San Antonio Restaurant/Dining Suggestions 2016
Let's get this thread started. I'm sure all of us have good suggestions
Summary of the first post from the thread last year (Thanks PurpleSky)
Whataburger: Open 24 Hours. Late night(after 11)/breakfast? Get the Honeybutter Chicken Biscuit.
- River Center Food Court: Your typical mall food court. On the Riverwalk, great for people watching and listening to Pan Pipes.
- Alamo Street Eat Bar: Food Truck park, good beer selection, 10 minute walk from the convention center
- Tre Trattoria: Some of the best Italian/Pasta in the city.
- The Monterrey: American Gastropub in Southtown, great outdoor seating area.
- Fritte: Belgian Food, also in Southtown.
- Hot Joy: Hipster Asian Fusion. Really, really good.
- The Beethoven: A side of San Antonio most people never see, or even think about. Old school German beer garden in Southtown.
Further afield:
- The Pearl Brewery: Walk up the riverwalk towards the Museum Reach. Big new complex that has a number of restaurants: La Glora (Mexican Streetfood), The Granary (Micro-brewery and modern BBQ), Green (Vegetarian, closed Saturdays) and more places I haven't had a chance to try. Also has a Farmers Market on Saturdays if you're into that.
- Taco Taco Cafe: Local institution on Hildebrand. Parking is a bit of a pain, but they've got my favorite breakfast tacos in the city (I'm a Trinity kid, so sue me.)
- Central Market: Upscale Grocery store with great prepared foods. Prices for normal grocery stuff also fairly reasonable.
Anyone want to start a Google Doc with suggestions on places?
Here's a link to the old one from last year. Its still a great resource with distance from the Convention Center
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8J2zaWDtgGpZTlnWVd4VUozTzQ/edit?usp=sharing
A link to the previous thread from last year
https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/191202/san-antonio-restaurant-dining-suggestions-2015/p1
A Google Map with mapped out places (Thanks VintageUtti)
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zGEWTyllhmHI.kt8xxeqFofak
Summary of the first post from the thread last year (Thanks PurpleSky)
Whataburger: Open 24 Hours. Late night(after 11)/breakfast? Get the Honeybutter Chicken Biscuit.
- River Center Food Court: Your typical mall food court. On the Riverwalk, great for people watching and listening to Pan Pipes.
- Alamo Street Eat Bar: Food Truck park, good beer selection, 10 minute walk from the convention center
- Tre Trattoria: Some of the best Italian/Pasta in the city.
- The Monterrey: American Gastropub in Southtown, great outdoor seating area.
- Fritte: Belgian Food, also in Southtown.
- Hot Joy: Hipster Asian Fusion. Really, really good.
- The Beethoven: A side of San Antonio most people never see, or even think about. Old school German beer garden in Southtown.
Further afield:
- The Pearl Brewery: Walk up the riverwalk towards the Museum Reach. Big new complex that has a number of restaurants: La Glora (Mexican Streetfood), The Granary (Micro-brewery and modern BBQ), Green (Vegetarian, closed Saturdays) and more places I haven't had a chance to try. Also has a Farmers Market on Saturdays if you're into that.
- Taco Taco Cafe: Local institution on Hildebrand. Parking is a bit of a pain, but they've got my favorite breakfast tacos in the city (I'm a Trinity kid, so sue me.)
- Central Market: Upscale Grocery store with great prepared foods. Prices for normal grocery stuff also fairly reasonable.
Anyone want to start a Google Doc with suggestions on places?
Here's a link to the old one from last year. Its still a great resource with distance from the Convention Center
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8J2zaWDtgGpZTlnWVd4VUozTzQ/edit?usp=sharing
A link to the previous thread from last year
https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/191202/san-antonio-restaurant-dining-suggestions-2015/p1
A Google Map with mapped out places (Thanks VintageUtti)
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zGEWTyllhmHI.kt8xxeqFofak
1st PAX was Prime 2010. Made it to several more Primes/West. Been to East and South. Headed back to West in 2019 for my 12th PAX.
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I also ate at Mi Tierra and it was good and reminded me of what I eat in Washington State. I think I ate at the Country Line too? It was good although most of my friends from Texas said there were better places it was convenient.
This year I am on the hunt for breweries within walking distance and possibly a place that has good puffy tacos that people kept talking about last year
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With regard to @kube00 , Blue Star Brewery is fairly close (it is within walking distance from Beethoven Maennerchor). Freetail also has their downtown operation now, but you'll need to keep track of that location's hours because last I knew it was not open every day.
PS - As a fellow Trinity kid, there's nothing wrong with stating fact: Taco Taco Cafe is the best.
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Mad Hatters and Feast are pretty close and have great food all day but Feast as a killer Sunday brunch menu. BYO Mimosas FTW!!!
I'd like to add The Friendly Spot (if its not too cold). Just a nice place to chill with some friends and some beer.
And even though it's within walking distance, it wasn't too crowded when we went during the lunch rush because it is a short hike away (a little over half a mile).
I never finish anyth
Added Candy's to my list for places to eat...
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Iron Cactus Mexican Grill & Margarita Bar, on the Riverwalk, was pretty enjoyable.
I haven't been to Mad Hatter (heard it's good) but across the street from it is a Mexican place called Tito's that we really like. They're about a mile away from the convention center.
Of course, there's also the Tower of the Americas. We've only been there twice for food, and it's been years. We went once for lunch and once for dinner. The lunch was better, both as far as quality and price goes, but dinner was spectacular because you can see the city lit up beneath you while you eat. The tower does a full rotation once an hour, and seeing all the lights of the city once it gets dark out is pretty cool. You could also go just for drinks; I understand they have a happy hour from 4-7pm, and usually there's a cover charge just to get into the tower, but if you tell them you're there for happy hour, they may wave the cover charge. I haven't ever gone there myself to try that. But we were just downtown with some friends from out of town, and heard that from somebody else.
Second Pax: PAX PRIME 2015!!
Third Pax: PAX SOUTH 2016 GET HYPE!!!!
Proud Alaskan!
Came here to specifically mention Rosario's. I'm local, but I don't go downtown all that much. It's a bit of a walk, but I led a group of senior citizens from the convention center to Rosario's because they heard it was good. And it was fantastic. It's now one of my favorite Mexican restaurants.
http://thestationsa.com/
They're only open Monday-Friday. I recommend the pulled pork or habanero turkey. If you're a fan of the Honey Hole in Seattle, you should enjoy this sandwich shop.
2015 PAX Prime Omeganaut (I will forever hate Katamari)
http://www.daveandbusters.com/san-antonio/rivercenter
Not a ton in walking distance. The Riverwalk is mostly chains, though Esquire is legit, best place on the Riverwalk for food and cocktails, actually local.
If you can get out to the Pearl (formerly brewery now amazing culinary complex) EVERYTHING there is good. It's a beautiful area to hang out, too.
1919, Beethoven's, and othe rplaces in the Blue Star Complex are great. Stella for beer and pizza, Halcyon for coffee. Get down to Blue Star!
Also hit me up at our booth for Heroes Must Die and I will give you personalized recommendations because I love to eat and drink.
Sweet, they have some pretty good combos with the play cards.
I would love to see some guides for lunch and dinner!
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-Schilos - german deliciousness, get the root beer
-Whataburger - 24hrs
-Belgian Sweets - not just chocolate/candies, has waffles, sandwiches, and quiche, too
-County Line BBQ - brisket tacos!!!! (but only at lunch time)
Driving
-Ray's Drive Inn - PUFFY TACOS (fair warning, my boyfriend won't go here because "it's too sketchy." I, however, cannot wait to go back)
-Pasha Mediterranean Grill - yummy w/open kitchen and amazing customer service (my bf took one bite and didn't like it, so they didn't charge him - bf's fault, not theirs)
I don't make a lot of major food recommendations (I'm not picky), but if you aren't from a region that has good BBQ and want something authentic, friendly, and a bit farther out, I can easily recommend Rudy's Country Store & Bar-B-Q. The bad news is they are all located outside of town, so a good 30 minute drive from the convention center at least. I met a lot of people from overseas last year, and this is the kind of place I would recommend to them if they wanted a great sample of southern cooking and had access to a car. It's also great for large groups that don't mind sharing as all food is ordered by weight ("half pound of pork ribs, quarter pound moist brisket, etc"), carved right in front of you, and thrown on wax paper (along with a loaf of white bread). Perfect for sampling a variety of stuff out of a communal pile of deliciousness.
It's a comprehensive list of everything (good and bad) within walking distance but I'd like to at least mark the places that are recommended as "favorites" to help narrow down the choices. I'll go through this thread to and make updates to my map based on your recommendations. Also if there are any new places added since then let me know. (Just found out HEB opened downtown so yay!)
Thanks! added this to the OP
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Big Lou's Pizza
Lulu's Bakery and Cafe
Chunky's Burgers
Just from watching the show (and because it is the closest to PAX), I'm inclined to go to Lulu's but I dunno if people might suggest otherwise. Or if anybody wants to join and dine together and split one of them 3 pound cinnamon rolls, or 42 inch pizzas, that might be fun as well.
How close is LuLus?
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It's NorthEast of the Riverwalk on the other side of I-35 so you'd probably need a car or take public transit to get there (unless you don't mind a 30-45 minute walk each way).
Your guide to all things Texas BBQ
http://www.tmbbq.com/
If you happen to be driving, I would recommend a detour through Lockhart.
Uber here I come!
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Mi Tierra Cafe is sort of a landmark here in town and is open 24 hours a day.
218 Produce Row, San Antonio, TX 78207
It is
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Durty Nelly's under the Hilton Palacio Del Rio is a fun Irish pub
Howl at the Moon is a fun place to hang out, and you can usually swing a free cover using one of the local travel guides.