Been a while since I’ve been here. The Toff is a bit of a Melbourne institution - the whole building is really. It was still daylight when we were here, which I think is a first for me. Just had a lazy Amaretto Sour and they did it well.
We shared the pancakes, dumplings and fish salad between two which was more than enough food! Delicious Asian flavours in all of the dishes in a very cool and dark bar with private booths.
Very romantic vibes at The Toff in Town - especially in the private booths. Love the outdoor balcony area overlooking Swanston Street. Recommend the espresso martinis.
Amazing place but a bit on the expensive side! Was there with my friends for drinks and dinner on a weekday. The place was pretty much empty but can’t complain as it was a Monday. The cocktails served were mind blowing and the food was great too. Bunch of veggie options and the menu was designed in a great fashion which included most of the Asian food. The service and the ambience was good.
Food - 4/5
Drinks - 4.5/5
Service - 4/5
Ambience - 4/5
Value for Money - 3/5
I’ve been here for drinks a few times but never have eaten (I usually go to cookie) and I really enjoyed it! Decoy is cool and everybody loves the booths, staff were very professional and the best I’ve had for awhile!
I ate mostly the tuck shop menu but it was really nice and the roti pizza is a must have especially if you like the hot stuff.
Overall a nice experience and if you have visitors from out of town treat them true Melbourne style.
Thanks
Loved this place! Came in for a knock off cocktail late Wednesday night with a pal from work. I had an old fashioned, she had a kaffir lime infused, gin margarita type drink (can’t remember the name of it - I think it was a house cocktail though) and they were both soooo yum!
Staff were super friendly and it was the perfect wind down environment for us after work that night
Will be back although I expect it’s usually much busier!
Toff in town is a nice, quiet and intimate dining experience in the middle of the CBD. You can get a booth to yourself and your waiter is called using the doorbell. The menu is setup in a tapas style, with the portions for the food generous and with some very tasty dishes, including the lamb cutlets. The toff does nice cocktails and has a decent wine list and the staff are always friendly, can recommend.
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The toff in town also known as choo choos is only two flights of stairs in a rickety old building. They take reservations or just rock up like my friend and I did on a Friday around 6.30 pm.
You enter a tiny looking bar with round tables covered in red and white check cloth, loud noise and booth styled seating. Like me you may be shocked but there is additional seating around the bar and more seating booths. So what seems like a tiny bar is also a restaurant and a music venue.
My friend and I were seated on a tiny round table and given large heavy menus thatt covered our tables almost entirely.
The tables reminded my friend and me of a streetside cafe in Paris or Italy. Too small to contain any food. Maybe just for espresso.
All dishes are to share and there are no large mains. Don't go for the upsell of the feed me option because all the food arrived at once within five minutes at room temperature and will not fit on your table and so you will be forced to eat quickly without enjoying your food.
We got the following:
1. beef rendang with roti - half a work with a ramekin containing two meat pieces in thick red curry sauce. Slight spice to it, tender meat and very delicious. My favourite dish of the ones I had
2. Duck pancakes - five tiny pancakes with a cold runny salad with scant pieces of duck. Spicier than the duck and tasty herbal flavours. Quite sticky.
3. Chicken hot pot - didn't know what to do with this. Its like a poh. So you get some vermicelli noodles covered in sprouts and a ramekin full of red liquid. Unlike us, don t drink the liquid first. Rather pour it onto the sprouts and noodles. Someone should have told us this as we had vermicelli leftover and it tastes awful on its own.
4. Rendang with rice - large potato pieces with barely any meat. overly sweet.
Interesting menu. Fast service. But could do with staggered service.
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Location :-
Curtin House is hard to miss on Swanston Street. Located on the second floor, be prepared to hike up two flights on dingy high stairs (elevator works on private code only)!
The setting is a dimly lit, cosy booth setup with a few high chairs by the bar. Better for groups of 3-5 people.
Service :-
Our server was helpful, suggestive and quick. Works in a perfect combination always!
Food :-
1) Chicken Rendang and Roti Bread - the rendang is spicy but has a fabulous texture and taste. The roti bread while warm tastes great!
2) Heavenly Beef & Hot Chilli Sauce - deep fried slices of beef (lose a bit of tenderness) accompanied with sriracha sauce. Erring on the spicy side, it is a balanced offering.
3) Chicken Ribs Garlic & Pepper - can skip the ribs as they're nothing more than bland deep fried bits of chicken on bone. No garlic or pepper flavour at all!
4) Water Buffalo Cheese with Tomato and Thai Basil - a great salad dressing poured on chunks of cheese (gets a bit too much) with fresh baby tomatoes makes a safe selection for the vegetarian seekers.
5) Asparagus & Broccolini Garlic and Chilli - an extremely tangy dish with firm Asparagus makes this one a good vegetarian recommendation.
6) Betel Leaf Peppered Pork Sticks, Pork and Peanut Relish - an extremely tasty pork dish, the deep frying brings out the crispy texture of the pork that pairs beautifully with the peanut dip.
7) Beef & Potato Massaman Curry - the star of the show, a beautiful dish with extremely balanced yet uplifting flavours. Paired with sticky steamed rice, an absolute winner !
8) Rosé House Wine - from the Yarra valley, a delicious sweet accompaniment with an above average meal.
Prices :-
Since the serving sizes are pretty small, you're looking at 100 dollars for a meal for two easy!
Overall, a decent 3.5/5!
Like any good cocktail the toff in town is a mixture of many different ingredients that make one perfect place. One part fancy cocktail bar and another part fun band room and dance hall, the Toff is a regal nod to the buildings past days as a gentlemans club.
The cocktail bar side has some great private train carriages to tuck your group into and roll the doors closed. On certain nights they open up the band room for live gigs, mini festivals and mayhem. A massive plus with this place is the coat check as you walk in and the bartenders excellent knowledge of their drinks. They have a wide selection on the back bar to choose from and some really good beers and wine. It's also open quite late every night so perfect for that late night tipple when you feel everything else is winding up.
Great little venue for catching a live performance. I haven't checked out the dining area, but was fortunate enough to enjoy a great evening in the band room. Area is not huge, but also not cramped. I would call it intimate. I thought it's the perfect space to catch a gig. I would absolutely be back next time there's a show on at the Toff.
Great Bar! The train car booths are really awesome to sit in and create a great experience. The bar has an extensive cocktail list that will leave everyone happy. The space can get a bit loud and crowded, which can mean it can take a while to get your drinks, but they are worth the wait!
Loved it! A beautiful bar. As a former bar attendant I was drooling over the setup. The staff were super friendly. The seating and atmosphere was great. This place has real character. We saw a show over the other end of the venu also. The show was great and the set up over there was good too.
Attended a gig upstairs, but popped into the downstairs bar as well, its an interesting venue, lots of character! Would like to go to check out the food sometime.
I so want to give this place more than 5 stars. The venue is beautiful and there are private booths and lighting that's a deep, romantic red. Perfect for a date night or a lowkey drink with friends!
Attended here as part of the Melbourne Comedy festival. This is one of Melbourne's hidden gems tucked away inside Curtin House on the 2nd level. Disability access is easy with ramps and a lift!
Perfect setting for a quick drink before the show in one of the dimmly lit booths or a quick bite of the Thai inspired menu. Staff are polite, helpful and knowledgeable and quick to assist with accessible seating for wheelchair and walker patrons.
Overall 5 stars and a great place to visit with a wonderful vibe!
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