El Rodeo y El Toreo

It has been a while since my last post, but I haven't been starving, just too busy to post. During this lapse I have eat at both El Rodeo and El Toreo. Anyone who actually reads this blog will probably know that they have the same owners and that several locations exist throughout Roanoke. That being said, you can rest assured they are all the exact same restaurant despite the different names.

Let me start by saying they are not the worst mexican food I've ever had. I'm far from raving about these places. They are the run of the mill, chips and salsa appetizer, every-dish-is-the-same type of establishment. However, the service was good at El Toreo out on Franklin Road. The service at the newly opened location on the hill, near Ruby Tuesday on Electric Road was a little less responsive. Personally I enjoyed the complete non-smoking atmosphere of El Toreo.

I'm not going into what we all ate. Everything basically tasted the same. The meats could use more seasoning. The dishes could use less lettuce on top and everything could be served a bit warmer. The general atmosphere, bright decorations, and cozy booths are what really brought us to visit more than one of these restaurants. If you want a higher quality meal, head to El Palenque.

Now I'm off to hunt down the remaining Mexican fare this town has to offer.