and Culinaria Restaurant Weeks are Back!

By Kimberly A. Suta

As one of the largest cities in the United States, we are truly blessed to have an abundance of outstanding chefs, restaurants and culinary events to choose from every day of the year. So much so, it can sometimes be a nail-biting dilemma—paella verses barbecue or burgers verses tacos. It is always a tough call.

Coming up are two of San Antonio’s most anticipated events that should make your dining decisions easier than normal: the River Walk’s Stella Artois Drift and Dine and Culinaria’s Restaurant Weeks.

STELLA ARTOIS DRIFT & DINE

The San Antonio River Walk’s Stella Artois Drift & Dine promises a night to remember as you enjoy some of your favorite River Walk restaurants and undoubtedly discover new ones as you float the labyrinthine river on a colorful decorated boat and take in the breathtaking sights and sounds of our one-of-a kind downtown.

This year’s event takes place September 5-7 from 6:00 to 9:30 pm. Stella Artois Drift & Dine guests will get the opportunity to nosh on dishes from six fantastic River Walk restaurants—a different line-up every night. Luxuriate in the sunset as you float along and stop to sample a variety of flavors. Each boat carries 14-16 people, so bring along your friends and family for this extraordinary culinary extravaganza. You can purchase individual tickets or reserve an entire boat.

The Kick-Off Party (check-in) takes place each evening from 5:00 to 6:00pm at the International Center on the River Level, where you will find live music, drinks and a complimentary photo booth for IG selfies to commemorate your special night! Visit the website for updated details and book as soon as possible.

Additionally, you can drift and dine anytime you like throughout the year on GO RIO’s Dinner Cruises, including private dining or group dining experiences. They also offer a cocktail cruise, which makes for a fun way to start a River Walk excursion with friends and family.

A multitude of premier River Walk restaurants take part in the cruises, including Paesanos Riverwalk, Acenar, Landry’s Seafood House, Casa Rio, On The Bend Oyster Bar, Boudro’s Texas Bistro, Biga on the Banks, Range, The Esquire Tavern...the list goes on. The GO RIO website has all the details.

CULINARIA RESTAURANT WEEKS

This city loves a great deal and there is no better opportunity to sample the wonderful array of cuisines from so many different restaurants than during Culinaria’s bi-annual Restaurant Weeks event, during which top restaurants offer special discounted prix fixe menus of savory delights.

Culinaria is a nonprofit group that promotes San Antonio’s fantastic food and wine scene. The next Restaurant Weeks event takes place on August 12-26 and showcases a long list of marvelous restaurants. During the two weeks, each restaurant will be offering a unique three-course menu for lunch and/or dinner. The cost is typically lower than what you would pay on an average day and, depending upon the restaurant, is either $20 or $30 for lunch and either $35, $45 or $55 for dinner. These reservations go fast, so be sure to book soon.

Although the comprehensive list of restaurants is extensive, hot spots on the River Walk include, but may not be limited to, Ambler Texas Kitchen + Cocktails, Biga on the Banks, Box St. All Day, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Burgerteca, Carriqui, Chart House, Dorrego’s at Hotel Valencia, Dough Pizzeria at Hemisfair, Fiume Pizzeria & Wine Bar, Four Brothers Southern Provisions, Joe’s Crab Shack, Landry’s Seafood House, Morton’s Steakhouse, Ostra, Rainforest Cafe, Saltgrass Steakhouse, Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery and The River’s Edge Cafe + Patio Bar.

Now, if you are like me, you are going to want to line up as many of these as you can, but unfortunately there are not enough meals in the day to dine at each and every participating restaurant, so let me narrow it down a bit for you.

Biga on the Banks , being one of San Antonio’s most longstanding fine dining restaurants, is a no brainer for a phenomenal meal, especially at this rate. With a stunning dining room and a patio overlooking the downtown River Walk near S. St. Mary’s Street, Chef Bruce Auden always presents a versatile, ever-changing menu of New American fare, such as Roasted American Red Snapper, Slow Cooked Angus Beef Denver, Roasted Australian Lamb Rack and 11 Spiced South Texas Antelope and Lockhart Quail. Hopefully, their renowned Sticky Toffee Pudding with English custard will also make an appearance on the prix fixe menu.

To get your Italian fix and some of the best Neapolitan pizza in Texas, make your ressies for Fiume Pizzeria & Wine Bar, located in the Hilton Palacio del Rio. They call their take on the Neapolitan-style pizza “Texapoletana™” and source all local vendors that exemplify the unique legacy of Texas. From a classic Margherita pizza to their Sweet Texas Heat with white sauce, applewood smoked bacon, hot Calabrian pepper, basil and local honey, and other enticing combinations, you simply cannot go wrong here.

For something the whole family will love, visit Burgerteca in Southtown along the River Walk Mission Reach, which has a vibrant, laid-back atmosphere, and Mexican-inspired burgers like the Al Pastor (beef patty, al pastor seasoning, grilled pineapple, tomatillo ketchup, Manchego cheese, onion, cabbage and cilantro), house margs in all your favorite flavors and even yummy paletas.

Best of luck on your adventures—may your stomachs be full and your hearts be happy as you continue to taste what San Antonio has to offer. It just keeps getting better and better!

WRITER’S BIO

Kimberly A. Suta of Sutapants Productions is a local and national food writer, award-winning filmmaker and publicist for the culinary industry. She is the co-creator of Homegrown Chef, a culinary series and catering and events company, featuring our city’s best chefs and delicious eats. Kimberly also hosts River Walk Culinary Adventure Tours, walking food tours that highlight the fantastic offerings along the River Walk for both ticketed events and private groups. Email sutapants@gmail.com for more details.

BIGA ON THE BANKS www.Biga.com

BURGERTECA www.ChefJohnnyHernandez.com

CULINARIA RESTAURANT WEEKS www.CulinariaSA.org

STELLA ARTOIS DRIFT & DINE www.TheSanAntonioRiverWalk.com

FIUME PIZZERIA & WINE BAR www.FiumePizzeria.com

GO RIO DINNER CRUISES www.GoRioCruises.com

By Lakendra Lewis