Lone Star Chefs
September 29, 2011 3:56 PM Subscribe
Is there a way to see a list of Top Chef Texas restaurants/episode locations before Nov. 12? Failing that, I would appreciate some MeFite recommendations of the Top Chef foodie-type restaurants in San Antonio/Austin area.
My honeymoon is from Nov. 12 - Nov. 17 in San Antonio and Austin, and my futurehusband and I would love to visit some of the places they go to on Top Chef. I just saw that the season starts on Nov. 2, so we won't have seen many episodes of the Texas season before we go. Is there somewhere online (or might there be closer to Nov. 2) to find info on those places?
If there isn't really anywhere to get that information, I would appreciate recommendations about great places to eat in the San Antonio/Austin area.
My honeymoon is from Nov. 12 - Nov. 17 in San Antonio and Austin, and my futurehusband and I would love to visit some of the places they go to on Top Chef. I just saw that the season starts on Nov. 2, so we won't have seen many episodes of the Texas season before we go. Is there somewhere online (or might there be closer to Nov. 2) to find info on those places?
If there isn't really anywhere to get that information, I would appreciate recommendations about great places to eat in the San Antonio/Austin area.
Here's the cast list and their restaurants.
Some one in San Antonio got smacked for revealing locations, according to this.
posted by Ideefixe at 4:15 PM on September 29, 2011
Some one in San Antonio got smacked for revealing locations, according to this.
posted by Ideefixe at 4:15 PM on September 29, 2011
I cannot speak specifically to Top Chef, but some perennial top-quality places in San Antonio are:
Bruce Auden's main restaurant, Biga (noise after link, sorry)
His new restaurant, Auden's Kitchen
(haven't tried--way out on 1604--if I were you, I'd go out there before the Riverwalk, though Biga is always good)
Silo
(Alamo Hts. location; haven't tried new one) (sorry, dumb music after the link)
El Mirador
(way beyond normal Tex-Mex; I recommend going during the WEEK and getting a lunch special--plenty of things you don't see on restaurant menus like albondigas, meatballs, which I think are on Monday--Saturday lunch is famous but way too crowded)
Liberty Bar
(have not been since relocation away from Josephine St., but I can't imagine it'd be anything but good)
Torres Taco
(get the machacado)
Fredericksburg Rd. Donut/Taco Place (not its real name)
(I've seen many restaurants, but never like this one; even more real than Torres; donuts on one side, tacos on the other, both great)
Menger Hotel bar
(Where in dreams I LIVED/ With a MEMory...don't EAT there, for God's sake)
Fairmount Hotel bar
(the restaurant used to be great--now I have no idea--great place for drinks)
(Attention haters: I know there are other Mexican places in San Antonio! We can't assume OP is ready for Karam's or Pico de Gallo...and damned if Karam's isn't closed now that I google it.)
Message me if you have specific food interests. Have fun!
posted by skbw at 5:00 PM on September 29, 2011
Bruce Auden's main restaurant, Biga (noise after link, sorry)
His new restaurant, Auden's Kitchen
(haven't tried--way out on 1604--if I were you, I'd go out there before the Riverwalk, though Biga is always good)
Silo
(Alamo Hts. location; haven't tried new one) (sorry, dumb music after the link)
El Mirador
(way beyond normal Tex-Mex; I recommend going during the WEEK and getting a lunch special--plenty of things you don't see on restaurant menus like albondigas, meatballs, which I think are on Monday--Saturday lunch is famous but way too crowded)
Liberty Bar
(have not been since relocation away from Josephine St., but I can't imagine it'd be anything but good)
Torres Taco
(get the machacado)
Fredericksburg Rd. Donut/Taco Place (not its real name)
(I've seen many restaurants, but never like this one; even more real than Torres; donuts on one side, tacos on the other, both great)
Menger Hotel bar
(Where in dreams I LIVED/ With a MEMory...don't EAT there, for God's sake)
Fairmount Hotel bar
(the restaurant used to be great--now I have no idea--great place for drinks)
(Attention haters: I know there are other Mexican places in San Antonio! We can't assume OP is ready for Karam's or Pico de Gallo...and damned if Karam's isn't closed now that I google it.)
Message me if you have specific food interests. Have fun!
posted by skbw at 5:00 PM on September 29, 2011
Absolutely go to Uchiko. Their chef is one of the contestants this season, and the food is sublime.
posted by theperfectcrime at 7:05 PM on September 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by theperfectcrime at 7:05 PM on September 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
For San Antonio:
The Monterey - A relative newcomer to the San Antonio scene. The food here is always a surprise in it's composition and taste. The menu changes weekly. One of my top places in San Antonio. Between 25-35 per person. Tapas. Blue jeans and tattoos.
Urban Taco - A really fresh take on tacos. 20 per person. Slacks and casual shirt.
Magnolia Pancake Haus. Delicious breakfast. Expect to wait an hour to be seated, no reservations. 15 per person. As you come, family atmosphere.
Le Frite. Belgian style bistro. Lovely food, lovely family that runs the place. If the prixe fix has rabbit - get that. 40-60 per person.
Kate's Frosting. This is the only desert place in San Antonio that I recommend. Kate is a delight, a hard working woman that can make a cupcake that makes you forget every other sense besides your taste. Cupcakes change weekly.
The Current reader's choice list has some really good places as well. Lots of good mexican food on that list. But the restaurants listed above are the best in my opinion. I'm going to have to disagree with skbw on the Liberty Bar. It used to be good, now it is merely just OK. It seems that when they lost their last location, they lost their soul.
posted by Brent Parker at 9:46 PM on September 29, 2011
The Monterey - A relative newcomer to the San Antonio scene. The food here is always a surprise in it's composition and taste. The menu changes weekly. One of my top places in San Antonio. Between 25-35 per person. Tapas. Blue jeans and tattoos.
Urban Taco - A really fresh take on tacos. 20 per person. Slacks and casual shirt.
Magnolia Pancake Haus. Delicious breakfast. Expect to wait an hour to be seated, no reservations. 15 per person. As you come, family atmosphere.
Le Frite. Belgian style bistro. Lovely food, lovely family that runs the place. If the prixe fix has rabbit - get that. 40-60 per person.
Kate's Frosting. This is the only desert place in San Antonio that I recommend. Kate is a delight, a hard working woman that can make a cupcake that makes you forget every other sense besides your taste. Cupcakes change weekly.
The Current reader's choice list has some really good places as well. Lots of good mexican food on that list. But the restaurants listed above are the best in my opinion. I'm going to have to disagree with skbw on the Liberty Bar. It used to be good, now it is merely just OK. It seems that when they lost their last location, they lost their soul.
posted by Brent Parker at 9:46 PM on September 29, 2011
Brent Parker, I am SORRY INDEED to hear that. OP, listen to Brent, because he's been to the new one. That said, as an aside, whatever restaurant is in the former (Josephine St.) location is not bad at all. I was there and I enjoyed.
posted by skbw at 12:01 AM on September 30, 2011
posted by skbw at 12:01 AM on September 30, 2011
Planning-wise, you can have drinks at the Fairmount and then walk to any of the S. St. Mary's/S. Alamo places on Brent's or my lists (Le Frite, Monterey, the Mirador--Torres is not really a dinner place). This will for SURE mark you as a tourist, but November is one of the few times one can do this in San Antonio. There is also the Via trolley, though the bus system proper, outside of downtown, has pretty infrequent connections.
posted by skbw at 12:11 AM on September 30, 2011
posted by skbw at 12:11 AM on September 30, 2011
Oh my! I've driven by the 24 Diner a million times, and never looked at their menu. Thanks for posting. I will definitely be dropping by sometime soon!
posted by odayoday at 10:09 AM on September 30, 2011
posted by odayoday at 10:09 AM on September 30, 2011
It's not fancy, but Cascabel, in Southtown (in San Antonio), is awfully delicious.
And Tre (in San Antonio) is good, apparently they've replaced the old restaurant at The Fairmount.
I have no idea about Top Chef in Texas.
posted by hapticactionnetwork at 11:47 AM on September 30, 2011
And Tre (in San Antonio) is good, apparently they've replaced the old restaurant at The Fairmount.
I have no idea about Top Chef in Texas.
posted by hapticactionnetwork at 11:47 AM on September 30, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
-The Alamo
-Whole Foods
-the Culinary Institute of America
Various celebrities were spotted at local bars and eateries, which you can find in the link, but I don't know if they filmed at any of them.
posted by muddgirl at 4:10 PM on September 29, 2011