Aldaco's Stone Oak outpost remains true to its downtown roots with fresh, flavorful Mex and signature treats, including the avocado margarita and pastel tres leches. -- Ron Bechtol (02/09)
Superior spring rolls, delicious grilled quail, and oustanding duck hot pot. Call ahead for Vietnamese specialties, including duck, goat, and seafood hot pot. -- Mark Jones (12/08)
This local favorite is famous for its too-big-for-takeout 42-inch pizza, and beloved for its lay-it-on-thick approach to toppings. Grocery items available.
Bruce Auden continues to be the city's premier apostle of world-wise regional cooking, and there is no better place to get one's gastronomic feet and whistle wet than at the sinuous bar. Here, the noodle menu includes such enticements as chicken fried oysters with squid ink pasta and pancetta, and a red coconut curry with egg noodles, shrimp, and snap peas - which can be paired to appropriate wines by the glass from Biga's ample list. - Ron Bechtol
Famed for their lunch deli, their quality meat, Bolner’s Fiesta spices, and a skillful butcher, this family business is a San Antonio institution that can handle tripe as well as a porterhouse. Carries Akaushi beef and American kobe, too.
Scott Cohen's eagerly awaited Northwest French fantasy land delivers with high style, traditional fare, and a full bar starring the green fairy of French cafe-society lore. -- Ron Bechtol (03/09)
Mom's night off for four or 40, Bud Jones hand-batters its tasty slate of deep-fried goods. Tops are the hubcap-size chicken-fried steak and the Rockport Shrimp. -- Sam Siegel (11/08)
Maybe this Brazilian steakhouse sounds a little gimmicky, but the perfectly seared meat served on swords by waiters in gauchos needs no apology. Nor does the salad bar, which puts its American counterparts to shame. Go very hungry. -- Bonnie Walker (06/09)
Cheap, strong drinks and prompt (sometimes too prompt) service; friendly (sometimes surly) staff and clientele. Above-average food and a reasonably extensive beer selection. "Do you drink at Charlie Brown's?" should be a question on health-insurance forms. -- SgtCody (09/08)
Bribe or apologize your way to forgiveness with a box of luscious cocoa gems from this Stone Oak confectioner. Adventurous flavors like mango & habanero and Earl Grey are subtly delivered and elegantly decorated by St. Philip's College (and Chicago Chocolate Academy) grad Jamie Choi. the salted caramels in dark chocolate are sublime. -- Elaine Wolff (05/10)
Damien Watel's norhtern venture brings excellent, affordable French cuisine in a sophisticated setting to Stone Oak, with the usual outstanding fish entrees and excellent service. -- Richard Teitz (02/09)
; Intense, loud, sexy, and as dark as its chocolate, Coco scores as a salsa club, a dessert haven, and as a place to get wasted on chocolate-based drinks.
; Wine cellar meets unpretentious rec room with snacks and cleverly named flights, like “Pinot (Noir) Envy” and “Call Me a Cab.” It makes a great date night for any demographic. Oeno-phobic? Check out “Wine 101” on Saturday afternoons.
Excellent house-made sandwiches with gourmet twists, such as habanero-garlic aioli, organic baby greens, and freshly baked bread, served in a converted vintage Southtown gas station. -- Mark Jones (05/09)
Florio's offers up good, honest, New York street-corner pizza (by way of New Jersey). The ambience is authentic, including the office set-up on a dining-room table just inside the door. Get there by 11:30 to beat the lunchtime lines. -- Burgin Streetman, 01/08
Oakland-based band Shannon and the Clams brought a high-energy show to Paper Tiger Friday night, seamlessly blending retro influences into something uniquely…
