toko-licious

If Longrain had a younger Japanese brother it would be Toko. The large wooden communal tables, the never empty private dining room, the swanky bar and music.

It's been a long time coming, but I finally went to Toko. The long, dark room is almost always full so we arrived early before the after work crowd packed in. Cocktails to start of course with some edamame which are warm and salty and great food for thought while looking through the five page menu.

We order the shochu tonics, beri shu and ringo shu served on a stone of ice. Not quite our cup of gin so we move on to the lychee and jasmine mojitos....magic!

Beri Shu

Icy Mojito

After trawling through the menu we make up our minds and order the tempura squid with a soy, chilli dipping sauce, the tempura is crispy and the squid is cooked to perfection.

Tempura Calamari

Next we order a Chef's selection of sushi, sashimi tuna, kingfish, salmon, prawns and squid, all exceptionally fresh.

Chef's sushi selection

By the time our next few dishes arrive, I'm so hungry I forget to take some snaps.

We order the soy poached chicken with five vegetables, the veggies are my favourite part. But then the teriyaki sweet potato and the miso marinated lamb cutlets arrive and my hunger woes are soon forgotten. The sweet potato is deliciously soft and caramelised and the teruyaki and sesame sauce is divine. But the lamb cutlets are rare and and the smooth chilli miso and pickled eggplants work perfectly with the lambs meatiness.

On to dessert and we weren't disappointed, I even managed to get the camera out again. I ordered the apricot and clotted cream Creme Brulee. The thick conserve like apricot sat chilled under the warm creamy brulee, I didn't want it to end.

http://www.toko.com.au/index_surryhills.cfm

Apricot and Clotted Cream Creme Brulee

Rhubarb Crumble

White Chocolate Panacotta