WERE YOU BORN IN A TENT

Wednesday 21 August 2013

THE STABLES OF COMO

Como House and Garden, Cnr of Williams Rd & Lechlade Ave, South Yarra

Visited: 30th July 2013

Design: An impressive entrance with the illusion of entering a private marquee in the bird cage area of the Melbourne Cup. Double full length glass doors in Hawthorn green (exterior) white (interior) add to the country club feel. There is a high reflection factor making it hard to see the interior until you are in the building. The handle is a modern stainless steel design that is smooth on the hand. I found that the door slightly jammed as I tried to open it, then did the buckle and shake as it released leaving me uncertain if the glass panel would not break. There was little resistance on the push and pull (once past the sticking issue). The hydraulic arm was slow on the close and only closed the door 3/4 of the way shut allowing a continual winter breeze to suck in until one of the staff had to walk over continually to close it (see photo). The door had a slight squeak but I found it pleasing to the ear.

Door resistance: 2

Closure mechanism: Hydraulic arm / slow

Draft: High

Squeak level: 3

Change return time: 10 sec

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PROFESSIONAL DOOR REVIEWER

Searching the world for the perfect door to eat behind.

First impressions are always important, especially for a restaurant or cafe. So many people are focusing on the food these days that I felt there was a hole in the reviews world. No one was looking at the most important thing, THE DOOR! Everyone complains when it is left open, death stares are exchange when the unsuspecting group of friends having a fun night enter the premises from the cold only to walk straight in and go straight to their table totally oblivious they have left the door wide open to allow an arctic strength gale force wind to cut through the previously warm interior. Like a scene from a western film where everyone in the premises stops what they are doing and cuts down the new comers with a deathly stare. Occasionally you will get the confident diner who gets up, walks across the restaurant and closes the door with a BANG! Just to let the new comers know they have done wrong and to NEVER, EVER DO IT AGAIN!!!!! This individual makes their way back to the table staring at the newcomers, just to make sure they got the message. The only problem is, is that 5 minutes later another group come in and do the same thing and he/she feels obliged to continually do this for the rest of the night.

Well hopefully this blog puts a light on the owners of these establishments and encourages them to lift their game and create doors that allow diners to sit and enjoy their meal, to give the diner an experience before they enter the building. It is also a thank you to the makers of quality doors who care about craftsmanship.

I have developed a scoring system based on,

DESIGN:

This is assessed by the materials the door is made from, whether the door is themed, cluttered or minimal and whether there is an element of surprise or not.

DOOR RESISTANCE: 1 to 5

1 = light push

5 = heavy push

CLOSURE MECHANISM: Manual, automatic or

hydraulic arm

DRAFT: Minimal, medium or high

SQUEAK LEVEL: 0 up to 5

0 = No squeak

5 = Ear piercing

Then the last assessment is the,

CHANGE RETURN TIME:

This is the amount of time it takes to get my change once I have given the waiter the money for the bill. Last impressions are always just as important as first.