Tip Top Cafe (San Antonio, Mission, Alamo: to buy, theatre, living in)

[cheermomof4girls]

My dad says that no one can beat their onion rings, so we are going to have lunch there today so I can try them out. Has anyone had them? What else is good there?

[CreekKnoll]

I've been there a couple times back in the day. All i remember was a lot of people cramped in a small area.

[cheermomof4girls]

I guess that would be a good sign, right? LOL I don't even know how long it's been since my dad has been there. I don't think it's recent.

[ShaneSA]

It's a great place. All the food is great and the onion rings are AWESOME. I usually have to take an extra Lipitor after eating there. It's good food, but not healthy on a regular basis.
That's the problem with food like that, it's good and tasty and not in keeping with good dietary habits. We all need it once in a while.

[cheermomof4girls]

I keep putting my diet off "until next week" because there are so many places I want to try. LOL I LOVE onion rings, so I am looking forward to this lunch. :O)

[martinez4]

Where is it???

[cheermomof4girls]

Originally Posted by martinez4

Where is it???

This was copied from their website......Tip Top Cafe is located on Fredericksburg Road,
2 1/4 miles inside Loop 410, south of Vance Jackson

[googie2525]

Tip Top is a San Antonio icon, basically our last true 1930's diners (of course, we still have Bun N Barrel, but really, Tip Top just can't be beat, comfort food-wise). Tip Top was actually my number two favorite thing about living in Monticello Park a few years ago if you can believe it. Problem is though, that yes, it's diner food, very good diner food, great chicken fried steak, burgers, etc., but man, it is F-A-T-T-E-N-I-N-G (if you look at the other diners, you'll see what I mean). Anyway, yeah, the onion rings rock!

And when you're through, go down the street (1400 Fredericksburg Rd.) to my Number One: Cool Crest Miniature Golf, another San Antonio Icon, been there since the 30's as well, a SERIOUS time warp, same owners since it opened (well, owner, the husband is deceased), I always pray they don't close that place when the ol' gal dies, as that milk company next door has been trying to buy it from her for years to turn it into, yes...A PARKING LOT! From what I've heard though, the San Antonio Conservation Society has been working on securing ownership of the place when the owner passes for years (like they did with the Aztec - thank goodness! Look what happened to the Texas Theatre - a facade for an office, ugh!) and keep it operating as-is, but Mrs. Metzger, the owner, is, well, a bit stubborn, and it's evidentally willed to a friend of the family, as the owners never had children, and well, he just seems kinda, how to put it? A sleazy hustler type, who strikes me as the kinda guy who would take the big "milk money" over the SA Conservation's piddling, I'm sure in comparisson, offer.

I'm alway shocked when longtime SA'ers have never heard or been to Cool Crest or Tip Top. In my book, that's kinda like never have eaten at the original Earl Abel's or Mi Tierra, never visiting the Alamo or the Zoo...or the Mission Drive-in for that matter - BLASPHEMY!

[kevcrawford]

Onion rings and chicken fried steak. Best in town.

[googie2525]

Oh yeah, from CitySearch:

Editorial Review for Cool Crest Golf Course – by Eric Geyer

History:

Opened in 1937, Cool Crest is dripping with atmosphere and kitschy appeal. During the time of the year when this place is actually open, it's heavily populated with mini-golfers, young and old.

The Course:

From the street, Cool Crest looks more like a banana farm than a mini golf course. Once you make your way inside, however, you'll find the canopy of tall, lush trees a cozy backdrop for either of the two 18-hole courses you choose to play. Of course, all 36 holes are completely different and since you're only paying four bucks to play (that's $3.71, plus 29 cents tax, by the way), you might as well play both courses.

The Wild Card:

The course is packed with one conversation piece after another, the most notable of which is a phantom speaker stuck in a tree playing old Bing Crosby records. There's your four bucks right there.

Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.

Insider Tips:

Playing to Win
The holes are tricky, but if you play smart, it's relatively easy to par the course.