Toko Restaurant — Restaurant in Sydney

Toko has to be one of the worst customer service experiences we have had to date. Our booking was for 8.45pm. We arrived at 9pm, i attempted to call the restaurant at 8.30pm three times to advise that we were running a little late but there was no answer. Upon arrival we walked in to a very dark restaurant with very loud music. My partner and I waited to be served and multiple staff members walked either by us, bar staff looked at us however no one acknowledged us standing there. After about 5mins a waiter with thick black framed glasses came up to say hi and tell us to wait a minute. He proceeded to type on the computer and appear to have printed off a bill to bring to another table. He again came up to us and asked for our booking details and advised that he again would be with us in a minute. He came back and asked us to take a seat whilst he 'wipes down' our table. We were seated at a high table across the bar, the same waiter again came and told us that he is just getting our table ready and it wont be long. My partner told him that our reservation was over 20 minutes ago and he waiter said 'i know' and was smirking/smiling- he asked 'what do you want me to do about it?" and my partner asked him why he was smiling whilst speaking to us as we were clear unimpressed. We told him that we don't want anything and we got up to leave as we did not expect such poor service from the minute we walked in at what is supposed to be a fine dining restaurant where you pay top dollar not only for good food but also exceptional service. This is defiantly a place we would not be recommending or...

2 key points - overpriced and underwhelming.

Booked in for 2 for the Valentine's day degustation and ended up adding 4 extra courses to the tasting menu and we were left disappointed and unfulfilled.

The food was akin to a runway model, pretty to look at, but anorexic, shallow, vapid and devoid of substance. Every bite brought about the reaction of "meh?". We had high hopes through the night as each course was served, but was let down each time by the flavours... or lack thereof.

Also, when paying 30$ for 10 extra slices of sashimi, you expect the sashimi to not be razor thin, did the kitchen not order enough fish? I wanted to cry out a la Zoolander; What is this? Food for Ants?!

350$ later (thanks also in part to a hefty "Sunday" surcharge and card surcharge) we were were still hungry. Mind you, my partner and I are regular sized individuals and we have normal appetites.

The saving graces? Wonderful serve staff who were attentive, quick and had great attitudes. There were multiple issues with service of wrong courses through the night as well as extra line items appearing in the bill that wasn't ordered, but the staff were quick to correct the issues with grace and poise.

The ambience was nice too, and the cocktails so-so, nothing special.

Call me old fashioned but when I go to a nice restaurant, I expect the food to be the star, not the ambience and staff...

Suffice to say, we will not be back, nor will we recommend this restaurant to anyone we know.

Shame....

Toko Restaurant in Sydney offers a contemporary Japanese izakaya experience that artfully combines Australia's fresh produce with modern culinary techniques. The tasting menu is a culinary journey through Toko's signature dishes, each thoughtfully paired with wines that enhance the flavors.

The menu begins with freshly shucked Pacific oysters from Tasmania, dressed in a house-made tozasu sauce infused with Haku Vodka, providing a refreshing and briny start.

Next, the seared salmon maki features chili mayonnaise, avocado, and a unique squid ink tenkasu coating, adding a delightful crunch and depth of flavor.

The grilled scallops are a standout, complemented by pickled apple and jalapeño, creating a harmonious balance of sweetness and heat.

For the main course, the robata grill offers succulent options like lamb cutlets and wagyu striploin, each grilled to perfection and showcasing the quality of the ingredients.

Throughout the meal, the wines offered are meticulously selected to complement each dish, enhancing the overall dining experience. The ambiance is intimate, with dim lighting and a spacious wooden interior, making it ideal for both business and personal gatherings.

In summary, Toko's tasting menu is a well-curated exploration of modern Japanese cuisine, with each dish and wine pairing thoughtfully designed to...