San Antonians love to eat, and it shows in both its fine restaurants and its casual cafes. Whether you enjoy perfectly grilled steaks, tender barbecue, tasteful vegetarian fare or perfectly prepared sushi, you will find whatever your tastebuds crave. Of course, San Antonio is most famous for its Tex-Mex cuisine; no visit to the city could be considered complete without at least one dinner involving enchiladas or tamales, and one breakfast of chorizo and egg tacos.

The River Walk
The huge numbers of visitors to the River Walk have to eat somewhere. Recent property developments in the area created space for more restaurants, ultimately adding diversity to what existed. Some of the restaurants are excellent, some are merely good, but all are crowded. One of the most popular—and rightfully so—is Boudro’s – A Texas Bistro. With a prime location in the heart of the River Walk, an unparalleled menu featuring Blackened Prime Rib, Ancho Shrimp, fresh fish and Prickly Pear Margaritas, it is a dining must for locals, tourists and many visiting celebrities.

Another favorite among locals and visitors alike is Paesano’s River Walk, serving up delicious Italian cuisine. Don’t expect to find generic spaghetti or lasagna on the menu, though, as their specialties include Shrimp Paesano’s (a garlicky, parmesan shrimp dish) and a huge salad with artichoke hearts and hearts of palm. Other fine choices include County Line and Hard Rock Café for barbecue and classic American fare; Rio Rio Cantina, Casa Rio, The Original Mexican Restaurant, La Paloma and Zuni Grill for Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisine; Michelino’s for Italian food; and Presidio for Mediterranean cuisine.

The many hotels located on the River Walk also boast some fine restaurants. Save for a few exceptions, the restaurants on the river are independently owned. Should you not be a very adventurous diner, there are a few chain restaurants (such as the Olive Garden) located in Rivercenter Mall.

Downtown
More culinary surprises await you just a few steps up from the River Walk. Wander just a few blocks from the river and you will discover Schilo’s, serving German fare; Planet Hollywood, serving burgers, sandwiches and salads; Twin Sisters, offering delicious salads, soups and vegetarian dishes; and G/M Steakhouse, famous for cheap yet juicy steaks. Venture down a bit farther to the west and you will find one of the best sandwich shops in the city. Almost hidden in the street level of the office building at the corner of Commerce and Soledad, Season’s offers a menu of sandwiches and soups that change with the seasons. Be sure to save room for dessert, too—they’re homemade and delicious.

Alamo Heights
Originally a suburb of San Antonio, Alamo Heights now finds itself centrally located in the heart of the city. A decidedly upper-middle class area of town, it boasts some of the best dining and drinking options. Start your evening at Cappycino’s on Broadway with drinks and appetizers, or end it there with coffee and dessert. One of the city’s only smoke-free bars, Cappycino’s menu is so extensive it comes in a multi-page booklet form. From here you can move on to dinner at the bar’s sister restaurant, Cappy’s, right next door and enjoy fresh seafood, perfectly prepared steaks and inventive chicken dishes. Be sure you don’t miss their chocolate cake—it’s a closely guarded recipe from Cappy’s mother’s kitchen and is the best in town.

There are many other prime choices for both lunch and dinner in Alamo Heights. Paloma Blanca on Broadway offers some of the city’s best Tex-Mex and margaritas, as does La Fonda on New Braunfels. For hamburgers, pizza and salad, nothing beats E Z’s Brick Oven And Grill at either their original location on New Braunfels or their newest addition in the Quarry Market. For creative sandwiches, the best tea and Sunday brunch, be sure to visit Madhatter’s Tea on Avenue B near the Witte Museum.

Several spots in this neighborhood combine great dining with a great bar. To see and be seen, try Café Soleil on Broadway. Their contemporary menu is a big draw for sophisticated diners, while their bar draws a mixed crowd of young and old, all attracted equally to the live music, the Internet-linked computers and the pool tables. For a more casual evening, a local favorite is the Broadway 50/50. Basically a beer and burger joint, it draws huge weekend crowds of folks just hanging out, drinking and playing pool and shuffleboard.

The Loop/North Central
Circling the city, Interstate Loop 410 is lined with many fine restaurants. For excellent Chinese cuisine, try Formosa Garden, located on the access road between the Nacogdoches and Broadway exits. Its diverse menu includes everything from Szechwan Chicken and Lemon Chicken to Beef with Broccoli and Sweet & Sour Pork, all reasonably priced and perfectly prepared. For fun Cajun food, visit Acadiana Café on the Far West side of town between the Culebra and Marbach exits. Just about everything comes with hush puppies here, and there is always the option to “blacken” everything, be it fish, chicken or shrimp.

Should your tastes range more toward traditional fare, you might try Mama’s Café on Nacogdoches, Aldino Cucina Italiana at Central Park Mall or Tex’s Grill and Sports Bar in the Airport Hilton, where you should definitely try the red beans with venison sausage. Several restaurant chains are located around The Loop as well. Journey up State Highway 281 to enjoy large dining facilities with plenty of parking. For Tex-Mex, try the homegrown Alamo Café, offering enchiladas, fajitas and other typical fare. Save room for dessert, too; their apple empanadas are heavenly.

One of the city’s Italian cuisine treasures is hidden on Brookhollow just off of the highway. Fratelli’s offers the usual Italian dishes such as lasagne and fettucine alfredo in huge portions at reasonable prices. While the quality is not necessarily remarkable, it is always consistently satisfying.

Out-Of-The-Way
San Antonio offers many more wonderful dining options off the beaten path. Try Bolo’s Grill, located in the Omni Hotel on IH-10 at Wurzbach. Offering exquisite game, beef and chicken entrees in an elegant atmosphere, Bolo’s is an excellent choice for a celebration or a night on the town. Enjoy elegant Italian cuisine at La Scala or Razmiko’s, romantic dining at The Grey Moss Inn or Crumpets, more Tex-Mex at Los Barrios or La Fogata, or great burgers at Tycoon Flats or Chris Madrid’s.

Whatever your mood, San Antonio has a place to party. The River Walk plays host to several fun, but somewhat touristy, bars such as Polly Esther’s retro dance club, The Hard Rock Café, Swig Martini Bar, Dick’s Last Resort and Durty Nelly’s. Street-level downtown gets more interesting with the Houston St.. Alehouse, Zinc Champagne and Wine Bar, and The Bonham Exchange, arguably the city’s best dance club. Predominantly a gay and lesbian bar, The Bonham Exchange draws decidedly mixed crowds on the weekends, with Wednesday nights affectionately termed “Straight Nights.” Every neighborhood has its most popular hangouts. In Alamo Heights, try The Laboratory Brewing Company, Stonewerks or Niles Wine Bar. If you are in North Central, be sure to visit Martini’s Lounge or one of two multi-club entertainment complexes, The Atrium and Park Place. Around the Medical Center area, The Aquarium, Mama’s Bar and Dave & Buster’s are a few of the hot spots. South of downtown, near the Blue Star Arts Complex, locals’ picks include the Blue Star Brewing Company, La Tuna and Beto’s Empanada Bar.