Party room coming in Palatine

From baby rattles and wedding bells to pianos and double bass guitars, one Palatine venue is set to cater to a whole new crowd.

The owners of Mint Julep Bistro downtown are getting ready to open the Mint Julep Room just four storefronts away at 117 W. State St.

The move is in response to a growing number of requests for baby and bridal showers - perfect for Mint Julep's noted afternoon tea service. While the bistro's biggest room can only accommodate 18 people, the new space, formerly home to Fancy Nancy's boutique, can seat about 44 people.

By day, the Mint Julep Room will offer light lunches. By night, it will be converted into a bar serving up light appetizers and live jazz and blues music.

Owner Dave Davenport described an upscale venue open to patrons 25 and older. The village council seemed excited about the idea, but held off on approving the live entertainment portion of the proposal. Heavier lunches and all dinners will remain at the bistro.

It's an unusual setup. Food will be prepared at the bistro and then transported in a special mobile unit to the new banquet facility. Councilman Mike Jezierski was concerned about soiled dishes being left out overnight, but Davenport responded that wouldn't be the case. The restaurant received a perfect score on its latest health inspection, he added.

Davenport is moving quickly on his latest venture. Electrical and plumbing work are already in progress and the Mint Julep Room could be operational in less than two weeks.