A slice of the spicy lamb meatball pizza
We couldn’t think of a better end to an evening learning about Durham history at The Carolina Theatre than celebrating a new downtown restaurant. So, after leaving the theater last night, we went around the corner to East Chapel Hill Street to enjoy delectable, wood-fired pizza at Pizzeria Toro.
At night especially – and I imagine during cold, dreary days ahead – Pizzeria Toro looks warm and inviting from the outside. They’ve made great use of their large storefront windows, beautiful wooden tables and soft lighting. The massive, wood-fired oven directly in center of the restaurant doesn’t hurt either.
The whole restaurant is open concept – you get to see the kitchen and your food being prepared – which I actually found refreshing and interesting. It made the experience more familial.
The spicy lamb meatball pie we decided to split came out to the table quickly. The quality of the ingredients was evident in the very first bite, and I took my time savoring my three pieces. The crust had a delicate crunch on the bottom, and was light and flavorful otherwise – probably the best pizza crust I’ve encountered in a long while.
It was just the right amount of food, and our service was attentive and friendly. Our waiter even offered to show us the bar around the corner of the main dining room, which we happily took him up on. The bar was bustling with fellow lecture-goers, and a big-screen TV was on mute hanging in the corner next to the door that led out to Morris Street. (Our waiter said that they’d turn the volume on for Duke games.) We didn’t stick around for a brew or glass of wine, but we’ll certainly be back.
