Chef Johnny Hernandez is giving his Southtown spot a full-on identity shift, turning his casual cantina into a mole-forward restaurant called Alta Cocina, set to open March 18 in the same East Cevallos Street space. The rebrand trades the botanas-first setup for a larger kitchen, an expanded bar and new artwork and sculptures. Hernandez says the overhaul is meant to reposition the room as a more elevated dining destination for the neighborhood, not just a place to grab a quick drink and a snack.
Hernandez Calls It His Signature Restaurant
“This will be my signature restaurant,” Hernandez said, according to the San Antonio Report. He told the outlet he wants Alta Cocina to feel like a high-end interior Mexican dining experience while still keeping a lively bar presence. The redesign leans on warm yellows, deep blues and Mexican sculptures to shift the room from laid-back cantina to full-service restaurant.
Mole-Forward Menu And A Bigger Bar
The menu centers on six moles, classic mole negro, mole rojo and mole verde plus three contemporary sauces, mole blanco, mole rosa and a mole de pistachio, according to the San Antonio Report. Dishes will include steak tampiqueña, tacos de ribeye, pork shank tamarindo, enchiladas and a cazuela de mariscos, and staff will prepare a tableside salsa as part of the service. The existing bar, built from a tree trunk from Tonalá, Jalisco, has been lengthened with an added section from Guadalajara and will showcase agave spirits, cocktails and an expanded wine selection.
Why The Switch For Southtown
Hernandez’s revamp comes as Southtown competes with Pearl, Pullman Market and other dining districts for diners, prompting concept rethinks across the neighborhood, as noted by CultureMap. Hernandez has pared back parts of his Southtown footprint in recent months, and Alta Cocina is his bid to bring diners back for neighborhood nights and events. The renovation included practical upgrades, an expanded kitchen, a walk-in cooler, new tables and new lighting, all to support a full-service setup rather than a bar-first program.
What To Expect
Alta Cocina will open in the same Southtown building later this month with a mole-focused tasting approach alongside cocktails and Mexican wines. Hernandez’s team is finishing out the interior details and tightening up service elements ahead of the March 18 debut, and the restaurant is set to pair a lively bar vibe with a more elevated dinner menu. Until the doors reopen under the new Alta Cocina name, the space remains best known as its previous incarnation, Casa Hernán Cantina.
