WERE YOU BORN IN A TENT

Friday 28 November 2014

RIPE CAFE

376 Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd, Sassafras

Visited: 18th October 2014

Design: Back in Victoria and I come across this charming old wooden door at a little cafe in the Dandenongs. Almost an olive green in colour, the two panels complimented the weatherboard paneling of the walls. Just looking at it, the feel of the entrance had a warm inviting country home feel to it. The day I arrived it was a crisp wintery morning and I knew just by the look of this entrance, once I entered through that door, I was entering into a world of comfort food and people who care about their produce. Sure enough on the push open, there was a beautiful squeak that felt like a cashmere blanket being placed around your shoulders as you sit in front of a fire. The squeak held you and guided you in to a room filled with jams and gourmet produce. The close was soft and left you wanting more. The doors were uncluttered with a simple, OPEN & PUSH sign above a fantastic brass Lockwood lock that matched the brass push panel below. The handle had some nice wear and behind the brass panel the rustic chipped paint from years of hand action, added to the visual historical layering. The text wasn't too offensive, considering the whole town is filled with Devonshire tea houses that push the OLDE WORLDE to the limits. Two aluminium kick panels at the base, didn't distract the eye, instead I found them to bring a lightness to the olive green. All in all, this was a pleasant experience.

Door resistance: 2

Closure mechanism: Hydraulic arm

Draft: Minimal

Squeak level: 3

Change return time: 42 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.