A Touch of Salt

Review summary

1. M

   Mark

   Tropical QLD1 review

   5.0

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Held a work dinner for 10 people tonight and all 10 were amazed by the food and service! Meals were quick, drink service not overbearing, allowed us to have a fun night with great food and great service Number 1 choice for dinner in Townsville
   

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2. J

   Jane

   Tropical QLD1 review

   3.0

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 2

   I had high expectations when I visited Touch of Salt on Sunday, 31st March 2025, but unfortunately, the experience didn’t fully meet them. Upon arrival, we waited at the entrance for 3 to 5 minutes without acknowledgment, as the staff were engaged at the bar. The tables were also bare without tablecloths, which was surprising for such a well-regarded place—perhaps a personal preference. The entree and starter were enjoyable, and the waitstaff who attended to us were friendly. However, the mains didn’t impress. The chilli fries seemed stale, and the beef and chicken dishes were fine but nothing special. When we paid, no one asked how our meal was, which felt like an oversight for a higher-end restaurant. While there were some positives, the service delays and food inconsistencies left the experience underwhelming for the prices charged.
   

   A Touch of SaltResponded 1 day ago

   Dear Jane, Thank you for your feedback. I’m truly sorry your recent visit didn’t reflect the level of care and quality we strive for at A Touch of Salt. While the evening was busier than expected, that should never impact the service or overall experience our guests receive. We take pride in offering genuine hospitality, well-prepared meals, and delivering value for money. It’s clear we didn’t meet those expectations on this occasion, and I sincerely apologise. Your comments have been shared with the team as a reminder of the high standards expected by our guests. I hope you’ll consider visiting us again so we can provide the level of service and food you come to expect from A Touch of Salt. Sincerely, Mark Brine Proprietor A Touch of Salt
   

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3. J

   John

   Tropical QLD1 review

   4.0

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 3

   Food and service superb. Quite a wait for food. Wait staff friendly, personable and energetic
   

   A Touch of SaltResponded 2 days ago

   Dear John, Thank you so much for the feedback – I’m really glad to hear you enjoyed the food and our team’s service. It ended up being a busier night than we anticipated, so I really appreciate your patience with the wait. We’re always aiming to do better, and we’ll make sure on your next visit there's no delays. Hope to see you again soon. Sincerely, Mark Brine Proprietor, A Touch of Salt
   

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4. D

   Debbie VIP

   Deactivated - Far North Queensland15 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 5 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Touch of salt never disappoints. Mark and Michael always make us feel welcome. Our very favourite restaurant 🤩
   

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5. R

   Robert

   Tropical QLD4 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on 21 March 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   We have been coming to AToS since 2005 and it always sets the standard by which we measure all other dining experiences. Michael is a maestro titillating our palates, and the front of house standards complement the food and are rarely matched anywhere . Love coming here
   

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6. N

   Nicholas

   Tropical QLD1 review

   5.0

   Dined on 19 March 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Beautiful restaurant. Beautiful food. Lovely stuff and great surroundings
   

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7. G

   Gary and Steph

   Tropical QLD1 review

   3.0

   Dined on 19 March 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   Fine Dining? More Like Fine Chewing… Went to Touch of Salt expecting a fine dining experience, but I think I accidentally signed up for a jaw workout. Ordered the steak, and I’ve had softer leather boots. I genuinely get a better cut from Woolies—and at least there, I don’t need a chainsaw to get through it. The lamb? Dry. So dry I think I heard it whisper "water..." before it turned to dust on my plate. I’ve had better meals at pubs, and at least they give you a beer to wash it down. For what they charge, I expected something special. Next time, I’ll just grab a steak from the local butcher and cook it myself—probably with better results. If you like overpriced, underwhelming food, go for it. Otherwise, save yourself the trouble and hit up a steakhouse instead.
   

   A Touch of SaltResponded on 23 March 2025

   Dear Gary and Steph, As a diner, I enjoyed reading your review—though as the proprietor, it was hard to read. Our chefs take great care to ensure each dish is cooked properly and served on time, but we didn’t get it right with your meals, and I sincerely apologise. We rely on feedback during service so we can fix issues immediately. Had we known, we would’ve happily replaced your steak or lamb. Again, I apologise and would love to invite you back to show we can deliver something special— so there's no need to visit your butcher and cook it yourself. Sincerely, Mark Brine Restaurant Manager & Proprietor A Touch of Salt
   

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8. J

   John

   Tropical QLD2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on 16 March 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Best food in Townsville. The St Patrick’s day Food and Wine experience was well planned and orchestrated. The 4 courses that were created to suit the Erin Eye’s winery’s selection was spot on. The service was top notch, with the owner and restaurant manager calling around to every table and checking that people were happy with the food and wine. Our daughter has special needs which were carefully catered for by the staff! The Chef executive came out and explained each meal and why a particular wine was selected, which was very entertaining. Definitely our go to place in Townsville for good food and great service!
   

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9. j

   jools

   Tropical QLD6 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on 16 March 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Absolutely amazing - staff - atmosphere - food food too!!
   

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10. M

    Mark

    Tropical QLD1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 15 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    Fantastic food. Menu changes frequently. Great service in a nice setting. We took an early 6:30pm seating this visit, and courses were delivered in a timely manner. We have had a later seating, and it was the same so service seems to be consistent over time. Overall, the meals are quite reasonably priced and the whole dining experience quite enjoyable. It was a special occasion so there some nice little touches as well. We go to Touch of Salt a couple of times a year and it is our go to restaurant in Townsville. We highly recommend Touch of Salt. Did I mention the food was fantastic! We enjoy that there's always something different on offer if you are an occasional diner like us. Pays to book at least a few weeks in advance to get your preferred booking time as it seems to be pretty popular pretty much anytime really.
    

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