7 things to know in San Antonio food right now: Anticipated Italian restaurant says ciao to North Side

Nonna Osteria is now serving its decadent pasta in a second location.

Nonna Osteria said ciao to Alamo City on September 27.

Editor’s note: We get it. It can be difficult to keep up with the fast pace of San Antonio’s restaurant and bar scene. We have you covered with our regular roundup of essential food news.

Openings

The hotly anticipated second location of Nonna Osteria said ciao to Alamo City on September 27. Located underneath Silo Elevated at 434 North Loop in the Ventura Plaza shopping center, the much-loved Italian restaurant offers indoor and al fresco seating Tuesdays through Saturdays. Though it does not have an identical menu to the Fairmount Hotel original, many dishes reappear — including a version of the decadent tartufo served in a cheese wheel.

Bakudan Ramen is hoping to bowl San Antonio over with a new location in Stone Oak. A second outpost of the Japanese favorite debuted October 11 at 22506 US-281 North #106. The fledgling chain isn’t entirely done laying its San Antonio footprint. A third outpost is underway at the Bandera-Loop 1604 interchange with an unannounced opening date.

Acclaimed Seguin eatery Davila’s BBQ is now playing ball with the AT&T Center. In a video Instagram post, the Texas Monthly-approved barbecue joint announced it will serve its smoked meats during the 2022-2023 season. In honor of the move, owner Adrian Davila will introduce a few Spurs items to the menu honoring icons like Tim Duncan and Manu Ginóbili.

The former home of goth hot spot Wax Club Lounge appears to be undergoing a resurrection. A new concept called REDBAR has applied for a late-hours certificate with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission at 2211 San Pedro. There’s no word yet on what the bar will be — no web or social presence appears to have been established.

Other news and notes

The Southtown location of Freetail Brewing Co. will soon be offering wood-fired pizzas. The craft brewery took to social media to announce that it was now hiring kitchen staff to add to its team. Previously, the pies were only available at the 4035 N. Loop 1604 brewpub.

The San Antonio Grilled Cheese Fest will bring some ooey-gooey fun to The Espee on November 19. The third annual festival pits local restaurants in a battle for a $500 prize. Tickets are $38-$58, with the VIP pass including early entry.

Local food activist Jamie Gonzalez — aka Puta de la Fruta — has been named the sole Texas candidate for the American Heart Association’s 2022 EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator and its big $50,000 prize. The annual program provides training and grants to organizations and individuals impacting community health. Locals can vote for the hometown hero here.

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BREW BLUES

Acclaimed brewery taps out of San Antonio after 11 years

Busted Sandal Brewing Company/Facebook

Busted Sandal is closing all three of its locations.

Nationwide, the gusty tradewinds of the craft brewing industry have capsized several industry leaders. In San Antonio, it has been a hurricane. Less than a month after revered beermaker Weathered Souls shuttered, Busted Sandal Brewing has written its own epitaph. The closure affects all three locations.

The team shared the news in an October 2 social media post. Although the statement didn’t dig deeply into the reasoning, it cited economic pressures, including its customers' ability to pay for “housing, food, and day-to-day life.”

“We do not close Busted Sandal with immense regret, but rather with a great sense of pride, holding our heads high knowing we made great beer and created a fun place for our Sandal family,” wrote a representative.

Busted Sandal opened its first outpost in San Antonio in 2013, largely committed to lighter beer styles like Mexican lagers and hefeweizens. In early 2020, the company expanded to a beer garden in Helotes. Its newest location in Kerrville has only been open since July 2023.

The economy had undoubtedly been unfriendly to breweries. According to a 2023 study by the national trade group Brewer’s Association, the industry has been burdened by rising costs in almost every production area. At the same time, climate change has reduced crop yields, and changes in drinking preferences have damaged sales.

The market forces are definitely felt in the Alamo City area. In addition to Weathered Souls’ passing, Barrelman Brewing Co., Boerne Brewery, Kinematic Brewing Co., and Second Pitch Beer Co. have all shuttered in recent months. Alamo Beer owner Eugene Simor has placed his East Side property for sale, and Black Laboratory has traded beer for seltzers.

The last day of business for Busted Sandal’s San Antonio location will be October 12, followed by November 3 and 10 for Helotes and Kerrville, respectively.

closings craft beer beer

7 things to know in San Antonio food right now: Anticipated Italian restaurant says ciao to North Side

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Acclaimed brewery taps out of San Antonio after 11 years

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