San Antonians in search of a Caribbean experience will soon have to look no further than downtown’s beloved public park.
The Jerk Shack, the nationally praised Caribbean-inspired eatery, is opening its third brick-and-mortar location at Hemisfair. Set to open in summer 2022, the new 1,740-square-foot Jerk Shack will be located in Schultze House, one of the historically recreated homes in the Hemisfair district.
Chef and owner Nicola Blaque opened the first Jerk Shack location in 2018, and her Jamaican flavors became so popular with locals, she got to work on a second shack, at the 151 Plaza development, which is set to open this summer. And she opened her other Caribbean-style concept, Mi Roti, at the Pearl Bottling Department last July.
“The response to The Jerk Shack has been amazing, which has allowed us to expand across the city,” Blaque says. “Our fans and customers have been extremely supportive of our growth, so we’re looking forward to bringing The Jerk Shack to Hemisfair.”
The Hemisfair shack will feature all the menu favorites San Antonians have come to crave (We’re looking at you, jerk fried chicken wings!), but will also include some new elevated plates befitting of the awe-inspiring Hemisfair setting, like steakhouse-style dishes that beckon diners to sit, savor, and stay awhile.
A seamless blending of cultures and flavors is what Blaque excels at, bringing Caribbean flair to American favorites like mac and cheese and tacos, while also highlighting traditional Caribbean fare like braised oxtail and the always-popular jerk chicken. At the Hemisfair shack, Blaque has tapped chef Lionel “Butch” Blache, her Mi Roti executive chef, to lead the kitchen.
And unlike the other locations, the new shack will also feature a full bar and cocktail program — because park dining in Caribbean style definitely calls for boozy libations.
“We’ve been huge fans of Jerk Shack since they opened their first location, and we’re over the moon that chef Nicola and her team are joining the Hemisfair family,” says Andres Andujar, CEO of Hemisfair. “I can’t think of a better addition to our parks district and the downtown core than their craveable Caribbean cuisine.”
All the Jerk Shack faves will be on the menu at the Hemisfair spot, plus some new dishes.
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