Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in San Antonio

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in San Antonio? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Savor The Culinary Institute of America

5.0

5 (1363)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Located on the campus of The Culinary Institute of America, San Antonio, and nestled in the Pearl, Savor highlights the talents of our CIA students under the supervision of the college’s world class faculty. Experience a meal inspired by ingredients and techniques from around the world. Our dining room and patio are open and reservations are strongly encouraged. Curbside takeout is also available.

All guests are required to wear a mask while indoors—regardless of their vaccination status—except when seated in a dining environment. Thank you for helping to keep our CIA campus community safe!

Top review

Robbivip

Dined on Aug 7, 2024

Happy, smiling greeting and doors were opened when they saw me approaching. The chef greeted me by name at the host station and I was seated quickly. Waiter was very kind, attentive, and respected me reading my book during my meal. Chose the 4 course option, generous portions, all exceptionally delicious. Got to take course 3 and 4 leftovers to go. They box it up and it is waiting for you at host station on departure. Wine was delicious and reasonably priced. One of my favorites in SATX and the Pearl District. Please go support the CIA and chat with the students about their experience. Also really great to see them working the back of the house turning out tickets flawlessly and the front of the house with impeccable service. 💗💗💗

Stout's Signature

4.8

4.8 (617)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Stouts Signature at the Tobin Center is featuring upscale plates from a 22oz Tomahawk pork-chop to Rockefeller Oysters, backed by a full bar of handcrafted cocktails.

The Tobin Center provides a world-class venue that promotes a diverse range of cultural, educational, and artistic experiences that improve the quality of life in San Antonio. Stout’s Signature compliments the arts with our own unique dining experience.

Top review

Aspen

Dined 4 days ago

Quick to reserve and an amazing experience! Fernie was a great server!

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Popular dish

Duck Wings

Experience

Tapas Pairing Menu with Merry Edwards Winery

Nicosi

4.8

4.8 (31)

$50 and over

Dessert

Downtown

About the restaurant

Submerse yourself in a dessert bar that will challenge your expectations by embracing acid, sweet, bitter, and savory all while extracting the nuances that truly makes them unique. Located at The Pearl, Nicosi only has only 20 seats that hug the kitchen, fostering one on one dialogue with the chefs.
To best accomodate your experience, reservations are required. We are offer 2 seating times per night: 5:30 and 8:00. Chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph and Chef de Cuisine Karla Espinosa will guide an intimate journey through every dish, its ingredients, what makes it special and why it has been chosen for the evening. We offer wine and cocktail pairings or non-alcoholic beverage pairings for each course. Because Nicosi is about delighting in the present, we have a no phone/photography policy and the menu will be revealed as you dine. We are able to accommodate most dietary aversions and special requests with 24 hour notice. Please allow 90 minutes for your visit. Guests 16 and up, please.

Top review

osvaldovip

Dined 1 day ago

Truly a unique and amazing culinary experience. Equivalent to a two star Michelin restaurant but only dessert courses. A must do experience when in San Antonio. Honestly, you can skip dinner that evening and just go to Nicosi for the wonderful multi course dessert treat! Congratulations to Chef Bristol-Joseph team and specially to the star of the show Chef Karla Espinosa! Hope to be back soon!

Cured

4.7

4.7 (1833)

$31 to $50

Farm-to-table

Downtown

About the restaurant

Cured – The gastro-pub style restaurant, in the heart of the Pearl District of San Antonio, TX. Cured is endowed with a name that celebrates Chef Steve McHugh's successful battle against cancer, as well as the artisanal cured meats that are the cornerstone of his menu. The three-time James Beard Award finalist began his culinary journey on a small farm in Wisconsin and a vibrant decade in New Orleans. This position eventually led him to San Antonio where, with a new lease on life after beating lymphoma, he ventured out on his own to open Cured. McHugh's gastronomic foundation relies on the purity of natural regional ingredients and the hands-on unadultured methods that enhanced his own healing process. This from-scratch focus finds its way to seasonally dynamic menus of cured delicacies from the charcuterie to pickles.

Top review

Darylvip

Dined on Aug 21, 2024

Great time. Great food. Great service. Happy hour has a wonderful value menu with high end items. Drink menu is good too. Would recommend to anyone.

Nineteen Hyaku

4.7

4.7 (255)

$31 to $50

Sushi

Downtown

About the restaurant

Nineteen Hyaku will be opening soon! Please see our website for updates. Thank you!

Top review

Mariavip

Dined 3 days ago

Delicious food and excellent service! Jack was very professional!

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Experience

Nineteen Hyaku OMAKASE

Esquire Tavern

4.5

4.5 (620)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of downtown, The Esquire Tavern is the oldest bar on the San Antonio Riverwalk, opened the year, month and day that Prohibition was repealed. Tending bar in the early days was a highly prized and much sought after craft. Bar keeps then created many of their own syrups, mixes and concoctions and used the freshest of juices with the intention of serving the best products. We at the Esquire have taken a serious approach to the old world of bartending and spun it with a modern twist. Combining classic techniques and new world flavors and culinary concepts, our goal is to lead and set San Antonio's emerging cocktail culture on the map.

Top review

William

Dined on Aug 25, 2024

If you're planning a night out at the Aztec Theater, dining at The Esquire Tavern is an absolute must! This historic gem offers a perfect blend of ambiance, flavor, and top-notch service that sets the stage for an unforgettable evening. The menu is a delightful mix of innovative cocktails and mouthwatering dishes that cater to a wide range of palates. I highly recommend the charcuterie board to start, paired with one of their expertly crafted cocktails. The mains are equally impressive—everything is prepared with attention to detail and bursting with flavor. The location is ideal, just a short stroll from the Aztec Theater, making it the perfect spot to enjoy a relaxed meal before the show. The Esquire's vintage charm and vibrant atmosphere really get you in the mood for a night of entertainment. Whether you're a local or visiting San Antonio, The Esquire Tavern is an outstanding choice for a pre-show dining experience!

Santa Diabla

4.5

4.5 (56)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Downtown

About the restaurant

Santa Diabla offers an explosion of Authentic flavors that will take you on a journey to Mexico.

At Santa Diabla - Cocina Mexicana we embark on a culinary adventure that celebrates the past, embraces the present, and envisions a flavorful future.

Come experience the true essence of Mexico through our inspired dishes, warm hospitality, and unmistakable passion that drives us forward.

Top review

Susan

Dined 5 days ago

We had the best, authentic Mexican food that we have ever had. Highly recommend.

Dashi Sichuan Kitchen + Bar

4.5

4.5 (58)

$31 to $50

Sichuan

Stone Oak

About the restaurant

大师川菜 DASHI Sichuan Kitchen + Bar celebrates the centuries-old traditions of Sichuanese cuisine and culture with modern inspiration in San Antonio, Texas.

The most influential new restaurant in San Antonio, we’re thrilled for you to join our grand master artists - or “da shi” - on an intriguing journey into the iconic flavors, textures, and colors of Sichuan. Welcome to the amazing DASHI.

大师 'Dashi' means grandmaster or grand artist in Chinese. We hope that Dashi will be a delicious spirited gathering place that not only showcases grandmasters from the culinary world but from all the arts. Eat, drink (responsibly), be inspired, create, be happy.

Top review

Shelly

Dined 1 day ago

We’ve gone here multiple times and are never disappointed! The shrimp and jalapeño pork dish were delicious!

Isidore

4.5

4.5 (28)

$50 and over

Farm-to-table

Downtown

About the restaurant

Join us for dinner, as we showcase the bounty of Texas. This ever-changing menu will highlight the best of the season and work closely to reflect the treasures within the market. Isidore will have a robust wine list and intimate décor, making it the perfect space to celebrate.

Top review

Neel

Dined on Aug 31, 2024

Wonderful experience including dishes that are elegant, thoughtful, and delicious!

Tokyo Cowboy

4.3

4.3 (176)

$31 to $50

Tapas / Small Plates

Downtown

About the restaurant

Asian-inspired diner with creative cocktails and a great selection of whisky!

Top review

Mayavip

Dined 2 days ago

The entire experience from beginning to end was delightful and delicious! Our reservation was bar seating and we could not have been happier, Michelle has to be one of the best bartenders in San Antonio. She is knowledgeable, friendly, professional and entertaining. The food was exquisite and aesthetic, a great date night place.

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