cowabunga

Day 1 - Los Toros

Haagdijk 29, 4811 TN Breda
 

 

First Impressions – I felt like I had just returned gloriously from a cattle ranch when I walked in. The smell of chargrilled meat greeted us along with a member of staff who allowed us to pick our own table. There were about four other parties present at the time of entering.

Interior – Seriously, I felt like a cowboy in there! It was a long thin building, you walked past the open kitchen into the seating area. The tables were laid out in two columns of back to back benches, with a walkway down the middle. Pictures of happy cows painted all over the walls, which I think made everyone happy. If I was a cow and I knew I was going to be eaten by me, I would also be smiling. There was some cow skin draped over the back of the bench.

 

 

Service – The fella who got us sitting down gave us an explanation of the menu. I got a bit excited because he started by saying “Have you been here before?”. Normally when that gets said, something good happens. We asked him about the mixed grill and he told us what we wanted to hear. I must say he was very enthusiastic about it all. We discussed the fact he took the order and didn’t ask us how we wanted the meat cooked, and both agreed that he probably didn’t ask because he didn’t need telling. Don’t teach your Granny to suck eggs.

 

Cow eggs.

 

Food – €25 – It should have come out with a siren or something, it was mental! The mixed grill had been ordered, the meat arrived on a hot plate. We both received three small cuts of steak (sirloin/rump/fillet). Succulence. The fillet was tender with just the right amount of purchase, the rump was slightly more charred than the others - it had the best flavour we agreed. Also on the hot plate was a chorizo sausage each, not the fatty Italian sort, it was just like a really nice sausage which was a little redder in colour and tasted very strong (I used it to clear my pallet when I was having a steak overload (not normally possible)). Finally there were two racks of six ribs. Now I don’t normally eat ribs because every time i've had them before they are usually smothered with sauce, or the meat quality is a bit rubbish – these were bang on! Pure charred up! I made a special point of telling our waiter/proprietor how good they were. All of this was accompanied by a salad with a dressing I didn't really like, and some chips. They had also decorated our plates with balsamic glaze and some herbs which was a nice touch. All of this was washed down with two and a half glasses of Jupiler.

 

 

 

Final Thought  – I will be going back before I return home. Promised the bloke in there I would too. I also left a €10 tip as I thought that would be an investment, particularly if I go back on the last day and tell him it’s my last day, he may give us something free. Actually thinking about it – I don’t know why I didn’t keep the €10 and spend it on something extra instead? I’ve decided it’s more pleasing for it to happen this way and I will feel like I’ve made a friend.

It better happen now.