What are your favorite restaurants in San Antonio? Regardless of price or type of food, what does it for you? Preferably no chain restaurants unless they are just exceptional.

My favorite chinese restaurant is Mencius Gourmet in the medical center. Delicious won-ton soup and the fried rice is the best I've had. I always get the triple delight. If you go during lunch it's very inexpensive, but the decor and ambience is upscale. A similar restaurant is Tai Pei on NW Military in Castle Hills. They used to be owned by brothers.

One of my new favorites is River Tree Bistro on Blanco almost to 1604. It's a good lunch place with a wide variety of foods you don't normally see at a deli. I've had seafood paella and wine punch there twice.

Paesanos
Silo
Bohanans
Max's Wine Dive (small chain 2-3 locations I believe)

Mexican - Taco Haven
Chinese - Sichuan
Cajun - MaHarpers
Burgers - tie between Big Bob's, Armadillos, Lords Kitchen.
American/steak - Josephine St.
Burgers/sandwiches - The Cove

[This message has been edited by AgDev01 (edited 5/1/2012 10:51a).]

The Cove
The Monterey - favorite
Esquire Tavern
El Mirasol

Girls love River Tree. It's a good spot for a casual date.

Girls also love Pam's Patio Kitchen.

Tai Pei on NW Military is another good not-too-expensive date spot.

I like so many restaurants in this town I'm hesitant to attempt this, but ...

El Chaparral is one of my all-time favorites 'cause I grew up going there, and I also love the Fiesta Beef plate.

Big Lou's Pizza for pizza.

LuLu's Bakery/Cafe for chicken fried steak.

Taqueria Aguascalientes for breakfast tacos and carne guisada.

Mamacita's Guisado Monterrey.

DoubleDave's philly cheesesteak stromboli (I know they're a chain, but I know the owner and am plugging it anyway)

Lord's Kitchen for burgers.

Chacho's for cheap mounds of nachos and large frozen jack'n'cokes. (also a chain, but this is my list of favorites, after all)

Bohanan's for a steakhouse (Aggie-owned, and top-notch)

Ciao Lavanderia for lasagna (but just closed ... I'm hoping will re-open with the same recipe)

Henry's Puffy Taco for puffy tacos. (also part Aggie-owned)

Josephine Street for some home-cooked goodness.

Tycoon Flats has some unique burgers. (also Aggie-owned)

Freetail Brewing Co. for their Rye Wit.

Alamo Beer to be purchased in H-E-B's or on tap at select locations. (owner is not an Aggie but has been generous with our Club)

I'm loyal to Freebirds but will occasionally get a cheesy beefrito from Habaneros Grill.

I enjoy Little Italy on West Avenue for an old school Italian mob dining atmosphere.

OK back to work.

El Chap

Silo
Paloma Blanca
Boudro's

Ajuua Mexican Restaurant
Freetail
Pam's Patio Kitchen
Big Lou's Pizza
Augie's Barbed Wire Smokehouse

Big Easy Cafe for New Orleans grade service, hours, dumpiness and charm. Food is darn good.

BYOB.

+1 for Habaneros.

Alamo Cafe for the flour tortillas

Thousand Oaks Cafe for the prices

Top Favorite: Il Sogno (phenomenal but a tad pricey)

Mexican: So Luna

Italian: Tre Tratoria

Seafood: Sandbar (best oysters I've ever had)

Burger: The Cove

Steaks: Haven't been to any of the nice steak houses so I'll go with Josephine St. just for the atmosphere and value

Vietnamese: Lien Hung or Pho Thien An

Chinese: San Antonio hasn't impressed me, if anyone can share some good ones that would be great.

Thai: Thai House

Pizza: Dough

Dough
Luke
Tilted Kilt - seriously
Bigz Burger Joint
Fralo's Art of Pizza
Grill at Leon Springs

Feast - Southtown; the atmosphere, food, and staff are pretty incredible

Tip-Top
La Frite
Moroccan Bites
El Chap (when feeling nostalgic)
Sawasadee (Thai)
Dough
Pasha (Wurzbach location)

Paesanos at the Quarry is my favorite place in town.

Los Barrios

Beto's
Magnolia Pancake Haus
Armadillo's
Thai Chili
Miss Ellie's Pizza (non-descript exterior/interior, great pizza)
Fralo's
Guajillo's
The Smokehouse BBQ (off Roland/Rigsby)

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Big Easy Cafe for New Orleans grade service, hours, dumpiness and charm. Food is darn good.

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This place is on my agenda for lunch tomorrow.

Edit: nevenmind it looks as if they are closed right now while they move to a new location.

[This message has been edited by AgDev01 (edited 5/2/2012 12:49p).]

Wow, they're finally moving?

Looks like it. Tried called twice today with no answer. New location will be on Walzem by discount tire.

Thai House
Big Lou's Burgers
Mama Lee's for soul food
Grimaldi's for pizza (is that a chain? I went to one in Alamo Heights)
My Place (not quite in San Antonio, but fantastic burgers and chicken sandwiches)


[This message has been edited by Ulrich (edited 5/2/2012 3:35p).]

you may find this article interesting Ulrich.

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It's not difficult for a restaurant to fail. After four years of lackluster business, Ken Lee was finding that out the hard way.

When Lee opened the second location of Mama Lee's Soul Food in northeast San Antonio, he assumed that the popularity of the original location at 310 Valley Hi Drive would be enough to drive business.

“I was wrong,” Lee says. A 21-year military veteran, he was not about to quit.

Lee knew it was time to call for help. He applied to be featured on “Restaurant Impossible,” the Food Network's version of a makeover show with Robert Irvine. By November 2011, Lee and his crew had a date for their facelift.

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http://www.mysanantonio.com/life/food/article/Mama-Lee-s-Restaurant-Impossible-airs-May-2-3513664.php

Ah... I noticed the change in decor (I go to the one on Walzem), but didn't know why.

One thing that would really help is accelerating the service. Totally worth the wait, but tough to fit it into a lunch hour even though I work pretty close to there.

I'll borrow from an earlier poster since I have much of the same opinions:

Mexican: So Luna/El Mirasol/Paloma Blanca
Italian: Tre Tratoria/Il Sogno/Caparelli's
Seafood: Sandbar (oysters)
Burger: Big Bobs
Steaks: Ruth's Chris
Vietnamese: Pho Thien An
Thai: Tong's Thai
Gourmet Pizza: Dough for true gourmet
Ny Style Pizza: Grimaldi's
Creole: Luke
Comfort Food: Esquire/El Monterrey/Esquire
French: Tost
Belgian/Euro Continental: La Frite
BBQ: Two Bros
Breakfast: Patty Lou's at Olmos Bharmacy
Sushi: Sushihana

[This message has been edited by f2foxes2001 (edited 5/4/2012 11:56a).]

[This message has been edited by f2foxes2001 (edited 5/4/2012 11:57a).]

I've heard Dough is really good.

Big Bob's has always seemed overrated to me. Big Lou's and Billy T's are/were better, IMO.

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Big Bob's has always seemed overrated to me

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I would agree with this to some extent. When they first moved to their new location the burgers weren't anything special though the sides were great.

The burgers have gotten a lot better the last few times i have gone and the addition of pulled pork sandwiches it has become a pretty damn good spot.

This isn't a discussion thread just a listing. We have already done the discussion.

Some places come and go on my list as the years pass but Earl Abel's has always been a favorite.

They don't try to impress you or keep up with the times they just serve good ol' homecooked food. It reminds me of some of the small town cafes and diners I ate at growing up.

Grey Moss Inn

In my few years here (local only):

Bohanans (steakhouse, best restaurant overall)
Biga on the Banks (2nd best restaurant)
The Cove (feels like Austin)
El Milagrito/Guajillo's/Nicha's/Paloma Blanca/La Gloria (Tex-Mex/Mexican)
Bigz (burgers)
Sorrento's (Italian)
Two Bros BBQ
Magnolia and Guenther House (great for breakfast)
Silo (American)
Demo's and Zorbas (Greek)

Haven't had any Asian food that is worth mentioning. Sushi Zushi is ok.

For you guys discussing Mama Lees Soul Food...

Best Baked Chicken ever...I bought a bunch of plates of different foods for my employees and I got stuck with the baked chicken.

I could not believe the flavor. I think of baked chicken as being on the bland side. I talked to the owner about it. He said that everything they do to their baked chicken is "special" including the type of oven they use, and he is very proud of it.

Pasha
Frederick's & Frederick's bistro
Marisco's Marisol
Orderup
La Marginal

Mexican: Not a fan of the mexican food in San Antonio but would probably go with Los Barros.

Steak: Josephines

Thai: Sawsadee or Tongs

Vietmese: Pho Cong Ly

Burger: Armadillos

Deli: Picnickens

Italian: Little Italy

Beer: Freetail

Sushi: Eh..... prob go wit Godai

Some people put The Cove... If you have ever seen the kitchen you'd never eat there again.




[This message has been edited by CoolaidWade (edited 5/4/2012 11:09p).]

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Not a fan of the mexican food in San Antonio

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????