Catrina's Bar And Grill in Chattanooga: Mexican Cooking with Full Bar Service

Catrina's Bar And Grill is a full-service Mexican restaurant in Chattanooga that combines traditional preparations with cocktails and beer, operating as a sit-down venue rather than quick-service counter operation. The restaurant anchors itself in standard Mexican-American fare: enchiladas, fajitas, carne asada, and chiles rellenos, with a bar program that extends beyond margaritas to include tequila-forward cocktails and Mexican beer on draft.

What Catrina's Actually Is

The space functions as a casual-to-moderate dining environment, seated and table-service focused, with a full bar counter. It is not a taqueria, food truck, or counter-order model. The kitchen produces plated entrées rather than grab-and-go options, and ordering involves a server. The venue targets diners who want to eat, drink, and stay for a meal rather than those seeking speed or portability.

Menu, Pricing, and Signature Dishes

Entrées on the standard menu range from $11 to $18 per item. Fajita platters (chicken, beef, or shrimp) land in the $14–$16 range and arrive sizzling, served family-style with warm tortillas and standard sides: beans, rice, pico de gallo, sour cream, and guacamole. Carne asada plates run toward the higher end ($17–$18). Enchiladas, chile rellenos, and chimis run $12–$14. Combination plates (typically three or four items) start around $13 and provide breadth for first-time or indecisive diners.

Margaritas run $6–$8 for house versions; top-shelf and flavored variants push toward $10–$11. Well drinks are $4–$5. Mexican beers (Modelo, Pacifico, Corona) cost $4–$5 for bottles; domestics are slightly less. The full bar means whiskey, vodka, and other spirits are available, not just tequila.

Confirm current pricing before your visit, as restaurant pricing adjusts seasonally and with ingredient costs.

How Catrina's Compares to Chattanooga's Other Mexican Options

Chattanooga has several Mexican restaurants across different formats. Comida, located downtown, operates as a full-service restaurant similar to Catrina's but skews toward higher price points (entrées $16–$22) and regional Mexican cuisine (Oaxacan, Yucatecan) rather than Mexican-American standards. Choose Comida if you want fine-dining presentation and regional specificity; choose Catrina's if you want classic preparations and a more casual price tier.

Taco-focused venues like Taquería Colosso prioritize counter service and takeout; they do not offer sit-down bar service or the same full-meal experience. If you want a quick taco or burrito, Taquería Colosso is faster and cheaper. If you want to sit, order drinks, and spend time at a table, Catrina's is the better fit.

Who It Suits and Who It Does Not

Catrina's works well for groups and families, since fajita platters and combination plates share easily and the table-service model accommodates requests and modifications. Happy-hour drinkers and post-work crowds find the bar accessible. Diners seeking vegetarian options will find them (cheese enchiladas, chiles rellenos vegetarian), though the menu is meat-forward.

It does not suit people needing very fast service, those with strict gluten-free requirements (cross-contamination is typical in traditional Mexican kitchens unless explicitly managed), or diners seeking avant-garde or molecular interpretations of Mexican food. The menu and pace are conventional.

What a First Visit Involves

You will be seated at a table or bar, handed a menu, and offered water and chips with salsa (complimentary and refilled). Ordering takes a standard restaurant format: decide between appetizers, entrées, sides, and drinks. Fajita platters require a protein choice and arrive smoking on a cast-iron skillet. Entrées come plated with rice and beans. Expect 45 minutes to an hour for a full meal from seat to check, longer during peak hours (Friday and Saturday evenings).

Hours, Location, and Logistics

Catrina's operates Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Verify these hours before visiting, as restaurant hours shift seasonally and may change with staffing. Parking is typically available in a shared lot or street parking, depending on the specific neighborhood address; confirm lot access when calling ahead.

Cash and card are both accepted. The bar stays open through regular hours; last-call protocols follow state law.

Why Catrina's Holds Its Place

For diners in Chattanooga seeking full-service Mexican dining at a moderate price, with a functioning bar and table service, Catrina's occupies the middle ground between high-end regional Mexican and quick counter service. It is the place to go when you want fajitas, a margarita, and time to sit.