Cafe Nordt Upstairs Triangle Centre enr Cashel and Colombo Streets Phone 792-949

Press, 29 June 1983, Page 24

Cafe Nordt Upstairs Triangle Centre enr Cashel and Colombo Streets Phone 792-949

(By JOHN BROOKS) Buck Rogers would feel at home in the Cafe Nordt. It looks like something out of the twenty-first century, because it is all whites, blacks and chrome, futuristically streamlined and antiseptically clean in appearance. In addition, it is up a floor in the Triangle, which means that the outer walls are plate glass from floor to ceiling, revealing giant

spheres which take the outer space concept further. With its black and white lino tiles, black topped tables, white chairs and grey cushions, the cafe is a patissiere with a definite Parisian flavour. It even had a genuine Frenchwoman among its upmarket clientele on the day “The Press” invasion took place. There were two chic young women reporters at one table, and a senior male

reporter of conservative tastes dallied in the doorway for a second or two before moving on. It is a place to go if you want to observe the passing parade in the plaza below — or be seen by those passers-by. It could be embarrassing, of course, if you are wearing a kilt. The tables are a little on the small side, but that can be an advantage if you are planning an intimate luncheon with Madam X. However, if you are knee-cap-to-kneecap with the family bank manager, and he is bent on discussing your stagnating overdraft you will find the Cafe Nordt to be pleasantly and arrestingly- distracting. Alexander, our family banker, was soon entranced by the fashionable young women with their pleated skirts and slinky boots on their lunch hour shopping expeditions, and also by some anti-social behaviour by a quaintly-dressed old man. The overdraft matter slipped painlessly from the agenda. There was also plenty for Alexander to enthuse over from the fare. The Nordt offers a selection of tasty salads, cold meats, salami and cheese, with French bread and dressings. Then follows the pride of the patissiere, the gateau, the petite bonbons and the peach delights. The range of desserts is extensive and, like everything else on display, bewitches the palate. Coffee or tea? Ah, yes,, but what sort? The range is as wide as the view from the cafe. The coffee labels represent a geographical run-down on the African and South American continents, and the teas come

from Ceylon, India and China. There is no fear of supplies running out. On the floor behind the counter is a bulging jute sack bearing the legend, “Produce of Kenya.” The coffee is served in big plastic handles roughly equivalent to the West Coast schooner. They are of French design, and when the customer presses the plunger the percolation process begins. Quite an intriguing exercise in sophisticated lunch-time drinking, but extravagant, too, at $2 a handle. The style of serving the food is both a strength and weakness of the establishment. A very pleasant man concocts a meal at the customer’s bidding, and wields the tpngs with the infinite care of a brain surgeon. Each piece of meat and cheese is separated by a sheet of plastic film, and this is painstakingly removed as each item is selected. This is all very flattering for the diner in question but the thought is that those further back in the queue could become restless, or even leave. Also, as Alexander was quick to point out, the same pleasant man is the cashier as well as the master of ceremonies. The duties, he felt, should be clearly separated. But these are early days for the Cafe Nordt. It is among the newest arrivals in the Triangle, and it deserves to do well because of its high standards and its enterprise. And if it needs some financial backing for future extensions or increased imports, there is a certain banker who might be won over.