San Antonio’s dining map is getting a serious redraw. Downtown, Esencia, the long-anticipated restaurant from local chef Leo Davila, has finally opened inside the St. Anthony Hotel. Up the road, Max & Louie’s New York-style diner is building a much larger outpost in fast-growing Cibolo that is expected this spring. The two arrivals head in very different directions, with Davila’s menu leaning Mexican-Asian and New American, and Max & Louie’s doubling down on an all-day diner setup built around customizable burgers, fries, and shakes. Together, they show how both downtown hospitality and the I-35 corridor continue to attract new projects and investment.
Esencia brings Davila’s Mexican-Asian menu to the St. Anthony
Esencia quietly flipped on the lights for the public on February 4 inside the historic St. Anthony Hotel, unveiling a 130-seat, two-level dining room that blends Spanish, Mexican, and Asian influences into a New American menu, according to Visit San Antonio. The space leans into the hotel’s old bones with a cantera-stone fountain, wrought-iron accents, and a terracotta-and-sage palette that gives it the feel of a Spanish courtyard that just discovered mood lighting.
CultureMap points to menu standouts such as carne asada frites and a playful Duck & Flower that show off Davila’s east-meets-west approach. The dishes are designed for sharing, sipping, and lingering, with cocktails playing just as big a role as the plates.
Chef Leo Davila, who recently appeared on the 2026 James Beard Awards semifinalist list for his work in the city, has been central to several recent projects at the St. Anthony and beyond, and local coverage has tracked how his Chinese and Mexican roots shape Esencia’s dishes. The San Antonio Express-News notes his run of concepts, from Stixs & Stone to Anacacho Coffee & Cantina, and frames Esencia as his most ambitious hotel residency yet, with a room that splits the difference between polished date night and laid-back hotel hangout.
Max & Louie’s heads for Cibolo with a bigger footprint
Out along the I-35 corridor, Max & Louie’s New York-style diner is under construction in the Cibolo Crossing development and is expected to open in April, as featured on KSAT via its Texas Eats coverage. The concept is known for an oversized customizable “BFS” (burger, fries, and shake) and what owners cheerfully describe as “fanatical hospitality.” The Cibolo spot is being pitched as substantially larger than the San Antonio flagship, and permit filings put the new build-out at roughly 9,100 square feet, giving the diner room for a much bigger floor and expanded service, according to What Now San Antonio.
Owner Drew Glick has told local outlets that Cibolo’s rapid growth made the site hard to ignore, and Community Impact reports the company is planning an early-2026 opening window along with a hiring push to staff the larger room. The brand’s familiar lineup of breakfast plates, deli sandwiches, and classic diner entrées is expected to arrive intact, just scaled up for bigger families, bigger groups, and, frankly, bigger appetites. For fans of the San Antonio original, the Cibolo restaurant is shaping up as a supersized sequel made for the highway crowd.
Where to try them and reservations
Esencia is already taking reservations through OpenTable and is offering evening service most nights, with the hotel’s press materials listing private-dining options for larger groups. OpenTable shows current availability along with details on the St. Anthony restaurant’s private rooms.
Max & Louie’s, meanwhile, has been sharing construction photos, hiring notices, and timing updates on its website and social channels as work wraps in Cibolo. Max & Louie’s remains the best spot for the latest on opening dates, menus, and job postings.
Both restaurants were recently featured on KSAT as part of its expanded Texas Eats coverage, which has been rolling out more local food segments during the week. The station’s video previews offer a behind-the-scenes look as each spot tightens up service. KSAT carries the full segment and additional local food coverage for readers who want a closer look before booking a table or planning a drive.
