The team behind Emmer & Rye, the Austin-based, nationally renowned hospitality group, is excited to announce Ladino, their latest concept and first concept for San Antonio. Led by Executive Chef Berty Richter, Ladino will pay homage to Berty’s Sephardic roots with a menu centered around the charcoal grill which plays a lead role in the Middle Eastern and Balkan cuisines. Ladino will be in the Pearl at 200 E Grayson St #100, San Antonio, TX 78215 and is slated to open in summer 2022. (Ladino, 2021)

“I am beyond excited and thrilled for Ladino to open. For the better part of my culinary career, I’ve been wanting to create a concept like this and share my vision of Mediterranean cuisine, influenced by my Sephardic roots and traditions, and tell a story that has never been told through food here in Texas. Doing it as part of the Emmer and Rye hospitality group with our high standards of excellence, and with the Pearl team as our partners, makes this an extra special achievement and will truly make it an unforgettable experience.” – Executive Chef Berty Richter.

Ladino, also referred to as Judeo-Spanish, is a mix of Castellano, French, Italian, Greek, Turkish, and Hebrew. The language follows the route of the Jewish people’s migration from Spain dating back to the mid-1500s. Slowly on the path to extinction, some Sephardic Jews still speak this language mainly in the Balkans, Greece, Turkey, and Israel. As a son to a Turkish mother and with roots in Italy, Bulgaria and Greece, Berty spoke Ladino at home while growing up and some of his family still does to this day. The name was chosen because Berty wanted to highlight and share not only the Jewish-Balkan cuisine he grew up in, but also the influences of the surrounding cultures and cuisines on his style of cooking and eating, sharing food, and the excitement of a bountiful and colorful table of delicious food.

Described as a Mediterranean Grill House, Ladino will be a celebration of all the cultures combined, starting from the decor, the ambiance and the music, to the beverages and food. Using a wood burning oven, Ladino will feature freshly made pita and other regional specialties accompanied by an abundance of Mezze, vegetables, spices and herbs that are playful and bold. The dessert menu will be inspired by the sweet and savory staples of the region with a modern touch.

“The vision of Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group and Chef Berty is so compelling and we feel that this concept will profoundly enrich the culinary community of Pearl and San Antonio at large. Ladino as a manifestation of Berty’s culinary upbringing and his expertise is representative of our ambition to connect profoundly through food and culinary stories. We are thrilled to add this concept to Pearl’s restaurant offerings.” – Elizabeth Fauerso, Chief Marketing Officer of Pearl

Ladino will be Berty’s second concept as Executive Chef in Texas. Berty opened TLV in Austin in 2019 to rave reviews with a menu inspired by the streets of Israel. Located in Fareground Food Hall, TLV offers classics such as the traditional hummus plates, iconic Israeli sandwiches, homemade pickles, specialty house spice blends, vegan tahini shakes, and other favorites. This marks the seventh concept from Austin based Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group.