We recently spent a few days down in Inverloch and one of the dining highlights was dinner at Tomo’s Japanese. I thought I’d share my thoughts on the food in case you’re planning on heading down that way this summer too. Spoiler alert, I highly recommend you book a table!
Given the restrictions on dining we booked ahead, and even with them loosening I would still definitely recommend you calling ahead. It’s a relatively small restaurant, although there is a courtyard as well, and we saw lots of people having to be turned away which would have been a big disappointment. The staff were very friendly too, even when dealing with a full restaurant. Now, let’s get on to the food, that’s why we went to Tomo’s Japanese after all!
We shared a few vegetarian options to begin with, starting with the Agedashi Tofu ($16). I always enjoy agedashi tofu and this was no exception. The staff checked with us when ordering and so this came without bonito flakes, instead topped with seaweed and sesame. We were off to a good start!
Another dish I can never turn down is Nasu Dengku ($17). This was really well cooked – the eggplant was tender but still slightly firm and it was absolutely packed with flavour. It’s a classic winner for a reason, and it was another that absolutely lived up to the versions I have had in the past (including in Japan!).
Our last starter was the simple but tasty Tempura Vegetables ($20 for entree size). This had a really good mix of vegetables – lotus root, pumpkin, zucchini, beans, you name it. The batter was light but crunchy and the vegetables inside were still nice and firm. Nothing worse than soggy tempura! It was a great way to round out the starters.
For my main I ordered the Touban Tofu ($24), which was not a dish I had ever come across before. The soft tofu was cooked with leek, mushrooms, garlic and chilli and served in a hot pot. The dish was absolutely packed with flavour, and as you can probably tell from the photo, somewhat spicy! It was a really delicious spice though, not overpowering, instead just built over time. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and it was nice to have a completely different dish to what I usually order at Japanese restaurants.
It’s safe to say we had an excellent meal at Tomo’s Japanese and I definitely recommend you book a table in advance. It’s not necessarily a cheap night out, but we found it well worth the price.