A little taste of heaven is coming to San Antonio’s Southside as famed Chef Johnny Hernandez’s newest La Gloria restaurant opens for dinner on Tuesday, September 20th, at the exciting new Brooks development. Dinner service will be offered Sunday through Thursday, 4-10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 4-11 p.m. Beginning October 1st, La Gloria Brooks will also open for lunch, opening daily at 11 a.m. Located on Kennedy Hill along SE Military Drive, the new La Gloria rests under enormous Heritage Oak trees on land once a part of the former Brooks golf course.
“Adding a local, high-end restaurant to Brooks by renowned Chef Johnny Hernandez is a win for the entire community,” said Brooks Board Chairman, Jim Campbell. “We’re in the business of driving economic growth by creating job opportunities, and it’s one of our priorities to support and attract businesses built in our beloved city.”
Today, the bright new 5,200-square foot La Gloria space, constructed by San Antonio’s own Sabinal Group, offers a modern version of what locals have come to love from all of Chef Johnny’s other restaurants. Although it’s consistent with La Gloria’s popular signature style, this new restaurant slants away from the original “ice-house” ambience of other locations and leans into a contemporary concept customers will love. With marigold-colored walls and Mazatlán-blue ceilings, this new La Gloria is brightened by large sunlit windows, cheerful hand-crafted Mexican folk art, towering ceilings, polished concrete floors, warm wooden accent walls, and ocean-blue custom tables. There’s even a gleaming open kitchen, a large wood-fired grill, and a big, full-service, indoor bar.
The visually arresting works of popular Mexican artisans, such as clay artist Raphael Pineda and muralist Claudio Aguillon (among so many others) elevate the décor with traditionally inspired modern and folk art. Spiny nopal hearts, clay Mexican loteria cards, decorative skulls, and comical skeletons are among the hand-crafted pieces adorning the restaurant. Golden-colored swirling margarita glasses and blue-dotted water tumblers are crafted by blown-glass artists of Jalisco, Mexico.
Although this Brooks building flaunts a new look, the fresh enticing flavors and aromas coming from the kitchen offer the same outstanding quality for which La Gloria has been known for. In fact, as customers enter, they’ll be greeted by great scents coming from the mesquite-fired grill, filled with mouth-watering meats. Guests will find the same stellar menu options for authentic Mexican street foods, botanero (appetizer) platters, citrus-marinated ceviche, and fresh seafood dishes they’ve always enjoyed at La Gloria’s other locations throughout the city. Plus, on Friday and Saturday evenings from 7-10 p.m., guests can enjoy live music, too.
“We are so excited to serve loyal La Gloria fans living nearby and to bring something really special to Brooks for them,” says Chef Johnny Hernandez. “This dynamic new community is one of the most exciting things happening in our city, and the team behind Brooks wisely called on local operators to make it special. La Gloria is here thanks to them, and so many other great things are coming to Brooks. La Gloria and our customers are so grateful to be part of it all.”
The name “La Gloria” refers to all things glorious and heavenly, and that’s exactly what Chef Johnny Hernandez and Brooks’ La Gloria General Manager Francisco “Paco” Venegas are bringing to the Southside.