It took a bit longer than expected, but Piatti finally reopened its second San Antonio location at the Èilan Hotel and Spa on July 18. The trattoria had been shuttered since mid-2022 when its California-based parent company decided to give both properties a facelift.
The move comes on the heels of the January reemergence of its Quarry location. Piatti has been a staple of the local restaurant scene since the ‘90s. Though part of a chain, the sibling San Antonio eateries are Texas’ sole locations.
The new space is a warm departure from the industrial trappings of the original design. Gone are the former’s putty walls, reclaimed wood accents, and cast-concrete fixtures, replaced by spring green banquettes and yards of Venetian plaster. Texture envelopes the room, whether from chenille upholstery or the well-worn vintage cooking utensils made into art by Molly West.
As with the Quarry outpost, the La Cantera menu has been modernized, too. Standouts include a lemon ricotta ravioli with sage brown butter; a hand-pressed flatbread with maitake mushrooms and pesto; and pork chop Saltimbocca served with green beans, fontina, and a Marsala sauce.
The beverage program also has new vigor thanks to a revamped wine list and amaro-heavy cocktail offerings. The libations range from a play on the Aperol Spritz with grapefruit bitters to an Italianate riff on the classic Paloma. Craft beer and a selection of zero-proof sippers round off the menu.
Still to come is the weekday aperitivo hour. From 3-6 pm, patrons can live out their White Lotus fantasies via deals on drinks and bar snacks like lumache and cheese, eggplant caponata, and hand-pulled mozzarella arancini.
“We’re very excited to reopen our Eilan location and see our longtime customers again,” said Piatti Culinary Vice President David Kurtz via a release. “We used this time as an opportunity to refine what we do best as well as introduce exciting menu additions and can’t wait for diners to experience this new chapter of Piatti.”
Photo by Ashleigh Amoroso
The new Piatti interior is washed in Venetian plaster.
