Gentlemen, what do you know about the Rio Rio Cantina on the Riverwalk area? How good is the establishment as far as cost, service, and how is the food? Thanks for you info.

Not sure about it from a personal standpoint but have heard really good things. Personally, I'd recommend Mi Tierra or La Margarita. Outside of downtown, I'd find the nearest Chuys.

(10-19-2014 11:31 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  Gentlemen, what do you know about the Rio Rio Cantina on the Riverwalk area? How good is the establishment as far as cost, service, and how is the food? Thanks for you info.

it is horrible as far as food goes, the atmosphere is okay, because it is on the riverwalk. If you want something that is mexican food in San Antonio, might as well go to taco cabana.

Went to undergrad near San Antonio. Nothing beats Mi Tierra!

(10-19-2014 11:31 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  Gentlemen, what do you know about the Rio Rio Cantina on the Riverwalk area? How good is the establishment as far as cost, service, and how is the food? Thanks for you info.

Cost is high for bad food IMO. Service is okay. It's a typical Riverwalk tourist joint. I don't care for Mi Tierra or La margarita either. If you're staying downtown, take a cab or make the walk to El Mirador.

Also, La Gloria is really good but it's pricey and gets crowded early.

All of the Mexican restaurants on the river walk are about the same. Not bad, not great. It sounds to me like you may be attending a private event, yes? I've been to a few at Rio Rio and at Casa Rio and I'd have to say Rio Rio did a little better in the food dept but the private room at Casa Rio was nicer. I agree with most that there's better Mexican food elsewhere but you can't beat the ambiance at the river walk. BTW, don't trust the comments from the El Paso folks, they have weird food in El Paso and it changes their palates.

(10-19-2014 11:31 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  Gentlemen, what do you know about the Rio Rio Cantina on the Riverwalk area? How good is the establishment as far as cost, service, and how is the food? Thanks for you info.

Rio Rio is bad. The restaurants on the Riverwalk are a real mixed bag.

The one Tex/Mex place on the Riverwalk that I know of and like is:

Acenar

Just south of downtown (walking distance if you are healthy and it's not too hot), you have:

El Mirador
Rosario's

All three of those places are lower/mid level in cost, and the service is great at all of them. Rosario's might be my favorite.

Mi Terra might be worth a visit just because of the atmosphere (and the bakery). However, the food is not as good as the three places I mentioned.

I second Rosario's for the downtown area.

(10-20-2014 09:05 AM)Migser31 Wrote:  All of the Mexican restaurants on the river walk are about the same. Not bad, not great. It sounds to me like you may be attending a private event, yes? I've been to a few at Rio Rio and at Casa Rio and I'd have to say Rio Rio did a little better in the food dept but the private room at Casa Rio was nicer. I agree with most that there's better Mexican food elsewhere but you can't beat the ambiance at the river walk. BTW, don't trust the comments from the El Paso folks, they have weird food in El Paso and it changes their palates.

Yes, it's where the Miner Alumni is holding its Meet and Greet for the Ootsa game. We usually don't go eat Mexican food when we travel as we get enough of that at El Paso restaurants (almost at every corner), even at home. LOL

I won't get into that weird palates thing as I don't want to smack talk. LOL

Just so we don't behave like tourists I guess we'll just eat somewhere else and drink a few brewskis at Rio Rio.

Thanks for the input my friends.

(10-20-2014 06:26 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  

(10-20-2014 09:05 AM)Migser31 Wrote:  All of the Mexican restaurants on the river walk are about the same. Not bad, not great. It sounds to me like you may be attending a private event, yes? I've been to a few at Rio Rio and at Casa Rio and I'd have to say Rio Rio did a little better in the food dept but the private room at Casa Rio was nicer. I agree with most that there's better Mexican food elsewhere but you can't beat the ambiance at the river walk. BTW, don't trust the comments from the El Paso folks, they have weird food in El Paso and it changes their palates.

Yes, it's where the Miner Alumni is holding its Meet and Greet for the Ootsa game. We usually don't go eat Mexican food when we travel as we get enough of that at El Paso restaurants (almost at every corner), even at home. LOL

I won't get into that weird palates thing as I don't want to smack talk. LOL

Just so we don't behave like tourists I guess we'll just eat somewhere else and drink a few brewskis at Rio Rio.

Thanks for the input my friends.

No problem olliebaba, and the smack talk was welcome. My wife is originally from El Paso so it's a common argument at home. It's all in good fun. I've had some good meals in El Paso (in fact I think the best tamales I've ever eaten was there). Just don't start me on the Chico's Tacos thing.

If you want good food and good beer, go down to the Southtown area which is near the Alamodome. Try the Friendly Spot, La Tuna, B&D Ice House, Blue Star Brewry, Rosarios, etc. There are so many restaurants in that area and the food is outstanding. Hot Joy was named one of the top ten new restaurants in the nation by Bon Appetit. The Pearl district has a number of watering holes and some very good restaurants, some are expensive though. The river walk is very tourist like. Mi tierra is ok but not my favorite.

Is Esquire still a good place for drinking and bar food?

These are all a bit of a drive from downtown, but definitely worth the trip while you're here:

Never been to Mi Tierra in San Antonio, but there's a Mi Tierra in Houston that I've been to several times which has great food, friendly service, and live music. Probably unlike San Antonio's Mi Tierra though, this one's Colombian. Most of my closest friends in Houston are actually Colombian and they love the place also.

Anyway, that's my two cents, and that's all it's worth since it's a different restaurant and a different city to begin with. lol

(10-20-2014 10:33 PM)Deuce Wrote:  These are all a bit of a drive from downtown, but definitely worth the trip while you're here:

I am getting soft in my old age. I clicked on this thread three times and never thought of that! You UTSA are good peeps.

(10-21-2014 01:08 AM)mistabinks Wrote:  I am getting soft in my old age. I clicked on this thread three times and never thought of that! You UTSA are good peeps.

I was a little disappointed that it took me this long to post it.

Although, we're aligned with Pizza Hut this year for the free tickets, so maybe that's why it wasn't top of mind.

(10-21-2014 08:05 AM)Deuce Wrote:  

(10-21-2014 01:08 AM)mistabinks Wrote:  I am getting soft in my old age. I clicked on this thread three times and never thought of that! You UTSA are good peeps.

I was a little disappointed that it took me this long to post it.

Although, we're aligned with Pizza Hut this year for the free tickets, so maybe that's why it wasn't top of mind.

Pizza Hut, KFC and Taco Bell are all owned by the same parent company YUM brands.

(10-21-2014 08:27 AM)stanman505 Wrote:  

(10-21-2014 08:05 AM)Deuce Wrote:  

(10-21-2014 01:08 AM)mistabinks Wrote:  I am getting soft in my old age. I clicked on this thread three times and never thought of that! You UTSA are good peeps.

I was a little disappointed that it took me this long to post it.

Although, we're aligned with Pizza Hut this year for the free tickets, so maybe that's why it wasn't top of mind.

Pizza Hut, KFC and Taco Bell are all owned by the same parent company YUM brands.

Yes. The original KFC promotion was set up by an alum who owned the local franchise.