By Shea Miller
Pull open the twisted wrought iron handles, walk across the echoing wood floor, glance at a mural of Ghandi, listen to Coldplay, ponder the essence of life and then order a burrito.
Local restaurant Guru''s does not only serve an eclectic mix of food to its customers, but unusual artwork and a distinctive atmosphere as well.
'People eat with their eyes before they eat with their mouths,' restaurant manager J Sherman said.
The effort to serve up a different vibe is one of the aims Guru''s wants to bring to its customers. Sherman said he thinks the majority of restaurants are all the same. The layout, seating and d?cor all look like cookie-cutter models of each other, he said.
'When a person walks into Applebee''s it does not feel much different than TGI Friday''s,' Sherman said.
However, at Guru''s, customers have more to explore. Sherman said he enjoys seeing customers look at the art and not just the menu. And even those without an artist''s eye can appreciate the restaurant''s unique character.
'I''m not exactly the artsy type,' said Jeff Hickerson, a frequent customer of Guru''s. 'But I really like the ambience this place has. There is so much to look at.'
Hickerson said it is not every day that a restaurant has shelves filled with books and an area set aside for reading and contemplation.
The art-food-mix at the restaurant is meant to embody the overall concept of the restaurant.
'It''s a fusion restaurant to begin with,' manager Hiro Tagai said. 'We combine different kinds of food, and it''s sort of the symbol of the restaurant.'
Guru''s first opened in 1999 but closed down for a year before reopening in January 2005 with new ownership and a new menu. Since the makeover, Tagai said customers have been receptive to the changes. Not only does the art contribute to an enjoyable atmosphere for customers, but employees enjoy it too.
'The environment is laidback and I definitely think the murals and different artwork is a part of that,' employee Luis Sandoval said.
The restaurant adds to its unique and eclectic vibe by featuring works of local artists. And if customers like the art, they can buy it.
One piece on display is a kinetic sculpture titled 'Solar' that hangs from the ceiling with sphere-like shapes that orbit around a central axis. Andrew Smith, the local sculptor who created it, said he wants to engage people through the movement in the sculpture.
'I like to incorporate moving elements into my sculptures, something that will draw people in and make them wonder how it works,' Smith said. 'I want to encourage people to step into a new frame of mind where they can see forms and shapes in places they normally wouldn''t.'
Restaurant manager Sherman said he wants to continue to display local artists'' work and hopes that it becomes a bigger part of Guru''s in the future.
Guru''s is located on 45 E. Center St. in Provo. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Guru''s is not open Sundays.
(For comments, e-mail Shea Miller at sheamlr@byu.net)