New Restaurants
They’re Everywhere!
They’re Everywhere!

By Marlo Marie Meyerson

ake the year 2006 and add a month or two on either side, then think about how many new restaurants have opened in the San Antonio area during that time. When you finish your pursuit of this culinary query, your total should be a fairly large number. At least when I tried the exercise it was, and what a pleasant surprise for a foodie like me.

What follows is a sampling, a written tour of these restaurants. By no means will I review any of the eating establishments mentioned. I may throw in a compliment or two here and there, but that’s it. I’m not a food critic, just a diner who loves good food.

First up is The Grill at Leon Springs. At lunch the other day a friend said, “These guys really hit a home run with this one.” I agree and commend Thierry Burkle and Armand Obadia, also the proprietors of L’Etoile in Alamo Heights, for their masterful renovation and reuse of the original Macaroni Grill structure. The restaurant has a delightfully warm and inviting ambiance that sets the stage for a very tasteful dining experience.

While dishing out compliments, here’s another. The conversion of Jim’s Coffee Shops into the new and improved Jim’s Café makes me smile. To my way of thinking, Frontier Enterprises kept just enough old and added just enough new to make their café concept a real winner. Congrats to the Hasslochers.

Joe Cosniac, long-time San Antonio restaurateur, opened the extremely impressive Paesanos 1604 in recent months. This is the third location of the local legend with the other two being in Lincoln Heights and on the River Walk. Paesanos 1604 is not only beautiful but also busy at all times. Squeeze in. It’s worth it.
Luciano At The Strand, under the direction of proprietor Joe Buonincontri, has also wowed patrons with not only its fine continental and Italian cuisine, but also with its design and décor. Me included. Savor this one while lingering over lunch or dinner.

A brief list of restaurants opened by other local chef/owners within the previously discussed time frame includes La Frite Belgian Bistro by Damian Watel (also of Bistro Vatel and Ciao Lavanderia), Pasión from Rene Fernandez and Pierre Kranzle (Azuca Nuevo Latino), Bin 555, a new offering from Jason Dady (The Lodge Restaurant), and Big’z Burger Joint by Andrew Weissman (of Restaurant Le Reve fame). Do you think Andrew can make a great hamburger? I do.

A new chef in the area is Phil Sprio, owner of Carmine’s in Schertz. Originally from Albany, New York, Phil and his family moved to warmer climes, settling in New Braunfels. Located on Farm Road 3009, his restaurant is super-quality in every respect from design to food to wine. Welcome to Texas, Chef Sprio.

Resting high above the city atop the Tower of the Americas is Eyes Over Texas, the new 360-degree revolving restaurant from Landry’s Restaurants, Inc. When stepping off the elevator, it is obvious that millions of dollars have been invested in the renovation of this restaurant. Plaudits go to all involved. Another Landry’s restaurant property to open last year was Rainforest Café on the River Walk at East Crockett and Losoya. It’s a jungle in there!

Also on the River Walk is Iron Cactus Mexican Grill and Margarita Bar nestled below the Aztec Theatre at river level. This is their fourth location with others being in Dallas and Austin, their market of origin. When it comes to Iron Cactus, I’ve been there, done that and bought the T-shirt. Try it. You’ll like it, guaranteed.

I need to spend a few of my allotted words dropping names of other new places I have seen, heard good things about, but have not had the opportunity to visit. Heading up this collection would be Mary and Brian West’s Café Paladar just off 1604 in the Stone Oak area, El Siete Mares on Encino Rio off 281, the newly opened Sazo’s Latin Grill at the Marriott Rivercenter Hotel in the downtown sector, Cowcatchers Steaks in Bulverde, Rio Mambo on Loop 1604 in the Stone Oak area, Spice Asian Bistro also on 1604 in the same neighborhood, Nico Bar-Caffe at The Vineyard on Blanco at 1604 and El Callejon on Blanco near Churchill Estates.

Three restaurants I have taste-tested and can recommend that are still “new” are Fusion Seafood & Steaks on Huebner at Vance Jackson, Frida’s Mexican & Latin Cuisine on Thousand Oaks at Jones-Maltsberger, and Los Cucos Mexican Restaurant by the Embassy 14 Theatre off Bitters at 281.

Space does not permit mentioning all restaurants that opened in our specified 2006 time period. Sorry about that. However, before I go, let me tell you about one final place. Get in you car and set the GPS to 170 S. Main in Boerne, Texas. Sit back and enjoy the ride, then when you get to Cypress Grille, enjoy a perfectly prepared meal in a great setting. Try it on a Saturday night when things are really hoppin’. I did.

Gotta go now, there’s no page left.