[ Anaqua Grill | Boudro's
on the Riverwalk | Houston St. Bistro | Las
Canarias | La Margarita ]
[ Liberty Bar | Little Rhein Steak
House | Morton's The Steakhouse | Polo's
Restaurant & Bar ]
[ Rosario's | The Tower Restaurant
]
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for meetings in San Antonio
Anaqua Grill
Instead of a river view, Anaqua Grill
in the lavish San Antonio Plaza surveys the hotel's lush courtyard
where peacocks stroll and flowers bloom. The American Bistro's extensive
and expensive menu emphasizes local ingredients in adventurous appetizers
which include seared "drunken" shrimp with plum sauce, crispy fried
artichokes or grilled portobello timbales. Soups, chowders and salads
are always good starters, before moving on to entrees which may
be a mixed wild grill with house mashers; cider-glazed salmon with
caramelized apple fennel broth; black current crusted venison loin;
or grilled veal flank steak stuffed with an exotic mushroom medley
with sweet potato gnocchi. Excellent pastries are prepared in the
kitchen but repeat guests usually choose the exceptional creme brulee.
The Sunday brunch buffet is sumptuous.
Anaqua Grill
555 South Alamo
(210) 229-1000
www.plazasa.com
Boudro's on the River Walk
Although River Walk is bursting with restaurants, few compare
to Boudro's, a favorite with locals
and visitors alike. The handsome surroundings draw an equally handsome
crowd who reserve ahead or have a long wait for this contemporary cutting-edge cuisine. Don't miss the Southwest specialties like the signature guacamole
prepared tableside, but also order the crab quesadillas with
papaya salsa as appetizers. Gulf fish, shrimp and scallops are prepared
in a variety of light and creative sauces while the prime rib, steak
or lamb is excellent either on the pecanwood grill or over mesquite.
Definitely save room for dessert.
Boudro's on the River Walk
421 East Commerce St.
(210) 224-8484
www.boudros.com
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Houston St. Bistro
Regional cooking takes on an Italian flair at the cozy Houston
St. Bistro, opposite the historic Camberley Gunter Hotel.
Portions are large and traditional entrees such as steaks and chops
leave room for little else. Lighter entrees are the chicken choices
or fish such as pistachio-crusted red snapper or grilled salmon
in an herb Dijon mustard sauce. Great salads can serve as worthy
alternatives to appetizers such as fried calamari, crab cakes or
shrimp quesadillas. Finish with a tiramisu for dessert and a cappuccino
or espresso to perk you up if you have theater tickets for the evening.
Or try the prix fixe pre-theater menu to get you to your show in
time for the curtain.
Houston St. Bistro
204 East Houston St.
(210) 476-8600
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Las Canarias
Las Canarias in La Mansion del Rio Hotel offers a complete package: a River Walk setting; gracious, romantic dining areas; soft, live guitar music; and an ambitious and talented executive chef, Scott Cohen, producing the best in regional dishes. Starters include grilled Hill Country quail with pecan-studded cous cous and smoky pepper aioli; deviled Texas blue crab cake with corn relish; entrees may be anise-spiced barbecued duck breast with sun-dried cranberry sauce and flour tortillas; grilled buffalo filet mignon with juniper berry jalapeno mint jelly; and citrus marinated yellow fin tuna with avocado tortilla salad. Excellent desserts, a good wine list and attentive service make this a fine dining experience. When you call for a reservation, inquire about dining aboard a river barge, an option available on certain nights each month. It's a wonderful way to enjoy Las Canarias' food.
Las Canarias
112 College St.
(210) 518-1000
www.lamansion.com
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La Margarita
At first glance, La Margarita
is custom made for tourists - a large, outdoor terrace on the main
crossroads of Market Square with colorful decorations, house specialty
margaritas and strolling mariachi bands (who will charge patrons
to play their requests). But look again and you'll see local families,
two and three generations in tow, enjoying good food provided by
the Cortez family. Renowned for great fajitas and parrillada with
top quality, marinated and char-broiled meats, the extensive menu
also features seafood as suggested by the large fresh oyster bar.
Family platters are a good idea so you can sample a variety of traditional
dishes.
La Margarita
120 Produce Row
(210) 227-7140
www.lamargarita.com
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Liberty Bar
Few dining spots are as surprising as the Liberty
Bar in the North St. Mary's neighborhood, a ten-minute cab
ride from River Walk. This lopsided, ramshackle frame building hides
two warm and inviting dining rooms and a menu that mixes Old South
with Latin flavor with everything from pot roast to mesquite-grilled
chicken breast with either achiote or hoja santa. The mesquite grilled
lamb, rib eye, tenderloin, and lamb or pork sausage are delicious.
Among the starters are whole roast garlic head with homemade Parmesan
bread, serrano chiles pickled with carrots and ginger and chick
pea or eggplant puree. Homemade desserts may be Virginia Green's
chocolate cake, geranium cream pie with blackberry sauce, bread
pudding with bourbon sauce, or pomegranate ice cream. The large
beverage list is as reasonable as the menu with a good selection
of wines by the bottle or glass and some very good beers. This is
a favorite haunt of chic locals who convey a casual attitude to
match the surroundings.
Liberty Bar
328 East Josephine St.
(210) 227-1187
www.liberty-bar.com
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Little Rhein Steak House
A steak house that screams out "San Antonio" is Little
Rhein Steak House, built in 1847 at a spot where La Villita
Historic District and River Walk meet. The oldest two-story structure
in San Antonio, it is a reminder of the early German immigrants
to the city. Antique memorabilia decorates the indoor dining room
with a miniature train running overhead. The outdoor patio overlooks
the river. The variety of steaks, aged in Little Rhein's own plant,
includes a terrific 22-ounce porterhouse. Non-steak entrees like
lamb chops, lobster tails and salmon are excellent and portions
are ample. The dessert of choice is homemade apple pie a la mode.
Reservations are usually necessary.
Little Rhein Steak House
231 South Alamo
(210) 225-2111
www.littlerheinsteakhouse.com
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Morton's The Steakhouse
What more likely place to find really good beef (as well as other
red meat) than in Texas? Rivercenter Mall is home to Morton's,
an upscale steak house where prime aged steaks are de rigueur. The
menu here is classic steak house, a recipe that has brought Morton's
success all around the country. Appetizers include bluepoint oysters,
lump crabmeat, jumbo shrimp, and broiled sea scallops. Meat entrees
such as lamb chops, various steaks and veal chops are augmented
by chicken, fish and seafood choices. Five preparations of potatoes
vie with fresh vegetables as side dishes. Most desserts fill the
requirement of being high in calories and high in chocolate content.
Morton's is a favorite spot for attendees at Alamodome sporting
events nearby.
Morton's The Steakhouse
300 East Crockett St.
(210) 228-0700
www.mortons.com
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Polo's Restaurant &
Bar
A River Walk address is not necessary for excellence: Polo's
Restaurant & Bar in the Fairmount Hotel is proof. The warm
glow of flowers and candlelight reflected in abundant etched glass
is matched by top-notch service and one of the city's most sophisticated
wine lists. Start with Gulf coast oysters, perhaps in a jalapeno
and bacon butter, or mesquite grilled quail breast over a warm potato
salad. Entrees usually include preparations of beef, lamb, chicken,
seafood, and fresh fish, with vegetarian entrees always included.
Desserts are sublime, if you have any room left after the Texas-sized
portions. Advance reservations are suggested.
Polo's Restaurant & Bar
401 South Alamo
(210) 224-8800
www.thefairmounthotel-sanantonio.com
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Rosario's
Rosario's attracts knowledgeable
locals and tourists alike, in part for its cool atmosphere and lively
crowd. Starters could be grilled, marinated shrimp or some excellent
guacamole. This is the place to order a well-made tortilla soup
if you haven't had this traditional favorite already. Any entree
that comes with one of Rosario's sauces will be a treat, especially
pork tips in a mild chile sauce or the chicken and corn-filled enchiladas
with a super tomatillo sauce. The reasonable prices are offset by
the possible long wait for tables, so try to go there early or for
lunch. It's high quality Tex-Mex amidst neon accents.
Rosario's
910 South Alamo
(210) 223-1806
www.rosariossa.com
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The Tower Restaurant
The extensive menu at The Tower Restaurant
high atop the Tower of the Americas goes hand-in-hand with a leisurely
meal, friendly service and spectacular 360 degree views. Appetizers
include old favorites like crab cakes, smoked salmon and shrimp
cocktail while salads may be Caesar, garden or beefsteak tomatoes.
There are plenty of fish, seafood and chicken choices, but prime
steaks including porterhouse, New York strip and filet steal the
bill. Desserts are aimed at the entire family with such favorites
as hot fudge Oreo brownie sundae, cheesecakes and Hill Country apple
cobbler a la mode.
The Tower Restaurant
600 Hemisfair Park
(210) 223-3101
www.ToweroftheAmericas.com
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