Esquire Tavern

Review summary

1. C

   Cynda

   San Antonio

   29 reviews

   5.0

   29 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   I keep returning to the Esquire. We sat on the outdoor seating overlooking the San Antonio Riverwalk on a perfect evening. My friend and I both ordered a cognac French 75 cocktail (one of the best in San Antonio) and the Mussels (Moules Frites). The French 75 never disappoints. This was my first time to try the mussels. I will definitely order again! Service was wonderful and attentive. We didn't have to worry about making our show at the Majestic Theatre nearby.
   

   Esquire TavernResponded 1 day ago

   Thank you so much for your kind words and for choosing to return to The Esquire! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed the outdoor seating with a view of the Riverwalk, and that the French 75 and Mussels hit the spot. We love hearing that our service helped make your experience even more enjoyable, especially with your show at the Majestic in mind. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another great time soon! Cheers!
   

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2. T

   Todd

   San Antonio

   4 reviews

   3.0

   4 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   Esquire Tavern has a cool, vintage vibe, and it’s clear they take pride in their history as the longest wooden bar in Texas. The dim lighting and old-school decor create a nice atmosphere, but it can feel a little cramped and noisy, especially on weekends. The cocktails are solid, but they don’t always live up to the hype. Some drinks are well-balanced, while others feel a bit off, either too strong or too sweet. The food is decent—better than your average bar fare—but nothing particularly memorable. The burger is good, but I’ve had better in town. Service can be hit or miss. Sometimes the bartenders are friendly and attentive, but other times it takes forever to get a drink. If you’re patient and enjoy the ambiance, it’s a decent spot to grab a drink downtown. Otherwise, there are plenty of other places in San Antonio that offer a better overall experience.
   

   Esquire TavernResponded 2 days ago

   Hi Todd, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback! We're glad you enjoyed the vintage vibe and the history behind our long wooden bar – it’s something we’re very proud of. We also appreciate your thoughts on our cocktails, food, and service. We're constantly working to improve, and your comments will help us continue to refine our offerings and ensure that each visit is better than the last. We understand that the atmosphere can feel a bit cramped and noisy at times, especially on weekends, and we’re always looking for ways to make the experience more comfortable for all our guests. We hope you'll give us another chance to wow you with our drinks, food, and service next time you're in town. Thanks again for your feedback, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon!
   

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3. E

   Emilio

   San Antonio

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on February 15, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The food, atmosphere, and service were all great!
   

   Esquire TavernResponded on February 17, 2025

   Thanks for the feedback, Emilio! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the food, atmosphere, and service at Esquire Tavern. We strive to provide a memorable experience for all our guests. We noticed that you rated the value a bit lower, and we appreciate your honesty. We're always looking for ways to improve, and your feedback helps us do that. We hope to see you again soon!
   

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4. S

   Stephen

   VIP

   San Antonio

   43 reviews

   5.0

   43 reviews

   Dined on February 8, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   It was my first time dining here and it was good. Food was decent, south Texas quail legs and it was very bland, the kitchen omitted the honey-chili dressing. I had steak and fries which were good. Overall, it was decent and I would definitely recommend it and visit again.
   

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   Esquire TavernResponded on February 10, 2025

   Stephan, we're glad to hear that you enjoyed your first visit to Esquire Tavern! We strive to offer a variety of dishes and it's good to know that you enjoyed the steak and fries. Your recommendation means a lot to us. We appreciate your feedback on the lack of dressing and will definitely take it into consideration as we continuously strive to improve our dishes. We're looking forward to welcoming you back soon and promise to make your next visit a 5-star experience.
   

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5. T

   Tina

   Chicago

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on February 7, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Tasty drinks and delicious food! The service was great!
   

   Esquire TavernResponded on February 15, 2025

   Thank you, Tina! We're thrilled to hear that you had a 5 star experience. We look forward to welcoming you back!
   

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6. J

   Juliana

   VIP

   San Antonio

   6 reviews

   2.0

   6 reviews

   Dined on January 25, 2025

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 3

   I’ve eaten several times at Esquire Tavern throughout the years, and this recent visit was the most disappointing dining experience. Unfortunately, their updated menu doesn’t stand up to their previous food offerings (like the fried chicken sandwich). The shredded chicken that was added to the Esquire Salad was pretty flavorless, albeit the rest of the salad tasted fresh. My partner got the tomato soup with “freshly baked cheese toast”. Where he enjoyed the soup, the cheese “toast” left much to be desired. It came out with what looked like a runny cheese sauce, only to find out it was a flavorless melted cheese with a texture like chewing gum. The bread itself was very soggy and not crispy at all. When we sent the bread back the waitress seemed put out and annoyed. To their credit, the cocktails are pretty solid. And the Downstairs speak easy has a quieter, cozy vibe, if you’re looking for a cool space to have a conversation.
   

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7. L

   Lori

   Western NC

   8 reviews

   4.0

   8 reviews

   Dined on January 10, 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 2

   So dark inside you couldn't even see your food to eat! All tables around us were using phone flashlights to see. Food was quite good. Cheese bread was amazing.
   

   Esquire TavernResponded on January 15, 2025

   Thanks for the feedback, Lori! We're glad to hear that you enjoyed our food, especially the cheese bread. We're glad that despite the dark atmosphere, you still received 5 star service. We hope to serve you again soon!
   

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8. G

   Greg

   Dallas

   23 reviews

   5.0

   23 reviews

   Dined on January 5, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   With a cool, dark, rich wood ambience it makes this a very enjoyable experience on the San Antonio Riverwalk. Their drink menu does not disappoint and they have every type of spirit you can think of. The Buffalo burger is absolutely fantastic and their spin on tomato soup was equally enjoyable. They accept Reservations and the wait staff is very friendly. This restaurant is located right in the heart of many other fun experiences along the Riverwalk. 
   

   Esquire TavernResponded on January 6, 2025

   Hey Greg, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our ambience, drinks, and Buffalo burger. It's always a pleasure to have you along on your next visit to Esquire Tavern. We're also glad to know that our staff was friendly and provided us with a comfortable environment. We look forward to your next visit!
   

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9. R

   Randy

   New York City

   17 reviews

   5.0

   17 reviews

   Dined on January 4, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Amazing!! Must get the Ruben and fried pickles.
   

   Esquire TavernResponded on January 6, 2025

   Thanks for visiting us, Randy! We're thrilled to hear that you had a 5 star experience at Esquire Tavern. Your recommendation to try the Ruben and fried pickles is spot on! We strive to provide top-notch food and service, so we're glad we hit the mark for you. We look forward to serving you again soon!
   

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10. T

    Thomas

    VIP

    San Antonio

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4

    Great food and service! Drinks were craft and the chicken was amazing.
    

    Esquire TavernResponded on January 6, 2025

    Thanks for visiting us, Thomas! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our food and service. It's always our goal to provide a memorable dining experience with quality ingredients and top-notch service, so we're glad we hit the mark! We appreciate your feedback and look forward to serving you again soon.
    

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