Romantic Restaurants (San Antonio, Alamo, Kirby: Valentine's day, hotel, food)

[SamKen]

The wife and I are celebrating Valentine's Day in San Antonio this year. Any ideas? We prefer to stay away from the riverwalk.

[alphagaiter]

My first piece of advice is stay away from any restaurant on Valentine's Day itself and do it on a different day. Gets insanely crowded even with a reservation. That said.....

Some of my favs:

-Ruth's Chris in Downtown. It's not anywhere near the Riverwalk and if you are at a hotel in downtown, they offer a free shuttle. I've always been happy with the food and the service.
-Fleming's at the Quarry, chain restaurant with good wine selections. Can get crowded.
-Grey Moss Inn in Grey Forest, near Helotes. VERY out of the way, you almost miss it driving by. Huge wine list (err book actually) and its not very crowded the few times I've been. Really good place to sit outside if the weather is nice. Probably my favorite spot in town for a good all around nice place to go.
-Wild Fish. Over off 1604 and Huebner. Its a bit loud but the food is really good.
-Paloma Blanca. Alamo Heights off Broadway. Pretty nice mexican food restaurant.

Places I haven't been to, but heard about:

-The Tower of the Americas. Yeah I know, cliche for the city but kinda hard to beat the view.
-The Lodge at Castle Hills
-Morton's
-Bohanan's
-Le Reve

[SsnTktHldr]

We're going to Kirby's on 1604. Great romantic steakhouse, IMHO blows Flemmings and Ruth's out of the water. Especially on the wine list and service. I doubt you will be able to get a reservation at any of those places at a decent hour this close to the holiday though. Good luck!

[SamKen]

Thanks for the quick responses. We are going to be in San Antonio to run the 5K at Sea World earlier in the day. It's the first time I've ever been in San Antonio during Vals Day so I figure we should take advantage of it.

Does Kirby's have a website?

[Pontifikate]

Any romantic ones on the NW side?

[Deep Forest]

Alsatian Inn in downtown Castroville, very-y-y-y romantic.

[Drzy]

Originally Posted by alphagaiter

Grey Moss Inn in Grey Forest, near Helotes. VERY out of the way, you almost miss it driving by. Huge wine list (err book actually) and its not very crowded the few times I've been. Really good place to sit outside if the weather is nice. Probably my favorite spot in town for a good all around nice place to go.

I'd avoid it on Valentine's Day though. We went a couple years ago on 2/14 and had a terrible experience. They brought out extra tables and packed everyone in like sardines. We were seated ~2 feet from the next couple over. Everyone could here everyone's conversations. The waiter was very slow to refill drinks. We had a reservation but still had to wait a long time. The food wasn't very good. I always hear good things about Grey Moss Inn, but our V-Day experience was the opposite of romantic.

[cr1039]

Nothing is going to be romantic ON valentines day.

Waistaff that can't wait to leave or want to turn their tables as fast as possible or sell you the most expensive bottle of wine.

Reservations only or a long wait.

Whiny housewives insisting on being wined and dined or young couples blowing their wad on percieved elegance...

Busy kitchen and other staff.

Why not try another day in the next two weeks or so?

[Pontifikate]

Originally Posted by cr1039

Nothing is going to be romantic ON valentines day.

Waistaff that can't wait to leave or want to turn their tables as fast as possible or sell you the most expensive bottle of wine.

Reservations only or a long wait.

Whiny housewives insisting on being wined and dined or young couples blowing their wad on percieved elegance...

Busy kitchen and other staff.

Why not try another day in the next two weeks or so?

Someone's in a good mood today.

[cr1039]

Originally Posted by Pontifikate

Someone's in a good mood today.

Haha, we went out for the New Year this year...you figure if when walking in the door, ready to spend over $200 a couple that treatment would be a bit different from waitstaff...it was not the classy experience I thought it would be.

I have had a better time at the same establishment on a random nice Tuesday out.

I can only assume that valentines day in SA is the same. We have opted for beer and pizza each V day over the past few years and it is great.