Fowl play

Favorite Texas chicken wing chain roosts in new San Antonio location

Pluckers Wing Bar will nest in its latest San Antonio location in July.

Photo by Melissa Skorpil

Few chains inspire such fanatical devotion as Texas-born Pluckers Wing Bar. Now, flying high from the successful opening of its first San Antonio-area location last summer, the Austin-based chain is ready to roost in San Antonio proper.

The brand announced via a June 12 release that it will debut its new San Antonio outpost, in the Landmark Center at 15651 I-10 W., on July 8. The store was originally slated to open in spring 2019, but for fans, it’s better late than never.

Pluckers is most well-known for its wings, available with the choice of 25 sauces ranging from classics like Buffalo, garlic Parmesan, and lemon pepper to less common flavors like ginger peach sriracha, maple chipotle, and Dr Pepper barbecue.

Also along for the ride will be a variety of fried appetizers like pickles, mushrooms, breaded mac ’n’ cheese logs, Buffalo chicken bites, and stuffed jalapeños served with strawberry chutney. Pluckers also serves sandwiches, salads, and burgers like the Bypass and the Gut Grenade — both of which are likely to mortify nutrition students at the nearby University of Texas at San Antonio.

The company says the new store came about in part due to the popularity of the Selma store, which drew large crowds when it debuted in July 2018.

"It’s been a year since we opened our first area location in Selma, and San Antonians have really shown how much they love the Pluckers experience,” said Pluckers co-owner Dave Paul in the release. “We are thrilled to open our second San Antonio location close to UTSA and to continue to grow our Pluckers community in this city."

One of the ways it's building that community is by offering a discount on its signature rewards program through July 21. For $10, half-off the regular price, members will be able to enjoy several perks, including free birthday meals, specials, and invitations to special events.

With its new store and big perks, Pluckers is sure to attract a few more super fans — and maybe even more rap parody videos.

openings dinner lunch news-you-can-eat

Burger Birthday

Hill Country bar famous for its burgers is throwing 30th birthday bash

The Taproom/Facebook

The Taproom is turning 30 at the end of this year.

The Taproom, a longtime San Marcos bar and eatery, is celebrating 30 years with a 90s birthday bash. A party on December 28 — three days before the actual anniversary on New Year's Eve — will have Central Texans partying like it's 1994. It's all going down at 129 E Hopkins St. from 11 am to 10 pm.

With so much to do, it's hard to know where to start, but the bar is a safe bet. The first 100 guests will get a commemorative 30th anniversary pint glass.

True to form, The Taproom will be serving up hourly drink specials that feature specific breweries or distilleries including Starbase Brewing, Saint Arnold’s Brewing, Meanwhile Brewing, Altstadt Brewing Company, New Belgium, Shiner, and Garrison Brothers Whiskey, according to a release. There will be some tastings and glass giveaways, too.

Plenty of food will keep the energy up for the all-day party, including "throwback retro menu items," says the release, plus birthday cake and a chance to win free burgers for a year. Hopeful burger-lovers can get started now by signing up for the Taproom newsletter, but they'll have to wait until the live drawing at 8 pm on December 28 to find out if they won.

On top of those base offerings there will also be a 90s photo booth, 90s R&B and hip hop courtesy of DJ Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice, flash tattoos, and a game of Wingo Wango Bingo Bango, in which guests can win prizes from breweries and Happy Clouds Smoke Shop.

Finally, The Taproom is welcoming two guests of honor: bartender and original Taproom owner David Dishman and the bar's first "regular" Kenneth Fitzgerald, who installed the draft lines that helped get business started.

The Taproom is now owned by Samantha Strahan and Sara Chavez, who purchased it in late 2021.

Just a couple of blocks from Texas State University, this bar became popular with college students. However, it's more than a college bar, especially thanks to its reputation for a great burger. On the other end of the building is The Porch, a sister space for live music that opened in 2013. The Porch is hosting an afterparty for late-night anniversary revelers.