Harden's says
New grill-focused restaurant, bakery and food shop with a large garden terrace, from Amanda Sharp and Matthew Slotover, founders of Frieze (it's next door to the Frieze offices).
Harden's survey result
Summary
Who knew Arthur Andersen’s previous HQ (also apparently a former car park) could look so chic! The founders of Frieze art fair are behind this “stylish and buzzing” yearling in a Modernist building, off the Strand – “an interesting mid-century space”, which is “spacious” and “with a lovely secluded outside terrace”. Chef Yohei Furuhashi delivers an “on-trend concept”: “ingredients so fresh and of superior quality” are interfered with as little as possible: “this is how delicious food should taste, with flavours bursting in one’s mouth, not dishes laced with salt lazily passed off as a meal in most restaurants” (“impeccable…. I’m still dreaming about the artichoke and pea salad”). “Prices seem to have jumped up in recent months” though, placing it in value terms as “pricey, but worth it”.
Summary
“A sparse interior in a Brutalist building” off the Strand “disguises a fantastic place to enjoy excellent food” at this new arrival from the founders of the art fair, Frieze: “a big, classy concrete space”, complete with “a massive terrace that looks like a brilliant draw once the weather turns summery”. “British seasonal dishes” are done to a high standard, although service is “a bit hit ’n’ miss”.
Summary
Aside from its nondescript location near Aldwych, this autumn 2021 newcomer is strong on fashionable credentials. In a Soho House property (yes); backers are famous in the art world (the duo behind art fair, Frieze – yes); large al fresco terrace (yes); cooking over open fire (yes); on-site baker and food shop (yes). Here’s hoping it’s as good off paper as on it.
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Have you eaten at Toklas?
1 Surrey Street, London, WC2R 2ND
Restaurant details
Toklas Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Much better than previous reviews suggest. Interesting setting and really very good food - especially the fish"
"Very interesting cuisine in a neglected corner of London. Superb service, particularly bearing in mind the scale of the restaurant and a wonderful place to sit, buzzy but never too loud, for a long and drawn out dinner"
"Very interesting cuisine in a neglected corner of London. Superb service, particularly bearing in mind the scale of the restaurant and a wonderful place to sit, buzzy but never too loud, for a long and drawn out dinner"
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £22.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £4.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 12.50% |
1 Surrey Street, London, WC2R 2ND
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
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