Rainbow Restaurant at Carlton Hotel

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34128, 14 April 1976, Page 19

Rainbow Restaurant at Carlton Hotel

The Carlton Hotel is a very old establishment in Christchurch and its Rainbow Restaurant, part of the latest wave of extensions, is traditionally attractive and comfortable. 'Fhe Rainbow Restaurant, approached from the Papanui Road frontage, is distinguished on that side by an arresting neon sign which owes everything to all colours of the rainbow. Once inside, the prospective diner finds the surrounding rather more restful; and indeed, there is a calm and well-being which promises well for an engaging dinner. The Sunset Bar. which is a spacious area of soft black chairs, and some high stools, stand athwart the entrance to the restaurant —and there can be no-one who has ever regretted that. The lighting here tends to be red and seductive, and a good start to the main business of the evening—which is eating. The Rainbow Restaurant is a large and beautifully proportioned room with an interesting ceiling of just the height to strike a good balance between ventilation and intimacy. Tn subdued lighting the rainbow motif is suggested in the centre of the ceiling. The restaurant seats 145: front-of-house and back-room staff are normally about seven, but this number can be doubled with ease when business is strong, said the manager, Peter Wilson. Colours at the restaurant are mainly gold and black, and the chairs are comfortable—an important point when a person may rely on their welcome for three or four hours. Most important restaurants in Christchurch take pride in their capacity to deal with large groups of diners, and the Rainbow

Restaurant is one of this companj’-. Parties of up to about 30 are dealt with as a matter of course in the restaurant itself; groups of up to 500—for conferences and the like—can be taken in part of the huge bar area which lies on the other side of the kitchen from the main restaurant. This restaurant was opened some four years ago. and its arrival coincided well with the blossoming of a considerable number of high-class motels along this part of Papanui Road. The arrangement has been satisfactory to all concerned. Saturday is, of course, the big night at the Rainbow. On this night a trio plays. The leader is Dean Howe, who once played with Benny Goodman. The Saturday menu costs 57.50. For this the diner will have the choice, for openers, of fruit juices or prawn cocktail: soup; entree; a choice from nine main courses; sweets; and cheese board. During the week the dinner (except on Tuesdays) costs $4.50. This has a rather smaller selection of main dishes than on Saturday and the music is confined to “background.” Tuesdays are special because the Bob Bradford 16-piece band is having a season in the main bar. An extra $1 goes on the menu because all diners then have entry to the band—for which anyone else will pay a cover charge of $1.50. Lunch on all days costs $3.25. It is choice of four courses. The wine list runs from imported champagne to local wine by the glass. All wines—sparkling, rose, still white, and still red—have imported and local choices. In most cases half bottles are available.