Pizzeria Toro

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!

I'm not a local, so wasn't sure if the reviews were really going to live up to the hype. Well, I'm here to say it ABSOLUTELY DOES!!!This is among the top pizza's I've ever had in the world. The crust is absolutely perfect. It's light, yeasty and crispy and pairs so well with whatever is on top. We had the classic margherita which isn't usually my go to, but was very well done. And the white potato pizza which was fantastic. I can't wait to come back to try some others next time.For apps, the supli's were fabulous with great flavor. The brushetta with whipped ricotta was good, but I thought the bread was a little stale or wet? Good, but not as good as everything else we had. Also the kale salad which was well dressed, but I'm personally not a huge raw kale fan.The restaurant is hopping and quite busy and loud, even on a Sunday night. Sad we skipped dessert as they looked amazing and will have to leave room for that next time! Definitely coming back here next time I'm in town.

It was quite EPIC actually!!!! We had the panzanella salad that was THE BEST I've ever had! We went easy with the margherita pizza...and it was delish.... I would have loved more cheese... but who wouldn't!?! I was overly pleased with the Aperiol Margarita!!!! Then we decided to take the hazelnut dessert to go! My Lawwwdddd.... Next time, we will get two...or maybe three! We will be back & this time bring friends & and family larger appetite!!! All employees made me feel like part of the family & I love that feeling!!!!

This is one of my favorite pizza spots I've ever been to. The staff is always super kind and the atmosphere is great. I love the long communal table in the middle of the restaurant. The pig ears are a must when you visit and you can't go wrong with any of the pizzas on their menu.

I decided to try Pizzeria Toro in my search for a new pizza place after my favorite pizza place closed in November. I'd give them 2.5 stars after my recent visit.Parking is on the street or in a nearby garage or lot so there are plenty of parking options.I was warmly welcomed when I entered and seated at the front window so I could watch the firefighters take care of the incident across the street. I did like my seat.My waiter took my drink order and gave me time to look over the menu. I was debating between the margherita and the white pizza with mushrooms. I went with the white pizza as I don't get that too often.The pizza had a good amount of mushrooms and was cooked well. I didn't taste any of the garlic. The pizza was good but not what I was hoping for. I want to like it so much I will make a special trip for it. I will return at some point and try the margherita pizza.Service was lacking as I was not provided a refill on my iced tea and my check was brought out before I was finished eating. I wasn't even offered dessert. So they lost out on my dessert order. I wanted to try the zeppole. I didn't understand the rushing me out as it wasn't busy. Be careful with your check as the 20% service fee is already added in so that might be why the service wasn't very good as they are tipped regardless of quality.

YUM! Pizzeria Toro is located in the heart of Durham and offers a delicious menu. Everything I tried was absolutely delectable. I sat at the bar and got full service. The staff was very helpful and attentive. I went to an early Saturday dinner so I didn't have to wait long but be prepared to wait at peak hours. There isn't a ton of seating. The vibes are nicer but still overall chill. Would definitely recommend if you want a slightly upscale, tasty dinner!

I'm sad that this a business where the employees create an awkward atmosphere. Actually it was just one employee, the bartender who is trying to deny an identity. I couldn't leave quickly enough.

We walked in and were seated right away. We told the server I had a serious nut allergy. We ordered a salad the ricotta dumplings and a pizza. He brought out the wrong salad. We panicked because the one he brought out had nuts in it. It turned out they brought out the wrong salad but the one brought out was nut free. The server wasn't really apologetic but brought out the correct one we ordered shortly after.The ricotta dumplings were delicious. The pizza was fine 6.5/10.The restaurant got crowded by the time we were leaving at 7:30ish. I recommend going early. It's cute and open inside. You can see the pizza oven.

The ambiance is inviting, the staff is exceptional, and the food is an unforgettable experience. If you're a foodie, a pizza lover, or looking to try something new, this is your spot.

Pizzeria Toro served some of the best pizza we've had in the Triangle. This restaurant has been in business since October 2012 for a reason. That's all you need to know. If you want details, read on.This place is popular and doesn't take reservations. We showed up right around 6pm on a Saturday and it was packed. We were given an estimated wait time of 25 minutes. Our actual wait time was about 30 minutes. I generally don't like waiting at restaurants, but this wait wasn't that bad because we were able to sit at the bar, and the wait was worth it.The restaurant's main entrance faces E Chapel Hill St. There's also a side entrance and separate bar room around the corner on Morris St. That's where we sat and waited. We had the option to eat at the bar, but we decided to wait for a table in the dining room for the experience and ambiance. It appeared online orders were picked up from a counter in the bar room. So, if you're picking up takeout, enter via Morris St.Like many businesses in this part of downtown Durham, Pizzeria Toro doesn't have dedicated parking. There's plenty of street, surface lot, and deck parking nearby. We parked for free in "Lot 32" at 111 W Chapel Hill St. The City enforces metered parking Monday-Friday, 8am-7pm. At the time of writing this review, parking rates are $2.50/hour for street and $2.25/hour for lot/deck.The restaurant isn't very big. Seating is communal. There's no outdoor seating. A showcase oven and pizza prep counter are the focal point of the the dining room (open kitchen). The atmosphere was bustling.The food menu was straightforward with 10 appetizer, soup, and salad options (priced at $11-16 each), 10 red pizzas ($15-21), six white pizzas ($18-21), and four cured ham options ($11-18 per ounce). Some local items were featured such as Chatham County Crispy Pig's Ears ($14) and Orange County Baby Lettuces ($11). The drink menu was extensive and had a decent variety of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The wine list had a solid assortment of wines from across Italy.Here's what three of us shared:Antipasti* Burrata ($15) - cherry tomato config, everything flatbread* Ricotta Dumplings ($16) - cipollini, NC sweet corn, Italian truffle* Person Co. Roasted Okra ($12) - tomato mayoPizza* Sweet Fennel Sausage, roasted peppers, provolone ($19) - red pizza* Spicy Calabrian Salumi, charred onions, fior di latte ($19) - red pizza* Cultivated and Foraged Mushrooms, garlic, fior di latte ($19) - white pizzaCocktails* Aperol Margarita ($13 each) x2 - Lunazul, Cointreau, aperol, lime, sea salt, rocks* Carousel ($12) - Campari, Barbera d'Alba, honey, lemon soda, rocks* Anguria Fresca ($13) - mezcal, watermelon, jalapeno, rocksWine* Sterparo, Aglianico, Basilicata (2022) ($11 glass) - orange and pink wine from Southern Italy (rosato / rose)Everything was delicious. My favorites were the Burrata and the Mushroom pizza. Everyone in our group liked the Mushroom pizza the best.If it's on the menu, burrata is one of my favorite things to order when dining out. Most restaurant burrata I've had has typically been good. In comparison, Pizzeria Toro's Burrata was above average. Not only was it really fresh, but it had an added layer of richness and complexity. The accompanying "everything flatbread," a la everything bagels, was excellent. It was full of flavor and incredibly tasty on its own.And that's something I noticed they do really well here: bread (dough / crust). The crust on all three of our pizzas was absolutely fantastic. This was the kind of crust that had ideal flavor and consistency (the right amount of springiness) where every single bite was scrumptious and you wanted to finish everything.I'm a fan of mushroom pizzas in general and Pizzeria Toro's Mushroom pizza was probably the best I've had in recent memory. It was packed with umami. I also love garlic and fior di latte, so no surprise this turned out to be my favorite pizza. Second-best to me was the Sweet Fennel Sausage pizza. Again, outstanding crust and just terrific all-around flavor. High-quality ingredients, well-balanced. I recommend it if you like sausage pizza. The Spicy Calabrian Salumi pizza was salty and savory. While yummy, I probably wouldn't order it again simply because there were so many other better-looking options on the menu.The other apps, the Ricotta Dumplings and the Roasted Okra, were very good. The Ricotta Dumplings were recommended to us by our server and it was a great recommendation, fairly unique and very satisfying. The Okra was local and a tasty side.The cocktails were well-made, strong, and refreshing. Also eye-appealing.We interacted with lots of staff, from the hostess to the bartenders to the food runners, and everyone / service was great. Francesca was our server and she was wonderful. I could tell this is a well-run operation."Toro" is Italian for bull. I think the business name is a nod to the City of Durham, nicknamed the "Bull City."