Arenas Marisqueria and Lounge had a grand opening March 16 at 19903 Stone Oak Parkway, Ste. 202, in North San Antonio, offering Latin-inspired seafood, craft cocktails and live music.
The Vazquez family, which has more than 30 years experience in the local restaurant industry, partnered with business associate Issac Soto of the Moonlight Ballroom event space to launch Arenas.
Co-owner Luis Vazquez said all of the recipes are family recipes and personal takes on classic Latin dishes.
“We want to evoke the sense of being at a classier resort-style restaurant in Cancun or Cabo, but ultimately, we want to be authentic to ourselves and create our own favorite restaurant—a place we would like to go to enjoy a cocktail and some good food, and we hope San Antonio feels the same way,” Vazquez said in a statement.
The owners said their focus is on fun and frivolity in a sophisticated, more modern nautical-themed atmosphere, and the menu will feature , scratch-made dishes, such as Mojarra Chicharron and Camarones Mojo de Ajo, designed by Executive Chef Luis Vazquez Sr.
Every meal will start with a signature soup, called Sopa Arenas, a more traditional Mexican starter, Luis Vazquez Sr. said.
"We've been wanting to do a seafood restaurant for a really long time. We love seafood, and my dad makes a great ceviche. Everything, honestly, is so delicious. The shrimp enchiladas are my brother-in-law's favorite," Vazquez said in a statement. "Our goal is to differentiate ourselves from the other Latin seafood restaurants in San Antonio. We're not reinventing the wheel, but the goal is to be more subtle, more refined."
Vazquez family members said the full bar will provide a range of traditional beverages and signature drinks, including the Cantarito, made with Siete Leguas Tequila, Cointreau, fresh orange juice and passionfruit, topped with Squirt.
Currently, happy hour takes place 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and features half off all signature cocktails and draft beer, premium and domestic, as well as $10 appetizers.
"Guests are loving our cocktail menu. It’s one of the big centerpieces of Arenas with juices being freshly-squeezed right in front of the guests at the bar—orange, grapefruit, lime and lemon. We also make our own hibiscus syrup and simple syrup. Our cocktails are pretty unique," Luis Vazquez Sr. said.
Hours of operation are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday and 11 a.m.-midnight Thursday-Saturday. The kitchen closes an hour before closing.
210-267-5135. www.arenaslounge.com
