Touch named to Missouri's 10 Best Restaurants list
Now the rest of the world can find out what Springfieldians have known for years. Touch Restaurant was named among the top 10 Missouri restaurants by TheCultureTrip.com, a website dedicated to global culture and lifestyle.
The list began circulating on social media this week and was shared on Touch's Facebook page with this message: "We are blushing over here! Thank you for the review, The Culture Trip in the Missouri's 10 Best Restaurants: The Ultimate Foodie's Guide. We are humbled to be listed amongst these restaurants!"
Owner Mike Jalili said he has no idea how The Culture Trip found out about Touch or who wrote the review. He first learned of the list when friends on Facebook began sharing the link.
"They must have come in and ate at the restaurant recently. It talks about one of my dishes that has been on the menu for about six months, the blackened swordfish," he said. "It was pretty neat."
What TheCultureTrip.com said about Touch:
"Don't let its strip mall location fool you – Touch is one of the Ozark region's top restaurants and the winner of awards including 417 Magazine's 'Best Fine Dining' and 'Best Outdoor Dining' of 2014. Established by local restaurateur family the Jalilis, who came to southwest Missouri's Springfield via their native Iran, Touch specializes in Mediterranean-influenced contemporary American fare in a space that combines a stylish dining room with its own mezzanine balcony, al fresco dining and a lively lounge serving tapas-style eats and tempting libations. Enjoy plates that include the much raved about Applewood bacon-wrapped dates with goat cheese and blackened swordfish with poblano lime puree and bean relish."
What's new at Touch
• Jalili recently challenged the kids at all three Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield locations to get all A's and B's on their report cards. Those that do, Jalili plans to prepare a special lunch for them at Touch.
"When you go there and you visit with the kids and are around them, it touches your heart," he said. "You see these kids are not any different from other kids. They deserve the same chances and opportunities."
Jalili is a regular face at the Springfield Boys & Girls Clubs, visiting with kids a couple of times a month.
"You make connections with these kids. We show them pictures of the restaurant and tell them how I got here. If we did it with nothing in our pockets, they can be successful. We want to show them ways to think positive," he said.
• The Jalilis are working with a builder and architect to finalize plans for a third restaurant. The restaurant will be located on Lone Pine Road and similar to the Jalilis' other restaurant, Flame.