World Cafe reopens with new buffet style

Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan’s F&B director Das Krishnan, second from left, has reopened World Café last Aug. 21 with an altered buffet style. (Krizel Tuazon)

Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan has reopened World Café, offering diners the same buffet goodness with a slight alteration on how the food comes to them.

F&B director Das Krishnan said the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the food industry to evolve and the same has happened to buffets on island.

Now, instead of diners helping themselves to the smorgasbord, they allow waitstaff to serve it to them by merely pointing at the food displayed in four stations around World Café.

“The new concept is not much of a change but this time we are managing the buffet style. [It’s now] managed by the service staff and the crew. This is a bit extra kind of service, so that customers will not touch any of the food. Most staff are working all around,” said Krishnan.

Under the new setup, the buffet is divided into four stations—appetizer, main course, action station, and dessert and salad.

Under the new setup, the World Café’s buffet is divided into four stations—appetizer, main course, action station, and dessert and salad. (Krizel Tuazon)

Krishnan said World Café’s reopening sort of had a trial run starting last Aug. 21 and officially reopened last Thursday, Aug. 28.

“I had a dry run last week Thursday to Sunday, and last Thursday was my official opening. It was quite successful because there was no advertisement. However, we already had about 80 people come in for Sunday brunch.”

Krishnan said World Café also instituted safeguards to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, including temperature checks and hand sanitizers at the door, directional and social distancing makers around the restaurant, and both customers and staff are required to wear facemasks, save for when the former is eating.

“I have to understand a customer’s point of view. First thing is safety. This is very important, social distancing and still convenient for them to serve themselves and seated comfortably. I want them to have a new experience after COVID-19 and also I want the residents of the CNMI to feel comfortable and safe,” said Krishnan.

Diners wait for their orders at one of the teppanyaki statios. (Krizel Tuazon)

World Café for now is open only from Thursday to Sunday. Lunch buffet for regular days costs $19.99 per person and Sunday brunch is only $30 per person that includes a pool pass with free use of towels. Customers are able to use the pool from 1pm to 5pm.

As far as theme goes, Thursday is teppanyaki, Friday is Pacific Rim, Saturday is TexMex, and Sunday is the usual Sunday brunch where World Café staff pull out all the stops.

World Café’s opening seems to delight its loyal diners. “I am glad the restaurant is open again. With the new concept I am fine with it. It looks safe to me and I would come back to eat again with my family,” one happy customer quipped.

World Café is open for brunch from 11am to 1:30pm, Thursday-Sunday. For reservations, call 234-6412. (Chevy Alipio)