11 Best Restaurants in San Antonio, Texas

South Texas meets the South of France doesn't sound like it should work, but it does, and beautifully, at chef Andrew Weissman's concept of a fine dining restaurant that blends French and Texan cuisines in seasonally sublime ways. Everything here is fresh, fresh, fresh, right down to the on-site garden of herbs and vegetables. The elegant yet relaxed interior (the building is La Cantera Resort & Spa's former Golf Club) is perfect for the eclectic decor of French antiques and reclaimed wood. For locals, it's a special kick to learn that the hardwood floors came from the now-gone and much-loved Joske's department store.

Because the menu is determined by seasons and availability, it changes regularly, but reportedly the roasted pheasant hen-of-the-woods is such a hit that it has earned permanent status on the offerings. There's a Sunday brunch menu that also changes, but look for standouts like poached eggs and cured salmon, a wild mushroom and cheese omelet, and crispy spice-marinated Bandera quail. Reservations are highly recommended. 

A perennial favorite with locals, Alamo Cafe is far from the actual Alamo, but you'll still remember it for its fresh tortillas and no-frills approach to Mexican dishes. This is a good place to try fried jalapeño starters, sizzling fajitas, quesadillas, and puffy, soft, or crispy tacos. It has a very good drink menu with margaritas, sangria, and draft and bottled beer. Alamo Cafe is extremely family-friendly, with a generous kids' menu that includes a choice of drink with each meal and free refills.

Enjoy authentic Italian cuisine at this upscale restaurant. The warm and inviting space features a wide menu of appetizers, entrée salads, pasta, seafood, poultry, beef, and chops; try the salmon Pavarotti, the quaglia all griglia (quail), or the brasato (braised boneless prime short ribs). Fresh, well-prepared dishes are paired with attentive service. A small patio allows you to dine alfresco.

Known for luxury takes on Texan fare—think venison posole, Texas charcuterie, and mole braised bison short rib—this elegant restaurant in the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa also has lighter options like Faroe Islands salmon. The centerpiece of the dining room is a huge chandelier with more than 500 sets of naturally shed antlers. The dress code is resort-casual, and reservations are recommended. 

The name sounds stuffy, but the dining room is everything but at this European-inspired location far removed from downtown's urban closeness. Views of the forest through large windows and comfortable seating prepare you for a greatest hits approach to continental cuisine, with some unexpected twists such as ostrich fillet. Savory sauces drape chicken, prime rib, and rack of lamb. The on-site bakery serves up fresh breads and pastries. Outdoor dining is plentiful, but beware mosquitoes after dark.

Since 1975, this family-owned restaurant has been a favorite for innovative Mexican cuisine. It's tough to choose from the huge menu, with standout specials like mole enchiladas, tenderloin chipotle, and red snapper in a tequila sauce. It's also tough to choose between the beautiful, festive dining room and the garden-lush outdoor dining patio. Start out with the botano (sampler) platter to get a taste of all the flavors.

The open and airy spaces of La Fogata's rambling, hacienda-style indoor dining areas plus its lush, tropical outdoor patio put you in the mood for the menu of authentic Mexican dishes to come. A top-shelf, hand-shaken margarita helps you relax and enjoy an enormous selection of options ranging from chicken mole to a rich, flavorful calabacita con carne de puerco (pork stew with fresh squash and corn). The expected Mexican cornucopia of tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, and everything in between is kicked up a notch with made-on-the-premises tortillas. Reservations are highly recommended, especially for weekend dinner. 

It may feel like you're walking into a centuries-old hacienda at this enormous outpost just outside Texas Loop 1604, but the tacos, nachos, and enchiladas have a modern twist. If you can't decide what to choose, hedge your bets by going for the enchilada assortment—five delectable takes served with refried beans and guacamole salad. Entrées include beef steak ranchero and El Mofofo Grill, a specialty combination of marinated beef and pork cooked on the grill for two people or more. Wednesday night is margarita night from 3 pm to close. With lots of space and outdoor dining, there's no doubt that this popular restaurant was built by a family business with families in mind.

Chef Diana Barrios Treviño—a frequent guest on TV food and talk shows—oversees the kitchen at this family-run restaurant, known for its authentic gourmet Mexican dishes. Eat in the relaxed, casual patio dining atmosphere with lots of light. Try the Mexican dinners of enchiladas, pork chops Mexican-style, or the classic chile relleno. There's a full bar with tequilas, bourbons, Scotches, rums, gins, and vodkas, as well as top-shelf margaritas. 

A much-loved breakfast institution, Magnolia prides itself on dishes made from fresh and wholesome ingredients. The fluffy buttermilk pancakes are a mainstay, but for something different, try the Bodega Bay omelet or Oma's puffed apple pancake made with Granny Smith apples and Haus secret spices, served with powdered sugar and European-style whipped cream. Breakfast is served all day, but at lunchtime a diverse selection of Haus-made salads, soups, burgers, and deli "sammies" round out the menu. No reservations are allowed, so be prepared to wait at this very popular spot.

What looks like an old gas station is actually home to some of San Antonio's favorite barbecue. The wait to place your order is worth it once you bite into some tender brisket (their original "sause" is on the side) or smoked turkey dry-rubbed with flavor and cooked in wood-fired pits. Or try some chicken, sausage, baby back ribs, pork ribs, or their special chopped brisket, turkey, and pork combination in "sause."  Sides are creamed corn, beans, potato salad, and coleslaw, with peach cobbler for dessert. Outdoor picnic-table seating completes the picture.