Five Great San Antonio Restaurants Worth the Extra Dollars

Read about five of the best restaurants in San Antonio for excellent, creative food in charming and scenic atmospheres.

1. The Fig Tree Restaurant
515 Villita Street
www.figtreerestaurant.com

The idea for Fig Tree Restaurant was born out of San Antonio residents' love of the beautiful, historic home in which the restaurant is housed. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Phelps bought the 19th century Gray-Guilbeau House in 1970, and a year later, Fig Tree Restaurant opened its doors to the delight of restaurant patrons near and far.

A little planning ahead will ensure you get the best seat. If you're pretty sure the weather will be pleasant, reserve a seat on the outdoor patio so you can enjoy the view and the weather. If the forecast calls for rain or stifling heat, see if there is an available indoor seat by a window that faces the San Antonio River. Otherwise, there's plenty of ambience to be soaked up inside this charming old home.

No matter where you sit, the food will taste the same - delicious! Arouse your taste buds with one of the scrumptious appetizers, such as the Roasted Texas Hill Country Quail or the Gulf Lump Crab Cake with Sauce Dijon, or with a soothing bowl of Lobster Bisque or a refreshing Petite Salade Nicoise. The tantalizing flavors don't end there. Entrees on the menu are nothing short of extraordinary and include main courses like Beef Wellington, Cold Water Australian Lobster Tail and Tournedos Rossini. Choose from a variety of side items to please your palette, such as Gnocchi with Truffle Honey and Manchego or the Shrimp and Eggplant Casserole.

You have to save room for dessert! Not only are they all sinfully delicious, but order the Bananas Foster or the Baked Alaska and you'll also be entertained as you watch the chef flambé your dessert at your table.

The evening won't be cheap; but it will be well worth the price. Be prepared to shell out at least $70 per person if you go with an appetizer, an entrée, a side and a dessert. That doesn't include a glass or bottle from their award-winning wine list.

The combination of delicious, carefully-made dishes and friendly, attentive servers set in a charming, historic home overlooking the San Antonio River make a visit to Fig Tree Restaurant a must for anyone living in or moving to San Antonio.

2. La Reve Cuisine
152 E. Pecan Street
www.restaurantlereve.com/

In 2009, Chef Andrew Weissman of La Reve Cuisine was voted Best Local Chef by San Antonio Current magazine. Okay, so he tied for first place with another local chef, but it's still a great honor. Chef Weissman's talents shine bright in his contemporary French dishes, which are made with seasonal ingredients and prepared upon order. It might make for a little longer wait, but the freshness is worth it.

La Reve Cuisine is known for the simplicity of its menu and its elegant, intimate atmosphere. With only about a dozen tables, it's wise, if not completely necessary, to make a reservation. Depending on the weather, the cheerful sunlight or romantic gray skies through the windows add to the ambience, as do the flickering candles that illuminate the room after sunset.

Once the mood is set, the real experience begins with an eclectic, yet tasty, selection of hors d'oeuvres, such as the Hudson Valley Foie Gras with Pear, Apple and Peach Salad and the Caramelized Onion Tart with French Goat Cheese and Balsamic Drizzle. Follow that up with a crisp bed of Hydroponic Baby Lettuces with Le Reve Champagne Vinaigrette or one of the many other great salads on the menu.

For your main course, choices are plentiful, and the only downside is picking just one. From the New York Strip Loin with Garlic, Thyme, Roasted Bone Marrow and Parsley Crostini to the Georges Bank Diver Sea Scallops with Kaffir Lime Leaf, Coconut Broth and Rice Pilaf, you can't go wrong with any entrée on the menu. Finish off the meal with an assortment of fine cheeses or leave with a sweet taste in your mouth after a slice of the Coconut and Banana Cream Pie with Valhrona Chocolate Ice Cream or one of the other heavenly desserts.

Prices are based on number of courses and aren't particularly low, but you're unlikely to hear any complaints from guests. That's because they know that it isn't always easy to find food this good served in such a fabulous setting.

3. The Lodge
1746 Lockhill Selma
www.thelodgerestaurant.com

I mentioned earlier that Chef Andrew Weissman of La Reve Cuisine tied with another chef for 1st place as Best Local Chef by San Antonio Current magazine. Well, the chef he tied with was The Lodge's very own Chef Jason Dady. And this isn't the only public recognition Chef Dady has received. Restaurant Hospitality named him "Rising Star" chef, and he was given the "40 Under 40 Rising Star" award by San Antonio Business Journal.

When you taste the food, you'll quickly see where Chef Dady's talent resides. It resides in the House Rolled Parsnip Agnolotti with House Made Guanciale, the Summer Fennel and Turnip Bisque, the Cast Iron Seared Beef Tenderloin with Yukon Gold Potato, the Buttered Popcorn Sorbet with Candied Peanuts and every other delicious item on the menu.

For $50, you can dine on a four-course meal. Or, splurge for the $80 Chef's Tasting Menu for eight surprise courses of the chef's choosing. Save some dough and come here for lunch when you can order a three-course meal for $16 and when a two-course meal will only set you back $12. The food might be lighter, but it will still be tasty. And no matter when you go or what you order, your money will be well spent.

4. Biga on the Banks
203 S. St. Mary's Street
www.biga.com

One look at the menu will have you salivating. One bite of a Chef Bruce Auden award-winning creation will leave you wanting more. One visit to Big on the Banks will lead to another...and another.

The menu is almost as fresh as the ingredients, as it changes daily to feature special dishes. Some of the more popular items will make some reoccurring appearances on the menu, though, such as the Duck Confit Bao Buns with Chinese Barbeque and Chili Orange Dressed Pea Tendrils appetizer. You might be lucky enough to see the House Apple Smoked Salmon Nachos on the menu, but don't count on ordering what you got the last time. This isn't the place for creatures of habit.

Some of Biga on the Bank's enticing entrees have included Crab Stuffed and Baked Mahi Mahi, with Cream Cheese Scallion Mashers, Baby Carrots and Smokey Bell Pepper Coulis. And how yummy does Smoke Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Potato Rosti, Juniper Braised Cabbage and Maple Sour Cream Demiglaze with Riesling Apple Sauce sound?

If you get the chance, try the Sticky Toffee Pudding with English Custard. It's a favorite among Biga fans.

5. Boudro's
421 East Commerce
www.boudros.com

Another great restaurant along the River Walk is Boudro's. This Texas bistro features outdoor tables by the river, as well as indoor seating. If you have to wait, and you probably will if you don't reserve a table in advance, you can spend that time savoring a glass of red, white or bubbly at Boudro's wine bar across the street.

Boudro's serves up a mean Prickly Pear Margarita to get the juices flowing. And definitely try the delicious, smoky Guacamole for Two prepared fresh at your table. The Blue Crab Tostada is also a flavorful dish to kick off your southwestern feast.

The menu is full of meat varieties, including seafood, steaks, chicken, duck and more. There are even options for vegetarian diners. Prices range from $19.50 for the Grilled Portabello Tostado to $36.00 for the Center Cut Strip Sirloin.

Finally, for a real treat, take Boudro's dinner cruise around the River Walk. The two-hour boat ride will cost you $40, and that includes dinner.

Additional Sources:
www.professionaltravelguide.com/Destinations/San-Antonio/Dining/Restaurants:Upscale-Restaurants
www.yelp.com/san-antonio-tx