Mountain River Patisserie

Mountain River Patisserie is a Japanese-inspired dessert cafe in Runcorn that specialises in Hokkaido cheesecake, castella (honey sponge cake), canelé French pastries and more.

Owned by husband and wife, Sing and Befian, the duo originally set up shop at the Food Connect Shed in Salisbury selling their delectable baked goods to lucky locals, before opening their very own cafe in Runcorn, a stone's throw from the Fruitgrove train station. 

Named in honour of Brisbane, a place of mountains and rivers, where the couple started their business, the patisserie cafe embraces rustic minimalism and uncomplicated aesthetics (wabi-sabi) fitout with timber and stone. Seating is provided inside the light-filled space as well as outside undercover. 

The cafe's dessert menu is concise specialising in three desserts including Hokkaido cheesecake. Originating in Hokkaido, Japan, the layered cheesecake offers two textures, made with quality cream cheese and Italian mascarpone cheese. Flavours range from Matcha and Tiramisu to more unique flavours such as Yuzu, Hojicha (green tea), Black Sesame, and Purple Sweet Potato and Taro. 

The cafe also bakes castella, a Japanese sponge cake that originated in Nagasaki, made with three ingredients: flour, eggs and honey. Cake flavours include Honey (using local honey sourced from Lockyer Valley), Matcha and Hojicha, with both matcha and hojicha (dark roasted green tea) imported from Japan. 

The third heavenly dessert that the cafe offers is canelé, a small French pastry flavoured with vanilla and rum, Earl Grey and rum, or Hong Kong milk tea with rum. 

Coffee on pour is by Padre, the perfect accompaniment. Otherwise, there are matcha and hojicha lattes, organic chocolate, and Japanese Kimino sparkling juices.

Nice to know - Mountain River Patisserie also has a curated selection of locally made products on offer, from handcrafted earrings and dried floral bouquets to linen and cotton shopping bags and much more. 

By Deb Lidster 

The menu may have changed since our visit.

Canelé image courtesy of Mountain River Patisserie

Still hungry for more suggestions on where to eat out in Brisbane, head to our comprehensive Eat & Drink section HERE! Happy grazing!