[addtoany]

Those who aren’t already familiar with Cafe Nordo would be forgiven for assuming it’s a place to grab a cup of coffee. But what they’re really serving up in the Pioneer Square space that was once home to Elliott Bay Book Company, is an immersive production where story, food and atmosphere work together to create a unique theatrical experience.

On the menu now through early June is “To Savor Tomorrow,” an engaging, laugh-out-loud spy spoof set aboard a Boeing 707 headed for Seattle just in time for the World’s Fair.

The fun-filled journey begins the moment you step inside—ahem, onboard—where the interior has been transformed into the cabin of a retro Stratocruiser, complete with a cocktail bar in the aft and twin rows of seating flanking the aisle where much of the action takes place.

After showing you to your seat, the “stewardesses” (the play’s cast members) bring out the first of the evening’s courses, a pimiento cheese ball paired with a champagne cocktail. Once everyone’s settled in, it’s time for the story to take off. The plot centers around three spies—the bumbling, clueless American (played by Mark Siano), the Russian femme-fatale (Opal Peachey) and the intimidating Chinese operative (Sara Porkalob)—all masquerading as crew members. As the plane cruises toward its final destination, the three fight for control of a briefcase that holds the mysterious fate of the nation. The farcical story is a little reminiscent of an Austin Powers film, but happily not as corny or reliant on gimmick. The humor pokes fun at the not-so-subtle stereotypes—Porkalob stole the show for me, switching between a severe dragon lady and her giggly, submissive alter ego—and pervasive sexism of the era, as well as the now laughably idealistic vision of what the future would look like.

The show also took a few clever stabs at the cinema of the era: A scene that was a hilarious take on badly dubbed kung fu films and another with a silly slow-mo fight had the audience in stitches.

With the audience passengers distracted by the story, it would be easy to skimp on the quality of the dinner aspect of this dinner theater.

Café Nordo does not.

Each course—served by the cast in between acts—was delicious and carried on the play’s theme. Russian buckwheat blinis with beet caviar, Chinese glass noodles with Dungeness crab, and good ol’ American roast beef and potatoes. All perfectly executed and paired with a craft cocktail that nodded to the era and relevant culture. The dinner alone would’ve made for a fantastic evening.

“To Savor Tomorrow,” runs Thursday through Sunday evenings through June 5. The rest of the season will include such diverse works as “Twister Beach,” described as “a new musical about summer love, slushy drinks, and man-eating sharks” and Tennessee William’s “The Glass Menagerie” reimagined as a dinner party. I can’t wait to see what this creative company cooks up next.

Café Nordo Pioneer Square, 109 S Main St.; cafenordo.com