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EL MIRADOR
722 S. St. Mary’s
(210-225-9444)
Open Mon-Thur 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri & Sat 6:30–10. Brunch Sun 9–2.
web site | map | latest review | access ++ |  add to library |
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Mexican /
Tex-Mex |
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(From May 2011) Whether you sit down for one of the nuevo mexicano dinners—enchiladas filled with garlic-and-chipotle-flavored mashed potatoes, for example—or one of Doña Maria Treviño’s traditional Tex-Mex or Mex-Mex dishes, you won’t be dining alone. A favorite of downtown suits, tourists, and King Williamites alike, El Mirador walks the walk and talks the talk. Try the kitchen-made mole on a chicken breast or over enchiladas. Or one of the daily soup specials; Tarascan bean, lime and chicken broth, and rich Azteca are just a few that rotate through the week. Colorful folk art and a fancy bar add to the comfortable, welcoming atmosphere. Bar. |
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EL MIRASOL
13489 Blanco Rd
(210-479-8765)
Open Sun & Mon 11:30–9, Tue–Sat 11:30–10.
web site | map | latest review | access ++ | add to library |
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$$ |
Tex-Mex /
Mexican |
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(From March 2011) Tex-Mex and deep Mex come together in this colorful, vibrant restaurant on the North Side. The chile en nogada (a poblano stuffed with pork and almonds and drizzled with a white walnut sauce flecked with pomegranate seeds) delighted our whole table; so did the lobster quesadilla (plenty for two), which attained heights rarely seen in San Antonio Mexican restaurants. The rich tortilla soup could make a lunch in itself, what with its robust broth, avocado slivers, and melting cheese. Don’t ignore the flavorful al pastor tacos, with pineapple, onion, and cilantro. Bright-red-tiled tabletops and plenty of hanging plants enliven the decor, while a boisterous energy infuses the service. Bar. |
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TITO’S
955 S. Alamo, at Beauregard
(210-212-8226)
Open Sun–Thur 8–10, Fri & Sat 8–11.
map | latest review | photo | access ++ | add to library |
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Tex-Mex |
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(From March 2011) Making the most of its corner in King William, Tito’s doesn’t try to compete with its glitzier neighbors—it just offers a down-to-earth neighborhood ambience and good, honest Mexican food. Chiles rellenos don’t overdo the cheese (especially when ordered with the spicy-sweet picadillo beef filling); handmade tortillas, both corn and flour, are always fresh; and an assortment of “express†enchiladas (from chile-sauced tejanos to moist chicken-and-tomatillo verdes) make a quick lunch easy. And if you by chance need breakfast tacos for a crowd at the office, this is the place to go: close to downtown, big assortment, all made fresh to order. Bar. |
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TOST BISTRO BAR
14415 Blanco Rd, at Cadillac
(210-408-2670)
Open Tue–Sat 11:30-3 & 5:30–10 (bar 3 p.m.–2 a.m.). Brunch Sun 11–5. Closed Mon. Reservations recommended on the weekend.
web site | map | latest review | photo | access ++ | add to library |
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Tex-Mex /
New American |
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(From January 2011) French Tost for dinner, anyone? This welcoming bistro has an inventive take on French-inspired dishes, including some, like Shiner beer–braised short ribs, with a Texan slant. A startlingly tasty appe-tizer is the salad of tomato, yellow watermelon, and crumbled blue cheese; another is a refreshingly light version of fried chicken livers with a modest dab of hollandaise. Well-browned sea scallops were inventively served in a splash of puréed corn, while the moist but crisp-skinned grilled salmon with lightly sautéed spinach demonstrated well-timed cooking. Live music sometimes drifts in from the bar, and obliging, professional service completes the appealing picture. Bar. |
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