I will be traveling to San Antonio Texas in January. I am looking for some ideas or tips on the San Antonio area with regard to some restaurants and/or wine stores. TIA

Seek,

Where will you be?

I'd shoot for downtown in the Riverwalk area. Try the restaurant "Little Rhein", on The Riverwalk. It is NOT a tourist trap, although it is popular with the tourists.

As for wine shops, sorry. Can't help you. When I am there I dring Margaritas.

seek -

I don't know if you're a fan, but they do have a Palm there. I know it's a chain, but I love the place. The lobsters they have there are consistently larger than what they have here in Boston.

Also, for low end drink-now sutff, try the Cost Plus World Market, in various locations throughout the city.

I wish I knew some more unique places, but I'm sure if you call the concierge at La Mansion del Rio (a very nice hotel near the riverwalk), he/she would be able to make some solid recommendations. That's typically what I do if I'm unfamiliar with an area and I can't get help from my fellow forumites

Seek -

Sorry to see you're not getting much repsonse on this topic. Have you tried the forum search on WS?

For some reason, there really weren't ever too many folks on the forums from the San Antonio area, which is surprisisng considering San Antonio has over 1 million people.

If you have the time, I highly recommend a trip to the Texas hill country wineries, about 1-1.5 hours north of San Antonio, slightly west of Austin. Becker makes some decent wines and Fredricksburg, TX is a very interesting German settlement.

If you're in the mood for BBQ, the Saltlick in Driftwood, TX is among the best I've had, and is on the way back to San Antonio from the hill country.

We will be going to a conferance/incentive trip with my wife's company. I asked her which hotel we will be at and she is not sure at this time (meaning she has to look it up). Texas is one state I have always had a desire to visit, so I am really looking forward to this. I am trying to build a large dining budget for this because I want to eat fine while down there.

There are also 2 Ruth's Chris steak houses down there. They tend to have pretty solid wine lists, although (as typical for steak joints) very red-heavy.

Ruth's Chris has, IMHO, the best steaks out there. Outside of Peter Luger, of course.

Seek, I'll help you out anyway I can. I live in Arlington but have traveled to San Antonio numerous times for vacation and business. If you need specific recommendations just email me. Otherwise, here are some of my favorites:

Bigas - original location just north of town is the original. Second location on the Riverwalk. Very good food. Changing menu. I would term it as Southwest cuisine.
Paesanos - original location near the Quarry north of town. Second location on the Riverwalk. Italian food. Shrimp Paesano is a must. We usually order it as an appetizer.
Boudros - located on the Riverwalk. Changing menu. I would term it as Southwest cuisine. Typically several game dishes available.
Lil Rhein Steakhouse - located on the Riverwalk. Steaks. Good wine list. Pricey.
Zuni Grill - located on the Riverwalk almost across from Boudros. Southwest Mexican. Reasonable.
Mi Tierra - located in the Farmer's market. TexMex. A little touristy but not so for breakfast. Great migas y tortillas.
La Margaritas - located in Farmer's market. TexMex. A little touristy. Owned by same people that own Mi Tierra. Good Chicken Fajitas. Great Margaritas.
The Barn Door - located north of town on the 410 loop. Good, basic, reasonable priced steak. Get the Blue Ribbon Filet ONLY. Wine sucks. Drink beer like all Texans.
El Mirador - South of the Riverwalk 3 blocks on St. Mary. Basic TexMex. Known for their Mexican soups. These are usually only available on Saturdays. Inexpensive.

Let me know if you want more. There are a million TexMex places as you might imagine. Several bars. A couple of decent breweries. I can dig through my notes and quiz Mrs. WIML if you want more.

Seek,

If you decide to go to Riverwalk, be sure to REMAIN on the Riverwalk. I was there over a weekend and stayed in a cheaper hotel a few blocks off Riverwalk. In a word, SHADEY! ! Similar to Bourbon Street in New Orleans -- try not to stray!

Kimber, you might be surprised whether it really is shady. I've walked a lot of those areas. Granted, I KNOW which areas to walk and which can't be walked. Most of the area around the Riverwalk for at least two blocks is perfectly safe. North and West towards Farmers Market is OK. South into the King Williams district is fine as long as you stay in that area and don't go too far south.

Wineismylife,

Unfortunately, we had no clue where we were going. We booked the hotel on line and I remember the 2-block walk from RW was rife with verbal accostings from passersby and motorists.

Regardless, we loved San Antonio and the actual Riverwalk. I know Richmond, VA (my hometown) is hoping to have the exact same effect on its downtown their new canal system. From what I understand, San Antonio is the model in how to revitalize a downtown area.

I second the motion for Little Rhein. I ate there 7 months ago and found it be very good.

We are being set up at the Marriott Riverwalk or the Marriott Rivercenter. We will know which one once we get our confirmation from my wifes company.

Seek, either way, you are in the heart of it. Walk right out of your door of the Marriott Riverwalk and you are on the Riverwalk in the center of all of the restaurants and bars. I think the Marriott Rivercenter is out the front door, across the street and down the stairs to the riverwalk. I believe the Marriott Riverwalk is the hotel that has the river running through it.

You're right, WIML. The Rivercenter is the one on the new spur, at the shopping center. The Riverwalk is the one with the atrium and A STREAM of water (but not the entire river, such as it is) running through it.

Either way, it'll be a nice walk to the Little Rhein if that's where you choose to go.

I'm still trying to get on the agenda for a meeting that we're having in Austin during the second week of December. If I succeed, I'll probably head to San Antonio for the Fri & Sat nights.

stemor,

you gotta be crazy. you'd leave austin to drive to san antonio. i love both cities, but austin is more fun. great music scene, great bars on 6th street. of course if you go & make the drive, you have to go right through new braunfels, where my family lives. wave as you cross the guadalupe.

as far as san antonio goes, i used to live there & in new braunfels which is just up the road, but i was much younger. i remember some good bars on st mary's street. there was one place called "huey's" that made some great crawfish etouffee & served a 6-liter "hueycane". for what you are probably looking for, wineismylife is right on the money, especially paesanos.

Gus,

6th St is fun, but the scene just ain't the same without Stevie Ray and his followers.

San Antonio is, in my opinion, second only to Manhattan during the Christmas season. But that is based on my own personal opinions and values that are not intended to sway anyone else.