Quantcast
Photo courtesy of Seasons 52

To quote the great Miami troubadours Exposé, “seasons change, feeling change.” Once dominated by the garish flair of TGI Friday’s, the U.S. casual dining landscape has shifted as upstart chains enter the market with healthier ingredients and more contemporary corporate ethos. It also doesn’t hurt to add a little booze.

The latest nail in the southwestern eggroll comes from Seasons 52, an Orlando-based chain hawking fresh ingredients and 52 wines by the glass. The first San Antonio location will land at 255 E. Basse Rd. in the Alamo Quarry Market on May 20.

The concept hinges on offering meals under 595 calories. True to the name, Seasons also rotates its offerings to take advantage of peak produce — promising that the vegetables never hit the freezer shelf. Meats and fish are responsibly sourced, but most of the pricing is well below $20 per dish.

While triggering all the Pavlov responses of a Food Network-weened customer base (Ahi tuna! Preserved lemons! Korean barbecue!), the menu has a vaguely Californian bent. Options range from flatbreads to more upscale entrées like cedar plank-roasted salmon, Kona coffee-crusted lamb, and wood-grilled filet mignon.

Seasons also boasts an, erm, seasonal menu that changes four times a year. Local managing partner Jennifer Patterson and executive chef partner Brandon Kimball will welcome Alamo City’s first guests with summery dishes like watermelon and tomato salad and wood-grilled corn, aged Cheddar, and spiced bacon flatbread.

Not defining health as deprivation, the eatery also offers eight “mini indulgence” desserts, diminutive versions of classic desserts like pecan pie, raspberry cannoli, and Belgian chocolate s'mores. And, of course, patrons are free to get sauced.

Wine is the primary focus of the beverage program. Guests can discover new favorites with “Drink Them Before They’re Famous,” a collection of wines from emerging producers. Or they can indulge in one of the seasonal rotating wine flights. Cocktails are also available. Summer menu exclusives include a watermelon margarita and a Bourbon sour.

Once open, Seasons 52 will serve lunch and dinner daily while offering a 3-6 pm happy hour Monday through Friday. Reservations are recommended, but the eatery will accept walk-ins. Patrons can also opt for Green Boxes of grilled tenderloin or roasted salmon, take-home meals for four to six people.

And, yes, the mini indulgences are available as a flight — 595 calories be damned.

Seasons 52

Photo courtesy of Seasons 52

Cedar plank-roasted salmon rings up a modest 550 calories.

Southwest Elixirs/ Facebook

Nurse a Fiesta hangover at these 7 San Antonio spots

THE MORNING(S) AFTER

Congratulations, you made it! After 11 days of celebrations, Fiesta San Antonio is in the rearview mirror. We bet you’re feeling a little rough. It’s OK to rush order some blackout curtains, but hiding from a four-day hangover won’t make the symptoms go away any faster.

What will help is a little self-care. Save the cheese enchiladas for later in the month and eat mindfully at one of these local spots. We can’t promise that you won’t still reach for the Advil, but at least you’ll have enough energy to pack that flower crown up.

Las Nieves
Feeling as dried out as a corn husk flower? Get some bloom again at one of the three locations of this local snack shop. True, it will be hard to resist snack shop faves like corn in a cup and Hot Cheetos, but stick to a more hydrating cucumber or jicama fruit cup. Wash it down with the mineral water rusa topped with salt, lime, and Lucas. Gatorade wishes it has so much power.

Pharm Table
Few local restaurants take San Antonio’s health as seriously as this Southtown hot spot. Chef Elizabeth Johnson composed the menu through an Ayurvedic lens, suggesting each meal start with a pickled ginger amuse-bouche. From there, the globally inspired fare centers veggies in dishes like a zucchini noodle bowl topped with a toasted cashew and coconut crumble.

Plantaquería
The breakfast taco was practically made for hangover recovery, but hangover recovery isn’t just about the immediate boost. This downtown eatery lightens up the morning staple with entirely plant-based ingredients. Order the La Tejana — a vegan scramble with pico de gallo, salsa ranchera, and tender potatoes — for a solid foundation.

Rise Up
Instead of buying out the corner store’s stock of corn syrup-filled treats, opt for one of Rise Up’s açai bowls to sate the hangover sweet tooth. The Acai Breakfast feels as decadent as a tub of Blue Bell but is loaded with nutrient-rush fruits like blueberries and bananas. Plus, a generous scoop of almond butter gives a protein boost to help keep cravings at bay.

SAD HRS
If ever a coffee shop understood post-festival malaise, it’s this tiny spot inside Vibras nightclub. Power through late afternoons with a pink horchata latte, a delightful rice milk brew with a double shot of espresso. Not only will it give you the oomph to last this tough week, but its Neapolitan color scheme also looks absolutely adorable on a Zoom call.

Sojourn
Though it may be tempting to hop off the wagon after Fiesta’s social whirl, it’s easy to hold your horses thanks to the city’s many mocktails. This downtown retreat offers some of the city’s most imaginative zero-proof sippers, including the quenching Blood Moon with hibiscus tea and the fortifying Criolla Shake — a protein blast with peanut butter, cold brew, egg white, and orgeat.

Southwest Elixirs
This East Side shop bills itself as a wellness café, but that doesn’t mean it wants you to choke down wheatgrass. Its concoctions may offer potential health benefits, but taste is at the fore. Try the For the Sol shot to soothe a still gurgling afterparty stomach. Or detox with the Cosmic Limeade, a zingy mix of activated coconut charcoal, lime, maple syrup, and alkaline water.

Roots salad Kitchen/ Facebook

8 mouthwatering spots serving up specials during Black Restaurant Week San Antonio

CULTURE AND CUISINE

Our only regret for Black Restaurant Week San Antonio? There are only so many meals we can eat in a day. So we’ve learned to form a game plan before diving into the dozens of restaurants participating in the annual celebration of culture and cuisine.

Founder Ryane Smith’s labor of love, held this year from February 26 to March 5, has become an annual tradition. Each year, participating restaurants agree to donate a dollar from a special to a local charity; this year, the San Antonio Food Bank. That alone is an excellent reason to schedule lingering dinners and mid-day lunches.

But it is also a chance to discover new favorites to return to month after month. Here are a few of ours to get your calendar started.

Carmens de la Calle
For over 20 years, this venue has been delivering la vie boheme to locals via its cozy downtown hideaway. The food pairs nicely with the flamenco often found inside. Order the house paella with chicken, chorizo, and seafood, or order empanadas 72 hours in advance. They come in a mind-boggling assortment of global flavors — everything from the Japanese-inspired Samurai Chicken to beef picadillo.

Kirk’s Jerk
Kirk’s family-run food truck specializes in — what else — jerk chicken. Jamaica’s most famous culinary export is made into tacos, sandwiches, and sliders — and even a salad bowl. That’s just a lip-smacking start. For a limited time, the Converse trailer will also be dishing out oxtails and curry chicken for a complete family feast. All are served with the necessary sides: cabbage, rice and peas, and plantains.

Momma Luv’s
This Northeast Side eatery combines soul and Caribbean cooking in one of the most piquant menus in town. Southern specialties like fried catfish and collard greens can be mixed and matched with island favorites like Jamaican beef patties, plantains, and slow-stewed chicken.

Mr. A. OK’s Kitchen
An industry vet with more than 20 years of experience, chef Steven Harris specializes in the soul food once ubiquitous at Southern meat-and-threes. That means every sandwich and entrée comes with at least one side, a list that covers all the classics — mac ‘n’ cheese, greens, black-eyed peas, dirty rice, fried okra, and more.

Roots Salad Kitchen

It used to be conventional wisdom that people who wanted a healthy meal in San Antonio had to cook it themselves. Not anymore. Spots like Roots are dishing out plenty of veggies and whole grains, all served as a fast-food value meal. Chef Chris Cukjati takes it one step further by introducing a global flavor palate. Chimichurri gives zing to flat iron steak in a Tex-Mex salad; shrimp is paired with crunchy green apples and a sunny orange dressing.

Sweet Yams
A more health-minded take on Southern fare, this East Side eatery offers lean meats, gluten-free bread, and organic produce. All of the sides are vegan, but omnivores might not notice. The red beans and rice is insanely flavorful, thanks to a squirt of sriracha and creamy avocado.

Trices Café & Lounge
Owned by chef Elsie Glasu-Atunuwa, Trices is one of only a handful of restaurants in Alamo City offering West African standards like egusi soup (a nutty comfort food made from blended melon seeds) and jollof rice (a vibrantly spiced dish made in a tomato stew). Try either with a Malta Guinness, a sweet, malty soft drink with just a hint of the familiar stout’s flavor.

Wine 210
This elegant neighborhood wine bar has an intriguing array of bottles, ranging from patio pounders like Field Recording’s Skins to big reds like Longevity Cabernet Sauvignon. The snacks are naturally designed to let the vino shine. Opt for charcuterie, olives, hummus, or a decadent double-chocolate cake.

Ad Placement 300x100
Ad Placement 300x600

CultureMap Emails are Awesome

San Antonio plummets on list of best places to live, plus more top stories

Hot Headlines

Editor’s note: It’s that time again — time to check in with our top stories. From hotel accolades to urban treasure hunting, here are five articles that captured our collective attention over the past seven days.

1. San Antonio plummets on list of best places to live in new national report. San Antonio was previously the No. 75 place to live in America in 2021, tumbling to No. 83 in 2022 and dropping even further down the list to No. 103 in 2023.

2. Here are the top 7 things to do in San Antonio this holiday weekend. Check out Spoon or Kool and the Gang tonight, or head to UTSA for their annual Asian festival.

3. This is how big San Antonio apartments get for $1,500 a month. San Antonio renters can find apartments that span 1,010 square feet for $1,500 a month.

4. Posh Pearl hotel books top spot on best luxury hotels in U.S. list. Tripadvisor's coveted Travelers' Choice Best of Best Awards recently gave Hotel Emma top marks in two categories.

5. Texas unearths new ranking as 2nd best state for urban treasure hunting. Fun fact: Texas has the highest number of metal detecting sites in the nation.

Fine dining chef unpacks nostalgic pop-up concept at popular Grayson Street bar on Memorial Day

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

With new restaurants seemingly opening daily, San Antonio’s culinary scene is more exhilarating than ever. But even those with a packed reservation schedule sometimes crave something different.

Enter pop-ups — a San Antonio obsession that grows more popular each month. The latest to enter the fray is Restaurant Claudine chef Mel Cavazos, who will debut Throwback Sammies, a one-night-only concept sprouting up at Three Star Bar on May 29.

“I want to do something comforting that everyone can relate to,” explains Cavazos of the nostalgic concept. “I want the menu to read simply but totally unexpected when you eat it.”

The small menu includes a trio of dishes that evoke childhood memories. Cheese bread is reimagined with Romesco sauce, burrata, and basil, while another sandwich has all the fixings of a Sunday pot roast with potatoes, carrots, and gravy. Those desperately waiting for fall will no doubt flock to the Thanksgiving Meltdown, complete with turkey, stuffing, and cranberry.

One dish, however, is even more personal. In honor of a recently passed friend, Cavazos added a “secret” vegan sandwich featuring buffalo cauliflower and homemade pickled vegetables.

“He loved his vegan wings,” Cavazos remembers.

The chef tells CultureMap that Throwback Sammies is just the start of a series of pop-ups she hopes to hold monthly. As she continues developing a career at Carpenter Carpenter Hospitality’s ever-growing restaurant empire, she sees the pop-up series as a chance to keep exploring her culinary voice.

“I want to expand and explore more options,” Cavazos says, adding, “I love sandwiches, but that’s not what I like to be known for.”

Throwback Sammies starts at 8 pm and runs until supplies run out. Future pop-ups will be announced via Instagram.

Texas' best restaurants and bars reign at 2023 Tastemaker Awards

HATS OFF TO TEXAS

It’s another one for CultureMap’s history books, folks. Our statewide journey to recognize some of the best chefs, restaurants, and more in 2023 has finally come to a close.

The series kicked off April 13 with our sold-out Houston Tastemakers at Silver Street Studios, then we moved to Cowtown for our Fort Worth event on April 27. The Texas culinary tour steered us to our Metroplex neighbors in Dallas at the Fashion Industry Gallery on May 4. From there, we took a drive to the Hill Country for Austin’s evening festivities at Fair Market on May 11, then concluded our journey with our second-ever fête in San Antonio on May 18.

The 2023 Tastemaker Awards honor the state’s most innovative culinary pioneers, allowing nominated chefs and restaurants to showcase their talents for guests before announcing the winners during a live ceremony.

Guests sampled chefs’ specialty bites and imbibed a variety of creative cocktails or mocktails, with a few Topo Chicos sprinkled in throughout the evening. But as always, our nominees and winners are the main focus of our program and are the reason we can bring these celebrations to life.

Nominees are brought forth by a panel of previous Tastemaker winners and CultureMap editors. While the panel choses a majority of the winners, the winner of Best New Restaurant is determined by our readers in an online, bracket-style tournament. New this year in each city, a sizzling on-site Burger Throwdown sponsored by Goodstock Beef by Nolan Ryan.

Without further ado, let’s meet our 2023 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards winners, listed by city:

San Antonio:

  • Restaurant of the Year: Carriqui
  • Chef of the Year: Robbie Nowlin, Allora, Arrosta
  • Bar of the Year: Amor Eterno
  • Brewery of the Year: Künstler Brewing
  • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: The Magpie
  • Pastry Chef of the Year: Sofia Tejeda, Hotel Emma
  • Best Burger: Last Place Burger
  • Best New Restaurant: Reese Bros BBQ

Houston:

K\u00fcnstler doppelbock
Künstler Brewing Instagram

Künstler Brewing is our Brewery of the Year.

  • Restaurant of the Year: Bludorn
  • Chef of the Year: Mark Clayton, Squable
  • Bar of the Year: Captain Foxheart’s Bad News Bar and Spirit Lounge
  • Best New Restaurant: Aiko
  • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Emmanuel Chavez, Tatemó
  • Pastry Chef of the Year: Shawn Gawle, Goodnight Hospitality
  • Bartender of the Year: Kristine Nguyen, Captain Foxheart’s Bad News Bar
  • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Craft Pita
  • Wine Program of the Year: Nancy’s Hustle
  • Best Pop-Up: Khói Barbecue
  • Best Burger: Burger Bodega

Fort Worth:

  • Restaurant of the Year: Fitzgerald
  • Chef of the Year: Juan Ramón Cárdenas, Don Artemio
  • Bar of the Year: Birdie’s Social Club
  • Best New Restaurant: Calisience
  • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Angel Fuentes, Guapo Taco
  • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Cafe Bella
  • Best Burger: Dayne’s Craft Barbecue
  • Best Brewery: Martin House Brewing Company

Dallas:

  • Restaurant of the Year: Shoyo
  • Chef of the Year: Junior Borges, Meridian
  • Bar of the Year: Lounge Here
  • Best New Restaurant: Quarter Acre
  • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Mike Matis, Fearing’s
  • Pastry Chef of the Year: Maricsa Trejo, La Casita Bakeshop
  • Bartender of the Year: Haley Merritt, Midnight Rambler
  • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: El Rincon del Maiz
  • Wine Program of the Year: Pappas Bros.
  • Best Burger: Wulf Burger
  • Brewery of the Year: Manhattan Project Beer Co.

Austin:

  • Restaurant of the Year: Birdie’s
  • Chef of the Year: Amanda Turner, Olamaie
  • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Joaquin Ceballos, Este
  • Pastry Chef of the Year: Mariela Camacho, Comadre Panadería
  • Bar of the Year: Nickel City
  • Bartender of the Year: Erin Ashford, Olamaie
  • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Nixta Taqueria
  • Wine Program of the Year: Bufalina
  • Brewery of the Year: Lazarus Brewing Co.
  • Best Burger: Dai Due
  • Best New Restaurant: Maie Day