With its citrine walls and bamboo decor, the Tahitian Noni Cafe in Provo is a sun-slashed oasis with a spectacular view of Mount Timpanogos. You can find it advertised on a billboard along I-15, but it doesn't list a specific address. That's because it is housed in the corporate headquarters of Tahitian Noni International near the Riverwoods, and zoning precludes even a restaurant sign in the front of the building.
The Tahitian Noni Cafe is an eating establishment for employees, but the public is invited and welcome. To get there, simply pass through the front entrance, walk past the Noni gift shop, and locate the cafe directly behind it. It's worth finding. The food is fresh, attractively presented and served quickly. The company goal is to deliver the meal within five minutes of ordering, and we barely got to our chairs when the food arrived.
The day begins with breakfast selections ranging from $2.95 to $4.95. Among others, offerings include a delightful mango pineapple blintz with crepes filled with vanilla cream cheese and topped with tropical fruit, macadamia nuts and pineapple syrup. Other options include fruit plates, a baked noni leaf omelet with ham, tomato and cheeses, and a power drink of tropical fruit, yogurt, pineapple juice, fibers and noni juice.
Lunch and dinner can begin with several appetizers. Black bean nachos are strictly for those who like spice and bite to their meals and include colorful tortilla chips with melted cheeses, a black bean salsa and zesty dipping sauces. Crab cakes are often considered peasant food, but there is nothing common about the Tahitian crab cakes, where three moist crab cakes are served with capers and tropical salsa. They are delicious and without the heaviness that often characterizes the dish. Also worthy of consideration are the chicken quesadillas with tangy chipotle lime sour cream for $5.95 and the smoked salmon mango sushi roll for $6.25.
The sandwiches range from $5.95 and $7.95 and provide interesting blends of fresh vegetables, crisp apples, shaves of meat and interesting sauces. Each comes with a choice of salad, soup or tortilla chips. Also featured are sweet fruit plates, salads rich with macadamia nuts and orange lemon dressings and creamy dressings with noni juice bases, and teriyaki chicken ($4.95) and sweet and sour shrimp bowls ($5.95)
Pizza lovers will find much to like. The crusts are soft and chewy and the toppings varied. The Polynesian pizza is a pleasant blend of ham, shrimp, pineapple, mozzarella, macadamia nuts and a lightly seasoned tomato sauce. The Pacific Rim pizza gets additional flavor from a peanut sauce.
Sweet-tooths can be satisfied with a series of fruit, crepe and vanilla cream concoctions drizzled with Tahitian noni premium reserve syrup. The syrup is full of flavor, which is about as close to noni juice as I want to get.
I sampled it, because it is the base from which this entire enterprise springs. I have heard that while the fruit juice is crammed with valuable nutrients and is an ancient island health drink, noni is an acquired taste. I suspect it will never be acquired in my lifetime. I heard a woman at a surrounding table compare it to nectar of gods, but I liken it to food for gags.
Nevertheless, other beverages that use noni in it are much more palatable, and the restaurant is so inviting, I feel as if I have discovered a retreat in the middle of the desert.
Tahitian Noni Cafe
Rating: Four stars
Where: 333 W. River Park Drive, Provo
How much: entrees range from $5.95-$7.95
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Charlene Winters is a freelance writer, former food editor and food judge who — when she's not in the kitchen — works as the director of communications and marketing for BYU alumni. Contact her at: charlene_winters@byu.edu.