Casa Rio, San Antonio

When we tell San Antonio residents that this longtime eatery is one of our favorites on the River Walk, we always get that look. You know the one...the "don't you know that's for tourists?' look.

But, hey, what's wrong with being popular with the tourist trade? Sure, your fellow diners may say "jal-a-peeno" instead of "hal-a-pen-yo" or (shudder) "fa-gee-tas" instead of "fa-hee-tas," but even diners brand new to Tex-Mex soon learn what tastes good. There's a real reason behind Casa Rio's long-running popularity -- the food. The green chicken and the cheese enchiladas are especially tasty, both served with sides of good ol' beans, rice, chips, and tortillas.

This restaurant has been best known as a tourist stop catering to folks eager to try some traditional Tex-Mex right on the banks of the river. The choicest tables at Casa Rio are at riverside, and you may have to wait a while for one of these seats. It's worth the wait. With tables right on the edge of the river (many of the River Walk restaurants are located about 10 feet back from the water's edge), you'll have an unbeatable view of the action up and down the river.

Those boats hark back to the earliest days of Casa Rio. This restaurant dates back to 1946 when it was built by Alfred F. Beyer set on land first granded title in 1777 by the King of Spain. A hacienda was built here during the city's Spanish Colonial period and today it remains the core of the restaurant; cedar doors, cedar window lintels, a fireplace, and thick limestone walls are evidence of that early dwelling.

But the real history behind Casa Rio lies at the water's edge. This restaurant was the first business in San Antonio to take advantage of its setting on the riverwalk. The owner used canoes, gondolas, ad paddleboat which eventually evolved into tours and dinner boats, San Antonio's first river cruises.

Even the menu at this restaurant is historic. The "regular plate," a combination of a cheese enchilada, tamale, chili con carne, rice, and beans, started in San Antonio in the 1800s and has been appearing on Casa Rio's menu since 1946. Today it's joined by the deluxe dinner, which adds a crispy beef taco and guacamole to the fare. For lighter eaters, La Senora serves up one cheese enchilada, guacamole, chili con queso, rice, and beans. On cooler days, Poblano El Rio soup, a combination of poblano peppers, corn, tomatoes, and chicken, is a flavorful choice. Any time of year, the Casarita, a 20-ounce margarita, is one of the most popular drinks. Casa Rio is open for lunch and dinner daily.

Location: 430 Commerce on the River Walk

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