NEWS YOU CAN EAT

Hawaiian burgers and Southtown musical chairs flip San Antonio food news

Unko Maui's teases a double stacked burger.

Unko Maui's/Instagram

What's old is new in the San Antonio food scene as a mysterious dance club and a Hawaiian burger joint take over vintage buildings. Elsewhere in the city, a Grayson Street hot spot is recovering after an early morning blaze.

Openings

Some notable San Antonio buildings will soon breathe new life courtesy of upcoming hospitality projects. The owner of Maui's on Main is taking over the former home of Deco Pizzeria at 1815 Fredericksburg Rd. to open a new burger joint, Unko Maui's. The pizza joint quietly shuttered in early 2024, vacating the location it operated out of since 2011. Unko Maui's says in a slightly buried Instagram comment that the grand opening will be March 15.

Meanwhile, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filings indicate a historic downtown property may soon become a new bar and dance club. In April 2024, downtown developer Weston Urban, under the entity Palace Peppers LP, snagged a property at 310 W. Commerce St. According to the listing, renovations kick off in May, though there's no word on who is behind the project.

Other news and notes

Fire crews were called to Grayson Street bar and food truck park Besáme to put out an early morning blaze on March 6. According to KSAT reporting, the extent of the damage is unknown, but the building showed heavy fire and smoke damage. The complex was closed at the time, and no injuries were reported.

How does one make A Perfect Day more perfect? Add music. Southtown bar Gimme Gimme has partnered with Friends of Sound Records to turn its former wine bar space into a new record shop, one with booze no less. After a grand opening event from noon to 2 am on March 7, the space will be open from noon to midnight daily.

Pullman Market is raising its glass to winemakers in March. First, on March 10, wine department manager Mia Altman will host a tasting honoring women winemakers to celebrate National Women's Month. The $10 ticket will be applied towards guests' purchase of two or more bottles. On March 13, Isidore will kick off its Meet the Winemaker Dinner series with Johnson City vintner Doug Lewis of Lewis Wines. Seats are $150 per guest.

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EZ STREET

Classic San Antonio restaurant EZ's Grill fires up on Far West Side

EZ’s Brick Oven and Grill / Facebook

EZ’s Brick Oven and Grill is famous for its rosemary chicken.

An iconic San Antonio restaurant is easing into a third location. EZ’s Brick Oven and Grill has filed state paperwork to build a new outpost at 12922 Potranco Rd, Bldg 1A #100. The construction is expected to be completed in October.

Legendary Alamo City restaurateur Cappy Lawton founded EZ’s in 1989. Tapping into the cultural moment that created the Back to the Future franchise and a rockabilly revival, EZ’s was modeled after a ‘50s diner with Googie-style architecture and vinyl chairs.

Still, the menu was far from retro. While EZ’s served all-American classics like burgers and fries, it became just as well-known for its artisan brick-oven pizzas and its famous rosemary chicken. Over the decades, the spot kept up with culinary trends, adding menu items like the Chipotle-style Alamo Bowl and vegetarian dishes like a bean burger.

In 1994, the restaurant found success with a new location in Austin. In 2016, the company decided not to rebuild after a fire caused $400,000 in damage. The site is now the location of Rudy’s Bar-B-Q.

At one point, the chain operated four outposts in San Antonio, but significantly scaled back in 2015, closing restaurants in the Alamo Quarry Market and on DeZavala Road. Currently, EZ’s runs two locations at 6498 N New Braunfels Ave and 734 W Bitters Rd.

According to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation records, EZ’s plans to break ground in June. However, a social media update from the business shows that construction is well underway. The restaurant has yet to reveal an official opening date.

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