Habanero’s Grill – burritos as big as yo’ face

Well, the burritos may not be as big as your face, but pretty close. First of all, let me tell you that the burritos here are nothing like the frozen little bricks you pick up at the grocery store that you have to get all carnivore on after microwaving them. In fact, the food here is as far from that as you can imagine. All the salsas are made fresh, and your burrito, starting with the tortilla, is made fresh to order.

Habanero’s has been in San Antonio since 1996 and recently opened up their second location (much closer to where I live, I might add). The menu is simple, consisting of burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and a few other minor things like salads and soups. But the main attraction here are the burritos. You have two main choices: pick a Habanero’s Favorite or B.Y.O.B (build your own burrito).

Los Barrios, starring Bobby (Where’s the puffy taco?) Flay

Any restaurant that the great Bobby Flay chooses to have a throwdown with is certainly worthy of eating at. That is the case of Los Barrios and its owner, Diana Barrios Treviño, who apparently taught Flay how to make puffy tacos back in 2000, and who had to defend her culinary treat earlier this year when Flay challenged her to a “Throwdown.” I’ve been to Los Barrios a couple of times in the past but felt it necessary to refresh my memory.

Located in the midst of a predominantly Hispanic working class neighborhood in San Antonio, Los Barrios has offered what they call Mexican Continental Cuisine for over 25 years. Due to their popularity and the opportunities available at the ever expanding Northside of San Antonio, the restaurant has recently opened a second location, known as La Hacienda de Los Barrios. We visited the original location and it was already very busy at 5:30. The establishment is clean and updated and someone with a green thumb takes very good care of the plants indoors.

To begin with, diners start off with the customary chips and salsa normally expected at Mexican restaurants. Over the course of dinner we were served five bowls of chips and each one came out crispy and warm. You might be thinking that this is a given, but it is not uncommon that I am served stale chips.

Amy’s – goths throwing ice cream

There are many ice cream franchises around, each with their own gimmick or advertising ploy to drag you in for over-priced ice cream. However, in my mind, there is a standout in the ice cream industry that regards quality so dearly that it refuses to franchise, and that is Amy’s Ice Creams.

Amy’s is an Austin staple that started back in 1984 by Amy Miller (yes, there is a face behind the name). Most of the stores are in Austin with a couple in Houston and one in San Antonio (thanks, Amy). There are two things you can expect when you go to Amy’s: excellent ice cream and an interesting (for lack of a better word) staff. Let’s start with the ice cream.

To qualify as a bona fide ice cream, a product needs to have at least 10% butterfat. Amy’s recipes have 14% butterfat

Liberty Bar off kilter – the food AND the house

If you have never experienced vertigo, then go to the Liberty Bar. No, you won’t suffer this dreadful dizzy spell from the food, but from the frighteningly pronounced tilt of the entire building, suffered from a flood in 1921. The Liberty Bar is a San Antonio landmark and has been in some form of continuous business operation since 1890. The house, on the outside, leans west. But the floor inside the house tilts decidedly east, thus creating a funky, carnival crooked-fun house that instills a charm that keeps locals coming back.  A tag line on an NPR radio program says that the restaurant is “over 100 years old, and looking every minute of it.”

The menu could be described as somewhat New American with hints of the Southwest and the Mexico interior. It features a Basic Menu comprised of a quite lengthy list of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and grill items, as well as a Daily Menu that changes daily (of course) on which you can find a good selection of specialties. Although the Quail with Green Mole or the Filet with Cream of Huitlacoche looked very appealing from the Daily Menu, my wife and I decided to order from the Basic Menu instead, with mixed results.

Rosario’s, a standout in San Antonio TexMex

I’ve eaten at Rosario’s a number of times throughout the years and I’m glad I returned this evening so I can relate to you a fresh perspective of this restaurant. It has become somewhat of an anchor business in the King William/Blue Star Arts area of San Antonio, helping to revitalize the neighborhood. The restaurant is a trendy spot for locals and tourists alike offering live music on the weekends. The walls feature the colorful Latino art and portraits of local artist Gilbert Duran. The place is spacious with plenty of seating, somewhat loud (actually, very loud), and boasts a large bar and waiting area (and you will wait if you get there past 6:30).

Rosario’s website says they make traditional Mexican dishes prepared with a contemporary twist. My opinion is that this claim is a bit of a stretch. The food here is actually TexMex with a bit of originality (let’s call it what it is). Many of the traditional Mexican dishes are missing from menus. The moles, the pipians, the nogadas, all of these are the traditional sauces known to Mexico, but none appear on the menu. Instead, what you find is traditional TexMex fare – tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas. Yes, these are Mexican foods, too, but they have been overdone in underwhelming style in TexMex cuisine. I am excited to see the use of several chiles, like the pasilla, and guajillo, but the unique dishes that I have had in the past have slowly disappeared from the menu, only to be replaced by another enchilada offering. But enough of my ranting. The fact is that despite some disappointments, the food here is good and the atmosphere upbeat and hip.

Beto’s Comida Latina: Caribbean/Mexican fusion

I’m a sucker for Latin food. Its probably my heritage, but the food just tastes so darn good to me. On a recent trip to Puerto Rico, my wife and I visited Luquillo beach, a long stretch of beach in the shadow of El Yunque rain forest, unspoiled by hotels, and popular for its tranquil waters, palm trees, and local food. The beach is lined with about sixty food stands, all serving just about the same food, but each attracting its own share of beach-going families who return to the same exact eatery for one reason or another. The smells are incredible, and the food consists mainly of fried food, rice, seafoods, and beer (lots of beer). Which brings me to tell you about Beto’s Comida Latina.

Beto’s specialties are the empanadas – half-moon shaped pastry dough stuffed with various fillings and deep fried. At Luquillo, and all of Puerto Rico, for that matter, empanadas are the street food of the culture. As long as you have hot oil and a cooler full of empanadas and beer, you’re in business.

Pasión Latin Bistro and Bar [CLOSED]

The name of this bistro and bar, Pasión, aptly describes this sophisticated, Latin-inspired restaurant. The trendy decór and entertainment, as well as the food and drinks attracts hip crowds to this Northside San Antonio locale. The feel of this place could be described as a restaurant with a club type of atmosphere. But not to worry, the focus is the food.

One of the first things you will notice here is the bar. It is prominently set at the entrance to the restaurant and displays the largest selection of rum I have ever seen. The rum list boasts over 100 selections which is really cool for me because I’m kind of a self-professed liquor snob. However, don’t expect the waitstaff to help you with any selections. The two times I asked for recommendations my waitperson had to ask the manager. Even then, the manager never spoke to me personally about my likes and dislikes. For a place that uses its rum selection as a gimmick, it should be better prepared to talk about the menu (rum sommelier, anyone?).

When I lived in Europe, we were always served bread as soon as we were seated. Here, you get a basket of warm banana bread.

EZ’s Brick Oven Grille – surprisingly fresh fast food

I am a fan of simple food made well. I’m easily satisfied with a burger, even, as long as it is made well and it tastes great. That is one of the reasons I like EZ’s Brick Oven Grille. This place serves typically American fast food in a fresh, made to order fashion. The restaurant advertises its fare as “Something for Everyone,” and I would have to agree. There’s a lot to choose from and the menu is divided into easy to follow sections: Signature Dishes, Burgers & Sandwiches, Salads, From the Brick Oven, Shakes & Malts, and a Kids menu. The restaurant is clean and comfortable and definitely family-oriented. The decor is lively and upbeat and the service is friendly and attentive.

The Signature Dishes are not what you would expect from a place that also serves burgers and pizza. However, that is what makes EZ’s special. Not only do they serve things like Rosemary Chicken and Rainbow Trout, these dishes actually taste very good too.

The Guenther House: a great place to spend a lazy morning

Well, I hate to give up one of San Antonio’s best kept secrets, but I am compelled to tell you about a place that I take my wife to for breakfast any time I can get a morning off. The Guenther House is located in the King William District, just south of downtown. It is the oldest historical district in Texas and is a fabulous place to go for a walk. The restaurant was the home of the Pioneer Flour Mill’s founder and was built in 1860 and is completely restored. It is one of the most serene places on the river, making a brunch on the patio a very relaxing experience. The restaurant and gift shop are open daily for breakfast and lunch, but it is the breakfast that has me coming back frequently.

On most mornings you will find a number of tourists as well as many local professionals taking in a slow morning with their colleagues. Be aware that on weekends and holidays, you can expect to wait as long as an hour if you arrive after about 9:30. Nevertheless, coffee is available while you wait and a stroll through the grounds makes things more enjoyable. Sitting inside is nice, but on a beautiful day you should sit outside. Heaters or misters make the temperature more comfortable and the birds always stop by looking for your crumbs. I’m a sucker for the same things here, so I’ll tell you what I am familiar with.

You should be happy with any of the pastries

Cafe Paladar – exciting tapas and latin food

There are a lot of places way beyond my price range. Cafe Paladar is one of them. Nevertheless, I decided to go anyway after reading a short article about places in San Antonio that serve tapas. What interested me about this place is that you can order tapas for $3 each (well within range of my slim wallet). In addition, the food combinations sounded interesting. So, my wife and I decided to give it a try.

The restaurant offers American Latin fare and draws on flavors from the Carribean, Spain, the Spanish Americas, and the Southwest US. This is a high-end restaurant that caters to people looking for a unique dining experience. The decor is chic/modern and the food is innovative. The chef’s philosophy is encapsulated in his “Manifesto” which is whimsical, and says a lot about his approach to food.

Be aware that some portions of the menu are seasonal (which says a lot about the chef and his focus on fresh, local foods), so I may review some items that may not be on the menu when you visit. Nevertheless, I would expect consistency across the board from chef Brian West.

My wife and I began with a gazpacho,

Big’z Burger Joint, where you can “Make it Dirty”

I haven’t had the opportunity to eat at Andrew Weissman’s nationally acclaimed French restaurant, le Reve (praised by the NY Times and Texas Monthly), but I have eaten at his burger joint, Big’z. You can’t miss the barn-looking red metal building on Loop 1604 on the NW side of San Antonio. This is a great location and the building has been designed to accommodate a large number of people with indoor and outdoor seating and a safe and large open area out back for kids to play, although I did not see any kids playing there (nor anything for them to play with had they chosen to do so, mind you). The interior is clean and the seating is well-spaced, although the ceiling height is a little out of scale. The earthy ochre and terracotta paint scheme blends well with the corrugated sheet metal wainscot.

But, enough of the building and decor, and on to the food. The menu is pretty simple, though burgers and fries are the main event here. The burgers

Guajillo’s – authentic Mexican cuisine

This restaurant bills itself as “The Shortcut to Mexico” and advertises “The Mex! Without the Tex” on their website. I don’t remember what drew me here in the first place, but I have been going back ever since. This is one of the few restaurants in San Antonio where you will find Mexican cuisine that is closer to central Mexican fare rather than TexMex. Don’t get me wrong. I mean, who doesn’t like the typical TexMex dishes of enchiladas and tacos? However, Guajillo’s focuses on the tastes of Mexico that are mostly unfamiliar to Americans, and I love them for it.

Guajillo’s is located prominently on the North-Central part of San Antonio in a building that has seen its fair share of restaurants throughout the years. Its comfortable, with good latin music. I have found, however, that many locals have overlooked this fabulous establishment.

Needless to say, the food is fantastic. To begin with, beware of the table sauce (fair warning). It is a bright orange, fiery concoction of guajillo peppers

Orderup – gourmet fast food

Rarely do I visit a new restaurant (new to me, anyway) and really get excited. After tonight’s dinner, I’m kind of giddy! My family and I went to Orderup at the Colonnade (IH-10 @ Wurzbach) which bills itself as a Pizzeria, Taqueria, and Burgeria. I’ve seen advertisements for this place for a while but did not go until I read an article about gourmet burgers that featured a couple of paragraphs on the restaurant. What attracted me was the promotion of typically fast food made to order from scratch with healthy, fresh, and interesting ingredients. I am so glad we went.

The decor of the place is bright and minimalistic. They offer live music on Thursday through Saturday nights. The solo artist on our night played his version of popular covers and I appreciated that the volume was toned down, somewhat lounge-like, to allow for conversation.

The restaurant serves beer and wine

Chris Madrid’s – San Antonio’s best burgers

Burgers are so over-done that they may even be considered the bane of the food industry. Despite their ubiquity, its difficult to find a really good burger. In fact, most people will tell you that they can make a better burger at home (as opposed to the one in their hands while making the proclamation), even though they have yet to prove it to me.

Now, a great burger, one that you can’t make better at home, one that you will go out of your way for, one that you will go straight from the airport after a long time away from home, one that you will highly recommend to everyone you know, is rare indeed. But that is how I feel about Chris Madrid’s.

In April 2006 AOL’s CitySearch rated their Tostada Burger as the No. 2 in its nationwide list of top 15 burgers to try before you die, and this place has been featured in Texas Monthly as well. My opinion: believe the hype.