Orange County restaurateur Tony Monaco will bring an upscale Mexican restaurant to the Yorba Linda Town Center. The Blind Pig Kitchen + Bar Yorba Linda location will be renamed Blind Coyote Cantina, introducing a refreshed dining experience to the area. After approximately five years of business, having opened The Blind Pig Kitchen + Bar’s Yorba Linda location in late 2019, owner Tony Monaco and Executive Chef Karl Pfleider will unveil a new menu and updated interior design while maintaining the same elevated quality and service guests have come to rely on.
“After five years, it’s time for something new. The location is great and we’re excited to bring our guests something the area doesn’t have,” said Tony Monaco, owner of Blind Coyote Cantina. “Chef Karl will be able to dive into serving the food he grew up eating and have the chance to show off his heritage. We’re very excited to get the remodel complete and reintroduce ourselves.”
The Blind Pig Kitchen + Bar will close at the end of July while undergoing renovations and staff training, and close all Sundays, effectively immediately, for menu R&D purposes. During July, ahead of The Blind Pig Kitchen + Bar’s closure, the restaurant plans to offer the occasional sneak peek of what’s to come with specials that could be featured on Blind Coyote Cantina’s future menu.
Blind Coyote Cantina will reopen in late August for lunch, dinner, and a daily happy hour, six days a week; Tuesday through Sunday. Once open, guests can enjoy Taco Tuesday each week, featuring half-off specials on tacos, deals on Mexican beers, margaritas, and the popular tiki cocktails guests know and love.
The current staff will be retained during this transition and Chef Karl will remain executive chef. He has been involved with the operations of The Blind Pig since 2013 and, is also working with owner Tony Monaco on a new Italian eatery, Monaco Italian Kitchen, which will open in Irvine later this year.
Blind Coyote Cantina’s new menu will tap into Chef Karl’s Mexican heritage, featuring appetizers like tableside guacamole, slow-cooked octopus with chorizo and potatoes, and ground lamb empanadas with beans, queso Oaxaca, and complimentary chips, salsa, and bean dip. Entrees include enchiladas with carnitas that have been braised overnight; a chicken mole with a mole poblano sauce, rice, and beans; and a bay scallop tostada with avocado puree, pepper jam, pineapple, and radishes. Guests can end their meal with house-made churros and a warm chocolate dipping sauce or a slice of tres leches cake with seasonal fruit and whipped cream.
Blind Coyote Cantina’s bar program will focus on specialty cocktails using agave and a variety of tequila and mezcal. The Blind Pig’s popular tiki cocktail menu will be reinvented with additional tequila, agave, and rum-based cocktail options. In addition to trying new drinks, guests will still be able to enjoy current favorites like the beloved Old Fashioned. The program will feature a new spin on classic cocktails with the Top Shelf Tequila Old Fashioned, featuring añejo tequila, piloncillo, and bitters, and the Top Shelf Manhattan, with cask strength rye, sweet vermouth, and forbidden bitters.
The interior will be remodeled with a ranchero-style décor that pays homage to Yorba Linda’s unique history. The exposed brick in the 3,000-square-foot restaurant will be whitewashed throughout and tiles with turquoise and different brown tones will accent the central bar. Guests can also expect updated booths, artwork and flooring, and newly installed vibrant wallpaper, and light fixtures.
Blind Coyote Cantina, located at 4975 Lakeview Ave in Yorba Linda, will reopen later this summer for lunch, dinner, and happy hour, six days a week, Tuesday through Sunday. Reservations can be made by calling 714-485-2593. For more information, please visit theblindpigoc.com/yorba-linda or www.blindcoyotecantina.com. Follow @blindcoyotecantina on Instagram for further updates. The Blind Pig, Rancho Santa Margarita location, will remain the same and both locations will accept The Blind Pig gift cards.
ABOUT TONY MONACO
Restaurateur Tony Monaco owns the critically acclaimed Rancho Santa Margarita-based restaurant The Blind Pig Kitchen + Bar, the gourmet sandwich shop chain The Trough, and plans to open an upcoming Irvine eatery Monaco Italian Kitchen later this year. The Blind Pig Kitchen + Bar is revered for serving up a menu of chef-driven, gourmet new-American cuisine by Executive Chef Karl Pfleider, and offering an expansive selection of craft beers and specialty craft cocktails. The Trough has three locations in Orange County serving artisanal sandwiches, all-day breakfast, and a secret menu exclusive to VIP members. To learn more, please visit www.theblindpigoc.com and www.thetroughsandwichkitchen.com.
