El Torito, for those who might not remember, was located where Lazy Dog is currently located in the Willows Shopping Center on Diamond Blvd. in Concord.
In 2003 and 2004 they had to stop their dollar Tacos on Wednesdays because I came there and ate with girlfriend and would devour like 25 tacos… also I saw B-legit there eating one day
Years ago, a pair of armed carjackers wanted me to take them to El Torito. I said it was a good restaurant, that I also enjoyed, but their methods were a bad idea. They ended up putting their weapons away and giving me $20 for my trouble when I dropped them off at the restaurant.
Very interesting, WC Resident! Even carjackers were more polite back in those days. Can you imagine that happening now?
5
2
Roz
May 23, 2024 - 4:34 AM 4:34 AM
The food was pretty darn tasty there.
9
1
domo
May 23, 2024 - 6:33 AM 6:33 AM
IMHO nothing has really replaced it … some have tried
8
2
Dr Jellyfinger
May 23, 2024 - 8:00 AM 8:00 AM
I liked their food and the atmosphere there… very pleasant.
The little ball of corn pudding on the plate was a nice touch too.
I know… a pretty hum drum reminiscence….
I never had any problems with carjackers or gluttons eating all the food.
Guess my El Torito visits were just…. normal, sorry.
8
1
Badge1104
May 23, 2024 - 8:48 AM 8:48 AM
I miss that El torito! Their food was excellent and so was the ambience inside the restaurant.
( the picture you showed was the cocktail lounge; the restaurant looked even nicer)
I never understood why it went out of business.
8
1
BWIZZLE
May 23, 2024 - 9:15 AM 9:15 AM
Married at the courthouse on a Thursday morning and dinner with family at El Torito that night 33 years ago. Happily married ever since!
13
The Observer
May 23, 2024 - 9:30 AM 9:30 AM
My wife and I went to their New Year’s event in 1986, shortly after we arrived in California. The place was really jumping. It became a somewhat regular lunch spot for us, but the number of customers steadily decline over the years until it became pretty dead. It was not a surprise to me when the place shut down. Lazy Dog was a massive improvement.
1
9
George
May 23, 2024 - 10:02 AM 10:02 AM
Good food and they had a great happy hour.
5
S
May 23, 2024 - 11:02 AM 11:02 AM
Bacon wrapped Shrimp !
YUM
3
Aunt Barbara
May 23, 2024 - 11:22 AM 11:22 AM
Lazy Dog is ok,, could be a gold mine except for most of the staff that smoke marijuana and drink the profits in the parking lot and can’t function properly., coupled with new cooks that are novice and never trained
Agree Auntie…. I order the same thing every time I go there (which isn’t very often anymore) and you never know how it’s going to turn out each time… always different
4
American Citizen
May 23, 2024 - 11:26 AM 11:26 AM
El Torito is missed very much. Their tropical iced tea was off the charts.
4
quinny
May 23, 2024 - 11:29 AM 11:29 AM
they close all locations the only one still open is in Monterey I missed the good food ,service and prices
please come back !
Figured Buffalo Wild Wings would have done better on that site, instead of down the road.
1
SaucyMarla
May 25, 2024 - 10:48 AM 10:48 AM
Back in the day, we would go there before Homecoming or other dances with our dates, plus birthdays….. ahhhh the memories. We would reserve places like Hungry Hunter for Proms, of course, LOL.
Ranchgirl
May 26, 2024 - 6:12 AM 6:12 AM
Ahhhh. The place where I did all my underage drinking back in the 80s. Friday nights were great.
In 2003 and 2004 they had to stop their dollar Tacos on Wednesdays because I came there and ate with girlfriend and would devour like 25 tacos… also I saw B-legit there eating one day
I saw b legit at lazy dog, haha
Years ago, a pair of armed carjackers wanted me to take them to El Torito. I said it was a good restaurant, that I also enjoyed, but their methods were a bad idea. They ended up putting their weapons away and giving me $20 for my trouble when I dropped them off at the restaurant.
Very interesting, WC Resident! Even carjackers were more polite back in those days. Can you imagine that happening now?
The food was pretty darn tasty there.
IMHO nothing has really replaced it … some have tried
I liked their food and the atmosphere there… very pleasant.
The little ball of corn pudding on the plate was a nice touch too.
I know… a pretty hum drum reminiscence….
I never had any problems with carjackers or gluttons eating all the food.
Guess my El Torito visits were just…. normal, sorry.
I miss that El torito! Their food was excellent and so was the ambience inside the restaurant.
( the picture you showed was the cocktail lounge; the restaurant looked even nicer)
I never understood why it went out of business.
Married at the courthouse on a Thursday morning and dinner with family at El Torito that night 33 years ago. Happily married ever since!
My wife and I went to their New Year’s event in 1986, shortly after we arrived in California. The place was really jumping. It became a somewhat regular lunch spot for us, but the number of customers steadily decline over the years until it became pretty dead. It was not a surprise to me when the place shut down. Lazy Dog was a massive improvement.
Good food and they had a great happy hour.
Bacon wrapped Shrimp !
YUM
Lazy Dog is ok,, could be a gold mine except for most of the staff that smoke marijuana and drink the profits in the parking lot and can’t function properly., coupled with new cooks that are novice and never trained
.
Agree Auntie…. I order the same thing every time I go there (which isn’t very often anymore) and you never know how it’s going to turn out each time… always different
El Torito is missed very much. Their tropical iced tea was off the charts.
they close all locations the only one still open is in Monterey I missed the good food ,service and prices
please come back !
Loved their atrium and the food was excellent.
Figured Buffalo Wild Wings would have done better on that site, instead of down the road.
Back in the day, we would go there before Homecoming or other dances with our dates, plus birthdays….. ahhhh the memories. We would reserve places like Hungry Hunter for Proms, of course, LOL.
Ahhhh. The place where I did all my underage drinking back in the 80s. Friday nights were great.