







window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-5', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 5', target_type: 'mix' });









window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-10', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 10', target_type: 'mix' });







window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-13', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 13', target_type: 'mix' });



















Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close Image 2 of 14 Paintings of fish from a local artist decorate Starfish. Paintings of fish from a local artist decorate Starfish. Image 3 of 14 Starfish will offer seafood influenced from various countries. Starfish will offer seafood influenced from various countries. Image 4 of 14 Paintings of fish from a local artist decorate Starfish. Paintings of fish from a local artist decorate Starfish. Image 5 of 14 Image 6 of 14 Starfish can seat 80 guests inside. Starfish can seat 80 guests inside. Image 7 of 14 Starfish will offer seafood influenced from various countries. Starfish will offer seafood influenced from various countries. Image 8 of 14 The 1,600-square-foot patio can hold 100 guests. The 1,600-square-foot patio can hold 100 guests. Image 9 of 14 The 1,600-square-foot patio can hold 100 guests. The 1,600-square-foot patio can hold 100 guests. Image 10 of 14 Image 11 of 14 The 1,600-square-foot patio can hold 100 guests. The 1,600-square-foot patio can hold 100 guests. Image 12 of 14 Over 6,000 pave stones will be installed in the 1,600-square-foot patio. Over 6,000 pave stones will be installed in the 1,600-square-foot patio. Image 13 of 14 Starfish sits next to Azúca Nuevo Latino Restaurant and Bar. Starfish sits next to Azúca Nuevo Latino Restaurant and Bar. Image 14 of 14 Southtown restaurant Starfish to open soon 1 / 14 Back to Gallery

In less than two weeks, Starfish, a new Southtown restaurant, is scheduled to open, offering a cultural mix of seafood entrees. Located at 709 S. Alamo St., next to Azúca Nuevo Latino, the restaurant and bar “will not be tied down to a genre,” owner Diego Fernandez says because the restaurant will offer food influenced from various countries.

“We’re starting our own trend,” Fernandez said.

Seafood entrees include steamed halibut ($22; toasted cous cous ratatouille, pickled lemongrass, crispy leeks), pappardelle ($19; squid ink pasta, poached cod bites, uni sauce) and steamed scallops ($21; celery root and apple puree, beet gel, orange thyme veloute). Non-seafood eaters can enjoy duck pot pie ($19; rhubarb salad pomegranate reduction, shaved beets) and chicken ballotine ($18; soft egg ravioli, smoked fabas, shallot rings). Salads include Ceasar ($9; charred romaine, foccacia croutons, shaved Parmesan) and bread salad ($9; torn house bread, heirloom tomatoes, burrata, tomato vinaigrette). Desserts include bitter budino ($9; strawberry and kiwi relish, rose gelèe, vanilla ice cream, popped quinoa) and beignets ($7; cinnamon sugar, espresso cream, citrus spread).

Starfish will serve 80 percent seafood and 20 percent other meats (chicken, beef, rabbit or duck) depending on the season  “Whatever I can get my hands on,” Fernandez said.

Its full bar includes cocktails such as the Sea Jewel ($9; Bicardi lemon, cardamaro, lemon juice and agave) and the Perfect Storm ($10; Herradura reposado, ancho reyes, lime juice and fresca).

The 1,400-square-foot building seats 80 inside and another 100 on a 1,600-square-foot outdoor patio, which wraps around the restaurant.

Fernandez, a 2008 graduate from the Culinary Institute of America, said he and his father, Renee Fernandez (owner of Azúca), began plans for the seafood restaurant a year ago to bring a different cuisine to Southtown.

Diego Fernandez wants the restaurant to give of a both modern and rustic feel in the 100-year-old building. “We will bring in the modern aspect with the food,” he said.

Hours will be 5:30-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 5:30-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday.

For now, Starfish will offer dinner, only, but Diego Fernandez said he hopes to add eventually lunch.

Have any downtown news, event info, hearsay, tips, celebrations, complaints, boastings, updates, breaking news, memories, old photos, etc.? Want to write a guest blog? E-mail me.

Follow the Downtown Blog on Twitter: twitter.com/mySAdowntown. And on Facebook