By Edmond Ortiz
An Austin-grown brewery and restaurant opening a San Antonio locale headlines this edition of Light Bites.
Also, one burger-centric eatery opens a North Side spot while another provides an update for its upcoming North Side location.
Additionally, recent launches include a Boerne cafe, and a New Braunfels Irish bar, while a Southtown restaurateur is closing one venture and relocating another.
NOW OPEN
Pinthouse Pizza
The Austin-based brewpub opened its first San Antonio site March 23 at the developing Landmark North Pad retail center just southeast of the Interstate 10/Loop 1604 intersection. San Antonio’s first Pinthouse Pizza taproom and brewhouse measures 10,800 square feet and will add 3,500 barrels of annual brewing capacity for the company, which distributes its beers across South and Central Texas.
The food menu includes a range of housemade pizzas, sandwiches, salads and shareables. Pinthouse San Antonio also has three bars, happy hour, a skylit atrium, different kinds of seating to accommodate guests, arcade games, shuffleboard, and a takeout station.
“Opening in San Antonio is a huge milestone for our team and something we’ve dreamed about for years,” Kyle Detrick, Pinthouse’s retail president, said in a statement. “After 13 years of growth in Austin, we’ve seen so many friends from San Antonio make the trip for our beer and pizza, so bringing the full Pinthouse experience here felt like the natural next step.”
5534 N. Loop 1604 W.
Kennedy’s Tavern
This Irish pub hosted a March 13 grand opening party. Kennedy’s features a full bar with 25-plus beers on tap, traditional Irish food as well as classic pub grub, variations of Irish coffee, live music, television sets, and a pool table.
308 E. San Antonio St., New Braunfels
Selah Cafe Coffee and Market
This north Boerne cafe began a soft opening phase March 9. Selah offers a variety of coffee drinks, house-made syrups, bagels, sourdough and other pastries, as well as a small market with grocery goods and books.
618 N. Main St., Boerne
Hopdoddy Burger Bar
The burger chain opened its third San Antonio location in early March at The Strand retail center, taking over a former P.F. Chang’s storefront. Aside from an array of burgers and hand-cut fries, Hopdoddy offers fried chicken, loaded brussel sprouts, shareable fries, salads, children’s menu items, as well as milkshakes, beer and alcoholic cocktails.
11267 Huebner Road
COMING SOON
Muck and Fuss
Representatives for the New Braunfels burger- and craft beer-focused restaurant said construction of their first San Antonio eatery, a $4.5 million project, will be completed by Sept. 15. The local version of Muck and Fuss is being developed east of Shavano Park between the North Side neighborhoods of Rogers Ranch and Oakwood. The menu boasts house-ground burgers, scratch-made sauces, and nearly 40 craft beers on tap. According to a press release, hiring for the new San Antonio location will begin soon, with details to be announced in the coming weeks.
2422 N. Loop 1604 W.
NOW CLOSED/RELOCATING
The Filling Station Tap Room/The Station Cafe
This small Southtown craft beer and pizza slice spot closed March 21 after more than 14 years of service. Co-owner Jon Rowe announced in a San Antonio Express-News report that recent traffic at The Filling Station was not enough to justify renewing his lease for what was once a Texaco gas station at the corner of South St. Mary’s and King William streets.
However, Rowe’s adjoining venture, The Station Cafe, is moving to 1010 S. Flores St., with plans to reopen the cafe at the new space in the first week of April. Having opened in 2006, The Station Cafe offers sandwiches, salads and coffee.
Hooters in Selma/Medical Center
The iconic Florida-based restaurant chain is in the process of closing multiple locations nationwide. Two local Hooters storefronts, in Selma and on Wurzbach Road, both shut down permanently on March 22. Two other San Antonio Hooters eateries remain on U.S. 281 near Bitters Road, and on Ingram Road.
CULINARY EVENTS
Stone Oak tea shop to offer ‘Titanic’ meal
The Old English Tea Shoppe will be offering a unique afternoon tea meal April 12 symbolic of the food that passengers of the ultimately ill-fated luxury liner RMS Titanic got to enjoy more than a century ago.
The popular Stone Oak dining destination is promoting a Titanic Boarding Pass, which affords each participating diner a three-course supper that mirrors part of the menu from which first-class passengers ordered during their cruise.
The starter consists of a choice between cream of barley soup or asparagus salad with champagne-saffron vinaigrette.
The main course features roast sirloin of beef Forestière, or Forest-style seared beef, with duchess potatoes and other vegetables.
The dessert is a coconut sandwich, or wafers, served with ice cream.
Diners will also enjoy live music from George Gaytan. Price is $54.99 per person with a $20 deposit. RSVPs are urged by calling 210-310-3308.
Clementine, Isidore crews join forces for special dinner
The culinary teams from Castle Hills restaurant Clementine and Pearl eatery Isidore are partnering to craft a meal as part of the Texas Anthology Dinner Series.
Clementine’s James Beard Award finalist Chef John Russ and pastry chef Elise Russ will be working with Isidore’s Michelin-starred crew to create a menu based on an approach on seasonal Texas cooking.
The menu will include white mushroom salad, ricotta cavatelli, the Smash Burger, and the Clementine Crunch Bar. Offered à la carte, the menu allows diners to build their own experience, pairing signature dishes from Clementine and Isidore.
The event will take place 5:30-10 p.m. March 26 at Isidore, 221 Newell Ave.
Ladino to host Chef Nicola Blaque for March 29 brunch
Ladino, the Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded Mediterranean restaurant, will team up with fellow Bib Gourmand recipient Chef Nicola Blaque of The Jerk Shack and Freight Fried Chicken to host the Sun and Spice Brunch on March 29.
The two kitchens will create a menu featuring Mediterranean- and Caribbean dishes inspired by coastal ingredients, spices, and shared culinary traditions, according to a press release.
The menu will include saltfish and olive tapenade, green sauce grilled quail, jerk lamb hummus, and guava custard.
Tickets are $45 per person and available on OpenTable. The brunch will be available 11 a.m.-3 p.m. March 29 at Ladino, 200 E. Grayson St., Suite 100.
