SAD SHUTTERS
Longtime San Antonio Mexican restaurant says goodbye after 18 years
Tiago's Cabo Grille has called it a day.
After an 18-year run, a popular coastal Mexican restaurant has suddenly shuttered. San Antonio’s Tiago’s Cabo Grille, at 17711 I-10 #101 in The Rim shopping center, announced its closure via an earnest social media statement.
“Farewell, San Antonio,” wrote the restaurant. “After many wonderful years of serving this amazing city, the time has come to close our doors.”
Entrepreneur Matt Charbonneau partnered with Sea Island Shrimp House’s Barclay Anthony to open Tiago’s in 2007. The restaurant quickly became known for its woodfire cooking and tropical Mexican fare such as pescado zarandeado and cilantro-lime chicken.
Still, it was arguably even more famous for its signature dessert — a gooey Mexican chocolate cake served with a molten drizzle and a scoop of cinnamon ice cream. The treat became so adored that it inspired copycat recipes online.
Tiago’s did not give a reason for its abrupt departure from San Antonio’s dining scene, instead thanking its longtime patrons. In March, the restaurant announced an ownership change, promising “fresh energy and new ideas.”
That new owner appears to be Mexico-based hospitality group Grupo Orraca, the group behind the defunct Santa Diabla Cocina Mexicana. The website contact email was updated to email address with an Orraca URL.
Both Tiago’s website and Google Maps profiles say it is “temporarily closed," which might indicate a concept shift. The website for Salsita, the Orraca concept that replaced Santa Diabla, says it is "opening soon at The Rim." No website or timeframe were publicized, but we will update this article should we hear more details.
Bánh mì is the centerpiece of the menu.Photo by Katie James.