NETHERLANDS. HMSHost has opened Asian brasserie Kebaya at the heart of the new-look Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Lounge 2. At 676sq m and with 200 seats, it is the largest restaurant at the airport.
The menu features 24 dishes from Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Japan and China. A central kitchen is visible through glass walls, where chefs can be seen preparing the dishes.
HMSHost said that Kebaya offers “a new experience” through new technology. When diners enter the restaurant, they can browse the menu at touch-screen kiosks and when they sit down at their tables, they can choose using Samsung tablet devices. The application on the tablets has been customised and developed for HMSHost International and powered by QikServe. The QikServe system allows hospitality businesses to build mobile ordering and payment capabilities into their existing applications.
Brand specialist Uxus designed Kebaya, which is said to be inspired by the “vibrant outdoor energy of contemporary Asian dining venues”. The kitchen is animated with theatrical features such as a roasted duck showcase, steam basket towers, spice displays and chinaware shelves.
There is a variety of seating options from lounge and banquette areas to communal tables, a bar and Signature Rice Bar.
The name Kebaya is drawn from the traditional Southeast Asian dress made from layers of sheer and semi-transparent silk, worn in many countries in the region. The kebaya dress symbolises conviviality, hospitality and refined artistry, according to HMSHost. The name was chosen to reflect the brasserie’s pan-Asian identity.
Complementing this, regional influences appear in design details, furniture and materials. A copper and teak canopy inspired by regional architecture unites different seating areas and cuisine specialties. Bamboo pendant lights, table lanterns and outdoor-inspired seating with Southeast Asian details and regionally-themed upholstery add to the detail.
HMSHost International CEO Walter Seib said: “At Kebaya we have aimed to raise the guest experience to new heights and we are delighted to see that customers have wholeheartedly adopted our new approach of Asian cuisine combined with the newest technology. We offer our guests a completely new experience and the feedback we have experienced from both guests and staff has been overwhelmingly positive.”
*Kebaya QIKSERVE was highly commended in the recent Moodie Davitt Digital Awards, for Best In-Store Digital Execution
