Recently, a group of friends decided to meet up at Tycoon Flats for burgers and beer one Friday afternoon. This was one of the first trips from my daughter out of the house to a restaurant—while I was a little nervous on how she would do, Tycoon Flats proved to have an ideal atmosphere for this adventure.
The back patio let’s you feel like you’re at a country restaurant. There’s plenty of picnic tables, a full outdoor bar and a stage with live music that was at a suitable volume to either sing along or carry on with a conversation. Off to one side was a playground area for kids for them to burn off some energy while the parents enjoyed a drink (or two).
Having recently entered parenthood, I have become attuned to efforts that venues make to accommodate families; however, I am not that far removed from being childless to understand how groups of screaming kids can dampen the mood while you’re eating out. Tycoon Flats has achieved a that critical balance and the amount of young professionals out drinking is a testament to it—had I not had a kid of my own, I probably wouldn’t have even noticed.
As far as the food goes, the Tycoon Flats burgers are decent, but nothing too memorable. I ordered a bacon cheeseburger that was pretty standard—I probably should have gone with the Mexican Burger that impressed me several years back. On the other hand, the sweat potato fries have the perfect outer crisp. Those in the know will order a side of “Tiger Ranch,” their souped-up sauce with a little kick to dip the fries in.
Ultimately, what Tycoon Flats does best is serve as a place for people to catch up, visit and drink some beers. And that, my friends, is just what I needed.
Tycoon Flats, 2926 N St Mary’s St, San Antonio, TX 78212
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