Christchurch To Have New Store Restaurant

Press, Volume C, Issue 29502, 2 May 1961, Page 18

Christchurch To Have New Store Restaurant

Christchurch is to have a hew American-styie »elfserviee restaurant that will serve up to 700 persons between 12 noon and 2 pm. each day. It will be the first of its kind in this country and possibly the most modern in New Zealand or Australia.

It is being built on the first floor of Miller’s department store on Tuam street.

Fourteen persons a minute will be served on the cafeteria line and they will be able to choose anything from a simple plate of meat and vegetables to a five-course meal

Mr D. C. Marsden, who is manager of the new restaurant, is already planning and organising for opening day. The restaurant would aim to attract shoppers, office staffs and other persons working at that end of town, he said yesterday afternoon. “If they want to they will be able to start with a seafood cocktail, have an entree, a selection of joints or grills, a sweet, cheese and biscuits, and finish off with coffee.” Mr Marsden said that later he planned a grill bar so that persons wanting only a grill would not have to wait in line.

There will be room for 200 at a sitting in the restaurant, which will have movable screens so that sections can be screened off. “This will ensure no-one feels as though he is eating in a barn,” Mr Marsden said. Mr Marsden will have a staff of 15 to 20 and five of them will be cooks. The kitchen is divided into sections and each section will prepare Hie food to be served on the cafeteria line directly in front of it All the kitchen and servery equipment is stainless steel and has been made in Auckland by an Australian firm.

A special parquet floor is being laid in the restaurant by a team of Scottish tradesmen. Mr Marsden is hoping it will take harder punishment from stiletto heels than carpet Freshly roasted coffee will be delivered daily to the

restaurant and it will be prepared in a new-type coffee machine. Customers who prefer tea will have it served in two-cup pot*.

Infra-red lighting above serving trays on the cafeteria line will keep food hot until it is served.

"By handling large numbers of persons we will be able to serve meals quickly and inexpeneively,” Mr Marsden said.