Azuca Nuevo Latino is not just a restaurant and bar, but an experience. It's a local's favorite for their happy-hour mojitos and caipirinhas. Located just south of downtown in San Antonio's arts district, Azuca offers fantastic drinks you can't find anywhere else in town in a vivid and vibrant atmosphere. Their outdoor patio makes you feel like you're vacationing in some tropical location and not only minutes from downtown. As for the food, Azuca's dishes are an exotic synergy of delicious flavors from South and Central America with Chef Rene's innovative touch, including a wide array of seafood options, including some scrumptious ceviche! The bar area is separate from the restaurant, and on Friday and Saturday nights, you can enjoy their electrifying live music of Salsa and Merengue until your feet get tired.
Recommended for Seafood because: At Azuca you'll find an array of Latin flavors and delectable seafood, fun appetizers, great cocktails and a lively atmosphere.
Kimberly's expert tip: Chef Rene is known for his incredible Paella, made with seafood, chicken, pork, sausage and vegetables with perfectly-cooked saffron rice.
La Fonda is one of the prettiest restaurants in the city, with its white stucco and gorgeous patio covered by a giant oak tree. Sipping a margarita and eating La Fonda's signature salsa that tastes as if the ingredients were picked fresh that day, you feel like you just might be in Mexico. Although this delicious Tex-Mex restaurant has all of your favorites, the level of quality that La Fonda's is known for makes the meal as guilt-free as possible. Some local favorites are the Chile Relleno, the Shrimp Enchiladas and the Fish Tacos, which comes with a zesty salad and a spicy grilled jalapeno. If you have the appetite, be sure to start the meal out right with some of their addictive queso or homemade guacamole!
Recommended for Seafood because: La Fonda is a neighborhood staple and creates fresh, flavorful Tex-Mex in a beautiful atmosphere.
Krissy's expert tip: You can't visit San Antonio without having some fish tacos, and it doesn't get any better than this! Made with delicate blackened Mahi, handmade corn tortillas, chipotle-mayo and a napa cabbage slaw, they're so satisfying and refreshing.
The Cookhouse just opened their doors in early September of 2014 but is already the talk of the town, which comes as no surprise as it's the only restaurant in San Antonio that showcases traditional New Orleans cuisine, the kind you might find at some fine dining establishment in the French Quarter. The roasted Duck and Dumplings made with an exceptional marjoram potato gnocchi and served with tomato confit and a red wine demi-glace is utterly divine. Other favorites include the Tomato Artichoke Canoli, made with house-made pasta, goat cheese, tomato confit, artichoke hearts and marjoram, not to mention the Grilled Trout Amandine with muniere butter, toasted almonds and fresh green beans. If you adore fresh seafood, you can bet The Cookhouse serves up some of the freshest gulf oysters and shrimp from here to the coast. The New Orleans Barbecue Shrimp is served in a pool of savory spicy garlic butter and beer sauce (a secret recipe!) and charred French bread that is ideal for dunking. So addictively delicious, you may find yourself wanting to drink it. It's okay, nobody's looking!
Recommended for Seafood because: The Cookhouse offers incredibly fresh Gulf Coast shrimp and other seafood.
Kimberly's expert tip: Did somebody say oysters on the half shell? Yes, please! You won't find any fresher in San Antonio.
It's difficult to explain what an exceptionally delightful experience Outlaw Kitchens provides without experiencing it for yourself. Tucked away in one of San Antonio's quaint neighborhoods, just a few minutes north of downtown, this husband and wife duo have created a restaurant that is truly one-of-a-kind. Chef Sartory has decades of experience as a chef. He both graduated and taught at the CIA, and yet there's no pomp and circumstance here. In fact, guests compare it to having dinner at a friend's house who happens to be a really, really good cook. The restaurant menu changes every few days and is available a la carte or as a 3-course prix fixe, including an appetizer, entree and dessert. Choices are limited, so be sure to check the website ahead of time, although it's fun to be surprised here. Dishes range from seared Scottish Salmon and Vegetable Lasagna to Pan-Seared Chicken stuffed with shrimp and spinach or Goat Mac-N-Cheese. From the historic building to the herb garden that gets utilized in the dishes, not to mention the charming patio, Outlaw Kitchens simply shines on every level.
Recommended for Seafood because: Outlaw Kitchens offers a taste of the San Antonio lifestyle with a cozy neighborhood vibe and exceptional cuisine.
Kimberly's expert tip: The offerings are constantly changing, so be sure to check out the menu online to make sure it's to your liking.
A graceful, mirrored dining room provides an elegant accompaniment to Bohanan's top-notch steaks and seafood. Noted for serving Akaushi beef, three grades above Prime, and dramatic flaming desserts, the restaurant has a loyal contingent of regulars and attracts new customers nightly. Try a juicy filet from the mesquite grill, or split a massive double center-cut pork chop with someone special. Unusual seafood dishes like fennel pollen-crusted bluefin tuna and Chilean sea bass au gratin provide a welcome change of pace. Make sure to start the evening early with a few cocktails at the bar. This is the kind of restaurant where you want to spend the entire evening.
Recommended for Seafood because: Bohanan's offers award-winning old-world fine dining in downtown San Antonio featuring incredible seafood dishes.
Kimberly's expert tip: If you just got out of a show at one of the nearby theaters, they offer late-night small plates and hors d'oeuvres to accompany their superb hand-crafted cocktails.
Chef Jeff White has years of experience as one of San Antonio's top chefs and is well known for his "unctuous" cuisine. When it comes to scratch-made Southern-inspired dishes with a lot of flavor, Eastside Kitchenette has cornered the market. Located just a few minutes from the downtown hubbub, this spacious restaurant situated in a gorgeous historic building comes complete with a covered patio and is the perfect place to gather for lunch, dinner, happy hour and brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Just make sure to go with an appetite! Some favorites include the Fried Oyster Po Boy for lunch, not to mention their Fish and Chips special on Friday. Dinner seafood options include salmon, catfish, crab, oysters and calamari. It's hard to find such hearty, delicious fare at these prices anywhere else!
Recommended for Seafood because: Eastside Kitchenette is home cookin' cuisine at its finest, featuring an array of favorite seafood dishes, including
Kimberly's expert tip: The restaurant can sell out of their popular blue plate specials quickly during the week, so make sure to get there early, especially for their Fish and Chips on Friday!
Range is one of the newer restaurants to the downtown area and the creation of one of San Antonio's top chefs, Jason Dady. Chef Dady has outdone himself with this classic chophouse restaurant in a gorgeous space in the heart of the city, located at the Embassy Suites. It's a fantastic choice for both lunch, dinner and happy hour. If you're looking to treat someone to a special evening, dinner here is where it's at! Range sources the highest quality meats and produce, some of them locally. Choices include a New York Strip, Tenderloin Filet, Ribeye or Sirloin Coulette, for example, which you can enjoy with some yummy toppers or a side of succulent lobster tail. Their seafood game is on point and also includes Gulf Red Snapper and Pan-Roasted Ora King Salmon. One of the best aspects about Range is the exceptional service from knowledgeable staff, oh, and a giant cloud of freshly-made cotton candy that arrives at the end of your meal!
Recommended for Seafood because: Range offers upscale dining of some of the best, well-sourced, seafood in San Antonio.
Kimberly's expert tip: Diners can get discounted valet service at the Embassy Suites Hotel, where the restaurant resides. Just make sure to get stamped!
East meets west at this Peruvian restaurant that gleefully plays with Asian-South American fusions. The cuisine is properly referred to as Chifa Nikkei. In Peru, Chifa refers to Chinese-Peruvian cuisine and Nikkei to Japanese-Peruvian food. The seasoned chef of Botika, Geronimo Lopez, is a world traveler from Caracas, Venezuela. His cuisine is inspired by all of a multitude of international cultures, offering diners a taste of something unique and exceptional. Unlike anything else you'll find at the Pearl or even in San Antonio for that matter, Botika is a fun and surprisingly affordable place to take a date before the game or any other kind of event. Start your meal with some Hoisin-shitake braised pork steamed buns or the duck confit and potato empanadas. As you roll into your main course, go light with some beautiful fresh sushi or dig into a signature dish.
Recommended for Seafood because: Botika offers a truly unique array of dishes, yet also some familiar and amazingly fresh sushi.
Kimberly's expert tip: Go a little early and sip on some cocktails on their comfortable and colorful patio while watching all the Pearl passersby.
There's no question that dining at the Chart House is all about the experience. This revolving restaurant gives you the best bird's eye view of the city. There's truly no better way to dine in style! They offer an expensive seafood-centric menu with all of the usual suspects and a few surprises. Enjoy fresh Mahi, Swordfish, Ahi or Chilean Bass either grilled, baked, blackened, sauteed. Other favorites include Coconut Crunchy Shrimp, Cold Water Lobster Tail, Moroccan Sea Bass and Peach-Bourbon Glazed Scallops. What to choose is the only problem! Also, make sure to try their featured cocktail, and save room for dessert. Gluten-sensitive folks will be delighted that they have their own menu.
Recommended for Seafood because: Chart House is a dedicated upscale seafood restaurant with the most exceptional view of San Antonio
Kimberly's expert tip: If you dine at the Chart House you don't have to pay the fee to take a ride to the top!
Once, years ago, the restaurant at the St. Anthony was the place to go for dinner... and now it is once again! This dedicated seafood restaurant is the result of culinary visionaries, Executive Chef Stefan Bowers and restaurateur Andrew Goodman. With Chef Bowers' gift for blending scintillating flavors and Goodman's aesthetic grace, this duo is a match made in heaven - which is what Rebelle looks like if heaven is an enchanting, purple-hued dreamscape where the lusty libations and seductive cuisine never end. For Chef Bowers, it's all about the flavor. While the dishes are certainly thoughtfully put together, you quickly lose sight its beauty once you taste it. Chef Bowers calls it "high-risk" cuisine because if even one component of these highly composed dishes is not on point, it throws the entire dish off. The menu includes the most succulent Char-Grilled Spanish Octopus, Grilled Branzini, Porcini-Crusted Halibut, Gulf Redfish and so much more. Bon appetit!
Recommended for Seafood because: This premium seafood restaurant, set in the stunning historic St. Anthony Hotel, is the ultimate choice if you're downtown.
Kimberly's expert tip: If you're not afraid to go for the gold, try their "High Tower," a mountain of fresh Maine lobster, Alaskan king crab legs, East Coast oysters, jumbo shrimp, marinated mussels and smoked clams!