the service was so quick, my server Kyla was very sweet and outgoing. the food and environment was great as always, cant wait to come back

Came here for the first time on Saturday at 5pm for an early dinner. They have two outdoor seating areas in the front and back- we sat in back with a cute view of the pool that belongs to the very aesthetic apartment building. I also appreciate that there are dedicated spots in the garage manned by a real person for parking. Happy hours runs EVERY DAY- including saturday! SCORE! That's 50% off all appetizers and drinks are marked down like 30%. We got the guacamole, which was good. I wish it came with more chips and also they didnt tell us to mix it, so allll the tomatoes and onions were in a layer on the bottom and we were halfway through before we realized. I would not pay the full price for the portion but for $8 it was good. For dinner by boyfriend got tacos, he loved them, and rice and black beans were so so fresh. I got the aguachiles and the nachos (both $8 on HH) and they were DELICIOUS. The shrimp especially was so tasty and everything just tasted so so fresh. Plus, the presentation was stunning on every plate. So colorful and laid out to be visually appealing. Our server was delightful. I will absolutely be back for HH to try every appetizer! Over all, 3 drinks, a dinner, and 3 appetizers ran us just under $90 with tax and tip. I will take it! read more

My spouse and I had a long day traveling and decided to give Santa Catarina a try as a late lunch/early dinner meal. We started with plain chips and salsa which tasted alright. My spouse had three beef enchiladas with a red sauce and a large side of guacamole. I had three shrimp enchiladas with white cheese sauce and sour cream. When I asked for lemon for my water they gave me lime wedges which didn't sit right with me. My spouse asked for a water refill and the water was warm. Other than that the meal was pleasant. read more

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Quesadillas were very sad, no flavor and very bare bones basic. The starters were good, we liked the elote and mole chicken. The queso fundito was .. not queso fundito, it was just cheese that quickly congealed. The main courses were very mid. I suppose this is a fine place to go for *happy hour*, very good deals during those hours, but much harder to justify not during HH. I wouldn't return, this made me feel ick and kinda turned me off of mexican food for a while. Also the location being inside a residential apartment building just feels strange to me. Oh and also we had waitstaff come over repeating the same thing on several occasions, so the communication could use some work but they were nice!! read more

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Sacred space for the girls to hang out and why I haven't reviewed beats me. Seated without wait on a Thursday night. Healthy choices include Fajita meat and lots of other vegetarian choices if you are vegetarian. (I needed high protein meals everyday but I'm not vegetarian) good drinks. Recommended for authentic Hispanic food! read more

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Santa Catarina is located on the bottom floor of an apartment complex on Manor Rd, sandwiched between the train tracks and Alexander Ave. Parking can be obtained on the street, or below the complex in the garage. If parking in the garage, the elevator takes you up to the lobby and the interior courtyard area, towards the back entrance of Santa Catarina. The two times we've been here have been pretty pleasant, not too busy around dinner time. Reservations can be made on OpenTable. They indicate that their agua frescas are sweetened with agave. We ordered a watermelon Agua fresca. It came in a large jug. Also ordered were their Chile Relleno de Huitlacoche, and Camarones Veracruzana. Both were satisfying enough. On a second visit there, we opted for their Totopos Catarina topped with chicken, as well as their Cochinita Pibil, and Enmoladas de Pollo. Their nachos (Totopos Catarina) were nice a savory. Their Cochinita Pibil I think I could pass on. It was more on the plain side. Besides, their corn tortillas have a very odd texture. They are weirdly stretchy, more chewy than airy, and strangely way too smooth. Their chicken enchiladas with mole were succulent. They use dark meat. We probably come here periodically; we haven't tried their desserts yet. read more

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A friend picked Santa Catarina for her birthday dinner last Friday. There were 9 of us at a long table/booth. The server did a great job taking our orders and drinks while also keeping our bills separate which made closing out so much easier! I enjoyed my espresso martini and sopas with carnitas appetizer. Because there were chips, salsa, and other apps, I ended up being fuller than I thought I would be and was able to take home some leftovers. They brought a birthday flan for the birthday gal that was a unique texture and different than most flans I've had, but it was still nice. The restaurant is well decorated with a welcoming feeling. And a huge plus is they have a free parking garage nearby that I randomly discovered as I was looking for a spot so that saved time especially after dealing with traffic getting there around 6:30 pm. I look forward to going back again and trying some other items! read more

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Ambiente tranquilo, comida rica, y buena música!! The food and conversation was so good I forgot to take pictures!! We had the ceviche and beef fajitas, both delicious. I was worried the ceviche would be spicy (I can't tolerate) but it wasn't at all! They put just the right amount of pico and lime juice. The fajitas were sizzling and perfectly paired with black beans and sides. I loooove their cucumber agua fresca. Skipped the alcoholic drinks, but they look promising! Next time!! Oh, and no wait time! Went on a Thursday night around dinner time, big plus. read more

The chips and food was amazing. The happy hour is very unique. The Mexican Martina was so delicious and has a nice spicy after taste. Are waiter was really incredible and nice. The place was also very clean and nice. read more

This place was amazing and back patio was so nice to sit in. Ceviche was absolutely wonderful to start out with. La Puerta Rosa and Catarina Mule cocktails were delicious and refreshing. Pineapple mint agua fresca drink was out of this world. SO refreshing and light, made with agave NOT sugar. DeCarne chicken tacos and En Nogada were top notch, filled with so much flavor. The rice here is perfection. Such a good time, great staff. read more

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Santa Catarina was such a good time. We went there for happy hour and every single item on their appetizer was half off. Yes you heard that right half off. And their menu isn't like other places where you have limited options. There were so many options to choose from and I was overwhelmed with what I should pick. Every single thing we ordered ended up being absolutely amazing. Our servers were top-notch. And took care of us throughout the night. Their ambience is so cute. They have an outside patio that overlooks the building pool. I would totally go here with a large group and enjoy a happy hour. It's also the perfect location because it's centrally located. read more

Santa Catarina - Guac, street corn, ceviche, agua Fresca - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Stopped by for a happy hour and I have to say this food tasted soooo fresh! Starting with their salsa and chips-delicious and spicy. For happy hour these prices were also amazing. Standouts were the quesadilla and sopes for sure. read more

Santa Catarina - Quesadilla Sopes Ceviche - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

I've become a regular...and I'm not afraid to admit it. The new manager, Bianey, is extraordinarily sweet and the newly hired staff is fantastic (I'm talking about Joe and Joey!). I'm so happy to feel like family every time I come in. New favorites: 1) aguachile 2) gorditas 3) agua frescas (try pineapple & cucumber) I love this place so much and am so happy to be within walking distance from it! read more

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Great food, cool inner patio near the pool deck of the apartment, but the service was remarkably slow on a Saturday at 1pm. I would probably go back, but it wasn't necessarily something to write home about. read more

Santa Catarina - Mole enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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My husband and I decided to try Santa Catarina while in the area. My husband made a reservation in advance by calling ahead. We drove and parked in a parking garage and followed the signs to the restaurant. It's located on the first floor of an apartment building. It's nice and bright with a lot of seating and a lot of natural light from the windows. Upon entering we were met by a hostess/waitress. We told her we had a reservation but it didn't matter because they were not busy. She took us to our seats, gave us some menus and took our drink order. After a few minutes she came back with chips and salsa and took our order. She was a really good waitress and did an excellent job taking care of us. We started out our meal with tortilla chips and salsa. The tortilla chips were thin and crispy with a hint of salt. The salsa was really good and very addicting. We finished it quickly and asked for more. While eating chips and salsa we decided to order some flour tortillas to come with our main meal. The tortillas are made fresh and you can watch as they are being made. They came out nice and hot. Next we tried the Totopos Catarina appetizer which are nachos. The large tortilla chips come with refried beans, pico de gallo, avacado, sour cream, jalapeno sauce, red onion, and jalapenos. It comes with a choice of chicken, beef, or shrimp. We chose the chicken. The nachos were tasty. The tortilla chips were strong enough to hold all of the ingredients. All of the ingredients were fresh and you could taste the ingredients with every bite. For our main dish we ordered the Pablanas Enchiladas which are enchiladas covered in Pablano sauce. They come with a choice of chicken, beef, or cochinita. We chose chicken. The enchiladas were delicious. The corn tortillas were filled with a lot of chicken and the Pablano sauce was tasty. This meal came with a side of rice and black beans. The rice and beans had a hint of flavor. I love mixing them up and eating them with a flour tortilla. We liked the flour tortillas so much that we ordered a dozen of them to bring home. Overall it is a good Mexican restaurant to try. The atmosphere was nice and bright, the service was great, and the food was flavorful and delicious. read more

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If you want awesome Mexican food, this is it. My Carne Tampiqueña was great!!!! There is parking in the same building. The ambience is great too; playing cumbias read more

Not only was the food great but the service was top notch! I would recommend this place for parents and grandparents. It's very easy to hear you conversation and there was ample seating indoors and out. The manager was very attentive and took the time to get to know us and made our visit special. read more

Went out for dinner with a couple of friends and our first option didn't work out so we had to pivot quickly. Santa Catarina was close and also margaritas sounded like a good idea that evening. The Service - the service was excellent. I usually don't note service because it's somewhat expected but our server was really friendly and attentive and I appreciated it. Ambience - this restaurant was giving beachfront restaurant vibes, except inside an apartment complex. It was unique to say the least, I feel like there should have been a body of water nearby, to be honest. Ceviche - sizable portion of ceviche, pretty solid overall. They also provided some sturdier chips to go with the ceviche as opposed to the regular corn chips they had with salsa. Camarones Veracruziana - Shrimp, capers, olives, onions, on rice, pretty tasty overall. I liked the flavor combinations, but overall didn't find the dish particularly special. I would've liked something else with it, like a salad or a side of beans. read more

Santa Catarina - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

We really enjoyed Santa Catarina! The food was fresh, flavorful, and hit the spot. And the service was warm and attentive. Everything came out quickly and the portions were perfect -- ate some there and took some to-go! It's definitely a solid go-to when you're craving Mexican, I'd definitely go again. read more

Santa Catarina - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Really great service and staff. The food was mediocre, lacking flavor. Guac and Queso both weren't great. Second time here. First was for brunch months ago and that was much better read more

I stopped in for a drink and appetizer during Happy Hour. Complimentary chips and salsa are good. The margarita was very tasty, if not pricey for happy hour. The aguachile was a very generous portion for only $8. 10 shrimp on an appetizer is unheard of these days, especially at that price. I thought it was good but I prefer a green aguachile and this one was red. The hear was there, but the flavor wasn't as bright as I prefer. I also think it could use more avocado and fewer onions. I'll still be back because I think it's a great deal. Looking at the menu, the prices seem a little steep , but that has become the norm in Austin, especially on the East Side. I will probably return for lunch, which seems more reasonable. It's definitely a great deal for the happy hour apps. read more

Santa Catarina - House agave margarita. $11 during Happy Hour ($2 off cocktails). - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Because the patio faces a pool of a neighboring apartment building, this place has Mexican beach resort vibes that I have never experienced in Austin. I felt like I was on vacation on their patio. The chips and salsa were fresh and crispy, the margs were great, and we enjoyed both dishes. The server was very kind and attentive. Very generous portions. It's everything you want from a Mexican restaurant with a nice upscale vibe. The menu is interior food so lots of options you won't see around town. We will be back! read more

Santa Catarina is within walking distance from my apartment, so I find myself there often. The space is large and welcoming, with beautiful outdoor seating in both the front and back. When I'm not at the bar, I love sitting in the back patio--the sound of the water from the building across creates such a calm and relaxing atmosphere. This restaurant has, without a doubt, the best happy hour in the neighborhood. The staff--Diego, Brianna, and others--are always incredibly friendly and attentive, which makes every visit even better. My go-to order is the nachos, cheese enchiladas with ranchero sauce, and the mushroom tacos--all absolutely delicious. As for drinks, I always get the cucumber martini and the hibiscus martini. They're so fresh, smooth, and perfectly made every time. read more

We are out of towners but visit Austin often enough where we have tried most of the food trucks a couple of times. This is a newer or newish restaurant that is definitely worth a try. Service is 5 stars with everyone from the greeters to the bar staff all being great. Chips and salsa.. very good.. mole chicken enchiladas.. very tasty with some heat.. only reason I took off a star was this was a to go order and we didn't realize until we got back to our hotel that we were missing our orders of rice. Not the end of the world but a bummer. read more

Stopped by for lunch with the wife. The food was fantastic. Tastes very authentic and they have a great lunch menu. We will be back.

We wanted to like this place better after recently trying it and wanting something different than our usual haunts. The first thing that put us off were the acoustics--they're awful. Not only was the music way too loud but there was no attention given to soundproofing and the dine-in the room we were seated in was deafening. We did like the salsa that came out with our chips--love that they didn't shy away from the spice factor. Margs (frozen and rocks) were very good and our daughter's watermelon aqua fresca was amazing since it not overly sweetened. The queso, however, despite being tasty was way too runny, and the guac was just odd. It was a bowl of unseasoned mashed avocado with no seasoning and a massive unripe tomato slice in the middle of it (??). For mains, the Pechuga A la Parrilla was really dry--the mole sauce could not save it and the whole thing went down chalky. We did appreciate the julienned veggies on the side though. We did like the Cochinita Pibil much better since the pork was quite juicy, and we do have to say that, overall, their pricing seems fair for what you get. Our server was very nice, but he was in the weeds the entire time that we were there and there was a really long gap between getting our drinks and putting in our food order. We also don't like that when he packed up our leftovers that things were just dumped in willy nilly--if you're not going be careful about it, then let us just do it ourselves! Our hostess was polite and it seems that they had a manager circulating, so we did notice and appreciate that. Overall, we're not likely to be back again because we have our usual Tex-Mex haunts, but we wish this business well and hope that, at the very least, they will address their noise issues because that can really drive customers away. read more

The food the service and the ambiance were all terrific. They have a great happy hour and the people that work there couldn't be nicer! We went on a Friday and surprised it wasn't busier. We will be going back Difficult to tell in the pictures online but they have nice patio seating. We opted to sit inside because it was hot-but inviting patio. read more

Delicious drinks and food! The owner came by to check on our experience and was very friendly. We will return!

Poetry on a Plate These are the Breakfast Enchiladas, my favorite Brunch menu item at Santa Catarina - Cherrywood, and a contender for my favorite breakfast plate overall! Enchiladas de pollo verde, coated in a smoky red salsa, and topped by perfectly cooked sunny side up egg, accompanied by frijoles negros as well as chunky red potatoes accentuated with black pepper and queso fresco. The enchiladas are K.I.L.L.E.R., and when drenched in the egg yolk, they just dance on your tastebuds. The frijoles and the potatoes add robustness to the plate, are cooked to perfection, and the slightly toasted cheese on the potatoes provides a unique spark of flavor to make the dish truly special. The plate comes with home made steaming fresh corn tortillas which are really handy to gather up all the deliciousness off the plate, as licking it off, no matter how tempering, would likely be frowned upon. As a healthy dessert, the order comes with freshly cut fruit, at the perfect ripeness. All is served in a clean and welcoming atmosphere, with attentive service, a friendly smile, and pleasant conversation. A true delight of a Sunday Brunch. Poetry on a Plate... and beyond. #GoodEats read more

Santa Catarina - Breast Enchiladas with to-order sunny side up eggs & home made corn tortillas. The plate comes with a cup of fresh fruit. - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Stopped by here on a whim on the way to a rock show on a Saturday evening. We were delighted that we gave this place a try. The decor was really hip, but functional. Although we were seated near a large group, it wasn't excessively loud, and the breeze block partition made our table feel private. The food was really good. Our favorite was the queso fundido (with homemade corn tortillas) and the sopa de poblano. The mole was really good, too. They have Negra Modelo on draft! Service was fantastic. Although we parked on a side street, there is a parking garage in the building. We will be back! The location is easy to bike to. read more

Great service from Kyla! the ambience was calm and not too loud while also enjoyable. nice selection of food without a giant menu!

I tried Santa Catarina for the first time this week and was pleasantly surprised by their 50% off appetizers happy hour. I tried their hibiscus mint vodka cocktail special which was very fresh and flavorful, fajitas quesadilla (the star of the show), and a massive shrimp cocktail which was decent and a really large portion. My fiancé tried the shredded pork sopes and really liked them but also agreed the fajitas quesadilla was the best thing we tried. Service was phenomenal and there was no wait to be seated or for the bill when requested, they even helped me package up my leftovers. Very nice ambience as well. This definitely won't be my last time eating here, overall very impressed! read more

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The service was great and they were very attentive to their customers my server was on point read more

Santa Catarina - Totopos Catarina - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

So glad this place finally came closer to Austin. It's location is perfect. The service is amazing. The food is so good. The drinks sooo good (great mex martini and margs). So kid friendly. Amazing happy hour. The best homemade tortillas. We had so much food here and the vibes are great. Parking is under in a garage. Not a ton of parking in there dedicated for the restaurant and it packs quickly. read more

A group of five of us had a fantastic meal. Great margaritas, and other cocktails as well, made fresh. Excellent authentic Mexican food. We are originally we're gonna go to go to Fonda San Miguel but it was booked so we found this option - in hindsight we were lucky that Fonda San Miguel was booked since we would've never tried this place otherwise and we will definitely be back. read more

A great restaurant that excelled from the start of the reservation to the time we left. We had a large party of 18 to celebrate a college graduation. They did not hesitate taking the reservation! We started with a round of cocktails. The custom beverages were served in festive glasses adding to our celebratory mood. Then the delicious food was arrived. It was beautifully presented. We will go back when it is not so busy. They had at least 3, maybe 4, large tables like ours. The servers were hustling and maintained there friendly dispositions. Oh and loved the ambiance! All around great restaurant! read more

Santa Catarina - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Delicious everything and great service. The happy hour is great and goes until 6:30 which is later than most

An absolutely wonderful restaurant with spectacular regional food, a great selection of classics along with some notable interior Mexico classics that the Austin area may not be familiar with yet. The drinks are spectacular and made with great care and using only quality ingredients. It's a great place for a date night, dinner with friends or family or any occasion. Highly recommended over the sea of Tex-Mex in the city. read more

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Came with a group of 5 and we all enjoyed our dining experience! First, the restaurant itself is elegant and well decorated. I believe it's the third location in the Austin area. Secondly, the food itself was delicious and presentation was top notch ie. food tasted as good as it looked. Lastly, the service was impeccable. From extra tortilla chips, tortillas, water refills, packing our to-go, checking in - it was exemplary. The valet escorting us to the restaurant was very appreciated too. Overall a great and well-rounded experience - highly recommend! read more

Had such a wonderful experience at Santa Catarina for my birthday! We had a large party of 18 and they did such a wonderful job accommodating us. From the reservation to the actual dinner, everything was so easy and great. All of the food and drinks were absolutely amazing and we almost tried the whole menu between all 18 of us. Several of my guests had dietary restrictions (vegan, vegetarian, gluten free) and were all able to find a dish that was amazing. The service was truly next level. The whole staff was so kind and accommodating to me and my guests and even split the bill between us which was quite the undertaking. I can't speak highly enough of Santa Catarina and I urge anyone looking for a Mexican restaurant to go, you won't be disappointed! You know it's a great place when someone who doesn't normally post reviews wants to shout this place out! read more

Santa Catarina - Camerones Empanizados - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas