Always enjoy time spent with this family. Truly great friends and great parents, and my family. #Buzzybooth #torocantina Also!!!!! 518 Foodies I cannot express enough the amazing experience we had with our server Callie. Our friends son just just turned one and is finishing out the bottle days. My friend asked for hot water to heat the bottle. She was inside with the babe (BTW server's idea to move our table to put highchair inside aligned with the wall in the booth to avoid any exposure from the other side!) So I asked for the hot water!! YOU GUYS!! THIS GIRL IMMEDIATLEY SAID 'FOR THE BOTTLE, GOT IT'! She was the creepiest mind reader in the best kinda way. Any time we went to ask for anything, she already offered what we needed....it was superhuman powers! The food was phenomenal. Little guy sucked down his cheese quesadilla and the portions were HUGE! I CANT STRESS ENOUGH that this was one of the best service experiences We've ever had. I saw before recommending this place some rather absurd negative reviews, and I'm extremely glad I didn't depend on them. I'm sorry though, but writing a shit review on a Mexican restaurant because the music was too loud ON CINCO DE MAYO is a pretty asshole move. Thank you to that human though because l instead chose this restaurant for dinner with friends passing though, and thankfully I am intelligent and not a brat. Good job to the whole team!! read more

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Server approached table and asked if we wanted to order appetizers before she asked us for a drink order. Not a huge issue as hey we all make mistakes. Put drink order in, didn't order any appetizers. Noticed everyone around us had chips and salsa. Thought maybe we had to purchase them. Server came by and I asked if we had to pay for chips and salsa. She responded that it was her mistake as she just didn't bring them. Chips and Salsa delivered w our meal. Food was good! However, we never saw our server during the meal and we were out of water and our cocktails. Hostess came by and I asked for water, which she took care of. Finished meal, and I had to get the attention of our server to ask for the check. Food was good. Hostess was attentive. Server, while nice, seemed either overwhelmed or untrained. read more

Had a wonderful dinner at Toro Cantina on Thursday night! As soon as you stepped inside this restaurant you were transported to a fun vibrant Mexican city! First begin my dining experience at the bar with a very awesome helpful bartender and got a delicious Hibiscus margarita I highly recommend! I also love the fresh guacamole steak tacos sweet potatoes and tortilla soup! You can't skip dessert here and I highly recommended the churro cart, s'more nachos and the spiked horchata! Overall wonderful from start to finish need more refreshing places like this in Albany! Ps. They have the exclusive Patron Barrel select Reposado! This tequila is exclusive and unique to this area, and Toro! It's been rested for a little over 10 months! How cool is that! read more

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good was plentiful and great taste. service was fast friendly a ambiance was nice but l would recommend more lighting to better read the menu read more

TORO Cantina - Mexican Near Me - Albany, New York

If you're looking to spend a good time, come here! I'd recommend making a reservation first as it tends to get very busy during the weekends. The restaurant it self is very chic with bright coloured chairs. The arched walls, with beautiful lighting create a posh yet friendly environment. Our hostess was very nice, who asked for dietary restrictions and made sure to inform the kitchen about our restrictions immediately. Additionally, the manager frequently walked by to look over all the tables and occasionally asked whether or not the food was okay which really added a homely feeling. The food was exceptional for the price, it was served warm with a generous portion to feed everyone and had unique textures and taste in every items that makes it phenomenal. I'd especially recommend the Giant lobster Quesadilla which is enough to feed a bunch of people. It is loaded with cheese and lobster. It is the first time you can actually taste the chunks of the delicate lobster meat in a quesadilla that no other place I know of does. It also had various dipping sauces as well. Overall the dinner was an experience and half! read more

TORO Cantina - Giant Lobster Quesadilla (for 2) - Mexican Near Me - Albany, New York

Eating here is always a memorable experience. The service is wonderful. The waiters and waitresses always make sure you like the food you receive, and they are extremely careful with allergies. The food is amazing. I specifically recommend the guacamole and salsa, the Tortilla Soup, Skirt Steak fajitas, the camarones (the sauce is amazing.. I put some on top of my steak), and the cheesecake flan. I've tried many flans, and this might be the most creamy, flavorful one I've ever had. Very impressive. Our latest waitress was Emily. She was wonderful, super sweet and didn't make any mistakes with the food. The ambiance is lovely; it's so nice inside and the lighting is perfect. read more

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I have had MUCH better Mexican food in Albany for half the price and half the fancy ambiance. I'm not one to judge a restaurant by its decor because it's what is coming out of the kitchen that really matters but this place was all decor and no flavor. I went for a friends birthday dinner and I have to say, the service was very slow, the drinks tasted watered down, the portion sizes were..... unfortunate to say the least and everyone at our table was saying the same. I would not recommend Toro except for a cushy business meeting maybe?? read more

Beautiful atmosphere. Good service. Solid drinks. I LOVED the Chilli Rellenos. They were prepared with a goat cheese filling which was rich- but fantastic and a nice twist on a traditional dish. My friends ordered cocktails and tacos and everyone was happy with their food and drinks. The prices are a little expensive but I think food is just expensive these days. I am already making plans to visit again with my family. There is a nice size patio surrounded by greenery to help block the view of traffic/parking lot. It seems like it would be a lovely place to sit on a nice day. read more

My boyfriend and I do a weekly date night and ended up here. Gorgeous interior, such a vibe. Wait staff was friendly. We were seated quickly. Chips and salsa were endless and AMAZING!!! The drinks were delicious and tasted so could they could easily creep up on you so be careful. Food was delicious but for the price I was definitely expecting a bigger serving. read more

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Great Bar, with Good food. It's americanized Mexican, so if you're for a true Mexican experience this is not the place. If you're looking for tequilas or Mezcal though I highly recommend. read more

Had an unplanned mid afternoon lunch there: Burrito with Jackfruit Carnitas. ( What??? .. Jackfruit menu item On Wolf Rd... ??... Times are changing) It was bVery delicious, more of a smooth texture, rich creamy version of a burrito.. Black beans not so noticeable as in traditional burritos. Has 3 cheese and Mexican Crema. Cilantro Rice. Served with complimentary sparkling water. Also while waiting they serve me delicious fresh chips and fresh chunky garden salsa which was just delicious and as good as you're going to find anywhere I think. The waiter was a friendly guy, professionally/ neatly dressed, very attentive, quick, got everything exactly right including a couple special requests. I enjoy interior design so this was a lot of fun to finally see the interior of this place that I had been driving by so many times since February of this year while under construction. Fine, sharp innovative Colors, materials, and graphic design throughout including in men's restroom. The restroom design really POPS visually. Materials textures including Wall tile, Wall paper, wash area was fresh innovative crisp smart attractive clean. This facility is the result of professional design specialists who know color combinations and how to use innovative and new design materials and elements inside and out. The outside actually has some great magenta pink color graphic panels combined with brilliant turquoise splashes of color in the outdoor tables and umbrellas. Reminds me of places in New Mexico. Who doesn't love a giant casting of a Bull? Right near the entrance is a giant metal bronze or brass bull very much like the famous Bull down in New York City in the Wall Street area. So if you missed shooting your selfie with the famous Bull of Wall Street, you can just go over to Toro Cantina, Wolf road and sort of fake it. This bowl is probably about 2/3 the size of the famous Wall Street Bull and does the job quite nicely For many years I lived in southern California, a real mecca for Mexican food and I miss the great venues there very much. So now I'm grateful to have this new restaurant right nearby on Wolf Rd in Albany NY. This new venue is a very serious enterprise. They are shooting for success and I think they're going to make it just fine. Particularly since no other venue does what they do, and with an interesting fresh interior not like anything else in the area. read more

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I really, really wanted to love it here. The inside is BEAUTIFUL. Ordered a few items; disappointed in the taco salad. There were maybe 10 black beans total on it, the lettuce was very wet, very little cheese, or any other toppings for that matter. Underwhelming, for sure. Kids loved the kids meals. Might try again and see if it's any better. read more

I so wanted to Give this place a Better review , margaritas were ok , nachos were good , but my burrito and my bfs enchilada were very bland and felt like something was missing . Place has a good atmosphere but wasn't impressed with the food . read more

After a long trip, I want to stop by for lunch. I was craving for Asian or Maxican foods. I decided to come here because of the Churros in the wheels picture. I love Churros. When I walked in I felt like I was in the other world. Interior designs and furnitures are sophisticated. It completed my vacation. Foods are great. Spicy papaya sauce on Tacco is yummy. I love how you create the sauce and the meals. I used to have mango sauce but the spicy papaya sauce is stunning. Love all the details and ideas that you throw in the foods business. This place is a must to stop by. read more

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Another amazing dinner at Toro... their Mexican food never disappoints! They are very accommodating to allergies and learned tonight they have a dedicated fryer if needed for the corn chips(for those with celiacs) Also love their outdoor space despite it being on a busy road.... read more

TORO Cantina - Chicken chipotle - Mexican Near Me - Albany, New York

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The chips and guacamole were the hit of our meal. Shrimp tocos were flavorful. The enchiladas and fajitas were good with large servings. Our server was kind and very knowledgeable about the menu and restaurant. read more

MID FOOD. Ordered chicken nachos and they came out sloppy, smushed to one side, and had NO chicken on it. I ordered the skirt steak, which was alright, but the rice and yuka fries were subpar. Final Verdict: if you want authentic food, go somewhere else read more

We were in town for 4 days and constantly looking for local eateries. On our way to the airport we decided to try Toro as we had driven past it a few times. The chips and salsa were delicious, and we're from Texas so we eat that a lot! we also had an order of guacamole & we'd have never known we weren't in Texas. I ordered the roasted chicken enchiladas for my meal and I was blown away. They were cheesy and had multiple kinds of sauces on top that just gave them a really rich flavor. I would definitely go back if I'm ever in Albany again. read more

TORO Cantina - Roasted chicken enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Albany, New York

If anyone knows how to ruin tacos it's TORO Cantina. They're committing crimes against Mexican food, please get better food. Best thing there was the tap water. Service was ok. Ambiance was dry and boring. read more

Too expensive and small quantity. Service was okay. Ambience was okay too. Drinks were good but $$$

I had lunch there today. The service was great. Everyone was friendly and all drinks and food were served timely. Of course, the restaurant had just a few tables filled so there wasn't much competition. It's a pretty place. Nice ambiance. It was clean. The food was good but very bland. Maybe this is what New Mexican food is, but I left still craving spicy/hot Mexican food. I won't go back because this was not Mexican. read more

We got to Toros 20 minutes early from our reservation. We told them, asked if we could be seated. She thanked us, had us take a seat. Then a couple came in with no reservation, was seated, then another couple, then a family of five, no reservation, was seated. While we were sitting there. All in the span of 15 minutes. We got up and walked out. Pretty sure any other competent restaurant would've seated us since there were tables ready. Seemed like they were waiting for our reservation time. Maybe it's me, but I thought it very unprofessional. read more

Delicous Toro Burrito w/ roasted chicken. Great flavors. Would have been nice if they had added napkins and other normal things in the take-out bag. Great burrito though. read more

This is an honest opinion from well experienced traveler and foodie. At first glance dècor is well thought out and creates a good ambiance. The high ceilings provide a nice atmosphere. However, this is the only positive aspect of this establishment. The bathrooms are easy to locate and the layout has significant room for guests and workers to have enough space. With the space provided, it feels secluded, but the music is extremely loud. On behalf of seniors, I do not think they would be able to hear. Food is the main component to dining and I would not dine here again considering the food is not something I remember being good. The food is extremely Americanized, the authenticity seems to be as dry as the tortillas. The drinks are juice. Overall not worth the visit. The wait staff seems as though they could not provide sufficient service due to them being overworked. They were kind, but it seems they are too busy to engage with customers. If this is supposed to be a "fine dining" establishment it is truly all about pacing and I feel as though I was rushed. I was traveling for business in the area, and I figured I would give Toro Cantina a try. I will say, I have never been further from Mexico after this meal. Great photo opportunity if you don't want to fly to Mexico, however just get water, take a selfie at the selfie station, and leave. The "selfie station" was a different addition and may appeal to younger crowds, but it seems like a cash grab. Price seems unjustified; charging fine dining prices when it tastes like the food from my child's play set. Visually appealing however the taste was bland, the textures were alright. I would not recommend taking it home, you would have to add your own flavor for it to be edible. The portions are overwhelming large, dish gets boring a minute into trying it. read more

Don't go here if you are looking for traditional Mexican at all. Even the "traditional" entrees were totally unrecognizable from actual dish. Over priced food that was not very good, either. Ambiance and atmosphere were nice. read more

This place was AMAZING! I went here for my birthday. The drinks were amazing, had a delicious mango margarita, my bf had an old fashion and he loved it. The appetizers were delicious, the chips with salsa were delicious, the entrees delicious and the dessert was AMAZING! I had the tacos as leftovers and they were amazing! The waitress her name was Emily, she gave us amazing service and really knew her stuff when we questioned what was Mezcal. She was so sweet and made the day special as well. read more

I came here many times. Today they were disrespectful making me wait for something they didn't have it! Which was a space to eat. They said it will be 1 hour wait and I was there like an idiot waiting. So when I went to talk to the hostess again she said it would take at least 4 hours... yeah... I will never come back. T Not that my business means anything to them. But if you care to be respected as a customer don't go there. read more

When this place first opened it was great, food and service was awesome. But I went again tonight and I soon as I walked in I noticed something was off. The ambiance just wasn't the same. We ordered nachos and they came in cold. The cheese that was on the nachos was also super off. We told the waitress and she came back with a new batch and it was the same. Waitress was nice but not enough to outweigh the food. Entrees were sub par. read more

Not only is the decor like you're in Vegas with chefs from around the world but the SERVICE!! I just moved back from Vegas and I haven't had ambiance, food, or service like this in years. The service. Jason behind the bar is prompt, easy to talk to, gives amazing recommendations on/ off the menu!! We will be returning for our new friend jason. read more

TORO Cantina - Sweet potato tacos - Mexican Near Me - Albany, New York

Prices were pretty high, mixed drink quality pretty low. I would probably give it a second chance one of these days.

Food was fantastic. Our bartender Robert was on point. Would highly recommend this place

Welcome Jamie and the team! What a great experience on the new opening of the patio today! Great chips, salsa, Empanada are spot on and slamming good! Comfortable environment and very good service! Washed it down with some signature Toro Punch! Excellent! Who eats half a burrito? Me! It was huge and delicious! No bull, this is a great new edition, hands down! Ingredients are precise to the roots and people who understand that quality will love it! See you again soon! Congrats. Tony Morreale read more

TORO Cantina - No BS WITH INGREDIENTS HERE! - Mexican Near Me - Albany, New York

So disappointed tonight we order nachos come in 2 minutes cold even cheese was not melt very sad I loved this place so bad

It was great initially then you started seeing they downgraded a lot of things, they put less ingredients on everything, you are basically paying $10 for a small taco with two shrimps on it. Honestly, it shows! You see less crowds even on Fridays and Saturdays evenings. While the environment is great and enjoyable, staff are friendly and attentive, the food is no longer worth the price. I still come here a lot till I realized they started charging $3 for a " packaging fee" without telling me they started doing that, this is my final draw and I'm sure I will no longer visit this establishment. read more

This was our first fifth dinner visit to Toro Cantina and worthy of another review. Before I speak of the food and service, I must speak of the safety precautions because they are so evident and taken so seriously that honestly we felt comfortable bringing a six week old infant and sitting outside. Our server Ryan was knowledgeable attentive and gave great information throughout our dinner. We started with cocktails: the watermelon margarita and the prickly pearmargarita (which by the way is served with preserved prickly pear that we completely devoured with its cranberry-ish delicious flavor) often I find the prickly pear margaritas to be very sour, but this one had the perfect balance between sour and sweet with a sugar rim. The chips and homemade salsa were brought immediately with water and I continue to say this is the best house salsa you can get in the area. Because of our love of the house salsa, we also ordered this Siete salsas which features seven homemade salsas, each equally delicious but very different and a bargain at $6.25 with another basket of chips included. all three of us enjoyed all seven sauces and I have to say I think the habanero papaya was everyone's favorite. Once we settled in with drinks, our appetizer selection was the empanadas which are filled with chicken, but have a very authentic Puerto Rican flavor in the filling and the beef taquitos. The taquitos had a smoky chipotle flavor and we all enjoyed both appetizers. I have been dying to try the lobster quesadilla for two and since my daughter accompanied my husband and I on this visit, I finally had someone to share it with. The quesadilla was loaded with lobster meat, a mix of melty mild Mexican cheeses, fresh grilled sweet corn and served with sides chipotle aoli, lime cream sauce, fresh homemade guacamole, as well as a radish slaw. Let's talk about size. The quesadilla was as big as a large pizza it was cut into eight wedges and we could only ate half of it. Therefore the price is well worth it due to the size and huge amount of lobster served in this amazing dish. My husband opted for his usual braised beef enchiladas because they are so goody he last time. We were celebrating the birth of our newest granddaughter so desserts of course were on the table. My daughter and I chose the churros, adorably served in the churro cart with three dipping sauces: mixed berry dulcé de leche and warm chocolate. We couldn't finish them, but these churros are reminiscent of Madrid and again my favorite in any area restaurant. My husband had a repeat of the trés leches cake from our last trip because in his words "it's the best I've ever had". We are trés leche cake fans because my oldest my daughter is baker and this is one of her favorite cakes to make. We know it when we find a good one. Ryan, I have to give you one extra prop here for explaining the flavors of all the salsas, describing the quesadilla to us before we ordered it, and generally just being fun. Chef Jaime, you've knocked it out of the park with this place! I hope it never goes away! read more

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I have to give this place five stars because I can't give them more. The food was good. They start you out with house made chips and salsa which is always a win with me. I ordered blue corn pulled pork tacos. They were so loaded that I almost had to eat them with a fork. The reason this place got five stars is because of the bar. I had a house margarita which was very good. Then I ordered the crystal skull mescal and it was amazing. It is one of those drinks that tastes so good you are thinking you might have two but after one you realize you better get walking before you forget how to get back to your hotel. The bartender was really friendly and had a great personality. She was very attentive to myself and everyone else at a very packed bar. The place had a decor that at first gives you the impression you won't be able to afford a single taco and beer but everything on the menu was reasonable. read more

Wowie, wow, wow! First of all, it was a thrill to be eating out for only the second time since March and secondly, we had one of the best Mexican meals we've ever had since travel in Mexico! Chef Jaime Ortiz has worked his magic on his new restaurant on Wolf Road. As we know, he has provided us with fine food and beverages at 677 Prime on Broadway for years. This is an entirely different vibe and cuisine. This is fine Mexican dining. The décor is elegantly Mexican, yet fun and colorful. I had studied the menu online before our reservation time because I knew going in that I'd probably have a hard time deciding; I'd want it all! I knew my cocktail choice would be The People's Margarita. Delicious, fresh, fruity, but not sweet. The name comes from the fact that it's made with actor and wrestling great Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's brand of tequila that he launched, Teremana Tequila. We were provided salsa and freshly made chips and ordered the traditional guacamole. Fresh, chunky, full of flavors, and it came with three delicious sauces. MMMMMMM..... We were already on the express train to Heaven! For my entrée, I ordered the chicken enchiladas, hubby ordered pork tamales. Both came with black beans, rice and salad greens. My plate was beautiful. There were three, gorgeous, authentically sized enchiladas. The tortillas were delicate, light, with chew, yet some crunch. OMG. There were layers of flavors throughout. Hubby's tamales were, again, authentic sized and were of a wonderful texture - not hard tight lumps, but grainy, tender, moist and luscious. Folks in the Capital region, if you are looking for the best Mexican food in the region, this is it. It is not a coincidence (as I notice other reviews) that our first review word is "wow" or the equivalent. Toro Cantina will not disappoint. The service was superb. The staff were super friendly, meticulous, and customer service focused. Finally - since, yes, we are still (unfortunately) in a pandemic, I want to add that the restaurant has incorporated all of the necessary sanitizing, social distancing, etc. controls to ensure a delightful, delicious, and safe experience. read more

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Wow, oh wow! We decided to get our weekly takeout a little early this week. I read the reviews and listened to all the buzz and couldn't wait to get takeout from here. We were not disappointed. We got the Taco Bar for 4 and easily fed 5 including one teenager and one young man and still had lots of leftovers. Lots and lots of fun salsas and sauces to try as mentioned in the previous review. I especially loved the salsa verde, so fresh tasting and the salsa negra, which was smoky with a subtle spiciness. We had the lamb and beef as our proteins. The lamb was nicely seasoned and not gamey tasting at all. The beef was juicier and was very flavorful as well. The chips are plentiful and the queso really pleased the younger set. A tasty, attractive salad with dressing was included, a nice, healthy touch. The rice and beans are tasty if nothing remarkable. Overall, it was a fantastic family meal. I look forward to having the whole dining experience when they are able to open up the dining room. read more

TORO Cantina - Beautiful Salad - Mexican Near Me - Albany, New York

Oh. My. Goodness. I have been dying for some delicious Mexican cuisine. We decided to order take out tonight and I cannot wait to order again!! We had the Taco Bar for 4, added an order of guacamole, fried plantains and churros for dessert. The plantains were sweet as could be and a perfect start to the meal. Tortilla chips were still warm- with the perfect amount of salt and lime. The beef and chicken were seasoned to perfection. Sides of lettuce and cheese were more than enough. We have left over flour and 50/50 tortillas- which were still warm upon opening. The guacamole was the perfect color green- tasted super fresh. All the sides.... salsa verde, roja, negra, chipotle aioli, mexican crema...pico de gallo... I just couldn't get enough! We have an abundance of leftovers and can't wait to dig into them tomorrow!! Don't get me started on the churros.... We were going to save them for later but was just caught sneaking a bite! As we cleared the table... I made a phone call to the restaurant and told them how impressed we were and delicious dinner was. They were extremely grateful and happy to hear the acknowledgment. In a time like this- I felt they needed to know how satisfied we were. Really looking forward to trying the margaritas and checking this place out when we all can safely be in public together again. Don't hesitate to order from here. Just pick up the phone. Now! read more

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The owner (Jamie Ortiz) of 677 Prime in Albany owns Toro Cantina and it shows. The decor is fantastic, the wait staff is on point, and the drinks and food are good for local cuisine. I sampled two entrees, two appetizers, two drinks and one dessert. If you check out my profile you'll know I'm one of the toughest Yelp critics in the Albany area. A 4-star review from me means a lot. Toro Cantina is a slightly higher quality Cheese Cake Factory type restaurant. Maybe you're laughing at this point, but sadly, Cheese Cake Factory is one of the better flavor/$$value restaurants in the Albany area that's consistent. The Albany metro food scene sucks, it's almost non-existent in my opinion, with some of the best flavor/price deals at immigrant owned restaurants (e.g. Indian food) -- which is sad isn't it? Yes, Albany food sucks. But Toro Cantina is at least trying, and so far succeeding in my opinion. Is it a little pricey? Yes. But I can afford it and honestly, there are not many quality options for food in the Albany area besides a few immigrant owned places. If you stay in Albany long enough you may get used to the low quality food, I kind of have. But don't eat out in NYC, San Fran, Boston, internationally, etc., or at any Michelin star places, or you'll quickly realize the horse poop they're feeding you in Albany. Even supermarkets in the Albany area suck, although Whole Foods and Honest Weight Food Coop are reasonable quality. I'm really enjoying this COVID distance seating not being packed in like sardines. It will be a real shame when COVID ends and all the restaurants go back to squeezing tables too close with your entire dinner conversation vulnerable to eavesdropping from table cross talk. Any chance we can keep the table distances after COVID? I would bring an out-of-town relative/friend to this place and not feel embarrassed. read more