Tapa Toro’s Wendy Lopez unleashes epic 12-course chef’s table menu this month

Since its opening, I-Drive 360 has been a hit with tourists, but continues to attract locals looking for a little diversion from the 24-hour-news cycle and a really good meal.

Tapa Toro was one of the original tenants under the Orlando Eye, and under the leadership and creative spark of executive chef Wendy Lopez, it has remained one of the hottest spots on Orlando’s main tourist strip.

Between the surrealist art, plush design and stunning “paella pit,” the restaurant successfully toes the line between fun and elegant. You’d feel as comfortable walking in wearing flip-flops and shorts after a day at the parks as you would in your designer duds.

Yesterday, chef Lopez, a local who graduated from the Le Cordon Bleu here in town, released an impressive 12-course menu she’ll be serving as a special chef’s table event on Sunday, Jan. 28. Two words: geoduck crudo.

Here it is. If you want to get in on the action, the price is $170 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Make reservations by e-mailing reservations@tapatoro.restaurant.

We’d also suggest following Chef Lopez (@muchocarriente) and her sous chef, Frank Galeano (@frank_ghost), on Instagram. They’re always cooking up something beautiful in that open kitchen.

This article appears in Jan 17-23, 2018.