Toro debuts in Chelsea

Buzzy West Coast imports (Mission Chinese Food, Pok Pok Ny) may have ruled 2012, but this year, the spotlight has shifted back toward the Atlantic. On September 27th, Boston heavy hitters Ken Oringer (a James Beard Award winner) and Jamie Bissonnette—soon to be followed by D.C.’s legendary French toque Michel Richard—make their mark on Gotham with Toro, a Chelsea spin-off of their lauded Beantown tapas spot. The wood-paneled, 120-seat restaurant, decorated with a mounted bull’s head, boasts floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Hudson River. From an open plancha bar, the chefs dispatch dishes like a rabbit, snail and artichoke paella; razor clams with piquillo pepper; and a tetilla-cheese-and-jamon pincho. The wine list features Spanish varietals, while a cocktail menu offers sherry quaffs and sangria on tap. 85 Tenth Ave at 15th St (212-691-2360)

TORO MENU:

PINCHOS
Huevos Diablo, 7
Deviled farm eggs with conserved tuna belly
Pan con tomate, 6
Toasted bread with tomato, garlic, Spanish olive oil and sea salt (add anchovies, $1)
Datiles con jamon, 7
Medjool dates filled with marcona almonds and cabrales blue cheese, wrapped in jamon serrano
Queso Mahon, $6
Marinated cow's milk cheese from Menorca
Boquerones, $8
White anchovies in vinegar and olive oil
Pimientos del padron, $8
Spicy shishito peppers with sea salt
Toriilla española, $6
Egg, potato and onion omelet with alioli
Higado frito, $9
Fried chicken liver stuffed sage leaves
Baccala, $7
Salt cod pincho on toast
Corazon, $8
Smoked beef heart with romesco on toast
Foie gras y piquillo, $16
Seared foie gras with piquillo pepper, cider vinegar gastrique and candied walnuts
Bocadillo de erizos, $13
Pressed sandwich of sea urchin, miso butter and pickled mustard seeds
Marcona almonds, $8
Roasted and salted spanish almonds
Venteesca, $5
Spanish tuna belly, tomato tapenade and celery leaves on toast

TAPAS FRIAS Y JAMONES
Ensalada cortada, $12
Mixed greens, grilled corn, croutons, tomatoes, cucumbers, tahini dressing and mahon cheese
Ostras en escabeche, $18
Marinated oysters with grains of paradise, lovage and citrus
Escalivada catalana, $9
Smoked eggplant, onions, peppers anD tomatoes with sherry vinegar and olive oil
Atun crudo, $17
Yellowfin tuna with white soy, spicy cucumbers, citrus and avocado
Caballa tartate, $15
Mackerel tartare with stuff that we all really like
Oreja de cerdo terrina, $15
Pig ear terrine with king crab and yuzu
Jamon de la quercia, $15
Iowa raised cured ham
Jamon serrano de fermín, $17
Premium cured Spanish ham
Jamon iberico de fermín, $36
Hand carved Iberian jamon
Paté de conéjo, $12
Serrano wrapped rabbit paté with mostarda

TAPAS CALIENTES
Morcilla y callos, $14
Tripe and marfaix bean stew with blood sausage
Maíz asado con alioli y queso cotija, $10
Grilled corn with alioli, lime, espelette pepper and aged cheese
Suquet de Mariscos, $16
Catalan stew of lobster, sea urchin, sea beans with and parsnip
Empanada de pollo y patatas, $12
Housemade chicken and potato empanada with tomatillo salsa and alioli
Croquettas de jamon y cabeza, $12
Ham and pigs head fritters
Croquettas de bacalao, $12
Salt cod fritters with tempura lemon rings and alioli
Pato con membrillo, $11
Smoked duck drumettes with quince glaze
Asado de huesos, $16
RoasteD bone marrow with radish citrus salad and beef cheek marmalade
Panza de cerdo, $14
Crispy pork belly with roxbury russet apples and rutabagas
Mollejas, $15
Crispy veal sweetbreaDs with blood orange, fermented black beans, peanuts and celery root
Lengua con lentejas y salsa verde, $13
Smoked tongue with lentils and Canary Island salsa
Filete a la plancha, $15
Marinated skirt steak with cabrales butter and red onion marmalade
Hamburguesas, $12   
Grass fed mini burgers with smoked tomato, alioli and pickled red onion
Patatas bravas, $9
Fried potatoes with alioli and spicy tomato sauce

PAELLAS
Paella valenciana, $65 / $32
Shrimp, mussels, clams, chorizo, chicken and calasparra rice
Paella de conejo y lumach, $60 / $30
Rabbit & snail paellla with nepitella, and squashes
Paella de zanahoria, rutabega y nabos $55 / $27
Vegetarian paella with carrots, squashes and rutabagas

TAPAS A LA PLANCHA
Gambas al ajillo, $16
Griddled garlic shrimp with cascabel chilies
Pulpo, $14
Galecian octopus with potatoes and charred onions
Sardina, $9
sardines with lemon and fried garlic
Pez globo, $16
Blow fish tails with Moroccan spices
Seoia con su tinta, $14
Cuttlefish in it’s own ink
Txipirones, $15
Baby squid with toasted bread and farm egg
Navajas, $16
Razor clams with piquillo pepper, garlic and lemon
Abalone, $24
Abalone with brown butter, parsley and migas
Zanahorias, $12
Heirloom carrots, buttermilk, dill and harissa
Rábanos, $9
Radishes with miso, butter and scallions
Setas, $16
Mushrooms with farm egg, olive oil and parsley
Cauliflower y kohlrabi, $12
Cauliflower and kohlrabi with pine nuts, golden raisins and pimenton de la vera