A celebrated Mediterranean restaurant and artisan bakery in London, known for its seasonal menus, sun-drenched terrace, and critically acclaimed cooking.
Francesca Wade is primarily an acclaimed author and biographer, not a professional chef. Her connection to the culinary world stems from her literary work, particularly her book 'Gertrude Stein: An Afterlife,' which...
Toklas Restaurant offers a Mediterranean menu with a strong focus on fresh, seasonal produce, enhanced by thoughtful preparation and open fire grilling. It features an artisan bakery and a beautiful sun-drenched terrace. The ambiance blends brutalist architecture with an art gallery feel, showcasing works by artists like Wolfgang Tillmans and Ragna Bley, creating a chic and sophisticated dining experience.
Customer Perception
Customers consistently praise Toklas for its outstanding food, highlighting the fresh, vibrant, and perfectly executed dishes. The staff are frequently described as friendly, attentive, and welcoming, contributing to a special dining experience. The restaurant's beautiful setting, including its wonderful terrace and art-infused atmosphere, is also a common theme in positive reviews. While most feedback is overwhelmingly positive, some minor criticisms have been noted regarding specific dessert items.
Additional Details
The restaurant's interior design is notable for its brutalist aesthetic combined with an art gallery feel, featuring works by prominent artists. This unique blend contributes to its reputation as one of London's most stylish dining destinations.
The restaurant is suitable for lunch and dinner. Given its sun-drenched terrace, it might be particularly enjoyable during warmer months or for daytime meals. The bakery suggests it's also a good spot for breakfast or a casual visit throughout the day.
We came to Toklas after a recommendation on Marina O'Loughlins insta pages. We arrived early and sat on the terrace it was Friday 26th June, a lovely but hot evening, nice breeze there tho. A really smiley and efficient young Guy welcomed us and we had a few drinks before going into the restaurant. Was v busy but good and buzzy. Staff were great, super choices on the menu and the food was delish, had a great evening. Will def return and recommend
Toklas exceeded every expectation and delivered one of the most memorable meals I've had in London.
We started with fried feta with honey and chilli, Cuore del Vesuvio tomatoes with coco beans and basil, asparagus with mayonnaise, and a chilled tomato soup. Every single starter was fresh, vibrant and beautifully executed. The kind of opening to a meal that makes you excited for what comes next.
For mains we had the John Dory with potato, agretti and anchovy, and the lamb with freekeh, labneh and mint, accompanied by tomato and onion salads on the side. If I had to pick a favorite of the entire meal it would be the John Dory, the agretti was a wonderful pairing and the whole dish just sang. That said, everything from start to finish was flawless and I genuinely could not find a single fault.
We ended with the tiramisu and an espresso, the perfect way to close out a perfect meal.
The staff were friendly and attentive throughout, and the restaurant itself is absolutely beautiful with a wonderful terrace that adds to the overall charm of the experience.
I would go back without hesitation and honestly the hardest part was leaving knowing there were so many other dishes on the menu I still want to try. Toklas is a gem and I cannot recommend it highly enough!
5
Toklas in London is a five-star gem — a chic, art-infused restaurant where the starters shine with Mediterranean vibrancy, and the standout mink fish tail dish is a masterclass in elegant simplicity. The atmosphere blends brutalist cool with gallery-like sophistication, making it one of the city’s most stylish dining experiences. Tripadvisor +2
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⭐ Toklas Restaurant Review
📍 Location & Atmosphere
• Address: 1 Surrey Street, London WC2R 2ND
• Style: Brutalist canteen meets art gallery — walls adorned with works by Wolfgang Tillmans and Ragna Bley.
• Ambience: Relaxed yet fashionable, with a terrace offering views of the Thames. Perfect for both casual dining and special occasions. Tripadvisor
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🥗 Starters
• Boquerones: Anchovies in olive oil and vinegar, scattered with parsley — seductive and perfectly balanced. The Infatuation
• Scallop Crudo: Fresh, delicate, and generously dressed in olive oil.
• Grilled Carrots with Labneh: Sweet, charred carrots on creamy labneh, sprinkled with pistachios and sumac — a dish that feels both rustic and refined. The Infatuation
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🐟 Mink Fish Tail
• The mink fish tail (served in Toklas’ Mediterranean style) is a revelation: tender, flaky, and subtly seasoned to let the natural flavor shine.
• Paired with fennel and anchovy accents, it embodies Toklas’ philosophy of fresh, unfussy cooking with artistic flair. Tripadvisor
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🍷 Service & Experience
• Service: Friendly, attentive, and relaxed — wine is left for guests to pour at their own pace. Tripadvisor
• Dining vibe: Buzzing but never crowded, with atmospheric lighting that enhances the artful setting.
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⭐ Final Verdict
Toklas is more than a restaurant — it’s a cultural experience. The starters are inventive and memorable, the mink fish tail is a must-order, and the setting makes you feel part of London’s creative heartbeat. A true five-star dining destination for anyone seeking artistry on the plate and in the atmosphere.
4
A great place for clean flavours that let the seasonal produce do the heavy lifting. We thoroughly enjoyed the custardy-crispy farinata and the spring-lemony casoncelli. We absolutely continue to dream of the ricotta almond olive oil cake.
The alphonso mango sorbet was quite the letdown - it was tart and had low fidelity to the sweet fleshy Indian fruit, which for its price point (£9) is pretty unfair. In hindsight, not sure how a tropical fruit fits at a Mediterranean-themed restaurant anyway.
5
The food was great and innovative, which I enjoy a lot.
Everything was fresh and tasted delicious, and the staff was incredibly thoughtful and knowledgeable about the food!
Ambiance was also beautiful!
I also had 2 glasses of wine which were recommended by our waiter and they were very tasty.