Ray L.
Yelp
An underrated gem. Best meal I had in Madrid or Barcelona over 10 days. Unfortunately most of the 4.5 to 5 star restaurants on Yelp and Tripadvisor I encountered in those two cities were overrated, and likely would have scored 3-3.5 stars had they been located in SF or NYC. Toga was a welcome exception that really restored my faith in fellow travelers.
The menu is Argentinian fusion with Italian and Japanese influences. Appetizers are around 8-9 euro, and entrees 11-12 euro, with the exception of the steak (around 20 euro). The place was almost empty at 8 PM on a Sunday night, but slowly filled up with an even mix of Spanish regulars who knew the owners and tourists. Overall it seemed less touristy than other places rated on Yelp.
My gf and I got 1 appetizer, 3 entrees, and 1 dessert. Each dish was very good, but the true standouts were the ones our waiter recommended--the butterfish ceviche, the Iberian pork, and the kimchi mayo pasta.
The butterfish lived up to its name, with a rich, fatty flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture that paired perfectly with the accompanying lime marinade and avocado cream.
The Iberian pork was a revelation: a well-seasoned, sirloin-like cut that was lightly crisped on the outside and cooked to a juicy, tender medium inside. Roasted peppers and balsamic glaze played nicely against the savory richness of the pork. Don't be afraid of a little pinkness in the meat--it's a testament to the quality of the pork they use.
I'm normally skeptical of Asian fusion, but the signature kimchi mayo (really a kimchi cream sauce) pasta with tuna was surprisingly delicious. The noodles were fresh, lightly coated with what tasted like a soy glaze, and just slightly over al dente. The kimchi mayo had just enough heat to balance with the richness of the mayo and worked well with the big, tender chunks of tuna.
The squid ink risotto was well done--creamy, with the umami from the squid ink and some garlic chips on top--but wasn't as extraordinary as the other dishes. To be fair, it would probably still get get 5 stars and rave reviews at other tourist-trafficked places in Madrid.
We finished with the pineapple with mascarpone, lime, and white chocolate. The pineapple came in hefty chunks with sweet syrup, and though delicious, may have come from a can. The mascarpone was excellent--somehow creamier than normal, with a hint of white chocolate and refreshing notes of lime. It was perfect for us because we had such a heavy and rich meal, but the other chocolate-based desserts might be more impressive on their own.
We had a great Argentinian waiter who was friendly--and very forward--and made excellent recommendations. Despite being fairly local-oriented, they were welcoming to us and other tourists who stepped in.
We paid just under 60 euro for 4 dishes, 1 dessert, and 2 glasses of wine. I almost don't want this place to get more popular. It was that good.