acenar

the food does not work. im mexican and grew up eating traditional mexican food and thisplaceneeds to serve better food.

i go to the majestic theatre a couple of times a year and acenar happens to be right next to so i usually go there before a show. thisplacewouldn't be my number one choice but the food is alright. it's a niceplaceto go for some drinks and appetizers but wouldn't highly recommend for dinner. as for the waitstaff i've had both great and horrible service here. if you come sit outside the patio is huge and has a wonderful view of the river walk.

mediocre. thisplaceis definition of mediocre. everything was "okay" but nothing was really good nor really bad. decent atmosphere. can be pricey if you don't pay attention. probably won't come back... but it's walking distance from the holiday inn, so it's fine for eating at the bar alone for monday night business trip.

i said yes to my husband and the restaurant!. thisplaceis amazing! the location and decor are excellent. the food is mexican with a twist and very good. this is one of our favorite restaurants on the riverwalk and not to mention, but my husband asked me to marry him there. the service could be a little better trained and more experienced, but over all is a goodplaceto return time and time again.

modern decor with a bright urban theme. it is not your typical run of the mill telmex restaurant but has a sophisticated flare. both the cabrito and snapper were cooked to perfection the chef took care in insuring that the flavor combinations complimented the palette and left you wanting more. this is not aplacefor someone who is looking for casual texmex but an exquisite dining experience. i would definitely recommend thisplaceand have every intention of coming back on my next trip to taste some of the other menu items.

a modern take on traditional mexican cuisine. acenar | san antonio, tx

my work as a travel photographer takes me to many interesting places. last week, i had the pleasure of making my first ever trip to texas to visit san antonio. home to the alamo, this city is known for rich history and colorful culture, and there's no betterplaceto find both than at the city's famous river walk.

for my latest travel column, i was invited to pay a visit to acenar, one of the city's favorite dining hot spots. texas cuisine is well known for its strong mexican influences, and acenar pays homage to that tradition with a modern take on central american dishes.

the venue's decor is a spectacular assortment of vibrant, modern design which serves as a literal metaphor for the richly colorful food they serve. the restaurant photographs beautifully, and within the first ten minutes we're already well on our way to creating a visually compelling article. the venue's open concept and cathedral ceilings offer visitors some much-needed breathing room after the human traffic jams which mob the tourist-centric river walk.

chef richard sanchez prepares a cornucopia of dishes which all seem to arrive at the same time, scattering our oversized table with little room to spare. each dish is expertly presented, again with a strong emphasis on color (a welcome element thanks to the abundance of fresh produce). visually, it's smooth sailing, each plate soaking up the camera with the zest of a baile folklórico dancer.

feeling pretty good about my finished images, i tuck into the food with high expectations. the flavors do not disappoint. first comes the grilled fillet of snapper prepared with a guajillo chili rub. the chili rub creates a crispy texture on the outside which envelopes a tender and juicy fish. on the side, the cilantro rice (which is bright green) offers a subtle flavor for balance.

next it's onto the spicy shrimp, which are almost big enough to be baby lobsters. their meaty flavor is paired beautifully with a bright, sweet, roasted cream corn pico that offers a hint of smokiness. so far, the proteins are solid, but the vegetable pairings are stealing the show.

both plates are delightful, but the dish that wins the gold metal for me is the roasted duck confit in tamarindo tomato grilled onion sauce. the duck has the consistency of a well prepared spare rib which melts off the bone. my favorite part is the burst of sweet-pickled flavor which comes from the ceviche onion garnish (chef, if you're reading this, please add more!)

so there you have it. the vibrant flavors and colorful plates stem from great ingredients presented by a creative kitchen. if you're looking to break free of the ubiquitous rice-and-refried-beans-smothered-in-cheese routine you get from most mexican restaurants, acenar definitely breaks the mold (oh, and the chocolate mousse cake is amazing too).

lewis carlyle is a writer and travel photographer

despite decent reviews, thisplacedid not wow me at all. very loud inside. the hostesses were not very attentive and did not seem experienced. the good was fine, but i would not choose to go back. the margarita was not that great - san antonio has got to have much better margaritas to offer i'm convinced. not a whole lot of character inside. i enjoy mod and chic decor, but with the noise level thisplacemissed the mark

patio king. from the relative innocuous entrance on houston street you are not expecting what greets you as you enter; the mod furniture design, lively mixed color palette splashed on the walls and fixtures, and the cavernous patio that resides within. situated above the river, seating on the expansive outdoor patio is theplaceto be on a mild san antonio afternoon or evening. there is inside seating too but why bother (unless there is no patio seating available).

not your everyday tex-mex with offerings like chicken, duck or crab tinga, entomatadas, roasted cornish game hen, cabrito tacos, and other revved up mexican dishes that are done with flair. fun to watch the waiter whip up a batch of guacamole in a table side molcajete.

thisplaceexudes a fiesta atmosphere and the crowds seem to love it. drinks are well made though they can get expensive for some of the premium liquors (as with most any bar).

take your guests here for the beginning of a night on the town. or, stay here and keep the party going after dinner at the comfortable bar area near the entrance.

no bueno. acenar is a greatplaceto have very ordinary food in a loud setting. it probably was nice inside at one time but it's looking pretty dingy now. if i had to go back, i would insist on sitting outside where you can at least look at the river while you enjoy the same food you can get almost everywhere in town cheaper.

the food may have been average but the margaritas were a downright insult. margaritas are supposed to have alcohol in them, no?

save this one for the tourists from michigan or out-of-town relatives you don't really like.

ate here twice in 2 days. service was good, guacamole was even better. niceplaceaway from hustle of main crowds of riverwalk. a must try.

i arrived in san antonio on a whim and asked my concierge for the best mexican food spot on the river walk. the concierge highly recommended thisplaceand was able to land me a reservation. even though they were jammed packed because of a banquet, they were able to sit us at one of the most romantic tables on their patio overlooking the river walk. the hostesses were extremely friendly and even gave us a few recommendations while walking us to our table. our server was outstanding ( ramon). we had a skillet for two and it was definitely  worth what we paid. i felt very lucky that the staff was able to accommodate us on such a short notice and my only advice is to make good with the concierge where you are staying or book in advance! i will be coming back and referring thisplaceto all of my family and friends.

great food. fantastic atmosphere. the best salsa ever. find thisplaceand mark the location.

you are paying for the location, not the food. in a city that has wonderful mexican food at good prices, you have to wonder how this restaurant can charge these prices. simple! location. location. location.

the food is ok but not worth the price point. efficient staff, though not very friendly. if you don't mind dropping lots of money for food that you can get other places i believe this is theplacefor you.

when ever we are forced to take out of towners to the riverwalk for texmex this is the onlyplacei will consider. we have eaten several times and the service ranges from ok to great depending on how busy they are. the menu can please the yankees looking for the plain texmex fair like enchiladas and fajitas. likewise, there are some interesting twists involving duck and other exotic ingredients. the restaurant is up above the riverwalk next to houston street which is no some much traveled by the golden hoards of tourists and conventioneers which makes for a less noisy and more pleseant dining experience. weekends and large conventions = reservations and prickly pear margaritas are must!!

disappointed. we visited acenar wed. on the 15th. the pozole verde was okay, but not really what was expected after reading the menu description. the tortilla soup was good, but not really comparable to any of the traditional tortilla soups that we've had...this was more of a tomato soup with chunks of chicken tossed in. the acenar crab salad had a baithouse smell when delivered and the crab didn't seem fresh at all! we just pushed it to the side and didn't even bother to complain. service was okay...but the waiter never seemed to notice that we didn't eat much of anything and just simply wanted to leave. overall, thisplaceseems to be an overpriced tourist trap featuring great advertising, photos, menu descriptions and overpriced disappointing food. san antonio has some great restaurants, but acenar is certainly not one of them. jg