TOKii is a newly opened Japanese restaurant in the 5-star luxury hotel, The Prince Akatoki London hotel.
A cursory look at their website will give you a clear indication that they are proud of their international menu with influences from both the east and the west.
Dishes like salt-baked beets, panko-crusted Goat’s Cheese, Balsamic Dressing sit comfortably beside dishes like shrimp tempura with ginger and daikon dashi.
Although the Japanese influence is unmistakable from the moment you step into the hotel and restaurant and observe their meticulously clean, minimalist style. Sophisticated dark wood is the main focus of the restaurant giving them a sense of authority and an assurance that the focus will be firmly on the food.
If you don’t have an allergy or dietary requirements, I always recommend going for the omakase menu, as the chef will always choose the best seasonal ingredients or the signature dishes the restaurant is famous for.
The omakase menu at TOKii is 5-courses and priced at £55pp. When we tried the tasting menu, it was a case of exhibiting the greatest hits of Japanese cuisine. We started with a mouthwatering scallops dish served in a shell with a sesame soy dressing and on a bed of wakame salad. It was cooked to just the right degree so there was only gentle charring on the edges without the soft texture being impacted.
The next 2 dishes are traditional stalwarts of Japanese cuisine but given a TOKii twist. First up was a selection of nigiri presented in a giant glass dome and smoked in front of your eyes. The presentation was undeniably impressive and you can genuinely taste the smokiness but I am not sure if it added much to the dish. However, the quality of the raw fish was top-notch; it was incredibly fatty tasting and that is due to the fact they offer tuna o-toro, yellowtail belly and salmon belly instead of your regular lean affair.
Next on the menu was a plate of enoki tempura, which had just the right amount of batter to give the dish an added crunch without making it overly greasy. And for a dedicated mushroom fan like myself, this was sheer heaven and I didn’t have to pick through the vegetable tempura I preferred less like in traditional tempura offerings.
The main course was finely diced pieces of stewed pork belly served with broccolini which was filled with umami richness. I appreciate the fact it had the right mixture of meat and fat and for those who only prefer lean meat, remember it is the fatty part which excites the taste buds on your tongue.
Our exciting meal was finished off with an impressive mango choux, the buns were filled with coconut cremeux and topped with coconut tuille and mango jelly. It was served on a bed of exotic fruit salad. To finish off, do check out The Malt Lounge and Bar, which is also in the hotel for some innovative Japanese-inspired cocktails.
50 Great Cumberland Pl, Marble Arch, Marylebone, London W1H 7FD
