Hopdoddy Burger Bar introduces new menu items

hopdoddyimpossible — The Impossible Cheesesteak is one of the new burgers on the Hopdoddy Burger Bar menu. Photo: Hopdoddy Burger Bar, used with permission.

Award-winning burger joint, Hopdoddy Burger Bar, announced today the debut of its new menu, revamped just in time for the dog days of summer. Furthering its fanatical focus on sourcing and serving high-quality ingredients, the nationally renowned restaurant group has created a variety of new menu items that combine familiar ingredients in unfamiliar ways. The recently refreshed menu features new burgers, hearty salads, added vegetarian options and cold drinks at all 32 locations throughout seven states. (Hopdoddy Burger Bar, 2019)

This refreshed menu raises the burger bar with additional twists on the humble hamburger. The new menu will still offer tried-and-true favorites, like the Good Night/Good Cause Burger, El Diablo, the Thunderbird, the Magic Shroom burger and more. It now has added a few new items, like the Ahi Cali Club, featuring a sushi-grade tuna patty with steakhouse bacon, avocado, cilantro dijonnaise, and basil pesto; and the Impossible Cheesesteak, with an Impossible patty made entirely of plants topped with Provolone & Swiss, seared peppers and onions, field mushrooms, 78,000 Island and yellow mustard. New salads include Thai Beef Kale and Poblano Ranch Turkey Cobb.

Hopdoddy is also launching new drinks. Perfect to beat that midsummer heat, Hopdoddy now offers Strawberry Margaritas; Berry Gin Fizz—with Prairie Organic Gin, blackberry, cardamom, lime, and bubbles; Grapefruit Spritz with Deep Eddy Ruby Red Vodka, Anew Rosé, and rhubarb; Rum Punch with Plantation Dark Rum, Cointreau, lime, Angostura; and more.

“We’re excited to showcase the new items to our fans across the country. We listen to what they want, and respond with creative options. Our guests have come to expect a level of greatness from our cuisine, and these latest additions are sure to exceed their expectations.”- Jeff Chandler, Hopdoddy CEO

Hopdoddy Burger Bar at the Rim
17623 La Cantera Pkwy Suite 101
San Antonio, TX 78257
(210) 434-2337

National Ice Cream Day this Sunday

evoshakes — EVO will be offering $6 boozy shakes for National Ice Cream Day. Photo: EVO Entertainment Group, used with permission.

EVO Entertainment Group will be scooping out specials at three of their locations across South Texas including Schertz, Kyle and The SPOT at San Marcos. Specials include hand-spun milkshakes for $5 all day at EVO (normally $6.50) and boozy shakes for $6 (normally $8.50).

EVO’s classic shakes are vanilla, chocolate and strawberry with options of more exquisite flavors like Mexican Vanilla and Caramel. Boozy shakes include ‘Grab Life By The Bourbon’ featuring maker’s mark, Kahlua, nutmeg and caramel and others can be made to order. Movie-goers seeing the Lion King will prefer Hakuna Matata from the summer LTO menu that pairs with the film release and has brownie chunks and is drizzled with caramel and chocolate sauce.

3200 Kyle Crossing
Kyle, TX 78640
(512) 523-9009

18658 IH 35N
Schertz ,TX 78154
(210) 764-6986

1180 Thorpe Lane
San Marcos, TX 78666
(512) 210-8600

In honor of National Ice Cream Day, Maybelle’s Donuts in Pearl’s Bottling Department will have a special you “donut” want to miss. For $5 guests can have any donut of their choice topped with delicious soft serve ice cream. Donuts flavors include chocolate sea salt, original glazed and a seasonal filled donut. The special will only be available on National Ice Cream Day Sunday, July 21 while supplies last.

312 Pearl Parkway
Building Six
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 564-9140

Refreshing happy hours around town

bottlingdeptpopsicles — Wine infused popsicles at the Bottling Department at Pearl. Courtesy photo: used with permission.

Summer is here and several businesses around town have happy hours to help customers deal with the rising temperatures. (Savor, Southerleigh Fine food & Brewery, Majestic Theater, Bottling Department at Pearl, The Esquire Tavern, EVO, 2019)

Starting in July, The Culinary Institute of America’s Savor will launch a new happy hour on Tuesday evenings. Specials include $5 cocktails like the Savor Margarita (formerly NAO Margarita voted best in SA) and $1 off appetizers like Pomme Frites, Brisket Meatballs and Orange Chili Wings at the bar. Savor rotates unique talents, featuring a fresh batch of students in the Culinary Institute of America program.

Savor
200 E. Grayson St. #117
San Antonio, TX 78215

Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery will hosts happy hour at the oyster bar Monday through Sunday with specials on food and drink from 3p.m. to 5p.m. Featured items on the menu include $1 pressure fried wings and $.75 fried biscuits. There will also be $2 off all beer, wine, punches and mixes. This happy hour is only valid at the oyster bar and is not applicable to the restaurant. The inviting walk-up bar opened late September and features six Southerleigh beers on tap, plus several varieties of fresh seafood, including oysters, gulf shrimp, crab, caviar and more. The oyster bar is open daily during normal restaurant hours.

Southerleigh
136 E. Grayson St. #120
San Antonio, TX 78215

Happy Hour Tours at The Majestic:
Monday June 24, and Monday July 1 at 5p.m. and 6p.m.
Cool off and join The Majestic for a series of summer happy hour tours of the historic, renowned space. The happy hour tours feature a unique, behind-the-scenes look at the theatre’s 90-year history, architecture and character, led by a knowledgeable tour guide and a trip backstage. Guests will experience insider tidbits throughout the tour and have the option to sip on Frosé, wine, local craft beer. In celebration of the Birthday month, a complimentary “Crown Jewel” cocktail will be included. Tickets cost $25 per person and are available at the Majestic Theatre Box office or on Ticketmaster online. A portion of ticket proceeds support the Las Casas Foundation Performing Arts Scholarship Program.

Majestic Theatre
224 E. Houston St.
San Antonio, TX 78205

Visitors to the Pearl can satisfy their taste buds this summer at The Bar at Bottling Department. Grab a drink during their happy hour every Monday through Thursday from 3p.m. to 6p.m. Featured items include $3 Texas Beers, $3 off glasses of wine as well as $3 off Frosé. This open, walk-up bar is located in the heart of the Pearl and features a vast selection of red and white wines plus several unique cocktails like their wine infused popsicles and strawberry Frosé.

Bottling Department at Pearl
312 Pearl Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78215

River Walk wanderers can stop by Esquire Tavern for happy hour Monday through Friday from 3p.m. to 7p.m. with $3 snacks. During weekday happy hour, all glasses of wine and cocktails are $3 off with seasonal drinks like Pirate and $1 off Texas draft beers. Night owls can indulge in the late-night happy hour, offered Thursday through Saturday 11p.m. to 1a.m. Featured items include Chef Brooke Smith’s $6 chili-salt fries, $8 fried pickles, and an $11 grilled pimento cheese sandwich.

The Esquire Tavern
155 E. Commerce St.
San Antonio, TX 78205

Patrons who visit EVO can enjoy happy hour Monday through Thursday from 11a.m. to 6p.m. Specials include $1 off craft draft beer, $2 off domestics, $3 wells and fireball, $4 jager and $5 house margaritas, like a fresh Watermelon Margarita. Tuesdays at EVO see the $5 frenzy all day $5 bowling, movies, craft beer and select appetizers such as classic nachos, cheese fries and fried mushrooms.

Evo Entertainment Group
18658 IH 35N
Schertz, TX 78154

Unique burgers around town for National Grilling Month this July

krauseburger — Krause’s Double Beef Mushroom Burger. Photo: Krause’s Café, used with permission.

July is National Grilling Month and with the Fourth of July almost here, nothing says grilling like burgers. When it is too hot outside to get the grill going, area restaurants offer their own unique version of the beloved burger.

Wildcat Burger
A true Texas favorite, Esquire Tavern’s Wildcat Burger is created with locally sourced beef that will satisfy even the most demanding summer grilling connoisseur. It is topped with American cheese, sweet grilled pineapple, crisp lettuce, red pepper jelly and creamy habanero aioli; all nestled in a sweet roll bun. This delicious mix of savory and sweet is available for $16.

The Esquire Tavern
155 East Commerce Street
San Antonio, TX 78205

Krause’s Double Beef Mushroom Burger
As part of the 5th Annual James Beard Blended Burger Project,™ Krause’s Cafe and Biergarten has vowed to create and offer a sustainable burger that consists of 25% mushrooms. The Double Beef Mushroom Burger is made with Texas Beef Brisket, ground with local Kitchen Pride mushrooms and seasoned with peppered beef jerky, havarti cheese, crisp pancetta, wild arugula and pickled beech mushrooms, all served on a toasted brioche bun. The burger is only available throughout the competition, until July 31, and costs $10. From Monday through Thursday during lunch hours, patrons who order the Double Beef Mushroom Burger will get any of Krause’s other house ground burgers for half price.

Krause’s Café and Biergarten
148 S Castell Ave
New Braunfels, TX 78130

La Panaderia Patty Melt
June brought the launch of the Caceres brothers’ latest invention, La Panaderia Patty Melt. This unique take on the traditional Patty Melt takes the hearty sandwich to the next level with a high-quality ground beef patty with savory caramelized onions and sandwiched between decadent poppyseed bread. La Panaderia Patty Melt is now be offered at both locations and is priced at $14.99.

La Panaderia
301 E Houston St
San Antonio, TX 78205

8305 Broadway St
San Antonio, TX 78209

Davila’s 1/2 Brisket Burger
This specialty burger is a traditional American burger with a Davila’s BBQ Texas twist. The burger comes with a patty meat along with Davila’s specialized mesquite smoked brisket for double the protein and flavor. The burger is then topped off with tomato, onion, lettuce and cheese with optional Jalapeños for an extra kick. Adrian Davila uses his grandfather’s South Texas and Latin techniques, such as smoking meats directly on the embers or in an underground pit, where the traditional vaquero style comes into play. The Davila’s burger is priced at $8.99.

Davila’s BBQ
418 W. Kingsbury St.
Seguin, Texas 78155

Honey Sriracha Burger
EVO’s signature half pound patties are crafted with a custom blend of locally sourced beef that is hand-ground and pressed daily. Originally created from an employee contest, the Honey Sriracha Burger dominated as the company favorite, now with a permanent stay on the menu. This burger combines pepper jack cheese, jalapenos, bacon and is topped with grilled onions and peppers. This incredible taste of spicy flare is fixed between a sweet fresh baked bun and is priced at $13.50.

EVO Entertainment Group
18658 IH 35N
Schertz, TX 78154

Shack Stack Burger
San Antonio is now home to two Shake Shack locations that feature the Shack Stack burger. The Shack Stack features a classic ShackBurger with cheese, stacked with a crisp-fried portobello mushroom filled with melted muenster and cheddar cheeses, complete with lettuce, tomato and the famous ShackSauce. This over the top burger is available for $10.29 at the Park North location and the newly opened Brackenridge Shack.

Park North
7427 San Pedro Ave
San Antonio, TX 78216

Brackenridge
3003 Broadway Street
San Antonio, TX 78209

Pluckers Wing Bar announces opening of second location

pluckerslogo — Pluckers Wing Bar will opens its second San Antonio location on Monday July 8. Photo: Melissa Skorpil, used with permission.

Pluckers Wing Bar, Texas’ favorite sports bar and wing restaurant, just announced the official opening of its second San Antonio location in the Landmark Center at 15651 I-10 W on Monday, July 8. The new San Antonio location will open daily from 11a.m. to 12a.m. and will feature the iconic Pluckers menu, including fan favorites Fried Pickles, Holy Macaroni, The Bypass Burger topped with bacon, cheddar, grilled onions and jalapeños, and the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich. Pluckers will also offer their famous wings paired with signature sauces Buffalo, Spicy BBQ, and Spicy Ranch, along with unique flavors, like Fire in the Hole, Ginger Peach Sriracha, Gochujang, and Spicy Mandarin. (Pluckers Wing Bar, 2019)

Once open, the new restaurant will offer Pluckers’ signature rewards program, Pluckers Club, for just $10 until July 21. Pluckers Club members enjoy a variety of rewards, including, but not limited to, free birthday meals, invitations to exclusive events, food and drink specials and more. After July 21, Pluckers Club memberships will cost $20. The Pluckers club membership is now available through the app on iTunes and Google Play – a treat for current and aspiring members. As Pluckers continues to open new stores, they are expanding their platform via social media and the app that connects, serves, and grows with their fans.

Owners Mark Greenberg, Dave Paul and Sean Greenberg opened their first Pluckers restaurant in Austin in 1995. Over the past 23 years, Pluckers Wing Bar has opened 23 locations, expanding to Baton Rouge, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Killeen, San Marcos and San Antonio. Pluckers is known for their signature wings and is consistently recognized as the best sports bar and chicken wing restaurant. They offer guests a fun, laid-back atmosphere where friends, family, and co-workers can enjoy a great meal and watch sports. Pluckers has been named in USA Today’s “Top Ten Wing Restaurants” and ESPN’s “Top 5 Sports Bar in North America,” along with being named one of “Austin’s Best Places to Work 2017” by the Austin Business Journal and Dallas Observer’s “Best Sports Bar.”

“We are so excited to open our second San Antonio location. It’s been a year since we opened our first area location in Selma and San Antonians have really shown how much they love the Pluckers experience. We are thrilled to open our second San Antonio location close to UTSA and to continue to grow our Pluckers community in this city.” – Dave Paul, co-owner of Pluckers Wing Bar.

Pluckers Wing Bar
15651 I-10 W
San Antonio, TX 78249

Sweet Paris to bring taste of Paris to The Shops at La Cantera

Sweet Paris recently announced the opening in mid-June of their San Antonio location on Main Street at The Shops at La Cantera. The Parisian-inspired, fast casual restaurant offers a critically acclaimed selection of sweet and savory crêpes, from Apple Cinnamon Crème Brȗlée and S’mores made with Nutella®, torched marshmallows, graham crackers and semi-sweet chocolate to the ribeye-and-provolone stuffed Philly cheesesteak and the Nordic made with smoked salmon, dill sour cream, pickled red onions and capers. Sweet Paris will donate part of its grand opening proceeds to the not-for-profit Culinaria, which promotes San Antonio as a premier food and wine destination through year-round events including the Culinaria Wine + Food Festival. (Sweet Paris, 2019)

In keeping with Sweet Paris’ tradition of giving back to the community, the company has partnered with the San Antonio Food Bank in what will be an ongoing campaign to donate a portion of restaurant sales to programs that will provide meals for children. Sweet Paris supported the World Food Program until 2018, when the team decided to give back to the local Houston Food Bank, feeding the hungry in Southeast Texas.

Founded in Houston in 2012 by husband-and-wife team Allison Young Chavez and Ivan Chavez, the expansion into San Antonio is an exciting addition to the Sweet Paris family. The Chavez’ love of crêpes goes back to college, when Ivan spent a couple of summers studying French in Paris. He brought Allison to the City of Lights to propose, and to try to track down the sidewalk crêpe stand where he first became obsessed with street-style crêpes. When they got back to Houston, the couple could not find a restaurant that satisfied their Parisian-style crêpe cravings. That inspired them to open the first Sweet Paris. Locations include six cafes in the Houston area, including College Station, Katy and The Woodlands and a location inside a resort hotel in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico.

A sumptuous assortment of breakfast crêpes is on the evolving brunch menu, which includes paninis, salads, soups and options for gluten-free crêpes. On those hot summer days, Sweet Paris invites guests to enjoy lavender mimosas, nitro brew coffee or milkshakes. The restaurant also will carry several offerings of beers and wines. The La Cantera café will have elements familiar to all Sweet Paris restaurants: Large industrial European chandeliers with crystal and large iron orbs all around, iron sconces and antique mirrors on blue, venetian plaster walls and marble top bistro tables. The café will have a larger outdoor patio space, giving café-goers the opportunity to enjoy the natural landscaping of The Shops at La Cantera. Chavez is looking forward to visitors taking time to enjoy the food and the ambience.

“Our target market is always lifestyle centers where people can eat, play and live. We like centers that attract people to spend the day, where they can pause and just enjoy the surroundings. We felt lucky we found such an awesome space at The Shops at La Cantera.” – Allison Young Chavez

Twangerz spices up look with new package design

twangerzpickle — Twangerz Flavored Salts has unveiled a brand new package design. Photo: Twang, used with permission.

Twang Partners, Ltd. recently announced the redesign of Twangerz Flavored Salts. It is the same great product many consumers have grown up with but now with a fresh, new look. The family-owned operator of salts and seasonings, best known for their Twang citrus-flavored beer salts, has refreshed the product’s packaging to feature a more animated design for each flavor of Twangerz as a fun way to pair consumers’ personalities with five of the Twangerz flavors. While the identity of the brand has been redesigned to include a 3D appearance, the formula remains unchanged. The entire line that has undergone the makeover includes the following flavors: Lemon Lime, Lime, Chili Lime, Pickle and Mango Chili, all of which can be found at most convenience and liquor stores throughout Texas and at select H-E-B Texas Grocery. (Twang, 2019)

Twangerz is a line of low-calorie, flavored salt blends that can be eaten alone or used as a snack topping on fruit, popcorn, lollipops, paletas (Mexican-style popsicles) and more. Twangerz fans also associate different flavors with various uses, like pickle salt as an aid to post-athletic activity, hence, the boxing pickle mascot represented on its 2019 bottle. Twangerz has historically been one of Twang’s more kid-friendly brands, in comparison to popular beer salt and Twang-A-Rita cocktail rimming blends, and some of the new Twangerz labels have strategically been designed with a younger audience, and the young at heart, in mind.

Twangerz was originally introduced in 1986 as a simple packet and used as a topping for convenience store retailers looking to provide their customers with a quick, grab-and-go spicy addition for salads, sandwiches, fruit, vegetables and salty snacks like chips, nuts and popcorn. The entire, re-branded line of Twangerz is available online via Amazon and at most convenience, liquor and select grocery stores. Consumers are encouraged to join Twang’s social media campaign and tell the company how they use different flavors of Twangerz and send their photos to them by using the hashtag #HowDoYouTwangerz.

Based in San Antonio, Texas, Twang Partners Ltd. is a family-owned and operated creator and manufacturer of premium-flavored salts, sugars and seasonings and credited as being “the original beer salt.” They have produced the highest quality products designed to enhance the taste, appearance and enjoyment of food and beverages. Brands include Beer Salt, Twangerz, Twang-A-Rita, Clamato Salt, ZAS! Super Seasoning, and Cafe Zuca.

“Our family grew up adding chile salt to snacks and the Twangerz brand was largely inspired by our childhood. We felt it was time to animate the brand and roll out some fun new packaging, it’s all a bit playful on purpose.” – Elysia Treviño-Gonzales, Chief Executive Officer for Twang

Memorial Day lunch and brunch menus at COVER 3

cover3chilaquiles — COVER 3 will have a special Memorial Day menu along with their weekly lunch menu. Photo: COVER 3, used with permission.

This Monday, Memorial Day, guests will not only be able to enjoy COVER 3’s weekly lunch menu, but the restaurant is also offering a special brunch menu from 11a.m. to 3p.m. featuring popular brunch options like Chilaquiles, Migas, Green Chile Beef Breakfast Enchiladas, Chicken Tinga Breakfast Enchiladas and more. This special offering applies to all COVER 3 locations in Central Texas, including Austin, Round Rock and San Antonio. (COVER 3, 2019)

This special menu will also feature an extra offering of COVER 3’s U-Mix-It Bloody Mary & Bubbles Bar. The Bubbles Bar is a standalone station featuring four make-your-own mimosa options with cranberry, orange, grapefruit, peach nectar and pomegranate flavors as well as fresh fruit and juices, while the Bloody Mary Bar offers a selection of mixes and condiments ranging from Applewood Smoked Bacon, House-Pickled Veggies, Jalapeños, Stuffed Olives and so much more.

COVER 3 is a locally owned and operated restaurant group that provides guests with an elevated food experience featuring scratch-kitchen menu options, craft cocktails, local brews and high-end wine offerings in a sophisticated, yet approachable atmosphere. Founded in 2008, COVER 3 brings a unique and refined approach to sports bars in Austin. Nearly a decade later, the restaurant has expanded to four locations in Central Texas, including San Antonio and Round Rock, as well a second restaurant concept in COVER 2. Paying homage to football, COVER 3 works hard to cover its three “zones” – dining, spirits and sports – to provide a truly upscale dining experience.

COVER 3
1806 N 1604, West St.
San Antonio, TX 78248

2700 W Anderson Ln, Ste 202
Austin, TX 78757
(512) 374-1121

1717 West Sixth Street, #21 OR
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 982-1550

2800 N-IH 35, Suite 300
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512) 693-2393

Savor at Pearl opens with new class of students

savortable — Savor opens Friday May 10 with a new class of students. Photo: Giant Noise, used with permission.

Savor, the latest restaurant by The Culinary Institute of America, is excited to re-open with a new rotation of culinary students after a short hiatus in between semesters. Under the direction of CIA faculty and a new chef, students will continue to prepare and serve dinner as part of their associate degree studies. Sofia Sada Cervantes, a lecturing instructor at CIA who started her food career at La Embajada in Monterrey, Mexico, will now oversee and lead the menu. (The Culinary Institute of America, 2019)

Starting Friday May 10, a new wave of future food stars will have the opportunity to showcase their skills in a real-world sit-down restaurant that promises a seasonal, Modern American menu. The evening dinner menu has refreshed for spring with new items like Young Roasted Chicken with foie gras, truffle honey butter, mushrooms and white beans; Sea Scallop and Octopus, Saffron Risotto with parmesan and chives and Steak Tartare with Chipotle, quail egg and plantain chips. The menu format, which allows guests to build their own customized three or four-course meal, remains. The prices are $39 and $45 respectively. Guests also have the option to have shareable plates at the bar and lounge. A full classic cocktail menu is highlighted as well as a great wine list and local draft beers. Dinner is served from 5:30p.m. to 8p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

Savor at Pearl
200 E Grayson St., Suite #117
San Antonio, TX 78215
210-554-6484

Shake Shack offering Game of Thrones menu

shakeshackgotmenu — Shake Shack’s Game of Thrones menu is available for a limited time only. Photo: Shake Shack, used with permission.

Attention Game of Thrones fans: On Friday April 12, Shake Shack San Antonio launched a special Game of Thrones menu nationwide. (Shake Shack, 2019)

In keeping with Shake Shack’s (Rholītso Rhakion’s) commitment to premium ingredients and thoughtful sourcing, the Dragonglass Shake (Zīrtom Perzomy Rholītsos) is a prime example of the Wall to Table movement. Custard is frozen with packed snow harvested beyond the Wall and hand churned by members of the Night’s Watch. Final prep occurs in Winterfell, where the shake is topped with shards of Dragonglass imported from the caves of Dragonstone. Please note supplies are limited as the Wall is currently undergoing major renovations. The Dragon Glass Shake will be available through May 19 at Shacks nationwide (excluding stadiums, ballparks, transit centers and airports).

Shake Shack is also offering a special Dracarys Burger at select Shacks across the United States. The closest Shack location serving the burger are Uptown Dallas and Montrose Houston. Guests can order at Shake Shack, on the app or online.

Shake Shack
7427 San Pedro Avenue, Suite 107
San Antonio, TX 78216
(210) 277-4770

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