2 restaurants to open in luxury hotel

Both will be helmed by noted local chefs

When the luxury hotel Thompson San Antonio opens next month, expect to find a familiar face in the kitchen. Noted San Antonio chef Steve McHugh will launch Landrace, a restaurant focused on Texasgrown ingredients prepared largely on a wood-burning grill.

Landrace won’t be the only restaurant in the new hotel, either. The Moon’s Daughters will serve as a rooftop restaurant and bar at the hotel, with the kitchen helmed by chef Robert Cantu, a San Antonio native who’s cooked in kitchens across Texas and the Midwest.

McHugh, who’s received steady attention as a five-time James Beard Award finalist during his seven years as the chef and owner of Cured at the Pearl, said the new 200-seat restaurant will serve dishes such as steak au poivre in which the beef is crusted with ground chile pequin, charbroiled Gulf oysters topped with New Orleans-style barbecue

sauce, Berkshire pork chops with pear butter, grilled chicken flavored with achiote and fermented hot sauce and other dishes.

“With Landrace we really want to put a focus on Texas terroir and all the great ingredients our state has to offer,” McHugh said.

Thompson San Antonio will be the city’s first luxury hotel to open in five years. A standard room will go for $300 a night during the week and $400 on

the weekends — a price point second only to Hotel Emma at the Pearl. The 20-story tower is located along the River Walk near the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts and sports 162 rooms including 33 suites.

McHugh said he’s stayed in other Thompson hotels across the country and appreciates the brand’s commitment to giving each property a distinctively local feel. McHugh joins several other nationally celebrated chefs and restaurateurs including Tom

Colicchio, Danny Meyer, Paul Kahan and Brian Landry with restaurants in Thompson properties.

The Moon’s Daughters will have a more Mediterranean approach with a menu of small plates designed for sharing, many made with local ingredients as well. The offerings will include house-made feta burrata cheese with pesto, lamb ragu with hummus and pita, stuffed leek kebabs with squash and cashew cheese and other dishes.

The Thompson San Antonio hotel, which is currently scheduled to open Feb. 18 according to its website, is now accepting reservations for room stays beginning Feb. 20. Landrace also is scheduled to open Feb. 18, with The Moon’s Daughters opening Feb. 20.

More at 210-876-1234 or thompsonsanantoniohotel.com.

Thompson San Antonio The Moon’s Daughters, which will take a Mediterranean approach under chef Robert Cantu, is scheduled to open Feb. 20 in the Thompson San Antonio luxury hotel.

Thompson San Antonio Landrace, opening Feb. 18 in Thompson San Antonio, will feature Texas-grown ingredients prepared largely on a wood-burning grill.

Matthew Busch / Contributor Chef Steve McHugh, a five-time James Beard Award finalist, is launching Landrace.