Hidden Gem

Southtown hidden gem hits the spot with cheap eats and craft beer

Tucked away off King William Street near Cesar Chavez Boulevard is a former gas station that clearly saw its glory days decades ago. Now, the site is home to a restaurant and craft beer bar housed in separate structures. Together, they make for a powerful, tasty combination, satisfying the appetites of Southtown residents and merchants, bicyclists, and maybe even some tourists.

The Station Cafe and The Filling Station Tap Room is the brainchild of Jon and Stacie Rowe, who actually began serving modest, home-style eats from the former 300-square-foot gas station in late 2006. But the original Filling Station became so popular, so fast, that the Rowes expanded into the building next door. Now, that 3,000-square-foot structure serves as The Station Cafe while the smaller space remains The Filling Station, a tap room complete with more than 20 craft beers on tap.

Let's go back to The Station Cafe. On the inside, there's plenty of room to move around. The tables are small in the main dining room and rather basic, seating four. There is a secondary party/meeting room of sorts for groups that want some privacy. But the decor that exists on the interior of The Station Cafe reflects the eclectic vibe of its surrounding neighborhood. The interior scene of the restaurant is not overwhelming and very welcoming and casual.

The Station Cafe is a self-order spot. At the counter you're immediately faced with a dilemma: so many menu items, including more than 20 hot sandwiches from which to choose. There's the habanero roast beef sandwich, which comes with melted provolone, garlic habanero aioli, lettuce, and tomato. The turkey chupacabra carries smoked turkey with sweet and spicy chupacabra serrano sauce, melted cheddar, lettuce, and tomato. Need something hotter, even during the San Antonio summer? Pele's Fire fits the bill — ghost pepper sauce, roast beef, provolone, lettuce, and tomato. Each sandwich comes on a homemade toasted roll. Perhaps the best part? Every sandwich is priced below $6 and is, well, filling.

The menu features just three cold sandwiches, but they are no less tantalizing: Italian, veggie, and tuna. In the mood for a pizza? You have more choices to make, starting on the size of homemade thin crust. The varieties range from cheese, pepperoni, and supreme to Southwestern and vegetarian. If you're not up for a whole pizza at The Station Cafe, you could go for a slice or two of up to six types — each priced under $3.

Soup is on special every day of the workweek for either $3 a cup or $4.50 a bowl. Monday is good for Southwest corn chowder. Thursday is perfect for butternut squash. Salads boast organic baby greens and are served with a yeast roll. Dessert options include a variety of pies, cakes, and giant cookies. To top it all off, a fun-loving staff makes everything from scratch.

When you order, take a number and sit wherever you like — inside the main restaurant or outside in the adjoining Filling Station's dog-friendly patio. While you could have your choice of tea, soda, or coffee in the restaurant, craft beer awaits at The Filling Station. The interior of The Filling Station is very small, but it's quite the sight, filled with fun signs, buttons, bumper stickers, and other memorabilia.

There are 24 taps, and all pints are priced under $6. March selections include three brews from Deschutes Brewery and two from Texas' Southern Star Brewing. There is also wine, and it's all served by a friendly bartender while music plays overhead.

While you could get your food to-go, it's clear to virtually any San Antonian or visitor that The Station Cafe and The Filling Station Tap Room is a relaxing place to gather with family or friends for home-style, intimate, budget-friendly dining.

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All sandwiches at The Station Cafe are under $6.

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Brewing News

What’s brewing in San Antonio: 2 taprooms close and British pub returns

Vista Brewing Co./Facebook

Vista Brewing Co. began 2025 by shuttering its San Antonio taproom following three years of service.

The holidays are over, and as one defunct pub started a comeback, San Antonio’s beer scene saw more taproom closures. So let's take a look at what's happening.

The Lion and Rose has returned

A British-style pub chain that once thrived in San Antonio back in the 2000s is back.

The Lion and Rose British Restaurant and Pub is expected to fully open to the public before the end of January, according to owner Allen Tharp.

Tharp is resurrecting the Lion and Rose, which previously existed as a chain of pubs around San Antonio for years before closing one location after another over time. The final Lion and Rose location, in the La Cantera area, closed in 2021. During the height of its popularity, Lion and Rose served up a number of beers and spirits with traditional pub grub, billiards, darts, and soccer viewing parties.

The revived Lion and Rose is housed in a new building at 23330 I-10 W. in the Leon Springs/Dominion area, just up the road from the La Cantera and Rim shopping centers.

Tharp has used social media to keep friends and supporters updated on the progress of the Lion and Rose revival, which he said will bring back the wide variety of beers, spirits, British-inspired food and pub games.

The new Lion and Rose will also feature nightly events, such as trivia, karaoke, and movie screenings, as well as afternoon tea for tea lovers. There will also be private, WiFi-equipped rooms where visitors can enjoy coffee and study for school or do some work. Additionally, the new Lion and Rose will be available for private parties and corporate functions.

Man Overboard Brewing closes

Man Overboard Brewing Co., based near downtown San Antonio, closed its doors in December after three years of operations.

Naval veteran Ron Merriman and his son Justin launched Man Overboard with a focus on Belgian and American beers. The brewery also produced hard and frozen seltzers.

While the Merriman family did not reveal reasons for Man Overboard’s closure, the ceasing of operations wrapped up a difficult year in San Antonio’s craft beer scene, with the closure of two other local breweries and a handful of San Antonio-area craft beer bars.

"It is with heavy hearts we announce to you Man Overboard Brewing Company will be closing our doors after three great years of brewing, fun, and friendships," the Merrimans wrote on the company’s social media. “Our final day will be December 22nd. But before we go, we want to celebrate with you — our loyal family and friends who made this journey unforgettable."

Vista Brewing shutters San Antonio taproom

Vista Brewing Co., based in Driftwood, Texas, closed its San Antonio taproom. January 5 was its final day of service.

The Hill Country brewery opened a San Antonio beer garden on the west side in 2021. Two years later, Vista relocated the beer garden to the eastern edge of downtown where the larger space allowed for food service. The San Antonio location also served wines, ciders and espresso drinks.

Vista Brewing’s representatives did not share reasons for closing the San Antonio taproom.

"It is with a heavy heart that we are making the tough decision to wind down Vista Brewing’s San Antonio taproom,” the company announced via social media. “We have loved being immersed in the San Antonio community for the last three and a half years, but have found that it is just not the right time for Vista.”

Vista Brewing Co./Facebook

Vista Brewing Co. began 2025 by shuttering its San Antonio taproom following three years of service.

san antonio craft beer pub brewery