When will they stop? The team and family behind Barry and previously Touchwood and Pillar of Salt, to name a few, have another new kid on the block. Named after a Sri Lankan architect, Bawa is the latest addition to busy Burwood Road in Hawthorn and brings with it the team’s specialty in creative and innovative food and drink.
Bawa takes prime ground floor position in a freshly redeveloped office building and the fit out had taken full advantage of being able to start from new. Their namesake, Geoffrey Bawa, is known for his design mantra stemming from tropical modernism which revolves around bringing the outdoors inside. The cafe upholds these principles with its scattering of plants throughout the interior and a centrepiece hanging garden built atop the lighting fixtures. Elements of dark timber furnishings, barn-style rolling glass panels around the kitchen, tiled bar, white walls and surprisingly comfortable wireframe chairs all add to the clean, modern but natural atmosphere.
Seating is a mixture of small tables, raised booth-style tables overlooking the street and a handful of outside tables in the building forecourt.
If you’ve been to Barry or any of the team’s other ventures, the left-field food menu should come as no surprise. Black quinoa porridge, chilli scrambled eggs, ricotta pancakes with lavender custard, the list goes on. Barry’s infamous Californian Superfood Salad also makes an appearance.
The pressed lamb shoulder with purple cabbage purée, cauliflower tabbouleh, barberries, pine nuts and harissa was the choice for this visit. Not knowing what to the expect, the juicy, tender lamb pressed into a rosti-like rectangle combined well with the creamy cabbage purée and the tabbouleh, barberries and harissa providing a nice flavour kick.
The drinks menu is equally creative with two smoothies being the highlights; banana, peanut butter, cacao nibs, honey and almond milk or spinach, kale, green apple, chia, flax and coconut water. Coffee is a blend from Dukes and a guest single origin with choices of espresso or batch brew filter. The “Black Tonic” is the interesting mixture of espresso, tonic water and lime. There is also a range of teas, cold pressed juices and kombucha on offer.
Service was excellent apart from a few of the usual, minor, opening week teething issues which are to be expected.
Bawa
248 Burwood Road, Hawthorn
03 9819 6701