Usually, restaurant week promos are all about tiny portion sizes. At the end of the day, you don’t pay as much as you might normally, but you do stop at Al Mallah for a shawarma afterwards.
Not so at Toro+Ko, which feeds you enough that you’re sated and happy, as we discovered when invited to preview the Barcelona tapas bar’s Dubai Restaurant Week offering. Until March 3, 15 restaurants across the city are offering three-course menus (with water) at Dh199 per person.
Going by previous experience, that has meant smaller portions of menu classics, to offer a discounted introduction to punters who might not otherwise roll up. But over a relaxed two hours at Toro+Ko, we were served five tapas items each, three main courses and three desserts, a fair portion of which we were forced to leave. Better yet, restaurant manager Morena and her friendly team are happy to cater for allergies.
Straightaway, we were surprised by the amuse bouche that goes to all diners — a tiny, silky smooth pumpkin soup with herby undertones that made for a very festive start.
Some of the tapas wasn’t awesome — a bite of Catalan tomato bread topped with Cecina left my friend feeling quite meh, but she raved about the patatas bravas and I relished a lemony, cheesy grilled corn on the cob.
What did we love?
The steak, served with padron peppers and buttery roast potatoes — perfectly done, my table knife cut through it in one fell swoop (none of that sawing!). The tender octopus rather deceptively appeared to have just kissed the griddle and came with a rousing pimento vinaigrette.
My dessert-hating baker friend grudgingly accepted that the donutty churros delivered on every front — crispy but soft, with a complement of sweet red velvet, medium dulce de leche and bitter dark chocolate sauces.
But the star was a sweet, almost chunky rice pudding alongside with a tart blood orange sorbet topped with grilled oranges. A study in contrasts, it ticked every box.
We left thinking this is how restaurant weeks should be done, and were still talking about it the next day. Over the short but cleverly designed menu, every taste was catered to, so even if you’re the type who argues with your partner about what to eat, you’ll both find dishes to get excited about.
What is Dubai Restaurant Week?
Held from February 22 to March 3, the Dubai Food Festival event features 15 restaurants creating bespoke three-course meals for Dh199 per person. For participating restaurants, go to roundmenu.com.
