Toros Terrific
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Does anyone head to Clifton for the restaurants? Now that I've tried Toros and their satisfying three-course, $10.99 lunch, my answer is "they should be!" No surprise, then, that Toros is doing the kind of business at lunch that other restaurants would envy.
Minutes after being seated, servers came over three times to ask if we were ready to order—an annoying start, frankly, to an otherwise delightful experience. Catching a server's eye for refills of water glasses or coffee took time and patience; be prepared.
But ah, the food. Generously portioned, fresh and flavorful, with close to 20 appealing selections to choose from, my lunch with two good friends was a treat. First up, Toros' acclaimed House Salad (actually the classic Turkish Shepherd's Salad, with or without feta) or Soup of the Day. What arrived were three plentiful platters of diced tomatoes and cucumbers with a well-balanced vinegar + oil dressing. Soft, crusty bread was the perfect accompaniment for mopping up leftover dressing and the subsequent second-course dips, which included Lebni (creamed yogurt with garlic, dill + walnuts), Hummus, and Patlican Soslu (a mixture of fresh cubed eggplant, tomatoes, green peppers, tomato and garlic).
To my palate, the lebni was a standout, fabulously creamy and tangy. All agreed the eggplant dish was terrific, but the hummus—while sprinked with paprika, which provided a nice little bite—was undistinguished.
Next up: entrées including Broiled Salmon, Chicken Kebab and Sis Kebab, tenderloin grilled cubes of lamb. Each was accompanied by "nicely spiced" rice pilaf (as one dining companion put it), a portion of tasty bulgar, salad greens, and grilled tomato. "Quite frankly," said one of us with pleasure, "this is the best lamb of its kind I've had. It's such an easy dish to overcook and dry out." "This chicken is delicious!" our other lunch buddy agreed.
As is typical for me, I consumed so much bread and dips that I could barely touch my entrée, so I brought it home for my ever-so-grateful family to enjoy at dinner. Will I return? You bet.
Toros Authentic Turkish + Mediterranean Cuisine
489 Hazel Street, Clifton
973.772.8032
Karen Schloss Diaz, longtime food & restaurant columnist for The Montclair Times and now SuzySaid! Any tips for Karen – or restaurants you'd like her to check out? Contact her directly
The recommendations on this site are solely the personal opinions of the owners and readers. Users are responsible for their own due diligence before acquiring product or obtaining services.
Suzy Said LLC does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any of the information, services or products advertised on, distributed through, or linked, downloaded or accessed from the Suzysaid.com web pages.
Under no circumstances, including, but not limited to, negligence, will Suzy Said LLC be liable for special or consequential damages that result from the use or inability to use the materials or services mentioned on this site. Under no circumstances shall Suzy Said LLC be liable for the injury, damage or expense arising from any materials or statements contained in any site linked to or from this site.
ADD COMMENT
ADD A COMMENT