As the nation has a collective anxiety attack, this week’s crop of San Antonio dining news offers a reprieve. Just when everyone needs to eat (and drink) their feelings, three new concepts have announced they are up to the task.

Openings

Although San Antonio restaurants are experiencing a turbulent summer, nightlife concepts are having a boom. 505 Rooftop Bar, a project from former KENS 5 personality Roman Garcia, opened July 5 at 505 E. Travis St. downtown. Capturing the Zynternet zeitgeist, the watering hole offers a cucumber-based Hawk Tuah Martini, proving we are indeed living in perilous times.

A new La Villita restaurant has brought the former Fig Tree space back to life. Mad Dogs Restaurant Groupquietly debutedCasa Catrina in early July. As the name hints, the restaurant has a Día de los Muertos theme with colorful calaveras spread throughout. The food menu is mostly tacos, with a heavy seafood focus, complimented with an agave-centered cocktail menu.

Fresh off opening its second area location, Corpus Christi chain Umiya Sushi is planning a three-peat. According to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filings, an outpost is in the works at 911 N. Hunt Ln. #102.

Other news and notes

Two San Antonio restaurants were recently given some shine. First, reservation platform OpenTable handed Dashi Sichuan Bar + Kitchen a Diners’ Choice Award. The user-voted designation is decided by a review of diner reviews over a four-month period.

Meanwhile, the Texas Restaurant Association granted Clementine its Rising Star Award during its annual convention. The plaudit goes to a “person or concept [who] is an up-and-comer with ambitious goals and the grit to achieve them.”

The San Antonio Spurs have once again opened a call for the annual Spurs Culinary Residency Program. A dozen lucky local food business will have the opportunity to showcase their fare in up to nine games during the 2024-25 season. The application is available online.