Courtesy of Jazz, TX
OUR PICK: Jazz, TX, 312 Pearl Pkwy., (210) 332-9386, jazztx.com
A lot goes into the making of a great cocktail bar. For starters, the bar itself should have attitude — not necessarily in-your-face, but, at the very least, a theme should emerge. Then there are the servers: both reasonably cordial and exceptionally well-versed in the classics. A selection of creative cocktails is a definite plus. And then there’s the music — for this imbiber, also not so in-your-face. Unless that music is at Jazz TX, a basement boîte at Pearl inspired and run by Doc Watkins and his Texas Swing band. If your tastes run to Ella and Earl, then this is your Texas-accented jive; a recent no-cover piano-bass-drums trio expertly rendered tunes such as “Body and Soul”, a ‘tender turned out a swingin’ Fall Back (applejack, rye, Carpano Antica, Amaro Nonino…) ode to Sasha Petraske — and later, a credible Caña Brava daiquiri. (Manager Jake Corney has the boys well-trained.) Fried pickled mushrooms happily kept hunger at bay
A lot goes into the making of a great cocktail bar. For starters, the bar itself should have attitude — not necessarily in-your-face, but, at the very least, a theme should emerge. Then there are the servers: both reasonably cordial and exceptionally well-versed in the classics. A selection of creative cocktails is a definite plus. And then there’s the music — for this imbiber, also not so in-your-face. Unless that music is at Jazz TX, a basement boîte at Pearl inspired and run by Doc Watkins and his Texas Swing band. If your tastes run to Ella and Earl, then this is your Texas-accented jive; a recent no-cover piano-bass-drums trio expertly rendered tunes such as “Body and Soul”, a ‘tender turned out a swingin’ Fall Back (applejack, rye, Carpano Antica, Amaro Nonino…) ode to Sasha Petraske — and later, a credible Caña Brava daiquiri. (Manager Jake Corney has the boys well-trained.) Fried pickled mushrooms happily kept hunger at bay
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
