Toko

I went toToko for my Birthday. It was nice food and friendly staff.

Four of us dined here on a balmy Tuesday night. We had a booking for 6:30pm and were some of the few there when we first arrived. The restaurant was maximum half full at any one time while we were there - I imagine it gets extremely loud if full. Our server was great, attentive as needed without being over the top. The Toko Spritz is a delicious drink if you want something light and fresh. My mum tried both the Bellini and the fig martini and enjoyed them. There was a Japanese German style beer that my dad + brother both thoroughly enjoyed and said was one of the best they'd tried. Only downfall is that cocktails did take a little while to come out - can't imagine what it's like when it's full. To the food. We ordered a number of dishes to share (the benefits of dining with 4 people) Kingfish sashimi with pork cracking - the kingfish was good but there was certainly no crackle from the crackling as I was expecting Chefs sashimi selection - 12 pieces - all extremely fresh and delicious as hoped Tempura zucchini flowers - good flavouring Tempura squid - loved!! Crispy fried tofu - this dish was fine, I wouldn't ordered again Chicken karaage - extremely crispy with delicious flavor Waygu dumplings - perfectly cooked and great flavor Black miso cod - bit of a disappointment. Not on par with the miso cod from Ichitaro in Adelaide or nobu Malibu Crispy rice skewers with eggplant - my mum was the only one who ate these - she loved them. Unfortunately the first serving had a hair right inside the rice and the dish was replaced - it happens but was a little off putting. It came out to approx $100 per head, so don't expect a cheaper meal. Everyone in our party was satisfied, would recommend for a nice / celebratory dinner where you're willing to spend some $

It's a place our friends in town rave about and we decided to check it out for dinner, to celebrate a special birthday. Please note this place does not take bookings. We arrived and they seated us immediately. I have heard that Friday and Saturday nights are super busy so be prepared to wait. It's modern Japanese food served in a chic and classy environment. The menu is extensive with a huge selection of spirits, wines and cocktails. I chose a Shimamoto Sour to start with a sake flight. Loved them both. The restaurant had a big long table in the middle and many smaller tables to the sides. There is seating also at the sushi and food counters. The food menu consists of many small plates, sushi and sashimi and a variety of tempura and grill main courses. We ordered a variety of things and they all tasted good. The sashimi was superb here and I loved it. The cabbage with truffle was also delicious as was the prawn tempura and pumpkin tempura. Our waiter was a bit slow but overall the service was very friendly and attentive. I loved it here and would come back. The only drawback is the prices and it is at the top end of the price scale. The atmosphere is very nice and it is a great place to take someone on an impressive first date or, for a special occasion. I am glad I finally tried it :-)

So loud you can't talk, over priced, and terrible service. Had I known we'd pay $33 in water for 4 of us, I would have gone thirsty. The food left much to be desired, along with the service. Thank God tipping is not required, as it was certainly not earned.

It's monday evening! Not to many people.. good service! Fresh food,fresh fish! I'm recommend for everyone for every day !

Great service!! Fun atmosphere and delicious food. Came here with friends and would recommend coming back. The location is convenient but parking is very tricky. We ordered a 4 person dinner special and were very pleased with the style, quality and quanity. Not cheap, but we'll definitely be back and recommend this place to anyone.

Really good japanese restaurant. I do not rate it 5 stars because I think that it is pricy compared to the quantity. But the staff is nice and giving a lot of advices. The food was really good !!

This Japanese restaurant is predictable. Everything you would expect a 'fusion" but not really "fusion" Japanese restaurant to have...they have. The only special dish would be there Scampi sushi....and then it is no where near the level of even blue ribbon sushi. Our waiter was amazing and nice; everyone else seemed lost in the hipness of the restaurant. Don't feel the need to go in detail about the food so I hope that is telling.

Ate here last week. By far the most amazing Japanese I've had in Sydney. So fresh with interesting, almost french inspired flavours. I can not wait to eat here again. The deserts are not to be missed. Everything we ordered was fabulous. The rhubarb crumble was exceptionally delicious. The service was on point as was the decor and the overall decor. Cannot recommend this place enough.

This sleek and stylish Japanese restaurant was a shining star when it opened its doors a few years ago transforming the old MG Garage restaurant. Based on London's Zuma restaurant, Toko was a sexy newcomer heralding the change that was taking place in Surry Hills. Four years later the food is still very good. The Black Cod dissolves in your mouth, the Soft Shell Crab with Wasabi is heaven and the Nam Ban Chicken is delish. I recommend the tasting menu at $80 per person to give a good sample of what's on offer and depending how many people you have also adding in some signature dishes, like the Cod. The wine list is good, the cocktails even better and the service is efficient - if you're lucky you might just get a smile from a waiter! Toko is great for lunches, it's light and airey and can have a great buzzy atmosphere. Dinner is more low-key and the dimmed lighting creates a more laid-back environment. It is a great restaurant for groups, ideally four or more, but it is not good for couples. Every time I have been with only one other person, we are always relegated to sitting at the Robato Grill. Unlike other restaurants that provide a wide berth between diners and the grill, these seats are literally right up against the grill so the heat that comes through the glass is pretty intense. It's not just the heat that you are bombarded with from the grill seats, it's also the aromas. I always leave stinking of fish and meat, which is less than ideal! If there are a few of you, you can get a seat at the long dining tables, which is much more ideal as the tables are large and the experience is much better. Even dining out on the lower tables in the bar area is preferable to the grill seats in my opinion. I want to say that Toko is still an amazing dining experience but there are areas that need improvement, particularly the grill seats and the experience for couples. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to groups but for couples I think Toko may have lost a little of her sparkle.

Really awesome place lots choices to try. Nice sushi selection of fresh fish. Great assortment of everything

Toko has absolutely amazing food! The spicy tofu, the duck and the chocolate fondant is absolutely to die for! The spicy tofu is my favourite dish that I order every time I come to Toko. Service was polite and food came out very quickly. And loved watching the food being prepped in front of us. Never have been seated in that part of Toko before. Only reason I am not rating it 5 stars, is that I was absolutely stunned by the $20 charge for water! The waitress did not let us know their was such charge as generally places do not charge for water and I've never had this charge before from Toko for water! This is ridiculous. And the excuse was because it's voss water? I couldn't care less where is comes from, couldn't care if it came from a tap, charging $20 is ridiculous! I had half a mind to turn around when I got to the car to demand a refund! Overall amazing food and cocktails!!!

Superbly delicious food: Japanese favourites with a modern twist. But a complete let down on service. From being ignored upon entrance, to a long wait for ordering (with plenty of staff and half empty) the service was a total disappointment for what could have been an outstanding dining experience. The servers have got to lift their game to match the fantastic creations from the kitchen.

I've officially had most of the menu and nothing disappoints! Designed for sharing - every plate is fresh, and tasty! They have an extensive drinks list too for those who fancy a wine, cocktail or Japanese beverage. The spatchcock was the stand out dish for me it was very juicy and succulent. Additionally, the port ribs were on the sweet side but adding some rice with it was delicious. The sushi is also excellent. We ordered all the desserts which were presented as if it was for publishing in a magazine and also tasted yummy - check out the pictures! Says it all!

Repeat visits to this slick mod Japanese diner have narrowed down my menu choices to a reliable few. If you're a couple of people or more, you can get away with ordering a bunch of dishes to share. Start with the spider maki rolls made with soft shell crab and wasabi-spiked mayonnaise, their crispy little legs standing straight up out of the sushi. Move onto the dengaku nasu, a half an eggplant grilled in a miso marinade 'til the outside is sweet and sticky and the flesh is a piping hot mush (eat the skin, too - it's a little chewy but oh-so caramelised). For something with a bit more substance, the kamo to nashi no namasu is a pink-centred, crispy-skinned grilled breast of duck served with a delicate pickled nashi pear and sansho pepper (kind of like Szechuan). While teriyaki salmon may sound a run-of-the-mill option, make sure you order it here - it's a butter soft piece of flesh where the glaze is flavoursome but doesn't overpower the taste of the fish. And if you can't manage to get a table at this always busy diner, take to the bar for awesome cocktails - the lychee and jasmine mojito is a personal fave.

This place is stunning and the food excellent and whenever I head to this special Japanese restaurant I always seem to spot a celebrity inside... (you can see that as a good or bad sign). The ambience is gorgeous whether you're seated at the main share table or found a secluded spot on the sidelines... it's dark and broody and definitely sets the scene for a stylish experience. Food is fabulous - may I recommend the black cod (delicious) or any of their sushi rolls.... yum yum. It's expensive but excellent quality..... Dishes are small so you will have to order more than usual...I guess that means more to sample?

On business in Sydney and came across this spot while exploring Surry Hills. A bit swanky but the reviews were good and they sat me right away. Big fan of sushi and beef and Toko has both. For drinks I had the shimamoto sour which was excellent. Even though I don't love apricots I ended up drinking the whole thing plus the apricot on the stick provided. Also ordered a glass of the Australia Pinot noir which was good. The beef wagyu gyoza was solid but nothing to write home about. For sashimi I had salmon, tuna, and snapper. Snapper was by far the best, tuna was solid, and salmon was so-so (its never as good this side of the world as it is in the US). But the masterpiece was the marbled wagyu steak - I ordered the 100g at $60 AUD which is a decent price point. I absolutely loved it, one of the best if not the best wagyu I've ever had. I was sitting in front of the grill where they cook the meat and the chefs looked over at me for a thumbs up-thumbs down on the wagyu. So good. Also served with salt, some sauce, and wasabi but I mostly just added a pinch of salt and sauce, didn't even need the wasabi. Overall great spot with good vibes, would order wagyu and sashimi again if I came back and maybe lamb cutlets as well.

My favourite Japanese restaurant in Sydney! Have been to the restaurant several times and it was just as impressive each time. Love the plum sake that comes in a bamboo pitcher with matching bamboo cups. The sashimi is amazingly fresh, sushi is presented in a special and unusual way on a 40cm long dish, and the Japanese style tapa dishes are fresh and flavoursome. Everything on the menu is a hit. Sitting on the bench in front of the open kitchen space, we had front row seats to the action and drama unfolding in the busy space and saw our tapas style dishes being prepared in front of us. The only downside is that it is pricey and they don't take bookings for groups that are smaller than 10 people. Would go back for a special treat!

My wife and I enjoyed a lovely date night here. The ambience is incredible, the music was lively, the crowd was great, the service was superb and the food was exquisite. We had the $98 tasting menu and was not disappointed. The presentation of the food was only surpassed by the flavours.

Not impressed by this place. Don't understand the deal. Especially cannot handle Chinese hands in the kitchen that don't understand much else. Toko has obviously made a. Name for itself in its early days & has a following. For me, it's definitely not a preferred dining location.

We decided to check out Toko on a recommendation. We had no reservation, but when we arrived the staff were happy to find us a spot in the bar area. The place was packed (which apparently it always is), but the staff were relaxed, the food was amazing, and the wine was great. We ordered chilli edamame, sashimi, grilled scallops, shitake skewers and the beef tatki. All stellar dishes. It's cost us about $200 for the food and a bottle of wine between us. Can't wait to go back and try more off the menu.

Food was alright, super small portion with such an expensive price. Only 2 of us took up to $200 dollars to be full, which is very expensive when compares to eat at other great quality restaurants in this price range. Half-dozen oysters are very small size, duck breast at $32 with 10 small pieces, lamb cutlet for 4 tiny pieces at $30 for example. Service is ok, not enough staffs to serve and most of them seems to be blind since we were waving hand for a few times, but no one turned to us. I think I expect something more for this price range of restaurant. Somehow, in all the bad experiences, still have some good ones which is the interia design and atmosphere of the restaurant is kind of chic and cool to hang out, love how the chef grill and cut the meat in front of us, and the deserts and wine list are kind of intriguing with many good choices. Not recommend for anyone who eats a lot, like me, you can find the better quality and bigger portion of food in other places in Sydney, especially in Surry hills, with much lower price and better service.

I had one night in Sydney to go to a nice restaurant and was taken here with the promise of super-fresh Japanese. The restaurant was buzzing on a Wednesday night and the food was fantastic. Actually if I remember correctly, the dessert was one of my favourite dishes which is rare for me and not the norm when visiting a Japanese restaurant. Excellent date venue and also appeared to be a hit with groups. I'd definitely come back for more if I was in town.

Great seafood. Fresh and service was great. Thanks for the night out. The desserts are excellent- ambience is good (but on the dark side).

Ah Toko. It's one of the first restaurants that I went to in Sydney and boy, it did not disappoint. Yes, they don't take bookings and there might be a wait, but let me tell you, it's worth it. Since I've moved to Sydney, we frequent the restaurant - it doesn't hurt that we live right down the street! We always start with the wild snapper with pork crackling. There's something about pork crackling that just makes everything so utterly delicious. I usually then get a little serving of soba noodle soup with roast duck. It's a pretty small portion but bursting with great flavors. The chef's sashimi and/or sushi is a must. They always bring you the freshest fish and the presentation is gorgeous. For mains, we like the scotch fillet which are cubes of tender, tender meat. The lamb chops with miso is also fantastic but I've noticed that they've taken them off the menu!:( I've also just had the fried quail - delish! The robata veggies are all really good and a nice compliment to the meat and fish. Bottom line, this is a quality Japanese restaurant that has something for everyone...that EVERYONE will LOVE!

Went here as a friend had a cancellation from her dinner date. So glad I went. It was very very yummy. Service was ok, although the place got rather busy, however the food was exceptional. It was fresh, the sashimi was awesome. The beef steaks even better!! And they let us change our free bottle of wine for 2 mocktails as we are both on sober stints at the moment. The only confusing bit was getting our miso soups towards the end of the meal, here I thought you got them at the beginning! Yum all around and well worth coming back to.

Um, this place is spectacular. It's ultra sleek and sexy and the sushi is amazing. What else do you wanna know? OK, so I had their lychee and jasmine mojito. Twice. So obviously I liked it! What else? Get the spicy edamame... seriously the best edamame I have ever had. The spicy sauce is just to-die-for. The wagyu gyoza... epic. Crab tempura, the steak, the sushi, the salt and pepper tofu... and... (drum roll please!)... the dessert. We had the chocolate-hazelnut fondant. It's one of the most memorable desserts I've had, possibly ever! Another to add to my list of Sydney favourites.

We came here on a group buying voucher for a 10 course dego with wine. I'm not normally the group buying type but this one was too good to pass up and I've wanted to try Toko for ages! We were given a 2 hour dining slot which was perfect and there was a steady flow of food from start to finish. The zucchini skewers, sashimi and soft shell crab were the standout courses along with exceptional service. The place was busy but the table layout gives you the privacy you need and it doesn't feel like you're in a crowded dining room. The bar area at the front is a perfect spot to enjoy a pre/post-dinner drink and a spot of people watching through the big (often open) windows. We'll definitely be back for another meal soon and recommend you try it if you haven't already.

I love me some Toko! This has probably been my go-to good time restaurant on Crown St for a couple of years. The whole experience usually just keeps me coming back. Their cocktails are delicious, as is the stand out chili edamame! I'm a picky eater so have sampled only a limited selection of the menu, but each time its delicious. The service is generally above average, with a few bad spots here and there, occasionally one of the maitre d' can be a little bit bit precious, when really people are going there for unpretentious good times. But I keep going back, great to go to for yourself, great lighting for a date and also a great place to take people from out of town.

Freshest sashimi I have ever had. If anyone who reads this gets an opportunity I would highly recommend stopping by and having the sashimi 5 piece tasting. It tasted like the fish were swimming in heaven prior to entering my mouth.

We went to Toko on Friday night for a work party in the private dining room and were very impressed. The private dining room is at the back of the restaurant and sectioned off with a screen but you can see through to the restaurant so still experience the ambiance whilst having a more private experience. The food was exceptional, we had the set menu for $90 and got everything from oysters to sashimi to wagyu which was melt in your mouth to die for. The staff were fantastic and just kept bring the food all evening. Highlights were the wagyuuuu-wow! The dessert platter and a cotton candy cocktail. Highly recommended!

Two stars because of the bar and the unfortunate seating by the grill. At the bar, a cocktail that was supposed to have Belvedere vodka had a cheaper vodka used in it -- I hate paying for something only to be served a cheaper drink. This was a tip off that this place is more about making money than providing great service. We waited closer to 40 minutes when told it would be 20-30 minutes, but had to go up to hostess to ask about the table, who then said a table was opening up. Then to the seating offered by the grill. Our seats were hot, but tolerable. We would have preferred a table seat and when asked, said it would take another 30 minutes so we stayed put. Other guests who were seated behind the glass closer to the open flame were simply too hot -- warning for you to ask for a table seat and not by the grill! Our waitress was robotic and had no personality, only took order and delivered them.

Great ambiance and flavors in the drinks and food. Our waitress was amazing , very sweet lady. Would love to come back. Brocolli I was fire.

It's the place I love to hate. Or should that be hate to love? Either way, nothing beats the food here. (Monkey Magic just down the street comes in at a close second.) If you like Japanese Food, then you need to visit Toko. You can't book, so get in early and don't expect great service either. It's expensive and deservedly so; the food is incredible. Beware of the rude French waiter. One time he leant across the table, spitting in my face giving me loads of 'tude. Ahhh, Sydney, you're a cruel and unrelenting mistress. Don't say I didn't warn you.

This is a perfect blend of great food and a casual, yet sophisticated atmosphere. I didn't eat in the restaurant part because I was more just looking to hang out and have a small bite to eat and drink and the bar area was perfect. I was there before 7 and was easy to find a place to sit, but started filling up around 7:30. What was most expensive was the alcohol menu so be aware that you will be spending on that, but the food was reasonable. 4 glasses of champagne, an an order of salmon nigiri (2 piece), spicy tuna roll (8 pc) and gyoza (5 pc) set us back about $95 but the food was excellent. They had more fancy names and presentation than how I described above, but you get the idea. Would definitely go again!

Came by on a Friday night (early enough to get seats for 4 people without a wait). The sushi was good and presentation was nice. I get they were trying to dress it up. Bit pricy for the portions we got. Good ambiance although service wasn't great. Hip joint, place became busy and we left satisfied (not full).

4.5 stars - almost at a 5, but I want to leave some growing room. :) Toko, Toko, Toko. I walk by you ALL the time and have heard about you from SO many people. BUT, your store sign is so freakin' small and difficult to read that I always thought you were some extension of another restaurant, hair salon, etc. Truly. Tonight, I found you. And it was love. Ambiance: -Oh, Toko is quite stylish. Lounge-like with sleek, modern wooden accents. Definitely the place to see and be seen. -Open kitchen, sushi bar, and robata (though not TRUE robata - minus the paddles) grill that give the place warmth - literally. -I like how the restaurant is wide and spacious - and shared tables give it a casual vibe. -Book this place and enjoy it with a group of friends or a fun, sexy, date. -We were lucky to be seated at the sushi bar - and boy, was that a treat. One of the best seats in the restaurant. Food: -I'll admit, when I checked out the menu here I wasn't a huge fan of the prices at all. "Overpriced!" I thought. However, sitting at the sushi bar and watching the chefs carefully slice fresh sashimi, mold nigiri, and roll maki changed that perception. Toko chefs care about their food and that TLC translates well into the $15 roll you're about to eat. -We tried 4 dishes - because it's what we could afford at the time :P -San ten - the chef's choice of 3 sashimi was DELICIOUSLY FRESH. Honestly, I was surprised. We got salmon, yellowtail, and one other fish I sadly don't know the name of. The fish will melt in your mouth. -Wagyu beef gyoza. If you order this dish, definitely take the time to smell it first - because, honey, that smell is amazing. Sadly, it smells better than it tastes. Despite it being wagyu, the gyoza wasn't very memorable. -Spicy maguro maki. I was kicking myself for ordering a spicy tuna roll - the spicy sauce hides the taste of the tuna (and chefs can use older tuna). However, I was still impressed - esp. by the subtle tempura'ed rice used to wrap the roll. Good stuff. -Japanese mushroom skewers. The highlight of the night - slow roasted, juicy, mushrooms with honey/ginger sauce. Perfect. Service: -Took a while for someone to notice that we were sated, but otherwise, our waiter was pretty attentive. Additional thoughts: -Toko has some really interesting roll and nigiri combinations being churned out - like scallop, pickled apple and jalepeno, unagi with froie gras. -I'd come back to try the tasting menu - $78? Not bad for what you get. Apparently, you'll get fed some off menu dishes as well. Saw a lot of these being made at the sushi bar and immediately became very jealous. Tip: -It's true that Toko is quite the exclusive spot to eat at these days. Hate waiting? Luckily, it's kitchen is open until 10pm and the restaurant lets you stay until 11. If you visit on a Wednesday night around 9pm like I did, you'll get seating no problem. Sigh.

This is a very exclusive restaurant. As in, way too pricey for sushi, sashimi and tempura you could get at Eastwood or elsewhere in the City. They don't even give you free green beans .. And you have to ask for soy sauce refills .. Both obvious staples at a Japanese restaurant! The staff were rude, all backpackers...not a cute little Japanese male waiter or waitress in sight. they delivered our $40 tiny plate of sashimi and when I asked them to explain what the types of fish were there (being chefs choice) they were abrupt and snotty. The dessert was really the only stand out and it definitely wasn't Japanese. Very fresh but way too pretentious for what it was.

We took friends from out of town here last night, and we all loved it. Aways a few changes to the menu, some good, a delicious snapper entree, some bad, where's the tuna tartare gone ?, and a few more delicious new cocktails. But what keeps us coming back is the great staff, buzzy atmosphere [maybe a tad too noisy !] and delicious food. Only downside is they are now charging more than Rockpool steak for their Wagu steak....$84 for 200 grams ....come on thats crazy. Thats why they get 4 stars. Thanks.

I came here with friends for pre-dinner drinks. An amazing range of authentic and innovative Japanese beverages. I had a delicious peach mocktail, but will be back to sample some shochu and a cocktail or two. The only downside; if you're short on cash, you may get a shock!

this is one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Sydney. the food is great, especially the sushi. extremely fresh and great cuts. they have a great sake collection and wine. i recommend either lunch or dinner as both are great. the pork crackling is pretty amazing.

Favorite Japanese restaurant in Sydney !!!! I absolutely loved this place! Everything's delicious ! It's a romantic place for a date too. I used to come here often when I was living in the area, I can't wait to go back!

Toko is a place that if I had friends form overseas visiting, then it would be the place to go. It is quite expensive so it best to go in a group, then you get to try so many more morsels for the same price. I think the best thing about this place is the cocktails. Lychee & jasmine mojito - fresh mint and lychees hard-stirred with havana club especial and fresh lime juices, served long with chilled jasmine tea and club soda - Yum! 'Lover' got the Sashimi tini which is a blend of shiro shochu and tradewinds gin, shaken with ginger liqueur garnished with a wasabi dipped skewer of salmon sashimi - Gross! Not my cup of gin at all, but he loved it. They have some exquisite dishes. Thinly sliced wild snapper, truffle oil, pork crackling (16.80) Morton bay bug tempura, chilli ponzu, yuzu koshou mayonnaise or the Double cooked pork belly and spicy miso. They have so much love for their food and the presentation is wonderful. One of the best things I have had there is an Eggplant, Miso dish. I don't even like eggplant, that's how well they care for their food. I adore going here and you can always go next door to Tokonoma if there aren't enough seats or you wish to just drink. It is always a fun night out to me with divine food and special cocktails!

Underwhelmed. Perpetually underwhelmed -- every time I try to give Toko another shot, I regret the decision. This place is completely overpriced for really average Japanese fare. I don't mind paying up for a good meal, but this definitely isn't it. That said, the atmosphere is great, albeit a tad much (I think they were going for the Manhattan vibe, but it falls short of that as well). The service is just bad --- rude/careless waitstaff, perhaps understaffed. The chilli edamame is the one stand out dish (if you can call a bowl of edamame a dish), but everything else I've tried is less than ideal --- it definitely isn't the freshest sushi I've had in Sydney either. This place really tries too hard (as do some, but of course not all, of its patrons). Overrated.

Great cocktails and delicious sushi/sashimi. Pricey, but worth it. Gets really noisy on Friday and Saturday nights, which is a bit off putting if you want to be able to talk.

Good food, but the worst service I had in Sydney so far. I took more than 5 minutes to the hostess to welcome us and 10 minutes until the first waiter came to our table. Would not return

Aside from being here on a bad date once, I would recommend this Japanese restaurant predominately because, unlike other fancy or trendy eateries, it's not trying to sell Sydney to Sydneysiders for a handsome price. There's nothing really that is so closely Sydney about it. Indeed, the last time I saw this restaurant I was in LA. The pretty-young-thing host in the perennial little-black-dress (you'll have to excuse me, I usually prefer to spell out my acronyms) outfit manning the roomy restaurant space with aplomb while she seats the stylish under-50 crowd at reserved tables or at the sushi bar and then going back to squint her eyes once more to look at the reservation list because the lighting is that low is a good example of what I mean. Sydney didn't even used to have hostesses and even when it did, they were either not necessarily pretty or the said hostess didn't necessarily want you to know it as an ode to her professionalism. They're also really accommodating here. My family and I once rocked up without a reservation and without any hope of obtaining a table but the hostess nonetheless got imaginative and sat us on some stools right in the front and we were all soon drunk on Japanese food and happy. The food is another thing to write home about (alas, if you're not able to bring them here). There's a while host of foods on offer like innovative salads, tempura dishes, sushi, grilled meat, soy beans (get the spicy ones), rice and great drinks. Toko is generally a very classy place. This is Sydney like you haven't been sold it.

These guys have been celebrated for their cocktails since day one - contemporary concoctions with an exotic twist, and compulsory consumption. Go the fig martini $20 - figlette infused belvedere stirred with fig essence and pedro ximenez sherry and garnished with homemade glace figs. Or, the Cuban barrel proof old fashioned $29 - Havana club Cuban barrel proof stirred with sugar and angostura orange bitters over cracked ice and finished with a dark chocolate cigar. Much like the cocktails list, the food menu seems to go on and on, so escape the indecision and opt for the tasting plate. $78 per person - a selection of chef's signature dishes treats tastebuds to no less than 10 savoury dishes, in addition to the dessert platter. Don't come here on a super hot summer's night. There's no air con, and no breeze in this neck of the woods so you will most certainly expire, just as I have in the past. If it's hot, go to the Toko's air conditioned sister, Tokonoma, right next door.

must try the venison. i loved the kingfish. awesome place i went there to celebrate my friends belated birthday. awesome

I've enjoyed going here a few times, and once I hired the venue for a function. Great food, good cocktails and always, clean, fresh and chic surrounds. Does get a little claustrophobic due to floor lay out but well worth hooking in when money is no hurdle.