N.D.’s Capitol Cafe gets facelift

BISMARCK, N.D. — A spacious, completely refurbished, cafeteria-style lunch room awaits legislators and visitors to the state legislature, which is about to go into session in Bismarck.

The Capitol Cafe is at the east end of the main corridor in North Dakota's skyscraper capitol building. With remodeling and redecorating this past year, it is far more inviting than before.

What used to be a rather dismal hallway approach has now become more appealing with new decor. The walls in the wide hallway have a look of marble.

And just inside the spacious, cafeteria-style cafe, there is a large new sandwich bar that appeals to many state employees and guests as well. On a late November visit, I ran across Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem with some of his family members. They were gathered around bar where they can create their own sandwich combinations with help of Lynette Lipp. Like others on the staff of the Capitol Cafe, she has been on the job a long time. In her case, it is 22 years.

For Stenehjem, the choice is often a ham and cheese combo. Representative Mark Sanford of Grand Forks is likely to choose a turkey sandwich.

Sometimes late in the afternoon, there are legislators hankering for popcorn. They find that, too, in the Capitol Cafe.

The crew at the cafe knows the customers and anticipates their choices.

There's a station where fries and burgers beckon. And there is a display of foods being offered to help customers make decisions. Food from the full dinner center is far more appealing when you see a plate with meatloaf, mashed potatoes and vegetables.

As the old saying goes, we eat with our eyes.

The five centers in the cafe are the deli, grill, marketplace, pizza and salad.

For me, it was far more inviting to pick