Sanford Nowlin
Joshua Green, a partner at Tryst Kitchen + Cocktails, stands in the entrance to his soon-to-open restaurant.
A group of veteran San Antonio restaurateurs is preparing to open an upscale Southern cuisine concept called Tryst Kitchen + Cocktails near The Pearl.
Led by Joshua Green, formerly known for The South Chicken & Waffles mini-chain, former Basie's Seafood owner Bruce Chambliss and other partners, Tryst is expected to open in July, pending liquor license approval. The restaurant and bar will focus on Creole, Cajun and soul food creations and cocktails.
“We want people to think of this as a place where they can enjoy great drinks, but our main focus is the food,” Green said. “It's Southern cuisine with a sophisticated twist. We'll be doing traditional soul food type dishes, but we'll also be using ingredients like Wagyu beef and fresh seafood. We'll also be getting creative with our side dishes.”
Green, a former teacher and coach in the Judson Independent School District, expanded his South Chicken & Waffles concept to three locations before being forced to close them due to financial pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He, Chambliss and other partners also acquired the city's first Bojangles' franchise as part of the North Carolina-based chicken chain's expansion into Texas, opening its first location last summer.
Tryst is located at 1915 Broadway, Suite 111, below The Mosaic on Broadway apartments.
Green said the restaurant's location on a rapidly developing corridor will allow it to attract lunch customers from nearby office buildings while also drawing dinner and brunch patrons accustomed to heading to the Pearl District for food and entertainment.
Green said Tryst will feature a mix of music, DJs and other entertainment to keep with the creative approach. A full-length mural by San Antonio artist Colton Valentine and a striking wood-framed bar add a touch of glamour to the space.
The Tryst location was previously home to the short-lived I Calamba Taco Cantina in March, and before that was Senor Fish Seafood Bar, which closed in mid-2023, and Tacos N Tequila, which closed in 2017 after three years in business.
Green said he's not daunted by the replacement of the previous restaurant at the location, which he's had his eye on for some time.
“This place has that,” he says. “We're on a great corner location, a busy corner location. We're in a developing area, next to The Pearl, which is a destination that draws locals and people from out of town. We've got parking. We've got a really nice bar. All the ingredients are there, so at the end of the day it's just a matter of getting the right staff and doing the food and drinks well.”
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