Due to a morning appointment I found myself on the East Side of Tallahassee in need of some breakfast. I decided to check out Catalina Cafe.  It is located in a plaza on Capital Circle SE across the street from Sonny's and Sam's Club.  There were a number of cars in the lot and I snagged one fronting the street.  Groggily I walked to the front door as my brain screamed for its morning fix of caffeine.

Opening the door the non-descriptiveness of the strip mall melted away.  Corrugated metal surrounded the coffee bar/counter where orders were placed.  The walls were a dark pewter with the exception of one at the back.  It was bright orange and painted with the shop's logo.  Stained concrete floors added to the spaces modern funky feel.

I approached the counter and asked for a large cup of their strongest coffee.  The girl behind the counter recommended their french roast and I happily grabbed the steaming cup and inhaled.  It was rich and nutty.  To go with the coffee I ordered a turkey, cheese and egg bagel sandwich.  As I completed my order I noticed the long line of people behind me.  The lone clerk was going to have her hands full, and I wondered how she would manage.

All of the high top tables were full of young professionals with their Macbooks.  I envied their shaded spots as I took a seat at a table in the sunlit part of the cafe.  The large window facing east let in a massive amount of natural light.  I waited for my bagel sandwich and read a story written on a chalk board.  It incorporated all of the names of coffee shop's menu items, and I thought it was a clever decoration.

I finished the story and wondered about my bagel sandwich.  It took almost 20 minutes for it to appear on the coffee bar.  The sandwich sat in a paper lined red plastic basket. It contained a stack of smoked turkey and a scrambled egg.  It was nicely toasted and piping hot.  I took a bite.  The bagel was crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside.  The smokiness of the turkey was  front and center with the egg in the background. As I chewed I noticed noticed something was missing.  The cheese! I thought about asking the girl for a slice or two but she was slammed with customers.

Cataline Cafe was a cool little spot and I enjoyed hanging out.  The coffee was very good and the sandwich was tasty.  The only thing that could have made my visit more enjoyable was a slice or two of Swiss cheese and some quicker service.

Sweet Tea & Bourbon’s Rating:
Atmosphere: B+
Taste: B
Presentation: C
Service: B
Cleanliness: A
Price: $