Now Serving Cafe Continues to Grow, Will Introduce Full-Service Breakfast

Now Serving owner Paul Link knows how to pull off a big feat, but he found home 16 years ago when he opened the small cafe and catering business in La Grange.

Link got his start in the catering business when he was 12. His family operated Link’s Catering, and he would take the train into the city from Palatine to help out.

He went on to open hotels in Chicago (the Fairmont Hotel and the Sheraton, which has the Midwest’s largest ballroom), join Navy Pier’s opening team to run food and beverage services there and operate concessions at the Fiesta Bowl.

“But i got tired of it,” he said. “I’d work 90 days without a day off.”

So he opened Now Serving Cafe & Catering has continued to apply his mentality of customer service, making it a neighborhood favorite perhaps most famous for its chicken caesar wraps.

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At the time Now Serving had just six seats and was mostly carryout, but it’s since expanded to offer lots more seating and the ability to host private parties. The menu has grown with the cafe, with new items always coming on board, such as bacon-wrapped dates, cajun shrimp and steak tacos.

And this summer, Link says the cafe will introduce a full-service, sit-down breakfast featuring special items like homemade french toast. He responded to some customers asking about the lack of breakfast options on the north side of the train tracks.

Link is very hands-on, always in and out of the cafe and talking to customers. He chose La Grange for the proximity to the expressways and the city for catering purposes but now lives in the area because he loves in so much.

“I love the people here,” he said. “Without the people there would be no business.”

He’s gotten involved with the community, too, catering lots of events and working in other areas, such as partnering with the Lyons Township transition students’ garden.

“It’s very beneficial to be involved with the community,” he said. “It helps to know your neighbors. That has such an intrinsic value.”