While regulars saw these mighty, mighty kids grow into ownership and operation of a viable business, they continued to enjoy a large Mexican-American menu that offered all their favorites. “Looking back now, though, I think: We were just kids!” “We had been raised in the restaurant as kids, so it didn’t seem like such a giant thing to step into bigger roles here,” says Desirée. From left, Bartender Stephen Morand (Desirée’s husband), Co-Owner Desirée Gomez, Maile Earlywine (Desirée’s daughter), Tiana Watson (sister), and Manager Radley Pilanca. That left Desirée, Jarrod, and Tiana to grow into their roles at the family-run Mexican restaurant.įamiliar faces in the family and extended Coyote Grill family. He left in 2001 for Hawaii, taking his oldest son, Justin, with him to operate a commercial kitchen there. He kept the San Clemente location open till 1993, and then focused all of his efforts on the SoLag location.įor several years, all four of Bryant’s kids worked at Coyote Grill. Prior, Bryant was an existing 9-year owner of Café Del Coyote in San Clemente (now the Pizza Port), but had found the enormous space taxing, and sought out a smaller footprint.
Kim Bryant took over the restaurant space from Cove restaurateurs in 1989. “I started helping here as a hostess when I was 12, so it’s been a very fast-moving 18 years.” “It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years already,” says Co-Owner Desirée Gomez (Kim’s oldest daughter). The Sept 24th party will also welcome Casamigos Tequila (I can only hope George Clooney will come along), Mago Hot Sauce, and a photo booth. Winners will be drawn on the 24th after the party officially kicks off at 4 p.m. Patrons can participate in the raffle multiple times with each visit they make to the little neighborhood restaurant/bar before September 24. Once patrons spend $10, they’re allowed to drop their name and phone number in the raffle box with hopes of winning Calamari Tacos for a year (my favorite tacos in all of Laguna Beach for a whole year!), free valet for six months, and a host of other gifts and specials. Hundreds of people have already been participating in the restaurant’s raffle. The Coyote crew is celebrating this month with a culmination party on Tuesday, Sept 24. It is a neighborhood icon as well as the primary traffic element I refer to whenever I’m directing someone to my Table Rock home. In late August of 1989, the Michael Keaton/Jack Nicholson version of Batman was setting $100 million records, “Good Thing” was topping the charts from the Fine Young Cannibals, and Kim Bryant was opening South Laguna’s Coyote Grill.įast forward 30 years, and Coyote Grill has only grown in mega-popularity. Coyote Grill howls its 30 years on Sept 24