Alex D. wrote: >My wife and I will be spending two days in San Antonio, >Texas,which I was told has many "good" restaurants.In as >much as this is our first visit to San Antonio,I would >appreciate the name (and any other information) of two >restaurants,at least one of which should be Mexican (is >Mex-Tex the proper terminology ?).Price range:$ 20/25 >per person not including drinks and tip. > >Thanks for your assistance. > Whoever told you about restaurants being good was right... Specific recommendations are difficult without knowing what you like. Perhaps you could describe your "ideal" restaurant and I will try to match it with what we have in town. Fancy? Hole-in-the-wall-with-good-food? Ethnic? Etc etc. Knowing only what you posted, I would suggest for the Mexican one of the following -- La Calesa at Broadway and Hildebrand. A family from Mexico has opened a restaurant that serves food typical of the interior of Mexico, rather than TexMex food. While it is not the equivalent of what you might find in Mexico City, it is outstanding among local Mexican eateries. Los Barrios, owned and run by the Barrios family, on Blanco Road, specializes in Mexican food with a distinctly more vigorous flavor than most local Mexican restaurants. The food is not necessarily hotter (i.e. made with more chile), but it has an earthy robustness that Los Barrios' faithful clientel favor. Both of the above are informal and family style. La Fogata, pehaps the best-known Mexican restaurant in town, has slipped in recent years, IMHO, and is no longer worth a trip across town. As for nonMexican, that really does depend on what you like. I willl assume that you can get good exemplars of most cuisines wherever you live, and so mention a unique establishment, even though it scratches against the top of the price range you set. Restaurant Biga, run by owner-chef Bruce Auden, has earned top billing not only for his exquisite technique, but also for his imaginative and even inspired use of Texas ingredients. Everything from soups to desserts bear his imprint of excellent yet original culinary judgment. If he has a fault, it is in not knowing where to stop -- some plates, which aree miniature works of art, seem overcrowded as if he can not bear to let you get away without trying almost everything. Biga is expensive, but the two recommended Mexican ones are not. Perhaps the expensive will balance out the inexpensive. In any case, as I said, give me more info and I will give you more suggestions. Ben Fairbank
San Antonio, TX
Restaurants in San Antonio,Texas
Alex D. wrote: >I would >appreciate the name (and any other information) of two >restaurants,at least one of which should be Mexican 1. Tony Rama's, on the river floor of the Rivercenter Mall. Does great BBQ. 2. The Original Mexican restaurant, on the riverwalk. Outstanding mexican food. I enjoyed both immensely last time I was there. Reasonable prices (for the area), too.
> My wife and I will be spending two days in San Antonio, > Texas,which I was told has many "good" restaurants.In as > much as this is our first visit to San Antonio,I would > appreciate the name (and any other information) of two > restaurants,at least one of which should be Mexican (is > Mex-Tex the proper terminology ?).Price range:$ 20/25 > per person not including drinks and tip. > Alamo Cafe, Mama's, and Mama's Cafe on San Pedro north of 410 were all good the last time I was in town.
Try the Liberty Bar and Grill off of 281, north of downtown. The menu is American eclectic, the prices toward the top of your range, the setting is a very old building that looks like it's about to fall over any minute (we were assured that it wouldn't by the staff). Ate there the last time I was in S.A., along with Biga, and enjoyed them both.
I recommend Mi Tierra and Pico di Gallo, both in the Market Square complex. Not as touristy as Riverwalk, and more authentic chow.
My favorite Mexican restaurant in San Antonio is El Mirador. It is located about 4 blocks south of the bend in the River Walk, on St. Mary's. It is an excellent local Mex cafe, but its been featured on PBS cooking shows and in national magazines. The breakfasts (e.g. Chiliquiles, Migas, Huevos Rancheros) are my favorites. The place is also famous for its "Saturday Soup" featured only on that day. Bon Appetit! Randall Hollister (Dallas)