New Cafes Open at Microsoft Headquarters in Redmond

Three newly remodeled cafes recently reopened on the Redmond, WA, campus of Microsoft Corp. after undergoing remodels overseen by Microsoft's Real Estate & Facilities unit and local design firm Mesher Shing McNutt. The newly renovated Redwest, Café 40 & Café 26, closed for remodeling since December, are part of Microsoft's Café Lifecycle strategy to continuously improve and enhance customer experience for company associates based on feedback gathered from focus groups.

“By creating Cafés that are compelling to customers, we enhance the RE&F value to Microsoft, and help to support overall employee productivity,” says Paul Egger, senior services director for Microsoft Real Estate & Facilities. “We also help to create a competitive differential for Microsoft that helps us to ‘attract, develop and keep’ the industry sectors most sought after talent.”
The new cafes offer customers...

• new internal and rotating local restaurant brands that enhance variety;

• new open-café designs that focus on the food with features like exhibition cooking, a Woodstone pizza oven, and redesigned servery areas;

• "chef cams" that will show live feeds on screens in the seating area of chefs cooking to create a more dynamic experience;

• Coke Freestyle ultra-customizable fountain beverage machines;

• free flavor-infused filtered water;

• a refreshed espresso station featuring a new Clover brewing system, loose leaf teas and frappuccinos;

• new marketing/communication/signage to enable customers to quickly and easily make their dining decisions;

• enhanced dining areas that feature more access to power, softer seating, and TV/gaming areas; and

•enhanced audio systems throughout the seating areas.
 
Here's a look at each of the new cafes and the MS Dining and Local Restaurant concepts they encompass…

Redwest


New MS Dining Concepts

• @Burger-a diner-style concept featuring old fashioned burgers, fries and shakes.

• Purple Basil-authentic Thai cuisine featuring specialty entrees, sides and soups.

• Ciao Fresca-classic Italian pasta served with traditional sauces and spices.

• Wok-features build-your-own stir-frys with choice of base, fresh vegetables and a selection of proteins.

• Napoli Pie-hand-tossed dough rolled and fired in front of customers and topped to order.


Rotating Local Restaurants:

• Ooba Tooba-an eclectic mix of fresh, flavorful, affordable meals .

• Persis-Northern Indian and Indo-Chinese cuisine, along with a select popular traditional dishes.

• What the Pho-fresh, quality, savory broths combined with fresh rice noodles, thinly sliced cuts of eye round steak, brisket and flank, book tripe, tendon, fresh squeezed lime, bean sprouts, sliced jalapenos and fragrant basil leaves.

• PYG-pasta dishes using fresh, quality ingredients and sauces utilized in an exhibition style preparation method.

• Thai Ginger-a menu with influences from all of Thailand’s geographical regions, utilizing an exhibition kitchen to engage with customers.

• Echo’s-traditional Northern Mexican cuisine, including all the traditional favorites and a few fresh alternatives.

Café 26


New MS Dining Concepts:

• Napoli Pie-hand-tossed dough rolled and fired in front of customers and either topped to order or served as a Chef Signature selection.

• @Burger-a diner-style concept featuring old fashioned burgers, fries and shakes.

• Asian Noodle Bar-features build-your-own pho with a fresh selection of veggies and protein.

• Purple Basil-authentic Thai cuisine featuring specialty entrees, sides and soups.

• Martin Yan-Asian dishes from the eponymous celebrity chef

• Ciao Fresca-classic Italian pasta served with traditional sauces and spices.

• Mac & Cheesyology-features a selection of signature Mac & Cheese entrees or the option to create your own.

• Early Bird Breakfast-high end breakfast favorites served for lunch with combos or a la carte entrees.

Rotating Local Restaurants:

• Persis-Northern Indian and Indo-Chinese cuisine, along with a select popular traditional dishes.

• PYG-pasta dishes using fresh, quality ingredients and sauces utilized in an exhibition style preparation method.

• Echo’s-traditional Northern Mexican cuisine, including all the traditional favorites and a few fresh alternatives.

Café 40


New MS Dining Concepts:

• @Burger-a diner-style concept featuring old fashioned burgers, fries and shakes.

• Mondo Pies-pizza pies piled high with fresh, hot ingredients.

• Purple Basil-authentic Thai cuisine featuring specialty entrees, sides and soups.

• Ciao Fresca-classic Italian pasta served with traditional sauces and spices.

• Wok-features build-your-own stir-frys with choice of base, fresh vegetables and a selection of proteins.

Rotating Local Restaurants:

• Kahlia-a wide variety of Indian curries, tandoori dishes and vegetarian dishes, each prepared with the right blends and spices.

• Watercress Bistro-Asian cuisine boasting traditional flavors and spices.

• Echo’s-traditional Northern Mexican cuisine, including all the traditional favorites and a few fresh alternatives.