By Edmond Ortiz
A California brewery opening its first Texas brewpub in San Antonio, and one local brewery closing its secondary location highlight the latest restaurant and bar openings in the San Antonio area.
Additionally, an upscale North Side retail and entertainment district is preparing to lose another restaurant, and a Midtown comfort food spot has shuttered. Also, don’t forget to check out some special culinary events and special meals lined up at local eateries.
NOW OPEN
Novo Brazil Brewing Co.
Based in San Diego, the Brazilian-inspired Novo Brazil Brewing Co. held a soft opening in mid-October for its first Texas location in north central San Antonio.
Brazilian entrepreneur Tiago Carneiro and his family founded Novo Brazil, whose new San Antonio brewpub is situated in a 11,000-square-foot space at North Star Mall.
The new brewery and restaurant has an 8,000-square-foot dining room with 337 seating capacity, handcrafted Brazilian furniture, tropical decorations, 80-plus feet of LED video walls, a 20-foot main screen, and a state-of-the-art JBL sound system.
According to a press release, the menu will feature Brazilian staples and Texas-style comfort food, including coxinha (crispy chicken croquette), picanha (prime sirloin), yucca fries, Brazilian empanadas, and El Charro Ribeye.
Guests may also choose from more traditional pub grub, such as beer-dressing wings, carne asada nachos, and the Novo Burger.
Carneiro said San Antonio was carefully chosen to be his brewery’s first location outside California.
“We carefully selected San Antonio as our first place to open in Texas because of the city’s love for sports, community, and great food,” he said in a statement. “It reminds me so much of home in Brazil. San Antonio is the perfect place to plant our roots and our boots.”
The bar will include 40 taps of Novo Brazil’s beer, and guest brews. Patrons will also be able enjoy Novo Brazil’s Nova brand kombuchas, which are available in hard and non-alcoholic varieties, or signature cocktails, such as Brazilian caipirinha, made with authentic cachaça (fermented sugar cane).
Novo Brazil’s representatives said, for now, the San Antonio taproom is serving cocktails, lunch, and dinner until the beers come online with all other products around the first week of November.
7400 San Pedro Ave.
The Pour Zone
This new far West Side bar and grill hosted a soft opening Oct. 18. The Pour Zone offers a variety of specials, including $13 buckets of beer, as well as live music, DJs and a food truck often on site.
8770 Texas Hwy. 151. Open noon-2 a.m. daily.
CLOSED
Freetail Brewing Co. Southtown
The North Side brewery quietly closed its South Side location at 2000 S. Presa St. late this summer, according to recent media reports.
There has been no formal announcement from the Shavano Park-area-based Freetail Brewing, which opened the second production, taproom and distribution site in the Lone Star neighborhood in 2014.
The secondary venue had hosted trivia games and other events, and proved popular with bicycling enthusiasts for a time. Freetail offered many of its core and short-batch beers, as well as its housemade pizza at the Southtown location.
The nearly 30,000-square-foot facility is now listed for sale. Freetail officials last year announced they would halt retail, bar and restaurant distribution of their beers in order to concentrate on products and services at their North and South Side locations. Also, according to some media reports, former Freetail president Bill Sisoian has left the company.
Focus On San Antonio has reached out to Freetail for more information.
Good Time Charlie’s
A longtime Brackenridge Park-area destination for classic homestyle comfort food, Good Time Charlie’s closed its doors on Oct. 22, ending 46 years of service. No reason was given for the closure, but in a press release, co-founder Millard Stetler said the property at 2922 Broadway St. has been sold to The Doseum.
“The timing was right for us personally, and reaching this outcome was always our preferred goal. We’re proud of our legacy and excited for what’s ahead,” Stetler said in the statement.
Officials from The Doseum have not said what will become of the former Good Time Charlie’s site; Stetler and Eddie Ruffo, a classmate from Jefferson High School, opened the venue initially as a bar, whose name was inspired by the folk song, “Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues.” The bar evolved over time into a family-friendly restaurant.
Mash’d
The Rim location that had been part of a small chain of American pub grub restaurants is preparing to shut its doors, but company representatives indicated they will try to relocate.
Representatives for Mash’d at The Rim announced on their Facebook page Oct. 21 that the site will permanently close at the end of business Oct. 29. No reason was given for the closure.
“Our dearest friends, we regret to inform you that after 10 years, Mash’d will be closing its doors at The Rim while we explore relocation options in San Antonio,” the post stated. Company representatives also invited members of the public to come and enjoy a special brunch Oct. 25 and 26.
Mash’d first opened in Frisco more than a decade ago, offering a diverse menu of comfort food that has ranged from chicken and biscuits to deep-dish pizza. The bar menu has also featured moonshine-based craft cocktails.
Mash’d quickly expanded to Fort Worth, then San Antonio. However, the chain has closed its two North Texas eateries within the past year.
The Rim has seen a handful of culinary ventures close in the last few years, including The Rustic restaurant and live music venue, The General Public, Bowl and Barrel, and the Lion and Rose. The latter business, a British-style pub and eatery, launched a new standalone location this summer in Leon Springs, near The Dominion subdivision.
17623 I-10 W., Suite 107 (210-538-5833)
On the menu
Isidore
The Pullman Market restaurant will host a seasonal anthology dinner from 5-10 p.m. Oct. 23 benefiting Project Bloom, a non-profit that provides equitable and inclusive nature-based educational programs and community events to foster positive transformation.
According to a press release, the dinner will feature a seated, seasonal tasting menu with wine pairings showcasing native Texas ingredients. Experts will lead guests in an exploration of the role that Texas pollinators – monarchs, bats, bees, and birds – play in sustaining local ecosystems and food sources.
The tasting menu is $105 per person, with an optional wine pairing available for $95. Reservations are available on OpenTable.
221 Newell Ave. (210-756-7359)
Copa Wine Bar & Tasting Room
The Stone Oak bar will host its inaugural Brew and ‘Que event from 4-8 p.m. Oct. 24 in partnership with Spring Branch-based Star Republic Brewery.
Copa’s owner and executive chef, Jeff Bridges, will smoke brisket, chicken, and sausage, and offer the barbecue with homemade traditional sides such as coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, and macaroni and cheese, according to a press release.
Attendees may create a customizable plate featuring two meats and two sides, served with sauce, pickles, and bread, all for $20 per plate. Star Republic will offer its select beers for $3 each.
Copa hosts a special Wine and Dine event each month, but this time around, there was a desire to introduce a new concept that also highlights an area business. In this case, the spotlight will fall on Star Republic, which produces a line of lagers, IPAs and fruit-infused brews.
Head brewer Jessie Pagan and manager Mike Maenza will be at the event to talk about their Hill Country brewery.
“It always warms my heart to see the community come together, enjoying great food while supporting our local economy,” Bridges said in a statement.
19141 Stone Oak Pkwy., Suite 704 (210-495-2672)
HalloWine Run
Culinaria will present this 5K fundraiser where participants may run or walk, even in their favorite Halloween outfit. Afterwards, participants may enjoy a reception involving bites and desserts from renowned local chefs, as well as wines. The route will follow The Rim/Leon Creek Greenway trail. 7-10 a.m. Oct. 25. Fees: $50-$70. 17602 La Cantera Pkwy.
Clementine
Chefs John and Elise Russ, owners of this Castle Hills restaurant, will be joined by pitmaster Esaul Ramos Jr. and Chef Grecia Ramos of 2M Smokehouse and Baked in hosting a Dia de los Muertos dinner event from 4-8 p.m. Nov. 2.
According to a press release, the six-course prix-fixe dinner will feature dishes inspired by family traditions, cherished memories, and festive cultural celebrations. Meals will include oyster Rockefeller soup, cochinita pibil sope, smoked lamb necks, Texas snapper, and smoked tri-tip.
Desserts inspired by Dia de los Muertos will range from pan de muerto and seasonal calabaza creations to mini sundaes and mignardises.
Diners may also enjoy interactive beverage tasting stations, and sample an array of wines. Additionally, the event will include mariachis and a community ofrenda where guests may write and place love affirmations for their loved ones.
Reservations are required; the all-inclusive price is $135 per person. For a more elevated experience, guests can opt for a wine pairing with each course for $65.
2195 NW Military Hwy., Castle Hills (210-503-5121)
