Restaurant

Toro

Name: Toro
Address: 1704 Washington St, Boston, MA, 02118, US
Price range: $$$

Spanish•Boston•$$$

Toro is one of the best spanish restaurants in Boston for date night, especially if you want a strong option in Boston.

Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette's South End tapas bar has been one of Boston's most talked-about rooms since it opened, and the conversation hasn't cooled.

Editorial review•Nov 6, 2025

Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette's South End tapas bar has been one of Boston's most talked-about rooms since it opened, and the conversation hasn't cooled. What's notable is that Toro has apparently managed to hold onto both the quality and the momentum simultaneously — a combination that Boston's dining culture doesn't reliably produce. The South End location does a lot of work here: it's a neighborhood that takes its restaurants seriously, and Toro has reportedly rewarded that seriousness for long enough that it now functions as a kind of civic institution rather than just a good night out. The menu centers on Spanish tapas, and a handful of dishes have accumulated enough consistent praise to become de facto signatures. The corn preparation — reportedly a seasonal offering built around aioli, smoked paprika, and cotija — is described by diners and critics alike as something Bostonians use to mark the arrival of summer, which is a strange and specific kind of loyalty that only certain dishes earn. The patatas bravas and grilled octopus are consistently cited as the benchmarks against which the kitchen is measured, with the octopus in particular drawing comparisons to what you'd expect from a serious Spanish kitchen rather than an American interpretation of one. That's a claim worth noting, because Boston has plenty of the latter and not much of the former. Practically speaking: Toro runs loud and crowded, and reservations are worth the planning. Budget for a few rounds of small plates — at price level three, the bill can move quickly if you're ordering the way the format rewards. Go with enough people to cover the menu properly, and go on a night when you're not in a hurry.

Carlos Mendez, Food & Drink Editor

Methodology•Boston guides•Editorial team

cocktail date night

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Rating (Google) 8.8

2,444 reviews

Boston

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

8.8

Rating

Based on 2444 reviews

Best for

date night and cocktail

Price and pace

More of a night out

Neighborhood

Boston · 1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118, USA

Price

More of a night out

Google rating

8.8 from 2,444 reviews

Address

Boston | 1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118, USA

Inside the restaurant

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Why go

What makes Toro worth the move

Toro looks like a good night-out option in Boston because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. It also holds a 8.8 rating across 2,444 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

8.8 from 2,444 Google reviews

Best for

date night and cocktail

Style

Spanish in Boston

Spend

More of a night out

Best for

cocktail date night

Know before you go

Google rating: 8.8 from 2,444 reviews

Price point: $$$

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TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Carlos Mendez for Toro

Google snapshot

8.8 from 2,444 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Carlos Mendez

No diner notes for Toro yet.

Every note in this section is written by a diner who actually ate here, so we leave it empty until there's a genuine one to share.

For now, Toro holds a 8.8 rating across 2,444 Google reviews.

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Address: 1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118, USA
Price: $$$
TastyPals score: Coming soon
Google rating: 8.8 (2,444 reviews)
Cuisine: Spanish
Neighborhood: Boston

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Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Toro serve?

Toro is a Spanish restaurant located in Boston, Boston. Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette's South End tapas bar has been one of Boston's most talked-about rooms since it opened, and the conversation hasn't cooled.

What is Toro best for?

Toro is best for cocktail, date night. Toro looks like a good night-out option in Boston because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. It also holds a 8.8 rating across 2,444 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Toro?

Toro is in the More of a night out price range ($$$). Google rating: 8.8 from 2,444 reviews

Is Toro worth visiting?

Toro holds a 8.8 Google rating from 2,444 reviews. Toro looks like a good night-out option in Boston because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. It also holds a 8.8 rating across 2,444 Google reviews.

Where is Toro located?

Toro is located at 1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118, USA. Directions are available via Google Maps.

Is Toro good for a date night?

Yes — Toro is tagged for date night dining. Toro looks like a good night-out option in Boston because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. It also holds a 8.8 rating across 2,444 Google reviews.

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