Last updated on December 24, 2021
The south side is gradually growing in brunch options, and Cache Cache in Rochedale Village is one of the new additions. Keen to check out new finds, we were there not long after they had properly opened.
The entire Rochedale Village complex seemed like quite a newly built area. It was clean, concreted, and spacious. There were plenty of carpark spots available, which makes it convenient for patrons. The eatery was easy enough to find, with “Cache-Cache” in bold lettering above the entrance. There was also an archway of pastel-coloured balloons at the entrance, ostensibly to mark their recent opening. That certainly caught attention.
You come to the service counter as soon as you cross the threshold of the entrance, so there is no uncertain wandering in. They had a stand with their takeaway menu in front of the service counter, which is a smart option to have ready in the time of COVID. We let them know that we would like to dine in though, and were told that we could sit at any available table. We were given menus, and told to come back to the counter to order when we were ready.
The space felt very open, with high ceilings, and plenty of glass along the sides to let daylight in. It had a modern style, with concrete floors and patterned terrazzo stone-topped tables. The warm lighting and artificial greenery hanging from the ceilings offset the look, so it didn’t come off as just coldly industrial. Hunter green accents on the cupboard panels gave another nod to nature. Cache Cache has a larger footprint than your average suburban cafe, the indoor seating area extending further back than you initially expect, and with lots of covered outdoor seating as well.
As an extra perk, we noted the serve-yourself taps of sparkling and still water near the kitchen pass. That was a very Melbournian element.
The menu was presented on a single laminated A3-sized sheet, with multiple columns of items. It seemed that some were available all day, and some available only after 11am, in particular a range of pizzas and tapas items. That wasn’t an issue for us, as we were there after 11am, but those who are earlier eaters may find themselves with slightly less range. We ended up selecting the Cornflake Chicken stack, which we had already seen pictures of, and the Benny, which came with a toasted croissant and a couple of other less usual ingredients.
We placed our order at the counter, then returned to the table, after stopping to get ourselves a bottle of sparkling water and glasses for the table. The ordered drinks were brought to the table after not too long.
The long macchiato was served in a dainty little cup. It had good strength, and fruity wine notes.
The matcha latte on soy was also served in a black cup, and accompanied by a gold spoon, making for a striking colour combination with the green matcha swirls. We established, when we placed our order, that it was not made from a premix. The matcha latte had a good strong earthy flavour, and was not excessively sweetened.
Cutlery was placed on the table when food items were served. These, like the spoons, were a bright gold. While they certainly looked creatively designed, we found that form had taken priority over function. Despite their artistic styling, their long, narrow, spindly handles turned out to be difficult to grip and maneuver.
The Benny came with two poached eggs, a vegetable fritter, house hollandaise sauce, flying fish roe, spinach, and toasted croissant. We had wanted to add ham hock to it, but they were out, so we added smoked salmon instead. It was quite a charmingly presented dish, with the smoked salmon twisted so that it looked like a rose, and a pretty flower garnish. The croissant was nicely browned, but soft, rather than having the crisp flakiness we like. The vegetable fritter visibly had corn kernels and shredded vegetable components in it. The batter just held the vegetables together, and the fritter was crunchy on the outside. The portion of smoked salmon was a good serving size, more than just token, which we appreciated, as it was $6 extra. It had a good smoky flavour, but was not too salty. The poached eggs had runny yolks, as anticipated. The hollandaise that coated the poached eggs was buttery, but without tangy kick. The black tobiko mound on top of the poached eggs made for good visual contrast, but the flavour and texture got a little lost when had with all the other components.
The Cornflake Chicken Stack had the cornflake-crusted chicken, poached eggs, avocado, and sriracha hollandaise on sourdough. This was a more compact presentation than the Benny, the side by side comparison making it appear an even smaller portion. It was pretty much as described, the single slice of sourdough forming the base the other ingredients were stacked atop. The star of the dish, the cornflake chicken, had a good crunchy batter layer on the outside. It was well-seasoned, with a combination of spice flavours that brought a little heat and some garlickiness in addition to a good level of saltiness. We also thought we could taste red pepper powder notes. The poached eggs had soft, gooey yolks. The sriracha hollandaise had a fiery punch to it. The sliced up avocado was there in the right proportion to add buttery creaminess to the dish.
On the whole, despite some minor flaws, Cache Cache served up some tasty dishes. It was a nice setting, but food did nudge city prices despite the suburban locale. It works if you’re looking for a city experience without having to leave the southside suburbs or contend with city traffic. As an additional perk, they also have Icinghill cakes available to eat there or take away, again saving you the trip into the city.
Scores:
Food: 3/4
Setting: 1.5/2
Service: 1/2
Total: 5.5/8
Price point: $15 to $20 for more than eggs on toast. Note though, that a number of items come with add-ons. The basic Benny was $15, but with smoked salmon added on it was $21. The Cornflake Chicken Stack was $18.
Value: Okay.
Details:
Address: Shop 2/329 Gardner Rd, Rochedale Village, Rochedale
Phone: 07 3341 5355
Website: Cache Cache Rochedale
