News you can eat
San Antonio's burger dynasty fires up sister restaurant, plus more food news
Editor's note: We get it. It can be difficult to keep up with the what’s what and who’s who of San Antonio food. But we have you covered with our regular roundup of the freshest local restaurant news.
A San Antonio burger dynasty lives on at 2202 N. Zarzamora St. Diana’s Burgers, owned by Diana Madrid, the sister of late restarauteur Chris Madrid, opened in early January, according to an employee. At the no-frills eatery, guests can opt for a plain hamburger or several cheeseburgers with cheddar or American cheese and toppings like jalapeños or bacon.
Aldo’s Ristorante Italiano opened its new location at 22211 Interstate 10 W. on January 21, according to a Facebook post. The debut of the Dominion Ridge digs follows the January 7 closure of the original outpost near Medical Center. Most of the menu remains the same, but the dining room has a snazzy new look with an oversized contemporary light fixture sparkling overhead.
The Granary 'Cue & Brew in the Pearl has shaken things up with a new bar program and a new happy hour and dinner menu. According to a release, chef and owner Tim Rattray developed the drink offerings, including an aged rum Old Fashioned and the mezcal-based The 36th, with The Modernist’s Olaf Harmel. Food debuts include pulled pork sliders, brisket ramen, burnt end Bolognese, and grilled maitake mushrooms with smoked garlic duck emulsion.
Speaking of cocktails, Whiskey Cake has debuted a limited-time winter drink menu. New offerings include Bourbon, Spice, & Everything Nice with Old Forester Bourbon, Pedro Ximénez sherry, lemon juice, spiced pear cordial, and Angostura bitters and the pop culture-inspired Carmella Soprano with Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch Bourbon, Cynar, Jacoulot crème de cassis de Dijon and cinnamon simple syrup.
Filipino fast casual chain Jollibee appears to be opening its second Texas location at 5033 NW Loop 410 in San Antonio. As first reported by the San Antonio Express-News, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation records show that parent company Honeybee Food Corps has applied for renovation approval on the property to make upgrades including a drive-thru, new parking, and landscaping. The chain, which also has a location in Houston, serves a menu of fried chicken, burgers, sweet pork, and Jolly Spaghetti with hot dog slices. The target opening date is unknown, and CultureMap's multiple calls were unanswered at press time.
The Barbacoa & Big Red Festival has a brand-new venue as it heads into its ninth year. The annual celebration of San Antonio food and drink will be heading to The Greenline at the Brooks development on May 19. Tickets are not yet on sale, but will be announced via the fest’s social media.
A new Monday pop-up will be taking overSangria on the Burg until mid-February. Chi Chi Birds Hot Chicken from independent chef Caleb Lott specializes in Nashville-style hot chicken strips. Guests who fall in love with the concept can donate to a GoFundMe seeking to turn the one-man operation into a permanent food truck.
