Chef Stefan Bowers$$$ a la carteBook Book ahead ahead
Battalion is chef Stefan Bowers's Italian restaurant in a restored Southtown firehouse on South Alamo, leading with house pastas and a solid Italian list.
Tip: The converted firehouse is part of the appeal. Lead with the pastas and a bottle from the Italian list.
Chef Jeff Balfour$$$ a la carteBook Book on OpenTable ahead
Chef Jeff Balfour's Southerleigh brews 15 beers in-house at the Pearl Brewery and pairs them with Texas coastal cooking, a Michelin Bib Gourmand room.
Tip: Sit near the brew tanks and pair the fried chicken with the house pilsner. The Gulf snapper is the seafood pick.
$$$ a la carteBook Book on OpenTable ahead
Cappy's is a long-running Alamo Heights restaurant on Broadway, an oak-shaded patio room whose pecan-crusted chicken is the enduring signature dish.
Tip: Ask for a patio table under the oaks. The pecan-crusted chicken is the long-running signature.
$$$ a la carteBook Book on Resy ahead
Little Em's Oyster Bar brings a proper raw bar to Southtown, with Gulf and East Coast oysters, a seafood tower, and Louisiana-leaning plates.
Tip: Happy hour is the value play for oysters. The gumbo and the seafood tower are the kitchen's standouts.
$$$ a la carteBook Book on OpenTable ahead
Mezquite at Pullman Market celebrates the Sonoran food pathways of northern Mexico, with handmade flour tortillas and mesquite-grilled meats.
Tip: The Sonoran-style flour tortillas are the point; build a meal of tacos and grilled meats. The mezcaleria is alongside.
$$$ a la carteBook Book on Resy ahead
Maverick Texas Brasserie sits on the South St Mary's strip downtown, a brasserie known for its mimosa-service weekend brunch and a burger that holds its own.
Tip: Weekend brunch is the social draw, with mimosa bottle service. The burger holds its own against any in town.