WERE YOU BORN IN A TENT

Tuesday 8 April 2014

PEARL OYSTER

114 Miller St, Preston

Visited: 7th March 2014

Design: The golden lacquered timber holding the rope screen works well against the white chipped timber frame. I love the rope screen so much better than the usual plastic stripping found in most cafes, it gave it a tropical feel. The recycled car tyre mat found at most corner stores added the final touch to this scene of dreamy summer afternoons. I found this entry had a light airy happiness to it. It felt like I was looking at a scene still from an animated film. The oriental font of the cafe sign and the Tin Tin related illustrated menu conjured up memories of Kung Fu halls and romantic ideals of far off mysterious lands that I would read about as a kid. This door created a nostalgic pleasure in me, like the passing scent of a stranger that reminds you of your kindergarten teachers perfume. The natural references of the slate wall panels at the base of each window bring a nice touch to what would be a standard shop front. The stainless steel capping at the base of the windows and across the step create a brilliant visual divide between materials. Once through the rope screen you enter through the well worn wooden red framed door with a central glass panel. There was an almost orchestral squeak to the door on the full swing to open and the close. A loud slight bang at the end of the close upset the flow of the close. There was a nice jingle as the OPEN/CLOSE disc on the window clanged slightly against the glass. One unusual touch to the empty glass window was a small sticker in the top right that featured a fairy with a fly's head. Interesting. The door handle was the old stainless steel ball handle which complemented the red door nicely.

Door resistance: 2

Closure mechanism: Hydraulic arm

Draft: Minimal

Squeak level: 3

Change return time: 52 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.