Good restaurant to go to?

[Duff McCartney]

I'm taking my mom out for her birthday on Saturday and I'm not really sure where to go.

I was thinking Macaroni Grill but we went there last week so I don't really want to go back. She doesn't like Italian much so if you could give me a good place to go to.

I know Ruth's Chris is good but it's also pretty damn expensive...plus it's alot of family going so they won't want to pay so much. Not to mention there will probably be kids and stuff.

Any ideas?

I'm thinking something like Macaroni Grill/Olive Garden type restaurants...although not specifically Italian food.

[NorCal510]

If you guys got Ray's Grill down there thats a good place for fried chicken

[dougp]

Caparelli's is good ... too bad they closed Fratelli, that place was awesome.

[Taco]

http://www.mitierracafe.com/default.html

Take her to Mi Tierra

http://www.mitierracafe.com/Assets/image_botana.gif http://www.mitierracafe.com/Assets/image_deluxe.jpg

[Duff McCartney]

Other than Mi Tierra and La Margarita...we've been there before. I don't really want Mexican either...because we are Mexican..and we eat that crap everyday.

We'd be better off just buying 10lbs of fajita and making it at home.

[katyon6th]

The Cheesecake Factory

[davi78239]

If you have the time to travel, take her to Cheddar's in Austin. Good servings and not expensive at all for what you get. Damn I wish we had at least one of these in S.A!

[gay abc]

pf changs

SW will agree :p

[Taco]

Other than Mi Tierra and La Margarita...we've been there before. I don't really want Mexican either...because we are Mexican..and we eat that crap everyday.

We'd be better off just buying 10lbs of fajita and making it at home.



OK how about Cajun?



Have you tried Acadiana Cafe?


http://www.acadianacafe.com/

[Duff McCartney]

OK how about Cajun?



Have you tried Acadiana Cafe?


http://www.acadianacafe.com/

Yes.

[gay abc]

is there a good peruvian restaurant here in sa?

i ate at one last month in rockville, md

yummy :spin

[katyon6th]

If you have the time to travel, take her to Cheddar's in Austin. Good servings and not expensive at all for what you get. Damn I wish we had at least one of these in S.A!

I wish we had one in SA too!

[KEDA]

I also vote for Cheesecake Factory

[Spam]

Papa Dante's

[TDMVPDPOY]

asian joint for sum dog meat special

[tlongII]

SA Prime

[pache100]

Papa Dante's

:tu

Can't beat it for the price!

Pompeii Grill on Nacogdoches is excellent, too...great atmosphere, cheap prices, fantastic food, and excellent service. I highly recommend it. If you go on Sunday, ask to sit at one of Todd's tables - he's very good and will treat you right. Gloria is also very good. They also have lunch specials on the weekends.

(side note: there is a guy who works at Pompeii Grill who looks exactly like Kobe Bryant...I've never sat at one of his tables, though)

[Sapphire]

The Melting Pot on Blanco Road. (at Bitters)

[SpursWoman]

OK how about Cajun?


I like Louis Ledoux's at the Forum, that place is awesome. :tu :tu

[Mixability]

If you guys got Ray's Grill down there thats a good place for fried chicken

you try to hard, seriously.



back on topic, go to Floyds off of Goliad and Clark. :fro

[Old School Chic]

Since It's a treat for Mom. Take her to Mamacita's off IH10.

[SpursWoman]

Saltgrass Steak House is also very good...

[Notorious H.O.P.]

I like Louis Ledoux's at the Forum, that place is awesome. :tu :tu

I tried this place twice because after my food wasn't all that great the first time, I wanted to give it a second shot. And now I know more than ever that I don't want to go back.

Too expensive for what you get. I've been looking for a great New Orleans style restaurant in town (or even Austin) but have yet to find one but would appreciate any suggestions.

But I travelled to NO about three or four times a year before the hurricane so maybe my take on Ledoux's is skewed. I went for lunch both times and it was dead. I'm sure the atmosphere is much better at dinner and it looks relatively festive.

For Italian food, I'd go to La Focaccia on South Alamo. The entrees are fantastic but that side of spagetti they bring you isn't all that. Maybe they've improved it recently. But the atmosphere is great.

I know you don't want mexican but El Mirado and Rosario's have great atmosphere and good food without being too expensive. You can also do the Riverwalk thing and get some tables on the patio at the Mexican Manhattan. Riverwalk dining for $7-$10 a person.

For good steak at a restaurant that isn't a chain, you can go to Josephine Street Steaks and Whiskey. Not too expensive but the place is a little small depending how many people are going with you.

If you want to make a day of it and head out of town, you can take a barbecue roadtrip to City Market in Luling or Chislom Trail or Kreutz in Lockhart. The Shady Grove in Austin is a pretty good burger type joint but it would be hard to seat a large group together. But it is in the Barton Springs area so you can go down to Zilker Park to the spring fed pool or do other things in the park.

[SpursWoman]

I went for lunch both times and it was dead. I'm sure the atmosphere is much better at dinner and it looks relatively festive.

We've always gone at dinner time and it's usually packed to the gills...and my daughter loves the free face painting. :)

It is a little on the pricy side, but everytime I've gone what we ordered was excellent ... and usually too much of it. Maybe they have a better cook at dinner time? Or maybe it's the awesome peach margaritas? :lol

I dunno ... I love going there, though. Probably more than I'd like PF Chang's. :spin

[Old School Chic]

You can also try the Cracker Barrel. Good food but best of all I like their country store. They have a lot of cute things. That's where I buy my Razzles :spin

[Notorious H.O.P.]

We've always gone at dinner time and it's usually packed to the gills...and my daughter loves the free face painting. :)

It is a little on the pricy side, but everytime I've gone what we ordered was excellent ... and usually too much of it. Maybe they have a better cook at dinner time? Or maybe it's the awesome peach margaritas? :lol

I dunno ... I love going there, though. Probably more than I'd like PF Chang's. :spin


FACE PAINTING??!!! Why didn't you say so. Now my woman will demand to go. :lol

Actually, I do have to go one more time. I took the woman to NO last July and now she's been dying to find a place to get a good shrimp po-boy. We found an awesome place in Dallas called Dodie's that was on par with all of the NO restaurants but we have yet to find anything close in SA. I've heard of a place called Ma Harper's on the southside but I haven't been there yet.

Blue Star downtown had a chef that was a New Orleans evacuee and he was putting several cajun item on the menu including a dynamite Cajun Barbecued Shrimp but he quit so the search is back on. I noticed that Louie's has the same dish so I'll need to try it and give them their last chance. I'll make sure to go for dinner though so I can see the place lit up and alive.

As for mom, something special would be good so I'd stay away from the chain restaurants unless she has a number one place she likes to go. I'm assuming she doesn't since you're asking but if she does, maybe that is the way to go.

If you're going to do a chain restaurant, go for someplace that is dark and interesting like PF Chang's or J Alexanders. J Alexanders looks elegant, is dark enough to feel intimate and cozy and in addition to steaks and such, they also have fairly priced burgers and mid-level fare. The only issue there is nothing will Wow you but the atmosphere is great.

One last option I'll mention is The Alsatian in Castroville. Very small and quaint place. Has a fantastic out of the way, hidden gem feel to it. Great food and relatively inexpensive wine makes it a winner in my book.

[pache100]

I tried this place twice because after my food wasn't all that great the first time, I wanted to give it a second shot. And now I know more than ever that I don't want to go back.

Too expensive for what you get.

:tu

I laughed my ass off the first time I went in there (about the second week they were open); the guy I was with wanted a slice of bread to go with his lunch. They were just dumbfounded! They kept telling him bread didn't come with the lunch he ordered because he had rice. He told them he just wanted a piece of bread; they told him they'd have to charge him extra for it. He said whatever, just give him the frickin' bread. We left that restaurant an hour and a half later and HE NEVER GOT HIS BREAD! :lol (The food I had that day was ok, but nothing special)

After a couple of months, I went back to give them another chance. They didn't clean out the iced tea maker before they made new tea, and the tea tasted like crap (this is a common phenomenon) and I had to drink water. If that had been the only thing wrong, I wouldn't have complained. But, it took us forever to get our food and we were on a lunch break from work; they finally packed our food to go and we took it back with us. The fish was mushy (and of course, cold) and the rice was gummy.


We've always gone at dinner time and it's usually packed to the gills...

Yeah, I've never understood that, either. Maybe it is different at dinner, both times I have been were at lunch. But, I know a LOT of people who love to eat lunch there, too. I'll consider trying it for dinner.

I've just never had a desire to go back.

[gay abc]

had dinner here last night

azuca (http://www.azuca.net/welcome.asp)

yummy :)

[pache100]

Johnny Carino's in New Braunfels is really nice, too. Lots of atmosphere, great food (try the wood-fired pizza, but their pasta dishes are good, too) at a moderate price. And...it's a nice drive (if you discount the highway construction :blah ).

[Duff McCartney]

I think we're just gonna go to Macaroni Grill. I liked it when we went...it wasn't too much like Olive Garden. It was a little more calm and not as rowdy as it gets sometimes at OG.

So I guess that's where we're going.

[pache100]

Okey doke. Not sure why you asked for suggestions, then.

[gay abc]

:lol

[Notorious H.O.P.]

Duff,

My suggestion is this. You asked the question and got lots of great answers. The final decision is of course yours but, if I were you, for the special occasion, I'd move beyond the cookie-cutter chains and go for someplace that is unknown to your mom.

Everyone loves a surprise and since she knows you're taking her out to eat, the surprise can be the restaurant. When she asks where you are going, you can give the the "it's a surprise" or "you'll see". It will help build the anticipation and she gets to try something new.

I used to love the original Macaroni Grill in Leon Springs but after a single visit to the I-10 location, I haven't been back. It lost all the charm of the original and is now your typical italian chain restaurant. And the food quality dropped and the menu was changed to reflect the national menu instead of the dishes that made the original special (not to mention the now gone and lamented wine bottle honors system).

You know your mom better than anyone here but just a friendly suggestion to go for something special.

[SpursWoman]

(not to mention the now gone and lamented wine bottle honors system).


That gone?

That's the only reason I ever went there....so forget that. :lol

[pache100]

That gone?

That's the only reason I ever went there....so forget that. :lol

I went to the Macaroni Grill years ago, to the original one in Leon Springs, and I liked it. There were other Italian restaurants I liked better, and I would never have driven all the way the hell over there JUST to eat there (but I did drive all the way over there to pick up Rudy's Barbecue when it was the only one! :lol ). But, it was good.

But, after they started franchising the chain, I have not liked it at all. They are severely overpriced...but that's not the worst thing. They use some kind of spice that I cannot stand to SMELL. It hits me when I walk in the door and it makes me very queasy. I have tried going back several times, but everything I order tastes like that smell to me. I just cannot like it. And, since there are so many other WONDERFUL (and cheaper) choices for truly delicious Italian food, I don't have to sweat it. Frankly, I'd rather go to CiCi's pizza (for pasta!) than Macaroni Grill.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Duff it all depends on how much money Jim's giving you for the big night on the town.

You've got to budget accordingly my boy.

[Mrs.Jimcs50]

Our Duff expendiatures are getting a bit out of hand. You'd think he was a pet the way spoil him.

[1Parker1]

Our Duff expendiatures are getting a bit out of hand. You'd think he was a pet the way spoil him.

:lol A dog?

[Trainwreck2100]

Pei Wei off of huebner

[Kori Ellis]

Pei Wei off of huebner

:vomit:

[Trainwreck2100]

:vomit:

so I take it you don;t like it

[Kori Ellis]

so I take it you don;t like it

It's a disgrace to Chinese food. And they use too many carrots.

[furry_spurry]

I used to love the original Macaroni Grill in Leon Springs but after a single visit to the I-10 location, I haven't been back. It lost all the charm of the original and is now your typical italian chain restaurant. And the food quality dropped and the menu was changed to reflect the national menu instead of the dishes that made the original special (not to mention the now gone and lamented wine bottle honors system).

I ate the same dish there for years and years and now it's gone-- and they told me that they are not even allowed to make it for me. :(

[furry_spurry]

It's a disgrace to Chinese food. And they use too many carrots.
I'm probably the only person who likes the fact that they add the carrots and snow peas to my orange peel chicken.

[rayray2k8]

Depends on what she wants to eat.

Chinese - Hung Fung off Broadway or China Sea off walzem I belive.

Steak - Ruth's Chris Steak House, Texas Road House or Little Red Barn.

Burgers - Hells kitchen.

Italian - Spaghetti Warehouse

Mexican - Mi Terra

If you cant make up your mind...

Go to Bennigan's!
I thinks theres 5 in San Antonio.

Wherever it is you go, let us know.

[pache100]

Wherever it is you go, let us know.

He says he's just going to the Macaroni Grill.

[1Parker1]

Depends on what she wants to eat.

Chinese - Hung Fung off Broadway or China Sea off walzem I belive.

Steak - Ruth's Chris Steak House, Texas Road House or Little Red Barn.

Burgers - Hells kitchen.

Italian - Spaghetti Warehouse

Mexican - Mi Terra

If you cant make up your mind...

Go to Bennigan's!
I thinks theres 5 in San Antonio.

Wherever it is you go, let us know.

:vomit: @ Spaghetti Warehouse and Bennigan's!!!

[SpursWoman]

Chinese - China Sea off walzem I belive.


China Sea: one is on Thousand Oaks & Nacogdoches, and one is off I10 somewhere. :)

[1Parker1]

Do you guys have The Cheesecake Factory down there? Talk about heaven....

[SpursWoman]

Yes ... it's been here for a couple of years now. :)

[pache100]

:vomit: @ Spaghetti Warehouse and Bennigan's!!!

I like the Spaghetti Warehouse here, but I have eaten at a couple that were not as good. I haven't been in a Bennigan's in 20 years.

[katyon6th]

The Cheesecake Factory

Oh yeah. :elephant

[1Parker1]

Yes ... it's been here for a couple of years now. :)

Oh god, I think I drooled a little just typing that...that's the easiest way to my heart: Not roses or diamonds, but the Godiva Chocolate or The Cheesecake factory. :lol

[ShoogarBear]

Just no coupons to the Cheesecake Factory though, huh?

[1Parker1]

:lol No a coupon to the Cheesecake factory will just get you an easy kick in the ass out the door. :)

[katyon6th]

Oh god, I think I drooled a little just typing that...that's the easiest way to my heart: Not roses or diamonds, but the Godiva Chocolate or The Cheesecake factory. :lol

Godiva chocolate cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory.

Total foodgasm.

[MannyIsGod]

I tried this place twice because after my food wasn't all that great the first time, I wanted to give it a second shot. And now I know more than ever that I don't want to go back.

Too expensive for what you get. I've been looking for a great New Orleans style restaurant in town (or even Austin) but have yet to find one but would appreciate any suggestions.

But I travelled to NO about three or four times a year before the hurricane so maybe my take on Ledoux's is skewed. I went for lunch both times and it was dead. I'm sure the atmosphere is much better at dinner and it looks relatively festive.

For Italian food, I'd go to La Focaccia on South Alamo. The entrees are fantastic but that side of spagetti they bring you isn't all that. Maybe they've improved it recently. But the atmosphere is great.

I know you don't want mexican but El Mirado and Rosario's have great atmosphere and good food without being too expensive. You can also do the Riverwalk thing and get some tables on the patio at the Mexican Manhattan. Riverwalk dining for $7-$10 a person.

For good steak at a restaurant that isn't a chain, you can go to Josephine Street Steaks and Whiskey. Not too expensive but the place is a little small depending how many people are going with you.

If you want to make a day of it and head out of town, you can take a barbecue roadtrip to City Market in Luling or Chislom Trail or Kreutz in Lockhart. The Shady Grove in Austin is a pretty good burger type joint but it would be hard to seat a large group together. But it is in the Barton Springs area so you can go down to Zilker Park to the spring fed pool or do other things in the park.Blue Star out on Alamo has a former New Orleans chef working for them. It isn't straight up NO food, but it is about as good as I've seen here in San Antonio. Actually, because this reminded me of it, I'm heading out there for lunch as we speak.

[MannyIsGod]

FACE PAINTING??!!! Why didn't you say so. Now my woman will demand to go. :lol

Actually, I do have to go one more time. I took the woman to NO last July and now she's been dying to find a place to get a good shrimp po-boy. We found an awesome place in Dallas called Dodie's that was on par with all of the NO restaurants but we have yet to find anything close in SA. I've heard of a place called Ma Harper's on the southside but I haven't been there yet.

Blue Star downtown had a chef that was a New Orleans evacuee and he was putting several cajun item on the menu including a dynamite Cajun Barbecued Shrimp but he quit so the search is back on. I noticed that Louie's has the same dish so I'll need to try it and give them their last chance. I'll make sure to go for dinner though so I can see the place lit up and alive.

As for mom, something special would be good so I'd stay away from the chain restaurants unless she has a number one place she likes to go. I'm assuming she doesn't since you're asking but if she does, maybe that is the way to go.

If you're going to do a chain restaurant, go for someplace that is dark and interesting like PF Chang's or J Alexanders. J Alexanders looks elegant, is dark enough to feel intimate and cozy and in addition to steaks and such, they also have fairly priced burgers and mid-level fare. The only issue there is nothing will Wow you but the atmosphere is great.

One last option I'll mention is The Alsatian in Castroville. Very small and quaint place. Has a fantastic out of the way, hidden gem feel to it. Great food and relatively inexpensive wine makes it a winner in my book.Never fucking mind. You just killed my buzz.

[101A]

Piccolos outside 410 on Evers. Little known hole-in-the-wall frequented by much of the "elite" in town.

Doesn't look like much on the outside, but it's still owned by the original owners, and they have quite the Italian menu. Wine list doesn't suck, either.

[1Parker1]

Godiva chocolate cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory.

Total foodgasm.

I personaly like the Brownie Chocolate one...or the Chocalate Chip Cookie Dough....I'm have a mini foodgasm at my desk right now.

[katyon6th]

I personaly like the Brownie Chocolate one...or the Chocalate Chip Cookie Dough....I'm have a mini foodgasm at my desk right now.

Oh hell.

Godiva Chocolate, Kahlua Cocoa Coffee Cheesecake, White Chocolate Caramel Latte, and Tiramisu Cheesecake make me squeal.

It's like 'oooh, mmmm' during every bite.

[ObiwanGinobili]

Piccolos outside 410 on Evers. Little known hole-in-the-wall frequented by much of the "elite" in town.

Doesn't look like much on the outside, but it's still owned by the original owners, and they have quite the Italian menu. Wine list doesn't suck, either.


i used to live across the street - they get packed. must be real good ot keep it booked all the time.

I've been wanting to try it - maybe this week.

[1Parker1]

Oh hell.

Godiva Chocolate, Kahlua Cocoa Coffee Cheesecake, White Chocolate Caramel Latte, and Tiramisu Cheesecake make me squeal.

It's like 'oooh, mmmm' during every bite.

Oh shit, forgot about the Tiramisu Cheesecake........did you ever get the Tiramisu at The Olive Garden??? It's soooooooo good.

[ShoogarBear]

Oh hell.

Godiva Chocolate, Kahlua Cocoa Coffee Cheesecake, White Chocolate Caramel Latte, and Tiramisu Cheesecake make me squeal.

It's like 'oooh, mmmm' during every bite.

There are alternative methods if you're willing to give up the biting part.

[ShoogarBear]

The Olive Garden???

:lmao

Maybe 1P1 isn't as materialistic as I thought.

[MannyIsGod]

I fucking hate the Olive Garden. That place sucks BAD.

Zios had sentimental value to Jess and myself, but they suck ass too so I'm not sure well ever go back there either.

[Gatita]

i used to live across the street - they get packed. must be real good ot keep it booked all the time.

I've been wanting to try it - maybe this week.

We should go. Once they send you your winnings.

[1Parker1]

The Olive Garden???

:lmao

Maybe 1P1 isn't as materialistic as I thought.

Hey! I love the Olive Garden...Soup, Salad, Breadsticks, with some Tiramisu to top it all off???

Now that I think about it...the way to my heart is through Food period. Any kind, as long as it's good. :lol

[1Parker1]

I fucking hate the Olive Garden. That place sucks BAD.

Blasphemy!! How dare you say that....Maybe they just don't know how to make it good in the San Antonio chains :lol

[tlongII]

Hey, I like the Olive Garden. Love the breadsticks there. Spaghetti with italian sausage.

[ObiwanGinobili]

We should go. Once they send you your winnings.


damn straight.
I'll pick you up - just gotta avoid the po po.

[1Parker1]

Hey, I like the Olive Garden. Love the breadsticks there. Spaghetti with italian sausage.

:tu I always knew you had good taste, Tlong. :)

[katyon6th]

I'll do Olive Garden for lunch. Can't beat the soup, salad, and breadsticks with a couple sangrias during the lunch hour.

[Mrs.Tlong]

:tu I always knew you had good taste, Tlong. :)

Was there ever any doubt ? :princess

[1Parker1]

I'll do Olive Garden for lunch. Can't beat the soup, salad, and breadsticks with a couple sangrias during the lunch hour.

Ohhh, I've never gotten Sangrias there before. What kind do you get...?

[katyon6th]

Ohhh, I've never gotten Sangrias there before. What kind do you get...?

Peach! Oh my, it's delicious. I also like their Strawberry Bellinis and their frozen alcoholic lemonade. I forget the name but it's fucking good.

[Gatita]

It is a Peach Bellini.

[SpursWoman]

Godiva chocolate cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory.

Total foodgasm.


My best friend brought me a piece of that for my birthday last year (I think?) ... O. M. F. G.

I just have no words for how good that was. :drunk

[MoSpur]

Take her to La Cocinita de PikNik. Two tacos for .99

[katyon6th]

It is a Peach Bellini.

What is?

[Gatita]

Take her to La Cocinita de PikNik. Two tacos for .99

You are all stud. :lol

[MoSpur]

You are all stud. :lol

I was raised on that stuff. I lived four blocks from one on the South Side. I would go on my bike and bust out a dollar and Mica (cooks name) would hook me up with two carne guisada.

[MoSpur]

I use to play like two hours of Centepede too and eat chamoy when playing.

[ShoogarBear]

I use to play like two hours of Centepede too and eat chamoy when playing.

:lmao

[Notorious H.O.P.]

Never fucking mind. You just killed my buzz.

I was pissed as hell when that guy quit. Him and Joey had an argument and the dude walked out the day before First Friday.

I showed up and asked if the guy would cook me up some Cajun BBQ Shrimp (not on the menu) and the bartender told me he quit the day before. And I had been trying to get out there all week.

The food was fantastic but now he's gone and Blue Star has simplified their menu to a single two-sided very well spaced sheet. Simple pub food but they've even removed the buffalo wings which means that they don't have the sauce to turn the regular chicken sandwich into the buffalo chicken sandwich.

I loved the catfish there, now it's gone. I loved the Cajun food there, now it's gone. I loved the buffalo chicken sandwich there, now it's gone. I'm afraid to tell them my opinion of their beer.