Bourbon Street Seafood Kitchen - San Antonio

When entering the building, I thought the place looked kind of weird. The designer, I think, was trying to create an outdoor cafe type setting, and they failed. However, this restaurant, located at 2815 N Loop 1604 E, has created one of my favorite appetizers...Mussels Mariniere. These are cooked in white wine, with lemon and butter sauce, and a touch of red pepper; makes my mouth water just thinking about them. The mussels are mussels, it's the sauce that makes this appetizer special. Normally, Kathy and I can down several little loaves of their very good homemade bread, leaving very little room for the main course.

Now, I've lived in Louisiana for several years, prior to moving to TX, and haven't found too many places, outside LA, that claim to make good Cajun food. But this eatery does the Cajun name justice. I can't say I love everything that is made here, never been a rice fan, but they make a good garlic mash potatoes for people such as myself. The place has something else I really like; with the good food you will enjoy, it has good service. From the manger making sure everyone is being attentive, to the waiter making sure all glasses are filled, these folks do it right. So, if you have a taste for New Orleans, this is the place for you.

Kowloon Chinese Restaraunt - Shertz, TX

The Kowloon Chinese Restaurant located at 950 FM 78 Schertz is not the best Chinese restaurant I ever ate at, but is definitely not the worst. When you walk into the restaurant you see the coy pond off to the right, with turtles and the typical gold fish swimming about. Some of the staff have been there for awhile and it shows. They tend to drag a little bit and come off as if they really don't want to be there. They aren't rude or discourteous, just beat down. The food, on the other hand, is good and you receive a generous proportions. We tried the lettuce wraps as and appetizer, it comes in a square bowl with dark sauce, chopped up meat and veggies, and peas. It looks weird, but has great flavor. Another appetizer I like is the shrimp toast, with the sweet and sour sauce. You can't go wrong with the triple delight and generals chicken, and if you have the hankering for something curry, their curry chicken has good flavor (Not over bearing). Overall, if you are in the area and want Chinese food, this is worth trying.

Siam Cuisine - Shertz, TX

This Thai restaurant located in the four oak shopping center off of 3009, beside the Walmart, is a small Establishment that serves big portions of food. The eatery is a very clean, open restaurant with high ceilings, without all the normal Thai decorations. I'm not a Thai fan, unlike Kathy who loves Thai, but I make an exception for this place. They have this stir fried noodle dish (Phad See-Ew) with chicken, pork, and beef that has unbelievable flavor. We always get an appetizer with cheese rolls, shrimp rolls, and fried won tons with sweet and sour dipping sauce, and have yet to be disappointed. The only down side to the restaurant is the price, I believe it's a tad pricey. However, Kathy thinks the price is medium compared to ones she usually frequents.

Houlihan's - San Antonio

Houlihan's located north on 35, in the Live Oak area across from the forum, is a restaurant that's hidden because of their location. The establishment is tucked away in the corner of the new shopping area being built up in this ever growing suburb. When entering the restaurant one is struck by the rich dark grain wood that is prevalent everywhere, it's what I would imagine a law office would look like without the books. The wait staff tries to put on the errs of a high class joint, but in reality they lack the finer attributes that would make it stuffy. Which makes it a better fit, because the menu is not designed for such a place.

The food is very good. We haven't eaten anything in the restaurant that isn't good. I would recommend the stuff mushrooms as an appetizer, they are huge and are almost a meal in its self. To me the menu does not have any theme or signature meal that allows the restaurant to get its identify. Just a scattering of different dishes that are good on their own, but not designed to breakout into a five course meal. The price is medium to high, but I will guarantee you will not walk away feeling hungry. Again this establishment is a very nice place to eat, not one I would frequent often, but a change to the normal routine.

Tap Exchange - San Antonio

The Tap Exchange Alehouse & Grill located at the corner of Evans and Bulverde is a small upscale one room pub that only servers beer and wine. The wait staff is very knowledgeable of the more than 60 beers and assorted wines that are stored in a cooler off to the side. They are very engaging in conversations with the customers and worked well with each other. The menu is not big. It's more geared toward munchies, and sandwiches but is not bad. We had a cheese, meat, and fruit dish, which could have had a more of an assortment, but was okay. The nachos were fine, but it's kind of hard to mess that up. If you could not make up your mind on what beer you would like to try, the staff had little shot glasses that they used for samples. But if you still had hard time time deciding, the grill has what is called a flight. Served in 3 or 6 little glasses, they bring any combination of beers you choose. We preferred more of the lighter beers, Stella being our favorite. The downside of drinking the beer, its not cheap. Your looking at $4 on up for each drink, and that builds up quickly if your any type of beer connoisseur like me. Now if beer is not for your liking, they do server flights in wine. Kathy liked this wine called "Bitches" so much, she bought to bottles. Kathy was touting, "it is not ever day you can claim your are taking two Bitches home".

I didn't particularly like how the bar was designed. Its design was not conducive for meeting people and took away from the homeliness that would have made it more appealing, but the wait staff more than make up for the lack of appearance. Now you are probably wondering what designs would be helpful; first the men's urinal would not have been in the door. When the door opens you will be looking at the back of the person who is doing their business, hopefully they close the door before turning around. The second is where the staff goes in and out of the kitchen. We were there 4 hours and saw the door hit the staff several times, it is just an accident waiting to happen. Lastly, I like to talk with folks at the bar, but because of the design, the staff will be more than likely the ones you will be conversing with throughout the night, lucky for us they were friendly. Overall, we did enjoy our selves, but it is a place where you may want to as a party, rather than trying to meet strangers.

Texas Roadhouse - San Antonio

The Texas Roadhouse restaurant located in Live Oak, near the intersection of 35 and 1604 is exactly what you expect when you think of a Texas steakhouse. The interior is a country western bar, minus the dance floor, and the bull. Country music will be playing in the background while the wait staff is running around wearing t-shirts and jeans. Instead of sawdust, you may find peanuts shells on the floor from the small mettle buckets left at each table, and the big barrel at the door.

Kirk & Kathy enjoyed a quick dinner for two. The waitress was very good. Quick to refill the drinks, and very diligent on getting our food to the table. Once seated, we were in and out within 45 minutes. The food is alright, not great, but good enough to satisfy your hunger. The price is definitely a plus. You can get a decent steak for $13, and or shrimp on a bob for the same price. One of the best tasting items, that is given to ever patron, is the excellent cinnamon butter and rolls that are brought out while wait. However, my steak was a little over done, and they did not dip their sticks very well because the shrimp was sticking to the sticks.

I would rate this a 7 of 10 on the food scale. A point was deducted for the loudness of the music. The overall cost it a point, and I don't like to wait so that cost it a point as well. Still if you were looking for a cheap Texas meal, this will get the job done.

Chama Gaucha - San Antonio

On February 14th 2009, Valentine’s Day, after a couple months’ hiatus, the group met again at the Chama Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse chosen by Troy and Nichdali. The restaurant is located off of 1604 just north of Stone Oak Parkway. The restaurant has one main room with a small area carved out in the front of the restaurant for a bar where people would gather waiting for their table. The room looked a little chaotic, but when looking closer it was an orchestrated maneuver of very busy staff members. This authentic Brazilian steakhouse differs from more traditional steakhouses, in which a patron is not limited to one particular meat, but may indulge in 14 different selections that are served on skewers.
Reservations were for 4 o’clock. Kirk & Kathy arrived first and indulged in a nice big glass of wine. They were joined within a few by the rest of the group, and the two newest members, John & Jessica. The ladies were all wearing dresses and looked very good on their spouse’s arms. The men were also looking very dapper dressed in their shirt, ties, and jackets, except for the newest member John. He was a little more casual with jeans and a button down shirt. However, he more than made up for his attire by giving Jessica a very beautiful ring from Jarrod’s (all us other guys were thinking “suck up”). Again the members all joined in cocktails while waiting for their table. The group was not seated until 1630, which did not go over well with some of the members. The manager was informed of their displeasure. Once seated the wine bucket holding their wine and water was knocked over by a server. A crew was on the spot and had it cleaned up within seconds. Nichdali, being a former patron, knew what to do and led the way to the salad bar located in the center of the room. From there, instructions on how the card works located at every seat was given by Troy. Then the gorging began. I don’t believe anyone disliked any portion of meat served, which speaks highly of the chefs who prepared the food. As the evening progressed, spirited conversation was the theme of the night, all friendly banter of course. After everyone got their fill of the various meats, desserts were ordered. Unfortunately, Bill & Trish did not get one of their desserts they ordered. But they graciously except the waitress’s apology and was rewarded with their dessert being removed from the bill.
The overall experience was rated a 9 out of 10. One point was docked for not being seated promptly at 1600, one point was docked for the missed dessert, and one point was docked because it took twenty minutes to get the check. However, one point was added because of the removal of the dessert from the check, and one point was added from the manager who gave two, two couple free meal coupons. The cost starts out at $33 per person. It may seem a little pricey but for what you receive it was worth the cost.
The group not wanting the night to end moved to club Swigs which was located next door to the restaurant. After drinks were acquired, the group settled on a room, this after seating in two different locations tried. The group stayed for only one drink; because not only did the double the occupancy when they arrived, there was no Waite staff, and it was a little boring. The members then decided to try the Lion and Rose pub, but did not stay long because of an hour wait for seating, they decided to try Indigo Joe’s located just up the street. Once they refreshments started flowing, the members were definitely enjoying themselves. A couple members were getting louder as the evening progress (But I won’t talk about Troy and Kathy). The manager must have like our group because he brought us a complimentary glass of Champagne. The best zing of the night had to be Nichdali busting on John for being a suck up at the office (see a theme going). After round of Yeager shakes, the group moved to the back bar area because the eating area was closing. From there, one more round was had and then a good bye to one and all. The evening, albeit a little longer, turned out to be very successful.