toro toro time

Downtown's newest luxury steakhouse reveals hotly anticipated opening date

Toro Toro Four Seasons Houston dinner spread

Toro Toro pairs steaks with a selection of shareable dishes.

Courtesy of Four Seasons Houston

Downtown's newest luxurious steakhouse debuts this weekend. Toro Toro opens inside the Four Seasons Hotel this Saturday, October 30.

As CultureMap has previously reported, chef Richard Sandoval, known as the "Father of Modern Mexican Cuisine," developed Toro Toro to offer a pan-Latin American perspective on the traditional steakhouse. Chef de cuisine Rafael Villalpando brings an impressive resume to his role, including time at the Rosewood Hotel in San Miguel de Allende, the J.W. Marriott in San Antonio, and Toro Toro's Fort Worth location.

Inspired by Brazilian-style rodizio restaurants, the menu features a selection of steaks and wild game dishes along with shareable dishes such as empanadas, tacos, and ceviche. Instead of creamed spinach and shrimp cocktail served at traditional, American-style steakhouses, diners will find dishes inspired by Chifa (Chinese-Peruvian), Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian), Mexican, and Brazilian cuisine.

A meal may start with shareables such as tuna Nikkei ceviche, lomo saltado empanadas, or grilled octopus. Entree options include individual steak and seafood dishes or large format platters

Signature items include a 52-ounce mezcal-flambéed Prime tomahawk steak that's presented tableside and the Churrasco Mixed Grill Skewer that offers Brazilian-style picanha steak, ribeye, lamb chops, Texas antelope, and more.

Beverage options include an extensive selection of wines from Latin America and spins on Latin American cocktails including the Mercado Margarita with hibiscus-rosemary foam or the Negroni Norte with El Silencio Mezcal, Campari and carpano antica.

Sandoval is no stranger to Houston. The chef, who operates over 50 restaurants worldwide, developed Bayou & Bottle for the Four Seasons. Houston's Toro Toro will be Sandoval's sixth restaurant in Texas.

“The Four Seasons always signifies excellence and offers distinctive experiences in each city," Sandoval said in a statement. "Toro Toro Houston will be a destination that defines vibrancy through its flavors and Houston’s rich culinary, sports and arts and entertainment culture.”

To transform the former Quattro space into Toro Toro, the Four Seasons worked with New York-based design firm Meyer Davis. Elements include a stone bar near the restaurant's entrance, marble fireplaces, and distressed blue and saddle leather accents. The restaurant also includes a 2,700-square-foot private event space.

"This is a tremendous opportunity to usher in a new era for dynamic downtown experiences in Houston with the addition of a world-class, global steakhouse led by chef Richard Sandoval and our design team Meyer Davis," Four Seasons Hotel Houston general manager Tom Segesta said. "After the success of Sandoval’s Bayou & Bottle’s addition in 2017 during the Houston Super Bowl, now, it is equally fitting to welcome Houstonians and global travelers alike to Toro Toro while the Houston Astros are playing in the World Series."

Toro Toro will be open for dinner Tuesday-Saturday beginning at 5:30 pm. Lunch and weekend brunch service will follow in the coming weeks.

chefs hotels news-you-can-eat openings

giddy up

Fertitta family reveals first details for pop-up steakhouse at RodeoHouston

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo 1932 Cattleman's Club

Courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and rodeo

Expect a full steak dinner at 1932 Cattleman's Club.

Houston-based hospitality juggernaut Fertitta Entertainment’s plans for a pop-up restaurant at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo have taken shape. Opening this Monday, March 2, the 1932 Cattleman’s Club aims to be a family-friendly, upscale restaurant in the middle of the Rodeo grounds.

Located just outside NRG Stadium’s East Entrance, the 1932 Cattleman’s Club takes its inspiration from upscale ranches and classic dancehalls. Design details include worn leather, ironwork accents, vintage rodeo memorabilia, and Western art. Diners can belly up to the half-round bar. Wagon wheel chandeliers illuminate the dining room.

The steakhouse-style menu starts with a range of domestic wagyu, including a 40-ounce tomahawk ribeye from Houston’s R-C Ranch, a wagyu prime rib, and a bone-in New York strip from HeartBrand Beef in Harwood, TX. Starters includes maple-glazed quail, crab and lobster rolls, hamachi crudo, and tuna poke. Pair them with cocktails, beer, or wine.

A separate quick service menu offers grab-and-go items such as wagyu-on-a-stick, lobster rolls, a “Midnight Cowboy” dog, smoked brisket nachos, and a loaded baked potato. Kids may opt for a burger, chicken tenders, hot dog, mac and cheese, or fried shrimp bites.

“We are excited to introduce fresh, new dining options to the Rodeo,” COO Scott Marshall said in a statement. “We wanted to honor Texas ranching traditions while pushing ourselves creatively — bold flavors, premium ingredients, and dishes that feel both nostalgic and exciting. It’s refined and designed to match the energy of the rodeo itself.”

The space is large enough to include three private dining rooms:

The Heritage Room, a 24-person room with an 18-foot, red oak table and vintage photographs
The Front Porch, a semi-private outdoor area with room for 68 people
Oak Room VIP Lounge, a 32-person room with a private bar that’s named for the private club at The Post Oak Hotel.

In addition to selling food, the 1932 Cattleman’s Club will offer a range of merchandise and memorabilia, including clothing, gifts, and accessories from brands such as Lucchese, Stephen Wilson, and Elizabeth Cole. They include candles, jewelry, a t-shirt, and a Stanley mug.

The 1932 Cattleman’s Club will be open daily from March 2-22. Hours are 3 pm-12 am, Monday – Friday, and 11 am-12 am Saturday and Sunday. During spring break, March 9-12, the restaurant will open at 11 am. Reservations are available via the restaurant's website.

“The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is part of the fabric of this city, and opening 1932 Cattleman’s Club here — in our hometown — is incredibly special for our entire team,” said Patrick Fertitta, director of Fertitta Entertainment. “This concept is a true tribute to the Rodeo’s history, Texas hospitality, and the legacy that began in 1932. We’re proud to bring something entirely new to the Rodeo while honoring the traditions that make it so meaningful to Houston.”

openings news-you-can-eat houston livestock show and rodeo rodeohouston