Photo by Rick Cortez
Our Pick: Cured, 306 Pearl Pkwy., Suite 101, (210) 314-3929, curedatpearl.com
Most of us know where to head if we just want a great cocktail: Bohanan’s, Brooklynite, Paramour, 1919…But what if you include dinner, or at least more than marinated olives, in the equation? To further up the ante, let’s also assume that the food menu and the cocktails should be on, er, intimate terms. Enter the chef-driven restaurant where the chef is also really into drinks — from well-selected wines to small-batch and barreled beers and seasonally adjusted cocktails. Enter, with a bang, Cured. Spring seems like a good time to go for the Young Gun Hit at this Pearl stalwart helmed by James Beard nominee Steven McHugh. It’s made with a pear-infused Oregon gin with lavender undertones, St. Germain, lemon and muddled and strained Sungold tomatoes. Or maybe La Adormidera with organic Grand Poppy (a rum-ish CA bitter liqueur), tangerine and chamomile bitters. Your Oaxacan spiced quail will thank you.
Most of us know where to head if we just want a great cocktail: Bohanan’s, Brooklynite, Paramour, 1919…But what if you include dinner, or at least more than marinated olives, in the equation? To further up the ante, let’s also assume that the food menu and the cocktails should be on, er, intimate terms. Enter the chef-driven restaurant where the chef is also really into drinks — from well-selected wines to small-batch and barreled beers and seasonally adjusted cocktails. Enter, with a bang, Cured. Spring seems like a good time to go for the Young Gun Hit at this Pearl stalwart helmed by James Beard nominee Steven McHugh. It’s made with a pear-infused Oregon gin with lavender undertones, St. Germain, lemon and muddled and strained Sungold tomatoes. Or maybe La Adormidera with organic Grand Poppy (a rum-ish CA bitter liqueur), tangerine and chamomile bitters. Your Oaxacan spiced quail will thank you.
Previous Winners
WINNER: David Davis at Heat, 1500 N. Main Ave., (210) 227-2600, heatsa.com
2. Bobby Sanchez at Smoke, 1170 E Commerce St., (210) 253-9919, smoketherestaurant.com
3. Esteban Medina at Chisme, 2403 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 530-4236, eatchisme.com
2. Bobby Sanchez at Smoke, 1170 E Commerce St., (210) 253-9919, smoketherestaurant.com
3. Esteban Medina at Chisme, 2403 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 530-4236, eatchisme.com
WINNER: Paramour, 102 9th St., (210) 340-9880, paramourbar.com
2. Blue Box, 312 Pearl Pkwy., Suite 2107, (210) 227-2583, blueboxbar.com
3. Bar 1919, 1420 S. Alamo St., (210) 227-1420, bar1919.com
WINNER: Heat, 1500 N. Main Ave., (210) 227-2600, heatsa.com
2. Pegasus, 1402 N. Main Ave., (210) 299-4222, pegasussanantonio.com
3. Babio’s, 527 W. Hildebrand Ave., (210) 409-7245, facebook.com/babiosedd
2. Pegasus, 1402 N. Main Ave., (210) 299-4222, pegasussanantonio.com
3. Babio’s, 527 W. Hildebrand Ave., (210) 409-7245, facebook.com/babiosedd
WINNER: Chisme, 2403 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 530-4236, eatchisme.com
2. Casa Azul de Andrea, 1036 S. Alamo St., (210) 451-9393,
facebook.com/casaazuldeandrea
3. Bang Bang Bar, 119 El Mio Drive, (210) 320-1187, facebook.com/thebangbangbar210
2. Casa Azul de Andrea, 1036 S. Alamo St., (210) 451-9393,
facebook.com/casaazuldeandrea
3. Bang Bang Bar, 119 El Mio Drive, (210) 320-1187, facebook.com/thebangbangbar210
WINNER: Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., (800) 513-7540, papertigersa.com
2. Jazz TX, 312 Pearl Pkwy., Suite 6001, (210) 332-9386, jazztx.com
3. The Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 812-4355, theaztectheatre.com
WINNER: Alamo Ice House, 802 N. Alamo St., (210) 758-5151, alamoicehouse.com
2. Texas Ice House, Blanco Road, (210) 771-2765, facebook.com/texas-icehouse
3. Sanchez Ice House, multiple locations, facebook.com/sanchezicehouse
2. Texas Ice House, Blanco Road, (210) 771-2765, facebook.com/texas-icehouse
3. Sanchez Ice House, multiple locations, facebook.com/sanchezicehouse
WINNER: Perfect 10, 111 NW Loop 410, (210) 344-6601, perfect10sa.com
2. The Palace Men’s Club, 2482 NE Loop 410, (210) 599-6011,
thepalacemensclubsa.com
2. The Palace Men’s Club, 2482 NE Loop 410, (210) 599-6011,
thepalacemensclubsa.com
WINNER: Dorcol Distilling Co., 1902 S. Flores St., (210) 229-0607, dorcolspirits.com
2. Babio’s, 527 W. Hildebrand Ave., (210) 409-7245, facebook.com/babiosedd
3. The Squeezebox, 2806 N. St. Mary’s St., facebook.com/thesqueezebox
2. Babio’s, 527 W. Hildebrand Ave., (210) 409-7245, facebook.com/babiosedd
3. The Squeezebox, 2806 N. St. Mary’s St., facebook.com/thesqueezebox
WINNER: Babio’s, 527 W. Hildebrand Ave., (210) 409-7245, facebook.com/babiosedd
2. Brass Monkey, 2702 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 480-4722, facebook.com/brassmonkeytx
3. Bonham Exchange, 411 Bonham St., (210) 224-9219, bonhamexchange.com
2. Brass Monkey, 2702 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 480-4722, facebook.com/brassmonkeytx
3. Bonham Exchange, 411 Bonham St., (210) 224-9219, bonhamexchange.com
WINNER: Slacker’s, multiple locations, slackerssa.com
2. Sancho’s, 628 Jackson St., (210) 320-1840, sanchosmx.com
3. Artisan on Alamo, 315 8th St., (210) 896-5070, artisanonalamo.com
2. Sancho’s, 628 Jackson St., (210) 320-1840, sanchosmx.com
3. Artisan on Alamo, 315 8th St., (210) 896-5070, artisanonalamo.com