Brunch at Catalyst

Kendall Square is fast becoming one of hottest dining destinations in the area.  With so many fantastic chefs flocking to new restaurants, it's hard not to want to rush out to Cambridge to experiance the newest places.  This past winter, I met a couple of girlfriends for dinner at Area 4 and a night cap at Catalyst, and from then on I was excited to head back to Catalyst for a full meal.  Nick's mom recently came to town and wanted to have brunch, and with all the great reviews Catalyst has been getting for their brunch menu, a trip to Kendall Square seemed like a great option.

When we arrived, I immediately noticed I was not the only one looking forward to their brunch - the traditionally weekend-empty Kendall Square had a pretty good Sunday rush!  Upon sitting down, our server went over some specials, one of which was a bellini that I naturally had to order.  To me, nothing says brunch like some bubbles!

Bellini

After looking over the menu a bit more, our group really could not resist the Skillet Cinnamon Coffee Cake with Hazelnut Crumble.  Anything that arrives in a cast iron skillet has promise of being delicious in my book and this did not disappoint.  The crumble on top was rich and buttery and the cake was surprisingly light underneath the dense crumble.  This is a definite must-order from Catalyst.

Skillet Coffee Cake

So Light and Delicious!

I decided on the Fried Egg Sandwich, which came with a fennel sausage patty, aged Cheddar, arugula and pickled onions.  This was a delicious, meaty, version of a breakfast sandwich - basically, a breakfast burger!  The sausage was thick and a good base for the rest of the components.  The pickled onions were slightly strong for my liking, but I am not a pickle lover (at all!).  This was definitely a brunch item to order when you are not planning on a big dinner!  The breakfast sandwich plate is completed by a serving of yummy home fries.

Breakfast Sandwich

For those in the mood for the traditional burger, Catalyst offers up a Bacon, Caramelized Onion, and Roasted Tomato burger on a Brioche Roll served with their own homemade ketchup, mustard and aioli.    This was another BIG plate of food.  The burger was cooked to order and had a bunch of tasty toppings.  The homemade ketchup was not my favorite, but I find it hard to top the taste of Heinz!

Catalyst Burger

Burger Toppings

Both Nick and his mother ordered a pulled pork dish served with a fried egg, biscuit, and an orange marmalade.  Both loved this dish - it was a surprisingly delicious, non-traditional offering.  The orange flavor was a bit too "orangey" for my tastes, but Nick loved the tangy bite it gave the dish.

Pulled Pork

Once again, I totally enjoyed my Catalyst experience.  The restaurant serves a great brunch with a menu full of traditional and non-traditional menu items that can satisfy any customer.  With Kendall Square offering up meals like this, it's no doubt that more people are flocking to this tech hot-spot!