While San Antonio restaurant openings tend to slow down in August, the heat has us all reaching for the closest drink. Two new saloons have replaced cocktail bars in Alamo City’s buzziest entertainment districts. Elsewhere, a slate of culinary events featuring crockery and celebrities is filling the summer calendar. Here’s all the dining news you need to know in August.
Openings
The former Southtown home of Bar Ludavine at 1014 S Presa St. is now the newest watering hole from San Antonio’s prolific Ingram Bar Group, owners of no-fuss concepts like The Angry Elephant, The Broadway 50 50, and Gopher Shack. The Wild Boar Saloon will officially debut August 12, replacing Ludavine’s slightly French theme with dark walls, tufted furnishings, and a menacing neon sign featuring a particularly peeved pig.
Meanwhile, Ludavine will soon go country in St. Paul’s Square. The bar has taken over the shuttered Lily’s Greenville space to open Ludavine’s Foxy Saloon. The Instagram bio promises “classic cocktails, cold beers, wine, karaoke, and live music,” but does not yet give an opening date. While the bar has not revealed interior images, we suspect it is going for a new vibe. Instead of the former space’s depictions of Marie Antoinette, the logo features a buxom cowgirl.
Popular Tex-Mex spot Mia’s Mexican Grill is remodeling a former Wendy’s at 18303 Blanco Rd. into a second location. After nearly two decades of serving favorites like fajitas, enchiladas, and puffy tacos on the Northwest Side, the restaurant will transform the fast food joint into a full-service restaurant. Although it has not yet released an estimated opening date, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filings say construction will wrap up in May 2027.
Ácenar’s new lunch specials are available daily.Photo courtesy of Ácenar HotMex & Coolbar
Other news and notes
Clementine is bringing back its popular Clay & Cuisine dinner series on August 26. From 5-9 pm, guests can enjoy a three-course dinner by chefs Elise and John Russ and take home a handcrafted ceramic bowl created by local ceramic artist Jesselyn Gordon. Tickets are priced at $110 per person, excluding tax and gratuity, and available through OpenTable.
Ácenar HotMex & Coolbar on the River Walk has launched a new lineup of $16 lunch specials at $16 per plate. The offerings include faves like enchiladas, tacos, and chalupas, plus entrees like the signature Puerco Cascabel, featuring tender pork tips simmered in a rich chile sauce. The specials are available daily from 11 am-3:45 pm.
The St. Paul Square Dinner Club will welcome San Antonio chef and Hell’s Kitchen runner-up Mary Lou Davis for its latest dinner, held at Cuba 1818 on August 27. The $100 tickets for the event include a five-course feast with dishes like oxtail barbacoa and a tomato salad with labneh and a pork vinaigrette.
