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Thinking Inside the Blue Box

Best Quality Daughter chef announces new Pearl cocktail bar

Jennifer Dobbertin Jue Let
Jennifer Dobbertin was inspired by the Cantonese chef who cooked for James Beard's family. Rendering courtesy of Lake|Flato Architects

One of San Antonio's most celebrated chefs of recent years, Jennifer Dobbertin of Best Quality Daughter, is opening a new cocktail bar at Pearl. Called Jue Let, it will take over the space where Blue Box Bar used to be sometime this year.

It's named after the Cantonese chef Jue Let, who worked as a private chef for the James Beard family; James Beard later established the James Beard Foundation celebrating the culinary arts. And finally, it all made it back to Dobbertin, who is currently a James Beard Award semifinalist, as she was in 2024.

“It was Jue Let who introduced young Beard to Chinese cuisine, shaping his palate and trajectory as a culinary icon,” said Dobbertin in a press release. “Jue Let was a surrogate father figure to James Beard and he left a lasting impression on him, as well as a lifelong appreciation of fresh, seasonal ingredients and Chinese culture.”

The interior at Jue Let will be designed by Lake|Flato, which also designed the whimsical, but chic interior of Best Quality Daughter. The through lines don't stop there: Best Quality Daughter's bar program creator Lis Forsythe will be the beverage director, and the general manager, Daniel Perez, will stay in that role while also serving as director of operations at the new restaurant.

There's not much information about the menu yet, except that it will be "concise," featuring small plates and bar snacks.

“I have been dreaming up my next concept at Pearl for the last few years, and I am so excited to finally share it with the world,” said Dobbertin. “I am grateful for the incredible team at Best Quality Daughter for their support and dedication as we continue to grow in San Antonio’s hospitality scene. We are eager to unveil more details of our new concept when the time is right. Until then, please stay tuned for this exciting new chapter.”

news/restaurants-bars