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    Esencia

    4.8 (19 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 11:00 PM

    Esencia Photos

    ESENCIA ATMOSPHERE

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    Fernando V.

    Good date night spot, pretty limited menu and not that so main stream so be adventurous or maybe this is not he spot for you

    "Beef & Broccoli" Tartare
    Lorin B.

    The service was impeccable, we absolutely loved our evening with nico he was knowledgeable in the menu & gave such great recommendations. The ambiance was something out of a movie; we walked in stunned by the elegance. The crudo was my favorite item of the night, but nothing we had was bad by any means!

    Shrimp & Grits
    Julia H.

    Wonderful restaurant with a great vibe. All the entrees are gluten free and awesome! Tacos were great as appetizer! Great drinks and service was spot on! Highly recommend and will be on our repeat local restaurants!

    Kimchi bowl and duck flower
    Kimberly K.

    What a beautiful new restaurant -- and what an incredible makeover! Chef Leo has created a fantastic menu with truly memorable entrées. We loved everything we tried, especially the peppers and cactus appetizer (shishito peppers con chorizo), the masa dumplings, the duck and flower dish, and the kimchi stone pot-- all absolutely phenomenal. The ambience is stunning, the cocktails are wonderful, and the service was excellent from start to finish. This place hits every mark. We will definitely be back and will be recommending it to all of our friends. Five stars all the way!

    Jen H.

    I had really low expectations for this restaurant because I feel as though most "fancy" restaurants in SA are missing the cohesiveness that other big-city "fancy" restaurants have. There's certain elements I look for in terms of service, food quality, and overall experience when the price point is that high. For example, the glasses they use for water are lovely to look at, but it makes it difficult for the waiter to see when a glass is empty. I would expect my water to be always at least half-filled but it ran empty a couple times without the waiter noticing when she checked up on us. The duck was good, but I wasn't blown away by the flavors. The temperature of the dish was also a bit on the lukewarm side and felt like I was eating room temperature food. The best part of the experience was the decor and the building layout itself; it had Asian x Spanish villa vibes that was carried out perfectly.

    Mezcal cocktail with Tajin foam.
    David C.

    We truly enjoyed our first visit to Esencia! From the friendly team that greeted us at the hostess stand, to our amazing server Jenna, we felt completely at home in this beautiful new restaurant. They've done an amazing job transforming the place into a truly Spanish stunner that is modern yet timeless.... The food .. amazing ! So many unique flavors that were so well thought out. The Asian Mexican fusion is definitely working. Loved the beet carpaccio, the beef and broccoli , peppers and cactus , and the SHRIMP TOAST!!! The drinks were perfect ... highly recommend this great place inside the St. Anthony hotel .

    Amazing. One of the best restaurants San Antonio has to offer. I ate there last night and I have only great things to say. Great service, Jena was nice and knowledgeable of the menu and answered any questions I had. The restaurant was warm and inviting. And the food, top notch. You can't go wrong with anything you order. But I recommend, Pepper and Cactus and Smoked Seafood Crudo to start off. And Al Pastor and Carne Asada for entrees. For dessert, Churro Bread Pudding. Everything 10/10! I'm already planning to eat there again!

    Arroz con Pollo

    Our server Nico was exceptional, he had so much great input on every dish and helped guide us through both the food and drink menu. He was so nice and helpful through our dinner experience. He had a great attitude! Our food was amazing, truly I have no complaints. I would definitely request Nico as my server time and time again. 10/10

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    3 months ago

    The restaurant is fantastic. It's the food is fantastic. James Beard nominated chef perfect combination of Chinese Hispanic food mix

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    Boudro's, a Texas Bistro - Fillet and Shrimp

    Boudro's, a Texas Bistro

    4.1(3.7k reviews)
    0.2 miDowntown
    $$

    I always feel very badly when I don't do a review of such an excellent restaurant and frankly…read moreBoudro's is an example of an exceptional restaurant. Firstly, the ambience is incredible. We were right on the river walk, but walked through the entire restaurant on our way to be seated and every bit of it is as lovely as where we ended up sitting. The Riverwalk, however, is a people watching place and so there really isn't any place in this particular restaurant which is not gonna be pleasant. Secondly, the service is exceptional. This is a very busy place. However, the waiter was simply incredible. Very attentive, very informative quite humorous. He was frankly part of the river walk entertainment. Extremely accommodating and instructive as well. You can't hope for much more from a server in Restaurant than this activity. The food is really quite good. How are the drinks. Extremely dependable and the portions are generous and equally wonderful. There are many places to dine in San Antonio. However, this is an experience not to be missed and I mean that quite sincerely. Kudos for a very, very well run well situated and well managed enjoyable place to dine on the river walk in San Antonio.

    Over-hyped, over-priced, unfriendly staff, watery drinks and terrible guacamole…read more My wife and I had a very bad experience while dining in this restaurant during the Fiesta San Antonio. Boudros was highly recommended by friends, and was the first restaurant on our list to dine in during our recent visit. We arrived at the restaurant on a Thursday around 7:45 pm and were told by a young Hostess that no walk-ins were allowed until after 9 pm. We decided to modify our itinerary and instead had dinner at a different restaurant on the riverwalk, and made a reservation for Boudros online for the following evening. When we arrived the following evening for our reservation at 7.30 pm, we were escorted to a small table in the bar that was next to the entrance to a small room. The area was noisy with a lot of foot traffic. We asked for a table in a quieter room and were moved to a room in the back of the restaurant where it was easier to have a conversation. A few minutes later our waiter, Stephen, approached the table. We asked him for drink recommendations and among others he recommended the "Prickly Pear Margarita". I ordered the Prickly Pear Margarita, and we also ordered the tableside Guacamole. The restaurant was busy, but there were several empty tables in our dining area. After about 15 to 20 minutes, the waiter brought our drinks. The Prickly Pear Margarita I received was not even close to the description on the menu. The ice was melted and it tasted like Fruit Punch with alcohol in a martini glass. A few minutes later, Stephen approached our table with the Guacamole cart. There were pieces of onions and cilantro all over the dirty table cloth on the cart. He prepared the Guacamole in front of us and it looked very unappealing. We watched as he added an excessive amount of diced onions and cilantro. Being a connoisseur of Guacamole, and making my own for most of my life, it was obvious that Stephen had not been trained well in how to make Guacamole. After he mixed the sliced avocados, the diced onions and cilantro, he wiped the edge of the stone tray with a dirty cloth. The onions and cilantro over powered the taste of the avocado. Later that evening, Stephen brought a very fancy drink for a customer sitting next to us. The drink looked like frozen lime juice with line of frozen strawberry and a nice scoop of frozen lime juice on top. I asked Stephen for the name of that drink, and he replied that it was the same drink that I had ordered. I asked why it looked so different and he muttered something about it being the end of the batch and then said "I'm not the Bartender". He blamed the Bartender for making the terrible drink, and made no effort to correct the problem. Later Stephen returned with our dinner, and as he approached our table, he ordered my wife to "move your glass!" Needless to say she was quite taken aback at his abrupt manner with no please or thank-you. In all the staff did not have a very good demeanor and were very sullen and grumpy. Even asking for directions to the bathroom barely elicited a glance and the needed information. Maybe the staff was overworked because of the number of visitors for the Fiesta, but the terrible, over-priced food, did not make up for the unhappy staff, and we do not plan to return.

    Photos
    Boudro's, a Texas Bistro - Private dining space

    Private dining space

    Boudro's, a Texas Bistro - Chicken enchiladas verdes

    Chicken enchiladas verdes

    Boudro's, a Texas Bistro - Signature margarita

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    Signature margarita

    Roam & Range - Pecan Herb Crusted Trout

    Roam & Range

    4.6(28 reviews)
    0.6 miDowntown
    $$

    I really wanted to love Rome & Range, especially after seeing such a creative take on elevated…read moreSouthern dishes (I'm from southern Louisiana). The menu is exciting and the concept is definitely there--but unfortunately, my dining experience didn't quite live up to it. I ordered the pecan-crusted trout, which had a nice texture but lacked flavor and seasoning. The dirty rice was also underwhelming, with very little depth or seasoning, and the calamari was a bit rubbery. Overall, the food just didn't hit the mark for me. Service was also a bit inconsistent. During dinner, I found myself having to get up to grab my own salt and pepper, as well as my own place setting, which took away from the experience. That said, I did have a much better interaction the day before when my wife and I stopped by for a glass of champagne at the bar--the bartender was lovely and welcoming. On a positive note, the location is beautiful--right along the River Walk, which makes for a great ambiance and setting. I'd consider giving it another try, but hoping for more consistency in both food and service next time.

    Off from work early on a Friday afternoon, I decide to meet some friends at Roam & Range for a…read morehappy hour drink. R&R is part of a hotel and since the weather was really nice, we decide to sit on the outdoor patio facing the river walk. They have a happy hour menu that runs from 3-6 pm and includes beer, wine and liquor specials and 8 small plate food options. I start off with a margarita on the rocks. When it comes out, the drink is good but could've used a bit more lime in the mix but not bad. For food, I go with the fried shrimp and catfish nuggets. When they come out, the plates are larger than expected and both come with fries. This could easily be shared with two or three people. Everything was friend to perfection, crispy on the outside, moist on the inside and seasoned well. The plates were wiped clean. I ordered a house pinot noir and it was a good. I didn't catch the brand name but would order it again. Overall, this was a great first experience at Roam & Range and will look forward to coming back to try more of the menu. Due to it's location, parking can be tricky so prep ahead.

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    Roam & Range
    Roam & Range - Wedge salad

    Wedge salad

    Roam & Range - Menu

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    Menu

    Nonna Osteria - Burrata with grilled veggies and gluten free bread

    Nonna Osteria

    4.3(798 reviews)
    0.5 miDowntown
    $$

    We ended up going twice because of the amazing burrata and veggie salad. I wish I wasn't 2 hours…read moreaway from San Antonio (in Austin) because I keep dreaming about having that dish again! Our waiter's at both visits were kind and knowledgeable about the ingredients (I have an egg allergy). The restaurant is bright and clean and had a nice open feeling which we enjoyed. We'll definitely be back.

    2.5 stars rounded up. If I had realized this was in a fancy hotel before we got there, I probably…read morewould have not gone. Pros: - Attractive space - Waiter was fine, he was friendly enough. - They had a few gluten free items, which was a main reason we went, but they do NOT have a dedicated menu, you have to ask. - The burrata cheese and veggie board was great. Definitely the best part of the meal, although the gluten free toast was extra brown and crispy. The veggies had great flavor, though. Cons: - Ridiculously overpriced for the quality of the food. - Gluten free pasta was quite overcooked. It was mostly mush by the time I got it. I love that they HAVE gluten free options, but come on, it would help if you cooked them properly. It was barely edible. - Sauce was bland and too sweet. - There was no attempt or offering to make the experience more accessible for my disabled son. No plastic cups, etc. Would be nice if they had more inclusivity. All in all, almost $200 for lunch for a family of four. Definitely not worth the money.

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    Nonna Osteria - Tartufo

    Tartufo

    Nonna Osteria - Pappardelle

    Pappardelle

    Nonna Osteria - Nueva mafaldas lemonade

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    Nueva mafaldas lemonade

    Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen

    Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen

    4.0(1.6k reviews)
    6.4 mi
    $$$

    I've heard about this chain and it didn't disappoint as far as the taste and quality of the food…read more However, the food was a bit more pricey than I expected for a place like this. It did have a good price for cocktails which was nice though! The espresso martini was great, however the beans were a bit chewy. I switched to an old fashioned made with Buffalo Trace and it was delicious though. Service was kinda spotty with my waiter disappearing quite a bit. Maybe they see a table with one diner and think they're not going to get a decent tip. I had to ask another server for something at one point which should never be the case. The food was good though. It was hard to decide and since I was on a budget with a work expense, I had to choose wisely and put the booze on a separate tab. The salad was good and fresh and their cajun French dressing was bad. I switched to ranch and was able to enjoy it. The Catfish dish was delicious and came with shrimp, lump crab and oysters. Nice portion size and I was mostly satisfied. The sauce was pretty good for being outside of Louisiana, but still not "authentic". Is anywhere outside of LA great though? Luckily, it was walking distance from my hotel so easy to get to from there. It's on a "frontal" road so you may be driving in circles if you venture here on your own. I'd probably see what else San Antonio has to offer if I return to the area though as it didn't blow me away.

    I came here for my birthday on Friday evening. I had reservations and waited about 15 minutes to…read moreget in. We looked up the menu and saw a few of our favorites missing but thought maybe it was a mistake. But no... no mistake... they have removed the Jumbo Shrimp and grits from the menu!!!! what kind of cajun restaurant worth their salt doesnt serve shrimp and grits? the kind that is commerical. Oh the saddness. It's lent, its my birthday... and i cant enjoy even the dirty rice bc that has meat and pork products apparently. . so thats out. i ordered blackened fish but since I cant have dirty rice i got a side salad instead - for an extra charge of course- sans bacon (that should make up the extra charge imho) the side salad was the star of the show bc the blackened fish was so salty i couldnt even finish it. gained 2 lbs on the scale from the salt. but the best thing i ate: crab and spinach dip appetizer. Had it not been for this jewel I really would have cried. I didnt order dessert bc i was so sad.

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    Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
    Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
    Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen

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    Eddie V's Prime Seafood - Nothing sets the tone for an enticing night, quite like The Big Eddie chilled shellfish tower.

    Eddie V's Prime Seafood

    4.5(955 reviews)
    12.6 mi
    $$$$

    My wife and I ate Easter Brunch here on Sunday…read more She ate from the prix fare menu and was impressed with the selection and food quality. I ordered from the dinner menu and was impressed with everything that I ordered. The lobster truffle mashed potato's were absolutely amazing!! Maddie was our server and she did a great job. Friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable.

    My husband and I celebrated our 48th wedding anniversary at Eddie V's Prime Seafood Restaurant. We…read moredecided to go early and sit in the bar area to avoid the crowds. It was a great decision. We were sat in a small booth. Our wait staff immediately brought over a long stem rose and rose petals to add celebratory touches to our table. We were also able to buoy foods and drinks from Happy Hours along with the full menu options. Everything we ate was so fresh and delicious. The service was excellent. And we were able to spend some time chatting with the Manager. It was so nice to eat at a nice slow pace without feeling rushed due to a crowd waiting for a table. The Prime Steak Tataki was a tad salty to my taste but it was perfect with the crusty bread. We enjoyed lobster, shrimp and an assortment of oysters. We initially had our eyes on other food items but we quickly got stuffed. We will have to come back again, very soon! We love Eddie V's! Best wishes to Manager Michael's upcoming engagement with his fiancée.

    Photos
    Eddie V's Prime Seafood - Our signature Hope Diamond Cocktail, featuring Grey Goose vodka, butterfly tea and a purple diamond ice cube

    Our signature Hope Diamond Cocktail, featuring Grey Goose vodka, butterfly tea and a purple diamond ice cube

    Eddie V's Prime Seafood - Our signature Bananas Foster is flambéed tableside and served with butter pecan ice cream.

    Our signature Bananas Foster is flambéed tableside and served with butter pecan ice cream.

    Eddie V's Prime Seafood - Live music trios.

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    Live music trios.

    Esencia - salad - Updated May 2026

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