Co-owner and chef Jonathan Smartt said the new location showcases the evolution of where the restaurant has landed in terms of its unique, modern fare as it worked out the menu in San Marcos.
“Cody’s started out with a simple menu of pita sandwiches, appetizers, salads, and flatbread pizzas. It took us five or six years of experimenting after we opened to kind of get a true identity with our food and cocktails,” Smartt said. “So that led us toward trying to find ingredients and create menu items you couldn’t get in this area. ... We realized there was a market for higher-end food in San Marcos that only a handful of restaurants in the area attempted.”
Smartt said after those experimental years, they landed on a steakhouse-styled menu with Asian influences. The yellowfin brie, for instance, is a yellowfin tuna tataki—lightly seared tuna with citrus, soy and ginger—with tempura fried brie cheese and toasted chili pepitas.
“I wouldn’t say we are a finished product, because that would imply that we won’t change anymore, but we have settled comfortably into pushing the envelope in the areas of beef and pork with a fantastic seafood supporting cast.”
Smartt said they also push for hard-to-find cocktail menu options.
“[We’re] trying to give people something they haven’t seen before—stuff you have to go to San Antonio or Dallas to find—we try to bring that to smaller communities,” he said.
Cody Couch, co-owner and general manager, said the atmosphere is about more than just the cuisine. The music playing at Cody’s Restaurant, Bar & Patio is typically a mix of funk, soul, ‘80s and ‘90s music. Much of the decor is of musicians from those eras. This is not the type of restaurant that will rush customers in and out to flip tables, he said.
“I want to bring that experience to the customer where we’re not trying to get you out the door when you come in,” Couch said. “I want you to be here all night with the music, the customer service, the food—like a big family and friends kind of establishment.”
Cody’s Restaurant, Bar & Patio
690 Center Point Road, Ste. 209, San Marcos 512-393-2867 | www.codyssmtx.com
Hours: Lunch: Thu.-Sat. 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m., dinner: Tue.-Sat. 4-10 p.m., closed Sun.-Mon.
