Catch up with Friends and Family at The Talkhouse

By: Dylan Naidoo

The Talkhouse is a café /bistro situated outside of the Westville Mall with a familiar atmosphere. Even though I went there for the first time, The Talkhouse gave me a sense of nostalgia for café that I used to visit as a child. Going as a family or as a group of friends, catching up after school sports games, or just hanging out and meeting new people are fond memories. This may be my experience with café, but The Talkhouse definitely caters to a wide group of people coming in for a chat, as the name suggests.

When I first arrived at the venue, one aspect that first struck me was the layout. There was a mixed layout of couches for the friend or family groups, then your standard chairs and tables for more interpersonal communication. The layout was great, and I really liked how everything was organised. The place was set up perfectly for large friend or family groups to sit right down and engage in long conversations.

A great café /bistro cannot be analysed before talking about the great minds behind the place, cousins Rochelle and Letaria. As of August 2024, Rochelle and Letaria took over as the new owners of The Talkhouse, becoming business partners. In fact, the idea to take ownership was a happy coincidence. As the story goes, both Rochelle and Letaria went for lunch at the establishment, and Letaria began talking to the owner, mentioning she knew the previous owners. They jokingly mentioned that if the owner was ever selling the business, they would be the first buyers. Surprisingly, the previous owner was thinking of selling The Talkhouse, and as they say, the rest is history. I was quite curious about why Rochelle and Letaria wanted to become owners of the café, and their answer surprised me again. Both Rochelle and Letaria were already business minded individuals, and so running The Talkhouse would not be their first business outing.

When asked about The Talkhouse itself, Letaria mentions that she does not see The Talkhouse as much of a café anymore, but as a bistro due to expanding to serving not only breakfast and lunch but dinner once a month with a special menu. They mention that whether it be breakfast, lunch or even brunch, you can always come through to have a wholesome meal that fills you up.

The Talkhouse stands out by mentioning that one of their key areas of focus is quality. Both Letaria and Rochelle care about the quality of food they bring to the table. On top of this, they care about the relationship dynamic between the customer and the business owner. Instead of a franchise whereby the customer may not even meet the owner, The Talkhouse differs by having that owner and customer interaction. Essentially, having that bond with the customer means knowing when their next birthday is, or their next event, or knowing their regulars by name. This aspect is even in their slogan: Where friends become family.

Letaria and Rochelle also mentioned that having great staff is an important aspect for them and strive to create a family dynamic with their staff.

Social media presence has been a staple of The Talkhouse since Rochelle and Letaria took over, and they have been widening their reach on a variety of social media platforms.

So, to the next people visiting the Westville Mall, I would highly recommend checking out The Talkhouse. Depending on what your tastebuds are asking for, The Talkhouse has you covered from butter chicken to pasta, amazing cakes and great coffee. Most importantly, you are going to a place that appreciates you as part of the family rather than a customer.

What are you waiting for? Visit The Talkhouse at Westville Mall, 35 Buckingham Tce.

Visit The Talkhouse. Image link is here