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Published on January 13, 2008

Bright and airy, with star-shaped lamps hanging from the ceiling, faux-plaster in cheery colours on the walls and even an outside balcony for smokers, the new restaurant is a pleasant place to while away the hours and enjoy some good Mexican food.

The bar offers happy hours from Monday to Friday, 3 to 7pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 7pm. Imagine! You can be happy all day. And every Thursday, from 6 to 8pm, ladies can enjoy free La Casa Margaritas.

Although Coyote has a wine list, it's short (Bt195 to Bt295 per glass of house wine). The emphasis is, after all, on margaritas - all 75 of them (most are Bt175/glass; Bt655/pitcher). Some of the margaritas are rather exuberant, such as the mint-chocolate, but for me, the best of the bunch is still the La Casa, the original recipe with tequila, triple sec and lime juice.

The Mexican food on the menu makes for a very fine accompaniment for serious drinking, but if you wish, you can enjoy a tasty meal on its own.

Under the supervision of executive chef Jantima "Beer" Ringpha, the kitchen produces some very delicious dishes. The sopa de tortilla (tortilla soup) (Bt150) is a very filling, slightly spicy broth of avocado, zucchini, tomato and sweet corn filled with shredded tortilla.

If you're thinking of something healthy, try the Ensalada de tortilla (tortilla salad), an edible deep-fried tortilla basket filled with greens and veggies. You can choose to have it plain (Bt175), or with salmon, shrimp, chicken, crab or snapper.

Nachos, fajitas, flautas, enchiladas and all sorts of other traditional Mexican dishes are available, as well as burgers, steaks and baby back ribs. In addition, there's a section for chimichanga - flour tortillas wrapped around beef steak, grilled chicken or veggies then deep-fried. And for dessert, there's also a peach-pecan chimichanga.

Purists say that chimichangas aren't really Mexican, having been invented in southwest US some time ago. It doesn't matter, they're yummy all the same.

Coyote is a pleasant place to stop by for a meal or a drink, and chef Beer does a great job with the food. Besides, it's a new place where you can avoid traffic congestion.

However, Coyote's only drawback is that it doesn't offer parking. You can park in Washington Square, and perhaps, eventually, the restaurant will work out an arrangement. Never mind, though. Coyote is only a three-minute walk from Phrom Pong BTS.

Laurie Rosenthal

The Nation