Darling Group may ring a bell to you—the hospitality crew behind some of Melbourne’s best cafes including Top Paddock, Higher Ground and more recently The Terrace in Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens. Now, the team have jumped into Melbourne’s vibrant world of restaurants with the arrival of Token.
Two doors down from South Yarra train station, Token has taken up shop on the corner of Toorak Road and Darling Street. Inside, diners are greeted with a captivating open kitchen layout, with all eyes on the chefs as they whip up handmade temaki, a range of raw dishes and opulent caviar service.
At the helm is Head Chef Jun Sun—alongside Darling Group’s Executive Chef Ashly Hicks— with runs on the board at the likes of renowned fine diner Nobu and St Kilda’s Ichi Ni Izakaya. The menu follows an elemental duality ethos, with each dish either sitting in the liquid and raw camp, or charred and flamed.
"We've crafted a menu that entices a culturally curious audience with beautiful and fresh Japanese-inspired dishes. Each diner at Token will be transported to a reimagined era,” says Hicks.
Stick around for the late evenings as the decadent restaurant leans into the Japanese nightlife, with promise of DJs spinning tunes. The bar is set with signature cocktails, a range of premium sakes and plenty of quality wine.
Token officially opens its doors Tuesday 23 January. Book your table here.
Image credit: supplied