News you can eat

Cake Boss treats San Antonio to holiday appearance and more food news

Buddy Valastro is bringing his brood to San Antonio.

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.

Cake BossBuddy Valastro is bringing his whole family to San Antonio for three days of events from November 29 through December 1. The celebrity baker will be promoting new menu items and holiday events at his La Cantera Italian joint, Buddy V’s. Stop by for a meal and a cannoli or two. Stay tuned to social media for updates on hours.

Beloved local chef Johnny Hernandez spiced up the AT&T Center on November 18 with the debut of a hybridLa Gloria and Burgerteca concepts outside of section 200. The colorful eatery sports a menu of favorites from both restaurants as well as a tequila bar featuring infused spirits and signature margaritas. While watching the Spurs best the Golden State Warriors, a few lucky fans got the opportunity to score a $100 gift card by appearing on the Cumbia Cam.

The Phantom Room may have ghosted out of the St. Mary’s Strip back in August, but a new concept is bringing spirit back to the space. An employee confirmed that Lonesome Rose scooted in on November 15. The honky-tonk, featuring some serious ‘70s country and Western vibes, comes from the ownership group of Andrea Vince, Joey Cano, Miguel Delgado, Danny Delgado, Hillary Woodhouse, and Americana musician Garrett T. Capps. Fittingly, the focus is on live music.

Speaking of nightlife, 800 Live is back at 800 Lexington Ave. The club announced via Facebook that November 16 was the first day of business. 800 Live briefly opened over the summer months, but closed due to a change of ownership. The current iteration will feature DJs, live music, and craft cocktails.

Here’s one more thing to be thankful for this holiday weekend: Italian restaurant Battalion is now serving brunch. According to a Facebook post, the service started November 18 and features tempting dishes like polenta battered breakfast sausage, milk braised pork and eggs, and tiramisu French toast.

Scott Metzger, the co-founder of Freetail Brewing Co., has left the acclaimed brewery to pursue new opportunities. According to a statement, the parting was amicable and the business will continue to operate under brewer Jason Davis.

The Esquire Tavern is celebrating its 85th birthday on December 5 with a huge shindig that includes passed hors d’oeuvres, live music from The Dirty River Dixie Band, dancing, a fortune teller, and performances from Stars and Garters Burlesque. The festivities, beginning at 7 pm, also mark Repeal Day, the anniversary of the end of Prohibition in America.

Some belated congratulations to Rico Torres of lauded restaurant Mixtli. On November 8, he battled chefs from throughout the world to make the Most Modern Taps at the World Tapas Championship in Valladoid Spain. His rebanado de vida dish featured pickled razor clams in a sauce with brandy, saffron, smoky chile, jamon Iberico, and charred sea beans. Torres’ playful dish also had an aural element. A micro speaker housed in a wooden box played ocean sounds.

nightlife openings music event-planner chefs burgers brunch breweries craft-beer

Better Days, Same Burgers

Shuttered San Antonio burger joint stages surprising comeback

Teddy B's/Facebook

Teddy B's has made a surprise comeback.

Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of Teddy B's life. In October, the popular burger joint shuttered its decade-old location on Babcock Road, grieving a loss of foot traffic and rising costs. On November 20, the spot revealed a plot twist. The owners are now slinging patties at 9903 Fredericksburg Rd.

"Dear Teddy B's customers, we have good news," the restaurant posted on social media. "We are back in business...We are waiting for our new sign, but we are up and running."

The unexpected comeback is the culmination of a tumultuous year for the business. As the restaurant marked its 10-year milestone this summer, the outlook was much darker. On August 4, the restaurant took to social media to warn that closure could be imminent. A traffic decline affected Teddy B's ability to maintain its affordable price point.

The messaging worked, at least in the short term. Days later, the restaurant reported an increase in business. The marketing language was hopeful until October 13, when the restaurant abruptly announced it was closing for good.

The news of Teddy B's rebirth came just as suddenly. After a month-long social media silence, the restaurant announced it had taken over the former home of Burger Haven. The latter restaurant was little known, appearing to operate mainly as a ghost kitchen.

Assumably, burgers will be back on the menu, but it is unclear whether other favorites will be eliminated to streamline the operation. The business has not posted any revisions, and its website is down at press time.

The burger joint's comeback manifests as other shuttered legacy restaurants like The Lion and Rose and Fratello's have staged their own returns. While Teddy B's has offered no reasoning for getting back into the game, it is a testament to the resiliency of San Antonio's culinary community.

burgers closings openings