Grilli Toro

Big portions of very basic meat dishes. Traditional grill food with no surprises. Been here forever.

This legendary grill restaurant is founded year 1970, so they have to do something right! :) You won’t be hungry when you leave Toro. However, for modern taste their dishes are very old-​fashioned and remind me of the 80s (napa cabbage-​pineapple salad as a side etc.). The restaurant smells as grease and their décor is updated probably on the beginning of 90s. If you are going to Grilli Toro you will get a very authentic Finnish experience! And if you like meat and basic dishes, like many do, you will be pleased.

What makes this place so special is the huge portion of the meal and the price. It could feed 2 people and price per dish is ½ to ²⁄₃ of what you pay in other places in the greater Helsinki area. Flat steak is perhaps better than the other dishes.

This used to be a great steak house. Now I got the worst Wienerschnitzel ever. No taste and the breading was totally separated from the meat. The poor attitude of the staff did not help either.

I used to work nearby this place and it smells so greasy. As you walk by you can SMELL the grease cooking. The bust stop for the 106 to Kamppi is nearby so you are forced to smell it everyday. You get big portions but they don’t taste all that good for friend food. I have been disappointed the many times I had been there. If it weren’t so close to my job, I wouldn’t have gone back. I really don’t know what advice to give them to make it better.

Although pepper steak is said to be the national food of Finland, there is hardly any good steak restaurants in the whole country. Hmmm. ?
Grilli Toro, an icon of Espoo, has been serving good steaks at a casual environment for over 40 years (it opened in 1970). Most people that live in the capital have heard of this place and quite a few have even visited it (there is only one location). The restaurant is located at next to a small food market in a residential area. If you are not from the area, you would never find yourself just casually walking or driving by.
No matter who you are (vegetarians excluded), you will love this place. The atmosphere couldn’t be more casual. During weekday lunches there are executives from the large corporations (Nokia, Kone) sitting next to construction workers. You hardly see this anywhere else.
So. why do people from such various backgrounds go and eat at an off-​key place which, for most people, is definitely not close to where they live or work? Simply, for good steak and huge portions. The steaks are big (yes even by American standards), delicious, and most of all the prices are reasonable.
I’m a fan. Whenever I’m not in Finland, this restaurant is the one that I miss the most. If you are in Finland and you would like to get a good steak at a casual environment, this is your place. You won’t be disappointed.
Oh yeah. Why am I not giving this place five stars? Well, because of the open hours. They are only open until 8pm, even during the weekends. Keep in mind that on Saturdays and Sundays they open at 2pm, which is super late for lunch.