SPOTLIGHT

Hummus Haven

Can you even have a proper Mediterranean meal without dining on hummus? At Jardín, choose from the classic house-made hummus with zahtar, tahini and extra virgin olive oil, or add extra flavor with a variety of featured toppings such as:

Blue crab, sweet corn, thyme and brown butter

Crispy pork belly, harissa oil and pickled peppers

Saffron-pickled cauliflower, mint and pumpkin seeds

JARDÍN San Antonio Botanical Garden 555 Funston Place jardinsatx.com

Fresh Fare

Jason Dady’s latest restaurant brings Mediterranean flavors to the San Antonio Botanical Garden

BY EMILY GUAJARDO

verlooking the San Antonio Botanical Gar-

Oden’s Sacred and Rose Gardens, Jardín bridges the gap between sea, land, and south European flair. The restaurant from Jason Dady combines Turkish, Spanish, Italian and Greek flavors, filling what Dady says was a hole in the local dining scene. “This also just so happened to be the type of food that we were wanting to eat and cook, too,” he says.

The menu at Jardín (pronounced jar-deen) focuses on seasonal and locally sourced food, with mix-and-match mezze plates, like the Bolognese-stuffed arancini with mozzarella and black truffle aioli, shareable fresh hummus platters like the crispy pork belly seasoned with harissa oil and pickled peppers, and classic Mediterranean courses, such as house-made edamame falafel, ras el hanout spiced lamb meatballs, and saffron-glazed roasted chicken. The natural inspiration is carried through to its full-service bar featuring signature fruit and herb cocktails.

The botanical garden has a rocky restaurant history, and Sabina Carr, the garden’s newest chief executive officer, says understanding that bumpy past allowed her to recognize Jardín’s potential. “It’s important to have the right fit,” Carr says. “[Dady] had the right energy and set of values. He is committed to delivering fresh and local foods—sometimes straight from our garden. And he knows his clientele really well. Plus, the garden is a cultural institution and it was important to find someone who understood that and wanted to be a part of it.”

8 Eateries to Dine at with the Whole Family

EARTH BURGER (North Central, Northeast) Earth Burger may sound like an oxymoron: a vegan fast food drive-through that actually appeals to kids. But this offshoot of Green Vegetarian offers a 100 percent vegan menu with kid-friendly options like grilled cheese, corn dogs, Chik-No tenders, and the classic Earth Burger. Finish your meal off with a vegan chocolate or vanilla shake, coconut soft serve, or chocolate chip cookies. 20821 Hwy. 281 N., Ste. 102; 2501 Nacogdoches Road; 818 N.W. Loop 410, earthburger.com

THE BOTTLING DEPARTMENT

(Pearl) San Antonio’s first food hall opened in 2017, but novelty is not the only reason to bring the kids for a well-earned meal. The fact that the hall is located next to Pearl’s spacious dog-friendly lawn means that outdoor seating is plentiful. So, grab some chicken tacos from Chilaquil, classic burgers and fries from Fletcher’s Hamburgers, ramen from Tenko Ramen or some Lil’ Buddies Sliders from Bud’s Southern Rotisserie, and enjoy the weather outside while the kids play on the lawn to their heart’s content. 312 Pearl Pkwy., Bldg. 6, atpearl.com

THE COVE (Five Points) Even though their outdoor playground remains closed due to COVID-19, The Cove is still a go-to restaurant for families eager for a meal made outside their home kitchen. The kids may not be able to slide and tumble on the playground, but there’s outdoor seating to enjoy the fresh air. Even more important, The Cove’s dedicated kids’ menu remains, including hamburgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs and grilled cheese made with sustainable, organic and local ingredients. 606 W. Cypress St., thecove.us

BIG’Z BURGER JOINT (Rogers Ranch) Big’z Burger Joint bills itself as family-friendly and the restaurant lives up to the claim. Its classic burger menu is a good start, and there’s ample outdoor space for kids to run around and play. Rent out the Party Barn for a birthday party and get four hours of dedicated staff time, assistance in curating a party from the Big’z menu, use of the expansive outdoor yard and more. 2303 N. Loop 1604 W., bigz-burgerjoint.com

BURNWOOD ’68 (Northeast) If the pandemic has reminded us of anything, it’s that our definition of family needs to include its fourlegged members. Burnwood ’68’s large outdoor bar and patio is welcoming to two- and four-legged family members alike. Order a reasonably priced family pack of four brisket sandwiches and four bags of chips for less than $20. There’s plenty of live music performances and cocktails for the adults. Sip and listen while the kids play on the patio with their furry siblings. 18745 Redland Road, burnwood68.com

MARISCOS EL PAISA (Bulverde) This Mexican/seafood hybrid restaurant has something for everyone, from classic carne asada to octopus tostada, shrimp tacos and a dedicated kid’s menu that includes bean and cheese burritos, cheese quesadillas, chicken tenders, and chicken nuggets. There’s cocktails for the adults (try the wine-a-ritas or micheladas), outdoor seating, and even a playground area for kids. 29094 N. Hwy. 281, mariscoelpaisa.net

ALAMO BBQ COMPANY (Government Hill) Nobody can accuse Jason and Jake Dady of overlooking the needs of kid customers at the Alamo BBQ Company. The founders of Two Bros. BBQ Market came up with a special Little Tykes menu that includes a quarter pound of brisket, turkey or smoked sausage with a side and a drink. Their attention to families goes beyond the menu, with a large outdoor playground and patio, where live music is commonplace. Also, drinks are available to suit everyone, whether a frozen margarita for grownups or a locally crafted TexaCola for little ones craving something sweet. 511 E. Grayson St., alamobbqcompany.com

CREPECCINO USA (Medical Center) Life is short, eat dessert first. Sure, aphorisms printed on T-shirts are always glib, but head to Crepeccino USA on Babcock Road and you might find some wisdom behind the saying. Enjoy an assortment of sweet crepes with flavors like caramel, Nutella banana or dulce de leche. If your taste leans savory, try the fajita, four cheese, or chicken alfredo options. Not a fan of crepes? A variety of waffles, like honey nut and triple chocolate, will keep you happy. 5500 Babcock Road, Ste. 104, crepeccino.com

Menus and service at many restaurants has been impacted by COVID-19, so please call ahead. For our full directory of San Antonio restaurants, visit sanantoniomag.com/ restaurants-bars.

Where do you go when you’re craving noodles?

We’re fortunate to have some very tasty noodles around town. Some of my favorites are the hand-pulled delights at Kungfu Noodle, the Cambodian comfort food at Golden Wat Noodle House and the noodle section of Ming’s. I’ll give a special shoutout to the tom yum noodles at Hello Paradise and the cold Sichuan noodles at Sichuan House. I’m not including ramen–that category deserves a list of its own. Have a question for our resident foodie? Email asked@ sanantoniomag.com.