The Sahely siblings have no shortage of popular cafes under their belt and are behind Barry and Pillar of Salt. Touchwood completes their powerhouse trio in Richmond on the busy Bridge Road dining strip. Having visited all three establishments now, there is a clear theme that runs through all of them – good food, good coffee and catering for everyone.
Touchwood’s fit out takes elements of each of its sister cafes with the use of exposed timber beams and paneling like Pillar of Salt and the clean, open, spacious interior of Barry. Seating is a mixture of small tables outside on the footpath, inside communal benches and tables and a courtyard out the back. The overall vibe is like that of a
The food menu also echoes the other venues with its creative takes on typical Melbourne breakfast and lunch options. Stand outs include the Sticky coconut quinoa pudding, Chilli scrambled eggs and the Prawn tacos. Barry’s hugely popular Californian superfood salad also makes an appearance.
On this visit I ordered the prawn tacos, which have gained mention in quite a few reviews. They were certainly not to disappoint with the perfect balance of chipotle mayo, slaw and chilli-coated, juicy prawns. Three tacos may not seem like much, but they were quite filling.
Coffee is from Five Senses with a blend and single origin on offer as espresso and filter. There’s is also the intriguing addition of coconut water cold drip, which I am yet to see anywhere else. Imagine a typical cold drip coffee but lighter and with a hint coconut sweetness. A must try for something different.
Service was a little hit and miss during the weekend lunch time rush, though to be expected.
Touchwood brings specialty coffee and great food to fill a void of sorts on busy Bridge Road and upholds the reputation of its sibling cafes.