the esquire tavern

please do not go to this place the managers are rude, inexperienced staff, and the will harrass you for a tip at the end of your meal or beer tab!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  we recently visited this restaurant and received terrible service! granted it was busy since it was a friday night but we ended up waiting at a 'visible' table for at least 15 minutes until i had to literally get up and go ask to have service for our table. the waitress seemed lost and inattentive to our needs in terms of placing some light on our table since i had to use my iphone light to look at the menu due to the 'dungeon-like' ambience. my fiancée had ordered a medium well burger and they served it medium for which the waitress only told her 'oh i'm sorry....' and then was hesitant in offering her another burger or to at least take it off bill, so i then replied to leave it and ill eat the burger. at the end i left no tip and was confronted as we were leaving by waitress stating she was wondering if there was anything wrong with the service i had provided since i left no tip. i told her 'absolutely!', you had us wait long and the service was poor in terms of food and waiting on our table. she then began saying that she still deserved a tip despite the poor service since it was a large bill and i told her that i was not going to give a tip for being awful. her manager then jumps in to say was being rude to her at which point my fiancée just tugged on me and said these people and this place are not worth the time! i agreed and began walking away.

great atmosphere and service. our server, shelby, was very informative with recommendations. in a group of six, not one complaint about drinks, dinner or dessert. i had frito pie and a craft ale - awesome and quite reasonably priced.

sooooo gooooooddd! get the brisket chili cheese fries and the apple pie! the only thing you will regret is having eaten so much. you will not leave hungry and the only way you can leave disappointed is if you disappoint yourself.

absolutely wonderful place to eat! the service was outstanding and the food was to die for. not to mention this is the best place to have drinks in san antonio!


-update-
went here again last night and they were pretty packed and i couldn't find a seat at the bar. my husband and i asked the hostess how long it would be for a table because we just wanted to have a few drinks and she suggested that we try their new downstairs location. she told us the entrance was on the riverwalk right below the stairs up to the restaurant.
so we went down and found a very well dressed gentleman waiting outside. when he saw us approaching he opened the door for us, greeted us politely, and asked how he could be of service to us. we told him that we just wanted to sit at the bar and enjoy a few drinks and he led us in, found us a couple seats together and even pulled my chair out for me! side note, they have a lounge as well if you don't want to sit at the bar.
the atmosphere was amazing. most of the guests were well-dressed and the staff were very sharply dressed as well. it was quiet and classy and to be completely honest, i felt like donald draper from mad men sitting there ordering a drink.
we were promptly greeted by a bartender's assistant who gave us waters and menus and told us that a bartender would be with us shortly (they were kind of busy down there too). the downstairs is mainly a place to order drinks, just an fyi. they have food but the selection is limited and very different from upstairs. a gentleman beside me actually received a cheese plate while i was sitting there and i was blown away by the selection and beauty of his plate. and the bartender knew what all of the cheeses were, their age, and was able to describe them in mouthwatering detail.
we were greeted by the bartender swiftly, who was beyond polite and respectful. my husband and i ordered a manhattan and an old fashioned and i watched as he made our drinks. the level of pride and care that went into them was mind blowing. i almost didn't want to drink it. and, of course, the drinks were amazing. literally the best drinks i have ever had in my life, no exaggeration.
i will be back. without a doubt. i wish i could give this place a 10 out of 5 stars. just go, that's all you need to do. go and enjoy a perfectly crafted drink.

really interesting history in this building. as my wife and i entered it very much felt like we fell back in time 50 years to a much more interesting place. the atmosphere is loud but fun. low lighting and unique decorations make the space. then the service was outstanding and the food was impressive. we started out with the fried pickles, and they were the best fried pickles i've ever ordered. for the main course we had the bison burger and fritto pie. both were great but the fritto pie had some serious heat in the french onion topping. finally for dessert we had fried apple pie, covered in a caramel bourbon glaze. killer. the beverage choice of the evening was an old fashioned. made with rye whiskey of course and it was on point. will definitely be back again!

the place is a true reflection of the rich history in downtown san antonio. the burgers are to die for!!!!! by far best burger i've ever had. amazing atmosphere and the staff is friendly and attentive. two thumps up!!!

good food if not high priced. great craft beer selection. had the frito-pie, bowel was a bit empty for the price. taste was fresh and unique. would go back for drinks and appetizers. great atmosphere- dark pub like and good service.

had high hopes for this place but the follow though kind of killed it. came in for a couple cocktails. we got vanquished enemies and en pointe. en pointe was fine, vanquished enemies might be the most awkward drink i've ever had. the tastes clashed in a way that had you looking to get the taste out of your mouth. came back for dinner, crazy long wait but that's the way it is on the riverwalk on the weekends. when i came in earlier asked what was gluten free the server recommended the lamb wraps. my wife thought they sounded awesome, the second waiter came back and said the kitchen said they weren't gluten-free, overall it made apparent that the servers don't know the menu. never got that beer i ordered to come with the meal. overall our table felt abandoned most of the time. burgers were good but felt the fries were a bit talked up. for the price tag i expected a lot more. this place seems to be all talk no follow-through.

every time i go to san antonio now, this is a must go to restaurant. the empanadas are amazing and even taste good when re heated at home. the burgers are amazing as well. i'm not a fan of the homemade ketchup for their fries but the aioli sauce made me a believer. this restaurant will cost you a little bit but it is worth the experience and taste of the food. i would suggest going through the river walk to get to this restaurant and not walk if you are alone and especially if you are a woman because parts of this area are not the best.

great environment, excellent grilled cheese snacks. great old ambiance looking over the river walk. beer relatively cost. burgers get a quality a.

beautiful location along the river walk with balcony dining (very limited) - the rest of the pub has ample seating. steep stairs near river walk but prob. easy access from road. great service burgers & fries. great price for the river walk but fries were extra so ended up being what seems standard $14 for burger & fries - in my cheap opinion - waaayyy too much for a burger - but in reality cheaper than the standard $15. great taste and experience though- highly recommend.

had a great dinner with the family last night at the riverwalk.  esquire was the perfect spot - it feels away from the crowds of the tourist trap restaurants lining the river.  the place was still lively though with a live band playing some tunes.  the food was great, i enjoyed the steak salad and my wife had the fantastic enchilada in puff pastry.  we'll definitely return when we are back at the riverwalk in the future.

food and drinks tasty, but ceviche was a
small portion even for an appetizer. service was slow at the bar and the table. kinda disappointed... hoped for more after seeing the other reviews

went here for dinner and was pleasantly surprised! had the empanadas with the sauce on the side. amazing! so glad the waiter suggested the sauce on the side as it was very spicy. our cocktails were good. the margarita was a bit bitter but i enjoyed the other cocktail 'go down swinging.' happy hour is a steal with $3 off cocktails. overall, we enjoyed the service, ambiance and food! and we would go back.

short rib empanada was tender and well cooked; add the green sauce and you have a winning combination! since they specialize in a variety cocktails, i had to try a moscow mule, served in their stamped copper mug. it was refreshing and balanced. if you're looking for a great dining option outside of the tourist riverwalk venues, esquire tavern is the place to go.