Name: The Fruteria

Background: Opened by Chef Jonny Hernandez, it it one of his many restaurants in the San Antonio area, including El Machito, La Gloria (which has two locations), Fruteria and a couple of venues equipped with catering (like Casa Herman) and a soon-to-open Burgerteca concept.

Happy Hour: Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and features $5 house margaritas, $6 for the infused versions, then $4 house wine and draft beer and a $1 off bottled beers.

Patrons: While the Friday crowd might adjust a little bit from the Monday-Thursday crowd, it seems that the crowd is on the smaller side. A couple of older couples that come in for a drink and some snacks. A couple of residents from nearby neighborhoods visited the joint as well.

Experience: Visiting at the start of happy hour is your best bet for securing any spot in the restaurant, as the crowd

is few and far between until later in the evening. While the eatery is pretty and has great ambiance, it seems that there is a lack of ventilation, and the building always smells a bit musty. If you can overcome — it’s a great place to just sit and kill some time. When ordering and perusing the menu, keep in mind that the only things are the happy hour are the margaritas, which is fine if that’s your bag. The Fruteria makes their margaritas with tequila, OJ, lime juice, and agave, so they are a bit on the sweeter side — and are a HUGE bang for your buck. You can get a little variety by ordering a house-infused tequila for $1 more. While the drinks are large they aren’t impressive on the whole. The food, however, is tasty and satisfying, and with little plates and apps available, you can get a drink during happy hour and snack without putting a hole in your wallet. It’s a great spot to meet up with a friend for a drink and to share some chips, salsa, and the latest chisme.

 

1401 S. Flores S.t, (210) 251-3104.

 

Originally posted in the San Antonio Current Magazine