★★★★★ (5 Stars)

Jerry's Chicago Style Hot Dogs

Jerry Working on Another Masterpiece

5 Stars for a hot dog place?  That’s right!  The first time I walked in I thought I was getting a hot dog.  But, no.  What I got was an experience.  I don’t make hot dogs at home any longer after having tried Jerry’s Chicago Dogs.

I think I gained 3 pounds in under 30 minutes. . .   I tried out a couple of Chicago Style hot dogs and loved it!  I couldn’t compare it to anything as I had never had a ‘Chicago Style,’ but some guy that picked up a hot dog claimed to be from Chicago and said these dogs were right on.  You should have also seen the Chili Cheese fries I ordered!   Heck, go over there right now and get some!

Apparently everything here is brought in from Chicago, the pickles, hot dogs, mustard, buns, etc., except for the tomatoes and onions. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill, corner-of-the-street , some type of hot dog vendor. These are of the much better, Vienna Beef hot dogs variety and you can taste the difference.

If you’re lookin’ to go here, look very hard.  If you’re driving past and blink, you’ll miss it.  Tape your eyes open, or do what they did in Clockwork Orange and clamp them open!  It’s worth it.

Note to self: Order just one dog with regular fries next time.  You overstuffed your face with two dogs and felt overly full!

★★★ (3 Stars)

I visited Big Lou’s just for the novelty of having a 42″ Pizza.  That thing was insanely huge.  It fed 14 of us very well.

The pizza weighs something like 35 pounds depending on toppings.  Insane!  The slices were enormous.  A single slice was the length of my arm from elbow to finger tip!

In any case, I’ve had better pizza in San Antonio.  I like Central Park Pizza and Pizzabella substantially more.  But, the pizza was decent.  I thought it was going to be bad because of the gimmicky gigantic sizes.

I’m not sure I would go again any time soon.  I don’t think I’ll be craving pizza for a while!  hehe  Perhaps if a bunch of friends wanted to go again in the future I might.

After this visit, it’s salad for the rest of the week!

This YouTube Video Shows a 42″ Pizza From Big Lou’s

★★★★ (4 Stars)

IHOP Cafe - Downtown

IHOP Cafe just opened at the Vistana today.  I visited expecting them to not be fully prepared as the Grand Opening isn’t until next week, but I am pleased to say they seemed to have everything down perfectly.

IHOP Cafe is more a coffee shop than an IHOP restaurant.  It has a coffee shop feel and they provide free Wi-Fi.  IHOP Cafe has a truncated food menu perfect for this coffee shop concept.  The menu includes mini pancakes with or without toppings, omelets, wraps, mini melts (slider type burgers), and salads.

The coffees and drinks include brewed coffee, espressos, iced coffee, blended coffee and tea.  They also compliment their drink menu with milkshakes and 4 smoothies.

The pancakes were really good; just as you would expect from an IHOP.  I ordered a mocha espresso and I’d say that could use a little work as their competitor’s have a lighter, sweeter, more full flavor.

Overall I’ll probably make this a regular stop especially when I need a coffee kick before heading into work.

IHOP Cafe Pancakes

★★★★ (4 Stars)

Houston Street Bistro Revisited

I’ve been to Houston Street Bistro many times since I had written my last review (See Here).  I’ve come to enjoy the food and service here.  Their lunch special at $7.99 is really affordable and allows you to add salad and a soup at a low additional cost.

The food is really good.  I like when their specials include a fish entree.  They always come out really tasty.

I was told I have to try their meatloaf.  I’ll have to check it out when they have that special posted on their board.

★★★ (3 Stars)

Panchito's Downtown

Shhhh!
This is a review of the super secret Panchito’s underground, downtown location.  As a visitor to this website, you have this privileged information in your hands.

Top Secret
—–begin dossier—–
Most downtown employees and residents know of this location.  It took me about 8 months to realize this is the location they were muttering about under their breath.  It’s free of tourists and it’s cheaper than any Mexican restaurant on the Riverwalk.

Even walking by this location, it is difficult to distinguish it from other offices in the area.  One would presume there are only offices beyond the white door that leads in to the building in which the restaurant is located.  Even once inside the building, you have to traverse downward and into the underground to eat there.

This is no regular Panchito’s.  Their menu is different and you order at a station and pick it up when your number is called.  All along the wall, you will see their various lunch specials for the day, week, and month.  Legend has it they have a full-service area as well, but I have yet to see it.

It does get busy here at times.  As people in-the-know even visit this location on weekends!  And, you know downtown San Antonio restaurants aren’t big on weekends, unless they’re on the ‘walk.  But, the food is about the same as any other Mexican Cafe.  They use this awful American Cheese to fill their chili topped, Tex-Mex Enchiladas.  Their tacos are good and I’ve come to enjoy their Carne Asada Tortas, when they have them.  If you’re into this sort of thing, this secret location may be the thing for you.
—–end dossier—–

Shhhh!
Those who release this Top Secret information will be hunted!

★★ (2 Stars)

I’d seen HB’s Deli before and was wondering what the food was like, so I thought I’d venture in.  Upon entry, the restaurant looked really promising. I thought perhaps I’d finally found a really good deli downtown.

★★ (2 Stars)

Some people may say this is the best Greek Food in town.  Unfortunately, I haven’t eaten at very many Greek restaurants in San Antonio.  So, I can’t really say, but I’ve just not been impressed the few times I’ve been there.

I can’t honestly say, “hey the food was delicious!” Nor could I say, “wow, that was awful.”  The food lies somewhere in the middle.  It’s simply, food.  It’s kind of like going to one of the 1000s of Mexican cafes in San Antonio that all kind of make the same, mediocre food.  Demo’s just doesn’t stand out to me.  In fact, it leaves me longing for a Fast Food Greek restaurant in California called “Daphne’s.”

3 stars is saying too much and 2 stars is saying too little.  So, 2.5 stars.

★★★ (3 Stars)

I visited Aldaco’s for the first time after going to another restaurant that I found was closed.  I’d seen Aldaco’s advertising in various places and they seem to always be at local festivals with a booth set up.  So, I thought I’d give them a try.

It’s another Mexican restaurant in San Antonio.  Their lunch menu and lunch prices were decent.  I thought I’d give their ‘Loco Sampler’ plate a try to taste a couple of their items.  It had a crispy taco, an enchilada, a flauta, and the standard rice and charro beans.  I liked the enchilada at first, but it kept reminding me of enchiladas I’d find at a cafeteria.  Everything else on the plate was also good, but not quite enough to make me salivate over.

I don’t know if I’d go back for dinner because while the food was decent, I can’t see myself paying their dinner rates for mediocre food.  I might return for lunch one day if I’m on that side of downtown.

★ (1 Star)

This could have been the best tasting barbeque I’ve ever encountered… had they been open during posted business hours.
I visited today only to see a Closed sign up with their hours stating they’re open between 11am and 3pm.  I was there at 12pm.

Perhaps they’re closed for good.

★★★★ (4 Stars)

The food at the Cove isn’t anything to rave about.  It’s good, they have sustainable, organic and local foods and hey, it’s locally owned.  But, I think people tend to hype this place up a bit because The Cove has been featured on the Food Network.  The food is good, but it doesn’t wow.

I would give The Cove three stars if it wasn’t for their Wednesday Night Jazz schedule.  This alone is reason to go to The Cove.  They have some of the best Jazz musicians I’ve heard in San Antonio.  The Jazz alone is 5 stars.

Edit:  I forgot to mention their beer selection!  They have a pretty big selection and at decent prices for the downtown area.