New Pan-European restaurant Europa Restaurant & Bar now open near San Antonio’s South Texas Medical Center

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A new restaurant near San Antonio’s South Texas Medical Center aims to bring flavors that stretch throughout the entire European continent from Greece to France, and everywhere in between. And you don’t even need a passport to dine in.

Europa Restaurant & Bar opened on Fredericksburg Road Dec. 27. It’s a concept by co-owners Lubo Bogdanov, a former professional soccer player, and Milan Saltchev, a veteran of more than 20 years in the San Antonio-area restaurant business.

The menu features a large selection of appetizers that feature Spanish mussels, charcuterie, calamari and bruschetta topped with eggplant, tomatoes, roasted peppers and shaved Parmesan.

Salads are served eight different ways, including a classic French Niçoise and a Balkan favorite called shopska. Pasta, chicken and seafood are also well represented on the menu, as are German schnitzel and a Bulgarian kebapche.

“This is a very diverse area of the city, and we wanted a restaurant that offered a little bit to everybody,” Saltchev said. “Everybody is welcome, but we also have American options like a good burger and the classic pastas.”

A special lunch menu is available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, however, the full menu is available at all hours of business.

Europa had a former life as a nightclub, and Saltchev said he spent four months transforming the property. The interior space features a large dining area with a centrally located full bar, and there are two separate outdoor seating areas that cater to happy hour drinks or al fresco dining.

Europa Restaurant & Bar, 8811 Fredericksburg Road, 210-558-3323. Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays. Online: europarestaurantandbar.com

Chuck Blount is a food writer and columnist covering all things grilled and smoked in the San Antonio area. Find his Chuck’s Food Shack columns on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com, or read his other coverage on our free site, mySA.com. | cblount@express-news.net | Twitter: @chuck_blount   | Instagram: @bbqdiver