This enduringly popular cafe has long been a happy crossroad for Folsom and its historic district, thanks to its imaginative yet comforting eats, bright, cheerful room with windows for walls and expansive patio. But it’s the food that drew everyone in the first place. Breakfasts, for instance, are inventive and satisfying, like the puff pastry tart with Gruyère, bacon and a sunny-side-up egg, and the baked goods—think addictive chocolate chip cookies and vegan apple walnut muffins—can heal the soul. Portions are big, but not too big, and just about everything that Karen’s offers manages to be both familiar and ingenious, not to mention tasty.