Coyote Café

Since the 1990s, Coyote has thrived as one of Santa Fe’s favorite big-night-out places. The restaurant is housed in a massive second-floor space and has a large dining room and a long bar facing on an open kitchen, so you can admire the line chefs’ graceful culinary dance among the hot ranges. The dishes they turn out – a recent meal included mesquite grilled Maine lobster tails with house-made papparadelle pasta, organic spring onions and a spicy creamy chile sauce – are beautifully presented, the flavors an exciting mix of influences. As at most fine-dining establishments in the city, the prices for the rather delicate dishes are worthy of Manhattan ($35 for osso bucco, $43 for elk tenderloin). To sample as many dishes as possible, go for the chef’s tasting menu, which changes almost daily. Those who want to sample DiStefano’s cuisine in a less formal ambience should head to the fun, buzzing Rooftop Cantina, where they can wash down homemade tacos and flavorful salsas with stiff margaritas (the rooftop is open for lunch and dinner during the summer months). Cocktail aficionados will love the infused concoctions prepared by the mixologist at the downstairs restaurant bar; some, like the Champagne & Pearls (local sparkling wine with round peach "pearls” in the glass) are almost too pretty to drink.