Katalina’s is “The Little Cafe with Lots of Local Goodness.”   Housed in a 100-year old gas station it is covered in grafitti art and serves breakfast, lunch and brunch.  The small corner building has a couple inside tables and some stools at a counter but most of the seating is outside on the pet-friendly patio.  (Someone actually had their leash-trained cat sitting on the planter box next to their table).  There are a couple of parking spaces right next to the building and a lot behind it.  Music was piped out onto the patio which is where we sat after ordering at the counter inside.  The menu hangs on a chalkboard above but they also have printed ones.  The food was brought to the table when ready.  I was intrigued by a number of things on their menu but the counter person said they are famous for their Pancake Balls which are trademarked and their breakfast tacos, so we got those two things.  Super friendly staff and a funky feel make this a place I suggest you try.  Who could resist a pancake ball?

Set-up

 

Food

The Award-Winning Breakfast Tacos are three local Koki’s white corn tortillas filled with North Market spices-infused chorizo, scrambled eggs, fresh tomatillo, avocado, queso fresco, cilantro, Snowville crema and pico de gallo.  Alongside is an Elote Mexican Cob Corn.  The tortillas were full of corn flavor and nicely tender.  There was a ton of stuff in them, none of which was spicy but they have hot sauces at the table and that perked these tacos right up.  They were very good but I wasn’t a fan of the cob corn.

 

The Original Pancake Balls are made with local Fowler’s Mill flour and have filling choices of Nutella, dulce de leche, and pumpkin-apple butter.  They are served with pure local maple syrup and thick-cut Original Sweet ‘N’ Spicy Bacon (or Beeler’s bacon).  I chose the first 2 fillings, which meant I got 4 of one and 3 of the other, and the spicy bacon.  The balls were really fun and tasty.  The outside got a good crisp that was good dipped in the maple syrup.  I actually liked the Nutella filling better than the dulce de leche but I would have preferred to have the syrup inside or a cube of butter and just enjoy the pancake flavor and texture.  The spicy bacon was fantastic.  Totally full of rich smoky flavor with great texture.  It’s a winner.