Andrew Weissman, the James Beard-nominated chef turned Mr. Juicy burger maven, is planning to open a brand new idea that includes “enhanced American and French fare” on Nov. 1 at Alon City Centre.
The yet-to-be-named restaurant will characteristic a value-based menu with entrees priced beneath $20, aside from nightly specials, and drinks that cap at $10. Tipping will likely be discouraged.
“It’s a troublesome economic system so we need to supply excessive worth,” Weissman instructed the San Antonio Report. “Tipping is a ache level in America proper now. Individuals really feel they’ve been abused and pushed round an excessive amount of with the tipping tradition. Individuals can tip in the event that they need to, however we don’t need anybody to really feel obligated to go away a tip. I’m going to present my employees a wholesome, hourly wage.”
The no-tipping concept sprang from his expertise at Mr. Juicy.
“We by no means anticipate a tip,” he stated. “However as a rule, a visitor will go away a greenback or two {dollars} or three. I need to see if that may work in the next finish setting.”
One yr to the day after opening a Mr. Juicy on Northwest Army Drive, Weissman signed a lease on Saturday to launch his new idea two miles down the street within the area as soon as occupied by The Hayden, a diner that closed in Might.
“When The Hayden went out of enterprise, there was a turnkey state of affairs,” Weissman stated. “It had a great power. I feel The Hayden made all the proper choices in decor. We’re going to make some modifications. However I felt prefer it was a chook’s nest on the bottom.”
Weissman initially needed to deal with enhanced American fare. Because the idea developed, he realized he needed to create dishes not particular to the continental U.S.
“I’m going to have a traditional French sandwich with caramelized onions and au jus,” he stated. “We’ll have housemade potato chips with chive cheese fondue and ricotta gnocchi with truffle cream.”
Different pattern menu gadgets embody traditional wedge salad with pickled shallots, New York strip with peppercorn sauce, traditional meatloaf with spicy carrots, French inexperienced beans and mashed potatoes, chilly seafood — oysters, lobster and crab — and rooster fried steak “proper out of Mr. Juicy however with French-style mousseline potatoes.”
Weissman elevated San Antonio’s culinary status within the late Nineties with the launch of Le Rev, a since-closed French restaurant that obtained nationwide acclaim. At Le Rev, Weissman earned 4 James Beard nominations for Greatest Chef: Southwest.
The 2019 launch of Mr. Juicy in Olmos Park turned heads. What number of French cooks open burger stands? To Weissman’s shock, Mr. Juicy grew to become an instantaneous hit. He relocated to the nook of San Pedro and Hildebrand and opened a second location final yr on Northwest Army Drive.
What prompted his return to the restaurant world?
“It’s a illness,” he stated. “It truly is, man. I’m going to do my darndest to develop Mr. Juicy. I’d wish to have one other location by late summer season of subsequent yr. However I needed one other outlet. I’ve at all times had a need to attempt to get again into creating meals apart from hamburgers and rooster sandwiches.”
His contract requires him to open in a bit of greater than three months. Assembly that deadline, he admits, will likely be difficult.
Weissman left on Monday for a household trip in Europe. When he returns, he’ll take his son to varsity.
“It’s a massive time crunch,” he stated. “That solely provides us about 9 to 10 weeks to drag this off.”
The brand new enterprise excites him, filling him with a rush of adrenaline.
“I feel it’s going to be an incredible spot and can do wonderful,” Weissman stated. “The menu will permit folks to construct one course or multi-course meals. It has an inviting patio. I’ve at all times at all times needed to create an amazing patio area at a restaurant. And I feel that is the chance.”
