My spouse and I have dined at Torre several times since its
opening in November 2014, generally as just a party of two diners, but one time
with extended family. Our most recent dining experience occurred for dinner on
a Sunday evening in mid-November 2015.
Torre is owned by the Paxos Restaurant Group, which also
manages nearby Melt (just across the street) as well as Blue Grillhouse in
Bethlehem Township. Torre is open daily for lunch (or brunch on Sundays) and
dinner. They accept reservations by telephone and also via the Open Table reservation
system. Parking is available in the communal shopping center lot; however,
valet parking is available from Melt on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
Torre is located in the lifestyle center (strip mall)
space previously occupied by Pacifico (which closed in January 2014). The
restaurant space is attractive and open, with high soaring ceilings and an
oval-shaped bar with a three-story tequila tower (offering as many as 80
different kinds of tequila) as its focal point. (“Torre” means “tower” in
Spanish.) Another of the eye-catching features of the restaurant is a wall
filled with colorfully painted and decorated ceramic skulls; in fact, the skull
seems to be the restaurant’s logo, because it appears on their classy paper take-out
bags and on paper wearable masks that they give to young diners (a children’s
menu is available). A private dining room is available on the street level. Some
high-top tables surround the bar, and a small outdoor patio (with just three or
so tables) sits near the corner of the restaurant. But if there isn’t an
outdoor table available for you, don’t worry – a huge motorized retractable glass
window/wall in front some of the indoor dining space rolls up in nice weather
to provide additional semi-al fresco space. Both booths and tables are
available on the main/street-level floor, with additional table seating on the
upper mezzanine that overlooks the restaurant. The mezzanine level also
contains the restaurant’s keg system, which is tucked behind glass and visible
to diners (underground pipes run from the second floor down and over to the
bar). A window into the kitchen allows guests to watch the chefs at work. Restrooms
are also located on the street level in individual rooms – make sure that you
know the Spanish words for men (hombres) and women (mujeres) to choose the
correct cubicle!
The staff here is very professional, despite being mostly
college-age kids, and service is kept running smoothly by one of their
ever-present business suit-clad managers. Many staff members have worked there
since the restaurant opened, so management seems to do a good job of retaining
employees.
We have dined from the lunch, Sunday brunch, and dinner
menus at Torre, and everything is good. Our favorites are the beef brisket
nachos, the guacamoles (of the five types that Torre serves, we like the
Verduras, made with avocados, cucumber, roasted
corn, and pumpkin seeds), taquitos, the Los Cabos fish tacos
(served in three tiny soft corn tortillas and topped with Asian slaw and crema),
enchiladas, quesadillas (even the vegetarian Verdura quesadillas, with
zucchini, corn, and onions are great)– in fact, we have only had one or two
dishes here that we would not re-order (for example, the empanadas were too
baked/fried for our taste). The desserts are also delicious – the churros
dusted with chili sugar and served with dark chocolate dipping sauce, the tres
leches cake, the coconut tart, and savory avocado ice cream. Prices are
reasonable for the quantity of food that you receive, particularly on the lunch
and brunch menus (dinner entrees are more pricey at $20 and up, but some
lower-priced enchiladas and other Mexican staples are also available. The style
of the food, its presentation, and the way that it is served is a modern take
on Mexican cuisine; you will not receive complimentary tortilla chips and salsa
here (although four types of salsa are available for purchase at a modest price
of $3 and $4), and the usual Mexican side dishes (like Spanish rice and refried
beans – the refritos made with smoked bacon are excellent) are a la carte. For
dinner service, the restaurant offers a complimentary plate that contains
spiced peanuts and marinated giardiniera-type vegetables (truth be told, the
veggies are not our favorite, but other diners must like them or the restaurant
wouldn’t keep serving them).
Torre is a great choice if you are looking to dine at the
Promenade Shops!
From September 2016:
Update October 2016:
Update January 2017:
Update February 2017:
Update September 2017:
Update: November 2019
