Columbus Café Serves Up Unique Pancake Experience
– A Columbus, Ohio, café is gaining national attention for its unconventional take on a breakfast classic. Katalina’s, a locally owned establishment, has been named the source of the “Best Pancake” in Ohio by the national publication Lovefood, according to a report from 614now.com.
The winning creation isn’t a traditional stack, but rather a “pancake ball” made with Fowler’s Mill flour and filled with either Nutella, Dulce de Leche, or Pumpkin-Apple Butter. These pancake balls are served with locally sourced maple syrup.
Katalina’s has been a local favorite since opening its first location in 2019, and now operates three cafés in the Columbus area: Victorian Village, Clintonville, and Bexley. The restaurant is known for its Latin-inspired diner atmosphere and commitment to using local, organic, and ethical ingredients.
Lovefood highlighted Katalina’s Original Pancake Balls as a “true favorite,” noting they’ve even been featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives. The publication’s assessment was based on “first-hand experience of their team, genuine user reviews, awards, and accolades.”
The restaurant, housed in a renovated 100-year-old gas station, offers breakfast, brunch, and lunch daily from 8 a.m. To 3 p.m. Beyond the pancake balls, Katalina’s menu features classic diner meals with a Latin twist.
Customers rave about the sweet and spicy bacon, which pairs well with the pancake balls. The restaurant also offers a bourbon-barrel aged maple syrup from Milligan’s, though some find its flavor a bit overpowering, according to Breakfast With Nick.
Katalina’s has a long history of recognition. The Wall Street Journal described the restaurant as offering “proof that farm-to-table doesn’t always equal sanctimony,” while The New York Post highlighted the pancake balls, noting that Katalina’s has served over 100,000 of them since 2009.
Only in Ohio praised Katalina’s as a place that has been “serving fantastic food in Victorian Village for decades.” The restaurant’s popularity often results in lines stretching around the block on weekends.
The restaurant’s success is attributed not only to its unique menu but also to its inviting atmosphere. Family Destinations Guide described the interior as having “authentic charm” with walls covered in scribbles and signatures from past customers, creating a space where “meals made memories worth immortalizing.”
Katalina’s, Too, opened in Clintonville in , expanding the reach of the popular breakfast spot.
