As I write this, it is 97 degrees in New Orleans with a “feels like” temperature of 111 degrees. To say I could go for a pool and a cocktail is an understatement. Lost Coyote, 1614 Esplanade Ave., has us covered on both fronts. And if you want some lunch or dinner while you’re enjoying a dip, they have you covered there too.
Lost Coyote’s owner and chef, Colin Kennedy, has a 20-year-history in the hospitality industry having worked previously for Creole Cuisine as an executive chef and general manager for Bonefish Grill, Copeland’s. He opened his own venture shortly after Mardi Gras.
When developing the restaurant’s concept, Kennedy wanted to curate a Louisiana-focused menu featuring local produce, game, and seafood.
He explains, “We take Louisiana flavors and add a global twist. We try to use as many ingredients from Louisiana and the southern region as possible. We take familiar foods, fuse them with other things, and make what we call polished comfort food.”
When Kennedy was looking at restaurant locations he didn’t originally set out to manage a restaurant with a pool, but he thought it would be a good addition to the dining experience. For $20 a day patrons can relax poolside and enjoy bites and cocktails, although purchasing food and drinks isn’t required. The day pass is good all day and includes a towel and a pour of Brut.
Dinner menu highlights include Pan Seared Gulf Fish, coconut carrot purée, brussels sprouts, pomegranate seeds, and salsa verde; Grilled Hanger Steak, German potato salad, bacon, haricot verts, feta, pickled shallot, and mint; and Blue Crab Pasta, local lump crabmeat, lemon cream, nduja butter, cherry peppers, stracciatella, pecorino Romano, and salmoriglio.
Some lunch and poolside snacks items include Muffaletta Crunchwrap, salami, prosciutto, olive tapenade, provolone, and Chamoy aioli; Fried Chicken Sandwich, garlic aioli, brioche, citrus cane coleslaw, hot honey, and buttermilk ranch; Cajun Corndogs, crawfish boiled andouille, and honey mustard; and Melon & Cucumber Salad, cantaloupe, cucumber, mint, feta, radish, chili crisp, and coconut-cane vinaigrette.
Lost Coyote also offers a brunch menu on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The cocktail program was developed by Lost Coyote’s bartenders and Kennedy’s business partners Jessica Rann and Victoria Lauten. Pool-perfect cocktails include Half Day, Huh? made with rum, coconut milk, spiced syrup, lime, grapefruit, and passionfruit; Sol Searcher made with reposado tequila, blood orange, lime, rosemary-honey syrup, and ancho chili tincture; and Wanderer’s Call made with bourbon, orange liqueur, spiced syrup, and angostura bitters. The drink menu is rounded out with a selection of beer and wine selections.
As if this spot didn’t have it all—it also has a goat! Rosita is the unofficial mascot of Lost Coyote and has quickly become a favorite among the restaurant’s regulars.
Lost Coyote is open Monday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
