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EDITOR’S NOTE: Miguel Maestre’s now has a new restaurant (Aperitif in Kings Cross) and El Toro Loco now has a new name under “El Poco Loco” still serving Spanish food under chef J L Jaro of Madrid.
El Toro Loco is a new Spanish restaurant (opened Jan 2010) on the northern beaches of Sydney. A little flamenco music in the background is the first of many signs that this place has been manufactured according to the book of Spanish tourist bar cliches, but hundreds of people are pouring into, Spanish born, Miguel Maestre’s new restaurant every night and the reviews are all excellent.
Miguel Maestre rules his restaurant with a loud, charismatic personality, an unleashed version of his TV Chef personality, but taking center stage in this modern 200 m2 restaurant is a large open kitchen that juts out and boldly serves an ambitious menu of tapas and raciones.
Along with the paella served in individual cast-iron pans; the terracotta served sangria, made to Mamá Maestre’s recipe, is also very affordable and extremely popular at $20 per jug.
The food is exciting and prices range from $7 to $15 across a range of 15 tapas dishes, $22 to $28 for specials including ‘Paella a la Maestre’ and $10 to $12 for desserts with a whole night for two coming in at around $80.
The El Toro Loco restaurant or The Crazy Bull has a kind of marketable stick-ability, but original it’s not. El Toro Loco’s exist independently around the world; El Toro Loco London, El Toro Loco California, El Toro Loco France and the list goes on through one in every four states of the U.S.A. There’s even a Monster Truck called El Toro Loco.
The difference at Manly, Australia (apart from the seaside views) is that Chef Miguel Maestre is returning to his Spanish roots and backing up the cliche tapas bar image with excellent food and a performers flare and ego.
All the place needs now is some live flamenco music complete with flamenco dancers… If Miguel Maestre can handle the competition for attention that is!
EDITOR’S NOTE: Soon after opening, El Toro Loco had live flamenco… “Flamenco del Mar” performing on the first Friday of each month from 6pm to 9.30pm. In Early 2011 executive chef, Miguel Maestre moved across to Aperitif and El Toro Loco took on a new name ‘El Poco Loco’ under one of the existing chefs, J.L.Jaro (originally from Madrid).
Poco Loco is located at 49-53 North Steyne, Manly. N.S.W.
Phone: 9977 0999
Hours: Open seven days, daily from 7am-11pm.
Website: El Toro Loco
Facebook comments:
Miguel you the man! Good to see you are rocking it out down there!
Shawn
Miguel, con tu simpatía conquistás el mundo… Además, los platos se ven deliciosos… Quando esté por Australia con seguridad visitaré EL TORO LOCO… Un beso enorme desde Argentina… Y te esperamos por aquí!!!!!!!!!!!!!… por qué no? Podrías abrir también El TORO LOCO en Argentina… Cierto?
Besotessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss