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Permanently Closed - El Torito Grill - Sherman Oaks
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About
El Torito Grill, located in Sherman Oaks, California, aims to provide a revolutionary approach to Mexican dining. When walking in, you will find a casual, warm approach to fine dining. The staff always try to make guests feel as important as possible while serving great food and drinks. El Torito Grill also provides many fresh and health choices that range from light to hearty and is known for feel-good Mexican cuisine.
The menu at El Torito Grill shows both traditional and original aspects, in order to give you something different. Taco Tuesday is a hot afternoon with many tacos priced at only three dollars. You can try the carnitas taco, blackened snapper taco or the shrimp and chorizo. There are also plenty of drink options to go with your plate of tasty tacos.
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Our waitress was horrific. Threw every plate down onto the table and was horrible on checking in on us.
It was very noisy and couldn't have good conversation. Food was good.
Terrible from start to finish. We made a reservation obviously and they called to ask if we wanted outside or inside. I told them outside. When we arrived they tried to seat us on a side patio where none of the tables were even set up an no one else was sitting. They had tables open on the nice side, but said they were reserved. Since it was so dirty, we asked to be seated inside. Although the waiter was very nice, he was not attentive. They brought us the wrong drinks. It took forever to get our food and when it did arrive, it was terrible. My daughter did not even touch her meal because it tasted so bad. Most waiters would have asked if everything was okay? Nope, not this one. In addition, we over paid for terrible food and service. I will never step foot in there again.
Host was friendly but forgot to check us in so we were a no show to Opentable. Fixed when we got the email asking us why we didn't show. We always go here after the movies. Also wonder why more El Toritos don't convert the concept.
Had plans to see a movie with a friend, so we decided to meet here for dinner beforehand just out of convenience. Didn't realize that Tuesday was taco day -- $3 per taco! We each got three tacos plus elote (corn on the cob), and we shared the table-side-prepared guacamole. We also each got a Cadillac margarita. In total, we had WAY more than enough food. The guacamole was good, but even though we asked for it spicy, it wasn't particularly spicy. The steak taco was pretty good, though it had some gristle bits in it. The carnitas taco was better -- both in flavor and texture. And the al pastor was my favorite! Note that the restaurant brings salsa with soft tortillas instead of the typical chips. But if you ask for chips, they'll bring those as well. We opted to sit outside, but it was a VERY warm evening, so in retrospect, inside would have been more comfortable. Also, they sat us at a VERY tiny table, even though some bigger tables for 2 were available. We should have asked to move.
Went to dinner last Saturday nite following movie. Although we have been here many times, we were disappointed. The food was of average quality. The servers were "stingy" on the tortillas (which is the selling point for the restaurant). Our servers, otherwise, were quite good and quite attentive. However, the quality of the restaurant has definitely gone down ill. Were it not for the fact that it is right near the movies, it is not a "go to" restaurant.
Delicious meal once again at El Torito Grill. Enjoyed house made tortillas. They have added lime zest and a teeny bit more sugar to the butter served with them. Yum! Entree was a Chicken Taco, Cheese Enchilada, cilantro rice and black beans. Everything was so tasty!
We're always happy to eat here - great food and margaritas. This last time it was much louder though and the shouting from the kitchen was very distracting, it's not normally like that.
Food and service were both very good. Our waiter made excellent suggestions.
We were a party of 12. Sometimes that can be overwhelming. I'm happy to say the service was great and waiters were spot on. Had reservations so no wait to be seated. Everyone had good things to say about their food. Great place for dinner
The food isn't bad but it's nowhere near authentic tasting. It tastes exactly like the El Torito chain restaurants. The service was great.
Food was good, but service was very sluggish, even thought they weren't very busy. Waiters kept forgetting what we asked for multiple times... If it wouldn't be in a proximity to a movie theatre we wouldn't bother coming.
The drinks were good. The sampler was great. Just took a little longer than normal to get our food out.
So as you can see, that says it all. When you visit this place you will want to order everything on the menu, that is how good it is, and as an added bonus the Arc Cinema where you can reserve your own cushy seat is right next to the restaurant.!!
The food is consistently good. I wish they had never closed the one in Beverly Hills!
Just not so good. Neither fresh nor authentic. Dreadful service from staff who couldn't care less about delivering quality. I won't go back. Any other Mexican restaurant would be better.
Our food was fair to good, at best, and one of the dishes (ribs) was so bad, we had to send it back!
Service was spotty. First it was fine, then in was very slow, then they apologized and paid attention to us!
Hadn't been to a Torito Grill for many years. We used to like this place. But, after this visit it will be my last.
We arrived to the restaurant and the waiter was not very attentive. We will have to look for him if we needed it something, I think he had to check more often our table at least every five minutes or so since the restaurant was half empty. Sense of urgency is the key. The food was good but the waiting time for the food to be served was wayyyy too long. I tipped the waiter because of good manners, but I do not think he deserved it.
Hubby and I have loved El Torito Grill for years. This time, though, the pepitas in my salad were stale the (always) delicious Chicken Tortilla Soup had a couple of small pieces of chicken in it and hubby's Shrimp Diablo was overcooked. If the past is a fair indication, I know we will have better luck next time!
Drinks were fine. Food was good not great. Portions of the costlier items not large and under lots of rice to make it look like more food than it actually is. Tortilla's made fresh are very good.
Always the same great service. Food is as ordered on menu. Tasty and and served hot. We go before the movies and always are out on time.
One suggestion. Tortillas served before meal is brought. Need to be better done. Are always too light and not dark enough. Would taste better. Made in a hurry?
Great place for cocktails and food. This place gets both very right. Perfect pre or post-movie destination for an Arclight feature. The service here is fantastic.
We used to come to this El Torito Grill location often, but with our last visit, we were extremely disappointed. It took 45 minutes for the food to arrive due to shortage of staff. The chips and salsa tasted stale. The fajita meat was overly cooked and didn't taste fresh. The kids meal were extremely spicy. We had to reorder because we couldn't even eat it. The manager did apologize, however I think the restaurant is poorly managed. Will not return.
We were traveling, a total group of nine, & I just searched for an area where two parts of our group coming from different areas could meet in the middle. El Torito was a nice surprise! I made the reservation through my phone app about 45 minutes before we would be there - super easy. The restaurant texted to ask if we would prefer to be outside or inside, which I thought was very considerate. Lunch was great! Excellent service, excellent food.
We ate here after seeing a movie, it was great, just one floor down, open until 11pm. Two drinks, shrimp dish and carne asada only $56.00. Service was very friendly and fast. Over all very good for a chain restaurant.
Pretty good food. the place is nice but can get noisy if its full. One of the Better places to go in the Sherman Oaks mall. What is nice is if you go to the movies and eat there parking is only a $1.
The waiter was nice and came around often to see if we needed anything. Great experience !
What's the point of a reservation if you have to still wait 30+ minutes? I have to say food was ok, server was really nice and attentive, but the hostesses here (all 6 of them) are super disorganized. Granted it was Cinco de Mayo but I think that is why you are fully staffed right? We got there early thinking we can possibly get seated since we were expecting a busy night. They said we would get seated at the first table for 2 that opens up. We didn't. We saw a bunch of duos and groups (many who came after us) get seated. When I bring this up to their attention, the very same hostess I spoke to, said she had already seated us. ??? and then silence. I didn't know what to say since I was standing there in front of her not seated. So you can have a fancy tech tool for seating, but if the hostesses behind it aren't sharp cookies, the tool is useless. At this very same time I was standing there waiting for them to figure it out, a couple who literally walked in 5 minutes prior, were being alerted there was an open table for them. This was very frusturating. We had an ok meal, good drinks, and our server was really good. I would only advise management to re-think their system. This is a busy area, they've got to step it up.
Their Wednesday's wine special for %50 off a bottle is great
We had reserved through OpenTable for 5 people and were seated immediately, even though the restaurant is extremely popular & busy. Our wait staff could not have been lovelier or more attentive. The menu is large and everyone was satisfied, and our daughter loved to watch the process of handmaking the tortillas (and then eating them!) Only disappointment was the "fried" ice cream--rolled in cereal & too sugary.
It was way too noisy-difficult to have a conversation.
We always like the food and generally speaking our servers are friendly and helpful. However, our last time at El Torito Grill our server was less than competent, unhelpful and rude.
Portion size seemed too small. Almost $40.00 for tiny untasty appetizer and small sandwich and salad.
For a place that had few guests on a sunday night, it was disappointing to have bad service. when we've been there previously the service has been spot on. food was also not as good as past visits. we had to move tables because the one we were seated at was under a speaker playing very loud music.
The restaurant was intolerably loud and the service was indifferent. The food was just OK. I won't be back.
El Torito is a great place for large groups and easy dining. the staff is always amazing. We often go here with a handicapped person and they always work so hard to accommodate her.
Enjoyed the tamale and chicken enchiladas very much although it was a little too loud and hard to have a conversation.
I always enjoy eating at El Torito Grill! The food is consistently good, the servers are friendly and the atmosphere is energetic.
I'd recommend the Shrimp Diablo, if you like spicy, or the Fajitas Supremas. Also, get the fried icecream.
Disappointed. Sat down to lunch and waiter comes over to take drink order but while we are giving our order he walks away and doesn't come back but goes to serve other tables. After 5 min we got up and left.