Catherine F.
Yelp
Cafe Coyote is HUGE. So much space to bring your noisy, happy group of friends -- but there are still nooks and crannies to tuck away with your bestie for delicious margaritas and some surprisingly authentic Mexican menu choices. It's colorful, bright, filled with delicious aromas, and the tiny Abuelita making tortillas by hand was fascinating to watch -- she was so FAST! (She'd obviously been doing this much of her life. I wonder what she was thinking of? Her hands worked automatically, to free her thoughts for other things...)
Our server, Alejandro, was full of such understated youthful energy and goodwill it was a pleasure just to watch him. Also, apart from being friendly and courteous, he was really efficient, always at my elbow just when I wanted him, never hovering.
His Goatness and I split a bright, fresh, decent-sized order of ceviche, with all the delicate seafood marinated perfectly. Just exactly what needed to be in the dish; nothing else. The tortilla chips were hot, fresh, endless, and came with plenty of mild salsa.
The spicy watermelon margarita was irresistible -- living in the midwest, all I can find are margaritas that are made with disgusting schlocky sweet and sour, made with high fructose corn syrup, unless I make margaritas at home. Here, the watermelon juice and lime juice were obviously fresh, the pour was balanced (not too heavy, not too light), and the tajin rim was generous, served in Mexican hand-blown glasses. I felt like we'd finally arrived back on my native soil.
While there were some fantastic offerings on the menu, including a lot of dishes I have a hard time finding in the midwest, I wanted simple comfort food -- fish tacos. And they did them perfectly: tender fresh local fish, fresh shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, a squeeze of lime and a light, fresh crema, on handmade hot corn tortillas. I was able to taste and appreciate the flavors of all the ingredients, and savor the way they melded. Sometimes simple food, done right, is the way to go.
His Goatness tried multiple varieties of tacos, all of which he devoured with gusto and pronounced delicious.
While the restaurant is pricey, the food, service, and ambience were worth the cost. This was a great launching point for a stroll around Old Town, as well. Remember, Old Town goes pretty quiet after dark, so leave yourself plenty of time to explore, or stroll first then end your day at Cafe Coyote.