By Edmond Ortiz
The latest openings in San Antonio’s bar and culinary community include a new sandwich shop in Leon Valley, a Windcrest buffet restaurant, a revived rock music-driven bar on the South Side, a downtown honky tonk, a brunch-focused Stone Oak-area spot, and a new Hemisfair hotel.
Elsewhere, the Pearl area is getting a trio of new beverage and dining destinations, and a lineup of special culinary events are slated for downtown and the North Side.
NOW OPEN
The Wicked Wich
The San Antonio LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce held a March 8 grand opening for The Wicked Wich’s second location in Leon Valley. There is a variety of sandwiches on the menu, including the Wemby Stack with roast beef, turkey, ham, bacon, Swiss, provolone, colby jack, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle. Wicked Wich also offers charcuterie boards, sandwich platters and catering.
6410 Bandera Road, Leon Valley
Treasure Buffet
Having opened March 11, this new all-you-can-eat restaurant focuses on Asian and seafood dishes and a variety of desserts.
5237 Walzem Road, Windcrest
Bonds Rock House Bar and Grill
The previous owners of the renowned Bonds Rock Bar closed their original downtown location in December. The new owners held a soft reopening March 10 for the rebranded live music venue on the South Side. The new location has a full bar and a pub grub menu.
4214 S. Presa St.
The Monarch San Antonio
The newest Curio Collection by San Antonio hotel opened its doors March 6. The $185 million, 17-story, 200-room, 28-suite property features the following dining and beverage destinations: Oak and Amber, the signature restaurant whose menu is inspired by Texas ranchers, Gulf waters and regional orchards; Aleteo, a rooftop eatery that is focused on Yucatan cuisine; and The Nectarie Café, a French-inspired cafe serving breakfast and lunch. The Monarch also features a wellness studio, a full-service spa, 15,000 square feet of event and meeting space, and a surrounding park anchored by La Mariposa, a public art installation.
222 S. Alamo St.
The Rowdy Spur Honky-Tonk
Feb. 27 marked the grand opening for this downtown bar that now occupies the former Pat O’Brien’s space. The Rowdy Spur offers live music, karaoke, food, and a hideout-style space featuring a whiskey and cigar bar.
121 Alamo Plaza/242 Losoya St.
The Toasted Yolk
The brunch-centric chain held a multiday grand opening celebration in late February for its newest North Side location at The Legacy retail center near Stone Oak. The Toasted Yolk recently opened its first San Antonio storefront on the far West Side.
18402 U.S. 281 N.
Aguazul
The Mexican seafood restaurant opened in late February west of Castle Hills, featuring a selection of ceviche dishes, Baja fish taco, coconut shrimp, shrimp cocktail and other seafood standards for lunch and dinner. There are also burgers, enchiladas, fajitas, picadillo tacos along with a full bar.
2831 NW Loop 410
COMING SOON
Piada Italian Street Food
Schertz Economic Development Corp. will have a ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony at 10:30 a.m. March 25 for Piada’s new Schertz Station location, the company’s first San Antonio-area site. Piada is a fast-casual chain offering piadas (Italian-style wraps), pasta bowls and chopped salads inspired by traditional Italian street food. Half of all opening day sales will benefit Clemens High School programs.
18430 I-35 N., Suite 100, Schertz
Stout House, Lone Star Burger Co., Milk Pizza Shop
A former small industrial building on West Grayson Street across from Pearl has been renovated to accommodate three Milk Pizza Shop, Lone Star Burger Co., and a new Stout House bar location.
The dog-friendly Stout House Grayson site will be similar to its sister San Antonio locations, featuring 20 craft beers on tap, a full bar, and a rooftop catwalk with skyline views.
The new Stout House will share the two-story building with two dining ventures. Lone Star Burger Co., which offers several signature burgers, sliders, chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, fish sandwiches, and milkshakes. Lone Star will be open until 11 p.m. on weeknights, and midnight on weekends.
Milk Pizza Shop has a Neopolitan-style pizza oven, and a walk-up service window, but menu offerings have yet to be revealed. No opening day has been announced for any of these spots.
109 W. Grayson St.
CLOSING
The Creek
The Creek Restaurant, featuring New American cuisine, is closing March 14, according to a social media post made by Chef Jean Tardif, who did not give a reason for the eatery’s shuttering.
119 Staffel St., Boerne
CLOSED
Mambo Seafood
The Houston-based chain closed its Las Palmas location at 719 Castroville Road in early March, just six months after its opening. Two other local Mambo Seafood restaurants remain in northwest San Antonio and on the Southeast Side.
Hero’s Ramen and Sushi
This North Side restaurant closed March 4 after more than six years of service. No reason was given by ownership for the closure.
OTHER NEWS
Shiner spirit highlighted in Culinaria quarterly pour
Shiner Texas Spirits will be in the spotlight in local nonprofit Culinaria’s next Quarterly Pour event. On March 19, attendees can enjoy samples of the famed beer brewer’s spirits, and take part in a Women’s History Month celebration.
6-8 p.m. Admission: $25. 555 Bitters Road, Suite 105
St. Anthony Hotel serves up high tea
St. Anthony Hotel in downtown San Antonio will host “An Afternoon of High Tea and Timeless Elegance” March 12 and 19. The grand tea tradition-inspired events will enable attendees to enjoy premium teas with warm pastries and canapés while listening to a curated playlist in what hotel representatives call a “Bridgerton-style atmosphere perfect for lingering conversation.” Visitors are encouraged to dress the part. Tea-inspired signature cocktails and classic early 20th century-style cocktails will also be available for an additional price.
3-5 p.m. March 12 and 19. Admission: $60. St. Anthony Hotel Gallery on the Park, 300 E. Travis St.
‘Clay and Cuisine’ set for March 25 at Clementine
Castle Hills restaurant Clementine will host a Women’s History Month event “Clay and Cuisine,” on March 25, featuring a dinner collaboration with local ceramic artist Jesselyn Gordon.
Diners may enjoy a three-course prix fixe menu created by chefs John and Elise Russ. Attendees will pick from three options per course; dishes will include country-fried quail, braised lamb shank, and lemon soufflé tart with basil ice cream.
During the evening, guests will dine on a variety of ceramics, including a bowl handcrafted by Gordon. Afterward, each attendee may take home a bowl created by Gordon. Visitors will also get to browse and buy from Gordon’s newest ceramic collection of vases, bowls, and other handcrafted pieces.
5-8 p.m. Fee: $115 per person. 2195 NW Military Hwy., Castle Hills
