Boardwalk on Bulverde
Editor's Note: We are sorry to announce the departure of Cris Garza, our longtime contributor and the originator of The Place to Eat. We'll all miss Cris's wonderfully candid and effusive restaurant reviews, and we wish him best in all his future endeavors.
How many of you out there are fans of the food scene in Austin? Probably everyone, I'm guessing. There's no doubt that Austin has some amazing culinary delights, and it's been clear for a long time that you don't have to go somewhere too "hoity toity" to get great grub in the capital city. Down on South Congress and elsewhere there are fantastic food trailer parks where you can pick up tasty and the closest thing to a marriage between gourmet and fast food.
Luckily, you no longer have to take the I-35 drive to the ATX because we now have our very own "mobile vending park" in San Antonio! Boardwalk on Bulverde, described as a "chow hound and bar," opened a couple of months ago much to my delight (and much to the delight of my partner, who hails from Austin). You can find many different delicacies from homestyle food to the more exotic, and they all get the taste buds saying "More please!"
On the day my friends and I visited, we found that everyone was extremely welcoming and fun to talk to. The weather was brisk, but the sun was out, and we found that locally-owned Freetail Brewing has a free keg on Saturdays! Woohoo! (Remember to tip your keg operator!) Some of my friends were concerned about the restroom situation, so I should say this right off the bat: there is an adjacent permanent building next to the food park that has very clean restrooms! Thankfully, "trailer park" doesn't equal "outhouse" here.
Now, on to the food options! Be prepared to find almost anything to suit your fancy. (The only option I was a bit distressed not to find was pizza, but hopefully that might be an "add" in the future.) Options include everything from your all-American hamburgers, hot dogs, and barbecue to a gourmet taco truck to bistro-style food, kebabs, and even Moroccan. Oh, and I have to strongly recommend you stop by Saweet Cupcakes – their cupcakes are simply KILLER and a great way to top off your visit. Try the chocolate/peanut butter flavored combo cupcake. It didn't disappoint!
I have to admit that even though I consider myself a foodie, and even though – as a Gemini I looove variety – I couldn't possibly try all of the options on one visit. My apologies, therefore, to Wheelie Gourmet , Tin Can Tacos, and K-Hill BBQ. I'll give 'em a shot next time. Also, Rickshaw Stop was closed when I visited. Toastie Buns hamburgers were made-to-order and well-dressed, and I can't complain about the overall quality of the burger. It was certainly better than fast food, but I could still tell that the patties were pre-frozen. I hope they opt for fresher meat in the future, but I did still love the TLC that went into preparing my tasty burger. As far as RC's Heavenly Dogs is concerned, the frank was excellent and the fixin's were fresh, but the buns were a bit on the tough side, as if they'd been microwaved. If they can warm their buns in better way, they'll be on the way towards the heavenly flavor that their namesake conveys.
Finally, I have saved the best for last: Bistro Six's amazing seared tuna tacos. Folks, this is the real deal! If you grew up on Charlie Tuna and Starkist, do yourself a favor and try the REAL thing. Their tuna steak strips, dressed with chimmichurri slaw and spicy ginger agave nectar, are a far cry from canned tuna meat. They are perfectly seared and the corn tortillas are fresh and soft. A friend of mine also ordered the Cuban Panini, which is also to die for: pibil pork, swiss cheese, black forest ham, and pickle on a yummy baguette roll. I know the other mobile kitchens at Boardwalk on Bulverde are working hard to offer the best they can, but I have to admit: if there were no trailers other than Bistro Six, I would still visit them in a heartbeat.
So there you have it, friends! Casual gourmet trailer dining comes to San Antonio! With a little tweaking, the already competent food vendors at Boardwalk on Bulverde can really touch greatness. I'm excited to visit the place again and get a taste for what I missed, and I can't wait to taste those delectable tuna tacos again. Remember, Saturday is the magic day for the Freetail keg, so get there early to have a couple of cups of microbrewery heaven.
Boardwalk on Bulverde
14732 Bulverde Rd. (a few blocks inside 1604)
Tues-Sat 11 am-3pm and 5pm-10pm, Sun 11am-3pm
210-402-2629
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