The homey cafe of a homey bed and breakfast

Back in 2009, when Jo Terrell and Catherine McDargh opened their bed and breakfast in a "little yellow house in Leander," they did not expect the breakfast side of their business to extend beyond guests.

They were already making breakfast for guests through Eudora's Cuisine (McDargh's catering company) every weekend, so in February 2011, they opened their breakfast cafe to the public.

"It's spread way beyond our expectations," Terrell said. "We have about 300 locals that come to eat at the breakfast cafe a month."

The B&B averages about 30 guests per month. The two queen-sized rooms downstairs and the two suites upstairs can only accommodate up to 12 people at any given time. The cafe has a capacity of 30, however, and Terrell and McDargh have no trouble filling the seats.

"We have some regulars who come every weekend, or even twice a weekend," Terrell said.

In addition to breakfast standards—French toast, biscuits, bacon and sausage—the menu offers specialties such as the Cortez Enchilada ($4.25) and the Spicy Omelette ($4.75). Every week features a different special, from breakfast tacos to migas.

"Everything is also fresh-cooked—no heat lamps—with as many locally grown, all-natural and organic products as we can find," Terrell said.

The cafe serves gluten-free pancakes and biscuits, sugar-free syrup, and vegetarian and vegan options. All the options, Terrell said, are tied to her desire to make people feel as welcome as possible. She attributes this to her upbringing.

"When I was small, my grandfather's house was a gathering place," Terrell said. "There was always a pot of coffee on and something to eat. It was a happy, friendly, warm, inviting kind of place. It occurred to me later that that's what we've created here. It was something that I had done totally subconsciously."

Crowd favorites

One of the crowd favorites, according to Jo Terrell, is the Spicy Omelette, which is an egg omelette with tomatoes, onions, cilantro and jalapeos served with a croissant or English muffin ($4.75).

Another crowd favorite, Terrell said, is the Cortez Enchilada, a crispy corn tortilla topped with refried beans, lettuce, cheese, fried egg, salsa and sour cream ($4.25).

The Cortez Enchilada is named for a city in Colorado and not the Spanish conquistador —a common misconception, Terrell said. The creator of this specific enchilada recipe is a friend of Terrell's who lives in Cortez, Colo.

Fresh fruit smoothies

The fruit smoothies, made with real fruit, include popular blends like the Rainforest (a mix of papaya, mango, pineapple, strawberries, orange juice and yogurt [$4.50]), the Bright Eyed & Bushy Tailed (strawberries, banana, peaches, blueberries and orange juice [$4.75]) and the Berry Berry Berry Tart (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, apple juice and yogurt [$5.50]).

Eclectic dcor

Every piece of furniture and shade of paint at the Gold Coat Inn was hand-picked to create a homey, comfortable and inviting atmosphere, according to Terrell. The sitting room, or "parlor," as Terrell calls it, is a mix of antiques and modern objects. For instance, a modern-day, wide-screen TV sits near an antique grandmother clock and a cow print chair. "Jokingly, we said we were bringing a little bit of South Austin to the North," Terrell said. "It's a bit of an Austin-weird feel."

Gold Coat Inn Breakfast Cafe, 2901 CR 175, Leander, 986-7430, www.goldcoatinn.com

Breakfast hours: Sat.–Sun., 8–11 a.m.