Toro y Pampa fills a space next to a gas station in Middleton that has seen several international restaurants come and go. Could it be the one that has staying power?
The Argentinian menu features empanadas, hot plates, pizzas and sandwiches, and I tried one from each section. The Argintine sausage sandwich ($15) was delicious. The sausage was tender, savory and not overly spiced, and the bread was lightly toasted with a little oil, making it taste like focaccia bread. The server suggested adding mayo, but you don’t need any.
I also liked the steak empanada ($4). It had a bit of a sweet flavor from the sweet peppers. The tasty bits of steak also were complemented by bits of egg and other veggies, all inside a wonderful shell. Other empanadas include zucchini ($4), caprese ($4) and spinach ($4).
From the pizza section, I chose the mozzarella with ham and sweet peppers ($20). The pizza was mega cheesey, so much so that you almost don’t even notice the layer of ham underneath. The sweet peppers added a welcome contrast to the salty crust. Next time, I may get the pizza with anchovies ($22).
The only dish I didn’t enjoy was the tortilla de papas ($15), made with potatoes, onions and eggs. First, it was immensely bland, with no salt, pepper or any other seasoning used. Second, it was all one texture. The diced potatoes had no crunch, and I couldn’t really discern any onion, as everything just blended in with the eggs.
Toro y Pampa serves lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday.
Tags: Argentinian, Middleton
