San Antonio’s weekend plans are looking equal parts pasta and polish, as Mare e Monte’s scratch-made Italian and CarFest’s auto-filled spectacle share the spotlight on KSAT’s Texas Eats NOW. The family-owned restaurant has been drawing praise for its coastal-leaning menu and house pastas, while CarFest, the Community of Automotive Professionals’ big, free auto festival, is gearing up to take over the Freeman Coliseum Expo Hall with car showcases, giveaways and on-site repairs.
Mare e Monte's scratch-made pasta and family-first approach
Owner Prince Blakaj’s Mare e Monte leans on house-made pastas, seafood and a curated wine list, keeping the vibe relaxed with a first-come, first-served seating policy, according to Mare e Monte. The menu features dishes such as Orecchiette di terra alongside steaks and handcrafted desserts, a mix that has helped the restaurant quickly build local buzz. The spot was voted Best New Restaurant in MySA's YourSA awards for 2025, reflecting strong reader support and hometown attention, per MySA.
CarFest rolls back into the Freeman Expo Hall with hands-on programming
CarFest SA returns April 10–12, 2026, at the Freeman Coliseum Expo Hall, produced by the Community of Automotive Professionals and offering more than 100 cars on display, workshops, live entertainment and vendor shopping. The free festival also features a kids' car track, multiple free car giveaways and on-site vehicle repairs for community members nominated by nonprofits. Organizers describe the event as one of the state’s largest automotive festivals, created to connect repair shops, nonprofits and future technicians.
New attractions and a TV spotlight
This year’s CarFest lineup adds a comedy show, a young entrepreneurs marketplace and an animal adoption area to the usual mix of car-focused programming, details highlighted in KSAT's weekend roundup. KSAT's Texas Eats NOW also aired a segment on Mare e Monte and lists broadcast times for viewers who want a closer look at the restaurant, per KSAT.
CarFest's local impact goes beyond the show floor
The CarFest history page notes that the festival has repaired roughly 187 vehicles for families, partnered with more than 120 nonprofits and raised about $705,000 in scholarships for Texas automotive programs, figures organizers use to illustrate the event's community impact. The blend of giveaways, repair clinics and student competitions is framed as a way to reduce transportation barriers and promote training in the trades. Those outcomes are central to CarFest's mission to "fuel mobility, opportunity and community," per CarFest SA.
Whether you are lining up early to twirl Mare e Monte’s scratch-made pastas or hauling the kids out to see custom rides and RC drift demos, the weekend pairs local food culture with hands-on community programming. For the Texas Eats NOW segment and episode times, check KSAT, and visit Mare e Monte for menus and hours.
