TORO Cantina — Restaurant in Town of Colonie

I will start by saying I have been coming to Toro for years. The place has not been around long- but I love it. I bring family and friends here often. We treated our friends to a welcome dinner here when they arrived in town for our wedding. My husband and I have not been in months and decided to go for an early dinner with our daughter. We made a reservation for 4:30pm.

We had a horribly nasty experience dealing with someone named “Hope” and someone named Jessica who are employed at the restaurant as workers in the front of house. We made a reservation and requested a table rather than a booth (specifying in the comment section of the online reservation platform that we could not use a booth because we would have a stroller). When we were taken to be seated, we were given a booth. Let’s ignore the fact that this booth was yellow and VERY visibility dirty and heavily soiled. Let’s skip past the fact that party of two black parents with a baby was being given a table next to the only other table of black customers (surprise, surprise), this table was a VERY large party of young people celebrating some event. Let’s also forgive the fact that the booth offered was very large and would fit 5-6 people rather than two. Our only issue was that the stroller would not fit near the table in this location. We politely and calmly explained this to the hostess, pointing out that she was asking us to put the stroller in the location where a server was actively serving hot food and drinks to the large party. We shared that we were happy to wait for another table. We were told that all other tables were “reserved”. What happened next should not be ignored or forgiven.

The hostess “Jessica” became clearly irritated. She began to talk loudly, other customers looked on as her volume and tone begin to disrupt their meals. She told us this was their only table. We looked around at several empty tables. Remember- we had a reservation. We responded to her in calm voices- trying to deescalate the situation (an absurd position to be put in as customers). We stated that we also had reservations. We returned to the hostess stand to ask if it was possible to have our reservation request honored or if we could wait for another table. Our simple request was for a table rather than a booth to accommodate our baby sitting safely next to us, not in a walkway or next to trays of hot food. At this point, the girl named “Hope” who is employed as a greeter- stated that the tables were reserved for people who had made their reservations “not at the last minute”. I have dined in some of the finest restaurants in the US, Europe, South and Central America, and Africa. I have never heard of the concept that reservations are only honored on a “first in time” basis. I asked her to explain how the reservation and when it was made was relevant. The young woman looked us up and down and angrily GLARED at us. She then told us that we could leave if we didn’t like the table. I asked for her name and she leaned back with her arms out stretched on the counter behind the hostess stand and glared even harder without responding. (She was a young plus-sized white woman).

I honestly felt threatened and feared for my safety. I have no idea what cause Hope to become so aggressive and hostile. It is clear that Hope is extremely racist. We received poor treatment from Hope because we are not white.

We chose to leave. However, I did come back inside and request the names of these two extremely rude hostesses so that their employers might train them not to treat customers with hostility and animosity when they simply and politely request that their baby not be forced to sit next to trays full of hot food and steaming skillets. Unfortunately, I do not think we will be patronizing Toro again. This is a very disappointing showing from Primary Food Group. I was under the impression that they highly valued hospitality, but this experience was an abomination. This restaurant is on the decline, and it...

Me and my family decided to go out on Saturday to celebrate father’s day. This was the first time the majority of us had been there but I was looking forward to it. We made reservations and were seated right away. Although the seats were way too high for kids and my mom. Not a huge turn off though.

I ordered two bottles of water as I can’t drink tap water (look at your town’s water report to see why it’s not good to drink tap water). The waitress came out with two huge glass bottles which I was like wow ... this is great. I poured and drank almost one bottle. When I went to pour the rest, this is when my stomach dropped ... there was caked on food as well as food floating around in the bottle!!!!! The bottles were frosted glass so I thought maybe the crud was on the outside but nope ... there was food inside of the bottle. I went to check the other bottle and it had the same thing. I immediately started feeling sick to my stomach. I told the waitress about it and asked her were they not new bottles of water? She said that they just fill the bottles. She took the bottles back and apologized.

Now I didn’t read the reviews beforehand but I definitely would not have gone to this place had I done so. Several people have reported getting sick after eating here. Now I see why.

There is food left on the very things you eat and drink out of. This could be food that was in someone mouth, had someone’s spit on. They may not be WASHING the glasses, bowls, etc. on the recommended setting or they got lazy or they were just being downright neglectful and trifling. Perhaps they noticed the crude inside of the container but figured I wouldn’t notice since it’s not brightly lit in the dining area. They were right, I didn’t notice it right away. They are not cooking food to a safe temperature.

In terms of them not cooking food to a safe temp, both my mother and brother ordered salmon. The salmon was extremely undercooked. My brother said he has never ordered salmon from a restaurant that was bad.

Also, my poor nephew didn’t get hod good until 20 minutes after everyone else got theirs — though his order was the same as the other kids.

Anyway, because of watergate, I couldn’t eat anymore food. I was so disgusted. Even my brother said he would not ever go back and he has been there several times. With the amount I paid, this is not something that should happen ... period. No excuse. Then to add insult to injury, the manager never even came out to apologize. I could go to a place like Cheesecake Factory and have bad broccoli and the manager will come out to apologize. This was beyond bad broccoli.

The manager did email me back to ask if she could give me a gift card to give them another chance. I declined as I am completely turned off. I will take that $400 L and just know never to go back to that restaurant nor recommend...

I’ve been here twice. Once when it first opened over a year ago and once more to celebrate a friends birthday. The first time I went it was Spring time and the outdoor seating and food was super impressionable. I’d always knew I’d come back multiple times. The only reason I hadn’t made it back sooner is because the more popular it became, the busier and booked it was.

Fast forward to celebrating my friends birthday. I made a reservation on Open Table via Google Maps and left a note regarding the need for high chairs (just in case). When the restaurant opened I called, and informed them of the situation. I also called to inform them that I would be celebrating a birthday, her name is “Sasha” and I inquired about the availability of cake. They informed me that Sasha would be greeted with a card, and that they do a desert brownie/cake for birthdays. I said great, perfect. They ensured me that they made these notes.

We were running late so I called about two hours in advance to push the reservation back. Apologies (I was navigating hosting my best friends and two babies). On our way to our new reserved time, the restaurant called us to see if we were still on the way, and told them we were just two minutes out.

When we arrived - they had a Birthday card at the table for Sasha. That was the end of all birthday festivities. After ordering the food, the restaurant did not provide a birthday treat. It felt super awkward to have to remind or inquire about this in front of the Birthday Girl. I consider myself to be very outspoken but was quite embarrassed that my friend left without so much as a little birthday treat. It was truly a disappointing experience - choosing this restaurant to celebrate my friends birthday. I was depending on this place to not disappoint and unfortunately it did.

The food was not disappointing. The prices, don’t believe was fair. I was charged for the price of a margarita, however an additional $6 for one of the flavors I was told was an option. Looking at the receipt there was a $4 “On the rocks” charge - for just a normal cocktail. It was the strangest.

I believe because my reservation was for 6 (4 of us and two babies), we were automatically charged a 20% gratuity. I support gratuity in the name of workers making a live-able wage but wouldn’t have tipped 20% on my own, would have felt more comfortable with 15% considering my experience. Needless to say, I’ll be hesitant...