budino! I highly recommend it! It is a very dense chocolatte mousse and it is definitely the best dessert at Pizzeria Toro! Besides food, they have a great ambiance and very fast service. Great location for group events, or even dates! read more

We had to wait ten minutes for service on a Monday night. The pizza here is not great. It's really not even that good. I don't understand how they drizzle oil onto the pizza after it's finished cooking and it can still be dry. We had the eggplant and the spicy lamb meatball pizza. They were both in need of salt. We asked for salt and were given a ramekin of kosher salt...the spicy lamb pizza was seriously lacking lamb. And spiciness. I couldn't even taste it. They should slice the meatballs smaller and distribute them evenly over the pizza, or just add more lamb meatballs. The wine selection isn't fantastic. I got the Zinfandel and didn't even finish the glass. It was too light to be a bold, peppery Zinfandel. If you're a fan of greasy NY style pizza and real wood oven pizza, you may want to pass this place up. read more

Durham People...This place is awesome...If you are looking for a greasy-loaded-ny- pizza-by-the-slice place, this is not for you....keep on moving down the street to the next Dominos. I never knew pizza could be so good until I went there last night. This is oak wood, fired pizza with quality and local ingredients including in-house made meats. Beautiful space. I like that the simple and clean design does not detract from the restoration of one of the oldest historic building in downtown Durham. The food far exceeded my expectations and the service rounded it out. Just one observation from another review.... rather than only five pizzas on the menu, there are actually nine plus one special every night. Don't miss out on the fabulous sides when you go. Thanks Pizzeria Toro for coming to my town! read more

i was in town tonight for the first time in 10 years. first thought: wow! durham was great then, but what a place now. i can totally see why and how a place like Toro fits into the scene... non-assuming, great vibe, but most importantly, phenomenal food. the owner/chef stopped by our table to ensure that all was good... so much better than good. got there around 9 and had a bit of a wait, but enjoyed a beer at the well appointed bar. drank local brew of course. hostess promptly invited us to our table as soon as available. can't believe the place already has a personatlity and "feel" with locals already having b een established. left full, buzzed, and ready to return. read more

By far the best pizza I can think of.. Incredibly local, incredibly delicious. The guys running it know what they are doing. My only complaint is the menu. Can you change it more regularly? I understand that there are favorites and you can't touch them but everytime I call or come in, the special pizza is either out or there simply isn't one that night. Considering this is my favorite pizza shop, possibly in the world, I want to be able to switch it up.. Obviously I could live off just the mozzarella pizza, but if I had more choices on a daily bases, my world would be changed. For the best. read more

Ever since I moved to Durham and tried Pizzeria Toro for the first time, they have never ceased to impress. There is almost always a line unless you happen to catch them really late at night, but there's a reason! The food is incredible. Whether you're ordering the prosciutto, or one of their house aged pepperoni pizzas, the quality of ingredients is there. The waiters and waitresses are engaging and pleasant and the zeppole is to die for. I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for an awesome pizza or any other Italian food/wine!! read more

The fiddlehead fern pizza is maybe the best pizza I've ever had - the bitterness of the greens really lent a lot of complexity to the pizza and I was grateful that it was lightly dressed. They have a good selection of some delicious Lambrusco. The dumplings my partner got were to die for and kind of smoothed things over after a big fight we had over whether or not you ever see Maris in Frasier. My cocktail was unbalanced, but then again when can you find a precise cocktail anywhere? Good vibes. 9\10! read more

I had the brussels sprouts pizza! The ricotta cream was a really nice touch and the pancetta was deliciously salty in all the right ways. The pancetta was not evenly spread, so there were some parts of the pizza that didn't really have any flavor. The chili flakes and oil that they bring to the table helped though! We didn't have to wait for a table, but we did wait a bit to get our order in. Overall, it was a nice spot to grab lunch! read more

Fabulous pizza with the highest quality toppings and most wonderful crust. Had the white pizza with 4 cheeses and sausage...it was perfection. Just when we didn't think it could get better, we ordered dessert! Oh my! The boudino is pure bliss. Double chocolate layers that are so perfectly smooth and sweetened perfectly. I was visiting for the holidays....but I cannot wait to return. read more

Always incredible pizza with great specials. The service is always fantastic too. You can easily get in and out for lunch very quickly or take your time enjoying a nice dinner and wine with friends. It's always packed but the staff is efficient. I highly recommend it! read more

This is an excellent place! I came here for lunch with my 14 month old. The accommodations they have for children are awesome. The staff is great. When you match good food with an excellent staff it's magical! Glad to have toro in downtown durham read more

Really great pizza. So much attention is put towards making a high quality pizza. If you look in the kitchen you can see the process from start to finish. Passes through a number of people making sure the pizza is perfect. And it is! read more

Really high quality pizza.. I wish they didn't take the fried eggplant off the menu. That was really special. I also love the spicy sausage with sweet onions. Not much better than that one. Kale salad is too small in my opinion. read more