I have to admit the El Torito restaurant in La Jolla
was a surprise to me. I have eaten at other “Casual Dining”
restaurants before, and have always noticed that the décor
leaves you somewhat overwhelmed.
Road signs, beverage bottles, musical instruments and
vehicle parts vying for your attention over the sounds of a popular,
yet classic-enough-to-be-cool song, all of which invariably make
me lose interest in my meal, as my eyes veer manically from one
sign/object to the next.
The El Torito on the other hand, makes no pretenses.
It is what it is; a warm, festive place with good Mexican food served
up by the some of the genuinely nicest servers this side of the
Atlantic.
Colorful and vibrant, with beautiful frescoes on almost
every wall, the moment you walk through the carved wood doors you
are lured into a full on fiesta. Copious amounts of foliage are
seen everywhere, hanging from the ceilings and even growing in decorated
pots on ledges.
There are three main areas; the dining, which seats up to three
hundred, the bar which can hold a hundred and fifty, and the
patio, which doesn’t really have a fixed number of seats,
as I am sure tables and chairs can be added to accommodate
the lovers of our beautiful San Diego weather. There were
even fires, with a fireplace indoors and fire pit outside,
to stave off the occasional lingering chills.
Arroyo, our server for the night, was very informative
about all the dishes on the menu, explaining details that
added just that extra touch of sensory anticipation (in simpler
words, he made my mouth water!)
Our appetizer was the guacamole, prepared right in front of
us, with Arroyo explaining what he was adding to it all the
while. He asked if we liked it spicy, and after just a hint
of trepidation, we said yes. With a mischievous grin, he emptied
a bowl of diced peppers onto our awaiting avocados.
While I stared at him mutely, he laughed and assured
me that the peppers were “washed”. Still at a loss for
words, I stared on for more reassurance. Apparently, when the peppers
are washed after they are chopped, it takes the sting out of them,
and what remains is mainly the flavor.
I have to admit I didn’t fully believe him till
I tasted it. It was true! The flavor of the peppers blended with
the nuttiness of the avocado, the tartness of the tomato and the
sharpness of the onion into a marriage – not of convenience-
but of true love.
For the main course, I got the Jose Cuervo Flaming Fajitas
Supremas, “excellent choice” I was assured by Arroyo,
while my husband (who accompanies me on my culinary trysts)
had the Combinacion Veracruzana, (it looked to me like a sampler
plate on steroids) with tostadas, enchiladas and tacos.
My entrée was impressive enough, eliciting the prerequisite
“oohs and aahs” when it was flambéed at our
table, but the true enjoyment came when I got to taste the
tender marinated steak, the succulent shrimp and the perfectly
cooked, wonderfully seasoned chicken.
It was done just right. Served with freshly made
tortillas,guacamole and rice, it is a Big Meal,not for the
faint of heart.
Which was another thing that impressed me, all the portions
were more than healthy, they were positively in the pink
of health!
The great thing about eating with my husband is that
we sample off each others plates, and while that may
be off-putting to some, it serves me very well indeed.
The Queso Fresco Enchiladas were refreshingly
different; the fresh cheese filling was light and delicious,
and a nice change from the usual enchiladas I’ve
tasted. Do give that a try if you are daring enough
to veer off the usual path.
While I did not have the fortitude to sample
as much as I wanted to, what we did have was both delicious,
and generous, with freshness being a common theme throughout.
I would recommend the El Torito to any who haven’t tried
it yet, and to those who have, go back… you may have
forgotten exactly how good the food is.
The location is convenient, the parking ample,
and they are opened from 11 a.m. till 10 p.m. on weekdays
and offer a buffet brunch on Sundays starting at 9. If you
choose to order take out, I can promise you that while you
may not be able to enjoy the stained glass or frescoes, as
you eat your meal you will definitely hear strains of festive
Mexican music in the background.
Photos
by John Leonffu
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