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player ready...There is plenty of activity at Coyote Cantina, which marks one year in Schererville in April.
Not only is the restaurant launching a tequila martini menu but Coyote Cantina also is preparing for a festival.
“We’re trying to make it a little different as far as a Mexican restaurant. People already know about our signature drinks. Now we’re introducing tequila martinis,” said Robert Mendoza, owner of Coyote Cantina.
Also coming up is an inaugural celebration on May 5.
“We’re going to have a big outdoor fest for Cinco de Mayo with music, food, a beer garden and other activities. It’s something we want to do every year so we’re going to make sure to make it a big thing,” said Mendoza, of Schererville.
Here is the dish on this local establishment, which offers free entertainment including Latin Night with dance instructors at 10 p.m. Fridays, a disc jockey at 10 p.m. Saturdays and acoustic performances on Thursdays.
On the menu: Fine Mexican cuisine crafted by executive chef Dudley Nieto, who most recently opened Rojo Gusano in Chicago. “Everything is made from scratch. Everything is homemade. We make our own corn tortillas. They are handmade to order,” said Mendoza about Coyote Cantina.
About the owner: “I’ve been in the restaurant business for 18 years,” said Mendoza, who owns the El Salto restaurant in Merrillville and El Salto Express in Schererville and is partners in the Chesterton and Munster El Salto restaurants with his brother Rosendo Mendoza, who owns the Portage and Valparaiso El Salto restaurants.
A mission statement: “I wanted to bring to Northwest Indiana something that is more elevated, more upscale cuisine, more something you would find in the big cities, not just downtown Chicago,” Robert Mendoza said.
Decor: “There’s a modern feel,” said Robert Mendoza about Coyote Cantina, which seats 175 inside and 48 on the patio. “It’s not a sports bar but it’s got a sports feel. We have a TV wall. The bar is a very beautiful bar. It’s a very upscale bar.”
Specialties: “The No. 1 seller is the gourmet street tacos. The topping is paired with the protein that we use. It’s not like other Mexican restaurants where tacos come with lettuce and cheese. Every taco is different,” Robert Mendoza said.
“We also have a variety of other food. We have chicken wings. Believe it or not, our hamburger is one of our top sellers. We make our own hamburger patties. Our skirt steak is called carne asada. It’s also very popular. We use nothing but a good quality of meat here.”
We’re different because: Coyote Cantina worked with mixologist Tippling Bros. “They came up with our own Coyote Cantina signature drinks made especially for us. All those drinks are made with fresh fruits. We also infused them with flowers, spices and just different flavors. It’s all from fresh items,” said Robert Mendoza about the 15 signature drinks made in batches and placed in kegs compressed with nitrogen for consistency and freshness.
Prices: Start at $2.75 for tacos, $3.50 for entradas (starters) or bocaditos (appetizers), $5.95 for sopas y ensaladas (soups and salads), $6.50 for wings and more, $9.50 for platos clasicos (classic dishes), $9.95 for burritos and $12.95 for chef favoritos (favorites). Tequila Night including a four-course dinner paired with tequila is offered every two months for $39, with the next booked for April 25.
Logistics: Coyote Cantina is at 1090 U.S. 41, Schererville. Hours are 11 a.m.-2 a.m. (kitchen closes at 10:30 p.m.) Fridays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays and 11 a.m.-midnight (kitchen closes at 10 p.m.) Mondays-Thursdays. Call 219-319-0902 or go to www.coyotecantinanwi.com.
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.