Dolores del Rio

Don't let the name fool you; Dolores del Rio is not another faceless Mexican restaurant that lines our tourist-ridden River Walk. Instead, it serves San Antonio's second favorite cuisine, Italian, and does it the right way, with a few extras: unforgettable entertainment, hospitable service, and an interesting dining atmosphere. While Dolores del Rio requires reservations on weekend nights, its class isn't obvious from the outside. Since there were no diners seated at the lovely patio area, we nearly passed it up on our first visit. Dolores is secluded, tucked in a dark room up a narrow flight of stairs, with no view of the river. The low ceilings, brick walls, and compressed seating give the restaurant a speakeasy feel, as if diners were hidden under a large stairwell or a secret room. - Xelena Gonzalez