Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in San Antonio

OpenTable

Updated October 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems 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!

Cappy's Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (4870)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Alamo Heights

About the restaurant

This casual, upscale restaurant offers innovative American cuisine including the freshest seafood from the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic and Pacific, great steaks from Allen Brothers in Chicago, and regional and seasonal specialties. Daily lunch and dinner specials feature local ingredients whenever possible. The Heights burger can be paired with hand cut French fries, crispy thin onion rings, homemade lemon-pepper potato chips or German potato salad. There is an outdoor patio under a canopy of oak trees that's shady and extremely popular with locals and visitors to San Antonio. The brunch offered on Saturdays and Sundays features a menu of classic egg dishes, Texas pot roast, jumbo lump crab cake, seasonal "out of the blue" seafood entrees, entree salads, and Mustang chicken. Cappy's has an ever-changing, dynamic and well-priced wine list, with great choices by the glass or bottle. Full bar.

Top review

Marcvip

Dined 2 days ago

Food was excellent, service was excellent. We shared 3 entrees between three people including the oysters and one blue cheese wedge. Can't say enough good things about the experience.

Discover more

Popular dish

Sticky Toffee Pudding

4.8

4.8 (5139)

$30 and under

Mexican

North Central

About the restaurant

Located just a few minutes from downtown in architecturally rich Monte Vista neighborhood, La Fonda on Main is the oldest Mexican food restaurant in San Antonio. La Fonda serves both the best of Tex-Mex cuisine as well as authentic dishes of interior Mexico in a fun and casual setting with beautiful patio dining. We're open 7 days a week offering our full menu as well as family meals and catering options on curbside. Happy Hour is Monday-Thursday from 3pm-6pm. We offer a full bar with a wide variety of liquor, beer and wine. Saturday's and Sunday's we serve brunch from 10:00am-3:00pm. Our fabulous margaritas are made with hand-squeezed limes and your choice of a large selection of tequilas and mezcals. Our famous patio is heated from the ground up for chilly nights under the stars and lights in the trees.

Top review

Michael

Dined on Oct 1, 2024

As always, the food and service was excellent. It’s a beautiful atmosphere and authentic setting which remains consistently excellent!

Discover more

La Fogata Alamo Heights

4.8

4.8 (163)

$30 and under

Tex-Mex

Alamo Heights

About the restaurant

La Fogata Cantina is officially open seven days a week and we look forward to serving you for all of your lunch and dinner needs. With indoor and outdoor seating as well as private dining options available we have the perfect place for you. Accepting reservations for parties of 5 or more in the main dining room. Bartop and patio seating done on a first come first served basis. Call us with any questions or to book private events direct with us.

Top review

Max

Dined on Oct 1, 2024

La Fogata on Austin Hwy is my favorite choice when I want Mexican food that checks the block for a Tex-Mex craving. It is a hidden gem… the same quality as the original without the crowds and the long wait for a table. Beautifully appointed, extensive menu, good food, excellent bar, good service, reasonably priced. With so many Mexican restaurants to choose from in San Antonio, you can’t go wrong at La Fogata, Austin Hwy!

Paloma Blanca Mexican Cuisine

4.7

4.7 (1205)

$30 and under

Mexican

Alamo Heights

About the restaurant

Since 1997, Paloma Blanca Mexican Cuisine has become well-known for offering much more than traditional "Tex-Mex" fare. Tempting offerings include items as varied as grilled snapper, enchiladas verdes, pozole soup, hand made flautas and tacos al pastor. For margaritas by a cool fountain, a relaxing dinner on the terrace or appetizers in our hacienda-style dining rooms, Paloma Blanca invites you to enjoy our autentico brand of Mexican cuisine and hospitality.

Top review

OpenTable Dinervip

Dined 3 days ago

I brought my mom here who was visiting from Maryland and she loved it. The food, ambience and service was exceptional. We will definitely be returning.

Little Em's Oyster Bar

4.7

4.7 (825)

$31 to $50

Oyster Bar

Downtown

About the restaurant

Welcome to Little Em's Oyster Bar, Southtown's premier destination for oysters on the half shell, lobster rolls, and a burger that some say, is among the best in the city. We also have a wonderful rotating wine and beer selection! We look forward to serving you!✨

Due to the size of our "little" restaurant, we will do our best to accommodate your inside and outside preference, however, your selection is not guaranteed. Thank you for understanding!

Keep on Shuckin'

Top review

Holly

Dined on Sep 28, 2024

We had an amazing experience at Little Ems Oyster bar. The service was amazing and food was spectacular. We made reservations for outside dinning and had no wait at all

Discover more

Southerleigh Haute South

4.7

4.7 (624)

$30 and under

Southern

Northwest

About the restaurant

Southerleigh Haute South is a casual restaurant concept that serves lunch, dinner, brunch, take-out, in San Antonio, Texas. Southerleigh Haute South features a menu based on southern-style food including fried chicken, biscuits, and an oyster bar, paired with local Southerleigh craft beers. The restaurant also offers a full bar.

Top review

Larry

Dined 5 days ago

Food was great! Service was awesome! Highly recommend!

Discover more

Popular dish

Crispy Fried Chicken Sandwich

Popular dish

SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN SANDWiCH

Popular dish

Fried Chicken Sandwich

Fife & Farro

4.7

4.7 (26)

$30 and under

Contemporary Italian

Downtown

About the restaurant

WOOD-FIRED PIZZA AND FRESH PASTA

Nestled inside the market, let us hold your groceries while you take a break and enjoy wood-fired sourdough pizzas and handmade heritage grain pastas. This family-friendly space is great to relax and enjoy lunch and dinner.

Top review

Benjamin

Dined on Aug 29, 2024

Some of the best homemade pasta in San Antonio paired with a solid wine list, strong bar program and authentic Napoli pizza. Their arrabiata is superb. I could put it on almost anyting and be happy. It's also nice to see a Gibson on a drink menu. San Antonio is pretty basic when it comes to cocktails and this was a welcome change.

Mama's Cafe

4.6

4.6 (276)

$30 and under

American

Alamo Heights

About the restaurant

San Antonio's best family-owned homestyle comfort food restaurant serving Texas inspired made-from-scratch daily breakfast, lunch, happy hour, and dinner. Enjoy our famous fried mushrooms, best pancakes in town, chicken fried American wagyu steak, Texas beers on tap, or one of our handmade craft cocktails. Join us in one of our dining rooms, at the bar, or outside on our dog-friendly and beautiful patio/beer garden.

Top review

Charles Robert

Dined 3 days ago

Love this place for breakfast, dinner good but not great although dessert was excellent

Discover more

Popular dish

Chicken Fried Chicken

Popular dish

Chicken Fried Pork Cutlet

Luce Ristorante E Enoteca

4.4

4.4 (1190)

$30 and under

Italian

Medical Center

About the restaurant

Founded in 2006, Luce is a local favorite featuring many traditional dishes. Flavors which often bring our guests back to their best memories of Italian specialties.

My goal for this restaurant to create a warm environment for all guests that is typical of a true Italian heritage.

Our menu consists of many Buonincontri family recipes and recipes brought back from travel to Italy.

Fresh fish, meats and produce expound throughout Luce's offerings and a focus on the finest ingredients are what make Luce special.

House made Gnocchi, Italian rice balls and homemade Mozzarella are just a few examples our passion for the finest Italian food.The word Enoteca means wine library. The walls of the entire restaurant are covered with wine bottles as you would expect books to cover the walls of a library. Wine is a very important part of an experience at Luce, with over 125 choices from our wine list available to you.

Top review

Robert

Dined 5 days ago

the food was as good as always and the service was excellent. we were a party of 8 and the food service was timely.

Dashi Sichuan Kitchen + Bar

4.4

4.4 (60)

$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

sean

Dined on Sep 21, 2024

Food was incredible. Sichuan flavors rang really authentic. Some dishes have a notable personal flair from the chef. Would recommend to anyone who loves Sichuan.

Explore Diners' Choice best of San Antonio

Explore more Diners' Choice lists