Transforming a tiny hole-in-the-wall space on Eighth Avenue, Toro’s Pizza opened its doors quietly last month and, judging from the constant stream of people in and out, has quickly won over the pizza-loving local populace. The quaint eatery is the handiwork of business partners Alex Ghazarian and Nathan Farvo. Alex has been rolling pizza dough for longer than he cares to remember, having owned a number of venues in Syndey over the years. His business model of steering clear of the tourist centres has served him well, with each of his suburban eateries becoming institutions for the communities in which they reside. Alex has always tried to create the kind of low-key eatery where customers become friends, and vice-versa. Nathan, one Alex’s most regular customers, had been in the chef’s ear for a while about opening a venue together. When they both found themselves on the Gold Coast, they decided now was the ideal time. True to Alex’s model, they strayed from the main hospitality hubs and settled on an unassuming spot on Eighth Avenue in Palm Beach.
When Alex and Nathan were conceptualising the space, they wanted it to function primarily as a takeaway spot without looking like a takeaway spot. A line of stunning mosaic-tiled tables stretches the length of the small space, with a scattering of blush cushions injecting pretty pops of colour. Those tables, as it turns out, have inadvertently become hot property with three sittings a night (5:00 pm, 6:30 pm and 8:00 pm). As for the menu, Toro’s offering features pizza and pasta underpinned by an ethos of good, honest flavours. When it comes to the pizza, as Meghan Trainor once sang – it’s all about that base. The bases here are all hand-stretched and take 72-hours to prove, the result is a remarkably light and easy-to-digest dough that won’t leave you in a food coma. The best part? Toro’s Pizza is BYO so don’t forget a six-pack of tins or a bottle of your favourite wine to sip while you make your way through the menu.
Love pizza, pasta and BYO booze? Same. Skip over to the Stumble Guide for booking details and opening times.
