NAO at The Culinary Institute of America San Antonio

Address:
312 Pearl Parkway
Bldg 2 Suite 2102
San Antonio, TX 78215

Neighborhood:
Downtown

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Cuisine:
Latin American

Price: $30 and under

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NAO at The Culinary Institute of America San Antonio Details

Dining Style: Casual Elegant
Website: http://naorestaurant.com
Phone: (210) 554-6484
Hours of Operation: Dinner: Monday - Saturday: 5:30pm - 10:00pm, Sunday: Closed
Late Night: Friday & Saturday 10:00pm - 2:00am
Payment Options: AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Latin American, South American, Tapas / Small Plates
Executive Chef: Geronimo Lopez
Dress Code: Casual Dress
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Getting there

Cross Street: East Grayson
Parking: Public Lot
Parking Details: Free Parking at the Pearl Brewery

A word from NAO at The Culinary Institute of America San Antonio

NAO restaurant is dedicated to the exploration, preservation, and celebration of the authentic cuisines, cultures, and bounty of Latin America. Unique flavors, inspired by iconic ingredients and indigenous preparations, are presented in a contemporary style. Distinctive and exciting cocktails and… beverages compliment the cuisine. And an extensive wine list rounds out the experience in this modern and dramatic setting. Continued

Foodspotting photos

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerFit for Foodies

Diner Reviews

"It was our first time there and we had a wonderful time."
Dined on 2/28/2014
"One must be patient with sometimes receiving inexperienced service and adventurous about the culinary experiences here."
Dined on 2/28/2014
"We visited for Valentines Day and were very happy with our evening. We arrived a little early, before the rush, and enjoyed the art and open environment. The waitress was witty and engaging and added to our evening. The food took a little longer than we would have liked to wait, but as it was Valentines and we were in no hurry, we were not upset. When the main course arrived, we truly enjoyed one of the best steaks ever. What made it taste even better was knowing the comparative prices at other steak houses in San Antonio. Fantastic value and great environment. Parking is the only challenge, but I would not charge that to the restaurant."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"The four people in my party each ordered different dishes so that we could taste as much of the menu as possible. The Brazilian dessert was a miss but everything else we ordered was very good. Unfortunately, the experience was marred by remarkably inept service. I realize that these are students but I waited tables as a student, too. We order two French press coffees (one regular; one decaf) to go with our desserts. The first carafe was delivered after the dessert plates had been removed. The secnd approximately 15 minutes after that. So sad that the evening ended on such a low note."
Dined on 2/22/2014
"NAO is located in the Pearl Brewery and the menu featured cuisines from the Americas with wonderful flavors. There are tables outside however we chose to eat inside. The inside is decorated beautifully. We were there for lunch so can not comment on the noise level. If you have never been to a CIA restaurant I would highly recommend this restaurant. The menu was a fun read and it was hard to choose what to eat. All of us enjoyed what we ordered. If you are there with someone who likes more bland food, the salad would be perfect for them and it is a good size. Our server was very informative. The CIA students cook at dinner and there is a bar where you can dine and observe. Would definitely go back."
Dined on 2/22/2014
"The food was clearly creative and done with expertise and care.No ambience-someone needs to divide this large rectangle into a cozier place so it does not feel like a dinner . Service just OK(not knowledgeable enought)."
Dined on 2/20/2014
"The whole experience was mediocre. We had Brazil dinner - lobster stew- good, palm salad- bland, steak good, grilled shrimp nice. Dessert - Brazil- OK."
Dined on 2/19/2014
"Very interesting and delicious foods from all over Mexico, Central and South America. You definitely have to ask questions to find out what some of the dishes they serve are and most are very intriguing. It is hard to choose so go with friends who do not mind sharing, family style, so you can try more of their delicious food."
Dined on 2/18/2014
"Any visit to San Antonio should include the Pearl Brewery development on the Riverwalk. San Antonio is fortunate to be the home of one of the Culinary Institute of America locations. A hip and modern Nao offers the opportunity to taste the creations of the Culinary Institute. I would highly recommend it."
Dined on 2/17/2014
"The food is what you would expect from a high end restaurant. Tasty and new surprises on each visit. If you like ginger, try their house made ginger ale, it's the best I've ever had. The food is visually beautiful and flavorful. The service is old world and very attentive, every server is knowledgeable on the menu and the ingredients. This is a foodie gem!"
Dined on 2/14/2014
"I booked a dinner at Nao because the menu was Brazilian and I've lived the food from that region. The lobster appetizer and the papaya dessert were delicious. The main course was good but the picanha had some gristle and not as good as I've had in the past. I still love Nao and will come back but I hope their beef cuts are better quality in the future."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"It was Valentine's night but we just wanted a nice night out, not the full romance experience. NAO was perfect. Students working hard and a fabulous menu and terrific food. It was really a pleasure."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"This was our 3rd or 4th dinner at NAO. The food has been consistently very good, both taste & presentation. This was the first time that the quality of service did not match that of the food. It was good, but lacked a bit of the professionalism of earlier visits (e.g., our waitperson forgot an appetizer, awkward wine presentation). Perhaps she was a new student. Still highly recommend for a memorable dinner."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"The food was fantastic. Unfortunately, our server was inexperienced and clearly struggling. She was pleasant but did not clear empty glasses/dishes from the table. She only filled our water glasses once. Did not bring spoons for our dessert. Not tragic but inept. The service was what I would expect from Chili's not a restaurant like Nao. Thankfully, the managers recognized that our server needed help managing her section and provided good service recovery. The food is worth chancing the possibility of mediocre service."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"The food is incredible, the service was okay. The restaurant itself was gorgeous and the presentation of the food was awesome it just took awhile and our order got mixed up a few times and took awhile getting to us."
Dined on 2/13/2014
"Everything was perfect. Took business colleagues to dinner and ordered the prix fixe menu. It was so refreshing not to be rushed through the courses...we had the table for the night, courses were served at a reasonable pace allowing us to enjoy the company and conversation. Quiet enough to carry on a conversation without raising voices...a novelty these days. Food was fabulous. We love this place!"
Dined on 2/11/2014
"The food was great and professional done but the portion was little too small for the price given."
Dined on 2/8/2014
"This CIA restaurant is every thing you would expect in a first class restaurant. A little noisy (sp). One of the wine's we wanted to try was not available, but the waitress new that as we asked for it. I am taking medication for a test and doctor does not want me to consume alcohol and the lengths the staff went to make sure this was honored was amusing."
Dined on 2/8/2014
"We were a large group for this venue and the service was O.K. but our server was lacking in knowledge about some of the dishes and had to be asked repeatedly for another glass of wine. Several of us had the Brazilian style prix fix special menu and the food was great."
Dined on 2/8/2014
"We had the featured set-price menu and the food was amazing. The dishes were beautifully presented, service was impeccable, and the general ambiance is one of casual elegance. Another winner for the CIA program. We only have the New York site still on our bucket list."
Dined on 2/6/2014
"My wife and I enjoyed our dinner on Saturday night. The cocktails were clever and tasty and the dinner items delicious, interesting and well presented."
Dined on 2/1/2014
"Food at Nao is interesting and fun. Some items are better than others, but you should be there for the food experience. Service can be spotty, not bad, but these are students from the school. We enjoy going and like the seasonal items and the chance for trying dishes from the region. Make a reservation, go with friends, and share. They do include a 18.7% gratuity on every check! it goes to student scholarships."
Dined on 1/31/2014
"The dishes were creatively designed in their ingredients and presentation. Our server was pleasant but needed to improve their skills. The ambience matched the food in its creative feel. Nice location."
Dined on 1/22/2014
"Walking in, I was greeted immediately with a very friendly smile. It was a very fancy looking restaurant but had a more casual ambiance to it. The menu did not have a lot of choices, but enough to decide from. The fixed menu was a very refreshing ordering option without the stress. I loved the open kitchen look. The server was very knowledgeable and was able to recommend a drink immediately upon questioning. His recommendation was right on. The cheesy-bread bites were scrumptious, a great signature. My main meal was delicious, but not necessarily over the top. It was the first time trying sword fish. Then, came the dessert; It was an explosion of flavors and sensations that will surely have me back again."
Dined on 1/9/2014
"Watching the culinary students prepare your meal is fun, and the results are fantastic. There was nothing about our meal that wasn't first rate. The meats were perfectly cooked, the ceviche was great as were the other dishes. Service and decor were great, too well worth a visit"
Dined on 1/25/2014
"Tbis is the third time we went to Nao. This time,they had a latin/south american theme and the selections were interesting. We tried several. They were all "OK" but very small portions and not as tasty as I would hve thought they should be. The best dishes were the jicama tacos and the beef selection (like an osso-buco). The worst part was the noise level was so bad that we could hardly converse without shouting. It is not a place I could recommend for individuals who want to carry on a conversation. We felt bad that we took our guest there because of the above."
Dined on 1/24/2014
"We had outstanding food, best braised short ribs ever. Also loved the chocolate decadence and crumble topped with ice cream and ginger sauce. Our server was not the best, but we found out that she was not a student as it was graduation weekend-thinking the students serving may have more interest in customer service. Good wine list, although out of stock was Greystone Cab. We will def return. Very interesting design and original art."
Dined on 1/18/2014
"a wonderful dining experience--everything from cocktails to desert was creatively prepared, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious! Service was personalized, efficient, warm"
Dined on 1/18/2014
"The food and service were both excellent. The restaurant trains students of the Culinary Institute for America in San Antonio. We went on a Thursday night. It was a slow night from a crowd point of view but it was the day before graduation day for the current group of students and thus they were at their peak. The food was just fantastic - a medley of flavors. We took a chance on a bottle of wine from Uruguay (we had never tasted any wine from there) and hit gold. Just a wonderful experience. Highly recommended"
Dined on 1/16/2014
"From the service to the wine to the food NAO is on the top of my new favorite places in San Antonio!"
Dined on 1/14/2014
"Really innovative food, really good service, a bit noisier than some >60 y/o folks enjoy. I did the tasting menu du jour, well worth the $39.00. I really enjoyed the crab and mahi-mahi ceviche."
Dined on 1/11/2014
"We love supporting the students and the CIA's presence in San Antonio. Going to Nao with a small group is a fantastic way to explore new flavors. Our waiter, Michael, was attentive, patient and informative. We lingered over dinner and enjoyed sharing tastes of many different items. Be adventuresome in your selections, but stay away from the cod fritters which were tough, chewy and saturated with salt. I had read the same comments from others but thought surely this would have been corrected by now. Everything else was wonderful!"
Dined on 1/11/2014
"For a restaurant that continually changes staff (rotation from chef to FOH) and menus, the experience is amazingly consistent. Great food, great cocktails, energetic without being too noisy. We will continue to enjoy NAO in the future."
Dined on 1/10/2014
"I read outstanding reviews for NAO and thought it would be the highlight meal of a weekend trip and every hot course was sadly overcooked from the shrimp to the duck. Beautiful decor with the best part of the meal being the wine and coffee. I don't ever post bad comments but for a near $200 meal, I had to make others aware. Perhaps, the staff will be better in the kitchen next semester."
Dined on 1/3/2014
"I love that Nao uses the flavors and ingredients of the Americas, esp since my professional life is bound up intimately with the region. However, adding aji to half the dishes does not add up to much. I had the smoked ribeye, which was serviceable, but it was topped with undercooked yuca fries and placed atop a pool of indifferent sauce. The meal was essentially unseasoned - not underseasoned - but unseasoned. Our 'special' table for my wife's birthday was a two-top that had the server's station and terminal right behind her chair and a kind of emergency exit door right next to my left elbow: this was not 'special'. If you have heard that the service is poor at Nao, then you heard right. It has been open long enough to work out the kinks."
Dined on 12/20/2013
"We celebrated my son's 18th birthday at NAO and had a great time! Restaurant is a CIA (Culinary Institute of America) restaurant, totally run by the CIA Students. Food was very good, service was very attentive, food was prepared quickly. Menu choices are for a fixed price meal or a la carte. Wine list was very nice - many choices! We had tapas (table pleasures as they call them) & entree. Those in our party each had something different - duck, swordfish, pork t-bone, chicken mole, steak - everything was very tasty. Portions were just the right size. The birthday boy got a special desert with a candle! They have different seating - a curved bar for eating where you can see right into the open kitchen or regular tables. Very nice!"
Dined on 1/3/2014
"There're no doubt, food is outstanding. But service is really poor. Wait for more than 30 minutes for main menu to come. And then wait for more than 20 minutes for dessert to come. No one even care to fill the water."
Dined on 1/4/2014
"The place and the location are very nice. The food was good."
Dined on 1/3/2014
"So enjoyable to sit at the kitchen counter and interact with the chef near us and watch the kitchen in action. We tried nearly all of the small bites rather than an entree. Loved the pairing of the jicima cold crunchy tacos with an order of spicy hot meatballs. Their cocktail creations were fun. Dessert was amazing. The restaurant is beautiful. Only one tiny change would be a new sauce with the cod balls, otherwise perfect evening. Lovely space for a post-dinner stroll too."
Dined on 12/30/2013
"The manchego and guava appetizer is great! Even the non-guava people lived it. The shrimp with sofrito was really good, too. Great flavors! The letdown was our waiter. He didn't seem to be very excited about being there. The music level was really high - I felt like we had to raise our voices to have conversation. Overall, a very nice meal."
Dined on 12/27/2013

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