Pizzeria Toro

"Hands down, one of our top places to go in Durham. Pizzeria Toro has the best authentic, wood-fired pizza, as well as other seasonal appetizers (think burrata and peaches or shishito peppers with salt). The kitchen is open to the chic, minimal dining space. Around the corner from the dining space is a bar to which you can belly-up while you wait for your table. Or, better yet, grab a seat there and order from the full menu without the wait. Be sure to go early as there is limited seating and they do not take reservations!" - WillowTree Durham

"But these fee-based models have only gotten more widespread in recent years, at restaurants like Middle Brow Bungalow and Thattu in Chicago, and Pizzeria Toro in Durham, North Carolina." - ByMaggie Hennessy

"It would be easy to argue that Pizzeria Toro launched Durham’s obsession with wood-fired, artisan pizza, and this downtown staple from chef Gray Brooks (Littler, Jack Tar) still tops many lists of the best pizza in the Triangle. Offerings change based on the seasons, but there is always a variety of both red and white-sauced pizzas, like the prosciutto cotto with olives and asiago (red sauce) or the soft egg pizza with trumpet mushrooms, arugula, and parmesan (white sauce). Make sure to always ask for the extra side of the house-made red chili oil." - Matt Lardie

"Pizzeria Toro, Downtown Durham. Hands down, one of our top places to go in Durham. Pizzeria Toro has the best authentic, wood-fired pizza, as well as other seasonal appetizers (think burrata and peaches or shishito peppers with salt). The kitchen is open to the chic, minimal dining space. Around the corner from the dining space is a bar to which you can belly-up while you wait for your table. Or, better yet, grab a seat there and order from the full menu without the wait. Be sure to go early as there is limited seating and they do not take reservations!"

"When you find yourself looking for a loud, buzzy restaurant, head to Pizzeria Toro for dinner. There’s an open kitchen with a huge pizza oven, a long communal table down the center, and smaller tables and counters around the edge of the room. The wood-fired pizzas are thin and crispy on the bottom, with a chewy, blistered crust, and while the San Marzano Tomato pie is one of the best options, you can also choose from topping combinations like fennel sausage with roasted peppers and provolone, or a soft egg with oyster mushrooms, arugula, and parmesan." - Christine Byrne