Token — Restaurant in Melbourne

Last evening, a celebration at Token in South Yarra, meant to commemorate a dear friend's engagement, took an unexpected and unwelcome turn. As a group of seven locals, well-versed in the area's dynamic dining culture, our experience was marred by what can only be described as a disproportionate response from the service staff.

Initially, the atmosphere and setting of Token promised an enjoyable evening, aligning with South Yarra's reputation for vibrant and sophisticated dining. However, the night was abruptly derailed during our modest attempt to order a second bottle of wine. Contrary to our composed and cheerful demeanor, our waitress unilaterally decided that one of our guests—ironically, the one we were celebrating—had consumed enough alcohol. This assessment was not only incorrect but also delivered with a degree of rigidity that was both surprising and unnecessary.

The refusal to serve more alcohol was not in itself the issue; it was the manner of delivery and the lack of discretion that were most concerning. There was no prior indication of problematic behavior nor any attempt at a discreet or respectful conversation. Instead, the approach was unduly confrontational, transforming a moment of joy into one of discomfort and embarrassment.

This experience was not just disappointing but also perplexing, especially given our status as local patrons and our understanding of the usual high standards of service in South Yarra. The incident has led us to reassess our future patronage of Token. We have, regrettably, decided to cancel upcoming reservations intended for client meetings, as the inability to discern genuine enthusiasm from intoxication raises questions about the restaurant's suitability for professional engagements.

It is with a heavy heart that we conclude Token may not currently meet the expectations set by its vibrant locale. While we understand the importance of responsible service, there is a critical need for balance, understanding, and professionalism. An overzealous approach can tarnish not only the mood of an evening but also the reputation of an establishment. We hope this feedback serves as a constructive critique, prompting a reassessment of customer service training and approach. Sadly, until then, we will not...

A group of three of us went to this restaurant last night, night started off great however we did warn the waitress (American woman with black hair) that one of our parties had a nut allergy. We ordered a serving of dumplings, after ordering she came back to our table to tell us that the dumplings had nuts. We are grateful and asked her to just replace it with whatever dumplings didn’t contain nuts. She came BACK to the table and warned us that every single serving of dumplings on the menu contains nuts, so we just told her to take it off the order. We were celebrating a friends birthday and one of my friend with the nut allergy asked the waitress if she could bring out a dessert for our friends birthday with a candle. She did and came back with a tiramisu. Once again we asked her if it contained nuts and she ran back to the chefs and asked. She came back to our table and said “yeah it’s good” and gave my friend with nut allergy asked spoon. Laster find out it actually contains hazel nuts. My friends mouth started to tingle and lips started to swell and he was turning red. He went to the bar and asked for a drink to get rid of the taste and the bar staff were mortified, the Manager was there and was showing concern as the waiters walked passed and LIED about telling us it had nuts in it. She definitely didn’t say anything about nuts in the dessert and if it had nuts why would she give him a spoon? We had to leave and still payed $250 for the entire dinner and we told the staff we were going to the hospital. We spend the night in...

We headed out for a midweek dinner at Token; we were captivated by the funky atmosphere outside and in. This modern Japandi-styled restaurant, accentuated by a striking red glow from the bar, set the perfect tone for our evening. The attentive staff were incredibly helpful, offering some recommendations for us to explore the stars of the menu, ensuring we had a memorable experience throughout our visit.

While the food was definitely enjoyable, I wouldn’t quite say it was the best Asian fusion we’ve encountered in the area, but this comes at a totally different price point ie: Yugen$$$$. Each dish had its merits, but we felt like they were missing that extra something. Perhaps having 3-4-5 dishes on the table at once contributed to this; the hot dishes cooled down quickly, and we felt a bit rushed, which prevented us from savoring each dish as we would have liked.

We opted for the $88 Token experience banquet and added the spicy tuna roll and prawn and scallop toast. Every dish was flavorful and well presented, yet I found myself wishing for a bit more spice, fresh herbs, or a mouth-slapping sauce to elevate the flavors.

The Top 4 dishes for us: Hiramasa kingfish Crispy Eggplant Spicy Tuna Roll Black Angus Scotch fillet

All in all, if you’re in South Yarra and seeking a place with a fantastic atmosphere and solid food at very good value, Token is definitely worth a visit. We’ll definitely return, as Token would be a vibe on the weekend in a large group, smashing cocktails and heading out on the town. So it’s a big...