.......should rename the place Pizzeria Woke........have eaten at some of the old school pizza joints in New England that have been around for decades (Regina, Boston North End, Caserta, Providence, Pepe's, New Haven and others). The pizza at Toro rivals those although they could be a lot more generous with the meat toppings. My beef is with the covid protocols.......thought I had entered the Twilight Zone, the sign post up ahead being Cambridge, MA and Harvard Square with the masking (city ordinance but establishment discretion on level of enforcement) and vaccine card requirements.......would have walked out when they asked for my papers but it was cold and late. Why in the world would any establishment require proof of covid shots when they do nothing to stop the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus? Mask maybe (not a convincing case but I'll play along) but vaccine shots? Really? What next, proof you're not an alcoholic or heavy smoker? Oh, and the mandatory 20% tip for everyone regardless of size of party, not a smart business move. read more

So tonight I stood in the rain for 12 minutes waiting for a cold pizza while the server sat at the bar and paced around in the bar area. Then the server lectured me for standing under the awning and not wearing a mask while I was standing outside in the rain. read more

Criminy. Every single thing about our experience at Toro was absolute perfection. Isaac was our waiter at the back bar. He was genuinely friendly, not phony. Well acquainted with everything on the menu. Always aware when we needed something but not hovering. Thank you Isaac - we are almost always disappointed by terrible waitstaff. The food was incredible - mushroom/mozarella appetizer, spicy lamb meatball pizza, cannolis & budino(one of, if not the best, creative and delicious chocolate desserts we have ever had. Music was fun but not intrusive and as always the atmosphere is charming. We can't stop talking about our experience but need to because we're starting to annoy everyone. read more

Avoid this place like the plague! The despicable owner, who doesn't want to pay his employees, has passed along this cost to the customers with the 20% "living wage fee", which he justifies by his woke/leftist propaganda. It doesn't help that the pizza is garbage, the service is horrible and it's overall a terrible place to spend your money. With all the other options, don't be foolish and spend your money at this place. read more

Ooh pizza, how I love thee. Especially YOUR pizza, Pizzeria Toro. Durham has a lot of options to satisfy your 'za craving, so when comparing options it is important to identify your dining out goals. If you are looking for a restaurant casual enough for a first date, but impressive enough to take friends or in-laws from out of town, or just something fun, casual and convenient for after-work drinks and antipasti, this is definitely the place. I love the ambiance here. It's cozy and lively and reminds me of restaurants I visited on my honeymoon in Italy. In the main dining room you have a clear view of the kitchen and wood-fire oven and plenty of natural light accompanied by cutesy Edison lights above. In the bar, you are tucked away from the hustle and bustle where you can enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine while waiting for a table. Yes, another Durham restaurant that does not accept reservations, I know. The cocktails are worthy of a single happy hour stop, but I'd encourage you to stay for the main event. I would highlight my favorite menu item except that it's all my favorite. It's PIZZA! While the toppings may seem experimental, they are fantastic together. Trust! The servers are very knowledgeable, and I highly recommend that you ask for a little introduction to their menu if it's your first time. These servers are not your average Joe's and they are on. top. of. it. I will highlight the zeppole. It's an Italian pastry which is deep fried ball of dough. Just get it and thank me later. If you skip dessert and smell it wafting from the neighboring table you will be filled with regrets! For parking, there are a few decks nearby. I'd recommend the Durham Center Parking Garage off of W Morgan Street. It's a bit further from potential Bulls Game or DPAC events, and is about 1 block to the restaurant. read more

My boyfriend likes it so much. I ordered a fennel sausage red pizza, add the lamb meatball, mushroom, roasted peppers, and Prosciutto di Parma. The pizza turned out to be spicy... I don't know why but maybe it is because of my added ingredients. I expect them to be sweet as tomato sauce. read more

The best pizza I've ever had ! Everyone was SUPER friendly and welcoming ! Extremely knowledgable about menu and helpful with answering questions quickly regarding food allergies ! So great! Would ABSOLUTLEY go back! read more

Pizzeria Toro - Wonderful lunch with family ! And truly the BEST pizza I've EVER HAD!!!!! - Pizza Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This is a great spot for lunch! Great service and the food is authentic Italian... Nothing to heavy. I definitely recommend it! read more

Pizzeria Toro - Pizza Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Excellent food and so happy to see Allison working there. She is the best! Their pizza has wonderful, fresh ingredients like Venison Sausage. If you are hankering for pepperoni, it is not the place for you. The kale salad is delicious and the kick of the chile is nice. read more

Pizzeria Toro - View from the window seats. - Pizza Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This is one my favorite pizza spots in downtown Durham. The atmosphere is amazing with a wood fire oven in the middle of the restaurant. The food is seasonal and fresh. The service is always amazing and the have a great selection of specialty pizza and appetizers. read more

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This is my favorite restaurant in Durham! Their selection of seasonal, wood-fired artisanal pizzas are perfect in flavor and texture every time. While meats like venison sausage and lamb meatball are staples on the menu, vegetarians shouldn't fear! Their buffalo mozzarella pizza is always a) on the menu and b) incredible. Great pizza is expected from a pizzeria. But what sets the place apart are the extras: an unexpectedly excellent wine list, an atmosphere that is both classy and comfortable, a great set of appetizers and salads, and the only menu section dedicated to some pretty great prosciutto ("ham") I've seen around. The only downside is the deliciousness that is Pizzeria Toro is hardly a secret. Throw in the fact they don't take reservations, and you may find it difficult to bring a large-ish group here, especially on a weekend. If you are a party of 2 or 3, you might consider heading to the back to sit at the bar, which has open seating. Once you've got your pie, remember to ask for the chili oil to top off the pizza, if that's your jam -- it's delicious! And if anyone can tell me what brand of chili oil they serve at Toro (I heard it's from Li Ming), I'll buy you a drink! :) read more

A couple of friends and I came one evening before a show. We had been hearing many good things about this place. We were lucky that they were not too busy at that time yet, and we got to sit at the center table right by where the chef team puts together the pizzas and places them in the oven. That was definitely one of the best parts: getting to watch the pizzas be put together and get the smells from when it first comes out. It is a small place, but warm and cozy. The wait staff seemed nice. Our waitress was courteous and the only complaint I had about her was she was a little hard to flag down for more water and our check. Maybe because by then they were filling up? We got two pizzas to share among the three of us. For starters, really wish we got a third one. I could have eaten an entire pizza (I was a bit hungry that day) to be full. The pizzas have a thin, very crispy crust (no sagging), and were in and of themselves a bit underwhelming. Not very flavorful and there were charred spots, which I would expect with a wood-fired pizza. Doesn't mean I love that aspect, but it was expected. The toppings on the pizza though were what made the pizza. We got a special with thing slices of lemon baked in and a prosciutto one. We loved these. The ingredients seemed fresh and really blended together without being overpowering. The only problem I had with the pizzas were that they seemed small and they are pricey. Though I love to eat pizza, this would not be a place I could afford to eat at very often. read more

Wood fired pizza, rustic atmosphere, and great service! Breaking the yelp trend ,with no bad review here! Had a salad and pizza both stellar! Pizza had a vary light crust and topping were very purposeful and Well chosen. This place will not meet the needs of a dominos lover... but is a great take on pizza for a foodie. read more

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Definitely a great and friendly staff located in downtown. ..go on a date or with friends as they don't do slices. Prices are decent and they have some very tasty salads... read more

This place has a fantastic reputation and I'm glad to say it's well earned! The first time I went, it was in the evening and the place was packed and it's noisy, so if you're looking for a quiet place for conversation, this is NOT it but if you're looking for terrific food & drink, you will not be disappointed. If you want to have all this great food and a little more conversation, go right when they open up for lunch. But beware, by the time you leave it will be getting quite busy yet again. It's all worth it though! read more

My boyfriend took me here on a date, and I was really excited from the yelp reviews. Why hasn't anyone on yelp mentioned the state of the restaurant itself? The bathroom was dark and covered in graffiti. The walls were off-white, cracked and smudged with grey. The floor, made of concrete, had broken at one point and had haphazardly been filled in the a cement of a different color. No pictures on the walls either. The pizza was ok, but their lack of pride in the restaurant itself was a major turn-off. read more

Pizzeria Toro - Pizza Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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My sister and I came here for dinner before a show at DPAC. We were not disappointed! I'm not ashamed to say that I'm a bit of a pizza snob. I just think if I'm gonna eat pizza, it oughtta be GOOD. Am I right??? We walked into this place and my mouth started watering. Our server was fantastic and fun to talk to, and recommended the drink specials for us that night - aperol margarita for me and a bellini for my sister. The drinks were very good. We grabbed the appetizer special to split, and we also split a pizza. Bacon, mushrooms, and cheese sounds basic, but I promise you this was definitely not a basic pizza. The kitchen is open and the vibe in there is just laid back and relaxed. I live 2 counties away, but I plan on getting back over there sometime to grab some pizza for lunch and doing some downtown shopping. read more

Great pizza! I came here on a weekday around lunch time. I ordered the tomato and mozzarella pizza. I literally had 30 minutes on my parking meter and I was in and out in that time frame. Quick and friendly service. I will return. I loved the thin and airy crust. A little pricey though. read more

Pizzeria Toro - Tomatoe and mozzarella pizza - Pizza Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Great place for a date night! Ambiance is dark and romantic, and the food and service are great. The ricotta dumplings, and pnw chanterelle mushroom pizza are incredible! The dough is light and cooked to perfection in a wood fire oven. Definitely a favourite dinner spot! read more

The aesthetic, service, and food make this one of Durham's to downtown dinner destinations. Go alone and eat at the vibey back bar, or sit family style with friends in the front. Either way, you're guaranteed to have a memorable and delicious dining experience. read more

My daughter & I had the dumplings, a red sauce pizza & a white sauce pizza. All had great flavor. The pizza crust was light & crispy, totally worth eating even if you don't typically eat the crust. We will definitely be back the next time we are in the area. read more

Pizza's really good, it's just kind of pricey for what you're getting. Wish they had ranch

This is the best place to get artisan pizza in the Triangle. Hands down. I've had a variety of delectable pizzas here, with local veggies and fresh cheeses. Their menu is seasonal, so the pizzas change month to month. It's a little expensive, but the pizza I got lasted me two meals. Also make sure to ask for the spicy pepper oil. It adds a whole new layer of flavor to the pizza. However, Pizzeria Toro gets crowded fast, and they don't take reservations so get their early or be prepared to wait. I always have trouble writing reviews for my favorite places. There's not much to say: best artisan pizza, great service, good portions, go here soon! read more

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We've become regulars at Toro. Once we tasted the hot chili oil on top of our overcooked pizza, we were hooked. All the pizza's we've had here were hits, our favorite being the mushroom one and the specials they usually have. Our favorite appetizers were the squash blossoms and the burraata, which is a seasonal item on the menu. The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive, the prices are fair, and the selection is plentiful. In my opinion, best pizza spot in the Raleigh/Durham scene. read more

Spent a wonderful evening drinking and eating fantastic brick oven pizza. We tried the white egg pizza because so many popular reviews... it was great. I was so impressed that I ordered the fennel sausage and it was equal or better. Community seating was fun and we met some great local people. Get the Kale salad... again something not to be missed. The wait was not bad at all for a Saturday night, he'll for any night. Loved it! read more

Great food, drinks, ambiance etc. We've been to Pizzeria Toro over a dozen times and would rate it as one of our top 10 restaurants in the area. Main reason I'd like to make this post is that I hope/request that they make the "boozy" tiramisu a permanent item in the dessert menu. One of the best tiramisu's I've had in Durham/Raleigh area. Please-please make it a permanent item on the dessert menu! read more

Absolutely fabulous pizza. Fantastic service. Very well run. The wood burner turns out some great dishes. I had to have two orders of the wood fire crispy broccolini with anchovies. There were five of us and we had no reservation, but they took wonderful care of us. A top place for great food and good fun in The Triangle. read more

Oof. My friends really like this place and I was excited to try it with them, but my experience was decidedly sub-par. I will say it was unusually crowded for a Monday night, so they may have been overwhelmed, but. I was with four friends and ordered a cold soup starter. Everyone else gets their appetizers, and mine still hasn't appeared by the time half of them are finished, so I cancel my order. I ordered the vegan pizza (which was really tasty, to be fair), but when I ordered it the waitress said "Oh there's a little bit of honey in the crust; is that okay?" I eat honey so it was okay for me, but a huge portion of vegans wouldn't eat that, so to have it on the menu as a vegan option is misleading. If I'd shown up thinking I had a vegan pizza option and got stuck with a side salad, I would've been pissed. I also ordered their margarita after having a sip of my friend's, and mine tasted VERY different, and not in a good way. No one ever acknowledged my starter was screwed up, and while I wasn't charged for it, I didn't get anything knocked off the bill either--and a break on one of my cocktails would've made a big difference. Paying $50 for a frustrating experience is not my idea of a good time; I won't be coming back anytime soon. read more

Best pizza in the Triangle...in fact, it's my favorite pizza anywhere outside of Italy. This is true gourmet pizza with creations you've never thought of before. Try the soft egg pizza with arugula and mushrooms. It's amazing. The ricotta dumplings are a great appetizer and the kale salad is a great starter as well. Go with a few people so you can try more than one pizza or just come back often. read more

Pizzeria Toro - Ricotta dumplings with pumpkin and pecans. Delish!! - Pizza Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Came out here with family after celebrating a graduation and we all fell in LOVE with their pizza. For appetizers, we got burrata and ricotta dumplings. You can never go wrong with some burrata and bread, which was the case and the ricotta dumplings were served in an amazing creamy sauce. Pizzeria Toro does mainly thin crust pizzas and they do classics as well as very unique pizzas. We ordered the margherita, a spicy lamb sausage one, and a spring green one. The margherita was incredible - the tomato sauce was so incredibly fresh tasting. The spicy lamb sausage was great and a different spin on pizza. The spring green one was a very unique, vegetarian one and had a medley of greens as well as pistachios - first time I've had pistachios on pizza and let me just say I wish most pizzerias thought of it was a pizza topping! All of the pizzas were unreal. The waitstaff were also super friendly. Wish I had one of these closets to me. read more

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Amazing amazing pizza!! I knew I was going to love this restaurant the moment I stepped inside. You can see the chefs hard at work by the big pizza oven, and the restaurant isn't that big so it has a nice homey feel. I was in a party of 2 and we were seated a lot a longer 4 seater table with another party of 2. I actually liked sitting with other people because we struck up a conversation and they shared with us their recommendations. We ordered the ricotta dumplings to start (delicious!), and then each ordered a pizza. I ordered the spicy lamb meatball and kale pizza and my boyfriend got the more standard sausage pizza. My pizza was one of the best I've ever had. The crust was amazing and I loved the flavor combo on my pizza. My boyfriend also enjoyed his choice, but he did have some food envy when he had a bite of mine. Overall, if you're looking for good quality pizza in Durham, this should be at the top of your list! read more

Pizzeria Toro - Spicy lamb meatball and kale pizza - Pizza Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Pizzeria Toro - intriguing toppings, chewy crusts, casual atmosphere. This place left me scratching my head over all the interesting flavors offered on the menu. My friends and I ordered from clams and lamb meatballs to prosciutto and buffalo burrata. I would've tried everything on the menu if I wasn't in Durham for two nights only. I tried the spicy lamb meatball and the prosciutto pizzas. Both were delicious, but I think the over-salting disguised a lot of flavor. Props to whoever put kale on the meatball pizza though, because the slight bitterness of the kale was a nice addition. The staff was very friendly, offering to split our bill four different ways. There was no wait during the weekday early dinner period. read more

Have eaten here on a number of occasions (all in small groups). Service is a little slow compared to equivalent restaurants/ quality of food, but both the pizza and salad offerings are very tasty. Parking downtown can be tricky, normally if we drive around enough we are able to find a spot, but if you make a reservation here you should plan on arriving a few minutes early to park! read more

So it's pizza... Gourmet... Ive traveled to NYC on numerous occasions to try the best pies in the world and I'll say this was 'Ok' but overpriced. Nice atmosphere with a great waitress but just asking a little more then they earned. Valuation of an intangible item is extremely tough and you also have to factor in popularity and limited pizza options in downtown. What this shop needs is competition. They're bored. Over priced and not challenged. read more

Really good pizza! My dad once invited some people from Italy and took them to Pizzeria Toro and they thought this pizza was better than most pizza in Italy. There is a long wait for food (even drinks!) and is a bit pricey. read more

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One of the best pizza crusts I've had and I've had a bunch as a founding member of Men of the Pie (a subsidiary of Men of the Beer Ltd.). Plus I don't live here so I must know what I'm talking about. Ricotta dumplings dish is also an excellent appetizer so go and enjoy before you regret making another terrible life decision. read more

We enjoyed our meal here a few weeks ago. We were able to sit nearby the wood stove and watch them cook the pizza, which was fun. The reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because our pizzas seemed to be overcooked. The abundance of black crust on both the edges and bottom of the pizza were not very appealing to us, and we would have enjoyed the texture and taste more if it had not been over-blackened. I've had wood stove cooked pizza before, but never one this overdone. The taste was delicious, but not outstanding enough to push it up to five star taste, in my opinion. The service was outstanding and friendly, and it was a good experience overall. read more

Pizzaria Toro is a great place to go for a nice but not too formal lunch or dinner. I brought my parents here while they visited me and they really enjoyed it. I will say though, I've been here twice and both times I was pretty underwhelmed by their pizzas. The pizza options all sound amazing on the menu but they just don't hit the spot for me. I do like their crust but I feel like their base is missing something. Their appetizers and other small dishes, on the other hand, are delicious. Get the crispy pig ears! Sooo good! If they have it on the menu, I also highly recommend their okra. Overall their service is pretty decent and the ambience is nice too. Basically, I'll definitely be back but for all their appetizers not the pizza. read more

I can't believe I haven't already written a review for Pizzeria Toro...it's my favorite pizza in Durham! You can taste all of the individual ingredients in their pizza....from the toppings right down to the sauce, cheese, and crust. A good pizza is one where you can distinctly taste the flavor of the crust, sauce, and cheese and at Toro you can! Toro also has creative pizzas and their special pizzas are always seasonal and unique. I believe they're takeout only right now, but they have an efficient and easy to use system to order and pick up pizza. They also sell balls of pizza dough for quality at home pizza nights!! read more

This is one of the places I often try to find excuses to revisit. When friends drive into town I'll suggest we meet here or end up here for dinner. The pizzas are great and the staff is exceptionally friendly and helpful. The pros are that the food is great. Each time I'm torn to go with what I have enjoyed before or find a new great pizza to think about after we leave. The staff has always been great and despite a full house they take time to answer any and all questions you have. The dining area is very open, which means the sound carries and is quite loud and you do not have privacy dividers for those looking for such amenities or quite conversation. If you think it might be busy then it probably is, so call for a reservation. I've gone more than once and found a 30+ minute wait because I didn't have a reservation. I wish, wish, wish they'd get on NoWait, I've suggested it many times when I'm there; perhaps one day they will and make this easier for everyone. It is a great location because you can walk around downtown before or after dinner, but the flip-side is that parking is difficult. If you have someone who might not handle a walk well,then you will need to drop them off and then look for parking. Price is slightly high relative to pizza in general, however I've never questioned the value. But I do tell friends ahead of time to expect some higher numbers. I have not tried all the options but I'll be coming back as often as possible till I do. read more