WHERE TO EAT
Where to eat in San Antonio: 5 new restaurants you might have missed
Gourmet pizza and cocktails at Morea Italian Steakhouse.
It's a good problem to have: Every week, new San Antonio-area restaurants seem to pop up everywhere. From new ventures by celebrity Alamo City chefs to cult-favorite national chains, there are so many fresh dining options that a few promising eateries fly under the radar.
So we’re playing a little catch-up. These recently opened San Antonio restaurants may not have had the marketing budgets to make a splashy debut, but locals are noticing anyway. From a new Southwon spot offering a new twist on kolaches to a Thai haunt that’s not afraid of spice, one of these hidden gems may just become your next neighborhood favorite.
The Breakfast Mill
This locally owned spot took over Le Peep Cafe’s former spot in early April, and, yes, it’s still delivering some AM sunshine. But that’s where the similarity ends. Instead of latching onto the chain’s fare, the new owners came in with all-new recipes. The menu splits the difference between diner breakfasts and fancier brunch fare, offering everything from a caprese Benedict to a Ranch Hand plate with French toast and bacon. Oh, and there’s a croffle that may make millennials reconsider their relationship with avocado toast.
Kotka y Chucho
Like many of San Antonio’s best restaurants, this Southtown kolache counter doesn’t ignite the city’s Tex-Mex heritage just because it’s technically cooking another cuisine. Kolaches and klobasneks (the proper term for the meatier varieties) come in flavors the Czechs never imagined, like barbacoa, chicken fajita, and mango and lime. That’s not to say that everything is strictly puro. One of the most intriguing options is made with pork chop, sharp Cheddar, and apple jam.
Thai Fire Lime
While not strictly Thai (the appetizers include Japanese takoyaki and Chinese-American crab rangoon), this fast-casual joint is still a welcome addition in a city that has long starved for quality Asian fare. Many of the dishes are standards like pad Thai and Panang curry, though the kitchen does get creative with beet fried rice and Chinese broccoli with chicharron. We’ll leave it to your taste buds to decide if Thai Fire Lime really delivers on its “Texas heat” promise. While many online reviewers say the second spice level is fine, our masochistic palate wants to always go up to five.
Morea Italian Steakhouse
Prince Blakaj — the owner of Tastemaker Award-nominated restaurant Mare e Monte — opened this new Floresville restaurant back in February, but he hasn’t courted much press. We respect the perfectionist streak. Truth be known, he probably could have cut corners in a town not exactly known for its thriving culinary scene. One look at a perfectly flaky sole served with a luscious broccoli risotto proves why “good enough” really isn’t worth pursuing at all.
Pizzería Buonizzimo
Don’t judge a book by its cover, or at least a strip mall restaurant by its sign. This Bel Meade pizzeria is considerably more charming once you step inside and see the la dolce vita decor. Much of the menu is classic Italian-American, Parmesan wings and fettuccine Alfredo, but the wood-fired Neapolitan pizza is anything but. The Amanti della Carne is a tarantella of stracciatella, soppressata, and small-batch pepperoni sourced from a New York farm.
