Tallahassee restaurant celebrates anniversary, ‘super loyal’ customers
Uptown Cafe and Catering is like an old friend to so many customers. It’s the place where everyone knows your name — and how you like your coffee.
The breakfast/lunch nook has been a local favorite for 40 years, still drawing generations of loyal fans for its classic fare and specialties like house-smoked, apricot-glazed salmon.
The restaurant opened in 1983, with Fred and Beth Tedio the owners for more than 30 of those years. It’s a family operation, with their son Nic serving as general manager.
When the pandemic hit, Fred had to close the dining room for nearly a year, offering takeout, catering, some groceries and even frozen dinners. The patio and inside dining rooms are open again, but not yet at full capacity due to staff shortages. The crowds keep coming. “One thing we’re blessed with is to have great, super loyal customers,” Nic said.
Uptown has a casual, neighborhood atmosphere with black-and-white checkered tables, local art on the walls and a covered patio.
The salmon is always a good choice and it’s available on a lot of menu items including our delicious hash. Pieces of the fish are mixed with kartoffel — roasted red potatoes, onions, red peppers and paprika, a recipe from Fred Tedio’s grandmother — along with mushrooms, feta and topped with two eggs (I subbed a bagel for toast).
The restaurant also serves traditional breakfast combos along with French toast, pancakes, omelets and the “Uptown Benny” with pesto scrambled eggs. Salads and sandwiches are popular on the lunch menu.
Uptown Cafe and Catering is at 1325 Miccosukee Road; 850-219-9800. Open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
A version of this post first ran in FloridaPolitics.
