El Toro’s modern Mexican fusion from TikTok to your table
El Toro wanted to be different than other restaurants, so they discovered a new way to mix it up.
A Cape Coral restaurant is going viral on social media for their modern twist on Mexican food mixed with an unforgettable dining experience.El Toro wanted to be different than other restaurants, so they discovered a new way to mix it up."I just think nowadays people are looking for not just to go out and eat," El Toro social media manager Alessandro Ruiz said. "They want a full experience. So I think providing that is getting us more customers and, you know, people want to go out and have a fun experience rather than just dining out."Most nights, the line is out the door to experience El Toro, located off Southwest Pine Island Road in Cape Coral. Inside, there is dancing and celebrating every night. And if you like tequila shots, they are presented to customers in an airplane."I think that's when the people always say when they just take a seat, 'Oh, I feel that I'm in Miami. I feel that I am California,'" owner and manager Gabriela Rosales said. "We have 2.4 million followers on TikTok."And more than 100 million views on some of their videos.Rosales said their viral popularity brings customers from all over."We have to say thank you, a huge thank you," she said. "We have crossed the states. We have some people that come from different states, also from different countries."She said business has not always been easy, that is due to the pandemic and Hurricane Ian both put a dent in their bottom line. But Rosales said they recovered well thanks to their social media strategy. They have started to see an increase in followers since July.Alessandro Ruiz is the mastermind behind these videos."It's kind of fulfilling because it is in some ways art also," he said. "Even artists see our videos and repost them. We've had El Alfa, Osmani Garcia, and even Camila Cabello repost us."He said there is more to it than just recording these videos. "Sometimes, to help with the TikTok algorithm, we have to find music that's trending that people would like, that someone would hear and be like, 'Oh, OK,'" he said. "Viewers will stick to watching it. So first we pick a song, we kind of do a little bit of a routine with our dancer."They constantly stay on top of trends. Waitresses and dancers said it is always a party at El Toro. "The most beautiful thing for us and our customers is they are always messaging us on social media, and they say they have the best experience for their birthday," waitress and dancer Laura De La Cruz said.But they credit the real reason for all of their success to their love for the job."We like each other; we are pretty much like a family, and we want to encourage the people to come here and feel like part of our family, too," she said.A family that loves what they do so much that they want to bring this experience to more cities."Honestly, yes," Rosales said. "I have faith and hope."Faith and hope to continue to grow their business beyond Cape Coral.A Cape Coral restaurant is going viral on social media for their modern twist on Mexican food mixed with an unforgettable dining experience.
El Toro wanted to be different than other restaurants, so they discovered a new way to mix it up.
"I just think nowadays people are looking for not just to go out and eat," El Toro social media manager Alessandro Ruiz said. "They want a full experience. So I think providing that is getting us more customers and, you know, people want to go out and have a fun experience rather than just dining out."
Most nights, the line is out the door to experience El Toro, located off Southwest Pine Island Road in Cape Coral. Inside, there is dancing and celebrating every night. And if you like tequila shots, they are presented to customers in an airplane.
"I think that's when the people always say when they just take a seat, 'Oh, I feel that I'm in Miami. I feel that I am California,'" owner and manager Gabriela Rosales said. "We have 2.4 million followers on TikTok."
And more than 100 million views on some of their videos.
Rosales said their viral popularity brings customers from all over.
"We have to say thank you, a huge thank you," she said. "We have crossed the states. We have some people that come from different states, also from different countries."
She said business has not always been easy, that is due to the pandemic and Hurricane Ian both put a dent in their bottom line. But Rosales said they recovered well thanks to their social media strategy. They have started to see an increase in followers since July.
Alessandro Ruiz is the mastermind behind these videos.
"It's kind of fulfilling because it is in some ways art also," he said. "Even artists see our videos and repost them. We've had El Alfa, Osmani Garcia, and even Camila Cabello repost us."
He said there is more to it than just recording these videos.
"Sometimes, to help with the TikTok algorithm, we have to find music that's trending that people would like, that someone would hear and be like, 'Oh, OK,'" he said. "Viewers will stick to watching it. So first we pick a song, we kind of do a little bit of a routine with our dancer."
They constantly stay on top of trends. Waitresses and dancers said it is always a party at El Toro.
"The most beautiful thing for us and our customers is they are always messaging us on social media, and they say they have the best experience for their birthday," waitress and dancer Laura De La Cruz said.
But they credit the real reason for all of their success to their love for the job.
"We like each other; we are pretty much like a family, and we want to encourage the people to come here and feel like part of our family, too," she said.
A family that loves what they do so much that they want to bring this experience to more cities.
"Honestly, yes," Rosales said. "I have faith and hope."
Faith and hope to continue to grow their business beyond Cape Coral.
