NORTH CENTER — With its cups of coffee served on a silver platter, accompanied by a glass of water and cookie arranged just so, Julius Meinl oozes civility and Old World elegance.
Turns out, there's such a thing as being too classy.
Last week, the chain's Lincoln Avenue coffeehouse switched to fast casual service. The menu has also been pared down to allow for ease of ordering and a quicker turnaround by the kitchen, according to an employee.
Operations remain unchanged at Meinl's Southport shop.
The shift was prompted by customers' behavior patterns, the employee said.
Half of Meinl's patrons at the North Center location stop in solely for coffee, a type of transaction most other cafes and coffee shops complete at the cash register, not via a full-service wait staff, the employee said.
The fast-casual model has also been adopted by restaurants in the neighborhood, including Luella's Southern Kitchen.
Though Meinl, which was founded in Vienna in 1862, is willing to adapt with the times, there are certain traditions the company refuses to abandon.
Coffee may be ordered at a counter instead of at the table but it's still served on a silver platter, accompanied by a glass of water and a cookie, arranged just so.
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