Still 5 stars! I've come to learn that Biga is truly the best restaurant overall in San Antonio. The food, service and ambiance are always top notch. While other great options are nearby, Biga is the definitely the most consistent. On this most recent visit, we sat at the bar for drinks and dessert. The bartenders were friendly, fast, and courteous with their recommendations and explanations of drinks. Last night, I had the best gin and tonic I've ever tasted. While I don't remember the exact name, it was on the menu and had Waterloo Gin and fresh ginger in it. You can do no wrong at Biga On The Banks. Well done Mr. Auden.
(5)
Rebecca O.
The four star review is for restaurant week--which kept the price of dinner and drinks under $100. Expect to spend much more than that on a regular night. For the price, this meal was good, not great. I split a chilled cucumber cilantro soup (delicious), arugula and ricotta salad (bland and boring), Kobe beef burger (ok for a $2 burger, did not complement the quality of the product), the red snapper (prepared well, but too bland), a chocolate cake (delicious), and a lemon tart (very tangy and delicious). Cocktails were so-so. So why 4 stars? Service is impeccable. Ambiance is great--nice view of the river. If you are looking to impress--this place is good to keep in mind.
Best restaurant I've been to in a long time. Between business and personal interests I am blessed to get to eat at a lot of high-end restaurants around the country. First time visitor at Biga and I had very high expectations before the meal. There were 2 people in my party. Between the two of us we had entrees that included quail, venison and red snapper. We also has salads and dessert. I everything we had was outstanding. Preparation, presentation, taste, serving sizes - all outstanding. Easily the best venison I've had. My guest loved the red snapper. A couple of nice touches during our meal. After our salad the waiter brought our a "palate" cleanser that the chef had prepared. I've been to other restaurants that do this, but still a nice gesture. I was only drinking wine, so I chose a by the glass wine. Even though it was a "by the glass" wine, the waiter still brough the bottle to the table and encouragred me to taste the wine before pouring a whole glass. I will definitely eat at Biga during my upcoming trips to San Antonio.
(5)
Stuart S.
Biga on the Banks has an amazing chef in Bruce Auden. I met him during a food tour. He talked about some of his favorite menu items and gave us a tour of the kitchen and the restaurant. In the evening, I returned with my dad for a multi multi-course meal. I had the best lemon drop-in I've ever had. We tried 4 appetizers: the salmon nachos, chicken fried oyster, beer battered onion rings and a lettuce wrap meat packet. The nachos were the most gourmet nachos I've had. But the meat packet was outstanding! It was a combination of wild game meats in a lettuce wrap. Chef Bruce came to our table to greet us and gave us a complimentary dish of a sea scallop served on buttery grits. For dinner, my dad and I shared the venison and a sashimi tuna. Both were fantastic!
(5)
Sara N.
I put in a reservation here for a birthday dinner. I requested seating with a good view of the riverwalk and that is exactly what we got. First off, they brought out a selection of breads baked right at the restaurant daily. It was hard to not eat the whole basket waiting for our food to arrive. There was a poppy seed bread which was my very favorite. Next, we ordered the chicken fried oyster appetizer. These are a must! The flavor and texture of the oysters was so good I was sad when we finished them up within seconds. For the main course, we ordered half-order of the lamb shanks and half-order of the steak. I didn't have a chance to try the steak but I was told that it was perfectly done and very tasty. The lamb was so yummy! I especially loved the cheese grits on the side, absolutely delicious. We ordered a side of fries and cauliflower with cheese, but they were just ok. Nothing special about either one. For dessert we ordered their souffle with orange creme anglaise. This was also not spectacular. It was extremely sweet and I was only able to have a few spoonfuls before I was done. Overall, the food was good but not exceptional. The service however WAS exceptional. Our waiter was so courteous and made sure to make our experience a good one. I was glad that we came here to celebrate and it is now on my list of places to go for our next special event.
(4)
Joyce C.
Situated on a quiet section of the San Antonio river walk, this romantic restaurant is headed by a 7 time James Beard nominee. We were excited to try out this restaurant. We had a 8:30 reservation and were promptly seated. We were very disappointed that they had neither the pork or duck entrees available on the menu since they sold out earlier. However they did have the fried oysters on squid ink pasta as an appetizer topped with herbed mayonnaise that was delicious. We ended up getting the blackened salmon and bbq ahi tuna. Both were ok. But since the restaurant didn't have our earlier entree selection and since the waiter mistakenly gave my husband a half instead of a full dinner portion he requested, they gave us on the house their signature sticky toffee pudding which was delicious!
(4)
Jon L.
Everything here was amazing. Great location on the river walk. It's at street level, but has a row of windows that look out over the river. The interior was nicely decorated but still relaxed; you don't need to dress up to come here but you won't feel out of place if you do. Service was great. Our waiter was attentive and friendly. Food was fantastic. I can usually get a sense of a restaurant from the bread basket - and the bread here was top notch. It's made in house by one of their two pastry chefs. My wife had the chicken fried oysters and the duck entree, both of which were excellent. I had the filet; maybe not the best I've ever had but certainly good and cooked perfectly. Sticky Toffee Pudding for dessert is highly recommended as well.
(5)
Bruno Y.
What a gem!! This was our first time eating here while celebrating our anniversary. The elk/quail dish is off the chain delicious. Wife had the salmon and it was ok but have had better. Service is great as is the location. Highly recommend this restaurant. We'll definitely be back when in SA.
(5)
Ashley P.
Beautiful place for an intimate dinner with your significant other. The generous wine selection can be a but overwhelming however out waiter Warren was very knowledgeable and happy to explain anything on the menu. I actually chose the Orange creme sickle which i seen on the yelp review for the restaurant I was told they no longer had that because there menu changes everyday.... However the car tender was able to make it upon request, it was so good just like when I was a kid having an orange sherbet push up pop! lol Choosing off. The appetizer menu we orderd salmon nachos abd the shrimp and sausage with hummus. The salmon nachos were insanely good....the shrimp and sausage was ok and sausage was a lil s spicy.
(5)
Keith H.
Amazing all of it. Service atmosphere staff. I had the venison and quail combo with the apricot fig sauce. Just incredible this place rivals any fine dining anywhere in the state.
(5)
J'me W.
My 4 stars for food 5 stars for my server Christopher Sanders!! This has been on my book marks to come and try. Drinks Espresso martini-Really good just didn't like the lemon zest in it, I thought it would wake up the coffee but it didn't blend well with the other ingredients. Their version of a Manhattan-My boss loved this it was well balanced and packed a serious punch. Food Complimentary bread-Good but that Cornbread was divine!!!! Made with masa and it was so moist and delicious I had to be really good not to eat to much. Mushrooms-Really good but it was enough mushrooms for 7 people and we ordered it as an appetizer. I believe its called really expensive mushrooms. Very tasty but It was slightly overwhelming. The Duck-Delicious and tender my waiter recommended this dish to me and it was very tasty. The Duck was cooked perfectly with a nice sauce and potatoes. My toes didn't curl but I was satisfied. Boss dish-He recently went Vegetarian so the waiter created him a full dining experience surrounded by their star vegetarian dishes. Vegetable strips-He liked this one the best, the flavors were fresh, clean, with a nice Asian presence. Baked Cauliflower and Cheese-Just ok we both wanted to love this dish but it was just ok. It needed something to wake up the cheese and make this outstanding. After the dinner we were satisfied enough and passed on dessert. I will end this with saying out of all the dining experience I have had especially fine dining Christopher Sanders our waiter was the best I have ever had. If I could transport him into every dining experience I would. Wants he knew I was a foodie he spoke to me in Foodie language. I learned about the Michelin stars that the chef received, the ingredients selection and the sustainability of the food. We wanted for nothing, truly incredible!!!
(4)
John H.
Not that Biga fan anymore. I have been a number of times over the past several years and am not enthused with this place anymore. Nothing seems to change. The limited menu has pretty much the same dishes and presentations as it always had. It was actually a bit difficult making a decision because nothing inspired me. Appetizers were quite basic with sub-par crab cakes breaded on the inside and outside along with ok scallops and ok shrimp and sausage. Romain salad was another pedestrian dish. Went for seared ahi tuna entree that not at all exciting along with a smallish portion. If the portion were bigger I would not have wanted to eat more though. The service professionalism was not up to par especially at these prices. This is not my place anymore. Looking for new places in San Antonio. Suggestions?
(3)
Carla W.
This place deserves every single star. I've been with my boyfriend several times, but it will always hold a special place in my heart as it is the restaurant where my boyfriend became my fiance. The food is spectacular and the menu changes with the season (as it should). Of course, it is a higher end establishment so be prepared for the check. We usually go for special occasions- anniversary, birthday, celebrations, etc. The foie gras, which I have never had prior, is silky and flavorful. I'd describe it as 'meat butter' to those who have never had it. I now order it each time I go. I've enjoyed seared halibut, potsticker appetizer, lamb, goat cheese tart, a yummy souffle, and tons of amazing entrees and desserts here. My fiance teases me, but I swear even the pepper is more vibrant. Neither of us consider ourselves foodies, but we certainly do enjoy eating out and are fairly adventures eaters!
(5)
Tricia W.
Not the only 5 star I'd recommend for someone insisting on downtown dining, but by far the longest track record of any other aspirants to "best fine dining" title in SA. We started going back in the 90's when they weren't "on the Banks" yet. Not every single visit has been an absolute hit (usually due to service missteps), but the overall pattern is both excellent and consistent. Restaurant week menu 2014 (extended through 8/31) is superb. We opted for having both starters (chilled avocado soup and croquettes) as well as the dual entrees. The Seared Black Drum was perhaps slightly better than the pork tenderloin. Portions were quite substantial by RW standards, and the dark chocolate mousse proved the better ending as opposed to the richer fig almond cake. One of the best wine programs in SA, paired with great service and a most inventive menu makes this one to repeat again and again.
(5)
Ludmila P.
Wonderful new find on a business trip! It came recommended and we certainly enjoyed every bit of it with my college. The service and the ambience were outstanding and our "service mentor" made all the difference! If you make reservations, request Christopher Sanders as your server, you'd have a true dinner experience! We took his recommendations and got scallops as an appetizer, which was delicious and as the main entrees we went with the duck and the steak, - amazing! We had to save some room for desert and didn't regret it. Give it all 5 Stars. And It was so sweet of Christopher, he brought 2 glasses of champagne and had a toast with me. Thank you!
(5)
Afton S.
This was my second time to dine at Biga- and I have two very different, yet both great, experiences. I will write on my most recent! It was a little later on a Friday evening but we needed to find somewhere delish to have dinner, and we decided on Biga's. The atmosphere is upscale but lively. I didn't feel it was pretentious at all. Also has a wonderful view of the water without being your typical "on the riverwalk" type of place. We just went ahead and sat at the bar, since this is what we generally prefer to do anyways. The bartender was really wonderful! He took the time to explain the concept behind the menu, and made some suggestions for us. Everything looked really good- I had a hard time making up my mind! I settled on the spinach salad to start- it had a warm dressing and brie cheese and was really yummy. I asked him about the entrees and we decided on the ahi tuna and I also ordered a side of brussel sprouts. I am always thinking.. tuna.. its usually the same. This dish was really really good! I loved it and did not leave a bit of food on the plate! The brussels were also delicious! My date went with the rack of lamb and was very pleased. I also really like that you can get smaller or larger portions of most entrees. They specialize in a lot of wild game meats, and honestly they all sounded great. Really enjoyed Biga on the Banks. Great food great service!
(4)
Jay W.
My partner and I came here for dinner late Friday night. We both chose to try the three-course-fare menu that is available after 9pm. The food was mediocre. The salad included in the three course meal was literally three large individual lettuce leaves that were difficult to cut. To boot, the salad was very bland; not many "salad accessories" to accompany the three leaves. The lobster soup was mediocre and lacked...something. On to the two entrees. The beef tips were my favorite part of the meal; the flavor was dark and the meat was cooked perfectly medium rare. The fish dish seemed slightly overcooked and the flavor was bland. The veggies with the fish were my favorite part of the plate. The creme brulee was drowned (DROWNED) in some kind of red-hot cinnamon syrup. This was disappointing since creme brulee is my favorite dessert of all time. I took maybe three bites of this one. The chocolate cake was very rich, but delicious. As for the service, I expected better from such a nice venue. Our server lacked polish. He was polite, but short. He didn't describe any of the dishes as he delivered them as I have experienced with similar restaurants. Although the decor was fantastic and the atmosphere was enjoyable, I would not return here.
Today was my birthday. I wanted to go to my favorite restaurant with the best food and service. THIS IS IT!!!
(5)
Carolyn H.
I dined at Biga two nights in a row on my last visit to San Antonio. Still incredible! Actually, we had a bad service experience the first night, but the food was so good that we decided to give it another try the next evening. After informing the staff of our less-than-perfect experience, they worked all night to make amends. The experience was memorable for its attentive servers, fabulous food, and cool, casual ambience. I want to scoop this place up and drop it in Dallas so I can go on a more regular basis.
(5)
Rick S.
We started with the famous chicken fried oysters which are to die for in Linda's words and then we had the lobster bisque and lobster timbale. The timbale was very good, but the bisque was the best we have ever had. It was creamy, light , flavorful but still very rich. Then we ordered the beef tenderloin, medium rare and the mustard crusted rack of lamb. Both fantastic but I have to admit that Linda's tenderloin was slightly more flavorful. We are now in anticipation for our deserts of yogurt souffle and lemon curd cake.
(5)
P Luly W.
A few useful tips we gathered from our awesome waiter, Tucker: -Table 31 = chef's table. Provides view of the kitchen. Available for party of 6. Reserve in advance. -Banquet Rooms & Private Dining Rooms available for parties of 12- 400. -No outside bottles allowed because of Biga's liquor license restrictions. -Between 5:30pm to 6:30pm and after 9pm Tasting Menu is available: 3 courses for $37 & 4 course for $45. Bargain! Will have to remember this for next time. Our experience was positive from start to finish. Read on if you want all the boring details. Highly recommend that you stop here & just check out my pictures. I reserved a table for 2 for my husband's birthday through Yelp - powered by Open Table. I notated that it was his birthday & that we would prefer inside seating. Received email confirmation within minutes. Then received a follow-up phone call from Biga. They wanted to know my husband's name so that they could put it on a dessert plate. Received another phone call on day of reservation to remind us of reservation time. When we arrived, we were escorted to a table for two by the window. We had a nice view of the River Walk. The dining area was spacious with high ceilings. We were able to have a conversation without having to shout at each other. Yay for that. Our waiter, Tucker, & his runners took excellent care of us. Drinks, food, & desserts were all delicious. A picture is worth a thousand words. I posted a bunch because I don't have time to peck out that many words on my phone (Yes, I write reviews using my Yelp app. Don't you?!) and I'm sure you don't have time to read that many words. So go enjoy my food porn. Obviously, we can't wait to go back. Next time we want to gather some folks for dinner & a rousing game of Cards Against Humanity in one of their private rooms. Who's in?!
(5)
Didier C.
Biga on the Banks is a wonderful choice for dinner! I had always heard about them but figured it was another one of those overrated "Riverwalk" restaurants...I was wrong. The place is great; situated on a more quiet section of the Riverwalk. Parking is valet only (and it's pretty costly for San Antonio standards, $12), you can choose to self park for cheaper a few blocks away. The menu is amazing and gives you the option to choose from an array of different entrees (and what's especially nice is that you have a choice of small or regular sized portions). For our appetizers, we went with the pot stickers and the lamb merguez sausage/shrimp to start; both were very tasty! In terms of entrees, we chose the ahi tuna and the rack of lamb...both of which were great! Overall, we really enjoyed our experience at Biga and definitely plan on going back soon. Highly recommend it!
(5)
Miriam S.
Biga is good, of course. Their service is truly wonderful. It's fun that they are downtown and on the river - but they are definitely not on the nicer side of the river, the view isn't that great. Honestly I wasn't that blown away by anything for how expensive it is. Two of us ordered steaks and they were both overcooked (medium rare looked nearly well-done and medium was medium-well). The steaks were such good quality that they were still tasty and juicy although over. But all-in-all for the price I doubt I'll be back.
(3)
Erin M.
I was visiting family from NYC and took my parents here to celebrate my mother's birthday earlier. When I placed the reservation through OpenTable, I included a note that this was a special occasion dinner to celebrate a birthday and that I would love a table with a nice view. Biga did a tremendous job accommodating this request -- we had a fantastic view of the riverwalk, by a big window and in the sun. The hostess even asked whose birthday it was and gave my mother birthday wishes when we came and after our meal. The waitress was friendly, helpful and on top of her game. She gave wonderful recommendations and our courses were well spaced to allow for enough conversation time without the meal dragging. Now for the food! We went on a Friday, and were allowed to choose half plates of two meals if we preferred. I ordered a warm spinach salad and lamb chops. My father ordered a full portion of the pork tenderloin, and my mother ordered the bouillabaisse and grilled mahi mahi. I know the menu can rotate based on the chefs preferences when he meets with vendors, but all of our meals were absolutely DELICIOUS so I don't think you can go wrong no matter what you order. (My father said that the applesauce served on the side of his pork was "the best applesauce he has ever tasted".) Altogether we had an amazing time at Biga and I will definitely be returning if I'm ever in San Antonio (and recommending it to any friends who might be visiting the area!)
My husband and I came here to celebrate our 2nd anniversary last night. Biga had an great wine selection and cocktail list! Our server recommended an Argentinian cab that was exactly what we were looking for. My husband got the last pork chop they had which was incredible and I got the peppered tuna. Everything was great and we would definitely come back if we were in the area!
(5)
Francis M.
Was looking for a "fancy" restaurant to take my Queen for our wedding anniversary and stumbled upon Biga. Great location, river walk provides a nice view. Waiter was patient and courteous. Food was insane. Not cheap, so i was skeptical in hopes to get our money's worth. My stomach did not lie....the food was craaaack. Meat made to perfection. Long story short, take your girl here for a romantic dinner.
(4)
Dawne L.
Prior to our San Antonio trip, I tried looking for Michelin-starred restaurants in the area -- and realized there are none in Texas. I've always questioned some of the guide's choices, and this realization adds to that because there are a few stellar restaurants here. Biga On The Banks is easily a "Michelin-star" type of restaurant in my book. It probably works well that there are no Michelin stars here because we had an amazing experience without the stuffiness or sense of entitlement from the crew. Everyone was friendly and down-to-earth while serving a 5-star meal and dining experience. One of the best dining experiences in San Antonio. Ambiance: Intimate, romantic setting with a view of the River Walk. Perfect for a romantic date or a special family dinner. Service: Friendly and knowledgeable staff -- we dropped in late, but they accommodated and served us well. Their manager is also a trained sommelier which is evident in their carefully curated wine selection. Quality: Nothing short of a 5-star meal. Everyone in our party of 8 enjoyed their selection, but the absolute standouts are the perfectly seared Hudson Bay foie gras with strawberry compote and french toast, the tender and flavorful mustard-crusted Australian lamb, and the amazing combination of spiced Texas Axis venison and grilled Bandera quail. Top it off with their souffle special or their sticky toffee pudding, and you've got yourself one very memorable meal! The experience will set you back by at least $75 per person (food + wine), which is about right for this kind of restaurant experience. Highly recommended!
(5)
Mike R.
I spent 3 weeks on business here in San Antonio and have been eating at as many of the nicer restaurants as possible in the river walk area. The food was fair to good but dinner was ruined when a cockroach crawled across my bread a number of times before the waitress wrapped it up and wisked it away. The manager/owner came by later and apologized but you would have expected a free desert or drink, but nope just an expensive tab. Not worth it. By far the best restaurant on the river is Boudro's, not even close.
(2)
J C.
Great experience wile in town on business. We had a party of 18! Everyone seemed to enjoy their meal. The appetizers stole the show as we tried many. The wait staff was much more attentive to the customers ordering alcohol and water refills had to be sought out.
(4)
Jess S.
Was just Ok...certainly not on par with the pricing. In their defense, we ate late, but if you provide seating late I would think that you would also provide for ample food according to your daily menu. Food was just okay...just about compared to something from a Pappadeaux or other high-end chain type seafood restaurant. Service was great, and a super wine selection. But again, compared to the price not worth repeating. Some creative things on the menu however, especially the venison and a few others.
Biga on the Banks represents the best that the Riverwalk has to offer in terms of restaurants, and it's the exception to what seems to be the rule of sub-par, unprofessional service industry in San Antonio. Biga does everything right. First of all, Chef Bruce Auden is a culinary rock star who has been nominated for the James Beard award from 2000 all the way through 2011. Biga on the Banks boasts the highest ZAGAT rating on the Riverwalk. And it's acclaimed by Texas Monthly - Top 10 New restaurants in 2010 and to this day maintains their coveted 1-star rank. Once you sit down to one full course meal, you understand why. I made our reservation in advance for a surprise early birthday dinner for my husband. I asked for a level of privacy if possible and under "special requests" noted that we are not dessert people and don't appreciate being pushed to have dessert, nor would we want a special birthday dessert offered - but we would be ordering a bottle of wine. Four days later, we arrived for dinner an hour early. The hostess recognized my name immediately and let me know that since she'd reserved a private table for us, we could go ahead and be seated immediately. Wonderfully convenient - though I wouldn't have minded sitting at the bar and taking in a few drinks along with the chic ambiance of the restaurant. We were whisked away to a private corner table for two, tucked away in its own little nook with a curtain for total concealment. It's the perfect romantic dinner setting. And you feel like a VIP. We were presented our wine and dinner menus. The server took some time to also present to us the culture of the restaurant - only using organic, locally sourced and sustainable ingredients - and the vision of the chef and owner, Bruce Auden. He was able to do so without us feeling interrupted, but instead appreciative that we knew what to expect. The dinner menu on Satruday offers half portions, which are a discounted price. This is PERFECT for a couple dining to try more than one entree option without being overwhelmed by food and price. *Please keep in mind that with the restaurant model of locally sourced, organic & sustainable, you will have a seasonal and revolving menu. Already, the things we ordered are either not available or are in a different form /combination / using different ingredients on the menu* We ordered a bottle of sauv blanc and the Chicken Fried Oysters as a starter. Oh my. Once our oysters hit the table we had the curtain drawn... mostly so I could take photos of our dishes without being scoffed at. The chicken fried oysters are so tender, decadent and juicy. I was worried the breading would be too crisp or the oysters would be chewy. They were divine - served on a bed of squid ink linguini and drizzled with a whole grain mustard hollandaise. You must try them. For our main courses, we enjoyed half portions of: The Scallops The Pork Tenderloin The Venison & Quail The Scallops hit the table first - and they were the best scallops I've ever had. They were so tender they melted, they had a perfect sear, a slight sweetness, just enough firmness. Served on a bed of couscous - I wish we had ordered the full portion to share because we fought over the last one. We had the Pork Tenderloin and the Venison & Quail served simultaneously. The Pork Tenderloin was succulent, served with tempura broccoli (which is remarkable) and rice. It was phenomenal. But now: The diadem of the meal. The entree to shame all other entrees - ever. The best thing I've ever put in my mouth in the history of opening my mouth: The Venison & Quail served with Creamy Goat Cheese Tart and Brussels Sprouts. My heart stopped when I tasted that venison. Then again when I tasted the quail. As a person who has always steered clear of venison claiming I can sense the "gamey" taste no matter how it was prepared - I have been revived. One bite of this venison was more tender, fresh and flavorful than a $100 filet mignon. I don't even know how to serve it justice right now. What I can say is this: I would drive to San Antonio from Austin in a heartbeat just to have dinner here any day of the week. And that's exactly what we aim to do for our next special occasion. For "dessert" - they honored our wishes and didn't fuss over the dessert menu - But my husband asked the waiter "Considering how incredible that meal was - how talented your chef is - can I assume that this restaurant also has a phenomenal mixologist?" He smiled and handed us a cocktail menu. We had the Espresso Martini for dessert. And so must you. Make a reservation. Ask for some privacy. Be prepared to spend the money for the experience and you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Kelly V.
I tagged along on my hubby's business trip and we found ourselves wandering around downtown somewhat late on a Sunday night. We came upon this place and decided to give it a try. And boy are we happy we did! The food, decor, and service were impeccable. We had the chicken fried oysters, the Close-to-Bouillabaise, and the Grand Marnier souffle. My last meal on earth would be that dessert, it was by far the most orgasmic dessert I have ever had. We will definitely go back when we're in town next. The only downside was a waiter (not ours) who was visibly annoyed when we asked him to take a picture for us.
(4)
John C.
Best duck, lamb, soufle, and chicken fried oysters I ever had. Truly five star. Reservations are a must. Oh, and try the Old Fashion and Espresso. Absolutely to die for!
(5)
Mary J.
Fantastic meal. Very nice atmosphere with knowledgeable staff and best of all great food and presentation. Had the smoked salmon nachos for appetizer, venison with quail and chocolate tart for dessert. I don't even like gamey meats but wanted to try the venison. It was not gamey. This is a dining experience.
(5)
John L.
I'm going all fives here. Loved everthing about the experience. Both of us did. Flawless wait staff. Thanks folks - you made a great time even better. Apologies, i dropped your names. Nothing overstated - food offerings-preparation-presentation, service, ambiance, deoor - all of which smacks of confidence and directness, allowing the experience speak for itsellf. Naturally romantic. Not sure what I mean by that but it feels right. Loved the subtle flavors and textures. Made me appreciate the quality all the more. Its easy and safe to bump up both to impress, but, for me, the skill and craftsmanship in the kitchen is in refraining from overpowering foods and instead trusting in the ingredients, preparation and interactions to show off skill and creativity. No fluff or pretentiousness. No misdirections or cover ups. Well done. Very well done. One happy camper here! Make that two. Thanks!
(5)
Tina R.
Go Tina, it's your birthday! We gonna party likes it's your birthday! And so we did...dinner reservations at 8:30pm. We'd been at Luke for happy hour and we'd arrived a touch early so the table was being prepared right at the window with a river view, beautiful! Our server, Chris, has been with the place since it opened. He ran thru the owner's bonafides, explained the restaurant's specialties, then took our drink orders. He returned with one of the best made Manhattan's I'd ever enjoyed along with an assortment of freshly-baked bread. We ordered a spicy lamb sausage & Texas shrimp appetizer served with hummus as well as bibb & radicchio game packets, phenomenal! The flavors were well-balanced and complex. For the main course we struggled but settled on antelope, cooked medium rare, served with quail, a goat cheese tart, Brussel sprouts & a tasty chutney, as well as a mustard-crusted lamb rack with cheesy grits, feta cheese & asparagus. I'm quite the chatty Cathy, but I spoke almost no words throughout this meal because, well, I was eating-amazing! We sealed this perfect meal with a serving of Biga's famous toffee pudding, like a bread pudding enveloped in a splendid toffee sauce, wow! Coupled with an 18 year old Glen Fiddich this was the ideal ending to a perfect meal. Lovely. Romantic. Perfection. Chris? Love, love, great job, thank you!
(5)
Teresa K.
My husband and I dined at Biga on our 3rd day in San Antonio. By then, I had begun to lose faith in San Antonio cuisine due to poor (even disgusting) food at two other well-reviewed places. (My husband started calling me the Queen of Comp.) Biga not only restored my faith in this city's food, but in humanity. Really. We have never experienced such kind care and attention in a wait/host staff. Upon arriving, the host/manager's "We have your reservation and your table is ready" was music to my ears. The service (tag-teamed by Gabriel and Chris) was perfectly executed. Polite, happy, funny, informed, but not pretentious. The food was likewise perfect. I had the lobster bisque. I was initially disappointed because there wasn't any lobster to be seen in the soup but after the first spoonful, I was addicted. Dark, creamy, scattered with caviar. My entree was the bouillabaisse - seafood perfectly cooked, flavorful broth. A light, healthy dish if you're looking for one. (I did request extra bread to sop the broth.) My husband ordered antelope/quail which he really enjoyed. Because they were out of the spaetzle, we ordered the corn pudding as our side and it was very interesting - in a good way. Savory southwest spices with chorizo, perhaps? Again, addicting. For dessert, we had the sticky toffee pudding, the one dessert I always order if it's on any menu. The. Best. Ever. I wanted to order another one but hubby said no. After this meal I literally wanted to cry - happy tears this time. (Non-foodies won't understand this.) I'm not sure how you can dine here and not give it 5 stars. I'd give it 6, if I could.
(5)
Lisa S.
Really great food with attentive service. We went there tonight with a party of 6 and from cocktails to dessert-no complaints. If your looking for a place to splurge for a higher end food experience look no further. You get what you pay for!
(5)
Sacchin T.
The ambience is nice and gentle. The food is definitely worth the prices. The wine selection is diverse and the waiter we had was quiet and efficient. Definitely recommend this spot.
(4)
Brad B.
Went to Biga for restaurant week and it was fantastic! We have been there a few times before but not for a couple of years. I remember it being great and worrying back then there wasn't enough of a crowd to maintain its biz - it is a great aspect of SA and I would be sad if it left. Tonight it was super packed - but even so, the wife and I were immediately seated at the time of our rez. Most important aspect of any restaurant to me is total value. Biga is pricey but the food is excellent and portions are more than generous. Second most important is food and our food tonight was incredible. Since it was restaurant week there were two options of pre fix (sp?) menu. My wife had the grapefruit salad and mahi and I had the chowda and beef tips. The apps were great as far as chowda and salads go - nothing to take off my pants about. But the entrees were both incredible. I am not usually a mahi fan but it was perfectly cooked with a good seer (sp?). My beef was awesome and served in a great sauce (maybe Demi glaze - I really don't know other than it was great. We both had the chocolate mouse and an expresso for desert - both awesome. I really can't comment on value since restaurant week has special pricing. I remember it being expensive when we went before and the wine was good but a bit overpriced compared to the same bottle at other restaurants. We thought the service was a bit less than spectacular but was efficient enough for me. Definitely want to go back soon!
(4)
Tony O.
Really good food. There are many restaurants with good food. This is one if them. Why I have the 5 star rating, was because the wait staff, and in particular, maitre d, was very attentive. Very nice experience.
(5)
Mindy H.
Phenomenal desserts and accommodate gluten free sensitivities. My friend and I came here seeking dessert after having read they had a gluten free option. When we arrived what first caught my eye was the unique modern interior. I loved the use of the gourds and curtains to create more intimate sectioned off areas. They also had a great terrace area that oversaw the river walk. It's not a large place so I would highly recommend reservations. We sat at the bar and when the menu arrived I was saddened to see it had been updated. They update their menus seasonally it appeared. When they heard that I was gluten free, and they had no dessert gluten free options on the menu, the bartender took our orders and asked me to wait while he went back to the kitchen to see what he could do. They were able to make from scratch a delicious melt in your mouth bread pudding. My friend had a fruit tart/crumble which I cant remember the name off. Both of us were in dessert heaven, all paired well with our drinks, thanks to the bartender. If the dessert is this good, the food must be amazing. I am anxious to return and try the salmon nachos which everyone raves about.
This restaurant did an exceptional job for my daughters graduation dinner. We had 13 people and I worked with the manager to pre order champagne and red wine. The table was set in a quiet alcove and all the wines we ordered were perfectly served. The food was awesome and the waitstaff remarkable. This was a perfect venue. I will go back next time I'm in San Antonio!
(5)
Valerie H.
Meh. I'm from Houston, and know fine dining. Biga was good, but not great. The idea of fine dining is usually evident in the dining room, i.e., decor. They need a new interior designer to say the least. I had dinner here while in town on a Saturday night. The chairs are thin and cheaply made...very uncomfortable. It is very dark, with huge dark drapes everywhere... Dungeon-esque. There's also a lot of odd 'sculptures' throughout that look like big, yellow onions...ball shaped. I don't know their purpose, but they're not aesthetically pleasing. The food. Ok. I don't even remember what I ordered. I do remember my drink tasting watered down. This was a couple months ago, so things could have changed . I doubt I will return.
(2)
Kristen M.
We had a reservation at Biga for 8pm, it's in a convenient location on the Riverwalk not far from most of the hotels right off of Market Street. It's got a warm and inviting ambiance and good food, really good food. As an appetizer we enjoyed the Garlic spicy lamb merguez sausage & Texas shrimp, which only came with two of each. I had the Grilled 8 oz beef tenderloin, the beef was cooked perfectly and the corn pudding was excellent! My dining buddy had the Eleven-spiced Hill Country venison and grilled quail. Both of us loved our meals and completely cleared our plates. It is a little pricy, but it's worth it to get away from the chain restaurants and have a really adult meal. It's a classy place but not uncomfortably so. Service was great.
(5)
Marbet R.
This is a wonderful place. Great selections to choose from very clean! Very helpful staff. Excellent customer service!
Let me start by saying I made my Yelp account just to post this review. I'm visiting from DC and have experienced fine dining in NYC and DC on numerous occasions. I am the type of girl who can appreciate cheap beer and pizza with football or a wine pairing multi-course meal with notes from the chef. I have an industry background, understand kitchen slip ups, and know what to expect for certain price points. From the moment I walked in I knew I was going to be disappointed. I had made reservations for myself and requested their best dining experience with a wine pairing if possible. When I arrived at 5:30, I let the hostess know I was alone and just looking to experience the best dining atmosphere to be offered. She pushed aside a stack of menus being created and silverware at the bar and told me I could sit there until the menus were done. There were so many tables open and I inquired about sitting at a table. I was assured that because I was dining alone the bar was "full service" and would be fine. A large group sat next to me a few minutes later for drinks while waiting for their table and were given wine menus. I asked to borrow one. When the bartender arrived, he took their order first, even after they pointed out I was first. I ordered a glass and waited for my bread. My glass arrived with a huge "Go Texan" logo on the side; cheap and tacky. The bread was nothing special, just average bread and butter. During the bread, a runner knocked my purse off the back of my bar stool. He turned around to see what he hit, said sorry, and then kept walking...leaving my purse on the ground for me to get. I started my meal with a cheese course. This was brought with no silverware. I requested something, like a cheese knife, from the bartender and was met with a puzzled stare. They didn't have that and I was brought standard silverware. I ordered the aged NY strip, rare, with foie gras. The steak was closer to medium and served over potatoes and asparagus. With the exception of the foie gras (which is pretty hard to mess up), it was very average and bland, even with the demi-glace. Definitely not a $60 steak. Never was I offered salt or pepper. During this course the bartender did ask me how everything was going and offered more wine. A table runner (or waiter?) interrupted me to ask if I was alone and tell me HOW GREAT it was that I could dine alone. Thanks? It was super awkward. Finally, I ordered the Grand Mariner souffle. This was the highlight of my evening. It was executed well and tasted phenomenal. This and the wine were the only things that tasted and met the price point spot on. It definitely showed that they had a pastry chef. Once I finished, the bartender brought the check without asking if I wanted coffee, port, etc. Ultimately, this was an okay dining experience. The price? No way does it reflect the level of service. I paid almost $200 to sit at the bar? Next to menus and silverware? It was such a let down because I saw the ratings and thought this would be a little taste of the East Coast. Maybe this is fine dining in San Antonio. Maybe I had a bad experience? BUT, if I am paying that amount of money, I am paying for the small details. I should not be next to silverware getting rolled. I should not have to ask for silverware. I should not be having to get my own purse off the ground or fend off some employee talking to me about how brave I am for being alone. I get the impression the chef wants this to be high end...but doesn't have the knowledgeable staff to execute. Definitely won't be back for the price and poor atmosphere.
(3)
Jamie H.
my colleagues and i went to biga on the banks for a team dinner, and overall the menu items were appealing and the food was really good. we enjoyed the atmosphere, and would certainly plan to go back again. we started with a few apps for the table and the waiter also brought us a beef fajita roll up with pickled onions on top that was really nice., the salmon nachos were delicious, with a piece of smoked salmon over some sort of creamy cheese on each chip. just 5 came in the order, so the waiter made it a plate of 8 so we could each have one. the sizzling mushrooms were also delicious, and came with large yellow and red cherry tomatoes. be aware that the scallops were quite spicy, but served over some grits. we also tried a grilled sausage and shrimp dish served over hummus that was interesting and pretty good. i knew the appetizers would be pretty filling, so i just ordered a salad for my dinner, with a side of roasted brussels sprouts as well as a duck egg. the egg was cooked perfectly, with just enough yolk to make it a perfect addition to the salad. the salad had blood oranges, an avocado flower, and greens. i also tried a bite of my colleague's pork and it was moist and cooked very nicely. others at the table really seemed to enjoy the various fish and meat options (mahi mahi, salmon, venison, etc.) our only complaint was that there was an extremely loud table next to us. the group was singing loudly and yelling, and this went on for over an hour. we were really disappointed that the waitstaff did not do anything to quell the noise or ask them to quiet down. finally, a woman from the party came over and asked us to "please endure" since it was a team building activity. well, we were having a team dinner too and were certainly able to keep our volume reasonable. due to the noise, we decided not to stay for dessert. overall, it was a great tasting dinner and i would definitely recommend biga and would look forward to going back.
(4)
Jeff M.
Incredible!! I had the "35 day aged" strip steak with the mashers. Unreal! It's offered about every 5 weeks. They're menu changes daily, and the menu is full. Finished it off with a legendary Chocolate Toffee Pudding Cake. My wife and I both agreed, it very well might be the bestow dessert either of us have ever had...just ridiculous how good it was. The vibe is perfect. Romantic and relaxed. Noise level is ideal and the service - from the manager to our waiter (Casey-EXCELLENT!) were fantastic. You have to visit Biga before you leave to go home during your stay in SA.
(5)
Shawnda M.
My husband and I went here on our "date night" in San Antonio. As fellow Restauranteurs we are always looking for places with a beautiful atmosphere, great food, and good service. Biga on the Banks has found the recipe. Although a relatively young restaurant, I'm sure they will be around for years to come.
(5)
Curt S.
Just great cooking going on here! The duck is always amazing, we have always left full and happy from this place. Dinner can be a bit expensive, but don't let that scare you away! One of the absolute best of San Antonio.
(5)
Stephanie H.
We walked in to a romantic setting, quiet, on the river, and dark, but not too dark. We were seated promptly and given menus. My daughter, who had just turned 10 the day before accompanied us and was given a children's menu as well. While perusing the menu, we made our decisions and we were brought ice water, and a three types of bread basket as well as some butter. We decided early on to try the salmon nachos. They were brought out to us promptly and we enjoyed them. My daughter had a choice of a few different things and decided that she was going to have the fillet, the kids menu comes with the entree, a drink of choice, and a dessert, she chose the brownie with ice cream. My husband decided almost immediately that he wanted to try the Nigali (venison) in a juniper sauce, and quail. I settled on the mustard crusted lamb rack. I asked our server for a wine recommendation and we were brought a Cambria Pinot Noir, which was amazing. We also ordered side of the asparagus and mushroom trumpet saute. I was able to try all of the different meals brought to our table. My daughters steak was great, she enjoyed the mushrooms and fresh green beans as well. My husbands venison was fantastic, cooked perfectly, but for me, the quail took the show on his plate. Seasoned just right, perfectly cooked, and I had never had the chance to try quail before, but I immediately fell in love. My lamb, was the most incredible lamb, I've ever tasted, it had some grilled asparagus, some cheese grits to offset the flavors of the rest of the items, a few mushrooms, feta, and shaved fennel. It was simply amazing. I ate as much as I could handle (while still saving a bit of room for dessert), and I made sure that I took the remainder home with me to savor more when I had more room. For dessert, we decided to try the famed Grand Marnier Souffle with orange anglaise. We ordered it when our meals arrived, so that it would be ready after we had our main meal. Finally, my husband and I finished our wine, enjoyed the rest of our evening, paid our bill and left. We also casually mentioned to our waiter that it was our daughters 10th birthday, as well as our 13th wedding anniversary. They made a note of it on our dessert plates and I thought that was a very nice touch. One thing to note, this isn't a cheap restaurant, but I would consider it well worth the extra money. I would love to return, we just might have to wait for our next anniversary. =)
(5)
Donald L.
If you are looking for a good restaurant on the river walk, this is it. A James Beard nominated chef serves a nice variety of American cuisine. I recommend the roasted cauliflower and a steak because after all, you are in cattle country. The patio is one level up from the river walk. On a nice evening, I recommend the outdoors. Get a nice bottle of wine and enjoy the evening. The service was top notch.
(4)
John S.
Great service and ambiance.
(4)
Alecto A.
After eating my way through San Antonio I decided to cap it all off with a delicious meal at Biga. First, I must commend our server, Rudy, who was both a delightful person and an incredibly attentive server. We chose to be at the chef's mercy for dinner and it was a mind-blowing experience. The wine paired perfectly with the meal and the meal paired perfectly with my palate. Everything went above my expectations and I walked away elated. Thank you, Rudy, for putting the spark in the meal; the experience would not have been the same without you. Go, eat, and be merry.
(5)
Adam R.
I really wanted to give this place five stars, but two factors lead me to dropping one star off, further down in the review! We went here because we were in town and found it on Yelp. Little did we know that we were going to dine with a seven James Beard chef. We were also impressed that most of the staff have been at this establishment since it opened many years ago. This should say a lot. I ordered the filet which was cooked perfectly and the overall dish was perfect. Great flavors and well put together. We started our meal with the onion rings, which were absolutely delicious. Something so simple made so well. The pickled vegetables went well with them, although the waiter mentioned no one eats them. They are not just garnish! Speaking of which, our waiter was wonderful, I don't recall his name but he was very attentive, perfect in his address and delivery of information and the food. Very well done. Now, why might you ask, did I drop a star from my rating. Well, two things. We sat on the patio because we wanted to view the river walk, which is just fine. But the chairs on the patio or horrendously uncomfortable. Not sure why such a cheap and uncomfortable chair, but dang. The second reason I dropped a star was with my drink. We are in the south people, they serve lots of tea and most places server both sweet and unsweet. I asked the waiter if they had sweat tea, which they don't and I was ok with that. It's the south, tea is tea. Well, not here. Tasted like it was from a fountain, strange fruity flavor. Not tea in my book. Highly recommend this place for sure!
(4)
Patrick T.
Fantastic. Potstickers- some of the best I've ever had, perfectly seasoned meat, crisp and tender shell. Quail and venison- wonderful balance of textures and flavors Duck- This is how I measure the chops of a restaurant, and Biga really hit the mark. Just enough crisp fat on the duck breast, perfectly done (not too rare as some restaurants do to maintain tenderness), with a risotto side which would be a fine meal by itself. The best part was service by Christopher. He explained the restaurant, its philosophies, the various dishes, all without rushing or being perfunctory. Very professional and yet personable.
I just don't get it. How did this restaurant get 5 star reviews??? Based on the Yelp reviews, I tried them Biga this memorial day weekend. The service is so-so & the food was just "okay". The black drum was salty, the steak according to my hubby was just good, the wine pairing was not so good & the dessert we had to send back. For the price of our dinners it was very disappointing. We would NOT recommend this restaurant.
(3)
Carolyn A.
A Yelp letdown. The food was a mixed bag and nowhere near as amazing as the reviews suggested. The fried foie gras was gross, both in terms of texture and the combination with French toast and blueberry pie filling. The fried dumplings had a Taiwanese style that was simple and very good. The venison/quail dish was more style than substance -- the venison was a little dry, the sauce was super salty, the goat cheese tart was a mess, and the browned Brussels sprouts were undercooked and not at all brown. The apple crisp was good. The service was fine. The space is beautiful and relaxing.
(3)
Richard J.
Found the restaurant on Yelp and was impressed with the posted comments. We we're in SA and my wife had her birthday so I booked and we had a lovely evening at Biga. Menu has a fine selection of dishes to taste. Presentation of the food is excellent BUT make sure you leave room for the "sticky toffee pudding". I found my taste buds were not aroused. I would recommend BIGA but most likely would not mark it down as a place to revisit.
(4)
cheng k.
Excellent restaurant. Beautiful decor inside, friendly and attentive staff. The food was quite good. Haute Cuisine. Will return the next time i'm in San Antonio!
(4)
Gary M.
My wife and I were in town on vacation. This restaurant was highly recommended by the hotel concierge. So we made it our first stop. And, we were not disappointed. To make this easy, I'll get right to the point: PROs: - LOCATION: centrally located in downtown and on the Riverwalk w/ beautiful view from inside and outside areas) - ATMOSPHERE: beautiful multi-tier layout w/ nice decor, dimmed lighting w/ candles, and an ambience conducive for romantic dinners-for-2 and less intimate gatherings) - SEATING: multiple sizes of tables, comfortable chairs/booths, and several private areas/niches that could be secluded from the rest of the restaurant by a hanging curtain for those that wanted to dine in privacy - FOOD: amazing flavors and presentation (we had venison, quail, risotto, ... ) w/ emphasis on buying/using local (which we love) - SERVICE: TOP-NOTCH! I need to specifically call-out our waiter, Christopher Sanders, who ensured the entire evening was perfect. Can't say enough about this guy or how well he took care of us. So request a table w/ Chris - you won't be disappointed. CONs: - it's a bit pricey, but I can't really knock them for that since they're a higher-end establishment w/ a frequently changing menu comprised mostly of local food items We will definitely be going back next time we're in town and will be requesting Chris, specifically, to be our waiter.
(5)
Andy D.
Enjoyed an arguably perfect meal. Allowed our exceptionally professional Server, Christopher Sanders (be sure to request his 16 yrs of experience) to choose the main course...best lamb I have ever tasted! Outstanding experience overall!
(5)
Katherine F.
We had dinner here one night while visiting San Antonio. Great food and atmosphere. We'll definitely be back if we're ever in San Antonio.
(5)
Jayden H.
We had the lamp and the ribeye. The place was nice and the atmosphere inside was also good. The food, in contrast, was just not bad. It was decent in taste, but I didn't feel its worth of $180. Overpriced.
(3)
Sarah P.
Wow! Love being impressed! From ambiance to service to wonderful cuisine. This place will not disappoint! Found this place by recommendation and it sure was a good one. Walking distance from most RIVERWALK hotels.
(5)
Cindy R.
The view was among the many pluses to this place! We loved the blackened prime rib and the lamb! The souffle and sticky toffee pudding were among the best we've had!
(5)
Amy G.
Biga on the Banks: what an exquisite place to dine in our very own San Antonio! Nothing says fine dining like top notch service, fancy plates of scrumptious food and a serene view of the San Antonio River. A must-have at Biga's? The House-Apple smoked salmon nachos, albeit there were only five nachos, were the best nachos I've ever tasted (five! -That's as many fingers as I have on my hands, yes, one nacho per finger, literally.). I literally takes longer to state your order 'house-apple salmon nachos' than to actually eat the dish. For the main course, I had the Achiote Roasted pork tenderloin, which had a nice rich flavored sauce. It wasn't fantastic, though and left me wishing I'd been a bit braver and opted to try duck for what would have been my first time. For dessert my boyfriend and I chose the Mexican chocolate mousse, a nice little ode to our predominately Mexican American culture here in SA, was nice and chocolate-y and proved almost too delicious to share. Coupled with some coffee it made for a pleasant and rich denouement to the evening. Overall, Biga is a beautiful restaurant that, upon first glance of your surroundings can come off a bit stuffy, but the attentive staff, and overall ambience leave you feeling comfortable and quite pleased with your restaurant experience. If I could change anything about the menu: I would have loved more salmon nachos! If anything, treat yourself to a happy hour with the nachos. Just keep in mind there's as many nachos as there are Spurs Championships-and while in the world of championship rings that might be a big number, it's not so as far as nachos go. Which made me realize why the wealthy are so thin-they hardly have any food to eat ;) Anyway, come prepared for a beautiful evening with great food. As I said when we sat down to eat: Go Biga, or go home.
I skipped an appetizer and snacked on bread, then had the venison quail dish and then the toffee dessert. It was all amazing
(5)
Cindy W.
This was my third visit in the past year! Every experience has been beyond expectations. Michael the wine manager hit the nail on the head with his cab recommendation to pair with the dry aged New York strip, and he remembered me from a previous visit! Casey our server was very knowledgeable about the dishes and the local sourcing of our fare, his service was outstanding. The food was super yummy. House made pickled veggies and habanero ketchup elevated fresh tempura onion rings. The crab stuffed snapper dish was a symphony of harmonious flavors. I love this place because the food is always excellent, the staff is detail and service orientated, best of all, they are welcoming.
(5)
Selena L.
The best service!! and the definitely try the desert!
(5)
Daniel W.
Best fine dining restaurant in san antonio! Has there own valet service so parking is a breeze in the normally crowded riverwalk parking fiasco, the service from the wait staff is the best in the city. I had been numerous times and every time service is exceptional. My only quirk on the waiters introduction is that it is scripted, every time I hear it, I believe I'm starting to remember it, lol maybe I should get a job there, but I digress. The wine beer, and beverage list is immense and fairly open to any price range, the wait staff is extremely helpful and insightful. The prompt way that every thing is delivered at is refreshing. The food is amazing, ive had one complaint and it was immediately fixed. They have a great 4 course symphony menu that changes weekly as well. I know I sound very biased, but I assure you its merely a coincidence due to the professionalism they bring. My last point, my gf and I ate here a couple months ago, and I made reservations for 9, I got lost downtown so we arrived "unfashionably" late at 940, I work in a kitchen so I understand how upsetting and somewhat un couth that this is. Everyone from the hostess to the manager, to the waiter that served us was nothing but smiles while serving us. And for that, I say you definitely need to go!
(5)
Meghan M.
Biga on the Banks was a decent choice for a client dinner while in San Antonio. A few things were off, though... When we arrived, approximately 20 minutes early for our reservation, the restaurant was empty aside from maybe 5 tables but they would not seat us until our reservation time. We grabbed a seat at the bar and had a drink until the time was up. The bartender made a lovely martini, albeit, quite pricey. A martini, a margarita, and a club soda came to $30. When seated, we waited a bit for the server but when he came by, things moved quickly. We ordered just main courses...most of which were over $40 (!!)...and they came out in less than 10 minutes. The lamb was delicious and others seemed pleased with their choices as well. A side of brussel sprouts was ordered but never showed up. For a special occasion or if you're going with the prix fix menu, this spot is probably quite a good choice. We were in-and-out, ordered a la carte, and were not seated with a view of the river walk so we may not have gotten the full experience.
(3)
cathy f.
Recommended by our bartender at our hotel. Menu had a great variety of seafood and steak. I ordered the Mahi Mahi with fingerling potatoes and green beans. Presentation of plate was incredible!! Server was friendly and responsive. Great wine selection too:)) Lastly the vanilla cheesecake was incredible:))
(4)
Becky M.
Prices are not for the faint of heart, but every aspect of the meal was spot-on. The service may have been a bit over-the-top, but our server was definitely passionate about the chef, the food, and the beverage options. Pumpkin soup with a bit of whiskey. Creamy and wonderful. Because I am not normally in TX, I had squab....nicely cooked and the butternut squash & Brussel sprouts that accompanied it were nearly equally as good. My companions were quiet during most of the meal....we were all happy with what we had chosen. They especially liked the Old Fashioned from the bar. :) I was in San Antonio for a conference, so I don't know if and when I'll be back...but I certainly enjoyed my experience.
(4)
Krissy P.
I was here for dinner on 02/15/15. The place is nice as expected for the price point and the service was great. We ordered 2 apps to share the scallop ( yes one scallop) with jerk sauce and the black ink linguini with oysters. Those were delicious! However the entrees were lacking we ordered the top 3 that the server suggested which were the Mustard crusted Texas lamb rack, Close-to-Bouillabaise and the venison and grilled quail. All of the 3 dishes were okay. I expected better pairing from this price point. The drinks were good and the ambience was great. I am glad we tried and might go back for something different but not for the same entrees I ordered.
(3)
Cleo M.
I really wish that I could give half-stars! I wouldn't say I'm a huge fan of Biga, per se, but it wasn't just okay, either. Alas, I rounded up to four stars since my deductions are relatively minor. On to the review! The most striking negative to this place (based on my one experience there) is that the whole staff seemed rather uppity and treated our group in a rather condescending fashion. A few of the items (or ingredients) on the menu are not going to be familiar to you, most likely, as they are not standard fare, but whenever we asked questions about those items the server would act almost baffled and respond in a way that made you feel like a nuisance for daring to ask such an 'audacious' question. Oh well; perhaps I'm not cut out to be a regular at Biga. None of us really felt welcomed at any time during our meal, and it was actually strange because oftentimes we would look around and see some of the staff whispering to each other, looking in our direction, and then laughing. Not exactly the best way to attract newcomers! (and no, we were not dressed in any extreme manner, nor did we act in any way that stood out) I highly doubt that is a usual occurrence, but it definitely put a damper on our visit for obvious (and weird) reasons.. I did like the decor and general feel of the restaurant; we went for a leisurely weekday lunch and there were many other casual diners probably from neighboring hotels. Only the staff seemed uppity; not the restaurant itself. However, if you want a place where you can observe the activity of the Riverwalk while you enjoy your meal, as a native San Antonian I can tell you this is probably not the restaurant for you; it's definitely on the quieter side of things. For those concerned with cost, there ARE considerably cheaper items on the menu that will cut your costs. I got a Thai Salad, which was tasty and full of the thinnest shredded vegetables you will ever see, but I don't know that I would go out of my way to recommend it to anyone. The tempura shrimp that I got with the salad was VERY good, however, and I wish I had just gotten a whole plate of those. The fact that they apparently try to use local ingredients whenever possible was another plus for me personally. My boyfriend also loved his meal, which was some kind of roasted chicken with vegetables. They bring out quite a variety of lovely breads before the meal as well! The food earned most of the stars here. Since my s.o. and I purposely got cheaper items, I can't really say if I felt it was overpriced or not, but overall I think Biga is worth trying if only for the food. Whether or not you will feel welcomed seems to vary from person to person; if you choose to eat here, I hope the staff is nicer to you than they were to us!
(4)
Andy Y.
What a Biga Disapointment!
(2)
Wil F.
Looking to impress that special someone with a romantic dinner? Call ahead and book table #1, a corner table overlooking the riverwalk, with the ability to close floor to ceiling drapes to create a more intimate setting. Food was very good - found some interesting things mixed on our plates, like cranberries and mashed potatoes. Deserts, specifically the sticky toffee bread pudding, were fantastic. Service was excellent (thanks, Beth).
(4)
Cody L.
After a full day in a hotel pool (hint drunk) we cabbed it to Biga On the Banks. Not wanting to make a decision, we went ALL IN and did the 8 course tasting menu for 4 people and left all the decisions to the waiters and chefs. We got top - top - top service after that even though we were on the fun side of annoying (hint drunk.) Wine was great, all the courses were fantastic and well chosen. Toward the end of the meal we built up to venison and beef, by that time we were all struggling with the amount of food but it was still great. Dessert was out of this world. Coffee at the end might have saved all of us from exploding. We did drop quite a bit of money on this meal, but I've been to other restaurants, Congress in Austin for example, where for the same money you only got 4 courses and wine. Here we got 8 + amuse bouche + wine + coffee. Pimpin ain't cheap.
(5)
Caitlin B.
Food is awful. Ordered the chicken fried oysters and they had zero flavor. The sauce was bland, the squid ink linguine was flavorless and oily, and you wouldn't know chard was in there unless you saw it. The oysters themselves were not special. The Asian veggie salad was fine but the tempura shrimp were inedible, they were very iodine-flavored, which often happens with jumbo shrimp, but it's really gross. The bread in the bread basket was cold. I am just in San Antonio for one night and am very disappointed I chose to eat here.
(1)
James A.
Excellent food and good service. We had Foie Gras, Habenero Jerk Scallop, Lamb, and Bouillabaisse. But just a notch below Bella on the River, which is also on the River Walk. Bella has equally good food, better service, and is less expensive.
(4)
Wendy H.
great service and great food!
(5)
Ferdinand H.
Between 4-5. Solid food. Had lamb shank and a salad, both of which were delicious. My friend and I had glasses of wine (He went Chard for his boulliabaise), and I had a malbec. Toffee pudding was our dessert choice, with some 10 year port. Decor was modern with a slightly rustic undertone. It's homey and intimate, and the service was genuinely eager to interact. All in all, a great experience. In one week, I went back twice!
(4)
Brian P.
Delicious-- I went to dinner with a boss, and she had the boulliabase-like creation and absolutely loved it. Wonderful use of saffron in an unconventional way (with the toast!). Great fresh seafood. I had a salad to start, and it was delicious (minus the bug that was in the organic greens--promptly replaced). I also had some nice quail and venison. Overall great presentation. It felt good to eat there, and the wine was fun. Definitely a place for a sense of occasion (albeit comfortable, somewhat relaxed)--not your every day meal.
(4)
Krista A.
I was in San Antonio for business and my colleague and I were brought here by some locals. We were greeted by a host that was probably there for eye candy and were promptly seated. No reservations on our part, but we walked in and got a table for 6 right away. I started off with the foie gras (with french toast & a blueberry glaze) and it was perfectly cooked. The foie gras + my favorite breakfast meal was a perfect combination and the only other time I enjoyed it as much was at The Oval Room in Washington, DC. It was an A+. Other people in my group got the Chicken Fried Oysters and couldn't stop raving about them. I wasn't extremely hungry (and wanted to save room for dessert) so I got the onion soup and it was pleasantly warm and inviting, especially since it was pretty cold outside. I was expecting more of a french onion-type soup, but it was thick and a little creamy. The Parmesan croutons were crunchy, with a woody taste, and the ended up being an amazing addition to the soup. I'd give the soup a solid B. I've had better, but the croutons made it. My dessert was the almond cake. It comes with homemade ice cream (that was so delicious I scooped it all up) and a chocolate-covered poached pear. We each ordered a different dessert and I ended up trying all of them. My favorite out of all of the desserts was the Hazelnut one. I'd recommend it, the almond cake, or creme brulee any day of the week. I'd give the desserts an A+. There are so many different things to choose from so everyone in the group will be able to find something they like. It's definitely worth saving some room for! The next time I'm in San Antonio, I will surely be stopping back in to see what is on the new daily menu!
(5)
Michael S.
Quite simply put this place is okay. The food is average and the prices are steep. If you're solely looking for a restaurant with good decor this might be a good place, but outside of that dont expect much. The food is bland, lacking of any true flavor and is poorly thought out. In addition, the service our table had was pretty poor and our waiter was a bit condescending.
(2)
Kaliko Y.
Here for one night and thought this was a great choice. Ordered Margarita on the rocks, freshly made....delicious. Service was impeccable: attentive, accurate, helpful. Ordered Close to Bouillabase and Snapper Dishes. I liked the Snapper, but the Soup was great App was fantastic Jalapeno Scallops. Try them &you will see. Sticky Pudding for dessert.... perfect for sharing. Happy I dined here, sat at the bar, but patio was nice too.
(4)
Kels R.
I don't eat at restaurants like this often, so when I do it's a treat. But this was just phenomenal. One of the best meals I've ever had. Firstly, our waitress was fantastic. She was Australian and very knowledgeable. She recommended exactly the right plates! I ordered a salad, which had vegetable strips, crunchies, shittake, Thai inspired sesame and ginger dressing and it was to die for. If I thought that wasn't good enough, we all ordered the house special because it sounded that good: homemade fettucini, lobster and a creamy wine sauce ( I wish I could remember the details but it was the special of the night.) There were also mushrooms in there. I have never eaten anything so good. We all ate this with Sauvignon Blanc. For dessert I ordered one of the crumbles which was, yes you guessed it, also to die for. I also tasted the sticky toffee pudding (mmmm). When I'm rich someday I'm driving to SA just to go here!
(5)
Kay T.
Men, if you're looking for an exceptional spot to impress your new lady friend, Biga on the Banks should be a main contender. It is the perfect spot for a date. I'm all about some romance, and here you can sit inside the cozy romantic space or grab a table outside and watch the stars go by, whichever suits your fancy. Either way you're sure to make your lady happy. My most recent experience at Biga was just incredible. From the moment we walked in the door, service was absolutely top notch. We arrived for our 9pm reservation a bit early so they seated us at the bar for a moment but took us to our table before 9. Our drink orders were filled, we enjoyed some delicious champagne and perused the menu. Prices here are certainly above average in San Antonio however, I feel like a splurge every now and then is good for the soul. Or at least good to make a girl feel like you think she's really special, whatever the case may be. Everything looked so absolutely amazing. We wound up ordering several things. The salmon nachos are still at the top of my list. The quality of ingredients, the creativity of the menu, the superior service, and the incredible company made this one of my favorite nights ever. Ever. And please don't get me started on the desserts. I had no business taking even one more bite after the utter gluttony in which I had just partaken, but rest assured we cleaned the plates of not one but two delectable desserts. If you too are looking for a special place to make great memories and eat something amazing, put Biga at the top of your list!
(5)
Andrew B.
I loved my time there. The food the service the atmosphere. I'm not a big spender, but this place was well worth it! I can not complain about this place I absolutely love it!
(5)
Laura A.
Been wanting to come here for a while, and I wasn't disappointed. I had the mustard-crusted rack of lamb, and my husband had the tenderloin. We both would have licked our plates if weren't for rules of etiquette! Our waiter Brett was knowledgeable and very nice, and we could barely put a dent in our waters, as they were constantly refilled. Entrees aren't cheap - but holy balls they're good.
(5)
Chris K.
Delicious! I ordered the tasting and the chef pulled out all of the stops preparing food that was not even on the menu. I will be back when I visit San Antonio again.
(4)
Trey E.
Biga easily earns its five stars. They have stellar service, excellent fare, and an atmosphere unrivaled on the otherwise touristy Riverwalk. All the food is delish, from the signature salmon pizza app and Hawaiian onion rings to the halibut main; and if you skip out on the sticky toffee pudding dessert you shouldn't be allowed to dine at nice places ever again. The wine list is surprisingly well rounded. There are plenty of private dining options, and I'd recommend booking a table by the window so you can see out onto the river below.
(5)
Tony A.
"Big flavors that can be supersized" With work in the rearview mirror, I thought I end my stay having dinner with a friend of mine. The place that we ended up was certainly eclectic. I think this place is a better fit for being a wine bar. There are a few unique things about the menu. One, there are no specials period. The menu changes as the ingredient season changes. Two, there is no underlying cuisine origin since they consider themselves a fusion place (I would say asian and mexican dominates the dishes). We started out dinner with the salmon nachos, had the tuna salad and duck noodles w/ master sauce and ended dinner with chocolate molten lava cake and the bread pudding. I think overall each dish prioritizes on the bold flavors of the ingredients (i.e. master sauce in the duck dish vs. the duck). Lastly, there is a half order option, while some say that this is the smaller portion I would say its normal but we are in TX. SO if you get the full order it is almost like a supersize. I think I would come back here with some fellow foodies who like to share their orders and some money to drop for wine (* you know who you are wink wink)
(4)
Arvinder S.
Great service, great ambiance. You do pay a premium. I had the "full" portion of the antelope and quail, but my friend and I both agreed it still wasn't big. Another friend had the rack of lamb and it was filling and delicious. For appetizers, I had the froie gars half portion but it was quite small. Server was great and informative. Overall, it was nice to try, would return if I had a money tree.
(4)
Marianne M.
gross- found a hair in my food - that was after roaches dived in my appetizer( if you eat outside) which i don't mind per se.. the staff's attitude is like "oh it's the first time it ever happened" the waiter had a weird vibe but nice ... the food is "fake fancy food" i give it one star for its bad value , lack of intimacy, bad food and ugly 90s decor
(1)
IM G.
Outstanding!! Come early for the 3 course meal. Fantastic surprise- was absolutely delicious!
(5)
lauren m.
Fabulous dining experience! Used my Living Social coupon to get a great meal here. We didn't get a reservation, but we had no problem sitting at the full-service salad. I recommend the bar. The service was great and perfect. Started with the duck confit - delicious and salty. Moved on to entrees - I had the half order of bouillabaisse. I like that they offer half orders. Mine was delicious and had a generous portion of seafood for a half order. The dessert, a pumpkin cream cheese roulade, was AMAZING. It's served with Brindles ice cream. I love Brindles and love that they're offering local ice creams. One complaint - we were told there weren't any tables available for two and a half hours. We were there for two hours, and there was a table right behind us completely open the whole time. I know they're a busy restaurant, but that's kind of ridiculous.
(5)
Ryan F.
I was thoroughly impressed with Biga On the Banks; the food was delicious and the service was prompt and attentive. The menu is unique. I would highly recommend for an enjoyable fine dining experience.
(5)
Jon P.
I would have given it five stars, but some of the food was just "okay". The service was incredible and that was five stars. The chicken, which I read reviews about, was a bit too smokey and the flavor was confusing and mixed. My wife commented that I make a better roasted chicken at home. The three cheese appetizer varies on what they are serving that night. Ours was a blue cheese, brie and Gouda type cheeses. It was one of the high points of the evening. Very smooth, creamy and complex cheeses. The Grand Mariner souffle fell flat on our taste buds (no pun intended). It tasted like egg whites. Much too eggy a flavor. There is an outdoor seating area on the Riverwalk. Inside the restaurant the windows are large. Almost anywhere you sit allows for a good view of the Riverwalk. We would go again.
(4)
Brian B.
High end place, very refined food and presentation and yes you pay for it. But the chef really has some interesting combinations of flavor that were excellent. The foie gras starter was really rich, creamy and great smeared on bread. The rare tuna with grilled asparagus was also real good and the coconut creme brulee finished things perfect. Big wine list also with bottles or by the glass. Good place for a date I would think.
(4)
Kira T.
Biga is a wonderful dining experience, head and shoulders above most Riverwalk restaurants. But buyer be warned, this place is not for the faint of heart or slim of wallet! We booked online, and like others mentioned, received complimentary champagne upon arrival, which was a very nice touch. The service was phenomenal: attentive but not intrusive. Perfect. The food was mostly really good, with some misses and a few home runs. We tried the pot stickers for an app, and they were gone within minutes. They were a bit on the greasy side, but the spiciness of the sauce cut through the fat to make for a tasty balanced bite. I also ordered the cheese plate, with three cheeses. Each cheese was delicious, and the accompaniments were awesome: honeycomb, fig cake, and crusty bread. The entrees were a little less memorable: halibut, which was perfectly cooked but a bit underseasoned, a scrumptious curry soup, and a salad that was totally forgettable. I was too stuffed to try the signature toffee pudding, but I will definitely save room next time, as I've heard great things.
(4)
Diego B.
It was the best I had while in San Antonio, and I guess this is as good as it gets around there, but not even close to a good restaurant in LA. It tries to be great, it is good, but nothing memorable. Ok wine list.
(4)
Nadia I.
Absolutely loved this restaurant! We were walk ins on a Saturday night, needing a table for 5 and the hostess was very gracious and got us in as quickly as she possibly could. I had the snapper, which was delicious, and I also tasted the lamb from someone at the table and it was perfect. The steaks also looked juicy and perfectly cooked. We shared appetizers and desserts which were both really good, and we ate the last bits of all of it despite getting very full. Out waiter was great, he realized we were there to have a good family time and interrupted us the least bit he possibly could while still being very attentive. One of the best meals I have had on the Riverwalk, would definitely go back and recommend it to friends.
(5)
Liquid G.
The wife and I were in San Antonio for Thanksgiving and I wanted to try at least one local fine dining establishment in the city. We looked at a number of places like Feast, Bliss, Il Sogno, etc. but being that we were staying downtown we settled on Biga because we didn't have to get the car out of valet, we could walk the few blocks easily, the menu looked great, all the James Beard nominations, and the name just seemed to imply something different and creative. What an incredible disappointment. Such a huge disappointment for me the wife almost hit me for not shutting up about it. First, the positives: The service was impeccable. It's definitely fine dining, so they can afford to take the team approach to service. You're not dependent on just your server to refill your drinks or get you anything you might need. Having said that though, our server was the lead and he did a fantastic job. Superior, attentive service without being condescending, intrusive, or pretentious. He was very knowledgeable about the menu and could tell us the particulars about each item. He made nice recommendations for wine pairings as well. The wife accidently tipped over her demi-glace for her ribeye and the waitstaff team cleaned it up immediately in a very unobtrusive manner and replaced her side dish without prompting. The food: The wife ordered the ribeye, which is topped with two huge Shiner bock battered onion rings, mashed potatoes, and green beans. I ordered the early 3-course special of Beef tenderloin tips which comes with a pumpkin bisque, and sticky toffee pudding. How does a multi-nominated restaurant that charges $45 mess up a ribeye?? It's hard for a home cook to mess up ribeyes! Under-seasoned and over-cooked, unbelievable! And those Shiner bock onion rings?? It was like eating a strip of onion encased in a sopapilla - far too much breading and way too sweet. Ugggh, I'm going stop. I can't even finish this review. The rest of the fare was just as bad. Mushy tenderloin tips, some weird fried plaintain chip that wasn't creative as much as it was out of place and pointless. Signature sticky toffee that was fine, but come on, chocolate cake in a bed of crème anglaise and toffee flavoring, big whoop. We went for great food. We should have just gone to Boudro's both nights - better views of the Riverwalk and tastier food. If I wanted pedestrian fare I would have gone to any of the touristyplaces and paid far less. This whole episode makes me question the James Beard foundation and their nominations. I admit, we didn't order the house signature dishes, but if you're going to charge those prices for everything, than everything on the menu should be great.
(1)
kira e.
Delish, great service, nice atmosphere, bouillabaisse was awesome!
(4)
Vyna H.
Service was great, food was good however it wasn't outstanding. Just typical & average. We stayed at the grand Hyatt & walked to Biga. Which was a further stroll than I imagined. I ordered the lamb & my bf had steak. As with most lamb if you don't like the gaming smell don't order. His steak was a but over cooked. Although I ordered the half rack she gave me the full rack & charged me full rack price so make sure you. Good date or double night spot. decor was nice had a south American vibe to it.
(3)
Dusty D.
My wife and I came here for her birthday and had an awesome time. As soon as we walked in we knew that it was going to be a great experience. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. The food and wine were both spectacular. We started our meal with the cheese plate of Gouda and Black River Blue. My wife had the heirloom tomato salad and I had the sweet potato & ancho chili soup. Again, both dishes were amazing. Our entrees included the pork roast and scallops and again we were beyond pleased. We finished our dinner with the Grand Marnier souffle. The food is not only cooked perfectly but plated perfectly as well. This is a wonderful place for a date and we will make this a regular stop whenever we visit San Antonio.
(5)
Shirl S.
Biga is definitely one of the better restaurants I've been to in San Antonio. If you're looking for a very nice ambiance and fine dining then this is the place for you! The food was excellent. We got the Onion rings & Salmon Nachos to start & a couple glasses of wine. The onion rings were a safe choice since my fiance doesn't have an adventurous palate, but they didn't disappoint, especially paired with their habanero ketchup. If you like raw sushi, then you'll like the nachos, as I did. For dinner he ordered steak & I ordered the red snapper. Both superb. The only reason why I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because service was just "ok". I expect for a dining experience that costs over $125 to have service that's exceptional. The waiter checked on us a few times the whole dinner & didn't really make conversation or go above & beyond.
(4)
Ninette H.
Phenomenal! Enjoyed a wonderful dinner here Sat Nov 17, 2012. Waiter was well informed and knowledgeable about wine list, menu and food preparation. Very accommodating in splitting appetizers so my husband and I did not have to pass plates back and forth. We started with mushroom risotto with baby arugula which was a perfect blending of flavors, next had the warmed spinach salad which was also perfect. Moved on to our mains : rack of lamb with cheese grits and asparagus and the duck with 5 spice sauce. Both were prepared just as ordered and were simply beyond description. Almost too satisfied for dessert but found room to share the Mexican Chocolate Mousse - beautifully presented, light with a subtle hint of cinnamon. My only regret is that I can't return to try the rest of the menu!
(5)
Mark P.
I was visiting San Antonio for a conference that was downtown and so read the Yelpers reviews and this one looked exceptional, so ... Atmosphere 5.0 Service 5.0 Food 4.0 Value 3.0 and I'll tell you why. The entrees were $42 (that's the value piece). The actual food was good, but here's my problem. I ordered the steak. It's Texas, was my thinking. I ordered medium rare and it came out on a sizzling iron skillet (like you might find at a Chinese or Mexican restaurant). And it was medium rare when they brought it to me, but (and I'm sure you can see this coming) it was very well done and basically inedible by the time I had eaten 2/3rds of it. I understand the concept. You get this great piece of meat and it's served sizzling and that's great theatre, but the practicality of it missed the Mark (sorry). The martinis were perfect btw. Really, perfect. Great bartender and server and hosts. And very accommodating. I wanted to like it more, but when I pay $100 for a meal, I like everything perfect, not just the drink.
(4)
Gudrun R.
This is just not a great value. Prices are a bit higher than average but the food is a bit lower than average. I had a soup that was too salty and it had an overly large blob of sourcream with maple syrup in there. That combination was a bit gross. Then I had a salad that was nauseatingly sweet. We also had several appetizers none of which where remarkable. The best was probably the ketchup that was served with the onion rings. Overall I would say they seem to be too ambitious with flavours that end up being too much in your face. The ambience was ok but also not great. The table we had was in cave like darkness.
(2)
Justin F.
Dope ! Service - kick ass Restaurant - smooth Food - BANGING !!
(4)
Bruce S.
Chicken fried oysters on squid-ink linguine appetizer was outstanding.
(5)
Ann H.
was here for vday 2013. my fiance scored a table last-minute (haha guys...) and it was actually at a reasonable dinner-eating hour! 6:30pm or something. when we arrived at the restaurant though, it was pretty much empty. there was like one other couple there and they were 50+.. despite the unlimited selection of tables, we were seated at some random 3x3 foot table in the middle of the restaurant, 6 inches away from the adjacent table. they were really cramming those tables in there! we skipped the "special vday menu" and opted for the waiter's recommendations. can't remember exactly what we ordered -- fiance got some seafood dish that we thought would come with pasta but didn't and i got the quail and something dish. also got the fancy salmon nacho (?) dish that the server + yelp recommended, but nothing was that good! :( it was all pretty overpriced too. i am that obnoxious person who takes pictures of my food so i would do it every time something came to the table. but then a server would always come by and kind of side-glare at me... weird? maybe i being paranoid but it was kinda uncomfortable. anyway, we ordered a white chocolate or grand marnier souffle (sorry, can't remember exactly what it was) and it was also nothing really special. maybe this place was just too hyped up or maybe their quality went down when their volume of guests went way up on vday, but it just wasn't the greatest experience to be seated less than a foot from the next couple and to be rushed from one course to the next. p.s. the valet here were terribleeee. i think they "lost" like 3 peoples' cars because they were searching for keys frantically and some restaurant guests were just standing there shaking their heads when these teenage kids pulled up in cars that weren't even the right ones... this one guy pointed to the 1998 camry that the kid pulled up and was like, "that is NOT my car. i drive a MERCEDES!" hahaa. there goes his tip. oh also, this restaurant is in some weird office-building-like place. soo yeah, just different. views of the river are okk but of course not all the tables get a view. i think this was on some list for most romantic restaurant in sa but i would say skip this place and try a place that is not as hyped up.
(2)
Eugene L.
I finally chose to dine here after reading Yelp raves about the sticky toffee pudding here. I visited the website to see what other items they have. While Biga's may be a fancy tourist trap on the Riverwalk but it's not pretentious and snobby to the point where they refuse to post their prices. The only thing that I was interested in getting was the venison and quail. I've never had game nor have I ever hunted for deer or quail so I thought this would be an interesting item to get. I was greeted by the host and he asked me if I wanted to dine inside or outside. I immediately responded inside since there's no way I planned to eat outside in the awful heat and humidity. The host honored my request and got me a table overlooking the river. Warren, my waiter, arrived to my table and took my order for the venison and quail that included brussel sprouts and fries. I told him I wanted to substitute onion rings for the goatcheese tart that accompanied the venison and quail. A busser brought me a complimentary assortment of breads, slices of restaurant baked white bread and cornbread. I was quickly wowed by the cornbread. It was sweet and reminded me of the kind served at Azuca but not as warm. It was so good I asked the waiter for another basket full of cornbread and omit the white bread. As soon as my food arrived to my table, I took a bite into one of the Shiner Bock onion rings and dipped some of it into the habanero ketchup. I was not impressed. For one, the onion rings were way too thick and had too much batter, not like the ones served at Big Bob's Burgers. And second I didn't like the habanero ketchup at all. I've had the spicy ketchup at Whataburger. The spiciness of their spicy ketchup doesn't overwhelm the flavor of the ketchup there. Now you'd think the spiciness of the habanero pepper's juice would probably enhance the spicy ketchup at Biga's but it instead it not only overwhelms the ketchup's flavor but just totally ruins it. So the onion rings and habanero ketchup are a couple of fails. The venison and quail were good as well as the fries. Brussel sprouts were fair, not really my cup of tea though. As soon as I finished my meal Warren asked me if I wanted dessert and I quickly told him I wanted the famous and mostly requested toffee pudding. As soon as it arrived I quickly took a bite and was amazed! It was like eating a warm Heath flavored blondie. The service was very good too.
(3)
Jenice R.
Shane the bartender rocks! Brought a friend in from CA and enjoyed a lovely cocktail. Fast and friendly service topped off with excellent cocktails!
(5)
Andrew E.
Excellent tuna. Apps were ok. Nice view but apparently not on the actual riverwalk. The location was right behind a busy bus stop which meant lots of people hanging around outside. A bit of an uncomfortable walk coming in.
(3)
Lauren J.
Had dinner here last night and the food and service was excellent. We started with the greatest salads - spinach, bacon, brie, nuts and this delicious dressing. We also had the game packets - basically lettuce wraps made with quail and venison type meats. We loved those, too. Entrees were great - I had the rib-eye, which was cooked perfectly, though I did not care for the onion rings that came on top. The rack of lamb my mom ordered was a hit. My dad got the much-reviewed venison that lived up to our high expectations. Definitely recommend this place, although it is on the spendy side. Be prepared to drop some cash.
(5)
Karen S.
My husband I went to Biga for an early dinner this past Friday. Their were only 3 other tables being used and they seated us next to a door that goes out on the balcony. So every time the waiter went out to take care of his customers, I got hot flash of 100 degree Texas heat. I never did figure out why they would seat someone right next to that door in this heat and with an empty restaurant. I did move myself to the other side of the table so it wasn't as bad. I'm a foodie and really expected some top notch food from the reviews. Boy was I disappointed. We ordered a "Lobster coconut soup" that was more like an onion soup, no visible lobster, no evidence of coconut. It would've been better had they called it French onion soup because that's what it was. I ordered beef tips, my husband ordered Red Snapper. My beef tips were floating in demi-glace, tender but blah. The red snapper was ok with the potatoes but nothing to write home about. We both ordered the toffee pudding. It was a good cake but floating in overly sweet sauce. I could see a drizzle of the sauces but this was way too sweet for a full cup of the stuff and it tasted like a mix. I have eaten at a few places on the riverwalk and was expecting the quality of food we got at Bella's I guess. For the price, this place is not worth it.
(2)
Janee M.
Went last night and had a cheese plate with Humbolt Fog, savanna farms honeycomb, guava, and fig. This was very yummy. I ordered a tito's on the rocks and it tasted like either the glass wasn't washed or it may have been put in a shaker and shaken and that wasn't washed as it had hints of cucumber or melon in the Tito's. The squash soup was very rich with a hint of chorizo sausage. It taste good but was too rich for my liking. The entree was a scallops dish and if I was blindfolded wouldn't have even known that it was scallops. It was sooooo salty that it burned my mouth. :(. The two stars is for the location and atmosphere otherwise the food was uneventful
(2)
Michael B.
Amazing food, great service, very classy and well, expensive. Went here on a Saturday night with my girlfriend and it was a great time. We had 9:30 reservations but came around 9pm. They promptly adjusted and had seats ready for us within minutes. Once at the table, we were greeted with a very knowledgeable, friendly waiter who explained all the dishes and made some fine recommendations. Moreover, our glasses were constantly topped up and dishes cleaned quickly. We ordered the Mushroom appitizer with garlic bread. It was a great treat and lots of it! They had a fall special from 5-6 or after 9pm. It consisted of a set 3 or 4 courses and you had a choice of two dishes with each course. I had the 3 course for $38 - Soup, beef tips, and the sticky toffy. All were amazing but oh, the beef tips...they just melted in your mouth. Best I've had ever. This place is not shy about their achievements - numerious James beard awards, recognition as top restaurants in the Southwest and so much more. Hats off to the cheif and thank you for an amazing night if fine dining. Definitely recommend it to everyone.
(5)
Mark W.
Biga on the banks gets a Biga shout out from this customer who ate there twice in one night. I had dinner there last week and was totally impressed. The food and service were wonderful. I started with the chicken fried oysters which are nowhere near what they sound like. Think of tempura battered oysters on a bed of squid ink infused pasta...divine!! I then moved on to the scallops and again, the flavors were out of this world. For desert I had the bread pudding, which was plated so magnificently that candidly I thought it was a shame to even touch it. The service was equally on par with the food. Casey my server ( I sat at the bar) was eager to explain the menu, how the various options were prepared and make suggestions. He could not have been more pleasant, professional and knowledgeable. Upon getting back to my hotel that night, a few blocks away, I was sharing with friends how divine the food was and since they questioned how anything could be a good as I described, so I walked them back over so they could try for themselves. The result, they were blown away. Thanks Biga and Casey for making a great dinner memorable. When I'm back ibn San Antonio you will see me again.
(5)
Amanda T.
I love this place. The service is always outstanding and the food is delicious. I also like that the chef is willing to accommodate most meals to a persons specifications, for example, making something vegan friendly. I've been about three times and each time has been a memorable experience. Will surely go back.
(5)
Jan S.
What a find! Don't hesitate to go. Everything was delicious. The 3-course menu, at $39, is a really great deal. Two appetizers, two entrees, and two desserts are what you choose from. So my husband and I got one of everything and shared it all. It was fabulous to taste the soup, salad, salmon, pork, and two different desserts. What a feast! We don't often go out to "fine dining" places, but we had been on the road for two weeks and thought it was time for something special. This fit the bill! It truly was lovely and delicious and memorable.
(5)
Steve G.
Wow! Chef Auden has it dialed in, great food, atmosphere, and staff. Is quickly becoming one of our top 3 in the city (we dine out often).
(5)
Shnertz M.
Delicious! Pork tenderloin and duck were wonderful! Had great service and a much more tranquil outdoor riverwalk dining experience than the overly crowded tourist traps more accessible from the riverwalk. Highly recommended!
(5)
Boo Boo B.
Phenomenal food and ambience. I loved it.
(5)
John Z.
Food and service were ok. Food was nicely presented, but just didn't deliver for taste. Nice presentation and quality ingredients doesn't automaticaly result in great food. Deserts were quite good other than the creme brule which was just trying too hard to be different. Very expensive, and just didn't deliver for the $.
(3)
Elliebob D.
You need to eat here. Highly recommend if you love upscale service, food and wine. The ambience of this place is incredible. Apparently, it used to be an old library that was renovated. It has so much character. Apparently they have numerous proposals every week in this place because it is so romantic. Once seated we listened to the incredible waiter named Casey, explain history of the restaurant as well as the premise of which the business works off of. The menu changes on a regular basis, almost daily, depending on what type of produce and organic meat they can get. We ordered a wine special. It was a Tempranillo from Spain.2009. It's the only one that comes with the rattlesnake shaped decanter special to this wine. I highly recommend this wine. I am typically a Pinot Noir or a Cabernet girl but this wine gets smoother and smoother as it aerates. Did I mention that our waiter service was excellent? We had an appetizer call Binn and Radicchio... Basically a lettuce wrap with quail, bison and turkey. Excellent. My husband and I split the warm spinach salad. It was the perfect portion prior to our meal. I'm not a big red meat eater but I went with a half order of the tenderloin. My husband had the ribeye with a Pinot Noir demi-glace. Both came with mashed potatoes with horseradish sauce. I had asparagus and he had green beans and everything was fresh and tasty. For dessert we had the sticky English toffee with custard pudding. While it looks like it might be a chocolate cake, there's no chocolate in it. It's figs and dates encrusted in a brown sugar coating (? I hope I got that right??) Eat here. Ask for Casey. I mean it.
(5)
Ebs B.
I'm still a little bitter and confused about my experience at this place. The scallop appetizer was to die for. The caramel cake was wonderful. The drinks were pretty decent. HOWEVER, the Brussels sprouts dish was nothing special. If you're going to put Brussels sprouts on the menu, take some advice and do something with them. AND, if you're going to put two prices on the menu for entrees (a smaller portion and a large portion), and my partner just ordered the half, and I forgot to mention which size I wanted, just ask; do not assume. Yes, I forgot to mention that I wanted a half portion, assuming that I would get that. However, when the steak came out, it was the size of both my fists balled up. I love steak, but not that much. Plus, I want steak that is tender, which this was not. I brought up that I wanted the half portion to the server, and it didn't matter because I still got charged for the whole portion. Well, fine, I'll deal with it and pay, but great customer service should have been executed from the beginning by asking. The server did try to make it up to us by taking off the Brussels sprouts (we only had one bite and didn't eat the rest), and gave us 2 "free" glasses of champagne, but that still didn't help with the lackluster steak or the assumption that I would want that much of the lackluster steak.
(3)
Travis D.
Definitely my favorite restaurant in San Antonio (i have not been to Le Reve). The food is innovative and always delicious. Flavors are strong, presentation is beautiful, and the wait staff is unbelievably nice. The food is definitely new american cuisine and is influenced by asian, mexican, french, and classic american cuisine. Everything i have ever head here has been spectacular. Make sure and save room for desserts as their desserts are truly special.
(5)
Matt S.
Great service and value for the food. Started with a drink each and the salmon nachos, which were great. The romaine salad was spot on and already split for us (nice touch). I had the rib-eye and she had the lamb chops, both came with sides and were nicely presented. We had a couple extra sides just to sample a few other things. Closed with champagne (on the house since it was our anniversary, again nice gesture by our server) and a souffle. Tab was $150 w/o tip. I can't stress enough how much value there is for the price. Our server was Beth and was excellent. I gave her our full order at the beginning of our meal and she timed out each entree accordingly. (I huge plus in my eyes, no one likes to be rushed while eating something they wish to enjoy) Tips: Call and reserve table one. This is table is set off from the others, has a view of the river walk and also has curtains so you can be cut off from the other tables. Sets the mood nicely and is a very nice touch for an evening out.
(5)
Dan M.
When i read a review from someone from NYC that said this was their favorite restaurant anywhere, I was a bit skeptical. But we gave it a try on our first of two nights in San Antonio. Well after eating dinner there both nights I certainly put this in my top ten restaurants list. We had great meals and fantastic service both nights. I was stunned how such wonderful food came out of the kitchen so quickly. Great combinations of ingredients in everything. My wife's gluten free requests were met efficiently and the staff were helpful and courteous. Despite all the eating choices available on the riverwalk I am pretty sure i will return here next time I am in town. Great food great location great service great presentation. Not cheap but well worth the cost, and comparable to many of the more touristy locations down the walk.
(5)
Carolyn L.
We celebrated our 40th anniversary at the Biga. It was virtually flawless and they treated us like royalty. We requested, and they provided, one of the little nooks for two overlooking the river. The food was exceptional! The service was outstanding, the waiter was knowledgable, attentive, non-intrusive, and personable. We don't know when, or ever, we've had such an enjoyable, and romantic, experience. We WILL be back (again)!
Amazing... The service, decor, and food was exceptional.
(5)
Suzanne G.
I have had mind-blowing chicken 3 times in my life. First at a B&B in Italy. The owner was preparing simple roasted Tuscan chicken for dinner. We ate on a stone terrace overlooking an olive tree grove. Second was at (now-closed) Aldo's on the North Fork of Long Island. The skin was herb rubbed and fabulous, a wonderful lunch I'll never forget. Third was a few weeks ago at Biga. I had the roast chicken half. Absolutely delightful.
(4)
Rob H.
The service was first rate as was the food. It was a special night, and they didn't disappoint. I WILL be back whenever I am in San Antonio
(5)
Courtney R.
Be sure u grab yourself a nice quiet table outside, yes its the second floor with a wonderful view at night, very romantic. I appreciated the fact that its was out of the way and there werent 50,000 drunk college frat guys running around like idiots. The food was amazing, the lamb, salmon nachos, scallops, duck and the peanut butter chocolate molten cake all rocked. Service was awesome Cant say enough about it all! Price was just great for fine dining. Cheap people always complaining about price!
(5)
Inspector G.
Far more "business class" than we expected. Some really stellar hits on food, with a few minor misses. But Biga really dropped the ball on promising "local food" and a "riverwalk" experience. ATMOSPHERE We're not sure how this is marketed as a riverwalk restaurant. We were hoping for a fine dining experience that would also let us enjoy the riverwalk's atmosphere. The restaurant is on a quiet (actually completely dead) part of the riverwalk, with only limited outdoor seating perched way too high over the river (not even close to the "banks"). It really lacks intimacy with the environment. Bottom line: sitting outside isn't that appealing. We moved back inside where the weeknight crowd was overwhelmingly filled with consultants and lawyers entertaining clients. Not exactly a romantic or even foodie scene. FOOD The food had some real knock-out successes. As others have mentioned, the salmon nachos were spectacular and we wish we could make them at home but know they just wouldn't be the same. We also had the venison and quail that was paired with the most delicious sauce and savory brussels sprouts. Wonderful flavors. There were a couple of misses. On the minor side, the peas were overwhelmed by garlic. We felt that if they were truly fresh and local we'd have preferred to taste peas, not garlic. The other food miss was a big one. Biga promotes itself as featuring locally grown and harvested foods, but we wondered where in the river they caught lobster. Way too many ingredients on the menu clearly came from far away. We believe that if you're going to market yourself as locavore-friendly, then you should be true to that promise, otherwise, please skip the pretense. BOTTOM LINE We probably won't be back. The place is overrun by investment bankers on expense accounts and fails to deliver on key promises: it's not really living up to the hype on local foods and it's not really a riverwalk restaurant.
(2)
Greysi V.
5 stars for service! We went in June for our anniversary..they reserved a private room for our party of 8. Our waiter was really knowledgeable of the menu & made great suggestions. They have a different menu everyday, which we thought was interesting. The Pomegranite Mojito was amazing, and my friends loved the mahi mahi, steak,beef tenderloin, deer & axle but the chicken that I got was really plain & tasteless but I didn't let that ruin the night..they have great sides & good variety of drinks. Last but not least... The homemade watermelon sorbet is delish & totally recommend it if they have it that day. I would definitely go back & just order steak next time!
Perfect date-night dinner in San Antonio! My wife and I had a special dinner there and have to say it lived up expectations and more. The service was impeccable and food excellent. We had placed our reservation on-line asking for the famed #1 table, but had been called to let us know it had been reserved since March. They set us up at a very quiet table with a great view. After a minor difficulty finding the location, when we arrived our table was ready and promptly served with great service. My wife ordered the corn chowder and red snapper, and I had the warm spinach salad and Australian lamb. The polenta with the lamb was a little cold and bland, but the lamb was some of the best I have ever had and perfectly done. We finished with the sticky toffee w/ English custard that was rich and sweet, but not too overwhelming or heavy. The atmosphere was modern but quiet, elegant but not pretentious, and good for quiet conversation. We will gladly be back and be sure to ask for Chris as our server again.
(5)
Bryant R.
An excellent spot for a romantic dinner. The service was phenomenal and the food tasted spectacularly. I got the Ahi Tuna dish, and both the presentation and the taste were on par with the quality of the restaurant. It's a bit hidden from the touristy parts of downtown San Antonio, so it provides for a nicer setting and ambiance. Would be happy to go here again.
(5)
Ryan M.
I was very impressed with Biga. First off, my waitress GiGi was fantastic, very helpful, in fact I let her pick my dishes. I had the foie gras app, which was very well done. It was served with a French toast which I thought was a bit too sweet, but when I ate it with regular bread it was excellent. Then I had the duck, as picked by GiGi. It was very good, the duck was cooked perfectly and the sauce was excellent, I was thrilled with the choice. The only complaint is that it was hard to find the place, but that aside Biga was an great experience all around. I highly recommend it, so far the best restaurant I have been in San Antonio.
(5)
Todd S.
I would give Biga On the Banks a 3.5. Let me start out by saying we had exceptional service, even with a group of 10, All of the food I would describe as good, not great. I would give the apps 4 stars. The house apple smoked salmon nachos were great, and the chicken fried gulf oysters were very good (though I may not be a very good judge as I am generally not an oyster fan), The bibb and radicchio game packets were interesting, but my least favorite of the three. The real reason I give Biga a mediocre rating is due to the entree. I made the mistake of ordering the 13oz ribeye. Why do some steak restaurants find it necessary to put my beautifully rare steak on a 500 degree sizzling platter? I would expect this from a western sizzlin, but NOT a supposedly nice restaurant serving me a $40 steak! By the time I got to my 3rd bite, my steak was a medium-well. To compound the problem, the ribeye was quite thin. The only saving grace of this ribeye was the sherry sage jus, which added some flavor to my overcooked meat. My wife had the "Close-to-bouillabaisse" of shrimp, clams, mussels, scallop, mahi mahi, tuna, grouper and lobster, served with a martini rouille. She described her entree as "ok." I settled on 3 stars for this review. I think the food (except the steak) was probably 4 star quality, but definitely not a deal because it is accompanied with a 5 star price tag.
(3)
Janelle B.
This is one of my all-time favorite restaurants. It's on the pricey side but you won't feel ripped off. I have been there in settings from a romantic date to a group outing with friends, and it never disappoints. I have yet to see someone dislike the food. The warm spinach salad is delicious and big enough to split with two. The mustard crusted lamb is simply amazing and demonstrates what I love about this restaurant - the chef puts things together that I would never imagine could complement each other, and it works- the multiple flavors all mix together in a way that makes you want to try everything on the menu. Their famous sticky toffee pudding dessert is famous for a reason. It's the perfect combination of sweet and rich with warm drizzled toffee that completes it. The menu is printed daily but the favorites are usually on there. I always get half portions and it is plenty big enough. The staff is the right amount of helpful and friendly - make sure to tell them you are new there and they'll explain some of the restaurants history and awards. If you can't decide what to order, they are extremely knowledgeable about the menu and I love to hear the way they explain a dish. The ambience is calm with dim lighting and several curtained off sections if you prefer more privacy, or a balcony to eat over the riverwalk. It's definitely an outstanding restaurant and well worth a visit.
(5)
Meredith D.
This past weekend my boyfriend and I went to Biga's for the second time. I'm glad to report that it was just as amazing this weekend as our first! The menu is constantly changing, so I won't both telling yall what to order. Thankfully they keep their best dishes on the menu so I can tell you that the heirloom tomato salad is worth getting. The duck is also amazing. So far everything we have tried has been delicious so you can't really go wrong. The view of the Riverwalk and service are both great as well!
(5)
Beth G.
On the recommendation of a friend, we ate here on our 2nd night in TX. We were surprised by a complimentary glass of champagne for reserving a table online and spent some time talking with our very knowledgeable server about the wine list. After making wine choices, we decided on the salmon nachos to start, the venison chops & grilled quail for him and the duck breast & leg for me. The salmon nachos were delicious. 5 chips with salmon set off by a crème fraiche with just a tiny bit of subtle heat. They were cool and refreshing and perfect. The entrees were bigger than I expected them to be. The venison was perfectly cooked, the quail was really well done and the duck breast and leg were both amazing as well. The shiitake broth that surrounded the duck was so flavorful and went really well with the duck & baby bok choy. For dessert we decided to try the sampler...3 mini-portions of desserts and all very tasty. Biga was a great experience, well worth the money and a very romantic and tasty night out!
(5)
Meghan B.
My sweetie surprised me with a romantic dinner at Biga on the Banks overlooking the riverwalk. What made this so romantic is our private corner table ( table #1) with curtains to close so we were nestled in our own private world away from the rest of the restaurant. VERY ROMANTIC! The service was stop notch. Our server was very knowledge and friendly. The food was good--The mushroom appetizer was awesome! The best part of the meal--desert--sticky toffee bread pudding---mouth watering fantastic!!
(4)
Thao L.
I can only speak about the ambiance and the dessert. I walked over to this place to specifically try out their grand manier souffle and I must tell you, it did not disappoint! It was absolutely delicious...First off, the souffle was beautiful. It was light and airy while still being rich in flavor. The ambiance was very nice, the service was prompt and friendly.
Best service and food on the river walk. Have a gluten friendly chef!!! I also love the half portions!!
(5)
Linkus M.
I'm not a tourist, but this was my first time to Biga. I took my girlfriend there to make up for Valentine's Day. Needless to say, we were both impressed. The Shiner onion rings were amazing, the chicken plate she got was great. I ordered a medium rare ribeye and it was closer to medium, but it was still good. Atmosphere is really nice, too. If you've got the money, Biga is not a bad place to visit (especially if you've got some making up with your girlfriend to do ;-).
(4)
Karen S.
I went to Biga on the Banks with my sweetheart on Valentine's day. It was delicious. I appreciate that everything on the menu was organic or from local farms and the portions were huge. I had the ribeye mainly b/c it came with french beans and shiner bock onion rings (YUMMM). He got the tomato mozzarella salad and the beef tenderloin. We were a little disappointed in the mozzarella because it was just not very tasty, but his steak was DALishous. Our waitress was Gigi and Dave H. is right, she is awesome. The wine list is decent and not outlandishly priced but the worst thing about this restaurant was the price of the valet...NINE freakin dollars. For $6 more we coulda parked in a parking garage down the street OVERNIGHT. Yes, it WAS valentine's day...but dang.
(4)
John M.
To die for................ I think not. We had top rated items by my fellow Yelpers. What can I say..........over rated and then some. Great locale, ambience OK. Wait staff very nice. Best was the scallops with polenta. OTW so so. We are wending our way back to LA, dreaming of our return to Chicago, where there IS really good food.
(3)
Tim S.
Great service, fantastic atmosphere. Had a fantastic time chatting with the bartender Monique, very cool gal and made some great menu recommendations. I highly recommend the place for a great evening...
(5)
malgorzata s.
After 3 visits ito this restaurant we decided not to give it a chance anymore. Two last dinners confirmed that food is very average and sometimes borderline bad ( overcooked pasta, almost everything underseasoned and some, like tortilla soup, tasting worse than cafeteria food). I am also warning you , if you choose prefixed menu be prepared to be treated in almost disrespectful manner by your waiter. There is no justification to spend so much money on substandard dishes and get substandard service on top of it. It is a waste of a great ambiance and prime location for this type of food and service. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone .
(1)
JIMMY N.
I just came back today from San Antonio for a weekend getaway with a special lady friend. I wanted to dine at a nice place on our last night; so when I read up on their top restaurants, Gourmet magazine gave it a "Top 5 Best Restaurant in Texas" ranking. Well if it's good for Gourmet mag, then it sure as hell good enough for moi. I made reservations at 10 in the evening Saturday, but didn't arrive there till 10:30. We were late due to our show lasting longer then expected at the AT&T Center. Anyhow, I knew the moment I dropped off my car with the valet it was going to be a magnificent night. The valet people were very nice, cordial and had a smile on their faces when they opened the doors to our car. Valet was $8 bucks by the way, but ah well. As we stepped into Biga, the host knew that I was the late show on my reservation and pointed it out in a humorous way w/o me mentioning my name. Well he sat us next to a beautiful view of the riverwalk. Like Dave H. on his review of Biga, I had Gigi as my waitress. She, like Dave mentions, provided us wonderful service and gave us many recommendations. Though we were Gigi and the restaurant's last table, she was consistently pleasant and accommodating to our needs w/o being obtrusive and hurrying us. We ordered two appetizers: the smoked salmon nachos (5 pieces) and chicken fried oysters (also 5 pieces). Both for $11 dollars each were good but I loved the oysters more. Those oysters were deep-fried and each sat on a bed of rolled linguini (linguini was supposedly dyed in squid ink. Hmm, I don't if that's true or not but it works). For our entrees, she ordered the Mahi Mahi w/lump crab meat on a bed of mashed potatoes. I had a 8 oz Beef Tenderloin with scalloped potatoes and some grilled veggies. Our entrees were reasonably priced around 30+ dollars each, not too shabby for one of the nicest restaurants in the city. Her portion was good-sized, she didn't finish it because she was pretty much full half-way through it. So I tried some, it was fresh tasting but I wasn't quite impressed by it. That's probably why this place did not receive 5 stars from me. My tenderloin was properly cooked the way I asked for it (surprisingly, lots of places, even some nice steakhouses don't get it right the first time). Bernaise sauce on top of the steak while a wine reduction-type of sauce was on bottom. The steak was very tender (as it should be) and flavorful. The scalloped potatoes... not so fond of it. Gigi also informed us that since we made reservations on-line, we each get a complimentary glass of champagne (FYI for all of you to reserve on-line). We ended our meal with creme brulee (my favorite dessert, and my true criteria of a great restaurant. If the creme brulee is good, then they have me as a repeat customer). The creme brulee was good, not outstanding, but good. I would not mind coming back for more. But the pistachio cookie that accompanied it was not so good. They're better off leaving that off and replacing it with berries instead. It closes at 11:00PM but it seemed rather slow that evening. And at 11:45, we were the last ones still there. I heard the bar closed at 12:00. So where's everyone? Probably out enjoying the illuminated show that was going on in Downtown for that one night. All-in-all it was a wonderful experience, we were dead tired and I have to give this place 4.5 stars. Far as the decor: very subtle and chic. Candle lit with floor to ceiling windows to display the River Walk in the back drop. Ideal place for a romantic dinner and drinks. Also on a nice day, request a table outside. One other note: Gigi mentioned that the owner/chef tends to change the menu every few days. It's not a complete overhaul, he has some staples, but he always utilizes the freshest products available to create his menu. That's why they don't have "Specials of the Day".
(4)
Stephanie M.
My husband and I love this place. It's a special occasion dinner for sure, but worth the splurge every now and then. We started our meal off with the foie gras. It's served with macerated cherries and pan per du. It was so rich and wonderful, I almost could have stopped there. I had a wonderful endive and duck confit salad that was perfectly dressed, and my husband had the leek soup, also very good. I ordered the quail and venison and he ordered the lamb. Both were very well cooked although I think I would try something different next time. Just personal preferance. Our very attentive and polite waiter asked if we would like both entrees split and we thought that was so great. I really enjoyed the try before you buy wine pours as well. We finished our meal with the toffee pudding and I thought it was just ok. Everything was presented beautifully, service was great, and we will be back. A San Antonio best.
(4)
Jules F.
Excellent experience all around! Delicious food. The service was exceptional. And the ambiance was icing on the cake...classy and cozy.
(5)
Pinky L.
Biga is my favorite restaurant in San Antonio! I was coming here for 6 months before I discovered this slice of heaven! Now each month when I come to San Antonio for work I come to Biga at least one time sometimes twice (in a five day trip). What I discovered is that they change the menu according to what is in season and they ALWAYS have a vegetarian option! And it is ALWAYS mouthwateringly delicious! Tonight I had the tempura crimini mushrooms with grilled asparagus, creamy fingerling potatoes, garlicky vine ripened tomatoes and a red pepper vinaigrette. Plus for dessert the molton chocolate cake with peanut brittle and peanut butter. Have also had them make me the bibb and radicchio game packets without the game. Salads are also great!! And a supurb wine list! Waitstaff and bartenders are very friendly and it wasn't long before they started recognizing me! One trip I came in for the second time at the end of my trip and they had the same vegi option from the beginning of the week. When I mentioned this they asked me what kind of food I liked and they created a dish off the menu! Biga will always be my fav in San Antone!!
(5)
annemarie p.
yes reading other reviews it was a little pricy but it is a zagat rated restaurant,good golden modern feeling ,a look nice place that you def can dress up for everyone there was in nice sweaters and dress clothes. we walked in woth tee and jeans after shopping and didnt feel out of placeso ... food was amazing ! the pot sticks : to die for very filling amd sruffed, the port tenderloin with great grits and picked cabbage and beef tenderlion that melts in your mouth with perfect asperagus and cheesy mashed potatoes, the dessert was just as good i recommend the creme mango something haha their "special" was aiiight wouldny get tht again but the waitstaff was so knowledgable and sweet it was just a little hard to find off the water.
(4)
Daniel C.
Our meal here was just barely under $60 per person, so be prepared to spend. Overall an excellent meal, but at these prices I really expect near perfection. Unfortunately there were aspects of each of the three of ours' dishes that were somewhat average. We started out with a nice bottle of wine (they have a great wine list) and I had a fantastic take on a strawberry puree sidecar (called an Auden Automobile). I also had a red curry coconut soup, which was superb. Entrees ordered were the pork loin, grilled tuna, and the venison/quail. The pork was probably the weakest of the three, with some very odd potatoes that weren't at all what they should have been. The tuna dish was really nice with some peas, wax beans, and lobster meat all in a tarragon butter sauce, but the tuna itself was not as tender as I'd expect and it frankly overwhelmed the dish (which I realize is an odd thing to say for a tuna entree). The venison/quail was arguably the best, though the quail didn't really have much flavor (which is kind of inherent with poultry, if you ask me--my order was the tuna). The dessert menu looked excellent as well, but we were far too full to do any more damage. Otherwise, the atmosphere was very polished and slick without being fake and commercial, and the service was very good. Overall, I can't imagine anyone walking away disappointed.
(4)
Craig S.
Good restaurant. The flavors were good. The salad was absolutely wonderful. We had the fish and duck. Fish had good flavor but was a little over cooked. The duck was great! Wine list could have been better.
(4)
Chris F.
We were in a downtown art gallery and mentioned that we had dinner reservations that evening (to celebrate our 31st anniversary) at a steak house on the river walk. The gallery owner gasped and said "Oh no, I can't let you go there!" and suggested Biga. We walked to the restaurant - not exactly in a location that you would stumble on but a great view overlooking the river - and were told that they were booked but to come back around 8 as they have cancellations from time to time. We canceled the reservation at the steak house and came back at 8. We hardly had a sip of our martinis at the bar when we were told they had a table ready. We both decided on the same thing for dinner as it was something we don't usually see on the menu in our hometown: chicken fried oysters for an appetizer and a game mix of venison and quail for the entrees. OMG - delicious! We finished it off with a selection of ice creams and the peach cobbler (or crisp?). Yum! Service and ambiance were perfect. Pricey? Yes, but we got what we wanted - a perfect evening for a special occasion.
(5)
Fran C.
Decided to dine here after reading reviews and glad I did. I opted for the 11 spice antelope and Texas quail and it was delicious. Can't wait to come back and try some other dishes.
(4)
Elton D.
No wait nice and quiet, valet parking which is a big deal downtown great view of the river our waiter (Chris) impressed me with his service which is hard to do had a three course meal and I was not left wanting all in all I have a new favorite dining spot though I felt a bit strange being the youngest person in the room
(5)
Jordan L.
Biga: sophisticated but extremely relaxing. Food that makes you want to savour each bite as slowly as possible because a hint of a new flavor appears on every forkful. However, not the type of place to go to if your hesitant with your wallet; I dine alone and eat out infrequently so when I do treat myself, I'm not afraid to splurge. I made reservations for 730, showed up half an hour early expecting to sit at the bar until my table was ready, but was seated immediately. Decor was classy without being intimidating and the lighting was dark enough to provide a hushed, intimate atmosphere without forcing you to squint at the menu. Attentive waitstaff, my water glass was consistently refreshed, and plates were removed promptly. My server was extremely knowledge about the menu gave me several thoughtful recommendations. I never felt as if I was being hovered over or rushed. Round One: I was torn between the "expensive mushrooms" and the foi gras; based on the server's recommendation I chose the latter, and I'm very happy I did. Excellent balance between the three main components, the toast soaked up the cherry juice and cut the fattiness of the duck. I had the half order and it was perfect for one person but could easily be shared if both diners are getting their own entree. I was also given a complimentary 'shot' of the house's mushroom broth. It was delicious and satisfied my mushroom craving. The Basics: I rarely eat bread and try to catch the server before they bring out the complimentary basket and waste it on me but I'm glad I didn't catch them this time. There were three different types, and while I only tried the cornbread I could've left the restaurant a very happy lady eating only that. Up until this evening I've only ever had two types of cornbread: the crumbly type that falls apart the minute you slice it or pick it up and the overly sweet gummy type that sticks to the roof of your mouth...and then there's Biga's. Slice a bite sized bit, spread a very small pat of butter, and I dare you not to reach for a second piece. The Star: Venison and Quail with brussel sprouts and a goat cheese tart. I've never had either protein before, and it was well worth the wait. The venison was a beautiful medium rare, the sprouts were tender without the typical brussel bitterness, and the quail with the berry topping? Perfect alternating between sweet bites of that and the more peppery red meat. The tart? Oh my god. I ate around it so I could save it until the very end. I feel like I'm betraying my love affair with the cornbread but one bite of that tart and you'll understand. Sweet Treats: I was tempted by the grand marnier souffle, if only because of the raving reviews but the chocolate flan? Oh yes. If you're a chocolate lover, just do it. I could describe it here, but this review is already way too long and Biga's menu does it perfectly already. In the end, I had a lovely evening out and many thanks to the staff at Biga on the Banks for making my short trip to San Antonio so memorable. I'm already looking forward to my next visit.
(5)
Reyna R.
I left this place feeling like I just had one of the best meals ever! I hadn't had such awesome food in a while! It was extremely satisfying! I can't wait to go back. The food was beautifully presented like the kind you see and read about in cooking magazines, and the service can't be beat! Red snapper was scrumptious! Even my kid's pasta was so delicious! I ate their left overs.
(5)
Tom C.
Wow. This place was awesome. We were served by an old waitress who seemed to love her job. She had a lot to say about the place and gave it a welcoming feel. The menu is made everyday and is constantly changing. I had the lamb which was not on the menu because it came in late. My wife had a fish dish. The lamb was the best I have ever had and the portion was out of this world. Not common for a lamb dish. The server recommended a wine and knocked it out of the park. At the end of the night it was fairly expensive for dinner but we did not hold back on anything. Appetizers were unique and had an awesome blend of flavors. I would love to go back.
(5)
Shelley R.
I almost always check ahead at a restaurant's website before going so I don't have any shocks when I arrive. We are more than happy to spend money for good service and great food. This experience was no exception. We enjoyed an evening outside on the patio overlooking the River. We had wonderful service, wonderful food. Wine for both of us and the bread was awesome (their specialty; ask who Biga is). Tempura shrimp, Mahi mahi, and a Ribeye (don't forget the steak sauce) were all great. There are so many restaurants to choose along the Riverwalk, but why choose a chain? Have a great experience!
(5)
Robert M.
Restaurant is divided into tables by the windows and tables off to the side. Despite requesting a window table, we were led to the last table in the side area, the table closest to a hallway that must have led to a private party room and the kitchen, and it was rather noisy with cheers emanating from there. Now to the food --- we tried the Shiner onion rings --- good, but a little puffy and greasy - definitely missable. The habanero ketchup accompanying the onion rings was really good, as were the pickled peppers. We also tried the salmon nachos --- good, but come on, guys --- five small chips with a tiny bit of salmon atop them for $11? A few more chips would make it a better choice. The spinach salad was good, not great. I guess I expected great from a place with all those James Beard awards. I think he may have lowered his expectations in San Antonio! Entrees - we had the halibut which was wonderful. Another person had the duck and thought it was good, not great. The "limited quantities" notation on the menu was a little off-putting. I did not know that duck was a scarce commodity. The boullaibaisse was very good. The charred unusually-prepared Brussels sprouts were good. One member of our party had toffee sticky pudding for dessert, It was very good. Our waiter was very good - but not great. We had to ask for bread, and we always sort of felt a little rushed, as if there was going to be a second seating. At the end, he did say something to the effect of not to feel rushed, but by then the meal was over! OK, I may be a picky diner, but I think when you go to a restaurant of the quality of Biga, someone in the host capacity (if not the chef or his representative) should make rounds and ask how the meal was going. We were seated by a rather lackluster young woman, and then the male host whom we saw seat other parties never once made any overtures to our party. The impression I got was that they knew most of the people in the room were Riverwalk tourists, so they didn't need to make any warm overtures to make folks feel welcome. They should learn something from some chefs like Emeril or Ripert who realize their glad-handing the guests is worthwhile! When we left, it was raining, so we asked the waiter to have a cab called. The attendants ,who helped us to the cab had one small broken umbrella! Come on guys, for the prices you charge at Biga, buy a BIG golf-type umbrella!!!
(3)
Sam K.
We came here around 9:30pm and we had the 4 course menu specially prepared for us. Food is excellent all around, piping hot, and all very tasty. The place is a bit hard to find as you have to go inside this tall building and find the restaurant there. Come here for the food and you won't be disappointed. There's vip parking outside so parking shouldn't be a problem downtown.
(4)
Carolyn K.
I'm from Oregon, and I came to San Antonio for a conference with limited hopes for finding delicious and healthy food here. I spent the day searching the web for restaurants near the Riverwalk area with tags like: organic, locally sourced, healthy, and so forth. I almost gave up, but at the last minute I saw Biga On the Banks. I must say I was not disappointed. Their food was delicious, local, mostly organic, and beautifully presented. The service was outstanding, friendly, and accomodating. I ate on the outside patio overlooking a quiet and peaceful section of the Riverwalk. There was a pleasant June evening breeze, and I spent the whole time taking pictures to send friends in Oregon and California just to show how amazing San Antonio really is. Go Biga! and thank you for a wonderful experience.
(4)
Connie V.
Biggest disappointment in years and dining in some of the best across the nation. After emailing the manager to set up dinner, our plans changed slightly and the hotel concierge set up the reservation. We were seated in the FAR corner although I 'd been led to believe a window table would be available. Hostess knew our name when we arrived. Sent back first bottle of wine. Second was excellent which earned the second star. Waiter was inattentive and seemed to be upset we'd changed the wine. We'd been given a free appetizer coupon at the hotel and he took it but did not take it off the final bill. My husbands entree was excellent but my fish was barely done in the very center and who wants to send the last three bites back to be nuked? Sent the manager a follow up email to give her an opportunity to respond--that was three days ago and she hasn't replied. So many other places to eat in SanAntonio with fine dining and service to match ---Biga not among them.
(2)
Minnie E.
My friends highly recommended Biga on the Banks and I am very happy we checked it out. My boyfriend and I wanted to do something nice to celebrate "our" Christmas as we were off to each of our hometowns. It was the perfect place to have a nice fancy dinner and head out to have drinks along the riverwalk. The ambiance is sheek and very comfortable. The decor is very hip and simple. I also liked how you can reserve tables with curtains for more privacy, however those do not have the table with the view of the Riverwalk. Service is excellent as should be expected when you come in and drop a pretty penny on this place. We were never left unattended or felt "sold" on any item. Our waitress knew her stuff and she was rewarded for her great service. Now on the the food....Note to self: the menu is a sample menu, therefore you will not see or should you have your eye on a particular item. The menu seemed completely different than what we saw online. Bread - white, berry wheat and corn bread - a - ok but it was cold..I prefer warm bread. Scallop app - delicious especially when I'm not really too big of a fan but it was like a party in my mouth. Snapper, mash potatoes and carrots - great flavor and portions great. I had a bite of the lamb chops and it was not gamey, very juicy and tasty. Grand Manier Souffle - I've never had it before and wasn't impressed with the flavor. I don't know what the price was but I expected a little better. All in all, it was a fabulous dinner with a great view of the Riverwalk during the holiday with all the lights. Be sure to request in advance a table with the riverwalk view or as mentioned if you prefer more privacy, they have tables with curtains for a more intimate setting. Great date place.
(4)
Art V. B.
This place is an oasis in the food desert full of tourist traps that characterizes downtown San Antonio. Probably the single restaurant in the area where you can get a decent vegetarian entree that doesn't involve chicken or fish (yes, "vegetarian" options for a few Texans). They also have a sweet deal of 3 courses for 37 if you arrive before 6:30. Service is very friendly, even if you are eating by yourself at the bar.
(5)
Alexander G.
Top notch in every way. Quiet location on river walk and nice outside and inside seating!
(4)
Tracey S.
Definitely "up scale", great "date night" place on the quite end of the San Antonio Riverwalk. I would definitely recommend it but plan on spending a little money. Atmosphere: "Meh", I've experienced better" - Quiet, dimly lit, second level on the Riverwalk. I think there was outside seating on a balcony but I'm not 100% sure. My first impression of the decor was good; however, as I looked around I was surprised to see a couple of things. Although creative, the shower curtains hanging from the ceiling in the corners was a bit strange. I liked the use of old industrial bread pans for candlelight but was baffled by the very strange modern art in our seating area. It was a picture of clouds in several colors. Completely off the mark with the rest of the decor...would definitely go if it was up to me! The noise was controlled and I felt easy to converse without feeling the need to yell across the table. For as busy as it was that was a plus. Service: "Woo hoo! As good as it gets" - The wait staff was attentive, pleasant and did a great job explaining the menu and chef specialties. His recommendations were on the mark. Food: "Yay! I'm a Fan" - Let me start with the bread basket brought out before our meal. Three choices, white sourdough, wheat sourdough with walnuts and cranberries and corn bread. Everyone raved about the white sourdough, my friend said the corn bread was good but on the dry side. wheat sourdough was delicious. Appetizers: The salmon nachos and scallops were absolutely fantastic!! Definitely recommend both...just don't expect Texas size portions...this is an "upscale" restaurant, expect "upscale" portions. I'm not complaining...they were just what an appetizer should be. The onion rings...just onion rings, nothing special. If you want onion rings go to Sonic. Menu portions can be ordered 1/2 or whole. For a single person, 1/2 size is plenty. The menu prices range from $22 for a half size/$45 for a whole size. Most of our table ordered 1/2 size dinners and left satisfied. I started out with the spinach salad. A tasty combination but I'll have to admit I was a bit disappointed. Needed a bit more of the bacon dressing to make it wilt a bit more and needed something more sweet to compliment the salty bacon. I'm a big fan of cranberries or strawberries. The figs in the salad just didn't quite cut if for me. The lamb dish was delicious, a perfect combination of flavors served with cheese grits. Dessert was the sticky caramel cakes...delicious but not the best dessert I've experienced. Best Choices: Salmon nachos, Scallops, Lamb, Argentine Malbec Bottom line: Nice date restaurant, pricey but worth it.
(4)
Maurice H.
One of the most upscale restaurants in San Antonio. On the Banks is correct because most of the Riverwalk restaurants are on the river level. Biga has a veranda above the river, but still has a view. Without my cell phone flashlight app, I would not have been able to see the menu at dinner, however. We had wine and entrees only, but both were excellent, as was the service. I often try a bouillabaisse because it takes significant skill to make a good one, and I like the variety. It was excellent and I couldn't help soaking up the remains with the excellent bread they served. The fillet mignon entree was prepared as ordered, tender and delicious. There were many things on the menu that deserve another visit or two, so Biga stays on my bucket list.
(4)
Rachel V.
We had a great romantic dinner here. The decor of the restaurant is unique and well done. The service was perfect. Our server was very knowledgeable about all the menu items and ingredients used to prepare them. The Fried Gulf Oysters on squid ink linguine appetizer was delicious. We also had the Axis deer and port tenderloin entrees both of which were well prepared and tasty. The pork can be a little on the sweet side with the homemade apple sauce and maple glaze. I recommend using the savory sauce they bring to the table to counter some of the sugar. My husband ordered a glass of nice bourbon on the rocks and even though is was $12 the pour was a great size and well worth the money. This is a great place for a special dinner.
(4)
Amy B.
Service was lacking - we must have just had the bum waiter of the evening. He was awkward & sucked- would have been better further down the riverwalk... Food was well executed, well seasoned. Bread & butter was great- best hominy cornbread we've ever had. My rack of lamb well cooked properly & the grits that came with it had goat feta with it- that was amazing!! The flavors meshed so well together. Hubby had a ribeye and was very pleased. Last few nice restaurant experiences, he has not been pleased w/ his steak (seems they can't season it or cook it as asked to medium rare). Grand Marnier Orange Souffle was delicious. We were very happy w/ the food, just not happy w/ the server, however we saw the chef coming around, giving people tours, talking about the food. Overall, I would recommend Biga. Doubt that waiter will be there long. Regarding prices- compared to Dallas restaurants, we thought Biga was well priced. However, I am sure it is one of the more expensive restaurants in SA.
(4)
Bradford S.
I like trying lots of different things and had three appetizers/small plates which were all delicious. Each used creative combinations and were beautifully presented. The Habanero pineapple salsa scallops over blue corn grits was absolutely outstanding and one of my favorite preparations of scallops that I've had. I would go back to this place in a nanosecond next time I'm in town on business again.
(5)
Patrick A.
Great experience at Biga. My wife and I went for date night. Wait staff were the best I have had in SA. Food was a great taste adventure. Wife had the chicken and risotto. It was out of the world good!
(5)
Brian S.
Went to Biga last night for the first time and definitely won't be back. Extraordinary expense (which we pretty much expected) for unremarkable and very bland food (which we didn't). The venue is nice and the service was fine, but the food was utterly without taste or inspiration. It's possible we just happened to select a couple of the less successful items on the menu, but we'll never know because there won't be a follow-up visit. It's back to Bliss for us!
(2)
Po L.
After completing second full day of seminar, my wife and I were looking for a place to treat ourselves. California has banned foie gras since last July so after yelping, we were pointed to this restaurant for the banned substance (gotta love Texas!) After confirming with the hostess for the availability of foie gras, we were immediately seated even though we didn't have a reservation. In our experience, with any high end restaurant, your server can make or break your dining experience. With that said, make sure you request TONY as your server. Tony comes across as someone you can hang out with, yet his expertise in the restaurant's menu will impress you. We both decided to create our own tasting menu (since they have half portion available, making this restaurant very reasonably priced compared to California) with different entrees picked out. Tony was able to arrange the entrees into a perfect progression while serving each entree with perfect timing! On each entree, he was there to describe each ingredient and brought 2 plates each time for us to share (he didn't even charge us for this and the double espresso...thank you!) On with the food: * Chicken fried oyster with squid ink pasta - fresh oysters, just make sure you eat the pasta at the same time for great mix of textures. * Foie gras - Holy Duck! Perfectly prepared, beautiful score marks, this tasted like heaven. * Grilled smoked pork tenderloin - perfectly cooked and very juicy. * 11-spiced Sika deer and quail - the venison was cooked perfectly, not gamey at all (wife usually don't eat gamey protein but she loved this) and the quail had the breast bone removed so it was very tender and easy to eat. * Rack of lamb with polenta and goat cheese - chef's Frenching of the rack shows beautiful detail to the presentation. I'm not ashamed to say I picked it up and ate the tasty part next to the bone. Creamy and savory polenta (great alternative to the trendy wasabi mashed potato) * Seared duck a l'orange breast and confit duck leg (only dish not available in half portion) - totally worth it! Basically half of a duck, not your typical fru fru French portion where you ask "where's the duck?" Crispy skin with flavorful leg. * Grand Marnier Souffle - Came out so perfect, Chef Ramsey would be speechless! Light and airy. * Butter toffee bread pudding - order this and you'll know why yelpers are talking about this. Apparently the chef is from England so he knows his toffee! BTW - the homemade bread is really tasty so save some room for them. I'm usually very picky about cooking temperature of proteins but you can trust the chef here since all proteins were cooked perfectly! Yes, we (or mostly I) finished everything. DON'T judge us but the food, presentation, and timing made the 2.5 hour dinner a perfect experience. Overall, compared to other similar restaurants in California (Manresa, Addison, Auberge du Soleil) Biga has better value, no pretentious attitude, and of course, Tony, who will make your dining experience very memorable! Definitely will be back next time we are in town.
(5)
Ludy V.
I so wanted to give this restaurant a higher rating... Nice reasonably prices wines by the glass - delicious foie gras and fried oysters - also baby wedge was awesome - not so good - pomme frites came out limp and soggy - fatal flaw - housemade ice cream was over churned so came out brittle and a bit icy - not at all smooth and creamy- and not sweet enough either... Service was just fine - very attentive so it actually rates a 3.75 but I'm not rounding up.
(3)
Jared H.
Not worth the price. The food was good, but not great. The salmon nachos appetizer was literally four or five nacho chips with smoked salmon on them. Not worth $11. The steak was okay, but not worth $42. The sides were all very good. The dessert souffle was NOT cooked properly. It tasted like and had the texture of eggs. We sent it back. Service was great, although everyone checked in on us a bit too often. Would only return if they lowered the prices substantially.
(3)
S P.
This is one of the best restaurants in San Antonio. Having booked then quickly headed out of Luke's for our wedding anniversary (not at all what we had expected); we decided to pay a visit to Biga. I had eaten there six years ago and had a great experience, and now I realize I was a fool to wait so long to return! We had a superb waiter, professional, knowledgeable and friendly! He greeted us with some champagne coupled with excellent knowledge of the menu and wine parings! We began with the superb chicken fried Oysters served over squid ink pasta, and a sizzling platter of mushrooms; both of which were tasty and perfect in size! In choosing an Entree, we noticed many offerings now have half sized portions available, and the waiter advocated the half size 'Close to Bouillabaisse' which was impressive and reassuring as a lot of places try to up sell! This was an excellent dish, perfect size and full of mussels, clams, crab, fish in a delectable broth. My husband had the Achiote roasted Pork Tenderloin which he also loved and the plantains, one of the components of this dish were cooked to perfection! We finished with the Sticky Toffee pudding - the perfect size, texture and taste, which the restuarant had decorated with anniversary wishes, even getting the year thanks to the waiter who had asked questions as we made our menu choices! It was a nice touch and excellent customer service! I am already planning my next trip back, the food was excellent, perfect portion sizes and the price was spot on, we paid $180 and this was inclusive of tax, tip and a $70 bottle of wine which is very reasonable indeed!! This time it will be weeks not years until my next visit!
(5)
Mayra C.
We went there for a Thanksgiving day we really liked the food and the service
(4)
Erica M.
I usually avoid the river walk when in San Antonio, because as a former resident, I know that its restaurants and bars are overpriced, lackluster tourist traps. While this advice is 99% true, Biga On The Banks is an outstanding exception. It was a beautiful night out, so we chose to dine on the upstairs balcony overlooking the beautifully lit river walk. We started with the chicken fried oysters which were topped with slightly spicy hollandaise. Our server brought us two glasses of complimentary champagne (not sure why, but it was an appreciated gesture). The bubbly and oysters were both a delicious and decadent way to start the meal. My husband had the local quail for his main meal, while I made a meal of an appetizer (scallops) and a few sides (mashed potatoes and asparagus that was in a creamy sauce). We loved our choices. Service was competent and friendly throughout the meal, the location was charming, and the food was well-prepared and inventive. Biga continues to be a gem on the river.
(4)
Stephanie H.
The service was okay, but I heard this place was fantastic and I have to say it was hit or miss for me. The salmon nacho was good, but the lettuce wrap and scallop were meh for appetizers. I had the beet salad and I was really hoping for some lettuce with it instead of a big pile of beets (although they were tasty) and the guacamole (which was...weird). I had the not quite bouillabaisse and the fish was way overcooked. It was disappointing. I might give it another chance because I have heard such good things, but there are so many good places to eat I probably won't.
(3)
Tom W.
Great food, great service. I had the quail and venison, amazing. the sticky toffee dessert was awesome.
(5)
K C.
It's been almost 5 years since I had my wedding reception at Biga and the service has NEVER BEEN BETTER! We had an amazing reception for 35 people and they literally catered to our every need. No one had an empty glass of wine during our entire reception. The staff was extremely attentive and professional! Since our wedding we have been back several times. Every single sexperience has been wonderful. The food is always perfection. We even took a chance and make reservations with our newborn and 2 year old. The kitchen made something special for our 1 year old and even though we made a little bit of a mess, the staff acted like it was no problem at all! Very refreshing and surprising! Thanks Biga! See you next time we are in town!
(5)
Mir H.
Decor is weird (trying for organic/food vibe) but it's ugly and doesn't feel consistent. Service was ok, primarily because the restaurant was so busy. Food was outstanding and wine list had a good variety. We had the roasted chicken (super juicy and amazing pan juice) and Texas redfish (how do you get fish with hint of bacon) and the truffled cheese grits. All were amazing. Desert was 50/50 with the chocolate cake being pretty good but not something we'd go back for (like a black forest cake but in a torte) but the apple-blackberry cobbler being cold and gross. Thankfully, the server was very understanding about our dissatisfaction and took good care of us.
(4)
Kokobie B.
I love this place! We were there 8:30pm but the waiter was able to get us the 4 course special menu that supposed to be served after 9pm. Food was great!
(5)
rich k.
Visiting from New Jersey the food was great but the service was even more outstanding. I loved the steak and the purple carrots. The location along the river was spectacular.
(4)
James H.
I was beyond impressed with Biga. We went in September for a special night out. The Chef and the staff were amazing. I reserved ahead and was seated in table 1. Which was in a nice area, with an excellent view and Privacy curtain. After speaking with the waiter we began our 7 course chef's tasting menu. After confirming allergies, the waiter informed us that he would not be aware of most of the menu until moments before service, and that the chef was personally making the preplanned and unplanned portions of the menu. What followed was an amazing journey threw various the chef's vast knowledge. Every course was amazing. The price for the quality of food was a steal and the service amazing. It was truly one of the best meals I ever had.
(5)
Genevieve S.
We went there to celebrate my sister and father's birthdays. Everybody loved his/her food. I love the daily menu. I believe you get what you pay for with food, so indulge and enjoy!
(5)
Ly P.
Had a date night and Biga did not disappoint. We were seated in a semi private enclave with a curtain which was great! we also had a nice view of the riverwalk. The food was superb. We had a bottle of red which was recommended by the waiter and it did not disappoint. For appetizer, we had the foie gras, perfectly cooked. Then we split the deer axis and quail entree and the dessert was sticky toffee pudding which was delicious! Overall, great experience!
(5)
Gilbert A.
Dinning room has an open atmosphere with lots of space between tables. The ribeye was ok nothing special or terrible expected my steak to taste like prime at $42. Tuna was cooked perfectly but tha arrangment of asparagus and the sweet sauce drisild on the plate just did not compliment Tuna.
(3)
Complex P.
Ate here once and were not that impressed with the food. Probably because we are vegetarians and they couldnt accommodate us well. I would have still given 4 stars but for the rude treatment we experienced by the people at the front when we went there recently for a seond time. We did not have reservations as it was an impromptu trip to the riverwalk and i was hoping to have a good dining experience and wanted to give this place a second chance. But they dint have any room and there were not just one or two but three people at the front who were all unfriendly and a lady there gave dirty looks to my 3 year old!!!! Are children not welcome here or what! There are definitely much better fine dining places that treat children way better and infact very special. Sorry Bruce.... But we were big fans of Audens kitchen and frequented there. The service there was always good and the girl at the front was also so sweet and friendly. Too bad you closed down that place and kept this instead. Atleast the staff should be picked and trained better. Dont think it deserves a third chnace
(1)
Rebecca M.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in San Antonio and I eat here every time I'm in town. The ambiance, presentation, food, and service has always been top notch. However, last night was just completely off. Normally this would be a five star restaurant but I'm knocking it down to three for a variety of reasons. First, I know I look like I am 20, maybe even younger. But I'm 25 and service here has never been impacted by that until last night. This has never happened to me in my life, but our server asked for our IDs and took them away with her. She returned a good five minutes or so later to return our IDs and said she would be back with our drinks. Our first impression of her was that she was extremely snobby and at this point, I almost asked for a new server. Throughout our meal, it was very apparent she was warmer to her other tables. It completely irks me when I am treated differently, just because the server thinks they will be cheated out of a tip. Trust me, I worked in the service industry all through college and I know how that goes. Out of the five or six times I have eaten here though, the server has always been very kind and helpful, and last night just didn't add up to that. Second, the food was off as well. It was my second time ordering the ribeye. The presentation was strange and it came out medium/medium well instead of medium rare. The steak was also really tough. All in all, not that impressed. However, the person with me ordered the lamb and that came out amazing! The cocktails are really great! Try the cucumber martini :) I will always recommend this place but next time I'm in San Antonio, I will probably skip Bigas and find a new place to try out.
(3)
John H.
One of the finer places in San Antonio and slightly more city than most high end downtown spots. Everything about this place is spot-on. Amazing service, a great menu and a really robust wine list. Reservations are a big plus as it fills up fast. Even the valet parking is great.... and by that I mean dirt cheap and fast. More than any other place downtown, this is definitely more suit and tie than dressy jeans. From my experiences, it's the power place for the conventioneers and those looking to do the "dinner at Dorsia" thing. From that aspect, it's not as laid back as some other downtown favorites, but still not stuffy or formal. If at all possible, go for the chef's seasonal tasting menu. If you get there a little early, ask if they can still do it. Chances are the answer will be yes. So whip out the platnium AMEX and load up on eggshell white romalian type business cards!
(5)
James A.
My wife and I celebrated our wedding anniversary here on last night and it was fantastic. I had the venison and quail and she had the chicken breast! Service was was great as well! Highly recommend!
(4)
Bobby S.
I really had a horrible food experience here. I ordered Beef Tips and had to spot out four of the eight bites because it was gristle/fat. Truly, it was worthless. I should have complained but I didn't. An observant waiter would have noticed that my plate was spotted with piles of chewed and spit out meat and asked me about it. Not here though. The desert also was not good. Wt both had the Panna Cotta and it was odd and tasteless. The place is expensive and yet the food wasn't worth even a fraction of the price. This is off of my list permanently.
(1)
Jaclyn G.
Thanks Yelp-ers for your great advice to visit Biga On the Banks! This is a first-class restaurant within walking distance of the touristy side of Riverwalk. It was a bit difficult to find with construction, but worth searching for (don't give up if you can't find the door!) We were immediately impressed with the incredible service -- attentive but not annoying. I wish I could remember our servers name to give a Yelp- Shout-Out! He's been there since day 1 ... and you can tell he is proud to serve the food of Biga and offered great advice on what to choose from the menu. Their wine list is expansive -- from $30 to $300+ a bottle. We tried a $35 Texas blend ... it was delicious :) The food (Wedge Salads, Halibut and Lamb Chops) -- outstanding. We took our servers advice to make room for desert (chocolate cake) -- spectacular. While the food and drink are fabulous what made this experience especially unique for my friend and I was the petit portions on almost all of there main courses. For those of us that want to explore the menu with apps, salads, main course and deserts - this simple option makes Biga a perfect choice to have a fun night out. We left full, not stuffed, with amazing flavors throughout the meal.
(5)
Sarah V.
went here during restaurant week had the steak cutlet and something else and had dessert which was a chocolate tort it was heaven but kind of too chocolatie kind of pricey but thats what u get for great food
(5)
R L.
I feel compelled to write a review since I've never had such an experience at a restaurant. First of all, the food is solid. We had the fried oysters, foie gras, seared ahi, duck confit and venison with quail and it was all good. This place really tries to make sure you have a good experience. We ordered a sparkling wine but I wanted a red with my venison so the waiter recommended their by the glass Tempranillo and poured me a taste. I thought it was a little too fruit forward so he sent to sommelier over to tell me he wanted to make sure I found something I liked. I said he would even open something not on the by the glass menu and just wanted to make sure I was happy. I told him I was partial to Pinot Noirs. He came back with a Santa Barbara Pinot and also some more Tempranillo for comparison purposes. The Pinot was really good on it's own but the Tempranillo was better with the venison so I asked for a glass of that in their large Bordeaux glass instead of the house red glass. As I mentioned, the food is solid but that's not what stood out. The amazing service is what I will remember about Biga on the Banks!
(5)
Amanda S.
Most. Amazing. Meal. I've. Ever. Had. It's pricey but worth every penny. Not a place you go every week, but definitely worth it for special occasions. My parents and I were visiting San Antonio for the weekend and decided to eat here - my parents are very picky as they are from a small town and not very "foodie" type of people, but they couldn't stop talking about how amazing it was. As for me, I've lived in LA and eaten in some of the best restaurants in the world, and this place holds its own. Well done.
(5)
P H.
I chose Biga on the Banks due to an overwhelming yelp rating. It was convenient and close to my hotel as well. The ambiance was perfect, not too stuffy and not too casual. My date and I arrived just as they were opening and were politely greeted and sat. The waiter was extremely friendly and had indicated he was working there since their opening. He was very knowledgeable and made great recommendations for dinner. My date and I actually split a dinner (knowing we were probably going to order dessert). There was a fee for splitting a dinner but it was reasonable. The bread that came before the meal was delightful, especially the cornbread. There was also a small salmon nacho brought to the table that was just delicious. We ordered and split the mahi maui and it was cooked to perfection, light and delicate. Following the main course we ordered the Sticky Toffee Pudding by recommendation of the server. It was incredibly tasty! It was very difficult to select just one dessert because their selection seems so diverse and mouth--watering! Overall the experience was a delight. The staff was friendly and accommodating and the food was amazing. I won't complain about the pricing because when you receive a meal, service and setting in such a fabulous fashion, you don't mind paying the money for it.
(5)
Meg S.
My boyfriend and I enjoyed dinner there. Overall, it was a wonderful meal and the service was great. Would I run back? I'm not sure. Pros: -Great view of the Riverwalk -Allowed us to take advantage of the pre-fixe menu even though we should have waited about 5 minutes -AMAZING sticky toffee pudding -great service -nice wine list -chef sent out a small but yummy complimentary appetizer Cons: There were only two things, but these are the reasons I will not rate it five stars. -The main dishes were 'eh.' Don't get me wrong, they tasted fine, but I have had better in Houston for far less money. (2 drinks + 2 pre-fixe = $125 with tip) -We ordered an appetizer, and it never came. It was actually rather weird. It wasn't on the bill, so we didn't say anything, but we definitely had ordered it! I doubt we could have eaten it because we were incredibly full at the end of the meal, but, again, it was just strange. All in all, I might return, but I also might just try another restaurant!
(4)
Laura R.
We ate here with friends last week. We tried the reasonably-priced Autumn three-course meal. The squash soup was outstanding, tasty and silky, with bits of chorizo for texture and spice. I chose the mahi-mahi, which was nicely prepared. The fish was paired with veggies that were, alas, a bit underdone. i don't care for crunchy potatoes, though the purple carrots were less annoying. The biggest disappointment was dessert, a cake and ice cream plate with a fancy name that doesn't indicate cake and ice cream. The alternative was pumpkin pie, which our friends chose, although they left the crust. The ice cream was nice, but the cake was dry. Service was attentive and smooth, the room was pretty, and our table at the window gave us a good view of the Riverwalk at night.
(3)
Jeffrey P.
Top to bottom, one of the best meals I've had in a while. My only complaint was that the entrance to the place is too hard to find. The wine list is extensive without being overwhelming. Picked a German Riesling and wasn't disappointed. Skipped an appetizer and ordered soup. Chipotle cream cheese carrot with crispy croutons (alliteration: cute). The soup was fantastic, the chipotles added a nice bite, and it was served over the croutons table-side, so they stayed crispy; a nice touch. The mozzarella and heirloom tomato salad was fresh and tasty, the sea salt really brought out the flavors of the tomatoes. The mozzarella was a little on the dry side for me, though. Entree was smoked pork loin served with maple sour cream, potato rillettes, red cabbage, and Riesling apple sauce. I was a member of the Clean Plate Club tonight. Every piece of this dish was great. The pork was tender and juicy, the maple sour cream was amazing (who knew?), and even the red cabbage had a great burst of vinegar flavor. The potato and apple sauce completed a terrific entree. The 'Close To Bouillabaisse' was delicious, with more seafood than you can shake a stick at. It had so much of its own flavors that you can pass on the provided saffron mayonnaise dipping sauce. Dessert was Mexican chocolate and caramelized banana mousse, which was as good as is sounds. It was light, and not overly sweet, and the bananas had a great, crispy coating on them. The portion was actually larger than it needed to be, and I finished every bite anyway. Some other reviews have called out Biga for being expensive, but I feel the quality justified the cost. Minus the wine, a meal for two would have been $100, which seems about right for food and service this good.
(5)
Edward B.
Went here for Thanksgiving so their menu was limited. What they had to offer was exquisite though! Excellent salad bar with a wide variety of tasty treats. Perfectly executed dishes and solid drink menu. Staff was friendly and willing to serve. Pricey but worth the extra coin.
(4)
Jeremy W.
Absolutely AWESOME, I do not have one bad thing to say about this place. The waiter was extremely knowledgeable and honest regarding the food and history. I had the venison and quail and it was one of the best meals I have had since moving to Texas. The side of cheddar cheese grits put me in heaven and the pork tenderloin my friend had was melt in your mouth good. The dessert was a mouse cake with drunken bananas and there are no words to describe how good it was. To seal the deal on this place, the wine list wasn't too bad either.
(5)
Michael P.
Went on a Sat Night... Was not that busy... Service VERY GOOD.... ....I am thinking that they (the Chef/Owners) think they are much better than they are. Their minds were wondering when they cooked our entrees as they left the good taste in the kitchen. Food was OK, we did not mind the long wait in-between courses... it was fine as we were just chitchatting away. Between us we tried 5 different entrees, 3 appetizers not one "Jumped off the plate", I read the reviews before going & thought this was going to be GREAT, but sorry to say, I felt like we just wasted money. One item was really good, but not worth paying for the entree to get to ..... was the souffle, after a average to below average dinner the desert was a welcome finish. Closing this one out is easy, no reason to go back, I spent hard earned money for average or less food.
(2)
J C.
I took my husband here for his 50th birthday and it is one of the best restaurants I have ever had the pleasure to dine in. Everything was seasonally designed into the menu, superbly fresh and decadent!!! Excellent selection of wines and my young teen daughters with light appetites ordered off the children menu which was just an amazing smaller portioned dinner fare (I resent restaurants that think all kids have Mc Donald tastes). Do yourself a big favor and forget the tourist traps along the Riverwalk as this is within a super short walking distance and so worth it. PS I could not find it after shopping on the Riverwalk and called for directions, the hostess asked where I was and told me not to leave and she walked down to where we were to meet our family and lead us back. How is that for supreme service????
(5)
Russell B.
Biga is a great restaurant with professional, knowledgeable and friendly wait staff. I had one of the signature dishes with the Veal & Qual and it was delicious. They have a signature desert which is the chefs grandmothers recipe from England and it is extremely delicious! They are a bit nicer than most other restaurants on the River Walk.
(5)
Lynne B.
We went there on 12/23/2010 and had great service. Orlando was our server and I think he had been there for like 8 years. I ordered the venison and am so glad I did. I almost didn't and asked Orlando if I could switch out the parsley puree and brussel sprouts that it came with as I've never like brussel sprouts and the puree just didn't sound appealing. He told me that was the chef's favorite dish and talked me into saying to give it a chance. I am so happy I listened! I could have eaten 10 more of the venison, puree AND brussel sprouts if I had had any more room. Also followed suggestions by fellow yelpers and Orlando's suggestions and went with the sticky toffee bread pudding even though I'm not a fan of bread puddings and more a brownie girl. Was DELISH! Wasn't like normal bread puddings, was a bit more cake like. If I remember correctly, Orlando said the chef was from Ireland or something and he had been perfecting this particular dessert for over 25 years. Boyfriend got the filet and was really good also! We got the cheese plate for an appetizer was perfect. Only got two cheeses but went alot further than we thought it would. We left stuffed, satisfied and well taken care of. Would definitely recommend!
(5)
Eater O.
Confused about the 3/5. Here's why: Food: very good but salty, tone it down 3/5 Price: hmm... $100 dollars for 2 dishes- Lamb, and duck and one glass of wine 3/5 Service: Incredible, very polite, very stylish 5/5 The problem here I felt was the lamb was exceptionally well cooked but the duck was so far off... so salty, that we couldn't stand to eat it. In fact we left it in the plate after tasting it. I'd prefer excellent food and mediocre service. Perhaps we chose a bad dish, or it was an accidental lemon.
(3)
Ann O.
From my Yelp reviews I decided this was the place to try in SA......but after going to the McNay Museum and having a late lunch of BBQ, our 7pm reservation loomed large....so I opted for the spinach salad, but my husband rallied and ordered the mahi mahi.....both were entirely delicious. Our server Gigi was amazing, so personable and full of information about both the restaurant history and local eating establishments. I just love when professionals exhibit respect for others in their "competition", we took her advice and changed our reservation for the following night and were very happy with her recommendation. We mentioned to her that we were from Boston, this visit being shortly after the Boston Marathon bombings, and the staff brought out a gratis specialty dessert for us, their house special - which we devoured, making a mockery of our previous statements about being "not that hungry".....a very nice gesture topping off a great experience. Highly recommend.
(4)
Amanda T.
I ate here back in September and still can't stop thinking about how delicious our food was! Service was great, food was mouth-watering, dessert was even better. The warm spinach salad was to die for! No complaints. The bacon adds the perfect flavor and really pulls it all together. HIGHLY recommend for a nice night out.
(5)
Carlos P.
great place. wonderful food (FABULOUS MENU!) , drinks and staff. drove in from Austin for a nice night out, and it was totally worth it, with this find. 4 thumbs up Biga On the Banks.
(5)
Josh B.
Visited San Antonio today - really enjoyed the river walk. Ate dinner here and really enjoyed the food. The warm spinach salad was excellent and was my pork loin, although the chef's temperature was a little rare for my taste. Only knock I might have is the wine list, where I didn't feel the list was as diverse as I would expect at a place like that. The atmosphere was great, and the service was top notch.
(4)
E H.
The food was excellent. First time back after 5 years! Ate at the bar and had a blast with veteran bar tender. He recommended my meal! Achiote pork & the avocado mousse to die for!
(5)
Teddy W.
This place is pretty over-rated. For an app I had the nachos which were ok. The venison entree was well thought out but was poorly executed and over-cooked and dry. A dining companion had the lamb which was better, but overall the food was tired and under-seasoned.
(2)
Bill A.
Service was excellent. The waiter took his time too check if we were familiar with the restaurant and was very attentive. Did not rush us and made sure we really knew what was on the menu. My wife ordered the lamb rack and it was excellent. Very flavorful and tender. I ordered a seafood dish which was good...wish I ordered the lamb. They make their own breads there...excellent. This place is a little hard to find but worth the find. Probably one of the best on the river (really overlooks the river - which is actually better than on the river IMHO). I wish they had an entrance from the river for walkin travelers...have to walk around building by large bus stop if you are walking. But valet parking is in easy to find location for drivers. The prices were reasonable with offering half orders. Also, wine list was nice.
(4)
David B.
The place rocks. The food is very good. They offer half portions which is client centric. Finally the Black Forest cake is authentic and the best I have tasted outside the real Black Forest. Kudoes team. Was there last night, back tonight
(4)
Lauren T.
My husband and I came here on our anniversary. The atmosphere is upscale. There was a nice balcony overlooking the Riverwalk that would have been nice to sit at too. Overall very good ambiance. Our waiter seemed to be having a slightly off night, but the water service was prompt, which as a water guzzler, I appreciate! This restaurant is a little pricey, but the food is excellent! I enjoyed beef while my husband enjoyed fish. The wine was excellent and I wish I had room in the belly for dessert. A very nice restaurant for a special night out in San Antonio!
(3)
Siv L.
My boyfriend and I made reservations for dinner on our last night in San Antonio, after reading the rave reviews. Unfortunately, the experience was underwhelming. We were quickly seated, at a table that only had one chair and one placemat. Surrounding tables were shrouded in curtains, and we also were not offered a seat near the window, with views of the river. When I went to unroll my napkin (which was black while my boyfriend's and every other table had white napkins), it was damp! -- a bit unacceptable for a fine dining establishment. Our waitress was friendly, but she had an air of, "this restaurant is great -- I expect you to eat a lot". The complimentary bread was just okay. We started with a glass of wine each. For apps, we shared the chicken fried oysters (which was served with mustard hollandaise sauce that I didn't really like) and a tuna dish. For our entrees, I ordered the lamb chops, and I believe my boyfriend ordered a fish. The lamb chops were pretty good (but just a few days earlier I had the best chops at Bella on the River so I didn't think these were spectacular)... During our meal, I was also a bit distracted by a water spill. A waiter had spilled water right near our table, in an area with heavy foot-traffic. I kept hoping that no one would slip and fall and was surprised that no one came to clean it up (I found myself cringing throughout dinner as I watched patrons walk back and forth in heels near the puddles). Overall, the dining experience was just okay. Probably would not come back if in the area again.
(2)
Cristina D.
Beautiful restaurant beautiful flavorful food and fantastic service...TRUE PERFECTION!..PERFECT PAIRING!
(5)
Ben H.
Extremely good food...scallops as well as the venison/duck dishes were great. However, the price is fairly high compared to other nice restaurants that have similar quality food. Atmosphere is nice. Wine list good, but 'by the glass' not too extensive.
(4)
Faisal A.
Outstanding experience. Went here with a friend for a birthday dinner. We decided to try the chef's 8 course tasting menu, which was priced excellently at ~85 dollars. It is pricey, but the courses were all VERY large and well worth it. We were completely stuffed by course 6 and ended up having to take the last two home. One thing I was very impressed with was the customer service. I called a couple nights before to make a reservation, and they were very great about going out of their way to make the night memorable once they found out it was to celebrate a birthday. Additionally, they were more than happy to adjust the entire 8 course meal to take into account certain dietary restrictions. Very accommodating and professional. The ambiance was perfect, and our table was in a somewhat secluded area where we had our own personal waiter to guide us through the 8 courses and give us extra attention. The waiter tended to our every single need but made sure to stay out of our way when appropriate. As for the food... amazing. Every course was perfectly crafted, and even the ones that I didn't like as much were still good. Some of the best tasting foods I've ever had were from this night, including my favorite dish: Mahi mahi over lemon saffron risotto. Wow. This night at Biga from beginning to end was one of my favorite eating experiences I've ever had. Highly recommend coming here, and HIGHLY recommend indulging in the chef's tasting menu for a special occasion.
(5)
Isabel P.
Definitely a restaurant you must visit when in San Antonio that is right on the river walk that provides a nice view. The place is great for a romantic or intimate evening with friends or your significant other. I think I will be visiting this restaurant at every visit due to EVERYTHING tasting delicious. The mister and I came in to SA on a whim and with great reviews, we just had to stop by. We did make reservations for a Friday evening online and were greeted by the lovely hostesses and hosts upon entry. Our waiter Casey was great. He gave us the background on the restaurant and the awesome chef who will preparing our entrees. The menu consistently changes but I got the lamb dish that he recommended that came with corn mashed potatoes and asparagus. I must say, it was freaking amazing. The mister got the prime rib cooked rare that came out on a sizzling skillet with regular mashed potatoes and green beans. He devoured it quick! Complimentary bread is served to the table and their corn bread was amazing too. I say that as I am not a regular corn bread fan. Even the ice tea was yummy. I probably had like 4 glasses. Service was great as Casey always asked how the food was and if we needed anything, I appreciate the knowledge he had of the restaurant and provided suggestions. I also appreciate his attentiveness in service and refilling my glass. We were so full that we unfortunately didn't have room for dessert. No worries, I will return to try their beautiful dessert. I will de recommending this place to all my friends who visit San Antonio because so far... I have not found anything I disliked
(5)
Allison J.
This place is absolutely amazing, and the lamb is out of this world. My husband took me here for our anniversary and they made sure to make it special for us. The menu is changed DAILY, which is pretty awesome. I plan on going back any time I'm in town.
(5)
Jon B.
Brought the girlfriend here for a nice dinner. Was not disappointed! Booked an Open Table reservation at 7:30 for an 8:30 table on a Saturday night, and they were able to accommodate us. We were also able to take advantage of the 3/4 course meals that evening. Our server Ben was excellent and recommended the grilled tuna steak with wasabi mashed potatoes for her! and I had the beef tips. Both were delicious! We both enjoyed their well-prepared mixed cocktails as well. The ambiance was excellent, our server Ben was great. Not a single complaint. Will definitely put this place on the list when I come into town.
(5)
Mark B.
This is one of the better dining experience I have had in quite a while. Great menu and wine list. We had the quail and venison pate as well as the game lettuce wraps. They were both fantastic. The sauce for the wraps was some of the best stuff I have ever tasted. For an entree I got the beef tenderloin. It was awesome, both in presentation and in taste. It was served with cheese grits which paired well with the steak and the accompanying sauce. It was also served with something green, but ti escapes me after drinks at the bar and some wine. The wine menu also had a lot of diversity and one of our favorite wines was on the menu: Uppercut. Bummed that I have no comment on dessert as to full to have anything. I am always surprised what people define as classy dress. Bedazzled does not equal classy (sorry mom).
We made a reservation for 9:30, arrived a few min early and we were seated right away. Our waiter was prompt and provided good info on the restaurant and the menu. Hubby ordered the summer special 3 course meal for $37 and surprisingly good sized portions. Includes salad, entree and dessert. I had the lamb rack (only 4 small ribs) for $43. It's the only item that does not change with the daily menu and it was awesome. I would return again and I also recommend to others looking for a great dining experience.
Usually when visiting San Antonio and the Riverwalk I only eat at Boudro's , which is the first place I ever ate in San Antonio. However for recent visit I decided to venture out and try someplace new to me. Thanks to other yelpers we made our March 2013 Saturday night dinner reservations at Biga on the Banks. Upon arriving slightly early for our reservation we were seated at a table by the window overlooking the Riverwalk. We enjoyed waving to the people passing in tour boats below. The service was great and the food was delicious. The grilled 13 oz beef rib eye with roasted garlic mashers and shiner bock onion rings was well cooked and flavorful. The French beans with burgundy jus were perfectly tender without being overcooked. The 11-spiced Texas venison and grilled Texas quail were equally delicious. I especially appreciated the option to order a smaller-sized portion.
(5)
Ted M.
Absolutely amazing dinner! I eat a ton and the meal and service was the best I have had in years. The wine recommendation of Darioush Malbec was amazing and the Bouillabaisse was perfection. I will come back every time when I am in town. This is my new favorite restaurant. 5stars all the way. If you eat at the bar ask for Kim.
(5)
Nick A.
*** 1/2 We went here for my girlfriends birthday recently. The staff were very accommodating & had a very nice table for us in the corner with a view. We had a nice bottle of cote du rhone with our dinner. Habañero lime scallops to start that were of a nice size, fresh, perfectly cooked with a right amount of heat on the finish. I had the 7 spice venison & quail for my entree which was tender & perfectly cooked. My girlfriend had the filet which was slightly over cooked. The food overall while good was not as innovative as some of the food we have had for a significantly lower price in south town. Biga has a very nice atmosphere & it's river walk location is prime for tourists and expense accounters. A bit disappointing if you are expecting something novel. There is but one thing that will bring me back. The sticky toffee pudding.
(3)
Kendra P.
Amazing night. Beautiful ambiance. The sommelier and general manager sat with us for a wonderful conversation of the worlds wine regions and poured us a tasting of comparable desert wines to help educate us on our likes. The employees were very passionate about the appreciation of fine food and wine and were hospitable to allow us our desired pace on dinner overlooking the river. Amazing twist on food and flavors... Can't wait to come back!
(5)
Stewart A.
Incredible ambiance. Had the chicken fried oysters, spectacular. The venison and quail were perfectly done and the cheese plate for desert was as good as I've seen. In addition, they had wonderful wines which would have fallen in the mid price range on the list as the house wines and priced them very reasonably. Biga's is a great place to go for a special occasion.
(5)
Kyle D.
Amazing food. Was there with friends passing through town and got a bunch of things to share between us. Well worth it!
(4)
Craig G.
Smoked salmon nachos had amazing flavor, the warm spinach salad was fantastic, especially liked the candied pecans and Brie. My bouillabaisse was fresh, with plenty of seafood, now awaiting the highly recommended sticky toffee pudding. Also, the ambiance is warm and romantic. Great for a date.
(4)
Tracy H.
Very good steak, the service was great! Very nice atmosphere.
(4)
Richa T.
My boyfriend and I were visiting San Antonio for a day. We had dinner here. Both of us enjoyed everything we ordered. They have a Spring fare menu 3 course for $37. We went for that. The two of us ordered one of each from the menu.The portions are just perfect for one person. The menu had soup and salad for appetizer which tasted very good. I had the salad, mahi mahi and a coconut dessert. My boyfriend had the soup, beef tender and some came I don't remember the name. I didn't like the desert but again I don't have sweet tooth. I absolutely loved my grapefruit martini. We were seated in on the patio with the perfect view of the riverwalk. The service was fabulous. The boyfriend and I had a romantic dinner date.
(5)
Tobin T.
Day three in my fine dining restaurant tour of the riverwalk lead me here. Upon reading most of the reviews, it seems like Biga was the "go to" place to celebrate special occasions on a "once-in-a-blue-moon" evening out. And I have to admit, the ambience of romance is truly there! I do feel, however, that the restaurant's attempt to sell the river view/riverwalk theme had failed tremendously! I don't know if the windows were dirty or I was there on an riverwalk off night, but the river view was dark and unsettling. I secretly keep waiting for Jack The Ripper to appear and claim his next victim. It was quite a desolate area of the riverwalk from the restaurant's view. But I digress..... On to the food- I didn't need around and went straight for their signature dish: the 11- Spiced Texas Axis Venison And Grilled Texas Quail. This dish screams Texan all over without the overrated play on Tex-Mex. To start, the venison. OMG! THE VENISON!!! It was all the lovely goodness and comfort of Bambi's mother without the tearful guilt of murder! Absolute perfection without a hint of gaminess! Then on to the Quail- this was also cooked and seasoned beautifully. Two wonderful proteins on one plate which made a lasting impression! I can see how chef took complete pride in their meats. And then again, ANOTHER lasting impression with the remaining of the dish- a horrible, game breaker of an impression! It was such a shame that on my dish was the highest standards of meats known in the restaurant business, followed by the poorest garnish to accompany it! The parsnip puree a complete disaster and quite offensive to be served on my plate. I'm pretty sure there was barely any parsnip in that side at all. It was either mixed with mash or made in in an uncleaned pot of prior fired mashed potato! This really ruined an almost perfect dish and since this fine establishment did not have the courtesy of quality control on my dish (since I'm surely paying for that expected quality control expected in fins dining) I reluctantly took away 2 stars! Disappointing! Overall, I would recommend this establishment and hope my next appointment with them will change my review.
(3)
Valerie N.
Delicious. Definitely get the Axis venison and put down the menu. This dish is awesome and fab way to try Texas game meat. Use the sommelier's awesome skills to make a truly fantastic dining experience. This would have had 5 stars, except my grouper was lackluster and blah, to the point I couldn't bring myself to eat it. The white truffle grits were also overpowering. We did have a scallops appetizer that was delicious that I wished I had gotten for my main course!
(4)
Erich H.
Wonderful service - Chris, our waiter, was great. We enjoyed the salmon nachos for our appetizer and the lamb chops and tuna tartar for entrees. Both were delicious. Price was as expected for a fine-dining experience. Very satisfied with everything. Thank you!
(5)
Emily B.
My husband and I came here on a Saturday night for a nice dinner. The restaurant was pretty nice with good views. We shared the cheese tray- excellent. He loved the grilled ahi tuna and the halibut entree was very bland. I did not eat half of it. The dessert, bread pudding, was excellent. Nothing special about this restaurant except that it is not Mexican food which is hard to find downtown.
(3)
Ashley K.
I was going to go for three, but the boyfriend says he's experienced better, so 2 - "Meh. I've experienced better" it is. Average it out for 2.5 stars. Service was really great throughout the night. However, we were dining for our 8 year anniversary and they even wished us happy anniversary when we walked into the restaurant. We did get seated at a secluded table, so way to go to the hostesses for getting that right. That was the last anyone mentioned anything about it though. I thought the purpose of writing a note on OpenTable under our reservation was so we didn't have to blatantly tell our server that we were there to celebrate. The bartender later told us that for anniversaries, they usually send out champagne or do the souffle for dessert, and maybe there was a huge communication disconnect, but that soured the experience for us. As for the food, the chicken fried oysters with squid ink linguini, pancetta, and hollendaise sauce were very good. I was happy to try something I'd never had before (fried oysters) and thought all the flavors complemented each other well. We did one prix fixe menu with turkey corn chowder, seared mahi mahi, and chocolate mousse bar, and ordered the chicken fried oysters & a half order of the close to bouillabaisse. We didn't go in very hungry, and this was just the right amount of food. Turkey corn chowder was solid. Good, not amazing, but good. BF was not impressed with his mahi mahi which was unfortunate. I enjoyed the saffron risotto under the fish, but he didn't care for it. Nothing was bad, but it wasn't great or memorable either. His exact words were "I'm not going to go home and tell anyone they have to come here and try it." If we're going to pay for a nice meal, he wants it to blow him away and that's fair. We shouldn't think about bringing up some of our favorite sushi and steak spots back home while we're trying a new place out. I thought the bouillabaisse was interesting, there was a good amount of seafood and it tasted fresh. My favorite part was the broth.. but I wish I loved it so much more. We were really happy with the chocolate mousse bar and the fresh mango, coconut, etc. that accompanied it. Dessert was delicious. We paid for our dessert, so I can't help but feel they could have acknowledged our special occasion by writing Happy Anniversary on our plate, or anything at all. Too bad, though. I had high hopes, but left feeling so disappointed. Highlights: chicken fried oysters, chocolate mousse bar, and the valet guy out front who was really nice and funny. Tonight had a lot of potential. If not for their big mistake with us in not addressing our anniversary, I would probably still give it a 3. Biga, you tried, but that did you in with us. We won't be back. :(
(2)
Sasha H.
This place was fantastic. The waiter recommended an excellent wine and the half portion entrees were exactly what I wanted.
(5)
Lana P.
I ordered the bouillabaisse. Looked nothing like the photo on the web site. Very small portion. The seafood was overcooked, rendering the shrimp like rubber. After the meal I ordered a decaf coffee. Once I got home I realized that they had served me regular coffee. Finally fell asleep at 5 am. Had to get up for a meeting at 7:30. Was so foggy that I was unable to participate in the meeting. NEVER will go there again.
Great food, great ambiance, great service. I was in San Antonio for a conference and read the reviews on Biga on the Banks and decided to take customers there for dinner. The waiter was very professional and knowledgeable about the restaurant and food. He sold us well on the meals that we chose and delivered. The fish was fantastic. Portions were the right size and we enjoyed sitting outside by the River Walk. Great place to try in San Antonio.
(5)
Scott B.
Walked in without a reservation, was seated immediately. The service was outstanding! The cornbread is crazy good. Mostly locally grown faire, so menu changes. I had venison with quail, it was great. A little pricy, but definitely very much worth the visit.
(5)
Theresa P.
My husband and I ate at Biga for our one year anniversary and we loved everything! I'm sure they have a lot of couples come in but they made every effort to make our visit special. Our waiter was amazing and the food was wonderful. We definitely recommend the sticky toffee pudding!
(5)
Alexa M.
Wanted to treat my parents(they are from Corpus) to an exquisite dinner for their 30th anniversary. We decided to take them here since it is one of our favorites. WOW. That describes our dining experience from top to bottom. We enjoyed their four course special which was phenomenal !!!!! From start to finish everything was delicious . What really took our evening to a five star rating was the service from our waitress Gigi. She was incredibly nice and really added that special touch to the evening . It has almost been a week and my patents still can't stop talking about the dinner!!!! Lol we will definitely be back !!!
(5)
Michelle W.
Delicious! They have a room in the back for an intimate setting for large groups. We had a set menu, but it was amazing and I was dying for more! I started with the lobster bisque, had the beef tenderloin and sticky toffee pudding for dessert. The lobster bisque was good, but not the best I've had. It was creamy and flavorful and hit the spot, but I have had better. Granted this place doesn't specialize in seafood, it was still good. The beef tenderloin was to die for. Cooked perfectly with a nice rare center. It was so flavorful and so juicy that I pretty much inhaled this dish. The sticky toffee pudding was the perfect way to round out the meal, but it was a bit heavy so I could only eat a few bites. The few bites I had though were so good and there was definitely a party going on in my mouth. The service was impeccable. The waiters were super friendly, very accommodating and very attentive. They knew what they were doing and kept a close eye for when your drink was empty and when your plate was finished. Definitely a place you have to try!
awesome place. good service, good ambiance and not too touristy. went for a family reunion of sorts and loved that they had the 'half' portions. It allowed us to get more appetizers and deserts! I'd definitely recommend the chicken fried oysters and though the Grand Marnier souffle was good, the Sticky toffee pudding was even better!
(4)
Ashley T.
This place was up to par on everything! The food was incredible, especially the fried oysters over the squid ink pasta!! The waiter even went as far as to bring me a black cloth napkin as opposed to a white one to match the black pants I was wearing!
(5)
Kris U.
From now on I will always go just a bit further down the Riverwalk from the main touristy area for dining options. And this place is what has led me to that decision. The food here, as well as the over all dining experience, was so much better than the touristy options. Our party was five people and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their entrees, which are seasonal and so you probably won't be able to get the same thing twice. But if you have the opportunity to order the seafood bisque starter or the mahi mahi entree, you won't be disappointed! And the Blueberry Martini was F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S! It definately makes my "Top 10" list of best martinis in Texas.
(5)
Jeff M.
Terrific food. Beef tips were spectacularly well done. Toffee pudding -- excellent! Corn puree -- excellent! Mahi Mahi was terrific. Salmon Nachos: unique and delicious! Enjoy
(5)
Kristin E.
My husband and I decided on Biga on The Banks for our anniversary dinner. We were not disappointed! We mentioned to them in our reservation that we were celebrating and as we were taken to our table our waiter greeted us with "Happy Anniversary!" We shared a scallop starter that was delicious and prepared our palettes for the main course! I got the Dijon crusted lamb and my husband got the beef tenderloin. Perfect servings, absolutely delicious and oh so flavorful!! We finished with a delicious blackberry cake with peach ice cream and received 2 glasses of complimentary champagne! They even wrote "Happy Anniversary!" on our dessert plate! It was a very special dinner for a very memorable night! We'll definitely go back!!
(5)
Shelley B.
Seeing Foie Gras on the menu totally ruined our evening. I wish they would remove this disgusting item from the menu youtube.com/watch?v=QAQD… and have better taste in what they present to their customers. Foie Gras is illegal in most places for a reason. Sick.
(1)
Roxxanna J.
The warm spinach salad and wine recommendation were great. Unfortunately the waitress was too busy to help us. The salad arrived within 5 minutes of ordering and well before the wine was served. After the waitress took a couple more orders, we got our wine. As main courses, we ordered the Bouillabaisse-seafood which was overcooked, either before served or in the broth, hard to tell. It's a great restaurant but our service was less than stellar (our glasses were empty several times during the dinner) and the food was below average for the price.
(3)
C D.
I enjoyed my dining experience here very much. It was quite refreshing and unexpected to find a restaurant with such a wide variety on the menu.
(4)
Jessica N.
Came here with the husband for our honeymoon dinner. Really, really good food, but could use a couple of small tweaks. We were seated in a corner of the restaurant away from everyone else. Not sure if we weren't deemed beautiful enough to be seen or if they wanted to give us an intimate spot, but whatever... We ordered the salmon nachos as an appetizer, which were very good. We both had salads...he had the warm spinach salad, which he really loved and I had the Caesar, which was so-so. The dressing was thin and different than what I'm used to on Caesar salads. For my entree I went with the snapper and he got the duck. My snapper was very good, although I did find a small bone in my first bite...no more after the initial one. Hubby liked his duck confit, but he thought the breast was a bit overcooked. Our side of cheesy cauliflower was very good, but the charred and roasted Brussels sprouts could've been better. I make oven-roasted Brussels sprouts all the time and I find mine much better. I cut off the ends, but I noticed these were left on. This resulted in the bottoms being a bit tough and woody. Otherwise, they were good. One of the main highlights of the meal was our dessert, the sticky toffee pudding. OMG...so, so good. Also, drinks seemed to be strong. Oh, and our waiter looked like Sting.
We are looking for a great restaurant near our hotel and this looked good. That was an understatement I had the venison and quail and loved it! Our hotel had given us a coupon for a special treat and it was a melange of game in a rich dark sauce wrapped in lettuce! We also had a souffle which we both loved
(5)
Robin V.
Let me begin this review by mentioning that my husband and I frequently eat in the best restaurants in this country and around the world. I think it is important to have a frame of reference when reading a review. Biga on the Banks was the first restaurant we dined at during our stay in San Antonio. The others were Bella on the River, Las Canarias, Zinc, Boudro's, and Acenar. While all the restaurants were very good, Biga stood out as exemplary in all ways. We were very early for our reservation but the friendly hostess sat us at the bar and made sure we were seated for dinner within 10 minutes. Our server, Michael, was the real standout. His professional and polite demeanor, knowledge of the menu & wines and attentiveness were not only impressive but unparalleled. While my husband and I consider Biga to be one of the top three restaurants we have ever had the pleasure to dine at, we both agree that Michael is the best server we have ever had. He addressed us by our surname at all times and provided helpful menu suggestions and wine pairings. Michael told us about the history of the restaurant and its award winning chef. He was extremely attentive to our needs and also was very articulate and personable. You could tell he was passionate about the restaurant and his role in providing a wonderful dining experience. He succeeded on all levels. We began our meal with a mushroom and a sausage appetizer . Both were outstanding. My husband had the pork tenderloin and I had the beef tenderloin for our entrees and both were perfectly cooked with the proper accompaniments and sauces. For dessert, we had their famous Sticky Toffee Pudding which was the best of its kind. We will definitely be back to Biga on our next trip to San Antonio and look forward to seeing Michael again as well.
(5)
Patrick H.
This is a nice place to have dinner at the Riverwalk but away from the frenzy down by the water. I had the pork tenderloin and a side of the brussels sprouts. Very tasty. For dessert I had the Grand Marnier souffle. It was light and fluffy. Perfectly prepared. The chef here has been nominated for several James Beard awards and it shows.
(4)
Susie C.
I made a reservation to Biga a few weeks ago as the hubby and I were celebrating a special occasion and wanted a really fancy dinner. And Biga did NOT disappoint! This place was amazing, from the service to the decor to the politeness of the staff to the amazing food. Here's what we got: To start: The French Fried Oysters. SO. FREAKING. GOOD. For such a simple dish they really jazzed it up, and serving it over the tiny portions of squid-ink pasta was the perfect touch. I would order that again in a second We made a joint decision on our dinners as we usually eat half our plates then do the ol' switcheroo. I ordered the lamb chops medium rare and they were heavenly. They were so tender and delicious. Not gamey at all. The seasoning was perfect and these were some of the best lamb chops I've ever had. This dish came with some brussel sprouts, and although I'm a fan anyway, these sprouts were done perfectly. Plenty of butter and a light sautee on them to have any veggie hater loving these! He ordered the venison/quail combo. This dish is absolutely to die for. If you're a meat eater, you MUST order this when you go. The venison was tender, perfectly cooked and not gamey at all. The quail was juicy, perfectly seasoned and it was a generous portion. As far as sides: We ordered the couscous which is probably the best starchy side I've ever eaten in my life. Skip the potatoes and go for these bad boys. Creamy, melt in your mouth with little bits of bacon. BACON people! You can't go wrong! Now even though we were stuffed from dinner, I forced us to order dessert only because I knew it would probably be awhile before I'd get to come back. The hubby was too full for the chocolate cake (which was my first choice), so we ordered the Orange Souffle instead. I was a little disappointed in this dessert as it was a litle eggy, even for a souffle, but the sauce was delicious. If I AM lucky enough to go back soon, it's the chocolate cake, all the way! Is it pricey, absolutely! But worth every penny. It was a superb dining experience where they substitute your white napkin for a black one if you're wearing a dark color, the service was extremely attentive and the ambiance was romantic, quiet and very relaxing! Not only was our server perfectly polite and attentive, he was able to intelligently answer all of the questions we had about the wine offerings and he helped us pick an out-of-this-world Red blend that complemented both of our meat dishes perfectly. Great job Biga! Can't wait to come back!
(5)
Darby M.
Excellent food and service. The pork pot stickers are amazing and nearly as good as the chicken fried oysters with squid ink pasta. They have an extensive wine selection and a wide range of dishes. On Saturday and Sunday they offer half portions of some meals that might help save room for their tasty desserts.
(5)
Colleen L.
I haven't had a dining experience like Biga on the Banks in a long time. Everything was perrrrrfect. I think the excited 10 year old at the table next to us summed it up best when he exclaimed "This is the best fish I've ever had, and the nicest restaurant ever!!!" I agree. We tried the pumpkin crusted mahi mahi, which was delicious but the Close-to-Bouillabaisse was the star of the meal. The pear tart with candied hazelnuts was delicious as well. Our waiter was attentive and made us feel like we could sit and enjoy our meal all night. Also, they have a special 3-course meal for $37 before 6 and after 9 if you want to save some money for wine!
(5)
Charlotte F.
The food here was fantastic. I went for my anniversary with my boyfriend. We had the works, got 5 different courses which we ate in its entirety! Started with the cheese selection which was sooooo good. Next came the lobster bisque soup which was genuinely made with lobster (I could really taste it!). We had some bread, also very good. I had this mixed seafood with tomato sauce also very very good. My absolute favorite was the dessert which was bread pudding, seriously some dangerous stuff. The atmosphere was very nice. Our waiter was attentive but knew when to leave us alone. But ladies, be careful if you wear heels! I almost ate it slipping on the floor there! (not from mess but from the material the floor is made of) Overall I had a great time here and would go here again in a heartbeat!
(5)
sean M.
Wow ! My wife and I went to your lovely and romantic restaurant on March 8 , arriving at 9:30 , too early for your special. But asking we were told that you would afford us the special. And special it was . Delicious and innovative savories were presented , succulent , we enjoyed it all . Thank you Rosie and Sean
(5)
A C.
My friend and I were in town last week for a conference and found this wonderful hidden gem. We walked in to a simple yet so classy dinning, btw loved the art and gourd display. We had the BEST service, Beau was our waiter! Everything on the menu looks delish! For starters we shared the smoked salmon nacho--so so so good! I enjoyed two side dishes, wasn't too starved, had the asparagus and mushrooms (MY FAVORITE) and the cauliflower. Both were delectable delights, the perfect size to tie you over. We were greeted by the manager, and he ask how we were enjoying our meals, nice and humbling. We were so happy to have found this place. Most of their menu items come from farmers markets and organic when possible (earning huge points in my scoring). Beau had mentioned that if there was something on the menu that didn't fit our taste buds desire that the chefs have a fresh selection of seasonal goods to put anything together, being vegetarian that was so awesome. He even suggested that he would have the chefs use veggie stock instead of chicken stock in one of my items... Such good service!
(5)
Aquiles D.
Service was not good, parking is $9- which at least should be paid by the restaurant. Cesar salad was TERRIBLE, Costco has better. Bread was out of fridge. Waiter never asked if we wanted dessert and decided to bring check even though we had not asked him for it. Place was pretty empty on a Wednesday night, expected better food and service.
(2)
Jeff J.
Came in with a party of 8 and did the private chef's 7 course-tasting with wine and it was truly one of the best meals I've ever had. As someone who's a patron of fine dining that lived in NYC and traveled to Asia, Europe, and Dubai, Biga on the Banks is definitely one of the crown jewels in fine dining. Great service and excellent pairing with course and wine.
(5)
Bob K.
A combination of excellent food presentation and preparation, a beautifully decorated and particularly nicely lighted venue (properly matching the techniques and motifs used along the beautiful riverwalk), as well as impeccably flawless service, made for a memorable dining experience. I give Biga my highest recommendation for overall experience. My spouse (in here for a conference, whom I accompanied down to SAT) and I made an opentable reservation and walked in 30 minutes early. We were seated after waiting only a few minutes by the very pleasant hostess (whose name has now slipped my typically absent mind). We noted the impressively numerous James Beard nominations on the wall for chef Auden. Despite not winning, the nomination for this award is no small thing. And winning it is truly the crowning achievement and recognition for chefs. We were given a nice two-place at a window, and server Chris came by to present the menus, wine list, etc. If server Chris is representative of the level of service one can normally expect at this establishment, then indeed this is an unusually well-trained and highly skilled staff. Demeanor, timing, helpfulness, menu/wine/beer expertise were all executed in exemplary fashion. I ordered only minimal alcohol (a local black lager) and otherwise lighter dinner fare--the pork and the bouillabaisse along with a spinach salad. Unfortunately the duck had run out at this point (845pm) and the cinnamon contained in the antelope/quail dish was enough to veto that choice. The food presentation was nicely done. And while the flavors of the dishes tended more toward being more subtle than outrageous, the freshness of the items as well as the precision in the cooking times of the pork and various seafood items comprising the bouillabaisse (all of which arguably need differing cooking times) indicates that the staff in the back of the house is as talented as those in the front of the house. The food falls short of being truly magical, but such astronomical events occur only very rarely in one's life; and such an evaluation is highly subjective. An outstanding experience such as this is already all too rare. If there is an actual downside to the experience, it is the prices at first blush seem steep. However, given the location and proximity to the convention center and the business customers and their expense accounts that are in play here, I think the owners and chef have dialed in prices that really make sense. Lastly and most importantly, and part of this may perhaps be a reflection of the friendly local culture, is this restaurant's complete lack of pretension. Every aspect of this experience was one of genuine welcoming acceptance. I can give an establishment no higher compliment.
(5)
Lisa E.
I would love to give this restaurant 5 stars - the atmosphere was very nice, quiet, we had a beautiful view of the river, and they pulled the drapes back as the sun went down so we could see the view. The waiter was attentive, and answered all of our questions easily.. What keeps it from being top-notch? $9 plus tip for valet is excessive, when you're paying well for a meal. Do as many top restaurants do, and comp the valet. If I'm ordering a steak, bring me a steak knife. I don't care how "tender" the steak is, or is supposed to be. It's a rib-eye; bring me a steak knife. I don't want to wrestle with it. And finally, if I see a gnat near my food, for me...it's not 5 stars, sorry. Yes, we were right next to the door leading to the balcony dining - so put in an over-the-door "fly fan". I don't want bugs in or near my food.
(3)
Rich P.
My wife and I rarely get a date night these days with three kids. I've eaten here once before for a business dinner and have been itching to take her here. The location is quite nice, since it is somewhat picturesque, even though they tend to cater more to their regulars for the window tables it seems. There is valet parking that is cheaper than an hour at a nearby garage, highly recommend. All of the serving staff was very friendly and responsive. My wife was wearing a black dress, so they traded in the white napkin for a black one. Nice to see that level of attention for the price point. On to the food! We started off with the Smoked Salmon Nachos to go a little less traditional. Pretty good flavor profile, but nothing spectacular honestly. They brought us five, which I thought odd. It forced my wife and I to arm wrestle for the last, which other tables seemed bothered by. Our main course selections were the Seared Duck Breast with Braised Leg. The Breast was seared and fat cooked down perfectly. Flavor was great, but way too much food for my wife. That was ok by me, since it allowed me to try hers and not feel guilty of deprivation. I chose their Lamb Chops and they were absolutely spot on. Perfectly cooked and plate was put together well. (sorry I didn't take a photo for yelp) We paired the dishes with a nice Cab, yes even with the duck, that was quite tasty and light. Finally, we forced ourselves to split a Creme Brulee that was very light and just the right amount of sweetness with the fresh rasberry/blackberry. All in all, another fantastic visit and a restaurant I would highly recommend to travelers and locals, alike. The only item I might change on our menu is the appetizer, but still nothing to post negative remarks about...they just have better choices for my tastes. Thanks for the great date night, Biga. We'll be back.
(5)
Liv D.
My wife and I celebrated our marriage with a wonderful dinner here last night. We were a party of 8. Our waiter and the entire staff, including the kitchen were above parr. The food was extremely fresh and I wish I had the words that could express our dinner, but sadly there are none. Our server Tucker went out of his way to make this a special night. We have therfore christened him Topnotch Tucker! I highly recommend Biga, and look forward to our next visit. P.S. wait the twenty minutes for the souffle!
(5)
Nate M.
My wife and I had a great experience at Biga for her birthday. Our waiter, Casey, did an excellent job welcoming us and detailing the restaurant's history. He didn't miss a beat when we moved inside out of the summer heat, and made great suggestions for appetizers and entrees. There was one mixup with one of our entrees, but it just served as an opportunity for Casey to go the extra mile to take care of us, and the evening was a thoroughly pleasant experience. As far as cuisine, we started with an off-the-menu "family platter", a highly misnamed small plate with a single-bite per person sampling of their salmon nachos, chicken-fried oysters, and bibb/radicchio game packets, all of which were great. My wife had the rack of lamb and I the smoked pork tenderloin, both of which we would highly recommend. We ended with a delicious orange souffle which was accompanied by a birthday candle and chocolate mousse, which was a nice and very filling touch. Overall, we will definitely be coming back.
(5)
Allegre N.
We dined here last night - ordered the salmon nachos, the duck breast and confit leg, and a half-order of the rack of lamb. Our service was abominable. Our waiter rarely checked on us, when he spoke he sounded very awkward and scripted, telling us about dishes that he "feels really represents what we are about" - using that exact phrase multiple times. The tables to our left and to our right both seemed to have a much more attentive server. I'm not sure if this only comes with salads but we did have to request a bread basket. A runner brought out our appetizer, no one checked on us in between, then someone else cleared the plate. Our server FINALLY came back and said "your appetizer should be out soon...." He had no idea we'd already gotten it (and we did not gobble it down, either). The appetizer portion was petite - 5 small tortilla chips with smoked salmon, so if you order this do be prepared for a small plate. I thought it was delicious but my husband felt it was a little salty. There was a very long wait between our appetizer and our entrees - about 20 minutes or so. After the long wait to get our entrees, we had to wait yet again and flag our waiter down to bring us more appropriate knives since we could not cut our food with our butter knives. I really liked the rack of lamb, and that is high praise because lamb is not usually my favorite thing. The fennel on the lamb was close to flavorless. The lamb and the duck breast were perfectly cooked, and the grits that came with the lamb were tasty although I think they were "quick" grits rather than the much more pleasant-textured slow-cooking grits I've had elsewhere. The roasted vegetables with the duck were adequate...nothing to write home about. The confit duck leg had a really nice texture but we both agreed that it was overly salty. The plating on everything, including our appetizer, was very beautiful. Our bill for wine, an appetizer, a full and a half entree was $130 before tip, and our dining experience was just over two hours. I certainly don't like to rush eating but we were restless and felt like we had to continually look for our waiter for bread, knives, refills, check, etc. We would not go here again, nor recommend it to anyone. Instead, for a better service and food experience for a similar price we would recommend Tre Trattoria.
(3)
JP W.
Unbelievable place....not even wasting my time justifying it with a review. If you are in San Antonio go here, you will be blown away. One of the finer dining experiences I've had for a while...
(5)
Stephanie K.
On a recent trip to San Antonio to celebrate our 1st anniversary, my partner and I had the pleasure of dining at Biga on the Banks for dinner. This wasn't our over the top favorite meal of the weekend, but it was very good! We started with the House Apple-smoked Salmon Nachos. The serving was 5 chips, which was a good appetizer for two, but left us wanting more because the flavors were so amazing together! However, we had to save room for our entree's so 5 was plenty! This place changes their menu often based on what is available, fresh and in season... so, as with La Frite, I've waited too long to review and can't remember the entree's we had. I remember it was delightful and we had dessert too. This place is great for a date or celebration and depending on seating the atmosphere ranges from intimate to social.
(4)
Kevin F.
Amazing food. The venison and quail was out of this world. Also had the Australian lamb which was impeccable. Service was great. Wine list was good, however there was no beer and very little liquor options. Dress code is either business casual to super dressy (suit and tie). Awesome food, will definitely go back.
(5)
Suzanne F.
Had the wonderful opportunity to enjoy a dinner here with co-workers while attending a conference in San Antonio. The reservation was made solely on the rating this restaurant had on open table...and it did not disappoint. We were lucky to have Brett as our waiter and he made the night even more enjoyable. Everything from the atmosphere, the service, the great drink and meal recommendations and the food itself was great. Our table enjoyed a variety of entrees from snapper, beef, lamb, antelope and seafood bouillabaisse and we all enjoyed our meal. Sharing the sticky toffee dessert topped off a wonderful meal.
(5)
Stephanie L.
Excellent service, excellent atmosphere by a window overlooking the river walk and excellent meal. We started off with the oysters and foie which was both amazing. The deer and quail paired with the goat cheese tart was artfully balanced. I would definitely come back.
(5)
Lisa L.
We're from Austin and not familiar with great places to go on the Riverwalk. Thanks to yelp, I made reservations to celebrate my husband's birthday at Biga. We went in with high expectations, and Biga did not disappoint. The salmon nachos and habanero jerk scallops were absolutely delicious. We shared a 10-oz. beef tenderloin and they cooked each "half" to order. Unfortunately, they overcooked both plates. When my husband spoke up for me (I hate sounding like a complainer at a restaurant), they recooked my steak and even gave me a small cup of soup du jour while I waited. The only drawbacks are the service is a little slow getting started and leaving (service once the meal started was at a good pace) and the portions are a bit small (the salmon nachos were 5-count [fair] and the scallops were two [for $16?]), so if you have a big appetite, you may leave feeling a bit hungry after paying quite a bit. It's pricey, but you can tell the ingredients are of high quality, and the ambience is cozy and romantic. It would be great if they had a happy hour to make the prices a bit more affordable - I can imagine the place would be packed. But I'm sure they are doing just fine doing what they are doing.
(4)
Michelle B.
Awkward service and super average food. My husband and I came here for our anniversary and Biga was the biggest disappointment of the week after reading all the rave reviews on yelp. It started out okay with the hostess acknowledging our anniversary and seating us in a romantic window spot. All downhill from there... Our waiter was subpar and uninformative about the menu. My ribeye had to be sent back because it was overcooked. And to top it off, our dessert plate had "happy birthday" written on it. Save your money and go elsewhere.
(2)
Daniel S.
As I was leaving a deservedly mediocre review for a different local restaurant owned by an equally lauded San Antonio chef, it occurred to me that I've never written a five-star review for a restaurant in my hometown. So, here it is... Biga on the Banks is the best fine dining restaurant in San Antonio, in my opinion, and is the best of the three restaurants worth patronizing on the Riverwalk (Restaurant Gwendolyn and Luke are the other two, for those of you doing your homework on Yelp). The owner (a frequent Beard Foundation Best Chef nominee) is actually in the kitchen every night, the service is impeccable, the food is always well-executed, and each meal is special without being precious or pretentious (although you hardly need to wait for a "special occasion" to dine there). As a San Antonian who travels a lot and is fortunate to eat very well along the way, this is the only restaurant that I recommend unequivocally to visitors, regardless of where they are from or what kind of meal they're seeking (unless they're seeking bbq or breakfast tacos, that is...and they should be seeking those too). The only downside to Biga is that, because of its downtown location, its often populated by the kind of less-than-tasteful conventioneers who've left some of the less-than-five-star reviews on this page, but such are the hazards of living in a tourist destination. PS: Unless you have the curse of being gluten-free, save plenty of room for their inspired pastry chef's breads and desserts.
(5)
Shawn K.
Nice but not the best the Riverwalk has to offer
(3)
Diane D.
This is the best if not one of the best restaurants we've been to ever. Service is excellent. Food is excellent. The ambience and view by the window is excellent. Made reservations only through Yelp/OpenTable. We got free champagne during dinner because of it. We also got seated in the table by the window with a view of the River Walk, which is awesome. It is fine dining, alright, but our server (I wish I can remember his name) and his partner/sidekick were really nice and friendly so I felt more comfortable being there. That said, Texas Monthly named this one of the best restaurants in Texas and the chef was James Beard nominee so what more can you ask for! For starters, we got half of Foie Gras. It was so delicious that I wish we got the full portion. Then I got Lamb with asparagus and mashed potatoes. My boyfriend got the Antelope and Quail with mashed potatoes. We both loved it! And for some reason, I really love the mashed potatoes because the chef put some spices to it that made it great. I had the Mesina Hall wine, which is sweet and an excellent recommendation. Then we had the Pudding for dessert, and it was the bomb. It was a great way to spend our three years together, and we were greeted by a lovely old couple on their way out. They congratulated us on our anniversary, and said, "You have 50 more years to catch up to us!" Awww..... I wish I got the chance to chat with them. All in all, I had an excellent night in Biga, and if I live in San Antonio, I would celebrate every possible occasion in here.
(5)
Kim S.
Excellent food! Recommend the Seared Foie Gras and the Duck Breast. The restaurant overlooks the River...very romantic!
(5)
Diana G.
Great food! The cheese platter was one of the best I've had. I had the venice and quail the half plate, it was a good size plate and was really good. Service was awesome very attentive. Their biga crunch ice cream was also very good definately recommend it.
(5)
Tee D.
I was disappointed with the flavor of the food at Biga. The service was impeccable, but that is secondary to enjoying a good meal. I had a shrimp dish and my friend ordered a lamb dish. Were I at Red Lobster it would have been a good dish, but I guess I just expected more from a high-end restaurant. They do have a good wine selection.
(3)
Gary L.
Great location overlooking the river. Innovative cuisine. Attentive service. One of the best values in a high end restaurant
(5)
Faith B.
Went here for their Sunday brunch. This is definitely a classy joint so make sure you dress accordingly! I really enjoyed the food! It was a lil' pricier than usual because they increase the price if it's a holiday, but the ambiance was beautiful, the server was beyond kind and attentive and you really get plenty of food and options! I absolutely recommend this place for brunch!
(5)
Ryan M.
We had a great experience here. The waiter has worked there for years and knew the menu very well. The food was great and I recommend sitting out on the balcony if it isn't too hot.
(4)
Steph C.
My family took a day trip to San Antonio during our stay in Austin, and we landed on Biga On the Banks for our one dinner in the city. It was a good choice. We had a 5:30 reservation for our party of five, and we barged in sweaty and gross from a fun but somewhat miserable hot day touring the Alamo and the River Walk. The restaurant wasn't ready for us at 5:00, but the air conditioning attended to us while we waited. The restaurant was very nice, well lit with walls of windows showcasing the streets below. The decor was sleek, modern, and cheerful. Service was on the formal side, but no one seemed to care that we were disgusting and overheated. The wait staff was pleasant and helpful. The only weird thing was that they seemed eager to take the plates off the table without asking if we were finished. We weren't that hungry but we still ate well, starting with a basket of white bread and cornbread, with cold butter. We ordered pinot noir and shared a few appetizers. The best of these was less of an appetizer than a side, a plate of giant Shiner Bock onion rings, served with habanero ketchup and pickled peppers. The batter was a little thick and bland, but the soft onions inside were very satisfying. The habanero ketchup was hot and delicious, and I loved the pickled peppers on the side. I also enjoyed the house apple-smoked salmon nachos, which came topped with a chipotle cream cheese and a dice of escabeche vegetables. There were five to an order, and I ate mine quick. I liked the smoked fish with the crunch of tortilla chip. I was less enthusiastic about the chicken-fried oysters, served over squid ink linguini with swiss chard, pancetta, and whole grain mustard hollandaise. It sounded good on paper, but it didn't come together. The linguini was watery and lacking in texture, and the fried oysters were gooey but without any briny natural oyster flavor. For my entree, I dug into the 11-spiced Texas Axis venison and grilled Texas quail, a giant meat feast served with parsnip puree, chestnuts, brussels sprouts, Texas peach-cherry chutney, and juniper sauce. Everything on this plate was fantastic. The venison was tender and juicy, very meaty without any gaminess. The quail was fatty and succulent, skin on and loaded with a flavorful rub. There were a lot of sides, but they worked both separately and together. I especially loved the chutney, which was just right with all the heavy meat on the plate. The other entrees were also pretty great. I loved the Close-to-Bouillabaisse, a big bowl loaded with shrimp, scallop, lobster, clams, mussels, redfish, snapper, and tuna, served in a hearty tomato martini rouille. All the seafood tasted fresh, and there was a lot of it in there. The smoky chipotle rubbed pork tenderloin was my least favorite entree, but it wasn't bad. The pork was slightly dry in parts but it was flavorful and easy to eat. It came with grilled Texas squash over a bed of tomatillo lime basmati rice and a jalapeño red pepper sauce. We shared a few desserts to end our meal. The best of these was the straight Texas peach ice cream, three creamy scoops served in a bowl with a strawberry garnish. Maybe it was the weather, but that fruity sweet ice cream really hit the spot. I also liked the sticky toffee pudding with English custard, a warm rich chocolatey cake with a nice sticky consistency. Finally, we had the vanilla creme brulee, served with a single strawberry, a single blackberry, and a single jammy thumbprint cookie. It was a standard creme brulee, but definitely good to eat. Biga On the Banks wasn't the best meal of our vacation, but a few of the dishes were very good. The venison and quail in particular was one of the better entrees I've had in a while, and I'd order it again if I were to come back. A return visit is unlikely as I've been to Texas exactly once in my life, but I'll keep Biga in mind if I have a reason to be in San Antonio.
(4)
Jennifer F.
This place was simply amazing...from the dim lighting to the Riverwalk view, comfortable seating, great atmosphere and impeccable service (our waiter rocked)... I had heard about it for a long time and just had never made it out there...but, it was worth the wait :) I had the chicken breast with au gratin potatoes and asparagus! It was divine...or as I like to call it a party in my mouth...because of all the flavors mixing and mingling :) It was my best friend's birthday so we had a bottle of wine of course :) And, dessert!!! It was complimentary and absolutely incredible!!! Def going back for the next special occasion...
(5)
Akira O.
After a week of horrible dining experience on the Riverwalk, Biga on the Banks was a savior. Grilled antelope and quail were tasty and very nicely cooked. The ambiance and service was also good. I would go back again if I visit San Antonio in the future.
(4)
Nick L.
**The highlights** Two People - Faust, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa '08 375ml, $55 - Artisan Cheese Plate, Pyrenees Brebis, $6 - Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras, raspberry compote, cinnamon french toast, cider duck jus, $17 11-spiced Texas Axis venison and grilled Texas quail, parsnip puree, chestnuts, Brussels sprouts, apricot cranberry chutney, juniper sauce, $26 (half order) The Foie Gras was a too seared I think.. not creamy enough. That's the only complaint. Service was quite good. Probably a 4.5 star, but you have to be perfect for the 5.
(4)
Randy G.
I believe to receive five stars you have to have, outstanding food and excellent customer service. That's it. If you get these perfect, then five are easy to achieve. We truly had a wonderful experience here and they deserve every earned star. I made reservations a week in advance and inquired about their vegetarian options for my wife. The lady on the phone indicated that the menu changes each night based on what the executive chef has available for local fresh fare. However, she also included that when we arrive, mention it to your server and they will make anything you want to her liking. Wow, ok, that sounds like good customer service. We arrive for our evening out, seated at our table (a wonderful table along the glass over looking the river), and our server comes over and immediately says to my wife, "I understand you're a vegetarian, please allow me to show and describe our vegetarian options. If any of these don't sound attractive, please describe what you're interested in and I'll speak to the executive chef." My wife and I both paused and were in shock. This means the woman I spoke to regarding the reservation, noted she was a vegetarian and spoke to our server for us. I feel like I'm in the home-run derby right now. We don't even have our food and we're blown away. I started with the wild mushroom truffle soup. I am a sucker for mushroom soup. What adds an element of elegance and sophistication is that it's assembled at table-side. The bowl came with the mushrooms and truffle oil in the center of the bowl, but the creamy soup wasn't too be found. After the plate was set down, then the server poured the soup on top of it. I was absolutely ready to dig into it. Of course it was delicious. It maintained that wild mushroom flavor, still a little rustic, but the truffle oil blended the creaminess of the soup with the rustic of the mushrooms. I chose the venison and quail, and she ordered the roasted beat dish. I was so impressed with the complexity and caliber of both dishes favors. They were very well developed, harmonious, and complimentary in flavor and texture. The venison was perfectly cooked medium-rare. The quail was so delicate and had just enough charred flavor on the skin. It also came with a wonderful reduction sauce to compliment both meats very well. The surprise of the dish was the pureed potatoes and the sauteed brussels sprouts. Initially I tried the puree and it had flavor, but needed a bit of salt, however, then I tried the sprouts and they had the salt the puree was lacking. Putting them together was a perfect symphony. The crunchy and saltiness of the sprouts were perfect for the soft and smooth puree. Bravo! My wife absolutely loved her beat dish, which came along with some kind of wonder cheesy grits-like puree underneath the vegetables. I have to admit, this may have been the only time I've seen her eat the entire vegetable dish. It also had asparagus that were so interesting. The only way I could describe it was that it seems as though it had been cooked in liquid nitrogen because it was fully cooked, but somehow it maintained this crystallized crunchiness to it. Bravo! Of course the desert was a perfect way to end the meal. Compliments to the host, server, and chefs!
(5)
Alice Z.
Good environment. But the food is not worth the price. I ordered median rare ribeye but it taste like median well. It should not be served in a hot pan. It kept heating the meat until it became over cooked. The waiter is very good and impressive. I will not visit again with the same price.
(2)
RT M.
We were looking for a special place to grab a great Texas steak. After calling ahead we were thrilled there was not going to be a wait! Kinda unheard of these days on a Saturday night. We were immediately seated upon arrival, given some special menu recommendations by our hostess and greeted by our waiter. He helped us pick out a nice bottle of red wine; they have a extensive selection of wine options to chose from. Then the fun started! They delivered a basket of bread which had 3 delicious options, served with butter and an interesting side pinch of salt. We picked out the unbelievably amazing foie gras from their appitizer menu. (If you like foie gras, its a must pick.) It was hard to choose because all the appetizers sounded so awesome! You could almost make a meal by just sampling a bunch of appetizers. Since I was told the main course rack of lamb was to die for that's what I picked, and boy if you like lamb - they were not kidding. My husband had the beef tenderloin and both his meat and my lamb rack were cooked to perfection! The grits and corn pudding served on our plates were so incredible - perfect southern dish compliments! Then dessert - what everyone says about the sticky toffee is true and then some! I was not embarrassed to scrape all the creamy goodness off the bottom of the bowl. Denny our waiter was super professional! He embodies the skill and art of 5 star service! It's moderately expensive yet the value is amazing for the price! You can feel comfortable bringing friends, family or coworkers to this establishment and know you will be in for an artful, truly delicious meal that is in the hands of a passionate top chef!
(5)
Joann D.
I wish there was a 4.5 option! I went to San Antonio for a business trip and Biga was one of the top choices for restaurants to try. Thank goodness we chose a good one. I would've been irritated if I had gross food while on vacay. Anyways, the chef had like a custom menu and I couldn't eat anything on that menu. I almost wanted to cry until my amazingly metro server told me that they're willing to accommodate anything that I requested. mmm SCORE! SO, I asked for a tuna tartar kind of appetizer to start off. They didn't have anything ready so the chef whipped up this lightly seared tuna kinda dish for me -- which was uber delicious. Next up as to why this place gets the .5: I wanted lobster and a filet. They didn't have anything ready or prepared, but STILL managed to make me a lobster tail (dipped in butter) and petite filet mignon with lobster mashed potatoes. Considering there wasn't any lobster on the menu, I felt pretty damn special. I ended the night with a lemony creme brulee and dessert wine. My dinner was perfect. The food was great, the service was excellent and I would definitely go back to try the rest of the menu.. or to just customize my own. My waiter had a cab waiting for me right when the check was covered.
(4)
Robin K.
Outstanding spices and favors together with perfect cuts if meat and fish! Eat outside! Off the hustle and bustle but on the river. Beau was great at recommending, cuz it's hard to decide.
(5)
One S.
Night #2 in SA and I'm so happy we had dinner here. Lamb was perfect. Salmon nachos were tasty, slightly overrated by yelpers. Wine selection was bomb. 7 James Beard awards proudly hang on the wall. (Next to the bathroom if all places). Dinner, company, conversation, service, ambiance, decor ALL GREAT! Message to owner, operator, GM: please add Stella Artois and/or Leffe to your beer selection.
(5)
L R.
One of my most favorite spots in SA, thus far. Staff and service is always amazing and the food really is spot on. I love the presentation and everything is literally plated beautifully. I always go for the lamb chops because it never fails me and well, I don't think I can find another place that makes it this good. Well, it's not the best I've ever had but, it is really good. Also, I suggest those try to reserve a table by the windows for the view of the RW- totally worth it.
(5)
Nancy J.
Dinner there last night was in a word: phenomenal. We tried a little bit of everything and each dish seemed to get better and better. Starting with the caesar that was fantastic in its simplicity and true to our location with a bit of heat. The brussels sprouts and cauliflower were delicious. I could have stopped there. Next came the most perfect ribeye I may have ever tasted. We closed the evening with the souffle - and then another souffle. My mouth is watering thinking about it again right now. Biga on the Banks is beautiful, serving amazing food with attentive service. We could have been in one of the finest food cities in the world. You should make your reservation today.
(5)
Lindsay H.
Best restaurant on the riverwalk, hands down. First, the sommelier Michael is excellent, and will help you find a great bottle. Second, you should ask your server if the tasting menu is available. They do a tasting menu that ranges from 5 to 8 courses, and that is at a fixed price ($60 to $120, I believe). We had the tasting menu, and everything was phenomenal. It opened with an ahi tuna dish with Spanish rice. Next was a redfish with a jalapeno and corn bisque. We also got an endive salad with foie gras, dried cherries, and duck breast. The primary course was a meat course with lamb and prime rib (both of which were delicious). After the lamb and prime rib, we were very full, but the server was happy to pack up our dessert for us to take back to our hotel. All in all, a phenomenal restaurant. I will most definitely be back.
(4)
Judy H.
The food here is AMAZING...I mean of course it is because the chef and the restaurant have so many awards under their belts. But I'd also like to comment on how amazing the service was! We had Christopher as our server and he's been with Biga for over 10 years. He takes his job personally and seriously. My boyfriend and I were celebrating his birthday and we didn't feel pressured to order anything from Chris. He was just very pleasant to interact with and had lots of great recommendations for us. We ordered: Scallop appetizer (warning...you only get 2 for $17, but it was pretty darn amazing....) 1/2 order venison and qual (next time I'm getting the full order! SO GOOD) 1/2 order rack of lamb (so tender and juicy!) souffle for dessert (amazing too) Quality on all levels were amazing. It's a really pricey joint, but hey you really do get what you pay for here. I'd come again for another special occasion some day...
We had dinner here last night after wanting to try it for about a year. Biga on the banks is one of the very best restaurants we've been to in San Antonio. Entirely impressed!
(5)
Ashley K.
I would give this place 6 stars if I could. We've been to a few places on the river walk and this has been our favorite so far. The food was incredible everything was fresh and amazing. Scallops were perfectly cooked. Make sure you save room for dessert the cobbler is one of the best desserts I have EVER had. The prices are high but honestly it was worth it for us. It was romantic and delicious. Service was incredible and the atmosphere is also great. It may not be right on the riverwalk but there is a great view from the window seat and it is a bit more romantic when you don't have people walking by yelling. We grabbed a drink at the bar after. My espresso martini was the perfect finishing touch.
(5)
Lucretia B.
I took a college friend who was in town to dinner here. LOVE IT! I am always hesitant to give 5 stars because if someone gives them out a lot, they aren't really reviewing, just digging everything. I decided to go with a warm spinach salad, Coconut and Shrimp Soup, and Shrimp Tempura. They were all on the left hand side of the page but I really wanted different things. I eyed the FOIS GRAS, but surprisingly, I did not order it. (Wish I had.) However, the soup was perfectly balanced. It was not overwhelming with coconut flavor and just the right amount of cilantro. The Spinach Salad was full of complimentary flavors and had some great warm brie and pecans. I think the other patrons were a little upset when I licked the bowl. (kidding) Finally, the Shrimp Tempura. It was on a bed of noodles seasoned with cilantro and chili. The shrimp was cooked perfectly and the noodles were good, just not my type of thing. I could of handled a different dipping sauce, and I understand why there was very little on the plate, so as not to make the shrimp soggy. Overall, I will return to Biga on the Banks. My bill was about $36 for all of that food. I give it 5 stars because there was not one thing this very well fed foody could find wrong... right on stride Biga, and great going!
(5)
Jason R.
I have been here on several occaisons while visting San Antonio for work. I really like this place. Good food, good service.
(5)
Sylvia M.
Excellent. Easily the best meal and service we found in San Antonio. Upscale, modern vibe, excellent food quality, wine choices, and a really good menu - new American without being a science experiment. Wish this was closer to home, this would be my go-to restaurant. Mark the manager is a gem.
(5)
Adam S.
For restaurant week, I took my girlfriend to Biga's to indulge in Bruce Auden's well-known cuisine. Unfortunately, our expectations were set too high. Having previously dined at Biga's, I knew the chicken-fried oysters were a "do not miss." When the last morsel is left on the plate, it's hard to not consider another serving! For the entrees, we ordered the Achiote shrimp & a half-plate of the veal/quail. Seasonings were great, but the meat was tough. As for the shrimp, it had a strong fishy taste and was left unfinished. The crust on our blueberry tart was unbreakable with a fork! Our waiter rudely denied that I ordered a half-plate and I, not wanting to create a scene, paid the extra $20. Not the best way to end a disappointing meal!
(2)
Judy R.
Our experience at Biga on the Bank was outstanding. We made our reservations through YELP. Upon entering the restaurant we were warmly greeted and promptly seated. Our waiter was fabulous! He gave us a brief history of the restaurant and was able to answer every question we asked about menu items. The food was off the charts! We started with an appetizer trio, not on the menu, and it was sooo good! My hub had the scallops and I had the half order of their famous lamb. They allowed us to keep our car in valet through a show at Majestic at no extra cost. It was,a wonderful dining experience and we can't wait to go back!
(5)
Leslie T.
This place was a recommendation from a friend who travels a LOT...he knew we were used to places like Gordon Ramsey's London in NYC and Aqua in San Fransisco. So we expected it to be a little more than it was. I give it 4 stars because of the service and customer care. 1. It's impossible to find on the Riverwalk. It's in a dead part of the waterway in a corporate building that took us forever to locate and find a door that was unlocked. I highly advise getting to it from the street address and not the Riverwalk. 2. The food is overpriced for the location and preparation. San Antonio is NOT a $50 per entree city and this food was not $50 per entree good. My dining companion had a nice filet (cooked to perfection) and shrimp...two small shrimp. The sides - horseradish mashed potatoes were WAY over seasoned with horseradish but the jammy tomato was so good she asked for another. The waiter brought her another when she told him how much she enjoyed them. My duck was rubbery and chewy and the duck dumpling, though stuffed with wonderfully seasoned duck was doughy. The red cabbage did nothing to add to the dish as it was pretty bland. I would have expected this food for $20-$25 a plate...but not $45-$50. 3. Service started rocky but got immediately better. I reserved table #1 which is the corner table with the privacy curtain and it was ready for us with the chilled champagne I had requested. It did take 5 minutes or so for our waiter to finally come to the table and serve it. But once Rudy got started it was terrific service. Not too intrusive. Still we were always checked on to make sure we didn't need anything more. He kept our champagne glasses filled and recommended a terrific port for me to have with dessert. 4. Don't believe that they have beautiful views of the Riverwalk. That part of the River is a as good as deserted. All you really see are the apartments along the way and an occasional lost tourist on the stairs. I give the place three stars because of the great service not because of the food and certainly not because of the "lovely view of the Riverwalk" that was advertised. It was a nice change from the usual suspects along the Riverwalk but if you want to spend some money in San Antonio and have a nice meal with great service go to Bohanan's..
(3)
David L.
A lot of buzz about this place. Service was good. The highly-renowned chef had proportedly left right before our party had arrived that evening, but the specials were still available. It is not a large place, and reservations are recommended. Staff friendly. Portions were texas-large. Guests in my party weren't overly fond of the expensive mushrooms. My food was A-OK. I don't feel an urge to return, but if someone else is paying, I'd go again.
(3)
Aaron M.
My wife and I tried BigA on the Banks during a few days vacation on the riverwalk in Feb 2012. It was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. The food: We both had the deer and qual entree after a enjoyed the salmon Nachos. IEven if you don't normally try venison, I still suggest it. I will travel to San Antonio with trying more of their dishes on the agenda The service: Fantastic! Our waiter had worked there for over a decade and knew the menu like the back of his hand. He made great food and wine pairing suggestions. We started withcocktails and stayed for dinner and talked for over 3 hours, and never did we feel rushed. The restaurant overlooks the riverwalk and is well appointed inside. Overall a great place to enjoy a romantic dinner.
(5)
Laura O.
We only ate dessert. Sticky toffee pudding was almost as authentic as those we had in Scotland. Souffle was good but a bit eggy. Didn't finish the Tres Leche, seemed dry and uninspiring. Loved the chocolate pnut butter torte with carmelized banana. SERVICE is awesome. Have eaten in some great restaurants. The pastry chef here is okay. I'm sure the food is superior.
(3)
Martha G.
Service and ambiance was great! The food terrible. I joked with my guests, I hope the food is as good as described on the menu--it was anything but good. For one thing, all the food came out cold and the content not prepared well. We ordered the chicken fried oysters, which was overwhelmed with hollandaise sauce and the oyster hidden by layers of cold, fried crust. The habenaro jerk scallops also a let down, the bland chutney and lukewarm scallop was hard to eat. The expensive mushroom, which was recommended, smelled delicious but the taste had too much conflicting elements the smokiness and overpowering grilled shallots forced us to try and like it, at least this dish was hot. At this point I was scared to get my main course, which was a bouillabaisse. As expected a let down, dish was cold the seafood over cooked,and very little broth. We were let down and avoided risk of ordering dessert. I will say the kids meal came out okay, my daughter seemed satisfied. Perhaps the chef had a vision for each dish, and it just bad execution. Just a simple piece of advice, at least serve your bread warm.
(1)
Laura G.
Interesting meats and mixes of spice... Beautiful spot on the River and great views. You can order 1/2 portions of many dishes. A solid spot for serious foodies.
(4)
Michael R.
Exceeded my expectations in every category (service/food/location). The apps were tremendous. Their signature dish is the rack of lamb - which was arguably the best I ever had. Very impressed!!
(5)
Larry P.
This was the best meal we had in San Antonio. This is definitely a "foodie" restaurant with several creative dishes from the James Beard nominated chef. We had Boullibase, quail and antelope - all were tasty. Even the bread was good - and unique, including cornbread and raisin bread. For dessert the Sticky toffee pudding was great.
(5)
Vince M.
We purposely dined there during Fiesta week to avoid the crowds at the typical "tourist" type restaurants on the Riverwalk. We finally found the front door after some searching but it was worth the effort. Note: it is directly across the street from a Homewood Suites hotel in a business looking building. The restaurant and food was on par with many of the fine dining establishments we have visited. They also have a very good wine list. We started with a cheese plate and it was very good. We also shared the Close To Bouillabaisse and found it to be excellent. Service was outstanding as our server stopped by our table frequently so we never waited or had to ask for anything. Overall a great experience.
(5)
Shalaine B.
Excellent food, impeccable service! Had the mustard crusted lamb and my husband had the venison/quail - Both were wonderful. You can order half portions, which I did, and it was the perfect amount for me. They brought dessert and champagne when they found out it was my birthday.
(5)
Natasha R.
Go here if you have one night in San Antonio. Skip all of the others and come HERE. This place is hard to find. The host that I spoke with was no help and a bit rude about finding the place. But it's on the corner hidden in the back entrance of the International building. We came here with a couple we are friends with after going to a brewery earlier in the day. We sat outside despite it being a bit chilly and were pleased with the ambiance--it just would have been great if they had heaters for outside :) Food was amazing. One of our friends love foie gras and he ate it all very quickly. It looked great though! Our other friend had the scallop appetizer and half portion of quail and venison. She loved both. My husband had the duck which was a bit overcooked, but the flavor was great. I just had the scallop appetizer and it was wonderful! For dessert, they had the souffle and we had what was supposed to be a Bailey's creme brulee. It in fact was dreamsicle (I hate orange desserts) so I didn't eat it. Despite that mishap, the food and company was wonderful. When we visit San Antonio we will return!
(5)
Chris A.
This place has a calming atmosphere. with flowing drapes, river views and very nice flavors. Each menu is literally a list of specials because most items are based on what is fresh. I had the Ahi Tuna Nachos to start which were very tasty and not filling. Next the Foie Gras which was on a unusual banana bread. The actual Foie Gras was perfect but I took it off the bread which was easy and a personal opinion not a perfect pairing. For dessert I ordered the Grand Marnier Souffle that was a specimen of technique. The Grand Marnier sauce which was poured into after delivery is not necessary because of the strong flavor. I would taste before adding. Over all a fantastic restaurant and highly recommended.
(4)
Quay A.
They were offering a "Pasta" pre fix menu in celebration of the San Antonio Rock n Roll Marathon. Since we did need our carb dinner before the run the next morning we decided to treat ourselves. Positives Lovely restaurant, nice decor. Very good food. Great service. Negatives Odd location and it feels like you are entering an office building when you come in from the street. While looking over the Riverwalk it doesn't actually have access. I had: House Soup of the Day - Crab Curry (neat yummy twist with the crab) Penne Pasta w/chicken, asparagus, zucchini, & yellow squash, smokey tomato olive ragout (honestly just ok, chicken was overcooked) L had: Salad of bibb, radicchio & arugula, goat cheese, carrots, radishes, lavosh, cucumbers, beets, tomatoes, lemon maple vinaigrette (the dressing was AMAZING) Pappardelle pasta with sauteed beef tips, mushrooms, sweet onion, garlic, arugula & savory herbs (very tasty and really liked the pasta) We shared: Dessert Marathon - Three mini portions of creme brulee, sticky toffee pudding and one other I cant remember... L doesn't like sweets and he ate half of everything... the sticky toffee pudding was out of sight!
(4)
Jessica H.
Ate at Biga based on pretty stellar reviews. First off, the restaurant is beautiful and romantic. We dined outside, overlooking the River Walk. This was great... except my ankle and foot became a mosquito's dinner. The house-made bread was delicious. We started with the Shiner bock onion rings. Huge rings fried delicately and cakey... almost sweet. These were served with a habanero ketchup and together they were delicious. We dined on a Friday night and it was great to be able to order half portions. We were stuffed from happy hour, but still cleaned our plates. I had the pork tenderloin with hoisin sauce and the Hubs had the beef tenderloin with chimichurri. Both were awesome and perfectly sized. We were too full for dessert, which was too bad since the menu looked great. I'm deducting one star because we both felt the food was overly salted. It was still very enjoyable, but noticeably there lingering on my tongue. My brother is a chef and I know that other chefs (Biga's James Beard nominated chef included) finish the dishes with salt to add extra flavor. However, the manager came out to check on us multiple times, our server was attentive and I would definitely recommend Biga.
(4)
Matt A.
Salmon nachos were great. Some of the best duck I've had. Toffee pudding at the end was perfect. Great service (waiters constantly scanning their area). Definitely going back.
(5)
Linda M.
Decor is a little dark and the service was just ok, but maybe I am comparing to NYC standards. I had the spinach salad with quail and the lamb entree. Salad was wonderful, but the entree was nothing special. My husband had the ahi tuna app and the boulliabase. Fish was bland an dry and broth was peppery. We did like the option of half portion entrees so we had enough room to share the toffee dessert.
(3)
Nic F.
I really tried to like this restaurant. The service was good as was the ambiance and the semi-private dining experience. The food, however..... just wasn't. I had the crab-stuffed mahi mahi with Israeli couscous. It was very blah. None of the five people in our party was impressed with our food. The soup wasn't good. The entree wasn't good. The dessert wasn't good. The wine was the best part of the meal. Sorry, Biga... I wouldn't recommend this restaurant to others.
(2)
Lorenzo L.
No doubt the best "fine dining" experience in SAT. In a city that boasts chain restaurants like The Palm, Ruth Chris, and The Roaring Fork, its comforting to find a place that sources local ingredients, and prepares them well. I stop by every time I'm in town. San Antonio is not exactly a "dining destination." Don't get me wrong, I can tell you where to get the best Korean BBQ, the best pozole, the most amazing ceviche, & the best tacos (open 24-7)....but for a great "dining experience", tip on over to Biga on the Banks
(4)
Joanna M.
This was the perfect start to our romantic "staycation"! We had a candlelight view of the river and amazing food and wine. The oyster appetizer was decadent and we were thrilled with the seafood boullebaise and the rack of lamb. The 1/2 portions were plenty and price was reasonable for the quality. If you're a foodie, ask for Tony as a server.
(5)
Melanie G.
Top shelf! Waiter, Chris, was attentive to our every need and so good about explaining where things came from or how they were cooked. Yes it's pricey but you truly get your money's worth. I had the ribeye and it was the best bite of steak I've ever put in my mouth -- and I 'm a native Texan! My companions had the 6 course tasting menu and raved about every course. It is an enormous amount of food, but you have to expect to be "satisfied" when you order it. Spare ribs and homemade lemon curd were particular favorites of the table.
(5)
Liz C.
Was just in San Antonio over the weekend for a "girls weekend" and we had our dinner date at Biga On the Banks. I must say that the food, service and ambiance are first class. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking to have a perfect meal served with a smile. Our server Tony was amazing. We all had the Ribeye Steak and it was the best I've had in a long time. Hope there's a chance of having this restaurant in LA.
(5)
G G.
The salmon nachos are awesome. The bouboullaise was very good, but I believe it might have made me a little sick. I felt queasy afterwards. My husband had the porkchops and was kind enough to offer me a bite - delicious. The caramel apple dessert was strange. A little dry, and overly sweet.
(3)
Eduardo O.
Service was excellent and food came out promptly. The sticky toffee pudding is phenomenal.
(5)
Megan D.
My boyfriend and I were visiting form Orlando this past week and love to find the "non touristy" places when we travel. We were looking for a romantic restaurant that was also known for great food. The hotel concierge recommended a few places, but we chose to head over to Biga on the Banks. We arrived early for our reservation, but they were able to seat us right away with views of the river. Our server, Beau, came right over to the table to welcome us. As a younger couple, we are used to some of the "fine dining" restaurants treating us a bit differently than the older crowed, but not here. Every single staff member at Biga was extremely polite and attentive. Beau, recommended many great dishes and was very proactive about refilling our wine glasses. We ordered their special of the day which was scallops and they were cooked to perfection. For our main entrees we ordered the Venison & Quail dish and one of their Ahi Tuna salads, everything was better than we could have hoped for. Another great thing about this restaurant is that they offer both full size portions and half sized, I'm not sure if this a year round deal or what but it's perfect for me! I am very happy that we went here because now a week later, we are still talking about how amazing the dinner was.
(5)
S. R.
A top-notch experience all around. Biga has just vanquished Bella, my former San Antonio favorite. The server memorized my colleague's long list of food allergies and was very vigilant about them. We started with salads--mine had brie. Need I say more? My colleague had scallops, which were very nice. I had chicken with au gratin potatoes. The sauce on the chicken was magical. I wished I could have eaten more chicken, but I may have overdone it by starting with the salad with brie! My chicken was slightly delayed by the chef, who didn't approve the first attempt. To compensate for the wait, the server poured us each an extra glass of wine. To top it all off, we had sticky toffee pudding for dessert. We are not sticky toffee experts, but our British friend talked up the dish, so we had to give it a try. We weren't disappointed! My one criticism is that the black pepper on the au gratin potatoes was pretty spicy, but I like black pepper. We were seated by the window over the Riverwalk, so we had a nice view. I must admit that I thought the lighting further back in the restaurant was very dim. I highly recommend Biga for a romantic dinner or business dinner.
(5)
Nicole D.
My boyfriend and I ordered from the prix fixe menu. The apps were great! The fish and veggies could have been from Golden Corral(over-cooked and over-seasoned) and the rice tasted like Lipton's Instant. The steak tips were cooked well but nothing special. The pear tart was pretty abysmal, tasting like vanilla extract and not pear. The waiter was sweet but gave me an under-pour of my $12 glass of wine. We won't go back. At least the view was nice!
(2)
James L.
For our first visit the restaurant lives up to its reputation. Our server Gigi gave us the history of Biga's and detailed explanation about our meal and a wonderful dessert. The food was great and the ambiance and view of the river walk made our night wonderful. We will be returning.
(5)
Glenn V.
The server was rushing at first and then forgot about us at the end. Coffee & desert took over 20 minute to get. The steak was over cooked and not much seasoning and the sides were cold. Don't know how they were nominated for the James Beard Award. We were told that they do not have many locals (like us) dine with them just mainly the tourist. I see why ! We will not go back.
(2)
SD C.
Chicken-fried Oysters, Pork Pot Stickers and Foie Gras. So good we are going back for a second night while in San Antonio!
(5)
Yolanda R.
This is by far my most favorite restaurant in the country! The food was delicious. The service was impeccable. A foodie like me couldn't ask for anything better. I had the venison and quail dish the first night and the lamb dish the second night. The bartender made excellent wine pairings with each dish. I finished both nights with the Grand Marnier souffle. I felt as if I was floating on a cloud. I will be sure to visit this place anytime I'm in San Antonio for years to come.
(5)
Diana B.
This restaurant is exceptional. From the little details to the big flavors, everything that I have ordered has been wonderful. So far I have had the famous lamb rack, the foie gras, the scallops, the Bibb and Radicchio Game Packets, and the salmon nachos. And I will be coming back to try the remainder of the menu ;) The waiters all know the details of the items on the menu, their bread basket includes corn bread and house made butter, and their cocktails are so delicious. If you want a nice dining experience, with elegant plates and bold flavors, def try this place, you wont regret it!!
(5)
Lauren L.
My husband and I came here for our "special dinner" on a recent San Antonio trip. Wow, was it everything these reviews said and more. We did the five course tasting menu with wine pairings. First off, the restaurant is beautiful. Very clean, modern feel with a goregeous view of the Riverwalk. The wait staff was pleasant, knowledgeable and attentive. The food was outstanding: we had a very tasty amuse bouche, mahi mahi, quail that was soooo delicate, marvelous venison and tasty tasty lab. The wine pairings were excellent as well. I would highly recommend this for anyone who wants a romantic, special evening.
(5)
Dave H.
Another great visit and excellent service from our friend Gigi. She knows how to make you feel special, even if you're a poor farmer from Indiana. I had the hydroponic greens salad that was quite good. They get the greens from Bluebonnet Hydroponics in Shertz. Always good to support local produce. The seared ahi tuna was nice too. It's always nice to go to Biga around the holiday and sit at a table along the windows that face the Riverwalk with it's trees covered in lights.
(5)
Peter S.
The service was excellent. The food was awfully good. Even the view of the river was pretty good. The atmosphere owas differently a romantic one.
(5)
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Address :203 S Saint Marys St,Ste 100
San Antonio, TX, 78205
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
David S.
Fantastic meal. The tuna was incredible.
(5)alka n.
Pricey and not great. Food was very ordinary.
(2)James S.
Still 5 stars! I've come to learn that Biga is truly the best restaurant overall in San Antonio. The food, service and ambiance are always top notch. While other great options are nearby, Biga is the definitely the most consistent. On this most recent visit, we sat at the bar for drinks and dessert. The bartenders were friendly, fast, and courteous with their recommendations and explanations of drinks. Last night, I had the best gin and tonic I've ever tasted. While I don't remember the exact name, it was on the menu and had Waterloo Gin and fresh ginger in it. You can do no wrong at Biga On The Banks. Well done Mr. Auden.
(5)Rebecca O.
The four star review is for restaurant week--which kept the price of dinner and drinks under $100. Expect to spend much more than that on a regular night. For the price, this meal was good, not great. I split a chilled cucumber cilantro soup (delicious), arugula and ricotta salad (bland and boring), Kobe beef burger (ok for a $2 burger, did not complement the quality of the product), the red snapper (prepared well, but too bland), a chocolate cake (delicious), and a lemon tart (very tangy and delicious). Cocktails were so-so. So why 4 stars? Service is impeccable. Ambiance is great--nice view of the river. If you are looking to impress--this place is good to keep in mind.
(4)Stefanie L.
Biga on the Banks was such an amazing experience! While visiting San Antonio from Dallas, the fiancé made a reservation Friday night for approximately 8pm. The interior of the restaurant was lovely, dim lights with several windows overlooking the river. We were promptly seated and despite being stuck in the middle of two tables, it didn't feel as if our neighbors were on top of us. Our server was very professional, informative and despite not having the wine I originally wanted, he brought a couple of tasting and a new one was chosen. For the main course, I ordered the duck entree and was absolutely blown away with the flavor; absolutely delicious. Overall we had the most amazing, relaxed, enjoyable night at Biga on the Banks and if we lived in San Antonio we would definitely come back.
(5)Chad L.
Best restaurant I've been to in a long time. Between business and personal interests I am blessed to get to eat at a lot of high-end restaurants around the country. First time visitor at Biga and I had very high expectations before the meal. There were 2 people in my party. Between the two of us we had entrees that included quail, venison and red snapper. We also has salads and dessert. I everything we had was outstanding. Preparation, presentation, taste, serving sizes - all outstanding. Easily the best venison I've had. My guest loved the red snapper. A couple of nice touches during our meal. After our salad the waiter brought our a "palate" cleanser that the chef had prepared. I've been to other restaurants that do this, but still a nice gesture. I was only drinking wine, so I chose a by the glass wine. Even though it was a "by the glass" wine, the waiter still brough the bottle to the table and encouragred me to taste the wine before pouring a whole glass. I will definitely eat at Biga during my upcoming trips to San Antonio.
(5)Stuart S.
Biga on the Banks has an amazing chef in Bruce Auden. I met him during a food tour. He talked about some of his favorite menu items and gave us a tour of the kitchen and the restaurant. In the evening, I returned with my dad for a multi multi-course meal. I had the best lemon drop-in I've ever had. We tried 4 appetizers: the salmon nachos, chicken fried oyster, beer battered onion rings and a lettuce wrap meat packet. The nachos were the most gourmet nachos I've had. But the meat packet was outstanding! It was a combination of wild game meats in a lettuce wrap. Chef Bruce came to our table to greet us and gave us a complimentary dish of a sea scallop served on buttery grits. For dinner, my dad and I shared the venison and a sashimi tuna. Both were fantastic!
(5)Sara N.
I put in a reservation here for a birthday dinner. I requested seating with a good view of the riverwalk and that is exactly what we got. First off, they brought out a selection of breads baked right at the restaurant daily. It was hard to not eat the whole basket waiting for our food to arrive. There was a poppy seed bread which was my very favorite. Next, we ordered the chicken fried oyster appetizer. These are a must! The flavor and texture of the oysters was so good I was sad when we finished them up within seconds. For the main course, we ordered half-order of the lamb shanks and half-order of the steak. I didn't have a chance to try the steak but I was told that it was perfectly done and very tasty. The lamb was so yummy! I especially loved the cheese grits on the side, absolutely delicious. We ordered a side of fries and cauliflower with cheese, but they were just ok. Nothing special about either one. For dessert we ordered their souffle with orange creme anglaise. This was also not spectacular. It was extremely sweet and I was only able to have a few spoonfuls before I was done. Overall, the food was good but not exceptional. The service however WAS exceptional. Our waiter was so courteous and made sure to make our experience a good one. I was glad that we came here to celebrate and it is now on my list of places to go for our next special event.
(4)Joyce C.
Situated on a quiet section of the San Antonio river walk, this romantic restaurant is headed by a 7 time James Beard nominee. We were excited to try out this restaurant. We had a 8:30 reservation and were promptly seated. We were very disappointed that they had neither the pork or duck entrees available on the menu since they sold out earlier. However they did have the fried oysters on squid ink pasta as an appetizer topped with herbed mayonnaise that was delicious. We ended up getting the blackened salmon and bbq ahi tuna. Both were ok. But since the restaurant didn't have our earlier entree selection and since the waiter mistakenly gave my husband a half instead of a full dinner portion he requested, they gave us on the house their signature sticky toffee pudding which was delicious!
(4)Jon L.
Everything here was amazing. Great location on the river walk. It's at street level, but has a row of windows that look out over the river. The interior was nicely decorated but still relaxed; you don't need to dress up to come here but you won't feel out of place if you do. Service was great. Our waiter was attentive and friendly. Food was fantastic. I can usually get a sense of a restaurant from the bread basket - and the bread here was top notch. It's made in house by one of their two pastry chefs. My wife had the chicken fried oysters and the duck entree, both of which were excellent. I had the filet; maybe not the best I've ever had but certainly good and cooked perfectly. Sticky Toffee Pudding for dessert is highly recommended as well.
(5)Bruno Y.
What a gem!! This was our first time eating here while celebrating our anniversary. The elk/quail dish is off the chain delicious. Wife had the salmon and it was ok but have had better. Service is great as is the location. Highly recommend this restaurant. We'll definitely be back when in SA.
(5)Ashley P.
Beautiful place for an intimate dinner with your significant other. The generous wine selection can be a but overwhelming however out waiter Warren was very knowledgeable and happy to explain anything on the menu. I actually chose the Orange creme sickle which i seen on the yelp review for the restaurant I was told they no longer had that because there menu changes everyday.... However the car tender was able to make it upon request, it was so good just like when I was a kid having an orange sherbet push up pop! lol Choosing off. The appetizer menu we orderd salmon nachos abd the shrimp and sausage with hummus. The salmon nachos were insanely good....the shrimp and sausage was ok and sausage was a lil s spicy.
(5)Keith H.
Amazing all of it. Service atmosphere staff. I had the venison and quail combo with the apricot fig sauce. Just incredible this place rivals any fine dining anywhere in the state.
(5)J'me W.
My 4 stars for food 5 stars for my server Christopher Sanders!! This has been on my book marks to come and try. Drinks Espresso martini-Really good just didn't like the lemon zest in it, I thought it would wake up the coffee but it didn't blend well with the other ingredients. Their version of a Manhattan-My boss loved this it was well balanced and packed a serious punch. Food Complimentary bread-Good but that Cornbread was divine!!!! Made with masa and it was so moist and delicious I had to be really good not to eat to much. Mushrooms-Really good but it was enough mushrooms for 7 people and we ordered it as an appetizer. I believe its called really expensive mushrooms. Very tasty but It was slightly overwhelming. The Duck-Delicious and tender my waiter recommended this dish to me and it was very tasty. The Duck was cooked perfectly with a nice sauce and potatoes. My toes didn't curl but I was satisfied. Boss dish-He recently went Vegetarian so the waiter created him a full dining experience surrounded by their star vegetarian dishes. Vegetable strips-He liked this one the best, the flavors were fresh, clean, with a nice Asian presence. Baked Cauliflower and Cheese-Just ok we both wanted to love this dish but it was just ok. It needed something to wake up the cheese and make this outstanding. After the dinner we were satisfied enough and passed on dessert. I will end this with saying out of all the dining experience I have had especially fine dining Christopher Sanders our waiter was the best I have ever had. If I could transport him into every dining experience I would. Wants he knew I was a foodie he spoke to me in Foodie language. I learned about the Michelin stars that the chef received, the ingredients selection and the sustainability of the food. We wanted for nothing, truly incredible!!!
(4)John H.
Not that Biga fan anymore. I have been a number of times over the past several years and am not enthused with this place anymore. Nothing seems to change. The limited menu has pretty much the same dishes and presentations as it always had. It was actually a bit difficult making a decision because nothing inspired me. Appetizers were quite basic with sub-par crab cakes breaded on the inside and outside along with ok scallops and ok shrimp and sausage. Romain salad was another pedestrian dish. Went for seared ahi tuna entree that not at all exciting along with a smallish portion. If the portion were bigger I would not have wanted to eat more though. The service professionalism was not up to par especially at these prices. This is not my place anymore. Looking for new places in San Antonio. Suggestions?
(3)Carla W.
This place deserves every single star. I've been with my boyfriend several times, but it will always hold a special place in my heart as it is the restaurant where my boyfriend became my fiance. The food is spectacular and the menu changes with the season (as it should). Of course, it is a higher end establishment so be prepared for the check. We usually go for special occasions- anniversary, birthday, celebrations, etc. The foie gras, which I have never had prior, is silky and flavorful. I'd describe it as 'meat butter' to those who have never had it. I now order it each time I go. I've enjoyed seared halibut, potsticker appetizer, lamb, goat cheese tart, a yummy souffle, and tons of amazing entrees and desserts here. My fiance teases me, but I swear even the pepper is more vibrant. Neither of us consider ourselves foodies, but we certainly do enjoy eating out and are fairly adventures eaters!
(5)Tricia W.
Not the only 5 star I'd recommend for someone insisting on downtown dining, but by far the longest track record of any other aspirants to "best fine dining" title in SA. We started going back in the 90's when they weren't "on the Banks" yet. Not every single visit has been an absolute hit (usually due to service missteps), but the overall pattern is both excellent and consistent. Restaurant week menu 2014 (extended through 8/31) is superb. We opted for having both starters (chilled avocado soup and croquettes) as well as the dual entrees. The Seared Black Drum was perhaps slightly better than the pork tenderloin. Portions were quite substantial by RW standards, and the dark chocolate mousse proved the better ending as opposed to the richer fig almond cake. One of the best wine programs in SA, paired with great service and a most inventive menu makes this one to repeat again and again.
(5)Ludmila P.
Wonderful new find on a business trip! It came recommended and we certainly enjoyed every bit of it with my college. The service and the ambience were outstanding and our "service mentor" made all the difference! If you make reservations, request Christopher Sanders as your server, you'd have a true dinner experience! We took his recommendations and got scallops as an appetizer, which was delicious and as the main entrees we went with the duck and the steak, - amazing! We had to save some room for desert and didn't regret it. Give it all 5 Stars. And It was so sweet of Christopher, he brought 2 glasses of champagne and had a toast with me. Thank you!
(5)Afton S.
This was my second time to dine at Biga- and I have two very different, yet both great, experiences. I will write on my most recent! It was a little later on a Friday evening but we needed to find somewhere delish to have dinner, and we decided on Biga's. The atmosphere is upscale but lively. I didn't feel it was pretentious at all. Also has a wonderful view of the water without being your typical "on the riverwalk" type of place. We just went ahead and sat at the bar, since this is what we generally prefer to do anyways. The bartender was really wonderful! He took the time to explain the concept behind the menu, and made some suggestions for us. Everything looked really good- I had a hard time making up my mind! I settled on the spinach salad to start- it had a warm dressing and brie cheese and was really yummy. I asked him about the entrees and we decided on the ahi tuna and I also ordered a side of brussel sprouts. I am always thinking.. tuna.. its usually the same. This dish was really really good! I loved it and did not leave a bit of food on the plate! The brussels were also delicious! My date went with the rack of lamb and was very pleased. I also really like that you can get smaller or larger portions of most entrees. They specialize in a lot of wild game meats, and honestly they all sounded great. Really enjoyed Biga on the Banks. Great food great service!
(4)Jay W.
My partner and I came here for dinner late Friday night. We both chose to try the three-course-fare menu that is available after 9pm. The food was mediocre. The salad included in the three course meal was literally three large individual lettuce leaves that were difficult to cut. To boot, the salad was very bland; not many "salad accessories" to accompany the three leaves. The lobster soup was mediocre and lacked...something. On to the two entrees. The beef tips were my favorite part of the meal; the flavor was dark and the meat was cooked perfectly medium rare. The fish dish seemed slightly overcooked and the flavor was bland. The veggies with the fish were my favorite part of the plate. The creme brulee was drowned (DROWNED) in some kind of red-hot cinnamon syrup. This was disappointing since creme brulee is my favorite dessert of all time. I took maybe three bites of this one. The chocolate cake was very rich, but delicious. As for the service, I expected better from such a nice venue. Our server lacked polish. He was polite, but short. He didn't describe any of the dishes as he delivered them as I have experienced with similar restaurants. Although the decor was fantastic and the atmosphere was enjoyable, I would not return here.
(2)Alan Z.
Came here after seeing some of the reviews on yelp. My wife was in the mood for soufflé so we walked in after exploring the nearby river walk. The appetizer game was very salty. The chicken fried oysters was covered with batter and I could not even taste anything else. The seafood gamouiolle was the best dish overall and it was slightly above average. The service was excellent. My waiter wAs warren and he took good care of us.
(3)Keith S.
Today was my birthday. I wanted to go to my favorite restaurant with the best food and service. THIS IS IT!!!
(5)Carolyn H.
I dined at Biga two nights in a row on my last visit to San Antonio. Still incredible! Actually, we had a bad service experience the first night, but the food was so good that we decided to give it another try the next evening. After informing the staff of our less-than-perfect experience, they worked all night to make amends. The experience was memorable for its attentive servers, fabulous food, and cool, casual ambience. I want to scoop this place up and drop it in Dallas so I can go on a more regular basis.
(5)Rick S.
We started with the famous chicken fried oysters which are to die for in Linda's words and then we had the lobster bisque and lobster timbale. The timbale was very good, but the bisque was the best we have ever had. It was creamy, light , flavorful but still very rich. Then we ordered the beef tenderloin, medium rare and the mustard crusted rack of lamb. Both fantastic but I have to admit that Linda's tenderloin was slightly more flavorful. We are now in anticipation for our deserts of yogurt souffle and lemon curd cake.
(5)P Luly W.
A few useful tips we gathered from our awesome waiter, Tucker: -Table 31 = chef's table. Provides view of the kitchen. Available for party of 6. Reserve in advance. -Banquet Rooms & Private Dining Rooms available for parties of 12- 400. -No outside bottles allowed because of Biga's liquor license restrictions. -Between 5:30pm to 6:30pm and after 9pm Tasting Menu is available: 3 courses for $37 & 4 course for $45. Bargain! Will have to remember this for next time. Our experience was positive from start to finish. Read on if you want all the boring details. Highly recommend that you stop here & just check out my pictures. I reserved a table for 2 for my husband's birthday through Yelp - powered by Open Table. I notated that it was his birthday & that we would prefer inside seating. Received email confirmation within minutes. Then received a follow-up phone call from Biga. They wanted to know my husband's name so that they could put it on a dessert plate. Received another phone call on day of reservation to remind us of reservation time. When we arrived, we were escorted to a table for two by the window. We had a nice view of the River Walk. The dining area was spacious with high ceilings. We were able to have a conversation without having to shout at each other. Yay for that. Our waiter, Tucker, & his runners took excellent care of us. Drinks, food, & desserts were all delicious. A picture is worth a thousand words. I posted a bunch because I don't have time to peck out that many words on my phone (Yes, I write reviews using my Yelp app. Don't you?!) and I'm sure you don't have time to read that many words. So go enjoy my food porn. Obviously, we can't wait to go back. Next time we want to gather some folks for dinner & a rousing game of Cards Against Humanity in one of their private rooms. Who's in?!
(5)Didier C.
Biga on the Banks is a wonderful choice for dinner! I had always heard about them but figured it was another one of those overrated "Riverwalk" restaurants...I was wrong. The place is great; situated on a more quiet section of the Riverwalk. Parking is valet only (and it's pretty costly for San Antonio standards, $12), you can choose to self park for cheaper a few blocks away. The menu is amazing and gives you the option to choose from an array of different entrees (and what's especially nice is that you have a choice of small or regular sized portions). For our appetizers, we went with the pot stickers and the lamb merguez sausage/shrimp to start; both were very tasty! In terms of entrees, we chose the ahi tuna and the rack of lamb...both of which were great! Overall, we really enjoyed our experience at Biga and definitely plan on going back soon. Highly recommend it!
(5)Miriam S.
Biga is good, of course. Their service is truly wonderful. It's fun that they are downtown and on the river - but they are definitely not on the nicer side of the river, the view isn't that great. Honestly I wasn't that blown away by anything for how expensive it is. Two of us ordered steaks and they were both overcooked (medium rare looked nearly well-done and medium was medium-well). The steaks were such good quality that they were still tasty and juicy although over. But all-in-all for the price I doubt I'll be back.
(3)Erin M.
I was visiting family from NYC and took my parents here to celebrate my mother's birthday earlier. When I placed the reservation through OpenTable, I included a note that this was a special occasion dinner to celebrate a birthday and that I would love a table with a nice view. Biga did a tremendous job accommodating this request -- we had a fantastic view of the riverwalk, by a big window and in the sun. The hostess even asked whose birthday it was and gave my mother birthday wishes when we came and after our meal. The waitress was friendly, helpful and on top of her game. She gave wonderful recommendations and our courses were well spaced to allow for enough conversation time without the meal dragging. Now for the food! We went on a Friday, and were allowed to choose half plates of two meals if we preferred. I ordered a warm spinach salad and lamb chops. My father ordered a full portion of the pork tenderloin, and my mother ordered the bouillabaisse and grilled mahi mahi. I know the menu can rotate based on the chefs preferences when he meets with vendors, but all of our meals were absolutely DELICIOUS so I don't think you can go wrong no matter what you order. (My father said that the applesauce served on the side of his pork was "the best applesauce he has ever tasted".) Altogether we had an amazing time at Biga and I will definitely be returning if I'm ever in San Antonio (and recommending it to any friends who might be visiting the area!)
(5)Ellie S.
Biga on the Banks is a wonderful restaurant. It is right on the Riverwalk, which is beautiful. From the Riverwalk entry you come in the building and immediately turn left to enter the restaurant. Upon entry we were greeted by hosts and escorted to a private table for 6. Our Waiter could not have been better. He catered to our every need. Drinks were wonderful and I ordered the ribeye special that came with mashed potatoes and green beans. It was superb. Of course a meal is not complete without dessert so the table ordered the chocolate soufflé, something with chocolate & hazelnut and peach cobbler. All the desserts were divine. Biga on the Banks was my favorite restaurant during my travel to San Antonio. I look forward to coming back for another meal.
(5)Natalie E.
My husband and I came here to celebrate our 2nd anniversary last night. Biga had an great wine selection and cocktail list! Our server recommended an Argentinian cab that was exactly what we were looking for. My husband got the last pork chop they had which was incredible and I got the peppered tuna. Everything was great and we would definitely come back if we were in the area!
(5)Francis M.
Was looking for a "fancy" restaurant to take my Queen for our wedding anniversary and stumbled upon Biga. Great location, river walk provides a nice view. Waiter was patient and courteous. Food was insane. Not cheap, so i was skeptical in hopes to get our money's worth. My stomach did not lie....the food was craaaack. Meat made to perfection. Long story short, take your girl here for a romantic dinner.
(4)Dawne L.
Prior to our San Antonio trip, I tried looking for Michelin-starred restaurants in the area -- and realized there are none in Texas. I've always questioned some of the guide's choices, and this realization adds to that because there are a few stellar restaurants here. Biga On The Banks is easily a "Michelin-star" type of restaurant in my book. It probably works well that there are no Michelin stars here because we had an amazing experience without the stuffiness or sense of entitlement from the crew. Everyone was friendly and down-to-earth while serving a 5-star meal and dining experience. One of the best dining experiences in San Antonio. Ambiance: Intimate, romantic setting with a view of the River Walk. Perfect for a romantic date or a special family dinner. Service: Friendly and knowledgeable staff -- we dropped in late, but they accommodated and served us well. Their manager is also a trained sommelier which is evident in their carefully curated wine selection. Quality: Nothing short of a 5-star meal. Everyone in our party of 8 enjoyed their selection, but the absolute standouts are the perfectly seared Hudson Bay foie gras with strawberry compote and french toast, the tender and flavorful mustard-crusted Australian lamb, and the amazing combination of spiced Texas Axis venison and grilled Bandera quail. Top it off with their souffle special or their sticky toffee pudding, and you've got yourself one very memorable meal! The experience will set you back by at least $75 per person (food + wine), which is about right for this kind of restaurant experience. Highly recommended!
(5)Mike R.
I spent 3 weeks on business here in San Antonio and have been eating at as many of the nicer restaurants as possible in the river walk area. The food was fair to good but dinner was ruined when a cockroach crawled across my bread a number of times before the waitress wrapped it up and wisked it away. The manager/owner came by later and apologized but you would have expected a free desert or drink, but nope just an expensive tab. Not worth it. By far the best restaurant on the river is Boudro's, not even close.
(2)J C.
Great experience wile in town on business. We had a party of 18! Everyone seemed to enjoy their meal. The appetizers stole the show as we tried many. The wait staff was much more attentive to the customers ordering alcohol and water refills had to be sought out.
(4)Jess S.
Was just Ok...certainly not on par with the pricing. In their defense, we ate late, but if you provide seating late I would think that you would also provide for ample food according to your daily menu. Food was just okay...just about compared to something from a Pappadeaux or other high-end chain type seafood restaurant. Service was great, and a super wine selection. But again, compared to the price not worth repeating. Some creative things on the menu however, especially the venison and a few others.
(2)Lizzy I.
Beautiful interior and view from pretty much anywhere you sit in the restaurant! The food is divine! Try the chicken fried oyster, and you MUST have the foie gras. It is very flavorful and cooked to perfection! The appetizers are definitely a home run with whichever choice you go with. The desserts were probably the highlight. We got the sticky toffee pudding and soufflé. Both were awesome! The soufflé was super light and delicious, but the pudding was in a league of it's own. Make sure to save room for this one! The service rocked too! Our waiter was very attentive and the food came out very quickly. He made great recommendations and was very polite. Biga is a wonderful fine dinning restaurant. I'd recommend it to anyone who was looking for a fancy night out on the river walk!
(5)Beth D.
Biga on the Banks represents the best that the Riverwalk has to offer in terms of restaurants, and it's the exception to what seems to be the rule of sub-par, unprofessional service industry in San Antonio. Biga does everything right. First of all, Chef Bruce Auden is a culinary rock star who has been nominated for the James Beard award from 2000 all the way through 2011. Biga on the Banks boasts the highest ZAGAT rating on the Riverwalk. And it's acclaimed by Texas Monthly - Top 10 New restaurants in 2010 and to this day maintains their coveted 1-star rank. Once you sit down to one full course meal, you understand why. I made our reservation in advance for a surprise early birthday dinner for my husband. I asked for a level of privacy if possible and under "special requests" noted that we are not dessert people and don't appreciate being pushed to have dessert, nor would we want a special birthday dessert offered - but we would be ordering a bottle of wine. Four days later, we arrived for dinner an hour early. The hostess recognized my name immediately and let me know that since she'd reserved a private table for us, we could go ahead and be seated immediately. Wonderfully convenient - though I wouldn't have minded sitting at the bar and taking in a few drinks along with the chic ambiance of the restaurant. We were whisked away to a private corner table for two, tucked away in its own little nook with a curtain for total concealment. It's the perfect romantic dinner setting. And you feel like a VIP. We were presented our wine and dinner menus. The server took some time to also present to us the culture of the restaurant - only using organic, locally sourced and sustainable ingredients - and the vision of the chef and owner, Bruce Auden. He was able to do so without us feeling interrupted, but instead appreciative that we knew what to expect. The dinner menu on Satruday offers half portions, which are a discounted price. This is PERFECT for a couple dining to try more than one entree option without being overwhelmed by food and price. *Please keep in mind that with the restaurant model of locally sourced, organic & sustainable, you will have a seasonal and revolving menu. Already, the things we ordered are either not available or are in a different form /combination / using different ingredients on the menu* We ordered a bottle of sauv blanc and the Chicken Fried Oysters as a starter. Oh my. Once our oysters hit the table we had the curtain drawn... mostly so I could take photos of our dishes without being scoffed at. The chicken fried oysters are so tender, decadent and juicy. I was worried the breading would be too crisp or the oysters would be chewy. They were divine - served on a bed of squid ink linguini and drizzled with a whole grain mustard hollandaise. You must try them. For our main courses, we enjoyed half portions of: The Scallops The Pork Tenderloin The Venison & Quail The Scallops hit the table first - and they were the best scallops I've ever had. They were so tender they melted, they had a perfect sear, a slight sweetness, just enough firmness. Served on a bed of couscous - I wish we had ordered the full portion to share because we fought over the last one. We had the Pork Tenderloin and the Venison & Quail served simultaneously. The Pork Tenderloin was succulent, served with tempura broccoli (which is remarkable) and rice. It was phenomenal. But now: The diadem of the meal. The entree to shame all other entrees - ever. The best thing I've ever put in my mouth in the history of opening my mouth: The Venison & Quail served with Creamy Goat Cheese Tart and Brussels Sprouts. My heart stopped when I tasted that venison. Then again when I tasted the quail. As a person who has always steered clear of venison claiming I can sense the "gamey" taste no matter how it was prepared - I have been revived. One bite of this venison was more tender, fresh and flavorful than a $100 filet mignon. I don't even know how to serve it justice right now. What I can say is this: I would drive to San Antonio from Austin in a heartbeat just to have dinner here any day of the week. And that's exactly what we aim to do for our next special occasion. For "dessert" - they honored our wishes and didn't fuss over the dessert menu - But my husband asked the waiter "Considering how incredible that meal was - how talented your chef is - can I assume that this restaurant also has a phenomenal mixologist?" He smiled and handed us a cocktail menu. We had the Espresso Martini for dessert. And so must you. Make a reservation. Ask for some privacy. Be prepared to spend the money for the experience and you won't be disappointed.
(5)Kelly V.
I tagged along on my hubby's business trip and we found ourselves wandering around downtown somewhat late on a Sunday night. We came upon this place and decided to give it a try. And boy are we happy we did! The food, decor, and service were impeccable. We had the chicken fried oysters, the Close-to-Bouillabaise, and the Grand Marnier souffle. My last meal on earth would be that dessert, it was by far the most orgasmic dessert I have ever had. We will definitely go back when we're in town next. The only downside was a waiter (not ours) who was visibly annoyed when we asked him to take a picture for us.
(4)John C.
Best duck, lamb, soufle, and chicken fried oysters I ever had. Truly five star. Reservations are a must. Oh, and try the Old Fashion and Espresso. Absolutely to die for!
(5)Mary J.
Fantastic meal. Very nice atmosphere with knowledgeable staff and best of all great food and presentation. Had the smoked salmon nachos for appetizer, venison with quail and chocolate tart for dessert. I don't even like gamey meats but wanted to try the venison. It was not gamey. This is a dining experience.
(5)John L.
I'm going all fives here. Loved everthing about the experience. Both of us did. Flawless wait staff. Thanks folks - you made a great time even better. Apologies, i dropped your names. Nothing overstated - food offerings-preparation-presentation, service, ambiance, deoor - all of which smacks of confidence and directness, allowing the experience speak for itsellf. Naturally romantic. Not sure what I mean by that but it feels right. Loved the subtle flavors and textures. Made me appreciate the quality all the more. Its easy and safe to bump up both to impress, but, for me, the skill and craftsmanship in the kitchen is in refraining from overpowering foods and instead trusting in the ingredients, preparation and interactions to show off skill and creativity. No fluff or pretentiousness. No misdirections or cover ups. Well done. Very well done. One happy camper here! Make that two. Thanks!
(5)Tina R.
Go Tina, it's your birthday! We gonna party likes it's your birthday! And so we did...dinner reservations at 8:30pm. We'd been at Luke for happy hour and we'd arrived a touch early so the table was being prepared right at the window with a river view, beautiful! Our server, Chris, has been with the place since it opened. He ran thru the owner's bonafides, explained the restaurant's specialties, then took our drink orders. He returned with one of the best made Manhattan's I'd ever enjoyed along with an assortment of freshly-baked bread. We ordered a spicy lamb sausage & Texas shrimp appetizer served with hummus as well as bibb & radicchio game packets, phenomenal! The flavors were well-balanced and complex. For the main course we struggled but settled on antelope, cooked medium rare, served with quail, a goat cheese tart, Brussel sprouts & a tasty chutney, as well as a mustard-crusted lamb rack with cheesy grits, feta cheese & asparagus. I'm quite the chatty Cathy, but I spoke almost no words throughout this meal because, well, I was eating-amazing! We sealed this perfect meal with a serving of Biga's famous toffee pudding, like a bread pudding enveloped in a splendid toffee sauce, wow! Coupled with an 18 year old Glen Fiddich this was the ideal ending to a perfect meal. Lovely. Romantic. Perfection. Chris? Love, love, great job, thank you!
(5)Teresa K.
My husband and I dined at Biga on our 3rd day in San Antonio. By then, I had begun to lose faith in San Antonio cuisine due to poor (even disgusting) food at two other well-reviewed places. (My husband started calling me the Queen of Comp.) Biga not only restored my faith in this city's food, but in humanity. Really. We have never experienced such kind care and attention in a wait/host staff. Upon arriving, the host/manager's "We have your reservation and your table is ready" was music to my ears. The service (tag-teamed by Gabriel and Chris) was perfectly executed. Polite, happy, funny, informed, but not pretentious. The food was likewise perfect. I had the lobster bisque. I was initially disappointed because there wasn't any lobster to be seen in the soup but after the first spoonful, I was addicted. Dark, creamy, scattered with caviar. My entree was the bouillabaisse - seafood perfectly cooked, flavorful broth. A light, healthy dish if you're looking for one. (I did request extra bread to sop the broth.) My husband ordered antelope/quail which he really enjoyed. Because they were out of the spaetzle, we ordered the corn pudding as our side and it was very interesting - in a good way. Savory southwest spices with chorizo, perhaps? Again, addicting. For dessert, we had the sticky toffee pudding, the one dessert I always order if it's on any menu. The. Best. Ever. I wanted to order another one but hubby said no. After this meal I literally wanted to cry - happy tears this time. (Non-foodies won't understand this.) I'm not sure how you can dine here and not give it 5 stars. I'd give it 6, if I could.
(5)Lisa S.
Really great food with attentive service. We went there tonight with a party of 6 and from cocktails to dessert-no complaints. If your looking for a place to splurge for a higher end food experience look no further. You get what you pay for!
(5)Sacchin T.
The ambience is nice and gentle. The food is definitely worth the prices. The wine selection is diverse and the waiter we had was quiet and efficient. Definitely recommend this spot.
(4)Brad B.
Went to Biga for restaurant week and it was fantastic! We have been there a few times before but not for a couple of years. I remember it being great and worrying back then there wasn't enough of a crowd to maintain its biz - it is a great aspect of SA and I would be sad if it left. Tonight it was super packed - but even so, the wife and I were immediately seated at the time of our rez. Most important aspect of any restaurant to me is total value. Biga is pricey but the food is excellent and portions are more than generous. Second most important is food and our food tonight was incredible. Since it was restaurant week there were two options of pre fix (sp?) menu. My wife had the grapefruit salad and mahi and I had the chowda and beef tips. The apps were great as far as chowda and salads go - nothing to take off my pants about. But the entrees were both incredible. I am not usually a mahi fan but it was perfectly cooked with a good seer (sp?). My beef was awesome and served in a great sauce (maybe Demi glaze - I really don't know other than it was great. We both had the chocolate mouse and an expresso for desert - both awesome. I really can't comment on value since restaurant week has special pricing. I remember it being expensive when we went before and the wine was good but a bit overpriced compared to the same bottle at other restaurants. We thought the service was a bit less than spectacular but was efficient enough for me. Definitely want to go back soon!
(4)Tony O.
Really good food. There are many restaurants with good food. This is one if them. Why I have the 5 star rating, was because the wait staff, and in particular, maitre d, was very attentive. Very nice experience.
(5)Mindy H.
Phenomenal desserts and accommodate gluten free sensitivities. My friend and I came here seeking dessert after having read they had a gluten free option. When we arrived what first caught my eye was the unique modern interior. I loved the use of the gourds and curtains to create more intimate sectioned off areas. They also had a great terrace area that oversaw the river walk. It's not a large place so I would highly recommend reservations. We sat at the bar and when the menu arrived I was saddened to see it had been updated. They update their menus seasonally it appeared. When they heard that I was gluten free, and they had no dessert gluten free options on the menu, the bartender took our orders and asked me to wait while he went back to the kitchen to see what he could do. They were able to make from scratch a delicious melt in your mouth bread pudding. My friend had a fruit tart/crumble which I cant remember the name off. Both of us were in dessert heaven, all paired well with our drinks, thanks to the bartender. If the dessert is this good, the food must be amazing. I am anxious to return and try the salmon nachos which everyone raves about.
(4)Donna H.
Always get the chicken fried oysters and they are always great. I tried the ahi salad this visit. It was very good a tad sweet with a little kick. The ginger creme brûlée was the perfect ending to our 19th anniversary dinner. Look for my Yelping husband (Dave H) review on his lamb! As usual, Gigi made us feel like we were the only couple there.
(4)Lis F.
This restaurant did an exceptional job for my daughters graduation dinner. We had 13 people and I worked with the manager to pre order champagne and red wine. The table was set in a quiet alcove and all the wines we ordered were perfectly served. The food was awesome and the waitstaff remarkable. This was a perfect venue. I will go back next time I'm in San Antonio!
(5)Valerie H.
Meh. I'm from Houston, and know fine dining. Biga was good, but not great. The idea of fine dining is usually evident in the dining room, i.e., decor. They need a new interior designer to say the least. I had dinner here while in town on a Saturday night. The chairs are thin and cheaply made...very uncomfortable. It is very dark, with huge dark drapes everywhere... Dungeon-esque. There's also a lot of odd 'sculptures' throughout that look like big, yellow onions...ball shaped. I don't know their purpose, but they're not aesthetically pleasing. The food. Ok. I don't even remember what I ordered. I do remember my drink tasting watered down. This was a couple months ago, so things could have changed . I doubt I will return.
(2)Kristen M.
We had a reservation at Biga for 8pm, it's in a convenient location on the Riverwalk not far from most of the hotels right off of Market Street. It's got a warm and inviting ambiance and good food, really good food. As an appetizer we enjoyed the Garlic spicy lamb merguez sausage & Texas shrimp, which only came with two of each. I had the Grilled 8 oz beef tenderloin, the beef was cooked perfectly and the corn pudding was excellent! My dining buddy had the Eleven-spiced Hill Country venison and grilled quail. Both of us loved our meals and completely cleared our plates. It is a little pricy, but it's worth it to get away from the chain restaurants and have a really adult meal. It's a classy place but not uncomfortably so. Service was great.
(5)Marbet R.
This is a wonderful place. Great selections to choose from very clean! Very helpful staff. Excellent customer service!
(4)Norman L.
Had to ask the bus boy to bring menus after being seated for five minutes. Server did not ask what we wanted to drink. We had to ask for the wine glasses to be cleared off the table. Took our order literally thirty minutes after we were seated. We had no room for entrees because he neglected to remove the appetizer plates. To top it off, he popped the soufflé wrong, so all the cream poured out the side and onto the plate :( :( We ordered the fried oysters, which as everyone said were solid, and unfortunately the high point. For the main courses, the smoked roasted chicken was ok. The smoked flavor was all in the skin, which only seemed to potentiate the saltiness, making it taste much saltier. The jus was also incredibly rich, which is an odd pairing with the smoked flavor, drowning it out. The venison and quail were done well, but the Brussels sprouts were a bit undercooked. For $43, the quail should have been semi-deboned or deboned. What could have easily been a hour thirty minute dinner ended up being nearly three hours long. The food was okay, but the service was certainly a disappointment. When you're paying upwards of $75 a person for food with poor service, the food is definitely not worth it.
(2)Holly W.
Let me start by saying I made my Yelp account just to post this review. I'm visiting from DC and have experienced fine dining in NYC and DC on numerous occasions. I am the type of girl who can appreciate cheap beer and pizza with football or a wine pairing multi-course meal with notes from the chef. I have an industry background, understand kitchen slip ups, and know what to expect for certain price points. From the moment I walked in I knew I was going to be disappointed. I had made reservations for myself and requested their best dining experience with a wine pairing if possible. When I arrived at 5:30, I let the hostess know I was alone and just looking to experience the best dining atmosphere to be offered. She pushed aside a stack of menus being created and silverware at the bar and told me I could sit there until the menus were done. There were so many tables open and I inquired about sitting at a table. I was assured that because I was dining alone the bar was "full service" and would be fine. A large group sat next to me a few minutes later for drinks while waiting for their table and were given wine menus. I asked to borrow one. When the bartender arrived, he took their order first, even after they pointed out I was first. I ordered a glass and waited for my bread. My glass arrived with a huge "Go Texan" logo on the side; cheap and tacky. The bread was nothing special, just average bread and butter. During the bread, a runner knocked my purse off the back of my bar stool. He turned around to see what he hit, said sorry, and then kept walking...leaving my purse on the ground for me to get. I started my meal with a cheese course. This was brought with no silverware. I requested something, like a cheese knife, from the bartender and was met with a puzzled stare. They didn't have that and I was brought standard silverware. I ordered the aged NY strip, rare, with foie gras. The steak was closer to medium and served over potatoes and asparagus. With the exception of the foie gras (which is pretty hard to mess up), it was very average and bland, even with the demi-glace. Definitely not a $60 steak. Never was I offered salt or pepper. During this course the bartender did ask me how everything was going and offered more wine. A table runner (or waiter?) interrupted me to ask if I was alone and tell me HOW GREAT it was that I could dine alone. Thanks? It was super awkward. Finally, I ordered the Grand Mariner souffle. This was the highlight of my evening. It was executed well and tasted phenomenal. This and the wine were the only things that tasted and met the price point spot on. It definitely showed that they had a pastry chef. Once I finished, the bartender brought the check without asking if I wanted coffee, port, etc. Ultimately, this was an okay dining experience. The price? No way does it reflect the level of service. I paid almost $200 to sit at the bar? Next to menus and silverware? It was such a let down because I saw the ratings and thought this would be a little taste of the East Coast. Maybe this is fine dining in San Antonio. Maybe I had a bad experience? BUT, if I am paying that amount of money, I am paying for the small details. I should not be next to silverware getting rolled. I should not have to ask for silverware. I should not be having to get my own purse off the ground or fend off some employee talking to me about how brave I am for being alone. I get the impression the chef wants this to be high end...but doesn't have the knowledgeable staff to execute. Definitely won't be back for the price and poor atmosphere.
(3)Jamie H.
my colleagues and i went to biga on the banks for a team dinner, and overall the menu items were appealing and the food was really good. we enjoyed the atmosphere, and would certainly plan to go back again. we started with a few apps for the table and the waiter also brought us a beef fajita roll up with pickled onions on top that was really nice., the salmon nachos were delicious, with a piece of smoked salmon over some sort of creamy cheese on each chip. just 5 came in the order, so the waiter made it a plate of 8 so we could each have one. the sizzling mushrooms were also delicious, and came with large yellow and red cherry tomatoes. be aware that the scallops were quite spicy, but served over some grits. we also tried a grilled sausage and shrimp dish served over hummus that was interesting and pretty good. i knew the appetizers would be pretty filling, so i just ordered a salad for my dinner, with a side of roasted brussels sprouts as well as a duck egg. the egg was cooked perfectly, with just enough yolk to make it a perfect addition to the salad. the salad had blood oranges, an avocado flower, and greens. i also tried a bite of my colleague's pork and it was moist and cooked very nicely. others at the table really seemed to enjoy the various fish and meat options (mahi mahi, salmon, venison, etc.) our only complaint was that there was an extremely loud table next to us. the group was singing loudly and yelling, and this went on for over an hour. we were really disappointed that the waitstaff did not do anything to quell the noise or ask them to quiet down. finally, a woman from the party came over and asked us to "please endure" since it was a team building activity. well, we were having a team dinner too and were certainly able to keep our volume reasonable. due to the noise, we decided not to stay for dessert. overall, it was a great tasting dinner and i would definitely recommend biga and would look forward to going back.
(4)Jeff M.
Incredible!! I had the "35 day aged" strip steak with the mashers. Unreal! It's offered about every 5 weeks. They're menu changes daily, and the menu is full. Finished it off with a legendary Chocolate Toffee Pudding Cake. My wife and I both agreed, it very well might be the bestow dessert either of us have ever had...just ridiculous how good it was. The vibe is perfect. Romantic and relaxed. Noise level is ideal and the service - from the manager to our waiter (Casey-EXCELLENT!) were fantastic. You have to visit Biga before you leave to go home during your stay in SA.
(5)Shawnda M.
My husband and I went here on our "date night" in San Antonio. As fellow Restauranteurs we are always looking for places with a beautiful atmosphere, great food, and good service. Biga on the Banks has found the recipe. Although a relatively young restaurant, I'm sure they will be around for years to come.
(5)Curt S.
Just great cooking going on here! The duck is always amazing, we have always left full and happy from this place. Dinner can be a bit expensive, but don't let that scare you away! One of the absolute best of San Antonio.
(5)Stephanie H.
We walked in to a romantic setting, quiet, on the river, and dark, but not too dark. We were seated promptly and given menus. My daughter, who had just turned 10 the day before accompanied us and was given a children's menu as well. While perusing the menu, we made our decisions and we were brought ice water, and a three types of bread basket as well as some butter. We decided early on to try the salmon nachos. They were brought out to us promptly and we enjoyed them. My daughter had a choice of a few different things and decided that she was going to have the fillet, the kids menu comes with the entree, a drink of choice, and a dessert, she chose the brownie with ice cream. My husband decided almost immediately that he wanted to try the Nigali (venison) in a juniper sauce, and quail. I settled on the mustard crusted lamb rack. I asked our server for a wine recommendation and we were brought a Cambria Pinot Noir, which was amazing. We also ordered side of the asparagus and mushroom trumpet saute. I was able to try all of the different meals brought to our table. My daughters steak was great, she enjoyed the mushrooms and fresh green beans as well. My husbands venison was fantastic, cooked perfectly, but for me, the quail took the show on his plate. Seasoned just right, perfectly cooked, and I had never had the chance to try quail before, but I immediately fell in love. My lamb, was the most incredible lamb, I've ever tasted, it had some grilled asparagus, some cheese grits to offset the flavors of the rest of the items, a few mushrooms, feta, and shaved fennel. It was simply amazing. I ate as much as I could handle (while still saving a bit of room for dessert), and I made sure that I took the remainder home with me to savor more when I had more room. For dessert, we decided to try the famed Grand Marnier Souffle with orange anglaise. We ordered it when our meals arrived, so that it would be ready after we had our main meal. Finally, my husband and I finished our wine, enjoyed the rest of our evening, paid our bill and left. We also casually mentioned to our waiter that it was our daughters 10th birthday, as well as our 13th wedding anniversary. They made a note of it on our dessert plates and I thought that was a very nice touch. One thing to note, this isn't a cheap restaurant, but I would consider it well worth the extra money. I would love to return, we just might have to wait for our next anniversary. =)
(5)Donald L.
If you are looking for a good restaurant on the river walk, this is it. A James Beard nominated chef serves a nice variety of American cuisine. I recommend the roasted cauliflower and a steak because after all, you are in cattle country. The patio is one level up from the river walk. On a nice evening, I recommend the outdoors. Get a nice bottle of wine and enjoy the evening. The service was top notch.
(4)John S.
Great service and ambiance.
(4)Alecto A.
After eating my way through San Antonio I decided to cap it all off with a delicious meal at Biga. First, I must commend our server, Rudy, who was both a delightful person and an incredibly attentive server. We chose to be at the chef's mercy for dinner and it was a mind-blowing experience. The wine paired perfectly with the meal and the meal paired perfectly with my palate. Everything went above my expectations and I walked away elated. Thank you, Rudy, for putting the spark in the meal; the experience would not have been the same without you. Go, eat, and be merry.
(5)Adam R.
I really wanted to give this place five stars, but two factors lead me to dropping one star off, further down in the review! We went here because we were in town and found it on Yelp. Little did we know that we were going to dine with a seven James Beard chef. We were also impressed that most of the staff have been at this establishment since it opened many years ago. This should say a lot. I ordered the filet which was cooked perfectly and the overall dish was perfect. Great flavors and well put together. We started our meal with the onion rings, which were absolutely delicious. Something so simple made so well. The pickled vegetables went well with them, although the waiter mentioned no one eats them. They are not just garnish! Speaking of which, our waiter was wonderful, I don't recall his name but he was very attentive, perfect in his address and delivery of information and the food. Very well done. Now, why might you ask, did I drop a star from my rating. Well, two things. We sat on the patio because we wanted to view the river walk, which is just fine. But the chairs on the patio or horrendously uncomfortable. Not sure why such a cheap and uncomfortable chair, but dang. The second reason I dropped a star was with my drink. We are in the south people, they serve lots of tea and most places server both sweet and unsweet. I asked the waiter if they had sweat tea, which they don't and I was ok with that. It's the south, tea is tea. Well, not here. Tasted like it was from a fountain, strange fruity flavor. Not tea in my book. Highly recommend this place for sure!
(4)Patrick T.
Fantastic. Potstickers- some of the best I've ever had, perfectly seasoned meat, crisp and tender shell. Quail and venison- wonderful balance of textures and flavors Duck- This is how I measure the chops of a restaurant, and Biga really hit the mark. Just enough crisp fat on the duck breast, perfectly done (not too rare as some restaurants do to maintain tenderness), with a risotto side which would be a fine meal by itself. The best part was service by Christopher. He explained the restaurant, its philosophies, the various dishes, all without rushing or being perfunctory. Very professional and yet personable.
(5)Jill H.
Absolutely a must in San Antonio! While visiting San Antonio, we called Biga at the suggestion of the concierge at our hotel. The manager, Michael De La Vega promised to squeeze us in even though they were full. We arrived and were ushered to a spectacular table and then it was on! Must, must have the Foie Gras with Michael's suggestion for wine. The duck breast was awesome and topped off with a Perfect Grand soufflé. The service was wonderful, the ambiance was perfect. I can't wait to dine with them again.
(5)Matt K.
Super duper meal, service and ambiance. Beer selection wasn't the best. Had salmon nachos as an appetizer, which was average. Main course I had a mustard crusted lamb, which was divine! Seriously the best lamb I've ever had. The orange liquor soufflé for dessert was on point. And when my soufflé fell and had to wait for another, we got free champagne. Biga is very good, I would absolutely return.
(4)Sheryl C.
I just don't get it. How did this restaurant get 5 star reviews??? Based on the Yelp reviews, I tried them Biga this memorial day weekend. The service is so-so & the food was just "okay". The black drum was salty, the steak according to my hubby was just good, the wine pairing was not so good & the dessert we had to send back. For the price of our dinners it was very disappointing. We would NOT recommend this restaurant.
(3)Carolyn A.
A Yelp letdown. The food was a mixed bag and nowhere near as amazing as the reviews suggested. The fried foie gras was gross, both in terms of texture and the combination with French toast and blueberry pie filling. The fried dumplings had a Taiwanese style that was simple and very good. The venison/quail dish was more style than substance -- the venison was a little dry, the sauce was super salty, the goat cheese tart was a mess, and the browned Brussels sprouts were undercooked and not at all brown. The apple crisp was good. The service was fine. The space is beautiful and relaxing.
(3)Richard J.
Found the restaurant on Yelp and was impressed with the posted comments. We we're in SA and my wife had her birthday so I booked and we had a lovely evening at Biga. Menu has a fine selection of dishes to taste. Presentation of the food is excellent BUT make sure you leave room for the "sticky toffee pudding". I found my taste buds were not aroused. I would recommend BIGA but most likely would not mark it down as a place to revisit.
(4)cheng k.
Excellent restaurant. Beautiful decor inside, friendly and attentive staff. The food was quite good. Haute Cuisine. Will return the next time i'm in San Antonio!
(4)Gary M.
My wife and I were in town on vacation. This restaurant was highly recommended by the hotel concierge. So we made it our first stop. And, we were not disappointed. To make this easy, I'll get right to the point: PROs: - LOCATION: centrally located in downtown and on the Riverwalk w/ beautiful view from inside and outside areas) - ATMOSPHERE: beautiful multi-tier layout w/ nice decor, dimmed lighting w/ candles, and an ambience conducive for romantic dinners-for-2 and less intimate gatherings) - SEATING: multiple sizes of tables, comfortable chairs/booths, and several private areas/niches that could be secluded from the rest of the restaurant by a hanging curtain for those that wanted to dine in privacy - FOOD: amazing flavors and presentation (we had venison, quail, risotto, ... ) w/ emphasis on buying/using local (which we love) - SERVICE: TOP-NOTCH! I need to specifically call-out our waiter, Christopher Sanders, who ensured the entire evening was perfect. Can't say enough about this guy or how well he took care of us. So request a table w/ Chris - you won't be disappointed. CONs: - it's a bit pricey, but I can't really knock them for that since they're a higher-end establishment w/ a frequently changing menu comprised mostly of local food items We will definitely be going back next time we're in town and will be requesting Chris, specifically, to be our waiter.
(5)Andy D.
Enjoyed an arguably perfect meal. Allowed our exceptionally professional Server, Christopher Sanders (be sure to request his 16 yrs of experience) to choose the main course...best lamb I have ever tasted! Outstanding experience overall!
(5)Katherine F.
We had dinner here one night while visiting San Antonio. Great food and atmosphere. We'll definitely be back if we're ever in San Antonio.
(5)Jayden H.
We had the lamp and the ribeye. The place was nice and the atmosphere inside was also good. The food, in contrast, was just not bad. It was decent in taste, but I didn't feel its worth of $180. Overpriced.
(3)Sarah P.
Wow! Love being impressed! From ambiance to service to wonderful cuisine. This place will not disappoint! Found this place by recommendation and it sure was a good one. Walking distance from most RIVERWALK hotels.
(5)Cindy R.
The view was among the many pluses to this place! We loved the blackened prime rib and the lamb! The souffle and sticky toffee pudding were among the best we've had!
(5)Amy G.
Biga on the Banks: what an exquisite place to dine in our very own San Antonio! Nothing says fine dining like top notch service, fancy plates of scrumptious food and a serene view of the San Antonio River. A must-have at Biga's? The House-Apple smoked salmon nachos, albeit there were only five nachos, were the best nachos I've ever tasted (five! -That's as many fingers as I have on my hands, yes, one nacho per finger, literally.). I literally takes longer to state your order 'house-apple salmon nachos' than to actually eat the dish. For the main course, I had the Achiote Roasted pork tenderloin, which had a nice rich flavored sauce. It wasn't fantastic, though and left me wishing I'd been a bit braver and opted to try duck for what would have been my first time. For dessert my boyfriend and I chose the Mexican chocolate mousse, a nice little ode to our predominately Mexican American culture here in SA, was nice and chocolate-y and proved almost too delicious to share. Coupled with some coffee it made for a pleasant and rich denouement to the evening. Overall, Biga is a beautiful restaurant that, upon first glance of your surroundings can come off a bit stuffy, but the attentive staff, and overall ambience leave you feeling comfortable and quite pleased with your restaurant experience. If I could change anything about the menu: I would have loved more salmon nachos! If anything, treat yourself to a happy hour with the nachos. Just keep in mind there's as many nachos as there are Spurs Championships-and while in the world of championship rings that might be a big number, it's not so as far as nachos go. Which made me realize why the wealthy are so thin-they hardly have any food to eat ;) Anyway, come prepared for a beautiful evening with great food. As I said when we sat down to eat: Go Biga, or go home.
(4)Joe B.
Wow, how wonderful to find this gem in San Antonio. Did not at all expect to find a 7 time James Beard nominee chef here. In a nutshell, the food and service were both superb. We had Chris and Chris as our waiters, and they both we excellent. very informative and helpful, and always there at just the right time. We started with tender fried oysters on squid ink pasta, lightly breaded and perfectly cooked and seasoned. Also Foie Gras on brioch toast, which was good, but for our liking, it could have had a harder sear on it. For the mains I had the 11 spice venison and grilled quail and my sweety had the grilled quail spinach salad. My dish was amazing, including the accompanying shredded Brussels and little piece of goat cheese tart. My only wish was for two more slices of venison and another piece of quail. The spinach salad, was well, a spinach salad; but that was exactly what my gf wanted, so she was happy. For dessert we split a grand mariner soufflé. Supper good, and it too had us wishing for more.
(4)Haylie W.
I skipped an appetizer and snacked on bread, then had the venison quail dish and then the toffee dessert. It was all amazing
(5)Cindy W.
This was my third visit in the past year! Every experience has been beyond expectations. Michael the wine manager hit the nail on the head with his cab recommendation to pair with the dry aged New York strip, and he remembered me from a previous visit! Casey our server was very knowledgeable about the dishes and the local sourcing of our fare, his service was outstanding. The food was super yummy. House made pickled veggies and habanero ketchup elevated fresh tempura onion rings. The crab stuffed snapper dish was a symphony of harmonious flavors. I love this place because the food is always excellent, the staff is detail and service orientated, best of all, they are welcoming.
(5)Selena L.
The best service!! and the definitely try the desert!
(5)Daniel W.
Best fine dining restaurant in san antonio! Has there own valet service so parking is a breeze in the normally crowded riverwalk parking fiasco, the service from the wait staff is the best in the city. I had been numerous times and every time service is exceptional. My only quirk on the waiters introduction is that it is scripted, every time I hear it, I believe I'm starting to remember it, lol maybe I should get a job there, but I digress. The wine beer, and beverage list is immense and fairly open to any price range, the wait staff is extremely helpful and insightful. The prompt way that every thing is delivered at is refreshing. The food is amazing, ive had one complaint and it was immediately fixed. They have a great 4 course symphony menu that changes weekly as well. I know I sound very biased, but I assure you its merely a coincidence due to the professionalism they bring. My last point, my gf and I ate here a couple months ago, and I made reservations for 9, I got lost downtown so we arrived "unfashionably" late at 940, I work in a kitchen so I understand how upsetting and somewhat un couth that this is. Everyone from the hostess to the manager, to the waiter that served us was nothing but smiles while serving us. And for that, I say you definitely need to go!
(5)Meghan M.
Biga on the Banks was a decent choice for a client dinner while in San Antonio. A few things were off, though... When we arrived, approximately 20 minutes early for our reservation, the restaurant was empty aside from maybe 5 tables but they would not seat us until our reservation time. We grabbed a seat at the bar and had a drink until the time was up. The bartender made a lovely martini, albeit, quite pricey. A martini, a margarita, and a club soda came to $30. When seated, we waited a bit for the server but when he came by, things moved quickly. We ordered just main courses...most of which were over $40 (!!)...and they came out in less than 10 minutes. The lamb was delicious and others seemed pleased with their choices as well. A side of brussel sprouts was ordered but never showed up. For a special occasion or if you're going with the prix fix menu, this spot is probably quite a good choice. We were in-and-out, ordered a la carte, and were not seated with a view of the river walk so we may not have gotten the full experience.
(3)cathy f.
Recommended by our bartender at our hotel. Menu had a great variety of seafood and steak. I ordered the Mahi Mahi with fingerling potatoes and green beans. Presentation of plate was incredible!! Server was friendly and responsive. Great wine selection too:)) Lastly the vanilla cheesecake was incredible:))
(4)Becky M.
Prices are not for the faint of heart, but every aspect of the meal was spot-on. The service may have been a bit over-the-top, but our server was definitely passionate about the chef, the food, and the beverage options. Pumpkin soup with a bit of whiskey. Creamy and wonderful. Because I am not normally in TX, I had squab....nicely cooked and the butternut squash & Brussel sprouts that accompanied it were nearly equally as good. My companions were quiet during most of the meal....we were all happy with what we had chosen. They especially liked the Old Fashioned from the bar. :) I was in San Antonio for a conference, so I don't know if and when I'll be back...but I certainly enjoyed my experience.
(4)Krissy P.
I was here for dinner on 02/15/15. The place is nice as expected for the price point and the service was great. We ordered 2 apps to share the scallop ( yes one scallop) with jerk sauce and the black ink linguini with oysters. Those were delicious! However the entrees were lacking we ordered the top 3 that the server suggested which were the Mustard crusted Texas lamb rack, Close-to-Bouillabaise and the venison and grilled quail. All of the 3 dishes were okay. I expected better pairing from this price point. The drinks were good and the ambience was great. I am glad we tried and might go back for something different but not for the same entrees I ordered.
(3)Cleo M.
I really wish that I could give half-stars! I wouldn't say I'm a huge fan of Biga, per se, but it wasn't just okay, either. Alas, I rounded up to four stars since my deductions are relatively minor. On to the review! The most striking negative to this place (based on my one experience there) is that the whole staff seemed rather uppity and treated our group in a rather condescending fashion. A few of the items (or ingredients) on the menu are not going to be familiar to you, most likely, as they are not standard fare, but whenever we asked questions about those items the server would act almost baffled and respond in a way that made you feel like a nuisance for daring to ask such an 'audacious' question. Oh well; perhaps I'm not cut out to be a regular at Biga. None of us really felt welcomed at any time during our meal, and it was actually strange because oftentimes we would look around and see some of the staff whispering to each other, looking in our direction, and then laughing. Not exactly the best way to attract newcomers! (and no, we were not dressed in any extreme manner, nor did we act in any way that stood out) I highly doubt that is a usual occurrence, but it definitely put a damper on our visit for obvious (and weird) reasons.. I did like the decor and general feel of the restaurant; we went for a leisurely weekday lunch and there were many other casual diners probably from neighboring hotels. Only the staff seemed uppity; not the restaurant itself. However, if you want a place where you can observe the activity of the Riverwalk while you enjoy your meal, as a native San Antonian I can tell you this is probably not the restaurant for you; it's definitely on the quieter side of things. For those concerned with cost, there ARE considerably cheaper items on the menu that will cut your costs. I got a Thai Salad, which was tasty and full of the thinnest shredded vegetables you will ever see, but I don't know that I would go out of my way to recommend it to anyone. The tempura shrimp that I got with the salad was VERY good, however, and I wish I had just gotten a whole plate of those. The fact that they apparently try to use local ingredients whenever possible was another plus for me personally. My boyfriend also loved his meal, which was some kind of roasted chicken with vegetables. They bring out quite a variety of lovely breads before the meal as well! The food earned most of the stars here. Since my s.o. and I purposely got cheaper items, I can't really say if I felt it was overpriced or not, but overall I think Biga is worth trying if only for the food. Whether or not you will feel welcomed seems to vary from person to person; if you choose to eat here, I hope the staff is nicer to you than they were to us!
(4)Andy Y.
What a Biga Disapointment!
(2)Wil F.
Looking to impress that special someone with a romantic dinner? Call ahead and book table #1, a corner table overlooking the riverwalk, with the ability to close floor to ceiling drapes to create a more intimate setting. Food was very good - found some interesting things mixed on our plates, like cranberries and mashed potatoes. Deserts, specifically the sticky toffee bread pudding, were fantastic. Service was excellent (thanks, Beth).
(4)Cody L.
After a full day in a hotel pool (hint drunk) we cabbed it to Biga On the Banks. Not wanting to make a decision, we went ALL IN and did the 8 course tasting menu for 4 people and left all the decisions to the waiters and chefs. We got top - top - top service after that even though we were on the fun side of annoying (hint drunk.) Wine was great, all the courses were fantastic and well chosen. Toward the end of the meal we built up to venison and beef, by that time we were all struggling with the amount of food but it was still great. Dessert was out of this world. Coffee at the end might have saved all of us from exploding. We did drop quite a bit of money on this meal, but I've been to other restaurants, Congress in Austin for example, where for the same money you only got 4 courses and wine. Here we got 8 + amuse bouche + wine + coffee. Pimpin ain't cheap.
(5)Caitlin B.
Food is awful. Ordered the chicken fried oysters and they had zero flavor. The sauce was bland, the squid ink linguine was flavorless and oily, and you wouldn't know chard was in there unless you saw it. The oysters themselves were not special. The Asian veggie salad was fine but the tempura shrimp were inedible, they were very iodine-flavored, which often happens with jumbo shrimp, but it's really gross. The bread in the bread basket was cold. I am just in San Antonio for one night and am very disappointed I chose to eat here.
(1)James A.
Excellent food and good service. We had Foie Gras, Habenero Jerk Scallop, Lamb, and Bouillabaisse. But just a notch below Bella on the River, which is also on the River Walk. Bella has equally good food, better service, and is less expensive.
(4)Wendy H.
great service and great food!
(5)Ferdinand H.
Between 4-5. Solid food. Had lamb shank and a salad, both of which were delicious. My friend and I had glasses of wine (He went Chard for his boulliabaise), and I had a malbec. Toffee pudding was our dessert choice, with some 10 year port. Decor was modern with a slightly rustic undertone. It's homey and intimate, and the service was genuinely eager to interact. All in all, a great experience. In one week, I went back twice!
(4)Brian P.
Delicious-- I went to dinner with a boss, and she had the boulliabase-like creation and absolutely loved it. Wonderful use of saffron in an unconventional way (with the toast!). Great fresh seafood. I had a salad to start, and it was delicious (minus the bug that was in the organic greens--promptly replaced). I also had some nice quail and venison. Overall great presentation. It felt good to eat there, and the wine was fun. Definitely a place for a sense of occasion (albeit comfortable, somewhat relaxed)--not your every day meal.
(4)Krista A.
I was in San Antonio for business and my colleague and I were brought here by some locals. We were greeted by a host that was probably there for eye candy and were promptly seated. No reservations on our part, but we walked in and got a table for 6 right away. I started off with the foie gras (with french toast & a blueberry glaze) and it was perfectly cooked. The foie gras + my favorite breakfast meal was a perfect combination and the only other time I enjoyed it as much was at The Oval Room in Washington, DC. It was an A+. Other people in my group got the Chicken Fried Oysters and couldn't stop raving about them. I wasn't extremely hungry (and wanted to save room for dessert) so I got the onion soup and it was pleasantly warm and inviting, especially since it was pretty cold outside. I was expecting more of a french onion-type soup, but it was thick and a little creamy. The Parmesan croutons were crunchy, with a woody taste, and the ended up being an amazing addition to the soup. I'd give the soup a solid B. I've had better, but the croutons made it. My dessert was the almond cake. It comes with homemade ice cream (that was so delicious I scooped it all up) and a chocolate-covered poached pear. We each ordered a different dessert and I ended up trying all of them. My favorite out of all of the desserts was the Hazelnut one. I'd recommend it, the almond cake, or creme brulee any day of the week. I'd give the desserts an A+. There are so many different things to choose from so everyone in the group will be able to find something they like. It's definitely worth saving some room for! The next time I'm in San Antonio, I will surely be stopping back in to see what is on the new daily menu!
(5)Michael S.
Quite simply put this place is okay. The food is average and the prices are steep. If you're solely looking for a restaurant with good decor this might be a good place, but outside of that dont expect much. The food is bland, lacking of any true flavor and is poorly thought out. In addition, the service our table had was pretty poor and our waiter was a bit condescending.
(2)Kaliko Y.
Here for one night and thought this was a great choice. Ordered Margarita on the rocks, freshly made....delicious. Service was impeccable: attentive, accurate, helpful. Ordered Close to Bouillabase and Snapper Dishes. I liked the Snapper, but the Soup was great App was fantastic Jalapeno Scallops. Try them &you will see. Sticky Pudding for dessert.... perfect for sharing. Happy I dined here, sat at the bar, but patio was nice too.
(4)Kels R.
I don't eat at restaurants like this often, so when I do it's a treat. But this was just phenomenal. One of the best meals I've ever had. Firstly, our waitress was fantastic. She was Australian and very knowledgeable. She recommended exactly the right plates! I ordered a salad, which had vegetable strips, crunchies, shittake, Thai inspired sesame and ginger dressing and it was to die for. If I thought that wasn't good enough, we all ordered the house special because it sounded that good: homemade fettucini, lobster and a creamy wine sauce ( I wish I could remember the details but it was the special of the night.) There were also mushrooms in there. I have never eaten anything so good. We all ate this with Sauvignon Blanc. For dessert I ordered one of the crumbles which was, yes you guessed it, also to die for. I also tasted the sticky toffee pudding (mmmm). When I'm rich someday I'm driving to SA just to go here!
(5)Kay T.
Men, if you're looking for an exceptional spot to impress your new lady friend, Biga on the Banks should be a main contender. It is the perfect spot for a date. I'm all about some romance, and here you can sit inside the cozy romantic space or grab a table outside and watch the stars go by, whichever suits your fancy. Either way you're sure to make your lady happy. My most recent experience at Biga was just incredible. From the moment we walked in the door, service was absolutely top notch. We arrived for our 9pm reservation a bit early so they seated us at the bar for a moment but took us to our table before 9. Our drink orders were filled, we enjoyed some delicious champagne and perused the menu. Prices here are certainly above average in San Antonio however, I feel like a splurge every now and then is good for the soul. Or at least good to make a girl feel like you think she's really special, whatever the case may be. Everything looked so absolutely amazing. We wound up ordering several things. The salmon nachos are still at the top of my list. The quality of ingredients, the creativity of the menu, the superior service, and the incredible company made this one of my favorite nights ever. Ever. And please don't get me started on the desserts. I had no business taking even one more bite after the utter gluttony in which I had just partaken, but rest assured we cleaned the plates of not one but two delectable desserts. If you too are looking for a special place to make great memories and eat something amazing, put Biga at the top of your list!
(5)Andrew B.
I loved my time there. The food the service the atmosphere. I'm not a big spender, but this place was well worth it! I can not complain about this place I absolutely love it!
(5)Laura A.
Been wanting to come here for a while, and I wasn't disappointed. I had the mustard-crusted rack of lamb, and my husband had the tenderloin. We both would have licked our plates if weren't for rules of etiquette! Our waiter Brett was knowledgeable and very nice, and we could barely put a dent in our waters, as they were constantly refilled. Entrees aren't cheap - but holy balls they're good.
(5)Chris K.
Delicious! I ordered the tasting and the chef pulled out all of the stops preparing food that was not even on the menu. I will be back when I visit San Antonio again.
(4)Trey E.
Biga easily earns its five stars. They have stellar service, excellent fare, and an atmosphere unrivaled on the otherwise touristy Riverwalk. All the food is delish, from the signature salmon pizza app and Hawaiian onion rings to the halibut main; and if you skip out on the sticky toffee pudding dessert you shouldn't be allowed to dine at nice places ever again. The wine list is surprisingly well rounded. There are plenty of private dining options, and I'd recommend booking a table by the window so you can see out onto the river below.
(5)Tony A.
"Big flavors that can be supersized" With work in the rearview mirror, I thought I end my stay having dinner with a friend of mine. The place that we ended up was certainly eclectic. I think this place is a better fit for being a wine bar. There are a few unique things about the menu. One, there are no specials period. The menu changes as the ingredient season changes. Two, there is no underlying cuisine origin since they consider themselves a fusion place (I would say asian and mexican dominates the dishes). We started out dinner with the salmon nachos, had the tuna salad and duck noodles w/ master sauce and ended dinner with chocolate molten lava cake and the bread pudding. I think overall each dish prioritizes on the bold flavors of the ingredients (i.e. master sauce in the duck dish vs. the duck). Lastly, there is a half order option, while some say that this is the smaller portion I would say its normal but we are in TX. SO if you get the full order it is almost like a supersize. I think I would come back here with some fellow foodies who like to share their orders and some money to drop for wine (* you know who you are wink wink)
(4)Arvinder S.
Great service, great ambiance. You do pay a premium. I had the "full" portion of the antelope and quail, but my friend and I both agreed it still wasn't big. Another friend had the rack of lamb and it was filling and delicious. For appetizers, I had the froie gars half portion but it was quite small. Server was great and informative. Overall, it was nice to try, would return if I had a money tree.
(4)Marianne M.
gross- found a hair in my food - that was after roaches dived in my appetizer( if you eat outside) which i don't mind per se.. the staff's attitude is like "oh it's the first time it ever happened" the waiter had a weird vibe but nice ... the food is "fake fancy food" i give it one star for its bad value , lack of intimacy, bad food and ugly 90s decor
(1)IM G.
Outstanding!! Come early for the 3 course meal. Fantastic surprise- was absolutely delicious!
(5)lauren m.
Fabulous dining experience! Used my Living Social coupon to get a great meal here. We didn't get a reservation, but we had no problem sitting at the full-service salad. I recommend the bar. The service was great and perfect. Started with the duck confit - delicious and salty. Moved on to entrees - I had the half order of bouillabaisse. I like that they offer half orders. Mine was delicious and had a generous portion of seafood for a half order. The dessert, a pumpkin cream cheese roulade, was AMAZING. It's served with Brindles ice cream. I love Brindles and love that they're offering local ice creams. One complaint - we were told there weren't any tables available for two and a half hours. We were there for two hours, and there was a table right behind us completely open the whole time. I know they're a busy restaurant, but that's kind of ridiculous.
(5)Ryan F.
I was thoroughly impressed with Biga On the Banks; the food was delicious and the service was prompt and attentive. The menu is unique. I would highly recommend for an enjoyable fine dining experience.
(5)Jon P.
I would have given it five stars, but some of the food was just "okay". The service was incredible and that was five stars. The chicken, which I read reviews about, was a bit too smokey and the flavor was confusing and mixed. My wife commented that I make a better roasted chicken at home. The three cheese appetizer varies on what they are serving that night. Ours was a blue cheese, brie and Gouda type cheeses. It was one of the high points of the evening. Very smooth, creamy and complex cheeses. The Grand Mariner souffle fell flat on our taste buds (no pun intended). It tasted like egg whites. Much too eggy a flavor. There is an outdoor seating area on the Riverwalk. Inside the restaurant the windows are large. Almost anywhere you sit allows for a good view of the Riverwalk. We would go again.
(4)Brian B.
High end place, very refined food and presentation and yes you pay for it. But the chef really has some interesting combinations of flavor that were excellent. The foie gras starter was really rich, creamy and great smeared on bread. The rare tuna with grilled asparagus was also real good and the coconut creme brulee finished things perfect. Big wine list also with bottles or by the glass. Good place for a date I would think.
(4)Kira T.
Biga is a wonderful dining experience, head and shoulders above most Riverwalk restaurants. But buyer be warned, this place is not for the faint of heart or slim of wallet! We booked online, and like others mentioned, received complimentary champagne upon arrival, which was a very nice touch. The service was phenomenal: attentive but not intrusive. Perfect. The food was mostly really good, with some misses and a few home runs. We tried the pot stickers for an app, and they were gone within minutes. They were a bit on the greasy side, but the spiciness of the sauce cut through the fat to make for a tasty balanced bite. I also ordered the cheese plate, with three cheeses. Each cheese was delicious, and the accompaniments were awesome: honeycomb, fig cake, and crusty bread. The entrees were a little less memorable: halibut, which was perfectly cooked but a bit underseasoned, a scrumptious curry soup, and a salad that was totally forgettable. I was too stuffed to try the signature toffee pudding, but I will definitely save room next time, as I've heard great things.
(4)Diego B.
It was the best I had while in San Antonio, and I guess this is as good as it gets around there, but not even close to a good restaurant in LA. It tries to be great, it is good, but nothing memorable. Ok wine list.
(4)Nadia I.
Absolutely loved this restaurant! We were walk ins on a Saturday night, needing a table for 5 and the hostess was very gracious and got us in as quickly as she possibly could. I had the snapper, which was delicious, and I also tasted the lamb from someone at the table and it was perfect. The steaks also looked juicy and perfectly cooked. We shared appetizers and desserts which were both really good, and we ate the last bits of all of it despite getting very full. Out waiter was great, he realized we were there to have a good family time and interrupted us the least bit he possibly could while still being very attentive. One of the best meals I have had on the Riverwalk, would definitely go back and recommend it to friends.
(5)Liquid G.
The wife and I were in San Antonio for Thanksgiving and I wanted to try at least one local fine dining establishment in the city. We looked at a number of places like Feast, Bliss, Il Sogno, etc. but being that we were staying downtown we settled on Biga because we didn't have to get the car out of valet, we could walk the few blocks easily, the menu looked great, all the James Beard nominations, and the name just seemed to imply something different and creative. What an incredible disappointment. Such a huge disappointment for me the wife almost hit me for not shutting up about it. First, the positives: The service was impeccable. It's definitely fine dining, so they can afford to take the team approach to service. You're not dependent on just your server to refill your drinks or get you anything you might need. Having said that though, our server was the lead and he did a fantastic job. Superior, attentive service without being condescending, intrusive, or pretentious. He was very knowledgeable about the menu and could tell us the particulars about each item. He made nice recommendations for wine pairings as well. The wife accidently tipped over her demi-glace for her ribeye and the waitstaff team cleaned it up immediately in a very unobtrusive manner and replaced her side dish without prompting. The food: The wife ordered the ribeye, which is topped with two huge Shiner bock battered onion rings, mashed potatoes, and green beans. I ordered the early 3-course special of Beef tenderloin tips which comes with a pumpkin bisque, and sticky toffee pudding. How does a multi-nominated restaurant that charges $45 mess up a ribeye?? It's hard for a home cook to mess up ribeyes! Under-seasoned and over-cooked, unbelievable! And those Shiner bock onion rings?? It was like eating a strip of onion encased in a sopapilla - far too much breading and way too sweet. Ugggh, I'm going stop. I can't even finish this review. The rest of the fare was just as bad. Mushy tenderloin tips, some weird fried plaintain chip that wasn't creative as much as it was out of place and pointless. Signature sticky toffee that was fine, but come on, chocolate cake in a bed of crème anglaise and toffee flavoring, big whoop. We went for great food. We should have just gone to Boudro's both nights - better views of the Riverwalk and tastier food. If I wanted pedestrian fare I would have gone to any of the touristyplaces and paid far less. This whole episode makes me question the James Beard foundation and their nominations. I admit, we didn't order the house signature dishes, but if you're going to charge those prices for everything, than everything on the menu should be great.
(1)kira e.
Delish, great service, nice atmosphere, bouillabaisse was awesome!
(4)Vyna H.
Service was great, food was good however it wasn't outstanding. Just typical & average. We stayed at the grand Hyatt & walked to Biga. Which was a further stroll than I imagined. I ordered the lamb & my bf had steak. As with most lamb if you don't like the gaming smell don't order. His steak was a but over cooked. Although I ordered the half rack she gave me the full rack & charged me full rack price so make sure you. Good date or double night spot. decor was nice had a south American vibe to it.
(3)Dusty D.
My wife and I came here for her birthday and had an awesome time. As soon as we walked in we knew that it was going to be a great experience. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. The food and wine were both spectacular. We started our meal with the cheese plate of Gouda and Black River Blue. My wife had the heirloom tomato salad and I had the sweet potato & ancho chili soup. Again, both dishes were amazing. Our entrees included the pork roast and scallops and again we were beyond pleased. We finished our dinner with the Grand Marnier souffle. The food is not only cooked perfectly but plated perfectly as well. This is a wonderful place for a date and we will make this a regular stop whenever we visit San Antonio.
(5)Shirl S.
Biga is definitely one of the better restaurants I've been to in San Antonio. If you're looking for a very nice ambiance and fine dining then this is the place for you! The food was excellent. We got the Onion rings & Salmon Nachos to start & a couple glasses of wine. The onion rings were a safe choice since my fiance doesn't have an adventurous palate, but they didn't disappoint, especially paired with their habanero ketchup. If you like raw sushi, then you'll like the nachos, as I did. For dinner he ordered steak & I ordered the red snapper. Both superb. The only reason why I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because service was just "ok". I expect for a dining experience that costs over $125 to have service that's exceptional. The waiter checked on us a few times the whole dinner & didn't really make conversation or go above & beyond.
(4)Ninette H.
Phenomenal! Enjoyed a wonderful dinner here Sat Nov 17, 2012. Waiter was well informed and knowledgeable about wine list, menu and food preparation. Very accommodating in splitting appetizers so my husband and I did not have to pass plates back and forth. We started with mushroom risotto with baby arugula which was a perfect blending of flavors, next had the warmed spinach salad which was also perfect. Moved on to our mains : rack of lamb with cheese grits and asparagus and the duck with 5 spice sauce. Both were prepared just as ordered and were simply beyond description. Almost too satisfied for dessert but found room to share the Mexican Chocolate Mousse - beautifully presented, light with a subtle hint of cinnamon. My only regret is that I can't return to try the rest of the menu!
(5)Mark P.
I was visiting San Antonio for a conference that was downtown and so read the Yelpers reviews and this one looked exceptional, so ... Atmosphere 5.0 Service 5.0 Food 4.0 Value 3.0 and I'll tell you why. The entrees were $42 (that's the value piece). The actual food was good, but here's my problem. I ordered the steak. It's Texas, was my thinking. I ordered medium rare and it came out on a sizzling iron skillet (like you might find at a Chinese or Mexican restaurant). And it was medium rare when they brought it to me, but (and I'm sure you can see this coming) it was very well done and basically inedible by the time I had eaten 2/3rds of it. I understand the concept. You get this great piece of meat and it's served sizzling and that's great theatre, but the practicality of it missed the Mark (sorry). The martinis were perfect btw. Really, perfect. Great bartender and server and hosts. And very accommodating. I wanted to like it more, but when I pay $100 for a meal, I like everything perfect, not just the drink.
(4)Gudrun R.
This is just not a great value. Prices are a bit higher than average but the food is a bit lower than average. I had a soup that was too salty and it had an overly large blob of sourcream with maple syrup in there. That combination was a bit gross. Then I had a salad that was nauseatingly sweet. We also had several appetizers none of which where remarkable. The best was probably the ketchup that was served with the onion rings. Overall I would say they seem to be too ambitious with flavours that end up being too much in your face. The ambience was ok but also not great. The table we had was in cave like darkness.
(2)Justin F.
Dope ! Service - kick ass Restaurant - smooth Food - BANGING !!
(4)Bruce S.
Chicken fried oysters on squid-ink linguine appetizer was outstanding.
(5)Ann H.
was here for vday 2013. my fiance scored a table last-minute (haha guys...) and it was actually at a reasonable dinner-eating hour! 6:30pm or something. when we arrived at the restaurant though, it was pretty much empty. there was like one other couple there and they were 50+.. despite the unlimited selection of tables, we were seated at some random 3x3 foot table in the middle of the restaurant, 6 inches away from the adjacent table. they were really cramming those tables in there! we skipped the "special vday menu" and opted for the waiter's recommendations. can't remember exactly what we ordered -- fiance got some seafood dish that we thought would come with pasta but didn't and i got the quail and something dish. also got the fancy salmon nacho (?) dish that the server + yelp recommended, but nothing was that good! :( it was all pretty overpriced too. i am that obnoxious person who takes pictures of my food so i would do it every time something came to the table. but then a server would always come by and kind of side-glare at me... weird? maybe i being paranoid but it was kinda uncomfortable. anyway, we ordered a white chocolate or grand marnier souffle (sorry, can't remember exactly what it was) and it was also nothing really special. maybe this place was just too hyped up or maybe their quality went down when their volume of guests went way up on vday, but it just wasn't the greatest experience to be seated less than a foot from the next couple and to be rushed from one course to the next. p.s. the valet here were terribleeee. i think they "lost" like 3 peoples' cars because they were searching for keys frantically and some restaurant guests were just standing there shaking their heads when these teenage kids pulled up in cars that weren't even the right ones... this one guy pointed to the 1998 camry that the kid pulled up and was like, "that is NOT my car. i drive a MERCEDES!" hahaa. there goes his tip. oh also, this restaurant is in some weird office-building-like place. soo yeah, just different. views of the river are okk but of course not all the tables get a view. i think this was on some list for most romantic restaurant in sa but i would say skip this place and try a place that is not as hyped up.
(2)Eugene L.
I finally chose to dine here after reading Yelp raves about the sticky toffee pudding here. I visited the website to see what other items they have. While Biga's may be a fancy tourist trap on the Riverwalk but it's not pretentious and snobby to the point where they refuse to post their prices. The only thing that I was interested in getting was the venison and quail. I've never had game nor have I ever hunted for deer or quail so I thought this would be an interesting item to get. I was greeted by the host and he asked me if I wanted to dine inside or outside. I immediately responded inside since there's no way I planned to eat outside in the awful heat and humidity. The host honored my request and got me a table overlooking the river. Warren, my waiter, arrived to my table and took my order for the venison and quail that included brussel sprouts and fries. I told him I wanted to substitute onion rings for the goatcheese tart that accompanied the venison and quail. A busser brought me a complimentary assortment of breads, slices of restaurant baked white bread and cornbread. I was quickly wowed by the cornbread. It was sweet and reminded me of the kind served at Azuca but not as warm. It was so good I asked the waiter for another basket full of cornbread and omit the white bread. As soon as my food arrived to my table, I took a bite into one of the Shiner Bock onion rings and dipped some of it into the habanero ketchup. I was not impressed. For one, the onion rings were way too thick and had too much batter, not like the ones served at Big Bob's Burgers. And second I didn't like the habanero ketchup at all. I've had the spicy ketchup at Whataburger. The spiciness of their spicy ketchup doesn't overwhelm the flavor of the ketchup there. Now you'd think the spiciness of the habanero pepper's juice would probably enhance the spicy ketchup at Biga's but it instead it not only overwhelms the ketchup's flavor but just totally ruins it. So the onion rings and habanero ketchup are a couple of fails. The venison and quail were good as well as the fries. Brussel sprouts were fair, not really my cup of tea though. As soon as I finished my meal Warren asked me if I wanted dessert and I quickly told him I wanted the famous and mostly requested toffee pudding. As soon as it arrived I quickly took a bite and was amazed! It was like eating a warm Heath flavored blondie. The service was very good too.
(3)Jenice R.
Shane the bartender rocks! Brought a friend in from CA and enjoyed a lovely cocktail. Fast and friendly service topped off with excellent cocktails!
(5)Andrew E.
Excellent tuna. Apps were ok. Nice view but apparently not on the actual riverwalk. The location was right behind a busy bus stop which meant lots of people hanging around outside. A bit of an uncomfortable walk coming in.
(3)Lauren J.
Had dinner here last night and the food and service was excellent. We started with the greatest salads - spinach, bacon, brie, nuts and this delicious dressing. We also had the game packets - basically lettuce wraps made with quail and venison type meats. We loved those, too. Entrees were great - I had the rib-eye, which was cooked perfectly, though I did not care for the onion rings that came on top. The rack of lamb my mom ordered was a hit. My dad got the much-reviewed venison that lived up to our high expectations. Definitely recommend this place, although it is on the spendy side. Be prepared to drop some cash.
(5)Karen S.
My husband I went to Biga for an early dinner this past Friday. Their were only 3 other tables being used and they seated us next to a door that goes out on the balcony. So every time the waiter went out to take care of his customers, I got hot flash of 100 degree Texas heat. I never did figure out why they would seat someone right next to that door in this heat and with an empty restaurant. I did move myself to the other side of the table so it wasn't as bad. I'm a foodie and really expected some top notch food from the reviews. Boy was I disappointed. We ordered a "Lobster coconut soup" that was more like an onion soup, no visible lobster, no evidence of coconut. It would've been better had they called it French onion soup because that's what it was. I ordered beef tips, my husband ordered Red Snapper. My beef tips were floating in demi-glace, tender but blah. The red snapper was ok with the potatoes but nothing to write home about. We both ordered the toffee pudding. It was a good cake but floating in overly sweet sauce. I could see a drizzle of the sauces but this was way too sweet for a full cup of the stuff and it tasted like a mix. I have eaten at a few places on the riverwalk and was expecting the quality of food we got at Bella's I guess. For the price, this place is not worth it.
(2)Janee M.
Went last night and had a cheese plate with Humbolt Fog, savanna farms honeycomb, guava, and fig. This was very yummy. I ordered a tito's on the rocks and it tasted like either the glass wasn't washed or it may have been put in a shaker and shaken and that wasn't washed as it had hints of cucumber or melon in the Tito's. The squash soup was very rich with a hint of chorizo sausage. It taste good but was too rich for my liking. The entree was a scallops dish and if I was blindfolded wouldn't have even known that it was scallops. It was sooooo salty that it burned my mouth. :(. The two stars is for the location and atmosphere otherwise the food was uneventful
(2)Michael B.
Amazing food, great service, very classy and well, expensive. Went here on a Saturday night with my girlfriend and it was a great time. We had 9:30 reservations but came around 9pm. They promptly adjusted and had seats ready for us within minutes. Once at the table, we were greeted with a very knowledgeable, friendly waiter who explained all the dishes and made some fine recommendations. Moreover, our glasses were constantly topped up and dishes cleaned quickly. We ordered the Mushroom appitizer with garlic bread. It was a great treat and lots of it! They had a fall special from 5-6 or after 9pm. It consisted of a set 3 or 4 courses and you had a choice of two dishes with each course. I had the 3 course for $38 - Soup, beef tips, and the sticky toffy. All were amazing but oh, the beef tips...they just melted in your mouth. Best I've had ever. This place is not shy about their achievements - numerious James beard awards, recognition as top restaurants in the Southwest and so much more. Hats off to the cheif and thank you for an amazing night if fine dining. Definitely recommend it to everyone.
(5)Mark W.
Biga on the banks gets a Biga shout out from this customer who ate there twice in one night. I had dinner there last week and was totally impressed. The food and service were wonderful. I started with the chicken fried oysters which are nowhere near what they sound like. Think of tempura battered oysters on a bed of squid ink infused pasta...divine!! I then moved on to the scallops and again, the flavors were out of this world. For desert I had the bread pudding, which was plated so magnificently that candidly I thought it was a shame to even touch it. The service was equally on par with the food. Casey my server ( I sat at the bar) was eager to explain the menu, how the various options were prepared and make suggestions. He could not have been more pleasant, professional and knowledgeable. Upon getting back to my hotel that night, a few blocks away, I was sharing with friends how divine the food was and since they questioned how anything could be a good as I described, so I walked them back over so they could try for themselves. The result, they were blown away. Thanks Biga and Casey for making a great dinner memorable. When I'm back ibn San Antonio you will see me again.
(5)Amanda T.
I love this place. The service is always outstanding and the food is delicious. I also like that the chef is willing to accommodate most meals to a persons specifications, for example, making something vegan friendly. I've been about three times and each time has been a memorable experience. Will surely go back.
(5)Jan S.
What a find! Don't hesitate to go. Everything was delicious. The 3-course menu, at $39, is a really great deal. Two appetizers, two entrees, and two desserts are what you choose from. So my husband and I got one of everything and shared it all. It was fabulous to taste the soup, salad, salmon, pork, and two different desserts. What a feast! We don't often go out to "fine dining" places, but we had been on the road for two weeks and thought it was time for something special. This fit the bill! It truly was lovely and delicious and memorable.
(5)Steve G.
Wow! Chef Auden has it dialed in, great food, atmosphere, and staff. Is quickly becoming one of our top 3 in the city (we dine out often).
(5)Shnertz M.
Delicious! Pork tenderloin and duck were wonderful! Had great service and a much more tranquil outdoor riverwalk dining experience than the overly crowded tourist traps more accessible from the riverwalk. Highly recommended!
(5)Boo Boo B.
Phenomenal food and ambience. I loved it.
(5)John Z.
Food and service were ok. Food was nicely presented, but just didn't deliver for taste. Nice presentation and quality ingredients doesn't automaticaly result in great food. Deserts were quite good other than the creme brule which was just trying too hard to be different. Very expensive, and just didn't deliver for the $.
(3)Elliebob D.
You need to eat here. Highly recommend if you love upscale service, food and wine. The ambience of this place is incredible. Apparently, it used to be an old library that was renovated. It has so much character. Apparently they have numerous proposals every week in this place because it is so romantic. Once seated we listened to the incredible waiter named Casey, explain history of the restaurant as well as the premise of which the business works off of. The menu changes on a regular basis, almost daily, depending on what type of produce and organic meat they can get. We ordered a wine special. It was a Tempranillo from Spain.2009. It's the only one that comes with the rattlesnake shaped decanter special to this wine. I highly recommend this wine. I am typically a Pinot Noir or a Cabernet girl but this wine gets smoother and smoother as it aerates. Did I mention that our waiter service was excellent? We had an appetizer call Binn and Radicchio... Basically a lettuce wrap with quail, bison and turkey. Excellent. My husband and I split the warm spinach salad. It was the perfect portion prior to our meal. I'm not a big red meat eater but I went with a half order of the tenderloin. My husband had the ribeye with a Pinot Noir demi-glace. Both came with mashed potatoes with horseradish sauce. I had asparagus and he had green beans and everything was fresh and tasty. For dessert we had the sticky English toffee with custard pudding. While it looks like it might be a chocolate cake, there's no chocolate in it. It's figs and dates encrusted in a brown sugar coating (? I hope I got that right??) Eat here. Ask for Casey. I mean it.
(5)Ebs B.
I'm still a little bitter and confused about my experience at this place. The scallop appetizer was to die for. The caramel cake was wonderful. The drinks were pretty decent. HOWEVER, the Brussels sprouts dish was nothing special. If you're going to put Brussels sprouts on the menu, take some advice and do something with them. AND, if you're going to put two prices on the menu for entrees (a smaller portion and a large portion), and my partner just ordered the half, and I forgot to mention which size I wanted, just ask; do not assume. Yes, I forgot to mention that I wanted a half portion, assuming that I would get that. However, when the steak came out, it was the size of both my fists balled up. I love steak, but not that much. Plus, I want steak that is tender, which this was not. I brought up that I wanted the half portion to the server, and it didn't matter because I still got charged for the whole portion. Well, fine, I'll deal with it and pay, but great customer service should have been executed from the beginning by asking. The server did try to make it up to us by taking off the Brussels sprouts (we only had one bite and didn't eat the rest), and gave us 2 "free" glasses of champagne, but that still didn't help with the lackluster steak or the assumption that I would want that much of the lackluster steak.
(3)Travis D.
Definitely my favorite restaurant in San Antonio (i have not been to Le Reve). The food is innovative and always delicious. Flavors are strong, presentation is beautiful, and the wait staff is unbelievably nice. The food is definitely new american cuisine and is influenced by asian, mexican, french, and classic american cuisine. Everything i have ever head here has been spectacular. Make sure and save room for desserts as their desserts are truly special.
(5)Matt S.
Great service and value for the food. Started with a drink each and the salmon nachos, which were great. The romaine salad was spot on and already split for us (nice touch). I had the rib-eye and she had the lamb chops, both came with sides and were nicely presented. We had a couple extra sides just to sample a few other things. Closed with champagne (on the house since it was our anniversary, again nice gesture by our server) and a souffle. Tab was $150 w/o tip. I can't stress enough how much value there is for the price. Our server was Beth and was excellent. I gave her our full order at the beginning of our meal and she timed out each entree accordingly. (I huge plus in my eyes, no one likes to be rushed while eating something they wish to enjoy) Tips: Call and reserve table one. This is table is set off from the others, has a view of the river walk and also has curtains so you can be cut off from the other tables. Sets the mood nicely and is a very nice touch for an evening out.
(5)Dan M.
When i read a review from someone from NYC that said this was their favorite restaurant anywhere, I was a bit skeptical. But we gave it a try on our first of two nights in San Antonio. Well after eating dinner there both nights I certainly put this in my top ten restaurants list. We had great meals and fantastic service both nights. I was stunned how such wonderful food came out of the kitchen so quickly. Great combinations of ingredients in everything. My wife's gluten free requests were met efficiently and the staff were helpful and courteous. Despite all the eating choices available on the riverwalk I am pretty sure i will return here next time I am in town. Great food great location great service great presentation. Not cheap but well worth the cost, and comparable to many of the more touristy locations down the walk.
(5)Carolyn L.
We celebrated our 40th anniversary at the Biga. It was virtually flawless and they treated us like royalty. We requested, and they provided, one of the little nooks for two overlooking the river. The food was exceptional! The service was outstanding, the waiter was knowledgable, attentive, non-intrusive, and personable. We don't know when, or ever, we've had such an enjoyable, and romantic, experience. We WILL be back (again)!
(5)Ashley K.
San Antonio 'fine dining' needs to take a vacation to San Diego to see how it's done. I wasn't impressed. I had seared ahi or something that was fine... my husband had some sort of meat that was fine... The waiter wasn't very attentive, the food was just ok- and for the prices and portions, it was actually bad. The worst part was the waiter was preparing our soufflé for us, knocked the top of it off onto the table, then proceeded to walk away as if he didn't notice!
(3)Kacie K.
Amazing... The service, decor, and food was exceptional.
(5)Suzanne G.
I have had mind-blowing chicken 3 times in my life. First at a B&B in Italy. The owner was preparing simple roasted Tuscan chicken for dinner. We ate on a stone terrace overlooking an olive tree grove. Second was at (now-closed) Aldo's on the North Fork of Long Island. The skin was herb rubbed and fabulous, a wonderful lunch I'll never forget. Third was a few weeks ago at Biga. I had the roast chicken half. Absolutely delightful.
(4)Rob H.
The service was first rate as was the food. It was a special night, and they didn't disappoint. I WILL be back whenever I am in San Antonio
(5)Courtney R.
Be sure u grab yourself a nice quiet table outside, yes its the second floor with a wonderful view at night, very romantic. I appreciated the fact that its was out of the way and there werent 50,000 drunk college frat guys running around like idiots. The food was amazing, the lamb, salmon nachos, scallops, duck and the peanut butter chocolate molten cake all rocked. Service was awesome Cant say enough about it all! Price was just great for fine dining. Cheap people always complaining about price!
(5)Inspector G.
Far more "business class" than we expected. Some really stellar hits on food, with a few minor misses. But Biga really dropped the ball on promising "local food" and a "riverwalk" experience. ATMOSPHERE We're not sure how this is marketed as a riverwalk restaurant. We were hoping for a fine dining experience that would also let us enjoy the riverwalk's atmosphere. The restaurant is on a quiet (actually completely dead) part of the riverwalk, with only limited outdoor seating perched way too high over the river (not even close to the "banks"). It really lacks intimacy with the environment. Bottom line: sitting outside isn't that appealing. We moved back inside where the weeknight crowd was overwhelmingly filled with consultants and lawyers entertaining clients. Not exactly a romantic or even foodie scene. FOOD The food had some real knock-out successes. As others have mentioned, the salmon nachos were spectacular and we wish we could make them at home but know they just wouldn't be the same. We also had the venison and quail that was paired with the most delicious sauce and savory brussels sprouts. Wonderful flavors. There were a couple of misses. On the minor side, the peas were overwhelmed by garlic. We felt that if they were truly fresh and local we'd have preferred to taste peas, not garlic. The other food miss was a big one. Biga promotes itself as featuring locally grown and harvested foods, but we wondered where in the river they caught lobster. Way too many ingredients on the menu clearly came from far away. We believe that if you're going to market yourself as locavore-friendly, then you should be true to that promise, otherwise, please skip the pretense. BOTTOM LINE We probably won't be back. The place is overrun by investment bankers on expense accounts and fails to deliver on key promises: it's not really living up to the hype on local foods and it's not really a riverwalk restaurant.
(2)Greysi V.
5 stars for service! We went in June for our anniversary..they reserved a private room for our party of 8. Our waiter was really knowledgeable of the menu & made great suggestions. They have a different menu everyday, which we thought was interesting. The Pomegranite Mojito was amazing, and my friends loved the mahi mahi, steak,beef tenderloin, deer & axle but the chicken that I got was really plain & tasteless but I didn't let that ruin the night..they have great sides & good variety of drinks. Last but not least... The homemade watermelon sorbet is delish & totally recommend it if they have it that day. I would definitely go back & just order steak next time!
(4)Derek L.
We were looking for a nice place to go out in the river walk area and looked up Biga. I loved the food here. I had the quail and venison and it was incredible. Everything on the plate was awesome (I'm not even really sure what all was with it but it was great haha). We also had the salmon nachos and the scallop appetizers which were both great. The solid mojito they made me was a nice bonus as well. Definitely on the pricier side but we were here on business so I wasn't very price sensitive so for me at least it was totally worth it. I thought the décor was contemporary and the service was good, there when we needed it, not when we didn't. Overall a solid experience and I don't really have anything negative to say.
(5)Erik L.
Perfect date-night dinner in San Antonio! My wife and I had a special dinner there and have to say it lived up expectations and more. The service was impeccable and food excellent. We had placed our reservation on-line asking for the famed #1 table, but had been called to let us know it had been reserved since March. They set us up at a very quiet table with a great view. After a minor difficulty finding the location, when we arrived our table was ready and promptly served with great service. My wife ordered the corn chowder and red snapper, and I had the warm spinach salad and Australian lamb. The polenta with the lamb was a little cold and bland, but the lamb was some of the best I have ever had and perfectly done. We finished with the sticky toffee w/ English custard that was rich and sweet, but not too overwhelming or heavy. The atmosphere was modern but quiet, elegant but not pretentious, and good for quiet conversation. We will gladly be back and be sure to ask for Chris as our server again.
(5)Bryant R.
An excellent spot for a romantic dinner. The service was phenomenal and the food tasted spectacularly. I got the Ahi Tuna dish, and both the presentation and the taste were on par with the quality of the restaurant. It's a bit hidden from the touristy parts of downtown San Antonio, so it provides for a nicer setting and ambiance. Would be happy to go here again.
(5)Ryan M.
I was very impressed with Biga. First off, my waitress GiGi was fantastic, very helpful, in fact I let her pick my dishes. I had the foie gras app, which was very well done. It was served with a French toast which I thought was a bit too sweet, but when I ate it with regular bread it was excellent. Then I had the duck, as picked by GiGi. It was very good, the duck was cooked perfectly and the sauce was excellent, I was thrilled with the choice. The only complaint is that it was hard to find the place, but that aside Biga was an great experience all around. I highly recommend it, so far the best restaurant I have been in San Antonio.
(5)Todd S.
I would give Biga On the Banks a 3.5. Let me start out by saying we had exceptional service, even with a group of 10, All of the food I would describe as good, not great. I would give the apps 4 stars. The house apple smoked salmon nachos were great, and the chicken fried gulf oysters were very good (though I may not be a very good judge as I am generally not an oyster fan), The bibb and radicchio game packets were interesting, but my least favorite of the three. The real reason I give Biga a mediocre rating is due to the entree. I made the mistake of ordering the 13oz ribeye. Why do some steak restaurants find it necessary to put my beautifully rare steak on a 500 degree sizzling platter? I would expect this from a western sizzlin, but NOT a supposedly nice restaurant serving me a $40 steak! By the time I got to my 3rd bite, my steak was a medium-well. To compound the problem, the ribeye was quite thin. The only saving grace of this ribeye was the sherry sage jus, which added some flavor to my overcooked meat. My wife had the "Close-to-bouillabaisse" of shrimp, clams, mussels, scallop, mahi mahi, tuna, grouper and lobster, served with a martini rouille. She described her entree as "ok." I settled on 3 stars for this review. I think the food (except the steak) was probably 4 star quality, but definitely not a deal because it is accompanied with a 5 star price tag.
(3)Janelle B.
This is one of my all-time favorite restaurants. It's on the pricey side but you won't feel ripped off. I have been there in settings from a romantic date to a group outing with friends, and it never disappoints. I have yet to see someone dislike the food. The warm spinach salad is delicious and big enough to split with two. The mustard crusted lamb is simply amazing and demonstrates what I love about this restaurant - the chef puts things together that I would never imagine could complement each other, and it works- the multiple flavors all mix together in a way that makes you want to try everything on the menu. Their famous sticky toffee pudding dessert is famous for a reason. It's the perfect combination of sweet and rich with warm drizzled toffee that completes it. The menu is printed daily but the favorites are usually on there. I always get half portions and it is plenty big enough. The staff is the right amount of helpful and friendly - make sure to tell them you are new there and they'll explain some of the restaurants history and awards. If you can't decide what to order, they are extremely knowledgeable about the menu and I love to hear the way they explain a dish. The ambience is calm with dim lighting and several curtained off sections if you prefer more privacy, or a balcony to eat over the riverwalk. It's definitely an outstanding restaurant and well worth a visit.
(5)Meredith D.
This past weekend my boyfriend and I went to Biga's for the second time. I'm glad to report that it was just as amazing this weekend as our first! The menu is constantly changing, so I won't both telling yall what to order. Thankfully they keep their best dishes on the menu so I can tell you that the heirloom tomato salad is worth getting. The duck is also amazing. So far everything we have tried has been delicious so you can't really go wrong. The view of the Riverwalk and service are both great as well!
(5)Beth G.
On the recommendation of a friend, we ate here on our 2nd night in TX. We were surprised by a complimentary glass of champagne for reserving a table online and spent some time talking with our very knowledgeable server about the wine list. After making wine choices, we decided on the salmon nachos to start, the venison chops & grilled quail for him and the duck breast & leg for me. The salmon nachos were delicious. 5 chips with salmon set off by a crème fraiche with just a tiny bit of subtle heat. They were cool and refreshing and perfect. The entrees were bigger than I expected them to be. The venison was perfectly cooked, the quail was really well done and the duck breast and leg were both amazing as well. The shiitake broth that surrounded the duck was so flavorful and went really well with the duck & baby bok choy. For dessert we decided to try the sampler...3 mini-portions of desserts and all very tasty. Biga was a great experience, well worth the money and a very romantic and tasty night out!
(5)Meghan B.
My sweetie surprised me with a romantic dinner at Biga on the Banks overlooking the riverwalk. What made this so romantic is our private corner table ( table #1) with curtains to close so we were nestled in our own private world away from the rest of the restaurant. VERY ROMANTIC! The service was stop notch. Our server was very knowledge and friendly. The food was good--The mushroom appetizer was awesome! The best part of the meal--desert--sticky toffee bread pudding---mouth watering fantastic!!
(4)Thao L.
I can only speak about the ambiance and the dessert. I walked over to this place to specifically try out their grand manier souffle and I must tell you, it did not disappoint! It was absolutely delicious...First off, the souffle was beautiful. It was light and airy while still being rich in flavor. The ambiance was very nice, the service was prompt and friendly.
(5)N S.
Went there last night based off of reviews. Do nottt get the seafood unless you like overcooked, awful mid continent fish or shrimp (their awful version of bouillabaisse). The short ribs were dropped on my fiancée and he caught one with his bare hands. The waiter simply said "good catch" and did not apologize or comp us anything. The only decent part of this meal was the israeli couscous side dish and dessert.
(2)Kelly W.
Best service and food on the river walk. Have a gluten friendly chef!!! I also love the half portions!!
(5)Linkus M.
I'm not a tourist, but this was my first time to Biga. I took my girlfriend there to make up for Valentine's Day. Needless to say, we were both impressed. The Shiner onion rings were amazing, the chicken plate she got was great. I ordered a medium rare ribeye and it was closer to medium, but it was still good. Atmosphere is really nice, too. If you've got the money, Biga is not a bad place to visit (especially if you've got some making up with your girlfriend to do ;-).
(4)Karen S.
I went to Biga on the Banks with my sweetheart on Valentine's day. It was delicious. I appreciate that everything on the menu was organic or from local farms and the portions were huge. I had the ribeye mainly b/c it came with french beans and shiner bock onion rings (YUMMM). He got the tomato mozzarella salad and the beef tenderloin. We were a little disappointed in the mozzarella because it was just not very tasty, but his steak was DALishous. Our waitress was Gigi and Dave H. is right, she is awesome. The wine list is decent and not outlandishly priced but the worst thing about this restaurant was the price of the valet...NINE freakin dollars. For $6 more we coulda parked in a parking garage down the street OVERNIGHT. Yes, it WAS valentine's day...but dang.
(4)John M.
To die for................ I think not. We had top rated items by my fellow Yelpers. What can I say..........over rated and then some. Great locale, ambience OK. Wait staff very nice. Best was the scallops with polenta. OTW so so. We are wending our way back to LA, dreaming of our return to Chicago, where there IS really good food.
(3)Tim S.
Great service, fantastic atmosphere. Had a fantastic time chatting with the bartender Monique, very cool gal and made some great menu recommendations. I highly recommend the place for a great evening...
(5)malgorzata s.
After 3 visits ito this restaurant we decided not to give it a chance anymore. Two last dinners confirmed that food is very average and sometimes borderline bad ( overcooked pasta, almost everything underseasoned and some, like tortilla soup, tasting worse than cafeteria food). I am also warning you , if you choose prefixed menu be prepared to be treated in almost disrespectful manner by your waiter. There is no justification to spend so much money on substandard dishes and get substandard service on top of it. It is a waste of a great ambiance and prime location for this type of food and service. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone .
(1)JIMMY N.
I just came back today from San Antonio for a weekend getaway with a special lady friend. I wanted to dine at a nice place on our last night; so when I read up on their top restaurants, Gourmet magazine gave it a "Top 5 Best Restaurant in Texas" ranking. Well if it's good for Gourmet mag, then it sure as hell good enough for moi. I made reservations at 10 in the evening Saturday, but didn't arrive there till 10:30. We were late due to our show lasting longer then expected at the AT&T Center. Anyhow, I knew the moment I dropped off my car with the valet it was going to be a magnificent night. The valet people were very nice, cordial and had a smile on their faces when they opened the doors to our car. Valet was $8 bucks by the way, but ah well. As we stepped into Biga, the host knew that I was the late show on my reservation and pointed it out in a humorous way w/o me mentioning my name. Well he sat us next to a beautiful view of the riverwalk. Like Dave H. on his review of Biga, I had Gigi as my waitress. She, like Dave mentions, provided us wonderful service and gave us many recommendations. Though we were Gigi and the restaurant's last table, she was consistently pleasant and accommodating to our needs w/o being obtrusive and hurrying us. We ordered two appetizers: the smoked salmon nachos (5 pieces) and chicken fried oysters (also 5 pieces). Both for $11 dollars each were good but I loved the oysters more. Those oysters were deep-fried and each sat on a bed of rolled linguini (linguini was supposedly dyed in squid ink. Hmm, I don't if that's true or not but it works). For our entrees, she ordered the Mahi Mahi w/lump crab meat on a bed of mashed potatoes. I had a 8 oz Beef Tenderloin with scalloped potatoes and some grilled veggies. Our entrees were reasonably priced around 30+ dollars each, not too shabby for one of the nicest restaurants in the city. Her portion was good-sized, she didn't finish it because she was pretty much full half-way through it. So I tried some, it was fresh tasting but I wasn't quite impressed by it. That's probably why this place did not receive 5 stars from me. My tenderloin was properly cooked the way I asked for it (surprisingly, lots of places, even some nice steakhouses don't get it right the first time). Bernaise sauce on top of the steak while a wine reduction-type of sauce was on bottom. The steak was very tender (as it should be) and flavorful. The scalloped potatoes... not so fond of it. Gigi also informed us that since we made reservations on-line, we each get a complimentary glass of champagne (FYI for all of you to reserve on-line). We ended our meal with creme brulee (my favorite dessert, and my true criteria of a great restaurant. If the creme brulee is good, then they have me as a repeat customer). The creme brulee was good, not outstanding, but good. I would not mind coming back for more. But the pistachio cookie that accompanied it was not so good. They're better off leaving that off and replacing it with berries instead. It closes at 11:00PM but it seemed rather slow that evening. And at 11:45, we were the last ones still there. I heard the bar closed at 12:00. So where's everyone? Probably out enjoying the illuminated show that was going on in Downtown for that one night. All-in-all it was a wonderful experience, we were dead tired and I have to give this place 4.5 stars. Far as the decor: very subtle and chic. Candle lit with floor to ceiling windows to display the River Walk in the back drop. Ideal place for a romantic dinner and drinks. Also on a nice day, request a table outside. One other note: Gigi mentioned that the owner/chef tends to change the menu every few days. It's not a complete overhaul, he has some staples, but he always utilizes the freshest products available to create his menu. That's why they don't have "Specials of the Day".
(4)Stephanie M.
My husband and I love this place. It's a special occasion dinner for sure, but worth the splurge every now and then. We started our meal off with the foie gras. It's served with macerated cherries and pan per du. It was so rich and wonderful, I almost could have stopped there. I had a wonderful endive and duck confit salad that was perfectly dressed, and my husband had the leek soup, also very good. I ordered the quail and venison and he ordered the lamb. Both were very well cooked although I think I would try something different next time. Just personal preferance. Our very attentive and polite waiter asked if we would like both entrees split and we thought that was so great. I really enjoyed the try before you buy wine pours as well. We finished our meal with the toffee pudding and I thought it was just ok. Everything was presented beautifully, service was great, and we will be back. A San Antonio best.
(4)Jules F.
Excellent experience all around! Delicious food. The service was exceptional. And the ambiance was icing on the cake...classy and cozy.
(5)Pinky L.
Biga is my favorite restaurant in San Antonio! I was coming here for 6 months before I discovered this slice of heaven! Now each month when I come to San Antonio for work I come to Biga at least one time sometimes twice (in a five day trip). What I discovered is that they change the menu according to what is in season and they ALWAYS have a vegetarian option! And it is ALWAYS mouthwateringly delicious! Tonight I had the tempura crimini mushrooms with grilled asparagus, creamy fingerling potatoes, garlicky vine ripened tomatoes and a red pepper vinaigrette. Plus for dessert the molton chocolate cake with peanut brittle and peanut butter. Have also had them make me the bibb and radicchio game packets without the game. Salads are also great!! And a supurb wine list! Waitstaff and bartenders are very friendly and it wasn't long before they started recognizing me! One trip I came in for the second time at the end of my trip and they had the same vegi option from the beginning of the week. When I mentioned this they asked me what kind of food I liked and they created a dish off the menu! Biga will always be my fav in San Antone!!
(5)annemarie p.
yes reading other reviews it was a little pricy but it is a zagat rated restaurant,good golden modern feeling ,a look nice place that you def can dress up for everyone there was in nice sweaters and dress clothes. we walked in woth tee and jeans after shopping and didnt feel out of placeso ... food was amazing ! the pot sticks : to die for very filling amd sruffed, the port tenderloin with great grits and picked cabbage and beef tenderlion that melts in your mouth with perfect asperagus and cheesy mashed potatoes, the dessert was just as good i recommend the creme mango something haha their "special" was aiiight wouldny get tht again but the waitstaff was so knowledgable and sweet it was just a little hard to find off the water.
(4)Daniel C.
Our meal here was just barely under $60 per person, so be prepared to spend. Overall an excellent meal, but at these prices I really expect near perfection. Unfortunately there were aspects of each of the three of ours' dishes that were somewhat average. We started out with a nice bottle of wine (they have a great wine list) and I had a fantastic take on a strawberry puree sidecar (called an Auden Automobile). I also had a red curry coconut soup, which was superb. Entrees ordered were the pork loin, grilled tuna, and the venison/quail. The pork was probably the weakest of the three, with some very odd potatoes that weren't at all what they should have been. The tuna dish was really nice with some peas, wax beans, and lobster meat all in a tarragon butter sauce, but the tuna itself was not as tender as I'd expect and it frankly overwhelmed the dish (which I realize is an odd thing to say for a tuna entree). The venison/quail was arguably the best, though the quail didn't really have much flavor (which is kind of inherent with poultry, if you ask me--my order was the tuna). The dessert menu looked excellent as well, but we were far too full to do any more damage. Otherwise, the atmosphere was very polished and slick without being fake and commercial, and the service was very good. Overall, I can't imagine anyone walking away disappointed.
(4)Craig S.
Good restaurant. The flavors were good. The salad was absolutely wonderful. We had the fish and duck. Fish had good flavor but was a little over cooked. The duck was great! Wine list could have been better.
(4)Chris F.
We were in a downtown art gallery and mentioned that we had dinner reservations that evening (to celebrate our 31st anniversary) at a steak house on the river walk. The gallery owner gasped and said "Oh no, I can't let you go there!" and suggested Biga. We walked to the restaurant - not exactly in a location that you would stumble on but a great view overlooking the river - and were told that they were booked but to come back around 8 as they have cancellations from time to time. We canceled the reservation at the steak house and came back at 8. We hardly had a sip of our martinis at the bar when we were told they had a table ready. We both decided on the same thing for dinner as it was something we don't usually see on the menu in our hometown: chicken fried oysters for an appetizer and a game mix of venison and quail for the entrees. OMG - delicious! We finished it off with a selection of ice creams and the peach cobbler (or crisp?). Yum! Service and ambiance were perfect. Pricey? Yes, but we got what we wanted - a perfect evening for a special occasion.
(5)Fran C.
Decided to dine here after reading reviews and glad I did. I opted for the 11 spice antelope and Texas quail and it was delicious. Can't wait to come back and try some other dishes.
(4)Elton D.
No wait nice and quiet, valet parking which is a big deal downtown great view of the river our waiter (Chris) impressed me with his service which is hard to do had a three course meal and I was not left wanting all in all I have a new favorite dining spot though I felt a bit strange being the youngest person in the room
(5)Jordan L.
Biga: sophisticated but extremely relaxing. Food that makes you want to savour each bite as slowly as possible because a hint of a new flavor appears on every forkful. However, not the type of place to go to if your hesitant with your wallet; I dine alone and eat out infrequently so when I do treat myself, I'm not afraid to splurge. I made reservations for 730, showed up half an hour early expecting to sit at the bar until my table was ready, but was seated immediately. Decor was classy without being intimidating and the lighting was dark enough to provide a hushed, intimate atmosphere without forcing you to squint at the menu. Attentive waitstaff, my water glass was consistently refreshed, and plates were removed promptly. My server was extremely knowledge about the menu gave me several thoughtful recommendations. I never felt as if I was being hovered over or rushed. Round One: I was torn between the "expensive mushrooms" and the foi gras; based on the server's recommendation I chose the latter, and I'm very happy I did. Excellent balance between the three main components, the toast soaked up the cherry juice and cut the fattiness of the duck. I had the half order and it was perfect for one person but could easily be shared if both diners are getting their own entree. I was also given a complimentary 'shot' of the house's mushroom broth. It was delicious and satisfied my mushroom craving. The Basics: I rarely eat bread and try to catch the server before they bring out the complimentary basket and waste it on me but I'm glad I didn't catch them this time. There were three different types, and while I only tried the cornbread I could've left the restaurant a very happy lady eating only that. Up until this evening I've only ever had two types of cornbread: the crumbly type that falls apart the minute you slice it or pick it up and the overly sweet gummy type that sticks to the roof of your mouth...and then there's Biga's. Slice a bite sized bit, spread a very small pat of butter, and I dare you not to reach for a second piece. The Star: Venison and Quail with brussel sprouts and a goat cheese tart. I've never had either protein before, and it was well worth the wait. The venison was a beautiful medium rare, the sprouts were tender without the typical brussel bitterness, and the quail with the berry topping? Perfect alternating between sweet bites of that and the more peppery red meat. The tart? Oh my god. I ate around it so I could save it until the very end. I feel like I'm betraying my love affair with the cornbread but one bite of that tart and you'll understand. Sweet Treats: I was tempted by the grand marnier souffle, if only because of the raving reviews but the chocolate flan? Oh yes. If you're a chocolate lover, just do it. I could describe it here, but this review is already way too long and Biga's menu does it perfectly already. In the end, I had a lovely evening out and many thanks to the staff at Biga on the Banks for making my short trip to San Antonio so memorable. I'm already looking forward to my next visit.
(5)Reyna R.
I left this place feeling like I just had one of the best meals ever! I hadn't had such awesome food in a while! It was extremely satisfying! I can't wait to go back. The food was beautifully presented like the kind you see and read about in cooking magazines, and the service can't be beat! Red snapper was scrumptious! Even my kid's pasta was so delicious! I ate their left overs.
(5)Tom C.
Wow. This place was awesome. We were served by an old waitress who seemed to love her job. She had a lot to say about the place and gave it a welcoming feel. The menu is made everyday and is constantly changing. I had the lamb which was not on the menu because it came in late. My wife had a fish dish. The lamb was the best I have ever had and the portion was out of this world. Not common for a lamb dish. The server recommended a wine and knocked it out of the park. At the end of the night it was fairly expensive for dinner but we did not hold back on anything. Appetizers were unique and had an awesome blend of flavors. I would love to go back.
(5)Shelley R.
I almost always check ahead at a restaurant's website before going so I don't have any shocks when I arrive. We are more than happy to spend money for good service and great food. This experience was no exception. We enjoyed an evening outside on the patio overlooking the River. We had wonderful service, wonderful food. Wine for both of us and the bread was awesome (their specialty; ask who Biga is). Tempura shrimp, Mahi mahi, and a Ribeye (don't forget the steak sauce) were all great. There are so many restaurants to choose along the Riverwalk, but why choose a chain? Have a great experience!
(5)Robert M.
Restaurant is divided into tables by the windows and tables off to the side. Despite requesting a window table, we were led to the last table in the side area, the table closest to a hallway that must have led to a private party room and the kitchen, and it was rather noisy with cheers emanating from there. Now to the food --- we tried the Shiner onion rings --- good, but a little puffy and greasy - definitely missable. The habanero ketchup accompanying the onion rings was really good, as were the pickled peppers. We also tried the salmon nachos --- good, but come on, guys --- five small chips with a tiny bit of salmon atop them for $11? A few more chips would make it a better choice. The spinach salad was good, not great. I guess I expected great from a place with all those James Beard awards. I think he may have lowered his expectations in San Antonio! Entrees - we had the halibut which was wonderful. Another person had the duck and thought it was good, not great. The "limited quantities" notation on the menu was a little off-putting. I did not know that duck was a scarce commodity. The boullaibaisse was very good. The charred unusually-prepared Brussels sprouts were good. One member of our party had toffee sticky pudding for dessert, It was very good. Our waiter was very good - but not great. We had to ask for bread, and we always sort of felt a little rushed, as if there was going to be a second seating. At the end, he did say something to the effect of not to feel rushed, but by then the meal was over! OK, I may be a picky diner, but I think when you go to a restaurant of the quality of Biga, someone in the host capacity (if not the chef or his representative) should make rounds and ask how the meal was going. We were seated by a rather lackluster young woman, and then the male host whom we saw seat other parties never once made any overtures to our party. The impression I got was that they knew most of the people in the room were Riverwalk tourists, so they didn't need to make any warm overtures to make folks feel welcome. They should learn something from some chefs like Emeril or Ripert who realize their glad-handing the guests is worthwhile! When we left, it was raining, so we asked the waiter to have a cab called. The attendants ,who helped us to the cab had one small broken umbrella! Come on guys, for the prices you charge at Biga, buy a BIG golf-type umbrella!!!
(3)Sam K.
We came here around 9:30pm and we had the 4 course menu specially prepared for us. Food is excellent all around, piping hot, and all very tasty. The place is a bit hard to find as you have to go inside this tall building and find the restaurant there. Come here for the food and you won't be disappointed. There's vip parking outside so parking shouldn't be a problem downtown.
(4)Carolyn K.
I'm from Oregon, and I came to San Antonio for a conference with limited hopes for finding delicious and healthy food here. I spent the day searching the web for restaurants near the Riverwalk area with tags like: organic, locally sourced, healthy, and so forth. I almost gave up, but at the last minute I saw Biga On the Banks. I must say I was not disappointed. Their food was delicious, local, mostly organic, and beautifully presented. The service was outstanding, friendly, and accomodating. I ate on the outside patio overlooking a quiet and peaceful section of the Riverwalk. There was a pleasant June evening breeze, and I spent the whole time taking pictures to send friends in Oregon and California just to show how amazing San Antonio really is. Go Biga! and thank you for a wonderful experience.
(4)Connie V.
Biggest disappointment in years and dining in some of the best across the nation. After emailing the manager to set up dinner, our plans changed slightly and the hotel concierge set up the reservation. We were seated in the FAR corner although I 'd been led to believe a window table would be available. Hostess knew our name when we arrived. Sent back first bottle of wine. Second was excellent which earned the second star. Waiter was inattentive and seemed to be upset we'd changed the wine. We'd been given a free appetizer coupon at the hotel and he took it but did not take it off the final bill. My husbands entree was excellent but my fish was barely done in the very center and who wants to send the last three bites back to be nuked? Sent the manager a follow up email to give her an opportunity to respond--that was three days ago and she hasn't replied. So many other places to eat in SanAntonio with fine dining and service to match ---Biga not among them.
(2)Minnie E.
My friends highly recommended Biga on the Banks and I am very happy we checked it out. My boyfriend and I wanted to do something nice to celebrate "our" Christmas as we were off to each of our hometowns. It was the perfect place to have a nice fancy dinner and head out to have drinks along the riverwalk. The ambiance is sheek and very comfortable. The decor is very hip and simple. I also liked how you can reserve tables with curtains for more privacy, however those do not have the table with the view of the Riverwalk. Service is excellent as should be expected when you come in and drop a pretty penny on this place. We were never left unattended or felt "sold" on any item. Our waitress knew her stuff and she was rewarded for her great service. Now on the the food....Note to self: the menu is a sample menu, therefore you will not see or should you have your eye on a particular item. The menu seemed completely different than what we saw online. Bread - white, berry wheat and corn bread - a - ok but it was cold..I prefer warm bread. Scallop app - delicious especially when I'm not really too big of a fan but it was like a party in my mouth. Snapper, mash potatoes and carrots - great flavor and portions great. I had a bite of the lamb chops and it was not gamey, very juicy and tasty. Grand Manier Souffle - I've never had it before and wasn't impressed with the flavor. I don't know what the price was but I expected a little better. All in all, it was a fabulous dinner with a great view of the Riverwalk during the holiday with all the lights. Be sure to request in advance a table with the riverwalk view or as mentioned if you prefer more privacy, they have tables with curtains for a more intimate setting. Great date place.
(4)Art V. B.
This place is an oasis in the food desert full of tourist traps that characterizes downtown San Antonio. Probably the single restaurant in the area where you can get a decent vegetarian entree that doesn't involve chicken or fish (yes, "vegetarian" options for a few Texans). They also have a sweet deal of 3 courses for 37 if you arrive before 6:30. Service is very friendly, even if you are eating by yourself at the bar.
(5)Alexander G.
Top notch in every way. Quiet location on river walk and nice outside and inside seating!
(4)Tracey S.
Definitely "up scale", great "date night" place on the quite end of the San Antonio Riverwalk. I would definitely recommend it but plan on spending a little money. Atmosphere: "Meh", I've experienced better" - Quiet, dimly lit, second level on the Riverwalk. I think there was outside seating on a balcony but I'm not 100% sure. My first impression of the decor was good; however, as I looked around I was surprised to see a couple of things. Although creative, the shower curtains hanging from the ceiling in the corners was a bit strange. I liked the use of old industrial bread pans for candlelight but was baffled by the very strange modern art in our seating area. It was a picture of clouds in several colors. Completely off the mark with the rest of the decor...would definitely go if it was up to me! The noise was controlled and I felt easy to converse without feeling the need to yell across the table. For as busy as it was that was a plus. Service: "Woo hoo! As good as it gets" - The wait staff was attentive, pleasant and did a great job explaining the menu and chef specialties. His recommendations were on the mark. Food: "Yay! I'm a Fan" - Let me start with the bread basket brought out before our meal. Three choices, white sourdough, wheat sourdough with walnuts and cranberries and corn bread. Everyone raved about the white sourdough, my friend said the corn bread was good but on the dry side. wheat sourdough was delicious. Appetizers: The salmon nachos and scallops were absolutely fantastic!! Definitely recommend both...just don't expect Texas size portions...this is an "upscale" restaurant, expect "upscale" portions. I'm not complaining...they were just what an appetizer should be. The onion rings...just onion rings, nothing special. If you want onion rings go to Sonic. Menu portions can be ordered 1/2 or whole. For a single person, 1/2 size is plenty. The menu prices range from $22 for a half size/$45 for a whole size. Most of our table ordered 1/2 size dinners and left satisfied. I started out with the spinach salad. A tasty combination but I'll have to admit I was a bit disappointed. Needed a bit more of the bacon dressing to make it wilt a bit more and needed something more sweet to compliment the salty bacon. I'm a big fan of cranberries or strawberries. The figs in the salad just didn't quite cut if for me. The lamb dish was delicious, a perfect combination of flavors served with cheese grits. Dessert was the sticky caramel cakes...delicious but not the best dessert I've experienced. Best Choices: Salmon nachos, Scallops, Lamb, Argentine Malbec Bottom line: Nice date restaurant, pricey but worth it.
(4)Maurice H.
One of the most upscale restaurants in San Antonio. On the Banks is correct because most of the Riverwalk restaurants are on the river level. Biga has a veranda above the river, but still has a view. Without my cell phone flashlight app, I would not have been able to see the menu at dinner, however. We had wine and entrees only, but both were excellent, as was the service. I often try a bouillabaisse because it takes significant skill to make a good one, and I like the variety. It was excellent and I couldn't help soaking up the remains with the excellent bread they served. The fillet mignon entree was prepared as ordered, tender and delicious. There were many things on the menu that deserve another visit or two, so Biga stays on my bucket list.
(4)Rachel V.
We had a great romantic dinner here. The decor of the restaurant is unique and well done. The service was perfect. Our server was very knowledgeable about all the menu items and ingredients used to prepare them. The Fried Gulf Oysters on squid ink linguine appetizer was delicious. We also had the Axis deer and port tenderloin entrees both of which were well prepared and tasty. The pork can be a little on the sweet side with the homemade apple sauce and maple glaze. I recommend using the savory sauce they bring to the table to counter some of the sugar. My husband ordered a glass of nice bourbon on the rocks and even though is was $12 the pour was a great size and well worth the money. This is a great place for a special dinner.
(4)Amy B.
Service was lacking - we must have just had the bum waiter of the evening. He was awkward & sucked- would have been better further down the riverwalk... Food was well executed, well seasoned. Bread & butter was great- best hominy cornbread we've ever had. My rack of lamb well cooked properly & the grits that came with it had goat feta with it- that was amazing!! The flavors meshed so well together. Hubby had a ribeye and was very pleased. Last few nice restaurant experiences, he has not been pleased w/ his steak (seems they can't season it or cook it as asked to medium rare). Grand Marnier Orange Souffle was delicious. We were very happy w/ the food, just not happy w/ the server, however we saw the chef coming around, giving people tours, talking about the food. Overall, I would recommend Biga. Doubt that waiter will be there long. Regarding prices- compared to Dallas restaurants, we thought Biga was well priced. However, I am sure it is one of the more expensive restaurants in SA.
(4)Bradford S.
I like trying lots of different things and had three appetizers/small plates which were all delicious. Each used creative combinations and were beautifully presented. The Habanero pineapple salsa scallops over blue corn grits was absolutely outstanding and one of my favorite preparations of scallops that I've had. I would go back to this place in a nanosecond next time I'm in town on business again.
(5)Patrick A.
Great experience at Biga. My wife and I went for date night. Wait staff were the best I have had in SA. Food was a great taste adventure. Wife had the chicken and risotto. It was out of the world good!
(5)Brian S.
Went to Biga last night for the first time and definitely won't be back. Extraordinary expense (which we pretty much expected) for unremarkable and very bland food (which we didn't). The venue is nice and the service was fine, but the food was utterly without taste or inspiration. It's possible we just happened to select a couple of the less successful items on the menu, but we'll never know because there won't be a follow-up visit. It's back to Bliss for us!
(2)Po L.
After completing second full day of seminar, my wife and I were looking for a place to treat ourselves. California has banned foie gras since last July so after yelping, we were pointed to this restaurant for the banned substance (gotta love Texas!) After confirming with the hostess for the availability of foie gras, we were immediately seated even though we didn't have a reservation. In our experience, with any high end restaurant, your server can make or break your dining experience. With that said, make sure you request TONY as your server. Tony comes across as someone you can hang out with, yet his expertise in the restaurant's menu will impress you. We both decided to create our own tasting menu (since they have half portion available, making this restaurant very reasonably priced compared to California) with different entrees picked out. Tony was able to arrange the entrees into a perfect progression while serving each entree with perfect timing! On each entree, he was there to describe each ingredient and brought 2 plates each time for us to share (he didn't even charge us for this and the double espresso...thank you!) On with the food: * Chicken fried oyster with squid ink pasta - fresh oysters, just make sure you eat the pasta at the same time for great mix of textures. * Foie gras - Holy Duck! Perfectly prepared, beautiful score marks, this tasted like heaven. * Grilled smoked pork tenderloin - perfectly cooked and very juicy. * 11-spiced Sika deer and quail - the venison was cooked perfectly, not gamey at all (wife usually don't eat gamey protein but she loved this) and the quail had the breast bone removed so it was very tender and easy to eat. * Rack of lamb with polenta and goat cheese - chef's Frenching of the rack shows beautiful detail to the presentation. I'm not ashamed to say I picked it up and ate the tasty part next to the bone. Creamy and savory polenta (great alternative to the trendy wasabi mashed potato) * Seared duck a l'orange breast and confit duck leg (only dish not available in half portion) - totally worth it! Basically half of a duck, not your typical fru fru French portion where you ask "where's the duck?" Crispy skin with flavorful leg. * Grand Marnier Souffle - Came out so perfect, Chef Ramsey would be speechless! Light and airy. * Butter toffee bread pudding - order this and you'll know why yelpers are talking about this. Apparently the chef is from England so he knows his toffee! BTW - the homemade bread is really tasty so save some room for them. I'm usually very picky about cooking temperature of proteins but you can trust the chef here since all proteins were cooked perfectly! Yes, we (or mostly I) finished everything. DON'T judge us but the food, presentation, and timing made the 2.5 hour dinner a perfect experience. Overall, compared to other similar restaurants in California (Manresa, Addison, Auberge du Soleil) Biga has better value, no pretentious attitude, and of course, Tony, who will make your dining experience very memorable! Definitely will be back next time we are in town.
(5)Ludy V.
I so wanted to give this restaurant a higher rating... Nice reasonably prices wines by the glass - delicious foie gras and fried oysters - also baby wedge was awesome - not so good - pomme frites came out limp and soggy - fatal flaw - housemade ice cream was over churned so came out brittle and a bit icy - not at all smooth and creamy- and not sweet enough either... Service was just fine - very attentive so it actually rates a 3.75 but I'm not rounding up.
(3)Jared H.
Not worth the price. The food was good, but not great. The salmon nachos appetizer was literally four or five nacho chips with smoked salmon on them. Not worth $11. The steak was okay, but not worth $42. The sides were all very good. The dessert souffle was NOT cooked properly. It tasted like and had the texture of eggs. We sent it back. Service was great, although everyone checked in on us a bit too often. Would only return if they lowered the prices substantially.
(3)S P.
This is one of the best restaurants in San Antonio. Having booked then quickly headed out of Luke's for our wedding anniversary (not at all what we had expected); we decided to pay a visit to Biga. I had eaten there six years ago and had a great experience, and now I realize I was a fool to wait so long to return! We had a superb waiter, professional, knowledgeable and friendly! He greeted us with some champagne coupled with excellent knowledge of the menu and wine parings! We began with the superb chicken fried Oysters served over squid ink pasta, and a sizzling platter of mushrooms; both of which were tasty and perfect in size! In choosing an Entree, we noticed many offerings now have half sized portions available, and the waiter advocated the half size 'Close to Bouillabaisse' which was impressive and reassuring as a lot of places try to up sell! This was an excellent dish, perfect size and full of mussels, clams, crab, fish in a delectable broth. My husband had the Achiote roasted Pork Tenderloin which he also loved and the plantains, one of the components of this dish were cooked to perfection! We finished with the Sticky Toffee pudding - the perfect size, texture and taste, which the restuarant had decorated with anniversary wishes, even getting the year thanks to the waiter who had asked questions as we made our menu choices! It was a nice touch and excellent customer service! I am already planning my next trip back, the food was excellent, perfect portion sizes and the price was spot on, we paid $180 and this was inclusive of tax, tip and a $70 bottle of wine which is very reasonable indeed!! This time it will be weeks not years until my next visit!
(5)Mayra C.
We went there for a Thanksgiving day we really liked the food and the service
(4)Erica M.
I usually avoid the river walk when in San Antonio, because as a former resident, I know that its restaurants and bars are overpriced, lackluster tourist traps. While this advice is 99% true, Biga On The Banks is an outstanding exception. It was a beautiful night out, so we chose to dine on the upstairs balcony overlooking the beautifully lit river walk. We started with the chicken fried oysters which were topped with slightly spicy hollandaise. Our server brought us two glasses of complimentary champagne (not sure why, but it was an appreciated gesture). The bubbly and oysters were both a delicious and decadent way to start the meal. My husband had the local quail for his main meal, while I made a meal of an appetizer (scallops) and a few sides (mashed potatoes and asparagus that was in a creamy sauce). We loved our choices. Service was competent and friendly throughout the meal, the location was charming, and the food was well-prepared and inventive. Biga continues to be a gem on the river.
(4)Stephanie H.
The service was okay, but I heard this place was fantastic and I have to say it was hit or miss for me. The salmon nacho was good, but the lettuce wrap and scallop were meh for appetizers. I had the beet salad and I was really hoping for some lettuce with it instead of a big pile of beets (although they were tasty) and the guacamole (which was...weird). I had the not quite bouillabaisse and the fish was way overcooked. It was disappointing. I might give it another chance because I have heard such good things, but there are so many good places to eat I probably won't.
(3)Tom W.
Great food, great service. I had the quail and venison, amazing. the sticky toffee dessert was awesome.
(5)K C.
It's been almost 5 years since I had my wedding reception at Biga and the service has NEVER BEEN BETTER! We had an amazing reception for 35 people and they literally catered to our every need. No one had an empty glass of wine during our entire reception. The staff was extremely attentive and professional! Since our wedding we have been back several times. Every single sexperience has been wonderful. The food is always perfection. We even took a chance and make reservations with our newborn and 2 year old. The kitchen made something special for our 1 year old and even though we made a little bit of a mess, the staff acted like it was no problem at all! Very refreshing and surprising! Thanks Biga! See you next time we are in town!
(5)Mir H.
Decor is weird (trying for organic/food vibe) but it's ugly and doesn't feel consistent. Service was ok, primarily because the restaurant was so busy. Food was outstanding and wine list had a good variety. We had the roasted chicken (super juicy and amazing pan juice) and Texas redfish (how do you get fish with hint of bacon) and the truffled cheese grits. All were amazing. Desert was 50/50 with the chocolate cake being pretty good but not something we'd go back for (like a black forest cake but in a torte) but the apple-blackberry cobbler being cold and gross. Thankfully, the server was very understanding about our dissatisfaction and took good care of us.
(4)Kokobie B.
I love this place! We were there 8:30pm but the waiter was able to get us the 4 course special menu that supposed to be served after 9pm. Food was great!
(5)rich k.
Visiting from New Jersey the food was great but the service was even more outstanding. I loved the steak and the purple carrots. The location along the river was spectacular.
(4)James H.
I was beyond impressed with Biga. We went in September for a special night out. The Chef and the staff were amazing. I reserved ahead and was seated in table 1. Which was in a nice area, with an excellent view and Privacy curtain. After speaking with the waiter we began our 7 course chef's tasting menu. After confirming allergies, the waiter informed us that he would not be aware of most of the menu until moments before service, and that the chef was personally making the preplanned and unplanned portions of the menu. What followed was an amazing journey threw various the chef's vast knowledge. Every course was amazing. The price for the quality of food was a steal and the service amazing. It was truly one of the best meals I ever had.
(5)Genevieve S.
We went there to celebrate my sister and father's birthdays. Everybody loved his/her food. I love the daily menu. I believe you get what you pay for with food, so indulge and enjoy!
(5)Ly P.
Had a date night and Biga did not disappoint. We were seated in a semi private enclave with a curtain which was great! we also had a nice view of the riverwalk. The food was superb. We had a bottle of red which was recommended by the waiter and it did not disappoint. For appetizer, we had the foie gras, perfectly cooked. Then we split the deer axis and quail entree and the dessert was sticky toffee pudding which was delicious! Overall, great experience!
(5)Gilbert A.
Dinning room has an open atmosphere with lots of space between tables. The ribeye was ok nothing special or terrible expected my steak to taste like prime at $42. Tuna was cooked perfectly but tha arrangment of asparagus and the sweet sauce drisild on the plate just did not compliment Tuna.
(3)Complex P.
Ate here once and were not that impressed with the food. Probably because we are vegetarians and they couldnt accommodate us well. I would have still given 4 stars but for the rude treatment we experienced by the people at the front when we went there recently for a seond time. We did not have reservations as it was an impromptu trip to the riverwalk and i was hoping to have a good dining experience and wanted to give this place a second chance. But they dint have any room and there were not just one or two but three people at the front who were all unfriendly and a lady there gave dirty looks to my 3 year old!!!! Are children not welcome here or what! There are definitely much better fine dining places that treat children way better and infact very special. Sorry Bruce.... But we were big fans of Audens kitchen and frequented there. The service there was always good and the girl at the front was also so sweet and friendly. Too bad you closed down that place and kept this instead. Atleast the staff should be picked and trained better. Dont think it deserves a third chnace
(1)Rebecca M.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in San Antonio and I eat here every time I'm in town. The ambiance, presentation, food, and service has always been top notch. However, last night was just completely off. Normally this would be a five star restaurant but I'm knocking it down to three for a variety of reasons. First, I know I look like I am 20, maybe even younger. But I'm 25 and service here has never been impacted by that until last night. This has never happened to me in my life, but our server asked for our IDs and took them away with her. She returned a good five minutes or so later to return our IDs and said she would be back with our drinks. Our first impression of her was that she was extremely snobby and at this point, I almost asked for a new server. Throughout our meal, it was very apparent she was warmer to her other tables. It completely irks me when I am treated differently, just because the server thinks they will be cheated out of a tip. Trust me, I worked in the service industry all through college and I know how that goes. Out of the five or six times I have eaten here though, the server has always been very kind and helpful, and last night just didn't add up to that. Second, the food was off as well. It was my second time ordering the ribeye. The presentation was strange and it came out medium/medium well instead of medium rare. The steak was also really tough. All in all, not that impressed. However, the person with me ordered the lamb and that came out amazing! The cocktails are really great! Try the cucumber martini :) I will always recommend this place but next time I'm in San Antonio, I will probably skip Bigas and find a new place to try out.
(3)John H.
One of the finer places in San Antonio and slightly more city than most high end downtown spots. Everything about this place is spot-on. Amazing service, a great menu and a really robust wine list. Reservations are a big plus as it fills up fast. Even the valet parking is great.... and by that I mean dirt cheap and fast. More than any other place downtown, this is definitely more suit and tie than dressy jeans. From my experiences, it's the power place for the conventioneers and those looking to do the "dinner at Dorsia" thing. From that aspect, it's not as laid back as some other downtown favorites, but still not stuffy or formal. If at all possible, go for the chef's seasonal tasting menu. If you get there a little early, ask if they can still do it. Chances are the answer will be yes. So whip out the platnium AMEX and load up on eggshell white romalian type business cards!
(5)James A.
My wife and I celebrated our wedding anniversary here on last night and it was fantastic. I had the venison and quail and she had the chicken breast! Service was was great as well! Highly recommend!
(4)Bobby S.
I really had a horrible food experience here. I ordered Beef Tips and had to spot out four of the eight bites because it was gristle/fat. Truly, it was worthless. I should have complained but I didn't. An observant waiter would have noticed that my plate was spotted with piles of chewed and spit out meat and asked me about it. Not here though. The desert also was not good. Wt both had the Panna Cotta and it was odd and tasteless. The place is expensive and yet the food wasn't worth even a fraction of the price. This is off of my list permanently.
(1)Jaclyn G.
Thanks Yelp-ers for your great advice to visit Biga On the Banks! This is a first-class restaurant within walking distance of the touristy side of Riverwalk. It was a bit difficult to find with construction, but worth searching for (don't give up if you can't find the door!) We were immediately impressed with the incredible service -- attentive but not annoying. I wish I could remember our servers name to give a Yelp- Shout-Out! He's been there since day 1 ... and you can tell he is proud to serve the food of Biga and offered great advice on what to choose from the menu. Their wine list is expansive -- from $30 to $300+ a bottle. We tried a $35 Texas blend ... it was delicious :) The food (Wedge Salads, Halibut and Lamb Chops) -- outstanding. We took our servers advice to make room for desert (chocolate cake) -- spectacular. While the food and drink are fabulous what made this experience especially unique for my friend and I was the petit portions on almost all of there main courses. For those of us that want to explore the menu with apps, salads, main course and deserts - this simple option makes Biga a perfect choice to have a fun night out. We left full, not stuffed, with amazing flavors throughout the meal.
(5)Sarah V.
went here during restaurant week had the steak cutlet and something else and had dessert which was a chocolate tort it was heaven but kind of too chocolatie kind of pricey but thats what u get for great food
(5)R L.
I feel compelled to write a review since I've never had such an experience at a restaurant. First of all, the food is solid. We had the fried oysters, foie gras, seared ahi, duck confit and venison with quail and it was all good. This place really tries to make sure you have a good experience. We ordered a sparkling wine but I wanted a red with my venison so the waiter recommended their by the glass Tempranillo and poured me a taste. I thought it was a little too fruit forward so he sent to sommelier over to tell me he wanted to make sure I found something I liked. I said he would even open something not on the by the glass menu and just wanted to make sure I was happy. I told him I was partial to Pinot Noirs. He came back with a Santa Barbara Pinot and also some more Tempranillo for comparison purposes. The Pinot was really good on it's own but the Tempranillo was better with the venison so I asked for a glass of that in their large Bordeaux glass instead of the house red glass. As I mentioned, the food is solid but that's not what stood out. The amazing service is what I will remember about Biga on the Banks!
(5)Amanda S.
Most. Amazing. Meal. I've. Ever. Had. It's pricey but worth every penny. Not a place you go every week, but definitely worth it for special occasions. My parents and I were visiting San Antonio for the weekend and decided to eat here - my parents are very picky as they are from a small town and not very "foodie" type of people, but they couldn't stop talking about how amazing it was. As for me, I've lived in LA and eaten in some of the best restaurants in the world, and this place holds its own. Well done.
(5)P H.
I chose Biga on the Banks due to an overwhelming yelp rating. It was convenient and close to my hotel as well. The ambiance was perfect, not too stuffy and not too casual. My date and I arrived just as they were opening and were politely greeted and sat. The waiter was extremely friendly and had indicated he was working there since their opening. He was very knowledgeable and made great recommendations for dinner. My date and I actually split a dinner (knowing we were probably going to order dessert). There was a fee for splitting a dinner but it was reasonable. The bread that came before the meal was delightful, especially the cornbread. There was also a small salmon nacho brought to the table that was just delicious. We ordered and split the mahi maui and it was cooked to perfection, light and delicate. Following the main course we ordered the Sticky Toffee Pudding by recommendation of the server. It was incredibly tasty! It was very difficult to select just one dessert because their selection seems so diverse and mouth--watering! Overall the experience was a delight. The staff was friendly and accommodating and the food was amazing. I won't complain about the pricing because when you receive a meal, service and setting in such a fabulous fashion, you don't mind paying the money for it.
(5)Meg S.
My boyfriend and I enjoyed dinner there. Overall, it was a wonderful meal and the service was great. Would I run back? I'm not sure. Pros: -Great view of the Riverwalk -Allowed us to take advantage of the pre-fixe menu even though we should have waited about 5 minutes -AMAZING sticky toffee pudding -great service -nice wine list -chef sent out a small but yummy complimentary appetizer Cons: There were only two things, but these are the reasons I will not rate it five stars. -The main dishes were 'eh.' Don't get me wrong, they tasted fine, but I have had better in Houston for far less money. (2 drinks + 2 pre-fixe = $125 with tip) -We ordered an appetizer, and it never came. It was actually rather weird. It wasn't on the bill, so we didn't say anything, but we definitely had ordered it! I doubt we could have eaten it because we were incredibly full at the end of the meal, but, again, it was just strange. All in all, I might return, but I also might just try another restaurant!
(4)Laura R.
We ate here with friends last week. We tried the reasonably-priced Autumn three-course meal. The squash soup was outstanding, tasty and silky, with bits of chorizo for texture and spice. I chose the mahi-mahi, which was nicely prepared. The fish was paired with veggies that were, alas, a bit underdone. i don't care for crunchy potatoes, though the purple carrots were less annoying. The biggest disappointment was dessert, a cake and ice cream plate with a fancy name that doesn't indicate cake and ice cream. The alternative was pumpkin pie, which our friends chose, although they left the crust. The ice cream was nice, but the cake was dry. Service was attentive and smooth, the room was pretty, and our table at the window gave us a good view of the Riverwalk at night.
(3)Jeffrey P.
Top to bottom, one of the best meals I've had in a while. My only complaint was that the entrance to the place is too hard to find. The wine list is extensive without being overwhelming. Picked a German Riesling and wasn't disappointed. Skipped an appetizer and ordered soup. Chipotle cream cheese carrot with crispy croutons (alliteration: cute). The soup was fantastic, the chipotles added a nice bite, and it was served over the croutons table-side, so they stayed crispy; a nice touch. The mozzarella and heirloom tomato salad was fresh and tasty, the sea salt really brought out the flavors of the tomatoes. The mozzarella was a little on the dry side for me, though. Entree was smoked pork loin served with maple sour cream, potato rillettes, red cabbage, and Riesling apple sauce. I was a member of the Clean Plate Club tonight. Every piece of this dish was great. The pork was tender and juicy, the maple sour cream was amazing (who knew?), and even the red cabbage had a great burst of vinegar flavor. The potato and apple sauce completed a terrific entree. The 'Close To Bouillabaisse' was delicious, with more seafood than you can shake a stick at. It had so much of its own flavors that you can pass on the provided saffron mayonnaise dipping sauce. Dessert was Mexican chocolate and caramelized banana mousse, which was as good as is sounds. It was light, and not overly sweet, and the bananas had a great, crispy coating on them. The portion was actually larger than it needed to be, and I finished every bite anyway. Some other reviews have called out Biga for being expensive, but I feel the quality justified the cost. Minus the wine, a meal for two would have been $100, which seems about right for food and service this good.
(5)Edward B.
Went here for Thanksgiving so their menu was limited. What they had to offer was exquisite though! Excellent salad bar with a wide variety of tasty treats. Perfectly executed dishes and solid drink menu. Staff was friendly and willing to serve. Pricey but worth the extra coin.
(4)Jeremy W.
Absolutely AWESOME, I do not have one bad thing to say about this place. The waiter was extremely knowledgeable and honest regarding the food and history. I had the venison and quail and it was one of the best meals I have had since moving to Texas. The side of cheddar cheese grits put me in heaven and the pork tenderloin my friend had was melt in your mouth good. The dessert was a mouse cake with drunken bananas and there are no words to describe how good it was. To seal the deal on this place, the wine list wasn't too bad either.
(5)Michael P.
Went on a Sat Night... Was not that busy... Service VERY GOOD.... ....I am thinking that they (the Chef/Owners) think they are much better than they are. Their minds were wondering when they cooked our entrees as they left the good taste in the kitchen. Food was OK, we did not mind the long wait in-between courses... it was fine as we were just chitchatting away. Between us we tried 5 different entrees, 3 appetizers not one "Jumped off the plate", I read the reviews before going & thought this was going to be GREAT, but sorry to say, I felt like we just wasted money. One item was really good, but not worth paying for the entree to get to ..... was the souffle, after a average to below average dinner the desert was a welcome finish. Closing this one out is easy, no reason to go back, I spent hard earned money for average or less food.
(2)J C.
I took my husband here for his 50th birthday and it is one of the best restaurants I have ever had the pleasure to dine in. Everything was seasonally designed into the menu, superbly fresh and decadent!!! Excellent selection of wines and my young teen daughters with light appetites ordered off the children menu which was just an amazing smaller portioned dinner fare (I resent restaurants that think all kids have Mc Donald tastes). Do yourself a big favor and forget the tourist traps along the Riverwalk as this is within a super short walking distance and so worth it. PS I could not find it after shopping on the Riverwalk and called for directions, the hostess asked where I was and told me not to leave and she walked down to where we were to meet our family and lead us back. How is that for supreme service????
(5)Russell B.
Biga is a great restaurant with professional, knowledgeable and friendly wait staff. I had one of the signature dishes with the Veal & Qual and it was delicious. They have a signature desert which is the chefs grandmothers recipe from England and it is extremely delicious! They are a bit nicer than most other restaurants on the River Walk.
(5)Lynne B.
We went there on 12/23/2010 and had great service. Orlando was our server and I think he had been there for like 8 years. I ordered the venison and am so glad I did. I almost didn't and asked Orlando if I could switch out the parsley puree and brussel sprouts that it came with as I've never like brussel sprouts and the puree just didn't sound appealing. He told me that was the chef's favorite dish and talked me into saying to give it a chance. I am so happy I listened! I could have eaten 10 more of the venison, puree AND brussel sprouts if I had had any more room. Also followed suggestions by fellow yelpers and Orlando's suggestions and went with the sticky toffee bread pudding even though I'm not a fan of bread puddings and more a brownie girl. Was DELISH! Wasn't like normal bread puddings, was a bit more cake like. If I remember correctly, Orlando said the chef was from Ireland or something and he had been perfecting this particular dessert for over 25 years. Boyfriend got the filet and was really good also! We got the cheese plate for an appetizer was perfect. Only got two cheeses but went alot further than we thought it would. We left stuffed, satisfied and well taken care of. Would definitely recommend!
(5)Eater O.
Confused about the 3/5. Here's why: Food: very good but salty, tone it down 3/5 Price: hmm... $100 dollars for 2 dishes- Lamb, and duck and one glass of wine 3/5 Service: Incredible, very polite, very stylish 5/5 The problem here I felt was the lamb was exceptionally well cooked but the duck was so far off... so salty, that we couldn't stand to eat it. In fact we left it in the plate after tasting it. I'd prefer excellent food and mediocre service. Perhaps we chose a bad dish, or it was an accidental lemon.
(3)Ann O.
From my Yelp reviews I decided this was the place to try in SA......but after going to the McNay Museum and having a late lunch of BBQ, our 7pm reservation loomed large....so I opted for the spinach salad, but my husband rallied and ordered the mahi mahi.....both were entirely delicious. Our server Gigi was amazing, so personable and full of information about both the restaurant history and local eating establishments. I just love when professionals exhibit respect for others in their "competition", we took her advice and changed our reservation for the following night and were very happy with her recommendation. We mentioned to her that we were from Boston, this visit being shortly after the Boston Marathon bombings, and the staff brought out a gratis specialty dessert for us, their house special - which we devoured, making a mockery of our previous statements about being "not that hungry".....a very nice gesture topping off a great experience. Highly recommend.
(4)Amanda T.
I ate here back in September and still can't stop thinking about how delicious our food was! Service was great, food was mouth-watering, dessert was even better. The warm spinach salad was to die for! No complaints. The bacon adds the perfect flavor and really pulls it all together. HIGHLY recommend for a nice night out.
(5)Carlos P.
great place. wonderful food (FABULOUS MENU!) , drinks and staff. drove in from Austin for a nice night out, and it was totally worth it, with this find. 4 thumbs up Biga On the Banks.
(5)Josh B.
Visited San Antonio today - really enjoyed the river walk. Ate dinner here and really enjoyed the food. The warm spinach salad was excellent and was my pork loin, although the chef's temperature was a little rare for my taste. Only knock I might have is the wine list, where I didn't feel the list was as diverse as I would expect at a place like that. The atmosphere was great, and the service was top notch.
(4)E H.
The food was excellent. First time back after 5 years! Ate at the bar and had a blast with veteran bar tender. He recommended my meal! Achiote pork & the avocado mousse to die for!
(5)Teddy W.
This place is pretty over-rated. For an app I had the nachos which were ok. The venison entree was well thought out but was poorly executed and over-cooked and dry. A dining companion had the lamb which was better, but overall the food was tired and under-seasoned.
(2)Bill A.
Service was excellent. The waiter took his time too check if we were familiar with the restaurant and was very attentive. Did not rush us and made sure we really knew what was on the menu. My wife ordered the lamb rack and it was excellent. Very flavorful and tender. I ordered a seafood dish which was good...wish I ordered the lamb. They make their own breads there...excellent. This place is a little hard to find but worth the find. Probably one of the best on the river (really overlooks the river - which is actually better than on the river IMHO). I wish they had an entrance from the river for walkin travelers...have to walk around building by large bus stop if you are walking. But valet parking is in easy to find location for drivers. The prices were reasonable with offering half orders. Also, wine list was nice.
(4)David B.
The place rocks. The food is very good. They offer half portions which is client centric. Finally the Black Forest cake is authentic and the best I have tasted outside the real Black Forest. Kudoes team. Was there last night, back tonight
(4)Lauren T.
My husband and I came here on our anniversary. The atmosphere is upscale. There was a nice balcony overlooking the Riverwalk that would have been nice to sit at too. Overall very good ambiance. Our waiter seemed to be having a slightly off night, but the water service was prompt, which as a water guzzler, I appreciate! This restaurant is a little pricey, but the food is excellent! I enjoyed beef while my husband enjoyed fish. The wine was excellent and I wish I had room in the belly for dessert. A very nice restaurant for a special night out in San Antonio!
(3)Siv L.
My boyfriend and I made reservations for dinner on our last night in San Antonio, after reading the rave reviews. Unfortunately, the experience was underwhelming. We were quickly seated, at a table that only had one chair and one placemat. Surrounding tables were shrouded in curtains, and we also were not offered a seat near the window, with views of the river. When I went to unroll my napkin (which was black while my boyfriend's and every other table had white napkins), it was damp! -- a bit unacceptable for a fine dining establishment. Our waitress was friendly, but she had an air of, "this restaurant is great -- I expect you to eat a lot". The complimentary bread was just okay. We started with a glass of wine each. For apps, we shared the chicken fried oysters (which was served with mustard hollandaise sauce that I didn't really like) and a tuna dish. For our entrees, I ordered the lamb chops, and I believe my boyfriend ordered a fish. The lamb chops were pretty good (but just a few days earlier I had the best chops at Bella on the River so I didn't think these were spectacular)... During our meal, I was also a bit distracted by a water spill. A waiter had spilled water right near our table, in an area with heavy foot-traffic. I kept hoping that no one would slip and fall and was surprised that no one came to clean it up (I found myself cringing throughout dinner as I watched patrons walk back and forth in heels near the puddles). Overall, the dining experience was just okay. Probably would not come back if in the area again.
(2)Cristina D.
Beautiful restaurant beautiful flavorful food and fantastic service...TRUE PERFECTION!..PERFECT PAIRING!
(5)Ben H.
Extremely good food...scallops as well as the venison/duck dishes were great. However, the price is fairly high compared to other nice restaurants that have similar quality food. Atmosphere is nice. Wine list good, but 'by the glass' not too extensive.
(4)Faisal A.
Outstanding experience. Went here with a friend for a birthday dinner. We decided to try the chef's 8 course tasting menu, which was priced excellently at ~85 dollars. It is pricey, but the courses were all VERY large and well worth it. We were completely stuffed by course 6 and ended up having to take the last two home. One thing I was very impressed with was the customer service. I called a couple nights before to make a reservation, and they were very great about going out of their way to make the night memorable once they found out it was to celebrate a birthday. Additionally, they were more than happy to adjust the entire 8 course meal to take into account certain dietary restrictions. Very accommodating and professional. The ambiance was perfect, and our table was in a somewhat secluded area where we had our own personal waiter to guide us through the 8 courses and give us extra attention. The waiter tended to our every single need but made sure to stay out of our way when appropriate. As for the food... amazing. Every course was perfectly crafted, and even the ones that I didn't like as much were still good. Some of the best tasting foods I've ever had were from this night, including my favorite dish: Mahi mahi over lemon saffron risotto. Wow. This night at Biga from beginning to end was one of my favorite eating experiences I've ever had. Highly recommend coming here, and HIGHLY recommend indulging in the chef's tasting menu for a special occasion.
(5)Isabel P.
Definitely a restaurant you must visit when in San Antonio that is right on the river walk that provides a nice view. The place is great for a romantic or intimate evening with friends or your significant other. I think I will be visiting this restaurant at every visit due to EVERYTHING tasting delicious. The mister and I came in to SA on a whim and with great reviews, we just had to stop by. We did make reservations for a Friday evening online and were greeted by the lovely hostesses and hosts upon entry. Our waiter Casey was great. He gave us the background on the restaurant and the awesome chef who will preparing our entrees. The menu consistently changes but I got the lamb dish that he recommended that came with corn mashed potatoes and asparagus. I must say, it was freaking amazing. The mister got the prime rib cooked rare that came out on a sizzling skillet with regular mashed potatoes and green beans. He devoured it quick! Complimentary bread is served to the table and their corn bread was amazing too. I say that as I am not a regular corn bread fan. Even the ice tea was yummy. I probably had like 4 glasses. Service was great as Casey always asked how the food was and if we needed anything, I appreciate the knowledge he had of the restaurant and provided suggestions. I also appreciate his attentiveness in service and refilling my glass. We were so full that we unfortunately didn't have room for dessert. No worries, I will return to try their beautiful dessert. I will de recommending this place to all my friends who visit San Antonio because so far... I have not found anything I disliked
(5)Allison J.
This place is absolutely amazing, and the lamb is out of this world. My husband took me here for our anniversary and they made sure to make it special for us. The menu is changed DAILY, which is pretty awesome. I plan on going back any time I'm in town.
(5)Jon B.
Brought the girlfriend here for a nice dinner. Was not disappointed! Booked an Open Table reservation at 7:30 for an 8:30 table on a Saturday night, and they were able to accommodate us. We were also able to take advantage of the 3/4 course meals that evening. Our server Ben was excellent and recommended the grilled tuna steak with wasabi mashed potatoes for her! and I had the beef tips. Both were delicious! We both enjoyed their well-prepared mixed cocktails as well. The ambiance was excellent, our server Ben was great. Not a single complaint. Will definitely put this place on the list when I come into town.
(5)Mark B.
This is one of the better dining experience I have had in quite a while. Great menu and wine list. We had the quail and venison pate as well as the game lettuce wraps. They were both fantastic. The sauce for the wraps was some of the best stuff I have ever tasted. For an entree I got the beef tenderloin. It was awesome, both in presentation and in taste. It was served with cheese grits which paired well with the steak and the accompanying sauce. It was also served with something green, but ti escapes me after drinks at the bar and some wine. The wine menu also had a lot of diversity and one of our favorite wines was on the menu: Uppercut. Bummed that I have no comment on dessert as to full to have anything. I am always surprised what people define as classy dress. Bedazzled does not equal classy (sorry mom).
(5)Kaye D.
First time dining at Biga on the Banks last Sunday with my boyfriend. It was our late Vday dinner. We opted for the public parking a few blocks away as I thought it would be cheaper. I was told that the valet was $9, but I actually paid more on the public one as we took almost 2 hours in the restaurant. We got there 10 min early for our reservation. We were welcomed at the door and was told to wait in one of the lounges. First impression, very small space compare to other restaurant but very well decorated. Bathroom was very clean. Then we were seated at our table, and greeted by Ben our server. He didn't talk much about the course, although he did confirm the we do not have any allergies. Unfortunately, we don't drink, so we don't get to enjoy the great wine and alcoholic beverage that they offer. Instead, Ben gave us an option for a Daiquiri without the alcohol. I got a strawberry daiquiri with no alcohol and my bf got a lime daiquiri. A little disappointed on the drink, to me it's like a snowcone, just syrup, not very good, and what makes me sad that it costs $6??. Then we were served 3 different kinds of breads, and the most airy fluffy butter I ever ate. Not a fan of the bread as they were a little cold but the butter was good. We got a complimentary quiche and salmon tartar as a starter, then the 5 course chef's choice began. First course: Salmon, 10/10, very moist. Second course: Ahi tuna with beans, 8/10, the fish was good but the beans I don't like, too salty. Third course: Lobster bisque, and walnut salad,9/10. Fourth course: venison,lamb, and qual over a bed of grits. 10/10, it was perfectly cooked,very flavorful. The grits I didn't really touch them as I was so full. I barely finished my food. Fifth course: Desserts!!!! My favorite part. We got a total of 5,nicely plated. We got creme brûlée, 2 things of chocolate something(forgot the name), pudding, and the famous toffee pudding. All were very good. All in all I was satisfied with my experience. The bill came up to $142 with tax. $60 for the 5 course and $6 for the drinks. But........after a few days, I checked my bank, and I was charged an additional $30 to my bill. I called up the restaurant right away, and spoke to Michael(manager). He apologize for the mistake, and my problem was fixed within 24 hrs. He was very very professional. Just hope that it won't happen again. I would have given them a 5, but the $6 drinks and the credit card mistake was just something I have to deduct points on. Don't let this negative reviews let u down, go and try it yourself.
(4)Nia W.
We made a reservation for 9:30, arrived a few min early and we were seated right away. Our waiter was prompt and provided good info on the restaurant and the menu. Hubby ordered the summer special 3 course meal for $37 and surprisingly good sized portions. Includes salad, entree and dessert. I had the lamb rack (only 4 small ribs) for $43. It's the only item that does not change with the daily menu and it was awesome. I would return again and I also recommend to others looking for a great dining experience.
(5)Maureen C.
Thank you, Biga!! Good food can be found downtown San Antonio!!! And thank you, Yelpers, for bringing it to my attention. The walk over was a bit interesting alone at night, as you walk past 2 bus stops, 1 that is very well frequented by not the best of crowds. But I got there (and back) safe and sound. Nice, upscale interior. Complete with the arrogant 20-something hostess that you need a chisel to get to smile. Why do restaurants want to present this image? Neat patio on the river, though the lighting is a bit low out there. Decided to sit inside, and was lucky to be seated at the window - best of both worlds. They offer a 5-course tasting menu that I was very tempted to go with ($60 I think?). I ended up ordering the duck/endive salad and the bouillabaisse. Both were recommendations by the server. The salad was good, though not overly impressive. The bouillabaisse, however, was one of the best I have had in a long time. Such a great selection of seafood: scallops, shrimp, ahi, red snapper, lobster and salmon. Nice tomato broth with a decent amount of basil, and an interesting saffron aioli that accompanies the snapper and ahi beautifully. Lovely presentation of every dish. Their house made bread selection is stellar. I could have eaten the entire basket of masa cornbread, fig multigrain and semolina breads. A glass of the Sancerre paired very well with the seafood entrée, and was a very respectable $14/glass. Definitely one of the pricier evenings out, but well worth it if you are able to have a special occasion every once in a while. I left pleased and satiated. Perhaps will return for a glass of wine and an appetizer to enjoy the skilled chefs and their ever-changing menu without having empty the wallet :-)
(4)Cass K.
Usually when visiting San Antonio and the Riverwalk I only eat at Boudro's , which is the first place I ever ate in San Antonio. However for recent visit I decided to venture out and try someplace new to me. Thanks to other yelpers we made our March 2013 Saturday night dinner reservations at Biga on the Banks. Upon arriving slightly early for our reservation we were seated at a table by the window overlooking the Riverwalk. We enjoyed waving to the people passing in tour boats below. The service was great and the food was delicious. The grilled 13 oz beef rib eye with roasted garlic mashers and shiner bock onion rings was well cooked and flavorful. The French beans with burgundy jus were perfectly tender without being overcooked. The 11-spiced Texas venison and grilled Texas quail were equally delicious. I especially appreciated the option to order a smaller-sized portion.
(5)Ted M.
Absolutely amazing dinner! I eat a ton and the meal and service was the best I have had in years. The wine recommendation of Darioush Malbec was amazing and the Bouillabaisse was perfection. I will come back every time when I am in town. This is my new favorite restaurant. 5stars all the way. If you eat at the bar ask for Kim.
(5)Nick A.
*** 1/2 We went here for my girlfriends birthday recently. The staff were very accommodating & had a very nice table for us in the corner with a view. We had a nice bottle of cote du rhone with our dinner. Habañero lime scallops to start that were of a nice size, fresh, perfectly cooked with a right amount of heat on the finish. I had the 7 spice venison & quail for my entree which was tender & perfectly cooked. My girlfriend had the filet which was slightly over cooked. The food overall while good was not as innovative as some of the food we have had for a significantly lower price in south town. Biga has a very nice atmosphere & it's river walk location is prime for tourists and expense accounters. A bit disappointing if you are expecting something novel. There is but one thing that will bring me back. The sticky toffee pudding.
(3)Kendra P.
Amazing night. Beautiful ambiance. The sommelier and general manager sat with us for a wonderful conversation of the worlds wine regions and poured us a tasting of comparable desert wines to help educate us on our likes. The employees were very passionate about the appreciation of fine food and wine and were hospitable to allow us our desired pace on dinner overlooking the river. Amazing twist on food and flavors... Can't wait to come back!
(5)Stewart A.
Incredible ambiance. Had the chicken fried oysters, spectacular. The venison and quail were perfectly done and the cheese plate for desert was as good as I've seen. In addition, they had wonderful wines which would have fallen in the mid price range on the list as the house wines and priced them very reasonably. Biga's is a great place to go for a special occasion.
(5)Kyle D.
Amazing food. Was there with friends passing through town and got a bunch of things to share between us. Well worth it!
(4)Craig G.
Smoked salmon nachos had amazing flavor, the warm spinach salad was fantastic, especially liked the candied pecans and Brie. My bouillabaisse was fresh, with plenty of seafood, now awaiting the highly recommended sticky toffee pudding. Also, the ambiance is warm and romantic. Great for a date.
(4)Tracy H.
Very good steak, the service was great! Very nice atmosphere.
(4)Richa T.
My boyfriend and I were visiting San Antonio for a day. We had dinner here. Both of us enjoyed everything we ordered. They have a Spring fare menu 3 course for $37. We went for that. The two of us ordered one of each from the menu.The portions are just perfect for one person. The menu had soup and salad for appetizer which tasted very good. I had the salad, mahi mahi and a coconut dessert. My boyfriend had the soup, beef tender and some came I don't remember the name. I didn't like the desert but again I don't have sweet tooth. I absolutely loved my grapefruit martini. We were seated in on the patio with the perfect view of the riverwalk. The service was fabulous. The boyfriend and I had a romantic dinner date.
(5)Tobin T.
Day three in my fine dining restaurant tour of the riverwalk lead me here. Upon reading most of the reviews, it seems like Biga was the "go to" place to celebrate special occasions on a "once-in-a-blue-moon" evening out. And I have to admit, the ambience of romance is truly there! I do feel, however, that the restaurant's attempt to sell the river view/riverwalk theme had failed tremendously! I don't know if the windows were dirty or I was there on an riverwalk off night, but the river view was dark and unsettling. I secretly keep waiting for Jack The Ripper to appear and claim his next victim. It was quite a desolate area of the riverwalk from the restaurant's view. But I digress..... On to the food- I didn't need around and went straight for their signature dish: the 11- Spiced Texas Axis Venison And Grilled Texas Quail. This dish screams Texan all over without the overrated play on Tex-Mex. To start, the venison. OMG! THE VENISON!!! It was all the lovely goodness and comfort of Bambi's mother without the tearful guilt of murder! Absolute perfection without a hint of gaminess! Then on to the Quail- this was also cooked and seasoned beautifully. Two wonderful proteins on one plate which made a lasting impression! I can see how chef took complete pride in their meats. And then again, ANOTHER lasting impression with the remaining of the dish- a horrible, game breaker of an impression! It was such a shame that on my dish was the highest standards of meats known in the restaurant business, followed by the poorest garnish to accompany it! The parsnip puree a complete disaster and quite offensive to be served on my plate. I'm pretty sure there was barely any parsnip in that side at all. It was either mixed with mash or made in in an uncleaned pot of prior fired mashed potato! This really ruined an almost perfect dish and since this fine establishment did not have the courtesy of quality control on my dish (since I'm surely paying for that expected quality control expected in fins dining) I reluctantly took away 2 stars! Disappointing! Overall, I would recommend this establishment and hope my next appointment with them will change my review.
(3)Valerie N.
Delicious. Definitely get the Axis venison and put down the menu. This dish is awesome and fab way to try Texas game meat. Use the sommelier's awesome skills to make a truly fantastic dining experience. This would have had 5 stars, except my grouper was lackluster and blah, to the point I couldn't bring myself to eat it. The white truffle grits were also overpowering. We did have a scallops appetizer that was delicious that I wished I had gotten for my main course!
(4)Erich H.
Wonderful service - Chris, our waiter, was great. We enjoyed the salmon nachos for our appetizer and the lamb chops and tuna tartar for entrees. Both were delicious. Price was as expected for a fine-dining experience. Very satisfied with everything. Thank you!
(5)Emily B.
My husband and I came here on a Saturday night for a nice dinner. The restaurant was pretty nice with good views. We shared the cheese tray- excellent. He loved the grilled ahi tuna and the halibut entree was very bland. I did not eat half of it. The dessert, bread pudding, was excellent. Nothing special about this restaurant except that it is not Mexican food which is hard to find downtown.
(3)Ashley K.
I was going to go for three, but the boyfriend says he's experienced better, so 2 - "Meh. I've experienced better" it is. Average it out for 2.5 stars. Service was really great throughout the night. However, we were dining for our 8 year anniversary and they even wished us happy anniversary when we walked into the restaurant. We did get seated at a secluded table, so way to go to the hostesses for getting that right. That was the last anyone mentioned anything about it though. I thought the purpose of writing a note on OpenTable under our reservation was so we didn't have to blatantly tell our server that we were there to celebrate. The bartender later told us that for anniversaries, they usually send out champagne or do the souffle for dessert, and maybe there was a huge communication disconnect, but that soured the experience for us. As for the food, the chicken fried oysters with squid ink linguini, pancetta, and hollendaise sauce were very good. I was happy to try something I'd never had before (fried oysters) and thought all the flavors complemented each other well. We did one prix fixe menu with turkey corn chowder, seared mahi mahi, and chocolate mousse bar, and ordered the chicken fried oysters & a half order of the close to bouillabaisse. We didn't go in very hungry, and this was just the right amount of food. Turkey corn chowder was solid. Good, not amazing, but good. BF was not impressed with his mahi mahi which was unfortunate. I enjoyed the saffron risotto under the fish, but he didn't care for it. Nothing was bad, but it wasn't great or memorable either. His exact words were "I'm not going to go home and tell anyone they have to come here and try it." If we're going to pay for a nice meal, he wants it to blow him away and that's fair. We shouldn't think about bringing up some of our favorite sushi and steak spots back home while we're trying a new place out. I thought the bouillabaisse was interesting, there was a good amount of seafood and it tasted fresh. My favorite part was the broth.. but I wish I loved it so much more. We were really happy with the chocolate mousse bar and the fresh mango, coconut, etc. that accompanied it. Dessert was delicious. We paid for our dessert, so I can't help but feel they could have acknowledged our special occasion by writing Happy Anniversary on our plate, or anything at all. Too bad, though. I had high hopes, but left feeling so disappointed. Highlights: chicken fried oysters, chocolate mousse bar, and the valet guy out front who was really nice and funny. Tonight had a lot of potential. If not for their big mistake with us in not addressing our anniversary, I would probably still give it a 3. Biga, you tried, but that did you in with us. We won't be back. :(
(2)Sasha H.
This place was fantastic. The waiter recommended an excellent wine and the half portion entrees were exactly what I wanted.
(5)Lana P.
I ordered the bouillabaisse. Looked nothing like the photo on the web site. Very small portion. The seafood was overcooked, rendering the shrimp like rubber. After the meal I ordered a decaf coffee. Once I got home I realized that they had served me regular coffee. Finally fell asleep at 5 am. Had to get up for a meeting at 7:30. Was so foggy that I was unable to participate in the meeting. NEVER will go there again.
(2)Teresa D.
In San Antonio on business the CVB contact recommended this place for steaks and game food. It was the most difficult restaurant ever to find ever! It's located on the riverwalk but you have to enter the restaurant is on the street level inside an office building, we would have never found it if it wasn't for the security guard on the street. On a weeknight we had no reservations but the hostess graciously accommodated us with a nice table outside on the riverwalk (we were actually the only brave souls to dine outside on a 90 degree evening). The menu is new American I guess Texas or southwest inspired, it's pretty pricey but it's always nice when the company is paying for it. I got the Texas ribeye only because I wanted the Shiner Bock onion rings that it was garnished with, I am really not that big on steak. My boss got the venison and the quail duo entrée. The steak was cooked perfectly, the accompaniments the mashed potatoes and green beans were good but nothing extraordinary. I don't eat a lot of venison but the taste I had was really good, not too gamey. The waiter recommended to order the bread pudding for dessert since the chef is British but we were full from the entrees and not to mention the complimentary bread basket that had the best corn bread! We also split a wedge salad which was nice but not memorable. I recommend this place for the entrées and the cornbread.
(3)Michael C.
Great food, great ambiance, great service. I was in San Antonio for a conference and read the reviews on Biga on the Banks and decided to take customers there for dinner. The waiter was very professional and knowledgeable about the restaurant and food. He sold us well on the meals that we chose and delivered. The fish was fantastic. Portions were the right size and we enjoyed sitting outside by the River Walk. Great place to try in San Antonio.
(5)Scott B.
Walked in without a reservation, was seated immediately. The service was outstanding! The cornbread is crazy good. Mostly locally grown faire, so menu changes. I had venison with quail, it was great. A little pricy, but definitely very much worth the visit.
(5)Theresa P.
My husband and I ate at Biga for our one year anniversary and we loved everything! I'm sure they have a lot of couples come in but they made every effort to make our visit special. Our waiter was amazing and the food was wonderful. We definitely recommend the sticky toffee pudding!
(5)Alexa M.
Wanted to treat my parents(they are from Corpus) to an exquisite dinner for their 30th anniversary. We decided to take them here since it is one of our favorites. WOW. That describes our dining experience from top to bottom. We enjoyed their four course special which was phenomenal !!!!! From start to finish everything was delicious . What really took our evening to a five star rating was the service from our waitress Gigi. She was incredibly nice and really added that special touch to the evening . It has almost been a week and my patents still can't stop talking about the dinner!!!! Lol we will definitely be back !!!
(5)Michelle W.
Delicious! They have a room in the back for an intimate setting for large groups. We had a set menu, but it was amazing and I was dying for more! I started with the lobster bisque, had the beef tenderloin and sticky toffee pudding for dessert. The lobster bisque was good, but not the best I've had. It was creamy and flavorful and hit the spot, but I have had better. Granted this place doesn't specialize in seafood, it was still good. The beef tenderloin was to die for. Cooked perfectly with a nice rare center. It was so flavorful and so juicy that I pretty much inhaled this dish. The sticky toffee pudding was the perfect way to round out the meal, but it was a bit heavy so I could only eat a few bites. The few bites I had though were so good and there was definitely a party going on in my mouth. The service was impeccable. The waiters were super friendly, very accommodating and very attentive. They knew what they were doing and kept a close eye for when your drink was empty and when your plate was finished. Definitely a place you have to try!
(5)Lg M.
Excellent spinach salad but would request dressing on the side. Salmon nachos tasty. Rib eye melts your mouth. Green beans and garlic mashed perfect. Soufflé beautiful but not what I expected. More a light meringue than an egg soufflé. Light and frothy. Very refreshing. Molten cake was rich. Loved the candied pecans.
(4)Erica D.
awesome place. good service, good ambiance and not too touristy. went for a family reunion of sorts and loved that they had the 'half' portions. It allowed us to get more appetizers and deserts! I'd definitely recommend the chicken fried oysters and though the Grand Marnier souffle was good, the Sticky toffee pudding was even better!
(4)Ashley T.
This place was up to par on everything! The food was incredible, especially the fried oysters over the squid ink pasta!! The waiter even went as far as to bring me a black cloth napkin as opposed to a white one to match the black pants I was wearing!
(5)Kris U.
From now on I will always go just a bit further down the Riverwalk from the main touristy area for dining options. And this place is what has led me to that decision. The food here, as well as the over all dining experience, was so much better than the touristy options. Our party was five people and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their entrees, which are seasonal and so you probably won't be able to get the same thing twice. But if you have the opportunity to order the seafood bisque starter or the mahi mahi entree, you won't be disappointed! And the Blueberry Martini was F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S! It definately makes my "Top 10" list of best martinis in Texas.
(5)Jeff M.
Terrific food. Beef tips were spectacularly well done. Toffee pudding -- excellent! Corn puree -- excellent! Mahi Mahi was terrific. Salmon Nachos: unique and delicious! Enjoy
(5)Kristin E.
My husband and I decided on Biga on The Banks for our anniversary dinner. We were not disappointed! We mentioned to them in our reservation that we were celebrating and as we were taken to our table our waiter greeted us with "Happy Anniversary!" We shared a scallop starter that was delicious and prepared our palettes for the main course! I got the Dijon crusted lamb and my husband got the beef tenderloin. Perfect servings, absolutely delicious and oh so flavorful!! We finished with a delicious blackberry cake with peach ice cream and received 2 glasses of complimentary champagne! They even wrote "Happy Anniversary!" on our dessert plate! It was a very special dinner for a very memorable night! We'll definitely go back!!
(5)Shelley B.
Seeing Foie Gras on the menu totally ruined our evening. I wish they would remove this disgusting item from the menu youtube.com/watch?v=QAQD… and have better taste in what they present to their customers. Foie Gras is illegal in most places for a reason. Sick.
(1)Roxxanna J.
The warm spinach salad and wine recommendation were great. Unfortunately the waitress was too busy to help us. The salad arrived within 5 minutes of ordering and well before the wine was served. After the waitress took a couple more orders, we got our wine. As main courses, we ordered the Bouillabaisse-seafood which was overcooked, either before served or in the broth, hard to tell. It's a great restaurant but our service was less than stellar (our glasses were empty several times during the dinner) and the food was below average for the price.
(3)C D.
I enjoyed my dining experience here very much. It was quite refreshing and unexpected to find a restaurant with such a wide variety on the menu.
(4)Jessica N.
Came here with the husband for our honeymoon dinner. Really, really good food, but could use a couple of small tweaks. We were seated in a corner of the restaurant away from everyone else. Not sure if we weren't deemed beautiful enough to be seen or if they wanted to give us an intimate spot, but whatever... We ordered the salmon nachos as an appetizer, which were very good. We both had salads...he had the warm spinach salad, which he really loved and I had the Caesar, which was so-so. The dressing was thin and different than what I'm used to on Caesar salads. For my entree I went with the snapper and he got the duck. My snapper was very good, although I did find a small bone in my first bite...no more after the initial one. Hubby liked his duck confit, but he thought the breast was a bit overcooked. Our side of cheesy cauliflower was very good, but the charred and roasted Brussels sprouts could've been better. I make oven-roasted Brussels sprouts all the time and I find mine much better. I cut off the ends, but I noticed these were left on. This resulted in the bottoms being a bit tough and woody. Otherwise, they were good. One of the main highlights of the meal was our dessert, the sticky toffee pudding. OMG...so, so good. Also, drinks seemed to be strong. Oh, and our waiter looked like Sting.
(4)Melissa Z.
We went to Biga on the Banks last night and ordered the Chef's Tasting. Phenomenal. Our waiter, Michael was very attentive and was incredibly knowledgeable about every aspect of our meal. Order order included 6 courses and they prepared everything gluten-free for me. The first course was tuna with vegetables, topped with spinach yogurt in a Roma tomato sauce. The second was redfish. The third was lobster tail with poppyseed vinaigrette dressing. The fourth was duck confeit and endive salad. The fifth was lamb shank with feta, fennel, asparagus and mashed potatoes. The sixth was braised ribs with green beans, fries and peaches. They topped it all off with 3 small desserts which were creme brûlée, raspberry sorbet and flourless chocolate cake. Each course got better and better. We were stuffed by the end.
(5)Jim S.
We are looking for a great restaurant near our hotel and this looked good. That was an understatement I had the venison and quail and loved it! Our hotel had given us a coupon for a special treat and it was a melange of game in a rich dark sauce wrapped in lettuce! We also had a souffle which we both loved
(5)Robin V.
Let me begin this review by mentioning that my husband and I frequently eat in the best restaurants in this country and around the world. I think it is important to have a frame of reference when reading a review. Biga on the Banks was the first restaurant we dined at during our stay in San Antonio. The others were Bella on the River, Las Canarias, Zinc, Boudro's, and Acenar. While all the restaurants were very good, Biga stood out as exemplary in all ways. We were very early for our reservation but the friendly hostess sat us at the bar and made sure we were seated for dinner within 10 minutes. Our server, Michael, was the real standout. His professional and polite demeanor, knowledge of the menu & wines and attentiveness were not only impressive but unparalleled. While my husband and I consider Biga to be one of the top three restaurants we have ever had the pleasure to dine at, we both agree that Michael is the best server we have ever had. He addressed us by our surname at all times and provided helpful menu suggestions and wine pairings. Michael told us about the history of the restaurant and its award winning chef. He was extremely attentive to our needs and also was very articulate and personable. You could tell he was passionate about the restaurant and his role in providing a wonderful dining experience. He succeeded on all levels. We began our meal with a mushroom and a sausage appetizer . Both were outstanding. My husband had the pork tenderloin and I had the beef tenderloin for our entrees and both were perfectly cooked with the proper accompaniments and sauces. For dessert, we had their famous Sticky Toffee Pudding which was the best of its kind. We will definitely be back to Biga on our next trip to San Antonio and look forward to seeing Michael again as well.
(5)Patrick H.
This is a nice place to have dinner at the Riverwalk but away from the frenzy down by the water. I had the pork tenderloin and a side of the brussels sprouts. Very tasty. For dessert I had the Grand Marnier souffle. It was light and fluffy. Perfectly prepared. The chef here has been nominated for several James Beard awards and it shows.
(4)Susie C.
I made a reservation to Biga a few weeks ago as the hubby and I were celebrating a special occasion and wanted a really fancy dinner. And Biga did NOT disappoint! This place was amazing, from the service to the decor to the politeness of the staff to the amazing food. Here's what we got: To start: The French Fried Oysters. SO. FREAKING. GOOD. For such a simple dish they really jazzed it up, and serving it over the tiny portions of squid-ink pasta was the perfect touch. I would order that again in a second We made a joint decision on our dinners as we usually eat half our plates then do the ol' switcheroo. I ordered the lamb chops medium rare and they were heavenly. They were so tender and delicious. Not gamey at all. The seasoning was perfect and these were some of the best lamb chops I've ever had. This dish came with some brussel sprouts, and although I'm a fan anyway, these sprouts were done perfectly. Plenty of butter and a light sautee on them to have any veggie hater loving these! He ordered the venison/quail combo. This dish is absolutely to die for. If you're a meat eater, you MUST order this when you go. The venison was tender, perfectly cooked and not gamey at all. The quail was juicy, perfectly seasoned and it was a generous portion. As far as sides: We ordered the couscous which is probably the best starchy side I've ever eaten in my life. Skip the potatoes and go for these bad boys. Creamy, melt in your mouth with little bits of bacon. BACON people! You can't go wrong! Now even though we were stuffed from dinner, I forced us to order dessert only because I knew it would probably be awhile before I'd get to come back. The hubby was too full for the chocolate cake (which was my first choice), so we ordered the Orange Souffle instead. I was a little disappointed in this dessert as it was a litle eggy, even for a souffle, but the sauce was delicious. If I AM lucky enough to go back soon, it's the chocolate cake, all the way! Is it pricey, absolutely! But worth every penny. It was a superb dining experience where they substitute your white napkin for a black one if you're wearing a dark color, the service was extremely attentive and the ambiance was romantic, quiet and very relaxing! Not only was our server perfectly polite and attentive, he was able to intelligently answer all of the questions we had about the wine offerings and he helped us pick an out-of-this-world Red blend that complemented both of our meat dishes perfectly. Great job Biga! Can't wait to come back!
(5)Darby M.
Excellent food and service. The pork pot stickers are amazing and nearly as good as the chicken fried oysters with squid ink pasta. They have an extensive wine selection and a wide range of dishes. On Saturday and Sunday they offer half portions of some meals that might help save room for their tasty desserts.
(5)Colleen L.
I haven't had a dining experience like Biga on the Banks in a long time. Everything was perrrrrfect. I think the excited 10 year old at the table next to us summed it up best when he exclaimed "This is the best fish I've ever had, and the nicest restaurant ever!!!" I agree. We tried the pumpkin crusted mahi mahi, which was delicious but the Close-to-Bouillabaisse was the star of the meal. The pear tart with candied hazelnuts was delicious as well. Our waiter was attentive and made us feel like we could sit and enjoy our meal all night. Also, they have a special 3-course meal for $37 before 6 and after 9 if you want to save some money for wine!
(5)Charlotte F.
The food here was fantastic. I went for my anniversary with my boyfriend. We had the works, got 5 different courses which we ate in its entirety! Started with the cheese selection which was sooooo good. Next came the lobster bisque soup which was genuinely made with lobster (I could really taste it!). We had some bread, also very good. I had this mixed seafood with tomato sauce also very very good. My absolute favorite was the dessert which was bread pudding, seriously some dangerous stuff. The atmosphere was very nice. Our waiter was attentive but knew when to leave us alone. But ladies, be careful if you wear heels! I almost ate it slipping on the floor there! (not from mess but from the material the floor is made of) Overall I had a great time here and would go here again in a heartbeat!
(5)sean M.
Wow ! My wife and I went to your lovely and romantic restaurant on March 8 , arriving at 9:30 , too early for your special. But asking we were told that you would afford us the special. And special it was . Delicious and innovative savories were presented , succulent , we enjoyed it all . Thank you Rosie and Sean
(5)A C.
My friend and I were in town last week for a conference and found this wonderful hidden gem. We walked in to a simple yet so classy dinning, btw loved the art and gourd display. We had the BEST service, Beau was our waiter! Everything on the menu looks delish! For starters we shared the smoked salmon nacho--so so so good! I enjoyed two side dishes, wasn't too starved, had the asparagus and mushrooms (MY FAVORITE) and the cauliflower. Both were delectable delights, the perfect size to tie you over. We were greeted by the manager, and he ask how we were enjoying our meals, nice and humbling. We were so happy to have found this place. Most of their menu items come from farmers markets and organic when possible (earning huge points in my scoring). Beau had mentioned that if there was something on the menu that didn't fit our taste buds desire that the chefs have a fresh selection of seasonal goods to put anything together, being vegetarian that was so awesome. He even suggested that he would have the chefs use veggie stock instead of chicken stock in one of my items... Such good service!
(5)Aquiles D.
Service was not good, parking is $9- which at least should be paid by the restaurant. Cesar salad was TERRIBLE, Costco has better. Bread was out of fridge. Waiter never asked if we wanted dessert and decided to bring check even though we had not asked him for it. Place was pretty empty on a Wednesday night, expected better food and service.
(2)Jeff J.
Came in with a party of 8 and did the private chef's 7 course-tasting with wine and it was truly one of the best meals I've ever had. As someone who's a patron of fine dining that lived in NYC and traveled to Asia, Europe, and Dubai, Biga on the Banks is definitely one of the crown jewels in fine dining. Great service and excellent pairing with course and wine.
(5)Bob K.
A combination of excellent food presentation and preparation, a beautifully decorated and particularly nicely lighted venue (properly matching the techniques and motifs used along the beautiful riverwalk), as well as impeccably flawless service, made for a memorable dining experience. I give Biga my highest recommendation for overall experience. My spouse (in here for a conference, whom I accompanied down to SAT) and I made an opentable reservation and walked in 30 minutes early. We were seated after waiting only a few minutes by the very pleasant hostess (whose name has now slipped my typically absent mind). We noted the impressively numerous James Beard nominations on the wall for chef Auden. Despite not winning, the nomination for this award is no small thing. And winning it is truly the crowning achievement and recognition for chefs. We were given a nice two-place at a window, and server Chris came by to present the menus, wine list, etc. If server Chris is representative of the level of service one can normally expect at this establishment, then indeed this is an unusually well-trained and highly skilled staff. Demeanor, timing, helpfulness, menu/wine/beer expertise were all executed in exemplary fashion. I ordered only minimal alcohol (a local black lager) and otherwise lighter dinner fare--the pork and the bouillabaisse along with a spinach salad. Unfortunately the duck had run out at this point (845pm) and the cinnamon contained in the antelope/quail dish was enough to veto that choice. The food presentation was nicely done. And while the flavors of the dishes tended more toward being more subtle than outrageous, the freshness of the items as well as the precision in the cooking times of the pork and various seafood items comprising the bouillabaisse (all of which arguably need differing cooking times) indicates that the staff in the back of the house is as talented as those in the front of the house. The food falls short of being truly magical, but such astronomical events occur only very rarely in one's life; and such an evaluation is highly subjective. An outstanding experience such as this is already all too rare. If there is an actual downside to the experience, it is the prices at first blush seem steep. However, given the location and proximity to the convention center and the business customers and their expense accounts that are in play here, I think the owners and chef have dialed in prices that really make sense. Lastly and most importantly, and part of this may perhaps be a reflection of the friendly local culture, is this restaurant's complete lack of pretension. Every aspect of this experience was one of genuine welcoming acceptance. I can give an establishment no higher compliment.
(5)Lisa E.
I would love to give this restaurant 5 stars - the atmosphere was very nice, quiet, we had a beautiful view of the river, and they pulled the drapes back as the sun went down so we could see the view. The waiter was attentive, and answered all of our questions easily.. What keeps it from being top-notch? $9 plus tip for valet is excessive, when you're paying well for a meal. Do as many top restaurants do, and comp the valet. If I'm ordering a steak, bring me a steak knife. I don't care how "tender" the steak is, or is supposed to be. It's a rib-eye; bring me a steak knife. I don't want to wrestle with it. And finally, if I see a gnat near my food, for me...it's not 5 stars, sorry. Yes, we were right next to the door leading to the balcony dining - so put in an over-the-door "fly fan". I don't want bugs in or near my food.
(3)Rich P.
My wife and I rarely get a date night these days with three kids. I've eaten here once before for a business dinner and have been itching to take her here. The location is quite nice, since it is somewhat picturesque, even though they tend to cater more to their regulars for the window tables it seems. There is valet parking that is cheaper than an hour at a nearby garage, highly recommend. All of the serving staff was very friendly and responsive. My wife was wearing a black dress, so they traded in the white napkin for a black one. Nice to see that level of attention for the price point. On to the food! We started off with the Smoked Salmon Nachos to go a little less traditional. Pretty good flavor profile, but nothing spectacular honestly. They brought us five, which I thought odd. It forced my wife and I to arm wrestle for the last, which other tables seemed bothered by. Our main course selections were the Seared Duck Breast with Braised Leg. The Breast was seared and fat cooked down perfectly. Flavor was great, but way too much food for my wife. That was ok by me, since it allowed me to try hers and not feel guilty of deprivation. I chose their Lamb Chops and they were absolutely spot on. Perfectly cooked and plate was put together well. (sorry I didn't take a photo for yelp) We paired the dishes with a nice Cab, yes even with the duck, that was quite tasty and light. Finally, we forced ourselves to split a Creme Brulee that was very light and just the right amount of sweetness with the fresh rasberry/blackberry. All in all, another fantastic visit and a restaurant I would highly recommend to travelers and locals, alike. The only item I might change on our menu is the appetizer, but still nothing to post negative remarks about...they just have better choices for my tastes. Thanks for the great date night, Biga. We'll be back.
(5)Liv D.
My wife and I celebrated our marriage with a wonderful dinner here last night. We were a party of 8. Our waiter and the entire staff, including the kitchen were above parr. The food was extremely fresh and I wish I had the words that could express our dinner, but sadly there are none. Our server Tucker went out of his way to make this a special night. We have therfore christened him Topnotch Tucker! I highly recommend Biga, and look forward to our next visit. P.S. wait the twenty minutes for the souffle!
(5)Nate M.
My wife and I had a great experience at Biga for her birthday. Our waiter, Casey, did an excellent job welcoming us and detailing the restaurant's history. He didn't miss a beat when we moved inside out of the summer heat, and made great suggestions for appetizers and entrees. There was one mixup with one of our entrees, but it just served as an opportunity for Casey to go the extra mile to take care of us, and the evening was a thoroughly pleasant experience. As far as cuisine, we started with an off-the-menu "family platter", a highly misnamed small plate with a single-bite per person sampling of their salmon nachos, chicken-fried oysters, and bibb/radicchio game packets, all of which were great. My wife had the rack of lamb and I the smoked pork tenderloin, both of which we would highly recommend. We ended with a delicious orange souffle which was accompanied by a birthday candle and chocolate mousse, which was a nice and very filling touch. Overall, we will definitely be coming back.
(5)Allegre N.
We dined here last night - ordered the salmon nachos, the duck breast and confit leg, and a half-order of the rack of lamb. Our service was abominable. Our waiter rarely checked on us, when he spoke he sounded very awkward and scripted, telling us about dishes that he "feels really represents what we are about" - using that exact phrase multiple times. The tables to our left and to our right both seemed to have a much more attentive server. I'm not sure if this only comes with salads but we did have to request a bread basket. A runner brought out our appetizer, no one checked on us in between, then someone else cleared the plate. Our server FINALLY came back and said "your appetizer should be out soon...." He had no idea we'd already gotten it (and we did not gobble it down, either). The appetizer portion was petite - 5 small tortilla chips with smoked salmon, so if you order this do be prepared for a small plate. I thought it was delicious but my husband felt it was a little salty. There was a very long wait between our appetizer and our entrees - about 20 minutes or so. After the long wait to get our entrees, we had to wait yet again and flag our waiter down to bring us more appropriate knives since we could not cut our food with our butter knives. I really liked the rack of lamb, and that is high praise because lamb is not usually my favorite thing. The fennel on the lamb was close to flavorless. The lamb and the duck breast were perfectly cooked, and the grits that came with the lamb were tasty although I think they were "quick" grits rather than the much more pleasant-textured slow-cooking grits I've had elsewhere. The roasted vegetables with the duck were adequate...nothing to write home about. The confit duck leg had a really nice texture but we both agreed that it was overly salty. The plating on everything, including our appetizer, was very beautiful. Our bill for wine, an appetizer, a full and a half entree was $130 before tip, and our dining experience was just over two hours. I certainly don't like to rush eating but we were restless and felt like we had to continually look for our waiter for bread, knives, refills, check, etc. We would not go here again, nor recommend it to anyone. Instead, for a better service and food experience for a similar price we would recommend Tre Trattoria.
(3)JP W.
Unbelievable place....not even wasting my time justifying it with a review. If you are in San Antonio go here, you will be blown away. One of the finer dining experiences I've had for a while...
(5)Stephanie K.
On a recent trip to San Antonio to celebrate our 1st anniversary, my partner and I had the pleasure of dining at Biga on the Banks for dinner. This wasn't our over the top favorite meal of the weekend, but it was very good! We started with the House Apple-smoked Salmon Nachos. The serving was 5 chips, which was a good appetizer for two, but left us wanting more because the flavors were so amazing together! However, we had to save room for our entree's so 5 was plenty! This place changes their menu often based on what is available, fresh and in season... so, as with La Frite, I've waited too long to review and can't remember the entree's we had. I remember it was delightful and we had dessert too. This place is great for a date or celebration and depending on seating the atmosphere ranges from intimate to social.
(4)Kevin F.
Amazing food. The venison and quail was out of this world. Also had the Australian lamb which was impeccable. Service was great. Wine list was good, however there was no beer and very little liquor options. Dress code is either business casual to super dressy (suit and tie). Awesome food, will definitely go back.
(5)Suzanne F.
Had the wonderful opportunity to enjoy a dinner here with co-workers while attending a conference in San Antonio. The reservation was made solely on the rating this restaurant had on open table...and it did not disappoint. We were lucky to have Brett as our waiter and he made the night even more enjoyable. Everything from the atmosphere, the service, the great drink and meal recommendations and the food itself was great. Our table enjoyed a variety of entrees from snapper, beef, lamb, antelope and seafood bouillabaisse and we all enjoyed our meal. Sharing the sticky toffee dessert topped off a wonderful meal.
(5)Stephanie L.
Excellent service, excellent atmosphere by a window overlooking the river walk and excellent meal. We started off with the oysters and foie which was both amazing. The deer and quail paired with the goat cheese tart was artfully balanced. I would definitely come back.
(5)Lisa L.
We're from Austin and not familiar with great places to go on the Riverwalk. Thanks to yelp, I made reservations to celebrate my husband's birthday at Biga. We went in with high expectations, and Biga did not disappoint. The salmon nachos and habanero jerk scallops were absolutely delicious. We shared a 10-oz. beef tenderloin and they cooked each "half" to order. Unfortunately, they overcooked both plates. When my husband spoke up for me (I hate sounding like a complainer at a restaurant), they recooked my steak and even gave me a small cup of soup du jour while I waited. The only drawbacks are the service is a little slow getting started and leaving (service once the meal started was at a good pace) and the portions are a bit small (the salmon nachos were 5-count [fair] and the scallops were two [for $16?]), so if you have a big appetite, you may leave feeling a bit hungry after paying quite a bit. It's pricey, but you can tell the ingredients are of high quality, and the ambience is cozy and romantic. It would be great if they had a happy hour to make the prices a bit more affordable - I can imagine the place would be packed. But I'm sure they are doing just fine doing what they are doing.
(4)Michelle B.
Awkward service and super average food. My husband and I came here for our anniversary and Biga was the biggest disappointment of the week after reading all the rave reviews on yelp. It started out okay with the hostess acknowledging our anniversary and seating us in a romantic window spot. All downhill from there... Our waiter was subpar and uninformative about the menu. My ribeye had to be sent back because it was overcooked. And to top it off, our dessert plate had "happy birthday" written on it. Save your money and go elsewhere.
(2)Daniel S.
As I was leaving a deservedly mediocre review for a different local restaurant owned by an equally lauded San Antonio chef, it occurred to me that I've never written a five-star review for a restaurant in my hometown. So, here it is... Biga on the Banks is the best fine dining restaurant in San Antonio, in my opinion, and is the best of the three restaurants worth patronizing on the Riverwalk (Restaurant Gwendolyn and Luke are the other two, for those of you doing your homework on Yelp). The owner (a frequent Beard Foundation Best Chef nominee) is actually in the kitchen every night, the service is impeccable, the food is always well-executed, and each meal is special without being precious or pretentious (although you hardly need to wait for a "special occasion" to dine there). As a San Antonian who travels a lot and is fortunate to eat very well along the way, this is the only restaurant that I recommend unequivocally to visitors, regardless of where they are from or what kind of meal they're seeking (unless they're seeking bbq or breakfast tacos, that is...and they should be seeking those too). The only downside to Biga is that, because of its downtown location, its often populated by the kind of less-than-tasteful conventioneers who've left some of the less-than-five-star reviews on this page, but such are the hazards of living in a tourist destination. PS: Unless you have the curse of being gluten-free, save plenty of room for their inspired pastry chef's breads and desserts.
(5)Shawn K.
Nice but not the best the Riverwalk has to offer
(3)Diane D.
This is the best if not one of the best restaurants we've been to ever. Service is excellent. Food is excellent. The ambience and view by the window is excellent. Made reservations only through Yelp/OpenTable. We got free champagne during dinner because of it. We also got seated in the table by the window with a view of the River Walk, which is awesome. It is fine dining, alright, but our server (I wish I can remember his name) and his partner/sidekick were really nice and friendly so I felt more comfortable being there. That said, Texas Monthly named this one of the best restaurants in Texas and the chef was James Beard nominee so what more can you ask for! For starters, we got half of Foie Gras. It was so delicious that I wish we got the full portion. Then I got Lamb with asparagus and mashed potatoes. My boyfriend got the Antelope and Quail with mashed potatoes. We both loved it! And for some reason, I really love the mashed potatoes because the chef put some spices to it that made it great. I had the Mesina Hall wine, which is sweet and an excellent recommendation. Then we had the Pudding for dessert, and it was the bomb. It was a great way to spend our three years together, and we were greeted by a lovely old couple on their way out. They congratulated us on our anniversary, and said, "You have 50 more years to catch up to us!" Awww..... I wish I got the chance to chat with them. All in all, I had an excellent night in Biga, and if I live in San Antonio, I would celebrate every possible occasion in here.
(5)Kim S.
Excellent food! Recommend the Seared Foie Gras and the Duck Breast. The restaurant overlooks the River...very romantic!
(5)Diana G.
Great food! The cheese platter was one of the best I've had. I had the venice and quail the half plate, it was a good size plate and was really good. Service was awesome very attentive. Their biga crunch ice cream was also very good definately recommend it.
(5)Tee D.
I was disappointed with the flavor of the food at Biga. The service was impeccable, but that is secondary to enjoying a good meal. I had a shrimp dish and my friend ordered a lamb dish. Were I at Red Lobster it would have been a good dish, but I guess I just expected more from a high-end restaurant. They do have a good wine selection.
(3)Gary L.
Great location overlooking the river. Innovative cuisine. Attentive service. One of the best values in a high end restaurant
(5)Faith B.
Went here for their Sunday brunch. This is definitely a classy joint so make sure you dress accordingly! I really enjoyed the food! It was a lil' pricier than usual because they increase the price if it's a holiday, but the ambiance was beautiful, the server was beyond kind and attentive and you really get plenty of food and options! I absolutely recommend this place for brunch!
(5)Ryan M.
We had a great experience here. The waiter has worked there for years and knew the menu very well. The food was great and I recommend sitting out on the balcony if it isn't too hot.
(4)Steph C.
My family took a day trip to San Antonio during our stay in Austin, and we landed on Biga On the Banks for our one dinner in the city. It was a good choice. We had a 5:30 reservation for our party of five, and we barged in sweaty and gross from a fun but somewhat miserable hot day touring the Alamo and the River Walk. The restaurant wasn't ready for us at 5:00, but the air conditioning attended to us while we waited. The restaurant was very nice, well lit with walls of windows showcasing the streets below. The decor was sleek, modern, and cheerful. Service was on the formal side, but no one seemed to care that we were disgusting and overheated. The wait staff was pleasant and helpful. The only weird thing was that they seemed eager to take the plates off the table without asking if we were finished. We weren't that hungry but we still ate well, starting with a basket of white bread and cornbread, with cold butter. We ordered pinot noir and shared a few appetizers. The best of these was less of an appetizer than a side, a plate of giant Shiner Bock onion rings, served with habanero ketchup and pickled peppers. The batter was a little thick and bland, but the soft onions inside were very satisfying. The habanero ketchup was hot and delicious, and I loved the pickled peppers on the side. I also enjoyed the house apple-smoked salmon nachos, which came topped with a chipotle cream cheese and a dice of escabeche vegetables. There were five to an order, and I ate mine quick. I liked the smoked fish with the crunch of tortilla chip. I was less enthusiastic about the chicken-fried oysters, served over squid ink linguini with swiss chard, pancetta, and whole grain mustard hollandaise. It sounded good on paper, but it didn't come together. The linguini was watery and lacking in texture, and the fried oysters were gooey but without any briny natural oyster flavor. For my entree, I dug into the 11-spiced Texas Axis venison and grilled Texas quail, a giant meat feast served with parsnip puree, chestnuts, brussels sprouts, Texas peach-cherry chutney, and juniper sauce. Everything on this plate was fantastic. The venison was tender and juicy, very meaty without any gaminess. The quail was fatty and succulent, skin on and loaded with a flavorful rub. There were a lot of sides, but they worked both separately and together. I especially loved the chutney, which was just right with all the heavy meat on the plate. The other entrees were also pretty great. I loved the Close-to-Bouillabaisse, a big bowl loaded with shrimp, scallop, lobster, clams, mussels, redfish, snapper, and tuna, served in a hearty tomato martini rouille. All the seafood tasted fresh, and there was a lot of it in there. The smoky chipotle rubbed pork tenderloin was my least favorite entree, but it wasn't bad. The pork was slightly dry in parts but it was flavorful and easy to eat. It came with grilled Texas squash over a bed of tomatillo lime basmati rice and a jalapeño red pepper sauce. We shared a few desserts to end our meal. The best of these was the straight Texas peach ice cream, three creamy scoops served in a bowl with a strawberry garnish. Maybe it was the weather, but that fruity sweet ice cream really hit the spot. I also liked the sticky toffee pudding with English custard, a warm rich chocolatey cake with a nice sticky consistency. Finally, we had the vanilla creme brulee, served with a single strawberry, a single blackberry, and a single jammy thumbprint cookie. It was a standard creme brulee, but definitely good to eat. Biga On the Banks wasn't the best meal of our vacation, but a few of the dishes were very good. The venison and quail in particular was one of the better entrees I've had in a while, and I'd order it again if I were to come back. A return visit is unlikely as I've been to Texas exactly once in my life, but I'll keep Biga in mind if I have a reason to be in San Antonio.
(4)Jennifer F.
This place was simply amazing...from the dim lighting to the Riverwalk view, comfortable seating, great atmosphere and impeccable service (our waiter rocked)... I had heard about it for a long time and just had never made it out there...but, it was worth the wait :) I had the chicken breast with au gratin potatoes and asparagus! It was divine...or as I like to call it a party in my mouth...because of all the flavors mixing and mingling :) It was my best friend's birthday so we had a bottle of wine of course :) And, dessert!!! It was complimentary and absolutely incredible!!! Def going back for the next special occasion...
(5)Akira O.
After a week of horrible dining experience on the Riverwalk, Biga on the Banks was a savior. Grilled antelope and quail were tasty and very nicely cooked. The ambiance and service was also good. I would go back again if I visit San Antonio in the future.
(4)Nick L.
**The highlights** Two People - Faust, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa '08 375ml, $55 - Artisan Cheese Plate, Pyrenees Brebis, $6 - Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras, raspberry compote, cinnamon french toast, cider duck jus, $17 11-spiced Texas Axis venison and grilled Texas quail, parsnip puree, chestnuts, Brussels sprouts, apricot cranberry chutney, juniper sauce, $26 (half order) The Foie Gras was a too seared I think.. not creamy enough. That's the only complaint. Service was quite good. Probably a 4.5 star, but you have to be perfect for the 5.
(4)Randy G.
I believe to receive five stars you have to have, outstanding food and excellent customer service. That's it. If you get these perfect, then five are easy to achieve. We truly had a wonderful experience here and they deserve every earned star. I made reservations a week in advance and inquired about their vegetarian options for my wife. The lady on the phone indicated that the menu changes each night based on what the executive chef has available for local fresh fare. However, she also included that when we arrive, mention it to your server and they will make anything you want to her liking. Wow, ok, that sounds like good customer service. We arrive for our evening out, seated at our table (a wonderful table along the glass over looking the river), and our server comes over and immediately says to my wife, "I understand you're a vegetarian, please allow me to show and describe our vegetarian options. If any of these don't sound attractive, please describe what you're interested in and I'll speak to the executive chef." My wife and I both paused and were in shock. This means the woman I spoke to regarding the reservation, noted she was a vegetarian and spoke to our server for us. I feel like I'm in the home-run derby right now. We don't even have our food and we're blown away. I started with the wild mushroom truffle soup. I am a sucker for mushroom soup. What adds an element of elegance and sophistication is that it's assembled at table-side. The bowl came with the mushrooms and truffle oil in the center of the bowl, but the creamy soup wasn't too be found. After the plate was set down, then the server poured the soup on top of it. I was absolutely ready to dig into it. Of course it was delicious. It maintained that wild mushroom flavor, still a little rustic, but the truffle oil blended the creaminess of the soup with the rustic of the mushrooms. I chose the venison and quail, and she ordered the roasted beat dish. I was so impressed with the complexity and caliber of both dishes favors. They were very well developed, harmonious, and complimentary in flavor and texture. The venison was perfectly cooked medium-rare. The quail was so delicate and had just enough charred flavor on the skin. It also came with a wonderful reduction sauce to compliment both meats very well. The surprise of the dish was the pureed potatoes and the sauteed brussels sprouts. Initially I tried the puree and it had flavor, but needed a bit of salt, however, then I tried the sprouts and they had the salt the puree was lacking. Putting them together was a perfect symphony. The crunchy and saltiness of the sprouts were perfect for the soft and smooth puree. Bravo! My wife absolutely loved her beat dish, which came along with some kind of wonder cheesy grits-like puree underneath the vegetables. I have to admit, this may have been the only time I've seen her eat the entire vegetable dish. It also had asparagus that were so interesting. The only way I could describe it was that it seems as though it had been cooked in liquid nitrogen because it was fully cooked, but somehow it maintained this crystallized crunchiness to it. Bravo! Of course the desert was a perfect way to end the meal. Compliments to the host, server, and chefs!
(5)Alice Z.
Good environment. But the food is not worth the price. I ordered median rare ribeye but it taste like median well. It should not be served in a hot pan. It kept heating the meat until it became over cooked. The waiter is very good and impressive. I will not visit again with the same price.
(2)RT M.
We were looking for a special place to grab a great Texas steak. After calling ahead we were thrilled there was not going to be a wait! Kinda unheard of these days on a Saturday night. We were immediately seated upon arrival, given some special menu recommendations by our hostess and greeted by our waiter. He helped us pick out a nice bottle of red wine; they have a extensive selection of wine options to chose from. Then the fun started! They delivered a basket of bread which had 3 delicious options, served with butter and an interesting side pinch of salt. We picked out the unbelievably amazing foie gras from their appitizer menu. (If you like foie gras, its a must pick.) It was hard to choose because all the appetizers sounded so awesome! You could almost make a meal by just sampling a bunch of appetizers. Since I was told the main course rack of lamb was to die for that's what I picked, and boy if you like lamb - they were not kidding. My husband had the beef tenderloin and both his meat and my lamb rack were cooked to perfection! The grits and corn pudding served on our plates were so incredible - perfect southern dish compliments! Then dessert - what everyone says about the sticky toffee is true and then some! I was not embarrassed to scrape all the creamy goodness off the bottom of the bowl. Denny our waiter was super professional! He embodies the skill and art of 5 star service! It's moderately expensive yet the value is amazing for the price! You can feel comfortable bringing friends, family or coworkers to this establishment and know you will be in for an artful, truly delicious meal that is in the hands of a passionate top chef!
(5)Joann D.
I wish there was a 4.5 option! I went to San Antonio for a business trip and Biga was one of the top choices for restaurants to try. Thank goodness we chose a good one. I would've been irritated if I had gross food while on vacay. Anyways, the chef had like a custom menu and I couldn't eat anything on that menu. I almost wanted to cry until my amazingly metro server told me that they're willing to accommodate anything that I requested. mmm SCORE! SO, I asked for a tuna tartar kind of appetizer to start off. They didn't have anything ready so the chef whipped up this lightly seared tuna kinda dish for me -- which was uber delicious. Next up as to why this place gets the .5: I wanted lobster and a filet. They didn't have anything ready or prepared, but STILL managed to make me a lobster tail (dipped in butter) and petite filet mignon with lobster mashed potatoes. Considering there wasn't any lobster on the menu, I felt pretty damn special. I ended the night with a lemony creme brulee and dessert wine. My dinner was perfect. The food was great, the service was excellent and I would definitely go back to try the rest of the menu.. or to just customize my own. My waiter had a cab waiting for me right when the check was covered.
(4)Robin K.
Outstanding spices and favors together with perfect cuts if meat and fish! Eat outside! Off the hustle and bustle but on the river. Beau was great at recommending, cuz it's hard to decide.
(5)One S.
Night #2 in SA and I'm so happy we had dinner here. Lamb was perfect. Salmon nachos were tasty, slightly overrated by yelpers. Wine selection was bomb. 7 James Beard awards proudly hang on the wall. (Next to the bathroom if all places). Dinner, company, conversation, service, ambiance, decor ALL GREAT! Message to owner, operator, GM: please add Stella Artois and/or Leffe to your beer selection.
(5)L R.
One of my most favorite spots in SA, thus far. Staff and service is always amazing and the food really is spot on. I love the presentation and everything is literally plated beautifully. I always go for the lamb chops because it never fails me and well, I don't think I can find another place that makes it this good. Well, it's not the best I've ever had but, it is really good. Also, I suggest those try to reserve a table by the windows for the view of the RW- totally worth it.
(5)Nancy J.
Dinner there last night was in a word: phenomenal. We tried a little bit of everything and each dish seemed to get better and better. Starting with the caesar that was fantastic in its simplicity and true to our location with a bit of heat. The brussels sprouts and cauliflower were delicious. I could have stopped there. Next came the most perfect ribeye I may have ever tasted. We closed the evening with the souffle - and then another souffle. My mouth is watering thinking about it again right now. Biga on the Banks is beautiful, serving amazing food with attentive service. We could have been in one of the finest food cities in the world. You should make your reservation today.
(5)Lindsay H.
Best restaurant on the riverwalk, hands down. First, the sommelier Michael is excellent, and will help you find a great bottle. Second, you should ask your server if the tasting menu is available. They do a tasting menu that ranges from 5 to 8 courses, and that is at a fixed price ($60 to $120, I believe). We had the tasting menu, and everything was phenomenal. It opened with an ahi tuna dish with Spanish rice. Next was a redfish with a jalapeno and corn bisque. We also got an endive salad with foie gras, dried cherries, and duck breast. The primary course was a meat course with lamb and prime rib (both of which were delicious). After the lamb and prime rib, we were very full, but the server was happy to pack up our dessert for us to take back to our hotel. All in all, a phenomenal restaurant. I will most definitely be back.
(4)Judy H.
The food here is AMAZING...I mean of course it is because the chef and the restaurant have so many awards under their belts. But I'd also like to comment on how amazing the service was! We had Christopher as our server and he's been with Biga for over 10 years. He takes his job personally and seriously. My boyfriend and I were celebrating his birthday and we didn't feel pressured to order anything from Chris. He was just very pleasant to interact with and had lots of great recommendations for us. We ordered: Scallop appetizer (warning...you only get 2 for $17, but it was pretty darn amazing....) 1/2 order venison and qual (next time I'm getting the full order! SO GOOD) 1/2 order rack of lamb (so tender and juicy!) souffle for dessert (amazing too) Quality on all levels were amazing. It's a really pricey joint, but hey you really do get what you pay for here. I'd come again for another special occasion some day...
(5)Angelia J.
I can't begin to describe how lovely our dining experience was at Biga On the Banks. I had made my reservation through Open Table, which has a link posted on the Yelp page. Biga called to confirm the day of the reservation, which I appreciated since I hadn't made online reservation prior to this and was afraid we'd get up there and they'd look at us with blank expressions wondering what reservation I was talking about. This was our last night of vacation and I wanted to make sure my husband and I had a romantic, memorable experience dining without the kiddos. Biga sure helped us do just that! From the Riverwalk view to the complimentary champagne (to thank us for reserving through Open Table, although I noted that they made an effort to make all the other guests feel as special as they made us feel) we just felt plain spoiled. Now, I am a volume eater, always have been, I'm ashamed to say. So when I saw our amazing waiter Arturo slide the wee bit of Smoked Salmon Nacho appetizer plate ($11) onto the table I was ready to stab my husband's hand with a fork and gobble them all in one bite....never have I been soooo thankful that I have a modicum of couth and restraint. We savored each and every bite (with my darling husband scarfing the odd numbered nacho). Who knew stopping and enjoying your food as you eat it would be so pleasing? Each nacho had a beautiful slice of salmon (I'm guessing, I didn't think to ask, that the salmon and vegetables were Ceviche-like prepared) and served over a dab of chipotle cream cheese and vegetables sprinkled with fresh herbs and balsamic vinegar. The pacing of the meal was excellent with no rush from the staff to get us out of there. The Eggplant Veggie Plate ($19) came out piping hot (which I LOVE) and very crisp and full of flavor. There were sautéed mushrooms, thin slices of sun dried tomatoes and fresh herbs throughout the light cream sauce in which the noodles were tossed. My husband ordered the Salmon ($37) and he graciously shared several bites. The Salmon was covered in a pesto sauce and served over a bed of pasta shells and veggies with a light broth underneath. The salmon had a bacon-y, smoky like aftertaste that was out of this world. I have NO idea how they did it. We sopped up every bit of broth with the complimentary french bread from the three choices of bread from the bread basket and seriously thought of ordering another.....just for the broth experience. The waiter helped us choose our wine with each entree, but we overheard the Sommelier serving other patrons. He was very knowledgable and had a great personality as did Arturo who was the epitome of a consummate waiter. The Vanilla Saffron Creme Brûlée and my husband's Dry Amontillado Los Arcos Sherry ($7) was the perfect ending to a perfect meal. (We ordered the Sherry on a whim, if you're not a Sherry drinker, I highly recommend giving it a shot. The nutty, caramel, brown sugar, spicy (I can keep going on with adjectives to describe the sherry, it doesn't stop) taste was a pleasant surprise and very much like a dessert itself. We were aware that going on a Monday night that the Sous Chef would be in charge and if he/she is THAT good I can't imagine what the Head Chef can do. Next time we're in San Antonio, we'll definitely be dining at Biga On the Banks. If there was one negative, it had to be not being able to find the entrance from the Riverwalk level. If there was one, we never saw it. You can enter through the street level and they do offer valet parking.
(5)Sarah J.
We had dinner here last night after wanting to try it for about a year. Biga on the banks is one of the very best restaurants we've been to in San Antonio. Entirely impressed!
(5)Ashley K.
I would give this place 6 stars if I could. We've been to a few places on the river walk and this has been our favorite so far. The food was incredible everything was fresh and amazing. Scallops were perfectly cooked. Make sure you save room for dessert the cobbler is one of the best desserts I have EVER had. The prices are high but honestly it was worth it for us. It was romantic and delicious. Service was incredible and the atmosphere is also great. It may not be right on the riverwalk but there is a great view from the window seat and it is a bit more romantic when you don't have people walking by yelling. We grabbed a drink at the bar after. My espresso martini was the perfect finishing touch.
(5)Lucretia B.
I took a college friend who was in town to dinner here. LOVE IT! I am always hesitant to give 5 stars because if someone gives them out a lot, they aren't really reviewing, just digging everything. I decided to go with a warm spinach salad, Coconut and Shrimp Soup, and Shrimp Tempura. They were all on the left hand side of the page but I really wanted different things. I eyed the FOIS GRAS, but surprisingly, I did not order it. (Wish I had.) However, the soup was perfectly balanced. It was not overwhelming with coconut flavor and just the right amount of cilantro. The Spinach Salad was full of complimentary flavors and had some great warm brie and pecans. I think the other patrons were a little upset when I licked the bowl. (kidding) Finally, the Shrimp Tempura. It was on a bed of noodles seasoned with cilantro and chili. The shrimp was cooked perfectly and the noodles were good, just not my type of thing. I could of handled a different dipping sauce, and I understand why there was very little on the plate, so as not to make the shrimp soggy. Overall, I will return to Biga on the Banks. My bill was about $36 for all of that food. I give it 5 stars because there was not one thing this very well fed foody could find wrong... right on stride Biga, and great going!
(5)Jason R.
I have been here on several occaisons while visting San Antonio for work. I really like this place. Good food, good service.
(5)Sylvia M.
Excellent. Easily the best meal and service we found in San Antonio. Upscale, modern vibe, excellent food quality, wine choices, and a really good menu - new American without being a science experiment. Wish this was closer to home, this would be my go-to restaurant. Mark the manager is a gem.
(5)Adam S.
For restaurant week, I took my girlfriend to Biga's to indulge in Bruce Auden's well-known cuisine. Unfortunately, our expectations were set too high. Having previously dined at Biga's, I knew the chicken-fried oysters were a "do not miss." When the last morsel is left on the plate, it's hard to not consider another serving! For the entrees, we ordered the Achiote shrimp & a half-plate of the veal/quail. Seasonings were great, but the meat was tough. As for the shrimp, it had a strong fishy taste and was left unfinished. The crust on our blueberry tart was unbreakable with a fork! Our waiter rudely denied that I ordered a half-plate and I, not wanting to create a scene, paid the extra $20. Not the best way to end a disappointing meal!
(2)Judy R.
Our experience at Biga on the Bank was outstanding. We made our reservations through YELP. Upon entering the restaurant we were warmly greeted and promptly seated. Our waiter was fabulous! He gave us a brief history of the restaurant and was able to answer every question we asked about menu items. The food was off the charts! We started with an appetizer trio, not on the menu, and it was sooo good! My hub had the scallops and I had the half order of their famous lamb. They allowed us to keep our car in valet through a show at Majestic at no extra cost. It was,a wonderful dining experience and we can't wait to go back!
(5)Leslie T.
This place was a recommendation from a friend who travels a LOT...he knew we were used to places like Gordon Ramsey's London in NYC and Aqua in San Fransisco. So we expected it to be a little more than it was. I give it 4 stars because of the service and customer care. 1. It's impossible to find on the Riverwalk. It's in a dead part of the waterway in a corporate building that took us forever to locate and find a door that was unlocked. I highly advise getting to it from the street address and not the Riverwalk. 2. The food is overpriced for the location and preparation. San Antonio is NOT a $50 per entree city and this food was not $50 per entree good. My dining companion had a nice filet (cooked to perfection) and shrimp...two small shrimp. The sides - horseradish mashed potatoes were WAY over seasoned with horseradish but the jammy tomato was so good she asked for another. The waiter brought her another when she told him how much she enjoyed them. My duck was rubbery and chewy and the duck dumpling, though stuffed with wonderfully seasoned duck was doughy. The red cabbage did nothing to add to the dish as it was pretty bland. I would have expected this food for $20-$25 a plate...but not $45-$50. 3. Service started rocky but got immediately better. I reserved table #1 which is the corner table with the privacy curtain and it was ready for us with the chilled champagne I had requested. It did take 5 minutes or so for our waiter to finally come to the table and serve it. But once Rudy got started it was terrific service. Not too intrusive. Still we were always checked on to make sure we didn't need anything more. He kept our champagne glasses filled and recommended a terrific port for me to have with dessert. 4. Don't believe that they have beautiful views of the Riverwalk. That part of the River is a as good as deserted. All you really see are the apartments along the way and an occasional lost tourist on the stairs. I give the place three stars because of the great service not because of the food and certainly not because of the "lovely view of the Riverwalk" that was advertised. It was a nice change from the usual suspects along the Riverwalk but if you want to spend some money in San Antonio and have a nice meal with great service go to Bohanan's..
(3)David L.
A lot of buzz about this place. Service was good. The highly-renowned chef had proportedly left right before our party had arrived that evening, but the specials were still available. It is not a large place, and reservations are recommended. Staff friendly. Portions were texas-large. Guests in my party weren't overly fond of the expensive mushrooms. My food was A-OK. I don't feel an urge to return, but if someone else is paying, I'd go again.
(3)Aaron M.
My wife and I tried BigA on the Banks during a few days vacation on the riverwalk in Feb 2012. It was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. The food: We both had the deer and qual entree after a enjoyed the salmon Nachos. IEven if you don't normally try venison, I still suggest it. I will travel to San Antonio with trying more of their dishes on the agenda The service: Fantastic! Our waiter had worked there for over a decade and knew the menu like the back of his hand. He made great food and wine pairing suggestions. We started withcocktails and stayed for dinner and talked for over 3 hours, and never did we feel rushed. The restaurant overlooks the riverwalk and is well appointed inside. Overall a great place to enjoy a romantic dinner.
(5)Laura O.
We only ate dessert. Sticky toffee pudding was almost as authentic as those we had in Scotland. Souffle was good but a bit eggy. Didn't finish the Tres Leche, seemed dry and uninspiring. Loved the chocolate pnut butter torte with carmelized banana. SERVICE is awesome. Have eaten in some great restaurants. The pastry chef here is okay. I'm sure the food is superior.
(3)Martha G.
Service and ambiance was great! The food terrible. I joked with my guests, I hope the food is as good as described on the menu--it was anything but good. For one thing, all the food came out cold and the content not prepared well. We ordered the chicken fried oysters, which was overwhelmed with hollandaise sauce and the oyster hidden by layers of cold, fried crust. The habenaro jerk scallops also a let down, the bland chutney and lukewarm scallop was hard to eat. The expensive mushroom, which was recommended, smelled delicious but the taste had too much conflicting elements the smokiness and overpowering grilled shallots forced us to try and like it, at least this dish was hot. At this point I was scared to get my main course, which was a bouillabaisse. As expected a let down, dish was cold the seafood over cooked,and very little broth. We were let down and avoided risk of ordering dessert. I will say the kids meal came out okay, my daughter seemed satisfied. Perhaps the chef had a vision for each dish, and it just bad execution. Just a simple piece of advice, at least serve your bread warm.
(1)Laura G.
Interesting meats and mixes of spice... Beautiful spot on the River and great views. You can order 1/2 portions of many dishes. A solid spot for serious foodies.
(4)Michael R.
Exceeded my expectations in every category (service/food/location). The apps were tremendous. Their signature dish is the rack of lamb - which was arguably the best I ever had. Very impressed!!
(5)Larry P.
This was the best meal we had in San Antonio. This is definitely a "foodie" restaurant with several creative dishes from the James Beard nominated chef. We had Boullibase, quail and antelope - all were tasty. Even the bread was good - and unique, including cornbread and raisin bread. For dessert the Sticky toffee pudding was great.
(5)Vince M.
We purposely dined there during Fiesta week to avoid the crowds at the typical "tourist" type restaurants on the Riverwalk. We finally found the front door after some searching but it was worth the effort. Note: it is directly across the street from a Homewood Suites hotel in a business looking building. The restaurant and food was on par with many of the fine dining establishments we have visited. They also have a very good wine list. We started with a cheese plate and it was very good. We also shared the Close To Bouillabaisse and found it to be excellent. Service was outstanding as our server stopped by our table frequently so we never waited or had to ask for anything. Overall a great experience.
(5)Shalaine B.
Excellent food, impeccable service! Had the mustard crusted lamb and my husband had the venison/quail - Both were wonderful. You can order half portions, which I did, and it was the perfect amount for me. They brought dessert and champagne when they found out it was my birthday.
(5)Natasha R.
Go here if you have one night in San Antonio. Skip all of the others and come HERE. This place is hard to find. The host that I spoke with was no help and a bit rude about finding the place. But it's on the corner hidden in the back entrance of the International building. We came here with a couple we are friends with after going to a brewery earlier in the day. We sat outside despite it being a bit chilly and were pleased with the ambiance--it just would have been great if they had heaters for outside :) Food was amazing. One of our friends love foie gras and he ate it all very quickly. It looked great though! Our other friend had the scallop appetizer and half portion of quail and venison. She loved both. My husband had the duck which was a bit overcooked, but the flavor was great. I just had the scallop appetizer and it was wonderful! For dessert, they had the souffle and we had what was supposed to be a Bailey's creme brulee. It in fact was dreamsicle (I hate orange desserts) so I didn't eat it. Despite that mishap, the food and company was wonderful. When we visit San Antonio we will return!
(5)Chris A.
This place has a calming atmosphere. with flowing drapes, river views and very nice flavors. Each menu is literally a list of specials because most items are based on what is fresh. I had the Ahi Tuna Nachos to start which were very tasty and not filling. Next the Foie Gras which was on a unusual banana bread. The actual Foie Gras was perfect but I took it off the bread which was easy and a personal opinion not a perfect pairing. For dessert I ordered the Grand Marnier Souffle that was a specimen of technique. The Grand Marnier sauce which was poured into after delivery is not necessary because of the strong flavor. I would taste before adding. Over all a fantastic restaurant and highly recommended.
(4)Quay A.
They were offering a "Pasta" pre fix menu in celebration of the San Antonio Rock n Roll Marathon. Since we did need our carb dinner before the run the next morning we decided to treat ourselves. Positives Lovely restaurant, nice decor. Very good food. Great service. Negatives Odd location and it feels like you are entering an office building when you come in from the street. While looking over the Riverwalk it doesn't actually have access. I had: House Soup of the Day - Crab Curry (neat yummy twist with the crab) Penne Pasta w/chicken, asparagus, zucchini, & yellow squash, smokey tomato olive ragout (honestly just ok, chicken was overcooked) L had: Salad of bibb, radicchio & arugula, goat cheese, carrots, radishes, lavosh, cucumbers, beets, tomatoes, lemon maple vinaigrette (the dressing was AMAZING) Pappardelle pasta with sauteed beef tips, mushrooms, sweet onion, garlic, arugula & savory herbs (very tasty and really liked the pasta) We shared: Dessert Marathon - Three mini portions of creme brulee, sticky toffee pudding and one other I cant remember... L doesn't like sweets and he ate half of everything... the sticky toffee pudding was out of sight!
(4)Jessica H.
Ate at Biga based on pretty stellar reviews. First off, the restaurant is beautiful and romantic. We dined outside, overlooking the River Walk. This was great... except my ankle and foot became a mosquito's dinner. The house-made bread was delicious. We started with the Shiner bock onion rings. Huge rings fried delicately and cakey... almost sweet. These were served with a habanero ketchup and together they were delicious. We dined on a Friday night and it was great to be able to order half portions. We were stuffed from happy hour, but still cleaned our plates. I had the pork tenderloin with hoisin sauce and the Hubs had the beef tenderloin with chimichurri. Both were awesome and perfectly sized. We were too full for dessert, which was too bad since the menu looked great. I'm deducting one star because we both felt the food was overly salted. It was still very enjoyable, but noticeably there lingering on my tongue. My brother is a chef and I know that other chefs (Biga's James Beard nominated chef included) finish the dishes with salt to add extra flavor. However, the manager came out to check on us multiple times, our server was attentive and I would definitely recommend Biga.
(4)Matt A.
Salmon nachos were great. Some of the best duck I've had. Toffee pudding at the end was perfect. Great service (waiters constantly scanning their area). Definitely going back.
(5)Linda M.
Decor is a little dark and the service was just ok, but maybe I am comparing to NYC standards. I had the spinach salad with quail and the lamb entree. Salad was wonderful, but the entree was nothing special. My husband had the ahi tuna app and the boulliabase. Fish was bland an dry and broth was peppery. We did like the option of half portion entrees so we had enough room to share the toffee dessert.
(3)Nic F.
I really tried to like this restaurant. The service was good as was the ambiance and the semi-private dining experience. The food, however..... just wasn't. I had the crab-stuffed mahi mahi with Israeli couscous. It was very blah. None of the five people in our party was impressed with our food. The soup wasn't good. The entree wasn't good. The dessert wasn't good. The wine was the best part of the meal. Sorry, Biga... I wouldn't recommend this restaurant to others.
(2)Lorenzo L.
No doubt the best "fine dining" experience in SAT. In a city that boasts chain restaurants like The Palm, Ruth Chris, and The Roaring Fork, its comforting to find a place that sources local ingredients, and prepares them well. I stop by every time I'm in town. San Antonio is not exactly a "dining destination." Don't get me wrong, I can tell you where to get the best Korean BBQ, the best pozole, the most amazing ceviche, & the best tacos (open 24-7)....but for a great "dining experience", tip on over to Biga on the Banks
(4)Joanna M.
This was the perfect start to our romantic "staycation"! We had a candlelight view of the river and amazing food and wine. The oyster appetizer was decadent and we were thrilled with the seafood boullebaise and the rack of lamb. The 1/2 portions were plenty and price was reasonable for the quality. If you're a foodie, ask for Tony as a server.
(5)Melanie G.
Top shelf! Waiter, Chris, was attentive to our every need and so good about explaining where things came from or how they were cooked. Yes it's pricey but you truly get your money's worth. I had the ribeye and it was the best bite of steak I've ever put in my mouth -- and I 'm a native Texan! My companions had the 6 course tasting menu and raved about every course. It is an enormous amount of food, but you have to expect to be "satisfied" when you order it. Spare ribs and homemade lemon curd were particular favorites of the table.
(5)Liz C.
Was just in San Antonio over the weekend for a "girls weekend" and we had our dinner date at Biga On the Banks. I must say that the food, service and ambiance are first class. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking to have a perfect meal served with a smile. Our server Tony was amazing. We all had the Ribeye Steak and it was the best I've had in a long time. Hope there's a chance of having this restaurant in LA.
(5)G G.
The salmon nachos are awesome. The bouboullaise was very good, but I believe it might have made me a little sick. I felt queasy afterwards. My husband had the porkchops and was kind enough to offer me a bite - delicious. The caramel apple dessert was strange. A little dry, and overly sweet.
(3)Eduardo O.
Service was excellent and food came out promptly. The sticky toffee pudding is phenomenal.
(5)Megan D.
My boyfriend and I were visiting form Orlando this past week and love to find the "non touristy" places when we travel. We were looking for a romantic restaurant that was also known for great food. The hotel concierge recommended a few places, but we chose to head over to Biga on the Banks. We arrived early for our reservation, but they were able to seat us right away with views of the river. Our server, Beau, came right over to the table to welcome us. As a younger couple, we are used to some of the "fine dining" restaurants treating us a bit differently than the older crowed, but not here. Every single staff member at Biga was extremely polite and attentive. Beau, recommended many great dishes and was very proactive about refilling our wine glasses. We ordered their special of the day which was scallops and they were cooked to perfection. For our main entrees we ordered the Venison & Quail dish and one of their Ahi Tuna salads, everything was better than we could have hoped for. Another great thing about this restaurant is that they offer both full size portions and half sized, I'm not sure if this a year round deal or what but it's perfect for me! I am very happy that we went here because now a week later, we are still talking about how amazing the dinner was.
(5)S. R.
A top-notch experience all around. Biga has just vanquished Bella, my former San Antonio favorite. The server memorized my colleague's long list of food allergies and was very vigilant about them. We started with salads--mine had brie. Need I say more? My colleague had scallops, which were very nice. I had chicken with au gratin potatoes. The sauce on the chicken was magical. I wished I could have eaten more chicken, but I may have overdone it by starting with the salad with brie! My chicken was slightly delayed by the chef, who didn't approve the first attempt. To compensate for the wait, the server poured us each an extra glass of wine. To top it all off, we had sticky toffee pudding for dessert. We are not sticky toffee experts, but our British friend talked up the dish, so we had to give it a try. We weren't disappointed! My one criticism is that the black pepper on the au gratin potatoes was pretty spicy, but I like black pepper. We were seated by the window over the Riverwalk, so we had a nice view. I must admit that I thought the lighting further back in the restaurant was very dim. I highly recommend Biga for a romantic dinner or business dinner.
(5)Nicole D.
My boyfriend and I ordered from the prix fixe menu. The apps were great! The fish and veggies could have been from Golden Corral(over-cooked and over-seasoned) and the rice tasted like Lipton's Instant. The steak tips were cooked well but nothing special. The pear tart was pretty abysmal, tasting like vanilla extract and not pear. The waiter was sweet but gave me an under-pour of my $12 glass of wine. We won't go back. At least the view was nice!
(2)James L.
For our first visit the restaurant lives up to its reputation. Our server Gigi gave us the history of Biga's and detailed explanation about our meal and a wonderful dessert. The food was great and the ambiance and view of the river walk made our night wonderful. We will be returning.
(5)Glenn V.
The server was rushing at first and then forgot about us at the end. Coffee & desert took over 20 minute to get. The steak was over cooked and not much seasoning and the sides were cold. Don't know how they were nominated for the James Beard Award. We were told that they do not have many locals (like us) dine with them just mainly the tourist. I see why ! We will not go back.
(2)SD C.
Chicken-fried Oysters, Pork Pot Stickers and Foie Gras. So good we are going back for a second night while in San Antonio!
(5)Yolanda R.
This is by far my most favorite restaurant in the country! The food was delicious. The service was impeccable. A foodie like me couldn't ask for anything better. I had the venison and quail dish the first night and the lamb dish the second night. The bartender made excellent wine pairings with each dish. I finished both nights with the Grand Marnier souffle. I felt as if I was floating on a cloud. I will be sure to visit this place anytime I'm in San Antonio for years to come.
(5)Diana B.
This restaurant is exceptional. From the little details to the big flavors, everything that I have ordered has been wonderful. So far I have had the famous lamb rack, the foie gras, the scallops, the Bibb and Radicchio Game Packets, and the salmon nachos. And I will be coming back to try the remainder of the menu ;) The waiters all know the details of the items on the menu, their bread basket includes corn bread and house made butter, and their cocktails are so delicious. If you want a nice dining experience, with elegant plates and bold flavors, def try this place, you wont regret it!!
(5)Lauren L.
My husband and I came here for our "special dinner" on a recent San Antonio trip. Wow, was it everything these reviews said and more. We did the five course tasting menu with wine pairings. First off, the restaurant is beautiful. Very clean, modern feel with a goregeous view of the Riverwalk. The wait staff was pleasant, knowledgeable and attentive. The food was outstanding: we had a very tasty amuse bouche, mahi mahi, quail that was soooo delicate, marvelous venison and tasty tasty lab. The wine pairings were excellent as well. I would highly recommend this for anyone who wants a romantic, special evening.
(5)Dave H.
Another great visit and excellent service from our friend Gigi. She knows how to make you feel special, even if you're a poor farmer from Indiana. I had the hydroponic greens salad that was quite good. They get the greens from Bluebonnet Hydroponics in Shertz. Always good to support local produce. The seared ahi tuna was nice too. It's always nice to go to Biga around the holiday and sit at a table along the windows that face the Riverwalk with it's trees covered in lights.
(5)Peter S.
The service was excellent. The food was awfully good. Even the view of the river was pretty good. The atmosphere owas differently a romantic one.
(5)