COMING ATTRACTIONS

J-Prime owners to open new Italian grill in San Antonio

The owners of J-Prime Steakhouse are opening a new Italian grill.

Photo courtesy of J-Prime Steakhouse

The owners of San Antonio’s Chama Gaúcha and J-Prime Steakhouse are making a detour to Italy. The restaurant group has launched a website for a new concept called Ardēre Braceria Italiana, purportedly opening in fall 2026.

Recently, J-Prime Management filed Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation project details under the name “JPrime Italia,” listing 325 E Sonterra Blvd. #240 as the location address. That site is the same as the company’s headquarters, a nondescript office park that doesn’t exactly say fine dining.

J Prime Italia shares its name with an LLC created in December 2025. The officers are listed as João Carlos Ongaratto and Giocondo Angeli, the business partners behind Chama Gaúcha. That same month, J-Prime Management purchased the former home of Galpão Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse at 2318 N Loop 1604 W.

It’s not clear if the Loop 1604 address will be used for the new Italian concept. A representative for the restaurant group declined to elaborate on the concept, saying “it’s still a bit early for us to share any details, but did confirm the name and the placeholder website.

That website consists of a mailing list form and a hazy picture of what appears to be the Italian countryside. The name of the restaurant, however, does offer some clues. In Italy, bracerias are grills specializing in high-quality meats cooked over an open fire — essentially an Italian steakhouse.

Once open, Ardēre could be the start of a national chain. Both Chama Gaúcha and J-Prime Steakhouse, opened in 2008 and 2014, respectively, eventually outgrew their San Antonio roots, expanding to other major Texas metros and Chicago.

NEWS YOU CAN EAT

Acclaimed San Antonio gelato shop seeks help in icy business climate

Casa Morgana Gelatos/ Facebook

Casa Morgana Gelatos is asking for community support in staying afloat.

An acclaimed San Antonio gelato shop is taking to social media as it tries to weather a frosty business climate. Casa Morgana Gelatos, located at 3107 TPC Pkwy on the Far North Side, is seeking customer support to survive the slow winter season.

“Casa Morgana is our family’s dream, and we’re doing everything we can to keep it alive, " wrote the shop on Instagram. “If you love our gelato and believe in supporting local businesses, visiting us, sharing our posts, or bringing a friend truly makes a difference.”

Gelato master Kirén Miret first founded the brand in Mexico City in 2017, where it remains a popular neighborhood shop. The concept crossed over to San Antonio in 2023, first opening in downtown’s Make Ready Market before settling at TPC Parkway.

The U.S. version quickly drew acclaim in its own right. In 2024, artisan Dora Posada advanced to the semifinals of North America's division of the Gelato Festival World Masters tournament for "Morganas Goat Spell," a flavor combining goat cheese, orange zest, figs, pecans, and honey.”

The shop currently carries similarly creative gelatos, using ingredients sourced from local farms and ranches. Although the menu frequently changes, guests can expect flavors like pineapple chili, dulce de leche, Dubai chocolate, and passion fruit cream — all of which can be stuffed into a pressed croissant.

Casa Morgana says its sales are actually better than last year, but costs like rent, payroll, and operating costs continue to rise. The past few weeks have “been especially challenging” for the business.

Slumping winter sales have been especially challenging for San Antonio restaurants in 2026, as inflation, lowered consumer spending, and volatile weather continue to put a dent in the bottom line. In January, fledgling taqueria Tacopolis held a “make rent” event to make up for its own flagging sales.

ice cream far north side business gelato