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Best for a Romantic Dinner:
On a quiet stretch of the River Walk,
Las Canarias, at
La Mansión del
Río, 112 College St. (tel. 210/518-1063),
avoids the noise that plagues most waterview restaurants. You'll enjoy
candlelight and superb, discreet service.
Best Movable Feast: It used
to be that you could dine on the river only if you were with a group, but
among the restaurants that now offer reservations on communal tables to
individuals and couples,
Boudro's,
421 E. Commerce St./River Walk (tel. 210/224-8484),
tops the meals-on-river-barge-wheels list.
Best for Serious Foodies:
After several years on the fine dining scene,
Le Rêve,
152 E. Pecan St. (tel. 210/212-2221), has proved
that it's got staying power -- there were rumbles about the chef moving to
Dallas a while back -- and that San Antonio is ready for a place where men
have to wear jackets and there is seating for dinner. The reward is stellar
French food.
Best Seafood: You'd think
that serving brain food on the river would have been a no-brainer, but it
wasn't until the arrival of
Pesca,
212 W. Crockett St. (tel. 210/396-5817), that there
was a real contender. Shark alert: This
place will take a bite out of your dining budget.
Best Italian Cuisine: The
risotto, potato gnocchi, and saltimbocca are among the dishes perfected by a
chef from Rome that make it worth the trip to
Massimo,
1896 Nacogdoches Rd. (tel. 210/342-8556), in the
Alamo Heights area.
Best Place to Listen to Music While You Eat: Enjoy creative South
American, Mexican, and Caribbean fare at Southtown's
Azuca, 713 S. Alamo St.
(tel. 210/225-5550), while listening to salsa, merengue, and other Latin
sounds.
Best Blast from the Past:
Schilo's, 424 E.
Commerce St. (tel. 210/223-6692), not only serves up German deli in
portions that date back to pre-cholesterol-conscious days but also retains
prices from that era.
Best New Restaurant: It's a tie this time: I
love the innovative Tex-Mex food and the party atmosphere at
Acenar, 146 E. Houston St. (tel. 210/222-CENA), a sizzling
addition to the River Walk, but I'd drive much farther than Olmos Park, just
a few minutes north of downtown, to take advantage of the great Italian food
and great prices at
Ciao Lavanderia,
226 E. Olmos Dr. tel. 210/822-3990).
Best Place to Encounter Artists: Terrific
food, a nice selection of libations, good prices, and a fun, funky
atmosphere draw creative types of all kinds to the
Liberty Bar, 328
E. Josephine St. (tel. 210/227-1187).
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