8 Best Restaurants in Alamo Heights and Brackenridge Park, San Antonio

An Alamo Heights casual but upscale staple since 1977, Cappy's features exceptional menus of innovative dishes against a warm, two-level modern backdrop of brick architecture, tall windows, and pleasant outdoor seating. Well-prepared and presented dinner entrées include Faroe Island salmon, rib eye with smoked tomato confit, and seafood paella with saffron risotto. They have an extensive wine list and craft cocktail menu, and abundant varieties of scotch and bourbon. Weekend brunch is a treat, with classic Benedict and lobster grilled cheese. A rotating gallery of art showcases local artists.

Laying claim as San Antonio's oldest Mexican restaurant, La Fonda opened in 1932 and has had an ardent following ever since. The robust menu offers traditional Tex-Mex plus some dishes from the interior of Mexico. Tex-Mex fare includes appetizers, tacos, enchiladas, and oak-grilled fajitas. The family-friendly spot features a beautiful dining room that opens onto an inviting outdoor patio. Desserts include vanilla bean flan and house-made pralines. The vibrant, welcoming bar delivers tasty margaritas. This is a very popular and often busy place. Reservations are highly recommended for dinner and weekend brunch.

Pick up fresh Mexican pastries from this long-standing neighborhood panaderia (bakery) in Monte Vista. They make all the traditional pan dulce plus novelty cakes and frosted cookies. Conchas are soft and fresh, while pumpkin empanadas are a favorite. The line can get long on weekend mornings, so plan accordingly.

For a smallish place, Cheesy Jane's has a surprisingly varied menu, with big burgers, milk shakes and malts, and nostalgic decor dominating this throwback to old-time malt shops. Flavors for shakes and malts—made with Cheesy Jane's ice cream—include plain vanilla, peppermint, Dreamsicle, chocolate peanut butter, amaretto-espresso, and more. Ground-chuck burgers come in different sizes, with variations like a deluxe bacon burger with applewood-smoked, sugar-cured bacon; a Wurst burger topped with Kiolbassa sausage; and a bean burger with refried beans, cheddar, and Fritos corn chips. Adventurous diners should definitely try the Spicy Splinters—battered and fried slivers of onion and jalapeño peppers.

Chef-owner Frederick Costa marries French and Asian cuisine to create fantastic fusion dishes in this relaxing, romantic hidden gem. Seafood is a standout at both lunch and dinner, with options that include Scottish salmon with miso glaze or wild-caught fish of the day. Entrees from the land include a grass-fed veal strip loin, aged Black Angus beef tenderloin, and a baby back rack of New Zealand lamb. The ample dessert menu features ginger crème brûlée, rum(cake) euphoria, and chocolate pecan mousse cake. There is also an extensive wine list with reserve bottles and Frederick's preferred Bordeaux and proprietary blends. Dinner reservations are recommended.

They call it an oldie but a goodie, with good reason. "Jo Street" is famous for dishing up steaks and whiskey since 1979 in an early-1900s building on the outskirts of downtown, Steaks come in all shapes and sizes, from a tasty chicken-fried variety to a 12-ounce Texas T-bone. For something different try the pork chops or liver and onions. Don't miss the baked-fresh-daily peach cobbler, for a belly-busting finish.

You'll know this drive-through spot by its lime-green structure that practically glows in the distance, guiding you to what some are saying is quite possibly the best burger they've ever had. The menu is wonderfully simple: burgers, fries, and shakes, but it does it all very well. Don't be put off by the "wet" sauce option on the burgers—it's just au poivre, or peppery French steak sauce, for $1.50 extra. The fries are hand-cut and perfect, and the shakes are thick and cold. The place gets very, very busy.

A warm, almost clubby atmosphere lets you know to expect more than the typical Tex-Mex fare at this Alamo Heights mainstay since 1997. Tempting offerings as varied as enchiladas verdes (covered in green tomatillo salsa), tacos de Cameron (grilled shrimp), and pollo con mole (chicken breast in authentic mole de xico sauce) are sure to please. For dessert, the tres leches cake alone is worth the trip.