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MELBOURNE | Toko Melbourne is nestled in the heart of Prahan’s Greville street and prides itself on its informal izakaya-like dinning. Toko focuses on using the best and freshest produce in the creation of delicious Japanese dishes and tasty cocktails. The City Lane visited Toko late in 2015 when the restaurant first opened and we were impressed by the quality of dishes served and the fact there was substance behind the stylish decor.
When Toko launched its primary focus was dinner service however as they have now had time to find their rhythm they are offering an array of lunch options from express $35.00 lunches to a complete degustation. The City Lane was invited to try Toko’s new lunch menu and after our initial visit we were intrigued to see what creative dishes would be on offer. When you look at Toko’s lunch menu it is rather extensive which makes it a little difficult to make a decision about what to eat as most of the dishes sound enticing. To make the dining experience easier, there are tasting menus in the form of the express lunch or a 12 dish chef’s selection tasting menu ($68.00 per head). We decided to try the chef’s selection of signature dishes which was a beautifully balanced menu which showcased both the ingredients and the kitchen’s technical abilities.
The tempura zucchini flowers stuffed with feta and tofu served with dashi was one of the highlights of this meal. The tempura batter was light and crispy which complimented the creamy stuffing, however the star of this dish was the dashi which you dipped the zucchini flower into. The dashi had an incredible depth of flavour, which enhanced the taste of the zucchini. The tasting board with a selection of sashimi and chopped scallops served with ponzu and wasabi in a cucumber and unagi sauce with torched foie gras and umeboshi were another highlight. This board really encompassed Toko’s ethos of using the best and freshest ingredients as the seafood in each item really stood out.
The dessert, while not a traditionally Japanese dessert was heavenly. The Valrhona dark chocolate mousse was rich, creamy and decadent while the mixed berries and passion fruit cut through some of the richness. This made this dish satisfying without being too heavy. By the end of the meal both myself and dinning companion were rather full and walked away really enjoying the meal. If you are looking for a lunch option in Prahan I would recommend stopping by and checking out Toko’s new lunch options, the food is delicious and the lunch options are very well priced.
Toko
142 Greville Street
Prahran 3181
Australia
Telephone: (03) 9521 3155
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.toko-melbourne.com/
Open
Tue: 5:00pm to late
Wed – Sat: 12:00pm to 3:00pm; 5:00pm to late