It took forever for Tapas Fever to hit Western New York, but this Elmwood spot makes up for all those years. As the city's first Spanish tapas bar, ¡Toro! fills a culinary niche. Owned by wine and food connoisseur Nick Kotrides, the restaurant is in a new building designed for one thing: sensual pleasure.
The space is filled with designer lighting and furniture, as well as appropriate regional artwork. ¡Toro! is the perfect adults-only place for dates, informal social gatherings and a place to prove to metropolitan visitors that the Queen City is no provincial backwater.
Tapas are small, slightly salty, snacks (think nuts, sliced sausage and olives) left atop Spanish bars to inspire greater imbibing. Most tapas places serve items more satisfying than a handful of olives, including ethnic dips like hummus and caponata and seafood prepared a number of ways. At ¡Toro!, The menu of tapas and dinner entrees changes seasonally and chef Dino DeBell (formerly of Nappa Valley's Travigne) makes sure all palates will be titillated.