Toro Bravo - Tapas in Portland, OR

The family and I had a great dinner last month at Toro Bravo in Portland. It was our final meal after 11 days in the PNW and it turned out to be a most appropriate send-off. The creative and diverse menu at TB is divided into 3 sections: Pinchos, Tapas and Paella. While not everything we ate was spectacular, all of it was good and much of it was out of this world . . .


Toro Bravo is located at 120 NE Russell Street in Portland, OR



Its interior is a large space with an open kitchen in back, a bar to one side and one, large communal table, which is located in the front of the space, right under a large window.



Roasted Chickpeas
We were started off with these crunchy little nuggets, which were quite addictive.



Pork Rillettes with Mustard, Grilled Apricots and Orange Marmalade
A bit too much sweetness on the plate here for me to absolutely love this one but the rillettes were wonderful.



Manchego & Paprika Fritters with spicy Salsa Roja
All I could taste here was the smoky paprika, and the manchego was completely obscured. They were hot and crispy but bitter and somewhat out of balance.



Griddled Bacon-Wrapped Dates with Warm Honey
Nice but the honey made them a little too sweet for my taste.



Potatoes Bravas
A fantastic rendition. I loved all the components here -- the ultra crispy potatoes, the zippy aioli and the tangy sauce. Just amazing!




Crab & Pork Croquettes with Salsa Verde y Roja
These crispy little balls were delicate and supremely tasty.



House-Smoked Coppa Steak with Olive Oil-Poached Potatoes, Chopped Olives and Salbitxada
I loved the smoky flavor of the meat in combination with the olive oil and pungent olives -- robust flavors that complemented each other exceedingly well. I wish it had been cooked a little more rare, though, but an otherwise fantastic dish.



Seared Scallops with Romesco
Perfectly seared, delicate scallops atop a pool of delectable romesco and topped off with perfectly tender, delicious noodles.



Pan-Fried Squash Blossoms with Mojo Picon
Great execution here with a crispy exterior and a wonderfully creamy interior but the inclusion of mint made them somewhat of a deal-breaker for me personally.



Roasted Eggplant with Sweet Pepper, Lamb Ragu and Mahon Cheese
This was possibly my favorite dish of the entire meal. It was aromatic, hearty and immensely satisfying.



Chicken and Clams Cataplana with Tomato and Jamon
I absolutely loved this rich umami blast, which masterfully combined its contents into something well beyond the sum of its parts.



Paella Toro
One of the best renditions I've had in a long time. This was extremely well-balanced and judicious in its use of saffron. It was dotted liberally with mussels, clams, shrimps, chicken and sausage, and was perfectly crusty at the bottom. What a finale!

The menu was extensive and I don't think we even ordered a third of what was offered. If I lived in Portland, this would be on the extremely regular rotation for me. If you get a chance to eat there, I highly recommend Toro Bravo.

=R=

Toro Bravo
120 NE Russell St
Portland, OR 97212
503 281-4464