Lobster at Coyote Cafe

Just because you're dining in New Mexico doesn't mean everything you eat will have a Mexican/New Mexican flavor profile. In fact, many Santa Fe restaurants offer a huge variety of options - including the legendary Coyote Cafe.

We tasted multiple dishes that were a feast for the eyes as well as our palates. Maine lobster with Vietnamese chutney was simultaneously gorgeous, tender, sweet and spicy. Chef/owner, Eric DiStefano, also served samples of elk marinated in Negro Modelo Beer with a side of garlic mashed potatoes; and a large ham tortelloni and a sherry mushroom sauce.

Dessert offered a trio of tastes. Pedro Jimenez sherry was the perfect sweet counterpoint to coconut ice cream and torto, a decadent round of chocolate almond and caramel layers between dark chocolate cake, covered with deep, dark chocolate ganache. The striking ambience has plenty of punched copper, natural light, and ribbon-like light fixtures that cast a warm glow across the contemporary space.

So next time you visit the Land of Enchantment, know that the culinary options are broad and creative, with something for every taste.