A change in latitude
New Jimmy Buffett restaurant surfs into popular River Walk attraction
Star power may not have been enough to keep Paula Deen and Buddy Valastro’s San Antonio restaurants open, but one celebrity is doubling down on his local presence. Jimmy Buffett’s LandShark Bar & Grill will soon be making a splash at the Shops at Rivercenter.
The restaurant is expected to arrive before the end of the year, according to a location landing page, but a Rivercenter rep who confirmed the news hedged on giving an exact date. The company did not return a request for comment by deadline.
LandShark will be making its Texas debut with the San Antonio opening, but its menu will surely be familiar to fans of Buffett's Margaritaville, which opened on the River Walk in July 2016.
Instead of playing off the Buffett songbook (sorry, no cheeseburgers in paradise), LandShark’s branding does not revolve around the wildly popular star. Instead, it is inspired by the beachside restaurants that were once ubiquitous along the Atlantic coast. The airy interiors are decorated with surf boards and other totems of beach life.
Fittingly, the menu is awash in seafood, including peel-and-eat shrimp, tuna poke, crab and lobster lettuce wraps, fried cod sandwiches, and fish and chips. LandShark also serves several burgers, teriyaki chicken bowls, and tropical desserts like coconut bread pudding and key lime pie.
Since this is a Jimmy Buffett joint, margaritas make up the bulk of the cocktail menu. Guests can also order an assortment of fruity vodka and rum drinks, draft beer, and wine.
With the addition of LandShark, the Shops at Rivercenter could become a hub for Texas Parrotheads. No word yet on whether the mall's H&M location will start carrying coconut shell bras.