Great Escape: Great Food and Outdoor Seating at Uptown Café

Now that the weather has – finally – warmed up, outdoor seating along with great food and coffee can be enjoyed at the , 51 W. Wilson St. 

Located in the heart of downtown Palatine steps away from the railroad tracks, the café offers made to order breakfast and lunch sandwiches and salads for those who want to stay a while or are looking for a quick bite to eat.

“We set it up to be a level or two above the normal fast food sandwich shop, while keeping prices reasonable,” said Norma Hipchen, owner of Uptown Café.

Sandwiches and salads are made fresh to order, and Hipchen says if customers want to make any changes to the menu, the staff is happy to accommodate.

Gourmet coffee choices on the menu include espresso, cappuccino, latte’s and mocha’s. 

“It’s a great place to unwind with a good cup of coffee in a bright atmosphere inside, or enjoy the weather and grab a seat outside,” Hipchen said.

Hipchen also has owned Norma’s Coffee Corner at 189 W. Northwest Highway for the last 11 years, which offers pastries and breakfast sandwiches along with a variety of coffee drinks.  

“Everything on the menu is always great, and the service is top notch,” said Lorraine Reid, a patron of both the Uptown Café and .

Uptown Café will be open on Sundays starting on May 15 because of customer demand.  

A special breakfast menu will now be offered on Sunday in addition to Saturdays until 11:30a.m., which includes breakfast burritos. Hipchen says they have been a big hit with customers.   

“You can sit back and watch the train go by or just observe the downtown area in a comfortable place with good food and coffee,” Hipchen said.

Business hours are Monday through Thursday from 6:30 a.m. until 8 p.m., Fridays from 6:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.

The new Sunday hours will run from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.

For more information, call the Uptown Café at 847-991-8215.