TORO BRAVO — Restaurant in Reno

My friends and I recently visited Toro Bravo, Reno’s first Mexican steakhouse, and it was an unforgettable culinary adventure. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by a striking red bull statue, poised as if ready to charge—a bold introduction to the restaurant’s vibrant personality. The ambiance was sleek and welcoming, with warm, clean lighting that struck the perfect balance between upscale sophistication and cozy comfort.

Our party of three struggled to narrow down choices from the thoughtfully curated menu. To start, we ordered three appetizers: the sope (a savory masa cake), papas bravas (crispy potatoes in a smoky-spicy sauce), and the showstopping baked chorizo cheese dip. Our waitress, who was incredibly attentive and patient, noticed we needed more time to decide on mains and graciously gave us space while the kitchen prepared our starters. When she returned, she cleverly suggested we order one of each entrée and share everything family-style—a tip we gladly embraced (though we may have over-ordered, we had zero regrets!).

Appetizers That Stole the Show The papas bravas arrived first, with tender potatoes smothered in a perfectly balanced spicy sauce—enough to satisfy all three of us. The sope featured succulent, well-seasoned meat atop a crispy masa base, while the chorizo cheese dip was a revelation. Served with handmade tostadas and freshly pressed corn tortillas, the dip’s smoky richness paired beautifully with the tortillas’ authentic corn flavor and springy texture—a testament to their in-house, traditional preparation. Midway through our feast, the chef even surprised us with an extra portion of the dip, a gesture that highlighted the restaurant’s generous spirit.

Mains That Elevated the Experience When our entrees arrived, the New York steak stole the spotlight. Drizzled with a decadent bone marrow sauce and topped with caramelized grilled onions, every juicy, flavorful bite felt worth its $45 price tag—a steal for steak this expertly prepared. The steak tostadas were equally impressive, piled high with tender meat and a vibrant, herb-forward guacamole that outshined any standard version. Sharing dishes family-style, as our waitress recommended, made the meal feel like a festive celebration.

Sweet Finale and Heartfelt Hospitality Despite being thoroughly stuffed, we couldn’t resist dessert. We opted for in-house made banana ice cream (creamy and decadent, made daily) and a they're unique tequila to cap the night. The owners even stopped by our table to share their story—a passion for blending Mexican tradition with steakhouse excellence—and their dream of opening a local tortilla factory. With hospitality this warm and food this memorable, it’s no surprise they’ve already become a community favorite.

Final Thoughts Toro Bravo isn’t just a meal—it’s an experience. From the fresh herbs chopped tableside (a rare, high-end touch) to the owners’ genuine warmth, every detail feels intentional. Whether you’re savoring a solo margarita at the bar or hosting a lively group dinner, this is a place where bold flavors, generous portions, and heartfelt hospitality collide. I’ve already raved about it to everyone I know, and I’ll be back soon—if not for the steak, then definitely for those...

We were just out for a nice date without the kids along the River with no plans for dinner when we came across Torro Bravo!!! The location is impeccable… right on the Truckee River on the corner, across from the now closed River Movie Theatre. Windows everywhere with views of people walking on Sierra street and outdoor and indoor seating. The atmosphere of Torro Bravo was Spanish modern and chic with future forward elegant chairs and lighting. I would say it is a place to dress up for. Music played in the background and was upbeat but not in your face loud. The staff greeted us as if they were trained for five star dining. Not one staff member detoured from anything other than professional. Paper menus with starters, small plates, seafood, vegetarian and red meat options. We started with drinks from a bartender who obviously knew his martinis. Our waitress was lovely and personable but then so was the rest of the staff who brought water, salsa and tortas to the table. The tortas were a little over cooked, but that did not take the charm out of the three homemade salsas that they served with it. Each one spicer than the other. We ordered Brussels sprouts to start and for the main course I had a Scallop Ceviche and my husband had the Shrimp Tamale. Let me tell you…these dishes could have been served on a mega yacht off of the coast of Malta and seemed from a 3 Michelin star chef and no one would know the difference. Elegance in every bite! Unique in their approach to their dishes I dare you to try it yourself. My scallop dish mixed sweet sliced grapes, citrus sections, thin sliced radishes and herbs with mouth watering scallops in every bite. My husband’s dish was plump with large prawns, a corn husk filled with a creamy possible polenta inside and dreamy sauce. Pricing was reasonable for the dishes they presented, middle of the road affair for a special night. Definitely a place for a date night or to show off what Reno’s Downtown restaurants have to offer for newcomers. I greatly encourage everyone to try Torro Bravo! Our photos do not show the Brussels sprouts dish but believe me I ate every bite. The amazing lacquered life size Red Bull depicted in the pics has his bottom half pointing to the restaurant’s restrooms. I had to take the pic for good luck at the slot machines that we won on later that evening. Torro Bravo! Thank you for a surprisingly elegant meal...

Really hoped this would be a top notch experience, but it wasn't. Some things were great, some were just okay. Two of us had dinner on a slow Wednesday about 6pm. Apps, 2 cocktail each, and main were $200. For that money, it should all be great. Overall, of this was a dinner for $40-50 each, not $100 each, this would be 4 or 5 stars.

The cocktails we ordered were amazing. We each ordered something different from the cocktails menu and we each enjoyed our drinks very much.

The first appetizer was the corn bread. It was the star of the meal. It came with a slightly sweet sauce and infused butter. We both loved it.

Second appetizer was the empanadas, which were ok. The accompanying sauce was better than the food.

One dinner was the shank. The meat was perfectly cooked, and probably really good but because there was so much sauce, the flavor of the meat didn't stand a chance. The sauce was ok, to me tasted similar to a mole sauce, but that's not how the dish was described.

Second dinner was the paella. The difference between a paella and some rice dish is the socarrat, there was none. The flavor was good, the saffron was present, but could still taste the seafood and sausage. This was a well done rice dish, when it grows up, it could be a paella.

Service was ok. Started well, drinks and first app arrived quickly. The second app arrived quickly too, which is great. The dinners arrived while we were still finishing our appetizers. Maybe 15 minutes passed between first app and dinner. Even after we finished the appetizer, most of the associated dishes were not cleared.

The rice dish was only half eaten, and good flavor so we asked to take it home. The server promptly delivered a to go box and placed it on top of the empty appetizer dishes. She was friendly, never did anything wrong but service is better at Olive garden.

A throw back to the original restaurant in this space, the booths are super small. The small space between the table and the backrest crams the average person into the booth. Get a high top in the bar, or a table outside.

We will probably be back, but will sit at the bar, just get the cornbread...