In San Antonio, a Great — Really! — New Restaurant Has Opened at a Riverwalk Hotel

In San Antonio, a Great — Really! — New Restaurant Has Opened at a Riverwalk Hotel

Cider-brined double pork chop served with sweet potato purée, green apple & fennel salad

FOR MANY, THE idea of dining on the San Antonio Riverwalk might elicit thoughts of two-star Tex-Mex and chain restaurants. But Ambler Texas Kitchen and Cocktails is changing all that.


Located on the Riverwalk level of the brightly modern, all-suite Hotel Contessa, the new resto's menu is Texas dining upgraded by Exec Chef John Zaner. The chef is a vet of notable hotel restaurants, having previously cooked at glam San Antonio resort La Cantera and the Ritz-Carlton in Maui. "It's not just Tex-Mex," says Zaner. "We are offering flavors that are rooted in Texas cuisine … house-made smoked meats, unique cuts of steaks, and innovative craft cocktails."

Plan for pre-dinner cocktails on the patio, which is perfectly situated on a lovely bend of the Riverwalk ideal for watching tourists and boats go by. Local musicians such as Chris Guerrero — known as "Mr. Downtown" who plays recognizable favorites from the likes of Frank Sinatra — perform Thursday-Sunday as part of the curated music series Ambler Unplugged.

The bar menu offers a wide selection of local Hill Country wines and elevated margaritas garnished with Hawaiian Lava Salt. Plus, bartenders shake up new age concoctions like Spill the Tea — green-tea-infused Tito's, peach and salted honey — and the Oaxaca Old Fashioned, a smoky iteration of the traditional bourbon drink made with mezcal.

Inside, the dining room décor tends to the masculine and rich — think dark blue hues, dark wood accents and black-tile flooring — dotted with a collection of local art, cowhides and a large Ambler branding iron.

Locally sourced produce and meats populate the menu. The queso, an expected Riverwalk app, is made new as it's mixed with roasted cauliflower and topped with chorizo.

This Texas-cattle-rancher-meets-urbane-diner marriage is reflected throughout the menu. Get outta here, marinara sauce. Pasta here is topped with more of that queso — and there's chicken-fried quail paired with watermelon tossed in a spicy dry rub and roasted corn salsa.

After dinner, mosey the Riverwalk or take a chocolate souffle cake — served with a milk shake — up to your suite. Ambler is open for breakfast, lunch or brunch, and dinner seven days a week.

The Cucumber Twist cocktail with Ketel One botanical vodka, cucumber, and prosecco

The Texas Pantry Board is served with house smoked duck and tasso ham, beef jerky, texas cheeses, honey and pickled vegetables

The cocktail ice is branded with Ambler's logo

Tableside service

The strawberry and margarita tart

People + Places
Introducing Dina Owner of Eyelashes by Dina

STEP INTO A world of luxury with Dina, the visionary owner of Eyelashes by Dina, nestled in the prestigious Saint James Place. Embrace the artistry of bespoke lash extensions, meticulously tailored to meet your every desire. With a decade of industry expertise, Dina elevates the lash game to an unparalleled level of sophistication. Discover a serene and elegant oasis, where every lash experience is a masterpiece. Indulge in the refinement of luxury, only at Eyelashes by Dina.

Keep ReadingShow less

A Page Parkes model during the fashion show

HOUSTON CITYBOOK’S INFAMOUS “Sexy Party,” presented by Indigo Auto Group in celebration of the magazine’s annual “Sexy Issue,” drew a fun crowd to EaDo’s Chapman & Kirby bar and event space.

Keep ReadingShow less
Parties

Little Woodrow's is in the Oktoberfest spirit.

IT MAY STILL be September, but Oktoberfest has already arrived. Slightly less humid weather is beckoning revelers to hit a shaded biergarten and celebrate the season of frothy beer and savory German fare. Here are six delicious ideas on where to hoist a pint!

Keep ReadingShow less
Food