Cambridge’s Catalyst (300 Technology Sq., Kendall Square) is about to get a new sibling elsewhere in the neighborhood: Catalyst Cafe is slated to open this Thursday, February 9, at 75 Binney St. The new venue is chef/owner William Kovel’s vision of a European-style cafe, quickly serving up scratch-made, simple breakfast and lunch dishes that show off great ingredients, such as deli meats from Waltham-based Moody’s Delicatessen & Provisions. Catalyst alum Laura Molina is onboard as head chef.
On the menu: smoothies ($8), such as the Bananarama — banana, wheat germ, peanut butter soy milk; breakfast bowls ($8), such as chorizo hash — breakfast potatoes, chorizo, caramelized onion, Old Bay, arugula, fried egg; breakfast sandwiches ($8), such as the egg and cheese with bacon or sausage; lunch salads and bowls ($9; add $3 for chicken), such as the beet bowl — goat cheese, quinoa, fennel, orange segments; lunch sandwiches ($9), including a Reuben, ham & cheese, a burger, and more; and a daily soup. There are also various pastry items, such as croissants, sticky buns, and doughnuts, all made in-house.
To drink, Catalyst Cafe serves a range of hot and iced coffees and teas, as well as orange juice, Spindrift sodas, and lemonade.
Kovel intends for the menu to allow for customization and flexibility to meet various dietary needs; he follows a Paleo diet, and his wife has a gluten sensitivity, so a solid portion of the menu is gluten-free.
Because Catalyst Cafe is in such a bustling tech area, the restaurant offers an app for online ordering as well as portable device chargers for those dining in. Plus, catering is available to the many companies in the area — breakfast and lunch as well as snacks and coffee service.
Catalyst Cafe is open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Catalyst Cafe Coverage [EBOS]
• Catalyst Cafe [Official Site]
