Father and son Chris and Zack Savage, with appetizer-sized tostadas with Peruvian chicken, pico de gallo and Salvadoran crema.
The old Coyote Grille in Fairfax City served Tex-Mex food. The newly revamped and remodeled Coyote Grille is a cool, chic, upscale restaurant featuring a modern and creative menu from a different part of the globe.
“We serve South American and Central American dishes with some French techniques and presentation, because the chef is classically French trained,” said Zack Savage, front-of-the-house manager. “And the food is seasonal and as fresh as we can make it.”
The chef is his dad, Chris Savage, who’s proud of both his menu and his seven-person kitchen staff – most of whom are from Honduras and all of whom are female.
“I give my cooks techniques and make their dishes aesthetically pleasing, and they give me authenticity – a lot of the menu items are from them,” said Chris. Savage. “And it’s by far the best kitchen experience I’ve ever had. Our kitchen has a great atmosphere; we listen to good music and sing and dance.”
“We’re trying to provide a unique dining opportunity, and business is growing every week,” he continued. “We’re completely different than anything around here, and our staff reflects the community.”
The most popular entree is Peruvian Chicken and Papusas. It’s smoked chicken cooked sous vide (slowly, over low heat, for a long time) to make it more tender and lock in the marinated flavors, with corn masa stuffed with cheese and seared. Another big hit is the Carne Asada made with flavorful hanger steak, marinated for a couple days and sous vide for 6-8 hours. It’s then quickly grilled to caramelize it and served with guacamole and tortillas.
From left, Dawn McGruder, Patrick Soleymani, Catherine Read, Tom Ross and Albert Lee listen to Tara Borwey speak.
Chef Savage also recommends the Moqueca – a Brazilian stew from the state of Bahia. It’s made with lobster, squid, scallops, shrimp, mussels and oysters quickly steamed and sauteed in a tomato-coconut broth with white wine.
Coyote Grille also offers vegetarian dishes, such as tacos, arepas and tostadas made with plant-based chorizo and tofu with black beans, cabbage and pico de gallo. And a tropical fruit salad – to which scallops may be added – features baby field greens, pineapple, mango, strawberry papaya and goat cheese fritters in a light citrus vinaigrette.
The large menu offers appetizers such as Elote – grilled corn on the cob with chipotle mayo, lime and southwest spice; and a beef short rib empanada with mole sauce and red-pepper relish. And the creative sandwiches include a Nacho Burger – a half-pound burger smothered in nacho cheese, sauteed onions, jalapenos and a fried egg and topped with avocado, tomato and crisp greens.
There’s also a wide variety of fajitas, arepas, tostadas and tacos, as well as tasty side dishes. And among the dessert offerings are house-made Tres Leches Layer Cake, Mexican hot chocolate with house-made churros, a tropical fruit lime tart, and Banana Cheesecake Flautas - banana cheesecake deep-fried inside a tortilla.
Coyote Grille is at 10266 Main St. in Fairfax City’s Main Street Marketplace shopping center. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Mondays. It offers Sunday brunch, happy hours, a private dining room and an all-seasons patio bar.
The former Coyote Grille closed last fall, and the brand-new restaurant opened this spring. And it was recently filled with well-wishes who gathered for its official ribbon cutting.
“Coyote Grille is back and better than ever,” said Tara Borwey, programs manager with Fairfax City Economic Development. “I’ve heard so much positive feedback from the community, and we feel honored to be part of this celebration today.”
Fairfax Mayor Catherine Read then noted that among the attendees was Lydia Russo, founder of Vienna Foodies, which fed people during the pandemic and still provides meals for people needing emergency help. “Our restaurant community isn’t just Fairfax City, it’s Vienna, also,” said Read. “And Manny Andrade, one of the owners here, also has a foot in both communities.” He owns The Virginian, a breakfast restaurant in Vienna.
“We’re honored that Manny and his business partner, Albert Lee, decided to take this space, and a much-beloved restaurant, and reimagine it,” continued Read. “And this really is reimagined. So people going, ‘Coyote Grille, whatever happened to that?’ you need to come back. My husband Tom and I love the food here. It’s got its own flavor, it’s very fresh and the wine list is amazing. I love the cocktails, and I love the décor and ambience of this place.
“Everything about Coyote Grille is so lovely; I invite everybody to come out and experience it for themselves. And Chef Chris Savage is a premier chef who also does high-end catering. We’re always grateful and honored when a business chooses to open in the City of Fairfax. We hope you feel valued and supported and feel the love from the City. And we know residents and visitors walking through your doors will be just as impressed dining here as I’ve been,” Read said.
Welcoming everyone, Lee said how excited he was. “When rebranding this restaurant, the main thing was staying authentic to ourselves, our kitchen staff and the community at large,” he explained. “Manny is El Salvadorian, and we’re so lucky to be able to bring some of his generational recipes here – but via a modern, local lens through our brilliant chef, Chris Savage.
“Likewise, our kitchen staff is entirely Central and South American. They give us ideas and food tips every day. Some of our dishes come from meals they’ve made for us. Of course, as anyone who grew up in Fairfax knows, we’re surrounded by wonderful South and Central American food. And to be able to offer an elevated take on those cuisines that are so entrenched in this community is really important to us. So again, welcome to the new Coyote Grille; we hope to serve you for years to come.”
City Councilmember Tom Ross noted that, when he moved to the City 44 years ago, many residents wanted it to stay a small town that didn’t engage much with outsiders. “Today that world has changed – demographically, economically and in the way we think – and it’s a credit to Fairfax’s past and present mayors and leadership. This is a wonderful community, and I hope the things we’ve started will continue for our future generations.”
Lastly, Jennifer Rose, executive director of the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, summed things up. “This Coyote Grille is a whole, new world,” she said. “It’s delicious and beautiful, and we’re thrilled to have this iconic City business back in business.”