In the same way that spring breathes new life into nature, an innovative “micro-food hall” has reinvigorated the old Zia Diner space in downtown Santa Fe. A collaboration is celebrated between Chef Dakota Weiss and her business and life partner, Rich Becker, at Capital Coal Neighborhood Eatery. The eatery offers fantastic food with a hip vibe.
The menu features some of the couple’s favorite cuisines not found in Santa Fe. The delightfully spicy and crunchy Richie B’s Hot Chicken, for instance, riffs on a Nashville fried-chicken staple. Kimchi’s Korean BBQ fuses Korean and Mexican influences in a tacodilla and other dishes. Tasty French dip options include prime rib with truffled aioli, mushrooms, and Swiss and cheddar cheeses.
The duo concocted a new phrase to describe their culinary venture. “We completely made up the term ‘micro-food hall,’” says Weiss. “People hear ‘food hall’ or ‘food court’ and they expect different stalls with different chefs. We took the idea of having different food concepts, but it all comes from one chef.”
The fare is perfect for dining in or taking out. “We miss a lot of the food diversity in Los Angeles where you can order any kind of cuisine and have it at your doorstep in 20 minutes,” says Weiss, whose family moved from southern California to Santa Fe when she was 13. She went on to carve a stellar reputation as a chef working in LA, and points beyond before returning to Santa Fe in 2021 after her mother was diagnosed with cancer.
Capital Coal’s Lasting Influence
While Weiss worked as Coyote Cafe’s executive chef, she and Becker opened Catch Santa Fe Poke, serving ultra-fresh poke bowls. They also opened Notorious P.O.K.E. and FRENCHiE’S DIPS and TOTS in Albuquerque’s Sawmill Market food hall. They named their fourth restaurant after the Capital Coal Yard company, which once occupied the historic building and site, serving trains coming through Santa Fe.
Capital Coal not only brings new flavors to Santa Fe, it’s also a fresh look for the city. “Along with adding diverse cuisines, we wanted to make a space that would be different,” Weiss says. To that end, pop art brightens the walls and neon signs, streamlined booths, and lounge-style seating create a fun, welcoming ambiance. In the kitchen hangs a treasured photograph of Weiss’s mom, who passed away in 2022. “She’s our kitchen angel,” Weiss says.
Story by Lynn Cline
Photos by Capital Coal Eatery
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