We walked into Coyote Grille for the first time in several years. New management, new menu and a brand new experience. The food was fresh, flavorful and unique. Bold flavors and great presentation. Loved the service, the wine list, the patio and meeting the chef, Chris. His excitement and pride was contagious. We just found our new spot in Fairfax City!
Jennifer H.
Very surprised today to go in for a burrito and find that the restaurant is under new management and has redone the interior decor as well as a 100% different menu. The focus is now South American food, which was surprising but very tasty! Chef stopped by and said he is working either South American kitchen staff to make authentic inspired foods I had a Peruvian chicken salad - avocado dressing was spicy but perfect for my dish- and my friend had carnitas tacos. Both were good! Am curious to try more off the new menu
Nish D.
Amazing food, drinks, and atmosphere! Not your typical South American cuisine, many dishes with ingredients I've never tried before, certainly makes you curious to step out of your comfort zone!
CY Chang
Delicious food and friendly service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
??? Tarlton
Passed by when I was in town moving through state (ugh). Was hoping from the reviews I'd be getting some at least fresh food and tangy sauces. The staff were nice, but apologetic when the food I got was clearly day old, stale, under seasoned in some parts and over seasoned in others. Not only that but when I went to the bathroom there was mold on the toilets, wall, and floor, and what looked to be rat droppings under my table (as well as crumbs, hair, and dust). I am so disappointed I ate here, and honestly this place should probably be shut down.Parking: its fine.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chips and Salsa
Des Campbell
HORRIBLE service, they mocked me the whole time i ate & called me a
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
nia gordon
the atmosphere sucks and quite bothersome to enjoy any meal here. 1 star. terrible service as well!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Teresa Jensen
The presentation on the food was nice but not much flavor.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
Susan D.
My friend and I totally enjoyed our first meal at this new incarnation of Coyote Grille. The place was packed at Friday/7 pm and the noise level was such that we chose to eat on the porch/patio at a high-top table (this area is heated and very comfortable and quiet). My friend was pleased with Manny's Chicken and I had the snapper/corn flan/baby potato/fried spinach. All quite good (the crispy spinach is a perfect garnish -- I could have eaten a lot more of that!) The portion size is fine BUT I do agree with others who say the price for most everything is a bit high for Fairfax City. The service was excellent -- everyone was smiling and attentive even though it was very busy. AND they comped us a lovely slice of Tres Leches cake because it was my friend's birthday. I will eat there again.
Jack
The wait staff was fine and no issues. They were kind and took off a percentage of the meal and provided a dessert. However, the main issue was the quality of the food. The Bolitas were slightly cold in the middle. The whole fried red snapper came out looking great, however, the inside was still a bit raw. They took it back and refried it which overcooked the open portion of the fish entirely with the closed side coming out fully cooked but tasteless. The squash and broccoli were steamed with the squash undercooked and difficult to pierce with a fork. The brusslesprouts were good. The silverware was uncomfortable to use and too skinny...they did not seem to fit the vibe. Hopefully the fryer temps get sorted out.
I walked in having viewed the website thinking it was just under new management and the menu was the same. Boy was I wrong- but in a good way!Incredible food. Yea, it’s pricey, but you pay for what you get. The owner is one of the most incredible humans I’ve met- he really takes criticisms constructively and accommodated me and my two kids despite the fact I was unaware of the new fine dining situation..We loved it there. Sorry we ate at least three bites before taking a picture of any of these items… but it was that good. Snapper-dope. Carnitas-dope.My daughter was obsessed with the churros- I thought they were a little doughy. I mean.. still great though.I’ve never had better service at a restaurant in Fairfax. I live walking distance so this will be a mama go to in the future. Thanks for the experience! Can’t wait to try happy hour ??
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Nish Dalal
Amazing food, drinks, and atmosphere! Not your typical South American cuisine, many dishes with ingredients I've never tried before, certainly makes you curious to step out of your comfort zone!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Steve Delahunty
New owners. Now a Cantina. Great Tapas and Mains and Sides. South American slant in food and wine too. Chris the chef is amazing. Large number of attentive wait staff. Great cocktails. Very much more refined interior and patio (lounge).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Diana L.
OVERALL RATING 3.5 The food was good but the portions were too small for the price. Would have been 4 stars but because we left hungry I had to knock it down to 3.5 stars. My boyfriend and I came to try out the new and improved Coyote Grill. We had not been to the former TexMex restaurant but heard that the new management was trying a fine dining concept. AMBIANCE: 5 stars The inside of the restaurant is nicely dressed and has that fine dining appeal. We chose to sit outside in the canopy and loved the romantic vibe. It was raining outside but the outdoor dining area was warm with heaters and cozy. You could hear the rain falling and it was really nice. There were also different layouts like low patio chair areas for hanging out with drinks, high tables, long tables for groups, and bar seating along the perimeter. The faux greenery also made it a cute space! SERVICE: 5 stars Staff was very friendly and one of the owners, Andy, walked us through the menu, gave us a bit of background about the new concept, and gave us suggestions which we appreciated. Since we sat outside by the bar, the service was a bit more relaxed which we didn't mind but if you're looking for more dinner service I'd recommend sitting inside instead. FOOD: 3.5/4 stars The menu at the new Coyote Grill has a modern South American flare. I noticed lots of Peruvian and Salvadorean dishes and there is a variety of different food & drinks. They have a happy hour menu (4-6pm) and also a specials menu as well. We ordered the ceviche appetizer, llama entree, pupusas, and honeycomb sopaipilla dessert. The scallop ceviche had a nice texture and with the mango made it light and fresh. Not fishy at all. Good sized scallops although this cost more than the pupusa entree! The pupusas had a modern spin to them and the chicken was cooked and seasoned well! Paired with the pickled veggies also made it taste light and clean, and the pupusas themselves had melty, stringy cheese inside! Yum! The llama was interesting, although not enough food to justify $35. The casing of the meat was kinda strange and it had chopped carrots with it and a mashed eggplant. Quinoa and eggplant could have been seasoned more. This dish was way more interesting with the housemade hot sauce. I wished it had something heavier and richer like potatoes instead of the eggplant. The sopaipillas were a bit plain on their own but good with the crispy wafer-y candy pieces. This dessert was missing vanilla ice cream and would have been amazing á la mode! Overall, everything was beautifully presented, but fell short on proportion. VALUE: 2.5 stars Our total bill came to $90 for our appetizer, two entrees, and dessert (over $100 with tip!). It is not uncommon for us to spend this much on dinner but because we left hungry this ranks low for us. I get that CG wants to be seen as upscale but compared to other new "upscale" restaurants nearby like the Maple Room or Blend, you just don't get as much for your money quality-wise or quantity-wise.
Generalizmo N.
Just had their (dry aged) Ribeye dinner set menu, which included; close to circa 3/4 pound of good quality meat, creamed spinach, and mashed butternut squash. Very tender meat and fat had good aroma to it, perfectly grilled. Sides were also tasty. Very good value for 45 bucks. I felt it was a higher quality meat than Ribeye served at the Ruth Chris. I highly recommend it.
We walked into Coyote Grille for the first time in several years. New management, new menu and a brand new experience. The food was fresh, flavorful and unique. Bold flavors and great presentation. Loved the service, the wine list, the patio and meeting the chef, Chris. His excitement and pride was contagious. We just found our new spot in Fairfax City!
Very surprised today to go in for a burrito and find that the restaurant is under new management and has redone the interior decor as well as a 100% different menu. The focus is now South American food, which was surprising but very tasty! Chef stopped by and said he is working either South American kitchen staff to make authentic inspired foods I had a Peruvian chicken salad - avocado dressing was spicy but perfect for my dish- and my friend had carnitas tacos. Both were good! Am curious to try more off the new menu
Amazing food, drinks, and atmosphere! Not your typical South American cuisine, many dishes with ingredients I've never tried before, certainly makes you curious to step out of your comfort zone!
Delicious food and friendly service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Passed by when I was in town moving through state (ugh). Was hoping from the reviews I'd be getting some at least fresh food and tangy sauces. The staff were nice, but apologetic when the food I got was clearly day old, stale, under seasoned in some parts and over seasoned in others. Not only that but when I went to the bathroom there was mold on the toilets, wall, and floor, and what looked to be rat droppings under my table (as well as crumbs, hair, and dust). I am so disappointed I ate here, and honestly this place should probably be shut down.Parking: its fine.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chips and Salsa
HORRIBLE service, they mocked me the whole time i ate & called me a
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
the atmosphere sucks and quite bothersome to enjoy any meal here. 1 star. terrible service as well!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
The presentation on the food was nice but not much flavor.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
My friend and I totally enjoyed our first meal at this new incarnation of Coyote Grille. The place was packed at Friday/7 pm and the noise level was such that we chose to eat on the porch/patio at a high-top table (this area is heated and very comfortable and quiet). My friend was pleased with Manny's Chicken and I had the snapper/corn flan/baby potato/fried spinach. All quite good (the crispy spinach is a perfect garnish -- I could have eaten a lot more of that!) The portion size is fine BUT I do agree with others who say the price for most everything is a bit high for Fairfax City. The service was excellent -- everyone was smiling and attentive even though it was very busy. AND they comped us a lovely slice of Tres Leches cake because it was my friend's birthday. I will eat there again.
The wait staff was fine and no issues. They were kind and took off a percentage of the meal and provided a dessert. However, the main issue was the quality of the food. The Bolitas were slightly cold in the middle. The whole fried red snapper came out looking great, however, the inside was still a bit raw. They took it back and refried it which overcooked the open portion of the fish entirely with the closed side coming out fully cooked but tasteless. The squash and broccoli were steamed with the squash undercooked and difficult to pierce with a fork. The brusslesprouts were good. The silverware was uncomfortable to use and too skinny...they did not seem to fit the vibe. Hopefully the fryer temps get sorted out.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
I walked in having viewed the website thinking it was just under new management and the menu was the same. Boy was I wrong- but in a good way!Incredible food. Yea, it’s pricey, but you pay for what you get. The owner is one of the most incredible humans I’ve met- he really takes criticisms constructively and accommodated me and my two kids despite the fact I was unaware of the new fine dining situation..We loved it there. Sorry we ate at least three bites before taking a picture of any of these items… but it was that good. Snapper-dope. Carnitas-dope.My daughter was obsessed with the churros- I thought they were a little doughy. I mean.. still great though.I’ve never had better service at a restaurant in Fairfax. I live walking distance so this will be a mama go to in the future. Thanks for the experience! Can’t wait to try happy hour ??
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Amazing food, drinks, and atmosphere! Not your typical South American cuisine, many dishes with ingredients I've never tried before, certainly makes you curious to step out of your comfort zone!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
New owners. Now a Cantina. Great Tapas and Mains and Sides. South American slant in food and wine too. Chris the chef is amazing. Large number of attentive wait staff. Great cocktails. Very much more refined interior and patio (lounge).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
OVERALL RATING 3.5 The food was good but the portions were too small for the price. Would have been 4 stars but because we left hungry I had to knock it down to 3.5 stars. My boyfriend and I came to try out the new and improved Coyote Grill. We had not been to the former TexMex restaurant but heard that the new management was trying a fine dining concept. AMBIANCE: 5 stars The inside of the restaurant is nicely dressed and has that fine dining appeal. We chose to sit outside in the canopy and loved the romantic vibe. It was raining outside but the outdoor dining area was warm with heaters and cozy. You could hear the rain falling and it was really nice. There were also different layouts like low patio chair areas for hanging out with drinks, high tables, long tables for groups, and bar seating along the perimeter. The faux greenery also made it a cute space! SERVICE: 5 stars Staff was very friendly and one of the owners, Andy, walked us through the menu, gave us a bit of background about the new concept, and gave us suggestions which we appreciated. Since we sat outside by the bar, the service was a bit more relaxed which we didn't mind but if you're looking for more dinner service I'd recommend sitting inside instead. FOOD: 3.5/4 stars The menu at the new Coyote Grill has a modern South American flare. I noticed lots of Peruvian and Salvadorean dishes and there is a variety of different food & drinks. They have a happy hour menu (4-6pm) and also a specials menu as well. We ordered the ceviche appetizer, llama entree, pupusas, and honeycomb sopaipilla dessert. The scallop ceviche had a nice texture and with the mango made it light and fresh. Not fishy at all. Good sized scallops although this cost more than the pupusa entree! The pupusas had a modern spin to them and the chicken was cooked and seasoned well! Paired with the pickled veggies also made it taste light and clean, and the pupusas themselves had melty, stringy cheese inside! Yum! The llama was interesting, although not enough food to justify $35. The casing of the meat was kinda strange and it had chopped carrots with it and a mashed eggplant. Quinoa and eggplant could have been seasoned more. This dish was way more interesting with the housemade hot sauce. I wished it had something heavier and richer like potatoes instead of the eggplant. The sopaipillas were a bit plain on their own but good with the crispy wafer-y candy pieces. This dessert was missing vanilla ice cream and would have been amazing á la mode! Overall, everything was beautifully presented, but fell short on proportion. VALUE: 2.5 stars Our total bill came to $90 for our appetizer, two entrees, and dessert (over $100 with tip!). It is not uncommon for us to spend this much on dinner but because we left hungry this ranks low for us. I get that CG wants to be seen as upscale but compared to other new "upscale" restaurants nearby like the Maple Room or Blend, you just don't get as much for your money quality-wise or quantity-wise.
Just had their (dry aged) Ribeye dinner set menu, which included; close to circa 3/4 pound of good quality meat, creamed spinach, and mashed butternut squash. Very tender meat and fat had good aroma to it, perfectly grilled. Sides were also tasty. Very good value for 45 bucks. I felt it was a higher quality meat than Ribeye served at the Ruth Chris. I highly recommend it.