Schilo’s German / Texas Restaurant The Oldest Restaurant In San Antonio

By Alan Williams

Sometime in the early 1940s, somewhere in Europe a young soldier jumped into a fox hole to avoid gunfire. Another young soldier was already in the hole, so they started chatting while waiting for American warplanes to take out the shooters. One soldier was from a small town in Indiana and the other from San Antonio. Their chatter took them to their hometowns which led to a discussion about food. The soldier from San Antonio proudly said, “If you ever come to San Antonio, you have to try Schilo’s. They have the best food in the world!”

At least that is how the story was told told to me by my father’s friend, Colonel Fred Reisz of New Albany, Indiana, who eventually moved to San Antonio and ate regularly at Schilo’s German-Texas Restaurant. As the undisputed oldest restaurant in San Antonio, Schilo’s is still loved by people all over the world.

Schilo’s started as a saloon in Beeville, Texas around 1900 but “Papa” Fritz Schilo moved the operation to San Antonio in 1914. It is rumored that “Mama” Schilo sensed the coming of prohibition so in 1917, they began selling food out of the saloon. That move saved their little business from collapse because prohibition came three years later.

Because beer was suddenly outlawed, Papa Schilo began making the famous root beer that is still served at the restaurant today.His root beer recipe has a bold flavor with a creamy vanilla and hints of spicy sassafras. The original recipe included egg whites. At some point the egg whites were omitted due to egg allergy concerns, but other than that, the recipe is unchanged!

Schilo’s moved to its current location on Commerce St. near the San Antonio River in 1942. Before Schilo’s, the building was home to a bank and the original bank vault is now a walk-in cooler!

Over the next several decades Schilo’s became a popular downtown lunch spot for businesspeople. The most popular items were the split pea soup and Rueben sandwiches, both of which remain popular today.

“The place on Babcock did not do well, and I kind of think that was the reason the family decided to sell,” said Lyons. Mr. Lyons grandfather was the founder of Casa Rio which is found next door to Schilo’s. The Lyons family had owned the building that Schilo’s is in for many years so in 1980, when Schilo’s was offered for sale, the family bought it.

Schilo’s is a rare survivor -- the restaurant has made it through prohibition, the Depression, World War II, and a global pandemic. It had to pivot to make it; however, as the public’s tastes changed over time and some of the menu items such as tongue and goose liver were nixed.

Businesspeople have been replaced by tourists as the restaurant’s primary customers. Breakfast plates have replaced the Rueben sandwich as the most popular menu item.

Schilo’s is now the oldest restaurant in San Antonio, and it is still going strong, and the hearty food is as popular as ever. If you have never been to Schilo’s, I highly recommend a visit. It’s both nostalgic and delicious. Schilo’s German-Texas Restaurant is at 424 E. Commerce St. - https://schilos.com/