You’ll have no trouble spotting the Grateful Heart Cafe, its earnest name stylishly scrolled on an eye-popping purple awning across the front of the Geneva coffeehouse and eatery.
But inside, you may struggle to find food or drink on tables. Patrons often down their purchases in minutes and linger for hours over a heated chess match, a raucous game of Parcheesi or a quiet conversation.
Does the owner discourage such shameless loitering? Not really. When Kate Lenz opened the Grateful Heart in June 1992, that homey, stay-a-while feeling is kind of what she had in mind and why she chose the cafe’s unique name.
“I wanted to sound optimistic,” Lenz said, in between waiting on a steady stream of customers on a warm Tuesday evening. “(It’s) the philosophy of looking more at what you’ve been given than things that are taken away.”
The Grateful Heart’s selection of hot and cold beverages is enough to make any coffee-lover smile. For 94 cents, customers get a cup (and a free refill) of the house blend or flavor of the day (both in regular or decaf) or the special bean of the day. Lenz and company also churn out four kinds of espresso and espresso floats, cappuccino, cafe latte, cafe au lait, hot tea and hot chocolate.
For early risers, the Grateful Heart serves bagels starting at 65 cents, assorted muffins for $1.50, cinnamon rolls, croissants and English scones. Lunch time brings soup and salad specials, along with menu mainstays like tuna salad, smoked turkey and chicken salad (the Grateful Heart throws walnuts and black olives in its version). The Bagelwich boasts Dijon dressing, cheese, tomato and cucumber atop a generous roll for $2.75.
Desserts include Mississippi Mud or Carrot Cake for $2.75, a selection of fresh-daily pastry specials and cheesecakes, frozen yogurt and large, individually wrapped cookies in favorite flavors like oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, chocolate chip and Heath Bar crunch for 80 cents each.
If you’re in a rush to get to work, the Grateful Heart can have your order ready and waiting; just call ahead.
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The Grateful Heart Cafe, 127 W. State St., Geneva, is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Call 708-232-1115.
