Best Bets on Restaurants..see below!

I have chosen the best books to help you get the most out of your Texas travels. Whether you're a native looking for a new place to try, or a visitor looking for the best places to see, we have something for you. You'll find weekend getaways for families and couples. Cook some Texas food with some great cookbooks, drink some Texas wine, and plan where you're going to visit. Some great guides and maps will also be really useful when you get here.

Most have accommodations both inside and outside by the water. Check out our listings below for detailed information.

MEXICAN
Mi Tierra Cafe & Bakery Very "popular with the tourist" Mexican Food in San Antonio. It's located downtown in Market Square. A must visit if you're staying downtown.

Blanco Cafe Located just north of downtown on Blanco Road, Blanco Cafe is a local favorite. The Mexican food is top notch but the cafe does not draw the tons of people it draws from it's ambiance. Come for the food not the atmosphere.

Los Barrios A very popular local favorite located north of downtown on West Ave. Los Barrios boasts many famous visitors who seek them out when in the San Antonio area. Highly recommended!

La Fogata Another local favorite. It's original location on Vance Jackson (just inside Loop 410) started as a small building and has built patios and dining areas around it as it's become more and more popular. The food is excellent especially the charcoal broiled items like the fajita and al carbon plates. La Fogata has a small location inside North Star Mall as well.

Alamo Cafe Very popular and very crowded during peak hours but they seem to handle the crowds well. Besides the normal Tex/Mex selections, they offer a great chicken fried steak. Alamo Cafe is located north of the city on Hwy. 281 North.

La Margarita Mexican Restaurant & Oyster Bar Located downtown, La Margarita has been an old favorite of locals and visitors for many years.

El Jarro de Arturo Mexican Restaurant One of our favorites, try their Sunday buffet. North of the airport at Hwy. 281 and Bitters Rd.

BAR-B-QUE
Casey's Often voted best bar-b-que in San Antonio.

County Line Riverwalk There are several County Lines in south Texas and it's always a favorite.

FATSO's Great bar-b-que and lots of large screen TVs to watch the Spurs and Cowboys on.

Rudy's Bar-B-Q Nothing fancy, just delicious food.

Tom's Ribs One of the best place for ribs.

Tony Roma's A Place For Ribs

SEAFOOD
Wahooz Wahooz specializes in upscale cajun cuisine featuring: Seafood Etouffee Creole Chicken Rib Eye ...prepared to perfection every time! Experience their dining room, outside patio or bar-room seating. In addition, Wahooz offers late night Live Music every weekend! 9802 Colonnade (210) 690-9111

Sea Island Shrimp House A long time San Antonio favorite. 322 W. Rector (210) 342-7771, 4323 Amerisuites Drive, (210) 558-8989, 5959 NW Loop 410 (210) 520-3033.

The Riverside Bayous Great food and a great spot on the riverwalk. 517 North Presa 223-6403

Water Street Oyster Bar Founded in 1983 in the Gulf coast town of Corpus Christi, Texas, Water Street can now be found throughtout Texas. These eating establishmnets are known for their fresh seafood, prime steaks and attentive service. 10855 I-10 At Huebner 210-696-3474, 7510 Broadway At Nacogdoches 210-829-4853

ITALIAN
Massimos Ristorante Italiano

Aldo's Ristorante Italiano

Paesano's Restaurant

Fratelli's Caffe Italiano

FRENCH
La Reve Located downtown, La Reve is owned and operated by the chef.

STEAKS
Little Rhein Steak House

Morton's Of Chicago-The Steakhouse

The Barn Door

Little Red Barn

Texas Rendez-Vous Steak & Seafood

Old San Francisco Steak House

Ruth's Chris Steak House

Texas Land & Cattle Steakhouse Texas Rendez-Vous Steak & Seafood

Veladi Ranch Steak House IH-10

ORIENTAL
Fujiya Japanese Restaurant

Hunan River Garden

Hung Fong Chinese

Kabuki Japanese

VARIETY
Pardo's Restaurant & Bar Downtown San Antonio's premiere American eclectic restaurant located on the beautiful San Antonio riverwalk.

Guenther House Built in 1860 by Carl Hilmar Guenther. Founder of Pioneer Flour Mills and restored by the mills as a museum, restaurant and shop. The Guenther house is located in the King William area just south of downtown.

Boudros Food with at southwestern flare, Boudros is on the Riverwalk and is a popular place for tourists and locals alike. Be sure and order the table side made guacamole.

Anaqua Grill

Biga Restaurant

Gristmill Restaurant Located in Gruene, the Gristmill has a variety of foods in a wide open, scenic atmosphere.

Gruene Mansion Restaurant

Hard Rock Cafe

Kangaroo Court

Magic Time Machine

Planet Hollywood

The Riverside Bayous Restaurant

The Tower of The Americas Restaurant

Crumpets Restaurant & Bakery Fig Tree Restaurant Quaint restaurant on the Riverwalk.

Alamo City Trade

Grey Moss Inn Located in the small hill country suburb, Helotes, the Grey Moss Inn offers a great, all around eating experience.

While South Padre is known for its seafood, there are many other types of foods available.

Here are five of the most popular:

Blackbeards – the most popular restaurant on the Island with great prices and large atmosphere. Be sure to ask for the onion rings and chicken fried steak. Got a big group? Bring them here.

Sea Ranch – upscale and a bit on the expensive side, but rated by national magazines as one of the best seafood restaurants in the nation. You also get water front dining. Live entertainment. A local landmark.

Scampis – Premier island restaurant with Bayside dining, seafoods, fine wines, pastas, and prime meats. They usually win local shrimp festivals.

The Lost Galleon Seafood Restaurant – this is a very small restaurant, sort of what you’d find in New England with its slanted roof and thin walls. However, the main attraction is the all-you-can-eat seafood at very low prices. Very popular with the senior citizens and tourists who are looking for great food and great prices. Located in Port Isabel across from the Lighthouse.

Beef Eaters Smokehouse – an excellent BBQ restaurant that compares with the best of Central Texas/Austin BBQs. They have an all-you-can-eat buffet with a large variety of meats, side items, and salads. Located in Port Isabel next to the Lighthouse.

BARBECUE
Rovans BBQ, 5300 Padre Blvd.

J&L BBQ, 205 Maxan St.

DELI
The Pantry, 708 Padre Blvd.

Subway, 1722 Hghwy 100

Sunset Cafe, 1004 Padre Blvd.

ITALIAN/PIZZA
D'Pizza Joint, 2413 Padre Blvd.

Marcello's Italian Restaurant, 110 N. Tarnava

The Original Burger Shack, 101 Queen Isabella

Paulino's, 309 Hwy 100 at Manatou

Pizza Barn, 3512 Padre Blvd.

Pizza Hut, 1202 Highway 100

Pizza Hut, 1905 Padre Blvd.

Pizza X-Press 2600 Padre Blvd.

Putter's, Laguna Vista, 717 Santa Isabel Hwy

MEXICAN
Isabel's Cafe, Highway 100 & Port Rd.

Jesse's, 2700 Padre Blvd.

Manuel's, 100 E. Swordfish St.

Mexiquito, 802 S. Garcia

Palmetto Inn, 1817 Padre Blvd.

Padre Cantina, at the Holiday Inn, 100 Padre Blvd

ORIENTAL
The Great Wall, 5800 Padre Blvd.

Kohnami, 410 Padre Blvd

SEAFOOD
Cross Eyed Pelican, 823 Garcia St.

Dolphin Cove Oyster Bar, in Isla Blanca Park

The Grill Room, 708 Padre Blvd.

Gulf Coast Oyster Bar, 709 Padre Blvd.

La Jaiba, 2001 Padre Blvd.

Lantern Grill, 3109 Padre Blvd.

Lost Galleon, 202 Highway 100

Parrot Eyes, 6101 Padre Blvd.

Pirate's Landing, at the foot of the bridge 110 N. Garcia

Reyes Seafood, Laguna Heights, 716 Hwy 100

Scampi's, 206 W. Aries

Sea Ranch, 1 Padre Blvd.

White Sands, 418 Hwy 100

The Yacht Club, 700 Yturria Street

VARIETY
Amberjack's Bar & Grill, 209 W. Amberjack St.

Bahia Mar,6300 Padre Blvd.

Beachside Bar & Grill, Sheraton

Blackbeard's, 103 E. Saturn

Blue Rays Diner, 410 Padre Blvd

Chuck Wagon

Coconuts, Marlin & Laguna

Denny's, 1200 Padre Blvd.

Jake's, 2500 Padre Blvd.

Kelly's, 101 E. Morningside

Kentucky Fried Chicken, 3201 Padre Blvd.

Louie's Backyard, 2305 Laguna Blvd.

Padre Island Brewery, 3400 Padre Blvd.

Rovans Bakery, 5300 Padre Blvd.

Ted's, 5717 Padre Blvd.

Tom & Jerry's ,3212 Padre Blvd.

Wanna-Wanna Beach Bar & Grill, 5100 Gulf Blvd

Windjammers, at the Radisson Resort, 500 Padre Blvd.

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