Heard-About Eats: San Antonio's most buzzed-about restaurants





The Monterey: 1127 S. St. Mary's St., 210-745-2581. Visiting chefs rave about this restaurant, and Southern Living named its brunch one of the best in Texas. You've seen them on TV or read about them in your favorite magazines. Here are some of San Antonio's most buzzed-about restaurants.1127 S. St. Mary's St., 210-745-2581. Visiting chefs rave about this restaurant, and Southern Living named its brunch one of the best in Texas. less



The Monterey: 1127 S. St. Mary's St., 210-745-2581. Visiting chefs rave You've seen them on TV or read about them in your favorite magazines. Here are some of San Antonio's most buzzed-about restaurants.1127 S. St. Mary's St., 210-745-2581. Visiting chefs rave ... more Photo: E-N Archive Photo: E-N Archive Image 1 of / 68 Caption Close Heard-About Eats: San Antonio's most buzzed-about restaurants 1 / 68 Back to Gallery

You've seen them on TV or read about them in your favorite magazines. Here are some of San Antonio's most buzzed-about restaurants.

American

Bliss: 926 S. Presa St., 210-225-2547, www.foodisbliss.com. Raves for the cuisine of chef/owner Mark Bliss have streamed in steadily, including from Southern Living magazine.

Citrus: 150 E. Houston St. at the Hotel Valencia, 210-230-8412, www.hotelvalencia-river walk.com/citrus.htm. Rachael Ray visited as part of an episode of “Rachael's Vacation.”

* Feast: 1024 S. Alamo St., 210-354-1024, www.feastsa.com. While raving about the Southtown dining scene, Southern Living praised the cuisine and atmosphere here.

Liberty Bar: 1111 S. Alamo St., 210-227-1187, www.liberty-bar.com. Rachael Ray visited the original location as part of an episode of “Rachael's Vacation.”

Max's Wine Dive, 340 E. Basse Road, Suite 101, 210-444-9547, www.maxswinedive.com/san-antonio-east-basse-rd. Playful, creative dishes and a wide selection of wines in many different price ranges. Southern Living raved about the fried chicken.

The Monterey: 1127 S. St. Mary's St., 210-745-2581, www.themontereysa.com. Visiting chefs rave about this restaurant, and Southern Living named its brunch one of the best in Texas.

Bakery

Bakery Lorraine: 511 E Grayson St., 210-862-5582, www.bakerylorraine.com. Bon Appétit's website featured their S'mores Tart as Pastry of the Month.

Barbecue

The Smokehouse: 3306 Roland Ave., 210-333-9548, www.thesmokehousebbqsa.com. Texas Monthly named it one of the top barbecue places in the state.

Texas Pride Barbecue: 2980 E. Loop 1604, Adkins, 210-649-3730, www.texaspridebbq.net. Guy Fieri helped make a batch of beans here on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

Two Bros. BBQ Market: 12656 West Ave., 210-496-0222, www.twobrosbbq market.com. Chef/owner Jason Dady appeared on “Today With Hoda and Kathie Lee” when they visited San Antonio.

Breakfast

Magnolia Pancake Haus: 606 Embassy Oak, Suite 100, 10333 Huebner Road, 210-496-0828 (both locations), www.magnoliapancakehaus.com. Featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” the lines here grow long, but food is worth the wait.

Burgers

Big'z Burger Joint: 2303 N. Loop 1604 W., 210-408-2029; and 10106 Texas 151, 210-543-2029. Food and Wine magazine named it as a place “Where to Go Next.”

Bun 'N' Barrel: 1150 Austin Hwy., 210-828-2829. Burgers, barbecue and hand-battered onion rings were featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”

Chunky's Burgers: 4602 Callaghan Road, 210-433-9960, www.mychunkysburgers.com. Adam Richman survived the 4 Horsemen Burger challenge on “Man vs. Food.”

Casual

The Cove: 606 W. Cypress St., 210-227-2683, www.the cove.us. Featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” and Texas Monthly named the Texas Burger as one of the 50 best burgers in the state.

The Friendly Spot: 943 S. Alamo St. 210-224-2337, www.thefriendly spot.com. In its Southtown overview, Southern Living magazine also enjoyed the relaxed vibe of this gathering place.

Institute of Chili: 609 S. Alamo St, (and other locations), 210-244-0000, www.instituteofchili.com. Southern Living enjoyed fare from this truck, which often parks at Alamo Street Eat Bar.

Where Y'at, 609 S. Alamo St. (and other locations), 210-420-0069 www.whereyatsa.com. Southern Living enjoyed the New Orleans fare from this truck, which often parks at Alamo Street Eat Bar. New Orleans Barbecued Shrimp or Cajun corn.

Diners

Lulu's Bakery and Cafe: 918 N. Main Ave., 210-222-9422, www.luluscafeinsa.com. A 3-pound cinnamon roll and other heaping plates of food gained notice on “Man v. Food.”

Tip Top Cafe: 2814 Fredericksburg Road, 210-732-0191, www.tiptopcafe.com. This classic piece of San Antonio culinary history was celebrated on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”

French

La Frite Belgian Bistro: 728 S. Alamo St. 210-224-7555, www.lafritesa.com. When Southern Living fell in love with Southtown, it also enjoyed the fare here.

Lüke: 125 E. Houston St., 210-227-5853, lukesanantonio.com. New Orleans-based restaurateur and chef John Besh has his own PBS cooking show; he's a regular on Food Network programs and appears on “Top Chef” and more. His French-German brasserie is a favorite with locals and visitors.

Italian

Il Sogno: 200 E. Grayson St., Suite 100, 210-223-3900, atpearl.com/food/restaurants/il_sogno_osteria. Bon Appétit named this one of the country's Top 10 Places to Eat Pasta. Chef/owner Andrew Weissman received acclaim from Gourmet magazine and the New York Times for his now-closed Le Rêve.

Latin American

Beto's: 8142 Broadway, 210-930-9393, www.betosinfo.com. Guy Fieri gave this empanada palace some love on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”

Mediterranean

Moroccan Bites: 5714 Evers Road, 210-706-9700, www.moroccanbitescuisine.com. It seemed a bit out of place on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” but the impeccable tagines and unforgettable pastries deserve attention.

Mexican

Aldaco's Stone Oak: 20079 Stone Oak Parkway, 210-494-0561, www.aldacos-stoneoak.com. New York Times highlighted this place in a travel story, complimenting its family-friendly atmosphere and large, tasty portions.

La Gloria Ice House: 100 E. Grayson St., 210-267-9040, www.lagloriaicehouse.com. Among his many media mentions, chef/owner Johnny Hernandez served as a guest judge on “Top Chef,” and gave Charles Barkley a taste of his cuisine on “Inside the NBA.” A Hernandez recipe was featured in Bon Appétit. Must-try dish: Any of the boiling molcajetes.

La Hacienda de Los Barrios: 18747 Redland Road, 210-497-8000, www.lhdlb.com. This was the site where Diana Barrios Treviño bested Bobby Flay with a traditional puffy taco on “Throwdown! with Bobby Flay.”

Mi Tierra Cafe y Panadería: 218 Produce Row, 210-225-1262. This place gained national attention when then-President Bill Clinton jogged wearing a restaurant T-shirt.

Taco Haven: 1032 S. Presa St., 210-533-2171, www.tacohaven.info. Food Network magazine named Reggie's Weekend Special (eggs, barbacoa and more) the top breakfast in Texas and one of the 50 best in the country.

Taco Taco Cafe: 145 E. Hildebrand Ave., 210-822-9533, www.tacotacosa.com. Food Network and Bon Appétit in 2007 named these the best tacos in the country.

Pizza

Big Lou's Pizza: 2048 S. W.W. White Road, 210-337-0707, www.biglouspizzaonline.com. “Man v. Food” introduced the 42-inch pizza to the world.

Sandwiches

Mad Hatters Tea House and Cafe: 320 Beauregard St., 210-212-4832. Rachael Ray visited it as part of an episode of “Rachael's Vacation,” and this place also received mentions in the New York Times and National Geographic Traveler. Must-try dish: King William Club.