Casbeers

One of my favorite venues in the city is the small chapel above Casabeers. For some reason, the booking there is a little infrequent but when they do have a show I try to make it out for the performance.
The bar below, which goes by the San Antonio Café I think — doesn’t really do it for me that much. I also found that some of their beer prices are steeper than most places in the area.

Name has changed to San Antone Café, but no matter: This place has atmosphere coming out of its ears. Definitely enjoyed the casual feel, and they had music upstairs, which is also a cool alternative. I would definitely rate this place a 4 or 4.5 for atmosphere – it was just so low-​key, but in a great way. (Server was wearing a Flogging Molly shirt, if that tells you anything.)
The onion rings were like, an 11 out of 10. Sweet Lord, there are no words! Otherwise, food wasn’t anything stellar, but the enchiladas were pretty good – they had chili in them, which is the most Tex-​Mex thing ever. Actually worked out pretty well; might have to try that one day??? Anyway, if you’re looking for a super low-​key evening, a few beers or the greatest onion rings ever, this place has your number. For outstanding entrée options, best to look elsewhere.

This location is now known as San Antone Café but they still serve the same menu.
Gospel brunch is a great deal and a lot of fun.

Another great venue taking over previously vacant space in a very SouthTown style, Casbeer’s is easily chili and enchilada paradise on Alamo St. I’ve not been eating them since becoming pescatarian, but the chili topping was much heartier than the average enchilada sauce you find topping these faves. They also have great burgers, both fancy and standards, served with delicious hand-​cut fries and rings. Rounding out the menu are nachos and frito pies – both simple but delicious. They do have a portobello sandwich that is pretty good for a place not known as a vegetarian hot spot.
The live music here is great, but getting used to sitting and dancing in pews while drinking is a bit odd at first – you are in a church behaving a little hedonistically, but after a couple visits, it’ll feel like home. Bands on the patio are usually free, and usually are different enough not to compete with the band inside (which usually charges a small cover charge and includes both an opening and main act).

Having been a big fan of the original location it is with trepidation that I write about the new location in the basement of the church. I just thank the lord they are still using the original recipe chili for their enchiladas.
I don’t believe that I have ever eaten anything other than their enchilada’s. I know that sounds closed minded, however, they are so good I have never been tempted to try anything else. Now these are not your typical tex-​mex enchiladas they are more Tex than mex. These are cheese enchiladas smothered in Lucille’s original recipe Texas style chili. And boy are they good.
So head on down to the church and dive into some enchiladas soon.

Working at a new place offers new locations for lunch and this time I was led to Casbeers at the Church. First of all, what a great building. I wanted to start taking pictures but didn’t want my new coworkers to think I was crazy.
Service was great. They met us as the gate and offered us a place inside or on the patio. We chose inside because it was a bit windy. Our waiter was friendly and attentive.
I always like to try enchiladas so I opted for 2. I thought I may be hungry because it didn’t come with any sides (other than bread & crackers), but was surprised at how large the plate was and it was very delicious.
Can’t wait to go back to try the burgers!

We had a great dinner at Casbeer’s last night before heading up to The Church to see Chasca’s Rocky Horror Review. My Kinky burger was excellent, the rings and fries were crispy and fresh, and our friends loved their enchiladas. We even thought the chips and hot sauce was first-​rate – great flavor and unusual since the hot sauce was served warm. The live entertainment was good – enjoyable but not overbearing, we were able to listen to the music and visit with our old friends. This is a great place to grab a bite before catching a show upstairs. We also plan to try the monthly gospel brunch soon.

Now this is a church that I can relate to! Live music, food, and drinks? Baptize me, because I’m ready to be a member!
Being, new to San Antonio, we were excited to find a neighborhood that could compete to our fun little arts district neighborhood back home in Kansas City. Thanks to Krys T, I think we’ve found a small comparison in Southtown. We love the quirky and twisted take on the world that independently owned places offer. and Casbeers fits the bill. I love the fact that its an old church with substituted stained glass and also offers outdoor seating.
The atmosphere is fun and the burgers were incredible. No, dry burgers here. My hubby ordered the mushroom burger (name?) and I ordered the Lavaca Quac Burger. because I love anything quac related. We did our usual switcharoo split so we could enjoy the best of both worlds and agreed both burgers were excellent. No lame, iceburg lettuce here. Oh, and the onion rings. dont get me started on how perfect the rings were. no overly salted crumbly mess that leaves you with a limp onion at Casbeers, just perfectly flavored bites of what are probably some of the best onion rings we’ve had.
We can’t wait to drinks some cocktails and catch some shows here!
Halleleujah!

I’ve been going to Casbeers since the old location to see the not quite punk, not quite country bands burn through town on their way to LA or Nashville. They’re known for their enchiladas, done gringo style, not unlike enchiladas you’d find in Lubbock or Amarillo, heavy on the ground beef gravy and comfortably cheesy and greasy. They have a full bar, nice outdoor seating and great live music. On First Fridays (every month) Casbeer’s has The In & Outlaws (a San Antonio honk-​tonk band) host a rather raucous concert on the stage in the church often featuring special touring guests that run the gamut from rockabilly, Americana, blue grass, etc. It’s a nice diversion from all the art galleries and crowded streets that occur in the area on those particular days. The servers and wait staff are very friendly, usually from the neighborhood area, so it has very nice genuine feeling unlike what experience you’d have at the River Walk. During happy hour there’s usually a live act to enjoy.

Went to Casbeers after a Stars game. They were very dog friendly and everybody there was very nice.
I had the Kinky Friedman Utopia Burger and it was very tasty. Really looking forward to going back and checking out the rest of the establishment.

I used to frequent Casbeers when I worked a few blocks away downtown.
I found it quite literally by accident. I was walking to Blue Star and tripped (anyone who knows how clumsy I am is not even remotely surprised by this). My purse spilled and my wallet fell inside this black fence around an empty patio at the bottom of the stairs of an old church. I walked through the gate to grab it and realized there was a little restaurant inside so my coworker and I decided just to eat there instead of continuing our walk to the other place. I’m now convinced this was DIVINE INTERVENTION for my red meat-​lovin’ stomach, as the lunch I found waiting in that church basement far surpassed most restaurants in the area!
That day, I ordered the black bean burger thinking I was being «healthy» and eating vegetarian. The joke was on me a bit later as a plate holding a ½ pound of juicy meaty meat smothered in refried black beans, topped with avocado, onions and mayo squished between white buns was placed in from of me. I figured this was probably also by almighty design because anyone who knows me also knows I’d much prefer a greasy burger to a healthy vegetarian option despite what my original intent may suggest. So I ordered a side of ranch to dip my fries and decided to just go with it.
Since that first visit, I’ve been back many times. I was in just a few nights ago sitting on that once-​empty patio, listening to live music with friends. We shared a burger and some fries. The meat was still perfectly grilled and seasoned, the fries still crispy and tasted best dunked in ranch.
If you haven’t been to Casbeers yet, you ought to go. You will be eternally grateful to have experienced the out-​of-​this-​world goodness of the food they serve.

Get the buckshot balls (meatballs stuffed with cheese and jalapenos, deep fried, served with salsa ranch) and onion rings. Burgers are OK, standard big greasy burgers. But the sides, those are definitely worth it.

Food is awesome here and very reasonably priced. I had the chicken fried steak — it was huge and came w/​two sides. The building is also very cute, Casbeers is in an old church and they have a nice outdoor patio (service can be kind of slow out there though). The night we were there they had a Led Zeppelin cover band playing upstairs, very cool place!

Casbeers is one of my favorite places in San Antonio. It’s an old Church turned dive hole-​in-​the-​wall diner that serves fantastic burgers and beer while listening to live country music!
The outdoor seating is very dog friendly and they even have a special dog treat on the menu — this is my kinda place! Order The Kinky Friedman Utopia Burger and $ 1.00 goes to the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch.

Strange hole-​in-​the-​wall diner that serves beer. The food is typical diner fare only you can wash it down with Shiner instead of coffee. The times I went, there was a local country-​type band playing that added to the weirdness of the place. Casbeer’s is small, probably too small for a band, but who cares. The place is a gem. Clientele are laid-​back and cool. I love places like this.