An “Even Newer” Mexican Restaurant!

As Laurie and I get out and about more often, (following winter and hopefully the worst of Covid-19), one change is that we are also dining out more frequently.  The fellow that keeps our lawn weed and disease free is quite the discerning diner as well.  One time when I called him about a problem, he answered his cell phone while partaking of small plates at a sidewalk café in Paris France…

In any case, when he recommends a new place to dine, we do tend to listen.  

This is Cataleya Cantina in Knoxville Tennessee.  While it is new to us, I’ve learned that it actually opened on July 1, 2021… It took over and remodeled a space located in the same small strip shopping center adjacent to a Maple Street Biscuit restaurant. 

We were especially interested in Cataleya Cantina as we’d been told that it offered Mexican food that was more authentic and much more creative than the typical Mexican restaurant here in East Tennessee.

FYI… the name Cataleya is a girl’s name.  It means “Cattley’s flower”.  Cataleya is the name of a genus of orchids that became a popular baby’s name after it was used for the character played by Zoe Saldana in the movie “Colombiana”.

As you can see above, the bar at Cataleya Cantina is well stocked with adult beverages.  There are plenty of televisions available for the sports fanatics’ viewing pleasure.  The bar made with wood, the wood on the ceiling, as well as the white booths plus the colorful hand-painted murals from Mexico really soften the look and feel of this restaurant.  In my view, they have created a warm yet edgy industrial look.  It isn’t the sterile environment that many restaurants are offering but it still has a ‘current’ feel.

Cataleya Cantina has a huge drink menu.  Laurie ordered one of their Margaritas and she really liked it. ($10.00) Since I’m generally but not always avoiding alcohol, I went for water with lemon.  Of course the drinks came with corn chips and salsa.  As the salsa was fairly bland, I requested some heat.  Miriam delivered that small container of orange brown colored sauce, warning me to use it with caution as it was really spicy hot!  She was right and we just stirred a little of it into the house salsa mix.  The result was perfect salsa…for us at least.  

For an appetizer we ordered the Shrimp Momias…shrimps stuffed with chorizo and cheese, wrapped in bacon, then fried and drizzled with house chipotle dip. ($11.25) The 5 shrimp were large and cooked perfectly.  The combination of flavors worked well…with just enough spice to make them stand out!  This was a great start for our meal…

Other appetizers included fresh oysters, Esquite (street tacos), Coliflor Frito (deep fried cauliflower with chipotle sauce, and Shrimp de Ceviche.

Laurie wanted something light for dinner so she chose “La Sirenita”, grilled tilapia with lots of cut vegetables and some very flavorful rice. ($12.99)  She was very happy with her selection. 

There were other fish entrees as well as Gorditas, El Zorro Hurrache, Flautas, Tamales, Chicken Mole Enchiladas and more.  To view this restaurant’s imaginative menu, go to https://zmenu.com/cataleya-cantina-knoxville-online-menu/.  

My dinner entrée was an easy choice for me!  I love a good Fish Taco and Cataleya Cantina offers 3 tacos (shrimp or tilapia) with red cabbage, jicama and a creamy salsa for $12.00.  I chose the fried tilapia and happily the tacos were excellent!

Service was very attentive and both server and manager were very helpful.  The various items we ordered were visually attractive, something that you don’t often see in the local Mexican restaurants.  We will definitely return soon to try other menu items.

Cataleya Cantina is located at 9314 Kingston Pike (US Hwy 11) in Knoxville Tennessee.  They are open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.  Phone: 865-951-0419.  This restaurant is on Facebook but the information listed is minimal.  There are a lot of on-line photos of this restaurant’s food offerings. 

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them…

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave